Sylvanian Families Celebrates 30 Years and An Exclusive Sylvanian Families Giveaway! #SLHFeaturedThursdays

If you're a parent to young kids, then there's no doubt you'll remember the joy of playing with Sylvanian Families yourself as a child. Remember those sweet little woodland creatures with an entire village of family fun and friendship to enjoy? Well not surprisingly, Sylvanian Families have remained as popular today as they were when they were first introduced in Japan back in 1985.

The gorgeous iconic brand Sylvanian Families, based on 1950's rural Britain, has this year come of age and is turning 30! That's a success spanning three decades and 45 countries world-wide, full of sweet little collectible cats, bears, rabbits and hedgehogs and their world of nature, family and love.

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Bosch Hydronic Heating and Other Pipe Dreams...

Hydronic Heating is a method of heating utilising heated water to distribute warmth throughout a building. It offers superior comfort, operational efficiency and silent operation and is also known to minimise the negative effects to allergy sufferers caused by circulation of airborne particles, such as pollen or dust, that occur in ducted heating systems.

Many of you will already know of our intention to move home. I wrote this post only recently on our intended house sale and relocation, when and if only we could get the motivation going.

Well things are pretty much sitting in the same place still although we continue to chip away at it little by little. Cupboards are slowly de-cluttering, items are listed for sale and we pick and scratch at the piles of this and that while managing the daily demands of our busy family. It's whatever we can manage at this stage and it's moving at a snail's pace but it is happening.

Our garage shows the biggest signs of our progress - it empties somewhat and then refills just as quickly as the tides of clutter come and go. We are going to get there yet!

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Mormon Spiced Cake Recipe (Dairy Allergy Friendly)

 

I'm not entirely sure where I picked up this recipe on my travels. I do know it was somewhere in Utah in the United States and quite some years ago now. For those not in the know, Utah is home of the Mormons and it's a fascinating place to visit - not just to check out its interesting history but to see the gorgeous scenery in this beautiful State. If you're ever heading to the States - add Utah to your to-do list for some amazing national parks, especially beautiful under snow with crystal blue skies!

 

This Mormon Spiced Cake recipe has been a favourite in our home for a very long time. It's an easy cake to make and bake and it is perfect for sufferers of dairy allergies. The original recipe has no dairy foods whatsoever however I have included the measurements for the dairy version here too in case this is not relevant to you.

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Closer to Nature Express and Go Complete Breast Milk Starter Set Review and Giveaway #SLHFeaturedThursdays

Just the other day I calculated just how many years of my life I have been breastfeeding my six children in total and I came up with an impressive five and a half years! That's a significant amount of time to do anything.

Most of that breastfeeding period was so enjoyable but I'd be lying outright if I said there were no hurdles whatsoever. Trust me, there were plenty! Some issues we overcame together with time and stubborn persistence on my own part and others sadly ended the experience abruptly.

Overall, I am deeply content to know that each of my babies were fed the way nature intended, whether that be for weeks, months or years. I made a go of it and that continues to make me enormously happy to this day. The joys of breastfeeding go on for years.

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Mission Foods Review - Have You Tried Red Quinoa and Chia Wraps?

*This post is brought to you by Nuffnang and Mission.

As a mum, I feel I owe an awful lot to packaged flat breads. They're a perfect meal option for a quick fix when you can't be bothered doing a big cook-up. That means on weeknights these breads are a lifesaver for me! Dinner is so fast with a pack of flat breads in the house and naturally with my large family, I like to choose this option several times a week for the sake of convenience.

Breads are far less time-consuming to prepare than pasta or rice-based dishes and everybody enjoys them. Thankfully, it's a win, win.

My kids can demolish entire packets of flat breads at any time of the day too - oddly, even at breakfast times. We go through so many each week that I was more than willing to try out the Mission range when the opportunity came along.

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What to Include in a Family First Aid Kit

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

Once upon a time our first aid kit consisted of a box of Bandaids and an antiseptic cream only. It seems laughable now but pre-children, caring for our own little incidents and ailments was quick, simple and generally fuss-free and just the barest of essentials were all that was required to see us through. 

Since the arrival of children on the scene however, we've watched our family first aid kit grow accordingly and it has now expanded to become the mammoth tub of bits and bobs it is, ready to deal with every imaginable thing our kids can throw at us. Plus some.

To say we're prepared is a bit of an understatement!

Kids are such experts when it comes to accidents and illness. Not a day goes by in our home when someone doesn't require a plaster or two in the very least. Today I have two kids home sick from school and that's a fairly typical week around here. There's always a bug going around or a child with a bump, scrape, splinter or mishap in some shape or form and our first aid kit plays a busy role in this household.

There are definitely specific things I wouldn't be without for helping to soothe, heal and mend my family.

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PramBasket Review - Carry More on Your Pram in Style Plus Win a Prambasket! #SLHFeaturedThursdays

You can never have enough space as a mum, be that either away from your kids for some me time, or in terms of storage. (Just being honest on that first point!)

Motherhood entails so many roles and one of them that stands out no matter where you find yourself, is the role of a pack-horse!

Babies, toddlers and kids of any age from there-on seem to require an endless supply of stuff to cart when you're out and about. Nappy bags, tote bags, strollers and prams and even shopping jeeps are something that accompany you everywhere from the moment you step outside with an entourage of little people. Juggling it all is definitely an art and none are better at the balancing act that it is, than us mamas.

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illooms Balloons Review - LED Balloons for All Occasions

*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Nuffnang and illooms LED Balloons.

It can be difficult to think of anything more exciting to children than balloons can't it? They're up there on the top of the list when it comes to inexpensive, easy, convenient, good old-fashioned and instant fun and there's not a lot of that around where kids are concerned these days.

Balloons are a hit for the silliest of reasons and that's why humankind is so drawn to them. Think coloured balloons, helium-filled balloons, balloons of different shapes and sizes and water balloons - they all manage to keep kids (and grown-ups!) happy for hours and are a welcome presence at so many of life's special occasions.
Deservedly so too. (I am feeling the silly vibes just writing about these wonderful things!)

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The Support Only Mothers Can Give...

Do you remember those isolated early days when you had your first baby?

I can clearly recall that the support seemed to be everywhere in numbers and yet (impossibly), nowhere simultaneously. There were nurses, doctors, professionals and consultants, friends, family - even well-meaning neighbours, all gathering around at every opportunity, cooing and clucking, commenting earnestly with experience and education and everything in between.

And there I, (and most likely you too) sat, at the centre of it all, feeling bone-tired, deliriously proud, crazily overwhelmed and mentally scrambling for something (or someone) to anchor your rocking world.

Oh god, will I ever forget those days... (Will you?)

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Finding the Motivation to Move Home with a Family...

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

So, I wrote a post about tips for moving home some time ago here, which outlined our intention to sell and move back to the inner burbs of Melbourne. I thought I'd give a bit of an update on how things are coming along - or not!

To fill you in, we bought our current home as first home buyers, close to five years ago now and sadly, it has just never felt homely in the way that we had hoped it would. How do you make a house feel like a home? Apparently it's not just pretty furnishings and a happy home life. It's so many factors combined and we've not been able to grasp all of them in a strong enough hold to keep us rooted here.

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VTech Toy Review - Fun and Learning for Kids #SLHFeaturedThursdays

Have you realised that Christmas is just around the corner? (Sorry for the reminder - feel the panic rise huh?!)

While Halloween may be the very next official stop on the festive calendar, as soon as November 1st dawns, Christmas will be upon us with force. It's the same every year.

There's no time like now to get a head-start on the planning, shopping and decision making involved, especially when you're a parent to kids with high expectations of the season (and that's all of us isn't it!).

Let the fun begin!

Choosing a VTech toy this Christmas is a great step towards fulfilling the happiness of your kids and ticking your high-standards box for learning too. Their toys are durable, interactive, educational and fun with VTech being the undisputed experts in electronic toys for kids. They've a 35 year history in toy-making in an impressive 25 languages worldwide.  Simply put: It's great stuff!

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Cybex Priam Review - A Luxury Designer Pram for Your Child

I've lost count now, but we may be up to our 12th pram in our time as parents. (Yes, we've had that many! Perhaps more.) For whatever reason or need, with so many kids over the years, we've tried just about every fashion and style of this most essential of parenting accessories that's been on the market.

There have been many changes in the last 15 years in the pusher market too, all reflected in the various styles and forms that have rolled before us as our growing family went from one to whoa!

From the traditional to the stroller and jogger versions out there, the one thing that stands out about the current pram trend on the streets today, is the stripping back of the frill in favour of the form and function.

The very latest Cybex Priam which hit Australian shores only recently, is one of the best examples of this modern 'ultimate pram.' It's a model that truly does reflect this balance of purpose and beauty combined - just like all of the most stylish of things.

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Zara Darcy Alessandro Review - Win a Baby Bag Worth $199! #SLHFeaturedThursdays

Motherhood - it's exhausting work isn't it and not a soul alive will contest that fact. Between the endless nappy changes, sleepless nights, messiness, tetchy moments and learning curves that come with the territory, it's also the most precious ride you'll ever have. Enjoy it.

It can all be a hard serve to digest when you've come from a long stint in a career you've loved. Not only has your personal freedom flown with your new role, but your self image takes a beating too. Bodies change with pregnancy, birth and beyond, there's little time left to maintain yourself and you can often find yourself daydreaming as a result, remembering the clothes you once wore...the shoes...

...those bags!

There's no doubt about it, motherhood isn't glamorous for the vast majority of us, but with a well-designed baby bag at your side, you can certainly make the best of the circumstances...

Meet gorgeous Australian designer baby bag label Zara Darcy and the prestigious appeal of the Alessandro baby bag.

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