Family Fun: Action Karts

It was one of those weekends that flew by due to the dauntingly busy schedules that large families bring. Every child has their need and accommodating this all together creates a fast and furious time warp. And on the note of fast, we found ourselves enjoying a brief stop at Action Karts. Ages 8+ can enjoy lap after lap of high speed fun sold in 10 minute increments. Friendly service and a safe clean track deliver the perfect pit stop for fun times. 

Click here for details: http://www.actionkarts.co.nz/

We're building a rocket. Is dinner ready?

More frequently than ever is the time that I walk into a room in my house and I see a table full of random, sometime questionable, things. The photo below exhibits the most recent randomness. I asked what a bunch of broken match sticks missing their combustible bits were doing on the dining table. (These  missing red tips were gathered in another questionable place not pictured here.)

Nonetheless, I immediately asked what was going on and their answer is the title of this post: We're building a rocket. Is dinner ready?

Perfect.

Leave Lunch Notes

Real Life Tip:
Leave notes for your kids in their lunches. It's fun and they love it. Well, atleast, until they are too cool for lunch notes at about age 11. More importantly, you've shared just that much more love with your children guess what?  That makes you parent of the year. Congratulations!

Now get writing...

Fly Trapping Station

As a mother of a crew of boys, it's quite often I'll walk into one of the rooms and find something random like this. A sheet of baking paper splattered with Maple syrup straight from Canada. At $10 per bottle, you would understand my gasp at viewing what I quickly found out was a, "fly trapping station". Of course, it is.

You'll notice the family house flyer below promises $1 per fly caught. I'm sure the station will eventually work and yield profits. It's day 2. Not a single one caught yet.

Happy Easter Weekend

Real Conversations

Me: I thought you wanted your ice cream in a bowl not a cone?

Child: My brain is not really working and it's making my mind change.

Holiday Travel With Kids

We are fresh off an international flight. Three children and I traveled over twenty-two hours and though it was pretty long, it was also uneventful. Well except for my three year old's meltdown in the customs line. He ran off playing underneath the rope lines all within my view while ignoring my very demanding mommy voice. There are hardly ever any comforting looks or verbal trinkets of affection from strangers for any toddler. Not in any customs line we have ever been in. After flying for half a day, people are just done. Despite this mishap, we crossed the ocean with no problems. I give a lot of the success to Air New Zealand who makes flying internationally a supreme experience. Every need is met and special accommodations are made when necessary. A mom with three children? They have you covered giving us extra leg room, early boarding, and play packs for the kids are just some of the perks. 
We do pride ourselves on having expert travelers. All of our children, including the one sleeping while taxiing, are frequent flyers at this point having logged thousands of miles a piece but there is plenty of leg work that goes into creating a great tiny traveler. That starts with mom and dad so parents, here are our:

3 P's to Traveling with Kids

1. Patience
This is the key to having smooth ride. In the above described situation you have to stay cool. They are children and will exhaust after hours of travel. Dehydration, fatigue, Vertigo, plugged airways and hunger are just a few of the symptoms exhibited by kids before, during and after flying. Be prepared with snacks, water and activities for them to do when you feel your blood pressure rising. Breathing helps and remember that this is just a wrinkle in time before you reach your next destination.

2. Portable Devices
Whatever you have I would suggest bringing it. The apps and games available on IPods and IPads are endless these days so you can find educational options or fun games to keep them occupied. Bringing magazines and books will weigh you down especially through security lines. With today's carry-on weight limits, less is more and portable devices have you covered from Kindle to Krazy Kars.

3. Praise
This is for you and the children. Them: Let them know that you are proud of their behaviour and sticking with you while you navigate through a sea of strangers in the airport. If they sit down, buckle up and get an activity out then big kudos to them. For You: Have a drink for your success or grab that Cinnabon in between connecting flights. It is the little things that will get us through long flights and the stresses that go along with it. You are making the journey so support yourself and the children along the way with plenty of acknowledgment.

This tiny spoon is also from Air New Zealand which my children now fight over for their porridge. 

Safe travels this holiday season. Wherever you are going is sure to be special so take these tips and make flying with children a breeze this year.

Stressed Out? Then Work Out.

Well here is some real life for you. We have all been stressed. I am stressed. My husband's stressed. My kids, too. Poor wee things. I also think that the world is stressed. Elections, insurance fraud, financial collapses, natural disasters. It's all too much really and the world is suffering. Well, instead of feeling sorry for myself I have decided to take advice from an old doctor. This doctor is of a rare breed. Old school if you will. He was my doctor my whole entire life and actually still is. He is really very good and if you can have a pure and honest doctor for life, I suggest you stick with him or her because it's always good to have a doctor around. So this particular doctor always had this particular set of advice for me my whole entire life, "When you are feeling down or a little sick, go and workout. A good run is good for anything". I followed this advice and did what I was told but what I was seeing around me seemed unfair. My friends got to take bubble gum flavored syrups and chew orange flavored tablets. What did my siblings and I do? Suffer through stuffy noses and sore throats while going out for a walk or run. Truth be told, it always worked.  I am not suggesting that you hit the gym with the sweats and a fever. Please don't actually because you would infect the world and contagious germs should absolutely not be shared. We didn't run for hours or until fatigued while sick. But when we were feeling low, were under educational pressure, or feeling just a bit blah- working out was the natural remedy. Getting your blood moving, heart pumping, and lungs working to capacity somehow enlivens your body and gives you a serious altering affect which has healing affects on the body. This I know from experience alone but if you want to go look it up here for facts you are more than welcome. (Sleep has just as much or more healing capabilities than a workout so be sure to get plenty of this, too.) So, I am absolutely not a doctor but if you are looking for a good all natural way to feel better then get physical. This workout is great at beating stress and may even get you pumped to start your New Year's Resolutions early. Be sure to also drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. Not into working out like Ms. Fit Lady below? Take a walk, do some yoga or go for a swim and then...have a big fat nap. It may just put a smile on your face. I'm smiling just thinking about the nap part.

Workout images courtesy of CNSS & Conde Nast

Shopping for Sun Protection

Despite the beautiful people swarming to Fall Fashion Week, the hot weather persists. The warm days are dragging on and though school starting seems to echo a new season, the sun is still shining nice and bright. It doesn't matter the temperature, the sun's UV rays can still penetrate your skin and cause damage after prolonged exposure. So no matter where you are, if it is sunny outside, be sure to protect your skin. In 20 years your body & mirror will thank you.

Here are a few of our top picks (mostly SPF 30+) available now in the online boutique. Trusted brands like Sisley, Shiseido and Clarins have got you fully covered.

 

This is the all around top choice from one of my favorite brands Kiehl's. They are a true apothecary offering up the best in simple recipe beauty products for the entire family. Best part? They really work! Stock up on this as your "year-round" UV protection for the entire whole crew.

Tip: Be sure to read all labels on sunscreen and sun protection products. Most say to reapply after a certain duration or water exposure.

And what about the little people? It's all about the little ones here and our online boutique is offering this SPF 50+ protection. Panama Jack Baby is a broad spectrum cream that goes on to last. Bonus buy here: it's waterproof!

Shop now for every kind of sun protection that you would need from luxury and designer brands to budget friendly buys. 

We have it all and they are sure to fully protect you and your family so you can enjoy those last days of summer!

Want more sun facts? Read more on the sun and its effects on your skin from the World Health Organization here.

An Inside Joke for the Outside World

It was a random (last) Tuesday morning at 5:45 am. I was readying myself for a simple day ahead. You know, my morning walk, the school drop off, dry cleaning pick up, lunch with friends, the school pick up, swim practice, library returns and a late night deli run for tomorrow morning's organic milk. Yes, this is a typical day not only for me, but for most moms and mums who are ruled by family. My children seriously have a crazier social calendar then my husband and I do, which is sad. But at least I am never bored, right?

So this particular Tuesday morning was really no different than the rest. I was ready for my early walk, stepped outside to see a shining orb lighting up the mostly dark morning. Unfortunately it was the glowing orb of the interior light in my Rover. Are you kidding me (Is what I thought to myself)? Nope. The light had stayed on all night after the previous day's hectic schedule but in place of swimming put drama and the late night run the day before had been for free range eggs instead of milk. This must have been when I left the light on. I was hoping upon hope that that light was an indicator that my vehicle would start right up. I was quickly disappointed. Despite my move across the world, I am still pretty reliant on mobile transportation. Sad but true. I drive way less than in the states, but in all honesty, despite my efforts to green-up my family's lifestyle, my car is still a big part of normal daily life.

So by now it is 5:55am and I have to send that loser text to my fellow walker that obviously, my plans for the day have changed. I walk with the Dr.'s Wife. My friend does have a name but this is an inside joke and what I refer to her as with unfamiliar company. She is the epitome of a Dr.'s wife as well. Attractive, funny, brilliant and willing to maintain the uber crazy schedule that comes as part of being the wife of a doctor. Being a wife is not easy but being the wife of a preacher, professor, corporate-type or doctor is not easy. The same goes with being the wife of a musician, artist, or entrepreneuer. There is a lot that comes with the job on a daily, yearly and lifelong basis that is particular to being married to one of these individuals. The Dr.'s Wife's days are consumed with children, appointments, activities, fundraising, entertaining and the whole lot. Let's just say she has heaps on her plate. However, upon receiving my distress text, she immediately replied with: " I will be there in 10 min". I was shocked and relieved all at the same time. Here was a woman who I was well aware had her own day and life to deal with, yet she was hurrying over to save me. Well, actually, we saved ourselves. We jumped the Rover with her Wagon and this very markedly was the first time I had done this myself. I married a southern gentleman who rarely let's me do much in the vehicle department which means my experience was limited. The Dr.'s Wife, in true Dr.'s Wife form, was fully capable and I let her take the lead. We did our business and I was set for my own very busy day. Put two cups of tea in place of our ritualistic walk for Tuesday morning.

Yes, the Dr.'s Wife is an inside joke but this is what I want to share with the rest of you. Surround yourself with good people & allow yourself to be helped when you can. I was set for a day of self-loathing over leaving the car light on but let myself be helped by a good person. The outside world is tough and just so happens to be full of a bunch of people who aren't worth the time to say their name. You know the type. The "Let's get together" or "I'll contact you" exchanges that occur with acquaintances that you have no business in building a relationship with. Call me cynical but years of all-girls preparatory school and sorority life after that have made me a well aware of female friendships. Again, sad but true. I have previously written about the importance of true friendships in this life and my dead battery experience is another prime example that there is a lot to life out there. You have to be willing to look for it and find it in genuinely good people. She was there for me at 6am. How many of you have a Dr.'s Wife in your life? I know that I am blessed to have this particular one.