Tips For Moving Home...

*This post is brought to you in collaboration with SQUAREpeg Movers.

We've been living in our home on the outskirts of Melbourne for around four years now.

It's been an interesting journey living here too.

We've had our sixth child in this home, who's now a bubbly two year old; we've experienced home ownership, with all of its delightful freedoms and hideous financial burdens. Our children have grown and some have even branched too quickly into secondary school.

...And we've ultimately learnt that our true pleasure is derived from living in the very inner suburbs of Melbourne instead.

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Day Trip Tips for Families...

*Disclosure: This is a paid post for RACV sponsored by Nuffnang.

There's nothing worse than being caught indoors with bored kids on leave and for parents, keeping children out of trouble, (and their hair), usually means getting kids into the car and journeying somewhere exciting to keep them active, happy and worn out!

The Autumn school break is really the last opportunity to get outdoors and seek some fun before the big Winter chill sets in. (If you're down South that is especially so.) A road trip somewhere is definitely something to make the most of while you still can.

Daytrips are the perfect escape for tetchy house-bound children and their frazzled parents. We're big on them as a family at this time of year, especially on weekends. It's quite fun seeking out an exciting destination and jumping in the car for a day of new surrounds and adventure. The best part is, (aside from the change of scenery), day trips, compared to overnight stays, are quite budget friendly - you can spend as much cash or as little as you like, so this option is suitable for every family's financial situation.

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The Docket Diaries Series - Saving With Shop A Docket Chapter Three...

*This Docket Diaries Campaign is brought to you in collaboration with Shop A Docket.

This week in the Docket Diaries series, sees us singing about Subway.

Now we've never tried Subway as a takeout option before, (Truly, never ever!) and if I am entirely honest, the strong and distinctive smell of a Subway outlet has never been something of a drawcard for me. This fact harks back to pregnancy; some aromas just don't appeal at these sensitive times and the odour of Subway's hammy rolls wafting out their door on passing just never appealed. It's a strong enough dislike to have lasted to this day for me too.

That's not to say that my kids have not spent countless years pestering me for a visit to a Subway store however...

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Explore the Wildlife - Free School Holiday Fun and An Animal Fun Prize Pack Giveaway #SLHFeaturedThursdays

It's school holidays time once again and it's time to entertain the kids. Thank goodness for free holiday events...

Beginning on the 23rd of March at Watergardens Town Centre, is an amazing free exhibition for families - a wonderful world of exotic wildlife exhibition!

On display will be lions, tigers, zebras, gorillas, macaws and others and intriguingly, all the animals featured are life sized animatronics! Kids can get up close to their favourite animals and check out the fun without fear!

In addition to the fascinating animatronics display, the Watergardens Town Centre will be hosting an animal craft workshop where kids can let their creative juices run wild. Make an animal mask to take home. Take part in an animal cookie decorating workshop as well as the opportunity to have a photo taken with a panda.

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Autumn Hair, Skin and Bodycare Picks You'll Want to Know About...

*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Vaseline.

The Autumn and Winter seasons seem to be plagued by extra things to do - there's more clothing on our backs, it's more of an effort to go anywhere outside our homes and there's definitely more of a focus needed on body care.

That time of the year has finally arrived when we've got to pay a little more attention to the skin and hair care regime.

I would love to be one of those people that had skin that was well equipped to cope with the change in seasons, but sadly I am not. I have fair skin that dehydrates rapidly and needs lots of attention. It can be expensive to maintain and I am always hunting for good skin and hair care solutions that are both purse friendly and effective.

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Health Insurance For Young Families - A Guest Post...

*This guest post is brought to you in collaboration with Health Insurance Comparison.

If you've got kids, ensuring they are cared for health-wise is a top priority. While we're lucky to have a superb health care focus in Australia, many families will at times wish to improve their cover for the unexpected hiccups children and their parents are likely to face on occasion, 'just in case.'

Navigating the world of health care for families can be so confusing. Today I welcome this guest post by Health Insurance Comparison, which explains some of the basic and common questions you may have regarding health cover (and some important considerations) under both the public and private systems:

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Docket Diaries - Saving With Shop A Docket - Chapter Two...

*This Docket Diaries Campaign is brought to you in collaboration with Shop A Docket.

Saturday mornings - got to love those. They're a chance for a well-deserved sleep in with no alarms, no lunchboxes, no rules...BLISS!

But: There's almost always errands to run isn't there? Sigh...

Yes, it's the one day of the week where everyone's home, everything's open and there's that small window of time to achieve some serious ticks on the everlasting to-do list.

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Oricom Intelligent Potty Review, Tips For Toilet Training and a Giveaway #SLHFeaturedThursdays

There comes a time in every toddler's life when they begin to notice their bottom!

Maybe it's all that attention they get thanks to years of constant nappy changes. Maybe it's the constant trips to the loo made by other family members that become suddenly interesting to a toddler or maybe it's just the sudden realisation that the 'things that go on downstairs' make them feel a bit uncomfortable and smelly. (Perhaps the reactions of others around them when a nappy needs changing plays a part.)

Whatever it is that triggers this awareness of bodily functions in little people, you can bet that the day will come when potty training time is ripe and unavoidable.

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How To Make Muesli Bars...

*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Flora.

We seem to be forever spending cash on lunchbox foods for kids these days, despite baking fairly regularly to try and keep the expenses down and the healthy choices up. Occasionally, we run out of time for such things, (okay, make that often) and the packaged varieties are thankfully there to pick up the slack.

I've been really looking to find alternatives to consumables we seem to be buying too frequently.

Muesli bars have been under the spotlight in particular. As you well know, buying these convenient treats is quite an expensive outlay; they're usually sold in boxes of 6 bars and when you've exactly 6 kids consuming them, you can imagine that the cost of these on a regular basis becomes quite a high one.

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Cirque Du Soleil Totem Review Plus an Exclusive Behind the Scenes Tour in Melbourne...

The Cirque Du Soleil needs little introduction; it's a mammoth production company producing superb shows recognised worldwide for their high class and unique performances which feature some of the world's most talented singers, dancers and acrobats.

Originating in Quebec in 1984 from a group of just 20 street performers, today this phenomenal stage experience has grown to become an international hit with a company of almost 4000 employees, including 1300 performers from close to 50 different countries around the world.

Totem is the Cirque Du Soleil's latest show touring Australia and it is currently visiting Melbourne until March 29.

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Modapelle Handbag Review - Meet Floral Dream... #SLHFeaturedThursdays

Are you always on the lookout for a new, fashionable handbag?

Personally, I am often on the prowl for a new bag, (whether actively or stumbled upon accidently) and I think most of us women-folk would agree; handbag shopping is up there at the top of the list when it comes to hunting down covetable wardrobe necessities - after all, you can never really have too many handbags now can you?

Many of you will be familiar with the Australian label Modapelle, who have been manufacturing a steady supply of high quality handbags and wallets since their establishment here in 1991. This quality home-grown fashion label is now an internationally recognised brand and is stocked in over 1000 stores globally.

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Docket Diaries: Saving With Shop A Docket - Chapter One...

*This Docket Diaries Campaign is brought to you in collaboration with Shop A Docket.

Are you familiar with Shop A Docket coupons?

If you're a little foggy on the subject, allow me to prompt you: Shop A Docket discounts are those little advertisements on the back of your shopping receipts you've probably been stuffing haphazardly into your purse or shopping bag countless times over the years.

Literally every time you've visited your local supermarket or department store, you'll have received a receipt with a distinctly colourful Shop A Docket backing, outlining some fab deals from some very local businesses as well as some not so local offers such as travel deals.

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Zoob Review and Giveaway #SLHFeaturedThursdays

Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be any more exciting building toys on the market, along comes a new exciting building toy unlike any other before it.

Have you heard of Zoob yet?

I have to say that personally, I had not.

When I was asked to review Zoob here, I rather absent-mindedly agreed to review the mysterious sounding kids toy with zero knowledge of exactly what I was to receive.

A few weeks later a plain box arrived on our doorstep and out came the mysterious (to me) tub of Zoob. To my surprise, immediately all my primary-aged kids became excited and began to yelp about how they played with Zoob at school...

Well in my mind, if it's deemed good enough for the high standards in their classrooms, that's enough said already!

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Lessons on Leaf Bugs - Wordless Wednesdays

It was a typical Saturday morning.

My toddler excitedly watched her siblings at play down our yard on the trampoline from the safety of our balcony. Next thing I know, she was hurriedly presenting me with my shoes after managing to put on her own.

"Trampowine! Pwease Mummy!"

I had no choice. (Or rather, who could resist?) I would have to escort her down our sloping yard to the place of all the fun. Bad luck housework plans!

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How a Selfie With Aussie Grapes Can Support HeartKids Australia The #Caesarselfie Campaign...

*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Aussie Grapes.

Did you know that in a single day in Australia, eight babies are born with a heart defect?

That's a huge number of little people in need of a big hand.

And while we're speaking of hands, by buying yourself a big handful of grapes and taking a simple selfie, you can help a truly worthwhile cause.

Australian Table Grapes have teamed up with HeartKids Australia to help raise awareness and funds for this special cause.

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