Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013 by Penny Webb

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

Editor’s note To use the lyrics of one of the most talented songwriters of all time…. “And so this is Christmas. And what have we done?” If you answer like this. “Absolutely nothing. OMG OMG OMG OMG!” Then you run around in circles, hit a wall and knock yourself out, you might want to read this ebook. The Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas is all about helping you get through the next few weeks feeling confident, calm and in control. Filled with fabulous tips from our Working Mum Mentors, we’ll help you make Christmas more about the joy this year and less about the overwhelm. Wishing you and yours safe and happy holidays.

Love Penny 10 Ways to Kick Christmas Butt

Penny Webb

Have a goal kicking Christmas

Bee Wakelin

Too much Christmas indulgence?

Angela Counsel

How to have $100 Christmas

Kylie Ofiu

Home organisation

Marissa Roberts

Get your Christmas style on

Gemma King

12-13

Have a cyber safety Christmas

Leonie Smith

How to look gorgeous

Beauty Camp

A feel good festive season

Cass Michelin

I’m dreaming of a green Christmas

Georgia Bamber

Kristy Goodwin

Mindful merriment

Sarah Wayland

on Christmas day Have yourself a techie Christmas

Christmas Survival Checklist

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Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

10 Ways to Kick Christmas Butt By Penny Webb Founder of Working Mums Masterclass

workingmumsmasterclass.com.au Here it is. It’s the end of the year. I know. I know. It only seems like yesterday that you were buying the kids school shoes for the year ahead. You were high fiving yourself after dropping them off to school after six gloriously long weeks of summer holidays with them. And now Christmas has reared it’s tinsel decorated head and bit you on the bum. Right? Not on our watch, ladies. Here are 10 ways to kick Christmas butt! 1. Make Room Clear the way for new toys, new clothes and all the things that come with Santa. Get the kids involved and be ruthless. If it’s broken, get rid of it. If you would like to pass it on to charity, clean it up and deliver it. Right now. 2. Swap and Sell This time of year sees a spike in activity on sites like ebay and gumtree. Get selling. Make some extra cash just before Christmas AND clear out your garage, cupboards and shed. 3. Sustainable Cooking Be smart with your shopping, cooking and food storage choices. Make the food you buy last. Think about how one lot of ingredients can be made in multiple dishes. And there really is ‘101 Ways with Ham’.

4. Online Shopping This is a Christmas miracle in itself. You beat the crowds, beat the queues at the post office AND you can do it in your pyjamas. Just make sure you beat the Christmas delivery cut off dates. 5. Digital Scrapbooks Use free apps like Evernote to capture ideas for presents and concepts for Christmas. When you need to reference something you saw back in August, there it is. Right there. At your fingertips. 6. Create a Christmas Vision Board If you’re crafty (in the Martha Stewart sense, not in the sneaky sense) create yourself a Christmas Vision Board. What concepts, design and values do you want to attach to this year’s special season? 7. Gifts Use downloadable printables for classmate gifts. There is a plethora online at the moment. Make raw ingredient gifts for teachers and growns ups. So simple and cost effective. AND you don’t have to do the baking. Win! And get your #wrappingninja on. Get creative with your wrapping. Away with those Santa bags! 8. Schedule like you’ve never scheduled before This time of year is rough on the diary. So release your inner military general and schedule everything. Say no if you have to. Say yes if you want to. And make sure every activity has been captured in your family’s schedule tool of choice – smartphones, family calendars, excel spreadsheets, whatever! If it ain’t in the schedule, it ain’t happening. 9. Pantry Refresh You can do it. Pull everything out of the pantry. Even the weird looking organic creation at the back. Chuck everything out past their use by date. Clean the shelves. Pop everything back neatly – use baskets to cluster like items – and check out how much extra space you’ll have. Ready for the onslaught of the Christmas grocery shop. 10. Bulk buy Get in a group with your friends or family and bulk buy items like seafood, alcohol and fruit and vegies to save money. Give each family a responsibility and that will save you time too. There is negotiating power in numbers.

Penny

Penny Webb is the founder of Working Mums Masterclass. To find out more CLICK HERE

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

Too much Christmas indulgence? By Angela Counsel Clinic Director and Senior Naturopath, The Ambaa Tree theambaatree.com.au Working Mums Masterclass Health and Nutrition Mentor What do you do when despite all of your good intentions you have still over indulged with food and alcohol over the silly season? With lots of delicious food available and a few drinks it is often easy to forget that you were going to only have a small amount of food and alcohol. Here are some very simple things that you can do to minimise your symptoms and long term effect on your health. With the average adult gaining between 2 to 5kgs of extra weight of the Christmas holiday period it is important to be careful about what you eat and drink, otherwise you will spend the first few months of the year repairing your body. Using herbs and whole foods is a simple way to support your digestive system and the naturally detoxify your body. Below are some simple tricks to turn foods you already have in your cabinets into goldmines for the digestive system. Peppermint tea - used to ease the digestive system, helps to reduce bloating and indigestion. Chamomile tea - the calming effects of this tea also help relieve stress. Particularly useful after lunch or dinner with the relatives Lemon grass tea soothes the digestive system and calms the nerves. Green Smoothies - are packed with nutrition. Drinking green smoothis enables the release of stored toxins throughout the system.

Digestive Enzymes - natural enzymes found in pineapple and papaya support the digestive system in breaking down and absorbing nutrients from the foods we eat. Lemon Juice - warm lemon activates the liver to release toxins and helps to cleanse and move any roughage that stays behind in the intestines. Ginger - peel and slice a two-inch piece of fresh ginger to relieve digestive discomfort. Add to three cups of boiling water. Brew for five minutes, strain and sip the tea slowly. Probiotic Foods - naturally high in probiotics, foods such as raw sauerkraut, kefir, home made yoghurt, kombuchu provide beneficial enzymes that increase the digestibility of any food. Drink lots of water - to flush toxins from the body and to keep cells well hydrated Have fun - but remember to keep everything in moderation.

Angela

Angela Counsel is the Working Mums Masterclass Health and Nutrition mentor. To find out how you can book some one-on-one time with her click here

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

Home organisation By Marissa Roberts Beautifully Organised www.beautifullyorganised.com Working Mums Masterclass Home Organisation Mentor Penny’s right. It is THAT time of year. Everything ramps up. Schedules, activity. It’s all happening. This is how I make Christmas a little bit more about enjoyment and a whole lot less about stress. 1. Easy gift wrapping: Forget about spending hours wrapping presents for your kids, and put them all, unwrapped, in a big Santa sack or Christmas pillowcase. They’ll still be excited to pull each present out and you’ll save time and wrapping paper rubbish. 2. Create your own gift theme: Stuck for gift ideas for loved ones? Assign yourself a theme for your present giving each year you might be the person who always gives books, or movie tickets, or iTunes vouchers. Choose something that suits a wide range of ages, buy them all in one go, and your Christmas shopping is done in one trip! 3. Easy Christmas Dinner: Make it a ‘bring a plate’ occasion - one person brings salad, someone else brings bread, another brings dessert, etc. Sharing the workload means less stress and more time for sharing stories & making memories. 4. Get the kids involved: It may take a little longer but you’ll have more fun and it will become a Christmas tradition to enjoy every year. Try a Christmas Card Construction Line: One child writes the card, one puts in it an envelope, one labels the envelope and one adds them stamp... you can make it even easier using a return address stamp or sticker on the back! 5. Get your Christmas To Do’s out of your head & onto paper: Most Christmas overwhelm comes from feeling like you have too much to do and don’t know where to start. Taking 10 minutes to write down everything you can think of will release all of that stress, because it means you no longer have to

remember to do it all. You can just put that piece of paper into your handbag and check each task off as you go. 6. Do a little at a time: Waiting until mid December and then trying to rush around getting things done is exhausting and you’re bound to run out of time to do all the things you have your heart set on. Try starting earlier and just do one thing each weekend. You won’t have to worry about missing out on anything important, and you certainly don’t have to cram it all into one or two weekends. 7. Do it YOUR way: Don’t get caught up with how other people prepare for Christmas – you won’t enjoy it and you’ll never feel like you’re doing it right. Instead, think about the ways your Christmas prep will make the Holiday easier for you. If you choose to wrap your gifts, look at how you do it. Maybe you want to do all your gift wrapping on Christmas Eve while you watch Carols by Candlelight on TV. Maybe you hate the idea of wrapping every gift at once and prefer to wrap as you go.There’s no right or wrong, as long as the job gets done and you like the way you do it. 8. Include something you really enjoy: Christmas should be a truly happy time, not just a really busy time – so make fun a priority this year. Jot down some of your favourite Christmas traditions, and schedule them into your calendar. 9. Aim for simple, not perfect: Christmas doesn’t have to be picture perfect. Look for ways to simplify your Christmas preparation and you’ll most likely save time & money and still have a great time. Do you have to decorate the whole house? Or will a pretty Christmas tree be enough this year? 10. Sleep in on Christmas morning: Place one or two small gifts at the end of your kids’ beds before you go to sleep on Christmas Eve. When they wake up and find it, you may just get a sleep in while they play with it! Disclaimer: Results not guaranteed. But definitely worth a try!

Marissa

Marissa Roberts is the Working Mums Masterclass Home Organisation mentor. To find out how you can book some one-on-one time with her click here

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

Have a cyber safety Christmas By Leonie Smith The Cyber Safety Lady thecybersafetylady.com.au Working Mums Masterclass Cyber Safety Mentor In recent years, each Christmas has become more and more technological as children’s wishlists include everything from iPods to iPads to Playstations to a Nintendo DS. You name it. If it’s an electronic device, it will probably be on your child’s present list. So now more than ever, parents need to be on the front foot with cyber safety. Parents can find common ground with their children who are using these types of devices and social media platforms. They can educate themselves on how to keep their family safe online by being one step ahead. SO, before you gift wrap the latest and greatest device to your kids for Christmas, make sure you have done or are doing this: 1. Find the parental controls on all computers and devices and set them. 2. Find out about an internet filter for your home router from your ISP (Internet Service Provider) 3. Find a computer or mobile device game you can play with your child 4. Be open to conversations with your child about their online world 5. Download the apps your child is using and investigate them 6. Look online for reviews for the apps your child is using

7. Keep control of your child’s passwords if they are under 13yrs 8. Purchase a “dumb phone” for younger kids rather than smart phones 9. Find the safe search settings on YouTube and search engines 10. Keep all internet devices for younger children and young teens out of the bedrooms

Leonie Download Leonie’s Keeping Kids Safe Online Cyber Safety Manual - click HERE

Popular Apps & Social Networks Twitter: 13+ 140 character posts/pictures/video. Privacy settings Dangers: Bullying in replies and private messaging, re-sharing Facebook: 13+ Share posts/video/photos/music - apps games. Privacy settings Dangers: Bullying comments/messaging. Acct impersonation. Adult content. Adult contacts YouTube: 13+ Video sharing & uploading. Privacy settings Dangers: Bullying comments & messages. uploading embarrassing videos. Adult content Skype: Under 13+ with parental supervision: Voice & chat, share video/pictures/files. Privacy settings. Dangers: Bullying, unsupervised messaging, video exposure Online Games: All ages: Single player & multi player. Some are moderated Dangers: Playing with adults, adult content/swearing. Abuse & bullying via voice & chat Tumblr 17+ Blogging platform. Has privacy settings. Dangers: Follows & contact from strangers. Very adult content, self harm glorification Snapchat 12+ Free: Photo messaging app. Pictures disappear after viewing. Has privacy settings - Child version SnapKidz. Dangers: Used for sexting, all photos can be saved Instagram 13+ Photo/video sharing app. Some privacy settings. Dangers: Adult followers, public photos, share to social media, adult content. Acct impersonation. Bullying in comments. © Leonie Smith 2011

Leonie Smith is the Working Mums Masterclass Cyber Safety mentor. To find out how you can book some one-on-one time with her click here

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

A feel good festive season By Cass Michelin Choose Life Live It Do It www.liveitdoit.com.au Working Mums Masterclass Organic Living Mentor When it’s time to celebrate; we love our food. It’s a social way of getting together with family and Christmas is the king pin, aka a day of eating! Every childhood memory of Christmas is flooded with the mountains of food on the table, into our bellies and the hours after that we had to sleep the food coma off. Life has become more complicated than ever and as we get busier and our lives fill with stress; the faster people reach for the “easy” meal addition to add flavour and enhance the taste of that first bite. These nasty food additives put so much pressure on our own and our children’s bodies that they begin to slow down and work inefficiently. This can all bring us down emotionally and not feeling, as we could be, AMAZING! This Christmas season, I want you to feel good, be happy and motivated to take on the world (aka the crazy relatives). Here are 10 tips to a feel good festive season 1. Buy local! Whether it is for Xmas presents or for food, shop local where u can, it’s great to support your local small businesses too! 2. Shop fresh! Go to the farmers market. Pack your reusable bags and some cash, meet up with your buddies and explore your local farmers market!!! They are popping up everywhere now and they are little gems full of goodness. Meet the farmers and ask questions. They have some great gardening advice and a good feeling of community. 3. Order a nitrate free ham. Unfortunately these days, ham and cold meat products contain preservatives like sodium nitrate, these preservatives are to stop the meat developing botulism but they aren’t good for our bodies. Do some research and find some chemical free meat to add to your Christmas feast. 4. Cook from scratch. It’s not hard! Some people can have a misconception that making food from scratch is unachievable when it’s not at all. Cooking in the kitchen with your children is a great way to spend time together.

5. Read the ingredients labels. This is so important when you want to feel amazing as any refined sugar or additives don’t make any body run well. Products may claim different health properties on the front of the packet but the truth lies in the ingredients list. If there is something listed that you have never heard of, then research it or stay away from it. 6. Drink lemon water! Squeeze some fresh lemon into a glass of water and drink first thing when you get out of bed in the morning. Drinking lemon water in the morning will Boost your immune system, balances pH, aids digestion, helps flush out toxins, helps with weight loss, clears skin and hydrates the lymphatic system. It will give you that boost to get you through the long school holidays and family crazy! 7. Move your butt! Exercise is a key ingredient to feeling good. It lets off a great mount of endorphins to keep you motivated and happy. Even if it’s just a 20-minute walk, do it and enjoy it! 8. Soak is some vitamin D. It’s a scary fact that now; a lot of people are becoming deficient in vitamin D. This is because we spend so much time inside working. In the morning or late afternoon, enjoy at least 10 minutes of sunshine on your skin each day. We need it! 9. Keep some peppermint oil on you to rub on the back of your neck and your temples. Peppermint oil has a refreshing and uplifting quality. It has a really great calming effect to relieve stress and tension. It is also effective for relieving the headaches associated with stress. It’s a great oil to have on hand to keep your spirits lifted. 10. GET OUTDOORS! Yes, turn of the technology, step away from the screens in your life and get outside with your children; play and explore. Make memories!

Cass Michelin is the Working Mums Masterclass Organic Living mentor. To find out how you can book some one-on-one time with her click here

Cass

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

I’m dreaming of a green Christmas... By Georgia Bamber thegreenb.com.au

Working Mums Masterclass Green Living Mentor I love Christmas. It is a time for family, friends and fun. It is a time for traditions both lovely and silly. I have to admit that I am the first in my family to whip out Bing Crosby’s classic Christmas album every year as we decorate our tree and nothing gets me more excited than planning all the Christmas baking. But unfortunately, Christmas is also a time when we generate seeming mountains of unnecessary waste. Christmas cards, wrapping paper, packaging, decorations, and food leftovers (and lets not forget all the wine and beer bottles!) fill our bins to overflowing. Gift giving has also become excessive, placing unnecessary strain on our finances and on the earth’s finite resources. And do we really need all this new stuff anyway? Did you know that of the $50 billion or so (yes $50 billion!) that we will spend on Christmas here in Australia, $700 million worth will be in landfill by February. What a waste of time, money and of course non-renewable resources. The good news is that Christmas doesn’t have to be this way and it certainly isn’t necessary to be all “bah-humbug” to be green. You just need to keep things simple with less consumption and waste and more Christmas fun. Here are ten tips to help you get green this Christmas: 1. Buy a live Christmas tree. The best kind is a tree in a pot that can be used year after year. If you go for a cut tree, make sure you dispose of it properly. Many councils arrange for tree pickups and use the trees to make mulch. 2. If you need new decorations, don’t succumb to the store bought glitz. Making your own at home feels really Christmassy and is great fun for the kids. Paper chains and popcorns strings are easy for the littlies. Or go for a nature walk and collect things that could be fun to hang on the tree like gum nuts and pinecones. Edible decorations are great fun too. 3. I know, I know, an e-card just isn’t the same as a real Christmas card, so if you are going to send out cards try to make them as eco friendly as possible. Buy cards printed on recycled paper, or even better

make your own cards at home from cut outs from magazines, pretty wrapping paper (recycled of course) or old cards. Kids’ artwork is also fun to use for making cards. 4. Gifts are great, but only if the recipient really wants what you are offering. Give gifts that are thoughtful. There are plenty of ways to show people that you love and appreciate them without buying something new or expensive. Handmade gifts are personal and unique and there are so many things you can do. Cook, sew, pot, construct, whittle or whatever your skill may be. Your friends and family will be touched. A gift of time will also be very appreciated. You could offer babysitting services, lawn mowing, cooking a meal, or helping to clean out a messy garage. 5. Another way to cut back on the gifts is to simplify gift giving. Maybe you could start a Kris Kringle system among the adults in the family, with each family member buying just one gift for one other family member. 6. Gift wrapping creates mountains of waste so try to avoid it as much as possible. If you are want to wrap in paper try to use paper with recycled content. Even plain brown wrapping paper with a nice bow can be very festive. But there are lots of alternatives. Wrapping is another great use for kids’ artwork. You might also think about using fabric scraps, boxes and other containers to wrap your gifts. Get creative! 7. All the eating is one of the best parts of Christmas. We don’t want to cut back too much on that! But be mindful of the potential for waste, be creative with leftovers and try to avoid packaging as much as possible. 8. Take the Christmas focus off the gifts by starting a new family Christmas tradition on the day like going for a nature walk, planting a tree in the garden or organizing a fun event like a family Olympics. 9. If you are throwing a big party, try not to use disposable partyware. I know the washing up can be a nightmare, but the environment will thank you. 10. After all the fun has been had, make sure that you dispose of any waste responsibly. Re-use and recycle are your mantras here. Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas.

Georgia Bamber is the Working Mums Masterclass Green Living mentor. To find out how you can book some one-on-one time with her click here

Georgia

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

Mindful merriment By Sarah Wayland Counsellor • Speaker • Writer sarahwayland.com.au Working Mums Masterclass Mental Health Mentor You can see the slow build up happen from a few months before. A shared picture of mince pies in one place to the guffaw about Carols being piped down the Woolies aisles in early November.

Be practical in your ideas – if you are feeling stressed or anxious spending large amounts of money or offering to host everyone at your house might be too much. Pull back.

In the lead up to the big day taking the time to sit with the feelings that remind us what is difficult can leave a sour taste in peoples mouths. Tastes not even remotely linked to the multiple servings of pavlova we might consume.

Seek out the good people. The ones that make you feel safe, supported and happy. We can’t rely on others to pick us up if we don’t remind them that they are our safety net. Be vulnerable. Be seen.

Speak to your counsellor, health professional, friend or family member about what Christmas means to you. We plan for so many things at this time of year but often fail to plan the ways we might survive it. Seeking help is a good thing.

Offer a listening ear or helping hand to someone who looks like they are carrying a heavy load. A problem shared is a problem acknowledged.

Donate your time to a good cause. Reminding ourselves to be grateful for who we are and what we have endured can reframe our sadness. Give back.

Surround yourself with words of comfort. And if you can’t find them then find Dr Seuss because even for those who rally against the festive season new discoveries can be made….

The hype of the silly season can be unhelpful to those living with anxiety, depression or life challenges. It can trigger relapses as we attempt to juggle it all. Statistically there is a spike in people reaching out for help this time of year – for themselves and for those who might be isolated. As a Counsellor, a mum a lover of all things calm, here are my top tips for managing the silly season: -

Know your limits – if Christmas is a sensitive time then say yes only to the events you want to be involved with. Take some time for you. Christmas triggers reminders of the people we have lost. Those sudden upsurges of grief can be hard to stifle when the day is about being surrounded by those we love. Do something to remember your lost loved one. Say their name, drink their favourite drink or look back at old photos. We don’t need to wear a mask to hide our emotions.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps... means a little bit more!” Dr Seuss.

Sarah Crisis mental health services are open all year round. Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 if you need to talk or if you cant speak to someone in your inner circle.

Sarah Wayland is the Working Mums Masterclass Mental Health mentor. To find out how you can book some one-on-one time with her click here

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

Have a goal kicking Christmas By Bee Wakelin Goals 2B Reached goals2breached.com.au Working Mums Masterclass Goals Mentor Goals are a great way to get things done. To tick things off and move forward. Sometimes, when we become parents our own goals get a little pushed to the side and we end up missing more goals than we kick. Let’s look at BC (before children) Goals were created, motivated and reached in a carefree, relaxed manner. Then AC (After Children) happens and it turns into….. “What goals?” “Creating! Who has time? Who has time?”, “Motivating! The only moving I am doing is at 100 miles an hour like a robot!” “Reaching! The only thing I am reaching for is my never ending to do list!” Complete goal overwhelm is what is happening here chicks but never fear Bee is here! This is where some extra guidance for your goals is needed and I am more than happy to guide! Now let’s throw Christmas into the works with your “goal overwhelm”. If you have any, this is what I call GOAL EXTINCTION! It truly does not have to be this way you can still have Christmas cheer whilst reaching goals and here are 10 tips to get you there: 1) KISS YOUR GOALS: Keep It Simple and Sensible Starting an elaborate goal is well and good. Ten points but REALLY? At the busiest time of the year. Just KISS start the big one in the new year! Choose only one goal that you would like to still be reaching. 2) ME GOALS: These are the goals to focus on! Things like “I am to be organised for Christmas. I am going to be calm for Christmas. I am going to watch what I eat at Christmas. I am going to walk once a week (hey it is better than NOTHING!)”. 3) ACTION PLAN: Now is the time to action plan so choose that one Me goal and action plan it for the next month. With no action plan, there is no start to the goal reaching journey. 4) TWO ARMS AND LEGS: I hate to tell you this but you are not an octomum with eight arms! Beware. You can’t do it all at this time of year AND still reach one ME goal. To make sure you are getting support from your partner and children, get them involved. How about 10c for every gift wrap the children do (of course not Santa’s gifts!). Or make a deal with your

partner. For every gift that lover boy wraps, give him some “cuddle time”. Watch how fast and how many he will wrap! 5) ANOTHER TIME: Invites, parties, catch ups anyone would think that the world is going to end! Saying “yes” is awesome but can you go to all of it?? Why not do the “catch up” in the new year or another time? It does not mean that you love them any less. As I said, the world is truly not ending! 6) EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM: We tend think that if we stay up real late we will get everything that we need done. Try to at least hit the sack three times a week at a reasonable hour BUT set the alarm for 5:00am and do your extra hours in the morning. The early bird truly does catch the biggest worm! 7) HAVE A LAUGH: Don’t forget about your Christmas cheer. Kids are watching and you don’t want your children’s perception of Christmas to be impacted by Mummy’s stress. Get in the photo with Santa, write a letter to him, knock on someone’s door and sing them a carol. Whatever it is, make sure it makes you laugh! 8) ONE HOUR CHILL: Okay, so let’s be realistic. The chill time factor is not going to be hours but twenty minutes is better than none! Make sure when you are doing action planning for your goal give yourself one hour of chill time at least three times a week. If you can do more, bonus! 9) 2014 MOTIVATION: Start to have some “Goal Thoughts”. What goals can you start getting excited about? What new goals do you want to kick off? Knowing this is what will make you motivated. But remember you are just focusing on one goal at Christmas time so it is just a “Goal Thought” at this stage 10) THE BEST GIFT OF ALL: In the scheme of things, focusing on just one ME goal is the best gift you can give yourself at Christmas. No one wants “GOAL EXTINCTION”.

Bee Wakelin is the Working Mums Masterclass Goals mentor. To find out how you can book some one-on-one time with her click here

Bee

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

How to have $100 Christmas By Kylie Ofiu Author of 365 Ways To Make Money kylieofiu.com Working Mums Masterclass Home Finance Mentor I’m very passionate about finding ways to make and save money. For Christmas 2011 I set the budget of only $100 to cover it all! It can be done. Christmas doesn’t have to be expensive. Here’s how to keep to budget and make sure you don’t get whole lot of bill-shock in January when the credit card bills roll in. 1. Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Work out how much you can afford, keep it realistic and do not go over budget. 2. PLAN! Work out what you need in terms of gifts, cards, wrapping, food, travel etc. Write your list and create a plan.

3. Source free stuff. Enter giveaways and keep an eye out for free with purchase items if you were buying those items anyway. 4. Think outside the shops for gifts. Make things, grow plants, shop online, try local markets. 5. Try new traditions. Go look at Christmas lights, make decorations, have an advent calendar. Not all traditions need a lot of money to be fun. 6. Alternative wrapping paper. Kids artwork from school is good. Make your own wrapping paper from butchers paper or gift bags from craft supplies. 7. Guard your time. Just because you are invited to an event, doesn’t mean you have to go. 8. Collaborate. You don’t need to do it all yourself. Try doing Kris Kringle for gifts, pot luck for meals and ask for help if you need it. 9. Use Christmas to make money. It’s a busy time of year and people who don’t normally hire cleaners, baby sitters, gardeners etc often do at this time of year. If you’re creative you can sell at markets as well. Christmas is the best time of year to make extra money. 10. Do it all last minute! This is a little crazy. The shops slash prices right before midnight on Christmas Eve. If you’re game you can base all of Christmas around whatever is reduced that night. It doesn’t leave much time to prepare or plan but you can get items for just a few cents.

Kylie Kylie Ofiu is the Working Mums Masterclass Home Finance mentor. To find out how you can book some one-on-one time with her click here

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

Get your Christmas style on By Gemma King Urban Style Hunters www.urbanstylehunters.blogspot.com.au Working Mums Masterclass House and Home Mentor and make your home ready to accept all the happiness that Christmas brings.

Breathe some life into the traditional Christmas homescape with contemporary styling. Allow your family and friends to celebrate fuss free by initially clearing unnecessary decorative clutter.

5. No room for a traditional tree? Create your own Christmas vignette (a personal story with your favorite objects) on a mantle, sideboard or shelf that is high enough to keep wandering hands at bay. bring out your treasures and enjoy them.

Keep the core elements of how your Christmas works but adopt a less stressful approach to Christmas decorating. Remember you’ve got to pack it all away or store or dispose of your displays so keep it simple, refined and focused. Small harmonious accents can take pride of place without overwhelming the room. Taking a creative perspective you’ve got the chance to build the type of Christmas you want to enjoy. With consumerism front and centre for the weeks leading up to the big day, you’re actually the one in the drivers seat deciding to tackle and take control of how you wish YOUR Christmas to play out.

6. Ditch the traditional tree or plastic equivalent. Go bush or beach for wood and knock up something yourself. 7. Try butchers paper/packing paper for wrapping this year. Available at storage facilities, you’ll get tonnes of paper for about $13. Embellish your wrapping with coloured or natural twine detailed with fresh Christmas bush and shipping tags with a cute washi tape for a fuss free and appealing take on gift giving.

With the traditional family structure changing, adaptation is calling. Celebrating with those dear to you can happen before or well after 25 December. You’ve got to last the distance, and you can by defining your Christmas theme and making all your decisions for Christmas around it: including your styling. You can head straight for the festive drinks with my ten easy Christmas styling tips:

8. Let the kids have their own tree in their own space, free for them to decorate with their Kindy or school handy crafts and special lights. 9. Keep your outdoor styling simple and sophisticated. Soft warm lighting is a great soothing choice when thinking about upgrading your current Clarke Griswald lighting collection.

1. If too much colour is not your thing, chill out with a white Christmas theme. Choose decorations that are quirky or sophisticated, just keep it interesting to the eye.

10. Use Christmas to tell your family story, with it’s annual triumphs and challenges through your choice of theme, colour, style and decorations and your overall approach to the festive season. There are no prizes for Mum being so worn out that she misses the essential and gradual build up towards the joy of Christmas. Less can be more on all levels. You owe it to yourself and your kids and family!

2. Mix colours, textures and patterns for a contemporary Christmas, right through from your decorations, to the tree, wrapping and table setting and centerpiece. 3. Go visit Nanna. Hidden away are some treasures she would love you to use. Incorporate family history into your celebrations.

Happy Christmas!

4. You’ve got to live in your home through the festive season. Create space instead of consuming it. Pack away what you don’t need, clear the clutter

Gemma King is the Working Mums Masterclass House and Home mentor. To find out how you can book some one-on-one time with her click here

Gemma

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

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Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

How to look gorgeous on Christmas day By Michelle Scott and Jo Cotter Camp Beauty campbeauty.com.au Working Mums Masterclass Beauty Mentors Christmas day can be a little rushed and busy. And if you have little ones, you’ve probably been woken up at 5:00am by little people eager to see if Santa has been overnight. And you know who hasn’t been overnight? Your own personal make up artist… maybe Santa will get that memo next year.

Everyday Eyes 1940’s, Today & Tomorrow

So how do you look presentable when there are meals to cook, places to drive to, pools to jump in and champagne to drink. Easy. Try these ten steps and get a little Christmas confidence from the way you look (not just the champagne). 1. After the excitement of opening presents with the kids, it’s time for you to get ready before the day gets away. 2. Apply sunblock before your make-up. 3. We recommend our 5 minute face as the perfect makeup application for a busy day (see picture references) 4. Lots of memories will be captured in photos and video, so keep your lippy close by for touch ups, especially after eating and drinking. 5. Keep a Blot powder handy to touch up shiny spots especially if you are hosting and spending lots of time by the oven or outside in the heat of summer. 6. Hairstyling can be fun and easy with Christmas being the perfect day to wear some bling in your hair. Tying your hair back is very practical especially if you are the chef for the day.

7. Red is the colour of Christmas so whether it’s on your lips, clothes or accessories there is a red for everyone. Either a cool red (blue base) or hot red (orange base).If your lips are tiny best to go shiny, this means you can still wear a red lip but opt for gloss instead of a lipstick. 8. If you spend the day in the kitchen as the host or helper be sure to look after your Christmas style with a glamorous apron to protect you from any oil splashes or spills. 9. If you intend on spending time by the beach or the pool use waterproof mascara. 10. As you prepare to go to bed please remove your makeup with a good cleanser and apply a nourishing moisturiser… your face will thank you.

Michelle & Jo

Michelle and Jo are the Working Mums Masterclass Beauty mentors. To find out how you can book some one-on-one time with them click here

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

Have yourself a techie Christmas By Dr Kristy Goodwin Every Chance To Learn everychancetolearn.com.au Working Mums Masterclass Education and Techie Mentor If you’ve glimpsed through the latest toy catalogues, or have bravely meandered through the children’s toy section of department stores you would have no doubt noticed the proliferation of ‘techno-toys’. These fancy gadgets and gizmos have saturated the children’s toy market. From dribble-proof smartphone cases for babies, to laptops for toddlers, there is an array of techno-toys. And many of these techno-toys feature prominently on children’s wish lists being sent to Santa. It appears that static (and quiet) toys like Lego and tea sets have been superseded by digital toys that boom, whizz, click and spin. So do today’s children, who are experiencing ‘digitalised childhoods’, REALLY benefit from techno-toys? The marketing on many of these techno-toys suggests they are ‘educational’. ‘This toy will make your baby smarter and learn his ABCs’ (even if he is only 8 months). Parents want what is best for their child and often succumb to the pressure to buy techno-toys to give their child a ‘head start’. Is it really a head start if a child can recall the names of every country and capital city on an interactive, talking globe? Sure, it may be helpful for answering an obscure question on ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’, but apart from that, rote learning facts is not necessarily ‘educational’. Similarly, do books that ‘read’ to children or talking dolls really develop literacy skills? Techno-toys can help children learn, if the right toys are selected. So what should parents look for? Ten Tips For Selecting (or Avoiding) Techno-Toys: 1. Don’t believe the marketing hype. Laptops for toddlers and tablets that teach children letter names are not necessarily going to prepare your child for Harvard. Many of the marketing claims on technotoys are NOT supported by research. 2. 10% toy and 90% child. Look for toys that require your child to think. If the toy only responds when you click a button or turn a knob, then there is really very

little thinking required on the child’s behalf. 3. Look for open-ended toys. These toys can be used in a myriad of ways. For example, dolls or cars (that are not pre-programmed to speak a script) encourage children to use the toys in a range of ways. 4. Select toys that encourage language. Try to find toys that encourage multiple players or users. This means that children have to interact and use language (now this is how young children learn). Or find talking toys that respond to children’s voices. 5. Select toys that foster creativity. Look for toys where your child has to use their imagination. For example, drawing or craft activities are fantastic or interactive video games such as Sesame Street on Kinect. 6. Seek toys that require your child to think and problem solve. Good old wooden blocks and Lego are great examples, but so too are digital puzzles, remote-controlled cars and even video games (yes, children can learn from these). 7. Find toys that encourage your child to move. Children learn from movement. Toys that encourage physical activity such as interactive video games and toys with GPS tracking systems are ideal. 8. Avoid toys that only allow your child to respond in limited ways. For example, talking dolls or cars guide and restrict children’s play. 9. Look for techno-toys that do things that are ‘magic’. For example, Life of George Lego allows children to build a real Lego model and then take a photo of it on a special grid, with a smartphone and receive feedback as to whether their model adhered to the given design. Clever. 10. Be prepared to get involved and play. No toy, regardless of how sophisticated its programming is, can (or should) replace the rich interaction between a child and a parent. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to play a video game or take talking Elmo for a stroll.

Kristy

Dr Kristy Goodwin is the Working Mums Masterclass Education and Techie mentor. To find out how you can book some one-on-one time with her click here

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

Christmas Survival Checklist With Christmas almost upon us, is the list of things you need to do creating too much clutter in your head? Gets overwhelming doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry, just about everything is covered in this checklist. So start today, and you will survive Christmas every year!

Working Mums Masterclass Guide to Christmas 2013

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