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Wednesday, 26 August 2015

Disney Junior's The Book of Once Upon A Time


As you will know and have read several posts on my blog before. Story time is something very important to us as a family and for development skills with our little blossom Niah.

Our normal nightly routine with Niah is usually dinner, a small play, bath time and then it’s bedtime with quiet time which we usually use to read one or two stories with Niah. We have read to Niah since she was born every night as it’s something we enjoy. Storytelling and reading books is an important part of Niah’s bedtime ritual for us, it allows us to come together one last time at night as a family and share some moments.

Disney Junior are bringing back the beloved Disney Junior Magical Storytelling with the second season of ‘’The Book of Once Upon A Time’, where we will hear all new stories hosted by Australian actor and playwright Kate Mulvany.

“The Book of Once Upon A Time” launched with the start of Book Week on Monday 24th August at 7:10pm on Disney Junior The Channel, available to Foxtel subscribers on channel 709 or you can watch anytime on their website.
 

For us this timing works perfectly, as 7pm is generally a time that we are settling down, finishing in the bath and getting ready to lay Niah down into her bed.

Disney Junior are inviting parents to settle down with their children to tune in at 7:10pm which you can share a special moment with your little one every night around bedtime. The lullaby ‘Land of Once Upon A Time’ will then follow on from each episode, encouraging children to prepare for bedtime.

Something I like about programs such as ‘Disney Junior’s The Book of Once Upon A Time’ is that it is bringing storytelling to life. Children are getting a vision of what is actually happening within the book and have someone reading it to them whilst having some educational TV watching. Character voices,re-enactment and classic touches of animation will ignite your child’s imagination in a different way over a book in front of them.

Disney Junior's animated and live action programming blends Disney's unparalleled storytelling and beloved characters with learning components, including early language and maths skills, as well as healthy lifestyles, with an emphasis on social and emotional development.

The Book of Once Upon A Time features Disney stories that are available as eBooks from the Disney Story Central app, available to download from iTunes.




Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Nuffnang and Disney Junior. This is a sponsored post in exchange for its promotion here. Honesty always and I will never publish anything that I do not find to be of interest to myselfI, all opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

Thursday, 20 August 2015

Where have I been? [LIFE POST]

I'm so sorry for neglecting the blog and not being around since my last post 3 weeks ago.
It has been a real whirl wind of crazy busy madness but I want to fill you in on all the goss as to what went on.

1. I was back working both days on the weekend and having Wednesday/Thursday as my days off so I was spending most of my down time with the family and getting out. Who likes staying in on there days off? Not this chick.

2. Bloggers United AU just had there first Perth event. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it due to work commitments and I'm super sad. We had a full house sell out event and it just looked to have been amazing day. The lead up to the event is crazy busy whilst we finalised all details.

3. I've started vlogging - for those who don't know what vlogging is, it is basically blogging but by video taping myself and uploading it to YouTube.
This is something huge as you are really putting yourself out there. You can't hide yourself, and who you are as a person. Why did I start vlogging? If you watch my first video here it will explain why - I'm time poor and this was something much easier and quicker. I'm still perfecting the text in videos and need to work on a backdrop but hey I'm a L plater.

4. I've become a KFit Brand Ambassador - KFit are a one membership that entitles you to go to many fitness and wellness facilities around you. They are all around the world. I'll be posting a video shortly going into more detail.

5. Niah is about to turn 2. I cannot believe how quickly two beautiful years with my little chick have flown past. Planning parties and all things that come along with birthdays take a lot of time and thought to organise. I can't wait to be able to share this memory with you all.

6. I'm taking on Maxine's Challenge round 2 for 2015. Last time I gave it after about 4 weeks, what I did do within that time and until now was drop 6kgs and keep it off. I learnt more about my training and about food intake. Every single day my knowledge of healthy living is widened and I'm just loving being in such a happier place as I look at my body and see changes within myself.

I think I have caught you up to speed now but keep posted via my blog, most importantly subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me on social media to see how things are progressing for me.

Sunday, 26 July 2015

Bloggers United AU Melbourne Launch Event

 As some of you may know fellow blogger Jasmine from Sweetaholicbeauty and I founded Bloggers United AU who have been actively live since early this year.  

Sunday June 14th, 2015 at 1pm was when Bloggers United AU kicked off their first launch event in Melbourne. A range of bloggers gathered together to experience a taste of what Bloggers United AU have to offer, which happened to be an event that saw bloggers have presented workshops from brands and take home some valuable information about the blogging world.




What sets Bloggers United AU apart from what is currently out there is that we are a team of bloggers who dedicate there time with no payment, just the pleasure of helping one another out and having fun bringing bloggers and such influences together.
We create opportunities for bloggers and such influences to get together and discuss all the nitty gritty things in casual meet ups and then also have fun events where they are presented with meeting brands/PR's.



Benefit Australia - Showing us an exclusive preview of the They're Real that at the time had not yet been released, getting to play around and have a demo on how they are best applied. As well as getting a demo on the newly released Rollerlash that has been a take off hit. Bloggers were given deluxe samples of the Rollerlash to take home with them.


Enbacci - A stunning skincare range that was spoken on it's many uses and how you can add a good quality skincare into your routine after the gym. Bloggers were given deluxe samples of the cleansing range.


My Baby Companion - Kirby presented on behalf of her co-founder and her on the latest app that they have released which features products making it easier for Mums to select who are on the market for those much needed baby necessities. Helping to prepare for bubs has just become easier.

Cherie Bobbins - Cherie is a blogger herself who is an amazing motivational speaker for us. Cherie has successfully built her own blog and has collaborated with many brands that have seen her even appear on TV for Spotlight. Cherie talked us through how to make money whilst blogging!

We would still like to mention those brands who committed time to come in but unfortunately weren't able to make it in due to circumstances - apologies who were not able to make it on the day to present: Zassni Skincare, Mumsnfitness Wear and LUSH Cosmetics.

Thank you to the brands who contributed to the event which saw a large selection of generous goodies being carried out to the door with the Bloggers.

Our table features were kindly provided some snacks to the Bloggers to keep their energy levels up through the afternoon and to take home any in there bags as well:




The Chia Co - Dark Cacao Chia Pod's.

Bon Bon Melbourne - Handmade wrapping on chocolate

CoCos Pure- Coconut Water


Filled in the take home goodie bags were:

Rosehip Plus

Plunketts

MaxFactor

Innoxa

Jeanswest

MOR

Enbacci

LUSH

L'Oreal Paris

Benefit

Abe's Bagel Bakery

Jed's Coffee Co

Naked Truth

Nude by Nature

Philosophy

Scentrelle

Ulta3

Wotnot

Zassni

Major thanks goes out to The Meadow who kindly hosted us for the afternoon.
The Meadow, Level 1, 111 Queensbridge Street, Southbank

A stunningly unique and kitsch venue in the heart of Melbourne, right opposite Crown that boosts full of colour and space. Several rooms to choose from when hiring, fortunate for Bloggers United we had the place to ourselves. A venue that was ‘aww-ed’ at when coming in the front doors.

Plenty of on street parking right out the front of the venue as well as being close to crown for parking also. Short walk from train station or tram stops along the Yarra.

Photos below display rooms that Bloggers United used for the day.

The Common – main room for presenting/workshops. 

The Boardroom – for nibbles/drinks break room.

Most of all thank you to the Bloggers who came along to spend their afternoon with us.


Bloggers United AU are hitting up Perth next in mid August 2015, head over to the website for more details. We hope to see you at an event in your state soon.

Circus Oz But Wait... There's More [REVIEW]

What better way then to spend an evening at the Circus, along the Yarra River in Melbourne at Birrarung Marr Park we ventured out to see Circus Oz for there performance 'But Wait... There's More' before they set foot off to new areas for the rest of Australia to see.

The cast of Circus Oz / Image: Rob Blackburn

When people say to you 'But wait... There's More' it's always such an exciting thing to here and Circus Oz truly delivered on that statement.
My eyes have laid sight on many Circus acts before but there is a clear difference between Circus Oz to others in that they do many acts with multiple acrobats in them. I'm not talking your one or two extras; I'm talking at times 5+ acrobats in the one. Not only that but a live band was on stage as well.

Opening up the show saw the acrobats come out of a hot air balloon like basket from the floor. One after another they all piled out of the basket that would fit no more then three (3) comfortably but there was acrobat after acrobat coming out of this basket. Which still has me a bit puzzled as to how they made that trick work as I couldn't see anything on the floor as to how they would exit out, good work on that trick - you had me boggled.

The phenomenal synchronous of the acrobats / Image: Rob Blackburn

How close Circus Oz can perform right next to one another is phenomenal. Circus Oz for me was that next step in amazement before your eyes. Acts were seen with women holding men up on the trapeze ropes, men holding women on their shoulders whilst riding a unicycle, acrobats jumping through shapes stacked from the ground and lots more.
You'll be sharing awhs, giggles and applauding claps with the other audience patrons as you are thrilled from your seat.

The cast of Circus Oz / Image: Rob Blackburn

The performance ran for roughly two (2) hours and had an interval break of 20 minutes. In the foyer of the big top you are able to purchase merchandise, nibbles and drinks, keeping you entertainment during the interval.  The show is for all ages and children are invited to attend as well.

Circus Oz is around in Victoria until the 2nd of September then moving along up North to New South Wales. Check out there scheduling via their website for more details on show times.


Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Circus Oz. I received tickets to the show above in exchange for its promotion here. I received no payment for this review and all opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

Monday, 20 July 2015

FreshFlowers.com.au REVIEW

FreshFlowers.com.au is an online florist who delivers flowers in Melbourne and other metropolitan areas in Australia - even overseas by arrangements. A fantastic user friendly site that is easy to navigate around when making an order. Filter by occasion, flower, style, price or by their market specials. Same day delivery is possible if orders are placed before 2pm on weekdays and 10am during Saturdays. Fresh Flowers have got you covered if you accidentally forget a birthday and are stuck for time.



Having fresh flowers in your home or on your desk at home are always a day brightener. There is something about having flowers delivered to your door even more special.


Fresh Flowers kindly gifted me 12 Red Kisses (12 stunning premium red roses delivered in a sophisticated black corrugated box) which costs $79.95. Long stemmed roses that sat perfectly aligned in a long black box wrapped with tissue paper and hessian cuts.


Each rose had its own individual little water supply sachet to keep them fresh for their journey to your front doorstep. Extra 'flower food' for you to pop into your vase at home is likewise included. Upon ordering, you will receive a free little card to write a personalized message to your gift receiver.


My order was placed at 10:30am to be delivered to a business address. I received a call from the florist at around 4:10pm who wanted to seek an alternative residential address in case they could not arrive before the close of business. A few minutes before 5pm, the 12 Red Kisses were at my home waiting for me. My sister took receivership of at the front door feeling a little lucky that the flowers we given to her.  Sorry Katt, but they were mine.

A week on and my flowers are still as fresh (minus a few petals that need to be shed) as when they first arrived..



Fresh Flowers not only have the usual bouquets of flowers, but they have some unique flower presentation arrangements. One can order flowers in an upright presentation box, vases, flower arrangements into a cupcake, hessian bags or a mini bucket.

Payment can be made via PayPal or credit card. Super easy once again. If you sign up to be a member, you will get 10% off your first order. There's a standard delivery fee of $10, which is great.


Fresh Flowers is definitely an online florist I will be using in future for my flower orders, as their service was fabulous and they're super easy to transact with. Prices start at the $29.99 mark and go all the way up to $998 (300 red roses, that's some Kanye West and Kim Kardashian stuff there), average pricing is around the $50 - $80 range.


Disclosure: This post is brought to you by FreshFlowers.com.au. I received the above mentioned product for consideration. I was compensated for this post but policy of honesty always and all opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own was used against this review.
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