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  • #MUMLIFE
  • #DADLIFE
  • Blog
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TheMumLife

TheMumLife

Lunch Box cookbbok

School Lunches

by TheMumLife May 13, 2020

Get ready for School Lunches

Fruit break / Crunch N Sip whatever your state calls it, this usually needs to a piece of fruit or a small container (snack Size) that will sit on their desk separate to their actual lunchbox.

We like to use the small Tupperware snack cups with the lid, or the Sistema Klip It in 400m; size – these are a better size for carrot & celery sticks

Many schools won’t have cutlery so you will need to supply these as well – or make it fun and use some Food Forks! 

For lunches, I like to be organised and make a few different batches of snacks to freeze. Cooking up big batches of things like scrolls, muffins, and slices will not only save you money but will save you a ton of time in the morning. Plus the added bonus of knowing what’s in them #nonastys

You can also make sandwiches ahead of time and freeze them too (these just need to be glad wrapped individually, before popping into an airtight container. Ham & Cheese freezes really well – TIP – Don’t try lettuce!

If you just take a google search you can look up heaps of recipes for school lunches, or do as I do and grab Kat’s copy of LUNCH BOX RECIPES COOKBOOK. The cookbook includes over 50 freezer-friendly recipes that make for perfect no-fridge, no-heat lunches ideal for school, work, or even picnics!

Click here to go to have a look at the book yourself LUNCH BOX RECIPES COOKBOOK.

If you need to occasionally dress up your vegemite sandwiches then a sandwich cutter comes in really handy! My kids love these!! You can make sandwich shapes from cookie cutters, like stars, or their Initials, or even a dinosaur cutter Rahhhh..

 

 

Most of all – Have fun with School Lunches you may be doing it for 13 years plus!

 

Christie

xx

May 13, 2020 0 comment
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Car mechanic for mums

Six Signs Your Car Needs a Mechanic

by TheMumLife March 12, 2020

As much as you may like driving your car around town, it’s true that it relies on you just as much as you enjoy jumping in behind the wheel.

The question for Aussie mums to answer is how familiar are you with your vehicle? How do you know if your car needs to see a mechanic right now, and what can wait until your next scheduled service?

Here are the six signs to consider:

 

Let’s Start With The Basics

Aussie mum guide to mechanical issues

Dashboard Warning Lights:  Most of us jump in the car, turn the ignition and zoom to school drop off, Saturday sport or the shops without even glancing down besides maybe to make sure we have enough petrol in the tank.

Routinely taking the time to watch the dashboard lights and signals will help you identify what lights are ‘normal’ and what lights haven’t newly appeared.

When you see a warning light of any kind on the dashboard,  consult the owner’s manual first to find out a possible cause and if it’s something you can solve yourself, otherwise you’ll know by the description in the handbook if you need to have your car inspected by a professional mechanic.

TIP: If you have lost the owner’s manual, a quick google search with the make and model of your car can usually find an online pdf version, here is just one example site.

 

Signs of Transmission Trouble:

The following symptoms related to both manual and automatic transmission cars.

Signs to watch, feel and listen out for:

  • Rough shifting between the gears
  • Delayed shifting
  • Burning smell or if the engine revs up and down before you have touched the pedal

Any sign of transmission trouble should be checked immediately. Please note, these are just some basics and other symptoms can appear. If you’re ever in doubt, it’s always worth having your usual mechanic check it for you.

 

Smoke or Burning Smells:

Should there be an unusual smoke or burning smell noticeable both inside and outside of your car, you should have this inspected by a professional mechanic immediately. If you’re in Melbourne, Australia for example, you can search for a mechanic here. You can find links to other states and cities there also.

Dark exhaust fumes that are not just condensation on a cooler morning also relates to this point and is another sign that at least a general service is required.

 

Leaning or Pulling:

Most Australian cars will slightly pull or “drift” to the left if you were to loosen your grip and see where your car starts to drift/pull too. However, if your car is pulling to the right or pulls in any direction that would require you to correct it quickly this is a sign that maybe your tyres need more air, or there’s a bigger mechanical issue that needs the attention of wheels and tyre specialist.

Squealing or Grinding Breaks:

This is one of the more noticeable symptoms your car needs attention. When you push the brakes to slow down and you hear a screeching-squealing sound every time, it’s a sign your brakes need attention. This can be temporary if there is a build-up of dust and can go away. However, recurring noise should be checked.

If you hear a metal on metal grinding noise, this is usually more severe and it’s time to take your car mechanic or have a mechanic come to you.

Vibrating or Shaking:

There are numerous causes when it comes to shakes or vibration coming through the steering wheel or across the car in general.

Vibrations can be caused by worn mounts, old or broken suspension, engine timing belts on older cars amongst other possibilities.

A new car should purr like a kitten, while an older car will have more vibrations naturally. If the vibrations are bigger than what you’d expect or suddenly worse, that’s your sign to book in an inspection.

 

Four More (Slightly) Advanced Symptoms to Look Out For:
Does your car need to see a mechanic

1 – Sulfur:
Any smell of Sulfur might indicate battery issues. Have your car battery checked, or if you know it’s been several years you can consider having the battery replaced or along with your next regular service.

2 – Sweet Smell:
Be able to differentiate the smell from a car perfume and an engine coolant. This gives you the advantage of identifying issues concerning radiator leaks and engine coolant. Be sure to check your coolant levels regularly to prevent engine overheating in unnecessary situations.

3 – Steering Feels Loose:  
When you drive your car every day or once a week, you know what your steering feels like to turn when the car is in motion and when the car is stationary.
Any noticeable change to your normal steering could be as simple as you having a flat tyre and it needed to be pumped up or changed. If after walking around your car and finding all the tyres look inflated, drive your car to your local mechanic if it’s safe to do so.
TIP: A screeching sound when turning the steering wheel could be easily fixed by topping up the power steering fluid to the level marked on the container under the bonnet.

4 – Ticking or squealing sounds:
Ticking and squealing sounds are indicators that belts that help run your car engine or different parts of the mechanics need replacing. The rubber belts themselves are not expensive however replacing them will require a mechanic for the average person.

 

These are just a handful of the most common noises, smells and other symptoms you can feel and encounter when driving your car.

It would be impossible to cover everything about every car available for import and sold in Australia. However, common sense will always need to be a factor. If you need to find a trusted mechanic anywhere in Australia you can search on this website.

If there’s a sudden change with your car or anything looks, feels or seems unsafe to you or to other people using our roads, book your car in for an inspection with a nearby and local mechanic.

March 12, 2020 0 comment
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School Holiday Ideas Australia

School Holidays in a jar

by TheMumLife September 12, 2019

School Holidays have already commenced in some states with the remainder to commence next week. The holiday break is a time to reflect on the last term and to give kids a chance to relax and get some quality time with the family. I can imagine that many mums like me are looking for holiday activities for kids.

But how to come up with something new to do without them saying they are bored every five seconds! And also not be completely broke at the end of the two weeks 🙂

school holiday things to do

Here’s is what we like to do and we call it “School Holiday Ideas in a Jar” and you can do it too!

Here’s what you will need to create a few ideas to beat the school holidays blues

  • A nice jar or a tin – maybe recycle a pasta sauce jar (washed and cleaned of course)
  • Blank Paper cut into rectangles approx 2x10cm – White or coloured
  • Pens

Now, get all the family around together and start writing down ideas on each piece of paper and pop them into the jar. Each Day take turns in picking out something to do from the jar.

Here are some holiday activities for kids that we like to put in our jar

  • Beach Day
  • Camping in the backyard
  • Have a pizza party! Homemade pizzas are super fun, let them get creative with their own pizza toppings – ever tried bacon, banana and maple syrup
  • Set up an obstacle course in the backyard
  • A scavenger hunt at the park e.g. Something round, blue, a stick, a rock – (write your list before you go)
  • Bike Ride to somewhere different
  • Lego – will you be the next LEGO master?
  • Choose your own adventure drive (20 cent coin, Turn Left for Heads and Right for Tails), just make sure you have some snacks and petrol.
  • Go to the Movies
  • Play dress-ups including mum and dad!
  • Ten Pin Bowling
  • Choreograph a dance or two
  • Go to the local pool
  • Write a book (nothing to big just a sentence per page with a picture)
  • Visit the museum. Most will have a few things already happening these school holidays so you will need to check whats on what days as not all activities are free.
  • Bake alphabet cookies then have fun spelling out words
  • Have a drive-in night at home – for this, you will need to move the TV outside, grab a few large cardboard boxes and glue on some paper plates for the wheels – microwave some popcorn and watch a movie in your own cardboard car!
  • Make sock puppets (glue googly eyes on or draw them)
  • Colouring contest (download some free colouring activity sheets from google)
  • Visit the Library – Libraries are changing, most have Playstations and robots and lego days. Check out your local library for a list of things they have.
  • Write a letter
  • Visit a friends house
  • Paint or draw a self-portrait
  • Go fishing
  • Have a game’s day – Uno, Go Fish, monopoly, Tug of war, tunnel ball, cricket, soccer, etc.
  • Pajama day
  • Bake Cupcakes

By the end of the two weeks, hopefully, you have all done something new from the last school holidays and are refreshed and ready for the new term!

NSW school holiday ideas for kids

 

 

September 12, 2019 0 comment
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Fathers Day Australia

Fathers Day Australia

by TheMumLife August 12, 2019

Father’s day

Every year I am totally prepared for it – but this year I’ve totally left it to the last minute! I think because this year it falls on the 1st of September when usually it’s a few days later. Are you organised this year? If you still wanting some inspiration then here are some cool ideas that may help you for the last minute gift idea;

  • Car Shirt Back Rub
    • Get a T-Shirt with nothing on the back (either purchase a new shirt or recycle one from the wardrobe, just remember that the texta will wash out eventually).
    • Now use a sharpie or whiteboard marker to draw a figure 8 track on the BACK of the shirt.
    • Finally, arm your toddler with some cars or better yet some Monster Trucks (the wheels are bigger) and let them race their cars/trucks on dad’s back!
  • Take a photo of the kids in dad’s shoes on the back of the photo you can then write on it something like…. “If I could be anything I choose, Then I choose to grow Just like you in your shoes” or “Following in daddy’s footsteps” remember to include the date!
kids in dads shoes - The Mum Life
  • Let him sleep in!
  • Bake some DAD cookies, just use the letters D and A then let the kids decorate how they choose.
  • Buy a family camping voucher online. www.big4.com.au is a popular choice
  • Draw, paint or trace your little one’s hand and feet on a piece of card, write their name, date it and write a little note on how they are being a great father/pop/grandad etc
  • Make his favourite meal.
  • A handmade I Love Dad picture
    1. A piece of paper or card. On the card using sticky tape or masking tape and stick out the bits you don’t want to be coloured on.
    2. Paint, pencil or crayon the whole piece of card/paper. Once it is dry, remove the tape and you are left with a lovely keepsake (remember to date it)
Fathers day card with crayons - The Mum Life
  • Start a new tradition! it doesn’t need to be a first time Dad – but this is a lovely idea to keep doing year after year and could also be done for pop’s, grandad’s etc!!
    • Jump on the computer and create a “Things I Love About DAD”
    • Ask questions like, My Dads favourite thing to do is? My Dads favourite food Is? My favourite thing to do with Dad is? I think my Dad is funny because? My Dad i …old? My Dad’s favourite sport is?
Fun Facts About Dad - The Mum Life
  • Chocolate!! A stash of chocolate or a ‘Dads Bag’ from Darrel Lea which you can know get at any Post office.

 

Hopefully, I have given you a few ideas that may help you with some last-minute gift ideas for fathers day this year!.

But most importantly fathers day is best spent around loved ones, sometimes all someone wants is a nice long hug and a dad joke!!

Q: What animal can jump higher than the Sydney Harbour Bridge?

A: All of them!! Bridges can’t jump

 

Images from www.thegirlcreative.com www.icanteachmychild.com www.DominikaRoseclay.com
August 12, 2019 0 comment
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