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Tag: Reviews

  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #61: The Olympic Edition

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #61: The Olympic Edition

    Olympics

    Today, I thought I’d give you an insight into Ella’s “winning’’ view on the Olympics, via a conversation she had with The Bloke in The Shed. The script went something like this:

    Scene: Commentary from the men’s swimming 200-metre medley heats during the Olympics blasts from the TV. Dressed in pyjamas, Ella creeps from her bedroom into the lounge room. She looks around the room, trying to find a reason to stall bedtime.

    Ella: “What stroke are they doing, Daddy?’’

    Julian: “That’s the butterfly, darlin’. Now get into bed.’’

    Ella: “Well, what stroke is that now, Daddy?’’

    Julian: “That’s backstroke, darlin’. Now get into bed, please.’’

    Ella: “But I can’t do those strokes, Daddy. When are they going to do the one I can do? (motioning her little arms in the form of doggy paddle).’’

    Julian: “They don’t, darlin’.’’

    Ella: (with sad face) “But how will I be able to go in the Olympics?’’

    Julian: “Well darlin’, if you can talk them into adding a dog paddle event, shrinking the size of the Olympic pool to about five metres and allowing personal flotation devices, then I reckon you are set.’’

    Ella: (Skips off to bed happily).

    How are your children enjoying the Olympics? Or are they like me and do everything to avoid it?

    Now, it’s time to score something nice in this week’s linky. Just click on any – or all – of the links below for the chance to win.

    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.
    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



  • I Love Linen $120 voucher giveaway (Entries closed)

    I Love Linen $120 voucher giveaway (Entries closed)

    I Love Linen

    When I woke Sunday morning it was following by a little squeal of delight. And not because of what you might think. I slept through without being disturbed for the first time in three weeks thank to the flu.

    When you finally get reunited with your bed you want to shout it from the bedroom chandelier. Except it just doesn’t sound anywhere near as exciting as the bedroom antics from Fifty Shades of Grey.

    “I SLEPT THROUGH’’.

    “So? Did you see what Christian Grey did? Now that’s worth shouting about.’’

    Anyway…

    That full night’s sleep had an extra element of luxury, because it was done between two layers of I Love Linen 1000 thread count cotton hotel sheets. I was transported to a five-star hotel, where they leave chocolates on your pillow, a fluffy dressing gown to slip into and the only disruption is the room service you ordered 20 minutes earlier. And then I had to slap myself around the head to wake up.

    I Love Linen

    Fresh sheets and a newly made bed are something to get excited about these days. Sad? Extremely. Except after you have children it’s these little luxuries that go a long way. A good night’s sleep helps you function properly, enables you to tolerate the day’s challenges and your skin will always thank you for it. You don’t need a magnifying glass to see the ravines adorning my face.

    This set from I Love Linen came beautifully packaged, wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string – just like someone does when they really care about the recipient.

    I Love Linen

    There was even a beautiful handwritten note on the front.

    I Love Linen

    Inside I soon learnt what sort of a bargain I was being given.

    I Love Linen

    And can I add that these sheets look pretty darn good against our cream colour scheme and very smart with the stripe effect.

    I Love Linen

    Now, excuse me. I have a date with the bedroom….

    How would you like a little piece of heaven? We’re giving away a $120 I Love Linen voucher to use on whatever you want from the family-owned linen store. All you need to do is visit the store and tell us which colour sheet set best describes you. I’m ivory, by the way, because I’m not quite pure enough for white anymore!

    Terms and conditions: The I Love Linen competition will be judged on creativity and originality. The competition opens Monday, July 23, 2012 at 7am AEST and closes on Monday, August 13, 2012 at 7.30pm AEST. One entry per person. Australian entries only. There is one prize winner. The winner will be notified via email and name published here. Entries remain the property of Three Li’l Princesses and may be republished.

    If you would like to learn about more of our giveaways, make sure you sign up to our eNewsletters. You’ll also find more giveaways in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup.

    DISCLAIMER: I received an I Love Linen 1000 Thread sheet set to try. I have not been paid to write this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

    THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

  • WIN: Aussie Giveaway Linkup #59: Still sick

    WIN: Aussie Giveaway Linkup #59: Still sick

    sick girlSharing some “not so winning words’’ from this week:

    • “Mum, I think I’m going to …bleurgh’’.
    • The repetition of the two words:“Quick…. tissue…’’ If you don’t own shares in Kleenex at the moment, I advise you invest.
    • The entire family has now been given a prescription for antibiotics. Ella is the latest casualty, coming in with the double whammy of a chest and ear infection. We don’t muck around here.

    To brighten up my week, I’ll be clicking on as many of the below links as I can. How about you? Has this flu epidemic hit your house?

    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.
    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



  • WIN: Aussie Giveaway Linkup #58: Fully sick edition

    WIN: Aussie Giveaway Linkup #58: Fully sick edition

    I’ve been hit pretty hard with the flu – full on body aches, shakes and cold sweats. So nothing remotely funny to report today. This is literally me posting and running today. Hope you’re all fairing better than me.

    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.
    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



  • WIN: Aussie Giveaway Linkup #57: Tickling funny bones

    WIN: Aussie Giveaway Linkup #57: Tickling funny bones

    The Hive Restaurant

    Winning words from this week included:

    • The Bloke in The Shed discovered Li’l Holly crying, with a sheepish-looking Ella nearby. The Bloke in The Shed: “Did you hurt her, Ella?’’ Ella: “No, she hit me first, then I hit her, then she hit me, so I hit her again.’’ Sisterly love. Got to love it.
    • After eating four mains and four desserts at the incredible The Hive Kitchen in the Crown Complex, Melbourne last Monday night I confessed to the chef: “I can’t eat all of that last one. I’m so sorry. I’m so full.’’ Then another dessert came out – and I couldn’t resist.
    • Both girls have been quite unwell with colds and high temperatures this week. At the height of Ella’s sickness, she asked: “Mum, could you please make me a `get well’ card?” How could I refuse?
    • Ella: “I’m going to be on stage when I’m 16 and I’m going to be a mum when I’m 77’’. There’s no point rushing these things, is there.

    OK, time to start clicking to score yourself a win. What’s been the highlight of your week?

    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.
    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



  • Katy Perry: Part of Me (giveaway)

    Katy Perry: Part of Me (giveaway)

    This post is sponsored by Nuffnang.

    A screenshot from Katy Perry: Part of Me
    A screenshot from Katy Perry: Part of Me

    If someone had told my 17-year-old self that one day I would be writing a book, I’d probably have gone red, cowered into a corner and felt generally embarrassed that someone was mocking me. Now, 18 years on, it doesn’t seem like such a bizarre concept. Here I am, finally living my dream.

    Princess Ella and I regularly have the “when I’m a big girl…’’ talk. Mostly she talks about singing and dancing on stage. That’s all she wants to do. She’s highly disappointed she hasn’t been able to achieve that already in life – at the tender age of FOUR!

    We stopped ballet lessons late last year. Although the elephant and giraffe dance live on, I assure you. We’re now on the hunt for some other form of dance for her, because there are only so many home concerts one mum can bear.

    I’m going to compare myself to Katy Perry here. I know, don’t cringe. Just be thankful I didn’t marry Russell Brand or I could be telling a really creepy kinda story right now.

    Katy’s new event movie, Katy Perry: Part of Me is a 3D backstage pass into the fun, heartbreaking, inspiring and crazy world she leads while on the road. You can only imagine, right? It includes these quotes:
    “She was not an overnight success’’.
    “People said she couldn’t do it.’’
    “I think Katy is a dreamer.’’
    And in Katy’s own words: “I feel a real connection to fairytales and I think in some ways I live in a fairytale’’.

    These all ring true for me. If I’d listened to the naysayers, I wouldn’t have become a journalist. In a community where it was expected you’d work on a farm pulling calves out of the back end of cows or in a factory sorting out chips from potatoes, it was odd to say you wanted to write for a living. It wasn’t a realistic dream. And yet, a decade and a half in journalism and half a book later…

    All I really want for Ella and Holly is to be happy and healthy. Whether they become singers, Zumba instructors or street sweepers is irrelevant. As long as they can jump out of bed each morning and love what it is they do. And if it helps look after their parents financially in their retirement, all the better. Just sayin’.

    Sure, it won’t be a perfect red carpet ride – and I certainly haven’t had one – but passion and a positive attitude will help get you there. Katy has proven that. I have proven that.

    Katy Perry: Part of Me, which is released in cinemas on July 2, is all about how Katy overcame obstacles to achieve her dreams. It’s a film I think young girls would take a lot from to show they can be whoever they want to be. Just make sure you’re happy with your version of YOU!

    “You don’t have to feel, like a waste of space, you’re original, cannot be replaced’’.

    Along with Paramount Pictures and Nuffnang, we’re offering five cinema passes to see Katy Perry: Part of Me in 3D. To go in the draw, simply answer the question:

    What are your dreams for your children?

    Please refer to the Terms and Conditions. Entries close July 9 at 5pm.