Looking for a place to stay for the family in Bali – Villa Ayu

 

We just got back from the beautiful Bali and had an absolute ball. This time we decided against a resort and stayed at the stunning Villa Ayu , only 20 mins from the airport and 25 mins from Seminyak it’s the perfect oasisis. With a huge 40 square metre sparkling blue pool and three large, well appointed executive bedrooms this Villa is perfect for a large family.

My favourite part of  our experience at Villa Ayu was that it was the perfect peaceful getaway from the hustle in the heart of Bali. It’s the perfect place to get work done and really relax. I loved having no distractions and being able to order poolside massages via Go-JEK for $9.00 AUD straight to our villa. It’s also a great place for the kids to play, explore and swim and really get in some great family time.

ROOMS

Located around the pool, the three master suites in this Jimbaran villa are equally impressive. You can leave the doors open to take in the picturesque scene of the outdoor area with the azure pool and lush gardens – or enjoy air-conditioned comfort. Villa Ayu is a hidden slice of paradise!  There are entertainment systems, a desk and chair, and end tables with reading lamps. The bathrooms have rainfall showers and there’s a terrazzo tub for taking long soaks.

LIVING ROOMS

Villa Ayu’s flat level living area sprawls under the main pavilion to create a relaxing and comfortable lounge with a dining area and kitchen that are all separated by artfully placed, modern furnishings. The room has a uniquely serene atmosphere allowing guests to lounge in comfort, eat in style or even sit and read a book on the colourful, comfy cushions. The classic Balinese wooden Bale besides the pool also makes for an enticing spot to commune after the day’s activities. Kick back on a beanbag, a couch or even take a dip in the pool as you while away the long afternoons in your very own Bali holiday villa.

POOL

Villa Ayu’s pool is a sparkling white oasis that will beckon you for evening swims accompanied by starry skies, cooling afternoon plunges or even cheeky early morning dips as you climb out of bed.

KITCHEN

At one end of the main lounging pavilion is a fully equipped, modern kitchen that’s ready and waiting with everything you need to make a meal for just you or the family. Pull up one of the stools at the breakfast bar and enjoy a morning coffee with your fruit breakfast. Or ask the staff for help and try your hand at preparing an Indonesian recipe or visit the local supermarket for your own ingredients.

OPEN DINING AREA

This luxury Jimbaran villa is perfect for dinner parties. Once you’re ready for some food, the gorgeous eight-person dining table is waiting and ready to be set for a feast! You can cook for yourself; order from some of the world-class restaurants in the area, or ask the staff to create fresh Indonesian dishes that will satisfy even the pickiest appetite. Whatever you choose, you’ll find yourself making unforgettable memories as you laugh away the evening over fine food and good wine.

We adored our beautiful housekeepers who helped us out everyday! The kids even cried when we had to leave them! It was so nice to pre organise dinner with them the day before and have it ready for us after a big day of exploring.

If you have little ones be mindful that the villa is located on a main road so the noise can sometimes be quite loud. The main road also makes it very dangerous to walk along so we decided to use car service whenever we left the Villa.

Overall our experience with Villa Ayu was incredible and we would love to stay there again.

If you have any questions please just drop us a line we love to chat.

Kerry xoxo

 

*This post was written in collaboration with Villa Ayu but as always, opinions are honest and my own.

 



Caribbean Resort Mooloolaba Staycation Review

Looking for a staycation package that is thoughtfully-designed with families in mind?

What about reasonably priced and just a stone’s throw away from the beach?

Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it?

I’ll give you a quick overview of our recent staycation at the Caribbean Resort Mooloolaba that ticks all the boxes.  

The location is excellent as you can walk everywhere and not use the car, it’s within easy walking distance to the Esplanade and Shopping Center, just a short stroll to the Beach, Restaurants, Surf Club and Wharf entertainment area. Plus the hotel has a nice café attached for coffee & breakfast if you don’t feel like using the fully equipped kitchen in your room.

This is, by far, one of the most memorable staycations we’ve ever had. We were really looking for a simple beach side holiday where we could just relax for a couple of days and take some time out to just be together as a family.

Value-for-Money Staycation Package

At the Resort, head down to the central pool to work on your tan and enjoy a relaxing swim and spa. Clear your head and get the body moving with an invigorating workout in the gymnasium or cleanse your pores in the steam room.

Let the kids take advantage of the well stocked games room at the resort. With a number of games on offer, there is plenty to keep them entertained while you enjoy some peace and quiet. Back in your room, there’s free Foxtel TV with two movie channels plus a kid’s channel or take advantage of the free wi-fi

Inside Your Room:

Open plan lounge, dining and kitchen area

  •       Fully equipped kitchen
  •       Air-conditioning / heating in lounge only and fans in the bedrooms
  •       Free foxtel satellite TV
  •       Free WiFi Internet access (download limits apply)
  •       Spa bath in bathroom (or outdoor jacuzzi)
  •       Walk-in shower (most)
  •        Private balcony / terrace
  •        Flatscreen TV / DVD player / Stereo / CD player
  •        Second TV in master bedroom

 

Book the Perfect Hotel in Mooloolaba – Visit www.caribbeanresort.com.au for full details and reservations.

 

I hope this post answers all your questions but if not feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to get back to you!

Happy exploring xx

 

 

*This post was written in collaboration with Caribbean Resort but as always, opinions are honest and my own.

 



Our thoughts on staying with Jen – Hotel Jen, Hong Kong

We just got back from Hong Kong and had an absolute blast! Besides the hot hot weather we loved every minute of exploring Hong Kong’s beautifully rich culture. I’ve had a few questions on our accommodation in Hong Kong so thought I would share a little review that will answer all your questions.

 

We stayed in Hotel Jen Hong Kong, for us staying with Hotel Jen was a no-brainer, our family are obsessed with the Hotel Jen in our home town Brisbane and love to pop in there for a stay-cation whenever possible so as soon as we found out there was one in Hong Kong we knew we absolutely had to stay there.

Hotel Jen Hong Kong is ideally located for anyone who wants to really get to know this amazing city. Featuring a beautiful rooftop pool and 24-hour fitness centre with great harbour views and free high-speed Wi-Fi available throughout the entire hotel during your stay. Hotel Jen Hong Kong by Shangri-La is located in the Western District of Hong Kong, with the MTR HKU Station on its very doorstep.

 

The “My hotel” service offers convenient proximity to key transport junctions – 5 minutes from Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal, 10 minutes from Central and Airport Express Hong Kong Station, and just 30 minutes from Hong Kong International Airport. You can also enjoy complimentary shuttle service to Central, Wan Chai, Peak Tram Station, Ocean Park, and Hong Kong Disneyland.

Hotel Jen Hong Kong has an array of differen’t restaurants, bars and lounges, Café Malacca has been named a Bib Gourmand restaurant in the MICHELIN Guides for 2014 and 2015. Transport yourself to the hawker stalls of Malaysia and Singapore for street-style food, all freshly prepared with aromatic spices, herbs and ingredients. There is even a western menu available for any picky eaters you may have on board. But I highly recommend trying as many different again cuisine dishes possible. We were so amazed at the beautiful different flavours and it felt great to get out of our comfort zone and try something new.

The Lobby Bar and Lounge is a great little spot for meet-ups or a quiet coffee. Start the day with a quick pick-me-up coffee, take a pit-stop between excursions, catch up on business, or end your day with a relaxing cocktail from Jen’s Signature Cocktails, Created to reflect Hotel Jen‘s team’s experience and talent in artfully integrating fun with unexpected Asian flavour fusions, Jen’s range of cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages offers you refreshing drinks with a playful twist.

At the end of a busy day exploring beautiful Hong Kong, enjoy the simple pleasures of a comfy bed, perfect pillows and a great shower. Each one of the hotel rooms is touched with thoughtful details that make life a little easier. With panoramic views, fast free WiFi to keep you connected everywhere, always, DVD players, Cable TV, full-size executive writing desk, international direct dialling service, electronic safe, in-room order-in from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm, tea and coffee station, steam iron with ironing board and a hair dryer along with speciallised Hotel Jen Toiletries its impossible to fault.

 

My favourite part of our Hotel Jen experience was how great they were with the kids. Any children of registered hotel guests under the age of 6 can enjoy *buffet meals at no extra cost in the All Day Dining venue when accompanied by a paying adult; and this offer is for up to 2 children. For more than 2 children under the age of 6 or children who are 6 years and above but under the age of 12, a 50% discount on the buffet price will be given. Having the kids able to load up on a yummy nutritious breaky before heading off into the streets of Hong Kong to explore was a life saver. It also saved a lot of money on the usual snacks we would buy here and there throughout the morning to tide the kids over till lunch because they were still full!

I hope this post answers all your questions but if not feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll be sure to get back to you!

Happy exploring xx

 

 

*This post was written in collaboration with Hotel Jen but as always, opinions are honest and my own.



The Simba Hybrid Review, Engineered for the perfect sleep

Did you know that sleep is one of the most important things in your daily routine! Lack of sleep can lead to: Lack of concentration, weight gain, depression and you’re more likely to have accidents such as falls etc when you’re sleep deprived.

 

I don’t know about you guys but I know the best part of my day is when my head hits the pillow and I get to drift off to sleep, people spend a third of their lives in bed sleeping, chatting, reading, Netflix-ing, planning and laughing, thats a lot of life lived out on your mattress and that is why its so important to have the right one. For too long, there’s been a lack of innovation in the mattress world and until now, investing in one has been overwhelming and a confusing decision.

That is where I step in to give you a helping hand! I have discovered SIMBA, a sleep technology company who has created an innovative “one- type-fits-all” bed, the SIMBA Hybrid®.  First launched in the UK in February 2016, high-tech sleep brand Simba was co-founded by James Cox and Steve Reid alongside the McClements family. James previously worked with start-ups, advising them on growth and strategy, and investing in their innovations. Steve founded Tribesports.com, an upmarket leisure wear brand. James’ was introduced to Andrew McClements, who – from a bed-making dynasty – had been selling thread used for the making of mattresses since 1979. In 2002, he started making them himself. Andrew is the innovator and product developer. Simba has the stamp of approval from some of the UK’s most respected heavyweight investors. Tom Teichman is Simba’s chairman who’s backed Made.com, Lastminute. com and Notonthehighstreet.com. Richard Reed, founder of Innocent Drinks, Numis Securities, Henderson Global Investors, Nigel Wray (formerly Domino’s Pizza and Saracens) and advertising legend, Sir John Hegarty, founder of incubator The Garage Soho, all invest their time and money. SIMBA has already achieved extraordinary sales of 100,000 mattresses across Europe, with thousands of five star customer reviews.

Tested with the Sleep to Live Institute who have compiled body profiling data from 10 million people, the SIMBA Hybrid® mattress is the highest quality spring and memory foam mattress of its kind in the Australian market. The design itself is based on millions of people’s sleep habits and a development process that involved many different prototypes to arrive at an ultra- premium, yet affordable, model. The SIMBA Hybrid® springs are patented and move horizontally and vertically to fit the shape of your body to give you the best sleep.

Since the moment i received my Simba Hybrid I was impressed, it was easy to get into my room and once I had unpackaged and trailed the mattress I was so impressed it was without a doubt the best sleep id ever had. The springs adjust under each person’s bodyweight because they’re conical, rather than the normal barrel shape. They don’t compress in a linear way: the more pressure applied, the more resistance the springs give, so everyone gets the right amount of support.

Cleverly rolled and perfectly packed in its box; the Simba Hybrid® can be delivered to your door the next day in metro areas – there are no awkward manoeuvers in the hallway, or navigating the stairs.
The Simba Hybrid® comes in a variety of sizes including – Single $799, King Single $899, Double $1,099, Queen $1,199, King $1,299. Each mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial promise with no hassle returns and a 10-year guarantee.

 

 

*This post was written in collaboration with Simba but as always opinions are honest and my own.



Luxe travel – Pullman Bali Legian Beach

My usual focus when it comes to finding a hotel or resort is on the kids but this time just for something different I thought I would treat myself and focus on luxury. I still wanted the kids to be comfortable and accounted for so it was important to me that the resort was of course family friendly, but I still really wanted the main focus to be on the luxurious side of Bali. I found a fair few places that ticked all the boxes in terms of what I was looking for, but the main one that really stood out to me was the magnificant Pullman Bali Legian Beach resort.

 

The Pullman Bali Legian Beach is only a short t 20 minutes drive from the Ngurah Rai International Airport, the luxurious Pullman Bali Legian Beach promises pure tranquil paradise, with over 300 elegant and spacious rooms and suites, a roof top infinity pool overlooking the breathtaking Legian beach, a tropical garden swimming pool and a pool for the kiddies too, a wellness centre, spa and the mouth watering choices of food with free breaky for 2 kids under the age of 12, we were truely spoilt for choice.

Views for days at Legian Beach Bali

From the moment we entered the this tropical oasis we were sold, the resort even smelt of luxury. Each beautifully designed room or suite boasts a balcony or terrace, separate bath and shower, as well as an in-room gymnastic kit, (I know right how COOL!) and the most important item to tick off my list WiFi access! I really can’t think of words good enough to describe the breathtaking design of these rooms and suites, they really are just complete tropical tranquillity.

Now onto my favourite part of any resort (besides the food) the Spa. There is nothing I enjoy more than a spa treatment while I’m on holiday and the day spa at Pullman Legian Beach really lived up to my expectations (and believe me they are high). The Tjakra-7 Spa truely blends the holistic and also the traditional, offering luxurious tropical treatments that use your body’s own energy to heal and harmonise. I walked out of that day spa completely relaxed, ready to experience Bali and enjoy my holiday, I felt like a new woman! It was pure magic.

I know I said this was all about luxury but I was so impressed with how well the kids were catered for I just had to pop a little section in. Not only do 2 kids under the age of 12 eat free breakfast, but there is also a kids club (featuring a pretty cool playground) and the kids get their very own pool! The kids had a ball at the kids club and it was the first thing they asked to attend every morning! There is also baby sitting available on request if you’d like some extra quiet time.

Ahhh the food… what can I possibly say about the food that will do it the justice it deserves. With so many different restaurants and bars to choose from we really were spoilt for choice with a cozy relaxing holiday atmosphere and cosmopolitan menu featuring both European and Asian style, you can see why.

If you feel like leaving the resort for the day and exploring more of what the beautiful Bali has to offer then you don’t have to stray too far from the resort as their are plenty of shopping destinations, parks and recreational places just around the corner. The staff are very helpful and more than happy to help you navigate and also hand out their top recomendations but I will also give you mine! There is a gorgeous traditional market only a short 0.10 Km away from Pullman Legian Beach and Seminyak and Kuta are only 1-2 Km away as well!

In conclusion Pullman Legian Resort really did quench my thirst for luxury, I enjoyed every minute of our stay and cannot wait to come back one day.

If you’re looking for somewhere luxurious, tranquil and still family friendly then you honestly should look no further than here. If you have any questions or would like to know some more information then please let me know in the comments below I am more than happy to help you out!

To explore this beautiful resort for yourself head to here 

 

 

*This post was written in collaboration with Pullman Legian Beach but as always, opinions are honest and my own.

 

 

 

 

 



Novotel Bali Nusa Dua

Hello everyone!! Well we are back in Bali (Surprise surprise) we had only just gotten back and without realising it had already started planning our next trip there! Addicted is an understatement! Our family are obsessed with the low-key island life of Bali.

 

When booking our accomodation for the first half of our trip we really wanted to book something with the kids in mind. After searching through the internet and finding out it had won TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award 2017 as one of the Best Hotel for Family in Indonesia we decided on Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, and goodness are we glad we did!

It’s no secret that Novotel are known worldwide for their incredible family friendly hospitality and Novotel Bali Nusa Dua are no exception with their motto being “Children are our customers for the same reasons as their parents, so we listen to them and serve them” is no exception. From stunning swimming pools to kids clubs, Novotel Bali Nusa Dua really does have it all.

Nusa Dua itself is a very  kid-friendly safe area which boasts some absolutley stunning white beaches with crystal clear sea water and vast tropical gardens, Nusa Dua literally means “two island”, the area is well-known as the area for the luxurious hotels and resorts, and is located in the south-eastern part of Bali. Novotel Bali Nusa Dua itself is actually located inside the ITDC (Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation) Complex, Nusa Dua, a 350 hectares secure-gated peninsula on the southern side of Bali.

From the moment we arrived at Novotel Bali Nusa Dua the kids felt more then welcome and we were extremely impressed. Not only were the kids happy but so were we! With absolutely stunning balinese design captured throughout the entire resort and incredible staff that are more than happy to help with anything you may need, we were off to a good start.

 

As soon as we had checked in the first item to check off the list (well for the kids anyway) were the pools! Surrounded by the vast tropical gardens and greenery bali is so famous for were the stunning big blue pools, the kids were SO excited! We spent most mornings by the pools watching the kids swim, it really was pure bliss.

When the kids weren’t eating, sleeping swimming or exploring the rest of Bali’s magic with us, they were at the kids club! The kids club is available for children aged 4-10 years old and is open from 8:30 till 17:30, Novotel Bali Nusa Dua also have other activities available for the little ones such as Balinese dance, Indonesian traditional games, swimming lessons, cooking class a playground and more..!

Now we are into my absolute favourite thing about Novotel Bali Nusa Dua and that is that kids get FREE breakfast!! Yep you read right, breakfast is absolutely free for any 2 kids under the age of 16. For my family food is very important and can ,are or break a holiday. My little ones aren’t too fussy but sometime can be a little iffy when it comes to trying new cuisines. Luckily for me the kids adored the Indonesian cuisines but if you aren’t so lucky you don’t have to stress as their are still plenty of western options available, seriously this place is incredible.

In conclusion our stay with Novotel Bali Nusa Dua was an extremely positive one. The kids were so sad to leave and keep asking when we are going back to see their “friends” (the staff members) from beautiful beaches to exotic cuisines this resort really does have it all. We cannot recommend it highly enough if you’re looking for a family friendly place to stay in Bali and as I said Nusa Dua is a very safe place to stay, and explore.

 

To explore this beautiful resort for yourself head to here

 

 

*This post was written in collaboration with Novotel Bali Nusa Dua but as always opinions are honest and my own.



Stay in Luxury – Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua

 

Each week more than 16,000 Australians begin their journey to the small island of paradise, Bali.

Immersed in sun, beauty and enriched with culture when I think of ‘Bali’, lots of words come to mind; blissful health retreats, vibrant nightlife etc.

However, there is one aspect that didn’t come to mind when i thought of Bali, and that was it being a standard “family friendly” holiday, but boy was I wrong!

Although Bali does have has a reputation of being an adult’s paradise, I was pleasantly surprised to find that even when you have the kids in tow, it is an amazing place to visit.

As soon as we stepped off the plane we were greeted with a sense of belonging and an enriching welcome, that really only people who have travelled to Bali can truly understand.

After researching areas to stay, we settled upon Nusa Dua.

A kid-friendly area containing great beaches and huge pools (which for kids, is the most important aspect of a holiday of course). All resorts in this area are within the 4 and 5- star range, which is important when wanting a safe and relaxing vacation.

We stayed in the wonderful Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua. Promised to be fault-less luxury and believe me it was. Among vast tropical gardens, all within a kid-friendly and superb location it’s safe to say we were all very excited.

The kids even have there own garden to work in.

As soon as we stepped a foot into the lobby, this description was fulfilled.

The sheer opulence and utter extravagance, along with the intricate detailing captured us all. If luxury is important to you when looking for accommodation within Bali resorts, you cannot go wrong with the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua.

This resort is a dreamland, far removed from the frenzy of Kuta.

Pool Daze

 

Kids have there own pool area.

Another aspect I was slightly apprehensive about was whether Bali itself contained enough activities to keep little ones entertained. Although my two are happy to sit on a beach for endless hours, it is nice to have the options of other entertainment. I can now say with great confidence that Bali well and truly delivers with fun filled, whilst also delivering educational activities, for children of all ages.

From tennis, yoga, water-sports, all the way to monkey forests and beach bike rides. There is more than enough to keep everyone entertained and happy.

Archery is just one the family friendly activities.

And, if the activities outside of the resort weren’t enough, the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua offers a Children’s Learning Centre, filled with more than just the usual kids club. Here kids are taught Indonesian dance, language, cooking, and music. It’s safe to say I was beyond impressed with the experiences on offer.

Sofitel has its own beach.

I think almost every parent only has to say this word to their children once before they get excited, FOOD.

Food is such an important part of any family holiday. You want to be comfortable in knowing that this food is not only edible, but will cater also to the fussier palates (of little ones, and adults of course). The world’s best breakfast buffet (I know, big call) could well be at the Kwee Zeen. Filled with fresh fruit juice, made from handpicked fruits, and food that makes your mouth water as soon as you get a smell, this place is AH-MAZING.

The first day I enjoyed perfectly poached eggs on top of grainy toast with buttery mushrooms. Another day I attack the flaky, buttery, almond croissants.

Finally, on the third day I indulge in creamy Bircher muesli.

Not only is their amazing breakfast places on offer, but there is exquisite lunch and dinner restaurants also. The Beach Bar & amp; Grill, located beachside, is on offer for casual bites to eat. Dinner at Cut Catch Cucina is an elaborate affair. Filled with delicately seared scallops, fork-tender lamb and velvety mushroom risotto…my advice is to take to wearing flowy dresses.

You come to Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua to holiday at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua. Grab a bike and take a cycle around the grounds or beach walk, head over to the great shopping centre within walking distance,  The resort is huge, with fountains and pools almost everywhere. Along with a semi-private beach (I know, amazing). From the food, to accommodation, to the grounds, to the activities, everything was plush, comfortable and luxurious.

Sofitel Nusa Dua is a fabulous resort. Please do not be put off to travel to Bali.  Nusa Dua is a very safe place to stay, and play.

Made even happier by the wonderful people at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua.

 

To view hotel deals available now click on www.sofitelbalinusadua.com

 

 

 

*This post was written in collaboration with Sofitel Nusa Dua but as always opinions are honest and my own.

 

 



TravelShoot the best way to connect with local photographers around the world

As you all are probably aware (from all our Insta spam) we recently visited Dubai on a family holiday and had an absolute ball.

One of the highlights of the trip for me was the photo shoot we did with Travelshoot.

Travelshoot is a company full of photographers around the world. All you have to do is visit the website, choose your location, pick your favourite itinerary and book your shoot!

Travelshoot will then connect you with the best local photographer that fits your brief and then everything is taken
care of until the photo-shoot day! Then once the shoot has been finished you’ll receive a couple of sneak peaks within 48 hours and then the full album within 7 days.

Our experience with Travelshoot was amazing it was such an easy process from start to finish.

Dubai is such a breathtakingly beautiful place with so many stunning photo locations and this shoot was such a perfect way to keep the memories of our trip alive for years to come.

Piper is always good when it comes to getting photos taken and often says things like “Mummy can you take my photo here so I can look at it later” and often they are the ones that turn out the best, but I was a little concerned going into this shoot as to how she would go with a new photographer and a foreign location but as always she proved me wrong and was an absolute star during the shoot and even drawing quite the crowd of onlookers
who also wanted to snap her photo saying how gorgeous she was.

 

The photographer we had on the day was so friendly and incredible with Piper candidly capturing all her smiles and
expressions perfectly. The final photographs that we received were breathtaking and exactly what we were after.

If your looking for a way to capture your holiday you can’t go wrong with Travelshoot.

 

 

*This post was written in collaboration with TravelShoot but, as always, opinions are honest and my own.



Disney On Ice – Dare To Dream Magical Ice Festival

disney 1

Disney On Ice is a world class touring performance that needs no introduction, featuring internationally renowned ice skaters, it was a night of enchantment with many magical moments from across the Disney kingdom in the  Disney On Ice Magical Ice Festival where we the audience were  transported to a icy winter wonderland and whisked away into four Disney fairy tales to experience the adventure and magic.

Kids were happy to see their beautiful Disney princesses and sing along to all the familiar tunes, while the adults were mesmerised by beautiful scenes and stunning ice skating performance, its just a truly magical experience for the whole family.

disney on ice 2

Nothing can stop kids from screaming and jumping up and down in glee when this gang of friends come onto the rink. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy kicked start the show with lots of cheering and excitement and they play the hosts for the show and appears a couple of times throughout the 2-hour performance.

disney on ice 2

 

The one performance EVERYONE was waiting for Frozen, all the little girls around me sang at the top of the voice to all the tunes from Frozen, screamed and waved at Anna and Elsa when they appeared and clapped non-stop when it ended. Miss Piper knows all the words to Frozen and didn’t hesitate to belt them out in full theatrical form. (Not all the right words in the right places but hey close enough is good enough right!)  OMG, cutest thing EVER! I don’t know what I enjoyed more, seeing all the little Annas and Elsas in the audience singing along or seeing the performers, either way, this act was awesome.

disney on ice 4

 

We absolutely LOVE all things Disney and this was no exception we would totally go back and see it again and again night after night if we could.

 

Love Kerry and Piper xoxo

disney 2

 

Tickets are on sale now for Disney On Ice – Visit disneyonice.com for more information.

disney on ice

disney on ice 1



How to get more time in each and every day using – Daily Orders Boards

With our own business, three children aged 18, 9 and 2 our life is crazy, actually the word ‘crazy’ doesn’t even seem to cover it! So anything thing I find that makes life even a little easier is a god sent! I was so excited to receive my Daily Orders board last week, its perfect! With a quick glance I can get an overview of who needs to be where and doing what each day. Now once a week I only need to consulate everyone’s calendars and add all the events to the board, and if anything changes the person it involves is responsible to make any changes and by keeping it in a area of the house that everyone sees each day we have no excuses to not remember what we need to be responsible for each day, plus  it looks great too which is always a plus..

board1

Today we would like to introduce to Kelly Mum and operations Manager of Daily Orders who have been busy transforming lives all over Australia we are lucky to have her share her top tips on home to organise your home in less than 5 Min a day.

daily orders 1

Is your poor time management affecting your household? Your happiness? Your stress levels? I get it. I really do.

Being a parent is bloody hard work. Managing appointments, drop offs, sporting commitments, and music lessons

just to name a few things. That’s just you and the kids. Don’t even start on the household management.

What if I told you that you could get your house organised in just five minutes a day?

You wouldn’t believe me would you?

Well, it’s true.

Think of all those minutes you stand there staring into space thinking about what you need to do, all those minutes you mindlessly check your device to see what someone else is up to.

Do something for me one day. Add up all the time you spend on your devices. You won’t believe how much it is.

In a few months I’ll be releasing an e-book on how to organise your life in just five minutes a day, but I wanted to give you all a sneak peek into what you’ll get.

On the surface, it’s pretty simple stuff, but when you don’t have time to organise what’s already on your super busy plate, the last thing you want to think about is how to get organised, right?

But you know what? Therein lies the secret. The ONLY way you are going to get organised is to plan, prioritise

and set goals.

I’m not talking about having your shoes spit polished and your benches white glove ready, but about getting things in order, reducing clutter and being able to actually live your life without all that ‘stuff’ getting in the way.

You know the stuff…the snow globes from that overseas trip you took in your twenties **puts hand up**, the kids toys – oh the toys!

All that stuff that you put in that letter holder on the kitchen bench that you’re going to sort through on the weekend.

Yep, I hear you. I’ve been there. So, enough about why we’re here.

Let’s start sorting things out.

White Living Room With Modern Interior Design

So I mentioned that you need to plan, prioritise and set goals. The best way to get started with your plan is by creating a list of all the things that you need to accomplish in a week, and then narrowing your perspective to all the things you need to accomplish in a day.

Having this information in a snapshot view makes it possible to make alterations where necessary.

daily orders 2

Planning

Having served nearly fifteen years in the Navy, I’ve definitely been exposed to some serious planning. As you would expect, in the Navy we have a very rigid planning process in order to achieve everything that needs to happen on a ship.

Consider the conduct of daily events at sea; with three or sometimes four meals a day for around 200 sailors and Officers, refuelling the ship, conducting weapons firings and helicopter operations, ammunition and stores loading, maintenance, engineering trials and the list goes on. To ensure a smooth flow of operations, the immediate planning cycle is broken down into four documents, namely Daily Orders, the Shortcast, Midcast and Longcast.

Daily Orders as the name suggests, promulgates what is happening that day, the Shortcast is the detailed plan for the coming two weeks, the Midcast is the plan for two weeks to three months, and the Longcast is three months plus.

Without this detailed level of planning, there would be a serious amount of incompatible operations, leaving us unable to achieve the mission.

The same goes for a family home. There are always countless things to do, whether it is the grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments, sporting commitments, travel, dinner dates (I wish, right?) and more. With high dependency on mobile technology, you may be tempted to simply download an application that will help you create a plan. While it cannot be disputed that mobile applications have a host of advantages, they do have one glaring disadvantage. They are entirely too private, particularly when you consider that a plan may need to be shared with family members or colleagues within the workplace.

Yes, I know you can synchronise your devices, but how impersonal is it? “Hey honey, did you check my calendar? I put it in there.” No thanks. In these situations, it is better to have a clear reference point, where you’re able to see all the plans, and establish how they fit into the grand scope of things.

My business, Daily Orders, gives you the ability to share your plans with the rest of the family in one central place. How do we do that? Our gloss surfaceblack acrylic weekly planning boards are mounted on your wall, and there youcan put everything you need to achieve in bright liquid chalk markers.

Whatare the benefits? Here are just a few.

Daily Orders planning boards:

Reduce wastage – no need to spend $30 on a calendar each year that you forget about in February.

Reduce clutter – no scrap pieces of paper lying around the kitchen and home to write your notes on. All of your notes and plans are on the wall, out of the way.

Reduce screen time – we spend enough of our day on our devices, it’s about time we put our handwriting skills to work and used them to communicate with our families in a meaningful and valuable way.

Increase productivity – set clearly visible goals that the whole family can get involved in. Using Daily Orders to plan your week will help you feel calm and in control, and most importantly it will give you back the one thing you desperately want – time. Time gained by being organised.

With Daily Orders it is possible to create a simple and clear list of all things that are to be done and by whom.

Setting goals will also help you easily accomplish your tasks in a given time frame when done correctly.

Remember the old saying, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Goals need to be realistic, manageable and achievable in a timely fashion. If they are large goals, like making the house sparkling from top to tail, break the goals into smaller chunks.

Not planning means that you are reactive and responding to the events of the day as they occur rather than being proactive and clearly defining what needs to be achieved.

Prioritising –  Once you have set your goals and defined your list of tasks that need to be achieved, you need to prioritise.

It is no good saying that you need to wash the cars this afternoon when in fact, you really need to do the grocery shopping. No food equals cranky family, and that is no good for anybody!

Prioritising is part of effective planning and it involves de-conflicting your goals to accomplish tasks in order of importance. When you learn to focus on the priorities, it becomes far easier to achieve your goals. Without prioritising, it means that small but very important tasks may be overshadowed by large, time consuming tasks. Put it this way, what do you absolutely positively have to achieve today?

The mistake many people make when they put all the things they want to do in a day on a list is to check off what they can do quickly, leaving the hard and time consuming tasks to deal with later on. What happens when something comes up and you are not able to continue doing what you had planned to achieve? Sometimes, life just gets in the way and at the end of the day, you realise that you have not done anything worthwhile. Not only have you not achieved what you needed to, but along with that can come the associatedemotions; perhaps guilt or frustration. These feelings aren’t good for anybody, so let’s try to combat that with planning, goal setting and prioritisation. Once you’ve done all of that, it’s time to start checking things off your list.

If this sounds like valuable information to you, and you want to be first on the list to discover when our e-book is released, jump on over to https://beadwindow.leadpages.co/howtogetorganisedin5minutesaday/ The best part is, you’ll get the e-book at a super discounted rate of just $1.95 for signing up. Getting organised for way less than the cost of a cup of coffee?

Yes, please.

After you’ve signed up, jump over to http://www.dailyorders.com.auto buy your weekly planning board today.

Piper Sienna readers will also get free shipping when you enter code PIPERSIENNA at checkout.

See you there soon I can’t wait to help you get more time in your life.

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Thanks Kelly, make sure you check these out we just live our board and I’m getting so much more achieved by using it.

Got a product you would like reviewed then just drop us a line,

Love Kerry and Piper xx