IT’S that time of the week again, when we link up our giveaways or start entering to win. Yesterday I had a huge win. Actually, I had a huge win back in May when I scored a voucher for a facial, pedicure and manicure for Mother’s Day. Except I blinked, three months passed by and there was the voucher: EXPIRED.
So yesterday, thanks to the salon staff allowing me to use my voucher regardless, the deep canyons on my face became more like shallow ravines. My feet no longer resemble a snake shedding its skin. And my hands could pass for that of a hand model. Well, if I was modelling freshly packed fertiliser straight from the cow paddock, maybe. You can’t win them all.
There’s little that could surpass those three whinge-free, cling-free, mess-free hours. Apart from maybe a week at a resort, with a good book, sipping cocktails with those little umbrellas and someone to turn down my bed sheets and lay out the resort dressing gown each night. Ah, the memories.
Anyway, back to reality. As most of you know from last week, there’s a new badge to grab for the Aussie Giveaway Linkup, but the same old rules apply. If you’re a reader, start clicking.
If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately.
Giveaways must be open to Australian residents.
Grab the NEW button to add to your post.
A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
Start entering the giveaways!
If money were no object, what would be your ultimate day of pampering?
TODAY I’m flying solo on the Aussie Giveaway Linkup. I feel like a child who’s been patted on the bum and told to run along on the first day of school. Which is quite ironic, considering Baby Holly started childcare this week.
But anyway, I digress. The fabulous Tina Gray from Tina Gray {Dot} Me has started a wonderful new meme wrapped around the newest online craze of Pinterest, called Ooh, that’s Pinterst…ing. I must admit, I dipped my toe into the world of pinning this week and somehow got lost in a maze of food photos. Unfortunately, I lost quite a few good hours of my life, while my toe gained a spare tyre. Beware: it’s addictive. If you’re on Pinterest, you should check out the Brownies I found. If you love pinning, then join up with Tina and have some fun.
So, this week, for the Aussie Giveaway Linkup there’s a new badge to grab, but the same old rules apply. If you’re a reader, start clicking.
If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately.
Giveaways must be open to Australian residents.
Grab the NEW button to add to your post.
A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
AS YOU read this, I’m most likely slaving over a hot stove making an egg and bacon breakfast, along with some hot coffee and, hey, let’s throw in a few bagels too. Or, alternatively, I’m still asleep while The Bloke in The Shed wrestles two li’l princesses. Because, let’s be honest, if he wants to be honoured today – Father’s Day – then he’d best work for it. Harsh?
No, really, we three princesses are pretty blessed to have a wonderful man in our lives who cares for us, looks out for us and loves us endlessly. He goes well beyond the agreement made in our vowels. If I’d known that was going to be the case, I would have added a few more conditions on that particular contract.
Anyway, if the reality for your man is soggy toast, cold coffee, a pottery ashtray and three-times recycled Father’s Day card today, then here’s something to make him smile:
Happy Father’s Day, darling!
Now, to this week’s Aussie Giveaway Linkup. If the links are up, then start entering.
If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately.
Giveaways must be open to Australian residents.
Grab the button to add to your post.
A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
Start entering the giveaways!
This linkup is a combined project with the wonderful Tina Gray. You can link up your giveaway on either of our sites – it all goes into the one linky.
LAST month we welcomed adorable twins into our home. What? You missed that news? So you don’t remember this Zhu-rrific good time?
This is Zhu Zhu Pets Zhu-Leopard and Zhu-Zebra. They’re part of the newly released Zhu-Fari range.
Let me introduce you to them.
Zhu-Leopard: She’s the sweeter of the two. She makes little cat noises and is always happy to rub up against your leg when you’re cooking dinner… then scoots off again in another direction, before doing a 360 and returning to your leg again. Yes, just a little clingy is our Zhu-Leopard.
Zhu-Zebra: He’s the boisterous one and also Princess Ella’s favourite. In turn, he’s always looking out for her (see photo). Most likely because they have similar personality traits – they’re noisy (cue: galloping horse-like noises before he takes off), won’t sit still and if there’s a door open, they’re off exploring before you even realise they’re gone. I did find him in the pantry the other day trying to sniff out the cupcakes.
They also came with their own little habitats. Although, they do tend to encroach on ours more often than not. Particularly the kitchen, as you’ll see:
There were plenty of giggles as the pair catapulted off the end of the ramp. Yes, this was an obsession for a while there. Poor pets!
Further laughter was had when one of them went around in circles and couldn’t get out of the jungle roundabout.
Again, poor pets. Although, after watching this video, you’ll be saying “poor mum”.
Ella’s favourite part is the little green and purple worms. They’re placed into the top of the tree and, with the help of a lever, come out a hole at the bottom.
With Christmas fast approaching, they’re an ideal gift for children 3 years-plus looking for their own “pet’’. And much cheaper. They’ve been voted Australian Toy of the Year Winner for Girls, but the range also caters for boys, with Ninja Zhu Zhus. They’re small, about the size of a real hamster, similar in weight and are easy to use – press the cute paw back button and away they go. They’re fast, so just watch out.
The noise factor can irritate some parents. However, the fact they make my girls giggle, makes me happy. And I find the noises quite cute, with the decibel level not piercing. So I don’t have a problem with them. NOTE: To turn them off, press the back buttons or the nose a second time.
The only other issue is the wheels can play havoc if they come anywhere near little girls’ hair, so heed the warning on the side of the box.
Lastly, the duo are from a good breed: here’s the rest of the Zhu-fari tribe:
The Zhu Zhu Pets retail for $20 each and the accessories range in price. They are available at Target, Kmart, Big W, Toys R Us and all major toy retailers.
Kissing cousins
To go in the draw to win TWO fabulous Zhu Zhu accessories and TWO of the wonderful furry critters, leave a comment telling us what gets your children excited at the moment (toys, food, music, TV, sport?). The giveaway closes Sunday, October 2 at 7pm and a winner will be drawn randomly and announced on this blog and via Facebook and Twitter. Australian residents only. Limit of three entries.
Want extra entries? Then here’s how you can up your chances in the draw. Each task is worth one extra entry, but must be included as a separate comment (or it won’t count).
Click the Facebook button below and share this giveaway with your Facebook friends. Then leave a separate comment saying something along the lines of “I’ve shared this on Facebook’’.
Click the Twitter button below and share this giveaway with your Twitter followers (Twitter handle is @ThreeLil). Then leave a separate comment saying something along the lines of “I’ve shared this on Twitter’’.
**DISCLAIMER: I am an ambassador for the Zhu-fari range. I received two Zhu Zhu pets and two accessories for review. All opinions expressed are purely my own.
RIGHT now, Baby Holly is in the midst of Wonder Week 46. So you can only imagine how grateful I was to get hold of the updated, fatter version of the worldwide bestseller The Wonder Weeks book. Yes, the sanity saver book I go on about on this blog, Twitter and Facebook all the time.
Yesterday I read the sections I hadn’t covered in the original version as my fussy baby displayed the three Cs – cranky, clingy and crying. Oh yes, fun times here. The updated version extends beyond the original eight Wonder Weeks to now feature 10 of these fussy, pull-your-hair-out periods in a baby and toddler’s life.
What I’ve loved about the book is it’s a real eye opener to why these cranky pants periods can be so frustrating for babies… and parents. They’re kind of like growth spurts, but for the brain. The book sells itself on exactly what it does: helps you to learn how best to stimulate your baby or toddler’s mental development and turn the hair-pulling phases into leaps forward. It never tries to make you believe it’ll turn your baby into a genius. You’ll need Mozart for that.
I only read the original book each time we were about to embark on another leap to see what the next lot of cognitive growth had in store. So, having now read the entire book, these are the things I loved most about it:
It not only explains why things are happening, but also what you can do to help your baby through it. It means you’ll enjoy your baby more and learn how to better cope.
It’s broken into the different developmental leaps, making it easy to digest. Each “Week’’ is also broken into smaller categories. Plus, it’s written with the everyday parent in mind. Even this sleep deprived mama found it easy to follow.
You’re able to connect with your baby better through the gentle games and activities suggested.
It’s packed with quotes and experiences of real parents (and let me tell you, they’re pretty honest), making you feel less alone during the challenging periods. The book is like your parenting support and instils you with greater self confidence.
There’s a My Diary section to allow you to record your baby’s progress.
The new edition means all those people who wished it was about more than just babies can learn about the developmental leaps right up until 20 months.
The book reassures you that every baby is different. So if you baby isn’t doing it “by the book’’ or what another baby of similar age is doing, that’s OK.
My favourite line from the book is: “we have shown that every baby is `reborn’ 10 times in the first 20 months’’. Lucky we don’t have to go through the labour part as many times.
The book was written by Dutch author Frans Plooij and his wife Hetty van de Rijt, who passed away in 2003. The pair researched parent-baby interactions for 35 years. When Hetty died, the first draft of the last chapter of this revised book was ready.
While there is an app now available for iPads and iPhones, my only suggestion for the author is for it to be released as an ebook. As a breastfeeding mum, my Kobo eReader is lighter to hold and doesn’t require physical page turning while feeding bub.
If you want to learn more about the book, you can:
You could enter the giveaway and score a copy for free.
UPDATE: COMPETITION CLOSED…. To go in the draw to win one of four copies of the new extended version of The Wonder Weeks (ranges in price from $65.95 at Angus and Robertson to $27.62 at The Book Depository) or one of two apps ($1.99 on iTunes), simply tell us three words to describe your baby or toddler right now. The giveaway closes Monday, September 19 at 7pm and a winner will be drawn randomly and announced on this blog and via Facebook and Twitter. Australian residents only. Limit of three entries.
Want extra entries? Then here’s how you can up your chances in the draw. Each task is worth one extra entry, but must be included as a separate comment (or it won’t count).
Click the Facebook button below and share this giveaway with your Facebook friends. Then leave a separate comment saying something along the lines of “I’ve shared this on Facebook’’.
Click the Twitter button below and share this giveaway with your Twitter followers (Twitter handle is @ThreeLil). Then leave a separate comment saying something along the lines of “I’ve shared this on Twitter’’.
IF YOU’VE ever questioned why you should bother entering the giveaways in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup, let me give you a few reasons:
You could have won a nappy disposal system from Toushka of Toushka Lee.
You could have won a USPA Haircare Set from Jennifer of Jennifer Reid.
You could have won a Donna Hay pack from Veronica ofMama Jots.
And that’s just in the last week. So, get clicking on the picture links. You never know your luck.
And if you’re wondering what we’re doing today, it’s a combination of nappy changing, preparing my hair for an orgasmic experience (did I just write that?) and cooking cupcakes. Yum! The cupcakes, not the nappies.
If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately.
Giveaways must be open to Australian residents.
Grab the button to add to your post.
A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
Start entering the giveaways!
This linkup is a combined project with the wonderful Tina Gray. You can link up your giveaway on either of our sites – it all goes into the one linky.
What do you and your family have planned today?
PS. If you’re able to fill in my poll on what time you sign into your Facebook account, you’ll win a smiley face from me!
IT’S that time of the week again, when we link up our giveaways or start entering to win. Yesterday I had a huge win. Actually, I had a huge win back in May when I scored a voucher for a facial, pedicure and manicure for Mother’s Day. Except I blinked, three months passed by and there was the voucher: EXPIRED.
