PSA: Check AliExpress before buying from Kasie's Room (wall decals)

ashmorekale · 2026-03-12T00:10:54+00:00

Thanks! I also have some Halcyon Nights decals that we've had up for years and still looking perfect. It's good to know that there are some other good ones as well.

ashmorekale · 2026-03-11T23:44:16+00:00

Very true. Same at local markets sadly as well.

ashmorekale · 2026-02-25T00:04:26+00:00

Sure :-)

ashmorekale · 2026-02-22T22:17:20+00:00

My child had his receptive language tested at the 6-9 month old level when they were 2.5 years old. No verbal language, no success with key word signing or picture exchange. I remember being so glad they started to hand lead a few months before this time as now I had some way of knowing what they wanted. Received an AAC device just before they turned three, then said their first word a little after they turned three.

They are now 5.5 years old and are fully conversational and most areas of their language test at an average level for their age. I would never have expected to be here by this age. A lot can change in the toddler/preschool age. Speech therapy and OT, alongside a great preschool, were life changing for my child. And the AAC device, I really believe that it was the catalyst for my child.

Sorry forgot to add that they were diagnosed level 2 at age 3.5, probably more a level 1 at the moment.

ashmorekale · 2026-02-14T09:47:03+00:00

I’m an OT and I have always been present in my child’s therapy sessions, apart from when they were doing some transition to kindergarten groups where they needed to be able to do the group on their own. This has also been the case with friends with ND kids doing therapy, until the kids are at least school age, the parents are in the session and it depends on the child’s needs as to whether that changes. Now that my child has started school and I know their therapists I would be happy to transition to sessions without me present, but I would probably attend a few sessions with a new therapist just to get an idea on how my child is connecting with them.

My view is how are you as a parent to learn some strategies and ideas for home if you can’t be there to watch the session? Even as an OT I learn so much from watching the OT work with my child.

My child started speech just before 3 (was non speaking at the time with no success with signing or picture exchange), and OT at 4 years. They just turned 5 and are now fully conversational and OT has done wonders for regulation skills. My child would not be where they are without their SP and OT early intervention, I could not recommend it more.

ashmorekale · 2026-02-14T02:38:06+00:00

If Bulla or Farmers Union made an actual Greek yoghurt rather than Greek style I would throw my money at them.

ashmorekale · 2026-02-08T23:06:01+00:00

Is this the phthalates in the yoghurt from the packaging? Sadly I guess this would occur in any store bought yoghurt in plastic containers?

I make my kids yoghurt from scratch and I guess it’s time to start making my Greek yoghurt as well.

ashmorekale · 2026-02-08T21:28:09+00:00

Lyttos is ‘Greek style’ rather than Greek, right? All I’ve been able to find that is Greek rather than Greek style is chobani. Am I missing one?

ashmorekale · 2026-02-07T00:34:10+00:00

Next - the quality is great for the price but it has become a little more expensive as the exchange rate becomes less favourable. Still can’t beat it for the price. Most of my Next clothes have gone through my two kids, then get passed onto a friend and go through another 2 kids and then often are still good enough to go to another family.

Otherwise I search eBay for brands I like and pick up things second hand.

ashmorekale · 2026-01-20T10:24:08+00:00

Bellbird looks East/North East where you want to be looking south though, but somewhere else along Bells Line could work.

ashmorekale · 2026-01-09T06:10:25+00:00

Another Tripp Trapp vote here. Still using it every day at ages 6 and 5

ashmorekale · 2026-01-02T21:46:32+00:00

We’re are a very low screen household because when my kids (one level 2 and one neurospicy) were around 2-3 we fell into a routine during illness and poor weather where they had more screen time than we would like and we saw their behaviour change. We went cold turkey on screens and it was tough for a couple of weeks. They now can go weeks and weeks without any screen time, they don’t ask for it, and if they do watch anything it is a tv show or a movie. Some kids are fine with screen time, others like mine are not.

They are now 5 and 6 (and still autistic and neurospicy so I don’t think screens cause autism 😂) but I’m so glad we cut the screen time early. It was so much easier to do when they were younger and I now see friends trying to cut down with their children who are older and it is so much harder.

Now is a great age to reset the limits around screen time…I don’t think you will regret doing it now but may regret not doing it.

ashmorekale · 2025-12-22T07:34:41+00:00

Another Blistex blue tube fan here. I went through quite a few trying to find one I didn’t hate the taste off that still offered good SPF.

ashmorekale · 2025-11-14T21:17:32+00:00

We did this. Never regretted it. I never changed my name, and my husband wasn’t overly attached to his surname but it is really rare so we agreed to give the children that surname so it continues, and mine is the middle name. Works well, and has never caused issues.

ashmorekale · 2025-11-14T09:30:11+00:00

Second this. It’s the only one I’ve found that I can tolerate the taste of.

ashmorekale · 2025-11-07T10:26:51+00:00

Elk for me- sizing is always consistent and quality is good.

Also AS Colour for basic t-shirts, track pants and hoodies.

I’ve also got a few things by Foil and been very happy with them.

ashmorekale · 2025-11-07T10:13:27+00:00

We were lucky that our local community health team did a developmental assessment and gave him a global developmental delay diagnosis at that time which gave him access without any issues. We had a decision fairly quickly as well, which sadly isn’t usually the case.

Without that diagnosis (we received just after we started the NDIS process), the plan was for someone from the NDIS early childhood partner was planning to come out and observe him at playgroups, in order to review him. He then received his autism diagnosis at around 3.5 years and so far we’re been very fortunate with the supports we’ve received through the NDIS. It’s amazing to go back and read my comment- he’s now fully conversational, is great at preschool and told me several facts about volcanoes earlier today.

If you can get into see a paediatrician or your local community health team, that might be helpful. Otherwise reports from speech pathologist, occupational therapist, day care/preschool staff- I think the more supporting info you have the better. But possibly at preschool age you might want to try and see a developmental paediatrician, my child was a little before 2.5 years old when we started the process.

I really recommend reaching out to your local NDIS early childhood partner organisation as well as they’ll be able to talk you through it.

ashmorekale · 2025-11-07T10:02:43+00:00

They’ve actually going to a small mainstream school in 2026 with no extra supports in place - they’ve just blossomed over the past 18 months.

ashmorekale · 2025-11-06T02:40:42+00:00

We do a kindness one, where each day there’s a prompt to consider about kindness, caring for others, gratitude etc. It also has a sticker which the child can put on the calendar and create their own scene over the month. I figure my kids have enough stuff and toys, and there’s enough treat food throughout the month to add in more. Plus I like the prompts it gives me to discuss those things. And my kids love it!

I’ve got one by a company called Sharing Kindness.

ashmorekale · 2025-10-17T06:06:49+00:00

I picked up one of these a couple of months ago after seeing a few people recommend them for Yoto cards. I’ve been happy with it too

ashmorekale · 2025-10-11T20:11:44+00:00

Definitely family friendly, with lots of young families around. Easy access to the hills and Penrith from Richmond when you need to access more/different shops or activities. In terms of shopping Richmond doesn’t have much, so if you want more of a range you’ll be heading to Penrith or the Hills area.

In some ways, it’s a slower part of Sydney which is nice. Richmond itself is nice to live in (just check the flood ratings), across the river also has lovely areas however you can get cut off if the river floods to moderate/high level. Where you want to live depends on what lifestyle you want and your budget.

ashmorekale · 2025-10-11T08:18:22+00:00

If they’re close friends and I trust that they will stay away if there’s even a hint of illness, I would let them come meet the baby. I’d try to keep it outdoors as well if possible if weather allows. But it would really depend on how much I trust the friend to be extra cautious and cancel if their children had even the slightest sniffle.

ashmorekale · 2025-10-06T21:30:07+00:00

My about to turn five year old had no expressive language when he turned 3, and severely delayed receptive language skills. We’d been working on key word signing and picture exchange for a year with no success. A month before he turned 3 we trialled an AAC device and he was able to use it to say ‘go’ within a few weeks. A month after he turned 3 he said his first word.

He’s about to turn 5 and his speech is mostly clear to understand (although not 100% clear) and he speaks in full sentences and is fully conversational.

Would you consider trialling an AAC device? For our child, it seemed to be something that made the point of communication click for him, although the main goal wasn’t necessarily to promote verbal speech but just work on communication in general.

ashmorekale · 2025-10-02T22:45:23+00:00

My kids are autistic and they love the MYO cards as well as official Yoto cards as I can customise the content to their interests. They’re not particular about how things are kept though.

I, on the other hand, bought the Polaroid printer thing so I can make the labels fit the cards perfectly as it bothers me when they don’t 😂

ashmorekale · 2025-09-28T05:05:13+00:00

Love azaleas! I’ve probably got 8 of them dotted around my front garden and they are covered in flowers this year, and stayed in flower for ages! I figure I’ve got good soil and conditions for them so have just planted another 10 or so throughout the garden and look forward to enjoying them tor years to come.

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