Tag: holiday

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Family

After Lockdown I Need A Holiday Alone

We are about to enter our eighth week of lockdown. Yes, it will be nearly two months until we have been allowed to go anywhere other than our local LGA (council area).

Not only are we going stir crazy and getting frustrated, but it also looks like there is a huge possibility that the lockdown that was set to end at the end of August will be extended for another eleven weeks! However, this is not confirmed but has been a rumour, especially on Twitter.

So if it is true we have another few months of lockdown. It will end around the end of October or possibly be extended for Christmas and New Year, who knows at this stage.

A holiday at a hotel just for me!

It has been rather sad as the kids have missed out on their holidays as the lockdown started during the winter school holidays and it looks like the twins will celebrate their thirteenth birthday at home if we are still in lockdown in September.

I am sure I am not the only one that has missed alone time. With everyone at home there is nowhere to be and when you do finally stop working there is always something crazy going on with the kids that means that you are never truly relaxed.

I am living in a house that is constantly noisy, crazy with activity and with kids that don’t listen.

Not only is there no break but the kids have taken over my personal laptop for their school work, so that means that when I finally get some time for me, I cannot access my own computer due to the kids using it.

One thing that would make things much easier, is if all the kids could go back to school. It is a real struggle to get my five-year-old to do any school work and the constant arguments and negotiations are so draining.

After lockdown ends I know that many will be desperate to travel and I for one am one of those people, however, I have been thinking that after a huge lockdown trapped with family members that are making you frustrated, annoyed and making you feel like retreating.

I believe that holiday retreats for parents without kids or just the mum having some time out is what is going to happen. Bring it on I say!

I am drooling over the idea of going to a hotel all by myself. I don’t need to partake in all the services offered, however would be happy if the hotel of choice has a day spa. Mainly I would just enjoy the room on my own, sleeping in, watching my own tv and doing my own thing for a change. Oh and finally being able to not be responsible for the food and bedding would be awesome too!

Have you been thinking about the holiday you would take if you were not in lockdown? Currently, I don’t have to travel that far to get a nice hotel but as it is a huge cost staying at home is the cheaper option.

I am still getting emailed newsletters about holidays I can go on throughout Australia and also overseas, although with us not being able to travel at the moment, booking a holiday is not a good idea. I do spend a lot of time staring at the photos on the travel emails and wishing that I could go somewhere with the family or on my own. However, at this stage, it is not to be.

Wishing I was in the Maldives

Are you in the same boat? Wishing you could travel somewhere amazing? Are you also getting heaps of emails about booking your next holiday?

I know it sounds crazy that I wish to be alone after lockdown but with all the constant crazy energy I am seeking some calm time out. I am also wishing it would be nice to visit family and friends but mainly I am dreaming of a hotel room for just me.

Let me know if you are feeling the same.

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Categories
Family

School Holidays Have Exhausted Me!

I'm beyond tired and really would love to sleep for a month or two.
I'm beyond tired and really would love to sleep for a month or two.

Tomorrow the twins go back to school. Insert happy dance. Maybe a HUGE boogie-woogie.

Yep, the start of term three is nearly here. I’m so tired due to the last few weeks.

There was always something on and therefore to drive to. If we weren’t driving to places it was days out and fun with other kids and parents too.

I want to sleep like this cat. Wish I could just curl up when I wanted and have a sleep.
I want to sleep like this cat. Wish I could just curl up when I wanted and have a sleep.

Last week had five days out of the house, the week before we had three days out of the house.

Some of the things we did were:

  • Did Science workshops at Mt Tomah Gardens
  • Had playdates with some of the kid’s friends
  • Drove to visit family (they live far away so it took 2.5 hours each way, so 5 hours of driving)
  • Visited the Way Out West Festival (WOW) and then visited a good friend the same day
  • Attended the Robogals STEM workshops at New South Wales University
  • Went swimming and played at an indoor play centre

My plan for the school holidays was to relax and to stay at home more.

I had a vision of just staying in my pj’s and not having to be anywhere or do anything in particular.

One insane thought was to get the house tidier, organised and remove clutter during the holidays. I hear you all laughing at me very loudly and with bad snorting to boot! I, of course, didn’t any tidying done or making the house look more organised.

Nope, it did not happen. I did try and the twins room got a big tidy up, bags of clothes and toys were given away, many other bags ended up in the bin and more room was created. However, this cleaning of one room took two days, required constant supervision and reminding the kids of what they were doing. Oh, the energy really was zapped from my being.

You might think after losing hours of my life in a feral cave of mess that finally managed to be tidy after over 48 hours it would be brilliant now.

Well, I kid you not it is like we never touched it. It is a huge mess yet again.

I'm beyond tired and really would love to sleep for a month or two.
I’m beyond tired and really would love to sleep for a month or two.

I am so tired, my cells are aching, and my body is throbbing.

I could close my eyes and sleep for a month. I know that school going back is great but more running around will happen.

School drop offs, pick ups, after school activities, getting kids to do homework and more.

Kids get holidays, but mummy rarely does. Actually, I don’t get any holidays! I need one now to recharge from our hectic few weeks.

Did you have relaxing school holidays? I close my eyes and dream a relaxing holiday…possibly Fiji, Europe, Bali, Thailand? Who knows.

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Wednesday Wisdom

Drooling and Wishing

I have been daydreaming about being on holiday.  Yesterday it was made worse with a Getaway special about a cruise that you can do in France. It looked divine, amazing and just so relaxing.

Although I loved what the Getaway Special were selling me, I was getting rather depressed about the whole thing. I cannot go to France. I have three kids. I don’t have the money and also hubby does not have the time off work! So the longer I watched this show the more annoyed I got. Therefore I turned it off to busy myself with other things, like cleaning the house for my mum to visit (cleaning the bathroom ended up giving my left leg a HUGE bruise and it really hurts!)

I know….the idea of holidaying in France compared to housework and I had to do housework. Oh well, maybe I will be the chick in the commercial one day soon. You will see me swanning around a chic French eatery and looking calm and sooo relaxed. Just you wait!

A Paris Cafe. I can see myself having a bite to eat or just having a relaxing drink and watch the world go by.
A Paris Cafe. I can see myself having a bite to eat or just having a relaxing drink and watch the world go by.

I see specials for holidays everywhere; Television advertisements, discount deals to fly around the world that are emailed to me, flyers in the local newspaper for great holiday deals and also when I’m at the shops. I cannot seem to escape the idea of drooling over a holiday. I have been thinking that it is the universe telling me I need to have a break, just chill and have a holiday. I wish the universe could pay for it though.

A European vacation where I’m touring Spain, Italy or France is a great thought. However a Queensland or Fiji adventure would be lovely also. Even a quick getaway up or down the New South Wales Coast or a trip to Melbourne. I’m not fussy.

Another idea is maybe exploring Tuscany.. doesn't this look amazing!
Another idea is maybe exploring Tuscany.. doesn’t this look amazing!

Actually anywhere at the moment that means that I am looked after, I don’t have to cook or clean is brilliant in my book…oh and if they have a kids club and babysitting is available would be advantageous as well.

Maybe it is the fact that I have had my third child that I am constantly daydreaming about being on holiday and having a break? Or is it due to the fact that kids are now again on school holidays and I wish we were all somewhere with a beach and I had a nice cocktail in my hand.

Yes I would rather be in a warm climate, in my swimmers on the beach and just relaxing. Pity this cannot be at the moment.

Hubby did ask me what I wanted for Christmas and I told him a relaxing holiday on the beach somewhere. I’m not fussy. Just somewhere other than home. A break is needed. However this was met with I don’t think we can do that. I did say, “You did ask me what I wanted”

I have also fantasied about being at a health retreat all on my own…. Yes a whole holiday just for me! How amazing would that be! My health retreat holiday would consist of the following:

  • Great healthy food provided
  • Wonderful drinks provided
  • Yoga
  • Swimming
  • Massages
  • Facial/Manicure/Pedicures and any other wonderful beauty treatment
  • I can sleep in on some days
  • Watch my own television
  • Do my own thing, not worry about others, and have some time for me!

I have never been to a health retreat so if you have let me know what you got up to. I am only daydreaming about what I could do while there.

This would be me at the health retreat. Yes not actually me but you get the idea. Me relaxing and having a much needed massage!
This would be me at the health retreat. Yes not actually me but you get the idea. Me relaxing and having a much needed massage!

My down time actually is finally having a hot cup of coffee and a snack and drinking the coffee when it is still hot. Many parents will know the perils of making a hot drink and then drinking it when it is cold or having to chuck it out and start all over again.

Finally getting a hot cup of coffee. Also managed to get some work done too!
Finally getting a hot cup of coffee. Also managed to get some work done too!

Maybe there is a takeaway here:

A weekend away here and there will be just as good. Now to just book them in and get organised. As said it does not matter where I go, just as long as it is a break. Time out for everyone is a good thing. It helps recharge your batteries and makes you have a happier outlook.

Are you bombarded by things that you cannot have right now? Is it the dream holiday? Is it something else that keeps on popping up in your email or in the mail? Let us know.

 

Categories
Family

Travel Tips – Our Ballarat Winter Holiday

We all went to Ballarat for the winter holidays in 2015. Read below to find out what we got up to.

——————————————————————————————————————–

Okay it was our winter holiday.

I was drooling over sunshine, beaches, swimming and just balmy days.

Just so you know, the Blue Mountains is freezing during winter, so a nice warm change was needed and deserved.

So where did we go for our ten day winter holiday?

We flew to Melbourne to holiday in Ballarat. Yes the weather as you can imagine was very much the same, COLD! Although I was not keen due to the cold … we had a fabulous time. Yes a wonderful time was had by all.

There was plenty to do and we kept ourselves very busy indeed.  I must say due to picking a colder location there were not a lot of people where we were. This surprised us due to it being school holidays, but maybe it might have been different if we chose Fiji as a destination instead. So think about this for your next holiday. Go were others are not, and you will avoid the crowds and still have a brilliant time.

So our first hurdle was to get to the airport with everyone intact, no tantrums and everyone relatively happy. We managed this and then made our way to check in our luggage and get our boarding passes.

 

My tips to keep kids happy on a plane:

1.       Have electronic devices fully charged and ready to go. I make sure to charge the iPad and iPhone the night before so that they have full battery power. This way the kids can make use of the inflight entertainment.

2.       If they get bored with the electronic entertainment I make sure to have pens/pencils in a bag with a colouring or activity book. Even a blank book to allow creative drawing is ideal. This way your little artists can go mad and draw their masterpieces.

3.       Have some snacks just in case they don’t like what is on offer on the plane. I have two very fussy kids so making sure they have some snacks that meet their approval is ideal and also creates less arguments and annoyance. (Mainly for the parent – really this is for you to make sure you have a calm and stress free flight)

4.       Since I have twins (even if you have more than one child) one parent sits with one child one way and then we swap on the way home. This way each child gets a chance to sit next to mummy/daddy.

5.       When we book in and get our seats we try to get a window seat so that each child can have the view if there is any out the window.

6.       One big tip is we make sure the kids go to the toilet before we all board the plane. I know they might not really need to go but I make them anyway. If the worst does happen, there is a toilet on board but you don’t want an emergency dash to the loo to happen when you have to remain in your seats for take-off!

We arrived at Melbourne airport, got our hire car and then we were all on our way to Ballarat.

daddyjulia

What did we do while we were in Ballarat?

As you can see we kept very busy and saw a lot of the sites.

 

Our hotel did not have a restaurant and therefore we ate out for dinner every night.

Two of the restaurants were amazing and such a standout, we were super impressed with the service, food and atmosphere.

So what are these fabulous places to eat?

1.    The Forge Pizzeria @ Armstrong Street, Ballarat

Due to the fact our kids are fuss pots with eating we thought that a good pizza would be the way to go. The kids I am sorry to say are not that adventurous, so they stuck to the cheese pizza.

The Forge had a great cheese pizza for the kids and was kind enough to take off anything green like parsley or fresh herbs. Yes if there is anything green on it, it gets met with a confused look and the kids just freak out. The team at this pizzeria understand kids and made sure that the pizza was all cheese!

For the adults they have an excellent choice of pizzas with all sorts of wonderful ingredients. Anything from pumpkin, pulled pork, garlic prawns to sauerkraut.

While we waited for our pizzas to be cooked the kids occupied themselves with colouring in and drawing at a big table at the end of the restaurant. This was great as the kids were happy being there and due to it being at the end of the restaurant it was safe and you could keep an eye on the kids.

The environment is rustic and very warm. The tables are recycled and some are very long that it allows big groups and families to all share dinner or lunch together.

Once we received our pizzas we were amazed at how wonderful they tasted. The dough was so light and just melted in your mouth. Devine! Simply amazing.  I was not planning on eating the whole pizza but ended up finishing it due to how tasty it was. I could not help myself.

We were so taken with the place that we had to come back. A few days or so after our first meal at The Forge, we came back for our second meal. The waitress that helped us when we were first there was working that night and remembered us. She even remembered what drink I was drinking and organised it all for me. She was very helpful and how amazing to be remembered.

If you are ever in Ballarat you must try The Forge Pizzeria. You will be in love with it as much as we were. It is family friendly, tasty meals, kids had a blast and so did we.

The Forge Pizzeria has even been named one of the Top 10 Pizza Restaurants in Australia by MTV.com.au

2.    Fu Man Lou Dumplings – @ Camp Street, Ballarat

I was craving dumplings and due to having fussy eaters we did not entertain going to a dumpling restaurant for dinner. However we stumbled across Fu Man Lou and saw that they had Chicken Sang Choi Bao, Fried Rice, Prawn Chips and more. The kids would love this and they can try the dumplings.

We love dumplings well hubby and I do and have been craving some while in Ballarat. This place looks amazing and so groovy. Cannot wait to try some!
We love dumplings well hubby and I do and have been craving some while in Ballarat. This place looks amazing and so groovy. Cannot wait to try some!

The first thing you will notice about Fu Man Lou is that the place has a sense of humour. Even their menu is fun. Instead of saying entrée, they call it the small stuff, the mains are referred to as the bigger ones.  If you wish to have just water or soft drink that is in the no booze category. Plastered all over the walls is Fu Man Lou propaganda poking fun of the Maoist Regime.

If you are like me and crave dumplings every now and then, you can have a dumpling taster or just order a few dumplings and then see how you go.

It was great for kids as they made sure that the kids got their food first. The girls loved the Chicken Sang Choi Bao and did surprise us when they tried some dumplings.

Fu Man Lou is fab for families and has a fun atmosphere. My favourite dumpling was the Wontons in Chilli Oil, it is so yummy!

If you are ever in Ballarat and need to get a dumpling fix, Fu Man Lou is your place.

 

We all had a great time in Ballarat and surrounds. Initially I wanted to be somewhere warm and sunny. However we had a great family holiday and we did not have to fight any crowds.

Maybe we need to look at where others might not go next winter? Nope I still want to go to the beach!

Did you plan to go somewhere and then it did not work out.

Was it the beach and you ended up somewhere cold or was it the reverse?

Let us know. Did you end up having a great time anyway?

 

Categories
6 years and beyond

Mummy and The Girls Off On Holiday

Today the twins and I fly to Coffs Harbour to visit their grandparents and as luck would have it we can also see my mum and step dad as well! Yes, both sides of the family will be in the one place at the same time. AMAZING ACTUALLY! This was not planned and was just a fabulous coincidence.

We were all hoping to go and visit after Christmas but hubby has to work through and only has public holidays off, so not ideal for traveling far away. I asked hubby if he was okay with me and the girls flying there to see his parents and my mum and step dad, and if we had the money we would do it. We were lucky that the stars aligned and we managed to organise it.

The twins new luggage! All packed and ready for their trip to Coffs Harbour. They cannot wait to be on the plane and the fight for the window seat has begun!
The twins new luggage! All packed and ready for their trip to Coffs Harbour. They cannot wait to be on the plane and the fight for the window seat has begun!

Months back we booked the tickets and I secretly purchased luggage for the twins. Yes they now have their own luggage. Last year when we went to the Gold Coast they wanted their own luggage. I promised that the next trip we make I will get them their own suitcases.  I packed up the luggage as part of their Christmas gifts and of course it was the first one that they decided to open. Once open, I asked, “Do you want to know where we are going on our secret adventure?” The kids screamed, “YES”, I told them that we are off to see grandad and grandma, and of course Nana and Opa will be there as well. They were so happy that we are going to see them! However the new luggage and news of going on a plane was high on the list also.

This is my first time of taking the kids on a plane with me, and just me! It should be fun. It is a short trip, only one hour flight so we will be there in no time. Once all our bags and extras are checked it will free up the hands to look after other things like colouring books and organising drinks and food!

As I will be flying out to spend time with family, I will not be blogging this week as much. Check my Instagram account to see what I have been up to.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and are having a nice relaxing holiday!

 

 

Categories
5 years and beyond

Observed Bush Fire Damage

The view on our walk to Anvil Rock
The view on our walk to Anvil Rock

Yesterday the family and I took a drive. We continued along Hat Hill Road at Blackheath and just wondered where certain roads went. We ended up at Anvil Rock and did the bush walk.

During the drive we noticed the amount of trees that had burnt in the bush fires. For a long time the fire did not cross the road and that seemed like ages, however there was a point where it did and we looked at the devastation and just though how horrific it would have been.

Once we were up on the rock we had a great view and were able to see the trees that had burnt and others that were lucky to still be green. Although there was kilometre after kilometre of burnt trees in the middle of the ash and charcoal there was green growth sprouting.

It is another thing to be told about the fire and another thing entirely too actually see what it did to the land. It was shocking. Have you had a moment when you are faced with something like this, you hear about an event but have not seen the result of it in the flesh? How did it change you when you were face to face with the impact of a disaster? I was in tears at one point as it really brought home how close it really was. One change of the wind and it would have headed our way.

We were very lucky indeed. The firefighters did a tough job and I and the community are extremely grateful for their long hours and hard work.

At Anvil Rock
At Anvil Rock

The view while on Anvil Rock
The view while on Anvil Rock

Trees that got burnt in the bush fire
Trees that got burnt in the bush fire

I’m not sure what the count on land that got burnt, but the community is all o.k. No lives were lost and that is great news. Not great I know if you lost your house, and I think that would be tragic and I would be very upset if that had happened. I feel for people in this situation.

The 3 Sisters at Katoomba - Echo Point
The 3 Sisters at Katoomba – Echo Point.

Contrary to public opinion The Blue Mountains is open and ready for business. Nearly all areas are green and have wonderful views and you would never know that we had a bush fire. We just saw an area that got affected yesterday. If you are wanting to get away from it all, don’t think that there is damage everywhere, all is fine.  Pack your bags and take your holiday, long weekend or conference here.  The Blue Mountains is a great place to be and to visit.

Echo Point @ Katoomba
Echo Point @ Katoomba

Why not explore your own backyard and help local businesses? Everything helps. Send in your comments.

Categories
5 years and beyond

Silent Sunday – Bush Walk

Daddy and the girls
Daddy and the girls

Bush and can see a bit of the view through the trees
Bush and can see a bit of the view through the trees

Walk way under a massive rock
Walk way under a massive rock

Pretty flowers
Pretty flowers

Looks like two faces having a chat
Looks like two faces having a chat

Wow look at the view!
Wow look at the view!

The girls relaxing on a rock with a view
The girls relaxing on a rock with a view

Categories
5 years and beyond

Packing Mistakes

This would have been what it would have looked like if I had my swimsuit, Really! Image courtesy of photostock at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
This would have been what it would have looked like if I had my swimsuit, Really! Image courtesy of photostock at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Now as you all know, we have recently come back from a fabulous trip to the Gold Coast. It was fun and amazing, however I forgot two essentials, they were:

1. My swimmers

2. My business cards

I got all beach ready to then have to wear shorts and t-shirt to the beach. Not glam or comfortable but at least this allowed me to exerpeince the sea and have a bit of fun. Still upset about this. I got everyone’s swim suit and clothes organised and forgot mine! Have you done this? Talk about a mother thing to do. Next time I will sort my swimmers out first and as I think about it, I WILL PUT THEM IN THE SUITCASE RATHER THAN DO IT LATER!

While at the Gold Coast I was attending the Problogger Conference and only realised the night before it started that I did not have my business cards. Where were they? Well they were safe at home on my desk, doing NOTHING! Annoying to say the least.

Tears were shed, Many words not fit to print were uttered and yelled, and just felt like a stupid idiot forgetting them as I was so looking forward to making new contacts. Oh well, the only saving grace here was technology. I had my phone and tablet and this allowed me to follow new contacts on twitter or via Facebook and therefore allowed me not to be too upset about not having my business cards on me.

What have you left at home to only realise later that you really needed or wanted to have it? Were you annoyed? Could you get a replacement for the thing/things you left at home? Send in your comments.

Categories
News

Problogger 2013 Takeaways

At Tsh Oxenreider's talk on Day 2
At Tsh Oxenreider’s talk on Day 2

Problogger was exactly what I thought it would be like, awesome! I learned so much, met wonderful people and overcame my fears of saying hi to some well known, very established bloggers. As my hubby reminded me, they are just like me, however the only difference is they have done it a bit longer.

I was super lucky to have been able to attend this conference and it would not have happened without winning the 1stAvailable.com.au blogging contest, so thanks again to the lovely team at 1stAvailable for making it all happen. I do attribute a lot of things to luck, maybe I need to adjust my thinking and believe it was skill. At the end of the day I felt blessed and amazed to be attending the event as at the same time last year, I was stomping around upset that I would never attend such event and just having a bad time of it all.

This bad time could be due to kids not listening, feeling like the blog was not going anywhere, but felt that it would be a nice goal to attend one day. I must have put my thoughts out into the universe and the universe rewarded me this year. I did catch myself wanting to pinch myself that I was actually on the Gold Coast and about to hear such vibrant people like Trey Ratcliff, Amy Porterfield, Darren Rouse, Tsh Oxenreider, Clare Bowditch, and Bernadette Jiwa speak.

Have you got mad about something but really you are just jealous or annoyed due to really wanting to go but can’t. Then it finally happens and it seems very surreal. If so I know how you feel?

So what was the conference like? Is it worth it? 

Yes the conference is well worth every cent and effort made to attend. The talks were inspiring, the information was helpful and it opened my brain to do things a little differently on the blog. The QT on the Gold Coast where the conference was held was amazing, it is quirky, and has a 1960’s funky vibe. The food was so yummy, dining at Bazaar was a magical and a relaxing experience. Breakfast was the same, so much to choose from, that said the catering for the conference was wonderful and we even got served by flight attendants from Virgin Australia as they were one of the major sponsors. It did take me a moment to realize why they were there after leaving a very engrossing talk.

Darren and Trey
Darren and Trey

What were the key messages and takeaways?

  • Image is key, make sure that you have an image for everything
  • Facebook is where to market yourself
  • Make sure that you have a good cover image for Facebook that has what you do clearly visible
  • Your profile image should be the same across all your social sites (need to fix up one I think)
  • Focus on telling a story and adding personality into your brand
  • Tsh was very inspiring with ways to brainstorm and think of what to write about. I do have a million and one ideas, however I don’t write them down or remember them all. She was very clear about how to link things and suggested creating a series
  • If they don’t fit your brand, what could you do with the content? Does it belong on another blog or site?
  • Amy was amazing with all the secrets she shared about Facebook marketing, creating Post Page Ads is one thing I did not know about. Will find out more when I go through more notes
  • What personality type are you? Are you a morning person or is it evenings? Figure out how you work best and go with that.
  • Treat the blog as a business from day 1, this way you will be more focused and organize it as such. Writing and organizing time will not be so bad if you do this from the start. I need to do more of this.
  • Trey showed me that looking the world differently is o.k and one key quote he said about his critics is “fight back with awesome”, I am going to do this, but not sure about critics. I will just assume I have none and power along with awesomeness.Darren's Keynote Presentation

Darren’s Keynote Presentation

  • Clare was amazing and showed me that I have so much in my head that I want to be, I just need to follow my calling and go with it. Focus on what makes me happy. So I will do that. I normally have to do things for others, but due to kids and creating a role for myself at home with the blog and soon to be social media manager it is slowly happening. Following my bliss.
  • Don’t give up with your blog. All the speakers at one time or another was going to throw in the towel and they kept at it, success was just around the corner.

Excited to be at Problogger
Excited to be at Problogger

Virgin Australia serving our food. I did a double take as did not expect this!
Virgin Australia serving our food. I did a double take as did not expect this!

I know Austin from way back. Yeah baby. At the Party on Friday night @ Gold Coast Hilton
I know Austin from way back. Yeah baby. At the Party on Friday night @ Gold Coast Hilton

YUM sweets!
YUM sweets!

Wobbly dark choc dessert, YUM!
Wobbly dark choc dessert, YUM!

These interesting creations are so yummy it is hard to explain. The pill thingy is a squeezy tube that you add over it. It gives it a nice zesty taste.
These interesting creations are so yummy it is hard to explain. The pill thingy is a squeezy tube that you add over it. It gives it a nice zesty taste.

 

I now want to go next year. Keen to find out where the conference will be and see if it is possible for 2014.

If you were unable to attend the conference, the virtual ticket is still available, this gives you access to all the talks – audio and presentations that we saw over the 2 days. As said it was great and a lot of information to digest. Over 30 hours of learning that will help your business and grow your blog.  If you do wish to look at and purchase the virtual ticket. Click on the link on the to right of the blog website, you can learn more and purchase from here. Enjoy, and get ready to be inspired!

What did you think of the conference if you went? Have you attended via the virtual ticket? Are you going to go next year?

Silly photo fun with mummy at the QT on the Gold Coast.
Silly photo fun with mummy at the QT on the Gold Coast.

Categories
5 years and beyond

Back Home

Hi, we are back from our holiday and Problogger. It was so wonderful and I am super grateful that we got to go. Thanks so much to 1stAvailable.com.au for making this all possible. We are super tired and I have many posts to share with you all in the next coming days.

At the conference
At the conference

Me at the beach
Me at the beach

If you did make it to the conference it was lovely to meet you. It was amazing and I am making plans to be there next year, where ever it will be.

Good night world, gotta go get some sleep as kids are at school tomorrow and I have a big day cleaning and blogging.

Categories
4 years and beyond

Off to Sand and Sea

I’m a very lucky lady indeed. I was fortunate to win a blogging competition and thanks to 1stAvailable.com.au we are all off to the Gold Coast for a family holiday. Well, part of it is a holiday and the other part is that I am finally attending Problogger 2013, yes my first and much anticipated blogging conference. I cannot wait!

The twins have been on a plane before but don’t remember due to being three months old at the time. This time they will remember and enjoy the whole experience. While at the Gold Coast my little girls will be turning five and they are super excited to be going to the beach for their birthday. Yes what a great mummy I am….well I am taking the thanks for this one, why not, right?

Do your kids jet off for holidays? Have they been well behaved on planes or has it been a bad experience. Flying to the Gold Coast is a small flight and we will only be in the air for about an hour and half. It will not be like we are flying to America or any other greater distance, so at least that is a plus.

I am keen to see how they like the airport, the plane and the whole experience. Do you have tips and tricks to help travelling with kids? Why not send them in. Many families have planned or are about to plan their summer travels so it might be a good time to find out some key things to do or to not do.

Excitement at our house is growing day by day. Our tickets for travel have been booked, accommodation sorted, and car organised. Now need to make sure that I have adequate professional clothing for the conference and nice summer gear for all to maximise our time in sunny Queensland.

Any advice for what to wear at a blogging conference send them in. I am aiming for professional but casual, also it needs to be comfortable and something that has natural fabric so does not heat up too much. Maybe a dress, or something simple so that I can just slip it on.

As a former Queenslander I am keen to be on a beach in the sun and to just relax for a bit. Bring it on.   Currently the Blue Mountains is very cold, windy and just icy so a warm climate would be welcome and luxury.

One glitch that has reared its head is sickness. I am ill and now have one child sick with tonsillitis again…let’s hope that the other does not get ill. We only have two weeks to be all better before we jet off. So off to the doctors for sick kid today and to make sure that we all stay well for the weeks ahead. Crossing fingers and toes that we all o.k for our trip.

Have you planned your summer holidays yet? If so are you getting excited about it? My girls are telling everyone and are so happy that we are off somewhere different.

Categories
Guest Post

Travel Tips to Keep the Whole Family Healthy on Vacation

Orlando
Orlando

If your family is anything like mine, taking vacations with kids is always an adventure. While it can be lots of fun, there are always unexpected events and problems. One of the biggest challenges is to keep everyone healthy. I’ve found that there are certain practices that can keep the whole family healthier and happier when we’re traveling together.

Tip 1: If you are going to a theme park, it’s very important that the kids are well rested. That’s why I am rather fussy about where we stay. It’s not always a good idea to choose the cheapest motel or hotel in the area. Some of these places are not really family friendly. They may be noisy at night, for example. So when you are searching through a prime location amongst many Orlando and Walt Disney World hotels, I always look for places that have quiet hours policy so I know that the kids will be able to get a good night’s sleep. This make them much better company as we take on the theme parks and other adventures.

Tip 2: Many restaurants in America tend to serve very large portions. This is not the healthiest way to eat, and it can make everyone feel tired and sluggish. Additionally, it’s not very good if you’re trying to stick to a diet! That’s why I always ask to take home leftovers at the end of dinner! That way I don’t overeat and I can always refrigerate the meal back at the hotel and have a nice lunch for the next day and save a little money also!

Tip 3: Always prepare a hygiene kit before you leave for your trip. This should include hand sanitizers, sanitary wipes and face masks. You can use these items when soap and water is not available for washing. Face-masks are useful if the air is polluted or there are sick people nearby. This isn’t hard to put together, and it can help to keep the whole family healthier.

Tip 4: When traveling with a baby or very young child, it’s best to give yourself enough room. If possible, find a hotel room that has an extra room for the baby. This will make it easier for the baby to sleep and will give the rest of the family some freedom to make a little noise without waking the little one.

Tip 5: Young children are especially prone to ear pain when flying. The tubes in their ears are more sensitive to changes in air pressure. That’s why you should bring along some items to prevent or treat ear problems. Gum or hard candy are useful for preventing ear discomfort. This works for adults as well, but it’s even more important for kids. You should also bring ear-drops and children’s aspirin in case they do experience any pain.

These are some of the hints and tricks that I use when traveling with kids. I have found that making such preparations makes a big difference. By keeping everyone healthy, safe and well rested we all have a better time on our vacation.

Kendra Thornton - Guest Blogger
Kendra Thornton – Guest Blogger

 

Kendra is a Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3 wonderful kids.

Find out more about Kendra on her website

 

 

 

 

Categories
4 years and beyond

Let’s Go to Canada Mummy!

Not a swimming pool but just as good - A sand pit
Not a swimming pool but just as good – A sand pit

Tonight Lillian hugged me and patted me on the head and said “Happy Birthday Mummy”, it was very nice and cute, however it is not my birthday. It will be in another 2 weeks or so. It is close, but not today.

My wonderful little girl then said, “Let’s go to Canada for your birthday Mummy!”, I told her that this would be a wonderful idea. The only issue with this is money. I did explain this and told her that maybe we can do it when we have more. She accepted this but still thinks it might be tomorrow or next week that this will happen.

What a lovely thought for the evening, off to Canada or somewhere as nice. Where do you want to holiday? What country are you desperate to explore and see more of. I would love to see more of Spain, Italy and Europe. I have always wanted to travel to Greece and see the ruins and be where the stories were created in Ancient Times. I loved Ancient History as a student and feel it would be magical to see in in the flesh.

And now more secret surprises: Both girls upon collecting them from pre-school have given me invites to school for Mother’s Day celebrations, they are excited and cannot wait to show me the secret surprises they are working on.  I must say as today was the first day back to school for term 2 they got up early. They must have been keen to see their friends, both kids have been inviting everyone around to our house to show off their new sand pit. It is just like the kids when I was little having a swimming pool. This should be interesting.

I’m off to bed to get some rest so that I might tidy the house to allow for guests tomorrow, not sure if people are free but may as well be prepared.

Why not continue the discussion on our Twitter or Facebook pages.

Categories
4 years and beyond Uncategorised

Let's Go to Canada Mummy!

Not a swimming pool but just as good - A sand pit
Not a swimming pool but just as good – A sand pit

Tonight Lillian hugged me and patted me on the head and said “Happy Birthday Mummy”, it was very nice and cute, however it is not my birthday. It will be in another 2 weeks or so. It is close, but not today.

My wonderful little girl then said, “Let’s go to Canada for your birthday Mummy!”, I told her that this would be a wonderful idea. The only issue with this is money. I did explain this and told her that maybe we can do it when we have more. She accepted this but still thinks it might be tomorrow or next week that this will happen.

What a lovely thought for the evening, off to Canada or somewhere as nice. Where do you want to holiday? What country are you desperate to explore and see more of. I would love to see more of Spain, Italy and Europe. I have always wanted to travel to Greece and see the ruins and be where the stories were created in Ancient Times. I loved Ancient History as a student and feel it would be magical to see in in the flesh.

And now more secret surprises: Both girls upon collecting them from pre-school have given me invites to school for Mother’s Day celebrations, they are excited and cannot wait to show me the secret surprises they are working on.  I must say as today was the first day back to school for term 2 they got up early. They must have been keen to see their friends, both kids have been inviting everyone around to our house to show off their new sand pit. It is just like the kids when I was little having a swimming pool. This should be interesting.

I’m off to bed to get some rest so that I might tidy the house to allow for guests tomorrow, not sure if people are free but may as well be prepared.

Why not continue the discussion on our Twitter or Facebook pages.