Bunchems Review - Creative Toys for Kids! #SLHFeaturedThursdays

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

Thank goodness for toys hey!

Kids are a handful most days. Okay - all day. (At least mine are anyway.) While all little peeps are so sweet to look at and frequently fun to be around, when they're in a bored or moany mood, look out! It's downhill fast.

That intro pretty much sums-up my day so far.

Today for instance, there have been lots of tantys and tears as the toddler trailed my every move. It's been clearly noted that watching mum cook and clean is Just. Not. Fun. In fact, come to think of it, nothing at all makes a three year old 'happy' without their unreasonable and uncontrolled 'take' on it.

Then, in the heat of all that toddler 'agro-ness' I remembered...

the Bunchems!

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The Dressmaker Costume Exhibition at Rippon Lea House and Gardens Melbourne

*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Nuffnang and the National Trust.

If there's one thing Australians do well, then movie-making surely tops the list. Our films are renown throughout the world for their wickedly-clever sense of humour, their use of our remarkable landscape as a backdrop, our distinct, uniquely Australian characters and overall 'feel,' which defines us on the world stage.

The Dressmaker, the movie, based on the best-selling novel by Rosalie Ham, is one such recent example of our Aussie expertise when it comes to weaving this cinema magic we're famous for.

This multi-award winning film contains all of these elements, making its originality sparkle on the screen. It's a story described as 'a bittersweet, comedy-drama.'  The Dressmaker is this and so much more.

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ANZAC Day Books for Kids. New Releases from HarperCollins Children's Books Publishers

There's no time like ANZAC Day to grab the attention of curious young learners and budding readers. With all of the ceremony and reverence surrounding this day, kids are quite naturally drawn to the subject of war with its tales of heroism, courage and bravery.

Harness the educational and historic opportunities for kids to learn that are inherent in this day, with some excellent reads for children of all ages from book publishers HarperCollins.

Here's a round-up of some great reads you may like to seek-out and share with your inquisitive kids, to help them to understand the continuing significance of  'lest we forget.'

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Smash 'Love Mum Collection' A Mother's Day Gift Guide #SLHFeaturedThursdays

Mother's Day is without contest when it comes to my favourite celebrations of the year. For one thing, it doesn't have the horrendous consumer push of Christmas, or the calories of Easter. (That's two things actually.) What Mother's Day does have, is a quieter and more personal appreciation and heart-felt love - in bucket-loads.

Mother's Day is certainly super-special. We all adore our mums while being excessively proud of being mums ourselves. It's a celebration worth its weight, so make sure you appreciate your mum (and yourself) in whatever way that is meaningful to you and yours this Mother's Day.

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Steggles Chicken Tempura Dino Snacks - Exciting Ways to Serve Chicken for Kids Plus a Free Recipe E-Book Download

 

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

 

Chicken is a great addition to any diet. Being naturally lean and high in protein, while also being low in saturated fats, gives this food a great child-friendly taste that kids love. It's a highly versatile meat and economical too. The Steggles chicken range has the added benefit of being 100% Australian grown, 100% free of hormones and steroids, plus all the goodness of grain fed and barn-raised produce.

It could be said that children and chicken snacks are a match made in heaven. Steggles have taken that match a notch higher with their Chicken Tempura Dino Snacks. These delicious and fun-filled snacks are available in 1kg catering packs and they're a hit with all ages!

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Essential Travel Accessories for Families on Day Trips

*This post is brought to you in collaboration with A1 Batterypro.

Car travel for families is so much fun and exciting, especially for the kids! Nothing energises everyone more than an outing to somewhere different and trips away make for great family memories too. They're so worthwhile.

There's lots of preparation involved for us parents though, when it comes to something as simple as the idea of a day trip. For many, it's rarely a case of just hopping into the car and leaving. This is especially true if you plan on taking a journey that requires hours in the car. The better prepared you are, the better your journey will be from start to finish. Nothing tires you out and puts a dent in your pocket more, than when you're not prepared for anything and with kids as you know, anything is possible!

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Buckle® Jr. 1922 - Handcrafted Australian Made Accessories for Boys and A Giveaway! #SLHFeaturedThursdays

A common complaint shared by all mums of boys, focusses on the lack of fashion choices available to their sons. (Compared to that which is available for girls.)

A stroll through any department store's children's section reveals just how stark this contrast can be. For girls, there are typically two-to-three times more fashion and accessory items on offer than the boys' department, and all of it is gloriously different and up to the minute - so unlike the boys wear section.

For parents of boys, shopping for clothing and accessories can be a thoroughly bland experience. Choosing between the scruffy graffiti tees, ghastly colour combos and sea of black, navy and khaki can really become tiring.

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Dust Mite Solutions For The Home Using Bosisto's Eucalyptus Range...

*This post is brought to you in collaboration with Bosisto's.

If you've got kids, you know just how difficult impossible it is, to keep a clean home.

Despite being on my feet doing around-the-clock cleaning, I can never seem to get our home to that level of spotless that I'd like. While I really don't mind the endearing toys and clutter of childhood about the place, I do detest the filth, dust and the plain unhygienic. Sadly, these last points are a very big part of home life when it comes to raising kids.

Take our master bedroom for instance. Strictly a sanctuary for the adults? Not in our home! Kids and their mess find a way into our space daily. Constantly I find my children on our bed watching television, jumping on the mattress, eating where they are forbidden and playing.

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Dreambaby® Ladybug Night Light Review Plus Win a Dreambaby® Prize Pack #SLHFeaturedThursdays

So often little ones are afraid at night times. It's a universal experience during childhood and it can be difficult to sway, especially when you too, are tired at the end of an exhausting day. There's no reasoning with a young child when it comes to quashing their fears. Parents are left to act to prevent the inevitable meltdowns in the small hours when these sensitivities arise. Good luck with that!

When it comes to night terrors, a simple night light can provide an immediate solution, with benefits that extend well into the long-term - and it needn't cost you the earth.

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CRU Camps - Exciting Holiday and Day Camps for Kids and Teens

*This post is brought to you in collaboration with CRU Camps.

Taking care of your kids over the school holidays can be a big undertaking. Things so often get off to a great start, but it can seem within 48 hours, the moaning begins. No matter what year they're in at school, you're sure to find they can't seem to keep themselves entertained for too long during school breaks. Inevitably, they miss their friends, they want endless ideas (all derived from you), to get them motivated, and they want expensive outings, frequently. That all adds up quickly, to exhausted parents!

Have you ever thought about sending your child or children off to a camp before?

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Jurassic World the Exhibition, Melbourne Museum - Review

Looking for something utterly sensational to entertain the kids and yourself these school holidays? Then look no further than the extraordinary Jurassic World: The Exhibition, currently showing at the Melbourne Museum.

We're all familiar with the Jurassic Park / Jurassic World movies. Jurassic World the movie, the most recent in the long running Jurassic franchise, ranked as one of the biggest blockbusters in cinema history upon its release in 2015. It's not hard to see why. The movies have everything cinema-goers seek: adventure, thrills and suspense (plus dinosaurs) as well as a breathtaking level of imagination which tinkers ingeniously and seamlessly, with scientific reality.

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