Organising my Accessory Collection

As a lover of all things fashion, one of my biggest dreams was to have a walk in wardrobe. So when we drew up plans for our second extension (some almost 4 years ago now!) I was pretty darn excited to be able to include a small one just for me in the plan. I kept a wall aside for my accessories and it has taken all these years to come up with the perfect (and most functional) solution to display my accessories.

 

 

You see I have toyed with earring drawers and counter top organisers - but with 4 small kids (and very inquisitive little hands) the need to hang everything was essential. I also love the fact that hanging everything in such a visible spot in my wardrobe makes me a bit more likely to wear what I have. You see I have very a bad habit of 'out of sight, out of mind' and I tend to buy what I already have - oops!

 

So what have I used?

 

By far the biggest hero (and my most loved thing) in this set up is the amazing Earring Organiser by Bon Maxi.

 

 

After a pretty big cull (yes there were seriously more pairs than this), I was able to fit all of my earrings on to the Mega Sized earring holder from the Bon Maxie range. The Mega sized is designed to hold up to 233 pairs, dependent of course on how many dangly versus studs you have in your collection.

 

 

Win!!! Telstra Essential Plus Powered by Alcatel

I recently read that the average age that a child has their first smartphone in 2018 is 10! And while there is no magical number when it comes to figuring out the best age to equip your child with their very first phone, one thing is for sure, you want to select a phone that is safe, secure and budget friendly. If you feel like your child is ready, then the Alcatel Telstra Essentials Plus powered by Alcatel ticks all of these boxes and at only $99.

 

What is the phone like to use?

 

The Telstra Essential Plus has a large, bright 4.95" sized screen.

 

 

 

It is super slim and light (only 145g to be exact), making it the perfect size to discreetly pop into the school or sports bag.

 

 

In such a snap happy generation, the camera feature is sure to be a huge hit with the kids. The phone has a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front facing camera, both with flash. I tested it out and was impressed by the quality of indoor and outdoor shots for such a budget friendly smartphone.

Soul Seasons Planner: A Review & Reader Offer

Now I love technology as much as the next person, but when it comes to organising my fairly crazy life, I cannot go past a paper based diary or planner. My friends tend to laugh at me when I refuse to use my phone, but honestly I feel so much more in control when I can write and refer to things on paper. Can anyone else relate?!

 

For most of this year I have been using a simple Kmart diary, but midway through the year I was contacted by amazing Life Coach, Carlie Maree, to see if I was interested in trying out her Soul Seasons Planner. 

 

 

As a teeny bit of a stationary addict (minor understatement!), I was absolutely thrilled to try this out.  

 

So what is the Soul Seasons Planner?

 

Quite honestly it is like nothing else out there in the market and that is exactly the way Carlie Maree created it to be! It goes beyond being a daily planner, scheduler and tracker and is designed to be a place where you set, monitor, review and live your life goals as well as organise yourself.

 

What does it look like inside?

 

The start of the planner reads like a workbook with plenty of beautiful pages designed to inspire you to consider and capture goals in nine key life areas:

 

- Health and Body

- Friends and Family

- Love and Relationships

- Personal and Spiritual Goals

- Fun and Recreation

- Sacred Spaces

- Work and Career

- Money and Finances

- Community and Giving

 

 

Santa's Magical Kingdom Giveaway!

It's BACK.... Returning to Melbourne for its 7th magical year, Santa's Magical Kingdom opens under the big top at Caulfield Racecourse from 23 November until 23 December 2018.

 

 

 

We missed this event last year (due to having just had Jesse) and let me tell you, I did not live it down. My kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this event. It has become a bit of a Christmas ritual for us and I have loved watching each of my kids fall more in love with this magical event year after year (you can read about our first ever visit in 2014 right here).

 

This year the event is even bigger and better with new rides, activities and even new characters to meet. 

 

If you'd like to win tickets to take your family along, I have a giveaway running over on my Instagram and Facebook pages until this Sunday 28th of October, so pop over for your chance to take your family along.

 

For more information please head over to the Santa's Magical Kingdom website.

Getting organised for your car loan

{Post in conjunction with Positive Lending Solutions}

Being organised is always a good thing – it can speed up processes and make things flow far more smoothly than they otherwise would. Getting a car loan is no exception – you’ll want to be as organised as possible when it comes to fulfilling all the requirements and having the paperwork ready for your potential lender to review and approve.

Before you get a car loan

Even before you start the process, get organised by doing some serious budgeting. Work out exactly what you can afford to spend each month on a car loan. It’s really important that you don’t stretch yourself financially and that you only borrow what you can afford to pay back.

 

Do your calculations and be realistic. Accurately write down what you spend each month and what comes into your bank account. Figure out how you’ll make car loan repayments and think about setting up a direct debit from your bank account to do so.

Getting car loan

It’s a good thing to find out exactly what documents your lender requires for your specific car loan. It’s also worth checking out your credit score if you don’t know it already – this is something that is free and easy to do so make sure you’re aware of it so you can be in the best position possible to get your car loan approved.

Generally, you’ll need most of the following documents:

About You:

 

·         Driver’s licence

·         Proof of address and Australian residency

·         Bank statements

·         Proof of income

5 Super Easy Ways to Save on your Electricity Bills

{This post is a collaboration between Utterly Organised and Electricity Monster}

 

If the sight of yet another electricity bill in your letterbox is enough to give you a mild heart attack, then hopefully these 5 super easy and simple tips will help you save on your next electricity bill. Because the less money spent on electricity, means more spent on new clothes or shoes right?!

 

1. Unplug!

 

This one could not be easier to do right now - unplug! Most of us are in the habit of keeping our high use appliances on standby - the main culprits here are the TV, laptop/PC and washing machine.

 

 

 

But breaking this habit and switching appliances off at the power point, has to be one of the quickest and easiest ways to see some instant savings on your electricity bill.

 

 

2. Be on time!

 

Many electricity providers offer you an incentive to pay your bill on time (or early) in the form of a significant discount. Make sure you take note of the discount date (and not just the due date of the bill) to take advantage of this saving each month.

Win a Family Pass to Jurassic Creatures in Melbourne!

Did you hear a roar? A stomp? You bet you did, because the Dinosaurs are coming and taking over Melbourne these coming school holidays!

 

 

 

Jurassic Creatures is set to be the must do event this Spring holiday break. This fantastic exhibition features over 30 dinosaurs, so realistic, they will captivate young and old! This interactive event will really transport you to the prehistoric age as you see dinosaurs walk, move and come to life right before your eyes.

 

 

 

The exhibition is literally jam packed with so much dinosaur fun and activities for the little (and big) ones. Kids will love the opportunity to dress up and become a palaeontologist for the day. 

Parent TV: What is it and my experience and thoughts...

Confused, overwhelmed and curious parents rejoice because Parent TV is here and set to change the way we parent - for the better!

 

Designed by Sam Jockel - some of you probably know Sam as the brilliant (and pretty) face behind the School Mum website. Sam came up with the brilliant (and very much needed) concept of having one accessible, affordable and credible platform to come for all of your parenting information.

 

So what exactly is Parent TV?

Parent TV is a video on demand platform that brings together advice from a pretty fabulous team of experts in fields such as psychology, dietetics, family counselling and paediatrics.

 

The video topics cover almost every question you may have on areas such as sleep (or lack of), behaviour, health and wellbeing, education, safety and everything in between! 

The content is delivered in short and concise videos that are easy to understand and solution focused. There are also short courses that you can access which cover more extensive information over several longer episodes. 

 

 

The panel of experts are impressive and include some famous faces such as Maggie Dent, Pinky McKay and Dr Justin Coulson and loads more (you can read the full list here).

 

This little clip gives you an overview if you are interested...

 

Healthy (ish) Thermomix Double Chocolate Zucchini and Banana Muffins

Every time I share my bake up photos over on my Instagram stories, without a doubt I get asked to share my recipe for these amazing Double Chocolate Zucchini and Banana Muffins.

I am literally living off these lately, they are that good and so much healthier than you think if you are after a sweet treat for lunchboxes or just with your morning cuppa.

You'll Need:

• 1.5 Zucchinis
• 2 Bananas
• 1 Egg
• 60g oil (extra virgin olive oil or melted coconut oil)
• 160g raw sugar
• 250g plain spelt flour (or regular plain flour)
• 25g cacao powder (or cocoa)
• 1 Tsp bicarb soda
• 1/4 Tsp baking powder
• 40g chocolate chips (or more, I am trying to be good!). I usually cut up Lindt 70% as I love this stuff!! 

Method:

1. Place zucchini, banana, oil, egg, raw sugar and oil in and mix on speed 5 for approx. 7 seconds
2. Add dry ingredients (flour, cacao, bicarb soda, baking powder) and mix on speed 4 for approx. 10 seconds
3. Scrape down side of bowl and add chocolate chips. Mix on reverse, speed 2 for approx. 10 seconds
4. Spoon into patty cases/muffin trays and bake for approx. 20 mins
5. Enjoy!

These are amazing when served hot and fresh. However when these reach the end of their life, I like to heat them up with a dollop of yoghurt for a not so naughty (but oh so yummy) after dinner treat. Hope you enjoy!

 

Win!! Tickets to Silvers Circus in Melbourne at Southland or Ferntree Gully!

Roll up, roll up because the Silvers Circus is heading your way - well if you live in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne like I do!!

 

 

 

The two hour show is sure to please the entire family with amazing acts such as the Wheel of Steel, The Globe of Death, Hoola Hoops and of course no circus is complete without clowns is it?!

 

Silvers Circus will be at Southland as of Wednesday 27th of June until Sunday 22nd of July - perfect timing to amuse the kiddos during the Winter school holidays. It then moves on to Ferntree Gully from Wednesday 25th of July until Sunday 12th of August.

 

If you'd like the chance to win a family pass (I have two up for grabs!) to go to a show of your choice, simply pop over to my Instagram Page or my Facebook page to enter.

 

We cannot wait to take the family to see our very first Circus Show next month!!

 

For all show details and times or to buy tickets, pop over to the Silvers Circus website.

 

Win!! Disney on Ice Tickets for Melbourne Show!

See all of your favourite Disney stories, from past to present, come to life in the latest and greatest Disney on Ice Show: Disney on Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic!

 

 

 

You can catch all of the action at Hisense Arena from the 5-10th of July - perfect school holiday fun for the kiddos!

 

I am super excited to have 2 x A Reserve tickets (valued at $96) up for grabs at the 5:30pm performance on Sunday 8th July 2018.

 

To enter, please pop over to my Instagram page and enter on the Disney on Ice post in my feed. Giveaway closes this Friday the 8th of June at 20:00 - so hop to it!!

 

For further information on this fantastic show, check out www.DisneyOnIce.com.au

 

Good luck!!

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link Air Purifier Review

When I was asked to review the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link Air Purifier I literally was on the verge of tears. For the past few months I had been desperate for something, anything that may give our family a helping hand to combat the major allergies that our almost 3 year old (Toby) faces. We often joke that our poor Toby is allergic to life. Food, dust, air, pet hair, carpet, grass - the list of his allergies seems to grow by the day. He suffers with severe eczema, often has trouble breathing at night and struggles to sleep due to scratching/screaming/crying - the whole situation is a vicious cycle.

Whilst Dyson definitely doesn't claim that this is a medical grade device, I was hopeful that this little machine that detects allergens and pollutants and purifies the air may just help a teeny, teeny bit!

 

So what does the machine actually do?!

This machine has so many clever functions, it monitors and purifies the air and also has a heat and cool function too. The machine is bladeless, portable and easy on the eye too!

How does it work?

When the machine is switched on, it draws the air in your home into the filter contained within the base of the machine. The air particles are captured within the filter and clean air is then released and circulated through your room via the 'loop' of the machine. Dyson claims that this machine is powerful enough to remove 99.95% of allergens and pollutants as small as 0.3 microns in your home - pretty impressive stuff!

The machine has its own Dyson App that allows you to remotely control the temperature, set a sleep timer, view the air quality in your area, inside your home and chart the air purification activity.

Frankie4 Footwear: Are they worth it? Best styles?

I just want to say straight up that this is not a product review, nor was I contacted by Frankie4 to write a post on their products. Since I started sharing my everyday style over on my social media, I seem to be getting a ton of messages or comments on my Frankie4 Shoe collection. As such, I thought that I would put together a bit of a blog post addressing a few of the questions that keep popping up...

 

Why Frankie4 Shoes?

 

Now I am not sure if I told my readers this, but last year during my pregnancy I suffered a major (and scary) injury to my back from damage to my discs that affected my nerves. I am not entirely sure what caused it, but I lost mobility down my left leg and ended up in hospital for over 3 weeks unable to walk, move or even go to the toilet! It took the longest time to rehabilitate myself to walk again (and loads of money with a physio and oesteo) and when I did it was a slow, awkward, expensive and painful process.

 

Once the pregnancy was over (and after countless months of physio and oesteo), I found that the leg pain had eased up but I was getting pain in my feet. It literally felt like I had glass stuck in my foot and was getting an electric shock when I walked. After seeing a podiatrist they explained that the damage to my back was causing nerve damage in my feet. I was ordered to give up my thongs, ballet flats and sandals pronto!! The podiatrist gave me a long list of shoe companies to try (which quite frankly my 70 year old Mum would blanch at!), so upon doing my own research I discovered Frankie4, which are a range of footwear designed by a podiastrist/physio. 

 

I was a little shocked to see the price of 'good' footwear. I am used to spending hundreds of dollars on shoes, but on Kmart cheapies and lots of them! So it was a real mindset change to invest all my pennies into one pair of shoes, but I had no other choice.

 

Are they worth the money?

 

The biggest fear I had was that I would spend all this money and still have issues with my feet, but I decided to bite the bullet and try out the Frankie4 Nat style (in blush). Honestly when these arrived and I wore them, I literally wanted to cry. They are worth EVERY SINGLE CENT (and I must admit afterpay softened the blow financially).

 

Need a Wake Up Call for Better Sleep?

{Post in conjunction with Bedding Co}

How’s this for a wake up call?

More than half (63%) of Australian adults have actively taken steps to improve their sleep quality in the past twelve months, with Australian adults among the most likely to use prescription sleep drugs compared to the rest of the world. These are the latest findings in a recent online study, The Philips annual sleep survey conducted in February by Harris Poll on behalf of Philips.This survey compares the sleep habits of over 15,000 adults across 13 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, the UK, and the United States) and assesses how sleep is prioritised, addressed and perceived by populations around the globe.

Here are some recommendations to help you take control of your sleep health so hopefully, you can better enjoy your day without yawning every hour.
The findings prove that clearly, us Aussies are fair dinkum about our need for sleep.

Choose your sleep tools wisely by researching them!

Seek out a mattress that supports your body, but also one that remains cool and breathable. It’s really important that regardless of how tired you are, you take the time to research what’s on the market so you can find bedding that’s suited to you, your needs, and your budget. A great starting point is to check out bedding online first.

The Healthy Mummy: Busy Mums Guide to Weight Loss Book Review and Giveaway!

I discovered my love affair for The Healthy Mummy way back when I was pregnant with Miss C and it hasn't waivered since! I have followed the eating and exercise plans on and off over the years and many of my family favourite recipes are actually ones from my many, many Healthy Mummy books....

I have purchased so many of the cookbooks in the Healthy Mummy range over the years and have countless printed eBooks and recipes from their amazing websites. So when I saw that they had a new book out, I was pretty darn excited!

The latest book to the collection is called the Busy Mums Guide to Weight Loss. Not only does this include 100 of the most popular and fabulous recipes from the eating challenge, it also includes a 28 day eating and exercise plan. If you are not familiar with the Healthy Mummy programme, don't be fooled into thinking it is just another restrictive diet fad. Nope, this really is aimed at being a healthy sustainable lifestyle programme (and one that includes chocolate and treats!!).

 

 

April 2018 Vogue Online Shopping Night Deals and Sales

Anyone else wake up with an overflowing inbox today due to the Vogue Online Shopping Night?! In case you missed it, from midday today (Wednesday 18 April) until midnight tonight, most major (and smaller too) online stores have amazing online exclusive offers. This is in addition to some other pretty amazing sales floating around on other sites not actively participating in this offer.

 

If you are looking to purchase some Winter staples, then this is a fantastic chance to buy! Here's what sales (and items) I am loving...

 

 

Portmans:

The Offer: 25% off full priced items and 30% off selected tops and knits

Shop it Here

 

What I Love: I haven't shopped in Portmans for years, but this year I am absolutely loving their pretty floral dresses, skirts, jackets and gorgeous knitwear in blush, grey and navy - my core wardrobe colours.

 

 

Chunky Pocket Cardi: Shop it here

 

I couldn't resist this Chunky Knit cardi in the blush colour for Winter. I love that it feels like I am wearing a snuggly dressing gown, but looks cute at the same time. 

 

Jeanswest:

The Offer: 40% off for members

Shop the promo here

 

What I Love: Always one of my fave stores for everyday staples such as knits, tops and scarves - especially when they offer 40% off. I recently tried on (and loved) their new range of Freeform 360 jeans.

 

Meadow Tummy Trimmer Pants: Shop them here

 

A little refresh...

Howdy Folks!

 

If you have been following my poor neglected blog for a little while, you may have noticed a little bit of a refresh to the page and my branding over the past few weeks. What does this mean?! Well not too much is changing, but I am officially going to include a wee bit more 'style' into my blog and social media pages as requested by you guys!

 

Fashion (clothes, shoes, accessories - you name it!) and bargain shopping are two of my greatest passions, so I am very excited to be sharing these with you on a more frequent basis. You guys told me that you want more outfit inspiration, bargain buys and shopping (for kids and home too) so this is what you will get! If you're on Instagram please feel free to follow my account. I am loving the whole 'stories' concept at the moment, and this is the avenue I am using to share most of my bargain buys, things I love at the minute and snippets of my life.

 

My social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) will still be places for me to share my life but also a little bit of style too. Now I am definitely no self proclaimed fashion blogger (or model), but if you are an everyday Mum after everyday, affordable and wearable style ideas, then I hope sharing my outfits and bargain buys will help inspire you. Each time I share my outfit ideas I get such a positive response (and request for more), so I hope you will continue to enjoy these posts.

 

The blog posts will hopefully be a teeny bit more regular than last year, but social media will most definitely be your best bet to stay up to date! Four little ones and regular writing don't seem to mix too well just yet...

 

As always, if you have a question or an idea for a post, please get in touch. If you are a brand or company that wants to collaborate with me, please feel free to contact me. I would love to hear from you too!

 

Thank you for reading x

What the heck does a new baby actually need?! My essential guide...

{Post brought to you in conjunction with Gumtree}

 

One of the hardest things about being a new parent (sleepless nights aside) is working out what the heck this little creature actually needs! I know when we were expecting Mr B (our first), he had every single baby product known to man kind. But now, four kids later, I think I have finally figured out what you really do need.

This is a little list of my new baby essentials, what worked for us and tips on buying. You know that I love a bargain, so I hope it helps (and saves you a few dollars along the way).

 

The Bassinet

 

Some people choose to go straight for the cot, but I am a huge fan of the humble little bassinet. In fact, when it comes time to move on out into the big cot, I get so sad not to wake up with my bub by my side. This could by why at 4 months old, Mr J is still snoozing by my side in his little bassinet.

 

Because people either love or hate having their bubs in their room, consider hitting up Gumtree to pick up a bassinet second hand. These are only used for such a short time (or if at all), so you can usually pick these up in immaculate condition for a fraction of the price.

Boori Urbane Bassinet

Non Chocolate Easter Gift Ideas

Beautiful pastel colours, cute bunnies and chocolate - Easter really is one of my favourite times of the year! We have a little one in our family with food allergies, so each year I try and come up with little non-chocolate Easter gifts that fill most of the easter baskets.

Each year I try and get items that each child needs for the upcoming Winter as well as a few little treats.  Some things I have done in the past include a new set of pj's, a dressing gown, gumboots, Easter stickers, Easter craft set, bunny clothing or socks and a little Easter picture book. My go to store for all things Easter is definitely Seed, I find they have the cutest range for all ages and genders (particularly the girls).

 

Here are a few things that I am loving if you are stuck for ideas...

 

 

Clothing:

Bunny Tutu Dress (Seed) $59.95 - Buy it here