After successful seasons in Canberra and Sydney, the producers of The Illusionists and the award winning puppeteers of War Horse have brought their turn of the century circus to Melbourne with all the thrill and daredevil entertainment one would expect from the circus only with an old world charm.
Thanks to sensational puppetry, the likes of which we have never seen before, CIRCUS 1903 –The GoldenAge of Circus puts elephants back in the ring by introducing “Queenie” and her baby “Peanut” – much to the delight of Alegría, who loved them!
The first act is set during rehearsals in front of the circus with trucks, props and rigging and features performers from around the world. Whilst the second act is set inside the big top with flagpoles and rigging being raised into the roof of the theater and features more incredible acts for the audience to enjoy.
The aerialist was amazing and although we have never seen a bicycle ballet we were spellbound.
The contortionist had us shaking our heads in disbelief and the acrobatics and juggling were world class.
The highlight for us was the ringmaster who is incredibly witty and kept the audience engaged throughout the show. His “act” with the wild animals (children he plucked from the audience) and his pet raccoon had tears running down our faces from laughter!
This is a truly captivating circus extravaganza that is perfect for audiences of all ages an is only on for a strictly limited time!
Dates: Tuesday 3 January at 7pm
Wednesday 4 January at 3pm & 7pm
Thursday January at 3pm & 7pm
Friday 6 January at 3pm & 7pm
Saturday 7 January at 3pm & 7pm
Sunday 8 January at 3pm & 7pm
Tuesday 10 January at 3pm & 7pm
Wednesday 11 January at 3pm & 7pm
Thursday 12 January at 3pm & 7pm
Prices: Adults from $81.26
Child from $50.68
Transaction fee of $8.90 applies per order
Peppa Pig Playdate is like nothing you have experienced before!
If you are like us, you often hear the excited shrieks of “Peppa Pig’s ONNNNNNNNNN!” so imagine your kids excitement when they walk into a real life Peppa Pig paradise that is specially designed for her littlest fans!
Unless you have made your way to the UK and visited Peppa Pig World, then Peppa Pig Playdate is unlike anything your child has experienced before!
After walking the pink carpet, getting your playdate time and location (it will either be the Museum, Fire Station or Library) and walking through the rainbow arches, families can enjoy many activities!
Alegría and Isaac loved pretending to be ducks whilst “sailing” around the pond on trikes and there is even an island where under 3’s can play with wooden toys.
Everyone can take a ride on Grandpa Rabbit’s train – remember your hands must stay in the train (unless you are waving them madly above your head)!
Isaac loved visiting Peppa’s house and helping to sort out their recycling.
Little Peppa and George’s can slide down the dinosaur slides and run through the maze before it’s time to jump up and down in muddy puddles!
Children must wear socks for the muddy puddle area and are welcome to jump as many times as they like, they just have to line up again as the session is timed.
For a quieter time, kids can visit the school room and do some colouring-in and craft or join a music session with instruments to play and songs to sing.
If that wasn’t enough, included in your ticket price is the opportunity to watch a 30 minute live musical show starring Peppa and George Pig on the main stage, with plenty of interaction, songs and laughter.
Of course, you will meet some of Peppa’s family and friends (they are life size and very friendly) for some photo opportunities and cuddles.
When it’s time for your playdate with Peppa and her favourite toy Teddy, line up at your designated area 5-10 mins early to ensure you don’t miss out! Inside the Library, Museum or Fire Station you will meet Peppa, have a photo taken, get a card to colour in and sing a song or two!
Georgina Says
BRING SOCKS!!! Kids must have socks on to jump on the muddy puddles. If you forget, they will be selling them in Mr Fox’s shop. Prams are not permitted inside, there is pram parking available, however make sure your bring a baby carrier if you have little, little ones.
Bring your camera as there are plenty of photo opportunities, especially on your playdate with Peppa. You’re welcome to take food and drinks with you, as there is nothing for sale within the playdate area.
This video was released after our visit so you might spot some familiar faces!
Costs: $59.90 per priority entry ticket, $45.90 per general entry ticket, kids under 12 months are FREE and a one off $3.95 service and handling fee applies per transaction.
Peppa Pig Playdate Tour Schedule:
Wednesday 4 to Monday 9 January at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Saturday 14 to Wednesday 18 January at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Wednesday 25 to Sunday 29 January at the International Convention Centre, Sydney
Saturday 8 to Wednesday 12 April at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre
Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 April at the Adelaide Showgrounds
We were recently invited to experience beautiful and unspoilt Shoalhaven on the New South Wales South Coast and it’s not hard to see why this region is one of Australia’s most-loved surfing and family travel destinations. We all have fond memories of holidays at the beach in summer, and the Shoalhaven is an ideal place to relive those special times and make some new memories with your children.
Instead of flying into Sydney or Canberra and hiring a car, we decided to take a road trip in a Holden Captiva that Holden were nice enough to let us take for an extended test drive. Travelling from Victoria we passed through Albury (where we stayed for the night), Holbrook (where we climbed on the Big Submarine), Gundagai (where we saw the Dog on the Tucker-box), Canberra (for another overnight stay where we visited Questacon and the National Dinosaur Museum), Goulburn (where we saw the Big Merino) and Sutton Forest (we want to go back and explore this picturesque village) on our way to Nowra and Culburra Beach (our home for the next two days).
The Shoalhaven is just two hours from Sydney and Canberra (so flying in makes it really accessible if you are from interstate and don’t want to drive) and boasts unspoilt beaches, fun activities and delicious eateries to satisfy even the fussiest of little eaters!
With our copy of Shoalhaven Tourism’s “Surfing Shoalhaven” guide in hand we researched all the best beaches and waves, road trips and activities on offer in the region so that we could plan the most amazing stay – a holiday that has left us wanting to return and explore some more!
DAY 1
Shoalhaven Zoo
Shoalhaven Zoo is located in the town of Nowra about 2 hours drive south of Sydney. With more than 100 species of native and exotic birds, reptiles and mammals, the Shoalhaven Zoo is the largest zoo on the NSW south coast.
Spread over 16 acres of natural bushland, on the banks of the Shoalhaven river, this zoo is surrounded by an amazing backdrop of water views, rainforests and impressive cliff faces.
Shoalhaven Zoo allows for both paid and free interaction with select animals. We walked through the kangaroo and emu enclosure (you can buy a bag of food from the gift shop), played with rabbits and a cheeky goat in the animal farm and were able to pat a koala, crocodile, python and possum during a keeper talk. We also watched Marmoset monkey training session which was informative and funny (just don’t stand too close to the monkey cage as we narrowly avoided a well directed wee!). The kids also loved the giant slide and running through the wide open spaces.
Georgina Says
If you want to make a day of it, there are picnic areas and gas BBQ’s so you can bring your own yummy lunch. If you are like us, and are not that organised, then there is a cafe with undercover seating that will help you fill your tummy! Don’t forget to save room for an ice-cream!
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm every day except Christmas day. Animal shows start at 11am.
Address: 23 Rock Hill Road, North Nowra NSW 2541
Cost: Adults – $25.00 Aged 16+ Seniors & Pensioners – $20.00 Upon presentation of a valid seniors/pension card Students – $20.00 Upon presentation of a valid student card Children (Aged 3-15) – $15.00 Family – $70.00 2x adults & 2x children
Culburra Beach
The Shoalhaven is home to more than 100 beaches so a visit to the beach is a MUST whilst in the region. We were lucky enough to be staying in the quiet beachside town of Culburra Beach (which is located 20 minutes from Nowra) and our holiday house was located two blocks back from the water.
Alegría and Isaac LOVE the ocean and it didn’t take long for them to be playing in the shallows or with a local dog named Sam!
The people were friendly and relaxed, whilst the coastline made a stunning backdrop for an impromptu photography session.
DAY 2
Jervis Bay Bike Hire – See the Bay in a Different Way!
Jervis Bay Bike Hire is a mobile business offering a variety of bikes, from BMX bikes for the kids to tandem bikes for the adults. As they are a mobile business there is no shop frontage so you need to order your bikes in advance by phone or email. Same day delivery is available providing the order is received before 11am and is subject to availability. They even deliver free of charge if you are staying close by or you can choose to pick up if you are staying outside of their delivery area.
We hired two ‘heist’ bikes (suitable for adults 168cm tall and above), as well as a ‘chariot’ and a ‘tag-a-long rider’ for the kids (helmets and locks are also provided with each bike). The ‘heist’ bikes were required for both the chariot and the tag-a-long rider to attach to, although if you have older kids (they even hire scooters!) or are going by yourself they had some great adult bikes to choose from.
We enjoyed a fun morning exploring the sights of Jervis Bay and feeling the fresh air on our faces whilst we rode our bikes around the Bay.
The bike track is very well maintained and we even stopped off at Nelsons Beach for a play in the super soft, white sand (there is a toilet block and playground here as well) before we headed back and said goodbye to our wheels. The kids loved both the chariot and the tag-a-long rider. Alegría and Isaac took turns having a go in each and even though Isaac couldn’t reach the pedals of the rider, that didn’t stop him from having a go!
Georgina Says
Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes and pack some sunscreen, water and snacks.
Going for a bike ride is a great way to explore Jervis Bay, we thought it might be a “little” out of our fitness range but it was a highlight of our holiday. We all had such a great time!
Cost: from $30 per day for children’s bikes and $40 per day for adults bikes (discounts available for multiple days). Accessories such as the chariot and tag-a-long rider are extra.
Whale Watching
Our whale watching tour was run by Dolphin Watch Cruises / Eco-Whale Cruise who are located in Huskisson, NSW.
We were told that whale watching is an experience that is not to be missed when visiting the Shoalhaven between May and November. Unfortunately, we were visiting the area a week or two before the majority of the whales made their way back to Antarctic waters during the Southern migration, so whilst there had been successful whale watching trips in the days prior to our trip, on the day we didn’t see any whales.
What we can tell you though, is Sam and the crew from Dolphin Watch Cruises / Eco-Whale Cruise offer a friendly and well run tour business and we wouldn’t hesitate in recommending them.
Georgina Says
Don’t forget to bring along some sunscreen, a hat, your camera and warm clothes / closed shoes. To say it gets chilly on the water is an understatement!! It is FREEZING! The crew gave out red ponchos and if it wasn’t for them then we would have been miserable! We were still cold, but it was nothing compared to how we were before we got the ponchos. Don’t be a hero (like Tim) and think you will be okay as Tim froze for 2 hours and was only warm when we turned around to head back to shore.
As their business name suggests, they run dolphin tours all year round. There are resident pods living in Jervis Bay, so if you want guaranteed animal sightings then a dolphin tour would be the way to go.
Address: 50 Owen St Huskisson NSW 2540
Phone: (02) 4441 6311
Cost: Adults – $65.00 Aged 15+ Concession – $62.00 Children – $32.00 Aged 2-14 Family – $165.00 2x adults & 2x children
Greenfields Beach
As our holiday was very much a beach holiday, we couldn’t resist heading to Greenfields Beach in the Jervis Bay National Park. Greenfields Beach was listed by the Guardian UK as one of 12 best beaches in the world earlier this year– taking a coveted place alongside the world famous Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Starfish Beach in Panama and Source d’Argent in the Seychelles. The Guardian UK also named Greenfields Beach as one of its “50 best beaches in the world”, as chosen by its readers. The only Aussie beach to make both lists, Greenfields Beach is described as being “framed by a dense forest of gum trees and a small sandstone cliff” and we just had to see it for ourselves!
Georgina Says
There are amenities such as outdoor showers and toilets, ample car parking, and a picnic area with amazing views all the way to Point Perpendicular. Greenfield Beach is the most wheelchair accessible beach in Jervis Bay National Park, with a flat and grassy picnic area and access to the beach via a short boardwalk.
Greenfields Beach is nestled between the already famous Hyams Beach and the town of Vincentia. The kids loved running on the white, squeaky sand and playing in the shallows. It really is a beautiful beach and the perfect place to spend some time with your family!
DAY 3
Mollymook Beach Surf School
We couldn’t visit all of these beautiful beaches listed in our copy of Shoalhaven Tourism’s “Surfing Shoalhaven” guide without actually going Surfing IN the Shoalhaven! So, we packed up our car and said goodbye to our accommodation in Culburra Beach and travelled an hour south to Mollymook to meet our surfing coach Geoff Hansen from the Mollymook Beach Surf School.
The Mollymook Beach Surf School was first established in 2010 and is led by Geoff Hansen, the principal coach. Geoff has been delivering surf lessons in and around Mollymook since 2006. He has been a surfer for 36 years and is well-respected in the local surfing community.
We met Geoff and Katharine for our two-hour private surfing lesson in the pouring rain! As Geoff happily told us, surfing is one of the only outdoor activities you can do it the rain and it doesn’t matter! All our equipment, including a wetsuit and surf board, was provided and in no time at all we were all ready!
The kids helped to wax our surfboards, and then we went down to the beach for some on-the-sand instruction before we hit the waves! Geoff and Katharine were fantastic instructors and made sure we had the required knowledge and assistance for us all to stand up on our boards!
Isaac was a little jumping jack and popped up without a worry in the world, until one too many wipe-outs had him heading for the beach for a play. Alegría spent the entire 1.5 hours in the water and at 6 years old could have a future in surfing (if only we didn’t live 2 hours away from our nearest surf beach)! Tim and I LOVED the experience, we were a little nervous about the kids, but 5 minutes with Geoff and Katharine and our worries disappeared.
We have not stopped talking about our surfing lesson and had the BEST time! Amazingly, even though it was “Death On A Stick” weather conditions, we saw whales playing in the distance which made for a perfect end to a fantastic experience.
Georgina Says
I CANNOT recommend a surfing lesson with Geoff (and Katharine) and Mollymook Beach Surf School highly enough. We have been RAVING about it!! If you think that it will be too cold, or the kids are too young, or the weather is terrible, or you aren’t fit enough or any other excuse you can come up with then STOP! Give it a go. I feel the cold, and Geoff gave me a thick wetsuit and I wasn’t cold at all. Isaac is 3 and can’t swim but still had an amazing time. Tim and I are not the fittest people you will meet but we had a fantastic time. Alegria still talks about how to spot a rip, go under the waves and where to stand on the board. Honestly, learning to surf was a sensational family holiday experience.
If you want to surf in the Shoalhaven area, then the “Surfing Shoalhaven” guide makes interesting reading. It’s available to download from www.shoalhaven.com.au/surf, and provides surfing etiquette tips, surfing conditions and maps, local suppliers, stories of the champions and so much more!
Aussie surfer Tyler Wright is the 2016 WSL Women’s World Champion and grew up in Culburra Beach whilst learning to surf in the Shoalhaven.
“Some of my fondest memories I have are of daily surfing sessions with my brothers and sister. At the time, we couldn’t comprehend that we’d all end up where we are now. We were just over the moon to be out there with everyone at our local beach.” – Tyler Wright, Australian Professional Surfer, No. 1 in the world.
Tyler Wright, Australian Professional Surfer, No. 1 in the world
Phone: 0411 392221
Cost: Adults – $90.00 Aged 17+Children – $75.00 Aged up to 16
WHERE TO EAT
There are so many fantastic places to eat all over the Shoalhaven. You will be spoilt for choice! We have picked our favourite breakfast, lunch and dinner venues so that it one last thing you will need to worry about!
BREAKFAST: – Seasalt Café, Culburra
When you have adventurous day ahead of you, a beautiful, wholesome breakfast is exactly what you need! Seasalt Café is a small business located in the heart of the seaside village of Culburra. Seasalt Café opened in December 2012, and has successfully grown into a busy kitchen feeding locals and holiday makers. The menu includes a variety of meals suitable for all tastes and they have a toybox to keep the kids entertained whilst you wait for your meal!
Following your morning exploring Jervis Bay, it’s time to refuel before your afternoon’s itinerary. Pilgrims Café Huskisson is a popular café with the locals. The menus include delicious meals for all tastes, from pancakes and granola to burgers, pies and wraps. Perfect to take with you or sit back and admire their postcard perfect views!
Treat yourself to an exceptional meal from the famous Rooftop Bar & Grill at Bannisters Pavilion. The Rooftop’s menu is inspired by Mediterranean, Southern Californian and Mexican cuisines, complemented by seasonal cocktails, craft beers and an amazing wine list. You HAVE to try the eggplant chips with burnt onion aioli! There’s also a special children’s menu that includes dessert and a drink! The staff are friendly and are happy to bring colouring pages and crayons out for the kids so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the view!
We stayed at the “The Batch”, which is a lovely self-contained holiday house located just 500m from Culburra Beach and 700m from Warrain Beach so it is perfect for a family beach holiday.
It is comfortable home away from home where we all felt relaxed with everything that we needed as a travelling family. The Batch is located in a quiet street where the only sounds you will hear are the waves crashing and the birds singing.
There is a cosy wood fire for those chilly winter evenings (we didn’t use it as we were concerned about the kids as it is right in the middle of the room, but the heater worked wonderfully so we were not cold at all!).
The yard is fully enclosed so the children could play freely – it would be perfect if you were travelling with your dog as well.
This property is proudly managed by The Holiday Rental Specialists – Beach and Bay Holidays and they made our stay so welcoming. Prior to arrival, they had put on the heater and switched on the porch light leaving us with a welcome note and a little something to enjoy after the kids went to sleep!
We would highly recommend The Batch as your base whilst exploring the Shoalhaven region. We loved it and the kids keep asking to go back to “our holiday house” so I guess we better start planning!
We were guests of Shoalhaven Tourism for this family holiday. All opinions are own and correct at the time of publication. Please visit the Shoalhaven website prior to your holiday for additional information on what to do in the region.
You can also follow the team at Shoalhaven Tourism here:
Please note all details quoted are correct at the time of publishing. All details are subject to change without notice and Kidding Around Australia takes no responsibility for information contained in this post. Please check the appropriate website to ensure that information is still correct and current.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES ON THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA WEBSITE ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF THE KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA AUTHORS (UNLESS CREDITED OTHERWISE). ALL IMAGES ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT AND CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM KIDDING AROUND AUSTRALIA (OR ORIGINAL SOURCE AS CREDITED).
We have spoken about PeriCoach before on the blog and each time we discuss pelvic floor health we have an overwhelming response from women reaching out and talking about this very important issue.
I’m always a little nervous bringing up the subject because this is predominantly a travel, parenting and lifestyle blog but what I have come to learn is that if women are constantly worried about their weak pelvic floor, then they are not going to enjoy Kidding Around with their family.
And we can’t have that.
I’m actually very lucky and have pretty good pelvic floor muscles even though I never do any exercises to maintain them. I know many of you are not as fortunate, which makes me embarrassed that I am taking my health for granted when things can (and do) change over time.
The thing is we all know that we should be doing our pelvic floor exercises but how many of us actually do them as often as we should and in the correct way?
This is why I am interested in the PeriCoach system. It’s like having a personal trainer for your pelvic floor, providing feedback on your session and motivation to get those exercises done (it will even give you a reminder if you forget)!
The PeriCoach system is not a gimmick. It’s an Australian medical device – developed with support from a clinical advisory board of specialists in urogynaecology, gynaecology and pelvic physiotherapy and is manufactured in Australia. It has attracted a lot of interest from clinicians who work with patients with weak pelvic floor muscles or sexual dysfunction.
The actual PeriCoach device contains sensors that (after being calibrated to your body) measure the strength of your pelvic floor contractions. It then connects via bluetooth to an Apple or Android app on your phone. This data helps you to keep track of your progress and if you need help or advice, you can share your “workouts” with a healthcare professional that is registered and working with PeriCoach.
If you need to work in conjunction with a healthcare professional you can use the Find a Clinician page on the PeriCoach website to help you locate a health professional who has tested and is recommending the device. You will definitely find someone near you – I was surprised at how many professionals there are! Or you might like to do what I did and get your system online and start working out immediately.
The sessions themselves are short (just two minutes) and you start at the beginner level and work your way up from there. The exercises are easy, the app will tell you when to squeeze and when to relax and you can do it lying down or standing up. I’ve been using it for just over a month and my muscles are stronger!
So, if you are like me and you have been avoiding starting a pelvic floor exercise routine, then the time to take your health seriously is now!
MORE INFORMATION
The PeriCoach is $229 at the moment which is a saving of more than 20% off RRP! PLUS if you use our discount code you will save another 10%!
Our discount code for you to receive 10% off is KAAPC16
The PeriCoach is availableonline or through your pelvic health specialist. Once you’ve purchased the device, you can download the smartphone app and set up your device. For more discussion about PeriCoach, head to thePeriCoach Facebook page.
Living in Australia, away from any capital city makes me take clean, fresh air for granted. When Homedics told me about their Homedics AR120AU Electrostatic Air Cleaner, I was interested in learning more. I don’t know about you, but I am more often concerned about what we eat and drink rather than the air we breathe.
We have a mild asthma sufferer in our family and Duke likes to sleep in our front room so I thought I would trial the Homedics AR120AU Electrostatic Air Cleaner and see how it works.
The Homedics AR120AU Electrostatic Air Cleaner with Nano Coil technology is said to be the most innovative and effective air cleaning technology Homedics is offering.
Features :
World’s most advanced air cleaning system
Removes 99% of airborne contaminants like allergens, smoke, pollen, dust and germs
5 times better than HEPA in cleaning microscopic particles down to 0.05 microns in size
Reduces airborne viruses and bacteria
7 times more cleaning surface than comparable HEPA towers
Weighs 50% less than comparable HEPA towers
Uses only 25 watts of power – 50% less than comparable HEPA towers
LED backlit control panel
Triple filtration and elimination process
Cleanable, replaceable filter lasts up to 18 months
120 CADR – Clean Air Delivery Rate
What We Thought:
The unit is easy to use and comes with a remote control (and auto-timer). It’s light weight, but rather large so it stands out in the room. It’s not quiet on the higher settings. You definitely couldn’t sleep with it on turbo, but on low it’s fine.
Amazingly, it eliminated the smell of Duke in the room and for that fact alone it is worth the purchase price. We couldn’t be happier with the result.
Please note: We were given a Homedics AR120AU Electrostatic Air Cleaner for review, however our opinions are our own.
Back in the day, I travelled the world as a backpacker, visiting 30 countries and having the time of my life! In fact, I met one of my best friends whilst backpacking around the USA. Alegría and Isaac have German Godparents because of a chance meeting between Mikka and I in New York City, so it is fair to say that I was all for staying in hostels before I had kids.
Since having them, I haven’t given much thought to staying in a hostel. We are hotel / caravan park people these days. Or, so I thought.
I was recently introduced to Space Hotel in Melbourne and wanted to share this little secret with you*!
Space Hotel is an affordable, contemporary and social accommodation solution in Melbourne’s CBD. With 12 different room types, Space Hotel caters for all travellers, especially those on a budget – who wouldn’t love hotel quality at hostel prices?
Since opening its first property in 2011, Space Hotel has achieved enormous success winning Best Backpacker Accommodation at the RACV Victorian Tourism Awards (VTA) in 2013, 2014 and 2015, earning them a place in the VTA Hall of Fame.
Named as one of the world’s top ‘Poshtels’ by Lonely Planet, Space Hotel hosts groups, families and single travellers with accommodation options ranging from luxury rooms with skyline views to dorm beds. Their family room consists of a private family room with a high quality queen bed and 1 bunk bed, a 32 inch LCD TV, iPod docking station, wardrobe and study desk. As a bonus, a clean and modern ensuite bathroom is located in the room.
BENEFITS OF STAYING AS A FAMILY IN A HOSTEL
Space Hotel has put an emphasis on facilitating social experiences, guests have access to a range of shared spaces including an internet cafe and stainless steel commercial kitchen. That means that if you want another grown up to talk to then you are in the right place! Plus, the staff are lovely so they will make a real fuss of the kids and you can even squeeze some home-schooling in if you want to! Having a kitchen on site is perfect if you don’t want to eat out or have picky eaters and Space Hotel also have a gym and laundromat.
Other facilities include a free in-house cinema (great if you want to get some work done while the kids watch a movie), and the Space rooftop boasts impressive panoramic views of the city with sun lunges and spa (which is fantastic when you don’t want to stay out exploring all day and don’t want to be confined to your room!).
The staff are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. They can answer all your questions regarding transportation, tours, attraction opening hours, closest ATM’s and great places to eat. What a God-send for any family holiday.
Next time you want to stay in Melbourne (or any other city around the world) then make sure you check out family friendly hostels like Space Hotel – I know we will be!
*Just a little note: this isn’t a sponsored post so I am not getting paid to tell you about Space Hotel … I like sharing with you little bits of information that I find that I think will make your life easier when you travel.
We all want to do what’s best for our children. We want them to be happy and healthy – but, let’s face it sometimes life is so busy that a nutritious, home-cooked meal isn’t going to happen!
So what are we to do? What do we feed our kids if we are on the road and don’t have access to a fully equiped kitchen? Many of the ready-made supermarket options are heat blasted so that they have a shelf life of 18 months+, which is a little scary.
Best-selling author, entrepreneur, Melbourne-based baby food expert and mother of 3, Emily Dupuche, says “There are whole fridges dedicated to fresh pet food in supermarkets, but you can’t find any fresh baby food. It is unacceptable. Busy parents today deserve access to convenient, fresh, nutritious meals for their children with less salt, sugar and preservatives. We don’t buy meat off the shelf to eat, so we shouldn’t have to serve our babies just that.”
Dupuche has been fostering healthy eating habits in children and inspiring parents for 5 years. Dupuche’s first book, Food Babies Love (published by Pan MacMillan) has sold over 10,000 copies, made popular for it’s easy and delicious real food ideas to suit parents looking for strategies and solutions to feed babies the good food they need to thrive.
The popularity of the Food Babies Love guide and demand from parents looking for more food babies love, motivated Dupuche to take the favourite recipes from the guide and launch Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots – an Australian-first range of readily available FRESH baby and toddler meals.
The Kidding Around Australia kids are past this baby stage now, however, we are lucky to have Kirrilee as a contributor. As a busy mum of two boys (aged 3.5 and 7.5 months), Kirrilee was more than happy to trial the Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots range!
Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots, is a range of convenient, nourishing baby and toddler food, offering time-poor parents peace of mind and the much needed opportunity to feed their babies fresh, wholesome and quick meals without compromising on nutrition, flavour and taste. It’s simple, real food that is kitchen fresh and exactly like home-made food.
“Mums want to know what ingredients they are feeding their children and how it has been prepared. With Fresh Pots the process and ingredients are transparent. We’ve taken the favourite recipes from the guide and prepared them fresh for parents. Being time poor doesn’t need to mean poor quality food for our children,” states Dupuche.
Dupuche has also chosen to package the meals in clear pots rather than pouches, specifically to stimulate all the senses of a growing baby including sight, smell and texture – key stimulants for developing palettes, interest and a healthy relationship with food. The 200g tamper-proof pots are microwavable and freezable and come in three distinct ages and stages. Early proteins for 6 plus months, textured meals for 7 plus months and toddler meals for 10 plus months.
Whilst, Kirrilee’s 3.5 year old Thomas was a bit too old for the range, her 7 month old Lennox absolutely loved it! There are 7 delicious varieties in the range. The range includes Lentil Dahl, Fish Pie, Curry and family favourites such as Spaghetti Bolognaise.
Kirrilee Says
I was so happy to try the Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots range! As a busy mum, if I can feed my children nutritious meals that are easy to prepare then my life will be so much easier!
Whilst some of the flavours were preferred over others (pumpkin, apple and chicken was a fave) Lennox loved them! He ate until he was too full, then I finished it off! Forget the kids, this is yummy food! Actually, I was able to get 2-3 meals out of pot. I would simply remove a portion, heat it up (make sure you check the temperatures as it can get scolding) and leave the rest in the fridge.
The pots are $6.45 each and would be perfect for home or holidays. They save so much time and effort and taste amazing!
GIVEAWAY
If you would like to try Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots then you will be so happy to know that we are giving one lucky Melbourne based reader a chance to win a week’s worth of fresh pots (7 fresh pots home delivered!).
To win: Email – Georgina@kiddingaroundaustralia.com and tell us “Why you want to try Fresh Pots by Food Babies Love”. Competition closes: 31 July 2016 at 5pm AEST. Good Luck!
MORE INFORMATION
Food Babies Love – Fresh Pots can be found in the refrigerated section of select supermarkets and grocers along the Eastern Seaboard with the option of weekly home delivery for Melbournians. They retail for $6.45 and the book is also available to purchase for $25.
Please note all details quoted are correct at the time of publishing. All details are subject to change without notice and Kidding Around Australia takes no responsibility for information contained in this post. Please check the appropriate website to ensure that information is still correct and current.
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I have been coveting a felt ball rug ever since our Kidding Around Australia contributor, Kirrilee, bought one last year for her son’s nursery.
Kirrilee said “I love my 140cm custom felt ball rug! I ordered on July 25th, 2015 and it arrived to my home in Australia on August 11th. It’s fantastic quality and so comfortable to sit on. My son loves it too!”
Kirrilee purchased her rug through Felt Ball Rug Australia so when an opportunity for us to review one of their rugs came up you can imagine how excited I was!
Felt Ball Rug Australia is run by Deep who is the son of Nepalese factory owner Jagadishwar Adhikari. Deep and his family are committed to fair trade, women’s rights and guarantee that all of their felt ball products are handmade in Nepal, are free from chemicals, other toxins and are eco – friendly. They are proud members of Good Weave* who certify that the rugs are made without child labour.
The ordering process was simple. We went to the Felt Ball Rug Australia website https://feltballrug.com.au/ and found many options to choose from – round, rectangle, pre-designed colour schemes or custom designs where you get to choose what colours you want for your rug.
We went with the round 140 cm (55″) multi-colour felt ball rug, entered our address and within 2 weeks it was delivered from Nepal (usually non-custom rugs are shipped from Sydney but they were out of stock – and 2 weeks from ordering to arriving internationally by courier is amazing! There was even a little surprise hiding in our 100% New Zealand wool rug!). The rugs range in price from $197 – $927 depending on the size you choose.
The product itself is beautiful. We have it in our front room and everyone who comes to visit comments on it. The kids enjoy curling up on it to read or play a game, it’s super soft under foot and easy to clean.
Felt Ball Rug Australia also have other products such as trivets, coasters, cat caves, ottomans, Christmas decorations, garlands and bulk felt balls.
We are happy to say that we have partnered up with Felt Ball Rug Australia to give away a family multi-colour round pack.
Each pack consists of:
1 x Felt Ball Trivet made from 2cm felt balls and is 20cm wide.
5 x Felt Ball Coasters made from 1cm felt balls and is 10 cm wide.
This stunning designer multicolored felt ball trivet and coaster pack is hand made in Nepal by women under the Fair Trade Act and is worth $29.99.
To enter, simply comment on this blog post why you would like to win! Entries close on 31/7/16 at 5pm and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter. Good Luck!
MORE INFORMATION
Check out the Felt Ball Rug Australia WEBSITE,FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM pages – they run competitions all the time so make sure you like or follow them! I sincerely hope you win a rug – they are fantastic!
*GoodWeave International, formerly known as Rugmark, is a network of non-profit organisations dedicated to ending illegal child labour in the rug making industry. Founded in 1994 by children’s rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, it provides a certification program that allows companies that pass inspection (and random checks) to attach a logo certifying that their product is made without child labour.
On Saturday 9 July 2016 we saw the world premiere Scooby-Doo Live! Level Up! at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne. Scooby-Doo has been a favourite of ours since childhood, and recently Alegría and Isaac have jumped on the bandwagon!
Jeepers!
We weren’t exactly sure about what to expect from the show, and eagerly awaited the show to start as we took our seats and put on our cardboard “Boggle Goggles” (that looked like 3D glasses without the lenses). The show featured all of the ‘Mystery Inc.’ gang, who in 2016, are tech savvy with mobile phones and ghost finding apps whilst still being drawn to 80’s arcade games such as Moustashio Bros, Snack Man and Chase Invaders… funny those names are familiar!
At the beginning of the show, the gang take on summer jobs with Shaggy and Scooby-Doo working at Crystal Cove – The Most Hauntedest Place on Earth and Fred, Velma and Daphne working next door at the high tech store (the name escapes me) that sells “boggle goggles”.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Scooby-Doo if there wasn’t a mystery to solve, so when ghosts begin to appear, “boggle goggles” malfunction, and the crew become trapped inside the arcade games, they must ‘Level Up!’ to escape.
Georgina Says
The show is fast paced with catchy musical numbers and there is a lot of audience interaction. The storyline is at times hard to follow and whilst Alegría and Isaac enjoyed it, I don’t think they actually know what it was about. I would suggest that this show is more suited to 8+ if you want them to appreciate the storyline.
The Melbourne season of Scooby-Doo Live! Level Up has now finished, and the show is headed to Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth so check it out!
I have been coveting a felt ball rug ever since our Kidding Around Australia contributor, Kirrilee, bought one last year for her son’s nursery.
Kidding Around Australia 