Busy Mums Mag- May - Autumn Winter Fashion & more

Busy Mums Mag

Volume 20 May 2018

AW18 Fashion

Home Organisation

Reading for Reluctant Readers

Destination: Dubbo

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

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

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Table of Contents

Parenting

How to encourage Reluctant Readers Book Ideas for Junior Readers Making Robots - Full STEM Ahead Cosy, Cute and Comfy - Children’s Fashion Toy Corner Reviewed

AW Fashion The latest Fashion Trends Great looks for Busy Mums Fashionable Ways to Wear Ankle Boots

Food

Pesto Salmon Mexican Night Mexican Dip Banana Cream Caramel Dip

Home

Tips to put an end to De-Cluttering Organising the Heart of the Home

Travel

Other

New and Noteworty items

Destination: DUBBO Benefits of Travelling with Grandparents

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!

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Parenting • 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.

• 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!

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.

Reading Aids LeapStart Interactive Learning System (for 2-7 years)

Get your child excited about counting, learning to read, problem solving and more through fun replayable activities. LeapStart™ is a stylus that reads invisible dots on every page, triggering questions, challenges, songs, jokes and more. The system comes with a Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten sampler book and works with a library of replayable activity books (sold separately). Using the easy-grip stylus, kids can tap any page to activate audio responses and play activities designed to keep them engaged and coming back for more. Each learning level teaches 50+ key skills. Available from Big W, Toys R Us and selected toy retailers. RRP $79.95

LeapPad Ultimate (for 3-9 years)

This is the ultimate first tablet for kids! It’s kid-tough and kid-safe right out of the box. With preloaded content focussed on core skills in maths, reading and science, as well as music, puzzles, logic and creativity, to prepare kids for preschool and beyond, this tablet is kid-smart. Read the review here. RRP $199.95 Available from Big W, Toys R Us and selected toy retailers.

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Parenting

Interesting Books for Junior Readers

Meet Lily D. She is a V.A.P. (Very Amazing Performer) Lily D, V.A.P is a little girl with a big dream and an even bigger heart. She knows that to make those dreams come true, she needs to work hard and to appreciate the things you fear, but they needn’t define you.

Althought her dramatic efforts to bring her characters to life turn her own world upside-down in hilarious and surprising ways, she always strives to treat others with love, kindness and respect.

This book offers a fun, relaxed way to help children to see the best in themselves and to reiterate how kids should always treat others with kindness and respect. Read our Review of the book here

Cloud Conductor is a picture book that encourages children to have their head in the clouds and use their imagination to deal with any challenges that pop up in their lives. Readers will be enchanted as they learn to become cloud conductors too, no matter where they are or what situation they are in. Cloud Conductor inspires imagination that can be shared over and over. Hardcover book, RRP $24.99. Available at local bookshops, and online at Wombat Books and Booktopia, amongst others. Written by Kellie Byrnes and illustrated by AnnMarie Finn.

Corallai.

When Andi is engulfed by a wave, she finds herself transported to an underwater world called Corallai. There she meets Aquanna, a creature who is part fish and part human. Aquanna tells Andi that it is her destiny to help preserve the oceans and all the life within. Andi learns all about the work the various inhabitants do to ensure the survival of the ocean’s ecosystem, and explores this new, spectacular world. The book is available from www. michellepath.com.au or ask the bookshop

The Flying Optometrist Published in association with the Brien Holden Vision Institute and inspired by a true story, new children’s picture book The Flying Optometrist chronicles the adventures of The Flying Optometrist as he travels across Australia providing eye-health care to those in remote communities. . Written by Joanne Anderton (whose father inspired the book), The Flying Optometrist is a captivating and delightfully illustrated picture book that helps children understand the value of eye care, and the importance of helping those in rural communities. RRP: AU $24.99

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Parenting Hubert and the Magic Glasses Hubert and the Magic Glasses is the story of a young soccer player who, despite loving the sport, is having a hard time in his role as Goal Keeper. To make matters worse, his poor eyesight means he’s just accidentally eaten the dog’s food and his mum has told Hubert that he needs glasses. Hubert is reluctantly taken to the optometrist. It’s not until he reluctantly agrees to try on his new pair of specs that he discovers the glasses are actually magic. In a remarkable transformation, Hubert becomes the muscled soccer star he has only dreamt of, and he and his soccer team, the Able Ants, quickly make it to the finals. Hubert soon discovers having magic glasses isn’t as easy as he first thought though, and he finds his biggest challenge is learning to control the magic before he wipes himself out. RRP: $12.99. Available to order through www.newfrontierpublishing.co.uk

Gertie the Witch Gertie the Witch is the story of a witch who enjoys causing trouble. One of her favourite tricks is to turn the postman into a pig, or a duck, or whatever she feels like. But one postman, Sam Parker, has two children who decide to teach Gertie a lesson. When Gertie’s sister Susie turns the Great Witch into a beetle, and Annie and Will Parker learn how to do magic spells, Gertie suddenly finds that she is the one in trouble.

RRP: $12.99. Available to order through www.newfrontierpublishing.co.uk

Win a Little Rockets Reading Pack

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Parenting

Making Robots - Full STEAM Ahead Making Robots – Full STEAM ahead You may have you heard of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) but have you heard of STEAM? The “A” stands for Art. Some people feel art is a discipline that is removed from more technical subjects but there are great advantages to using art as a means of incorporating STEM into your day!

Everyone learns more when they are engaged and interested in what they are doing. By setting

challenges for your kids that combine a need for creativity with design thinking, you can encourage them to develop their STEM skills without them really even noticing.

With this in mind, I’ve created a crafty STEAM challenge for you and your kids.

There are often kids of different ages in families so I have divided this challenge into three levels of difficulty. This way your kids can all work on the same type of project together but take it on at a level that suits them.

Your challenge, if you choose to accept it is: Making Robots!

Materials You’ll need some basic materials to complete this challenge. Below is a list of suggestions but really you can use anything at all that you have around the house and that could be repurposed for a crafty project.

Suggestions: - Cardboard tubes like the ones from paper towel rolls - Paper plates - Empty cereal boxes - Pipe cleaners - Nuts and bolts - Glue (low temp hot glue guns are great for this type of project) - Stapler - Split pins (these are available from places like Office Works and newsagencies) - String - Sticky tape - Paddlepop sticks - Rubber bands - Coloured markers - Paper

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Parenting

Basic challenge – Best for children aged 3 to 5-years old

Ask the child if they would like to make a robot.

Show them the available materials and have a chat about what the robot might look like and what they might like it to be able to do.

Give the child the markers and some paper and ask them to draw or design their robot. Get them to talk you through what they have drawn. This is the design element. It doesn’t matter whether the drawing looks at all like a robot. The idea is to get the kids thinking and talking so that they become used to planning what they are doing.

Next sit with them and let them select the materials they want. Let them create their robot and only offer suggestions or help if they ask for them. Try to support them in solving any problems that they are having by asking questions like “is there something else that you could use that might work better?” or “Could you try using that part a different way”.

Whatever happens this should be fun for the kids, so if they are frustrated or not enjoying themselves, feel free to jump in and give a helping hand.

Next leave challenge – Best for children aged 5+

Follow the instructions in the basic challenge but for kids who have experience in designing and making things, add an element of complexity to the challenge by giving them an outcome that they need to achieve. Some ideas include: • Add arms that can move.

• Add a moving mouth.

• The robot needs to be able to help carry items.

• The robot should be able to stand on its own.

Don’t make the instruction overly complicated. Allow the child to have a say in what they want their robot to do. They will be more engaged and enthusiastic if they are interested in what they are trying to achieve.

Super max challenge – for more experienced creators

For kids who spend a lot of time building and designing, it can be really engaging to have a proper challenge put in front of them. Think about giving the robot a purpose, for example, the robot must be able to lift and pour milk into a bowl of breakfast cereal.

Here’s a few ideas to get you started: • The robot should be able to lean forward and push open a door.

• The robot should be able to turn off a light switch.

• The robot should be able to carry a specified item.

• The robot should be able to put bread in a toaster.

I hope that these suggestions have got you thinking about some crafty fun that you can have together with your family.

Rachel Brittliff is the owner of Curious Kids’ Science, a business dedicated to promoting STEM at home. Curious Kids’ Science sells science kits for children aged 4-years and over and has a blog with other great ideas and experiments to help you incorporate science into your everyday life with kids. Web: www.curiouskidsscience.com.au

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Parenting

Cosy Cute and Comfy this Winter

Summer has come and gone and while we’ll definitely miss dressing up our little ones in their light dresses and chic swimsuits, we’re more than happy to have an excuse to go shopping for winter wear!

This season, we’re all about colour and layering! We LOVE to mix-and-match clothes and we make sure all our pieces are not only on-trend but versatile enough to pair with most, if not all, of our pieces.

Get ready to fall in love with these gorgeous winter pieces for girls, so your little one can rock winter in style, whilst staying warm and comfortable.

1) Misha Romper Pink Scandi + Maxine Mustard Cardigan + Navy Ditsy Bow Headband Misha is a fun, retro, Scandi Floral print romper made of thick, winter weight jersey for your little one. With a 70s vibe and Nordic style, your baby will stay cosy this winter whilst still allowing freedom of movement! As an added feature, it also has press studs at the crotch.

Tip: Layer with the Maxine Cardigan for colder days and you’re good to go!

2) Harper Navy Primrose Dress + Rocket Red Maxine Cardigan + Knee High Cream Pom Pom Socks Harper is such an easy-to-wear and easy to love winter dress. This favourite girl’s dress features a comfy jersey bodice, gorgeous contrast waistband teamed with a fun skirt for a little pop of winter colour.

We are totally crushing on navy this season and we love how well it pairs with pretty much ANY colour – and look how gorgeous it goes with the Red Maxine and Cream Knee High Pom Pom Socks!

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Parenting 3) Sienna Dress Scandi Flower + Lilac Maxine Cardigan + Pink Daisy Bow Headband Sienna’s sweet mix of jersey bodice and ruffly tiered skirt makes it a piece that your little girl will love to wear. She’ll look amazing this winter without sacrificing comfort. With divine lace trim and velvet ribbon, we are loving the ‘70s Scandi vibe of the Sienna Dress.

Comfort plus go-anywhere style equals the PERFECT party dress.

Tip: We love how it layers perfectly with the Lilac Maxine Cardigan and Cream Jacquard Knit Tights. Top off with the Pink Daisy Bow Headband. Simply divine!

4) Paige Blue Kensington Dress + Paddington Woollen Coat Paige is a sweet, vintage style smocked pinafore dress.

Your little girl will adore the rich 100% cotton style and the vintage smocking.

We think it looks absolutely divine with the Paddington Coat - a warm woollen pea-coat with all the luxury and warmth that only wool can bring. It’s an incredible piece of fully-lined deliciousness with no itchies because it’s lined with Kensington fabric. A truly gorgeous and classic piece.

Have fun mixing and matching with your little one this winter! Go for pieces that are not only stylish – but comfy and cosy for girls too. xxx Article written by Sally from www.Oobi.com.au

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BLOSSOM MEADOW BUSH BABIES New to the Bush Baby Family. Blossom Meadow is home to the ‘Blossoms’, a group of Bush Babies who dig, plant, water and tend to the brightly coloured flowers that grow in the meadow. Available at Big W, Toys R Us, Kidstuff, Mr Toys, Toyworld and other leading toy retailers. RRP: $16.95ea

POP ROCKET Place Pop Rocket in the middle area of play, pull the fuse and wait for the rocket to pop! Quickly place your coloured rocket bowls around the rocket. As soon as the rocket opens, a colourful shower of stars flies through the air! Catch the most stars when the rocket pops to win the game! Suitable for 2-4 players aged 4+. RRP $39.95. Available from Leading Retailers

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Parenting OPERATION ESCAPE ROOM Bring the excitement of Escape Room Challenges into your home with Operation Escape Room. In this Interactive game you have to work as a team to complete 3 exciting tasks in order to set the captured player free from the master belt before time runs out.

The game play includes tests of skill, strategy and luck and offers different levels of difficulty so that kids and adults can play over and over. Suitable for 2-6 players aged 6+. RRP $39.95. Available from Leading Retailers.

FIDGET CUBE NEW SERIES 3 There are now more colours and designs to collect to relieve those stressed fingers. Available in Australia from Kmart, Big W, Toys “R� Us. $10

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Avoiding Fussy Eaters I am a somewhat fussy eater. I was a very fussy eater and slowly as an adult I am coming around.

My duties as a mum and the sheer determination of my husband not to have fussy children, has meant that I have started eating a greater variety of food. My children on the other hand are great eaters – there is very little they will not eat or try.

Here are some of the practical philosophies we follow when it comes to getting our children to try new foods.

Lead by example. How can you expect your

child to try/eat something if you don’t? Now this was interesting for me – so if it was something I didn’t eat, my husband was at the table to introduce the food to the children and eat it with them. As they get older they get smarter (hence the reason I am trying so many more foods) If you want to introduce a food to your child, it is easier to get them interested, involved in the food if you too are eating (and liking) the same meal.

One family, one meal. In our house you either eat dinner or you go hungry – no matter the age. We all eat dinner together and there is only one meal option. Ultimately the children tend to eat something from the menu and we do not force them to eat everything. Having the same policy for everyone also reduced the likelihood that one child’s behaviour will impact the eating habits of your other children. If your children feel that the fussy child is getting special treatment – why would or should they keep trying new things when the fussy eater doesn’t need to or gets special meals?

At least one try. They have to try it and a

good try. 1-2 even 3 mouthfuls to see what they think of it. If they really don’t like it they can eat something else that is part of the meal and already on the table (plain rice, bread, salad, etc). Some of the tactics we use when we get complaints about trying the food: We remind them that they have tried and liked it before. We say that it is cooked differently so they might like it better this time. If they want to eat more meat or food they like they have to at least have some of the food they are avoiding.

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Keep offering it to them. It is said that

repeated exposure (up to 8 times) is required to get your taste buds used to the taste of the food in order to make a decision on it; so keep offering it to them – after 5-6 times they may decide they love it. It is also important to understand that children will refuse food for many reasons – they make not like the look or taste of it, the feel of it or even perhaps they simply don’t feel like it that day.

Different cooking options. By repeatedly

offering it to them in a range of formats you may find they like one variety (e.g. Roast mushrooms) and not another (raw mushrooms).

This way you can get them to gain the health benefits from a certain vegetable without having to fight them to eat it. Growing your own veggies is another great tactic at getting your children to try to eat them. When we mention that it is the Snow Pea or Capsicum from the garden the kids are willing to try it as they grew it.

Sweeten the deal. Think of your favourite

ways to eat a certain food/vegetable and offer these initially to your child to get them used to the idea of eating that vegetable. For example I make Broccoli and Cauliflower with white sauce – the children adore it and then when it is just steamed broccoli they already know they eat and like the taste of broccoli so they are more willing to try it. For my youngest, simply adding sliced almonds to the Asian salad got him eating everything in the salad because he wanted these. Read the full article

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Parenting

Reviewed Cody the Pony is a kids book essentially about a young girl and her pony attending Pony Club for the first time. They have a lovely friendship and while attending lessons each week, they have learned new things about each other and have a lovely bond. Read the challenges they face and the lessons they learn. Read the Review

Paw Patrol to the Rescue Pre-Schoolers love the cute pups from Paw Patrol, and the Paw Patrol LeapPad Game offers a great fun educational game for kids.

Throughout the game, Ryder provides good instructions to help your child understand what to do. The game is interactive, and it will help stimulate your child’s mind.

Uniden Digital Wireless Baby Video Monitor (BW3102) The Baby Video Monitor provides peace of mind for parents as they can know with full confidence how their child is sleeping.

Who doesn’t love to watch their baby’s sleep patterns? It’s a moment in time where all the chaos melts away... Read the Review

My Little Love Heart Bandana Bibs These Bandana Bibs are fashionable, made of quality fabric and work well for dribbly babies.

The My Little Love Heart bandana bibs are handmade right here in Australia, in Perth. The top design fabric is soft, and the backing is even softer! Find out more in our Review

Read the Review

Teebee This innovative Danish designed portable travel toy case for kids had me very excited for a recent long car trip with the kids.

The teebee is not just any plastic box. It’s portable, lightweight and comes with a very cute design. It’s a sturdy, BPA free (food safe) triangular case which when folded out fits snugly between your children’s thighs while they play ‘quietly’ in the back of the car. Read the Review

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Lifestyle

Autumn Winter Fashion 2018 With so many Autumn Winter Fashion Trends, it can be easy for mums to feel fashionable and comfortable in their own personal style. We have identified four key fashion trends suitable for mums to follow. They will fit into your busy life, keep you looking and feeling great without having to replace your entire wardrobe.

Bright Colours

Brighten the dark winter with vibrant colours. Reds, pinks, blues, orange and more are tipped to be big this winter. Not only will the colours stand out, their vibrant look will brighten a dreary day. Bright jackets and knits are a great way to add bold colour to your outfit.

Monochromatic Outfits

Wearing the same colour from head to toe is hot this winter, especially if you are in a bright colour. Perfect for busy mums, outfits in all one colour (e.g. black) can be accentuated with a bright scarf, stand out fashion boots or another fashionable accessory that you love.

Statement Head Wear

You name it; Beret, beanie, hoodies… head wear is fashionable this winter. Perfect for the ‘bad hair days’ statement head wear can be ideal for mums in reducing the time taken to get ready in the mornings. Helpful too for playdates at the park and sports games or training to provide additional heat on cold winter mornings.

Plaid/Check Patterns

Plaid and Check patterns are staying on trend this winter. Coats or statement skirts and pants within this pattern will stand out and make people take notice. Due to the stand out nature of this pattern, these fashion pieces will brighten your outfits and one piece paired with your existing wardrobe options can convert your look. While the traditional red and black is still popular, much of the fashion industry are moving away from the traditional colours to brighter options.

The key fashion trends we have chosen are ideal for mums as they can be implemented with your existing wardrobe simply by getting one or two key fashion statement accessories. In addition to this, fashionable mums need to focus on finding a fashion style which fits into your lifestyle. Think Denim with plaid or Black with a pop of colour. Most of all, have fun with your style – if you enjoy what you are wearing, you will look and feel great.

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Lifestyle The Blush Bayley Knit ($59.90) is a great everyday addition to your wardrobe. This Chenille Knit is super soft to touch and comfortable to wear. The rounded neck line is flattering while the pattern on the arms creates detail. Teamed with the comfortable and stylish Charcoal JoJo pants (69.00) to create a carefree feel but stylish look. The JoJo pant offers a flattering look with a high waist and a glove like fit that is very comfortable to move in. With a ‘wet pant’ look, they are a great pant to dress up for nights out or special occasions.

Accentuate your look with these Rosala Nude Leather ($219.95) Ankle boots. These stylish ankle boots have a medium, sturdy heel with a comfortable fit. The Nude Leather look offers a universal colour that will compliment most outfits.

The belt and buckle on the ankle boots creates a modern looking fashion boot.

Pictured below and left, JoJo pants with the Capital Red Smooth ($89.95) Ankle Boots. These bright red Ankle boots will add a splash colour to your Winter Look. Perfect to match with a plaid skirt or top. With a solid medium heel, they are ideal for mums running after children.

Enjoy a Date Night or any special occasion in this daring Ruby Red Blakely Dress ($69). With eye catching shimmer lace detailing top and bottom the Blakely dress stands out.

The slimming gathering around belly area creates a flattering look, while the fabric feels lovely.

The Outfits pictured on this page are available from Rose Lane Clothing https://www.roselaneclothing.com.au/ The Shoes pictured on this page are available from Cinori https://www.cinori.com.au/

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Lifestyle Pandora Poncho by BIJOU ($79.95) offers a closed front loose fitting poncho with a V-shaped neck, featuring a hood for extra warmth. This woman’s knit is a one size fits all and has a loose and unstructured fit with no sleeves and tassels along the hemline – perfect for mum’s changing body. This cardi’s length is 73cm (excluding tassels) and has a unique textured knit throughout. Hem ending at upper thigh/knee. Comes in Ivory and Charcoal. This poncho is a great way to add a layer of warm in winter. http://www.alibionline.com.au/pandoraponcho-in-charcoal-by-bijou/ KL411 Top by KIIK LUXE ($109.95) has a scooped round neck and wide full length batwing sleeves with a straight hemline front and back. This women’s top has a wide, relaxed fit. The hem comes down to approximately the upper-thigh at the front and longer at the back with side splits for ease of movement. Available in Black, Cream, Mustard, Mauve and Blue Knit.

ONE SIZE FITS MOST (SIZE 8 – 18). This garment will have an oversized fit on smaller sizes and tighter fit on larger sizes. http://www.alibionline.com.au/kl411-top-in-mustard-by-kiik-luxe/

Persuit Jacket by WISH ($149.95) has a high rounded front and back neckline with an open front. The jacket is structured with full length sleeves and offers an ideal way to step up your look quickly and easily for work or evenings out. The front opening has a straight folded lapel with contrast fabric front and back yoke panels. Features a half circle hemline cut that moves into a straight hemline around the sides and back. The jacket finishes at approximately the high hipline and measures 58cm at the back and 62cm at the front from shoulder to hem when flat. Comes in Black, Cream, Navy, Khaki or White. http://www.alibionline.com.au/persuit-jacket-by-wish/

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Lifestyle Bella Pant by BETTY BASICS ($39.95) have an elasticated waistband with a drawstring tie, and are designed to sit above the hips. With a dropped crotch, giving them a looser fit they are the ideal ‘around the house’ pant option this winter. They are full length.

Available in Black, Black/Charcoal and Denim Marle. Perfect for active weekends as well as lounging around on a casual lazy day. http://www.alibionline.com.au/bella-pant-by-betty-basics/

A great dress for mums, the Birds In The Night Wrap Dress

by SASS ($89.95) has a plunging V-neckline with cross over feature – ideal for taking focus away from the tummy. With loose fitting long sleeves and a loose fitting bodice. This dress has a tie up ribbon closure on the waist and a frilled hem that ends just at the knees. Style this dress with a pair of black leather booties and finish off with minimalist jewellery. http://www.alibionline.com.au/birds-in-the-night-wrap-dress-bysass/

The Odette Knit by AMELIUS ($89.95) has a comfortable and relaxed fit. The pattern is a great way to move eye focus away from the tummy. With full length sleeves and a cut out front. It features knitted cable detailing along the sleeves, the front, and the back. The hemline falls approximately below the hips. Comes in the colours Ivory and Black. http://www.alibionline.com.au/odette-knit-by-amelius/

All the outfits features on these two pages are available at AlibiOnline.

Our mission is to help you find the perfect outfit that makes you feel amazing - inside and out. We stock a wide range of apparel and accessories to keep you looking stylish all year round. Our customer service is unparalleled and our stock is wrapped with love!

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Lifestyle Autumn can be a tricky time of year for dressing - Vigorella’s Viscose Long Sleeve Dress with Pockets (VE024 Winter White $99.95) is an ideal transeasonal fashion accessory that can be styled over jeans or leggings, or worn solo with ankle boots for a modern edge.

The Ella & Me Mid Rise Jean (EM005 Indigo $139.95) are a cool and comfy skinny leg jean which can be rolled, cuffed or worn as full length.

Style up your look with Vigorella’s Viscose Reversible Scarf (VA020 Navy $49.95).

All mums need a basic long sleeve tee in your wardrobe for the cooler weather. Vigorella’s V-neck long sleeve tee (VE021 Winter White $59.95) offers a staple winter essential.

Teamed with Ella & Me Mid Rise Skinny leg Jean (EM005 Indigo $139.95) and add a splash of colour and layering with Vigorella’s Long Cardi (VE026 Mulberry $99.95).

Busy Mum’s on the run need an on-trend, reliable and comfy pant like Vigorella’s Viscose Dropped Crotch Pant (VE014 Black $99.95).

Add texture and interest with Vigorella’s Open Mesh Draped top (VOM020 Light Grey $79.95) and layered over Vigorella’s matching basic Cami (VB032 Light Grey $44.95) for a fashionable yet comfortable look.

Items pictured on this page available from Vigorella. Support and shop local - Vigorella is 100% Made and Designed in Melbourne and can be found in boutiques across Australia; visit https://www.vigorella.com.au/

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Lifestyle

5 Fashionable Ways to Wear Women’s Ankle Boots this Winter Ankle boots are a fantastic fashionable shoe for busy mums.

Suitable for work, in-between school runs and catching up with friends; they are a staple fashion shoe for women. Worn many ways to create numerous stylish looks they are ideal as an essential Winter Fashion Shoe.

Here are 5 different ways to step out in style with Ankle Boots.

Over Jeans or Leggings

Tucking a pair of jeans or leggings into your ankle boot is a great way to create a long looking leg line. Depending on the boot colour, it can offer colour variety or add a splash of colour to your look. To add height to your look, create a monochromatic look by wearing tights/jeans the same colour as your ankle boot. Not only will this make your legs appear longer, it fits in with the 2018 Winter Fashion Trends.

With a Rolled Cuff

Suitable for a more relaxed look, showing a little skin between your jeans and ankle boots will highlight the skinnier part of your leg. It is also a great in-between way to wear your boots, when the weather is a little warmer during the day.

With a skirt

Create a great mid-season fashionable look by pairing your ankle boots with a skirt. Suitable for warmer days and on cooler ones, add to the look with a pair of opaque tights. Pencils skirts, tights and boots all in the same colour will lengthen your look, while wearing them in different colours will create a layered depth to your look.

With a Dress

Similar to a skirt, dresses paired with ankle boots look stylish. Bright fashion boots are a great way to add your own style sense to simple dresses.

Under your trousers

Slipping your ankle boots on under wide leg trousers is easy and creates a smart yet comfortable look while keeping your feet cosy and warm.

Ankle boots can become an everyday staple to your Winter Wardrobe.

Find a good pair of ankle boots that you love the look of; are practical and comfortable, and you will be surprised at how often you wear them.

We would love to hear how you wear your ankle boots or see pics of your fav looks. The boots pictured are from Cinori.com.au

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Food

Pesto Salmon with Tomato Salsa A delicious dish ready in less than 15 minutes. Packed full of nourishing superfood ingredients to support a healthy body. Lycopene is responsible for giving tomatoes there lovely red colour, but more than this it is one of the best anti-oxidants with cancerpreventative properties. Salmon is an oily fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which in an anti-inflammatory and thus can help alleviate the symptoms of inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), arthritis, and more.

Gluten Free INGREDIENTS 500 grams 4 x 125g salmon fillets ¼ tsp salt 1 pinch pepper lemon wedges to serve 300 grams green beans, fresh or frozen 60 grams pesto, e.g. Leggo’s basil pesto

Tomato salsa 400 grams tomatoes, diced 80 grams roasted capsicum, finely diced 2 shallots, finely chopped or ¼ red onion, finely diced 8 basil leaves, shredded 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 2 tsp chia seeds

salt to taste

pepper to taste

METHOD 1. Pre-heat oven to 250°C with the grill element on. Place large baking dish in oven at the same time to heat up so that the salmon immediately starts to sizzle and gets crispy as soon as you place it on the dish.

2. Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towel. Place a clean plate.

3. Remove baking dish from oven, line with baking paper and lightly spray with olive oil.

Immediately place fillets in a single layer, spray the top lightly with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and herbs of your choice. Return to oven. Cook for a 7-8 minutes, turn fillets over and cook for a further 3 minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on thickness of fish fillet. e.g. 10-12 minutes total time for a 1 inch thick fillet. When cooked, immediately remove fillets from baking tray to stop the salmon from over cooking and getting mushy.

4. Whilst salmon is cooking, prepare tomato salsa. Gently toss all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside for 5-10 minutes so the chia seeds can soak up the excess tomato juice.

5. Whilst salmon is cooking, bring a saucepan of water to the boil with a steamer basket. Add green beans and cook for 2-3 minutes or until tender crisp. Do not overcook or the vegetables will be mushy. Set aside and season with salt and pepper.

6. To serve, divide green beans between four plates. Spoon over tomato salsa. Place a salmon fillet on top and coat with pesto. Serve with a wedge of lemon.

Recipe from Dr Megan Chircop, a medical scientist and nutritionist. As the Founder and Director of Body Sculptors Australia, her mission is to shape a positive attitude to health and wellbeing by focusing on nourishing the body. www.bodysculptorsaustralia.com

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Food

Mexican night SERVES 4 PREPARATION TIME 30 minutes COOKING TIME 15 minutes Ingredients 8 taco shells 2 tbs olive oil 500g beef mince 1 small brown onion, finely diced 2 tbs taco spice seasoning 1 red onion, thinly sliced ¼ cos lettuce, shredded 2 tomatoes, halved and thinly sliced 1 ½ cups grated cheese Salsa, to serve Sour cream, to serve Guacamole, to serve Lime wedges, to serve

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan-forced).

2. Place taco shells on an oven tray and bake as per packet instructions.

3. Meanwhile, place a large frypan over high heat and warm the olive oil. Add mince to the hot pan and cook for 3 minutes, stirring to break up pieces. Add the onion and taco seasoning and cook for a further 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Serve the taco shells and mince alongside prepared vegetables and let the family build their own creation.

Tip – If you’d prefer chicken, swap the mince for chicken tenderloins. Roll the chicken in taco seasoning and cook in a frypan over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until cooked through. Thinly slice.

Recipe from: Corelle Brands manufacture and market products through a portfolio of wellrecognized and respected brands, including under the Pyrex®, Corelle®, CorningWare®, Snapware®, Chicago Cutlery®, and Olfa® trademarks. For more information head to www.corelle.com.au

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Food

Mexican Dip

This Mexican Dip is deliciously moreish yet is has been redefined to offer a heathier version, so you can now taste the goodness in it, too.

Ingredients Bean Layer • 400g can organic black beans • ½ small onion finely chopped • 2 cloves garlic crushed • Pinch Cajun spices • Salsa de Chipotle Avocado Layer • 2 avocados • Juice of 1 lime • Chopped coriander • Generous pinch of Celtic salt Cashew Cream Layer • 1 ½ cups soaked cashews • ⅓ cup water • ⅓ cup coconut yoghurt • 3 tbsp lemon juice • 2 tbsp flaxseed oil or oil of your choice • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar • 1 tbsp yellow mustard seeds • Pinch Celtic salt • Roasted cherry Tomatoes • Sliced scallions/spring onions Method Bean layer 1. Saute the onion and garlic until soft. Add the cajun (or Mexican) spices and mix well.

2. Add the drained black beans. As they warm up press down to squash them a little with the back of the spoon.

3. Add a little water as necessary to create a thick mushy texture, but still keeping some beans whole.

4. Set aside to cool Avocado layer 1. Mash the avocados with lime juice and salt.

2. Fold through the chopped coriander leaves Cashew Cream Layer 1. Blend the mustard seeds to a powder 2. Add all remaining ingredients except the coconut yoghurt and blend to a smooth paste. Add more

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water if required to thin this down a little This quantity may be more than you require for your dip. Take aside as much as you think you will need and then add the coconut yoghurt. Without the coconut yoghurt added this cashew cream is a great mayonnaise substitute!

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes: 1. To roast the tomatoes, cut them in half and toss in a little oil, fresh lemon thyme and salt.

2. Roast until soft yet the tomatoes are still holding together Assembling the dip Once your beans are cool and everything is prepared, shake some drops of the Salsa de Chipotle into the bottom of your serving dish.

There are plenty of delicious, gluten-free and natural chipotle sauces on the market that do not have sugar or preservatives in them. If you can, or choose to, go for these. They are much better!

1. Once the Chipotle is down, spread over the black beans.

2. Top the black beans with the avocado 3. Then layer on the cashew cream 4. Scatter over the roasted tomatoes - bear in mind these add a richness to the dish so you don’t need to cover the entire dish 5. Sprinkle over the sliced spring onions 6. Serve these with organic corn chips or even better, make your own by slicing some corn tortillas into triangles and sprayed with coconut oil before toasting in the oven for a few minutes. This can be done while you are roasting the tomatoes.

Enjoy! Recipe provided by Kristie Murphy from Freya’s Nourishment: www.freyasnourishment.com.au

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Food

Kirsten Tibballs' Banana Caramel Cream Tart Preparation Time: 25 minutes Set Time: 1 hour Biscuit Base 1 packet butternut snap biscuits, crushed 15g desiccated coconut 100g unsalted butter, melted Caramel Filling 130mL Bulla Thickened cream 220g brown sugar 120g unsalted butter pinch of salt Topping 1 block milk chocolate, for chocolate shavings 600mL (3 tubs) Bulla Dollop Thick Cream 3 ripe bananas, sliced icing sugar, for dusting Method 1. To make the biscuit base, crush the biscuits and combine with the coconut and melted butter.

Press into the base of a 25cm fluted flan tin and place in the fridge for 10-15 minutes for the base to set.

2. To make the caramel filling, bring the Bulla Thickened Cream, brown sugar and a pinch of salt to a boil in a saucepan and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the stove and stir through the chopped butter. Pour onto the prepared biscuit base and place in the fridge for an hour.

3. For the topping, create some chocolate shavings by running a sharp knife over the back of a chocolate block.

4. Serve the Bulla Dollop Thick Cream directly from the container onto the chilled caramel, top with the sliced bananas and chocolate shavings. Lightly dust with icing sugar to finish.

Recipe provided by Kirsten Tibballs in association with Bulla www.bulla.com.au

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Home

Three Simple Tricks to Put an End to Decluttering

Are you plagued by clutter? It’s one of those annoying things that we think after throwing 30 bags of rubbish out we have under control, only to have the need to do it again a couple of months down the line.

This is because many people fall into the category of Yo-Yo De-clutterer, yes that is a thing. It can be equated to being a yo-yo dieter and I know many readers will be able to relate to that, this is how it usually pans out: Things get to the point where you have “Had it up to here.”

You decide to kick start the diet with a detox, or in the case of clutter a manic chuck out.

Everything feels great for a couple of weeks, lighter in fact!

Then the weight creeps back on and the clutter sneaks back in and before you know it you are back to square one.

Sound familiar? Don’t worry, it happens to thousands of people, you are not alone.

Just like with weight loss, it’s not all about the actions you are taking, a HUGE portion of the problem has to do with mindset. And do to take full control of your clutter you need to fix your mindset. Here are 5 of my best tips to get you started…

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Home

ONE

Never impulse buy, anything. When you see something that catches your eye, go away and think about it. Think where this new item is going to live in your home and whether you really need it or it’s filling a hole of some kind. Doing this cuts down on a huge amount of pointless purchases and has the knock on effect of saving you money - less clutter and a fatter wallet.

TWO

Make sure everything in your home has a home. Once you have this nailed you will discover that it’s easier to keep the house tidy, the family all know where everything is kept and can easily put it away and any excess vagrant items that are homeless get spotted quicker and can be dealt with.

It also makes quick tidy up before visitors arrive so much easier.

THREE

Say NO. Most people feel guilty about throwing things out, especially if it still has some life in it.

Instead of just disposing of the item it is easier to pass it onto someone else. That means that you end up taking someone elses clutter because you are too polite to say no! Then you are stuck with it until you find some other mug to pass it on to.

To combat this unwanted goods cycle, start flexing your NO muscle. Stop accepting piles of unwanted goods just because you are being polite. You can just say that you don’t have space or say that you are not allowing anything into the house until you have declutter what you have already got. Stand firm, some of those people trying to dump their junk can be quite persistent!

My Mother-in-law was one of those people. She lives the other end of the country and every time we visited she would try and pass some unwanted goodies onto us. I eventually started taking a small bag so that we could say that we had no room and it was difficult to carry extra luggage on public transport all the way home! It worked, she just gives us money now!

After working with hundreds of women helping them to declutter their homes I can honestly say that the ones that work on their mindset and stop the clutter entering the home are the ones that have the most success.

By all means do the 30 bags in 30 days or any other decluttering challenge but keep in mind that it will only work if you work on the mindset too. Do it the kaizen way, a little bit every day!

Jo Ebisujima helps entrepreneur moms to get organised at home, with their kids and in their heads so that they can spend more time doing the fun stuff, building their business and hanging out with the family.

Grab your free meal planner over at https://jojoebi.com/MealPlanner

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Home

12 Tips for Organising the Heart of the Home The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the house. Here are some tips to help you make it one of the most organised as well.

1. Buy double of your fresh produce, chop it up, blanch it, and freeze into small containers. It’s great to have these vegetables as a back-up when you’re running low on the fresh things.

2. Every house has a ‘dumping station’ - where the keys, wallets and phones tend to accumulate. For many people, this is somewhere on the kitchen bench. Try using the inside of one of your kitchen cupboards for this purpose. Screw a couple of small hooks in and hang the keys, and you can even fasten a small basket to the door, for those wallets and phones.

3. Make it as easy as possible for the family to recycle; invest in a dual garbage bin. Allocate one side for your rubbish and the other for your plastic bottles, glasses, etc. Use pictures if you need to so that your little people understand where their rubbish needs to go.

4. Baskets are a simple way of being organised and they can be purchased almost anywhere. Shoe boxes are a cost-effective alternative. For a neat and tidy pantry, place all of your breakfast cereals in one basket or box, your condiments, cans and cooking goods, etc. in the others and label them accordingly. This saves time, as you won’t need to rummage through your goods to find what you’re looking for. It also helps other family members to maintain order in the pantry.

5. For baking enthusiasts, having easy access to the ingredients is a must. Store your flours, sugars, spices, herbs, etc. in canisters and label them appropriately. You can place them in a prominent place in the kitchen or stow them in a drawer. If you decide to go with the drawer option, place your labels on the lid of each canister.

6. If you’ve got quite a stash of recipe books, consider downsizing or decluttering all together. Keep only your favourites; the recipes you cook only occasionally can easily be found online.

7. Have you got a junk drawer full of odds and ends? Now’s the time to go through it.

Toss what you never use, and give the other items a home. If you’re having trouble parting with junk drawer treasures, one idea is to put all items into a box and if, after 3 months, you haven’t taken the item out to use it, chances are you never will. Release it!

8. Cleaning out the fridge - a job no one really likes. However, it has to be done or you can end up with some nasty little surprises. The next time you go to organise your fridge, try a different approach. Designate each shelf for specific items. For example, the bottom shelf can be for your beverages, the middle drawer for your leftover meals/open goods, and the top shelf can be kept for your cooking needs, like cream, butter, eggs, etc., and the condiments can live in the fridge door. Of course, the fresh produce stays in the crisper down the bottom.

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Home

9. Speaking of the freezer, make sure all of the food in here is labeled with the date that it was put in. A brief description of what is in each bag can also be a helpful when you’re trying to tell which bag of meat you’re pulling out… or when you need a little helper to pull something out for you.

10. Place any cookie cutters, icing tips, pastry bags and frosting combs in a clear plastic container and store them in a drawer. These small pieces of cooking equipment can be easy to lose, so keep them safe and in the same spot.

11. A first aid kit is something every home should have. If you don’t have one, now’s a good time to get it started. Simply purchase the necessary basics, such as band-aids, sterile strips, scissors, cotton buds, eye drops, alcohol swabs, bandages, paracetamol, tape and ointments from your local pharmacy and place all of the items into their own little pouch in a drawer (out of reach of curious toddlers). You’ll be grateful for this stash of medical supplies the next time there’s an accident in the house.

12. Mount a small basket on the wall inside the cupboard under your sink, to look after your sponges and brushes when they’re not being used. This keeps them off the bench and makes things much tidier. If the basket has holes, it will help with airflow and reduce the chance of mould developing.

There are many wonderful organising and storage ideas out there. If you have other suggestions or there’s something you do at home that you’d like to share, let us know in the comments.

Eva Van Strijp is a mother of six and founder of Seedling Baby. When Eva isn’t hanging out with her family or running a business, she’s eating chocolate, listening to podcasts and creating resources for busy parents.

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Travel Lifestyle

destination: Dubbo Taronga Western Plains Zoo So big you can ride through it.

Dubbo’s biggest tourist attraction, the Western Plains Zoo offers a fun family holiday activity that children (and parents) of all ages will enjoy.

Our desire to visit the zoo was driven by my mother who remembers it as such a wonderful family holiday activity from her previous trip. Taronga Western Plains Zoo offers a unique zoo experience in that you can ride your bike, drive an electric cart or your car through it. I wanted to explore the zoo by bike, however hubby liked the cart idea so we compromised and did both. This worked out wonderfully as we loaded the cart with all the food/water and tired children throughout the day. I seriously recommend a back-up cart or car if you have young children wanting to ride.

I feel that riding the bike through the zoo is the best way to experience it as you can go everywhere and see everything without having to get off the bike. For those with carts or cars, you will need to park at the attraction and walk through, to see the animals. If transporting your bike to the zoo is too difficult, the Western Plains Zoo has a range of bikes for hire, along with pull along carts to go behind the bikes and these amazing Electric Carts.

The animals at the zoo didn’t disappoint.

We loved the Meercats and Hippo’s the most, followed by the gorgeous baby Rhino. All of the animals roamed around their enclosures and were interesting to watch. In addition to this, we saw a lovely dance display from a herd of Blackbuck where around 50 buck ran one way and then another in a show of colour and matching choreography.

One of the features I like most about the Western Plains zoo is the design behind the zoo. They have larger cages and where possible, they try to simulate a more natural environment for the animals. Something I feel is much nicer to the animals staying at the zoo and more conducive to a long-term solution.

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Travel One of their newest attractions at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo is the Lion Pride Lands.

The overall look of the Pride Lands is fantastic with lovely buildings and statues to make you feel as though you were in Africa. Unfortunately, when we got to the Pride Lands, the lions were nowhere to be seen which was disappointing. There is a tour through the pride lands which will give you a much better opportunity to see the lions in their natural environment, however that does add to the expense of the day. I do however choose to think that although it was disappointing that we didn’t see the lions, it is a much better environment for them than a small cage. It is also more like the wild where on safari you may or may not spot them.

The ticket admission to Taronga Western Plains Zoo offers admission for two days which I think is fantastic for families. Firstly, for those with young children, you can head home for naps when needed and come back the following day. Potentially, it also offers the ability to see the animals at different times during the day and therefore can mean you have a better view/experience.

Throughout the zoo there are water taps with drinking water to refill your bottles along with an ample number of amenities. We chose to bring our own lunch and sat at a lovely picnic area provided within the zoo. There is a café and another food takeaway option at the zoo where you can buy lunch or snacks, however due to the one-way roads (if driving) and length of the zoo I recommend brining your food and stopping at the café for an ice-cream/drink after.

Overall, the Taronga Western Plains Zoo offers a fantastic experience, a fun family activity and it is a place I would visit again.

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Travel Lifestyle

Family Fun Things to do in Dubbo A popular holiday destination, there are many attractions and fun family activities in Dubbo.

Upon arriving in Dubbo and taking a drive around I have to admit that I was surprised at the large size of the city and in particular their shops! We have visited Dubbo twice now and each time enjoyed many of the family friendly attractions they have.

Here are some great family activities in Dubbo to enjoy.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo offers a fantastic family day out where you can cycle or drive through to see animals in larger, more natural environments. The outlay of the zoo is designed to help you imagine that you are on wide open plains. To get around it you can walk, ride your own bikes, drive or hire bikes or electric carts. Note: If walking or riding with younger children I would recommend that you break the zoo trip over the two days as it is a lot for them.

If going with a big group of friends a good idea may be to have some adults and children follow those riding bikes in a car, allowing tired children (and adults) to swap the riding duties.

Alternatively transport your children back into history with a lesson at the fully restored Old Dubbo Goal which offers tours and theatrical performances. Follow the guide to the key areas and then take your time to walk through the cells and see memorabilia from when the gaol was used.

If you have boys or husbands who like trains or models, then Traintasia is an ideal venue. It features an interactive model railway display with Trains, Trams, Buses, Trucks and people, along with a hobby shop.

Located just 45 minutes out of Dubbo, the Wellington Caves and Phosphorus Mine provide a great family activity. I recommend doing both tours as different family members will prefer different items.

The Cathedral Cave houses the largest stalagmite in the whole world while the Phosphorus Mine is the location many archaeologists found megafauna bones.

There are many more activities for families to enjoy in Dubbo.

View the full post here

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Discovery Holiday Park Dubbo - Orana Located only a 2 minute drive or a bike ride away from Western Plains Zoo, the Discovery Holiday Park Dubbo is a great location for a Dubbo Family Holiday This was our second trip to the Discovery Holiday Park Dubbo. Our first (7 years ago) was our first camping experience and is held high in our minds with fond memories.

As such we were excited to be coming back to review the Dubbo Holiday Park again and see how its changed.

As we drove in the gates, our children excitedly pointed out the amazing water park they have, along with the large waterslide. In terms of entertainment for children, this park is well thought out and has the ability to keep the children entertained in between experiencing all the Dubbo Attractions. With many families bringing bikes to ride around the zoo; the Dubbo Holiday Park has a BMX Track which offers both an easy track and one that’s a little harder. All of my children aged 5 and up (along with their grandparents) all enjoyed the BMX track.

While at the park, our family favourite activities included the Waterpark, where our kids and so many more, would go on the waterslide over and over again – until the bucket was about to tip; squealing in glee as the water splashed all over them.

After that, they loved the Heated Pool; the BMX Track, Go Karts and Jumping Pillow.

There is also have an activity room and a Playground.

As we were there for a week, we chose to get an ensuite campsite; providing us with our own private bathroom. The Discovery Holiday Park has a range of accommodation options available from Cabins, to Safari Tents, Ensuite sites along with Powered and Non-Powered Campsites. Our site was adequate; however, the fit was quite tight. The ensuite was a good size and offered great convenience with three younger children. My parents joined us on this trip and stayed in a nearby cabin which was very nice and had all the mod cons including TV and Air Con. The Dubbo Holiday Park has a large amenities block for campers which has a Toddlers Bathroom making life much easier, as well as a very large camp kitchen equipped with seating and a TV. There are also lots of different rubbish and recycling bins located around the park. While the park felt secure and safe throughout the time we were there, it is recommended that you lock up your bikes and valuables at night or when not at your site.

Overall the holiday park is a smaller one which we liked as it feels safer for children to ride around and less likely that they will get lost. The roads are all one way which we thought was great as it is safer for kids and reduces traffic.

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Lifestyle

the benefits of Holidaying with Grandparents

The trend of Multi-Generational Holidays continues to grow with more and more families enjoying holidaying with Grandparents. Below we explore the benefits of holidaying with grandparents to see why the trend is becoming so popular.

Benefits of Holidaying with Grandparents: 1. Quality Family Time together. For grandparents; the multi-gen holiday offers the chance to connect with their grandchildren in a fun and exciting way. They can explore, laugh and have fun together; making great memories.

Holidaying as an extended family also offers the benefit for parents and grandparents to spend quality time reconnecting. In addition to this; for grandparents, it offers the chance to sit back and watch your child as they enjoy their children, enabling you to see them having fun, instead of the rushed or stressed person you may often see in their daily life.

2. A different Perspective. Grandparents lived in a different era, have different memories and importantly different interests. Holidaying together gives grandparents the opportunity to impart some of their knowledge and interests to their grandchildren which can spark renewed enthusiasm or interest into a particular topic.

3. A little ‘me’ or ‘us’ time. When holidaying with children, it can be hard to have any time to yourself, so holidaying with grandparents is fantastic in that it offers a built-in babysitting option. At times throughout the holiday you may be able to squeeze in a date night, a snooze or a little ‘me’ time as the grandparents happily watch and play with your children.

4. Extra hands, can mean extra fun. When on holiday, having grandparents around gives you the opportunity to enjoy more tourist attractions that you potentially may have missed out on. Families with more than two children can struggle to help all children climb over obstacles, trek through to a waterfall, or kayak with an adult, so having additional family members to hold hands, be with a child or simply to watch children, turns many activities into viable fun

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options. The additional support also helps to ease the stress for mum and dad making the activity more enjoyable overall.

5. Cost Savings. There are a number of cost saving incentives when it comes to multigen holidays. Families could split the cost of a house rental making the holiday more affordable. For larger families looking to go to resorts or cruises, where many rooms are restricted to 2 adults, 2 children; having a grandparent include a child in their room will save you the cost of an additional room.

With so many benefits of holidaying with grandparents, the key to making multi-gen holidays work, is ensuring everyone enjoys the holiday.

The best way to do that, is to ensure both families have their own space and time as well as compromising on everyone’s want or needs. Grandparents aren’t used to kids 24/7, so giving them their own space is essential for them to enjoy your children and their holiday.

Compromise with the activities is key to everyone enjoying the holiday. Understanding that not everyone likes or wants to do the same things is important. On certain days you can head off in different directions or split up, so that everyone enjoys the days events and doesn’t miss out on what they want to do.

We would love to hear your holidaying with Grandparent stories. Where did you go and what benefits do you feel these multigenerational holidays offer?

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Lifestyle

Reviewed Mother Daughter Jewellery is a new trend and I’m all for it. Daughters often want

Oddzeez Socks the sock subscription reducing the pain around keeping socks in pairs

to emulate their mothers and wearing matching necklaces is a great way to feel connected and special to each other.

The Harmony Ball Necklace is a great fashion necklace perfect for mother daughter jewellery. Read our Review

Anyone who has to wash knows the struggle with keeping socks in pairs is real!

Find out how Oddzeez solves your laundry dramas with socks by reading

Going on a family holiday is a fantastic way to bond. Like most families we struggle to fit all the holiday ‘essentials’ into the space we have. We decided to get a Cargo Box. See the Review

You see them everywhere; on people running, on mums at school drop off and for me they posed a big question: Exercise and Fitness Trackers are they worth it? Find out in our review.

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our Review

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Firstcheck skin app An affordable, convenient and reliable new way of getting moles checked by local skin cancer specialists via your smartphone. No appointments, no waiting lists, and no need to leave home.

Perfect for the busy mum! Free to download and use for tracking changes over time. Skin cancer specialist reviews only $19.95. Available from the Apple and Google Play app stores

1 in 50 Australian babies are diagnosed with hip dysplasia and 92% of those babies will wear a brace or harness at some point. Finding the right sleep solution is an added challenge. Love to Dream has launched its latest collection of swaddles - certified by the industry body Healthy Hips Australia and based on the award-winning and patented ARMS UP™ design for self-soothing. The new design features a wider base to be worn over a compatible DDH brace or harness.

Available in different sizes and TOG ratings. Find out more at www.lovetodream.com.au

Smiggle is turning 15!

Iconic Australian stationery brand Smiggle, is celebrating their 15th Birthday in May. The very first Smiggle store opened its brightly coloured doors in Melbourne in 2003 and changed the face of stationery the world over. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Smiggle has created a limited-edition collection of gorgeous 15th Birthday goodies. In two different colourways, pink and gold or black and gold, and packed with celebratory bling. The 15th Birthday Collection includes a tight but truly aaaammazing selection of bags, lunchboxes, pencil cases, notebooks, accessories and gadgets. For the treat lover, there’s the sweetest, prettiest selection in perfect pink and glistening gold. With embellishments galore! For the sports fan, there’s a rather cool range in smoking hot black and gold! And while there is the odd sequin here and there, its more about an understated touch of gold bling and a great big soccer ball!

Visit your local Smiggle Store to see the Birthday Collection.

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Yowie Ranger Series Yowie is a delicious 100% premium milk chocolate with a surprise inside. A must-have collector’s item for children, each Yowie includes a surprise toy within a capsule encased in the chocolate. Collect the fun Yowie playmates Rumble, Boof, Crag, Ditty, Nap and Squish, and their animal friends each time you enjoy one of our chocolates! Available from: Leading Australian confectionary retailers including, Woolworths, K-Mart, Big W, The Reject Shop, Coles Express, Toys R Us, IGA, Event Cinemas and News Link.

RRP: $3.50-$5.00

Dreambaby® NEW Phoenix Bed Rail. #719.

With breathable mesh and an easy fold-down feature this bed rail offers peace of mind and security in the bedroom. Easy and ready to assemble it’s also just as easy to dissemble so perfect to take on holiday with you. Comes with a washable, removable cover Dimensions, 110cm / 43.25in Wide. Extra-tall version: 5.5cm / 18in RRP: $44.95

New Soups from Pitango

500g - RRP: $5.99 . Available from supermarkets nationally,

found in the chiller section.

Pitango Creamy Carrot & Coconut Soup A creamy carrot soup with a hint of spice. This soup is 97% Fat Free & contains 3 serves of veggies per pack. Serving Suggestion: Serve with fresh chopped chili and coriander.

Gluten Free, Vegetarian, No Added Preservatives Pitango Smokey Fish Chowder NZ Hoki helps to create this creamy chowder.

This soup is 98% Fat Free & contains 2 serves of veggies per pack. Serving Suggestion - Serve with fresh chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Gluten Free. No Added Preservatives.

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Pitango Tomato and Basil Soup Made with vine ripened tomatoes and a dash of cream. This soup is 98% Fat Free and contains 3 serves of veggies per pack. Serving Suggestion: Serve with a dollop of mascarpone and a drizzle of olive oil. Gluten Free, Vegetarian, No Added Preservatives

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