As you all know, I am expecting a baby in the first week of November. As a result of the pregnancy being quite the surprise, we had already given majority of our baby things away. And like most parents will agree, a nappy bag is a ‘must have’ baby item for the first year, at least!

This is why I couldn’t have been more thrilled when I received an email from the lovely team at Storksak; telling me about their new release of Spring/Summer 2015 bags. I am a huge fan of Storksak. I have been for years. When I found out I was pregnant with Poppet (now 2 years old) I invested in a black EMILY NYLON. I hoped it would last longer being more expensive and I am so glad I got it. It is still in near perfect condition today! Just goes to show sometimes spending that bit extra does indeed bring a higher level of quality.

Storksak Catherine Review

Anyway, today I want to share with you my latest and very much loved CATHERINE leather bag. She is just gorgeous! I have the Bordeaux colour and I must say that the image online does not do it any justice, it is a divinely rich shade that complements a chic appearance with practicality.

What do I love about this bag?

There are several things I adore about the Catherine bag and I know many of you lovely mums-to-be and new mums will understand completely!

Features Features Features!

Firstly, there is nothing quite like the smell of new leather being unwrapped. It makes those senses go tingly with excitement. I just love the slouchy appearance, it is my style completely!

Exterior

• Handles – There are 2 straps standard with the Catherine. Short ones which make the bag the perfect length to wear under your arm and a detachable padded long leather strap. The long detachable strap offers more than just the ability to wear it over it your shoulder or across your body though, it also features Velcro straps that make it perfect for carrying on your stroller or pram. It really is genius thinking!
• Storage – There are three zipped storage pockets located on the exterior of the bag. Two are discreetly located on the front and are slightly larger than my hand when it is stretched out. The other is on the side and is an insulated bottle pocket.
• Protection – On the base of the nappy bag, there are four circular studs that protect the bag when placed on the ground. No more worrying whether you will scuff or scratch the leather.

Interior

• Storage – This bag offers storage that every parent needs. You will never complain about the lack of it in this particular bag (or the Emily). Internally this bag features 6 storage pockets.

Three are great for snack or bottle storage, one is enclosed with a zip and the other two are larger. I find these particularly handy for nappy sacks, nappy rash cream and sanitiser.

• Main compartment – this section of the bag is massive and can cater to whatever you need to hold. Nappies, wipes, spare clothes, bottles, formula, breast pump and possibly even a blanket!

Inclusions

• Storage – Just in case you didn’t already have enough storage; there is an additional removable zippered pouch inside the bag. It features a matching leather trim and is perfect for a spare set of clothes, pain relief/medicines, etc.

• Changing mat – This is one thing every good nappy bag needs. An included changing mat for when you are out and about. I love that this one folds up small enough to be practical and fits into the bag with everything else. It is sturdy enough to machine wash without being damaged as well.

Size

• It is an impressive size at H34 x W47 x D14 cm

I love that it is not overly huge but it is large enough to be convenient and looks amazing!

Quality

As mentioned at the beginning of the review, I trust Storsak to provide nothing but quality after my previous bag is still going strong after years of abuse use. The Catherine bag I have is made with soft leather but I don’t feel like I have to be extremely gentle with it, which is ideal.

STORKSAK DISCOUNT

I have an amazing discount for All Mum Said readers who have always wanted to get their hands on a Storsak bag but haven’t been able to part with the cash.
A whopping 25% OFF!!

This 25% discount can be used on ALL Storksak bags! Visit www.storksak.com.au to view their amazing range and get your Storksak bag now. Use CODE: MUM25.

*Please note this Storksak discount code is only available for Australia and New Zealand customers.

PRIZE INCLUDES: 1x Catherine Nylon bag in Moss or Navy (winners choice). RRP $270.00.

 **As the winners are chosen based on skill and not chance; you will be sharing for 0 extra entries however I’d love you to share the giveaway with friends and family. Sharing is caring and karma loves kind people. **

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions: 
1. Australian residents only.
2. Judges decisions is final.
3. Winners must make contact within 72 hours.
4. This is a game of skill. Chance plays no part!
Therefore no extra points are given for sharing however it is good karma!!
5. All Mum Said is not responsible for delivery of prize.
NOT endorsed by or have anything to do with facebook.

If you want to enter more giveaways click over here.

Disclosure: I received the above Storksak Catherine bag for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.

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The iconic Mother’s Choice is celebrating their 40th anniversary and they want to share their excitement with you by offering a 20% discount off everything online. I remember when I first found out I was pregnant with B1 (8 and a half years ago); it was the shock of a lifetime. Like a lot of young families we didn’t have a lot of money so we went in search of good quality products that didn’t cost us more than we afford. We found a Mother’s Choice car seat similar to the Emperor convertible seat on sale and after researching safety, touching for quality and checking our budget, we purchased it. It was reasonably priced and suited our requirements perfectly. It provided enough padding that bub was going to be comfortable, it was easy to keep clean, simple to adjust and stress-free to install.

People often assume reasonably priced baby equipment means poor quality however we had that particular car seat for years. It had many spills, hours of babies/toddlers travelling in it and it eventually became the extra seat in our second car for when family and friends needed a babysitter. We never once had an issue with wear and tear, poor quality or have anything negative to say about the Australian nursery brand Mother’s Choice because as a company they catered to our wants and requirements when we needed it most.

There is a reason why brands like Mother’s Choice are able to celebrate the amazing achievement of turning 40 and it’s not sheer luck. It is determination, knowing what your customers desire, what they need, remaining innovative, up to date and wanting the best for their consumers while remaining budget friendly. Congratulations on this wonderful milestone, I expect to see many more in the future.

To take advantage of this great 20% deal please click the Mother’s Choice link above to view the website and use the CODE: 40th_20%_Discount
(Valid till end of August)

Disclosure: This post was written in collaboration with Mother’s Choice however all opinions are my own.

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When I need to order photo gifts, canvases, prints or even photo books I go straight to Snapfish. I discovered them about 4 years ago and have never looked back so when I was approached to share some of their products with you I couldn’t say no. I recently ordered a gorgeous photo book and filled it images from the past 12 months as a gift for my family who doesn’t get to see us as often as they would like. The website makes it so easy to create your keepsake (regardless what you are making – photo book, mug, you name it!) and the quality is always superior. The hard cover photo books are Snapfish’s best sellers and for good reason; the images are clear, the pages are thick, you can have multiple images per page and the covers can be customised. They come with 20 pages but additional are available for $1.95 per extra page. There are also lay-flat books available which are great if you want one photo to spread across the entire 2 pages.

Front cover of our photo book

Page inside photo book

I have also purchased many canvas prints from Snapfish and have never been disappointed with them. They are ready to hang and made with the highest quality. I am pretty sure a canvas was the first thing I ever purchased from Snapfish and obviously was very happy with them because I have since gone onto to buy 6 for my home along with many others as gifts for family. My most recent canvas is of my 6 month old; I’m kind of embarrassed to say that it has taken me this long to hang a photo of her (yes this is the first photo of her to be hung in our home).

Canvas Print of Poppet

If you are looking for something unique as a gift, want to create something and memorable to keep forever that is reasonably priced than I highly recommend checking out Snapfish. You can get your products delivered to your door or pick up at your local Kmart store. I have an amazing discount for Mad Mummas readers as well – how does 40% off 4 amazing products sound?

1. 40% off 20x28cm Custom Hardcover Photo Book – 20 pages. CODE: FUN20X28

2. 40% off 28x20cm, Portrait (A4 size) Lay-flat Photo Books – 20 pages. CODE: FUN28X20LF

3. 40% off 30x30cm Square Canvas Prints. CODE: FUN30X30

4. 40% off 30x45cm Rectangle Canvas Print. CODE: FUN30X45

            T&Cs: Valid until 31st January 2014, can be used up to 10 times on Snapfish.com.au or Snapfish.co.nz sites only. *note, Lay-flat Photo Book not available for sale in NZ.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for Snapfish but as always – all opinions are my own!

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Are you stumped trying to find a gift for someone who has everything or is just plain and simply hard to buy for? Most of us know at least one person that we struggle buying gifts for. Or maybe you just want something nice for yourself! RedBalloon MarketPlace has taken on this challenge and has come up with an amazing solution that will have people smiling every month.  RedBalloon has released a fantastic range of subscription boxes that aim to surprise and bring delight to people all over Australia. I was lucky enough to receive a gorgeous gift box from RedBalloon to review and share my thoughts with you. I loved the idea immediately and waited with anticipation of what goodies I’d find inside when it arrived.

 I was very excited and couldn’t wait to untie the ribbon to find what Max Brenner products would await me. I lifted the lid to find a tin of hot chocolate powder and a hug mug. The hug mug is quirky and fun but I’ll be honest and say I was a little disappointed to find that for $49p/m there was no actual chocolate. I love Max Brenner chocolate and know that the cost of the hot chocolate powder and hug mug come very close to the subscription price but I still expected at least one little chocolate. I would imagine though that in the subsequent months chocolate would be received by the subscriber. I will also add though that Max Brenner hot chocolate is absolutely delicious and would be heavenly as a night cap or on a cool night.

The subscriptions are available in 3, 6 and 12 months or a 1 month trial. The anticipation of not knowing what will arrive in your subscription box is half the fun and would be something wonderful to look forward to every month which makes this the gift that keeps on giving! There are a large range of well-known and trusted products and brands available in the RedBalloon MarketPlace: Maggie Beer, Simon Johnson, Ghermez Cupcakes, Max Brenner, Hank’s Jams, Emma & Toms, Bitton, Pukara, Toby’s Estate, Republica Coffee, Spotted Cow Cookies, Carman’s Muesli and Valrhona Chocolate, as well as a huge range of wine and beer products hand selected by the team at Shortys Liquor. With prices starting at low $29.99 a month, including delivery means there are absolutely no hidden costs. The only surprise you or your recipient will receive is what gets delivered in the subscription gift box.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RedBalloon have offered a great discount to Mad Mummas readers. Receive $20 off when you spend $79 or more on any RedBalloon experience!

Visit www.redballoon.com.au & enter the code REDBLOG14 at the checkout to receive your discount.

Code can only be used once per person. All purchases are subject to RedBalloon T&Cs – http://www.redballoon.com.au/help/terms-conditions

Expiry: 31/12/2014

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary subscription box to facilitate this review, and an administration fee from Digital Parents Collective. As always, all opinions expressed are purely my own.

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So we all know that cleaning the house is one of those painstaking jobs that seem to be repeating like Groundhog Day, especially when there are children in the house. They always seem to attract dirt that instantly falls off the second they get inside and 9 times out of 10 it is on the carpet. Don’t even get me started on the sand – where does it comes from? We don’t have a sandpit or live near a beach! You may remember me talking about my love of Dyson DC24 Hepa and how well it sucks up the dirt from everywhere – well its life is unfortunately slowly coming to an end. I will be sad to see it go because it has been put through some tough times in its long life and has always come out the other side ready for its next run but it’s getting old and on its way out. Over the past 2 weeks I have been trialling 2 Dyson vacuum cleaners and geez have they come along way! Not saying they weren’t great before but technology has sure advanced. 2 lucky readers will also have the chance to trial one of these vacuum cleaners and receive a 20% discount if they wanted to purchase it after their trial.

Dyson DC54

The Dyson Cinetic^TM DC54 is everything and more that I’d want in a vacuum cleaner! It contains no bags or filters which means no stuffing around and trying to remember to replace, purchase and clean anything – just empty when the hygienic bin is full and off you go again. My house is quite large and I have to empty it every 2^nd time I vacuum which isn’t too bad. It is also very easy to empty; simply press a button and empty directly into your bin. When swapping from tiles to carpet there is no need to change over heads or modify anything, it works on all surfaces which is fantastic because it saves a few more seconds I’d otherwise spend cleaning. While this isn’t the smallest machine on the market it is very easy to manoeuvre around furniture and walls which is a must have when purchasing a pull along vacuum cleaner. My kids favourite part of the vacuum is of course the auto cord windup because our current vacuum is an upright so they have never experienced the joy from the cord winding itself up with the push of a button. Now the most important thing anyone wants to know when researching vacuums – DOES IT SUCK? Yes it does, even when the hygienic bin is full it doesn’t lose suction. The Dyson Cinetic™ is the only machine with no bags, no loss of suction, and no filter fuss. RRP: DC54 Animal Pro (RRP$1099), DC54 Animal (RRP$999), DC54 Allergy (RRP$899), DC54 Multi floor (RRP$799). Find the new Dyson Cinetic™ at www.Dyson.com.au.

Dyson DC59

The Dyson Digital Slim DC59 is a mean piece of equipment if you’re looking for something compact and cordless. It’s lightweight at only 2kg yet has been designed to provide the sucking power of a full size machine. I love how easy it is to manoeuvre into all the hard to reach places that are always painful to clean and since the new V6 motor has been designed specifically for this machine it is one and a half times more powerful than the previous version of the motor. I own a DC44 which has the previous motor and there is so much difference. While mine works great for what I use it for the DC59 is a clear winner if I were looking to purchase another cordless. I love this machine for quick tidy ups because it is simply quicker than plugging in the big vacuum for a small mess. The battery lasts for 20 minutes which is more than sufficient for what I have been using it for however for anything more than that I would use a mains vacuum cleaner because I couldn’t vacuum my whole house in 20 minutes. The latest Dyson Digital Slim™ DC59 vacuum is lightweight, cordless, and packs the same power as a mains vacuum cleaner. RRP $649 for the Animal model and $599 for the Multi floor. Find the new Dyson Digital Slim at www.Dyson.com.au.

Score yourself a 2 week trial and a 20% off discount!!

I have 2 opportunities available for readers.

1. One reader can trial the Digital Slim DC59  for 2 weeks. Should the winner wish to purchase the DC59 provided in their trial, a 20% discount will be available to them.

2. One reader trial Digital Cinetic DC54 for 2 weeks.  Should the winner wish to purchase the DC54 after trial, a 20% discount will be available to them.

 ENTRY IS EASY!! Simply leave your comment below telling me “What problem do your readers want Dyson engineers to solve in your home?”

ENDS: 20/11/2013

T&C: Must be Australian resident. Winner chosen based on skill/originality, Chance plays no part.

Disclaimer: I received a 2 week trial of both these machines with the option to purchase them afterwards. As always all opinions are my own.

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For the past 2 weeks I have been using some wonderful baby products courtesy of Conscious Cosmetics. On their website you can find safer alternatives for men, women, children, babies, face & body, hair, sensitive skin and so much more. They stock a large range of brands that are safe, healthy and all at reasonable prices. I have been using Wotnot & Gaia products on my newborn and have no hesitation in recommending either brand.

Wotnot Bio Wipes

These Australian made wipes come in a pack of 80 wipes and are 100% natural, biodegradable and compostable. The extra large wipes (19cm x 21cm) are super soft making them perfect for babies skin. RRP $7.50

 Wotnot Baby Balm 100ml

This balm is great for use at nappy changes to help nourish and soothe skin but it is also fantastic for the whole family on cuts, scrapes and insect bites. I love that it only contains natural and organic ingredients in a convenient squeeze tube for the low cost of $15.25.

Gaia Natural Baby – Baby Shampoo 250ml

This pure, natural and organic shampoo is gentle on babies’ skin and won’t sting their eyes. A little of this goes a long way so it will last for a long time which is always an added bonus to a great product. This baby shampoo is pH neutral and gently cleanses hair and scalp without stripping the natural protective oils. RRP $10.95

Gaia Natural Baby – Sleeptime Bath 250ml

This bath wash has a pleasant relaxing scent without using artificial fragrances, soaps and paraben preservatives making it a more suitable option for those with sensitive or eczema prone skin. The blend of organic lavender and organic ylang ylang help prepare your little one for a restful nights sleep. RRP $10.95

Conscious Cosmetics has generously given Mad Mummas readers a discount of 15% on their first order. (Code is valid until 25^th July 2013 and can only be used once per person).

*No minimum spend required!

Use code: MADMUMMA at checkout.

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