Some ideas for staying in control of the mess at home ..

(real photo taken 20 minutes after I tidied our sunroom)

On Facebook over the weekend I asked the question of what is your best tip for maintaining a tidy home. I find Sunday evenings exhausting trying to tidy up after the weekend.

Here is some of the advice I received ...

Donate /recycle / re-gift

Be organised

Teach girls to put things away and unfortunatly be a nagger to make them do it!!!

Invest in a cleaner! I get mine done fortnightly and works out to be about $40 a week. Best money I spend in a week.

Recycle toys often! and get the kid to pop their own washing away

Lower your standards - aim for safe

Ride it out until your children leave home

Don't look at it on the weekend, knowing Monday is coming and it can all be tidy again then (at least for 6 hours while they are at school.) There will come a time very soon when they have all left home and we will wish for the mess back again. So just enjoy it with them

I made the rule that they only play with one set of toys at a time and must get packed away before the nex comes out. Also we do 15 mins speed clean every night and I judge the most improved room. I had to model and help when they were younger. However we are often still in a mess!!

A friend once told me the OHIO method - Only Handle It Once.

Imagine the tidy house and the lack of what creates the mess and then thank God daily for the gift of the mess generators! Read that once in a reflection and it's now my messy house blessing - may it be yours also :-)

*Have you got a magic wand tip that you can share? (pretty please!)

Magazine Cover Love ...

There is something about a sea of magazine covers that I love. 

I was particularly taken with this months's House and Garden. The way that it peeps into the home, the outside in rather than inside out. I love the idea of French accents. Lavender ... And the Chelsea Flower Show was mentioned. That is an instant must - read tag line for me.

One of my goals before I turn forty is to learn to speak French. I have five years ... and then I will have to treat myself to a trip ;) 

T2

One of the things that brought me great pleasure whilst running an online store was the very difficult task of trying out new products ;)


A box of T2 was often used in our giftboxes, both for personal gifts and corporate. I loved the orange box, but loved what was inside even more. During the week I visited the Bondi Junction store. I could smell the tea from miles away and I had no choice, I just *had* to follow my nose. 


The. Best. Tea.

You can buy from t2 direct here: http://t2tea.com/

Mosman

The rain in Sydney over the past week has been remarkable. There are muddy puddles in my lawn which I can't recall happening ever during Winter. To escape the confines of home we headed over to Mosman to enjoy any rays of sun that we could. Whilst there we popped into one of my favourite stores, Bonza Brats. We roamed around the Allan Border oval and swung on the swings in the park. Perfection! 

AND I'M BACK ...

but I am not sure in what capacity! This is my first blog since selling www.myfavourite.com.au to the gorgeous Phoebe Olsen 5 months ago. I was able to quickly fill any spare time I might have had with starting those many tasks that I have had on the backburner for the last four and a half years and get a little more sleep!!

Feeling a little lost not having a role to play online anymore, this blog I hope will be of use to those who are online businesses, online shoppers and people who love lovely things. I miss not writing about it and sharing about it!

Hope you enjoy it!! x

February Magazine is out!

The toy that is too popular!

I have witnessed the popularity of this toy first hand with my son. Each Sunday he took another boy's black model out from under his eyes with all the charm othat a 12mth old can muster. I managed to track one down for him in a store on the way to Melbourne in December. The joy on his face and the shriek was unmistakeable recognition of 'his' racing car.

We are so pleased to be able to offer these to our customers. Like everything by Brio they are very well constructed, perfectly sized at approx 14cm.

These will run out fast! Click here

New Gourmet Getaway designs ...

Fresh in the store are some new designs from Built & French Bull - Gourmet Getaway is the perfect name for these fabulous and handy bags.

Super soft and made from thick neoprene (the material of wetsuits), they are perfect for lunch for one or two people (maybe more if they are little people!)

They measure 30cm x 30cm and definitely have the wow factor when unwrapped! Large enough for a couple of rolls and fruit and waterproof so perfect for the beach, park or work. Treat yourself and use your imagination for some gourmet getaway type food or if you have a limited imagination when it comes to roll fillings, at least the bags will help you get away with it!

Click here to see the whole range, including a HOT PINK version ... mmm... which one ...

Oopsie

I can't claim the credit for finding this gorgeous Australian brand. I wish I could claim the name - the word oopsie does something cute to your voice as you say it. I was more than curious when I was recommended it via our Facebook fan page from one of our Melbourne customers (to find us btw on facebook click here)

The bags and bottle holders are not only made from the cutest fabric (love that it is unique to them & not going to be seen on everything and anything) but are perfect in sizing and style.

With plenty of weeks of Summer left, we Australian mums really need help in keeping milk and sandwiches from going off or soggy.

I LOVE that the Oopsie range makes a great gift for a new mum, kiddie or a 50 year old! I think my aunty in Pukekohe, NZ would probably love the scooter print :)

Oopsie's range is delightful! Click here to view

If you know a range of products that you think our customers would love, please email me directly at mumfav(@)gmail.com so you don't get caught up in spam!

Jen x

Hello!!

I hope you are having a Happy New Year!

It has been quite a couple of months around here. Really looking forward to lots of product reviews, revealing of new ranges and interviews. Not to mention pretty pretty pictures!

This weekend is Valentine's Day. It is my 15th with Kirk ... he proposed 2 days before Valentine's Day which shows that he is really not a Valentine's Day person! I like doing some fun things with the kids and have a few red and white decorations around the house to celebrate.

We plan to have friends over for a picnic on Sunday (could be weather dependent!). I am thinking of noodle boxes for the kids with little sandwiches, a cupcake, fruit and a popper. The adults will be a little more ambitious! I am hoping Milly (who turned 4 in January) will decorate the boxes for me this week.

We have been selling these pillowslips for ages. They don't lose their appeal. These canphone pillowslips are adorable. Perfect for couples apart relying on the phone to stay in contact!!

At Mummy's Favourite, we send any purchase under 500g via express post - plenty of time to get a pair on your bed this weekend! Click here