Archives for January 2014

How to Keep Your Kids Safe From the Harsh Summer Sun

30/01/2014 By All Mum Said Leave a Comment

Summer is an exciting time for kids. It means running around outside under the sprinkler, building sandcastles at the beach with friends and cooling off with a refreshing ice cream. Keep your child’s summer untainted by sunburn by following these few safety tips.

Protect their skin

Sunburnt skin ruins summer fun. Teach your child early on how to be sun smart; then they can enjoy the benefits of a healthy Vitamin D dose and not suffer the associated pain of itchy, peeling and painful burnt skin. The first step is to engrain habits early. Make a routine, do each task in the same order every time. Sunscreen should be SPF 30+ and be applied at least 20 minutes before going outside and reapplied every 2 hours thereafter. Get your child used to wearing sunglasses from an early age and make it fun by purchasing bright colours, or let them choose their special pair. Lead by example and wear a broad brimmed hat. Retail stores stock a range of stylish items; you don’t have to look like a daggy parent to be sun safe. Again, let your child have some input in the hat purchasing process (within reason). Spending a little more on the spider man hat is well worth the extra 10 dollars if they are excited to wear it. Shelling out a little more money now may mean saving them from skin cancers later.

Responsible fun in the sun

It’s easy to play in the sun safely if you know how. Being in the sun at the wrong time can be the difference between a great summer play day and vomit inducing heatstroke. Dehydration can cause a myriad of problems. Prepare your children and have them drink plenty of water before they go out in the sun. Ensure they take periodic breaks to rehydrate and snack on water based fruit. If your child happens to get dehydrated during the day, make hydration fun and give them electrolyte ice blocks. No amount of diligent water consumption will keep your child hydrated if their essential salts are depleted. Limit time outside between the hours of 11am and 4pm or have your children play in the shade during this period. Don’t be fooled by cloudy skies, the majority of UV rays cut through cloud cover and your child could still end up with burnt skin. Get your kids in the habit of applying an after sun moisturiser such as aloe vera to keep their skin soft and hydrated. Grown your own plant for a fun holiday project.

Swim safely

Swimming in the backyard pool provides hours of entertainment and forms irreplaceable childhood memories. However, extra precautions need to be taken when spending sunny days in the pool. Sunscreen washes off in water, therefore more frequent applications are necessary. Body parts submerged in water are still susceptible to the sun. Check the pH level of your pool and have your children wear protective goggles to ward off all-too-common eye injuries sustained from pool chemicals. Invest in a pool cover, such as those at Fabric Solutions, to minimise evaporation, thus, reducing the need to use extra chemicals.

Implementing a sun safety routine will make it second nature for your little ones. Summer time will be a breeze and they will thank you later in life when they don’t have to go under the laser.

5 creative decoration ideas for your bedroom

30/01/2014 By All Mum Said Leave a Comment

Ever walked into a friend’s room and felt that the vibe was just right? Did you then go home and realise that yours doesn’t give you the same relaxed feeling? A lot of people prefer to invest time and styling efforts into statement rooms like the lounge and kitchen while the bedroom often gets ignored. It’s quite bizarre actually, given the bedroom is the one room in your home where you spend most of your alone and sleeping time, it’s the one place that needs essences of your personality to create that Zen-like ambiance bedroom you so madly dream of. If you’re renting or don’t have the funds to remodel the entire room, don’t fret, there are plenty of cheap and creative ways you can dress a room that won’t break the bank. Here are some ideas to get you inspired.

DIY Artwork

DIY artwork is the décor of choice for hipsters and yuppie mothers; who can blame them? There are thousands of ways to make beautiful art that’s unique to your home, leaving you assured that you’re not going to find the same mass-produced photo lurking in 50,000 other homes. Doing it yourself also saves you unnecessary hours sifting through artwork to match your existing colour palette. Whether you’re a fan of quote art, metallic wall hangings, bold colour blocking pieces or a simple canvas finished with an ombre design, there’s always an idea to suit your style.

Light Patterned Table Lamp

There’s nothing worse than a light that induces a headache reminiscent of spending hours under a department stores fluorescent glare. If you’re trying to prepare your mind for a night full of REM peace, an overly bright light will trick your brain into thinking that it’s day time. Create a tranquil setting by investing in a bamboo woven lamp that creates light patterns across your room. Not only does it look cool, but the bamboo generates a dimly lit room perfect for when you want to wind down.

Hang Your Fanciest Items

Do you have an eclectic hat collection that’s been doomed to live a life behind the closed doors of your cupboard? Don’t hide them away anymore. Attach some removable hooks to your wall and hang up your fedora, trilby, beret, panama, boater, even your top hat for a functional display. You can do the same thing for statement pieces of jewellery, scarves or any cool collectables in your collection.

Statement Rug

A rug is a great way of tying a room together, therefore it’s important not to make it boring. You can put this under your comfortable bed (like a bed from http://www.latexmattress.com.au/), or if your room is big enough, spread it out in free space. Go for loud patterns, details, and interesting textures. Rug stores are always rattling on about their new closing down sale (we know you aren’t closing down) so take advantage of their reduced prices and pick yourself up a bargain.

Para’Kito – A Buzz Free Summer + GIVEAWAY

28/01/2014 By All Mum Said 82 Comments

Summer is a time for camping, beach, picnics and trips to the park with the family but often mosquitoes put a damper on the fun times. Unfortunately for me and my 5 year old we seem to have good blood that’s ripe for sucking; if there is a mozzie around chances are it is having a feast on one of us. This is quite unfortunate for Kye as not only does it make him itchy he is allergic to their bites, resulting in hives and swelling around the affected area, hardness of the skin and it always gets infected.

Para’Kito clips RRP $24.95
and
Para’Kito bands RRP $24.95

I received an email a few weeks ago asking if I wanted to give Para’Kito a test run which coincided perfectly for last minute outings to the creek, Australia Day BBQ and last bush walk before school resumed. For something that is 100% natural and eco-friendly I can see why it has been so popular worldwide; it works to offer 24 hour protection from mosquitoes and insects while having no direct contact with skin making it safe for allergy sufferers, pregnant women, children, babies and adults. The Para’Kito range includes a neoprene wristband and a clip which are refillable with a polymer pellet. The pellets are infused with a blend of seven essential oils: lavender, geranium, citronella, pine tree, patchouli, clove and peppermint which are convenient and easily slipped into your Para’Kito™ wristband or clip. The oils effectively make the wearer seem invisible to mosquitoes even when in contact with water. Each pellet also offers 15 consecutive days of protection which is great when camping for a few days or if you are going to a festival.

Refill packs with two pellets RRP $15.95

I have found the clip to be very handy when I go walking as I just clip it to the pram and not only am protected and no longer get attacked by insects but neither does my baby or my boys walking next to me. The clip would also be great for travelling as it can easily attach to your belt, back packs or even hung inside your tent when camping. Para’Kito™ bands and clips are priced at RRP $24.95 and come with two refill pellets, which provide 24 hour protection for a total of 30 days. Refill packs with two pellets are also available and priced at RRP $15.95.

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Giveaway ~ I have 1x Family Pack from Para’Kito which includes two Para’Kito bands (valued at $24.95 each) and two Para’Kito clips (valued at $24.95 each) to giveaway to a deserving Mad Mummas reader. (Total prize RRP $49.90)

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To enter all you have to do is follow the instructions on the rafflecopter below.

1.Winner is decided based on skill and chance plays no part.

2.Australian residents only! Sorry everyone else.

3.The mandatory instructions MUST be completed or your entry will be void!

**As the winners are chosen based on skill and not chance; you will be sharing for 0 extra entries. It’s good karma though and I’d love you to share the giveaway with friends and family**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!!

5 Ideas to Consider Before you Renovate the Kitchen

27/01/2014 By All Mum Said 1 Comment

A good kitchen renovation will revolutionise your everyday life. It’s important to do plenty of research before you begin. Explore your options. There are so many different styles and features available, you can check out some kitchen ideas at this website and also by visiting kitchen manufacturers and cabinet makers. You will usually be able to have a firsthand look at different types of cupboards, bench surfaces, splash backs and more. Take your time, ask lots of question and talk to people who have successfully renovated their kitchen.

There are several things you need to consider before you begin renovating your kitchen. Here are five.

What Do You Want From Your Kitchen

This might sound like a really obvious point, but you would be surprised how many people set about renovating their kitchen without having a firm idea of exactly what they want to achieve. Think about why it is that you want to renovate your kitchen. Is it because you don’t have enough bench space? Are you short on places to put everything? Do you find the colour of your kitchen depressing? Do you want your kitchen to be more compact so everything is within easy reach? Or are you just looking for a cosmetic facelift?

When you are very clear about what you don’t like about your current kitchen, you will have a much clearer idea of what you want from your renovations. You will then be able to create a renovation plan and a budget.

Visualise It

Collect samples of materials and colours and try to visualise them in your kitchen. You can get samples of floor coverings, paint colours, tiles and bench and cupboard surfaces. Bring them home and place them in your kitchen. Spend time visualising these colours in your kitchen and make sure you are happy with your choices before you buy.

The Budget

The next serious consideration is your budget. Now that you have a good idea of what you want from your renovations, you need to set about getting pricing. Always get more than one quote and remember that the cheapest is not always the best. Make sure you get your quotes in writing and ensure the price is firm. Price blowouts are common in kitchen renovations, so beware.

The Layout

The layout of your kitchen is a very important consideration. While many renovators get carried away choosing the latest bench tops, they sometimes forget about design. A good kitchen renovation will utilise the space available and make sure your kitchen is highly functional and convenient to use. You need to ensure that there is enough open space for you to move about and work freely in your kitchen. Appliances, like the stove and refrigerator, should be within easy reach.

Appliances

Before you begin your kitchen renovation you should decide upon what type and size of appliances you want. Choosing the best appliance for your needs is an important decision. You may stick with your existing appliances or may take the opportunity to upgrade.

Back to reality with IGA

21/01/2014 By All Mum Said 130 Comments

I cannot believe how fast the school holidays have gone, it only feels like a couple of weeks ago we were counting down the days until end of school while making preparations for Christmas and all of a sudden we are now doing the back to school shopping. Organising back to school items is exciting for kids but can be quite stressful for parents when you have to search for specific items that are hard to find or have minimal stock and sell out very quickly. It hadn’t occurred to me before to search my local IGA for stationary goodies until I was informed they had half price supplies; A4 Copyright Copy Paper, Selected Bic Stationary Range, Marbig exercise books and binder books, Spirax notebooks, Lecture Pads and so much more. Yep all at half price! I love notebooks and pretty much every other forms of stationary and office supply so as you can imagine I have now got a huge stockpile for me and more than enough for the kids’ school book lists.

Knowing that the holidays are fast coming to a close we now have to get prepared and get back into a routine. This of course means school lunches, homework and bedtime being regulated again as life returns to normal. IGA has often got everything I need to get organised and stay on top of the crazy school period; washing liquid for clean uniforms (regularly on special), lunch items, snacks, water bottles, lunch boxes plus a wide range of recipes to give you some ideas for quick and easy meals during the week. Check out the specials catalogue for your local IGA and see what bargains you can pick up this week. To find out what other mums love about IGA pop over and like their facebook page and check out the Instagram for the latest summer fun.

IGA have been generous enough to offer Mad Mummas readers the chance to a $50 IGA voucher to help you get Back to Reality.