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Back to School with That! + GIVEAWAY

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For most families school is now back into full swing and life is returning back to its normal routine. In our home the afternoons consist of homework, outside play, dinner, showers and the making of lunches in preparation for the next day. I try and mix their lunch options up to keep it exciting and interesting but the one thing that is always requested is something from the That! range. They don’t care if it’s a That! Dairy Snack or a That! Milkshake, they just want one of them which is quite alright by me because I know that they are a healthier option in comparison to many other products in terms of kids lunch snacks. I like the fact they are convenient, great portion sizes and the kids will always eat them meaning no transferring them from lunch box to fridge continually like many of their yoghurts do!

As I have mentioned previously on Mad Mummas blog That! Dairy Snack is lunch box friendly, it’s gluten free, contains no preservatives and is a great source of calcium (made with Aussie Milk!) and is 98% fat free. The fact it doesn’t require refrigeration and can be enjoyed straight from the cupboard makes it ideal for not only school but also car trips, camping and when on the go. If you haven’t already tried them make sure you enter the giveaway below for your chance to win some or if you can’t wait that long add them to your shopping list this week! *That! are also running a giveaway on their website so once you have entered the one below pop over and enter that one too!* and just to sweeten the deal a little more enter their facebook giveaway away as well.

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Giveaway ~ I have 5x That! Product Prize packs each containing: 24x Pouches of That! (4 of each flavour of That! Dairy Snack and That! Milkshake) plus an exclusive branded That! apron. RRP $70.00 to giveaway to 5x deserving Mad Mummas readers. Total Prize Pool $350!

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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!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post however all opinions are my own.

Delicious and Easy School Lunches + IGA GIVEAWAY

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With school starting back this week it’s time to start thinking about getting organised and getting a head start on lunches. I like to have a stock pile of goodies in the freezer ready for the boys lunches and having a range of options already prepared makes lunch different and exciting each day. I started doing this so I didn’t have to put too much thought (or effort) into packing the kids lunches during the week and having the options in the freezer means I only have to add the basics to their lunchboxes. There are lots of great options that are suitable for morning tea, lunches and even afternoon tea.

I make sure there are always a few staples ready to go and these are usually chocolate chip cookies, banana muffins and double chocolate chip muffins (shown below). What I love about these recipes is that are easily adjustable to suit your taste and nutritional needs. Your local IGA caters to most dietary needs which I found out when my sister was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance. IGA has a huge range of gluten free, lactose free and even culture specific foods which can be used as alternate ingredients in my recipes. Click over to their facebook and Instagram pages to check out local stories, inspiration and ideas. I am also running a giveaway for IGA Australia to help you get organised for getting back to routine which you can enter here!

Dietary Specific Food

I want to share with you my personal favourite Double Chocolate Chip Muffin recipe so you too can get a head start on keeping the kids’ lunches exciting and delicious with minimal effort required. I love this recipe because it is so easy to make and the muffins are always moist and delicious!

Delicious Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

Print recipe
Serves 18
Prep time 5 minutes
Cook time 15 minutes
Total time 20 minutes
Meal type Dessert, Lunch, Snack
Misc Child Friendly, Freezable, Pre-preparable
Occasion Birthday Party, Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Valentines day
Website Mad Mummas
These muffins are so moist, so chocolatey and so damn delicious! You will have to hide them from the kids if you want to have any. Great for school lunches, can be frozen, great all rounder!
Powered by GetMeCooking

Now is the time to get organised and the kids can even help with this recipe. Don’t forget to enter the IGA GIVEAWAY here!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own.

Looking For Work? How Photos From The Weekend May Affect Your Employment Chances.

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For most of us, social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter are as much a part of our lives as checking email. However, unlike email (which is for all intents and purposes a private affair), status updates, comments and photos posted on these social media platforms are visible to other people online – including current or prospective employers. This can cause problems for you in the workplace. Photos, especially, can speak a lot about you (for better or worse) and if you’re serious with your career – or looking to land that dream job – then you’d be wise steering clear of posting photos even remotely controversial or “indecent”. Why? Because they can cast you in a bad light, and limit your privacy. In what follows we’ll go in a bit more detail.

They can cast you in a bad light.

Photos from the weekend of you getting drunk surely won’t portray you in the most positive of lights. And may make you look irresponsible. Sure, everyone deserves to let off some steam every now and again. For most of us, drinking alcohol provides this release, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with having a few drinks on the weekend. However, you need to be mindful that your current or prospective employer may see these photos, and judge you based on them. Most employers won’t be too keen on having one of their valued and representative employees looking drunk and messy online. Unfortunately, bad photos of you drunk will look bad on them, and they may not want to take that chance with you. If the tables were reversed, would you?

Indeed, if you’re currently a part of management, then it may be worthwhile having your employees conduct a short online course on the pitfalls of posting photos on social media. (And if you’re looking for the platform to base it on, Axcelerate Australia is an excellent option.) It may be one of the most important trainings you put your staff through, especially when it appears that the popularity of social media (and other new platforms) is only set to grow in the coming years.

You lose some of your privacy.

With the popularity of social media and instant photo and status updates, it’s now getting even harder to keep some of your privacy away from prying eyes (such as your employer). For example, many individuals have been caught by their bosses for lying about being sick, or having a family emergency. An innocent photo posted by a friend on your “sick day” can come to your boss’s attention, leaving you with lots of explaining to do the next day at work.

Unfortunately, social media can hurt your career. Photos, posted innocently enough, on Facebook and Twitter can negatively affect your hard-earned reputation in your current job, as well as hurt your chances of grabbing that dream job you so rightly deserve. Indeed, indecent or “controversial” photos are not just embarrassing to you, but career damaging. So make sure you think twice the next time you post something online. It may just come back to haunt you.

5 creative decoration ideas for your bedroom

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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.

5 Ideas to Consider Before you Renovate the Kitchen

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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.

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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.

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