Summer Fashion, Mummy Stress & more

Busy Mums Mag

Volume 7 September 2015

Toys & Development

Summer Fashion 2015

Mummy Stress

Editors Note

It has been 12 months since we launched the Busy Mums Magazine and as we celebrate our first year with the Magazine we wanted to take the time to thank our readers! Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your busy schedule to read and enjoy our magazine. Thank you for supporting MumsDelivery and thank you for sharing our Magazine so that we can grow and serve you better.

Within each issue of the Busy Mums Magazine we cover a range of features filled with interesting stories and topics to help mums and families. The latest issue of the Busy Mums Magazine covers Toys and how they help your child’s development. Following this is a topic close to my heart: Stress and the busy Mum – knowing when you are heading for a burn out and what to do to help yourself destress.

We have some great family recipes followed by a holiday themed section and our 2015 Summer Fashion. In our first ever photo shoot we enjoyed watching the children interact and test the numerous brands and have to say a big thank you to the photographer Sylvie Iles who was great at determining suitable locations and images for the photoshoot.

Following this we also have some information on the latest New Release DVDs, books and the latest Competitions up on MumsDelivery.

Thank you for supporting us and we would love to hear from you as you move through your parenting journey.

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

Lorraine

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

Stay Connected

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Table of Contents Baby

Toys that help your child’s development Tips to get the most from your toys Wonderful Book Apps for Pre-Schoolers How Playgrounds bring out the best in your child

Parenting

Stree: Mummy’s heading for a burnout 5 Simple Steps to Slow Down 2 Powerful Ways to kick stress to the Kurb 10 Survival Tips for Working Women Share the Load 10 Exercise Ideas to do with the kids

Food 5 Ways to Enjoy Mince Casseroles & Stews Sweet Treats

Lifestyle

Family Holidays Summer Fashion 2015

Other Latest Books Competitions New DVD Releases New and Noteworty

Baby

Toys that help your

Play is vitally important for children. It’s a major way that children learn. It also contributes to their physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive development. Active outdoor play, playing with everyday household objects, and store bought toys can all contribute to a child’s healthy development.

So what toys are appropriate for each age and stage?

Toys for babies Babies develop rapidly in their first year. They learn to focus on faces and objects, smile and laugh, grab objects, roll over, lift their head, express how they are feeling, say words, sit up, hold a cup, crawl, and perhaps even walk.

Toys that help babies development include mobiles, activity mats and books with bold pictures that encourage them to focus and track objects, soft toys, rattles and pop up toys that respond when they grab them or push a button, and music with simple melodies and calming tunes.

Toys for toddlers Toddlers are amazing little explorers. They are now much more active and mobile than they were as babies, and they want to do more things for themselves. They love play but aren’t always great at sharing with others, and they don’t yet have all the communication skills they need.

But there are some toys that will support their development. Toys that are great for toddlers include anything on wheels (ride on toys or toys they can push and pull along), blocks they can stack and build with, crayons, paint and paper so they can be creative, simple puzzles and picture books and anything that encourages bath time play. They also enjoy soft toys that can become a special friend.

Toys for preschoolers As your toddler heads into the preschool years, they are taking on more responsibilities, asserting their personality more, and continuing to learn at a rapid rate. They benefit from rituals at home, some clear boundaries, and lots of love and understanding.

Preschoolers love to role play and play-act with dress ups, and create games with dolls, puppets, soft toys, cars, trucks and figurines. Preschoolers also benefit from toys that encourage active outdoor play such as paddling pools, sandpits, cubby houses, trampolines, gardening tools, balls and safe sporting equipment.

Craft supplies, puzzles and games are also great for this age.

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child’s development There is immense value in children’s play.

Choosing the right toys for your children is about understanding their developmental stage, buying products that are well made and safe.

Baby

Read Baby & Toddler Toy Reviews

The above article was written by the Australian Toy Association’s Value of Play ambassador, Jodie Benveniste.

Cool finds

Children’s Toy Reviews

Mocka Teepee This awesome play tent will keep the kids amused with hours of fun in the durable cotton canvass teepee. Available in a selection of designs to choose from with something to suit everyone’s taste.

RRP: $99.95 From: www.mocka.com.au

Bumble bee This bumble bee is kind and gentle. Pull it along to the sound of a buzzing hum. A pull-along friend who will do anything to keep up with your pace, the faster you go, the faster the wings spin.

RRP: $28.00 Stockist: 1300 663 034

The tin suitcases (RRP $33.00) allow your child to expand their imagination with creative play. Packed full with accessories and other dress ups, the tin suit case collection will provide hours of fun. Available designs: Pirates, Doctor, Fairies Available at: https://nanahuchy.com.au

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6 Tips to get the most from your toys One of the biggest hurdles I found when I first had my son was how to interact with him, how to nurture his curiosity, how to make sure I was doing as much as I possibly could to give him the best start in life. I saw little kids playing with iPads, toys with flashing lights and lots of sounds, and it always confused me a little if I’m honest. Sure, when I’m struggling to get dinner finished and the washing hung out, Dora the Explorer is my best friend, but I also remember TV time being a treat. I remember stacking blocks, running around with an insect net and making mud pies. I started to think about what I could do to help my son develop and I have come up with the following 6 Top Tips for getting the most out of your toys!

Pick products that will grow WITH your child.

I really understood what this meant after I watched how my son interacted with the same toy over a number of weeks, months and years. Originally, a ring stacking toy was a simple hand-eye coordination task. Then as that challenge was over come it became a counting game, 1 ring, 2 rings, 3 rings!

We’d count how many we stacked, how many to go, how many we took off.

After counting was an old trick, we moved on to colour recognition (can you put the YELLOW ring on? What about the BLUE?). And after that it became a spatial awareness game – which ring is the BIGGEST? Which is the SMALLEST? Which of these three is the LARGEST? I had never stopped and thought about this simple toy that entertained me as a child (and my mother and her mother!) has been around for so many years because it is so versatile!

Pick toys that are HIGH QUALITY

Toys that break, bend or crack will only cause your child frustration (and become expensive for you!).

Wooden, high quality toys are a must in every nursery. Be sure the pieces aren’t too small for little exploring hands and mouths, but good quality toys can be passed from generation to generation.

Be sure to check the safety warnings

If it says not suitable for under 3’s it says it for a reason. Always watch your child when they play with toys with small parts / moving pieces – little mouths, noses and ears seem to be little toy magnets!

Keep them CLEAN

Be sure to keep your toys in tip top condition by wiping them down with warm soapy water or cleaning as per the instructions on the box (if it has one). It can be easy to forget, but good toys will usually get quite a workout, so be sure to include them on your cleaning roster, especially after a sickness has hit your household.

Almost anything can be a toy (under supervision!)

Grab a piece of rope and ‘balance’ along it. Pots and pans make some of the best drums ever! We paint the house with a cup of water and a paint brush on hot summer days. Put on the sprinkler and run around! Toilet paper rolls make some of the best craft items. Use leaves or an old sponge as a paint brush. Seriously. We mean almost ANYTHING can be a toy.

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Play WITH your child

And finally...

I can’t even count how many times I have been playing with my son and it teaches him (and me) something new. Build a letter out of blocks and ask them to name it, show them how to shake a jingle stick and dance to the music they make, build a tower and take turns knocking it down, the list is endless, grab a net and catch butterflies together, go exploring in your neighbourhood and look out for birds, listen for barking or spot a bus! Learning happens through play.

Written by Bec. Bec is the owner of CleverStuff Educational Toys – Australia’s Leading Boutique Educational Toy Supplier. She is a mum to her 2 year old son, loves of a good book, good conversation and a total nerd at heart. She believes education can be fun, and wants to make it enjoyable for you and your little ones. www.cleverstuff.com.au

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Baby

Wonderful Book Apps

Whether you have some holiday travel on the horizon or you’re looking to entertain some little people during quiet time, eBooks and book apps are a wonderful way of entertaining, educating and enthralling little minds to the written word.

The iPad lends itself wonderfully to the reading of an eBook – a digital version of a traditional book. Book apps are generally digital interpretations of a story with enhanced features to extend engagement in a story – such as colouring in activities, puzzles or interactive elements on the screen. Such books are an excellent way to engage less motivated readers and to develop early literacy skills. We just need to make sure there’s not too much razzle dazzle on the screen to distract from the actual story. Here are some tips to help you choose the best books apps: 1) Background music is very distracting. Choose apps where you can turn it off.

2) ALL iPad time is majorly enhanced by co-playing with your child. Read the books with them and they will benefit from conversation and social interaction as well as enjoying story time. Just make sure your time is spent focusing on the story and not distracted by continually adjusting or troubleshooting the device.

3) Books where the story is fairly plain but there are puzzles and activities at the end are particularly good 4) Do not use any devices within two hours of bedtime. The ‘blue light’ – IE the back-light from the device, shines a type of light into your eyes that tells your brain to stay awake. Not great for getting the littlies to sleep, so print books are still best for bedtime.

With that in mind, here are some excellent interactive books apps for preschoolers aged 2-5: Red in Bed Very sweet introduction to colours for our youngest readers. Poor red is sick in bed and can’t go out to colour, so the other colours fill in for him, but get a few things wrong. Simple, bold drawings and basic interaction with quick responses make this a winner for little hands. Cool A totally adores this app, he thinks red’s ‘sick’ voice is hysterical. He also enjoys waking the little colour bubbles up when in bed and sending them to sleep at the end. Plus look out for the bonus secret colour bubble who likes to hang out with Indigo and Violet.

Monster at the End of this Book This was one of our early favourites, based on a classic Sesame Street book of the same name. The story is funny, no annoying music and Grover is adorable. He’s scared there’s a monster at the end of the book and will do anything to stop you turning those pages! Which of course makes nothing more enticing… Wonderfully done and such a success that it spawned a second book app, Another Monster at the End of this Book, starring Elmo. Also worth getting. I just love Sesame Street apps.

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for Pre-Schoolers

Baby

My Naughty Shadow A beautiful book created by a father for his young daughter. My kids loved this simple tale about a little girl’s cheeky shadow. Especially good if you have a little one afraid of the dark, it makes it easy to have conversations around expressing fears. I loved the gentle animations and beautiful illustrations whilst my kids especially liked the naughty shadow that jumps on the bed!

The Wrong Book A very funny book pitched just right for engaging little readers.

The animations are fun and do not at all overwhelm the story of a frustrated little boy trying to tell his story whilst being invaded by characters from other stories. One of my family’s favourites. I highly recommend all the apps of books by Nick Bland, they have been translated very well to the digital screen.

Rounds: Franklin Frog On the more educational side we have the ‘Rounds’ series by UK app makers Nosy Crow. Get to know them if you love a good book app, all of their work is of a very high quality. Here young children learn about the life cycle of a frog. The audio is child-narrated which makes it more relatable for young ears and is accompanied by text highlighting which makes it easy for littlies to follow the text. Included are lots of fun features like the 100s of frog facts: did you know that frogs chew by pressing food against the back of their eyeballs with their tongues? Little kids will love learning about biology with this fun app. Also available in this series is ‘Parker the Pengiun’.

The Land of Me – Story Time This app deserves a special mention for ingenuity as it seeks to engage the reader by making them an active part of the story’s creation. You can choose the hero, theme and ending for a tale, whether the story is happy, funny or sad, then watch it come alive. Littlies will need an adult on hand to help with this one, but this makes an excellent co-playing experience. This beautifully illustrated picture book is BAFTA nominated.

Additionally it is highly worth investigating the children’s section of regular online bookstores such as Apple’s iBooks. A veritable wealth of quality children’s literature is available there in eBook form and will save you a huge amount of extra weight in your luggage if you are heading away these holidays. When we headed overseas in July I stocked up our iPad with some digital copies of my kids’ favourite books such as those featuring the Octonauts, stories by David Walliams and other popular authors. Audio books are also available and can be wonderful for helping kids off to sleep during journeys or just at night at home. Frankly for jet lag audiobooks were a life saver!

Written by Jessica Bee a professional technology educator, founder of the tech parenting blog www.flyingstartkids.com and mum to two boys age 3 and 5. She reviews the very best apps for growing kids’ creative minds, along with ideas for other non screen related activities.

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How Playgrounds bring out the best in your child It is adorable and satisfying to see your kid walk up to other kids in the park and request to play with them since, only a child equipped with the right social script can confidently do this. There many ways you can use to help your child practice social skills, but play is the ultimate and most efficient way. In the playground, there are many games that a child can indulge in, which help them socialize with their playmates and develop social skills.

Further, try using play equipment for children to help build confidence in your child through developing new skills. Therefore, while in the playground with your child, focus on both the social skills games and the type of outdoor playground equipment you choose to use. These few tips should help you understand why play is essential to improving your child’s social skills and how you can participate in their playtime to teach them about social skills.

1. Making New Friends and Keeping Them Playgrounds and outdoor spaces provide an opportunity to meet new friends, which should be a fun experience for your child. Whether it is in a park or with the kids next door, outside public places are right places for your child to meet and socialize with new friends and learn social skills.

Parks have the right play equipment for children and create good environment for social skills games 2. An Avenue To Express Feelings Playgrounds are suitable places for your child to develop social skills since they learn to express and control their emotions appropriately. Being in the midst of his/her peers, your child will learn helpful social skills for instance how to wait for his/her turn or how to remain calm and participate in a conversation with other playmates. Being present during your children’s playtime helps you model their behaviours through teaching them how to regulate their feelings especially anger.

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3. Excellent Team Player If your kid seems to have problems with social skills, team sports are an excellent platform for him/her to learn and apply social skills. Sports and other social skills games require children to work together which is a suitable setting for your child to learn social skills. At times, a child may not be a good team player and may lose control due to anxiety and pressure about his/her performance. You can identify what triggers this and teach them the social skills they need to overcome such problems.

4. A Happier Child A child who can relate to his/her peers and does not feel like an outcast is happy and healthy. Once in a while, pop in a store selling play equipment for children and buy a new play equipment for your kid, preferably an outdoor playground equipment. Opt for equipment that requires your child to use it with other kids so he/she can practice social skills.

Author: Sarah is a single mother of two and part of writing team at KOMPAN Playscape.

She is lucky enough to have been given the opportunity by her employer to work from home, which helps a lot even though her eldest is in school.

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Reviewed

The Wotnot Baby Wash offers an extra gentle baby wash for your little ones body and hair.

Australian made products always get priority in my shopping basket and I was super happy to try the Wotnot baby range as Wotnot is fantastically Australian Made....Read more

The Balance Buddy Bike offers a balance bike for children from 18 months to 5 years old. Designed with both children and parents in mind, this lightweight balance bike provides a solid sturdy bike ideal for young children. Read more and see it in action

I am always on the lookout for new activities to do with the boys. I like doing craft activities with them but I hate trying to think of what to do and getting all the materials, I always end up with more than I need and the activities are never as good as I think they are going to be… and if an activity has an educational component then that makes it even better. Enter Smarty Arty.

Wonderful Me is truly ‘wonderful’. We all sat down together to see how the book turned out, after page one we were all excited to read on. Wonderful Me is a great concept and offers a personalised book for your child. Each book is written for you, filled with people and friends you know along with things your child loves to do. Read more Technology plays such a big part in our lives.

Whilst we limit the amount of technology our children use each day I am always looking

Closer to Nature has a wide range of non spill baby cups which are all carefully designed to help little ones drink for themselves. With such a wide range of products, starting from 4+ month old weaning cups to sports bottles, non-spill, handles, no handles, straw cup and the list goes on.

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at different ways to improve their basic computer skills in a fun and interesting way which is why I volunteered to try out the CD-ROMs from My Very Own Story.

The CD-ROM from My Very Own Story contains a personalised illustrated story with interactive pages, games and the ability to record yourself reading the story.

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Parenting

Stress: Mummy’s Heading for a Burnout Following our article Slow down or else, many of the mums in our community have been sharing their stories on burn out and telling us how stressed they feel and how they are struggling to cope with the work/family/life balance. All too often, too many mums are putting their family’s needs ahead of their own, trying to be a supermum only to finally burn out. The end result is that our body suffers, our enjoyment suffers and ultimately we end up unhappy or in a situation where our health has deteriorated.

Here are 7 signs that you are heading for a burnout.

1. Your Exhausted: Constantly feeling run down and worn out. Unfortunately I think every mum with young children will be nodding in agreement to this. The late nights, middle of the night feeds or nightmares do interrupt your sleeping pattern and affect how you feel. Running around organising childcare, work schedules or afterschool activities is a lot of work and takes a lot of effort, all which mean that you are constantly pushing yourself and your body, leaving you feeling drained and tired.

2. Your quality of work/attention is dropping. This can be seen through silly errors, forgetting key things or perhaps not quite functioning as normal.

3. You’re not looking after yourself. Many mums can attribute to this. You are running late and while you ensure your children are feed, there is no time for you. You grab something on the go or don’t eat when you should. Not resting or sleeping properly further contributes to this issue.

4. You’re disengaged. As everything else becomes too much and all consuming, you find yourself letting social or work commitments drop and begin to feel disinterested at work. This is your body’s way of trying to switch off.

5. You can’t concentrate. Lack of concentration, attention and memory all suggest that you are taking on too much and need to slow down.

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6. Feeling Guilty. Motherhood is a vicious circle of guilt and all too often mums feel guilty that they are not spending enough time with their children, or they feel guilty that they cannot complete their work activities in the required time. This means that you never feel satisfied and never quite ‘shut off’ leading to a circle of working more to do what needs to be done for work, feeling guilty about the decreased family time or spending more time with family and feeling guilty about not finishing the work projects. Both scenarios mean you relax less and stress more.

7. You’re moody. Not sure why your crying or suddenly snapped at the kids? If you are high one minute and low the next, it can mean that you are emotionally exhausted and cannot control your moods. This can cause arguments or situations which lead to you feeling guiltier and so on and so on.

Can you relate to the points above? You too could be heading for a burnout, but how do you stop it? Click here for some 5 Minute De-Stress Ideas and see read our section dedicated to overstressed mums in this edition.

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Parenting

5 Simple Steps to Slow Down I work with a lot a busy Mums and one of the biggest issues that they face in managing their health is stress. Often Mums are so busy caring for others that they don’t have time to care for themselves and as a consequence their health suffers. Stress plays such an important role in how we feel on a day-to-day basis, as well as how we manage our daily obligations. For many women there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to prioritise their own health and wellbeing. But there are some simple techniques that you can implement into your daily life that will not only help manage stress but also help you look and feel better.

busy mums admit they don’t have time. Although meditating for 20 minutes per day is fantastic for overall health, taking five minutes every day can have a profound impact on how you feel. There are so many amazing free iPhone applications so it is as simple as sitting or lying somewhere comfortable and listening to a guided meditation for this short period of time.

5 Steps to Start to Slow Down and Feel Better

4.

Slow down the movement.

Sometimes less is more when it comes to exercise. Lots of busy Mums I see are so 1.

Start to say no. active during the day and report that they are Many women I work with, and even most that I constantly running around after their children. know are always saying yes. Yes to catching up Typically when they find time to exercise with friends, yes to helping out with someone they choose a similar style of movement like else’s kid. Yes to a dinner they don’t really want to running, high intensity exercise classes or go to. Saying yes to everything leaves no room boxing. This type of exercise perpetuates the for “me” time and the result is a flustered and type of stress that the body has been under resentful life. Stopping to think before you accept for the whole day. Choosing a slower, more every invitation and request and practicing politely nurturing exercise like yoga or Pilates will declining some is a powerful and easy way to create the perfect counter balance to the high make some space in one’s life. intensity of every day life.

2. Breathe.

When we become rushed and busy we often forget to breathe and when we do breathe it’s shallow and rushed. Remembering to take a deep breath in through the nose and release it slowly out through the mouth is a great way to reduce the level of stress hormones in the body which can have a profound impact on how “rushed” we feel. Putting post it notes in places where you frequently go (toilet, steering wheel of car) can be a reminder to give your body a little break every day.

5. Sleep.

For me, quality sleep is the difference between an enjoyable life and a stressful life. Managing a family sometimes means compromised sleep but quality is sometimes more important than quantity. Ensuring the bedroom is a cool dark environment and avoiding electronic media for 1-2 hours before bed will ensure a better sleep. Sleeping better means a more productive and happy life the following day.

3.

Find Five Minutes.

Meditation is by far the most effective way to manage stress and that continual feeling of overwhelm. It can help improve sleep, memory, weight, relationships and much more but most

Sarah Hopkins is a CHEK qualified Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach with a passion for food and wellness. Through her coaching sessions she shares practical and long-term strategies for improved health and vitality. http://healthwellbeing.com.au/

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Parenting

2 Powerful ways to Kick Stress to the Curb 2 simple techniques you can do anywhere to release stress and fears fast.

When your world crashes in and you can't manage the irritations, arguments, the kids, the chores and aggravations another minute, take a break. Withdrawing from everyday annoyances for just a few minutes can dramatically reduce the feeling of overload.

By interrupting the patterns of disturbing interactions, thoughts and worries, you benefit by improving brain function and relaxing the body.

Find a quiet place where you will be uninterrupted for 2-5 minutes. (Your retreat may have to be the bathroom and that's okay!)

Give yourself permission to take a brief time out. Sit and relax. Try either or both of these effective mindful strategies with your eyes closed.

1. The Balloon.

Visualize an empty balloon. Now imagine filling the balloon by blowing all disruptive thoughts and feelings into it. Take your time, exhaling slowly into the balloon several times. Tie the balloon with all your concerns tightly contained and let it go.

Watch as it floats away into the atmosphere and off into the galaxy. See yourself in an expansive open field, arms uplifted and observe as it disappears into space. Feel that all your negative energies are being released and reforming into something else. Know that the debilitating thoughts are no longer needed and are now gone. Observe feelings in the body and thoughts in the mind without the burden of those old energies. Repeat as often as needed.

2. The Sandy Beach.

Imagine strolling along a sandy beach. In your mind's eye, observe massive ocean waves forming and crashing onto the shore flowing towards your feet. The waves ebb back out into the huge expanse of sea and vanish.

Another group of waves forms, and the cycle is repeated.

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As the next waves come in, gather together all negative thoughts and emotions and dump them onto the waves. Watch as they get carried out and disappear into the vastness of the ocean. Trust that all hurtful thoughts have been absorbed and transformed by the ocean’s power. Open your eyes.

You should feel a little lighter. Repeat this process several times.

Visualizations work by actually giving the mind an opportunity to see the peace and calm you desire.

The mind cannot independently decipher whether an experience is real or not. By visualizing the disposal of negative or harmful thoughts, your experience feels authentic.

For those few moments, it is your truth. In this way, your mind is relieved and your brain signals the body to relax. The benefits are physiological and psychological. At the end of just a few minutes, you'll feel infinitely better.

As you become calmer, you’ll naturally influence improved behavior in your kids.

Written by Peggy Sealfon: a Personal Development Coach who spends her time helping people overcome life’s big and small frustrations and challenges. Find out more at www.PeggySealfon. com or order her book at EscapeFromAnxiety.com

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Parenting

Top 10 Survival Tips for Working Women

The decision of whether to go back to work after having children has long been a vexed question and one peppered with emotion: but often those emotions belong to others who deflect them on to you, so it is important to remember that you are the ultimate decision-maker!

In my view, women who have invested time and effort into developing a career have done so for a reason – to contribute their skills to society. The mere fact that they have also delivered babies does not render them incapable of contributing in the workplace, and nor should it. However, it requires organization and balance!

Thankfully the tide of community horror towards working mums has subsided, but still some women feel guilty about their decision, feeling they have to make up for it, sometimes by over-indulging their children, which helps no-one!

What being a working mum brings to the fore is the need to be well organized, and in this you need the co-operation of family members.

I see this as a massive positive, particularly for children, who seem to thrive better and have more fulfilling lives when they have learned the benefits of organizing and managing their time.

Here are my favourite tips for working mums: 1.

Family involvement – discuss with your immediate family how the daily/weekly routine will work. It is particularly important for young children to know the routine – this helps them feel secure, so ensure young children know where they will be spending the day, and when they will come home.

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Everyone needs to be clear on their roles and having a home timetable can help. Also build in some ageappropriate chores that children can help with, to lighten the load for everyone.

2.

Guilt – women often struggle when making the decision to return to work, and feel anxious about how their little ones will cope. When children’s feelings of security are managed, they will be fine.

You are likely to enjoy parenting more when your time is balanced between caring for your family and the adult stimulation of colleagues and peers.

3.

Be wary of advice from others - Opinions on the benefits or otherwise of working mums are prevalent, but they are merely opinions and they belong to holder.

You do not need to agree or abide.

ideal solution. This gives you an opportunity to exercise, breathe in some fresh air which helps to restore optimal brain function, and gives your mind a break from work tasks.

6. Food – a healthy diet is important for everyone so aim to keep meals simple and healthy. If cooking is your thing, immerse yourself with food fun on weekends if you have time.

7. Outsource – there are many ways to gain help with household chores such as housework, ironing, and online shopping. Seek as much help as you can reasonably afford to enable you to spend as much time as possible with the family, 4.

Get your expectations right doing the things you enjoy.

– there will be trade-offs! When 8.

Transport coyou spend less time at home some operatives – when your tasks won’t get done. Determine children are enrolled in busy the most important tasks for your after-school lives, arrange a family’s collective needs and transport co-operative with prioritize. Accept that some things other parents. This benefits won’t be done – or won’t be done as busy parents, and children well as you might like, but recognize usually enjoy travelling to this is part of the trade off. and from places with friends.

Two key points about advice: - it is best given only if asked for - it is based on what the person believes they would do – but they are not you, so whilst it might be helpful to hear another perspective, it is not gospel.

5.

Exercise – this is a key element to maintaining balance in your world, and whilst it is difficult for busy people to fit exercise in, walking at lunchtime can be an

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Read the rest of the article here.

Parenting

Share the Load Get the family to share the load by introducing a weekly “Family Session”

Do you ever have that feeling of “Why am I always the one doing everything?” or “How come I’m the only one remembering everything?” I used to feel like I was the one having to remember when the kids had activities on, organise babysitters and generally remember and do all those little things.

Like any mum right?! It seems like most busy mums have a never ending to do list of things that needs to get done, however, how long is the to do list of many dads? It probably doesn’t even exist….. For some reason too many of us have taken on the role of doing it all, if it’s family business we just do it. It’s not that men aren’t willing to do it, in many cases and makes it easier for everyone to cope. they just aren’t aware of what needs to get done.

However, isn’t it time to share the load? To make everyone in the family more accountable and take on more responsibilities to help you free up an hour or more in your already busy week?

If so, look at implementing a weekly family meeting, we call ours the “The Humphreys Hour”.

I recommend doing this on a Sunday afternoon for an hour in order to set yourselves up for the week.

Make sure you involve school aged kids in this activity, it’s a way of empowering them to feel like they are an important part of the family and that their opinions and inputs are important.

Start by going through everyone’s highlight of the week, what did they love or learn or do. This is a type of gratitude exercise and brings back happy memories for the person who shares the experience and reinforces what we’ve loved throughout the week and also reminds us that we should be doing more of these type of activities.

Then go through the kids chores and provide feedback on what they did really well and what they have to work a little harder on next week.

All kids should have a simple list of shores to perform, things like putting dirty school clothes in the washing basket and helping to set the table for dinner.

Kids thrive on routine and knowing exactly what is expected of them makes the try so much harder

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Then move on to meal planning. It’s so much quicker and easier to cook dinner when you know exactly what to cook and when making dishes that the kids have chosen themselves.

For inspiration and to mix it up a bit, seeing who wants sausages and pasta 3 days a week, give the kids a few cookbooks to flick through to find some dishes they like the look of.

If you have younger kids let the kids leave after this as you move on with aligning diaries for the week. A family wall calendar is perfect for this as it gives a great overview. If there are any clashes in your diaries this is the time to text the babysitter, just get it over and done with straight away.

Then go through your joint to do list. This covers all the tasks that needs to be completed, who is responsible and when it’s due. This highlights what needs to get done and rather than you just automatically doing them divide them up between you. Next week go through what was ticked off and add any new tasks.

For the first session of the month go through your budget and your monthly bank statement. In the second session pay all the bills for the month. If you have any time left within your hour start to tick off tasks on the ‘to do’ list.

This is such a simple way to get the family

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Parenting aligned and to take on more responsibility helping you to free up some time in your busy week.

Kajsa Humphreys is a Health and Wellness Coach who is passionate about supporting busy women to prioritise their own wellbeing. Contact her today for a free discovery session and to find out more about her life improving programs. www.iamwell.com.au

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Parenting

10 Exercise Ideas to Fitting in your exercise around kids, work and everyday life can be challenging but not impossible.

If you have the luxury of being able to have a kid free workout say at the gym- awesome but if childcare is largely up to you, you’ll have to find creative ways to stay fit and healthy. What’s that old saying? If mamma ain’t happy then nobody is happy. I’m a firm believer in this when it comes to our body image, health and fitness level- So let’s get cracking!

1. Playground Workouts You are probably aware of how much energy kids have, right? Why not join in with their park funjump on the swing set, have a see saw ride or take a few turns on the slide. All movements are really functional not to mention fun and help you burn extra calories.

2. Stroller Lunges Next time your place your baby in their stroller, get a leg workout in. Tone and strengthen your legs by holding onto the stroller bars and perform walking lunges. The added resistance of the stroller helps with strength and balance. To perform a lunge make sure you keep your legs parallel and bend both knees to 90 degrees.

3. Russian Twists With Baby A strong back requires strong abs! Take your baby by holding them close and under the armpits as you are seated with bent legs, feet flat on the floor. Leaning back slightly, slowly and in a controlled move twist your torso to one side and then the other.

This russian twist move is effective for shaping your waist and keeps bub occupied, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Perform 20 twists in total and repeat 3-4 times.

4. Monkey Bar Ab Workout Next time you are at the park, grab hold of the monkey bars. Make sure your feet aren’t touching the ground and bring both your knees up to your chest and repeat for 10 reps. This is a fantastic lower ab exercise for flattening and strengthening your lower abdominal muscles. Repeat for 3-4 sets with a rest in between each set.

5. Paddleboarding Such a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy.

Kayaking is another safe water sport for the whole family. Your upper body and torso get a total workout.

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Nat Carter, is a Sydney based PT and Fitness Expert. who works specifically with women to create fitter, stronger, leaner and more body confident women. She has a popular health and fitness blog /www.nataliecartertalksfitness.com and is the founder of New Outlook Fitness

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do with the Kids

Parenting

6. Modified Beach Flags

Next time you hit the beach, try a game of beach flags. A popular Nippers drill. Mark out roughly 30m, using a line in the sand at the start and leave a marker (such as an empty water bottle) at the end. You’ll need 4 water bottles for 5 players- it’s similar to musical chairs, always taking a bottle away till a winner remains). Have everyone line up facing away from the start line, lying flat on their stomachs with their heads resting in the their hands. Blow a whistle or just use a countdown of 3, 2, 1 everyone must explode up onto their feet and sprint the grab a water bottle. This games helps build speed, agility and is a fun way to exercise.

7. Shoulder Press With Baby Want to tone your arms? Grab your baby or toddler! Hold them securely under the arms whilst standing or seated. Lift them in front of you to above head level. This pressing motion is great for shaping your shoulders.

8. Skipping Skipping workouts burn a truckload of calories and the kids will love it too. 10 minutes will average out approximately 120 calories- that’s 2-3 squares of dark chocolate

9. Toddler Weighted Push Ups Toddlers can make it difficult to exercise at home- they never seem to stop moving. So, incorporate them into your workout.

Start with a push up on the knees with them straddled on your lower back and butt. Resting on your knees, have your hands spaced wide and bend till 90 degrees at the elbow. When you get stronger try them on your toes with your child on straddled across you. Try to perform 20 in a row for 2-3 sets

10. Hip Thrusts A common theme I see working with woman, is poor glute and hip stability. This often leads to the appearance of a “flat butt’, lower back pain and/ or hip instability. A quick fix for this is to perform hip thrusts. Simply lie on your back, knees bent and squeeze your butt (glutes) and raise your hips to the ceiling.

Hold for 3 secs and slowly lower down. When you can perform 3 sets of 20 reps, your toddler/child can straddle across your hips for added resistance. This improves the shape of your butt and the stability of your hips.

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Food

5 Ways to Enjoy Mince Meat Beef San Choy Bow

American Style Beef Burger Patties

A simple, quick recipe to create a delicious low cost family meal of beef san choy bow. The kids love eating out of the lettuce leaves and the mince can be tailored to your families taste preferences

Nothing beats a homemade burger and this recipe for hamburger patties will make enough for 14-18 patties.

Freeze the ready-made burger patties for an easy midweek meal or cook immediately for a yummy lunch or dinner.

Ingredients 1kg beef mince 1 onion 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce 2 Tbsp. Oyster Sauce 1 tsp Soy Sauce 1-2 Shallots, chopped Can water chestnuts 100g vermicelli noodles Handful of peanuts, crushed Iceberg lettuce, carefully extracted to get ‘bowl like’ shaped leaves to which you can add your San Choy Bow mince.

Method: Place Vermicelli noodles into bowl, add cold water and leave to soak for 15 minutes. Cut into smaller sizes and then add to mince once browned Add onion with some olive oil to hot frying pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft.

Add mince to pan and brown. Once browned, add sauces.

Add shallots, water chestnuts and peanuts to pan mixing together and cooking for a further 1-2 minutes.

Serve mince into lettuce bowls and enjoy.

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Ingredients 1kg beef mince 1 brown onion 1-2 carrots ¼ cup McCormick’s Grill Mates Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ Sauce (minimum) 1 egg 1 cup breadcrumbs Cup Parsley Cup Coriander (optional) Method Finely chop the onion and carrots in a food processor Add all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix to combine.

Cover with cling wrap and let set in the fridge for 30 minutes Remove from fridge and shape the mince into balls for hamburger patties.

Cook immediately or freeze for another day

Lamb Rissoles Ingredients 500g Lamb Mince 1 glove garlic, finely diced 1 onion, diced 2 tsp paprika 2 tsp cumin 2 tsp oregano 2 tsp thyme Handful Parsley, chopped Handful Coriander, chopped ½ cup breadcrumbs 1 egg

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Method: Add all ingredients to a large bowl, seasoning with Salt and Pepper.

Using your hands; mix everything together and then take a handful and roll in into round shapes for the rissoles.

Place each rissole on a plate, then place in the fridge for 30 minutes to help the mixture set nicely.

Cook rissoles on BBQ in in the frypan for 5-8 minutes on each side depending how big your rissoles are.

Food

Chilli Con Carne Ingredients • 1kg Tilda Easy Cook Basmati Rice or 1kg Tilda Pure Basmati Dry Rice • 2.5kg lean beef mince or lean lamb mince, coarsely ground • 4tbsp sunflower oil • 3 large onions, sliced , sliced • 6 garlic cloves , crushed • 5 large red chillies , fresh , deseeded and sliced • 1 tbsp chilli powder

• 3 tbsp ground coriander • 2 tbsp dried oregano • 1.6kg tomatoes , canned, chopped • 100g tomato puree • 600g red kidney beans , canned, drained • salt and pepper , to season • 30g sour cream (or a lactose free alternative) , to serve • fresh coriander , to garnish

Directions 1. Heat a large frying, then brown the mince in half of the oil until it is separate and crumbly, then remove from the pan.

2. To the meat juices add the remaining oil and fry the onions, garlic and chillies. Stir in the spices and oregano and cook for 1-2 minutes.

3. Add the mince back into the pan with the chopped tomatoes and tomato puree, bring to the boil, then partly cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile cook the Basmati rice according to pack instructions.

5. Add the kidney beans to the mince and cook for a further 5 minutes 6. Season to taste and serve on top of the rice with sour cream and coriander to garnish.

(Serves 20)

Sausage Rolls Ingredients: ½ cup dried breadcrumbs ½ cup skim milk 200g very lean beef mince 100g sausage mince ½ small onion finely diced ½ teaspoon mixed herbs pepper to taste 8 sheets filo pastry cooking spray Directions: Preheat oven 200ºC fan forced.

Mix breadcrumbs and milk in a small bowl, leave for 2 minutes. In a medium size mixing bowl combine all ingredients except filo pastry, using your hands mix the ingredients together well.

Layer all sheets of filo pastry on top of each other spraying with cooking spray between each layer.

Cut in half. Divide sausage mix in half and roll one half into a long sausage shape that will fit onto cut pastry sheets. Tightly but gently roll the sheets away from you (like a Swiss roll). Repeat this again with remaining ingredients. For large sausage rolls cut each roll in half (4 sausage rolls). For small sausage rolls cut each roll into 6 pieces (12 sausage rolls). Place on a flat baking tray that has been coated with cooking spray. Bake approximately 20 minutes.

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Food

Casseroles & Stews Slow Cooker Beer and Beef Stew

Ingredients 1kg chuck steak, cubed 2 onions, diced 3 carrots, diced 6 button mushrooms 2 cups beef stock 2 bottles of beer (330-375ml) either draft or pale ale 5 potatoes, quartered Salt Pepper 4 tbsp. flour 2 tsp cornflour 3 bay leaves 1-2 springs of thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme Parsley chopped (optional) Method: 1. Add flour to plastic bag, insert chuck steak and sealing bag, toss it around to coat steak with flour 2. Place onion, carrots and potatoes into slow cooker.

3. Brown steak in pan, then add to slow cooker.

4. In slow cooker add beer, stock, thyme and season with salt and pepper. Mix around. Set on high for 1.5 – 2 hours.

5. After 1.5 -2 hours- reduce slow cooker to low temperature for 4 hours.

6. 1 hour before serving. In a mixing cup put corn flour with a small amount of luke warm water to mix. Add to the slow cooker with mushrooms.

7. When serving add parsley.

Dijon Chicken Casserole Ingredients Olive Oil 2 onions, chopped finely 2 cloves garlic, crushed 6 bacon rashers, chopped 1 teaspoon butter 2 cups chicken stock 3 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard 1 Tbsp. Wholegrain Mustard Zest of 1 Lemon 1 tsp fennel seeds 125ml Thickened Cream Salt and Pepper (to season as desired) 1 cup Frozen Peas Parsley (optional) Method: Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius With around 2 Tbsp. Olive oil, add onions, garlic and bacon and butter to your casserole dish and fry until soft and golden in colour.

Remove from dish.

Add more olive oil if required and then add chicken, to casserole dish, browning on both sides. Salt chicken while browning to aid the cooking process Add stock, and mustards, lemon and fennel seeds stirring to bind together.

Bring to a simmer and then place casserole dish in oven for 45minutes Add peas and cream and cook for a further 15 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper to taste Add parsley and serve with steamed rice.

Serve with Rice, pasta, cous cous or polenta and a lovely loaf of bread (pane de casa, ciabatta).

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Food

View all of these recipes and more in our recipe section on MumsDelivery.com.au

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Food

Apple Fritters

Ingredients: 1 cup flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 cup peeled and diced apple cinnamon and sugar, for rolling (1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon combined) oil, for frying Directions: 1. In a deep pot, bring 2-3 inches of oil to 375 degrees over medium heat.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.

3. Stir in the egg and milk until the batter is smooth.

4. Toss the diced apples in the lemon juice and add to the batter. Stir to combine.

5. Drop spoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on each side.

6. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain for a few minutes.

7. Toss in the cinnamon and sugar mixture and serve immediately.

Recipe from Sydney Heaters & Pizza Ovens (sydneyheaters.com.au)

Milo Banana Bread Ingredients 4 Ripe Bananas mashed 1/4 cup Oil 1 tsp Vanilla 1 tsp Bicarbonate Soda 3/4 cup Almond Meal 3/4 cup Plain Flour 1 cup Milo 3 Eggs beaten 1/3 cup Milk Method 1. Pre Heat oven to 180 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas, add oil,vanilla and bicarbonate soda, mix well using a wooden spoon. Add almond meal flour and Milo, mix well with wooden spoon. Crack eggs into large glass and add milk, whisk with a fork until lightly beaten. Pour into banana bread mix and mix well with wooden spoon.

3. Line loaf tin with baking paper and pour in batter. Bake for 50-60 minutes until golden brown and skewer comes out clean.

Recipe taken from the Once a Month Cooking Book by Jody Allen

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Food

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Holidays

5 Fun Places In Australia to take Kids during School Holidays

Australia is home to numerous places that spell fun and adventure, many of which cater to the needs of the young and the young at heart. With school holidays fast approaching, you may want to start planning for a fun-filled holiday season. We’ve listed five unique destinations here for inspiration.

Bridgeclimb Sydney

Want to feel on top of the world? The Harbour Bridge climb is the way to go.. BridgeClimb is one of the hottest tourist attractions in Australia, and for good reason. Bridgeclimb Sydney offers a number of climb experiences to get to the top of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. The experience is so exhilarating that more than 3 million visitors from all over the world have flocked to Sydney to try it out.

You and your kids can choose from 4 different climbs that you can take throughout the day. Your journey starts at the BridgeClimb reception, then you will be guided to the top of the bridge, which takes more than 3 hours to reach. Bridgeclimb Sydney offers a breathtaking experience your whole family will cherish.

Skyzone Trampoline Park One of the largest parks in Australia, Skyzone Trampoline Park, is a bouncing paradise designed for the young. Hundreds of trampolines are joint together to create one huge trampoline. Kids will be bouncing off the walls, literally! Skyzone also features Skyland, a 3-storey laser tag arena capable of holding up to forty players up for battle. The Skyzone Trampoline Park offers undiluted and pure bliss to people of all ages.

Sydney Observatory at the Rocks Do your kids love astronomy? If so, then the Sydney Observatory found at the Rocks is the perfect place for them to enjoy the school holidays. Allow them to enjoy a virtual tour to another solar system; visit the moon and other and witness the universe come to life with the help of amazing 3D technology.

The Sydney Observatory is a fun and educational destination these school holidays.

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Kangaroo Island Your kids will be amazed by the wildlife that Kangaroo Island offers. Enjoy the company of sea lions as well as a host of animals including koalas, swamp rats, bandicoots, goannas and echidnas. The island also features top-rated beaches. In fact, it is home to the Vivonne Bay, which is declared by Sydney University as the top beach in Australia when it comes to cleanliness and water clarity.

Jenolan Caves This amazing limestone cave network found in New South Wales is a top tourist attraction in Australia. The Jenolin Caves are home to 11 amazing show caves, each with its own distinctive character. It is a beautiful and ancient location designed for families with kids and a great camping destination.

Specially designed kids activities are also offered. These activities are established to maximize fun for children between 7 and 11 years old with themes including Stones and Bats, Junior Explorers, Beasties tours, and Bats and Bugs. Depending on your chosen activity, your kids may hunt for bones and fossils hidden deeply in the caves, play the role of an explorer and discover amazing life forms below and above the ground.

These exciting destination ideas are brought to you by Adrenalin.com.au, the one stop shop for fun-filled adventures

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Holidays

2 QLD day trips suitable for young children.

Recommended as our top tour to the Great Barrier Reef with children. The Reef Magic tour is action packed with activities suitable for all ages. Young children can enjoy the semi-submarine, fish feeding and snorkelling. The adults will have enough time to relax with options including massages and reef scuba dive. There are so many options available with this day trip, it really is suitable for the whole family. Don’t forget to eat! - a buffet lunch is included. Enjoy lunch in a shaded seating area or find a sunny spot to work on your holiday tan.

Whitehaven Xpress is just one of the many day cruises in the Whitsundays suitable for families.

This day cruise has a great reputation of being family friendly and going the extra mile to accommodate to the needs of travellers. Experience the magnificent white sands of Whitehaven Beach and explore Mantaray Bay. The glass bottom boat is a fun way to see the ocean life, especially for the little ones that are not strong swimmers. The day includes snorkelling, guided bush-walk and BBQ lunch on the beach.

Find out more about these tours and more here: https://www.reeffree.com.au/

ensure you haven’t forgotten anything by downloading our Packing Checklists!

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Holidays

Holiday Parks Reviewed

BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park: Kiama NSW Situated in South Kiama, only a 5 minute drive from the heart of Kiama; the BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park offers an expansive and idyllic family holiday destination. The 12 hectare holiday park with beach front, offers a variety of accommodation for families including both powered sites and cabins. We love camping, so chose to stay on one of their powered sites.

For us the appeal of the BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday park lay in the ability to be located right on the beach which is only a short walk from many of their sites, along with and the great pool facilities that the park offered and the safe roads that the children can ride and scooter on. Read more here

Big4 Lake Macquarie Holiday Park: Central Coast NSW The Big4 Lake Macquarie Holiday Park is situated only 70 minutes from Sydney on the Northern end of the Central Coast in Mannering Park. It offers a small, quiet retreat situated on the southern shores of Lake Macquarie. Ideal for families with a boat or kayak as there is a boat ramp within the park and many of the cabins and camping sites back onto the lake. There is a large grassed area in front of Lake Macquarie where camping families can picnic, play games or simply enjoy the view.

It is beautiful to walk around the lake at any time of the day and Lake Macquarie offers great fishing for young children. You can pull your camping chair up to a spot and throw your line straight into the Lake or venture a few minutes down the road to other local fishing spots. Read more here

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Merredin Tourist Park - WA Just off the highway is the friendly Merredin Tourist Park. merredin_waThe Merredin Tourist Park was such a joy; the reception staff were very friendly and accommodating. We were allocated a drive through caravan lot at the back of the park which was reasonably quiet; we noticed only a few road trains through the late night which didn’t worry us too much.

The kitchen is well equipped and nice and clean. The bathrooms are like new, with even a baby basin/trough in the ladies bathroom for any little body to wash up in. Read more

Chiltern Caravan Park: Chiltern, Victoria.

Oh, what a sweet place.When you drive up to the caravan park there is a beautiful lake to the side, filled with ducks and pelicans. The gentleman at check-in was very pleasant and let us choose our own site.

The driveway is filled with gorgeous trees and instantly you feel relaxed.

The bathrooms were lovely and clean, perhaps even the nicest bathrooms I’ve seen whilst traveling. Read more

Cowes Caravan Park: Phillip Island, VIC With views of the beautiful ocean, plenty of grass and huge playgrounds this pet and child friendly caravan park is a must when staying on Phillip Island Victoria. Approximately 2 hours south of Melbourne is Phillip Island, which is filled with loads of family fun.

The Cowes Caravan Park is located walking distance to town, has clean bathrooms, hot showers, an infant bathroom, shared kitchen, indoor electric barbecues, is pet friendly and has wonderfully helpful staff.

The park accommodates for tents, campers, caravaners or if you need onsite accommodation. Read more here

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Lifestyle

Summer

Above: Mocka TeePee $99.95 www.mocka.com.au Charli Bird - Little Chicks Poncho Available in S/M $79.95 and M/L $99.95 www.charlibird.com.au Right: Mossimo T-Shirt $19.95 & Pants $79.95 www.mossimo.com.au

Girl: Tulle Flower Headband (Aqua) $12.95 Princess Tutu (Aqua) RRP $39.95 www.gigglemepink.com.au Boy: Plum Tropicana Shirt $39.95 Plum Bright Walk Short AU$39.95 www.plumcollections.com.au

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Lifestyle

Fashion 2015 Left: Print Tee from Target $6 Navy Kids Beachskirt $39 www.thebeachskirt.com/ Shoes: Havianas Kids Slim Disney Cool White/Yellow $29.99 havaianasaustralia.com.au Right: Mossimo 86 shirt $34.95 Platypus Australia Slim Board short $49.95 www.platypusaustralia.com/ au/

Right: Plum Short Sleeve Shirt $21.95 Plum Demin Shorts AU$39.95 www.plumcollections.com.au Shoes: Cienta Boy.Cotton Casual Velcro Strap RRP $39.90 www.cienta.com.au

Left: Plum Collections Outfit Toucan T Shirt AU$21.95 Bright Walk Short AU$39.95 www.plumcollections.com.au Attipas toddler shoes in Robot Navy RRP: $29.95 www.attipas.com.au

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Lifestyle

Sea Blue stripe Summer zip Romper RRP: #35.95 Available from: www.lilzippers.com.au

Plum Collections: LtoR Rock, Paper, Scissors Shirt $19.95, Multi coloured short $39.95 Tropicana Shirt AU$39.95, Skinny Chino Pant AU$39.95 www.plumcollections.com.au with Lamaze Cow Chorus Toy

LtoR: Mossimo TShirt $19.95 Platypus Australia Azure Boardshort $49.95 Plum Sailor Short Sleeve Rashie AU$24.95 Sailor Swim Short AU$19.95 Heaven Lee Lace summer dress RRP$24.95 with Platypus Australia Paisley Tie Bikini $41.95 White Tshirt & St Tropez Beachskirt $39.00 with Frozen Crystal Rose Havianas $$29.99 Platypus Australia Castaway Sun Jacket SS $43.95 & Lycra Boardie $43.95 eft: Print Tee from Target $6 Navy Kids Beachskirt $39 Havianas Kids Slim Disney Cool $29.99

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Lifestyle Right: Heaven Lee Lace summer dress RRP$24.95 www.heavenleeswim.com with Platypus Australia Paisley Tie Bikini $41.95 www.platypusaustralia.com/au/ White Tshirt & St Tropez Beachskirt $39.00 with Frozen Crystal Rose Havianas $$29.99 Platypus Australia Castaway Bikini & Lycra Boardie $43.95 www.platypusaustralia.com/au

Right: Plum Swimwear Stripes Zip 1 Piece AU$34.95 www.plumcollections.com.au

Above: iPlay Swimwear Classic Shorts with built-in Swim nappy - Lime Jurrasic RRP: $29.00 Short Sleeved rashguard - Orange RRP: $25.00 Classic Flap hat - Lime Jurrassic RRP: $20.00 Mod 2-piece tankini with built-in swim nappy Fushcia Buttercup RRP: $39.90 Mod wide brim hat - Fuchcia Buttercup RRP: $18.40 ww.forbabyandup.com.au

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Photography by Sylvie Iles

Lifestyle Left: Heavenlee Swimwear Surf’s Up Long Sleeve Rashtop $44.95 Surf’s Up Boardshort $39.95 Tattoo Fun Long Sleeve Rashtop $44.95 Hibiscus Stripe Boardshort $39.95 www.heavenleeswim.com Right: Heavenlee Swimwear 2 year Swimsuit Candy Hearts & Surf Flowers $49.95ea www.heavenleeswim.com

Plum Swimwear (LtoR) Sailor Short Sleeve Rashie AU$24.95 Sailor Swim Short AU$19.95 Aqua Short Sleeve Rashie AU$24.95 Aqua Swim Short AU$19.95 Polka Dots Bikini AU$29.95 Floral Swimsuit AU$24.95 www.plumcollections.com.au

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Lifestyle

Rashoodz Swimwear Short Sleeve Jurassic Jive Rash Shirt, Pants & Hat Set $40.90 Frozen Fun Shirt Pants Hat Set $44.99 Chevvy Pink Bathers $34.99 (White Tshirt) with Jurassic Jive Swim Nappy $21.78 & Short Sleeve Jurassic Jive Rash Shirt, Pants & Hat Set www.rashoodz.com.au

Above: Platypus Australia Swimwear SS Sunshirt $38.95 & Batik Boardshoart $49.95 Castaway Bikini $34.95 & Lycra Boardie $43.95 Paisley Fitted Sunshirt SS $39.95 & Lycra Boardshort $35.95 www.platypusaustralia.com/au/

Above: HeavenLee Swimwear Shark Attack – Long Sleeve Rash Top $44.95 Shark Attack Boardshort $39.95 http://heavenleeswim.com Left: Plum Swimwear Sailor Zip 1 Piece AU$34.95 www.plumcollections.com.au

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Photography by Sylvie Iles

Lifestyle

Win a $100 Plum Gift Voucher Plum Swimwear Fruit Swimsuit AU$24.95 Floral Bikini AU$29.95 www.plumcollections.com.au

Above LtoR: iPlay Swimwear Classic Shorts with built-in Swim nappy - Lime Jurrasic RRP: $29.00, Short Sleeved rashguard - Orange RRP: $25.00 & Classic Flap hat - Jurrassic RRP: $20.00 Mod 2-piece tankini with built-in swim nappy - Fushcia RRP: $39.90, Mod wide brim hat Fuchcia RRP: $18.40, ww.forbabyandup.com.au Platypus Australia Swimwear Paisley Singlet kini $43.95 & Lycra Boardshoart $35.95, Castaway Bikini $34.95 & Lycra Boardie $43.95, SS Sunshirt $38.95 & Batik Boardshoart $49.95 www.platypusaustralia.com/au

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Out-takes

Lifestyle

Photography by Sylvie Iles 37

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Lifestyle

Accessories

CIENTA BOY (made in Spain) Cotton Casual Velcro Strap Beige RRP $39.90 www.cienta.com.au

Haviana Disney Collection Sandals From $24.99 www.havaianasaustralia.com.au

VILA SANDAL GIRL (hand made in Spain) Orange with Fuchsia Velcro strap. RRP $89.00 www.shopvilashoes.com.au

CIENTA ESPADRILLES GIRL (made in Spain) Clip On Floral Pink RRP $59.00 www.cienta.com.au

VTech Kidizoom Twist Plus Camera (suitable for 3-9 years), RRP$ 89.95 www.vtech.co.uk

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Lifestyle Left: Rainbow Headband RRP $8.95 www.gigglemepink.com.au Lily Necklace Round Rainbow RRP $17 www.madhuntdesigns.com.au Right: Madison Star Necklace Aqua RRP $17 Madison Star Bangle Aqua RRP $ 12.95 www.madhuntdesigns.com.au

Tulle Flower Headband Aqua $12.95 www.gigglemepink.com.au

Below: Torretti - Blue Sunglasses RRP: $19.95 Punky B Sunglasses- Pink RRP: $16.95 Vanellope Sunglasses - Purple RRP: 18.95 Available from: sunnies.com.au

Photography by Sylvie Iles 39

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Lifestyle

Reviewed Ferrero Rocher Bouquet If you are looking for a ‘sweet’ gift idea which suits someone hard to buy for, consider a chocolate bouquet or edible arrangement. These gift ideas offer something different and interesting, yet the practicality of an edible arrangement gift means that it will be loved and enjoyed. Read more

The Coshee Quilt Cover offers a stylish Quilt cover. Coshee bedding is designed with busy mums in mind!

They understand the issues of tangled sheets and messy beds and have created a solution (I love solutions!).

Find out what it is here.

The Kia Rondo is a small car that packs a big punch and has changed my view of what a people mover car can be. It offers a smaller sized car with associated benefits like increased manourverability, ease to park, and greater fuel economy with the flexibility to suit family lifestyles. This family car is big on the number of features that are included for a smaller price.

Read the review and see the car in our video review.

My hubby does a lot of work outdoors and has often commented on getting a Portable Radio to give him the opportunity to hear songs he likes while working to make the day more enjoyable and go faster. He would also love a portable radio for when we go camping. Read more on the Bosch PRA Multipower Portable Radio here

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You know that saying “the way to a mans heart is through his stomach” well that’s not true.

The true way to my man’s heart is through The Mummy Bag. Sounds ludicrous I know, however before I used a funky tote bag which I loved, I didn’t mind that I had to rummage around to find my keys or it took the use of two hands to hunt for dummies... read more

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Lifestyle

Take Big Steps for Little Hearts on October 11 HeartKids is inviting everyone to take 'Big Steps for Little Hearts' this October, to support the eight babies born in Australia every single day with Childhood Heart Disease (CHD).

The inaugural 'Big Steps for Little Hearts' fundraising walk is a symbolic walk taking place across four locations at 9.30am on Sunday, October 11 including Parramatta, Newcastle, Orange and Canberra. Everyone is invited to join the walk for CHD, or sponsor a walker, to put a spotlight on the biggest cause of death and hospitalisation in children under the age of one.

All participants are encouraged to walk 2.1km with a balloon to signify their special connection to the CHD cause, or to remember a loved one. A blue balloon will be held by heart kids, a red balloon will represent those walking in support of HeartKids, and a white balloon will be held by those walking in memory of a heart angel. At the completion of the walk a 21 second silence will accompany the release of white balloons to honour those precious heart angels. The special number 21 represents the number of days after conception that a child’s heart first starts beating.

Through the walk, HeartKids aims to raise awareness of CHD and encourage donations to continue the charity’s work in supporting children and families at every stage of their heart journey.

CHD is not a single condition, nor a result of lifestyle factors; it includes a wide range of heart defects with which a child may be born or develops in childhood as a result of other illnesses.

Join the walk with family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and anyone wanting to support HeartKids. Register as a family or individual. To register, visit:https://registration.everydayhero. com/ps/event/BigStepsforLittleHearts2015/ or https://www.facebook.com/heartkidsnsw

Dreams do come true...

Win a 3 Hour House Clean!

Solutions for Busy Mums

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Click here to review the book of your choice In this stunning picture book, created by award winning, Italian cartoonist and filmmaker, Rino Alaimo, a young boy embarks on a captivating adventure in attempt to win the love of the Moon. This beautiful adaptation of the beloved The Boy and The Moon – winner of multiple international independent film awards – tells the story of a boy who swims the deepest seas and slays the mightiest dragons to win the Moon’s love.

Recommended for children aged 3 to 5 years, story-lovers of all ages will be drawn to the timeless beauty of The Boy Who Loved The Moon. Available from: Exisle Publishing www.exislepublishing.com Wresting Trolls Jack has discovered that he’s a troll prince in charge of an unruly troll kingdom and he doesn’t even want to be king. And if this scrawny young boy didn’t have enough on his plate, Jack and his friends also have to vanquish an evil wizard, overcome monstrous guard dogs, and keep Waldo’s wrestling team together.

Written by JIM ELDRIDGE, Suitable for 5+ PB $12.95 Available from: Five Mile Press

Christmas at Grandma’s Beach House It’s the Twelve days of Christmas “Aussie–style” thanks to award-winning author Claire Saxby and illustrator Janine Dawson. No gold rings or turtle doves here. There’s just lots of things we associate with an iconic summer beach holiday: sandcastles, wet suits and cricket on the beach.

Written by CLAIRE SAXBY (VIC) &JANINE DAWSON, (NSW), HB, $16.95, Suitable for 3+ Available from: Five Mile Press The Mice and the Shoemaker When the home of the Woodland Whiskers family is flooded they take refuge in Grandpa Squeak’s home. Grandpa lives under the floorboards of a kindly cobbler who feeds the little mouse every day. In return for the shoemaker’s kindness the family of mice make exquisite shoes for his customers. He in turn creates some lovely warm clothes for them so that they can return to their home for Christmas Eve. A nostalgic look at the joy of giving (rather than just receiving) at Christmas.

Written by GABRIEL EVANS, (WA) HARDBACK, 298 x 400mm, $29.95.

Suitable for 3+. Available from: Five Mile Press

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For Teens or Mum A SHOCKING COMING OF AGE STORY SET IN A CONTEMPORAY NAZI ENGLAND Jessika Keller is a good girl: she obeys her father, does her best to impress Herr Fisher at the Bund Deutscher Madel meetings and is set to be a world champion ice skater. Her neighbour Clementine is not so submissive.

Outspoken and radical, Clem is delectably dangerous and rebellious. And the regime has noticed. Jess cannot keep both her perfect life and her dearest friend. But which can she live without?

SEPTEMBER 2015, JULIE MAYHEW, FOR12+, 9781471404702, PB $16.95

The Dog Ray When 12 year-old Daisy dies in a car crash, a bureaucratic mistake means she ends up not where she is supposed to be but in the body of a dog. It takes her a while to get the hang of this ‘dog thing” and along the way she meets a homeless boy on his own journey of discovery. A charming and beautifully written story with a bit of quirk and a lot of heart.

OCTOBER 2015, LINDA COGGIN, For 9+ $14.95, In an era with rapidly changing technology, it’s important to remind children of just how far we have come. To develop a thirst for knowledge. To learn more about our planet and the amazing things it offers, and never take it for granted. In the upcoming illustrated children’s picture book, Wow! The Wonders of Our World ($19.95), authors Joy Noble and Fiona Johnston have written an engaging book that aims to help children discover more about the world around them, and develop a sense of curiosity. Through the pages younger readers will learn about things such as: • How technology has changed the world (& how it was before) • How our awesome bodies work • The world of sport and why we need it • The power of music and its impact on the world • Different animals and their roles • An introduction into Multiculturalism An English Year is a picture book bursting with national pride. It is a snapshot of England as a nation, blending modern-day lifestyles with past traditions and strong heritage. Its pages feature meandering text, dates and gorgeous illustrations showcasing five English children at play, at school, at home, and enjoying the sights and sites of England- from the northern moors and breathtaking Lake District, to pebbly seasides, bustling cities and historical country towns.

This book is a must have for any family of English heritage, along with schools and families wanting to explore the customs of other nations.

An English Year follows in the footsteps of the bestselling An Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids. Written by Tania McCartney is an awardwinning author, editor, illustrator. Available from www.ekbooks.com.au and wherever good books are sold. RRP $19.99

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Win, Win, Win! Win a Dreambaby Insect Netting Prize Pack Dreambaby速 launches a comprehensive range of netting products designed to protect little ones from bugs including mosquitos and spiders. This new range also provides a shaded environment when needed for strollers, baby carriers and play-yards! We have 3 Dreambaby速 Travel System Insect Netting Value Packs to be won If you love books or have a book worm, MumsDelivery and the Busy Mums Magazine has a great opportunity for you. Each edition of the Busy Mums Magazine will offer 3 readers the opportunity to review a book of their choice from the Latest Releases included in the Busy Mums Magazine. Each review will also be published on the MumsDelivery website.

Win a $100 Gift Voucher for Plum Collections Plum is one of Australian's most loved and trusted brands for children and babies. Plum produces an extensive range of high quality Australian designed, luxury baby fashion, kids swimwear, kids sleepwear and baby sleep bags. Plum is an awarding winning business and has won swag of small business and Kids fashion & Sleep bag awards. Plum believes in giving back to the community and is partners with SIDS and Kids. SIDS and Kids is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and supporting bereaved families. A percentage of Plum sales support SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping educational campaign.

Click here for more competitions

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Click here to win DVDs

Celebrate the release of Play School Round and Round on DVD plus explore the world of letters, colours, words, numbers and animals in the new box set from Play School, My Learning Library. The set include five full sized board books featuring everyone’s favourite Play School friends. Play School Round and Round is out now!

Outlander spans the genres of romance, science fiction, history and adventure as it follows Claire Randall, a married WWII combat nurse who mistakenly falls back in time to 1743. As the season continues, Claire and her husband Jamie’s relationship is tested as they face ruthless redcoats, volatile clan politics and a brutal witch trial, that inevitably force them to escape to a new home, all while Claire struggles to save Jamie’s heart and soul.

Yellowbird is a teeny tiny orphaned bird who has never dared to leave his nest. He unexpected finds himself as the leader of a flock bound for Africa when Darius, a patriarch of a migratory bird family, can no longer guide them. With the help of Darius’s charming daughter, the group has a thrilling adventure that takes them to Paris, Holland and across the globe.

Curious George 3 When Curious George is asked to take part in a very important space mission, a little monkeying around forces him to crash-land in Africa. While a worried Man with the Yellow Hat searches for him, he bravely explores the jungle, making new animal friends along the way. Embarking on an unforgettable adventure, will the two best pals ever reunite?

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Dreambaby® Travel System Insect Netting Value Pack Perfect for travel, this value pack includes 1 x Dreambaby® Stroller & Play-Yard Insect Netting and 1 x Dreambaby® Carrier Insect Netting. This handy dual set of insect nets will protect your little one from nasty insect bites and stings, and provide a more shaded environment for baby.

RRP $19.95. Stockist info: dreambaby.com.au

PS4 Tearaway Unfolded Tearaway Unfolded is a reimagined world with a bigger, more beautiful universe to explore and all new fourth-wall-busting ways to play. Tearaway is about a messenger on a mission to deliver a unique message to the player, referred to by characters in-game as “the You”, and you must navigate through a world constructed from paper to deliver the message.

RRP: $69

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The Beach Skirt An easy and quirky A line skirt made of soft quick-drying material, for active women that love the outdoor lifestyle.

Perfect to be use - with a wet or dry swim costume - from dusk to dawn. Made in Manly, for the Australian beach culture. RRP: from $59 Available from: www.thebeachskirt.com

Cleavers, the leaders in organic meats, have launched the first genuine paleo sausage to be widely available. Using the best organic beef, and created in conjunction with paleo expert Pete Evans, Cleaver’s have created a real artisan product.

RRP $8.99 (tray of 6 sausages) Stockists: www.cleaversorganic.com.au for a full list of stockists.

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The Greentom Upp is made out of high quality recycled materials. The frame is made of recycled polypropene (PP) and the fabric is made of recycled soft drink bottles (PET). This makes the Greentom Upp not only highly sustainable, but lightweight and durable as well. Greentom introduces the new Greentom Upp Combination (which has a Carrycot and Reversible) and the Greentom Upp Classic as well as various accessories to Australia.

The Greentom Upp strollers are no-nonsense strollers, designed from the concept that less is more – more comfort, more convenience and more freedom. And the best part, when you are finished with the stroller it can be fully recycled again!

For stockists: www.greentom.com.au

Good news for lovers of Mother Earth’s Baked Oaty Slices with new packaging and a new improved recipe. Mother Earth has increased the amount of oats in each bar to provide more goodness, more energy and the feeling of being fuller for longer. Available in 9 tasty flavours, with no artificial colours or flavours. For more info: www.motherearthfoods.com.au

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The ultimate modern multi terrain pram, push chair and travel system, the Silver Cross Pioneer now comes in a ‘super cool’ chrome plated graphite coloured frame. Induce pram envy with this latest release from Silver Cross; the best start in life RRP$1099

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