Are you 2 kool 4 skool??

As a mum I'm always doing my best to keep up with the latest kiddie trends, so that I'm up to scratch with what's going on in 'their' world!  I sometimes have to work that tiny bit harder with Master J as I'm pretty useless when it comes to a lot of "boy stuff"!  I was rubbish during the Ben 10 and transformers stage - always getting the goodies and baddies muddled up!!!

Since starting school last year there has been a whole new set of trends for me to wrap my head around.  (To be honest, I'm quite pleased to see the back of Ben 10).  Now we're into skinny jeans, and cool high-tops, amongst other things!  It's so easy to forget how important it is for them to have the 'right' gear at school and from a surprisingly early age too.  I'm still getting used the fact that Master J has now got an opinion on just about EVERYTHING I buy for him.  I've been so used to choosing things for him that I'm having to dig deep to relinquish control (it's that OCD in me popping up to say Hi again!)  At least I still get to choose for Miss L.

With only two weeks to go until the new school term it's time to start getting organised again and ready for that crazy routine to start (*sobs*).  When Blog and PR contacted me, asking me if I'd like to review a new stationary range I jumped at the chance.  It was the name that first grabbed my attention - 2kool4skool!  Who doesn't want to be 2koo4skool??  I have often found myself referring to Master J and his friends as "two cool for school" so many times recently that I knew I was going to love this range.

Exciting!  Goodies arriving in the post

2kool4skool was originally started by a single, working mum of three who got fed up with trying to cover her kids workbooks in contact.  I've not yet had to do that but I VERY CLEARLY remember my poor mum with rolls of it, desperately trying to cover all our books without getting bubbles in the plastic (or our fingers stuck in it!!).  You have to ever so carefully peel back the plastic and then lay each book down without it sticking too quickly or getting wrinkles or bubbles!  What a nightmare!!  Anyway, 2kool4skool have solved the problem but designing some brilliant and funky plastic slip on book covers (of all sizes) where you can just 'slip' your book in!  Just like that. You could even do it with your eyes closed.  Or even better mums - get your kids to cover their own books!!

These are a few examples of the fabulous and oh so clever book covers - aimed at Master J, of course, who is 6.  However the 2kool4school website have a huge range of covers for both boys and girls from ages 3 to 18!!  Click here to view their full range.

2kool4skool have been so successful with their book cover range that they have expanded into all other aspects of school stationery including pencils, texters, markers, pencils cases, ear phones, USB sticks and erasers to name a few.  All of them have an exciting and cool twist that is guaranteed to get the kids talking!

2kool4skool will be donating 10% of all it's profits from sales of book covers to help support the Demazong Academy in Sikkim, which is located in the smallest Indian State on the Nepalese border.

A clever little pocket inside the 'slip-on' book cover to store your pencils (oh and that cute little leopard pencil is as furry as it looks)

That popcorn pen ACTUALLY smelt like popcorn!  It reminded me of that lovely, overwhelming popcorn smell you get when you go to the movies.

Miss H absolutely LOVED these 'double dip' scented market pens!  She had heaps of fun drawing flowers and lollies and then making me smell them all!  "This one is the bestest mummy, coz it smells like watermelon and watermelon is my favourite!!"

These scratch and sniff labels are soooooo cool!  This one smelt just like chocolate

Master J is going into year 1 this year (already!!!!) and it will be the first time he has had to bring all his own stationary to school.  He's very excited and has packed and re-packed his pencil case at least half a dozen times.  What I just LOVE about his 2kool4skool pencil case is that it's HUGE!!  It fits absolutely everything into it which means he only has ONE thing to remember to pack into his school bag!!  He takes after me and is forever losing things, so the fewer things to pack, the better!!

We LOVE IT!!

You see what I mean - EVERYTHING fits into it.  I could even get his readers in there too!

If you're about to get your kids kitted out for school I highly recommend you check out 2kool4skool.  There is nothing you won't be able to find and their website is so easy to use.  The best part is that you can do it from the comfort of home!!  With the weather being as hot as it has been recently  the last thing you want to do is drag yourself around the mall - ESPECIALLY with the kids in tow!

You can browse and order directly from www.2kool4skool.com.au 

You can also click here to 'like' their facebook page  here   which will keep you up to date with all their special offers and promotions.  They are currently doing a daily giveaway, so head over now for your chance to win!

Master J's favourite thing was this cute pair of LEGO earphones!  I love them too as he can now play on the ipad without me having to listen to all the annoying, repetitive sound effects!!

This post has been written as a review for 2kool4skool.  I would like to thank Blogs and PR for the opportunity to work with 2kool4skool and the lovely team at 2kool4skool for all the goodies they sent us to try out.  We've loved them all.  I have not been paid to write this review and all opinions and photos are my own.

Second week of January. Love Instagram!

I've just realised it's Sunday again and time to put up my weekly instagram delights!  The school holidays have sent my time keeping round the twist, and without our usual strict routine I have no idea what day I'm on at the moment.  It's actually rather refreshing and far less stressful - but I guess that's the whole point of holidays right??

We've spent most of the week at the beach - trying to cool off.  The current heatwave across Australia seems to have swallowed Sydney up whole (well by my standards anyway) and last week was absolutely sweltering.  On Tuesday temperatures reached into the mid-forties (Celsius)!  Every time I walked outside it felt like I was being hit in the face by a giant wall of heat.  The newly fitted air conditioning in our bedroom is my new best BEST friend.

A beautiful early evening swim!

Gotta love summer holidays.  There is no other time of the year that you can walk down to the beach just before bedtime for a quick dip!

Absolutely zonked!!!  It's hard work watching my big brother and sister jumping the waves.

Testing out his new 'Heelys' on the boulevard.  He spent quite a bit of time on his bum but eventually mastered the knack of it!!

Sitting in the water is the only way to keep cool

A little bit of me time!

I love that we live right across the road from the beach.  It means that I can nip over for a sneaky half hour swim ALL BY MYSELF when Mr D is home to watch the kids.  It's absolutely heavenly!!

My little lunch date

Waiting for the bus

On the HOTTEST day of the summer so far (the 47 degree day that I mentioned earlier) I managed to lock us all out of the house (with the car keys in the house too).  Just walking from the front door to the car had me almost melting into a pool of sweat!  This is what you could call one of my "blonder" moments!  I haven't had one for a while (not since I was pregnant with Miss L), so I guess it was a bit over due!!  I couldn't even ring Mr D and shout at him, as there was absolutely no one to blame but me.  Don't you hate that???  Anyway, with no one able to open up for us until Mr D got home from work, we had no option but to get the bus.  We headed to the mall to watch a movie, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it was the coolest place to be!!

Look what my big sis gave me when mummy wasn't looking!!  Mmmmmm..........chocolate!

1st photo taken with my New iphone5!  

Master J showing me his 'tricks'

A morning at the rock pools.  I just LOVE how my two little ladies are starting to play with each other - super cute!!

Two more weeks of school holidays to go.  What is everyone up to??

A little bit of birthday boasting!

Birthday lunch date with my hot hubby

A couple of days ago was my birthday.  Not a particularly significant birthday but it was still mine - all 24 hours of it (which I even managed to drag out over 48).  For those of you who are as interested in my 'number' as Miss H is, I am still thirty something, only this year I'm an odd number, and I'm still younger than Mr D.

I'm now going to turn this into a teeny tiny BOAST post!  Not that I'm a boasty type of person (well not much) but it is my birthday, so right now I am going to take center stage (because I can!!!)

First teeny boast

I have the most amazing Mr D in the whole world!!  He surprised me by tucking the NEW iPHONE 5 under my pillow the night before my day!  You have no idea how happy this made me (cue: big BIG smiles).  Actually I think Mr D does, as the poor love has had to endure the endless, and I mean endless complaining from me about how my old (and beloved) iphone was "driving me CRAZY!!!!"  Those of you that follow my blog will know that my iphone is pretty much my third arm (you know, for..............  blogging, tweeting, face-booking, chatting, millions of photo taking and of course general nosiness).  As it slowly started to fall apart at the seams, poor Mr D (my IT support at home) got the brunt of my frustrations.  First it was the home button - you know, the big round one that you have to use for EVERYTHING.  It started where I'd have to tap a little harder than usual, then tap it a little harder several times, then bang it several time and then finally bang it and grint my teeth (trying not swear in front of the kids) and then bang it again before it finally turned a page.  If that wasn't enough the volume functions decided to slowly die too, so my phone conversations sounded something like this:  "Hello!  "Oh Hi, how are you?........ Sorry can you say that again,  I can't hear you very well..........What was that??? .........Sorry I still didn't quite catch that - I can barely hear you" (with me wildly waving my arms at the kids giving them frantic hand signals to shut up for just one minute while I tried to figure out who I was talking to)!!  Then finally to add insult to injury my camera got sticky!!!  Making taking photos of moving kids near impossible!

Isn't she pretty??

So you see - best present ever for me!  Thanks babe!

Second weeny boast

I have the very bestest family in the whole world!!  I just loved how Master J and Miss H were excited that it was MY birthday and not theirs.  Seeing their cute little faces in the morning, desperate to wake up Miss L so she didn't miss out on seeing Mummy open up her presents made my morning.  They told EVERYONE they possibly could that it's "Mummy's Birthday today!!!!!!"  So sweet and of course I was very spoilt too.  Such a lucky Mummy I am.

Last Boast (and it's a big one!)

Wow!  What fabulous friends I have. The best ever!  

Thank you all so much for all your lovely cards, messages, pressies, phone calls, babysitting and visits.  I'll try not to get too sentimental now, but it really did make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Thanks everyone for making the best day of the best month simply the best.  You all rock!

xxxxxx Mrs D

P.S. Just one more teeny weeny boast!  In case you didn't know, I share my birthday with the lovely Kate Middleton - The Duchess of Cambridge and future Queen!  I told you it was the best day of the best month!!

How to clean your tummy (aka. The Green Smoothie Challenge)

"What's that??" Miss H asks, as I hand her a cup of bright green juice.  "It's a green smoothie" I tell her "It's SO yummy!"  "I don't like it!" she replies, rather bluntly.  "I want my milk!"  "But you haven't even tried it yet - it's super yummy!  It has apples in it........" I'm trying my best to coax her into trying a little sip.  "I don't like it!" she tells me again - equally as bluntly but with a slight whine in her voice.   I just know that if I persist, that whine is going to turn into a high pitched wail and I really can't be doing with that on the first morning that I've switched from coffee to 'green smoothies'.  So I try Master J instead and surprisingly he necks the whole cup!!  "That was yum mum!  What was it?"  "Green smoothie!" I tell him".  It helps to clean your tummy making you nice and healthy and extra clever, so we have to drink it every morning.  Just like brushing your teeth."  "Oh, ok" he says!  Just like that!!

"I want to clean my tummy too" whines Miss H (she's really not a morning person).  "But I thought you didn't like it??" I ask her.  "But I do like it mama, it has apples!!" ("Isn't that what I just said, I'm thinking????")

On New Years day I decided to join up and do the 30 day Green Smoothie Challenge.

If you were wondering?????  The smoothies I've made so far have actually been delicious!  I was a little sceptical about putting 'veggies' in my smoothies and thought I might have to drink a few while holding my nose (a trick I learnt as a kid to block out the taste of yucky foods).  However, I've been so surprised by how delicious they are that not only have I started to get braver with my ingredients but I think I might keep this 30 day habit for a little longer - maybe even forever!!

I've had several requests from my lovely readers for the recipes, so here are a few.  I've just made my recipes up, so you'll have to just trust me that they taste good.   You can always try the simple Green Smoothie website for some 'proper' recipes if you'd prefer.

I've used my thermomix, but you don't have one, a good blender will do.

The key-lime kiwi
2 green apples, quartered
1 banana (frozen or fresh)
half a lime (peeled)
a large handful of spinach
1 whole kiwi (peeled)
1 tray of ice
1.5 cups of water

Throw it all into the bowl and whizz for 45 seconds on speed 9.  Whilst the thermie is whizzing squeeze the juice of 1 large orange onto the lid and let it drip in.  Pour into glasses and serve!

A serving for the whole family - even little Miss L

The Bok Banana

2 green apples, quartered
10 green grapes
1 banana
2 bok choys (chinese lettuce)
1 whole kiwi (peeled)
1.5 cups of water
1 tray of ice

Throw it all into the bowl and whizz for 45 seconds on speed 9.  Whilst the thermie is whizzing squeeze the juice of 1 large orange onto the lid and let it drip in.  Pour into glasses and serve!

This once can taste a little 'lettucy" so if you prefer just use 1 bok choy.  The kids are my taste testers - if they complain, then it may need tweaking.  There have been no complaints so far!!

The Green Rainbow

1 green apple, quartered
1 carrot (peeled, and quartered)
1 kiwi (peeled)
1/4 lemon (peeled)
a large handful of spinach
a small handful of blueberries
a quarter of a small rock melon, cut into chunks

1.5 cups of water
1 tray of ice

Throw it all into the bowl and whizz for 45 seconds on speed 9.  Whilst the thermie is whizzing squeeze the juice of 1 large orange onto the lid and let it drip in.  Pour into glasses and serve!

We called this one the rainbow because the blueberries and carrot made it look a little 'off colour' and not so 'green'.

Mix a little baby rice into your smoothie for the perfect baby brekkie

She loves it really!

What a great challenge this has been.  We are only a week in and I already feel better for it.  It also fills the kids tummies up, meaning that they can go longer after their brekkie and are not whinging for treats by mid-morning!  An all round win.  (I'll let you know at the end of the month if I've managed to loose any of that super stubborn baby weight - now that would be a bonus!)

Why not try it - you don't need to stick to just stick to January!!  Just do it!

Christmas & New Year 2012. Love Instagram!

It seems my favourite App has caused a bit of controversy over the past few weeks with the threat of selling our photos without permission.  I was horrified when I first discovered it and I'm guessing the rest of its billion users were too!  After a huge public uproar they very quickly retracted their statement, promising that our photos will be safe!  I certainly hope so!!

I did think very seriously about closing my Instagram account and kept a close watch on what everyone else was doing (and to be honest I'm still a little undecided).  I love the App, not so much for the 'camera filers', as you can pretty much find hundreds of Apps to do that now, but more for it's social aspect.  It's pretty damn addictive.  So my solution for now is to create a watermark for Mrs D (currently in progress) to brand all my online photos.  Instagram - you have one more chance.  Don't let me down!!!

With that aside, here is our Christmas week (or two):

Master J and Curly the dog

We moved into a friends beach-side home for the two weeks over Christmas and New Year to 'house sit' and look after Curly the dog whilst they are away.  Even though it was literally 15 minutes down the road from where we live, it has felt like a real break and was just like being on holiday (except that I could pop home every time we needed something - perfect).

Taking Curly Houdini for an early evening walk

We've re-named Curly the dog, "Curly Houdini" the greatest escaping dog!  Mr D repaired at least 3 holes in the garden fence and he still managed to find his way out!  Luckily he had his name and number on his tag because every time the kids yelled " MUM! Curly's escaped again!!!!" we knew we'll get a phone call within half an hour to come and fetch him from somewhere!  We did have some major panic attacks the first few time he did a runner as we were supposed to be taking care of him and were wondering what on earth we would tell his mummy if we lost him???  However, we soon realised that most people in the neighbourhood were very used to a visit from Curly.  At about 9:30 on New Years Eve he did another disappearing act and we were all pacing up and down the street calling "Curly, Curly, Curly", when the call came saying that he'd been found at Curly (ironically) Beach, which was a couple of beaches down from us.  I think he just wanted to join in the party.  The couple who found him had had a few too many drinks to drive (as had we) so they sent him back to us in a taxi!!!

Swimming with my boy in the parent/child relay 

Master J finally managed to convince me to get into the water and race with him at swim club.  I think if I didn't some of the other mums (not naming any names) might have picked me up and chucked me in!!  I must admit I was a bit nervous before my race (it's been a loooooong while since I last swam any kind of distance).  I had last minute panics before I swam that I might not remember how to dive or that my boobs might fall out of my swim suit, or that I might belly flop!!!  (Not really the kind of things you want to happen with an audience).  Anyway I took a deep breath and dived in for my 50m swim and surprisingly, as I hit the water I found it quite exhilarating.  I sprinted the first 30 meters and then suddenly my fitness (or unfitness) levels kicked in and I felt myself huffing and puffing to the finish line.  I even managed to win!  The kids were SO thrilled that mummy won her race and it was an awesome feeling hearing them cheering from the sideline.

Miss L loving the water.  She's definitely going to be a water baby like her sister

Master J and his best mate having fun after doing their fantastic swim club races

A pre-Christmas sausage sizzle for the opening of the new Swim/Surf Club building.  Santa even arrived on a fire engine doing Gangnam Style

Some obligatory christmas baking.  The best Rocky Road ever!!

Miss L's first Christmas

The view from our 'holiday' house.  It really was spectacular

Boxing day movies (and a view)

Going for a long walk around the bottom of Long Reef Headland

Uh Oh - the quickest way to clear the beach

We were just chilling on the balcony having some lunch when Mr D spotted a helicopter, and then another, and then on the third sighting he jumped up and rushed off to get his binoculars (and he calls me a drama queen!!).  Whilst he and Master J were trying to work out what was going on, I got the lastet from Twitter that a there has been an attempted shark attack!  Master J was loving watching all the commotion (as was Mr D) and he kept shouting "Mum, I can see a fin!".  Great!!!! - I'm pretty glad I was on the balcony and not in the water.

No one seems to be worried about the shark today!

Beach babies 

I think this is my most favourite photo of 2012.  Caught purely by accident with my iphone.  

Me and my gorgeous girls

Look what I've started......

Watching the Dee Why fireworks from our balcony.  We had the best view in town

New Year's Day!  Nursing teeny tiny hangovers but loving the sunshine and some family time.  I couldn't have asked for a better start to 2013

Love those happy little faces