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]]>Well it’s that time of year where it’s all about getting organised for back to school. Some parents are over excited and others dreading it – battling the crowds to buy books, rulers, pencils, etc. can be almost as hectic as Christmas shopping when the stores start their back to school sales (almost).
There are so many different types of stationary on the market but this year I recommend having a look at Budons kids stationary. The variety of items are fun, unique and suit both boys and girls. You can mix’em, swap’em, trade’em and collect the clip Budons. They have scented erasers, scratch ‘n’ sniff books, scratch ‘n’ sniff sticky labels, water bottles and even pencil cases.
As I said the range is quite extensive and caters to most of your childs schooling needs whilst maintaining the quality that every parent wants when purchasing school items.
Budons can be found at Target and on Budons website.
Are you looking forward to the kids returning to school or have you enjoyed having them home?
Disclaimer: I received no form of cash payment for this review.
I did however receive a few Budons items in order to review them.
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]]>The post It Only Takes A Few Words appeared first on All Mum Said.
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The school year is coming to a close and for some states it already has. Declan my 5 year old started Kindergarten this year (otherwise known as prep for Qld readers) and we were extremely lucky to have gotten the teacher he did. She is not only a fantastic teacher; she really knows how to interact with the children. Mrs G has always put effort into the kids who want to learn and behave themselves instead of putting all her time and energy into the disruptive kids who don’t want to listen. This was very refreshing for me to see.
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Throughout the year I have heard other parents talk about her for one reason or another and basically how little they think of her. A few of them were even boasting to one another how they made her cry by yelling at her in front of the kids. Yes, that’s right some of these parents yelled at their childs teacher in front of a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds. Now that’s great parenting right there! I just couldn’t believe these women and how proud of themselves they were. This woman, this bright intelligent woman is so kind hearted and does everything in her power to challenge her students, encourage her students and in my opinion has done nothing but go above and beyond her role as a teacher. I am devastated he will not have her as a teacher next year as we are moving in the New Year to a different area.
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Teachers need to be acknowledged for the hard work they put in, they need to be shown appreciation for everything they do for your children. Whether you see it or not they are a huge support and put in many additional hours out of the kindness of their heart. We bought Mrs G a box of chocolates for Christmas as a way to thank her but I also attached a card with a little note. While I cannot remember exactly what I wrote it was along these lines ‘Thank you for everything you have done for Declan this year we really appreciate it. You have truly gone above and beyond and I cannot thank you enough. We couldn’t have possibly asked for a better teacher. Thank you.’
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Now I didn’t think too much more of this besides it showing her that we appreciate the hard work she has put into teaching our son this year however it is amazing how much a few kind words can mean to someone. Declan gave his present to Mrs G during the day and when I went to pick my son up in the afternoon his teacher came up and hugged me and thanked me for my kind words. She told me she had had a rough afternoon yesterday as another parent had abused her and quite nastily I might add. It was so obvious how much these few kind words that I wrote in her card meant to her, those simple words that obviously are not said enough.
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Please remember that it only takes a few words to crush a persons self esteem and ruin their day and a simple thank you so much or I appreciate you to make their day great.
Use and choose your words wisely!
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]]>The post Stranger Danger Encounter – Reminder! appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>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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]]>The post Embarrassed to Perfection! appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>You know that moment your child says something that embarrasses you so much you just want crawl away somewhere and die hide? Most of us have had it happen more than once. My boys have been shockers for it but I must admit they have given me some pretty good stories over the years.
The most recent one being when they discovered sanitary pads; yep now you know it’s going to be good! It all started with the sound of mischievous laughter coming inside my bathroom. I walked in to discover that they got a kick out of sticking the pads all over the walls, shower screen and each other. They were discussing through giggles what the awesome sticky things were and came to the conclusion they were nappies. I told them they were not nappies but that sometimes mummy gets ‘sick’ and they help her get better. They are only 3 & 5 so I thought this was the most appropriate answer to give them at this point. They wouldn’t understand anything more than that and let’s face it anything more than that would have them scared shitless!
Anyway we went to the shops today; being the first day of school holidays and all I thought we could stock up on some craft and science supplies. We were walking up and down the aisles picking the items we needed and headed to the checkout. This is where B2 (my 3 year old) begins to tell the checkout man who looked like hay fever has got him a good one, that “My mum wears big people nappies when she is sick” (Not at all quietly I must mention!) I could instantly feel my cheeks burning into a bright red shade of embarrassment. I think he was trying to help the man by giving him ideas on how to get better but seriously!! Why can’t you keep your mouth shut child?
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO KEEP DOING THIS TO ME?
What have your kids done or said to embarrass you lately?
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I am being asked more and more frequently for tips on budgeting and saving money ideas so I have decided that I will start doing a regular post about these as well.
There are so many little things you can do that all add up and result in saving a fortune. OK so maybe not enough to buy a country or even a house but it will help make a difference. I will share one or two per post so it doesn’t overwhelm you. Some you will have heard of and others not but I would also love for you to email me any tips/ideas you have to be added to the posts (credit will be given J).
Email me at~[email protected]
The ways you can save the extra cash are endless! I will be sharing ways to do it from the kitchen by using some cooking tips I’ve picked up from being a chef, cleaning, power saving, lifestyle, leisure, entertainment, tips for around the house, freebies, plus so much more.
TODAYS TIPS
#1 Laundry ~ If you need to use your clothes dryer for more than one load, make sure you reload it when it is still hot/warm. As it will still be hot it won’t need to heat up saving you money on your energy bill.
#2 – Shopping ~ NEVER go grocery shopping when you are hungry! EVER!! You will spend a lot more than you need to.
Now this is the part where I need your help!!
*I cannot seem to think of a name for this segment on the blog so I would love to hear suggestions from you all (doesn’t need to be day specific). Something catchy!*
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No I am NOT going to try for a girl!
STOP BLOODY ASKING ME!
::Enjoy the random pics of my boys::
*You’ll see why I don’t feel I must have girl*
As you all know I have two boys and no girls. That’s right I only have sons just like so many other families around the world. I am pretty sure that I am not alone when it comes to being asked on a regular basis “Are you going to try for a girl?” To me this seems like not only stupid question but it is also frigging annoying. I personally would not ‘try’ for a specific gender!
I would be trying for a – wait for it…….
A baby!
A boy or a girl – it wouldn’t matter; a healthy and happy baby of either sex. Is that so hard to believe?
I can feel this look of ‘did you think before you spoke’ cross my face each and every time someone asks me this. I don’t mean for it to but from the moment we found out we were having our second boy (not the moment he was born) the actual moment we found out he was a boy from the ultrasound the question got asked!
Please tell me I am not alone on this! I would love another baby but we are not trying at this point in time. Patiently waiting until the timing is better – but guess what? And this may surprise you but….
I will not try to fall pregnant with a girl! Believe or not I would still after all these years still be incredibly happy with another son. Boys are great and I would love to have another boy but I am sure there are fantastic things about having girls as well, I just can’t compare them. Either way I would be super happy and would love for people to understand that it doesn’t take a specific gender to make me want another baby.
It is the joy, the knowledge and pure love from being a mum that makes me want to extend our family.
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]]>The post Make Time to Take Time! appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>Life can get pretty hectic sometimes and we all know that but many of us don’t really acknowledge the fact that sometimes we need to slow down and take a break.
I recently discovered that after months of solid activity, each and every day my calendar full of ‘must’ do tasks ~ you can’t do it all forever. I don’t mean for this to sound like I am naive to the fact the body needs rest but having the knowledge and using it are completely different. I am sure many men and women (I’m sure it’s mostly women though ;p) have this problem. Most of us have some or all of these ‘must do tasks’ and know that we all have lives being lived, houses to be kept, jobs to work, children to look after, school drop offs/pick ups, groceries to buy, dinner to be cooked, the list goes on and on and on. But when do we take the time or even have the time to sit back and rest?
WE DON’T!!
We need to make the time! Clean the house tomorrow – make a cup of coffee and enjoy it sitting in the warm spring sun – take a long hot shower; I’m sure you get the idea. That is what I have learnt over the past week when everything about me seemed to be broken. I decided after admitting to myself I couldn’t keep pushing myself anymore and that the next day I was sleeping in. It was Saturday so I didn’t have to worry about school, the kids would be more than happy to eat breakfast while watching cartoons for a while. They could manage on their own for a couple of hours (thank you TV!)
I was going to take pleasure in the little things.
When I got up I felt recharged, refreshed, happy and ready to take on the worldday (in moderation). Now I know you are all thinking this is common sense and stop telling us shit we already know but sometimes I find it nice to be reminded that we aren’t alone and that yes, life does get hectic, life throws us curve balls and yes life can be very unpredictable and so I thought I may not be alone and others may need to be reminded also. It is OK!
Enjoy life, embrace life and make time for you!
It makes all the difference.
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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
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]]>This is probably about as crafty as I will be ever be and the kids are pretty happy with that. On Saturday the boys and I made POM-POMS!! We had so much fun that I wanted to share it with you all. I hadn’t made them since I was in primary school and it was my boys first time.
How to make Pom-Poms!!
1. Use a compass or trace something circular onto cardboard – say around 5 cm diameters.
2. Next draw a smaller circle in the centre of the large ones.
3. Cut the circles out and you should be left with 2 donut shaped rings.
4. Hold onto the end of the wool and start feeding it in and around the cardboard until you can no longer fit it through the hole.
5. If you start a new colour or new piece of wool you don’t need to tie it on, just ensure the end is sticking out like the starting piece.
6. The tricky bit is next – When it is full of wool, cut the wool around the edges between the pieces of cardboard.
7. Pass a piece of wool between the 2 pieces of board and around all the wool. Tie together tightly.
8. You can now remove the board.
9. Tidy it up by trimming the wool.
10. Enjoy your creation!!
I hope you and your kids (probably more your kids) have a lot of fun making these!! Mine did.
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]]>The post Wordless Wednesday – Love appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>Todays Wordless Wednesday is brought to you by LOVE!
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