Busy Mums Magazine July 2016

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Busy Mums Mag

Volume 11 July 2016

Birthday Parties

Budget Meals

Kids Sports

Mums Skin care Hacks


Editors Note Thank you for joining us for our latest edition of the Busy Mums Magazine. I am so proud to bring together a Magazine aimed at offering Solutions for Busy Mums. Unfortunately, many of today’s mums struggle; trying to achieve a work/life balance, causing most of us to feel overwhelmed and stressed from time to time. While it would be fantastic; it is unrealistic to offer a fix-all solution, so we are. The Busy Mums Magazine hopes to help mums with tips and tricks to cope with the day to day Motherhood tasks as well as finding quick and easy ways to look and feel great within themselves. We hope you enjoy our latest issue and would love to hear from you with any thoughts or suggestions of topics that you would like us to cover. Wishing you a happy balanced life! Lorraine

Get in touch: Editor: Lorraine Salvi lorraine@mumsdelivery.com.au Advertising Enquiries: info@mumsdelivery.com.au Office: (02) 9940 3097 2

Would you like to become a contributor for Busy Mums Magazine? We are always on the look out for stories and mums wanting to share their experiences & tips Stay Connected

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Table of Contents

Parenting

Lifestyle Encouraging Kids to be more active Benefits of Children’s Sports Great Sporting programs Lifestyle Product Reviews New Competitions

Tips for Throwing a Kids Birthday Party Fun Kids Party Bags Birthday Cake Tips Throwing a Healthier Birthday Party Why play groups are vital for Parents Children’s Product Reviews

Food Meal Preparation Tips Budget Meals Fulfilling Snack Ideas

Beauty Essential Facial Skin Care Items for Mums Tricks to improve your skin Time Saving Beauty Hacks for Busy Mums Beauty Spot - Latest beauty finds

Other New Books & DVD Releases New and Noteworty items

Travel 5 Family Activities to enjoy in Fiji How to entertain your children during flights


Parenting

Tips for Throwing a

Kid’s birthday parties: they can be fun for the kids, but quite stressful for the parents! I’ve put together a few tips for a less stressful experience... First and foremost: do not over-complicate the whole process! For example, sure homemade invitations are nice. As are homemade quiches, cake and decorations, and yeah the other parents and adult guests probably WOULD be impressed if you and the kids and the house all looked immaculate and everything went smoothly as though a venue planner had done it. However, it’s your child’s birthday party, where the main objective is for said child to have a wonderful time with loved ones, being the centre of attention. For just this day, it can’t hurt for the day to revolve around him/ her. Forget about other people’s expectations and focus on the birthday child. :) Decide on a date and time that suits your family and any main guests (for example, grandparents if they’re having to travel etc). Always have an end date so parents know when to pick their children up, and also for guests to have a time in mind that things need to wind down for (because the wine will be making an appearance shortly after đ&#x;˜œ). Guests...I say keep guests to a minimum. There’s no point in inviting every kid that your child knows if the birthday girl/ boy doesn’t even realise they’re there! Also it’s obviously a lot harder to feed, entertain and maintain any control over more guests. So my rule is 5 friends plus family. I think it’s fair, but of course all situations are different! Next big decision is WHERE?? At home or at a venue? Believe it or not, I find home easier. Yeah there’s a mess afterward, but there’s also no transportation of gifts, food, party ware, decorations, cake to and from the venue...It just becomes so very complicated and stressful. However if you do decide on a venue, ensure you think ahead and bring plenty of enviro bags or similar to transport gifts and everything else back to the car at the end of the party. Theme: I find planning a party easier if I have a theme to revolve things around! So in the case of a child’s party, say a princess theme, or Frozen, or

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Cars, or simply colours such as rainbow theme, or blue & red...you get the idea. Next, write a list of things you need. For example: decorations, disposable cups & plates, napkins, food & drinks, and of course the cake. Now think of your theme... Decorations: buy plenty of balloons (because it’s always a great party starter to have a number of balloons loose on the floor for kids to start chasing and the like) in the colour of your chosen theme. I tend to just buy the helium quality up front as I really despise them bursting on my face or when it so much as looks like the sun may shine on them! Next streamers are fun but leave a huge mess (particularly if you don’t take them down that arvo and it rains on them overnight đ&#x;˜ ). Plastic tablecloths that suit the theme and generic birthday banners are also great for brightening up a party area. Disposable cups and plates: it’s far cheaper to buy plain ones from the discount store (such as the Reject Shop) and decorate them with stickers of the theme! And it’s a job the kids love to do and is pretty straight forward: they love to be involved in the party planning. Food and drink is pretty easy for a kids party. We have plenty of party food ideas over in the recipe page, and also don’t undervalue traditional party food! Fairy bread, pies & sausage rolls and platters of fruit will never go out of style!

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Kids Birthday Party The cake. Now it’s nice to make your own cake, of course it is, but planning a party and the lead up can be absolutely hectic. So always keep your options open to buy a slab cake through Woolworths, and cut, shape and decorate to your liking. The decorating is the most important part, after all! Games...Games are very much dependant on the age group. All the old favourites (such as passthe-parcel, musical chairs, pin-the/tail, statues etc) are popular for a reason and can be adapted to suit your party theme to put a bit of a new spin on the game. Kids can create fun from pretty much anything, given the mood. So turn some music on, have plenty of fun and follow their lead! :) Party hacks: • Balloons on your letterbox is always a great idea for guests to know they’re at the right place. • A birthday badge will make your birthday child feel special and look great in photos. Particularly if you do it every year with the next number. :) • As your child opens gifts, have them first open the card then the present. Write on the back of the corresponding card what the present is to make it easier for writing out thank you cards later! • Designate a photographer for the day. It may be a snap-happy aunt or niece etc. Also ensure they’re definitely aware they’re being relied on for all pics and any videos! • Don’t forget to check your amenities before the party: plenty of toilet paper and fresh hand towels so there’s no added pressure from there! And those are my basic tips! If you have any other great tips for fellow party-planning novices like myself, please add them here! One can never have too much preparation when it comes to kid’s parties. :)

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Tennyson Studio

creative art parties are so much fun. It’s an all-inclusive party with pieces, firing, pizza , drinks and party games for 2.5hrs. Each child gets to design and create their own item. All you bring is a cake. tennysonstudio. com.au

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Parenting


Parenting

Fun Kids Party Bags pack of Hot Wheels to reduce the cost and then added a car to each party bag. Make your own Cupcakes As part of the party entertainment you get the children to decorate their own cupcakes. They can then take these cupcakes home as their ‘loot’. Be sure to make enough that you have a few around to be eaten.

No kids birthday party is complete without a party bag to leave with. As the mum, there are a number of different party bags options so you can create the perfect party bag to suit your party. Here are some fun ideas: Sweet Lolly Bags Traditionally the party bag is filled with lollies and sweets for the child to enjoy. These are easy to make and always a hit with the children. Simply purchase some favour or loot bags from a party supplies shop and then fill with your desired sweets/lollies. You could also add a toy or two just for fun. There are some novelty gifts you can include like Bubble Wands to help fill the bags. If you don’t have time to create the bags yourself, companies like Loot Bags have this sorted for you. DIY Lolly Bags Get the children to fill their lolly bags with the spoils from a pinata. Simply give each child an empty party bag and then play ‘wack the pinata’. This option offers both a fun game for the children and when the pinata bursts, the children add all the lollies that they have collected to their bag to take home.

Cookie Bags I saw this recently at a party we went to, where the party bags where they had a big cookie iced to match the cake as the party bag. It is a lovely touch and the children loved the cookie. As the mum I thought it was fantastic as it wasn’t over the top nor did it give the children so many sweets.

Lolly Bar All the rage at the moment, the lolly bar can be stylish and great fun as you can go up to the bar and help yourself to an assortment of goodies.

Toy Bags Some mums feel that there is no need for a lolly bag as the children have already had their fill of lollies during the party. You can get simple and inexpensive toys and other fun items to put into the lolly bag then to amuze the children. In a recent Hot Wheels party we bought the large 30

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Parenting

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Parenting

Birthday Cake Tips Everybody wants to create a fabulous children’s birthday cake. Here are a few simple tips that can help you when making your next birthday cake. Tips for baking the cake • Try to bake the cake the day before as this will help to reduce your stress levels. If you burn the cake or it’s a flop you will still have time to bake another one. • Using packet cake mixture is okay – it is not a sign of inability. I struggled with this concept initially and used to make all the cakes from scratch until last year when I had a 5 day old baby and the idea of doing it all was too much. I really wanted to make the birthday cake but I was pressed for time so this was a great solution. It is also a good simple and easy way to make different tasting cakes each year. Tips for Ice-cream Cakes • Buy extra cake mixes or have enough • Get a glass container/tupperware that is ingredients at home so that if your first cake is similar to the shape you are after for the cake. ruined you have everything you need to create • Before adding Ice-cream to the container add another batch. cling wrap to the inside of the container with a • If you find baking the cake stressful, try to good 1-2 inch overhang. The cling wrap helps choose cake designs that can be easily remove the ice-cream from the container decorated or do not require cutting of difficult without destroying the shape. shapes. • Remember that the ice-cream you place at the Tips for decorating the cake • Once baked, put your cake into the fridge or freezer for a while before decorating. This reduces the crumbs from moving while you are icing it, making it easier and look better. • Purchasing a cake topper or fun accessories are an easy way to make any simple cake look fantastic. You can find great cake toppers at party supply shops and if you look online you should be able to find something perfect to match you theme. • Keep the cake in the fridge once decorated. It helps retain the icing formation on a hot day. Don’t forget to take it out 30 mins or so before you serve the cake so that it tastes great and isn’t cold. • Licorice makes great black borders. • To create grass, simply get dessicated coconut, place in a bag and add a little green food colouring to it. Shake to mix colour and add more food colouring or coconut as required to get the desired colour. • Check your local supermarket for small amounts of ready made fondant icing that can be coloured, rolled out and made into shapes/ decorations.

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bottom is actually the ice-cream that will be at the top of the cake when you flip it out of the container. • Depending on how many other bits and pieces need to be added to the cake, it is best to work in short sharp bursts, putting the cake into the freezer in between to ensure you keep the shape. • Get a glass of boiling water and a butter knife. Dip the knife into the hot water and then smooth along any lines in the ice-cream to get a good finish. Clean knife and reheat as required. Most of all, the most important thing to remember is that your children will love the cake - no matter what! Even if it isn’t a master piece, to them it will be amazing. As they grow older, if you can involve them, they will simply be proud of what they have created.

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Throwing a healthier Birthday party

Parenting

Hosting a children’s birthday party can be an overwhelming and daunting task. All those kids making all that noise; it’s enough to drive every parent crazy! One of the challenging aspects of hosting a kid’s party is what to feed your little guests. The temptation (and expectation) to serve junk food and foods high in sugar can be defeated, and I have 5 handy tips to help make a healthy change to your next party.

1) Don’t over-cater. We are all guilty of having eyes bigger than our stomachs and kids are no exception. It sounds simple, but by serving less you will reduce the amount of sugar and additives that the children consume. If you are worried about them going hungry have a large platter of fresh fruit on the table (instead of lollies or chips) that they can snack on whilst they play. There are some great ways to make your fruit snacks fun; just check out Pinterest for watermelon carvings! Having a dedicated ‘food’ time during the party stops kids from grazing (on 12 cupcakes!) and you can easily monitor what they eat. Making them stop, sit and eat will also calm them down (especially if you’re dealing with a group of rowdy boys). If there are 10 kids at the party only make 10 cupcakes but allow more of the more nutrient dense snacks (e.g. sausage rolls, mini quiches) to fill them up. Serve the savory food first and save the sweets for last, when their little tummies are nearly full.

stick to water. If you still want to serve soft drink limit it to only during the ‘food time’ and make sure it’s not self serve. 4) How to avoid allergic reactions. Ask. Always ask the parents if their child is allergic to something. Simply noting on the invitation ‘please advise of any food allergies when RSVP’ing’ could avoid an accidental health scare later on. If a child is highly allergic chances are they know what to avoid and may even bring their own food but they may get caught up in all the excitement and eat the wrong foods. Again, a designated ‘food time’ will allow you to keep an eye on what people are eating. If there is a child with allergies ensure that are not left out; it’s the worst feeling for a child if they are. There are lots of Gluten Free and Dairy Free options available now and it will make that child feel so special to be included.

5) Games and non-food fun. Focusing the party guests on activities, instead 2) Say No to party bags! I loathe party bags. They are filled with more lollies of food, is a simple trick. Having the party at a and food colourings; just what your child needs after park allows the children to run and play with each other. Party games, treasure hunts and movies will coming off a sugar high…NOT! Unfortunately, they involve the kids in the party rather than having seem to be an expected part of a modern party so them sit and eat the whole time. make your party bags non-food based. Try filling your party bags with Playdoh, colouring pencils, I hope these tips have been helpful. I have thrown stickers, whistles or colouring-in sheets. These can be home made and are a fun activity for the birthday many parties and believe that the key to success is child to organise before the party; even personalising planning, water pistols and ear plugs! them for each guest. Article by Lisa McInerney from Mummy Made.It. Lisa McInerney is a mum and a Chiropractor from 3) There’s no need for bubbles. Victoria who has a passion for healthy, creative Soft drink is another huge factor in the party sugar baking. Visit www.mummymade.it for healthier hit. Instead of soft drink you could serve fruit juice versions of your favourite recipes. (water it down first to make it go further) or just

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Parenting

Why Playgroups are vital for Parents Playgroup Australia’s CEO explains on why playgroups are vital to parents. Anne-Marie Mioche, CEO at Playgroup Australia, knows only too well how beneficial playgroups are, and not just for children. We cannot underestimate how fundamental community playgroups are for families, in particular parents. Social isolation is common among parents of young children, especially for those new to parenting. So many mothers and fathers have told me that, before their child joined a playgroup, they felt lonely and even

disconnected from their community.

years, and you might be surprised to hear that grandparents are the most popular providers of informal child care in Australia.

Playgroups can act as a sort of ‘sociological superglue’ for parents who might otherwise feel distant from social groups or their local community. Grandparents spend, on average, 16 hours each They are a key and flexible facility for anyone raising week caring for their grandchildren. Without a child, whether you are a first-time parent or not. playgroups a lot of grandparents might struggle to find an affordable and flexible environment that The impact playgroups can have on parents is equips their grandchildren with the learning and phenomenal. They are not a passive service, entertainment facilities they need, not to mention parents and carers run playgroups themselves, with the social and financial benefits for grandparents support provided by Playgroup Australia. The social themselves. interaction and support that parents and carers get from playgroups has given many huge confidence Playgroup Australia hosts playgroups for over boosters. I’ve seen playgroups inspire mothers to 200,000 families in 80% of post codes in Australia. get back into work, and for others it has been the It is the second biggest volunteer movement in stepping stone to volunteer elsewhere. the country and is completely funded by parents and carers themselves. Community playgroups provide peer support and are a prize opportunity for mothers, fathers, Playgroups are a cost-effective way for parents to grandparents – in fact any person caring for a child provide a safe learning space for their young ones - to build friendships and networks, and gain advice to learn, and at the same time meet like-minded in a social, trusted environment. Playgroups don’t people and make new connections. just take place in communities, they help to build Of course, we cannot lose sight of the benefits them. playgroups have for children themselves. Play is a vital development tool for children. The common Playgroups are not a ‘one size fits all’ service; they age bracket when children attend playgroup (up can be set up by any parent or carer, and at any to three years) is the critical period of a child’s time. They can adapt to any parent’s schedule, and development, which is when children learn the specific needs a child might have; for example, fundamental cognitive, physical, emotional, and there are playgroups specifically catering for social principles that become the building blocks children with autism. for facilitating later learning and development. You can find out more at http://playgroupaustralia.org. I’ve seen a great deal of demand for grandparent, au/ dad and ethnic-specific playgroups in recent

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Parenting

Reviewed Tambo Teddies – Bickie Bear What struck me when I first laid eyes on the lovely Tambo Teddy is the fantastic quality. Made from incredibly soft 100% woollen sheepskin, it’s perfect for little fingers to explore. His eyes and nose are deep and securely sewn, making it perfect for newborns as they won’t be able to chew them nor will they be bothered by them when lying on it.

Read the full review

Finding Dory Finding Dory is a sweet movie where we follow Dory, the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish as she goes on a journey across the ocean to find parents she cannot really remember. Marlin and Nemo go with to support and help her along the way, however unexpected events occur and they cannot always be with her, forcing Dory to rely on her intuition. Read the review

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Uniden Baby Watch pan and tilt dual baby monitor Making sure your precious bundle is safe is one of the most important tasks as a parent. Feeling uncertain of knowing what is happening while they are sleeping is now a thing of the past thanks to the new Uniden pan and tilt dual baby monitor. This two-inone device helps you to see, hear and monitor exactly what your baby is doing when you cannot be with them. Read the review

The Mini Beanz Newborn Bean Bag offers a Stylish and Quality Alternative to the Baby Rocker. Because it is a bean bag rather than a foam style chair she can really get herself comfortable and is fully supported. It is even great to help stop flat head syndrome. Read the review

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Lifestyle

Encouraging Kids to be more active

Lifestyles have changed so much compared to a generation ago. When we were growing up it wasn’t uncommon to be playing street cricket with the neighbourhood kid’s till late, riding our bikes for hours over the weekend and hanging around the park that little longer after school. Now, there are new societal factors impacting our behaviour. So, what can parents do to encourage kids to be more active? 1. Set an example – Children follow their parents‟ example, so the first step starts here! Perhaps parents need to get outside more often and show how exercise is part of normal life. It’s a great reason to put the phone away, turn off the TV and computer and have time together away from these distractions. 2. Family activity – Start a new family routine that involves being active. For example, go for a short walk after dinner every night, go swimming or kick the ball around at the park every Saturday morning. This shows that being active can be fun, pleasurable and part of the weekly routine. 3. Compromise – Many kids are now introduced to electronic gadgets at a younger age than ever before. These electronic toys can be quite distracting in some households. Set some rules so that electronic game playing doesn’t distract kids from staying active. A suggestion might be that for every 20 minutes children play on a gadget, they stop and play another 20 minutes outside, perhaps on their bike or throwing hoops or anything else that gets them moving and having fun. 4. Be social – Try out a group activity. Team sports are an ideal way to get active, forge new friendships and develop important social skills at the same time. 5. Have fun – When children engage in a physical activity they genuinely enjoy, being active is a pleasurable way for them to spend time. Kids might not know immediately what sport they would enjoy participating in the most. If this is the case why not try out a few different sports as a way of assessing what is right for your child – and what they would enjoy the most. Many groups offer a complimentary trial class. 6. Set boundaries – Give your children set times when they play outside and limit TV, games and computer time. We’ve even heard of some families who have one night a week free from electronic devices – and that rule is not just for the kids it’s for the parents too! 7. Involve children in your exercise routine – If you go for regular walks, why not encourage the kids to join you with their bike/scooter. Kids over six benefit from at least one hour a day of physical activity and this is another way to encourage them to be active. Being active has so many benefits for children, as well as for parents. Some of the ways children benefit from being more active are that they are fitter, stronger, sleep better and have sharper concentration levels. Team exercise can even help with developing and strengthening social skills. So it makes sense that if children are more active they will enjoy the rewards of a healthier lifestyle. This article was provided by That! The healthy dairy snack for your children.

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Lifestyle

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Lifestyle

Benefits of Children’s Sports

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, only 6 out of 10 children aged between 5 and 14 years participate in sport outside of school. Making the decision to involve my children in sport outside of school was an easy decision for me. Driven by a very active, sporty child who simply needed the extracurricular activity, I chose to join a club and put him into soccer. My daughter on the other hand was not as driven to be involved in sports. Rather I encouraged her to try as I wanted her to experience the benefits that sports can bring. Both of my children love their sport and have gained so much throughout the sporting season. Being involved in children’s sports offer a number of benefits for children. Listed below are what I perceive the biggest benefits of children’s sport.

Physical Activity

Undoubtedly the biggest benefit of being involved in a sporting activity is the physical activity it brings to your child’s life. Getting them out and about, off the computer; making them fit, active and healthier. Considering that there is an increasing number of young children who are overweight, the physical benefit of children’s sports is becoming more important. The physical activity is also likely to provide your child with greater energy levels and improved coordination.

Social Skills

Sports and being part of a sports team teaches children valuable social skills. Not only do they learn to develop relationships with other children but also with their coaches and managers. Many sports grade the children into teams with people they may not know. This teaches them at an early age to both deal with change and to develop relationship with children from other areas/schools. They learn how to work together and appreciate the different abilities of other children as well as developing team building and leadership skills which will help them as they progress through life.

Self-Esteem

Participation in sporting activities can help nurture a child’s self -esteem. This occurs when receive positive praise for their efforts and when they achieve their personal goals. These positive events in turn help to

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build a healthy self-confidence. This furthers their enjoyment and encourages them to push themselves to see what they are capable of. In addition to this, greater mental health benefits are achieved from sport. From time to time, children in sport will receive constructive criticism and learn to cope with failures or loses. Learning these lessons early will help the child understand how accept the criticism as well as how to learn and improve from this and the failures.

Discipline

All sports have a number of rules that need to be abided by. There are no exceptions and no child is treated differently when it comes to following the rules. Although discipline is found in many other areas of life, generally with sport, as your child enjoys it and wants to play with their friends, they are more willing to learn and abide by the rules. This acceptance of discipline will help them understand and accept discipline better in other areas of their life.

Dedication

As with anything in life, if you want to do well, you need to practice. Driven by a desire to do well within their sport, many children will play and practice with their friends and family at home or at school. As their skills improve, a connection is made by the child that continued practice leads to better results. This is then imparted to other areas of life. Numerous reports show that children who participate in sport have a greater tendency to do better academically as they understand that they

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Lifestyle

Great Sporting Programs CALLING ALL SUPERSTARS! Ignite your child’s passion for sport with our programs designed to develop your Superstars co-ordination, confidence and social skills. Jungle Sports is Perth’s award-winning kids sports program for 16 month to 7 year olds. www.junglesports.com.au

Physi kids is Brisbane’s most popular choice in children’s sports and fitness! We run classes and parties for children aged 3 to 12 years. We tailor the party to suit your child - name any game or sport, and we can do it! http://physikids.com.au/parties/

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Food

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Lifestyle

Reviewed Breville the Flavour Maker® Slow Cooker

ASUS ZenWatch 2

The Breville Flavour Maker® offers a 7 Litre Slow Cooker with an EasySear® Pan. This means that not only will this nifty cooking appliance do all the cooking for you, you can brown your meat and soften veggies within it so that there is only one pot to clean! Less Cleaning, Less Mess and Easier Dinners….do I need to say more?

As my age increases; my metabolism unfortunately continues to decrease and as a result I have noticed my weight climbing. I need to do something about this, yet as many mums would understand, this is easy to say and harder to follow through with. See what we thought of Lite ‘n Easy

The ASUS ZenWatch 2 is a trendy smartwatch that offers modern convenience and style with the all the functionality of a watch plus more. The ASUS ZenWatch 2 offers so many features for someone looking for a smartwatch that I cannot list them all, so below are the smart capabilities I found most useful. Read the full review

PowerCube The world’s smallest 4 to 5 multi-socket power solution. It will reduce mess and cord clutter in your home, power up all your devices and home appliances and you can mount it out of sight and away from curious little hands. Read the review

Book a review of your product

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Lifestyle

Win, Win, Win! Sign up to our Newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest competitions We have five Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blond prize packs each valued at $54 to giveaway! Marc Daniels Blue Cypress Blonde hair care collection expertly preserves colour vibrancy and hair health, for those wanting to maintain their luscious, salon-quality colour without the salon-quality price-tag!

Win a Peppa Pig Prize Pack Kids love putting plasters on every tiny bump, pinch or scratch they get – which as a preschooler, is probably every day! Now the solution for any scrape, no matter how big or small, can be as easy as carrying a box of Peppa Pig Elastoplast strips.

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Meal preparation and storage tips Rosemary Marchese, international health and wellness speaker believes that meal planning in advance positively impacts the entire household. Healthy meals prepared at home nourish the mind and the body. Food is essential to fuel our body allowing us to be at our best for life, including exercising to get fit. Essentially, meal planning and preparation is part of a holistic approach to building healthy bodies and healthy attitudes to food. It includes thinking about what the family will eat each day, and often preparing a meal or two in advance. Cooking meals at home is also a great way to make sure you are standing and moving. These habits encourage a healthier outlook on food and provide the entire family with opportunities to nourish their entire body. Chopping vegetables in advanced and storing them properly in the fridge is a key tip to take the stress out of mid-week meals. Fresh food is best; if the vegetables are not fresh when bought or past their expiration date, discard them to avoid any risk of bacteria build up. Below are some tips on what food items can be prepared before cooking and how long they can be stored for: • Asparagus – trim the ends and place in a jar of water and with a plastic bag loosely on top of the stalks, this helps stop the asparagus from picking up other scents from other foods in the fridge, consume within three days. • Broccoli – broccoli likes to breathe, if possible cut and store between lightly moistened paper towels rather than an airtight container. To freeze, blanch and store in freezer bags, consume within two months. • Lettuce, spinach and similar green vegetables – cut and tear the leaves off the head, wash, dry and place in thin layers on top of paper towels and store in a container. For better freshness and to save space, roll the towels and secure with a rubber band. • Carrots – freshly cut carrots can be kept in plastic bags or stored in cold water, avoid airtight containers. • Cucumber – avoid freezing cucumbers, instead wrap cut cucumbers in tight plastic wrap and store them in the fridge crisper, consumer within three days. • Potatoes – store in water for up to one day and cover loosely when in the fridge • Capsicum – store in a plastic bag for up to two days, to avoid them going slimy, wrap in a paper towel. Hint: To freeze vegetables, they need to be blanched first. This is the process of submerging the food in boiling water for a short period of time - each vegetable needs different times, perhaps taste to preference. After blanching, transfer vegetables to an ice bath, and when cool, dry or lay them to drain excess moisture. Article by Rosemary Marchese. Rosemary is an author and physiotherapist with more than 20 years’ experience in the fitness industry. She has written fitness courses and the fitness standards for Australia in 2015. She recently wrote The Fit Busy Mum; Seven habits for success ($29.95 rrp) which is designed to inspire mums and help them identify opportunities and implement habits that put them on the path to success in all areas of life. Available from all good book stores. For more information on meal planning and other related topics visit www.thefitbusymum.com.au

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Food


Food

Beef Kofta

Pesto Pasta

A quick, easy meal that is tasty and costs under $30. Perfect for families on the run or sticking to a budget.

Ingredients: • 3 gloves garlic peeled • 3 cups Basil • ½ cup pine nuts slightly toasted • 1 ½ cups shredded parmesan • 8-10 Tablespoons of oil • A dash of lemon juice to suit your taste buds (optional) • Salt and Pepper

Ingredients • 1 bunch parsley • 1 bunch coriander • 1-2 brown onions • 1 kg beef mince • 2 tsp ground coriander • 2 tsp ground cumin • 2 tsp paprika • Salt and Pepper • 1 egg • ¾ – 1 cup breadcrumbs Method • In a large bowl add the meat, spices and season well with salt and pepper • In a food processor blitz the parsley, coriander and onions, then add to the meat bowl. • Mix the meat and other ingredients together, add the egg and then slowly add the breadcrumbs to get the consistency desired. • Put in the fridge for 30 minutes (helps them to set and not fall apart) then roll into Kofta shapes • Cook in a pan on the stove for a few minutes each sides until cooked through. • Serve with Tabouli, Hummus and Lebanese Bread

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This Basil Pesto Recipe offers a quick and easy family meal. Perfect for mid-week nights, the pesto can be whipped up in 15 minutes while the pasta only takes another 10-15 giving you dinner in less than 30 minutes. Better still, double the pesto batch and freeze some for next time.

Method: 1. Lightly toast the pine nuts in the oven on 180 for 5 minutes or until toasted. Remove and set aside to cool down. 2. Add the garlic, basil, parmesan and pine nuts to your food processor and blend until chopped well. Gradually add the oil while the motor of your processor is running to combine and stop when you are happy with the consistency. 3. Season with the Salt and Pepper and mix through. 4. Add a dash of lemon juice if desired to suit your taste buds. Note: This amount of Pesto is perfect for 500g (or a little more) of pasta.

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Food

Chicken & Vegetable Risotto Risotto offers a fulfilling dinner where you can easily make enough for lunch leftovers the next day. You can use the ingredients you have in your fridge to create your special vegetable combination in this Chicken and Vegetable

• • • • • • • • • • •

Ingredients • 300-500g chicken breast (omit for vegetarian) Vegetarian: 1-2 cups feta cheese, crumbled 2 cups of Arborio rice 1 cups of mushrooms, flat, button and/or brown 1 carrots, peeled and chopped 1 zucchinis, chopped 1 celery sticks, chopped 1 garlic cloves 1 onion, skin removed 2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock salt reduced 1 bunch parsley, finely chopped 4tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Method 1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees, toss chicken breast with olive oil and bake on a lined baking tray for 15-20minutes until cooked, shred with a fork 2. Rice: in a food processor add the mushrooms, carrot, zucchini, celery, garlic, onion and olive oil and blend until coarsely chopped 3. In a saucepan, sauté the mixture until soft approximately 5 minutes. 4. Add the rice and 1 ladle of hot stock and simmer for approximately 20 minutes 5. Keep slowly adding all of the stock until desired consistency is reached 6. Once cooked add parsley 7. Spoon rice into serving bowls and top with shredded chicken or feta cheese, puree is required This recipe has been created by Zoe BingleyPullin, leading family nutritionist, who has been appointed as the new Nutrition Ambassador for Only About Children – one of Australia’s leading childcare companies

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Sweet Potato, Cashew and Chicken Curry

The sweetness from the Sweet Potato measured against the crunch and taste of the Cashews add a depth of flavour to this Chicken Curry. I like this curry as it has a nice flavour with ingredients that are kept in my pantry at all times.

Ingredients • 1tsb oil • 4 gloves garlic diced • 1 onion diced • 2 chicken breasts diced • 2 tsp curry powder • 1 tsp ground coriander • 1 tsp ground ginger • ½ tsp turmeric • 1 can coconut milk • 1 cup chicken (or vegetable) stock • ½ cup roasted cashew nuts • 1 cup frozen peas • 1/2 bunch Parsley • Perfect with Steamed Rice Method: 1. Add garlic and ginger to a saucepan on medium heat, cooking for 2-3 minutes until soft. 2. Add chicken pieces to the pan and start browning. 3. As the chicken browns, add coriander, turmeric, ginger and curry powder turning to coat the chicken. 4. Once the chicken has browned on all sides, put ingredients from the saucepan into your oven casserole dish. 5. You can choose rather to keep them in your saucepan if you have a deep saucepan with lid. 6. Add sweet potato, coconut milk, stock and stir. 7. In Casserole Dish: Put your dish in the oven for 40 minutes or until chicken and potato is tender. In Saucepan: Bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer for 30-40 minutes until the chicken is tender. 8. 5 minutes prior to serving, add peas 9. Garnish with parsley and serve with Steamed Rice

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Food

Raw Chocolate Brownies Base: 1 cup walnuts 1/2 cup sunflower seeds 200g medjool dates, pitted 1/2 cup cacao pinch himalayan pink rock salt 1/2 cup extra walnuts, chopped Topping: 1/2 cup coconut oil 1/2 cup cacao 1/4 cup brown rice malt syrup pinch himalayan pink rock salt Method: Base: In a food processor, blitz the walnuts and sunflower seeds until a fine crumb. Add the dates, and blitz until the dates have broken down and the mixture is sticky. Add cacao & salt and blitz for a further 10 seconds. Add the extra chopped walnuts and stir by hand so they don’t get too fine in the processor. Press into a lined tin. I used a loaf tin, you can use whatever size you want depending on the thickness you want to make your brownie. Freeze for 15 minutes or until hard to touch. Topping: Combine the coconut oil, cacao, salt and rice malt syrup in a bowl. You can either microwave it for approximately 1 minute until the mixture is well combined, or if you have a temperature gauge on your mixer, set it to 70C for 1 minute. Pour the topping on your slice, and freezer for an hour or until set. Once set, cut into small squares, and enjoy! Recipe from Felicity Gatfield. Felicity is a qualified chef and has worked in some of Sydney’s top restaurants and hotels. With a my degree in Education, and a Diploma of Sports Development, she has written two ebook cookbooks for my business, Pure Goodness for kids www.puregoodness.com.au. One is allergy and intolerance friendly, and the second is school lunch box friendly. Recipe from Felicity Gatfield. Felicity is qualified chef and has worked in some of Sydney’s top restaurants and hotels. With a degree in Education, and a Diploma of Sports Development, she has written two ebook cookbooks for her business, Pure Goodness for kids www.puregoodness.com.au.

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Food

Sausage Rolls

Vegetable Quinoa Bites

These Vegetable Quinoa Bites offer a great healthy finger food idea that the kids are sure to love

A fulfilling snack idea that the children will love. These mini Sausage Rolls are enjoyed by young toddlers through to teenagers. Makes 20 mini rolls Ingredients • 1 sheet of ready-made, ready-rolled puff pastry • 12 chipolata sausages • an egg, beaten • ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese • a few spoonfuls of sesame seeds to sprinkle on top

Ingredients • 2 cups McKenzie’s White Quinoa, • cooked 1 cup mashed pumpkin • 1 small zucchini, grated • 1 small carrot,grated • 2 tbs corn kernels • ¼ cup wholemeal flour • 150g feta, crumbled • 1 large egg • McKenzie’s Salt And Pepper Grinder, to taste Method Mix all ingredients together. Shape into bite-size balls. Bake at 180C for 30-45 minutes or until cooked through and starting to turn golden.

Directions Serves: 40 1. Preheat the oven to 220C and line a Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 35 mins baking tray with baking paper 2. Unroll your pastry and cut it in two lengthwise so you’ve got two long rectangles. Brush them both Add grated cucumber and garlic, fresh lemon juice and with beaten egg, then arrange six sausages down the middle of each mint to unsweetened natural or Greek EasiYo yogurt for tantalising tzatziki. Kids will enjoy eating this dip with rectangle, slightly overlapping. Sprinkle over the parmesan cheese. carrot, cucumber and celery sticks. Any leftovers can be 3. Fold the pastry over the sausages to added to Monday’s ‘Sip and crunch’ and even used as a make two long rolls and squish down delicious sandwich spread for lunch. the seam with the tines of a fork to make a crimped pattern. Then brush the whole lot with beaten egg, scatter over the sesame seeds and cut each long roll into 10 mini sausage rolls. 4. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until golden and crunchy, and serve hot.

Tzatziki

If you’re short on time, make a big batch and freeze them ready to go! Lunchtimes made easy!

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Beauty Lifestyle

Essential Facial Skin Care

With so many skin care items on the market, it is easy to get lost in understanding what essential skin care items are needed and which are luxuries. Below are the essential facial skin care items every mum should have to get the best results for their skin.

1. Cleanser.

Cleaning your face is vital to remove dirt and build up that occurs throughout the day. It is also beneficial to cleanse well so that your moisturiser can penetrate into clean pores and work more effectively. Dermatologists recommend cleansing twice a day as clogged pores can cause premature aging and breakouts. Choose a cleanser suitable for your skin, age and preference. For those struggling to cleanse at night (my hand is up), consider taking advantage of cleansing wipes to quickly and easily remove the dirt and support your nightly routine. We tested the LACURAÂŽ Renew Cleansing Wipes from ALDI which includes ingredients to not only cleanse but also help renew the skin. At only $1.99 (30 pack) this offers a great inexpensive cleanser for night.

2. Moisturisers.

Moisturising is key to looking and feeling great. Moisturising is the only way to effectively hydrate your skin. This hydration is what helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and slow the aging process. You should invest in both a good Day Moisturiser and a Night Moisturiser. Day Moisturisers are lighter, leaving less residue on the face. BB Creams offer an all in one solution for mums short on time with both a moisturiser and tint combined. The night moisturisers are generally thicker and should contain collagen, elastin and lipids to help rejuvenate your skin. Night moisturises should help promote the energy supply of the skin cells to reduce the appearance of fine lines.

3. Sunscreen.

Much of the damage to our skin occurs from exposure to the sun. With our amazing climate, one of the best ways to protect your skin is to have an SPF built into your skin care routine either through your moisturiser or BB Cream. Don’t forget to also put Sunscreen on the other areas of your body.

4. Water.

Like the rest of your body, your skin benefits from you drinking a good amount of water. The cells within your skin are made from water and when dehydrated; your skin becomes dry, tight and flaky. This reduces the look of your overall appearance as tightness will increase the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Ensuring you stay hydrated will help your skin look and feel much better. Water can also aid in flushing out toxins within your skin.

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Tip: Look for a Moisturiser with built in SPF - by combining the two steps you wont forget and you will be saving time!


Items for Busy Mums

Beauty

5. Lip Gloss. Your lips, like the rest of your face is sensitive to UV rays and drying out

in the cooler months. A coloured protective lip gloss will help nourish and protect your lips while adding some colour quickly and easily to your face.

Tricks to improve your skin. Healthy strong skin not only looks and feels great, it is vital to our health. Here are some tips and tricks you can utilise to improve your skin.

1. Develop a good routine. As with any habit, in order to create it, you have to remember to do it. Develop a good skin care routine by having all your skin care items handy. See what essential skin care items mums need. All of my night time cleansers and creams are located in the bathroom next to my toothbrush. Each night, not only am I reminded to cleanse and moisturise, I have no excuse as everything is there. My daytime cleanser remains inside the shower and my daytime moisturiser (BB Cream) lives in my room where I get ready for the day. 2. Exfoliate. Exfoliating helps speed up new skin cell production by clearing away old skin cells. It also helps unclog and tighten pores. While many dermatologists and skin care companies suggest we exfoliate a number of times a week, this simply is not always attainable for busy mums. Busy mums can either look at including exfoliation in their daily skin care routine through a cleanser which contains microbeads to exfoliate. Otherwise utilise a good exfoliating facial scrub and try to exfoliate on a weekly or monthly basis. There are also microdermabrasion appliances that can be used at home. 3. Serums. Serums are useful in

tackling specific skin care issues. Serums are able to penetrate deeper into the skin to provide an intensive result. You can get serums to treat a range of issues, from anti-aging to dark spots, acne and more. Serums should be put onto problem areas prior to moisturising.

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Beauty Lifestyle

Time Saving Beauty

We all have those days where life just isn’t going to plan. Here are some quick fixes and beauty hacks that will help busy mums save time without compromising their look and style.

1. Dry Shampoo.

If you have an important meeting or don’t want to put up with dirty hair yet don’t have the time needed to wash and dry your hair, use a Dry Shampoo to get you out of trouble. The results are fantastic – your hair feels and smells cleaner and you can wear it in your preferred style instantly.

2. BB Cream.

More than a tinted moisturiser, the BB Cream helps combine a number of essential beauty steps into one – moisturise and add a bit of colour and even concealment. Different BB Creams offer different moisturising and colour levels, so take a look at our BB Cream Reviews to see which is best for you.

Tried and Tested: Keune Design Dry Shampoo Quick and Easy my hair felt clean, smelt nice and looked good. RRP $26 www.keune.com.au

Tried and Tested: Mary Kay CC Cream Provides good coverage with a thicker cream that feels light, non greasy and covers redness well. RRP: $38 http://beautydirect.marykay.com.au

3. Laser Treatments.

Shaving is a never ending beauty task that affects both our physical appearance and mental state. Nobody likes feeling hairy, however as busy mums, we simply don’t have the time to maintain clean, smooth legs and underarms daily. Enter the world of Laser Treatments. These amazingly cool treatments are super quick and effective, permanently reducing your hair, so you only require maintenance shaves or treatments occasionally. Can’t afford Salon Treatments? In our next edition we cover at Home IPL hair removal treatments.

4. Facial Cleansing Wipes.

While they do seem lazy, facial cleansing wipes are ideal for the nights when you are too tired or its too cold and washing your face seems too hard. Facial Cleansing wipes can also help you get into a night time routine. Use the cleansing wipe to quickly and easily remove the dirt build up from the day. Follow this with your precious moisturiser and let your skin rejuvenate overnight. Tried and Tested: LACURA Renew Cleansing Wipes Quick efficient and with Anti-Aging benefits and a fantastic price, these wipes make it super easy at night time. RRP: $1.99 Available from ALDI

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Hacks for Busy Mums 5. Eyelash Tints.

Wish you had beautiful eyelashes every day, yet don’t have the time and effort to put mascara on and off? Getting an eyelash tint will give your eyelashes definition and colour that lasts for weeks.

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Beauty


Beauty Lifestyle

Beauty Spot

shedding light on beauty tricks, products and more

** SKIN CARE **

Cleanse

The Homedics Radiance Microdermabrasion is a salon grade beauty device that uses diamond tips to exfoliate, whilst the vacuum massage removes dead skin and stimulates regrowth of a new layer of skin underneath. HoMedics Radiance delivers professional salon grade treatment and results in the comfort of your own home, so it’s a great option for busy mums who don’t have time to make it to the salon. Attached is more info, the device retails for $249 and is available at the Shaver Shop and Myer and all good retailers.

The Goat Skincare – Moisturising Body Wash 1ltr Proudly Australian owned and made, The Goat Skincare is dedicated to producing carefully formulated, natural, everyday essential products that are both highly effective and affordable. Created with pure ingredients, permeate free ethically farmed goats milk, the product range is free of parabens, sulphates and harsh chemicals that strip skin of its natural oils. RRP: $15.95 Available from Terry White Chemists & Amcal LACURA® Renew Cleansing Wipes, 30pk. • Enriched with coenzyme Q10, to help promote the energy supply of skin cells • Contains the additional benefits of sweet almond oil, vitamin E and aloe vera to help cleanse, tone and moisturise in one easy step • Removes make up, including waterproof mascara • Leaves skin feeling radiant and youthful RRP $1.99 Available from ALDI MARY KAY Time Wise Miracle Set The TimeWise®Miracle Set provides incredible age-fighting results to help you maintain younger-looking skin. The set offers 11 age-defying benefits in one skin care regime: cleanse, exfoliate, freshen, energise, hydrate, smooth, firm, soften, protect, rebuild and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. We tested our TimeWise® Miracle Set on individuals with extremely sensitive skin, the results showed that people with skin sensitivities can experience the same great age-fighting benefits. The Miracle Set includes: • TimeWise 3-In-1 Cleanser, 127g • TimeWise Age-Fighting Moisturizer, 88ml • TimeWise Day Solution Sunscreen SPF 30, 29ml • TimeWise Night Solution, 29ml RRP: $181.00 Available from: http://beautydirect.marykay.com.au

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Moisturise

Beauty

Olive Nourishing Day Cream: Olive’s antioxidant-rich yet light-weight formula, combining natural plant extracts with extra virgin olive oil, will hydrate your skin leaving it feeling smooth, soft and conditioned all day long. RRP: 45ml $29.95 Olive’s available at Terry White Chemists, Discount Drug Stores and other leading pharmacies LACURA® Renew Face Day Cream, 50ml. • Formulated with a peptide complex, UV filters and coenzyme Q10 with energising antioxidants to protect and rejuvenate the skin • An effective anti-wrinkle protection system when used in conjunction with the Renew range RRP $7.99 Available from ALDI

LACURA® Renew Face Night Cream, 50ml. • Formulated with retinol complex, avocado lipids and coenzyme Q10 to help reinvigorate and replenish skin cells while you sleep • An effective anti-wrinkle protection system when used in conjunction with the Renew range RRP $7.99 Available from ALDI

Olive 100% Natural All-Purpose Balm: A must have skin retiring balm to assist with blemishes, scars, dry lips, hands, cuticles and all round skin care A sumptuous blend of natural plant extracts including shea butter, sweet almond oil and beeswax to soothe, nourish and protect your face and body. Feed your soul with a decadent warming massage for your tired neck and shoulders. RRP: 50g $22.95 Olive’s available at Terry White Chemists, Discount Drug Stores and other leading pharmacies Palmolive Oil Infusions Body Moisturisers. The Palmolive Oil Infusions Body Moisturisers have a deeply hydrating formula, which is easily absorbed, leaving your skin smooth, hydrated and lightly fragranced. The Body Moisturisers are available in three expertly crafted variants – Jasmine with Avocado Oil, Citrus with Jojoba Oil and Rose with Macadamia Oil. RRP: 400mL $9.99, 200mL $5.99 Available from: Available now in Coles, leading pharmacy and independent supermarkets Bioten Body Lotion Intensive Moisture 250ml Bioten invests in natural inspired formulas to provide consumers world-wide with a credible skin care solution for all skin types. Bioten are constantly on the hunt for the absolute best nature can provide, combining natural extracts to create safe and effective cosmetic products for a wide range of skin needs. RRP: $4.99 Available from Chemist Warehouse

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Beauty Lifestyle

Beauty Spot

shedding light on beauty tricks, products and more Product: The Goat Skincare – Moisturising Lotion 500ml Proudly Australian owned and made, The Goat Skincare is dedicated to producing carefully formulated, natural, everyday essential products that are both highly effective and affordable. Created with pure ingredients, permeate free ethically farmed goats milk, the product range is free of parabens, sulphates and harsh chemicals that strip skin of its natural oils. RRP: $14.95 Available from Terry White Chemists & Amcal

Treat

LACURA® Renew Multi Intensive Serum, 50ml. • A light anti-wrinkle cream gel • Combination of ingredients includes Mimox®, vitamin E and vitamin C, which help reduce the appearance of wrinkles • An intense moisture complex and macadamia oil to help keep skin hydrated for up to 24 hours and improve elasticity RRP $7.99 Available from ALDI

Olive 100% Natural Lip Balm: Olive 100% Natural Lip Balm with extra virgin oil, olive leaf extract and other carefully selected natural plant extracts helps protect and replenish dry, cracked and damaged lips. Enhanced with Manuka honey for your wellbeing. RRP: 10ml $8.95 Olive’s available at Terry White Chemists, Discount Drug Stores and other leading pharmacies

C-lab & Co Coffee Scrub Made from 100% natural ingredients, C-Lab & Co Coffee Scrub is a unique blend of premium “just cracked” roasted and ground coffee. This method means the coffee bean can still retain its natural oils (the key ingredient of this product) and the benefit of the coffee itself. Formulated into an easy to use scrub, C-Lab & Co works hard to target cellulite, scars and skin imperfections, leaving users with smoother, brighter and more youthful looking skin! RRP: 24.95 Available from Priceline and Terry White Chemists

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Beauty

Hide

MARY KAY CC Cream Mineral based pigments help correct the look for imperfections and improve your overall complexion for a natural flawless looking face. Delivers eight benefits in one step: protects, brightens, corrects, minimises redness, conceals, hydrates, reduces visible signs of aging, and defends. Helps diminish the look of dark spots, age spots and freckles. Evens out skin tone, brightens to recapture youthful luminosity, perfects and illuminates the complexion. It also gives protection from UVA/UVB damage, this transfer-resistant formula helps protect your skin from sunburn and long-term damage with broad-spectrum SPF15 sunscreen. Lightweight pigments blend easily with a range of skin tones. Comes in 3 colours: Very Light, Light-Medium and Medium-Deep. RRP: $38 Available from: http://beautydirect.marykay.com.au

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Travel Lifestyle

5 Family Activities to

Fiji is renowned as a family-friendly holiday destination – and for good reason too. In addition to white sandy beaches, crystal clear blue waters and picture perfect sunsets, Fiji also offers an exciting array of activities, bound to please every member of the family. If you’re ready to whisk your family away for some sun, surf and serious fun, here are 5 activities Phillipa Steele, International Model & Fiji Airways Ambassador recommends you to consider adding to your holiday itinerary.

1.

Bike tour of “The Pine Forest”

2.

Sand Dune Boarding

3.

Take a walk on the wild side at Kula Eco Park

Take the family on an adventure they’ll never forget with a bike ride through the Nadi Mountains. Stinger Bikes run The Pine Forest tour, which stretches for eighteen kilometres, showing off some of the most beautiful terrain in Fiji. Along the way I recommend that you ask your tour guide to stop at a natural spring, allowing you to cool off after a long bike ride. The kids will love meeting locals as you cruise by on your bikes, but I must warn you to make sure you spare some energy for the final hill. It overlooks ‘The Lost Valley’ of Nadi Bay - a picturesque view that will take your breath away. Fiji’s sand dunes belong to Sigatoka National Park, one of the island’s best kept secrets. So don’t go telling everyone about them! It’s about a two hour walk before sliding down the legendary sand dunes on boogie boards. The thrill of hurtling down these dunes will be fun for the whole family! Once the sun goes down, head to the bottom of the sand dunes where you can build a bonfire, play guitar and tell stories. Dunes, tunes and a whole lot of family bonding! The island of Viti Levu is home to Fiji’s Kula Eco Park. Kids will fall in love with the wildlife park, learning about the diverse and amazing heritage of Fiji. Tours allow children to hand feed the rare Hawks Bill Sea Turtle or chill out with Fiji’s famous iguanas. The park also boasts spectacular bird life, with more than 300 species living in the facility. With a focus on fun, education and conservation, I definitely recommend Kula Eco Park for a family day out.

4.

Relax with a day cruise

In Fiji, relaxing is a serious business and there are few better ways to watch a day go by then heading out for a cruise. If Dad wants to go fishing while the kids snorkel and you sunbake, then the cruise company can deliver. I recommend visiting a village for lunch and meeting the friendly locals, the Fijian kids love meeting and playing with other kids their age. Also make sure you end the day with a glass of wine at sunset - and hope that moment lasts forever!

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5.

enjoy in Fiji

Travel

Get down and dirty at Sabeto Mud Pools

It’s important to love the skin you’re in and Fijians take exfoliating very seriously, which is why they can’t get enough of the Sabeto Mud Pools! Located halfway between the major cities of Nadi and Lautoka on the main island of Viti Levu, the Fijian mud baths are a mustdo holiday experience. After you’ve made a mess in the mud, head for the hot springs to clean off. Added bonus, the Sabeto Mud Pools contain sulphur which is believed to have calming properties. Resorts and hotels offer transfers to and from Sabeto. Info from Phillipa Steele, International Model and Fiji Airways Ambassador.

How to entertain your child during flights

Travelling with kids is as much to do with your own state of mind as it is with what you pack or plan. If you consider the trip to be one big adventure for your family, you will be more relaxed and everything will be easier. Your kids will love it too. Keeping your kids happy goes hand in hand with keeping everyone else around you happy too. And will make for a much easier flight for all. Having done around 70 flights as a family, there are a few things that I now do to make the experience great for us all. 1. Toys I am not one for carrying a lot of things for the flight, but I have come to realise that what works really well is the element of surprise. Now I am certainly not suggesting you buy new toys for each flight but what has worked for me is to put away a few toys a week or so before the flight. You can then produce these one by one on the flight, maybe one every hour or so. Consider wrapping their toys up like presents. The fact that they haven’t played with these toys for a few days is usually adequate to make them interesting enough to spend a bit of time with them before boredom hits and something new is required. Also, keep these toys to a reasonable size, not too big that you are carrying huge amounts with you but not too small that they will be easily lost on the plane.

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2. Food Take your own on board. You don’t have to feed your kids the in flight meal. Why not take on board your beautiful healthy homemade meals that your kids are used to and that will make them feel healthy and happy. This way you have some control over what your kids eat plus eating healthier will likely help to reduce some of the symptoms of jet lag, allowing you to get on with your holiday a lot sooner. Just keep in mind that, depending on where you are flying to, you may need to leave your leftover food on board due to quarantine restrictions at your destination. 3. Hydration As goes for yourself, make sure your children drink plenty of water pre, during and post flight. Dehydration is often worse when flying due to the air inside the cabin being a lower humidity than we are used to and is a factor in worsening the effects of nausea, lethargy, sluggishness, headache and fogginess associated with jet lag. Preventing dehydration is so important but do consider the types of drinks you are giving to your children. They may be offered fruit juices and other high sugar content drinks on board. Giving a toddler a large amount of sugar disguised as a drink in the small, confined space of a plane, may not be your best option for a calm flight with your kids.

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COUNTING ON YOU Following on from the fly away success of You Have My Heart comes the next winning collaboration between award-winning author Corinne Fenton and illustrator Robyn Cowcher. This is the perfect gift to let someone know that you appreciate all the things they do for them – and yes it’s perfectly timed for Father’s Day. AUGUST 2016, written by Corinne Fenton and illustrated by Robin Cowcher, $14.95, Suitable for years 3+, ALBY AND THE CAT: ALL HOLED UP Alby comes face to face with the dreadful small human from his past. But this time, Alby holds all the cards. Faced with a terrible dilemma, he must listen to either his fear or his training. Will he make the right choice? Or will the cat talk him into something he will regret forever? RRP $9.95 Available from: most bookshops or online at www.quizzicalbook.com

Shakespeare for Kids Five classic works fully illustrated and adapted for young readers. Shakespeare Stories for Kids collects five important plays in a beautifully crafted slipcase for the beginning bard. A treasure of delight for any child beginning his or her adventure with the greatest playwright in history. This volume includes:  A Midsummer Night’s Dream  Macbeth  Much Ado About Nothing  All's Well That Ends Well, and The Tempest RRP: $29.99 Available from www.exislepublishing.com

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Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing Lego Ninjago Season 5 Volume 2 -available to own on DVD from August 25, 2016 LEGO® Ninjago™ has rebooted for another adventurous instalment, and it truly is out of this world. With four brand new episodes, Skybound is the latest action-packed volume. This time around, the Ninjago™ protagonist comes in the form of Nadakhan, the Dijinn and his crew of Sky Pirates. The Pirate posse hatches a sinister plan in their pursuit for world domination, and only our hero Jay can stop them.

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Rosemary’s new book The Fit Busy Mum: Seven Habits for Success, a book that shares her knowledge and passion for health and fitness with a group of people she knows often struggle to keep fit and put themselves first mums. The book focuses on the seven core habits of fit, busy, successful and ultimately happy mums, as well as lots of tips, workouts and stretches. The Fit Busy Mum: Seven habits for success by Rosemary Marchese RRP: $29.95 Available from all good book stores

Elastoplast Peppa Pig Kids Character Strips The strips are skin-friendly, offering fast fluid absorption and long-lasting resistance to sweat, water and dirt. They are colour safe, provide painless removal and come in a range of shapes and sizes. RRP:$2.56 Available from: Elastoplast Character Strips are available in supermarkets and pharmacies from May 2016.

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EasiYo has refreshed its extensive yogurt line-up. The new Pear yogurt is a fresh and creamy treat that has a subtle taste profile, while those with a sophisticated palate will welcome the unique combination of Lemon and Ginger with Bits yogurt. EasiYo 1kg yogurt sachets RRP from $4.50 each www.easiyo.com

Split Second is the perfect quiz game for the whole family! With over 500 simple questions that both young and old can answer, the trick is not about how much you know, but about how quickly you can write the correct answer onto the paddle and flip it to the centre before anyone else. RRP: $39.95 Suitable for 3-6 players aged 8+. Now available now at leading toy retailers

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50th anniversary edition of Tri-ominos the much loved three-sided dominoes game! Triominos is the ultimate game where anyone can win! Combining strategy with luck, players try to match one side of a Tri-omino tile that’s on the table to one that you have in your hand. Perfect for travelling, game nights and family gatherings. Suitable for 2-4 players aged 8+. RRP: $24.95 Now available now at leading toy retailers

Loose Skin - The Answer You’ve heard all the crazy ways out there to tighten loose skin – wraps, special creams– the list goes on and on. It’s an issue that affects nearly every woman who has had a child and most people who lose weight rapidly – so that covers quite a bit of the population. So what is the answer? Author Kristy Alford (Zenk) shares her experience of getting rid of loose skin after weight loss, drills down into what we need to know about new skin formation and outlines why other methods generally don’t work. She describes in detail the two actions she took daily to help skin regenerate from within. Available from www.slimbirdy.com Price: US$1.00

Paw Patrol 3 -in–1 Potty System by The First Years. If potty training seems intimidating, these cute pups will turn it into a mission you can accomplish! The Paw Patrol 3-in-1 Potty System features graphics that just might get your kiddo to stay put, a soft foam ring to keep his tush comfy, and a pretend flush handle with a fun sound he’ll love activating again and again! Motherhood should be so easy! RRP: $54.95 Available at Baby Bunting, Big W & Toys R Us

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