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  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #82: Holidays with husbands

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #82: Holidays with husbands

    Bakers Beach TasmaniaI’m still on holidays. Well, from the blog, at least. You’ll notice even my Facebook page and Twitter account are a little quieter than usual.

    I did promise I’d keep the Aussie Giveaway Linkup going, so feel free to link up below. I’ll also make sure it gets shared via my social media networks to help you all gain a bit more traffic.

    Meanwhile, I’m off to battle a husband who’s just started four weeks holiday this weekend. Some days that’s a blessing. Some days that’s a curse.

    Please, tell me I’m not alone on that one?

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     



    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #81: Have a very merry Christmas

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #81: Have a very merry Christmas

    Holly ChristmasA bit of Holly for your Christmas!!

    Here are some winning moments from the past week:

    • While driving home from school this week, Ella was pleading for a pet. I explained how we’re often away, so we can’t have a pet. Who will look after it? She pleaded with: “but everyone I know has a pet and I don’t.’’ I felt terrible. She then followed up with “Peppa Pig has a fish…’’ she started. Ah right, so “everyone’’ is ABC2 TV characters, not school friends.
    • Christmas lunch at the O’Briens this year will involve each family bringing something. We’ve been assigned fruit salad, which is really going to stretch us. I’m thinking of going all Pinterest on our fruit salad and cutting watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew out in star shapes and then having strawberry Santas sitting around the edge of the bowl. Dare me? Tee hee hee…
    • While we’re on the subject of Christmas, I just want to say how incredibly grateful I am to everyone for sticking around this year. Some days I’m shocked anyone reads at all. Unfortunately, business commitments have meant this blog was put on the back burner a little during 2012. I’m hoping to change all that for 2013, with a little help from a new Three Li’l/Mum PR team member. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. I know everyone says it, but please keep safe. There have been too many terrible things happening in the world of late.

    Note: The linky will take a break next week and resume Sunday, January 6. The blog in general will be taking a longer break while we plan for 2013.

    OK, onto some other wins…

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     

    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses





  • A morning ritual to live by – says the woman who gets to stay in bed

    A morning ritual to live by – says the woman who gets to stay in bed


    Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio

    Back in the days when The Bloke in The Shed was trying to impress me, he’d bring in a cup of tea every morning. He was an early riser anyway. I’m more inclined to prize one eye open to check the alarm clock and then roll over.

    Now, 12 years on (it’s our 10th wedding anniversary tomorrow), the morning ritual still involves him getting out of bed every morning to make one cup of tea, one coffee and, now, two milks – “warm, please’’. They’re fussy these two.

    Cheekily, the other day Julian remarked how it must be my turn to make the coffees. Are you kidding? I’m not starting any new routines now. We’re too far down the track for that.

    Coffee for me happens at 10.30am. It used to be a latte at work, but as a mumpreneur it’s now me hitting up the instant in the pantry. We’ve been eyeing off those swish, push button coffee machines since I left work and lost having a cafe outside my work front door.

    Ten years ago coffee machines were too expensive, took too much cleaning and looked like hard work just to make a simple cuppa. It would be quicker and easier to boil the kettle. Of course, none of that seemed to deter me when Nescafe offered up a Dolce Gusto Genio coffee machine. I was hoot tootin’ excited. Or words to that effect.

    Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio

    I’ve been quickly won over too. Here’s my rundown on the Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine:

    • It’s easy. Even the girls could use it. Now there’s an idea… Fill the back with water. Pull up the silver lever, take out the tray and pop a capsule in it. Return the tray and pull down the lever – you’ll hear the capsule being pierced. Highlight the setting (each capsule tells you what setting it should be on). Press the red or blue button, for hot or cold, and it appears in your cup. Some drinks require two capsules.

    Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio

    • It’s clean. The mess is contained within the capsule, so you just take the capsule out and bin it. What could be easier than that? No coffee grinding either. It also requires one good clean every six months. Every. Six. Months. As long as I remember to do it.

    Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio

    • There are 14 varieties of beverages in hot and cold. I can change from having a chai tea in the morning, skinny cappuccino mid morning and a hot chocolate at bedtime. The Cafee Americano and Espresso Ristretto were not my cup of tea (pardon the pun).
    • It’s hot. I was dubious about having luke warm coffee. Nothing worse. But it’s hot – every time. We’ve yet to try the cold setting for the Cappuccino Ice.
    • It’s affordable – 50c per capsule. As I said, you’ll need two for certain beverages. It’s cheaper than buying a cafe coffee. Although, Julian has made jibes about the “tide being out”. A cappuccino makes a 240mL cup. The machine is also easily affordable at $229.
    • It looks stylish. For some reason that’s high on my priority list! It also doesn’t take up much bench space.
    • Storage is an issue in the pantry with all the capsule boxes at the moment, so I’m looking into purchasing one of the capsule holders.

    Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio

    The Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio retails for $229. You can buy machines or capsules online or at Harvey Norman, Target, The Good Guys, Myer, Big W, Coles, IGA and more.

    Are you a tea or a coffee drinker? What’s your favourite type of coffee?

    DISCLAIMER: I was sent a Nescafe Dolce Gusto Genio to try. I was not paid for this review and all opinions are my own.

  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #80: When you tell Santa the wrong thing

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #80: When you tell Santa the wrong thing

     

    Letter to Santa

    We did our annual visit to Santa yesterday. As predicted, Holly cowered, petrified of the big fat man in red. Ella, on the other hand, fought her way to the front.

    “Have you thought about what you’re going to say when he asks you what you’d like for Christmas,’’ I said to her as we waited. She thought about it, then looked a little stressed. “Can’t think of anything?’’ I asked. “How about saying that you’d like your family to be happy and healthy’’.

    She looked at me with a screwed up nose. “No, Mum. That’s silly,’’ she said. “I’ll ask him for a toy giraffe.’’ This may have had something to do with our recent visit to the Melbourne Zoo – or more likely just a random thought.

    So, off she went, to ask Santa for a stuffed toy. Something we really don’t need looking at the state of her bedroom.

    Half an hour later, walking through a major toy store to fit a helmet for Holly (Santa needs her measurements), Ella spots a Barbie camper van and starts jumping up and down with excitement. “I’ve found what I want, Mum. I want a camper van.’’
    “But you’ve already told Santa you want a giraffe,’’ I reminded her.

    After a rather sad face, yesterday afternoon was spent writing a letter to Santa.

    News just in – Santa has ran out of camper vans. Or, more correctly, she already has waaaaay too many gifts for us to add another one to the pile. Now praying her memory is short.

    Do your kids have their hopes pinned on a gift that’s unlikely to arrive under the tree?

    OK, let’s see get into some last-minute Christmas giveaways.

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     



    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • 12 days till Christmas: getting organised

    12 days till Christmas: getting organised

    Christmas presents

    How on earth did Christmas come upon us so quickly? I’m in last-minute Christmas organising mode, so I thought I’d write down some of the things I need to get done in the hope it might help someone else too. Plus, some of my bloggy friends have some amazing resources that I’m relying on this year and thought were well worth sharing.

    OK, here’s the countdown:

    12 days till Christmas:  Finalise all your last-minute Christmas gift shopping. Make all the necessary purchases at your local stores or get in online orders to ensure they arrive before the big day. Don’t forget Santa stockings, with items for creative kids through to outdoor adventurers.

    11 days till Christmas: Clean up your outdoor area, including replacing missing outdoor light bulbs, removing clutter and adding a wreath to the front door.

    10 days till Christmas: De-clutter the children’s toys and set aside those toys you’ll want to send to your favorite children’s charity organisation. It will still get to the recipients in time. If you’ve already done this, congratulations!

    9 days till Christmas: Update you phone book, address book and diary (whether the paper, computer or phone variety) ready for holiday greetings. I somehow forget to delete old numbers when people give me their new number. Although, it can lead to some interesting conversations with strangers.

    8 days till Christmas:  Print holiday labels and gift tags. Check these sites out for your printable gift tags and print and fold gift boxes.

    7 days till Christmas: Now you have the labels sorted, it’s time to wrap gifts. Create a Christmas toolbox for wrapping and look through Pinterest for gift wrapping inspiration. Then be sure to hide the gifts well!

    6 days till Christmas: Make great holiday memories for the children by doing craft activities, like Christmas day placecards, Christmas crackers or even write a letter to Santa.

    5 days till Christmas: Now the kids have had their fun, it’s time to treat yourself to a spa package and shape up for the best holiday mood. A happy mum makes a happy family – and don’t we know it. Get your hair done, a manicure, pedicure, foot spa or body massage. Who said you can’t give a Christmas gift to yourself.

    4 days till Christmas: If you haven’t already, finalise your Christmas day menu plan. Create an inventory of ingredients for your holiday baking. If necessary, do your last minute supermarket trip.

    3 days till Christmas: Do as much baking as you can today to make things easier on Christmas Eve. Get everyone to help out in the kitchen. Unless, of course, they’re aged two and are more interested in licking bowls and spoons. You can easily pre-do rum balls, shortbread and those cute little Christmas puddings.

    2 days till Christmas – Give yourself a beauty rest. Relax, read a book or watch a movie and get enough sleep..

    Christmas Eve – Complete your holiday meals.

    OK, what have I missed?

     

    photo credit: queenbeeofbeverlyhills via photopin cc

  • My Tasmanian Backyard 2013 Calendar and Diary

    My Tasmanian Backyard 2013 Calendar and Diary

    As a gift for your support throughout last year, I offered the My Tasmanian Backyard 2012 free downloadable calendar. For some bizarre reason, 100 of you downloaded it. Or one of you downloaded it 100 times. One of the two.

    So, in light of that, I’m launching the:

    My Tasmanian Backyard 2013 free  downloadable calendar

    My Tasmanian Backyard 2013 free downloadable calendar

    Once again, it features family friendly Tasmanian events by month, public holidays, school terms and photography from our family “backyard’’ adventures around Tasmania. It’s ideal to give to family as a gift. Just download it for free here or by clicking the cover image, then print it out.

    My Tasmanian Backyard 2013 free downloadable calendar

    However, there’s more this year. Yes, brace yourselves.

    We’re also launching the:

    My Tasmanian Backyard 2013 diary

    My Tasmanian Backyard 2013 diary

    I’ve been looking at all the bookmaking services for a while. Then Blurb offered me a $50 voucher to create my own book, so I jumped at the chance. I contemplated a photo book, cookbook, wedding book and business books. Then I had a mini meltdown because I couldn’t decide which I wanted to create first.

    I thought the diary was too good to pass up and complements the calendar so well. Plus, I’m a huge list person – I even make lists of my lists. So diaries are right up my alley.

    Diary 2013

    While you can make a book for as little as $2.95, I will caution you about adding colour, because it can increase the price of your book. The type of paper, size of the book and number of pages will also dictate how much your book will cost to make. Of course, using all black and white in your book can be effective too. The beauty of Blurb for me was how incredibly easy it was to use – and that you can have a book in your hand within a couple of weeks.

    The Backyard diary features weekly parenting quotes for inspiration, a full week to a double page and colour photography of Tasmanian family friendly locations. You can buy it in three formats – soft cover, hard cover with dust jacket, and hardcover with Imagewrap. I wish I could give this one away free, but unfortunately there is a cost if you’d like one. I’ve kept it down as much as possible – and it is a beautiful diary. Of course! You can buy a copy here.

    My Tasmanian Backyard 2013 diary

    Guess what my family are getting for Christmas?

    Do you live by an old-fashioned diary or are you more up with it than me and prefer the electronic versions?