Mother’s Day gift guide 2017

May 10, 2017 by Hayley Leave a Comment

I shared a few of my favourite things on my Instagram story today that I think would make perfect gifts for Mum this Mother’s Day.
For those of you not on Instagram (why not, come on over, promise we’re friendly) here’s all the goodies.
I hope you find something perfect for your Mum, or maybe something for yourself.

#1 – a hairstyla is perfect for busy Mum’s, you can brush your hair straight in just a few minutes!

#2 – a pretty tea cup is always a good idea, this one from T2 is super pretty!

#3 – who doesn’t love a pretty candle, I love this new range from Circa Home with the pink packaging and fresh fruity scent.

#4 – Mum’s love jewellery, these pieces from Covet Handmade Jewellery are timeless pieces she can wear everyday.

#5 – If your Mum is a tea drinker with a cheeky sense of humout then this sweet spoon from The Cutlery Commission and available at Hard To Find is a winner.

#6 – Is your Mum an entertainer? These napkins from Peacocks & Paisleys are unique and beautiful.

#7 – linen and ruffles … you had me at hello! I’m completely obsessed with this throw from ‘her shed‘ lately and wish you could all have one!

#8 – just in time for those chilly winter months, get Mum a hot water bottle to keep her warm. The best ones are at Toasty Warm Australia.

#9 – beautiful blooms are always a good idea, these fresh hyacinths are from Flowerhaul.

#10 – If your Mum is a dedicated cook, she’ll love this heart shaped elm serving board from Bloom and Co.

I hope you found the perfect gift for your Mum.
Happy Shopping!

Hayley x

Back to school…

January 13, 2017 by Hayley Leave a Comment

It’s nearly ‘back to school’ time.
I’m not looking forward to the school traffic or monotonous packing of school lunches but I’m definitely going to miss the sleep-ins and lazy days.
This year my baby is going to school, my last baby … most definitely my last baby, the baby shop is closed. Where on earth did those last five years go? I swear he was just a baby a few weeks ago, I don’t care how old he is, he’ll always be my baby!
But I am secretly looking forward to a little more freedom, shhhh don’t tell Orly!

My girls are going into grades 9 and 10, so I think I have this back to school stuff under control now. I’ve learnt a few things along the way and I thought some of you first time school mums might need a few tips.

Firstly, don’t even bother trying to cover your own books with those horrible rolls of contact that leave you frustrated and aggravated, especially if you are a bit of a perfectionist like me, the little air bubbles will make you lose your mind, trust me!
If you have any teenage daughters bribe them to do it for you, I find the promise of a trip to get frozen yogurt works nicely and is worth every cent.
Otherwise pop down to your local newsagent or office supplier and buy some ready-made plastic book covers, they come in various sizes and just slip over the front and back cover of the book, easy peasy and they are reusable.

Label everything, and I mean EVERYTHING!
You will be blown away by how many things grow legs of their own and wander off, never to be found again. I find labelling everything in a bright, clear label that is easy to recognise is easier for the little kids as they sometimes don’t instantly recognise their own name, or there might be 2 or 3 ‘Orlando’s’ in the class, so something that is unique to them can be a great idea.

This year I discovered Avery printable labels to personalise and print my own labels at home.
Y’all know how much I love personalising anything and this was so much fun for both Orly and myself.
You can purchase your packs of labels at Officeworks or most good office supplies places, check here to find your closest stockist.
Then pop online to the Avery Create your own school labels website here and follow the easy instructions.

Orly chose monsters which was quite fitting I thought!
The whole process only took 10 minutes, from choosing to printing our designs. This is what ours look like …

Then we were labelling everything in sight!

Arabella saw Orly’s labels and wanted to make some too.

She made these all by herself, I think they look rather pretty!

Don’t forget to label all your lunch boxes too.
This is not only so they don’t lose them at school but it makes it much easier in the mornings when the older kids are grabbing their lunches and packing their own bags. What could be worse than accidentally taking your 5 year old brothers peanut butter sandwich to school when you clearly requested turkey and salad on rye, ahem … Sorry!

I hope this helped some of you first timers get ready for the big day.
OH! And take tissues, even the strongest Mummy’s cry on the first day!

Here’s the all important shopping details for y’all,
Happy shopping!

Find Avery labels from your nearest stockist here.
Go To the Avery Create Your Own School Labels here.
Arabella’s drink bottle and lunchbox are from Kitchen Warehouse and can be found here and here.
Orlando’s book covers are from Officeworks here.
Orlando’s lunch boxes are from Kitchen Warehouse, here.

Hayley x

Hayley’s favourite things, 2016.

December 7, 2016 by Hayley Leave a Comment

There is so many beautiful products available to us these days, we really are spoilt for choice.
Shopping for Christmas gifts can be daunting, confusing and downright frustrating.
Hopefully I can help you, I’ve put together my favourite things for Christmas, the things I will be buying my own family and friends, which remind me if you are my family or friends … look away now please!
These gifts are perfect for your Mum, Mother-in-law, Sisters, Sister-in-laws, Aunties, Neices, Best Friends or yourself!

These are all things I have personally used, I own and I highly recommend.

I cannot tell you how much I love this. Smell is such a strong sense that has a big effect on your emotions. I love how certain scents bring back memories and the Circa Home wax warmer just makes me happy!
It is electric which means you don’t have to worry about a child or pet knocking it over. It’s also the best looking electric wax warmer I’ve seen, I love the pretty white hobnail design.

Who doesn’t ‘need’ a great tote bag?
I use tote bags daily and often have more than one on the go. I am guilty of leaving some bags permanently packed ready for things we do weekly, like swimming lessons. I also have one I use every day with the overflow of my handbag, you know, my diary, drink bottles, kids toys, that stuff. These are my 2 favourite totes and I’m sure anyone in your life would be wrapped with one of these this Christmas.

Firstly, the ultimate beach and lifestyle tote, it is waterproof, super strong, lightweight and stands up on it’s own so you can access it easily. I love these bags so much I have 2, I leave one permanently packed for swimming lessons and use the other for boating and beach days. They are from Cabana Lifestyle.

And next, this is my daily tote and it pretty much goes everywhere with me. I am a Mum of 3 kids and a husband who can’t seem to look after his own wallet and phone. I always have everyone else’s stuff in there. Today I have a drink bottle, 2 Transformers, Orly’s hat, a packet of Tiny Teddies, a protein shake sachet and some paint sample charts, so random!
I love how you can choose a little icon, monogram it or choose a mixture of both. It truly is personalised and such a special gift. It’s from Little Makes Big.

One of my favourite things to receive is a beautiful bunch of fresh flowers.
Why not buy a fabulous vase and take it to your local florist, they will create a gorgeous bouquet for you, or simply pop in a bunch of market flowers. Long after the flowers have faded they will still have the vase to reuse again and again.
This is one of my favourites, the Teal Posy Vase from The Source Products.

In Australia a hat is pretty much an essential part of our lives. I have acquired a few over the years but this one is a recent addition. It is so fun and playful with the bright pom poms, and also stylish and classy when you remove the pom pom band to reveal a plain black grosgrain ribbon. I love it and think it would be a great gift!

One of my newest favourite things is this amazing Chasseur French Oven!
I have wanted one of these for years, I have to admit I really wanted one because they look great in your kitchen and add a perfect pop of colour, but I didn’t actually realise how fabulous they are to cook with. I have already used it to make Lemon and Thyme Chicken, French Onion soup and Pulled Beef for tacos, and that’s just last week! It is so versatile as it can be used on the stove, in the oven and under the grill. Mine is the 6.3L which is huge and great for a family of 5, and I chose the Imperial Blue colour (exclusive to Kitchen Warehouse) I would be thrilled to receive one of these for Christmas …. if I didn’t already own one!

Chasseur French Oven | Kitchen Warehouse

Did you find something you love, start dropping hints now! Or maybe you found the perfect gift for somebody special in your life?
If not, I’ll be sharing a few more of my favourite things before Christmas.

Happy Shopping!

Hayley x

Christmas gifts for our overseas friends.

November 4, 2016 by Hayley 1 Comment

So many of us have special friends and family who live overseas, and just because they live so far away they shouldn’t miss out on Christmas gifts from us!
I also understand that postage prices are crazy expensive so it’s important to find gifts that are not too heavy, relatively small and not breakable.

I’ve put this list together with lot’s of time for you to order online and post overseas.
Here’s what I’ve come up with …

Tea Towels are a necessity in most of our lives, and while they might not sound super exciting I think the range available from KE Designs is gorgeous.
They are made from super absorbent microfibre and printed in such fun designs. They have a fabulous range of iconic Australian designs such as Vegemite, Fairy Bread and Lamingtons.
I think this is the perfect gift to send to your family and friends overseas, they come packaged in a matching box and are lightweight and easy to post.

Who doesn’t like receiving a beautiful piece of jewellery?
The range available from Coastalstyle Australia conveys Australia with seashells and shapes from the ocean that remind us of our beautiful beaches and stunning coastline. My personal favourite from the range is the Silver Droplets bracelet with an interchangeable clasp which allows you to choose and change your charms. I do like how you can personalise it to your own style or to suit the lucky recipient.

Silver droplets bracelet | Coastalstyle Australia

Australia does have such fun native animals and I find people from other countries go crazy for a kangaroo, koala or platypus.
These bamboo trays from Cockatoo Collections are fun, lightweight and they come in a sturdy box perfect for posting. Pair it with one of their cute canvas bags.

This gift guide wouldn’t be complete without a koala, am I right?
I adore these oversized Australian postage stamp wall decals form Quercus & Co Print Shop. Super fun and easy to post for your house proud friends and family. They are self-adhesive and removable/repositionable so they are perfect for homesick Aussie who are renting overseas too.

And lastly, one for the bubbas and kidlets. This is one of my go-to gifts and I have sent them to many of my friends babies born overseas. They are made from Australian sheepskin and are super soft and snugly. They are available in a range of colours from FLATOUT Australia.

I hope you found something unique and Australian for your overseas friends and family!

Happy Shopping!

« Previous Page

Enjoy this blog? Share the LOVE!