Mummahh

If you live in Sydney you'll know it was pouring with rain and pretty dismal weather here on Sunday.

A perfect day to watch a movie and that's just what we did :)

Thanks to The Natural Cordial Co and the Digital Parents Collective me, my husband and three kids were treated to an advanced screening of EPIC in 3D. Yeh yeh pretty spec!

Miss 6 with Nim Galuu (one of the goodies)

This family outing was amazing on many levels. One because it was the first time since my third child was born (3 years ago) possibly longer, that we have ALL been to the movies together.

Now I'm not going to lie to you, my three year old did well but spent quite a lot of time running around and suffered from a typical three year old attention span of zilch. I had to coax him with popcorn and M&M's for most of the movie, but he really got into the 3D glasses.

My 6 and 8 year old thought it was - "Totally Awesome, that was Cool" (their exact words).

I'm not going to tell you much about the storyline but you can view the trailer below which gives you the general gist.

It's classic good guys versus bad guys with some pretty impressive animation, perfectly tailored to 3D.

Some of the 3D effects freaked me out and I felt my three year old jump on a few occasions.

MK the main character (one of the good guys)

My favourite characters are Mub and Grub who gave me a few chuckles throughout the movie.

The leader of the baddies is Mandrake and ...well he's pretty mean and scary looking.

This movie is must see for these school holidays, it's one of those movies you don't mind watching (again and again) with the kids .

And for all you Natural Cordial Co drinkers out there, you should check out their website (here) for details of a competition they are running to celebrate the release of EPIC in 3D.

Wow,  Epic movie and Epic prizes - sounds like a win-win to me!

My 8 year old son has been a LEGO fanatic since he was very young. Starting with Duplo he has progressed through many age appropriate LEGO sets.

Now along comes LEGO The Legends of Chima. I've said it before and I will say it again - LEGO continues to become more and more detailed and often amazes me with it's ingenuity.

My 8 year old has road tested the LEGO Legends of Chima  - Laval's Royal Fighter (suitable for 8-14 year olds) - lucky little man.

The LEGO Legends of Chima series takes kids into the Land of Chima.

The Land of Chima has its own story and a complete website with heaps of great stuff including videos, games and downloads. Chima, once a natural paradise, now a battle ground for eight animal tribes all fighting for control of a natural resource called CHI. This sets the scene for the Legends of Chima range.

Ahh the satisfaction of a finished LEGO set...

  And guess what? I'm sharing the LEGO love!

I have three LEGO Legends of Chima - Laval's Royal Fighters valued at $59.99 each to give away. Check out the the Legends of Chima range here and tell me your fave and why in a comment below for your chance to win.

Good luck!

Competition ends Sunday 16 June 2013.

Full Terms and conditions can be found here.

 {the formal stuff} Disclaimer: As with ALL products reviewed - no payment was received however I was supplied with a LEGO Legends of Chima Laval's Royal Fighter to review. The ideas and views expressed in this review are mine (and my eight year old son's) own - good and bad.

Last Thursday I completed an 8 week challenge.

My challenge was pretty simple really - to be on The Chocolate Diet for 8 weeks. EASY!!

For those of you who haven't read my previous posts about this diet you can click on the links below to get some background and how I went over the last eight weeks.

The Chocolate Diet: 6 Week Update

The Chocolate Diet - 2 weeks in

The Chocolate Diet

A quick recap about The Chocolate Diet. It is a shake based diet that focuses around the absolutely awesome nutritional benefits of dark chocolate. So why is dark chocolate so good for you? Well the cocoa contains high levels of nutrients called ‘polyphenols’ (plant chemicals) which have many health benefits including helping to control fat stores and your appetite.

The diet is structured with 5 meals: brekkie, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner..... PLUS a dark chocolate TREAT!!

> Two of your main meals (brekkie, lunch or dinner) are replaced with a chocolate (or choc/berry) flavoured shake

> One of your main meals (usually dinner) is a healthy normal meal option of your choice. Keeping in mind this is not when you pig out on McDonalds. As part of The Chocolate Diet program they give you easy to follow meal plans and recipes and an understanding of the right portion size- to keep you on track for your desired weight loss.

> Two snack meals (afternoon and morning tea) are healthy options like fruit, yoghurt, berries etc. Again options are explained in your meal plan.

> AND DRUM ROLL......a DARK CHOCOLATE TREAT (usually for desert) . This heavenly block of dark chocolate is fairly generous in size and extremely tasty, and at the end of the day it is just the treat you need to keep your diet on track. In fact having the chocolate everyday made it feel like I wasn't on a diet at all!!

A couple of things I noticed during the eight weeks - some I expected and some I did not:

- my hair and nails grew faster and seemed in better condition. The diet doesn't lay any claims to do this but non-the-less it happened.

- I wasn't a huge fan of dark chocolate prior to the eight week challenge but am now a convert. So much so I can no longer stomach milk chocolate, it just taste too fatty or oily or something.

- people commented how well I looked (which was nice)

- I was NEVER hungry on the diet

- the shakes were DELICIOUS

- I saved a HEAP on lunches and food etc whilst at work during the week. Instead of heading out to buy my lunch (sometimes up to $15- $20 with a drink depending where I go), I had my trusty shake.

- the diet was convenient and flexible.

- I felt better about myself and my clothes fit better!!

But stop rabbiting on...how much did I lose???

Ok, Ok.....I started The Chocolate Diet at 85.5 kilos (oh the shame) and am now..........

78.7 kilos with a total loss of 6.8 kilos - see the proof below with my before and after shots (wearing the same jeans which are now much looser).

This loss did not include me exercising much - if at all.

I think I managed to get to the gym once or twice over the eight weeks so a 6.8 kilo loss is fantastic.

I will be continuing with the diet because I would love to get to 75 kilos and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to lose a few kilos and doesn't want to feel like they are on a diet :)

   
So to celebrate my success I am going to give away a weeks supply of The Chocolate Diet valued at $60.

To enter comment below with your best Chocolate Diet jingle - get creative!

Winner will be announced next weekend - Sunday 2 June 2013 - good luck!

The new series of books out by Peter Viska are LOADS of fun. You might know Peter Viska from his Far Out Brussel Sprout! series which was hugely popular. Well he has done it again with a series of four children's picture books:

In Your Eye Meat Pie!

Hang Loose Mother Goose!

Stay Cool April Fool!

Take A Stroll Sausage Roll!

The titles even make me smile so you can imagine how much fun my kids get out of reading them.

These four books are packed with lots of cheeky rhymes and matching outrageous illustrations and are full of the things kids love . They make my kids want to read so I am happy.

My kids have their favorites (see them posing with them proudly below) and are always reciting the cheeky rhymes to me and giggling to themselves as they read.They are available at all good book stores - even saw them at Australia Post Shop the other day - for $7.95 each. You can also buy them online at www.alicat.com.au

 {the formal stuff} Disclaimer: As with ALL products reviewed - no payment was received however I was supplied with the Peter Viska series of four books to read and review. The ideas and views expressed in this review are mine (and my kids) own - good and bad.

Beating the Blues written by Susan Tanner and Jillian Ball is a self-help approach to overcoming depression.

First printed in Australia and New Zealand in 1989 and reprinted 20 times selling over 150,000 copies the authors have now released a new fully revised and updated edition.

‘Beating the Blues’ has proven itself to be an invaluable source for general practitioners, psychiatrist and health workers. The feedback from patients is excellent’

So it's been six weeks since I started my 8 week challenge on The Chocolate Diet.

Over the last six weeks I have lost an average of 500g per week. This is pretty good because I have done minimal exercise, actually next to no exercise. I also have thyroid problems, which I take medication for although even with the medication I still find it hard to lose weight. As you get older your metabolism seems to slow and with the thyroid issue I feel I'm fighting a losing battle sometimes.

Now if you haven't read my previous posts you can go back and read all about what The Chocolate Diet is here and my 2 week update here.

I am really happy with this diet. I never fell hungry an the shakes taste great - no really, they taste so good I actually sometimes think they mixed up the packaging with some other chocolate drink!

I had a lovely chat with a lady from The Chocolate Diet this week. A consultant rings each week to keep you motivated and to go through any diet-related problems you are facing. Mine this week was NOT eating enough!!! I keep forgetting to have my morning and afternoon tea. The consultant gave me a great tip to set an alarm on my phone so I know to grab an apple or snack. Skipping these snacks actually slows your metabolism and sends you into "starvation mode" - slowing down weight loss. So eating small meals regularly increases your metabolism and you burn more fat.

So my start weight was 85.5 and I am down to 80.8. My clothes are fitting better and I feel good.

I have 2 weeks left on my 8 week challenge and I hope to get under 80 by then. I am motivated to get there but The Chocolate Diet fits in so well with my busy lifestyle and being all about chocolate makes it easy to stick to the diet.

If you are looking to lose a bit of weight you can buy The Chocolate Diet at Priceline.

Disclaimer: As with ALL products reviewed - no payment was received however I was supplied with an 8 week supply of The Chocolate Diet to trial and review. The ideas and views expressed in this review are my own - good and bad.

Author: Allison Rushby

RRP: $14.99
Released: 1 May 2013

For readers of period drama, particularly those set in the heady days of the early 1920’s, The Heiresses is a book not to be overlooked. The cover of the book does not do it justice and belies the story within, inside you find a story from a time when opulence and decadence strode hand in hand with unashamed vanity and carefree behaviour.

With a war behind them and restrictions lifted there was fun to be had by those who could enjoy it. The simple life was there but the young and free of the well-to-do would be having none of that.

While scandals plague all decades and all walks of life there is something quite unique about the outrageous lifestyle of the time and the characters of the book who while appearing to be most sophisticated are as innocent and unworldly as the more humble folk.

Three young women all with very different backgrounds and moral views are summoned to London in mysterious circumstances by an equally mysterious woman. 

The revelation that the woman is their Aunt and they are in fact not only sisters but triplets is just the beginning of a series of discoveries with secrets that  prompt questions with answers that shock and surprise.

Thrown together during the liberated 1920’s, each with their own past to contend with and future to plan… all trying to learn about each other and come to terms with their heritage and family past and present while making new and at times quite eccentric friends…and all this while attempting to wrestle their rightful inheritance from a less than gracious half-brother. Delicious indeed!

The Heiresses delivers a thoroughly entertaining read.

Disclaimer: As with ALL products reviewed - no payment was received however Christine was supplied with a copy of The Heiresses by Allison Rushby to read and review. The ideas and views expressed in this review are Christine's own - good and bad.

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  Above: My (almost) 3 year old son playing on my iPad• :)

The world seems to have gone mobile.

Most people have a mobile device; a smart phone, iPad^*, or tablet and some can’t live without them! I wouldn’t go that far but I certainly have become accustomed to having everything at my fingertips virtually everywhere I go. My device of choice is my iPhone^* but I also have an iPad Mini^*.

I love apps.

There seems to be one for just about everything. I recently discovered a seriously cool app called Star Walk that tells you the constellations when you point your device to the night sky!

You will find me playing Candy Crush Saga on occasion (slightly addicted) and my two year old son loves Nick Jr Draw & Play – a great little drawing app from Nick Jr. My six year old daughter loves the fashion apps and my nearly nine year old son is obsessed with Minecraft.

Although I do have some “entertainment” apps I also tend to have an array of “information and utility” apps. Apps that tell me the weather, if my bus is on time and mobile banking are the main ones. As a mum you are the family “nurse” (not doing the dads down, my husband is a great nurse too!). But it seems to be mum who gets the “What’s this lump?’, “I have pain here” etc etc.

Parents are good, but most of us aren’t qualified medical practitioners. Bring in the Medibank Symptom Checker App. This app helps you check everyday symptoms, and find out what to do about them including when to get professional treatment. It doesn’t replace a trip to the doctor but it will help you manage symptoms and make informed decisions. It is easy to use and lets you browse by symptoms or body parts!

My two year old son goes to long day care. They recently had an outbreak of Hand Foot And Mouth Disease. My lovely husband went to pick up our son and saw this huge sign, he came home freaking out telling me “there’s a foot in mouth disease going around daycare!” – eeeekk.

I got straight on to the Medibank Symptom Checker and popped in “foot and mouth” in the symptom search box. What do you know, up came Hand Foot And Mouth Disease. It explained it was a viral infection that causes mouth ulcers and tiny blisters on the hands and feet. It also told me when to call the doctor, related symptoms and other general information and importantly how to care for my son if indeed he had it.

I had all the information I needed within seconds. Luckily my son showed no signs – pheww!

This useful app is only available for iPhone^*  and iPads*. You can find out more about the app by clicking the image below.

This one is my favourite – The Medibank Energy Balancer.

I am always trying to balance my life especially what food I consume and how much exercise I (should) do. I am 40 in two weeks and the balancing act seems to get harder as I get older. This little beauty tells me if I drink one bottle of soft drink I will need to cycle for 26 minutes to burn it off. I found it funny that arguing is an exercise option however to burn off the soft drink I would need to argue verbally for 1 hour and 24 minutes!

It’s available for iPhones^*, iPads* and Androids. You can find out more about the app by clicking the image below.

*iPhone and iPad are each trademarks of Apple Inc.

Just so you know, or more formally - Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for Medibank Private Limited. I have been a Medibank Private member for 21 years and the views and opinions expressed in this post are my own.  The author (Amanda Duncan) and Medibank remind readers that this post does not constitute medical advice, or replace the advice and treatment from a professional medical practitioner.

Author: Deborah Burrows

RRP: $29.99
Released: 1 May 2013

Set in Perth during World War II Deborah Burrows latest novel Taking a Chance sweeps you up into a world of nostalgia and intoxicating romance.

Unfinished business from a murder trial, a mystery that is full of wrong decisions, innocent mistakes and lost souls brings the characters together. The world is changing, war is raging across the world and the human cost of that war knows no boundaries.

Strangers come and go, laws are broken, innocence is destroyed and people on the home front have to deal with the constraints of war time, restrictions, separations, austerity, and loss. While all this takes place two people discover love, unexpected and intense, while trying to piece together the truth. In war time things happen more swiftly and with more urgency. Deborah Burrows tells the story smoothly and with the clarity of a good storyteller so that the reader is transported back to that time rather than reading a story in retrospect.

Factually correct, portraying a graphic image of Perth in the 1940’s the story weaves its way through only a short period of time where so much happens and so many lives are changed. The book is a thoroughly enjoyable read and serves to remind us of a generation that lived life on the brink of terror  in a war torn and troubled time, facing dangers both at home and across the world while trying to love and be loved and staying safe in a shifting world.

A story full of history, tentative situations, the quest for truth and an overwhelming romance that cannot be ignored.

Disclaimer: As with ALL products reviewed - no payment was received however Christine was supplied with a copy of Taking a Chance by Deborah Burrows to read and review. The ideas and views expressed in this review are Christine's own - good and bad.

Review: LeapFrog Farm Mash Up

RRP $29.99  

Suitable for 12-36 months

He is almost a "little boy" and no longer a toddler. He has started to ask "Why?' (constantly) and loves to do puzzles. He loves to sing and dance and has a great memory - especially when he remembers that treat I promised him!

He was absolutely thrilled when I presented him with the LeapFrog Farm Mash Up.

 
Above: My (almost) 3 year old son enjoying his LeapFrog Farm Mash Up

The Farm Mash Up is a another great learning toy from LeapFrog (the masters of combining fun and learning in toys). The basic idea is mixing and matching animals. Each tile is "half" an animal and you can make a whole heap of combinations. Funnily enough my son chooses to match them correctly and hasn't really started mixing and matching. Kids can press each tile which will tell you the animal and the colour. There are songs, fun facts and children can learn as they play.

The biggest feature for me is that all the tiles pack neatly away in the little red bucket. Which is good because these babies hurt more than Lego when you tread on them!

My little boy just loves playing with the Farm Mash Up and sings along to all the songs. It has helped him with learning colours and seems to keep him amused (which is great when dealing with a 2 year old!) Below is a little video of him playing with the Farm Mash Up and singing along...only to be distracted at the end by an ad for one of his favourite shows :)

The LeapFrog Farm Mash Up (RRP $29.99) is available from major department stores and
independent toy retailers across Australia from March, 2013.

For further information on LeapFrog and its products, visit www.leapfrog.com.au.

Just so you know, or more formally Disclaimer: As with ALL products I review - I received no payment for the post however I was supplied with 1 LeapFrog Farm Mash Up to review. The ideas and views expressed are my own (and my 2 year old son's) - good and bad.