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Hi Everyone! What a month we've had!  Having survived winter relatively untouched by illness, it was rather ironic when hubby developed a nasty sore throat just as we entered spring that kept him at home for several days.  Assuming it was 'man-flu', we offered sympathy from afar, prepared home-made chicken soup, provided paracetamol and pointed him in the direction of the spare room to sleep it off.  It turned out to be a nasty viral throat infection and no sooner was he back on his feet, but I came down with it too.  Oh boy, I hadn't been so sick in years and could barely move off the couch for a week. Then... you guessed it... it was Satine's turn!  (Well, it was inevitable really.)  But unlike her father and I, Satine recovered much quicker.  No doubt, this is a clear indication that in general, she is considerably fitter than we are.  Or could it be the fact that she had the 'luxury' of taking time out to completely rest her body, whereas parents can never truly take time away from work and family commitments to concentrate solely on recovering? So just as we're all on the road to well-being - heading back to school and work - when Murphy's Law hits again with my computer deciding to take some time off.  Apparently I expect too much from the poor over-worked thing and what better way to drive the message home but to strike right on newsletter deadline??  Hmmm...

As a firm believer in everything happening for a reason, I took some of my imposed computer-free time to reflect upon the lessons to be learned from this past month.  Firstly, I was reminded about the importance of maintaining that ellusive work/life balance.  I MUST move working on my phsyical and emotional health further up the priority list (just as soon as I find where it disappeared to when it fell off).  Secondly, I depend WAY too much on the internet.  It has become so convenient to conduct business, make purchases and keep in touch with loved ones in cyberspace that I feel lost and even isolated when I can't get online.  So I'm going to dust off that telephone and take pen to paper this summer to re-connect with distant family and friends and 'old fashioned' way.

Once again our newsletter is bursting at the seams with fabulous giveaways for the whole family and an amazing prize hamper to delight your family this Christmas.  We also bring you a variety of reviews, articles and recipes - all with a spring/summer theme.  So grab a cuppa and spend some 'me time' devouring our November offerings...

coffeegroup.org Fan Page on Facebook As many of you are aware, we set up our very own Fan Page on Facebook a couple of months ago and ever since then, we have been adding comments boxes throughout the  coffeegroup.org web site to enable members and visitors to not only discuss content amongst themselves, but to quickly and easily share it with their Facebook friends. We have also been able to keep you up-to-date with the latest news as it's breaking and I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to discuss these stories with others who were also following closely as details unfolded. Our Facebook Fan Page is also another way for us to keep you informed about new features on the coffeegroup.org web site, to give you early notice of up-coming events and to remind you to enter our competitions! Last but definitely not least, we have decided to run regular giveaways exclusive to our Facebook Fans to thank them for their on-going support.  Our first major draw saw us giving away funky coffeegroup.org pens and wristbands to 10 people chosen randomly from our fan list when we reached 300 members.  We have lots more ideas for prizes and our next giveaway will be drawn when we reach 350 fans, then 400, then 450, and so on and so forth every time 50 new people join. I'm sure you'll agree with me that having our own Fan Page on Facebook has added a whole new dimension to our virtual support network and hope you are as excited about the possibilities as we are. So if you are an avid user of Facebook and haven't done so already, please click here and become a fan and suggest your Mummy and Daddy friends do the same: Then be sure to keep an eye out for additional giveaways and exciting new developments as they unfold!!       Breastfeeding New Zealand Being pregnant and having a baby is a really exciting and special time. One of the things that will probably become very big in your life is breastfeeding!  Everyone knows breastfeeding is the best thing for baby, but at the start, it’s not always easy. Some new social communities have recently been launched, with support by the Ministry of Health.  The pages are for anyone and everyone who is breastfeeding, or interested in breastfeeding. You’ll be able to find out more, share your stories and get support from other breastfeeding mums. There will also be a photo competition, and free wristbands coming soon. Join up to whichever social site you belong to: http://www.facebook.com/breastfeedingnz http://www.bebo.com/breastfeedingnz http://www.twitter.com/breastfeedingnz http://www.youtube.com/breastfeedingnz

The aim of the Book / Product Reviews section is to share books, products and services available to New Zealand families and to provide our members with the opportunity to add their own ratings and reviews. From eco-friendly lunch wraps to eco-friendly cleaning cloths which aide your family to keep our world healthy; natural hair care to treat a common condition affecting littlies; timeless jewellery and keepsakes to gift and treasure forever; books to entertain and books to heal - our reviews this month have something for everyone:

Cradle Cap Shampoo and Natural Conditioner - BabyBaby E-cloth Glass and Polishing Cloth - The Green Boutique Fingerprints Jewellery and Keepsakes - Fingerprints Eco-friendly Re-usable Sandwich Wrap and Lunch Bag - 4MyEarth Little Howard's Unpleasant Lullaby - Howard Read Magic Ballerina Book 11: Rosa and the Magic Dream - Darcey Bussell Magic Ballerina Book 12: Rosa and the Three Wishes - Darcey Bussell Mama Mia: A memoir of mistakes, magazines and motherhood - Mia Freedman Not a Stick - Antoinette Portis The Dark Blue 100 Ride Bus Ticket - Margaret Mahy The Kiwi Kids' Health Book - Dr Jonny Taitz Why Men Want Sex and Women Need Love: Unravelling the Simple Truth - Allan and Barbara Pease
We are also giving you the opportunity to win some of these fabulous books and products - read on to find out how!!

Believe it or not, summer is just around the corner and as the days grow longer and we spend more time frolicking in the great outdoors, it is time to once again increase our vigilance in protecting our families from the sun's harmful rays:

Longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures often wreak havoc with even the best sleepers.  Suddenly your precious baby is resisting bedtime, will no longer self-settle, and tensions begin to rise as the clock slowly ticks over.  Or perhaps you are a "seasoned" parent who eventually - through trial and error - successfully over-came last year's sleep challenges.  Only your baby has transitioned into toddlerhood and you find that the "tricks" that proved successful previously aren't working this time around.  This month we share with you our collection of articles addressing a variety of sleep issues you may face with your baby, toddler and pre-schooler and offer sound advice to get your family sleeping soundly.  As our experts follow differing philosophies, not all of the concepts will strike a chord with you.  However, you no doubt you will find some useful suggestion no matter which approach you prefer:

Young people and adults alike are trading, shopping, spending money in games, and on web sites for virtual as well as physical goods and services.  Just about anything you want is now available for purchasing on the internet via business and auction web sites.  Online shopping - especially as we head towards Christmas - offers both convenience and a greater choice.  The following articles contain valuable information to help your family minimize the risk of being ripped-off when making purchases over the internet:

The phrase “beauty is only skin-deep” is about to be turned on its head with the launch of Natural Glow’s new competition on Facebook calling for women to write in about what matters most to them. The cosmetics brand, loved by women of all generations and famous for its ‘thousands of luminous spheres’, wants to know what makes Kiwi women feel truly happy and beautiful on the inside and out. “This is a campaign celebrating women’s inner glow,” says Bernadette Soares managing director of Brand Value, parent company of Natural Glow. “We want women to post a relevant photo of themselves perhaps in a location that’s meaningful to them or with friends or family and an explanation on what makes them feel truly happy and beautiful on the inside.”

Natural Glow’s competition on Facebook started in October and runs until January and the winner will be announced in the New Year. The major prize to be won is a trip for two to Sydney, Australia for two nights with that someone special plus NZD$500 spending money.

The competition is being run on the wall of Natural Glow’s fan page.  To enter the competition, women can go to www.naturalglow.co.nz and link directly to the Natural Glow fan page or they can do a search for Natural Glow on Facebook.

To enter, fans simply write on the fan page wall what makes them truly happy in life, attach a photo that represents their answer, and click ‘share’ to post their entry to the wall.

Why don't you sign in and join a discussion topic - or start a new post about something concerning you? Chances are, you're not alone in your experiences!

With the arrival of the milder spring weather, day light savings, and longer days (and nights) it's time to dust off the barbeque and enjoy a variety of quick and easy meals which are oh so good for you too!!:

Barbeque Fillet of Beef Barbeque Hot Dogs Barbeque Lamb Spare Ribs Balsamic Glazed Lamb Chops Beef Salad with Crunchy Noodles Butterfly Lamb for a Crew Chilli Lime Lamb Cutlets with Coriander Noodle Salad Chimichurri Beef Greek Lamb Chops with Potatoes and Artichokes Honey Glazed Barbeque Steaks Japanese Style Tataki Beef Lamb and Noodle Salad Lamb Burgers with Aubergine Puree and Red Pepper Mayo Lamb Chops with Feta, Tomato and Asparagus Lamb Chops with Yoghurt and Oranges Lamb Kebabs with Garlic and Herbs Lamb Satay Madras Meatballs with Fresh Herb Yoghurt Dip Manuka Smoked Sausages with Pear and Walnut Salsa Mexican Beef Peppered Steak with Mustard Cream Raznici Lamb Kebabs Sesame Lamb Spare Ribs Spiced Beef Kebabs Warrior Burger

Visit the Cook's Corner page for more tempting recipes.

And if you are a seasoned sugar-crafts-person or new to cake decorating, be sure to check out our Birthday Cakes Gallery which allows you to share your creations and inspire others.

The coffeegroup.org Events / What's On section is devoted to "what's on" throughout New Zealand: from parenting courses and pre-school classes to community, sports and recreation events.

But wait, there's more!! As a member of the coffeegroup.org community, you now have the ability to upload and maintain your own listings so that you can notify the whole of New Zealand about your community-based, family oriented activities completely free of charge!!

Christmas 2009 Competition:

November 2009 Giveaways:

. Click here to go in the draw to win a copy of Little Howard's Unpleasant Lullaby valued at $20

. Click here to go in the draw to win a 4MyEarth Gift Voucher valued at $40

. Click here to go in the draw to win a copy of The Kiwi Kids' Health Book valued at $30

Congratulations to the Winners from our September 2009 Giveaways:

• A WUAN Baby Bag from At Your Aid went to: Linett Ram (Auckland)

• A copy of How to Talk to Dads by Alec Greven from HarperCollins Publishers went to: Samantha Cairns (Dunedin) and Darren Rae (Nelson)
  

• A copy of Mothers Raising Sons by Nigel Latta from HarperCollins Publishers went to: Frances Parnell (Wanganui) and Barb Robinson (Feilding)
  

• A copy of Pop Hooper's Perfect Pets Books 1 and 2 by Kyle Mewburn from HarperCollins Publishers went to: Tonia Gnoerich (Auckland) and Lorraine Duncan (Porirua)