To help all busy mums out there, here’s a few tips and tricks that we can incorporate into our day to help keep our homes tidy:
 

1. BUDGET YOUR HOUSECLEANING TIME. You need to budget your cleaning time. If you plan on spending, say, an hour per day, instead of whining how impossible it is to clean an entire house in an hour, think of what you can do within that time. For example you have 10 areas to clean in the home — 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, and front lawn — limit yourself to 6 minutes per area. Walk through each room and quickly assess what will make the biggest difference in creating a clean and tidy room: Beds, dirty clothes, and trash in the bedroom; towels, mirrors, and floor of the bathroom; counter top and sink of the kitchen; etc. Then do as much as you can in the allotted 6 minutes. When your time is up, stop and go to the next room. Repeat the same process. Even if the room is not perfectly clean, you’d be surprised at what a difference just a few minutes can make.

2. PRIORITIZE. You may not be able to spare the entire hour for cleaning. There will always be distraction — an email waiting to be answered, the bub’s crying, work to be finished. You can break the hour into two portions. For example, you spend half an hour after waking up in the morning to clean the bedrooms and bathrooms. Then later in the day, pay attention to the remaining areas of the house for 30 minutes. Just remember to stick to the allotted 6 minutes per area.

3. CLEAN AS YOU GO. This is a surefire way to keep your home tidy. Clean as you cook and tidy up after every single meal. Put remote controls in a basket or drawer. Make the bed every morning. Collect dirty clothes in a hamper. Make rules in the house if you have too.

4. GET THE CHILDREN INVOLVED. Assign your children age-appropriate tasks that require minimal supervision. Break up tasks for them. Instead of saying “Go clean your bedroom,” saying “Please pick up all your dolls and put them in their home.” or “I want you to put all your car toys in this basket please.” might work better for them.

5. ELIMINATE CLUTTER. As they say, a place for everything and everything in its place. If you find no place for something, evaluate if you really need it. If you do, make room for it; but if it’s not really necessary, get rid of it. Involve everyone in the house in this practice. Train your children to put everything back in its place after using.

Keeping a house tidy is no easy feat, but with these tips and tricks, definitely not impossible. Happy cleaning mums!

Quick Cleaning Tips for the Busy Mums is a post from: flower child au blog

S'mores Cupcake

Today, as I’m sitting at my desk, mentally absorbed in a project, a strong wave of craving hits me hard: CUPCAKE. It’s one of those days when I feel as though my body will convulse if I don’t get my hands on a cupcake. (Okay. That was a bit of an exaggeration, but I know you get the picture.) Once in a while, you get that weird feeling that you can almost smell sweet aroma of cake and filling wafting from the cupcake fresh from the oven, right?

So allow me to share the tastiest-looking cupcakes I scoured through the internet. Click on the image for the recipe.

Honey Cupcakes with Honey Cream Cheese Frosting

Margarita Cupcake

Perfectly Chocolate Cupcakes

Such glorious heavenly sweet treats!  Enjoy!

Wishful Wednesday: Cupcake Craze is a post from: flower child au blog

This week’s craft is all about cans. Cans are materials that are fairly common and easy to recycle, repurpose, or upcycle.  Here is one great idea I found from Instructables.com.

Here is a tutorial that shows you how to decorate cans to be used as organizers for pencils, pens, cooking utensils, and whatnot. It’s a very simple thing to do that would definitely be fun for the kiddos too.

There are indeed a lot of other things you can do with cans.  Here are some more ideas for recycling inspiration:

or if you are feeling a bit more crafty and adventurous, you {can} try this:

See? These trash-worthy tin cans are far from being useless.  So before throwing that can away, think of creative ways you {can} convert it.

Manic Monday Craft: {CAN} You Do This? is a post from: flower child au blog

It’s better if you keep a simple strategy so you don’t get overwhelmed with all the baby stuff, especially if you have limited space. A good start to organise everything is to segregate your baby’s clothes according to size: (1) items currently used; (2) bigger sizes; and (3) outgrown garments. Pack away everything that does not fit and make room for items for current rotation.

1.  Current Rotation.  Designate spots for the basic items — onesies, shirts, pants, pajamas, etc. Keep in mind to separate play clothes from the fancier ones. Make the items frequently used easy to access. Use drawers, storage bins or baskets for smaller items like undies and socks.

2.  Bigger Sizes. Many mums have a stack of clothes that won’t fit the little one for at least a couple more months. Whether the garments are hoarded from end-of-season sales or are hand-me-downs, it is important to devise a system to keep all these stuff organised. Sort all items according to type and size. Store these in bags, bins, or boxes. Make sure these are labeled properly.

If the closet is large enough to accommodate all the baby stuff without having to cramp everything in, closet dividers may help. Here’s a very good tutorial on how to make cute closer dividers.

3.  Outgrown garments.  Babies grow incredibly fast — especially within the first 24 months.  With that said, outgrown garments also are quick to pile up. Thus you need a strategy to keep these items properly stored. It helps to keep a bag or bin in the closet especially for outgrown garments. As soon as this is full, put it in storage or give them away. If you intend to have another baby, keep these boxes or bags properly labeled and stored.

What about you? What are your strategies to keep the baby’s clothes well-kept and organised?

Tips and Tricks to Organize Baby Clothes is a post from: flower child au blog

Here are some gorgeous kitchens I would love to have:

There is beauty in simplicity. The secret is in the lighting. Here’s a simple but lovely well-lit kitchen:

Sunny Kitchen

Image source: Pinterest

This kitchen is absolutely adorable! But I would need superpowers to keep it gleaming clean at all times (especially with a toddler running about), right?

This kitchen is pure love.

Image source: Pinterest

But it is also nice to have a splash of color to keep those creative juices running when creating our masterpieces. Don’t you just love the use of red in this kitchen?

Great use of bright happy color without overwhelming the room.

Image source: Pinterest

Found some brilliant organizers/storage ideas too:

Love this storage idea.

Image source: Pinterest

The bottom area could be especially for the kiddos.

Image source: Pinterest

And boy, how I’d love to have this kitchen pantry…

Awesome kitchen pantry!

Image source: Pinterest

Or this would be great for starters…

Great way to start organizing the kitchen.

Image source: Pinterest

As they say, it all starts with a dream. What does your dream kitchen look like?

Wishful Wednesday: Happy Kitchen, Happy Home is a post from: flower child au blog

For this week’s craft, I’m sharing three awesome kids craft ideas that will keep you and your kiddos on your hands (and feet) — literally!  

1.  A cute rainbow hand print flower arrangement from Fun Family Crafts.  This will surely look good on a greeting card.  Or if you’re feeling a little adventurous, go ahead and print on an apron, or a kitchen towel, or a shirt. And you can do this on practically everything you can put your hands on – literally!

 2.  A cute card that’s expandable and says “I love you this much.”   I found this great handprint project from Mini Moz.   Check their blog for the step-by-step instructions on how to creatively express just how much mums are loved.

3.  If you’re feeling extra crafty and willing to do the extra mile for mums, here’s an idea from Tip Junkie – a gorgeous wood art that’s sure to paint a beautiful smile on all mums.  Here’s how to make this.

I’m pretty sure kids won’t mind getting on their hands (and feet) for this project.  This is going to be fun!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Manic Monday Crafts: Hand-Made Love for Mum is a post from: flower child au blog

It was all about the popularity of amber necklaces for teething woes – something Miranda Kerr made (even more ) famous last week by appearing on the cover of Who magazine with son Flynn wearing amber beads.

But the Daily Telegraph didn’t mention that the beautiful beads pictured in its article were from us here at Flower Child!

Amber jewellery is often chosen by parents as a natural alternative to medications to help with the symptoms associated with teething.

At Flower Child we offer necklaces in different sizes – to stop babies from putting the beads in their mouth.

After fitting hundreds of babies, our recommendation is when the necklace rests on the collar bone, it can usually make it to the bottom of the chin, but not easily into the mouth.

Salena Knight, owner of Flower Child, says the easiest way of measuring correctly is to drape a tape measure, piece of string, or even your own necklace around your child to your preferred length, then measure that. Be sure that you measure it as if it is hanging naturally around the back of the neck, and not pulled tightly.

For average sized young babies/infants (up to around 2 years old), 12″ – 12.5″ will often be fine.  If you have a petite baby, they may be more suited to the smaller sizes 11″-11.5″ or 11.5-12″.

For older children, 2-4 years, 12.5″-13″ and 4-6 years, 13″-13.5″ would be our recommendation.

Our amber beads get national coverage! is a post from: flower child au blog

Baby Toys to Stimulate Hand-Eye Coordination

Hand-Eye coordination is the ability to see and grab objects. At the age of four months your baby’s hand-eye coordination is beginning to develop. Your baby will grab at objects, and try to pick them up. Don’t worry, he will master this quickly. Around five to six months your baby will learn how to reach for a baby toy, perhaps a baby block, grasp it, and hold onto it. Around seven months, your baby will learn how to drop that toy when he is done playing with it.

Developing hand-eye coordination is a crucial tool for all babies to master, and as soon as possible. We use hand-eye coordination in every day tasks such as bringing a fork to our mouths, brushing our teeth and hair. Think about it. Mastering hand-eye coordination can help a person to be able to do more complex tasks like typing quickly on a computer, playing the piano, painting a masterpiece, even sewing a button on a dress. You could be the proud parent of a modern day Mozart!

When trying to help your baby, the best thing you can do is hold a baby toy within reach from him. Then wait for him to grab it. You do not want to show him how it works. To him, that’s all the fun of it! Some baby toys that help with developing hand-eye coordination are:

• Blocks – Soft Blocks for ages 4 – 7 months and more sturdy blocks for babies older than 12 Months.
• Stacking Toys will teach your baby to not only maneuver the object, but to also fit them together.
• Household items such as plastic lids, plastic bottles.

Stimulate Your Baby’s Senses with Textured Baby Toys

Have you felt the pull of your hair when your baby is about four months old? We’ve all felt it, and our reaction is first pain, then joy. A lot of us, just remove the baby’s white knuckle grip, and say “No”, but is this really the response we should be giving? This is your baby saying, “I need my sense of touch stimulated!” Maybe instead of just saying “No”, give your baby a toy that will stimulate his sense of touch, teaching him that many different things have different textures, shapes, and colors.

There are many baby toys that will do just this. There are toys that have different textures such as bumps, and curves; Baby toys that have crinkly material, and other fabrics. There also toys that have all this and lights and music to stimulate your baby’s sense of hearing.

Some toys that you might want to consider are:

• Crawl Mats and Play Nests – Baby crawl mats comes in several styles. One toy manufacturer, Galt, has created an infant play nest that stimulates touch, vision and hearing. The fabric covers inflatable ring creating a self contained safe play environment for babies and toddlers.
• Activity Cube – A big soft colorful block with fun activities for baby to explore. Features may include mirrors, crinkle material, wool, sounds and lights and more.
• Music makers – These baby toys allow baby to press different buttons and see what new sound is made.

Stimulate Your Baby’s Mind and Emotions with Music

Have you ever heard a song that, no matter what mood you were in would cheer you up immediately? Or maybe one that made you sleepy? Well, babies feel all these emotions from music too. Music is a wonderful way to introduce your baby to their own sense of emotions, feelings, and the wonderful world of creativity and imagination! Several baby music CD’s are available to invoke various feelings in your baby. Some better choices for parents to consider include the Brainy Baby® music collection.

• Peaceful Baby(TM) by Brainy Baby® – Calming, restful music that progressively lulls your child into a deep and refreshing sleep.
• Cheerful Baby(TM) – Cheerful Baby’s compositions, melodies, rhythms and tonal ranges encourage a happy mood!
• Playful Baby(TM) – Vibrant, invigorating music that encourages your child to actively experience the richness of their world.
• Sleepy Baby(TM) – Calming, restful music that progressively lulls your child into a deep and refreshing sleep.

So What Do You Look For?

When you go toy shopping for your baby, you will want to focus on toys that will stimulate your baby’s mind, senses, curiosity and imagination. For a baby up to one year old, keep it simple with large, soft baby blocks, stacking toys, play mats or play nests, activity cubes. As a bonus during playtime, throw a CD in the CD player and watch your baby touch, explore, and learn about his new found abilities!

What Are The Right Baby Toys To Purchase For Your Baby? is a post from: flower child au blog

• Stimulating your baby’s development.
• Raising your baby’s social awareness.
• Reducing colic and stimulating quiet awareness.
• Freeing your hands to take care of daily chores or tasks.
• Simplifying shopping trips without having to worry about placing your child in an unsafe shopping cart.

You’ll find often an infant carrier or baby back pack is much more convenient that a stroller or shopping cart to tote your child around in. Selecting a baby pack doesn’t have to be a challenging task if you know what to look for. The first thing you will need to decide is whether you need a front pack or infant carrier or a baby back pack. Let’s look at each of these choices in greater detail below.

Front Carriers
Front infant carriers, packs and baby slings are the only choice for babies under 5-6 months of age. Before this your baby simply won’t have the head and neck strength to sit upright in a baby backpack. Front packs offer all the same advantages of a baby backpack. Most will hold your baby up to 11 to 15 kilograms, so you can use them for an extended period of time. Still others convert from a front pack to a back pack, allowing extended use.

The biggest difference between a front carrier and a sling is that most carriers evenly distribute your baby’s weight between both shoulders. This helps reduce strain and neck discomfort. However, many moms prefer the simplicity of a sling for the first few weeks of their baby’s life. You’ll find that everyone has their own opinion about carrying their baby around. You are certain to find a carrier that will work best for you. Most slings are relatively inexpensive. You might consider buying a sling for your babies first weeks and then an infant backpack when you baby is old enough to ride in one.

Baby Backpacks
Baby back packs are perhaps the most clever invention on the market today. What baby doesn’t enjoy riding around with mom or dad on any given day? One of the best benefits of wearing a back pack is they leave your hands free to tend to any errands or chores you have to accomplish. Many assume that baby backpacks are only suitable for camping.

This is simply not the case. You can use a baby backpack anywhere you would plan to take your stroller or carry your child.

It does take some time to get used to wearing a baby backpack. Once you figure it out however, chances are you will wonder how you ever got along without one before. Most back packs are the perfect accessory through the toddler years. Most will carry your toddler up to 20 kilograms, though some will carry your child to 31 kilograms. (That however, is a LOT of weight to carry on your back). This means you can probably carry your baby around the first few years of life with a back pack. So now that you are excited about a back pack, how do you know which one is best for you? Here are some considerations to think about before buying a backpack:

• Think about what you plan to use your backpack for. If you plan to hike a lot, you’ll need a more durable and expensive model than a casual backpack for just running errands. You may also need some added features like a rain hood or sunshade.
• Consider your height and weight requirements. If you plan to use a pack and are relatively petite or very tall, make sure the straps are adjustable enough to accommodate extreme sizes. This is also a consideration if you plan to share your pack with a large or small partner.
• Decide what features you prefer on a pack. Some packs come with a variety of features including a detachable diaper bag, toy loops and holders, bottle holders and more. The more features the pricier the bag. If you are working on a budget, decide what must have features you should look for.

How Do You Know Whether An Infant Carrier, Sling Or Backpack Is Best For Your Baby? is a post from: flower child au blog

Feeling exhausted seems to be a permanent state. Here are 7 ways to help perk up your energy levels.

Work at Home Mum

1. Exercise. This has the dual benefit of both helping you sleep well, but also of increasing your energy levels during the day. As a working mum, finding time to exercise can be tricky so see if you can incorporate it into your daily routine. If they have showers at work, consider parking your car a couple of miles away from the office and run the rest of the way, for example.

Working Mums Essentials

2. Change your physiology with each task. They say a change is a good as a rest, so with time sparse for resting, shake up your task list. This can be done at home and at work. Switch between tasks that involve sitting to tasks that require physically activity or between solitary tasks and those that require interaction.

3. Eat slow energy releasing foods. Try to avoid the upper and downers of quick release carbohydrates such as white bread and refined sugar. They will make you feel wonderful for a short time then send your energy levels crashing to the floor begging to be dragged off for an afternoon nap. Add caffeine to this list of occasional treats. Your body digests whole grains more slowly, which have been stripped of their bran, germ and fibre, and are absorbed almost as quickly as pure glucose. Whole grains, barley, oats, brown rice, wild rice, and products made from whole grains, such as whole-wheat breads, bagels, pasta and crackers, and 100 percent bran cereal,provide a slower, more sustained source of energy that keeps your blood sugar stable.

4. Get some sleep. Easier said than done, you might say but often working mums can be their own worst enemy on the sleep front. Having got the kids to bed and done the chores, evenings can be the only’ me time’ busy working mums get. There is a great temptation to make it last as long as possible and that can sometimes mean delaying going to bed. Be tough on yourself and set yourself a bed time.

Working Mum Information

5. Find some fresh air. Although it is all too easy as a busy working mum, trying to get through the mountain of work, to stay glued to your chair all day, try to get outside for at least five minutes. Walk to get a sandwich or just walk for the sake of walking.

6. Have stand up meetings. This has two great benefits. Firstly your energy levels are heightened because you are not slouched in a chair. Secondly the meetings will always be shorter than if they’d been conducted sitting down since people are not as comfortable standing up.

7. Change your language. By telling everyone how exhausted you are, you will adopt the body posture of a tired person, thus making yourself feel even more exhausted.

Tiredness will always be a factor for busy working mums, just remember that it is also your body’s way of telling you that you need to rest sometimes too!

Working Mums’ Essentials is a post from: flower child au blog