My Easter Decorating Buys

As a self confessed sweet tooth, I am one of those people that doesn't mind too much seeing those Easter Eggs hit the shelf in the middle of summer! Easter is definitely my thing and I look forward to my Lindt Bunny and Humpty Dumpty Egg (I will never be too old for these things!) all year round.

 

Even though I am a bit of an Easter fan, it has only been the past few years since having bambinos that I have gotten in to the swing of Easter decorating. I don't go too mad, just a few pieces here and there around the home and I am a big sucker for the Bed, Bath and Table Easter range - isn't it the best?!

 

As with Chrissie, I try to limit myself to a few new pieces to add to the decoration collection each year. And I also try very hard (sometimes failing) to resist buying much more, and then buy a few things once the big 50-70% off sales inevitably kick off a few days post Easter.

 

This year I ended up picking up a few buys from the Pottery Barn Kids range which is just divine. If you haven't checked it out in Australia you can do so here.

 

This is what I picked up.... 

 

 

In blue, grey and navy for Mr B

 

And is soft pink and white for Miss C

 

These Canvas Buckets from Pottery Barn Kids are available in Australia for $24.00 each. Unfortunately you cannot get them personalised unless you are able to make it in to their Bondi store - boo! I purchased mine from the US as I really, really wanted to have them personalised and I think we will have them for years to come. I purchased them in colours that match the bedrooms of Mr B and Miss C, so I can also use these in their rooms year round for storage.

 

 

I couldn't resist this sweet little bunny tail garland also from Pottery Barn Kids. You can also purchase this from the Australian Site.

 

If you are a creative type, I think that this would be a super easy thing to recreate yourself at home using some pretty pastel fabrics don't you think?

A large Peter Rabbit Decoration. Unfortunately this one is only available from the US Pottery Barn Site, but a different variation can be purchased through the Australian Site if you are not too fussed about it not being Peter. Mr B still adores his Peter Rabbit soft toy (it goes everywhere with us from shops to swimming and bed!), so I knew that I had to get this. It is a lot bigger than I thought (20 inches apparently), but so very cute!!

 

 

If you follow my Facebook Page, you will have seen me post this picture over the weekend. These cuties are from Target and a bargain at $6.00 (chicks) and $4.00 (bunnies) a piece. When I saw them, I instantly thought that they must have been made for me with the taupe polka dot and aqua perfectly matching our décor!

 

So that is it... for now... I am trying very hard not to even go within 500 metres of Bed, Bath and Table until post Easter!

 

My next dilemma is when to actually pop these Easter decs up. Do I go a month before Easter? The start of April? When do you plan to start decorating this year? Have you seen any great Easter buys? 

Tips on Organising an Office Social Event

Things are still a bit slow on the blogging front as I navigate my way through these early days with a newborn (and two year too!). So today I am pleased that we have a guest post by Gennie Richards offering up a few tips on Organising an Office Social Event...

 

Social events make up an important part of working life. The success of any business comes down to having a cohesive and happy workforce. Organising social events throughout the business year is one of the best ways to achieve this. 

 

Successful social events are not simply a case of gathering your staff members together and leaving them to it. In order for your office's social events to be as effective as possible, it's important that you set aside some time to plan the events as thoroughly as possible. Here, we take a look at a few tips which can help you to piece together the best social event for your office. 

 

Communicate 

 

The most important thing is for everyone to be present for your event. This not only requires smart planning to ensure that you pick a time which is appropriate for everybody, but also necessitates clear communication. 

 

Set a date for your event as early as possible and do all you can to ensure that the date is known throughout your workplace. If you've chosen a time carefully and have let everybody know, the rest is down to your co-workers in terms of attendance.

 

Choose a sociable activity 

 

It's usually a good idea to get out of the office when you're organising a social event, and this means you'll probably be taking part in an activity of some kind. The key here is to avoid doing things which make it difficult for people to talk. Going to see a film is an example of an activity which isn't particularly appropriate for this kind of event. 

 

Get your finances straight 

 

There are few things more awkward at a social event than running into financial difficulty. In order for things to run as smoothly as possible, it's generally wise for businesses to take care of the costs in advance.

 

In situations where payments might need to be made during the event, it makes sense to use your business account with American Express Australia. This usually takes a weight off everybody's mind, making it easier to relax and socialise. 

 

Speak to your co-workers

 

The ultimate goal of planning a social event is to keep everyone happy. For this reason it makes sense simply to speak to your co-workers when planning an event. Finding out what everybody would be most comfortable with can be a huge help when it comes to keeping the entire office happy.

 

Thank you so much to Gennie for this special featured post. If you are interested in being a guest contributor or having your product reviewed or featured on the blog, please contact me at utterlyorganised@gmail.com

It's a GIRL!!! Miss C arrives...

I know, I know, I am a bit behind on this post, but for those of you who follow my Facebook Page, this will be old news. On the 20th of January our little Princess - Miss C - made her way in to the world and in to our hearts.

 

Shock and utter disbelief doesn't even begin to describe how surprised I was to see that we had ourselves a beautiful little girl. You see even though I am no sonographer, I swear black and blue that at an ultrasound during my pregnancy I saw a little 'something' that made me 100% convinced of a bouncing baby boy. So convinced was I, that I had purchased a whole stack of clothes fit for a little man and had the wardrobe all kitted out in blue.
 

We are slowly settling in to life as a family of four and taking each day as it comes. As I had to have a C-section, I am still unable to drive and am starting to get a bit sick of living in my pj's and going a tad stir crazy at home. I know, I really should enjoy this time, as I know all too well that it goes in the blink of an eye.

Mr B is an amazing big brother and already very protective of his little sis'. It is gorgeous to watch him try and talk to and entertain her - if only he could change nappies and breastfeed too!!

Thank you to all of you that contacted me to wish me congratulations, we really do feel so blessed (albeit a little tired!).

My Top Tips for an Organised Office Space

Once upon a time I had a whole spare bedroom dedicated to a study/ home office space and let me tell you it was bliss. I had room for a large desk, filing cabinets and a super generous bookshelf to boot! Two kids later (bye, bye spare room) and my home office is confined to a small space that we added on purely for a storage area in an extension several years ago.

Now I cannot stress enough that this space is 'small', so it is imperative that it remains clean and tidy so that I actually have enough space to swing a laptop. Running a small business from home (plus a bit of blogging thrown in for good measure) does mean that I stare at these four walls a lot, so I have tried to create a home office space that is not only functional, but a little fabulous too.

Here are just a few of my tips for organising your very own office space...

Pretty Up
 

Gone are the days of boring beige manila folders and silver in-trays. Nowadays office and desk accessories are so chic and affordable too thanks to stores such as Typo, Officeworks, Kikki-K and even good old K-Mart.

 

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Look for desk accessories that are not only practical but pretty - trust me they will get your creative juices flowing! 

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Clear Desk, Clear Mind

 

No matter how chaotic a day I have had, I always make time to clear my desk and office space at the end of each day. It means that when I return to this space the next day, I feel calmer and more organised from the onset.

 

Spend a few moments at the end of  the day clearing your desk, popping everything back in its place, filing and tossing away any paperwork not needed and your mind will thank you the next day - trust me. Make it a routine in your day and it won't feel like a chore after a while.

Leave Room for the Imagination
 

In the form of an Inspiration/Vision board. Not only will this tame your loose papers and little odds and ends such as teeny business cards and post it notes, but it will inspire you.

 

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I love to keep a few personal photographs on mine to make me smile during the day too!

Pick up a super cheap Pinboard from K-Mart or Ikea for under $10.00 - bargain!

Give me a Home!

My number one organising tip for any space in the home or office is to give things a home. Invest in storage and organisational solutions such as filing cabinets, shelves, bookcases - whatever it takes to give your paperwork, files, books and whatever's a home.

It is no secret that I love to label, I just find that it gives items a home (and looks so pretty too). You don't need to go crazy with expensive labelling, I just print my little labels off on my trusty home printer on adhesive paper. The storage boxes were purchased from Ikea and have served me well over the years.

 

What are your top tips for an organised office space?

Outgrown your office space? Maybe TGC can help you...

Rice Bubble Muesli Bar Slice Recipe

Well with school back in full swing, I thought it was high time for a bit of a good old fashioned lunch box filler recipe - the good old Muesli Bar Slice.

 

When I was a little girl, my Mum used to make the yummiest Muesli Bars in town. As a 'slightly' older girl, I have searched high and low for the same recipe to no avail. I tried recipe after recipe until recently stumbling across what I consider the solid gold of all muesli bar slice recipes! This one uses Rice Bubbles, is so quick and easy, requires no baking and you can add in any type of fruit or seeds your little heart desires....

 

• 1 Cup Toasted Muesli
• 1/4 Cup Sultanas
• 1/4 Cup Apricots (Diced)
• 3 Cups Rice Bubbles
• 1/2 Cup Coconut
• 1/4 Cup Sesame Seeds
• 4 Tbs Honey
• 125g Butter
• 4 Tbs Peanut Butter (may want to omit this if sending to school)
• 1/2 Cup Raw Sugar

 

1. Line a Lamington Tin with Baking Paper - I use one that is 30 x 20cm
2. Combine your dry ingredients (Muesli, Sultanas, Apricots, Rice Bubbles, Coconut and Seeds) in a large bowl
3. Melt Butter, Honey, Sugar and Peanut Butter (if using) in a saucepan over a low/mid heat.
4. Once melted, bring to boil and simmer for approx. 5 mins (be careful not to burn)
5. Add the melted ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to combine
6. Press in to prepared tin and pop in the fridge to set (an hour will do the trick!)
7. Cut up in to desired bars or squares and enjoy!  

NOTE: As mentioned above, if sending to school you may wish to omit the Peanut Butter from the recipe.

 

Do you have a Retro Recipe from when you were younger that you still love to make today for your own family (or you!)?

 

 

Win a $100 Gift Voucher for Oneflare.com

Hands up if one of your new years resolutions is to finally get that 'something' done around your home? It may be to get a gardener in to tame that backyard reminiscent of an African Jungle? Or a painter in to finally paint that 90's themed peach bathroom?! In my case, I should have both hands up, as we are planning to embark on yet another (this will be our second) major extension to our home later on in the year.

 

Well if you have the need for a service at your place (or workplace), then you are going to love this giveaway thanks to Oneflare.com

 

So what exactly is Oneflare?

 

Oneflare.com is Australia's leading local services marketplace that connections Australians with over 37,000 businesses across the country. 

 

Oneflare takes the hard work out of connecting you with trustworthy local businesses, saving you both time and money. The Oneflare Service Providers are checked for licences, insurance and qualifications, so you'll know that you are in safe hands with each and every job they help you out with. They even offer up a Oneflare Guarantee, whereby if something should go wrong with your job, they will pay you $500 to set things right - how is that for extra peace of mind?

 

So how does it work?

 

1. Simply post a job that you need done - this is free!

2. You will then receive 5 competitive quotes from businesses interested in your work. This will also include the Business profile, verification status and past customer reviews

3. You simply hire the best!

 

Sounds so easy doesn't it compared to the days of trawling the Yellow Pages or the Local Newspaper calling every Tom, Dick and Harry?!

 

Oneflare have also recently launched Oneflare Scrapbooks to help Aussies plan and build their dream homes, and also find the right trade professionals to build it - all on one website. It is an exciting new tool that helps individuals find and collect inspiring photos of their favourite home design, ideas and improvements. And of course, just like finding a local service on Oneflare, it's easy to use and best of all free!

 

Now to get you started on your own service needs, Oneflare is giving away a $100 voucher to one lucky Utterly Organised reader, that can be spent on any of the hundreds of services through Oneflare.com. A cleaner (yes please!!), removalist, gardener or even an interior designer - the list goes on!  

Entry is below via Rafflecopter...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

- The giveaway will be hosted by Rafflecopter and is open to Australian residents only
- The announcement of the lucky winner will be made on the Utterly Organised Facebook Page
- The lucky winner will have 5 days to contact Utterly Organised and claim their prize
- Failure to claim prize within designated period will result in another winner being drawn
- $100.00 gift voucher is only redeemable on Oneflare for the specified amount and for one single use only
- Entrants must like the Utterly Organised and Oneflare Facebook Pages
- Any questions on the competition can be directed to utterlyorganised@gmail.com

Good luck everyone - I would love for you to drop me a comment below to tell me exactly what you would do with this voucher...

My secret to making our Kitchen smell & look divine!!

I recently had a friend over for coffee, who entered my kitchen and asked if I had been baking. I gave her a rather confused face (as I hadn't made much more than a sandwich this particular day). It then dawned on me that what she had mistaken for cupcakes was in fact this.....

 

 

 

Once I let my friend in on the secret on what was giving her the impression of freshly baked goods, she immediately left my house and stopped en route to her local Woolies to pick up a bottle!

 

I later got a text from her saying just how amazing this stuff had made her kitchen look and smell and insisting that I share with my lovely readers, so here it goes!

 

Though I cannot take all the credit, I first got on to this product from the gorgeous Clare from The Home She Made and have been an addict ever since!

 

This product is available just at Woolies (as far as I know) and is around the $4.00 mark. I use this product every few days (alternating with my Method cleaners) and the smell still lingers (in a great way!). Definitely worth trying if you like a gleaming kitchen that smells just like vanilla cupcakes. Mmmm..... 

 

More information on the product can be found over at the manufacturers website here.
 

Tried it? Love it? Love to know what you think?

 

PS: This is not a sponsored review, I am just a fan happy to spread the joy!!

How my New Years Resolutions for 2013 went...

In so many ways this year has gone super slow - being stuck sick in bed with hyperemesis for 5 months will do that to you! But in so many other ways, 2013 just flew by and I cannot believe that in under a month we will welcome another little bundle of joy in our home (and boy I cannot wait to not feel sick each day!!).

 

Last year I sat down and nutted out my top 4 New Years resolutions which you can read about here.

 

I am so glad that I popped these up on the blog, so I can look back and reflect on how well I went (or didn't) meeting these goals during the year...

 

1. Stop Biting My Nails

BIG fail here. I did manage to stop while I was so sick during this pregnancy and had talons that looked like they were the work of an acrylic nail technician!! However sadly these were short lived and my badly bitten nails are back..

 

2. Get Healthy

I started out the year really well here with introducing more 'clean' recipes in to our home and was doing well with my exercise.

 

However the pregnancy and the severe sickness has done nothing for this healthy diet and I find myself (even still) needing sugar, sugar and more sugar to stop myself feeling sick each day during this pregnancy.

 

As for exercise, I have been lucky if I can even walk to our letterbox most days because I still feel very ordinary.

 

3. House Project Completion

I had earmarked two projects for around the home in 2013, converting Mr B's nursery in to a Toddler Room and converting our spare room in to a Playroom.

 

Just as soon as I had completed Mr B's Toddler Room conversion, I discovered that I was pregnant (yay!!) and therefore planning a 'Big Boy Room' instead.

 

The Playroom Set up was completed but has now been moved to our Family Room area to make way for the nursery for #2.

 

Both projects will be on the blog in the New year!

 

4. Continue Building my Events Business

Unfortunately the pregnancy meant that I wasn't able to do as much as I had of liked with my little business Utterly Organised Events.

 

However looking over the records for the year, we assisted with 117 different events during the year which was just amazing!! I definitely couldn't have done it without my hubby who was amazing packing up orders and helping clients when I wasn't well enough to even be able to shower!

 

So that is how I went with my resolutions for 2013, I definitely didn't achieve as much as I had hoped but what is more important that building a baby?!! What about you? Did you manage to succeed at your resolutions for the year?

 

Time for me to sit down and plan out what I hope to achieve in 2014...