Busy Mums Mag
Volume 24 March 2019
Easter Special
Tropical Getaways
Unplug Kids these holidays
Benefits of Bathing
Editors Note Thank you for reading the Busy Mums Magazine! With three young children, my life is generally spent running from one activity to another with time in-between to ‘try to’ focus on work, housework and occasionally a little me time. I am not alone in this struggle and due to the chaotic nature of the lives of most mums; the Busy Mums Magazine was born. Devoted to helping busy, stressed mums find interesting, quick and easy solutions to their family and personal dramas. We would love to hear from you with suggestions and feedback so that we can continue to evolve and growth to best meet your needs. Best wishes,
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
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Table of Contents
Parenting
Make a creative Kids Display Encourage Reluctant Readers Unplug your kids this Easter Autumn School Holiday Activities Reviewed Toy Corner
Finances
Tips to reduce your weekly energy bill
Easter
Easter Hat Ideas Chocolate Free Easter Ideas Easter Recipes
Lifestyle
5 Minute Meals for Breakfast Benefits of Bathing Beauty Spot
Travel
Tropical Easter Top Tips for Road Trips 10 Best Car Games
Parenting
8 Creative ways to Make a Kids Art Display at Home
Every single picture and art that your kid makes is a unique masterpiece for any parent. As little ones get more creative and artistic; space, where to hang their precious art, slowing fades away. If you wish to save and display all of their creative efforts, you then need to get even more imaginative and original. We’ll save you time and effort of brainstorming on how to ingeniously display their art. Read on to discover 8 Creative Ways to make a Kids Art Display
Magnetic whiteboard
If your fridge is already too overloaded with your kid’s art and family photos, then a good option is to get a classical whiteboard. The great thing is that you can place it anywhere in the house and you won’t need to nail numerous nails on the wall. There is a wide variety of cool magnets you can use to attach their art which your kids will absolutely adore. From animals and flowers to letters and favorite cartoon characters.
Frame it up
Instead of placing your family photos, why not spacing it up and frame your kids’ artwork? Whether you hang the pictures on the walls, or just place them on the shelves, framing their art will signify the importance of it. Opt for placing their art in different sized and shaped frames. If the frame happens to be too small, don’t cut their artwork, but rather slightly flip it in order to fit the frame.
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Parenting
Place it on a room divider
A room divider has many cool functions, from separating the kids’ play area from the bed to hiding their toys and many more. Another great use of it is to hang their art. Especially if you get quality portable room divider, you can easily stick art, move it anywhere around the house and in that way have a fantastic art show. What is more, you can get a purple or navy blue divider to blend it with the room, which would also perfectly contrast the white background of their’ artwork.
Wires and curtain rods
Why not just keep it simple? You can do some fabulous and easy DIY display. Get some colorful clothespins or curtain rods, and clip art on a plain on a wire. The best thing about this display is that you can again place it anywhere, layer them vertically or horizontally, zig-zag the pictures, or even have them hang from the ceiling.
Cork board frames
Another all-time classic, cork boards are quite useful if you don;’ want to ruin your walls with tape or nails. You can either get one big cork board and by using different colored pins attach their art, or get smaller frames which you can place on the shelves. You can at any time replace the old art and place a new masterpiece.
Creative wall formation
Find and purchase wall attachment tape, in order not to ruin the wall paint, and get going. Make, for instance, heart-shaped photo collage, or a full art circle with various small-sized art and then place a bigger picture in the middle, and so on. You can build contrast by using different types of photos and top it off with some family pictures in the end.
Go digital
Modern technology has allowed us to expand our horizons in many ways, so why not utilize it. Digital frames for photos are a new booming trend. All you need is to take a photo of your kid’s art, send it to your computer, and in the end transfer it to the digital frame. You can have a neverending slideshow, which you can play and pause at any time.
Collage posters
Gather and combine more of your kids’ arts and create a photo collage. You can have up to 30 artistic creations placed into one big poster. Then, you can frame it and hang it on the wall. You can make one poster each year, and in notice how your child’s imagination is developing and growing. Later, you can take it out of the frame, replace it with a family photo, and place the artwork for safekeeping. By cherishing what your young artist’s create, you flourish their creativity, artistry, and intelligence. So, use some of these crafty ideas and make their art last forever. Article From: Leila Dorari is a freelance writer and home-improvement enthusiast from Sydney, passionate about living better lives by nurturing our family relationships. Currently, she is spreading the word about various uses portable room dividers from Australia offer when organizing our private and business spaces for a better functionality and aesthetics.
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Parenting
How to encourage reluctant readers
Reading to your children when they’re little is one of life’s simple pleasures – but what happens when they become more reluctant readers as they grow?
If you’ve got a reluctant reader at home, trying to come up with creative and effective ways to encourage them to read could have you tearing your hair out in frustration. Pushing too hard or not enough can result in your little one having no interest at all in reading, and we all know what a tragedy that would be! Never fear though – we’ve come up with a few handy hints and tips for you to try to fire up those little imaginations and get their creative juices flowing. Your reluctant reader might just turn into a little bookworm yet!
What works?
As human beings, storytelling is such an important social activity at any age, but especially in childhood. When adults read to babies, their little brains are busily working away, absorbing sounds and emotions, and taking cues from your facial expressions and body language. These eventually become the building blocks of literacy and language development. Who knew that such an enjoyable and heartfelt activity could be so beneficial? Your child definitely needs to get in on this! There are a number of effective ways you can encourage your reluctant reader to delve into books.
Don’t Force them. No one likes being forced to do something, especially kids! What’s more, it’s an effective way to kill whatever left over love of reading they might have lying dormant somewhere. You just need to stay patient and follow the rest of our tips!
Pick up a book yourself. Children are pretty observant. If they notice that you’re
reading and having fun doing it, it sends a positive message that reading is actually a great activity and they’ll want to do it, too. Being a good reading role model is a great way to get your child to pick up a book!
Choose books that interest them, and make it fun. You know
your child better than anyone – what do they love best? Do they adore dinosaurs? Do you find yourself having conversations about fairies or the planets with your kids? Are they really interested in cooking or craft? Use that passion, and find your kids books that appeal to their personalities.
They don’t have to be fiction books – non-fiction is just as effective, and
some kids respond more to those. You can also find activities revolving around books to help them discover a love of reading, like treasure hunts or arts and crafts.
Carry books with you wherever you go. Next time you’re stuck at the Doctor’s surgery or on the bus, pick up a book and read to your child. The time will pass more quickly, and you’ll both have a great time. You’re offering books up as a treat or a reward, which makes reading more attractive.
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Parenting
Allow your child to choose his or her own books. They’ll be
so much more likely to want to read something they’ve chosen themselves!
What have you tried to get your child more interested in reading? With any luck, after a bit of persistence and creativity, your little reluctant reader will emerge a glorious little bookworm! Article from: Kristena Lowry would willing spend all her money on books and gets tingles down her spine when she sees her small children reading. When not buying or reading books, she indulges her passion for books at www.bookgeek.com.
The Box Cars By Robert Vescio and Cara King. Liam and Kai are the best of friends. They do everything together. Each day in the park they race around in their box cars, pretending to be everything from policemen chasing down bad guys to chauffeurs driving around movie stars! One day they notice a little girl watching them- she’s keen to join in and they’re happy to be her friends too, but with only two box cars to play with it seems someone’s going to be left out. The Box Cars is a fun-filled story of friendship, sharing and creative problem-solving that will appeal to boys and girls everywhere!. RRP $24.99 Available from ekbooks.org & where good children’s books are sold
Frankie Fish and the Sister Shemozzle, The fourth book in the Frankie Fish series by Peter Helliar for readers 8+. In this brand new adventure Frankie and his best friend Drew Bird must go back to Ancient Greece to track down Frankie’s big sister and bring her home. Frankie Fish and the Sister Shemozzle is available in stores from Monday 18th March 2019.
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Parenting
How to unplug your Kid’s this Easter
Australia’s Physical Activity Recommendations suggest that children aged 5-18 accumulate no more than two hours of screen time per day and children under the age of two do not spend any time viewing TV or other electronic media. However, Child psychologist Nicole Pierotti says that the majority of children spend many more hours than this, sometimes up to 12 hours per day, with much school work being undertaken online, in addition to recreational screen time, which bumps up the exposure. “Parents tell me they struggle to limit their child’s screen time because they are so busy with housework and the daily routine. Children also find technology addictive and are always asking for more. Often it is easier to let one hour slip by into two and before you know it, your six yearold has spent most of the morning plugged into their own world, cast adrift from the rhythm and communication of family life,” says Nicole. While technology does have some benefits - improved visual-spatial capabilities, quicker reaction times and the capacity to identify details are some of the upsides to playing video games researchers have found the downside is that technology conditions the brain to pay attention to information differently.“The research clearly shows us that the damage that happens to our brain through technology overuse is actually the same brain area that is responsible for success in every other area of life - relationships, well-being, academic and career. Given our children are undergoing massive changes between puberty and the mid-twenties, we really do need to police the screen use and spread the word to other parents,” says Nicole. Nicole is now encouraging families to pull the plug on technology this Easter and spend some oneon-one time as a family! “Term time can often be hectic with school drop-offs, play-dates, sports and activities driving a busy schedule with little time to draw breath. The school holidays, even if it’s just the Easter long
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Parenting weekend, can give the chance to enjoy a change of pace and connect with our kids!” Here are Nicole’s top tips to connect with your kids this school holidays: Unplug – unplug or put time limits on screen time and include all devices to encourage other activities to help you connect as a family. Back to Basics - craft activities can be very therapeutic for children. Have pens and pencils on hand for creative writing, drawing and colouring-in. Easter is a great time for craft for young children. Make an Easter Bonnet, basket or decorate hard-boiled eggs. See a range of Children’s Craft Activites Day to day - involve children in what you are doing, putting away the groceries, or setting the dining table. Children love to be included in adult activities and it helps their confidence. Often when children and teenagers are engaged in a task, this is when they’ll tell you what’s going on for them. It’s a chance to communicate and to bond. Chill-out time – unplugging from technology provides time to wind down. This includes playing a musical instrument, reading a real book, chatting to family and creative activities. Even a little bit of ‘boredom’ can be a good thing – it allows time for creative thought. Mulling things over can spark children’s imaginations and gives them a chance to get away from the external information overload that can happen in the external world and reconnect to their internal world. Fresh Air - playing tag, flying kites, running with a ball, or collecting pebbles on the beach. These are the activities many of us grew up with and yet today get lost with our busy schedules and reliance on technology. Children can benefit from spending time away from their screens and sedentary activities by becoming absorbed in a game or activity outdoors in the natural environment. Get Writing - sitting with your child and practising handwriting skills in a relaxed and supportive home environment during holiday time can help build their confidence. Encourage your child to have fun whilst writing by using different colours or decorating the page border. Erasable pens and markers such as the Pilot Pen Frixion range are popular because children can easily rub out any mistakes without having to start all over again. About the author: Nicole Pierotti is a child psychologist and parenting expert. For further information, visit: www.babysmiles.com.au.
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Parenting
Autumn School Holiday Activities Sanctuary FREE Pop-Up Park Community Event
On Saturday 6th April, just in time for the Easter holidays, the official launch of a new riverside popup park for residents of Wentworth Point will be celebrated with a fun-filled day of activities. Families and friends can enjoy free face painting, a roving balloon bender, live music and community games of Giant Chess Board, Connect4 and Checkers and have the chance to meet their neighbours.
Find out more here
Peppa Pig at Phillip Island this Easter
Phillip Island Nature Parks is set to host the iconic children’s characters as part of its actionpacked Easter school holiday program, which also includes the 11th annual Easter Fun Festival. From an Antarctic Journey at the Nobbies Centre to Liquid Nitrogen Shows and Ranger Art and Craft Activities. There is so much to enjoy.
Find out more here
Easter Fun at Sovereign Hill
There’s work to be done at Sovereign Hill these school holidays. The blacksmith needs a new apprentice. There’s animals to be fed. And Brown’s Confectionery Manufactory has lollies to make. This Easter holidays (Sat 6 April – Mon 22 April), Sovereign Hill are exploring the working life of the goldfields. Relive history and discover the lost trades with a range of exclusive workshops and free events that will transport you back to the busy goldfields of Ballarat.
Find out more.
The Ultimate Celebration of Mickey Mouse Kicks Off in
Disney On Ice celebrates Mickey and Friends.
AUSTRALIAN TOUR: 31 MAY – 21 JULY 2019 Grab your mouse ears and get ready for a worldwide party as Disney On Ice celebrates Mickey and Friends skates into Australia. This year, the Aussie family favourite will include the highly anticipated arrival of Disney’s Moana.
Find out more
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Parenting
Puffing Billy
25% off selected tickets during the school holidays, until Thursday 18 April.
Everyone is familiar with Puffing Billy’s iconic Belgrave Station, but did you know that you can also start your journey from the historic and picturesque Lakeside Station? The journey from Lakeside to Gembrook will take you over four historic timber rail bridges as it the train winds its way through the unspoilt Wright State Forest. As it climbs towards Gembrook, the lineside bush gives way to extensive views of rolling farmlands and distant mountain ranges.
Find out more here
Reviewed Wriggly Toes Children’s Bedding Wriggly Toes have created a beautiful line of children’s custom designed organic bedding, which will ensure not only calm and dreamy beds for the kids, but the peace of mind that their bedding has been crafted in a way to ensure it has made a minimal impact on the environment in which we are leaving behind for our children. Read the Review
Little Nation Balance Bikes Balance Bikes are a great way to give toddlers mobility and to teach them how to ride a bike easily. I was looking forward to reviewing the Little Nation Balance Bike as I was going to get my son a balance soon. Read the Review
Carrol Boyes Condiment Set – Equal Terms The Equal Terms condiment set is a stylish, yet functional art piece designed for your table. When dinning, it isn’t often that you want only one condiment, so the condiment set – equal terms from Carrol Boyes is an ideal accessory that is equally stylish and practical.
5 Second Rule Junior A great game for school aged children. The aim of the aim is to provide 3 answers to the question (for example: “Name 3 types of cookie toppings”) in 5 seconds. The junior version is equipped
Read the Review
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with questions more relevant to young children it also offers bonus time spaces and more. Read Review
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MICRO WHEELS The wheels of your dreams have been micro sized! Open the garage to see which car you’ve found. There are 30 cars to collect, including the translucent, metallic and glow-in-the-dark vehicles. Set up your stunt tracks and race your friends. Boost up your mini motorized vehicle: the more you pump the faster it will go. Read, set, race through gravity defying loops to get to your garage first! Too slow and you’ll be locked out. Available from: Coles, Myer, Target, Woolworths, Kmart, Toyworld, Mr Toys, Toymate RRP: Single Packs: $4, Stunt Pack $15
iTOP Check out the new generation of tops with i-Top! Using smart technology, this high-tech top keeps track of the number of spins while LEDs light up the display. Spin your way to the top score by competing in multiple challenges. Unlock hidden features by spinning the top an exact number of spins to show special animations, or challenge your friend to a high score. With over ten different ways to play and tons of animations, i-Top is non-stop fun! Suitable for ages 7+, RRP $19.99. Available at Mr Toys Toyworld.
RUBIK’S RACE A fun new puzzle game that combines the strategy of the Rubik’s Cube with faceto-face play. Shake the Scrambler to create a new Rubik’s pattern, then slide the tiles to match the pattern on your board to the one in the Scrambler. The first player to complete the match and slam down the center frame wins! Suitable for ages 8+, RRP $29.00. Available at all retailers.
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Parenting Hairdooz From Headstart- Hair Dooz! Get ready to meet the six lil’ cuties hoo love their dooz! Just peel off the wrapper from the cute shampoo shaped bottle, twist off the lid and discover who is inside! Remove the smock and hair dryer to reveal the outfit and hair doo! Stand your Doo or switch the chair and flip and stick! Take your Doo anywhere with yoo! There are 24 dooztochooz. Available from: March 2019 RRP: $12.99
Pikmi Pops – DoughMi The collectible aisle is about to get a ‘hole’ lot sweeter with the latest release from Pikmi Pops – new DoughMis! This sweet-scented range of collectible donut plush is available in three sizes: small, medium and jumbo size. There are over 40 DoughMis to collect across the range, including a selection of Special Edition Squish ‘n’ Rise DoughMis that feel so soft and squishy, just like real dough. Kids can enjoy an extra layer of unboxing with the Surprise Pack – simply crack open the donut centre to reveal a cool surprise – a small Jelly Pikmi character! 40+ characters to collect. Available from All major toy retailers. From RRP: $8 – single pack, RRP: $16 – surprise pack, RRP: $30 – jumbo pack
Treasure X Aliens Use the included X-Tool to dissect the alien and save the Treasure Hunter within! A bag of ooze is included in every alien stomach as well as a tweezer tool to help pull out the alien stomach contents. Store the ooze in the included storage container or squish the slime into the alien head and watch it ooze out. There are 18 treasure hunters to collect and swap, each with an included weapon and treasure as well as a chance to find a Real Gem treasure in every pack. These gems are known as ‘peridot’, some of which have been found in meteorites! So the gem could actually be from outer space . Available from: All major toy retailers from 1st June 2019 RRP: $30 – Treasure X Alien Hunters Single Pack
Wonder Park Toys
Get set for a whole lot of fun when the fantastic range of products from the much-anticipated new animated movie Wonder Park hits the shelves of Big W, KIDSTUFF and all good toy retailers in April. The toy launch coinsides with the movie’s release in Victorian and Queensland cinemas on April 4, with other states to follow on April 11. The line-up from Funrise includes a range of collectible figures and plush. The Wonder Park Build Your Own Wonder Chimp comes with a large-scale Wonder Chimp figure and interchangeable accessories. Plush items include the Huggable Boomer Plush and many more.
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Finances
Tips to reduce your weekly Energy Bill In late 2018, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released figures that the average Australian household spends $49.11 a week on electricity and gas combined. That equates to over $2,500 a year. The chart below shows the quarterly increase of electricity prices compared to the inflation of all prices since 1980. As you can see, the electricity prices have increased exponentially.
Chart taken from ABC News: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-18/electricity-price-riseschart-of-the-day/9985300 With the uncertainty of further energy price increases, below is some advice as to how households can save on electricity prices.
Buy energy saving appliances
Choosing energy efficient appliances is a great way to save on energy as appliances make up approximately 40% of your energy bill. The star system is an international standard and it is recommended to look for appliances with the following stars: Fridges and freezers 4 stars Dishwasher 3.5 stars Hot Water Systems 5 stars Washers and Dryers 3.5 stars Compare your Energy Bills and Electricity Use. This is one of the easiest ways to save on electricity costs as it demands no spending of money in order to save money. Comparison sites offer consumers the opportunity to find a cheaper deal than they are currently on. It does not take long to input the information and switch over to a more competitive provider. It has the potential to save up to $500 a year.
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Finances Turn off power points that are not in use A simple tip, but turning off unnecessary power points can save over $100 a year. Some tips to remember to turn off power points: On a Sunday night, scan each room and turn off any power points you know are unlikely to be used while you are all at work and daycare/school. Every night when you clean the kitchen turn off the power points to appliances such as sandwich press and toaster If your home office or home entertainment cords are too messy and are preventing you from reaching the power point switch, there are cable management solutions you can buy to tidy up the cords and allow easier access to the power points. If you are building or renovating, try to place any power points in easy to get to locations.
Heating and Air Conditioning If you are using heating and air conditioning, the best way to keep your system efficient is to trap the heat or cool air inside. Seal doors and windows and close curtains and blinds. This advice may not be relevant if you have an unflued gas heater (ie a gas heater than does not expel heater by-products to the outside through a chimney or flue). Check with your supplier or installer what their guidelines are.
Solar and battery power Solar panels are decreasing in price thanks to more competition. It is now estimated that you make your money back within five years of purchasing solar panels pay. However battery storage is a relatively new product so the lack in competition means prices may currently be at the peak. It is estimated that if you install panels plus battery storage, the payback will take ten years however the reward at the end is that your bill can then be as little as $50 a quarter. Article by E Miller
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Easter
Easter Hat with Ears
This Easter hat is sure to get an honourable mention in your Easter hat parade. With the cute features you can dress it up or down to suit your child. 1. Using the white bonnets available from Cleverpatch.com.au, begin by giving your bonnet a coat of brightly coloured paint. 2 Assemble your bonnet and secure with glue. Allow to dry. 3 For a hat band, cut a length of crepe streamer and wrap it around your bonnet. Attach with glue. 4 You may also like to add a bow, if so, simply cut another length of streamer, tie a bow and attach to your bonnet with glue. 5 Cut two large ear shapes from foam. Cut two smaller pieces of foam for the inside of your ears. Attach with glue. Allow to dry. 6 To decorate your bonnet with tissue paper flower, stack six tissue paper squares neatly together. Fold the squares like an accordion until you reach the end of the square. 7 Twist one end of a chenille stem around the middle of the folded tissue paper squares. This will hold the flower together. 8 Round off both ends with a pair of scissors. Now, carefully spread out the pleats and separate each layer of tissue paper by pulling them towards the middle. Alternate each side, pulling one layer up at a time. 9 Scrunch up some green tissue paper or cut out some leaves from felt to accompany the flowers you have made. Attach with glue. 10 Add some chocolate Easter eggs or little chicks around your bonnet by attaching them with glue. 11 Measure a length of elastic under your chin so that it is tight enough to create a strap for your bonnet. Cut the elastic and staple it onto your bonnet brim to ensure your bonnet stays securely on your head.
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Easter
Chocolate Free Easter Gift Ideas Whether it be because of allergies or simply by parent’s choice, the fact is that there is a growing demand for chocolate-free Easter gifts for children.
We’re two of the parents who have made the choice to minimise chocolate for our two very young children. Some people wonder what on Earth we actually give our kids for Easter, but it’s surprising how many alternatives there actually is to chocolate! Most dollar shops (pictured is my local dollar shop’s Easter display) coming up to Easter will have hollow plastic eggs (usually about the size of real eggs) that pull apart to put things inside, so an Easter Egg hunt is still possible and fun! Here is a list of items that can be placed inside the Easter Eggs, and also some small gift ideas from the big bunny himself. There are probably plenty of other items that would be fantastic that haven’t occurred to me also! Just remember to keep it age appropriate if you’re hosting an egg hunt or similar. -Bubble Blowers -Stickers -Stamps -Mini pencils/ crayons -Little soft chicks -Activity/ Colouring Books -Little bath ducks -Matchbox cars -Kid-Friendly costume jewellery -Egg cups -An item of (melamine) crockery: plate/ cup/ bowl -Grapes & Strawberries -Sultanas I hope this provides some good chocolate-free Easter alternatives! If you have any other great ideas, I’d love for you to share them with me as a reply below: it’s quick and easy, and the more people who get involved, the more ideas we’ll all have coming up to the big day! Article by S Johnston
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Easter
DIY Easter Bonnet MATERIALS NEEDED: - Bostik print out template (A3) - Bostik Blu Stik - Bostik Clag Kids PVA - Bostik Glitter Glue Classic - Stapler - Hole puncher - Coloured markers/pencils - Light green tissue paper - Dark green tissue paper - Elastic string - 1 x pink pom pom - 4 x white cotton balls - White pipe cleaners - 1 x popsicle stick METHOD: STEP 1: Measure around the head of your child and cut out the headband strip to size. Staple the ends together. STEP 2: Print out the templates provided and cut them out. Found here - LINK STEP 3: Use Bostik Blu Stik to stick the pieces onto the cardboard paper and cut out again. STEP 4: Use Bostik Glitter Glue Classic, coloured markers or pencils to decorate the eggs and bow tie. STEP 5: Colour the inside of the rabbit ears with pink markers or pencils. STEP 6: Use Bostik Clag Kids PVA to glue down the white cotton balls on the edge of the ears. STEP 7: Cut fringes along the green tissue paper. Be sure to keep one end intact. Use Bostik Blu Stik to glue down the tissue paper around the headband. STEP 8: Secure the rabbit ears and eggs to the headband with a stapler. STEP 9: Use a hole puncher to punch two holes centred on the bunny’s bow. STEP 10: Cut the elastic to the required length and thread it through the holes. Secure with a knot. STEP 9: Use Bostik Craft PVA to stick the pink pom pom at the tip of the popsicle stick. STEP 10: Twist two pipe cleaners around the popsicle stick. Make sure you have them sticking out both ways to make your Easter whiskers! Bostik products available at leading retailers – Officeworks, Woolworths and Coles. For more ideas that stick visit - https://www.bostik.com/ideasthatstick/ Download the template here
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Easter
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Easter
Chocolate Crackle Slice
Chocolate Crackle Slice is super easy to make and the addition of Easter eggs helps get your children into the mood for Easter.
Ingredients :
125g copha, ( cut into pieces ), 200g dark chocolate, ( broken into pieces ), 5 cups Rice Bubbles, 1 cup pure icing sugar, 1 cup desiccated coconut, chocolate to drizzle on top and Easter eggs for decoration.
Method:
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Melt dark chocolate and copha in saucepan and mix into dry ingredients once melted. Press mixture into slice tray and cover with baking paper. Place in fridge for minimum of an hour to cool. Drizzle the crackle with chocolate and place Easter eggs on top before placing back in fridge to cool. Cut into pieces for even distribution or experience an uproar from upset children. Recipe from L Smith Cornege
Choc Bunny Easter Biscuits
Have fun in the kitchen with your kids this easter as you cook these cute Choc Bunny Easter Biscuits
Ingredients:
225g unsalted butter, softened & cubed 1 cup caster sugar ½ tsp vanilla essence 1 large egg, beaten 400g plain flour, sifted 50g cocoa powder 1 tsp McKenzie’s Baking Powder ½ tsp McKenzie’s Bi-Carb Soda Pinch McKenzie’s Australian Natural Sea Salt Fine Grind ½ cup white chocolate button melts Mini marshmallows
Directions:
Step 1 Cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and light. Step 2 Add vanilla essence and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Step 3 Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, Bi-Carb and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture to form a dough. Wrap dough in cling film and refrigerate for an hour. Step 4 Preheat oven to 170oC. Line three oven trays with baking paper. Step 5 Lightly flour the work surface and roll out the dough evenly to a thickness of approximately 5mm. Using cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the dough and arrange on the prepared baking tray. Step 6 Bake for 10-12 minutes on the middle shelf. Allow the biscuits to cool completely before decorating. Step 7 Melt white chocolate according to packet directions. Drop a small teaspoon of melted white chocolate on the bunny’s bottom and top with marshmallow.
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Easter
HOT CROSS BUNS
Serves: 12 Prep: 02:00 Cook: 00:30
INGREDIENTS
7 g dry yeast 250 ml almond milk (unsweetened) 3 teaspoons pure maple syrup 2.5 tablespoons rice malt syrup 3 cups wholemeal spelt flour 1/2 cup raisins 1/4 cup currants 1/2 teaspoon salt 1.5 tablespoon coconut oil (extra virgin) melted 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste 1 orange(s) zested & juiced 2 tablespoon wholemeal spelt flour for crosses
METHOD
1. Pour the almond milk into a small saucepan and warm over a low heat for 2 minutes. 2. Whisk the yeast, milk and 2 teaspoons of maple syrup in a jug. Set aside for 10 minutes or until frothy. 3. Combine the flour, raisins, currants, spices and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre. Add the yeast and milk mixture, together with 1 tablespoon of oil, vanilla, orange zest and 1 1/2 tablespoons orange juice and rice malt syrup. Stir until combined. 4. Transfer to a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic, approximately 5 minutes. Grease a bowl with remaining oil and place dough into the bowl and cover with glad wrap. Set aside for 45 minutes or until doubled in size. 5. Line a baking tray with baking paper. 6. Flour your hands and transfer dough back to the board, gently kneading for a minute. Shape into 12 buns and place onto prepared tray. Cover with glad wrap and set aside in a warm place for a further 40 minutes or until doubled in size. 7. Preheat oven to 160°C. 8. Combine the remaining flour with water to form a smooth paste. Place into a zip lock bag and cut 1 corner from the bag to make a piping bag and pipe crosses onto the buns. 9. Lightly brush with the additional maple syrup and bake for 30 minutes or until cooked through. This recipe is part of Sam Wood’s online training and nutrition program 28 by Sam Wood. As a member of the 28 family you’ll have access to daily workouts, meal plans, an incredible online community of likeminded individuals, expert advice and tools that will help keep your mind and body operating at their best. We also have a pregnancy and post-natal program available (including a breastfeeding meal plan) so that expecting and new mums can feel supported at every stage of such an exciting and special time. For more information head to www.28bysamwood.com
Snickery Caramel Bars
Serves: 20 Prep: 00:20 Cook: 04:00
See the full recipe here
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Lifestyle
A Busy Mum’s 5 Minute Meals for Breakfast
We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day – but I have to admit, it used to be one of the meals I found the hardest to prepare! There were some mornings when I couldn’t even get a chance to sit down and drink a cup of coffee, let alone prepare myself and the kids something healthy and tasty that looked at least a little bit appetising. I knew I should be encouraging my kids to eat a solid morning meal – but let’s be honest, it’s really hard to find the time for it! I had to find a solution, so after lots of experimentation, I came up with some quick and easy breakfasts that can be thrown together in five minutes or less. So push your excuses aside and give them a go!
Breakfast smoothies
Smoothies are the greatest thing ever. They’re dead simple to make, and they’ll taste amazing with basically any combination of ingredients. All you need to do throw some yoghurt, ice and fruit into a blender, then whiz them up until smooth. If you prefer a thicker smoothie, add more fruit or even some nuts and seeds. My kids love fruit smoothies for breakfast, but I actually prefer using instant coffee for mine. It means I never have to miss out on my morning shot of java!
Frittata in a mug
My frittata in a mug does just the trick in the morning, and it only takes about two minutes to make. The basic ingredients are just egg and milk. From there I like to add shaved parmesan cheese from Aussie Farmers Direct, a handful of chopped green onions and a dollop of light sour cream to make my frittata really flavoursome. But of course you can add whatever extras you like – think leftover vegies or a bit of ham. Then just whisk it all up in a mug and pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir the egg mixture again and return to the microwave for another 30-60 seconds or until the eggs are set – and you’re ready to eat.
Spicy avocado toast with Persian feta
This is something I like to eat for breakfast and lunch on a regular basis. I choose sourdough bread for my toast and cook till crisp and golden. Next, spoon some fresh avocado on top of the toast and spread it with a spoon or folk. My family of fussy eaters enjoy this meal even more when I sprinkle a tiny amount of sea salt and red pepper flakes on top, along with some tasty Persian feta.
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Lifestyle Granola berry bowl
As it’s ultra-fast to make, my granola berry bowl is one of my favourite breakfast meal ideas. It’s also really filling, and stops you craving unnecessary snacks throughout the morning! Simply mix or layer yoghurt with berries and granola and you’re good to go. If you want an extra kick of sweetness, add some liquid honey. You can buy fresh cream online too, which makes for a nice indulgent topping.
Natural peanut butter and banana wrap
Even though this is something you might usually make for your kids, my hubby and I love eating peanut butter and banana wraps too. They’re great if you have a sweet tooth but still want to eat a healthy breakfast. Just spread two tablespoons of crunchy or smooth natural peanut butter over a tortilla and top with slices of banana. If you want to mix things up, you can use apples or strawberries too – whatever’s in the house! Wrap it all up like a burrito and sprinkle over one teaspoon of cinnamon for finger licking perfection.
Article written by Cathy R.
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Lifestyle
Take time to enjoy a bath; The Benefits of Bathing Especially in the cooler winter months, the benefits of bathing include a number of physical and psychological benefits. As busy mums, we spend much of our time looking after our children with little thought about ourselves. Baths offer a great way to relax, replenish and revitalise. Pre-children I used to love long baths and while I don’t often get time anymore to enjoy a long bath, even a 15-minute break can make all the difference to how you feel. Here is why you should make the time to enjoy a bath: The main benefits of bathing include:
Relief for aching muscles
The warm heat from a bath will help to penetrate and soothe muscles while relaxing your body. Bathing is great when experiencing tight muscle pain or painful cramps. The effectiveness of your bath in soothing your muscle issues can be further increased with products designed to promote muscle relaxation. Adding Epsom salts to your bath offers a quick and easy option to help soothe muscles.
Promoting skin circulation
Your body responds to the heat from a warm bath by sending more blood to the skins surface and by doing so, it helps promote your skin circulation.
Skin Benefits
Warm baths will help open up your pores, helping you to give yourself a better clean and after a warm bath, your moisturising effort will also be more effective.
Health Benefits
In a warm bath, your body will expand your arteries and veins temporarily which helps lower your blood pressure, making you feel more relaxed. The steam from the bath can help decongest your lungs and sinuses.
Relaxation
With young children, the number of baths I take and the time I have in them is limited, however each time, the alone time is fantastic, relaxing and makes me feel great. Essential Oils or candles can also help create a calming/relaxing experience. Baths can be more effective with the right bathing products to nourish and provide long lasting effects to your body.
Click Here to see some Bathing Products we have tested and would recommend. I’d love to hear what you love about baths and what products you have used to enhance your experience.
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Lifestyle
Beauty Spot
shedding light on beauty tricks, products and more Biome Light Face Cream 100ml Australia’s leading eco store, Biome, has expanded its range of cruelty-free beauty products with the launch of its palm oil free Light Face Cream. Enriched with nourishing plant oils and Shea butter, the light face cream formulation features nourishing and beneficial ingredients including aloe vera, hemp seed oil and jojoba oil. The nourishing moisturiser contains 100 per cent natural and organic ingredients, and is palm oil free and vegan making it suitable for consumers conscious of animal cruelty and the environmental issues associated with palm oil. Biome’s Light Face Cream is available in scented and unscented options with the scented formulation containing an essential oil fragrance of Orange, Ylang Ylang, Cardamom and Jasmine, reminiscent of Morocco. The natural formulation is non-greasy and fast absorbing making it suitable to wear under makeup, and the product is housed in a zero waste reusable and recyclable glass bottle. Available from: www.biome.com.au RRP: $34.95 (scented) and $29.95 (unscented)
ARTISTRY Hydra-V® Refreshing Moisture Mask The latest addition to the Hydra-V skincare collection, this refreshing, rich cream mask provides intensive hydration to revitalise dry, dehydrated skin. Immediately replenishes moisture for results that last up to 12 hours and improves skin texture for healthier looking skin. RRRP $ 59.00 Find out more at www.artistry.com.au
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Travel Lifestyle
Tropical Easter: The Best Family Friendly Beach Getaways Easter is a great time to get away with the family and spend some quality time bonding together over chocolate! Before the winter weather sets in, why not enjoy one last weekend at the beach at any of these family friendly beach getaways. With the constant rush and chaos of everyday life, it’s so important to take time out for some relaxation, but also for some fun family activities. Why not head off for a coastal Easter break and enjoy the outdoors before those chilly Winter months crash our Summer vibes for one more year?
To make your planning easier we have pulled together our top spots for a tropical Easter getaway: Fiji
Although it’s the tail end of the Wet Season in March and you will get the odd tropical downfall, there are also benefits to heading to Fiji at this time of year and taking in the warm (and occasionally wet) weather. It’s generally one of the cheaper months to visit and as Easter doesn’t coincide with school holidays this year there are some good deals to be had. When booking resorts, look for free breakfasts, room upgrades and other extras as standard, and consider popular areas like Denarau and The Coral Coast. It really is an opportunity to take a break from everyday life – you can spend your days splashing in the resort pool, going on a boat ride, trying the many water sports, or pop your kids into Kids Club and hit the day spa for a few relaxing hours. A great option for some Tropical relaxation & restoration.
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Travel
Sea World Nara Resort
2. The Gold Coast – Always a great location for a break with kids, this is a great time of year to hit the theme parks, and experience the Gold Coast buzz before the Commonwealth Games kick off in April. There are so many great options whatever your style – the touristy hustle of Surfers Paradise with endless activities, cafés and restaurants; the relaxing & luxurious atmosphere of The Spit, with easy access to Sea World, or head further south to Palm Beach or Currumbin for somewhere a little more chilled, but still with great beaches & cafes. Wherever you land, hit the beach with the kids and take advantage of all the kid-friendly spots to grab a bite or a tropical cocktail as the sun sets.
Sydney – so this suggestion may be a little controversial (tropical, I hear you say?), but as a long time Sydney sider I can tell you Sydney is the perfect place for a beach break in Easter, as so many of the locals escape the big smoke! There are a tonne of accommodation options beachside for under $1000 across the Easter weekend (just look on Airbnb) and there are so many great kidfriendly activities, to complement our glorious beaches – The Sydney Royal Easter Show, Easter activities at The Grounds and The Sydney Family Show at Moore Park just to name a few. But Beachside is where Sydney is truly stunning, Bondi & Coogee are fantastic family favourites with plenty of family-friendly dining options, and if you want activities head to Clovelly for Snorkeling or Northside to Manly for some paddle boarding, with the bonus of a fun ferry ride. There are also so many harbour beaches you can explore from Chinaman’s Beach in the North to Nielsen Park at Vaucluse, and Robertson Park at Watson’s Bay. The options for a fun-filled Tropical weekend along the coast are endless.
So however you choose to spend your break this Easter, take some time out to relax with the family and enjoy some tropical vibes, be it for a beach visit or just a tropical cocktail!
Article from Melanie Aslanidis. Director of Beachside Collective, a unique online boutique for coastal design brands, has coastal living in her DNA. As a lifelong beach lover and growing up in a small coastal town, Melanie knows all those secret destinations to give us that lush warm holiday we all crave at this time of year and she is here to help us find the sun this easter.
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Travel Lifestyle
Top Tips for Road Trips with Kids Kids aren’t really designed to sit still for extended periods of time…which they’re sure to remind you every few minutes throughout your road trip! Whilst stopping for breaks regularly (every hour if possible) may seem like you’re forever stopping and not really getting anywhere fast, remember that whilst we’re all eager to get where we’re going, the holiday begins for your kids when you leave home: not when you reach your destination. Portable DVD Players are a definite godsend; particularly if you’re unable to stop as often as the kids would like. Just ensure you lay down the ground rules before using them: for example, if you only want them used for one movie per day, or who’s choosing the movie, etc. I’ve discovered that having something new to watch for the trip isn’t always a great idea…sometimes the reliable old favourites are the best option!
can’t stress this enough). These will be age dependant, but some items can be used and adapted to become age appropriate.
We love sensory bags (a special bag with a see-through plastic window where there are different items inside) where you can call out an item and the kids need to find it amongst Snacks are a great way to keep kids busy. Like us the rice through the plastic window and tick parents, when kids are bored they tend to eat a lot it off the list. I’ve also been known to half more than when they’re occupied. It’s a good idea fill a slip lock bag with Play-Doh and sticky to pack plenty of snacks, as not only will you save tape the entire thing so it cannot be opened in the car: the boys love squishing it through money by not buying food along the way, you’ll also have control over the sugar content that your the bag. Also, remember the old Etch-ASketch? They’re still fantastic for keeping kids child will be consuming. I find this makes a big difference and will make or break your road trip: a occupied, are easily portable and completely mess free! If you’re night traveling, glow child hyped up on sugary processed foods is a lot sticks are really good for the kids too less likely to be content to remain stationary for, (depending on age, of course!). well, any period of time! Other activities ideas include: colouring, drawing, sticker or activity books (best to have a clipboard folder for each child and clip the book to it so they have a hard surface to lean on); Where’s Wally type books; reading books; fun cd’s; cheap binoculars from the dollar shop are popular with my boys; kaleidoscopes; pretend camera so they can “photograph” things as you drive past; flash cards (these are great because there are heaps of games that you can base around I find regular stops make it easier to plan activities them, and it’s not too hard for the passenger in the front to participate (which kids love!); for in the car, too: for instance, for one hour balloons filled with flour for textile, squishing everyone has reading time, then a stop for a run and shaping fun (you can make your own or around, then when getting back into the car start buy them done)… I recommend checking out a new activity, just to keep things interesting! your local dollar shop for inspiration. It’s essential to have an array of activities & Artice by S Johnston entertainment ideas for the duration of the trip (I Also ensure your kids drink plenty of water to avoid headaches, lethargy and crankiness. Some snacks our two boys aged 2 & 4 enjoy include: sultanas; carrot sticks; celery & peanut butter; rice snacks; cheese dippits; vege chips; pretzels; milk arrowroot biscuits; grapes (always cut in half so they don’t choke!); a whole banana; apple slices; mandarins; wholemeal Vegemite sandwiches cut into small squares for fun; savoury mini muffins and cheese stringers.
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Travel
10 Best Car Games to Keep Everyone Amused These Holidays
Road trips can become slightly less relaxed as a parent. Spending hours in a confined space with minimal wiggle room can bring on the boredom and frustration quickly.
You may resort to food bribery or pop on a DVD in the back to keep the boredom at bay but if that fails, what can you do? If you’ve played ‘I Spy’ to death and looking for some new car games to keep everyone entertained, then here is a list of road trip games that will keep the young and older kids entertained! A classic game - one player thinks of a person, place or thing (that they think all players are aware of). The other players then ask questions to discover who or what the first player is thinking. The answer can only be 'Yes' or 'No'. There are 20 chances to guess correctly. Road Trip Bingo Are you a road trip rookie or a super sleuth? Test your skills with the ultimate game of I Spy. Write down all of the things your passengers think you could see on a road trip. First to check off all of the items and whoever yells out 'Pit Stop' wins! Remember what you see This is one for pit stops along the road where passengers could still be a little restless. Tell your players they have 30 seconds to look at a roadside scene, then you take a photo of it on your phone. Once you're back in the car, have the players write a list of everything they remember seeing. The longest list with the right answers wins. Free Association One person begins with a word. The next person has to think of a word that is associated - and so on until a player can't think of an association or says something For the older kids nobody understands: E.g. Donald Trump The Cooking Game - New York - Arthur - Russell Brand - Katy The first person starts by saying "I'm making dinner and I need an onion". The next person adds Perry - Bad Music - etc. an ingredient, reciting the previous one as well: "I'm making dinner and I need an onion and garlic. Author Bio: Courtney Goudswaard is the Digital PR Manager at Budget Direct 20 Questions www.budgetdirect.com.au For the little ones The Neverending Story In a game of creative storytelling, the first person starts the story with one sentence, and then each player takes turns adding to the story - one sentence at a time. There is no requirement to recall the previous sentence. This game has no winner. It's just fun. Scavenger Hunt Make a list of some different things you may see on a road trip, such as farm animals - the first person to find all of them wins. The Silent Game Quite simply, the first to make a noise loses the game! Great for when some quiet time is needed during a long trip. Be warned: It often ends in laughter. Coloured Cars Everyone in the car chooses a car colour and gets a point for every time you see a car of that colour on the road. If another player sees your chosen colour, they steal your point. Old MacDonald If you're driving in the country, take up this game as a great way to spot new animals. '...and on that farm he had a ____'
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