Phew!

Not only did it provide the mental health moment many of us needed, it was just a bloody good laugh, a heap of fun and just a plain old great night out.

It featured, of course, a supportive community and safe, friendly environment, as it always does, with the added bonus of a fantastic venue - thank you The Butterfly Club! and the amazingly talented JennyWynter and her An Unexpected Variety Show.

The Show had us in stitches, as Jenny took us through her life, signing and dancing as she did so. It was something many of us could related to on so many different levels, and in many different ways. She really is incredibly talented, and a fabulous singer, aside from being just hilarious, along with the knack of taking you on an incredible ride of highs and lows – you know, life?!

Afterwards, it was upstairs for just relaxin’, chillin’, eating, drinking, just being yourself and having a load of fun. It was relaxed, informal and there was much mirth, silliness and fun.

As it should be.

And something we believe all mums need to do every now and again so they don’t go completely mental.

It was so heartwarming to have a mix of those who have been coming along to Mums’ Night Out! for years, laughing and chatting alongside those whom have been once, and those who bit the bullet and booked a ticket. Better still was to have them say “I wasn’t going to come, but I’m so glad I did!!!” and leaving with big smiles on their faces.

Simply heartwarming.

Of course, this night could not happen without the fantastic guests we always get – thank you so much!

Mostly, huge thanks to Real Mums and the community of awesomeness (Bad Mother’s Club) who gave us the support and encouragement we needed to get the Night happening, and to zangIT for more of the same.

Big, big thanks to our Sponsors who deserve all the accolades we can offer. Please support them for supporting us … because they rock!

Please thank them by showing them some love and supporting them as best you can … share their links, buy stuff from them, tell them you love them, because without them your mental health could be in serious trouble.

Massive thanks to our sponsors for Mums’ Night Out! 2012

(You do have your ticket, don’t you?)

We’ve been stalking Jenny Wynter – the main attraction at this upcoming night of mental health redemption and awesomeness – on Facebook who has been sharing all about her adventures and wowing people at the Adelaide Fringe Festival the last week or so.

Aside from receiving a number of 5 star reviews about her performance – because it is so very funny and entertaining – but she has also won an Award for An Unexpected Variety Show - again, because it is so brilliant. Her shows were also selling out in Adelaide … would that also be due to awesomeness?

Can you see now why we are so excited to have her as part of Mums’ Night Out!?

We still have tickets to the Show and Night Out, so if you are planning on coming along, just do it! We are planning to sell Jenny out at this event, so if you’re all for supporting another mum and acknowledging her for being fabulous …

And for those of you worried about feeling “guilty” about taking some time for yourself and leaving the kids at home in the cupboard consider this:

1. Being a grumpy arse, cranky bitch when with your children is worse for your mental health and their well-being than you taking a night off for yourself;
2. All proceeds – and we mean ALL proceeds – from Mums’ Night Out! go towards supporting mums who need it in various ways;
3. Since when did having fun become a guilty pastime? Hmmm?

See you there!

Clearly, she had a fabulous time (we have the photos to prove it!) but we’ll keep her anonymous.

Anyhoo, she said this:

Each day I don’t purchase a ticket to Mums’ Night Out! a little seed of resentment grows inside me. I resent that I have no time to myself and feel like the only thing I have to look forward to is when my kids grow up and leave the house. In about thrity years!

 

I feel like I’m going to turn into one of those bitter old ladies if I don’t get a break soon.

Jenny Wynter is, if I do so say myself, an incredibly talented woman. I had the pleasure of seeing her perform at the Melbourne Fringe Festival last year in her Unexpected Variety Show and just wasn’t prepared for just how talented she is.

She makes is funny - which is a good thing, really, as she is a comedian, and it would be terribly embarrassing if she didn’t.

She also makes you cry.

She is honest.

She can also SING!

And DANCE!

And play a keyboard whilst she is siging!

Her An Unexpected Variety Show is her journey through life, motherhood, the universe and everthing. It is brilliant.

So, Mums’ Night Out! 2012 is An Unexpected Variety Show and more.

It’s happening a little earlier this year – on Friday the 13th of April, rather than the usual May event.

It’s going to be way more relaxed and informal than previous years, but no less entertaining or FUN!

The Butterfly Club, where the Show is being held are being so nice and are letting us use the Lounge upstairs after the show for eating and dancing and all the other fun stuff we usually get up to.

If you can’t hang around after the Show, that’s ok, because we’re offering two ticket options – you can come along for the whole night, which gets you:

• a welcome drink on arrival
• An Unexpected Variety Show ticket (and a seat in which you may sit for the Show!)
• entry to the Lounge
• another complimentary drink
• finger food and tasting plates to share
• giveaways and prices
• an informal night of dancing, fun, giggling, dancing, laughing, great friends, let your hair down, laughing, dancing around handbags etc

The bar will be open for purchase of additional drinks if you wish.

Due to the nature of the event and venue size restrictions tickets are strictly limited and Bookings Are ESSENTIAL

Last year, Mums’ Night Out! sold out. This year, there are fewer tickets available. If you miss this, you will be sadly dissapointed.

Also, you’ll miss a fantastic night of cheap, but incredibly fun therapy!

See you there!

Mad Cow
xox

PS If you want to know more about Jenny and her Show, check out her website – www.jennywynter.com !

I got a feeling
That tonight’s gonna be a good night
Yeah tonight’s gonna be a good good night

Looping around in my head.

Rather than drive me nuts, I took it as a sign that “tonight” (by which I mean “last night”) was gonna be a good night. I hoped so, becuase I was pretty stressed leading up the event.

Mostly, I wanted it to run smoothly, I wanted everyone happy and, mostly, I wanted everyone to have a good time and enjoy the night.

It wasn’t a good night

It. Was. AWESOME!

It was the BEST Mums’ Night Out! ever.

Of course, I did spend most of my night on the dancefloor, drink in hand – and a microphone at one stage; unsure who’d had so much to drink that they thought this was a good idea, but anyhoo – letting loose and just really enjoying myself.

It was fantastic to catch up with guests who’ve been to most of the previous events, with an old school friend, with fellow school mums, people who’s blogs I follow and who I chat to on Facebook and Twitter.

I LOVED getting to see, again, all the amazing women on Real Mums, who I’ve gotten to know over the years, laughed with, cried with, supported and been supported by.

Mostly, it was just so fabulous to see the few guests who were dancing in the shadows make it to the dancefloor after a short time, to see mums I usually see racing after toddlers, or strapped to a baby busting a few moves I never imagined them capable off.

Food was aplenty, drinks, too, were aplenty – the venue had created a number of cocktails and shots specifically for us; the Quicky before school pickup was a hit, as was the standard Slippery Nipple. Both of which went down well. Very well indeed for a few guests there.

SOOOO many prizes were handed out on the night that it was totally crazy! I’m not sure how we fit it all in. I was really impressed to see guests willingly participate in activities for the larger priced prizes; and even more impressed that here were women there who could whip egg whites so fabulously for the glory of winning a Chef’s Toolbox Frypan! (They are seriously good frypans! Both for cooking and ensuring your hubby and/or kids get the point)

Sadly, no pavolova creating contest was forthcoming. There was little need for more food, anyway, and the goody bags were suitably adequte for providing us with afterparty snacks (thank you Coles, Lindt and Creative Cakes & Cookies!)

Hugely HUGE thank you to Alli from Motivating Mum, with help from Jacinta of Chef’s Toolbox for keeping the night moving and keeping us on track, and providing a handbag for us to dance around!

As mentioned earlier, much of my night was spent on the dance floor. My favourite thing to do – and the thing I don’t get to do very often at all. Which is pretty much why these nights were invented in the first place! So I could dance. A lot.

(Ok, and take control of a microphone and have to have it wrested away from me seven songs later)

People filtered out from around 11.30pm. I recall dancing with 15 or so of my closest friends – or is that dancing closely with 15 or so other people on the dance floor?? – and turning around to find the venue empty. The die hards kicking on.

Some concern about the era of music the DJ was playing was raised, until we discovered it was due to an overzealous attendee reliving her teenagehood and requesting those songs that make you think “What the hell is he playing? I must dance to this!”

We staggered off to out beds – good thinking this booking a bed thing was! – at around half past midnight. Yes, the time we were asked nicely to leave.

Lots of feedback about how great the night was was received, which is what I’m most happy with; that it seemed everyone had themselves a good night.

A good, good night …

My own personal photos are not for public viewing. Kelly from Photos By Kelly was our official photographer on the night, and will hopefully have photos for us soon. We’ll let you know when she does.

Thank you – BIG BIG THANK YOU to all our sponsors, and to Michelle, Jodi, Emma and Catherine for your bag stuffing and prize wrapping assistance! And MORE!

BIG thanks also to zangIT, Clever Streak and the chicks at Real Mums and Bad Mother’s Club for your ongoing faith in me and Mums’ Night Out! You’re crazy – but I love you for it!

By Mad Cow (aka Amanda Cox) creator, instigator and organisor of Mums’ Night Out! and passionate advocate for the mental health and wellbeing of Mums. Also, she likes a party and a drink or two.
(visit her ramblings at www.diaryofamadcow.com.au)

If you have done a review of Mums’ Night Out! on your own blog or would like to do a guest post/review on this one – please email info@mumsnightout.com.au

Hugest thanks must go to our major sponsors and bum kickers – zangIT and Clever Streak, without whom our main event organiser, Amanda Cox (aka Mad Cow) would be a puddle on the floor, and this website wouldn’t be here for you to easily purchase your tickets and find out about all the wonderful things we’re doing.

Amanda’s other, main business, Real Mums & Bad Mother’s Club are also major contibutors to this event; and all the members on this site have, possibly unknowingly, contributed a great deal to the running of these events.

(Again, possibly from their avid, enthusiastic displays about forthcoming events, nagging, spreading the word, inviting friends and being incredibly supportive! Thank you!)

Of course, other major sponsors, such as Coles, Lindt Australia and The Chef’s Toolbox contributed greatly … and provided, along with all our other sponsors, much needed and very much appreciated support.

Not to mention some amazing prizes and stuff to stuff in the goody bags!

A Goody Bag Stuffing ceremony took place, and stuffing was still happening only hours before the event was to start. They were, however, ready and waiting when guests arrived, stuffed full and valued at something like $1000 each.

Not bad, huh?

They are full of stuff provided by the abovementioned sponsors (chocolate, choc chip cookies, shampoo, beauty cream etc etc) as well as products from Bosistos, Creative Cakes and Cookies and Nature’s Gifts and Remedies and vouchers with seriously ridiculous discounts from Which Wine is That and The Mummyseuss.

Prizes from all sorts of businesses – too many to mention, oh ok, here’s some, but apologies if we left you out! Feel free to add a comment saying “what about me” and adding a link to your site” (but only if you actually did contribute a prize) – *Glitzee*, You Need Glasses, Pampered Mummies, Baubles Bubbles & Bags, Exotix, Mother’s Toolkit, Leaf Paper Designs, Gasp Personalised Products, Your Kids Ed, Shop 4 Toys, Zooid, Market Angel, Toosh Coosh and … I think that’s everyone! SO. Many Prizes.

 Special Somethings and Oh My Giddy Aunt gave away some incredible pieces of jewellery – gorgeous!!!

We also need to thank Babysitters and More, Hummers 4 Hire and Pampered Mummies for helping to make it as easy as possible for guests to be there, and look gorgeous for when they do arrive!

For now … we’re still in the jeans we had on yesterday, there are empty Lindt and Coles Choc Chip Cookies boxes everywhere and we still need to shower before we head out for the Biggest Mental Health Moment of the Year.

Proudly brought to you by Real Mums and Bad Mother’s Club

See you shortly!

• The first and last names of those you you have purchased tickets for;
• Any special dietary requirements (gluten free, coeliac, only eat food dipped in chocolate … etc);
• If you only purchased one ticket, you only need reply if you have any special food requirements;
• If you purchased tickets on behalf of a group/friends/random strangers – we NEED these details.

 Two reasons:

1.  Their names are required for the guest list at the door; and
2. More importantly – the fabulous Lindt of the world’s most delicious chocolate fame are providing us with a Lindt Chocolate Hamper, valued at $250. A name will be selected randomly from a hat of some description on Friday evening.

 (Details of the prize etc can be found at http://diaryofamadcow.com.au/2011/05/02/giveaway-lindt-chocolate-hamper/ )

 To be in the draw, a ticket to Mums’ Night Out! must have been purchased. As you have purchased a ticket you are automatically in the draw.

 Hurrah!

 So, if we DO NOT have names by midday Friday (and dietary requirements, too, remember) then:

1. Whomever’s name is missing misses out on a chance to win the $250 Lindt Hamper and they will be very cross with you;
2. We will be forced to hire burly security guards to evict them from the premises, because if there name isn’t at the door they don’t get in and they’ll be very cross with you;
3. If they do get in, we may be forced to watch them swell up like a balloon and interrupt a good ABBA song to call an ambulance due to a food allergy and we will be very cross.

Lindt, as well as Coles, Bosisto’s, Special Somethings, Chef’s Toolbox and a heap of other fabulous businesses are also providing goody bag fillers and prizes, and The Mummyseuss and Pampered Mummies will be on hand to massage and pamper us during the event.

We encourage you to get behind these amazing companies and businesses and show them how much we appreciate their support. You can view ALL the incredible supportes on our Sponsors page.

 We still have a handful of tickets available, so if you know of anyone else who’d be interested in attending, please direct them to the wesbite – www.mumsnightout.com.au - numbers a limited and tickets must be purchased by Sunday the 8th of May.

 (Or Friday the 6th of May if they want to be in the Lindt Hamper draw )

 We’ll be sending a final email early-mid next week regarding the event, so please keep an eye out for it. It will be equally important.

 Until then, try to get some sleep, as we know you’re just as excited as we are!

Nine if you schedule in a nanna nap during the day next Friday. Do so, you may need it!

There are, however, only 3 more sleeps to book your tickets. Yup, you have until 5pm Sunday the 8th of May, Mother’s Day, to ensure you have yours.

(There’s also plenty of time to determine that you have all the presents you’re going to get and nothing fabulous is going to spring out of the pre-school made cards and school Mother’s Day Stall bought pressies that bare no sentiment to you at all … ta da … opportuity to get something fabulous! Just saying.)

You only have ONE MORE SLEEP however, to book your tickets and go in the draw to win this incredible hamper from Lindt Australia - yes, the Lindt chocolate Lindt – valued at $250.

That’s all you need to do … book your ticket and you will automatically go into the draw to win this hamper:

All we need is your name, and we’ll add it to a hat or bowl or receptical of some description and draw a name out. That. Easy!

If you’ve already booked, well you needn’t do anything until you are required to shower and dress before 7.30 Friday the 13th, 2011 (yes, that’s the date Mums’ Night Out! 2011 is on).

So if you haven’t done so already … now would be a good time