Travelling with your kids these holidays… check out

BYOKids

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Fiji

I don’t know about you… but school holidays always seem to creep up on me!  All of a sudden I realise.. “jeepers… what will we do these holidays?”

I always try to get away for a couple days each school holidays, and whilst I am always half organised for the Christmas holidays, I am not so much for the 3 other lots of holidays throughout the year.

I was wrapped when I learnt about the BYO Kids webiste.

Hawaii

Last year (thanks to this brilliant website with loads of great specials… we went to the Gold Coast this time of year.  we stayed at Seaworld a few nights and then at Paradise Resort.  A couple of us friends and our families went and was a great way for all of us to catch up.  (Thanks Joanne and Christie… are we on again next year?  The kids had an absolute ball!)

Was great for the kids and for us! 

The kids loved the kids club at Paradise Resort and we got to have a great dinner just us adults and us girls had shopping times too.  Sea World was alive and happening and we would def go back to both places again.

This year… am thinking of a trip to Fiji… a friend went with hubby and kids last year and is going back these holidays again!  They loved it for the price and pure luxury.

  If you haven’t gotten around to passports (like me)    Maybe  WA?  Broome looks amazing and I am sure we all would def love it there.

 Broome

Want to stay closer to home and have a beach holiday along the great Ocean Road Victoria?  I would suggest the Surf Coast… Torquay!  From as little as $165 per night you can stay across the road to the famous Front Beach in a 2 bedroom self contained apartment. Torquay Front Beach ~ Beach Houses is fabulous.  We have stayed a couple times and you cannot beat the position.  only 50 steps to the beach… YES  50 STEPS!

Ocean views, beach, playgrounds, restaurants across the road, situated between both shopping centres there is no need for a car!  Great for a family and there are 3 Torquay Beach houses here so bring your friends families too.  Gateway to the Great Ocean Road with Bells Beach across the way.  Perfect.

Look no matter what you are looking for… be it an interstate, an overseas or even a local holiday… if you are looking for a great place to travel to with kids… make byoKids your first place to start looking.  I was so glad I found them.  Sure takes the hassle out of finding great, tried and tested places to travel to with our kids.

and… if you are looking for great ways to keep the kids entertained whilst you are driving about… check out the great travel toys and travel games for kids at ickle kids. 

mmm?  I wonder where i can find a great family holiday that has great kids activities, some great local attarctions, a day spa  (for me) great kids friendly restaurants and thats not too far to travel… oh and one thats affordable too.

am off to browse away at www.byokids.com.au

Special celebrity post today comes from Leonie at twiggi  

 ~   10 Steps To A stylish Party with twiggi   ~

1. Choose your theme and

2 Base colours, the base colours will be the main colours you will include in decorating and partyware any other colour should be kept to a minimum.

3. Create a Shopping List: Invitations, Plates, Cups, Napkins, Party Bags, Plastic Table cover, Thank You Tags, Ribbon, Bunting, Balloons,

    Table Centre, Table Scatters, Party Snacks and Drinks, Cake, Candles, Prizes, Party Loot, Fruit

4. Send out Invitations 4 weeks prior to the party with a RSVP request date of 1 week prior.

5. No matter where your party is held ( home or out ) always decorate the main party area extensively with your chosen decorations, however, children love getting a hint of the party from where they enter… helping to build the excitement… You could put down a Red Carpet to enter on or hang a Door Curtain to start creating the atmosphere.

6. Have your themed Party Table set with all the trimming and definitely have party food that does not need refrigerating out for when guests arrive… Like adults Yummy Party Food is definitely the way to children’s hearts and will help relax any shy children who may feel a little uncomfortable.

7. Once all guests arriveplay 2 pre-organised Party Games back to back then allow some Free Play time, you may have set up a craft table or the sand pit with activities, however most children will love amusing themselves.

8. Serve the rest of the Party Food, Load the Party Table with a nice balance of Sweet Treats and Hearty Food… Fruit Kebabs and Fruit Punch are a great idea, they are fun yet healthy. Allow kids to munch and talk at their own leisure.

9. Serve the Cake… Happy Birthday Songs and Clapping are such a traditional way of celebrating and must not be forgotten.

10. It is now time for 1 more Party Game and then letting guests wear off some of their steam before unwrapping the presents.

11. When it is time for everyone to go, it is a nice touch for the Party Host to hand out Party Bags and thank their guests for coming.

12. If planned Mum and Dad can now sit back with close friends and family and relax… a couple of Champers and good company finishes the day perfectly!

Relax, Enjoy and Have Fun, these are the memories you and your children will have forever…

Party Tip: There is no need to spend a fortune on creating a gorgeous party, www.twiggi.com.au have gorgeous themed Party Packs from just $32.00

 Leonie will help get you organised and steer you in the right direction.  She has heaps.. yes HEAPS of gorgeous items to help make that special day a success and a memorable occasion.  That’s why her customers keep coming back time and time again!  Leonie sure does know her stuff!!!

make sure you check out www.twiggi.com.au and tell her La Toriana sent you!

Leonie is going to be helping us make Tiana’s next birthday Magical.. and Mysterious!   oooh I cant wait!!

warmly

Elizabeth xx

yep… its school holidays again. 

Spring has sprung and the kids are itching to get outside and play, and with the warmer weather lets all pack up the car and travel!!

well… we all know a trip in the car with baby and kids can be an ordeal with the “are we there yet” chymes by the time we get to the corner.  We roll your eyes, take a deep breath and hope for the best!!

Well I must say, I have great inspiration after being at the ickle kids website.  They have great ideas on how to keep the kids occupied and everyone happy on a road trip. 

Ickle Kids specialises in Activity Packs for Kids on the Go. Are you sick of the standard “kids activity packs” with just colouring books and pencils? Well, so are we! Ickle Kids bring the fun back into Activity Packs! Their range of travel packs contains a selection of handpicked, fun and educational toys for busy mums, dads and carers to just “grab and go”. These activity packs are sure to entertain your kids when you are travelling, dining out at restaurants, waiting for a doctor’s appointment or for taking to Granny’s house.

Laine is the founder and owner of ickle Kids. She is a mum of two young boys and she understands how challenging it can be to travel with kids. “We have travelled around Europe, Asia and many parts of Australia and we have never been able to find a “one stop” shop that offered a range of fun educational toys that were travel friendly. This gap in the market was what inspired me to start my own business”.

Ickle Kids pride themselves on sourcing travel toys that are unique and different to toys found in commercial stores and they are constantly introducing new products to their range. They can also personalise activity packs to suit your needs – child’s age, their interests, the type of holiday you are going on etc.

The ickle Kids range consists of:

* Wooden products – games, puzzles, push along toys, small toys for flights and car trips etc

* Brain Teaser/logic Games – our award winning games are sure to keep kids entertained on their journey and at their holiday destination

* Books – puzzle books and sticker books

* Playscenes – great removable stickers, which can be played over and over again on individual playscenes.

* Craft items –cool metallic crayons, sewing and lacing activities, play dough tools etc.

 Check out their full range of kids activity packs and travel toys on www.icklekids.com.au 

me2me2  was a treasure find at Kids In style in Melbourne this year.  For ages I had been looking for a boys hipster tool belt with all the tools, a real spirit level, a real hammer, a retractable measuring tape, battery free torch, all in an adjustable tool belt with quick release buckles.  A “real tradies” kit with lots of pockets to assist in holding all those much needed tools to get your job done!

…. and here it is!  Not only that, I was so wrapped to find a littl girls hairdressing set with all the trimmings including a cape… just like being at the hair dressers!

me2me2 is a business that set out to provide unique and innovative products that inspire positive role play.  I love the boys tool kits the best …  all boys love doing what dads do… but let me say too though… the girls like having their own tool kits too as they watch mum (me) do a lot of handyman things about the house too!  Same goes for the boys…. they can get creative with mums hairdo with the hairdressing set too!

  Sue and Sarah from me2me2

 Well ladies, I honestly think you are on a winner with these, was lovely catching up and I look forward to catching up with you again soon  ~ Elizabeth xx