All Mum Said

Telling it like it is...

The Hairy Questions + 50% off sale

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Growing up in a house full of girls my brother and step-dad were outnumbered. There was 4 of us and only two of them. This of course meant whether they liked it or not they had to endure conversations about boys, periods, shaving and bras. Just what every boy and man wants to talk about. Back then it didn’t really occur to me that girls don’t often talk to their fathers about this type of thing because my dad welcomed us to talk to him about anything. Well anything until the day we asked for a boy to be in our room, then the ball game changed.

I’m sure there are many dads out there who also have an open door policy when it comes to their daughters but there will always be the ones that are a little shyer and may feel uncomfortable talking about female issues or offering advice in these areas. While mothers obviously have more expertise with these subjects, it is nice for daughters to feel they can talk to their dads about this stuff too.

At some point in a girl’s life she is going to want to shave and of course the questions start. Is she old enough? Is shaving, waxing or hair removal cream better? How high up their legs should they go or should they stop just above/below the knee? Veet have created a ‘Hairy Questions Kit’ which has everything girls and even women could need to find out what option works best for them. The Hairy Questions Kit includes four great products that RRP $50 but can be purchased in the kit for only $25 with FREE delivery. That’s a bargain if ever I’ve heard one! You can purchase the Hairy Questions Kit here.

Veet have put together a short video where daughters ask their dads some of life’s ‘Hairy Questions’ and see if they can answer them. Some of the questions are about boys, fashion, how to get boys attention, PMS, etc. and their dads answers are well worth watching. (See video above)

Would your husband or father have answered them differently?

This is an S1 POST.

Don’t Be A Hoarder, Turn That Junk into Cash!

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Like so many Australians, over the years we have accumulated a mountain of goods that we will ‘one day’ use or only needed for a specific period of time and have just not gotten rid of them. When it’s in the way or the space becomes full, you move it to another room to store until you have a chance to sell it. Which probably won’t happen in the near future. You then move into a larger home and accrue further items because the more space you have the more room you have to store it.

Did you know that the average person has 5 different storage places? 67% store goods in the garage, 63% in cupboards, 43% in the spare room and 21% under beds! There is no benefit to living like this and the occasional bulk clear-out can do wonders for both your home, sense of calm by living less cluttered and increasing your bank balance.

We have recently moved our daughter from a cot to a bed and for some reason we haven’t yet sold the baby furniture that is filling her room. She is 18 months old, we have 3 children and have no plans to have any more children. There is no purpose for us to keep this stuff. I know a lot of women like to hold onto baby items because it holds sentimental meaning or because they may want to have another baby at some point down the track but this is not the case for me. I don’t want to store things when I know I will not need them again.

My daughters’ cot, change table, heaps of clothes, baby toys, etc. will be sold. I plan to clean out and de-clutter everything we don’t use or will not use, one room at a time and sell it. It is a WIN-WIN for both me and the buyer. I get rid of some things, clear some space and make some money while doing it and they get themselves a bargain.

While I would not consider myself a hoarder, I definitely have stuff I do not need or would even miss if it disappeared tomorrow. You may have seen ads on TV about selling your unwanted home and garden goods on Gumtree, I have and they have always got me thinking about the treasures I have just packed away waiting for someone to love them. Now is the time to take those photos and join the other thousands of Australians selling their unwanted stuff.

This is an S1 POST.

The Essential Camping Checklist for Families

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This camping checklist will take out all the uncertainty and provide you with an  inventory of all the items you need to enjoy a comfortable night away from home with your family. We have young children – ages 7, 5 & 1 so we want to make exploring the outdoors and nature as relaxed as possible.

 Camping Checklist

**You can find a printer friendly version at the bottom of the post.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

1. Tent
Consider the size and height when purchasing as some are quite low inside.

2. Air bed / self inflating mattress – or some form of bedding.
You can go as cheap or as expensive as you like. You can purchase air mattresses from stores like Kmart for $10 or a $200 self inflating mattress from a camping store.

3. Sleeping bags / blankets & pillows

4. Camping Chairs

5. Flooring
This can be anything from shade cloth to foam pads so when you walk in and out of the tent you don’t take dirt/sand with you.

6. Awning / gazebo
This can be as lavish or as simple as you like. A pop up gazebo, framed awning or even tarp with 4 poles.

 

COOKING

1. Barbeque plate
If you are new to camping it might be a good idea to camp somewhere with amenities, tables, showers and barbeques. There are a lot of great options available for beginners. I have shared our experience on the blog previously about camping at Lake St Clair, it is one of our favourite places to camp with the kids.

2. Pan

3. Plates & cups

4. Cutlery

5. Utensils

6. Chopping board

7. Folding table
Not essential but once you have one you will never go without it.

8. Welding gloves
These are great if you are cooking over an open fire because they protect your hands from burns.

FIRE

1. Fire wood

2. Kindling

3. Paper

4. Matches/lighter

FOOD

1. No one is too good for a snag wrapped in bread and sauce but it is ultimately up to you what you eat.

2. Marshmallows

3. Oil

4. Condiments – sauces

5. Salt and pepper

6. Snacks

7. Drinks – including lots of water

8. Ice

9. Esky

 

TOOLS

1. Mallet
To hit tent pegs in.

2. Shovel
To stoke fire (turn coals/roll logs in the fire)

3. Axe
If purchasing pre-packaged wood and kindling this is not as essential. Use for wood preparation.

4. Torches / Lanterns

5. Marshmallow sticks

 

CLEANING UP

1. Bucket

2. Tea towels

3. Wetwipes

4. Paper towel

5. Spray & Wipe

6. Dishwashing Liquid
This is depending on your camping duration. If we only camp for 1 night we give everything a good rinse and wash it when we get home.

FOR THE KIDS

1. Frisbees

2. Bikes

3. Ball

4. Fishing gear

5. Cricket equipment

6. UNO cards

 

ESSENTIALS

1. Sunscreen

2. Aeroguard

3. ParaKito

4. First Aid Kit

5. Cash for camping fees

 

If you haven’t been camping before and are just starting to look into it – look for sales and research prior to making any purchases. You will be amazed at how much you can save.

I hope this camping checklist has helped you get organised and ready for your 1st or next trip away. You can print out a tick and flick version of my camping checklist (without the notes under items or images) so you can ensure you leave nothing behind.

Do you think there should be something else in my checklist?

Have you forgotten something when you went camping? 

PRINT >>  Camping Checklist – Printable Version.

Tips for hosting the perfect Summer barbecue

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The warm weather is rolling in, the skies are blue and the picture-perfect great outdoors look fit for a banquet. It’s time to put the winter blues well behind you, drag out the barbecue and get your friends together for an afternoon of festivities, fun, and fine food. The first and most obvious order of the day is your barbecue, which will need to be cleaned up and made ready for action.

If you don’t have one already, you’re going to have to look for a grill that suits your needs. Whether your priority is size, fuel or portability, barbecue specialists like Barbeques Galore can determine the perfect grill for you – perhaps something from the new Ziegler & Brown range? Now that you’ve got the cooking equipment and utensils sorted, here are a few other tips to help you host the perfect summer barbecue.

Tips for hosting the perfect Summer barbecue

Look to the forecast

As beautiful as summer normally is, it can also be a bit volatile when it comes to changing weather conditions. Depending on where you are, the day can start bright and sunny, only to end with a menacing and violent summer storm. Before picking a date, check out the long term forecasts for an idea of the weather patterns on your preferred day. Admittedly, the sunshine won’t be guaranteed but at least you’ll have an idea and won’t be completely taken by surprise when the thunderheads roll in.

Hone the guest list

Most of us have friends from many different backgrounds and interests. Some will know each other and get on well; some will know each other but won’t be as close as buddies; others will not be familiar with your friends but mix well with strangers; and others still will be comfortable only with people they know. Carefully organise your guest list so you only have people of similar tastes and backgrounds to better help your fellow barbecue enthusiasts meet and mix. The best part of this strategy is it gives you an excuse to hold more barbecues for all your friends!

Simple and light food

You are not going to want to laden your guests with heavy food so they fall about like sand bags after they’ve eaten. The ideal barbecue is in the early to mid-afternoon. You want people to have a few drinks, eat and then socialise or even take part in a few sporting activities. Keep the food light and healthy, with chicken dishes and lean cuts of meat. Also have plenty of summer salads on hand.

Think beyond the food

If the plan is to feed your friends and send them on their way, the food is most likely the pinnacle of your barbecue. But if your intention is to host a wonderful afternoon that keeps your friends together for some fun and frivolity, you’re going to have to look beyond the food. What entertainment you provide will, of course, depend on the personalities of those who attend, but you might consider backyard games such as cricket or touch football. If you have a pool, use it for the afternoon’s activities.

The host of the perfect summer barbecue must be a Jack of all trades – part weather forecaster, part chef and part cruise director. It’s about making sure your guests are well fed and have a good time – this will ensure that everyone will want to return next time you send out invitations.

What other tips would you recommend for hosting the perfect Summer barbecue?

This is an S2 POST.

10 Reasons You Should Have More Orgasms

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Have more orgasms? We have all heard that there are many benefits to having orgasms or maybe your partner has told you this and you thought they were lying through the skin of their teeth.

Well it’s true! There are so many wonderful reasons why you should be having more of them. I am going to share my top 10 with you below – some you will have heard and some maybe not.

Why You Should Have More Orgasms

1. Helps to relieve pain 
To put it simply – the endorphin’s released during an orgasm can provide natural (and free) pain relief (yes that includes headaches and migraines too).

2. Sleep
Who doesn’t want more of that? The ease of sleep after having sex is caused by the rush of hormones that occur during orgasms (and of course the physical exhaustion would help).

3. Stress and anxiety relief
You can thank those wonderful endorphin’s again. When they are released they send ‘happy thoughts and feelings’ to your brain which cause you to be calm and relaxed.

4. Improves mood
It has been said to change your way of thinking (even if just temporarily) to see the world in a more positive light, more glass half full. This could in turn help to reduce depression and anxiety.

5. Anti-aging
That is a selling point if ever I heard one! Women pay thousands on creams, injections, etc. to make themselves appear more youthful when all they really need to do is enjoy more orgasms.

6. Exercise
Or better known as sexercise. Not only do you feel fantastic but you have given your body a complete workout. This means you can have that after sex snack without any guilt!

7. Cold killer
Experiencing orgasms boosts the immune system which ultimately keeps colds and flus away. An orgasm a day keeps the doctor away!

8. You can do it solo or duo or trio….. 
There is no specific number of bodies required to enjoy an orgasm. You don’t need to have someone else or numerous others (whichever your preference) to give you an orgasm, you can do this alone if you want. If playing solo there are some great toys out there to aid your orgasm in becoming an ‘Oh-Mighty-Gasm’ like the Tango from We Vibe. It is whisper quiet, 100% waterproof (so you can enjoy it in the bath), has 8 vibration modes and the many other fantastic features will have you well on your way to pleasure. You could even vibe with a partner.

9. Physical intimacy
Sharing sexual climax with another person (most commonly your spouse) creates a sense of closeness and intimacy.

10. It is a hell of a lot of fun!!
I don’t think this needs to be elaborated on as it is pretty self explanatory.

Tell me below – what is your favourite benefit of orgasms?

Now go and reap the benefits!!

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