• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Melbourne Mamma - Fashion | Food | Family | Fun | Shopping

Your local guide to the best fashion, food, family fun and shopping in Melbourne

  • Home
  • Must Haves
  • Sales
  • Melbourne Mamma’s Market
  • Giveaways
  • About
  • Contact

What A Year!

December 31 2011 By melbournemamma Leave a Comment

What a year 2011 has been for me.

 

At the start of the year I was preparing myself to return to work after a year at home on maternity leave. Even though I love being at home with my kids, I’m also (kind of) a workaholic and enjoy my work as a Technical Writer, so was looking forward to having 2 days back in the office.

 

Two hours in to my first morning back at work I was informed that I was no longer needed and being made redundant. WHAT THE? I was in shock and couldn’t believe they had waited till I came back in to the office to tell me.

 

I’d only been made redundant one other time in my life and that was when Ansett closed down and everyone in the company lost their jobs. This time I felt like a failure – why didn’t they want or need me anymore. I wondered if going on maternity leave had jeopardised my position in the company.

 

I lay in bed that night & began to think about my future…….it was then that a plan began to formulate in my mind 🙂

 

While on maternity leave and at home with 2 small children, I began to find it more & more difficult to get to the shops and especially get to all the sales. I had been thinking how much easier it would be if all the sales were together in one place, so mums like me could shop without all the drama!

 

I decided that night that I was going to organise a sale – a fantastic sale that would bring melbourne’s favourite stores together in one place and offer local mums tonnes of gorgeous gear at fabulous prices. And that’s were it all began.

 

I’m proud of myself for achieving so much during the part 9 months (including not being made redundant – it’s long story) and can’t wait to see what lies in store for Melbourne Mamma in 2012. I’ve met so many amazing mums (who run their own businesses) this year and I look forward to working with them and meeting many more in the new year. 

 

My dad always said that if anyone could turn their love of shopping into a business it would be me and I imagine him looking down on me and shaking his head with a chuckle, because I’ve actually done it.

 

Look out 2012 – here I come!

Filed Under: Me

Previous Post: « Merry Christmas!
Next Post: Happy New Year! »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Follow Me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

SUBSCRIBE

Categories

  • Books
  • Food & Drink
  • Giveaways
  • Kid Stuff
  • Lifestyle
  • Markets
  • Me
  • Meet the Designer
  • Meet the Owner
  • Meet the Retailer
  • Migraines
  • Out and About
  • Reviews
  • Shopping
  • Top 10
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Tags

back to school birthdays books botox boys fashion christmas decor designers diy easter family fun fashion favourite books flash sale for babies for boys for girls for home for kids for mammas gift ideas girls fashion giveaways jewellery kids activities kids fashion love this look melbourne mamma melbourne mammas market melbourne to do migraines mini style mothers day out and about reading reading challenge reviews sales school holiday fun shoes shop local shopping summer toys yummy

Footer

Instagram Feed

melbournemamma

Kyoto was a beautiful contrast to the bright light Kyoto was a beautiful contrast to the bright lights of Osaka. 
 
We loved wandering through its historic streets, discovering incredible temples and gardens, and experiencing the slower more traditional side of Japan. Every place we visited felt special and full of history.
 
While the boys headed off to the Samurai Ninja Museum for some action-packed fun, my daughter and I enjoyed making our own rings at a Japanese ring-making workshop. It was such and fun and unique experience to share together.
 
We also made a lunch stop at Nishiki Market – a must for food lovers! So many incredible sights and flavours to discover (and I may have developed a slight addiction to furikake… 🤭IYKYK).

In the evening we strolled through Gion and the Shirakawa Canal area before enjoying a delicious Thai dinner, which was a welcome change after so much amazing Japanese food.
 
Our Kyoto favourites:
 
⛩️ Fushimi Inari Taisha
🥢 Nishiki Market
💍 @glanta_kyoto_sanjokawramchi
🥷 @samurai_ninja_museum 
🛕 Yasaka Pagoda
🏮 Gion District 
🍜 @rungarun_kyoto 
 
A beautiful day filled with amazing memories.

#Kyoto #JapanTravel #JapanAdventure #KyotoJapan KyotoJapan
It was hot. It was humid. We walked more than we t It was hot. It was humid. We walked more than we thought possible… and we absolutely loved it!
 
Nara was the perfect little escape from the energy of Osaka. It offered a beautiful mic of history, nature and culture. 

From wandering through Nara Park with the friendly (and very determined) deer to exploring ancient temples and peaceful gardens, it was a day full of unforgettable memories.
 
Our Nara favourites:
 
🦌 Nara Park
🛕 Kofukuji Temple
⛩️ Kasuga Taisha Shrine
🌳 Yoshikien Garden
🛍️ Higashimuki Shopping Street
 
A quick day trip but definitely one of our Japan highlights.
 
Swipe through for some of our favourite moments.

#Nara #VisitJapan #NaraPark #JapanMemories #JapanAdventure
Osaka was the perfect way to kick off our Japan ad Osaka was the perfect way to kick off our Japan adventure. From the bright lights of Dotonbori and endless shopping to incredible food, temples, arcades and plenty of family laughs, this city delivered.
 
Our trip didn’t quite go to plan after Jetstar cancelled our flight, which meant we lost a day of our holiday 😟. It wasn’t the start we’d hoped for but we made the most of every moment we had.
 
The weather was hot and humid, but that didn’t stop us exploring this incredible city. We loved wandering through the neon streets of Dotonbori, shopping Shinsaibashi, exploring Den Den Town and taking in the beauty of Namba Yasaka Shrine and Osaka Castle.
 
And of course, the food did not disappoint! From delicious gyoza to incredible pizza (yes, pizza in Japan deserves a mention 🤤), cheesecake, egg sandwiches IYKYK, and everything in between, Osaka is a foodie’s dream.
 
Our Osaka favourites:

🦁 Namba Yasaka Shrine
🥟 @gyozaoh! Dotonbori
🏯 Osaka Castle
🎮 Den Den Town
🍕 @pizzeriadatigre
🛍️ Don Quijote
🏎️ @mr.hiro_carstudio
🍔 @kitan_hibiki
🍰 @rikuro1956 cheesecake
🐠 @kaiyukan_japan 
 
Would we have loved another day in Osaka? Absolutely. But even with one less day, it was packed with unforgettable memories.
 
Swipe through for some of our favourite moments.

#Osaka #VisitJapan #JapanTravel #OsakaJapan #TravelMemories
Surely I’m not the only one that does this 😝 Doubl Surely I’m not the only one that does this 😝
Double tap if you do too ❤️

🤳🤳🤳🤳🤳
Safe to say we picked the perfect time to visit Sy Safe to say we picked the perfect time to visit Sydney ✨

With Vivid lighting up the city every night, we’ve been treated to an incredible show from our apartment and around Darling Harbour 🌟

This spectacular light show was the perfect way to end the evening. Sydney really knows how to put on a show ❤️

#VividSydney #DarlingHarbour #SydneyNights #SydneyFun #Australia
Not a bad view to end the day ✨ Darling Harbour p Not a bad view to end the day ✨

Darling Harbour putting on a show from my hotel room window - twinkling lights, reflections on the water and the Sydney skyline glowing after dark 🌃

Definitely no complaints from me 😍

#DarlingHarbour #Sydney #SydneyAtNight #SydneyViews #RoomWithAView
If David Attenborough has taught us anything, it’s If David Attenborough has taught us anything, it’s that the world is breathtakingly beautiful and worth protecting 🌎💚

100 years of Sir David Attenborough. What a life. What a legacy 🌿🐘🐋

Happy Birthday to one of the greatest storytellers the world has ever known 🎂

#SirDavidAttenborough #Legend #100Years
Just finished ‘Fifty Fifty’ by Steve Cavanagh and Just finished ‘Fifty Fifty’ by Steve Cavanagh and wow, what a ride.

I could not put this one down… ended up reading until 2:30 am to finish it! Such a clever, gripping story that keeps you guessing the whole way through.

Honestly, the entire Eddie Flynn series is fantastic. If you love fast-paced legal thrillers, these are absolute must-reads.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

“Alexandra Avellino has just found her father’s mutilated body, and needs the police right away. She believes her sister killed him, and that she is still in the house with a knife. 

Sofia Avellino has just found her father’s mutilated body and needs the police right away. She believes her sister, Alexandra did it, and that she is still in the house, locked in the bathroom. 

Both women are to go on trial at the same time. A joint trial in front of one jury. 

But one of these women is lying. One of them is a murderer. Sitting in a jail cell, about to go on trial with her sister for murder, you might think that this is the last place she expected to be. 

You’d be wrong.”

📚 Join my 2026 Reading Challenge via the link in my profile 📚

This is my choice for ‘A book featuring sisters’.
⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#FiftyFifty #SteveCavanagh #MelbourneMammaBookLove #MMReadingChallenge2026
Lunch with a view 😍 Great food, great company, blu Lunch with a view 😍
Great food, great company, blue skies and sunshine - afternoons don’t get any better than this ☀️
I don’t want to jinx it, but how bloody beautiful is this weather in Melbourne at the moment 💙

#MelbourneEats #AutumnDays #LunchView #MelbourneLife MelbourneMamma
Follow me on Instagram

Copyright © 2026 · melbourne mamma