February/March 2016 - issue twenty seven
al ughcover dis dulge in
After school hunger busters Cool threads for active kids 5 tips for a more organised 2016 Behind the blog with Bargain Mum Plus much more!
HOST A LOWER SUGAR BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH SIPAHH MILK FLAVOURING STRAWS EACH SIPAHH STRAW CONTAINS LESS THAN 1/2 TSP SUGAR PER STRAW
BUY ONLINE AT WWW.SIPAHHSTORE.COM.AU
Editor’s letter
Image by Elise Garner, lecoco.com.au
hi!
Cover image: Photography by Elise Garner lecoco.com.au Check out the rest of the shoot on page 26
I
t’s late. I’m tired. I’ve been up since 6am after a broken night of sleep. My bed is calling but I still have to pack the dishwasher, put on a load of washing and somehow unwind and have some me time before doing it all again tomorrow. Sound familiar?
In 2015 that was me. Working constantly, missing out on important time for myself and feeling like I was never getting anywhere. But, over December I took some time off. Time to relax and to celebrate, time to unwind and evaluate. Time to decide what is important to me and how I want my 2016 to look. And here we are already well into another year! 2016 for me is the year of hustle. I am on a mission to achieve lots of amazing things for myself, my family and my business and I’m so glad to have you along for the ride. Issue 27 is packed with so many awesome features. From hunger busting after school snacks to the coolest threads for active kids, how I lived for two months without a kitchen, 6 Easter traditions that have nothing to do with chocolate and so much more. Find the time to sit down and enjoy the read. And while you are there, think about how you will find some more time for yourself this year. If this is something you think you need more help with, my 28 Day Mummy Mojo Challenge eBook might be a good place to start.
Sea whale white racer back bamboo singlet, $34.95, www.ilovedoodlebug. com.au; Terry Jogger, $20, www. target.com.au; Mr Cool hat, $16.95, cottononkids.com.au
Life through the lens of our Editor and Chief Kid, Sara. Join us at instagram.com/kidmagazineau
Until next issue, you can find us at www.kidmagazine.com.au for more of the things you love.
Sara
Editor and Chief Kid sara@kidmagazine.com.au kidmagazine.com.au kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 3
Keep up to date with our Facebook posts, full of fashion tips, latest articles, competitions and interviews. Follow us at facebook.com/kidmagazine
INSIDE
62
06 26 After school hunger busters
So are you a school parent now?
14
64
active kids are happy kids
52 5 minutes with Alex riggs from oobi
16
5 tips for a more organised 2016
70
Getting the cynics on board a healthy life
56 behind the blog with bargain mum
20
Back in style Non-chocolate easter traditions
58
PLUS... Editor’s Letter
my faux-kitchen rules
3
Giveaways 54 Kid Magazine Loves 60
how grounded?
New Kids on the Block 66
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 4
Never miss an issue! Subscribe at kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe
FORM AND FUNCTION Innovative shoes for kids 0-5 years
BOBUX.COM
After school hunger busters “I’m hungry! When’s dinner? MUUUM, What can I have to eat NOW?” School’s back, you’ve got the lunchboxes under control but what about when the kids come home from a long day at school to raid the pantry! Get after school ready with these four tasty treats! Pair each with a glass of wholesome milk and Sipahh milk flavouring straw. With less than 1/2 a teaspoon of sugar per straw they are the perfect alternative to other sugar laden kids drinks. And available in over 13 flavours, there is sure to be one (or many!) that your kids will love. Sipahh straws are available to buy online at www.sipahhstore.com.au
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 6
Mini muffin pizzas
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 8
Apple & pear pikelets
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 9
Mini muffin pizzas
Maple peanut popcorn
“Mum I’m staaaarving!” When the kids come home school with a ravenous hunger, this is what you need to dish up.
Not your every day after school snack but if you save it for the odd Friday afternoon treat the kids will go mad!
Makes 4 individual pizzas
Ingredients 1 85g packet raw/natural air popped popcorn ½ cup maple syrup ½ cup crunchy peanut butter 30g butter ½ tsp bicarb soda
Ingredients 2 multigrain/wholemeal English muffins 2 tbsp tomato sauce (no added sugar variety) 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped ½ yellow capsicum, finely chopped 3 button mushrooms, finely chopped 1 small tomato, finely chopped 2 tbsp grated cheese Method Preheat oven to 180C. In a small bowl, combine the tomato sauce and chopped parsley. Separate the two halves of each muffin and place them on a baking tray. Spread the tomato sauce mixture evenly across each muffin base. Top with the capsicum, mushrooms and tomato and finally the cheese. Place the baking tray in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. If you want to entertain the kids as well as feed them, place all the ingredients on the table and get the kids to create their own pizzas. Add red or green capsicum, ham, salami or whatever ingredients your kids love.
Apple & pear pikelets How can you go wrong with a classic pikelet? This version is sweetened by the fruit with no added sugar! Makes 20 Ingredients 1 apple, peeled and finely grated 1 pear, peeled and finely grated 1 cup wholemeal self-raising flour ½ cup milk 1 egg butter for cooking kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 10
Method Preheat oven to 180C. Line to baking trays with baking paper and set aside. Cook popcorn according to the packet directions and pour into a large bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the maple syrup, peanut butter and butter and stir until completely combined (about 1 minute). Add in the bicarb soda and continue to stir for about 1 minute by which time the mixture should have thickened up. Remove the saucepan from the heat and carefully pour over the popcorn. Stir the mixture all the way through the popcorn. This takes a few minutes - it may look like there is not enough but just keep stirring and you will get there. Pour the popcorn onto the baking trays and spread into a single layer. Pop into the oven for five minutes. When the time is up, remove the baking trays and run a spatula or pair of tongs through the popcorn. As it cools down it will dry out slightly.
Method Add all the ingredients into a bowl and whisk until combined. Heat a medium fry pan over low-medium heat. Add a little butter to the pan and let it melt. Place spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully turn over with a spatula and cook for a further 1-2 minutes until cooked through. Repeat until all the mixture has been used up. Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days, if they last that long! Note: You can use two apples or two pears for this recipe if you prefer. If will work just the same.
Maple peanut popcorn
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 11
Sweet potato & bacon muffins
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 12
Sweet potato & bacon muffins If your kids prefer a savoury snack after school these go down a treat. It’s all about the bacon! Makes 30 mini muffins Ingredients 500g sweet potato (whole) 1-2 rashers bacon, finely chopped 1 tsp olive oil 50g butter, melted ½ cup milk 1 egg 1 cup plain wholemeal flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp cinnamon
Host your own Sippah milk party Thanks to Sipahh we have a milk party prize pack to giveaway so you can host your own low sugar party! Head to kidmagazine.com. au/win for all the details!
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 13
Method Preheat the oven to 180C. Pierce the sweet potato with a fork 5-6 times. Place on a baking tray and into the oven for an hour. Remove the sweet potato from the oven and set aside to cool for at least 30 minutes. Heat the oil in a fry pan and add the chopped bacon. Cook until the bacon chips are nice and crispy. When the sweet potato has cooled, remove the skin. Place the sweet potato into a bowl and mash with a fork. Stir through the melted butter. Add the milk, egg and bacon to the sweet potato and stir until just combined. In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder and cinamon. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add in the sweet potato mixture. Stir until just combined, being careful not to over mix. Spoon the mixture into the mini muffin trays and place in the oven for 20 minutes or until cooked through.
5
Minutes with Alex Riggs
Alex is the powerhouse woman behind gorgeous kids label, Oobi, which she grew from her spare bedroom, into a market stall and now the popular label it is today. Alex has a love of colour, an eye for design and detail and is a woman on a mission to “Oobi-Fy the World”... Three words to describe your style Colourful. Eclectic. Trainer-obsessed (is that a word?) Your top fashion brands I love ACME for a splurge and find it hard to go past my local markets when I need something a bit fashion-y for some fun. It’s always nice to try and support other Aussie designers and chat to them about the fashion industry. There’s an incredible Indian designer, Ranna Gill who I am mad about. Every time I go to Delhi I have to swing by her store in case I don’t have enough party dresses and embroidered numbers to wear with my trainers. It’s a good thing that (in my opinion) she’s a little hit and miss, otherwise I’d have a wardrobe full of pretty things that I
don’t wear. My lifestyle is gardening and hanging at the beach, my wardrobe says parties and events… there’s a bit of a disconnect.
Beauty product you swear by This is a bit embarrassing but I was in the health food store about a year ago and saw that they were selling organic coconut oil in a spray can (for cooking). I checked the ingredients and it’s just coconut oil. The time poor and sensitive skinned person inside me had a little light bulb moment. And aha! Best hair treatment and body lotion on the planet. One can lasts me about 2 weeks and is about $7. And it’s soooooooo easy! I just spray myself from head to toe after my shower and it takes just minutes. In winter I spray my face too and in summer I use it as a hair treatment. I know that everyone uses coconut oil and this is no mystery, but the can… game changer! Is that terrible? It’s so amazing I bought cans for all the END girls in the office and all my friends. I’ve been converting people left-right-centre!
Advice for juggling it all and finding balance Meditation. There are so many excuses not to start. You can’t find the time. You can’t do it. It’s hard work. I resisted it for so long, knowing that I “should” do it. Now I’m a regular practitioner and the payoff is extraordinary. I believe that all people, kids, the time poor, everyone, could benefit from regular meditation. I’m no hippy and I’m not new age but it’s changed my life, helped me to be more mindful, helped me to make decisions with my heart as well as my head and helped me to sleep during stressful times. Favourite room in your home The balcony. It’s a small space that I’ve turned into a kitchen garden and orchid hospital. I never knew I could get so much pleasure from eating a home grown tomato or bringing a near dead plant back to life. When I sit out there on a balmy evening with a glass of wine and my book, or hang out there chatting with my hubby, all is right with the world. Quote/mantra you live by Why not?
But, saying all that, no matter where I go, I always think, there is no scenery or beach better than what we have in Australia. Our beaches are so amazing, so wherever I am, I’m always comparing. And for nature you only have to go to Uluru or Tasmania to appreciate what an incredible and diverse country this is - and well worth exploring. What’s next for Oobi? A brand new website that we’ve been working on for many, many months. A trade show in New York and more distribution in Paris which is a growing market for me. I love designing and creating new prints so that’s always on the ‘what’s next’ list. New ranges, new prints, new pieces for babies, girls and tweens. We’re about to launch a floral Autumn range (February) that was shot in Paris and then we have a really fun Winter range (March) with some very cool collaborations with some illustrators too. Today (Wednesday) we launched our homewares “Sweet Toffee Apple” and some high summer pieces – so that’s really exciting!
Shopping - online or bricks and mortar? Both! Technology you can’t live without Spotify! As a music lover this absolutely rocked my world. Being able to listen to pretty much anything at any time, whatever your heart desires or whatever you happen to feel like at that moment, it’s there. I just love it when I get a tune in my head and then, bam! I can listen to it. As someone who travels a lot it’s been an absolute godsend because no matter how big your record collection is (ok I’m old) you still get tired of those limitations. Ultimate holiday destination Anywhere. I don’t have an ultimate. On my bucket list is to see the Northern Lights (a long time dream of mine) but at the same time, there’s nothing better than gallery-hop-
facebook.com/oobibabyandkids
ping and eating (eating, eating) in Barcelona or lying on a beach eating fresh caught fish in Sri Lanka. I’m not a “hot holiday” or “cold holiday” person – I’m more of an experience person I guess.
And there may even be a book in the pipeline… oooh! We’re also planning to expand our charitable program, “Oobi-Fy the World”. Oobi donates a piece of clothing to a child in need for every garment sold. We’ve made some children’s lives brighter by delivering them a birthday present and, for some kids, it’s their first present ever. This is an Australian initiative and we’ve partnered with some amazing charities to help us distribute gifts and garments. It’s been a big project and it’s one that our whole team are really proud of.
END
instagram.com/oobi
www
oobi.com.au
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 16
BEHIND THE BLOG Bargain Mum I have been following the rise of Bargain Mum, AKA Sydney Mums Lisa and Jess, since they launched onto Instagram last year. 6months and 25,000+ followers on Instagram they are taking the world of blogging and social media by storm. Go behind the blog with these blogging newbies and bargain experts! Tell us a bit about Bargain Mum Bargain Mum is a place that started as us showing just stock in our local stores and our own styled shots of our homes. After noticing that our followers too were styling their homes we started sharing their photos as well. We also love to laugh and share a good meme of two during the week. In December last year we decided to start a blog so that we could elaborate on what we were sharing on Instagram and add much more of the mum life content that we were living with each day. We have 4 children between us and loads of similarities to our followers. When you aren’t blogging, what are you doing? We are looking after our young families and working. We also love to shop and eat. How do you manage the balance between being a mum, blogger, girlfriend? Everything has it’s place and we take every opportunity we can outside of the important things to build Bargain Mum. Whether it is editing and croping pictures while breastfeeding or ducking to the shops in our lunch break. We have a High schooler, 8 year old, 2.5 year old and an 18 monthth old between us that have a whole lot going on so we just try and fit it in with their lives. And our husbands know just as much about the shops too know!
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 17
What has been your biggest blogging achievement? We are so new to it and we aren’t even sure if we are doing the right things! But we would have to say that working with Share The Dignity to shed a light on what a huge problem homeless women face in our country, has been the best so far. Why do you love blogging? It gives us the freedom to talk about more than just the one photo Instagram allows. It lets us vent to other likeminded mums and feel like part of a community. We figure that not everyone will love everything we have to say just as not everyone will love what we share. We just hope there is something for everyone eventually. What advice would you give to other mums thinking of starting a blog? Oh my goodness, We have no idea. we are only one month in and still trying to figure it all out! But we have the idea that everything you see is us. No one else. We are real and honest. So just be you. What impact has blogging had on your life? Only a small one so far, but it is constantly on our minds. We have drafts going left, right and centre trying to get them right. We are always thinking what we can write and how it might help someone.
Do the staff at Kmart know you by your first names? Ha! No but we get around a few. What is your favourite recent bargain buy? It would have to be a pair of Shoes from Jeans West. They were $99 and on sale for half price. We shared it with our followers. Then 3 days later they were another 40% off so I had to buy them! Just $30. But just have to say that one of our followers picked up a 6ft Christmas tree from Target just after Christmas for just $1. She saved a huge amount. What tips do you have for mums who want to style their homes on a budget? Look around. Check online and join groups on Facebook and accounts on Instagram. There is a whole world of styling help available to you for free. Kmart is on fire lately with affordable homewares but loads of other stores are introducing good quality pieces. Even Woolworths and The Reject Shop has been getting in on the action with great Scandinavian furniture. So don’t rule any place out! What is next for Bargain Mum? We do not know! More blogging, More amazing products, Meeting new people. Our Account has grown to nearly 25 000 followers in less than 6 months and we have had so much fun working with and meeting new people. We would like that to continue.
END
What is your favourite quote/mantra? “What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven’t happened yet.” We love it because it applies to our lives and also to Bargain Mum. We know the best is yet to come.
instagram.com/bargainmumau
facebook.com/bargainmum
www
bargainmum.com.au
facebookgroup groupfor formums mumswho wholike like AAfacebook style,pretty prettythings things&&looking lookingafter after style, themselves&&their theirfamilies families themselves www.kidmagazine.com.au www.kidmagazine.com.au
Mum Li f e Join now! Join the tribe and connect with us in one of our private facebook groups.
Join the Savvy Mama Shoppers to find all the latest sales, deals and special offers for the whole family.
Savvy Mama Shoppers
My faux
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 20
-kitchen rules How I survived two months without a kitchen
Sara Keli, Kid Magazine Editor
My husband was dead set against the idea of living through our renovation. I, on the other hand, thought of it as a romantic adventure and had a rebuttal for each of his objections. The dust? Nothing a vacuum cleaner can’t fix. The tradies arriving every morning at 7am? I prefer early starts anyway. Living on a work site with a two-year-old? We’re hardly ever home! But there was one objection that was a little harder to overcome. The two months we would be without a kitchen. It would be the first room ripped out and the last one to go back in. Never one to let a little speed bump get in the way of me, well, getting my way, I hatched a plan *cue evil music*. After a little chat with the team at Tefal, it was sorted. My kitchen for two months would be the Tefal Cuisine Companion, an all-in-one cooker that can chop, whip, knead, mix, sear, crush, stir, steam and more. I would set up a faux kitchen in my laundry with the Cuisine Companion along with a toaster and kettle for much needed cups of tea. My fridge would be in the bathroom and the microwave tucked away, ready to be plugged in for reheating leftovers. And so it was, we were living through a renovation. Yipee, I think… To ease the inevitable pressure of constant buzz in the house and the need to vacuum three times each night, we agreed to spend at least two nights each week away from home at our parent’s places for dinner. We also took the opportunity to leave the disaster zone house a couple of times stay at my brother-in-laws place close to the city and take advantage of his free babysitting services while we went out for dinner! And then there were the nights at home. Sometimes tense, always messy and unquestionably “adventurous”. We had relocated our couch and TV and Little Miss’ toys into my office, the smallest room in the house and only one of two rooms not being altered. It was tight to say the least! Our one saving grace was the weather. Our nights at home were spent on the front deck, sharing our meals and enjoying the fresh, spring evenings.
that he doesn’t appreciate good food, but that it isn’t an essential in his life. For me however, the idea of a sandwich for dinner just doesn’t cut it. I’m a foodie. I love cooking and I love eating! I was excited by the challenge of cooking meals for my little family. But I thing what spurred me on the most was proving wrong all those who had told me we would be moving out of our house within a week. Tell me I can’t do something and I will single-mindedly set out to achieve it. I really enjoyed cooking for my family throughout the renovation. We ate toast, porridge and steamed eggs for breakfast. Lunch was never spent at home, instead choosing to visit friends and family and escape the fuss and noise at home. But dinner was where the real fun was had. I experimented, sometimes failed and loved that even though I didn’t really have a kitchen, I could still put hot, healthy and tasty meals on the table (or our laps!) each night. I made risottos packed with veggies, a sure favourite with our Little Miss. I steamed vegetables to accompany steaks cooked by hubby on the barbecue. I transformed old favourites like apricot chicken into the easiest of meals requiring little effort but resulting in lots of flavour. Penne bolognaise, lamb ragout, and prawns saganaki were just a few of the high rotation dishes. My biggest disaster though was the night I made wonton soup. It was all going well. I prepared my dumpling filling in the Cuisine Companion, chopping and mixing the ingredients. I then spent thirty minutes filling the dumplings and chopping the vegetables for the soup. It was all bubbling away nicely, or so I thought until I opened the lid to find all my beautiful dumplings shredded throughout the soup. That my friends, is a lesson in reading the manual! But we made it. We survived eight weeks without a kitchen. I proved the haters that I am made of tough stuff and somehow immune to all the dust. But the best part is that we now have a beautiful home, complete with brand new kitchen, an enough bench space for the Cuisine Companion to remain my kitchen BFF.
I am married to a man who would quite happily eat a vegemite sandwich for dinner every night. Not to say facebook.com/TefalAustralia
youtube.com/Tefalaustralia
END www
www.cuisinecompanion.com.au
Apple porridge The perfect winter warmer. Substitute apple for any fruit the kids will eat! Serves 2 Ingredients 1 cup traditional oats 1 1/3 cups milk of choice 1 tbsp maple syrup 1 apple, peeled and cored
Method Cut the apple into quarters and then cut each quarter into eight smaller pieces. Add the oats, milk, apple and maple syrup into the bowl of the Cuisine Companion with the mixer blade attached. Set to slow cook P1 at 130C for 9 minutes. Serve in bowls, drizzled with a little extra maple syrup if you like.
Honey choc nut butter The kids will think they have hit the jackpot getting chocolate on their toast for breakfast but this is a spread packed with lots of goodness plus a little honey for some added sweetness. Serves 2 Ingredients 100g dry roasted cashews 100g blanched almonds 110g unsalted, roasted peanuts 2 tbsp cacao 2 tsbp chia seeds 2 tsp oil 1 tbsp honey
Method Add the cashews, almonds and peanuts into the bowl of the Cuisine Companion with the crushing/kneading blade attached. Mix at speed 12 for 30 seconds. Add the cacao and chia seeds and mix for a further 30 seconds. Add the oil and honey and mix for a further minute or until all ingredients are combined. Serve on toast as is or with a little banana. Can also be spread onto fruit for a sweet afternoon treat. Store in an airtight jar in the pantry.
Steamed eggs If you don’t have a stove top but still feel like boiled eggs, these will do the trick. This recipe is for hard boiled eggs as that’s how we like them but just cook them a few minutes left if you prefer a gooey centre. Ingredients 4 eggs toast to serve kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 22
Method Fill the bowl of the Cuisine Companion up to the steam line (with no attachment fitted). Pop the steamer bowl in the top and place the eggs inside. Cook on slow cook P1 130C for 12 minutes. Serve with toast and tea! If you cook a few extra eggs you can keep these, in their shells, in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 days. They are a quick, healthy snack or make egg sandwiches for lunch.
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 23
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 24
Apricot chicken An old school favourite that is a sure family dinner winner, prepared in next to no time at all. Serves 4
cut each half into quarters. Add the chicken lovely legs to the bowl of the Cuisine Companion, making sure they are mostly covered by the liquid. Add in the apricots. Put on the lid and turn to slow cook P3 at 95C for 30 minutes.
Ingredients 405ml can Apricot nectar 1 packet Salt reduced French Onion soup mix 6 fresh apricots 4 large chicken lovely legs Rice to serve
At the halfway mark, turn over the chicken and continue cooking.
Method Fit the mixer attachment to the bowl of the Cuisine Companion. Pour the apricot nectar in followed by the French Onion soup mix. Gently stir to combine.
Tip: If you are without a kitchen you can cook your rice in the Cuisine Companion before you start cooking the apricot chicken. Set aside in a microwave safe container and reheat just before serving. We did this on many occasions! Use this recipe found on the Tefal website for the perfect rice every time.
Cute four of the apricots in half, remove the stone and
Serve the rice out into bowls, top with one of the lovely legs and pour sauce over the chicken. Top with half a fresh apricot.
Mango mousse The simplest of desserts made with only four ingredients. Serves 4 Ingredients 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and flesh cut from the seed 300ml fresh cream 1 tsp gelatin powder Âź cup boiling water Method Place the mango into the bowl of the Cuisine Companion with the Ultra Blade attachment fitted. Mix on speed 12 for 60 seconds. Remove the lid and scrape down the sides. If there are still chunks of mango in the bowl, process for a further 30 seconds or until the mango is completely pureed.
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 25
Pour the mango into a mixing bowl. Clean the Cuisine Companion bowl and lid. Add the beater attachment and the cream. Turn to speed 7 for 1 minute or until the cream is whipped. In a small bowl, combine the boiling water and gelatin, stirring with a fork until dissolved. Add the gelatin into the mango mixture and stir to combine. Carefully fold the cream through the mango until combined. Spoon the mousse into glasses or bowls and set aside in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. Before serving garnish with mint leaves or fresh berries.
active kids are ha
Photography by Elise Garner lecoco.com.au
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 26
appy kids
L - R: Mae puffer vest, $3.95, cottononkids.com.au; Girls print tee, $8, www. target.com.au; Girls stripe legging, $12, www.target.com.au; Xplorer Origin shoes, $50, www.bobux.com.au; Kit sunglasses in pink, $16.96, www.sunnies. com.au Sea whale white racer back bamboo singlet, $34.95, www.ilovedoodlebug. com.au; Terry Jogger, $20, www.target.com.au; Mr Cool hat, $16.95, cottononkids.com.au; Plae Ty Camo, from $84, available from Tiny Teds in WA Stevie stripe short sleeve tee, $14.95, cottononkids.com.au; Lee Cooper Festival print short, $10, www.bigw.com.au; Kids Trase SD shoes, $59.95, www.dcshoes.com.au; Richie RV - blue lens, $16.95, www.sunnies.com.au Ava tee - Magenta owl wedding, $36, www.ilovedoodlebug.com.au; Kids short, $19.95, www.bonds.com.au; Mary Jane toddler volleys, $30, www. volley.com.au; Pink alphabet trucker hat, $22, billiethekidapparel.bigcartel. com Kids hoodie, $34.95, www.bonds.com.au; Sly fox kids shorts, $35, www. milkandmasuki.com; Volley international toddler in navy/green, $30, www. volley.com.au
L: Printed tee (available November), $19.95, www.cottonkids.com. au; Bente tights in flash orange, $34.95, www.tumblendry.com.au; R: Tee with ice cream print, $22.95, www.tinytribe.com.au; Short with turn-ups, $28.50, lycorne.com.au
Grommet strip bamboo tee in rust and teal, $34.95, www.ilovedoodlebug.com.au; Herbie 2 Short, $18.95, www.cottononkids.com.au; Olly trainer, $24.95, cottononkids.com.au; Sherrin Batman AFL, $24.99, www.sherrin.com.au
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 28
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 30
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 32
Triangles tee, $39.95, www. milkandmasuki.com; Basic chino in white, $59.95, www.bardot.com/bardotjunior; Pool slider mules, from $21, au.nextdirect.com
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 33
L: Kids hoodie, $34.95, www.bonds. com.au; Sly fox kids shorts, $35, www. milkandmasuki.com; Volley international toddler in navy/green, $30, www.volley. com.au ; Sherrin Batman AFL, $24.99, www.sherrin.com.au R: Sea whale white racer back bamboo singlet, $34.95, www.ilovedoodlebug. com.au; Terry Jogger, $20, www. target.com.au; Mr Cool hat, $16.95, cottononkids.com.au
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 34
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 35
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 36
L - R: Mae puffer vest, $3.95, cottononkids.com.au; Girls print tee, $8, www.target.com.au; Girls stripe legging, $12, www.target.com.au; Xplorer Origin shoes, $50, www.bobux.com.au; Kit sunglasses in pink, $16.96, www.sunnies.com.au Sea whale white racer back bamboo singlet, $34.95, www.ilovedoodlebug.com.au; Terry Jogger, $20, www.target.com.au; Mr Cool hat, $16.95, cottononkids.com.au; Plae Ty Camo, from $84, available from Tiny Teds in WA Stevie stripe short sleeve tee, $14.95, cottononkids. com.au; Lee Cooper Festival print short, $10, www. bigw.com.au; Kids Trase SD shoes, $59.95, www. dcshoes.com.au; Richie RV - blue lens, $16.95, www. sunnies.com.au Ava tee - Magenta owl wedding, $36, www. ilovedoodlebug.com.au; Kids short, $19.95, www. bonds.com.au; Mary Jane toddler volleys, $30, www.volley.com.au; Pink alphabet trucker hat, $22, billiethekidapparel.bigcartel.com Kids hoodie, $34.95, www.bonds.com.au; Sly fox kids shorts, $35, www.milkandmasuki.com; Volley international toddler in navy/green, $30, www.volley. com.au
Alina leotard, $20, www.bigw.com.au; Trixiebelle tulle skirt, $26.95, cottononkids.com.au; Baby ballet slippers - ballerina pink, $35.95. www. cheekylittlesoles.com.au
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 38
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 39
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 40
Kids short sleeve pocket tee, $19.95, www.bonds. com.au; Active play short, $24.95, cottononkids. com.au; Plae Max in silver, from $99, Available from Sticky Fingers Boutique, VIC; Eco Kids certified Fairtrade pink soccer ball, $45, www. rrepp.com.au
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 43
Cobs popcorn, www.cobspopcorn. com.au; Gold spots dessert plate (pack of 10) and Gold & pink spots dessert plate (pack of 10), $6.99 each, kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 44 illumepartyware.com.au
Lisa T Paper bags in gold and rose gold, $12 each, www.target.com.au
Varsity stripe polo tee, $44.95, www.bardot.com/ bardot-junior; Jordyi short, $26.95, cottononkids.com. au; Classic trainer, $19.95, cottononkids.com.au
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 47
Sea whale white racer back bamboo singlet, $34.95, www.ilovedoodlebug.com.au; Terry Jogger, $20, www.target.com.au; Mr Cool hat, $16.95, cottononkids.com.au; Plae Ty Camo, from $84, available from Tiny Teds in WA; Eco Kids certified Fairtrade green soccer ball, $45, www.rrepp.com.au Stevie stripe short sleeve tee, $14.95, cottononkids. com.au; Lee Cooper Festival print short, $10, www. bigw.com.au; Kids Trase SD shoes, $59.95, www. dcshoes.com.au; Richie RV - blue lens, $16.95, www. sunnies.com.au; Spalding Superman basketball, $29.99, 03 9766 5999
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 48
Mae puffer vest, $3.95, cottononkids.com.au; Girls print tee, $8, www.target.com.au; Kit sunglasses in pink, $16.96, www.sunnies.com.au
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 50
How to get the BIGGEST cy healthy-eating bandwagon Stacey Clare, A Healthy Mum “My husband doesn’t believe that food is SO important for your health so there’s no point trying it.” “My kids won’t have a bar of it and I am too damn tired to fight it.” Do you have one of these healthy-eating cynics living in your home? Want to know how to get them on your healthy-eating bandwagon? Well I’m here to tell you exactly how I did it with possibly the worlds cynical husband. My hubby and I met 10 years ago in a ski town in North America. We’d go for dates at McDonalds where I’d have a large double cheeseburger meal, he’d have the extra large Big Mac meal and then we’d spend our nights drinking beer and eating 20c chicken wings. Sexy, huh? Our diets kept on that train for quite a few years. God knows how we had enough energy to snowboard everyday and work 8 hours at night in a busy bar. Youth, huh? We left the ski town after a few years and moved to London where things didn’t really get much better. In fact, they probably got worse because food in the UK is just so damn cheap. My hubby would walk to the supermarket and for a pound he’d buy a tub of Nutella and a loaf of white bread. That was his diet, evv-ry-day. My diet was slightly better thanks to the grace of my advertising career and they fact they kept me chained (well it really felt like it) to my desk until 11 at night. Indian curry and chicken shop CRAP was ordered in to keep me ‘functioning’. No wonder I was bloated, riddled with PCOS, IBS and getting migraines most weeks. I still remember the penny dropping. I had a call from my dad in the middle of the night to tell me that my mumma was really unwell and they thought she may have had a stroke. It was more then I could bear. In the 3.5 years since leaving Australia, I’d lost a close school friend to suicide, my father was in hospital for a few months after a severe brain haemorrhage and then my mumma was sick. I bought a flight home and busted a move with the latest
facebook.com/ahealthymumpage
book at the airport – Skinny Bitch. I LOVED that book. Oh man, I read it cover-to-cover on the flight home and walked off that flight a different girl. I had to start thinking about food as fuel not just SOMETHING ELSE I needed to do in my busy day. Mum got well, Dad got well and now my husband is really, really, super-duper well. But trust me, it’s been a LONG road. So here’s how I got my husband on board: I took over the cooking. Now keep in mind I was working big hours (much longer than him for quite a few years) but I knew that unless I made it, the food wouldn’t be healthy. Annoying? Yes. Frustrating? Yes. Worth worrying and getting cranky over? No. So I cook, big deal. I’d get him to prep the veg and meat and when I got home, I’d cook. I started educating him on what I was learning. Rather than giving him a blog to read (except staceyclare. com, of course!), I had him watch a few hard hitting movies that were much easier to digest. Food Matters, That Sugar Film and Food, Inc. are three GREAT ones. And now, 5 years on, he still talks about them and will actively search for better ingredients at the supermarket as a result. I set time frames for him to see changes. I’ve shared a few times how bad my husband’s eczema was on my blog. I’m talking 5 out of 5 bad. He’s made HUGE changes to his diet and we are more than 6 months on and not one flare up. How did I get him on board? I spoke in his language. I asked him to give me 3 months and if there is no change we could back to how things were before. There were HUGE changes after just 2. I got support. Walk the same path with a friend, see a naturopath, get a family member on board or use me. I am a health coach and everyday I help people on this path. I help speed up what they need to know, motivate them on the journey
instagram.com/a_healthy_mum
www
www.staceyclare.com
ynics on your n and show them meal plans and recipes that will work specifically for them. You wouldn’t build a house without a builder, why make huge health changes without a professional to help you? I stopped buying crap. This is one that I get asked about a lot. “Don’t your kids just want a lollies and Fruit Loops?” I have to be honest, no they don’t. Why? They’ve never tried them because I don’t buy them, nor do I eat them. If they don’t know these foods exist, why would they crave it? I realise that sounds abrupt but honestly, if you don’t buy these foods, they’re not in your cupboard and your kids aren’t going to ask for them. I really want to know, have you got anyone in your close circle that isn’t 100% on board with healthy eating? Are there any tips or tricks that have helped you convince them? Is it actually you that isn’t 100% on board? Be honest. What’s holding you back?
END
Stacey Clare is a healthy mum to two young boys and an accredited health and nutrition coach to the masses. She spends her days running after her busy babes who always seem to be getting in to something. Her nights are spent cooking for her website or helping other mummas on their own family’s health journey in her health coaching services. Her food philosophy is all about simple, easy-to-cook food the whole family wants to eat. Yep, same food for the 9 month old and 35 year old, because really who has time to cook multiple meals? You can view visit Stace’s website here to check out all her recipes, connect with her on Facebook and Instagram or grab a copy of her lunchbox eBook which is packed full of healthy recipes that can be stored in the freezer. kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 53
giveaways
To enter visit www.kidmagazine.com.au/win Competitions close Thursday, 31 march 2016 at midnight AEDST. Full competition terms & conditions at www.kidmagazine.com.au/terms--conditions
A Sipahh milk party prize pack valued at $175
A Lady Jayne prize pack valued at $107
Four Dreambaby Stollerbuddy ExtendaShade valued at $24.95 each
Two Destination wall stickers valued at $199.95 each
Two Galloping Butch toys valued at $69.95 each
Three prize packs from The Goat Skincare valued at $34 each
A Yo-kai prize pack valued at $97
A VIP double pass to the Tini Trader Sydney Pop-Up launch (ends 10 Feb 2016)
A WD My Passport Ultra 3TB valued at $299.99
Two pairs of Oscars for Kids loafers valyed at $69.95 each
6 Easter traditions that have noth Christine Knight, freelance writer and blogger Easter can be a chocolate nightmare for parents. Controlling not only the amount of sweets you give kids, but also the chocolate they receive from friends and family, can end up making Easter a stressful day - when it should be about spending time together and enjoying each other’s company. This Easter, try one (or more!) of these Easter activities guaranteed to ensure kids won’t even notice there aren’t any chocolate bilbies or bunnies waiting for them. DIY Easter Egg Hunt Prep in advance for this activity by buying some refillable plastic eggs (I found some in Aldi last year). Load the eggs up with stickers, mini stamps, tiny fluffy chicks and any other small objects that will fit inside. Hide the eggs all around the garden on Easter Sunday for an Easter egg hunt that kids will adore. Don’t worry about kids missing the chocolate in this activity - they will be so excited to open the eggs and discover what’s inside that they won’t even notice the lack of a sweet treat within. As an added bonus to you, if it’s a hot Easter day, there’s no chocolate to melt everywhere. Easter Morning Breakfast A favourite with my family, the Easter Sunday breakfast is a chance for us to indulge in a brekkie with a bit of a twist to our usual ones. We make platters of pancakes, French toast and fresh fruit together, and then sit down together to eat it. If you’re feeling a bit creative, you can try making these bunny pancakes. Easter cupcake decorating This is so simple, and a lot of fun for kids. Depending on the age of the children, either bake basic vanilla cupcakes with them, or cook them in advance and have the kids decorate them. Once the cupcakes are ready to be iced, make a basic buttercream icing mixture, tint it green with food colouring, and place it in a bowl next to the cupcakes ready for the kids to use. In another bowl pour some dessicated coconut to represent grass, and in a third place marshmallows, cut in half, to represent flower petals (or cut-out paper Easter bunnies stuck on toothpicks if you want to keep it lolly-free).
facebook.com/ChristineKnightWriter
Spring Flower Crowns While in the southern hemisphere we celebrate Easter in autumn, it is traditionally a spring holiday. Little girls (and even boys!) will have a lot of fun making simple flower crowns. You’ll need to help kids with measuring and cutting the wire around their heads, but can then let them go to town with threading fronds and flowers around them. Here’s a basic tutorial. Make Easter Cards This is an activity that can be done on Easter Sunday or during the week before. Fold plain white or light coloured paper in half, then in half again to form a card. Make a pile and place them next to craft material for kids. Cheap Easter stickers, glitter pens, mini pom poms (they make great bunny tails), pens, crayons, etc. Anything and everything can be used on a card. Pin the Tail on the Bunny A fun variation of the traditional game, this version is great to play on Easter Sunday after the food has been eaten and the hunt has finished up. Draw a large bunny on a poster-sized piece of cardboard and draw and cut out circles to represent bunny tails. Either make the tails a different colour or glue cotton wool balls on them. Use a scarf to cover kids’ eyes, and find a prize for the winner - like little stuffed bunny rabbit or something similarly in theme.
END
Christine Knight is a Sydney-based writer. Her blog, Adventure, Baby!, is a guide to navigating the world and parenthood. Follow her travel, food and parenting adventures over Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
instagram.com/christine.knight
www
christineknight.me/
hing to do with chocolate
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 57
How grounded? Deborah Disney, Author
There is nothing quite like having children to keep you grounded. I don’t mean grounded like when you were fourteen and stayed out a couple of hours after the movie eating chips and gravy with your friends instead of getting home when you said you would. (Though there are frequently times as a parent when you just can’t leave the house!) No, I’m talking about the other kind of grounded. The kind that dictates: it doesn’t matter what kind of fancy clothes you wear, what car you drive, what street you live in, if you’ve got kids – even if it’s only on the nanny’s day off – you’re gonna be grounded! It’s smashed banana in your just blow-dried hair – yes, on THAT day of the week when you managed to have a long enough shower that you could execute shampooing and conditioning in the same session … It’s leaving your neat little clutch at home and toting around a bag big enough to accommodate spare nappies, drink bottles, dinky little plastic containers of a variety of snack foods, an extra set of clothes … and a portacot!
It’s dealing with more bodily emissions than you EVER imagined could come out of one small body in a day … in varying hues from yellow to green to brown to PURPLE and BLUE (oh the relief when you google to find it was only beetroot and blueberries) … It’s finding tampons with strings unraveled, dangling from doorknobs like Christmas decorations … It’s the realisation that your interest in the motivations of Peppa Pig and Dora the Explorer has overtaken your interest in current affairs and intellectual musings. That’s the kind of grounded I’m talking about. My favourite … not sure if ‘favourite’ is the right word here, but anyhow … my most memorable story of a child keeping me grounded happened when my eldest (now 13) was three. She had just had her birthday party and had been the lucky recipient of not just one, but two versions of the same boxed game. As I recall it was some kind of ball-rolling, tubular set-up that would make me completely paranoid that she and any other small children visiting would choke on the jaffa-looking balls. Anyway, though tempted to return both games for something less fear-inducing … like a live tarantula … I politely asked just one of the twin-gift givers if they might still have the receipt so that we could swap it for something else. I know most people would probably just stick the extra game in the cupboard and re-gift it, but hey, not all brain cells continued to function after the momentous event that had taken place three years earlier.
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 58
So, receipt and jaffa-ball game in hand, and three-year-old on hip, I walked into the boutique little toy store at the posh end of town. I was probably the only person thrifty enough to dare returning a toy to a store like this for an exchange ‘because we have two’, but with five billion pullups to buy every week, thrifty I most certainly was. The perfectly groomed older lady behind the counter smiled politely as I explained the situation. Kind of politely – it was that kind of smile someone gives when they have eaten something you baked from quinoa instead of wheat flour and they really want to spit it out but their manners won’t let them. ‘Alright then, I just need to check inside to make sure all the parts are still intact,’ she said without making eye contact. I stood there bouncing my little one on my hip to stop her from running rampant all over the very neatly stocked store.
As the lady … and I do mean lady … pulled the box around towards her so that she could access the opening side, her eyes shot wide open and she audibly gasped. ‘Oh,’ was all she could manage to say. Perhaps she feared the jaffa balls as much as I did, but I suspected not. Her years had gone far beyond jaffa ball policing, from what I could tell. ‘What is it?’ I asked tremulously as she spun the box opening back around to me so that I could see for myself. There, stuffed inside the box opening, were five unwrapped tampons, door-knob hanging strings dangling away. How grounded? THAT grounded!
END
A laugh-out-loud debut that will delight fans of Liane Moriarty and Fiona Higgins, this is The Devil Wears Prada at the school gates! Distinctly middle-class parents, Maria and Joe have committed every bit of available income to giving their daughters Kate and Sarah the best education possible, which to them means attending the most exclusive girls school in the state. But when Kate befriends the spoilt and moody Mirabella, Maria must learn to play nicely with Mirabella’s mother, Bea – the beguiling yet beastly queen of the toffee-nosed school mothers at Riverton. A series of social blunders and intentional snubs make Maria determined to ensure Kate’s rightful position both at school and on the Saturday morning netball team, but as Maria works hard to negotiate the social hierarchy, her previously contented life with Joe falls far from view. With her mastery of dialogue and character, Australian author Deborah Disney skillfully balances keen and witty observations about daily life with the more serious issues of schoolyard bullying and social isolation. You will laugh, you will nod along, and you will want to take the increasingly neurotic Maria aside and point out that in all her desperate, gaffe-filled attempts to fit in with the well-heeled, champagne-swilling mummies of Riverton, she might just be risking all that she holds dear.
facebook.com/Deborah-Disney-Author
twitter.com/DeborahDisneyau
www
bit.ly/HarperCollinsUpAndIn
Kid Magazine Loves
Tutu Du Monde never fail to delight with their divine range of girls clothing. The current ‘Dream within a Dream’ collection departs from the signature muted palette with the daring Black Magic top and shorts with oversized mauve and blue sequins, finished with a narrow frill of the finest tulle. Abundant in tulle and sparkles, the designs are ethereal and a gateway to a world of enchantment and delight! www.tutudumonde.com
If your kids have been enjoying the popular Japanese animated series, Yo-kai (airing weekdays on GO!) then they will love the new toy range available in stores now. The Yo-kai Watch toy range centres around Yo-kai and the collectible medals. Each medal can be insertes into the watch, collected in the Yo-kai Medallium Collection Book or scanned using the Yo-kai Land app to discover new ways to adventure! www.facebook.com/YokaiWatchAustralia
Get your kids growing with the Herb in a Bag from Sow Grow Eat. Available in three different herb varieties (Basil, Parsley and Chives), grow the plant straight from the bag which doubles as the pot! Includes the soil medium and instructions to get your plants flourishing! Use code HELLO2016 until the end of February 2016 for 20% off the $9.95 price. www.sowgroweat.com.au kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 60
Avoid the afternoon sugar crash with Sipahh straws. With less than half a teaspoon of sugar per straw and available in 13 delicious flavours, even the most reluctant of milk drinkers will be converted. Perfect for parties or as an after school treat – check out page 6 for my afternoon snack ideas! www.sipahhstore.com.au
I’m totally in love with the gorgeous range of Rapee cushions – the perfect way to add some summer colour to your home. From bold colour pops to bright florals and on trend patterns, there is a cushion for every style. It is no wonder that Charles Parsons is this year celebrating 100 years in the textile industry! I’m sure will remain in the forefront of design for another century. www.rapee.com.au
I often worry about using extension leads and long cables when kids are around but you can protect and cover long and loose cords with the Dreambaby® Cord Clamps. They clip easily around cord plugs and sockets to help keep your little ones safe from the dangers that arise when dangerous appliances are accidentally unplugged. At only $5.95 that is a low price for peace of mind. dreambaby.com.au
With names like “Wake up Jeff”, “Blinky Bill” and “Barbie Q” and made using a 5-Free Formula, the divine nailpolish range from Limedrop is a big winner in my books. Available in two sizes – 7ml and 15ml, the range paints a picture of nostalgia and growing up Australian. The 50 shade range is made in Australia and available now. www.limedrop.com.au
Just because you are pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t exercise in style! Rumi Yoga Wear has designed a range of beautiful maternity leggings with a waistband designed to expand as your baby grows. Available in five different patterns, the tights are made from 70% recycled plastic and feature a crossover back for added support. www.rumiyogawear.com
If you were a Lion King fan as a kid, there is a whole new series to peak your interest on Disney Junior The Channel. The Lion Guard follows the story of Kion, the cub of Simba and Nala. With appearances from old favourites like Timon, Pumba and Rafiki, this is a heartwarming series of family, friendship and adventure. Facebook.com/DisneyJuniorAUNZ
Long a fan of the Body Beyond Birth exercise program, I was excited to hear about their new pregnancy program. A 12 lesson exercise program, based on Pilates and designed to help pregnant women move, stretch and strengthen their body. Designed by Physiotherapist, Jackie and Pilates instructor, Becky, the program is a safe way to support your back, abdominal muscles and pelvic floor. bodybeyondbirth.com
A stationery brand with a social conscience has arrived with Yoobi! Partnering with Officeworks and The Smith Family, for every Yoobi item purchased, a Yoobi item is donated to a child in need. The super cool range features 135 items in six funky colours, most available for under $10. Jazz up your desks and pencil cases knowing that you are helping kids who need it. www.yoobi.com.au
Oh the fun we have had with our Worlds Apart ball pit available from Childsmart. It comes with 50 balls, perfect for young babies 6 months+ and folds up for easy storage and transport. The pit (which doubles as the storage bag) is lightweight and flexible to withstand even the most rigorous and excitable toddler! www.childsmart.com.au
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 61
So are you a school parent now? Top tips for starting school Renée Harwood, Née Say
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 62
Starting school is a very big milestone in your child’s development. It’s probably an even bigger milestone in your parenting journey. Even if your child has been in formal care prior to starting school, sending them off to “big school” is a massive leap for most parents. It is the definitive sign that your cherub is no longer a baby. To make your first days, weeks and months of being a school parent a little easier, here is a list of tips to ease you into the school scene.
You are your child’s advocate In light of the above point this may sound contradictory, but you also need to deal with any concerns, learning or otherwise, promptly with the teacher. While your child is your number one priority, it is important to remember the teacher has 20 or so other little people to focus on each day. You need to be the key advocate for your child’s needs at school. Getting involved (point 4) is a great way to build a rapport with teachers and other key members of the school community to enable you to do this.
Lay off the labels Check classroom policy on sharing resources before you meticulously label every pencil. Pooling items such as glue, pencils and scrapbooks is common practice in younger grades.
Make friends School friends aren’t just for kids. Meeting and connecting with like-minded parents is a valuable part of school life. Including school friends in your circle can give your family access to a wonderful support and information network.
Buy generic uniform pieces where you can Many schools allow generic items such as jumpers and shorts as long as they are in accordance with uniform guidelines. No amount of labelling will save some items of clothing from being lost. Take it from someone who has replaced a $40 school jumper two days into winter.
Don’t ask “How was your day?” The answer is rarely enlightening. So many things happen in the six hours your child is at school and they are probably still trying to process most of it when you collect them. Get more creative with your questions when encouraging your child to talk about their day. “Who did you play with?”, “What was your favourite part of the day?”, “Did you make something new?” are all good ways to get them to open up about their day.
Don’t stress about food Pack lunch box items you know your child will eat but don’t be surprised if they are too busy playing/socialising to eat all of it. Having a policy that anything that doesn’t get eaten at lunch becomes afternoon tea is a good way to make sure lunch box contents don’t get wasted. Get involved You don’t have to commit to six years of tuckshop or become the president of the P&C but think about volunteering for reading groups, excursions or class activities if you have the time. Even just popping in to chat to the teacher at pick up or drop off occasionally can be a great way to stay in touch with your child’s schooling. Don’t compare apples and oranges Remember children start school at different ages and with different pre-school experiences. Just because little Lucy has read every Harry Potter by the age of six while your dear Henry is still getting the hang of his alphabet, doesn’t mean your child is behind or doomed to fail at school. Every child develops at their own pace. The teacher should alert you if there are any major issues.
facebook.com/NeeSayer
Embarking on twelve years of schooling can be a daunting process, both for you and your child. Keeping open lines of communication with your child, their teachers and the wider school community is the key to successfully navigating this exciting time. Good luck!
END
Renée Harwood is a freelance writer, aspiring novelist and mother to three rambunctious children. When she’s not being distracted by social media or drinking copious amounts of coffee, Renée can be found wandering along one of her beautiful local beaches with her two dogs. Her lifelong dream is to earn enough money to afford a housekeeper. Renée blogs about all these things at Née Say (neesayer.com).
twitter.com/NeeSayer
www
www.neesayer.com
5Amanda tips Lecaude, for a Organising more organised 2016 You At the start of every New Year I usually have several calls from people who want to get more organised. Does this sound like a goal of yours? Personally I love the fact that this time of year people start talking about getting more organised. Everyone has good intentions at the beginning of a New Year and its great if you are able to not only set yourself up and be more organised but also then maintain it as the year goes on. So do you want to start 2016 more organised? One of the key areas of organisation is time however unfortunately this is not something we can buy more of so it is a matter of being organised and managing the time you do have. Here are 5 tips to start 2016 more organised and manage your time better this year: Create a daily schedule Know what you have and when. This is particularly important if you have a lot of different activities in your household. I know I would be lost without my trusty old paper diary. You might be more comfortable with an electronic diary and that is okay too as long as you are using something and not relying on your memory! There are plenty of options available and when you decide what to use make sure you put in all the important dates that you have scheduled already.
husband to iron my sons school shirts as I was struggling to fit that in from time to time. My next goal on this front is to teach my son to do it himself – wish me luck! Schedule in some down time Often we feel stressed about time or lack of it if we don’t ensure we take a break. It is important to schedule in time to relax so you can reset and focus once in awhile. For me I like to ensure I get to the gym 3-4 times a week and it is one of my non-negotiable things as it helps me to stay on top even when I am really busy. What is it that you like to do? Make sure you put that time aside for yourself. My challenge to you is to take a few moments now to think about how you can put these tips into practice in your life. Maybe you can also think about things that have helped you stay on top of your time in the past but that you are not doing at the moment. Please make the time to think about this now, put the effort in to implement changes and I can assure you that you will feel more organised and in control, particularly of your time in 2016. For more information or if you would like some assistance with organisation or time management in your life then please get in touch to see how I can assist you or your family.
END
Schedule time Another tip is to schedule in your diary those tasks that you have wanted to do but have yet to get around to. By putting them in you are more likely to commit to them. Get better at saying no It is great when we offer to help and do things for others but sometimes at what cost. If you barely have enough time in the day now then this might be something you have to consider. If you find this hard to do then start small with family and friends by saying no to little things. Personally this has been a goal of mine for the past 12 months and I’m pleased to say I have one more volunteer project to complete then I’m having a break and focusing on myself, my family and business for awhile. Seek help from others Don’t try and do it all yourself. It is okay to delegate to others and if you have other family members maybe it is a good time to teach them or ask them to help. A simple one for me towards the end of 2015 was asking my facebook.com/OrganisingYou
Amanda Lecaude is professional organiser who loves being able to help people – her clients – get organised. She see’s the difference it makes in their everyday lives, particularly families, just to have a way to create some TIME, SPACE and BALANCE! She also very passionate about equipping school students with organising skills for life to maximise greater results primarily in secondary school and limit the overwhelm and frustration for both them and their parents. Get in touch 0409 967 166 amanda@organisingyou.com.au
twitter.com/organisingyou
www
www.organisingyou.com.au
New kids on the block
If you have a Wiggles fan in the family then get ready because the new Wiggles bedroom furniture range has arrived at Fantastic Furniture. Include a bed, bedside, lowboy, cushion, lamp and rug, wll in the signature Wiggles colours with authentic Wiggles branding. Ready, steady, room makeover time! www.fantasticfurniture.com.au
Fans of the highly popular ecostore range can now pick up their favourite baby care items in Target stores nationally. The ecostore baby range is gentle on skin and contains conditioning agents to help keep that soft baby skin as it should be. The range includes a body wash, nappy balm, sleepytume bath, bubble bath, moisturiser, shampoo, goats milk and lavender baby soap and starter pack. www.target.com.au
New and exclusive to Urbaani Homewares are the Swedish collection of Horredsmattan Rugs. Using traditional Swedish weave techniques, the rugs are available in a cool colour palette with an inverse pattern on the reverse side. Better yet they are made from durable vinyl foil, so can be easily washed and maintained for long lasting wear! Prices start from $250RRP. www.urbaani.com.au kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 66
A new range of Mickey and Minnie Mouse print zip Wondersuits are now available from Bonds. Bonds has teamed up with the magical makers at Disney to create the adorable range. They range is limited edition and sure to fly off the shelves in no time at all. The retro-inspired signature Wondersuits are available for $39.95 online and at the Bonds Kids stores at Chadstone and Bondi Junction. www.bonds.com.au
Comvita Australia has leaned on scientific research to create first independently certified eczema care range. MedihoneyÂŽ Natural Eczema Care Range contains medical-grade Mauka honey with other proven skincalming ingredients including aloe vera, chamomile and plant butters. Available in handy size tubes, the range is ideal for popping in your handbag for relief on the run. www.medihoney.com.au
Kate Watts’ story is one of heartbreak and overcoming challenges. Her new label, Only One Ashley, is a dream come true and a tribute to her daughter, Ashley, who was born with a serious brain condition and sadly passed away in 2009. Kate has designed the collection with love and a desire to help women look and feel their best! onlyoneashley.com.au
Sydney’s Sausage Queen, Chrissy Flanagan, has put her expertise into launching a new range of sausages. Made from ethically farmed free range stock and using natural casings, Chrissy’s Cuts are free from fillers, flours, offcuts, nitrates, additives, antibiotics, hormones and gluten. And most importantly they are packed with flavour! Available in selected stores. www.chrissyscuts.com.au
Head into Cotton On Kids stores to pick up the new ‘Playground Approved’ denim range just launched. With jeggings, shorts, skirts, jackets, rip & repair jeans, slim leg, slough track jean and cuff jean styles, the range is comfortable, affordable and most definitely on trend. The collection is made in premium stretch fabrics for extra comfort that kids and parents will love. cottononkids.com
Jeanswest, known for their flattering denim that fits, have launched their second active wear range for women. The collection features technical fabrications for the ultimate performance while you work out and importantly, it looks great too! With seamfree tanks, high-waisted leggings and shorts, prices range from $39.99 - $69.99 in sizes XS-XL. jeanswest.com.au
Did you know that when you purchase a Joolz pram you are also contributing to the environment? Aside from their packaging which doubles as fun cardboard toys, Joolz is now offering parents the chance to register for the Joolz Birth Forest where a tree will be planted for every Joolz baby. You focus on your growing baby and Joolz will help with the environment! My-joolz.com.au
Mini fashionistas look out! Oscars for Kids, a range of adorable mini loafers from Sydney-based mother and fashion enthusiast, Dean Manassen, have launched! Born out a desire for fashionable, affordable and versatile footwear influenced by European designs, the loafers are available in two styles in bold and trendy colour ways. At $69.95 they will dress up any outfit with instant WOW! www.oscarsforkids.com
MyMedela is your personal digital companion, providing practical advice, tips and tricks from experts on pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. The app provides a comprehensive guide to breastfeeding and answers to frequently asked questions about pregnancy, breastfeeding and Medela products. www.mymedela.com.au
kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe 67
Available now
www.kidmagazine.com.au/MojoEbook
only $14.95
shop where the cool kids shop
With the plethora of online businesses popping up all over the web, knowing where to shop can be the hardest decision you need to make. We’ve done the leg work for you and tracked down some of the hippest places to shop for you and the kids. Whether you are after funky party supplies, new maternity clothes, a fabulous photographer or toys for the kids, you will find it all plus more in the new Kid Magazine DIrectory. Want to find out how you can join the directory? Email sara@kidmagazine.com.au for the details on our affordable packages.
www.kidmagazine.com.au/directory
.99 79 .au ,$ c k om pa a.c ck ali ba str nd au ou xy a s .ro Se w w w
Amber Rose ta www.
Bondi black & white backpack, $84.95 www.sunnyjim.com.au
Back to school
Condura Tan backpack, $119 www.styletread.com.au
Marshmallow backpack - ethnic, $69.95 www.zoomlite.com.au
Backpacks are in and they are the perfect carry all for your mummy essentials. Schools in but why should the kids have all the fun?
T
assel suede backpack, $34.99 .rockmans.com.au Navy faux leather rucksack, $53 au.nextdirect.com
I Love Billy Stone Backpack, $69.95 www.styletread.com.au Apocalypse Now shoulder bag & backpack, $249 www.maryandmarieshop.com
Melrose backpack, $59.99 www.roxyaustralia.com.au
Lucy Contrast Suedette Double Strap, $40.00 www.boohoo.com
Toby laptop backpack - grey, $249.95 www.zoomlite.com.au
Unkeeper heritage print backpack - white flower, $99.95 www.zoomlite.com.au
Carrie Chain Detail Rucksack, $48.00 www.boohoo.com
SUBSCRIBE @ kidmagazine.com.au/subscribe
kidmagazine.com.au 72
February/March 2016 - Issue twenty seven