TOP 5 Stocking Fillers from Adelaide-based Small Businesses

I am an AVID supporter of local, work-from-home small businesses. These businesses are operated by Mums and Dads that have made the choice to stay at home, raise their children and make a go of their passion - And who doesn't want to support and encourage that?

As a fellow work-from-home Mummy, I really had NO idea of just how many of these little businesses were out there until I became one. It's like a whole other world!

Bearing this in mind, this is my first Christmas since having my own business, and my first Christmas since having my eyes opened by these fabulous businesses - and I am really proud that I have been able to support them by buying local for the majority of my Christmas presents this year (including those presents handed out at the recent AMM Christmas Party).

I wanted to show you MY favourite 'Stocking Filler' ideas from 5 FABULOUS local businesses - These items are priced at $15 or less.

ONE: Ezza's Inner Child Creations

I have a bit of a 'crush' on this business, to the point that I am actually scared to go through my bank account to see how much money I have spent! Erin (Ezza) is supremely talented, and has a lot of fabulous creations available.

As a mother of boys, I can't help but LOVE Erin's trucks. They're fabric, which means that they're easy to clean, but also SUPER practical to use as storage (just check out the trailer space!). Perfect for DVD/Game storage (larger trucks), or random little toys... OR just on display as they are!

Mini Truck: $7.50
Mini Trucks measure about 15cm long and are available for $7.50 each. And you can personalise the trailer fabric to suit whatever theme you wish.

TWO: House of Baby Piranha

Christmas isn't just about toys in my home. I have a rule that 50% (or less if I can get away with it!) are toys, and the other 50% is made up of clothing and educational things like books/crafts, etc.

Logan (my nearly 7-year old) just loves craft. He loves making things, colouring in and just being able to use that creative side of his brain... It means that there's often mess involved when he's cutting things out, not to mention the glue and glitter!

House of Baby Piranha have these fabulous little packs that have eliminated the need to cut things out, and have some great puppet packs which come with their own glue AND themed crayons to match.

Puppet and Crayon Pack: $12
There's an array of themes available from Santa, Pirates... and for the girls there are Fairies and Princesses.

I can't wait for the Puppet Show when Logan sits down with his after Christmas!

THREE: Little Boy Blue

I have heard, quite regularly, that there aren't many businesses out there for boys. I happen to think that there are HEAPS out there, and Little Boy Blue is a big favourite of mine, there's just so much funkiness for boys!

My favourite at the moment is this gorgeous Santa Suit at $15 with FREE postage:

Santa Suit: $15
I am picturing some VERY cute photos on Christmas Day!

FOUR: Always Present

If you're a softie/sentimental mummy like me, your child's first Christmas is very special. I find that they don't 'need' much, but there's usually something sentimental involved... and Always Present can create you some cute Christmass tree baubles with each of your names hand-written onto them.

I've seen these at the shopping centres before and have always thought that they were a fabulous idea - and also cheap enough that you can go ahead and get the whole family done at the same time!

Personalised Christmas Bauble: $6 each
FIVE: Limealicious

Did you think this was just about stocking fillers for Kids? Us adults need a little present, too!

Limealicious is a fabulous Cake and Gourmet Food business located in Greenwith - I've tried MANY of Meredith's fabulous creations, but her jams are simply amazing. Oh and her Lemon Butter. And Sticky Date Pudding.

Home made Jams: $7.50 per jar
Jams are available at $7.50 per jar, and range from Spiced Pear, to Blueberry, Apple and Cinnamon and Strawberry and Lime (one of my FAVES!)

I am suddenly REALLLLLY hungry right now!

GIVEAWAY - 'Baby Royale' Organic Baby Food

Wholesome Natural and Organic Baby Food
Yummy meals, snacks and cereals for babies and toddlers.
Born in Australia. Perfect for little ones everywhere!

At Baby Royale, the natural and organic baby food company, we believe that introducing your baby to the real tastes and textures of food early in life sets them up for a lifetime of healthy eating. Our commitment to providing parents with the best quality, safe and convenient products can be seen in everything we do.

The good guys go in; pear, apple, banana, mango, apricot peach, sweet potato, carrot, pumpkin, spinach and lentils.

And the bad guys stay out. You can be confident that Baby Royale products contain:

NO Added Sugar or Salt
NO Artificial Colours or Flavours
NO Additives or Thickeners
NO Genetically Modified ingredients
NO Hidden Nasties.

A 100% Australian owned company, Baby Royale first sprouted in 2009 with the philosophy of “Simply honest, wholesome food for baby.”

TO CELEBRATE BABY ROYALE HITTING FOODLAND SHELVES,
we are giving away 6 SAMPLE PACKS including one each of the following yummy flavours:

Lamb Dinner
Beef Ragout
Lamb with Sweet Potato and Carrot
Apple, Blueberry and Raspberry
Apple, Peach and Banana
Apple
Banana, Sweet Potato and Pear
Sweet Potato, Pumpkin and Corn

ENTER BY RAFFLECOPTER: a Rafflecopter giveaway


PLEASE NOTE: Winners will be notified by Email, and are required to pick up the Sample Packs from Hallett Cove (5158).

Sample Packs can be posted at winner's expense (Approximately $13 - Unregistered)

Sample Packs will be available for collection/postage from Monday 7th January 2013.

This Giveaway is open only to South Australian Residents.

WIN! Tickets to Disney Live! Mickey's Rockin Roadshow

© Disney/Pixar. All rights reserved

Disney Live! MICKEY'S ROCKIN' ROADSHOW is coming to the Adelaide Entertainment on the 21st and 22nd of January, but before that, one of the stars of the show will be in town on 13th December and we’re heading along for a meet and greet opportunity.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE OUR GUEST? We are giving one lucky winner the chance to attend the meet & greet session with their children at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on 13 December at 10.30am plus win 4 tickets to the show in January PLUS a show programme.

To enter, simply visit the AMM website, and Good Luck!

For information on the event and tickets, visit www.disneylive.com.au

© Disney/Pixar. All rights reserved

I'm Turning my Flab to Fab

When I was growing up, I was thin. Not super skinny, but just thin enough. Back then I thought I was fat, and I look back at those photos and just want to scream at myself for thinking it.

Here I am, 30-years old and I am not thin. I'm not fat either, but I am not happy with how I look. My skin wobbles. I am covered in stretch marks and cellulite, and my skin may as well glow-in-the-dark.

About 5-weeks ago, I had enough. I was sick and tired of feeling like a victim, of making excuses for myself and I made the decision to take responsibility for how I look, and change my habits. I needed something drastic, because I am a quitter. If something gets too hard, or I don't get results, I quit. It's all too hard and it's just far easier to revert back to what I was doing... even though it wasn't making me happy.

5-weeks ago, I reluctantly decided to join the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation. I'm being 100% honest here when I say I was reluctant, but mostly at my own commitment. I was so apprehensive about it all, and the intensity really turned me off (leading up to the start of the 12-weeks there were videos and 'homework' that I just felt was far too strong for someone like me). I admit, I haven't done my homework. I also haven't done the fitness test. And while I am at it, I may as well admit that I haven't been keeping to my meal plan. BUT! I have been keeping to my daily calorie allowance, and my workouts... and I have never felt better.

My "Before" Picture - 3 weeks ago (Ryder quietly playing in the background)

Me "Now" - Progress Shot
I am *starting* to feel good about myself. I am starting to look like a 'fit' person. I am enjoying my workouts, and I am enjoying knowing what it is that I am putting into my body.

I have set myself a goal weight that means my goal is to lose 10kgs. I am halfway there (just a tad over after today's weigh-in), and a quarter of my way through my 12-weeks. I don't really know what I want to weigh, but I know that I want to feel great and look great... I want to look as great as I looked when I first met my husband.

I was never going to make my 'Before' pictures public - I feel as if I was at a pretty low point, and not happy with myself. BUT I am hoping that these images (and REAL images at that) show people that changes, even the small ones, can give results. By sharing my 'before' picture, it will also motivate me to keep on going and not fail.

My "Before" Picture - 3 weeks ago (Ryder quietly playing in the background)

Me "Now" - Progress Shot
I've become a gym junkie again - I am at the gym doing a class every day (Sunday = Rest Day) ranging from BodyPump and BodyCombat to BodyAttack (which saw me dislocate my pinky finger... tres embarrassing!).

But the best thing of all is that I am feeling good about making these changes to my body. Part of me feels as if I am finding myself again, amidst raising children, being a wife, etc. I feel 'me' again, and I feel happy.

Addicted to Lunchboxes

About 6-months ago, I befriended another fellow Mumpreneur and owner of Neat 2 Eat... this started my addiction to creating fabulous lunchboxes, and allowing me a small opportunity each day to get creative.

My son Logan (nearly 7-years old), isn't a fan of some foods. I wouldn't say that he is picky, but when it comes to sitting down and eating his food at school, he would much rather play around with his friends. He would come home from school some days with an untouched lunchbox - and I needed to do something to make eating a priority for him (and I wasn't going to buy him a lunch order every day just so he would eat).

Meeting Ebony was timely. And because of her and her little biz, Logan is eating his lunches and is enjoying his artwork lunchboxes.

It's obvious it's something that I am enjoying at the moment - I've been 'Instagramming' photos of his lunches almost daily, and taking much more care at the supermarket to make sure his lunches are more healthier with far less 'snack food' options. Not only that, but I am enjoying researching recipes to find meals that are good sandwich replacements... you can only have so many Vegemite/Cheese/Peanut Butter sandwiches, right?!

Here's a few piccies of some recent creations:

Aren't they super cute?

And honestly, they take very little extra time to the lunchboxes I used to make... it's so much fun!

xx

R is for Ryder and Rainbow

So my littlest man Ryder, turned 1 in August. He's now 13-months, and these last 6 weeks have flown.

We now have a walker. We also have a little dude that is incredibly nosey and wants to touch everything. Our 'non childproofed' house is slowly becoming childproofed. And most things now come with lots of little fingerprints. Cute little fingerprints.

To celebrate his milestone birthday, we decided to brighten his day with colour. We threw him a Rainbow Theme party. It was a concept I thought would be relatively unique... until I saw it in a large chunk of recent birthdays on Pinterest. Oh well!!

The day was a bit stressful to begin with - so may decorations to place AND a 'cake smash' photoshoot... mix in a double booking with the location and I was starting to get upset BUT the party was fabulous! So much colour, kids playing, faces painted and friends and family - A great kid's party and a great memory for Ryder to reflect on when he's older.

We were so lucky to have the day captured by a dear friend at Wild Lilly Studio, who also captured Ryder's 'Cake Smash' earlier that day.

To think it was a little while ago now... time certainly flies with kids! xx

Breakfast for Champion Daddies

My husband loves two kinds of breakfasts: the manly kind packed with meat, eggs, beans and toast (with an iced coffee) and the not-so-manly kind with strawberry jam and cream (with an iced coffee).

Alas, neither of those breakfasts happen as often as I/he would like. We're busy, he's busy... and because of that, breakfast is usually on the run, or not at all.

This Sunday, I plan on making my man a nice and easy breakfast. Not packed with bacon and sausages, but with his other favourite. Something sweet that the kids would enjoy and eat with him:

STRAWBERRY JAM BREAKFAST CUPS:

Ingredients:

4 Croissants
1/4 cup strawberry jam (or any other jam you like, but strawberry is best!)
3 eggs
Splash of milk (approx 50ml)
1 teaspoon brown sugar

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees. Grease muffin tray.
Crack the 2 eggs into a bowl with milk and brown sugar, lightly whisk.
Tear croissants into small, bite-size pieces and spread jam onto random areas.
Lay the pieces into the muffin tray. You can stack them into the muffin tray until all pieces are used.
Pour egg wash evenly over the bread.

Bake for 20-25mins, or until croissants have soaked up the egg wash and is cooked through.

Serve with whipped cream and fresh strawberries... YUM!!!

This sounds a little bit odd - pouring egg over a croissant and baking it... but it is YUMMY! The croissants soak up the egg and combined with the buttery-ness it is very sweet and savoury-ish at the same time. Very yummo and a great alternative to scones with jam and cream too!

Hubby will still get his iced coffee, it will be Father's Day afterall.

Enjoy! xx

And HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DADDIES!!

Turning 30 really isn't so bad...

A month ago yesterday, I entered my 30's.

I left my 20's behind and waved goodbye to a decade of drama. I also said goodbye to a decade I became a lot of things... A wife (twice). A mother, a single mother, and then a mother of two. A business owner. Someone who knew what they wanted to be. So many things that I look back on and am so glad happened, because as cliché as it is, it has made me who I am now, at 30.

And 30 really isn't that bad.

I have been one of the very few people that I know of, that have been excited about turning 30. I've wanted to be 30, to be a 'grown up'... without realising that nothing would actually change and I have been a grown up the whole time.

I celebrated the occasion the only way I knew how... with my closest friends, French style. I wanted something a bit over-the-top, seeing as it wasn't just another birthday. To me, this was a celebration of my whole 30-years thus far, not just reaching a milestone or clocking over another number. This was about embracing a great chapter in my life. A new chapter... and being surrounded by those I love, in a setting that is so 'me' was the only way I wanted to do it.

So I had a French Themed High Tea, at one of my very favourite little cafes. I booked the whole place out and filled it with great people. And a 6ft Eiffel Tower made purely of balloons.

It was perfect.

I had a photobooth, with a lot of little French props. And a mime. Yes, a MIME. She was hilarious with a touch of awkward. But she added an element of laughter that wouldn't have been created without her...

My darling friend Rachael and I. I have known Rachael since I was about 7-years old... 23-years of friendship. We grew up a few houses down from each other, and we have this amazing friendship that has no drama... we can pick up the phone no matter how long it has been and talk as if no time has passed. One of those amazing, loyal friends that I will carry dear to me for life.

My baby sister, and my only sister Jodie. Who looks nothing like me, yet so much like me at the same time. It purely depends on whatever hair colour we have at the time. There's so much about her that I am envious of and she doesn't even know...

She will probably kill me for using this photo, but I do love it. Nicole is a friend I met online years ago. Got off to a bit of a rocky start, but we have a solid, mature friendship that has gone the distance... literally! Nicole lives in QLD and flew down to little old SA just to celebrate my birthday with me

Imogen and Alicia have been my bridesmaids, in two separate weddings - as they so eloquently mentioned in their speech. They're mental, funny, classy (most of the time) and skinny... I feel like an old elephant around them. But I love them both, dearly. And I know that if I ever need a night out, tagging along with them means I have fun.

This is me, infront of the HUGE Eiffel Tower structure.

My AMAZING cake, made by my super talented Aunty, who has made all the family birthday cakes... and wedding cakes.

More random photos from the day: