Remember when...

I remember with fondness growing up on the North Coast of NSW in the 70s and 80s. I’m sure you’d all agree things were A LOT different back then. Things were more a lot more simple and carefree.

As kids, we all had much more freedom than kids do now. We would roam the neighbourhood, riding our bikes (without helmets), climbing trees, exploring the back lane, hanging out at different neighbourhood houses. Mum knew we were around but not exactly where. As long as we were within yelling distance she was happy. (And she could yell quite loud so we wandered far). I remember being outside and carefree almost all the time – if we were inside my Mum would say: “go outside and get out of my hair!”

We only had 2 television channels – Northern Rivers TV and ABC. No cable, downloaded movies, no hiring DVDs, no You Tube, no mobile phones tethered to our hands, no IPod, tablets, IPads or computers of any kind. And when we did start playing computer games, we played pacman over and over again and never got sick of it.

Yes, things were simpler and quite often I really yearn for those days. My 7 year old cannot comprehend it when I tell him we didn’t even have a phone in my house until I was 13 years old. And I remember clearly the day we got a video recorder. My Walkman was my most prized possession and I had cases and cases of dusty tapes. We used to set off fire-crackers, almost never had take-away, when it was hot we wound the windows down, we had to get up to change the TV channel and when remotes first came in they were attached by a cord to the TV or VCR and vandalism was scratching the school desk with a compass. In 1980: bread cost 54 cents a loaf, milk 63 cents a litre, 250g butter was 50 cents, potatoes cost 70 cents/kg and a stamp was 22cents.

What do you remember about growing up in the 70s and 80s?

Here are some images I’ve come across that make me all nostalgic!

Our Top 10 Campfire Tips

Ahhh, we all love a good campfire. The wilderness, the starry night sky, marshmellows, bugs, the smell of burning wood, the smoke, the great outdoors, maybe a few drinks - and of course your family and friends!

Now is a great time of year to have a campfire, without any fire bans or restrictions in place.

We thought we would share our Top 10 Campfire Tips to ensure campfire success:

1. Establish some rules with the kids: never leave a fire unattended, make it clear who is allowed to touch or 'stoke' the fire, no running near the fire, don't throw things into the fire etc.

2. Marshmellows. This is a must-have for any campfire. One great game to play is to see how many times you can roast your marshmellow, peel the little crust off and keep roasting it (apparently the record is 12 times but I'm not sure I believe that!)

3. Campfire songs. Having someone who can play guitar while you sit around the campfire is ideal, but if this is not possible you can still have a bit of a sing-a-long. 'Kumbaya', 'Ten Green Bottles' and 'Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree' are all great classic sing-a-long favourites.

4. Ghost stories. Yes, we've all sat around a campfire scared silly listening to ghost stories. Here is a link to some great ghost stories, but they are definitely not suitable for younger kids!

5. Torches and/or glow sticks. These are especially good for younger kids - not only will they be easier to see in the dark, they will need a torch for when they need to go to the toilet or get something from their tent.

6. Campfire games. There are some really simple and easy campfire games you can play with the kids around the campfire: "10 Campfire Games You Have to Play" and "Family Fun Campfire Games."

7. Campfire safety. Ensure you check for any fire restrictions before you start. Also don't forget to have a bucket of water or sand nearby the fire in case of flying sparks. It is also good practice to clear a 3 metre area around any campfire. And most importantly, always smother out a fire when you leave it.

8. Campfire cooking. The kids will love cooking something simple such as damper or apples in foil.

9. If you are camping in the summer and there are fire restrictions in place, you can read here about what is and is not permitted in regards to cooking during these times.

10. If the kids are old enough, take the opportunity to teach them a classic outdoor skill - how to build a campfire. I came across this great article which goes through step-by-step how and what to teach them!

And last but not least, have fun! Campfires are such a wonderful way to spend real quality time together, share stories and have some laughs.

Sleep on Holidays (with Kids)

Sleep. Before becoming a parent I totally underestimated the importance of sleep. For both Mummy, Daddy AND children!

For some of us the idea of going on a holiday might be awesome but then the thought of trying to get the kids to settled and to sleep in a strange place might just sound like more trouble than it’s worth!

Any slight little variation in routine can throw little ones out of their sleep routines. How do you set boundaries and ensure sleep patterns are kept while on holidays? Here are some tips and ideas that will help:

1. Look into the actual bedding arrangements of where you will be staying. Will everyone have separate rooms? Having one bedroom for the adults and another for the kids will make sleeping arrangements easier to manage.
2. Do you need a portacot? Can you hire one or will you have to bring your own? What about sheets? Are there bunk beds? Will you need a sleep rail? These are things to think about and check with wherever you are planning to stay.
3. Some babies and toddlers will have trouble having a nap time in an unfamiliar environment, or while there are lots of things going on around them. If they resist a nap at least ensure they get a rest or some down/quiet time.
4. Make sure you bring along the familiar comforts from home: favourite pjs, blankie, a teddy or two, nightlight and their favourite books.
5. Be consistent: resist the urge to rush or skip the bedtime routine. If your child usually has two books before bed, make sure you read them two. Try to stick to the usual bedtime routine as closely as possible.
6. If you are travelling across time zones get the whole family into the new time zone as soon as you arrive. It might be okay to let the kids sleep in on the first morning or two, but after that wake them up at the new wake-up time so they get used to the time zone quickly.
7. If your kids are still awake at 10pm and showing no signs of going to sleep then it might be time for you to go to bed, or pretend to! For the sake of the kids getting a good night’s sleep, you might have to adjust your own schedule a little.
8. Talk about it. Sleeping in a different place with different noises and smells can seem a little daunting for a child. If they are old enough you can talk to them so they know what’s coming and prepare them for it.
9. Remember YOU are in charge; you might need to make it clear to family and friends that your kids need to be in bed at a certain time. You can explain that your child’s sleep needs take priority and quality and quantity of sleep affects their behaviour, happiness and well-being.
10. Do a walk through. If you have older kids that get up in the night to go to the bathroom make sure they know where to go. Likewise show them exactly where your bedroom is so they know where you are. 

The reality is, with so much holiday fun going on, your kids might be so exhausted each night that they fall fast asleep before their head’s even hit the pillow! If they do have trouble getting to sleep it will only take them a night or two to get used to their new surroundings and fall into routine… fingers crossed!!

How to enjoy your holiday without stacking on the kilos

A spider in your kitchen, a mouse in your house… you might think these would be in the top list of women’s biggest fears…so the following list may surprise you:

The top women’s fears are:

1. Going to the dentist.
2. Getting on the scale after all their holiday eating and drinking.
3. Having a coworker see them naked.
4. Checking their bank balance after the holidays.

I understand the first one, going to the dentist. I’m terrified of going to the Dentist, it’s a combination of the smell and the sound of drills and that mouth wash.  I also understand the second one, getting on the scale after indulging on holidays. But number three, having your co-worker see you naked? HUH? Is that really a concern? How often does that happen? That had me laughing.

So we’ve jotted down a few ideas to help you with #2.  (Although #3 could be an interesting read – lol.)

How many times have you or a friend come back from holidays having had a good time (maybe too much of a good time) – and gained an extra 5kgs to show for it?

We are here to help! Here are some hints and suggestions how not to stack on the kilos while enjoying that well-earned holiday.

The key is to not try to diet or lose weight, train for a marathon or anything else like that. If you make your aim to simply keep active and maintain your weight this should take the pressure off and believe it or not, it is quite achievable! The secret is to not entirely abandon all exercise and sensible eating even though you are on holidays.

Holidays are a time for family and friends.  Time for you to chill out and relax, so try to plan fun exercise activities the whole family can enjoy.  Any of the activities listed below the kids will LOVE and it will keep everyone active and healthy, enable you to spend time together as a family or alone (because you need that too!) and soak up your holiday surroundings:

• Hire or take your bikes and go for a ride, maybe after lunch every day or later in the afternoon.
• Go for a bushwalk and do some exploring (perhaps treat them – not yourself! – to an ice-cream treat at the end!)
• Swimming – while your kids are enjoying splashing about and playing games swim a few laps.
• Other activities you can do with your kids: surfing, swimming, snorkelling, teach the kids golf or tennis, hire a canoe or kayak.

If you feel like some “me” or alone time to exercise you could try the following: (Just make sure you pack your running shoes and exercise clothing – packing the right gear will keep you motivated.)

• Put on your iPad a yoga class or other exercises you can do with your body weight (eg. pushups, crunches, reverse crunches, planks, lunges).  Many holiday destinations have walking or running tracks and exercise park equipment.  Be sure to check that out with the place you are staying with has and what the town offers.
• Find the biggest hill and walk up it!
• Nice lazy walk along the beach does wonders for the body and the mind.  There is just something about the tranquillity and peacefulness of the beach.
• Jog through the landscaped gardens or around the holiday park! Ask at reception if there are any routes around suitable for jogging

At our favourite holiday place South West Rocks there is a gym where you can pay as you go, how good is that?  This is what I do: schedule  in my fitness activities, just for me, before the family has even risen which is either an early morning class or gym session.  That way I am ready to kick start the day feeling on top of the world.

Sounds fun and easy? Well what about the next part? Watching what you eat…. And drink!

Think about what you’re eating: instead of bacon and eggs for breakfast everyday chose an omelette or muesli. For lunch have a healthy wrap or salad instead of fish and chips or meat pies and for dinner go for grilled fish or lean meats instead of fried! Try to skip afternoon and morning coffee and cake time and instead grab an apple.  Indulge in a good coffee if that’s your thing and be sure to use skim or low fat milk, or another alternative.

That is not to say “bad” foods should be completely avoided, but they should be carefully thought about. Make decisions about what you would like to eat and “budget” them into your daily food menu.

Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and a healthy balance.  Good food, good wine and yes daily exercise – it’s called lifestyle.

Until next time enjoy x

10 Tips How to Save for that Family Holiday

One of my fondest memories of growing up was the time we took a big family holiday to QLD. I remember Mum and Dad saving for months and months, we got an extra week off school (which was very exciting) and went on a 3 week holiday up the coast staying in cabins in caravan parks along the way.  We kids saved our pocket money so we had special spending money on the holiday.  It was such an adventure and a real experience for us all.

Whether it is an overseas holiday or a camping trip up the coast the question is how can you save for that special holiday which allows you to spend some real quality time together and build some family memories?

One of our favourite things as a family was to find the biggest money tin, (you can get them from the $2 dollar shop) and we would empty our pockets of change each day.  Any money we saved went into the tin. 

Here are some other tips and tricks to help you save some extra dollars: every dollar counts for the little extras for your next holiday

1.    Cut down on your day-to-day spending. Items like: take-away lunches and coffee, that coke at lunch, clothes, take-away dinners etc.

2.    Look at your bills: is there cheaper car insurance? Do you really need all those channels on Austar? Is there a better mobile phone plan or home phone plan your family could be on?  These sorts of things are definitely worth looking into if you haven’t done it for a while.

3.    Lots of unused items in your house?  EBay-it! Also consider a garage sale (ask the neighbours to join in), Gumtree or buys swap sell sites. Toys the kids have grown out of, baby goods, exercise equipment you no longer use – get rid of it!

4.    Travel at cheaper times. If you can, go outside the ‘peak’ season which is usually school holidays. You can quite often get a great deal during off season.

5.    Sign up for newsletters so you find out about any special deals or news on your holiday destination, such as the BIG4 South West Rocks Newsletter.

6.    Don’t buy presents for each other. For your anniversary, Christmas and birthdays put that money towards the holiday account. Likewise, cut down on what you buy the kids – of course you’ll need to get them a few presents but don’t they have enough toys already? A family holiday will last longer in their memory than yet another toy.

7.    Open a separate “holiday” account at the bank. ING have a high-saver account and if I want to transfer money I don’t get it until the following day which makes me think twice when I think about “dipping into” my savings!

8.    Learn to say “no”. When the kids want that ice-cream or treat when you are out, or to go to the movies every weekend or another costly activity – do something free instead like the beach or park. Explain to them the money is being saved for a family holiday.

9.    Buy clothes and presents in sales. If you are super-organised and buy weeks or months in advance anything you need it will save you loads of money in the long-run.

10.  Sit down together a plan a budget – this budget calculator on the Money Smart website might help.

Of course how much time you have to save and where you plan on going will determine how much you need to save. Be realistic with how much you can save and plan a holiday accordingly. That all-expenses trip to Barbados might just have to wait!

And remember, it all counts! You will soon get into the practise of cutting your spending and remembering that it is all for that dream family holiday will make it a lot easier.

You can hear the squeals of excitement when you eventually open up that tin and as a family count what you have saved - you will be amazed. 

Happy holiday saving.  See you soon.

How to Find Romance While on a Family Holiday

True or false?

Kids, romance and holidays don’t mix.  Who said!?  Many of you would answer “true” that trying to have any sort of intimacy or romance with your partner is an almost impossible feat when you have kids.   Well, I would have agreed with you a few years ago.  What has changed is I was exposed to the secrets to enjoying a holiday with the kids and enjoying intimacy and time with my partner.

You have gotta love that.  My take is that connecting with your partner is a combination of environment, mindset and yes there is a bit of planning.  I would love to share with you some of the practical tips on how to you can have LOVE, INTIMACY and maybe a little bit of ROMANCE too!

 

1.       Find a holiday destination that is both accommodating to adults and children. Places with kids clubs, special activities, playgrounds, pools etc. where the kids can be entertained will go a long way in laying the groundwork for some “alone time.”

2.       Take your parents, the in-laws or holiday with friends. You might gawk at the idea of taking your parents or in-laws on holidays with you – but think about how much alone time you will get – dinners, breakfasts, afternoon walks along the beach… of course you can still do things as a family and separately. Another idea is to arrange a holiday with another family or group of families where you can look after each other’s kids while having time alone with your partner.

3.       Plan a holiday schedule. Depending on how old your kids are, have a look at the kids club or activities planned. Craft or movie afternoons will enable you to have a couple hours here and there together. The key is to plan!

4.       Put some distance between you and the children. For example, you might let them splash in the shallow end of the pool or kid’s area while you sit on some lounges a little distance away (but still able to supervise). Likewise set them up on the beach with their buckets and spades and let them build away while you lay in the sun a few metres away. These little snippets of time will allow you to spend time together, have decent conversations, hold hands and enjoy each other.

5.       Pick a lights out/curfew time that allows alone time together for at least 2 hours every night. If your kids are older tell them they have to go to their rooms at 8pm for reading, computer or iPod time. This will allow you time together to catch a movie or have some intimate moments.

6.       Hug Daily.  Regular embraces can lower the risk of heart disease, combat stress and fatigue, boost the immune system, fight infections and ease depression.  Research is increasingly showing that the effects of hugging can lower blood pressure and afterwards increases the levels of feel-good hormones such as oxytocian and the stress chemicals of cortisol drop.  So hugs whenever you can.

7.       Plan a date night.  Organise for family who are staying with you to look after the kids or if you are holidaying alone, organise a babysitter with the Front Reception.  2 hours dinner, a few wines and great conversation is an awesome holiday connection.  If you plan the time right, the kids will be in bed when you get home and then its time alone for a cuppa and.................................................. ;)

So once you’ve mastered stealing some “alone” time here and there what do you do? Well of course you can have some cheeky holiday moments but intimacy doesn’t necessarily mean having sex. It can be grabbing a quiet coffee together, sharing a bottle of wine on the balcony, holding hands while walking along the beach, watching a movie, having a nice massage or foot rub, snuggle on the lounge, putting on some nice music and light some candles, share a shower or bath together, share a box of chocolates, have a nice dinner without the kids (maybe wait until after they have gone to bed).

Think creatively and enjoy each other!

9 Tips to Reduce Stress this Christmas whilst on Holidays!

 

I’ll just come straight out and say it: Christmas is very stressful. And I put it down to one word: expectations. We all have high expectations of having the “perfect” Christmas Day. From getting the perfect Christmas present for our friends and relatives to having the perfect Christmas lunch, we can get ourselves quite stressed trying to achieve the perfect Christmas Day.

But what if you are on holidays? Being away from your home will mean a completely different Christmas to what you and your family are used to. 

We’ve come up with 9 tips to reduce stress this Christmas while on holidays!

1.       Money. Yes, the Number #1 stress for people at Christmas is money. Because let’s face it: Christmas is a very expensive exercise.  I’ve learnt not to leave buying all those presents until the last minute. I plan carefully and spread purchase over the year. Alternatively open a Christmas Club Account! If you are going on holidays explain that it is a “family present” to go away together on such a fantastic holiday.

2.       If you are on holidays you’ll need to do some serious planning to make sure you have all the food you want while you are away. You don’t want to be caught high and dry so make sure you have supplies!

3.       Wrap presents early. I always seem to be up at some ridiculous hour Christmas Eve wrapping presents. This year I vow to do it early so I can relax Christmas Eve with a wine and a movie!

4.       Lunch. If you are on holidays you probably won’t want to go to all the effort of trying to roast a turkey with all the trimmings. Think simple but nice. Incorporate a few special treats you might not normally have. How about a gourmet BBQ?

5.       My Grandmother was a clever woman and always had a couple of extra presents under the tree for those unexpected guests (or if you happen to be invited somewhere while away!) For example: wine, chocolate, a tin of biscuits, lovely handmade soaps, photo frames or albums are all very good “stand-by” presents.

6.       Stick to routine – even if you are away or on holidays! This is especially important for younger kids. One or two late nights are okay, but try to stick with their usual bedtime, naptimes etc. They will be less grumpy=less tantrums=less stress!

7.       Santa? Get your story straight. The kids are probably going to be concerned about Santa finding them while they are on holidays. Then there is the problem of lugging presents back and forth. On Christmas Day give them a few small presents with a special card from Santa explaining he left the bigger presents under the tree. You might have to line up a special friend or relative to “arrange” the delivery of presents ready for your return.

8.       If you are travelling and in an unfamiliar place once Christmas, take a few small pieces of home with you – such as a small Christmas tree with a few favourite decorations and the photo with Santa will make your kids feel a little “more at home.”

9.       Be flexible. Remember you are not at home so some of the regular traditions might not take place. But this is a great chance to start some new family traditions together!

And my bonus tip is this: make a list (or two or three) and check it twice. A list for presents, food, food preparation or anything else that needs to be done before your holiday. We all love crossing things off lists and feeling like you are working towards Christmas on a day by day basis will make things feel like they are going a lot smoother.

Do you go away at Christmas time? Or are you planning to this year?

xx Ali