All Mum Said

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Archives for October 2012

Wonderful World of Hair Care

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We all want to look after our hair and most of us use various products and/or have had tips passed down from mother to daughters for years. I am no exception.
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I have discovered the brilliant brand Seven Wonders maybe a year or so ago. I can thank my mum for introducing me to it. She got me hooked on the Seven Wonders Moroccan Treatment Spray. It is in one word – AMAZING! It instantly detangles my thick hair which saves me a lot of grief pulling the brush through each and every knot. It also protects it from the elements and basically I can’t rave enough about it.

 

For some reason I never thought to check out their other products and so when I was asked to review the Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner I couldn’t say yes fast enough. It hasn’t disappointed either, the salon grade products leave your hair feeling like you’ve just stepped out of the hairdressers even though you have done it yourself in your own home. What I love most about Seven Wonders is that it is natural hair care.

 

You can find their range of products here.  

 

Interactive Fun with Animals & Elmo

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For the past month my family and I have been giving the XBOX Kinect a run for its money. We have been talking to Elmo, Grover and the Cookie Monster while walking the neighbourhood of Sesame Street. Throwing coconuts high, dancing in magic mirrors and having Elmo copy and tell us how awesome we are. He changes to his shirt to look just like us too! I am so impressed with the Kinect SesameStreet TV and the kids just love how interactive it is.

We have also been trying the Kinect Nat Geo TV and must say that this one is my favourite. Not only is it also interactive but it is also interesting and educational. It teaches how the animals live, act, catch food and basically survive in the wild. This is than incorporated into the interactive side and you or the kids become the animals. They use the same movements the animals do – jumping, leaping, head butting, pouncing, clawing, etc. the same as goats, lions, bears, the list goes on.  I have found this to be a great work out for myself and an even better energy user for the kids.

We were lucky enough to be able to review these products and be loaned an Xbox to do so. We have enjoyed them so much we are now planning on buying the kids an Xbox Kinect for Christmas or more so Santa will. I just love that it combines new technology with knowledge, intereaction and appeals to every age. These fantastic games mentioned above are available in stores now.   

Disclaimer: I have not received any cash payment for this review/giveaway.
All opinions are my own & always will be!

Pirates, Boats & A Darling Day

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On Saturday we got up early and embraced the few hour drive to Sydney. We battled the horrific traffic, tolls (crap – forgot to pay them, better do that now) all to see the pirates.

 

The Australian Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour is currently sporting every little girl and boys dream adventure – Pirates Kids Adventure Land. We started our venture by exploring the Vampire, Daring Class Destroyer. It is the largest museum vessel in Australia and the last of our country’s big gun ships. While onboard we learnt how cramped the living spaces were and comfort clearly never played a part to anyone especially when it came to the workers.

We then climbed down into the submarine and learnt that they also had minimum space shared among 64 men. The kids loved looking through the periscope and looking at all the bunk beds.

We moved on from there to the pirate ship and then inside to Pirate Land. Needless to say the kids were extremely excited about this one. They got to board the pirate ship and cross the rickety ladder. Decode the treasure map and shoot canons. The fun just kept on going.

Once we had all been pirated out we checked out the museum, it was great however half was closed off. If you are in the Sydney area or plan on going soon I have a spare ticket – pirate pass (big ticket) It can be used for an adult (usually $25) or child (usually $10) Families – 2 adults + 3 kids are $60. We had 4 tickets however as Kye is younger than 4 he was free. So if you would like the ticket please let me know and I’ll post it to you J

The first person to ask gets it!    

Food Allergies, Intolerances + A Tasty Giveaway

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Allergies and intolerances seem to be on the rise and they are becoming more and more severe. Majority of people will know of at least one person who suffers. Childcare centres and school prohibit the entry of certain products onto the property to prevent any life-threatening reactions.

 

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My family has not been exempt from this – we discovered when my eldest son Declan was about 1 that he was allergic to peanuts. Not life threatening just a rash thankfully and he has since built up his tolerance for them and is fine to eat them. One of my sisters is gluten intolerant and another can’t handle dairy products. As I said they are being very common – we are just lucky that we don’t have to be concerned with any anaphylactic reactions.

 

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Now anyone who has these intolerances would know the food doesn’t always appeal to the eyes or taste buds but I have recently been sampling some Smooze and Eskal products and let me tell you – things are changing! 

 

Smooze Fruit Ice are delicious dairy-free icy refreshments. They are available in a variety of 4 coconut flavours that keep everyone from parents to kids happy. They are so yummy!

 

Eskal are another company that specialise in producing high quality food specifically for those with intolerances and allergies. They have a nut-free peanut butter (made from sunflower seeds) available in crunchy and smooth. I myself could taste the difference but I am a massive fan of ‘real’ peanut butter whereas my sons couldn’t tell the difference. They loved it!
The dairy-free range consists of dark chocolate in raspberry and mint flavour. I tried the mint one and while I am not a fan at all of mint chocolate these taste very similar to Arnott’s Mint Slice biscuits so it was a hit with everyone in the house. They also have shortbread and other biscuits.
As we speak (or more so as I type this) I am stuffing my face with gluten-free chocolate coated pretzels. Needless to say these are delicious and the kids will not have the chance to taste these. There are many other gluten-free products from pastas to marshmallows.
 
I have an Eskal Prize Pack for one lucky reader!
Prize includes:
2 x Noble Choice Chocolate
2 x FreeNut Butter
1 x Marshmallow OR Tea Biscuits (sorry, this depends on availability)
2 x Eskal Pretzels

 

Open to Australian residents only! Sorry everyone else.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED!!
Winner is:
Tara

To Enter:

*Leave a comment telling me what food you couldn’t live without or if you have been diagnosed later in life with an intolerance what foods you miss?
*You can enter once a day – providing it is a different answer and you share it again.
*Follow via Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs. >>>>>
~Whilst the following are not mandatory I would love it if you would ~
*Follow me via Facebook right here.
*Follow Eskal on facebook here.
*Share (leave a comment telling me how with link)
*Every share is an extra entry so leave a separate comment!

 

Terms & Conditions
1. Only Australian residents eligible to enter (sorry everyone else)
2. Giveaway closes 11.59pm 5th November 2012
3. Winner/s will be chosen based on creativity and originality so have some fun.
4. Judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
5. Winner must make contact within 3 days of being contacted, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.
6. Prizes are not transferable, changeable or redeemable for cash.
7. Prizes will not be replaced in the event that they are stolen, lost or damaged in transit.
8. This giveaway is in NO way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook.
Disclaimer: I have not received any cash payment for this review/giveaway; I received a few food products to review as mention above. 
All opinions are my own & always will be!

Stranger Danger Encounter – Reminder!

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Sometimes in life things happen that make you think and re-evaluate what and how you teach your children. There was an incident at my sons’ school on Monday that has every parent concerned for their childs safety. This isn’t one of those helicopter parents or parents these days are way over protective type concerns this is a serious matter that everyone needs reminding of from time to time.

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So Monday started as every other week – get Declan ready for school, breakfast, make sure lunch is packed, make sure Kye is dressed and fed, etc. etc. and off to school we went. I kissed him goodbye as he hung up his bag on the hook at his classroom.

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When returning to pick him up that afternoon there was a lot of chatter and I didn’t quite understand what all the hoo-hah was about until I was informed by the principle that there was a strange man wandering around the school grounds earlier that day and appeared to be quite interested in the children. When they approached him he fled the grounds. Yes the police were called.



I have taught my children not to talk to strangers, or if one should approach them that they are to scream ‘STRANGER’ as loud as they can and run in the opposite direction towards safety. I haven’t told them however not to trust people within the school grounds. I think it is just one of those places you think your children are safe – when you step over that threshold from the unknown to the security of teachers who protect you.

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We do not live in a big city area, quite the opposite actually. There isn’t even a high school where we live – kids have to catch the bus there. There are only a couple of thousand people residing in this little country town in the Hunter Valley. I thought I would take this opportunity to remind all parents, aunts, uncles, sister and brothers to be mindful of your surroundings regardless where you are. Please remind and refresh your childrens ‘Stranger Danger’ knowledge. It could save you and them a lot of grief and heartache.

 

NO, YELL, RUN, TELL!

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