All Mum Said

Telling it like it is...

Get a Break From the Kids This Christmas Holidays

By Leave a Comment

So as you are running around like mad preparing for Christmas with the kids, have you ever imagined the possibility that you could have all the fun, with someone else doing all the work for you? If you are tired of the Christmas experiences where you spend most of your time running after the kids, getting them food, drinks and keeping them occupied, while missing out on having any fun for yourself, then a cruise might be just what you need.

There is no time like the present to start planning your next Christmas with a family cruise where you will really have the chance to actually relax, sit back and smell the roses (or the fresh ocean air, as the case may be!). The great thing about cruises is that everything is catered for you, and Christmas cruises are that little bit more special because they have the whole Christmas thing going on, and you don’t have to lift a finger. On a cruise ship, the staff are trained for one purpose – to ensure that you are having the time of your life. This means that they will be in charge of looking after all aspects of the planning of the time. They have dedicated staff to look after your kids, which includes every aspect of keeping the little munchkins happy, whether that be with activities, baby sitting or food. They cater to children of all ages, so there are things to do for everyone, including you! For the older kids there are games and activities to suit them, and the younger ones will be delighted to be able to spend their days hanging out with kids their own age. No matter who you are, or what your interest is, a cruise will have something to suit every taste.

Christmas is supposed to be a time when the whole family gets together to enjoy each others company. But if you are finding that you are stressed and working like a dog to keep everyone happy then you aren’t going to be the best fun to be around (which kind of defeats the purpose of even having Christmas). On a Christmas cruise, you get to be everyone’s favourite person because you are super happy while the staff take the worries out of every aspect of organising and executing the big day. While the kids get to spend their time swimming, dancing, cooking, playing and generally doing whatever it is that kids like to do, you will be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy doing sweet nothing.

Aside from the fun of having everything done for you, the cruise will also pull into various ports along the way, where the kids will have the chance to see other cultures, explore exotic lands, and see the way other people live. They might even start to get ideas about living more simply, and maybe next Christmas they won’t have a present list as long as your arm, as they will have a better idea that ‘things’ are not such an important part of life! For info about Christmas cruises head to the Cruiseabout website.

How to Declutter Your Garage

By 1 Comment

Guest Post written by Mick Cutcliffe.

Bio paragraph: Mick Cutcliffe leads a very busy life, a single father of 3 boys, working through the day and writing through the night. Cutcliffe is an avid writer for Fort Knox business storage.

There is too much stuff in our garage that only my car fits. Mr Dad has to park his car on the driveway ;)

A garage can be a really useful space for storing things and depending on how well you organise the space you can usually have room for storing the car and some of your stuff. One important thing to do to ensure that you are making the best use of the space is to declutter, and only keep things that you really need to in the garage. Here are 5 tips to decluttering your garage.

The shelves are great but a tidy up wouldn’t hurt!

Have a Chuck Out

First things first, before you can really utilise the space you will need to have a chuck out, and get rid of everything that you no longer need. Often the garage space can be a place where we dump anything that we don’t have a place for, and it builds up in piles and becomes a really untidy space. Getting rid of the things that you don’t need will free up your space, both physically and energetically, and your home will feel a lot clearer.

Store What You Don’t Need Now

If there are things in your garage that you need to keep, but don’t need to use on a day to day basis then an option that might work for you is to put them into storage. Often we may need to store papers and other things related to business etc, and only need to access them once a year, or once every few years. Business storage would be a good investment for you, but make sure you keep your storage facility in a place where they will be kept safe and sound for future needs.

Define the Space

One great way to utilise the space as well as it can be used is to work out what you want to use it for, and plan accordingly. If you are using it to store your car then you will want to organise the remaining space accordingly so that you can make the most of it. If you decide to use it as a studio or work space then shelves, benches and cupboards will be of great assistance to keep the place clear and uncluttered.

Overhead Shelf

If you are using the space to store your car but still have a lot of stuff to keep in the garage then you might want to think about installing some overhead shelving above the car. This way you can use that space that would usually be left unused. There are some really interesting designs for this that can be made easily and attached to the roof to make this shelving unit.

Tool Board

An interesting way of storing tools is to create a tool board with hooks where you can have your tools hanging on display so you know where they are and can easily grab them when you need them. The display board can be used for storing other things in your garage according to what purpose you are using the area for.

Preparing Your Teens

By Leave a Comment

Guest Post – Written by Agnes Jimenez from Empress Of Drac.
Prepare Your Teen for the Pressures of Growing Up

 

Being a teenager is hard. Between pressure to fit in school, changing bodies and hormones and a world of choices, they may feel overwhelmed with their lives. Preparing your kids for adolescence is essential to getting them through this period in their lives. By keeping the lines of communication open, you can help them make responsible life choices.

 

 

Parents are More Influential than Peers

If you talk to your kids, they will listen. You can prepare your kids for the teen years by using teachable moments to prepare them for the pressures they will face. Be genuinely interested in your pre-teen’s life. Find out who their friends are and what activities they enjoy. Many parents have no idea what is going on in their kid’s life, and are blindsided when their teen gets into trouble.

 

 

Talk and Listen

The key to helping your teen through this awkward time is to let them know that you are always available to listen. Allow them to ask you questions and respond in a non-judgmental manner, even if what they have to say is shocking. Many kids are faced with daily pressures but don’t discuss them for fear of negative reactions from their parents. Let them know that there is no subject that is off-limits, and take the time to listen if they want to talk. Sites like HelpYourTeenNow.comcan help you with talking points to get the discussion going. 

 

 

Use Teachable Moments

A friend’s pregnancy, a natural disaster or tragic event may be the perfect opportunity for you to find out what your teen is thinking. Ask him how he feels about his friends who do drugs, or explain how the world around him affects him. Many parents are surprised at the issues that worry their kids. These moments are an excellent opportunity to explore issues they may be reluctant to talk about. 

 

 

Give Them Responsibility and Trust Their Judgment

Your kids genuinely want your respect. They want to know that you trust them and they will work hard to live up to your expectations. Let them know that you know that they will make the right decisions. You do need to be firm about your beliefs and let them know that behavior that goes against those beliefs will not be tolerated.

 

 
It can seem impossible to protect your teen from the pressures of drugs, sex, smoking and drinking. By talking to your teen, setting clear boundaries and being available when they need you, they will be better prepared for adolescence.
 
Agnes Jimenez is a professional blogger and writer. She writes for many online establishments and currently partners with HelpYourTeenNow.com in spreading awareness about troubled and depressed teenagers (and how to deal with them). Help Your Teen Now aims to increase awareness on the current psychological and societal stresses of today’s teens and how these factors affect the future of our society.

Guest Post: Olympic Inspired Activities to do with the Family

By Leave a Comment

Sponsored Post
They may be over now, but the Olympics are definitely a great kickstart for motivation and inspiration. Take advantage of the Olympic fever in your household – use it as a chance for your family to spend more time together (away from the TV, of course!).

Stumped for ideas? Use these activities as inspiration to get your hubby and kids off the couch.

Backyard Olympics

If your kids are bored over the weekend, why not suggest an Olympics inspired play date with friends? Simple access to hula-hoops, basketballs, or even the backyard pool can host a fun backyard Olympics which will have the little ones motivated to stay active. If you have enough numbers, form teams and formulate relay races, rewarding the winning team with their choice of cupcake icing or cookie dough flavour – a perfect bribe for some competitive edge! If you and your hubby are lucky enough to get some quality time alone, you can also explore free gym trial options at places like Fitness First, and sweat it to work towards health and happiness together.

Olympics arts and crafts

The Olympics doesn’t just have to inspire physical exertion – they can allow the whole family to experiment with the symbolism and meaning of this international event. Print out stencils of the mascots and Olympic rings, and have the whole family create an Olympics pin board after they’ve coloured in these artworks. If you appreciate a little bit of originality, you can create an Olympic rings decoration with white paper plates that can be painted and stapled in order. You can then use a hole punch to draw a string through the first and last plates – which is ideal for hanging in the children’s bedrooms.

Park and Beach Fun

Take advantage of beautiful sunny days by taking a mid-morning trip to your local park or beach. Many of these places have nets set up which can inspire a fun came of volleyball or soccer. If you’re lucky enough to embrace the sunny sand, place a row of hula-hoops in a straight line after sinking them vertically into the sand and you have created a fantastic set of hurdles! Or, if you’re an avid bike riding family, the beautiful scenic routes are a perfect way to feel as though you’re competing for the gold in London!

Get involved in the Olympics spirit by recruiting the family and exploring some options, which will offer potential for fun, fitness and perfect weekend memories for the littlies. The Olympics are a great excuse to try new activities at various venues, which can provide ongoing motivation to keep you and your family moving during your daily lives.

Ana Bridgeston is a fitness freak who loves working out whenever she can. When she’s not pushing herself to the limit at the gym, she can be found reading blogs and articles on healthy living. Guest post brought to you by Fitness First

Guest Post ~ Little Nest Creation

By 7 Comments

Big HELLO to all the Mad Mummas & Honey Bunches!

My name is Percy. I am a Mascot.

“Huh? A Mascot? For what?” I hear you ask …

Well, … Officially, I am a Mascot for Little Nest Creations – a little shop that hand makes or chooses bird and nature inspired designs, jewellery, gifts and more.

But UN-officially I am a symbol of Hope and Happiness.

“What does that mean?” … Geez – You do ask a lot questions …
Well, … back before my business owner was even a business owner, she was sick. Very sick. She had a serious uterine disease and needed to lie down and rest a lot. But her time in bed was very boring. There’s only so many ways to count the ceiling rafters or to watch and rewatch the lastest TV rerun episodes of The Hills.  What to do? … One day her darling hubby brought home a little birdie statue (aka ME!!!) for her to look at. Her hubby told her that Birds are symbol of Love, Beauty, Peace and Hope – and that she should treat me very well and perhaps she could maybe just talk to me if she needed to let it all out. He placed me in a fabulous make shift hanging black wire cage (aka a dangling candle holder) and made me a little nest out of twine. I felt very pampered … And there I sat perched beside her bed making her smile some days … And other days just being there when medical things got tough … It seemed my business owner was happy with me there beside her …Then, one day … the doctor’s told her she was all better. Awesome! She was able to start living ‘normally’ again!  Her job as a Senior Scientist in the State Government was waiting for her and she could return and continue her technical work in a field she’d trained so passionately in.  Yay!

But then, gasp, my business owner was in a big car accident. She seriously injured her shoulder and clavical and her car was badly damaged too.  Oh dear!  At this point my business owner started to cry and cry through the night. It seemed she was losing all hope. She was feeling very sorry for herself and often said ‘Why me??’ (well, … she said it with maybe  a bit more colourful language that just that … but you get the point).
It soon became apparent that she could not yet get back to work in her technical role. She’d be useless going on long, far away field trips, or carrying equipment or even working in the office on reports and project meetings –  with an injured body she couldn’t do these things as well now … So sadly she had to take more time away from her work.  A “mid career break” as they say.

The days seemed dull and gloomy and self-pity seemed imminent at this time … What to do? … What to do????

Then something inside of her told her to pick herself up.  “You can do this!” she’d say to herself in the mornings as she got out of bed. Often she’d come over to see me and pretend to tickle my tummy and have a little chat about how wonderful the day was going to be!  …

“Wonderful? But why?” I hear you asking another question ….You see my business owner had made a decision. Yeap! She decided that maybe all her suffering was for a reason. That really all she ever wanted was happiness in her life … and if the happiness wasn’t going to come to her, then she was going to go to the happiness …  So, … she got herself together (a very hard thing to do when you are feeling as sorry for yourself as she was) and she made lemonade out of lemons … Not really, she made bird gifts out of her birdie interest. It all started very slowly in the beginning – more of a hobby she could do at home rather than an official home business.  But bit by bit her little hobby started to turn into a home business and it has started growing and growing ever since. My lovely owner now makes, finds, chooses and sells all different types of bird jewellery, gifts, paper and designs to people all over Australia and beyond. My personal favourite are the unique little birdie rings, necklaces and bracelets – they are all just so pretty!  We even have some cute kids and baby clothing and gifts that are both inspired by birds and nature – trees, butterflies, sparkles and of course, rainbows – these are perfect pretty gifts for all the sweet little chickadees and kiddlie-winks! They are all available now at a very affordable prices in Australia …

… And best of all, in April 2012, we got our Online Shop up and up and running through Facebook – and believe me it is not just a Shop where you can buy our cute stuff! No No No! – it’s also a fun-filled blog page that is full of bird inspired news and activities that are simply aimed at making you smile and feel happy. Ultimately we want our bird and nature inspired awesomeness to spread happiness around the globe … and as a result, this little hobby turned small business has gradually gained a fan base that has been growing and growing – it’s now well into the hundreds … Her happiness movement is alive and is the start of something wonderful hopefully! Hip Hip Hooray!

… And Me?  What happened to little me? … Well, one day my business owner posted about me on the blog.  Then she took me to a weekend market stall and people said hello and introduced themselves to me.  Then I got a bit of a fan base. One day someone asked “What’s this cutie’s actual name?” … And so a competition was held to name me!! … The winning name was drawn out of hat of hundreds of entries … And to my pure delight, the name that won was “Percy!” … “Yippeee! I’m Percy!” I said. It was from that day on that my business owner let me be the business Mascot. As you will see from the photos on the blog, I take this job very, very, very seriously. I have a lot of people who make requests and I often like to post little activity updates and photographs of my nest to let everyone know what I’m up to …  I even host different themed Market Nights on the blog – these are where I like to sell our showcase our latest products all reduced to really affordable prices. I also help to come up with fun games for our customers to play to win lots of mini birdilicious prize giveaways! It has been really exciting and I had lots and lots of happy times being the Mascot. I now truly think our little Facebook page is just so so so fabulous and a truly happy place to come! But don’t let me be the judge of that – we’d absolutely love for you come have a looksie for yourself. You can meet me, see all of our beautiful and cute bird and nature inspired pieces, AND join in all the fun of our competitions for FREE – Yay! If you do visit please tell us that you came through this blog and I’ll give you a special discount on any of the little bird pieces you’d like us to send out to you …. Holler!!!!! Time for a Big Big “Yar-hooo!!!! …”

… So come on! Come visit me soon at:

Well, … that’s it. Thanks for reading this Guest Post … and thankYOU Kell for letting me come to your page for this month!  Hopefully my Guest Post has given you an insight into who we are and how LITTLE NEST CREATIONS came to be!  … But most of all hopefully it has helped you to be BIRD INSPIRED!!!!  Little Nest Creations is all about being inspired and having hope.  Hope is what started us up and Hope is what you can have throughout your life too. It is never too late to have HOPE!

Time to sign off …

… My name is Percy and I am not just a business Mascot. I’m a symbol of Hope, Love and Peace.

Take care and kind regards Everyone – Tweetie Tweet!  x

Top Posts & Pages