14 ways I relax

Image: arztsamui / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Books

Magazines

Bubble bath

Beauty treatment (at home or out)

Brunch in a nice cafe (or a McCafe)

Glass of wine (alcohol removed atm)

Nap

Reality TV

Blogging

Going to the movies

The pool

Cute Stationary

Chocolate

Wandering around the shops by myself

What helps you relax?

When was the last time you did anything just for YOU?

Review: Bosisto’s EucoFresh Laundry Powder

My house is smelling yummy at the moment because I’m trialling Bosisto’s EucoFresh Laundry Powder.

If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s a concentrated laundry powder that smells like Eucalyptus.

I love that smell, it’s really fresh and light and reminds me of those little eucalyptus lollies you can buy :)

I’ll definitely be getting some more of this when I run out. It works really well and it lasts for ages. I do 1 load a day and a 1.5kg box has lasted me well over a month!

Here are some other key points about the laundry powder that impressed me:

• it’s low allergenic – Sophie and I get a touch of dermatitis and this has not aggravated it at all


• It’s environmentally friendly


• You can use it in a top loader (like my machine) or a front loader


• It’s affordable – you can buy it at Woolworths for RRP $8.99 a box. For me that works out to $8.99 a month which is a big difference to the $12 – 16 I was paying before. That leaves more money for shoes and make up ;)


• When you open the box, the bag inside is resealable. Great for me as I don’t have a pretty laundry powder jar and it helps keep Soph out of it!

There are heaps of other good points about this stuff that you can read about on their website here. These are the ones most relevant to me, but they are all really good.

Have a look at it next time you’re at Woolworths, it’s worth giving it a go. I’ll be using it again for sure.

If you can’t get to the shops though, you are in luck – I have 6 boxes to give away :)

That’s 6 winners – 1 box for each.

Here's what you need to do:

Required:

• Comment here and tell me which feature you like best about Bosisto’s Eucofresh Laundry Powder, either from your own experience or from the info on their website


• Make sure you leave me some way to get in touch with you (email, FB, Blog link, Twitter details, etc). You can email your info privately to me at marissaroberts@live.com.au if you like. If I can’t reach you, your entry won't count, so don't forget!

Optional (1 extra entry for each):

• Like Bosisto’s on Facebook (and comment here to tell me you have)


• Like Marissa writes a blog on Facebook (and comment here to tell me you have)

I'll pick a winner from the comments section using random.org and will announce it here in the comments on Tuesday April 5, 2011 so you need to enter by midnight (Sydney time) on Monday April 4, 2011. I'll also contact the winner directly using the contact method from their entry. Please note the prize can only be shipped within Australia.

Send me an email if you have any questions!

** I received 2 complimentary boxes of Bosisto’s EucoFresh Laundry Powder via FGB Natural Products for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Busy Mum's guide: Organising the washing

 

I thought I was so clever. Structuring my washing (yes, I structure my washing) so that I was doing 1 load every day. Monday was bibs and tea towels, Tuesday Sophie's clothes, Wednesday dark clothes, etc.

It seemed to work well. But lately it just seems like there's more and more to wash. I can't wash all the dark clothes in one load, so I'm finding myself leaving half of them till the next week. Except we need them before then.

See what I mean? I'm just not getting through it all. But the last thing I need to do right now is create more work for myself. I need to work smarter, not harder.

So I'm changing my plan this week. Instead of assigning clothes to a particular day, I'm going with a rolling roster. That's it. A simple list of each load of washing that I'll go through day by day.

Still just 1 load a day though. I'm working smarter here people, not harder!

How do you stay on top of your washing?

Real Life Maternity Fashion – 1 dress, 4 ways

My latest fashion obsessions all revolve around maternity wear as I am around 28 weeks pregnant. While I’ve been really lucky to receive a lot of hand me down maternity clothes from friends and relatives, nothing replaces being able to pick out and wear your favourite styles and colours. I need maternity wear that looks good, makes me feel pretty (even though I’m getting bigger by the day!) and works with the other stuff in my wardrobe.

I was really happy when I received this Quack Nursingwear Nursing / Maternity Dress from QueenBee.com.au in the mail – it ticks all my boxes :)

It comes in Dark Brown, Black/Grey stripes or Magenta – I got the Magenta which goes really well with my colouring :)

Here are my favourite things about this dress:

• It’s fitted but stretchy – I can still feel girly and not like I’m wearing a big tent
• It has a v / ruche neckline which is very flattering – it draws the eye up so your belly isn’t the only thing people see, and gives plenty of room for accessories
• You can machine wash it, no handwashing needed!
• I haven’t had to iron it yet thanks to the Lycra
• It comes in size range from 10 to 16 (I’m a 16)
• It has a discreet breastfeeding layer so you don’t have to stretch the dress down over your shoulder to feed. And I mean discreet. I didn’t realise it was there until the 3rd time I wore the dress. It even has a little duckie picture for baby to look at within the layer :) Here’s a picture of how it works

It’s also really easy to wear it different ways. Here are 4 looks I tried with it (remember I’m no model, this is real life fashion) that I LOVED:

The dress by itself – I’d wear this to dinner with heels

With a chunky beaded necklace (cause when your tummy is bigger you can’t even see a dainty necklace on!) and a denim jacket

Worn as a shirt with jeans, a military style jacket, handbag, scarf & sunglasses (great for a day out shopping – I’d wear brown boots with it)

As a shirt with a grey cardi (worn as a shrug), beaded necklace and charcoal grey pants – I’d wear this with black ballet flats for casual dress day at work

All of the other clothing and accessories in these pics are just random pieces from my own wardrobe (wait - I did borrow one of the necklaces from my Auntie).I found it really easy to incorporate the dress in with what I already own, and that’s a HUGE thing I look for when I’m buying maternity clothes.

The dress is priced at $149.95 and you can buy it here.

and P.S. QueenBee offers free shipping for Australian purchases over $200, so it’s worth having a look around at their other pieces, I mean, while you’re there anyway ;) They also have worldwide delivery if you’re not in Australia.

So that’s my new favourite! What’s your ‘go to’ fashion piece or maternity item?

Testing Windows Live Writer

I’ve been hearing good things about Windows Live Writer. Apparently it works with Blogger, which is what my blog is run on.

I hear that editing is easier, and adding pictures is quicker.

So I thought I would give it a test.

Let’s see how this blog post turns out!

Don’t mind the random picture It’s one of Sophie when she was about 7 months old :)

 

Far out, inserting pictures IS easier! It adds it to wherever my cursor is. Much better than using Blogger which adds pics to the top and then I have to drag them down to where I want them. Sounds like a small thing but believe me, it’s a time saver.

The ultimate test is to see if it affects my blog layout. So I’ll hit publish, and we’ll see what it looks like. I’ll update in the comments :)

DVD Review & Giveaway: You Again

If you're looking for an easy-to-watch Friday night DVD, this one works.

It's light, funny, a bit silly, and just fun to watch :)

'You Again' is the story of a successul young lady (Kristen Bell) called Marni who finds out that her brother is about to marry Joanna - the girl who bullied her throughout high school. After seeing her whole family smitten with Joanna, Marni decides to expose her brother's fiance as the bully she was. Man, are there some cringe-worthy moments!

It's got heaps of big names:

• Kristen Bell


• Jamie Lee Curtis


• Sigourney Weaver


• Betty White

All in all, it was the perfect movie for an easy night in and I'd watch it again. Plus Betty White cracks me up ;)

The DVD is $39.95 RRP and you can get it wherever DVDs are sold :)

And... I've got a copy to giveaway! Want to go in the draw for it?

Here's what you need to do:

Required:

1. Comment here and tell me who you like best of the actresses named above


2. Make sure you leave me some way to get in touch with you (email, FB, Blog link, Twitter details, etc). You can email your info privately to me at marissaroberts@live.com.au if you like. If I have no way of getting in touch with you, your entry won't count, so don't forget!

Optional (Extra entry into the draw for each):

• Follow Marissa writes a blog on Facebook using the link on this page


• Follow me on Twitter using the link on this page


• Share this giveaway on your Facebook page


• Tweet this giveaway on Twitter


• Mention this giveaway on your own blog / webpage

I'll pick a winner from the comments section using random.org and will announce it here in the comments on Tuesday March 8, 2011 so you need to enter by midnight (Sydney time) on Monday March 7, 2011. I'll also contact the winner directly using the contact method from their entry. Please note the prize can only be shipped within Australia.

Send me an email if you have any questions!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of the DVD courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertaiment via Aussie Mummy Bloggers. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Get it together time..

So yesterday afternoon I found myself laying on the lounge while Sophie watched Play School thinking "Far out, I am sooo tired..."

Has this happened to you lately?

I'm 7 months pregnant now, and feeling it!

I'm still quite content, and very grateful that my daughter is such a good girl, and I feel so lucky my husband takes good care of us so I can take it easy when I need to, but for some reason, the last few weeks have just felt a bit more draining and the days seem to be going by really s..l..o..w..l..y.

I imagine I'm not much fun to be around at the moment!

But I don't want to feel like this everyday, it's not who I really am. I miss being bright & bubbly!

So I've decided to turn it around and just get it together. Starting now. There are a few things I think I can do that will have a much more positive effect on my general wellbeing.

Here's what I'm aiming to do:

• Declutter the house a bit so I can stay on top of the housework
• Start setting up now for baby #2 so it's not as overwhelming when she gets here (yep, it's another girl! Poor husband, he's outnumbered..)
• Make time for me to do the things I have been leaving last on the list like actually doing my hair and make up and not being so frumpy
• Have some FUN time with my family, not just the usual everyday stuff we need to get done

Wish me luck!

Any tips on how I can get all this done?