Hello there,

It's May - the month when we traditionally honour the journey of motherhood. Celebrating Mother's Day on May 10 this year, we wish all our mums a very big HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. In case you didn't know, the Emerald is May's birthstone and Lily-of-the-Valley is the symbolic flower.

Grab a cuppa and take time out to read this month's articles.

• 12 Foods NOT to Eat
• How to Boost Your Fertility Naturally - written for us by Gabriela Rosa
• Easy-to-follow plan to get your family eating healthy

Exciting news! This month's Online Expert is Gabriela Rosa, a Sydney-based natural fertility expert. She will be available in the Forum to answer any questions you may have on the topic of falling pregnant, pregnancy health and pre-pregnancy issues.

Fantastic Prizes to WIN in our Competitions and Giveaways
You can enter them all or just pick your favourites

• Win back your health with Mass Attack when you win a fully Comprehensive Health & Hormone Assessment. Four to win, each valued at $139, you'll discover a new you!

• One lucky viewer will get to unwind and relax in absolute luxury with a friend when they win The Thai Foot Spa's wonderful prize. With products & treatments totalling $455, you'll think you're in heaven.

• Join My Child and Bub Hub in celebrating their birthdays and you could be sharing $4,750 in prizes
  CLOSING MAY 19 SO DON'T MISS OUT

• The Sydney Pregnancy, Babies and Children's Expo is on in May. Print off your FREE ticket here! We will have a stand there so come and say hello!

Mal's French Toast
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4

1 loaf of good crusty white bread (eg Pasta Dura)
4 eggs
125 ml milk
1 teaspoon sugar (or more to taste)
A pinch of salt
dash of vanilla
butter for cooking
toppings (see below)

1. Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, salt and vanilla well until the sugar has dissolved. Pour half the mixture into a flat bottomed dish or tray.
2. Slice the bread, thickishly, about 2.5cm slices (nothing less but you can go thicker if you wish).
3. Soak the bread for a few minutes on each side in batches, depending on the size of your dish, and top-up the egg mixture as needed. If you need more, just make it as you need it.
4. Heat the butter in a frypan on a medium to hot heat. Cook the bread in batches until golden brown. But be careful not to over-cook - the secret is to have the inside of the bread soft and scrumptious.
5. Serve immediately with a smile and enjoy!

Topping Suggestions:
:: Layer maple syrup, cream and a sprinkling of home-made cinnamon sugar
:: Gently saute strawberries in butter with a squeeze of lemon or lime juice and dust with icing sugar to serve
:: Serve with bacon, herbed slow-baked tomatoes and a perfectly poached egg (for this option, don't include the vanilla or sugar in the egg mix)

Thanks to one of our dads in the forum who supplied us with this tried and trusted recipe. For more great recipe ideas for dinner tonight or to plan a Mother's Day breakfast or brunch visit our recipe hub. Add in your favourites whilst you're there.

Important Diary Dates...

10 May :: Mother's Day
10 - 16 May :: National Families Week 2009
15 - 17 May :: Sydney PBC Expo, Rosehill Gardens, Rosehill
17 May :: Aunties and Uncles Family Fun Day, Sydney
30 - 31 May :: Farm Day
13 June :: Bub Hub's National Pram Ribbon Day

As usual, there are many requests from the media and study groups for your contributions in our Research Help section:

• Adelaide's Flinders University has a 15 minute online survey on parents' sleep patterns
  
• A Sydney paper is wanting to hear from any NSW parents of babies tagged wrongly in hospital
  
• A national health magazine is looking for coeliac disease suffers
  

The Bub Hub Team