Bringing the Color Alive

Brought to you by Nuffnang and Crayola

Color Alive takes the simple task of colouring to a whole new level. Kids love the new and exciting engagement it brings, through interactive play, with some of their favourite characters. 

My girls had a ball with the colouring and the app. They adored seeing their coloured characters jump of the page, and wanted to do it again and again. 

Using a tablet or smartphone, and the FREE Color Alive app, we scanned the coloured picture and watched as it magically came to life in 4D, with the colours they had used.

Each colouring book comes with 6 Crayola crayons and 1 special effects crayon. Also 16 pages of colouring fun, to bring to life. 

The special effects crayon, when scanned using the app, create animated effects on screen. Marvel Avengers has comic symbol effects, fire for Mythical Creatures, ice sparkles for Disney Frozen and pixie dust for Enchanted Fairies.

Any colouring mediums can be used, but the special effects will only appear with use of the Special Effects crayons.

We found the darker the colouring, the better the colours showed up in the app.

Color Alive lifts the characters off the page, kids can interact with their creations including taking selfies with them. Characters can be saved using the app for later play, without the colouring book.

Please excuse the cracked screen. This tablet has seen better days, only lasting a day out of the box! I cover it with a new film of clear contact every now and then, and it still works brilliantly.

Quite often a colouring book is only used for colouring and then forgotten about until next time. Color Alive brings so much more value as every page is scannable with the app, coloured or not, for days and days of extra play and creativity.

I think this is a brilliant product, I had as much fun as the kids. Maybe a little more. With a RRP of $7.99 at most major retailers, it is well worth the money. If not for some sanity in the school holidays, but also would make a fabulous birthday gift or Christmas stocking filler, and Lord knows that will be on top of us before we know it.

I have found a free trial page from the Mythical Creatures book,you can colour and scan with the FREE Color Alive app. You can see how it works for yourself.

Put the kettle on luv.

Germs are just everywhere! - review and giveaway

I was provided with Dettol products for the purpose of this post.

It occurred to me the other day that my wallet must harbour so many unthinkable germs. 

Starting with my credit card, as promiscuous as it is. Just think about it. It gets put into so many different slots, that have 'had' other credit cards. God knows where those other cards have been. Even the buttons on ATMs and eftpos machines must be a bit grubby, I shudder. Then to think my card, which gets around, gets put back in my wallet, along with any change I have. 

Grossed you out yet?

What better allay against those germs, to have a bottle of hand sanitiser in your handbag. 

I always had one in my nappy bag, for those changes on the car seat, in the middle of nowhere or in a car park. I can totally vouch for taking a bottle when you go fishing too. There's nothing like not having any, and having to eat an apple or apply more sunscreen with smelly bait all over your fingers! 

I recently joined my local community garden. I am really excited about it and have been down there quite a bit. I've just created a garden bed and set myself up a garden caddy to take with me. I have a bottle of hand sanitiser included in there now.

The last time I was there, I dug a new patch, surrounded it with rocks, and put a bird bath in the middle of it. It was hard work, and I realised how unfit it am! The rewards though, far outweigh the work. I am so eager to see the gardens flourish. They have been let go, the last year.

I was a little grossed out when I used the toilet at the gardens. It is used by the blokes mostly, from the adjoining local Men's Shed. 

Men and toilets, left unsupervised, usually don't spell clean. 

I left a bottle of Dettol surface spray cleaner, so I could give it a quick clean when I am there. The kids use these loos too, I don't want them getting crook from a dirty dunny, and I am sure the fellas will appreciate a woman's touch someone giving it a clean. I might make a rod for my own back, but I don't mind, it's something small I can do to contribute to our community at the Hub. One thing I can guarantee when Summers singing away in the toilet when she goes, is that she's piling in the dunny paper. I sneakily left a couple of rolls as well, just to keep in good with the old fellas at the Shed, in case they get grumpy.

One product I received, to do this review, I am extremely impressed with is the surface cleaner wipes. They are freakin' awesome for quick cleaning jobs, like the toilet seat, door handles, taps and the rubbish bin lid. Rubbish bin lids can get gross really quickly, and it is nothing to grab one of these wipes, give it a good going over and then throw the wipe away. I wasn't leaving those anywhere, they are mine!

I don't often buy shower gels, I know my hubby is a sucker for nice personal hygiene products. He's a bit metro sexual like that. 

I loved the way the Citrus Splash shower gel felt on my skin, with it's added moisturiser. Not as harsh as the normal cheap soap I buy. It smells nice, and I really did feel cleaner during the day. I think having something like this to pamper myself, in the 10 minute flat shower I manage to squeeze in the morning before school drop off, makes me feel a bit special too.

Now to the most exciting bit, you can WIN a Dettol prize pack, delivered to your door. All you have to do talk to dirty to me. Let me know a situation where you were all grotty and no immediate way to wash yourself. Or you could tell me a time that hand sanitiser has saved your life. 

The best answer, that ultimately makes me spit my cuppa tea, wins!







Terms and conditions
1. Give away is only open to Australian residents.
2. There is one prize pack for one winner.
3. Competition starts at 6am, Friday 10th April, and ends at  6pm, Friday 17th April.
4. Winner is judged on skill of answer. Not a random draw. 
5. Prize pack contains 1 bottle surface cleaner spray, 1 instant hand sanitiser, 1 surface cleanser wipes, 1 citrus splash   shower gel.

International Mud Day - Radiant review and giveaway

Today, the 29th of June, is Mud Day. International Mud Day.

Mud day is an initiative to get kids out in nature, to get messy and extremely grubby. It started with a collaboration of the Bold Park primary school in Western Australia and the Panckhal orphanage in Nepal.

Izzy's kindy is celebrating ALL week. We've been told to send spare clothes, old clothes. Rubber boots too, which is a given I suppose. It's enough to give a clean freak heart palpitations. I'm no clean freak, but I am still not looking forward to the state Izzy, and her clothes will come home in. Thankfully she only has two full days next week, and thankfully, I have Radiant Colour Guard in my laundry cabinet.

Take a look at this real Radiant Return test featuring two blokes getting messy, and proof that Radiant keeps your clothes newer and brighter for longer. The videos are quite amusing, have a look at the individual tests while you are there, if you have the time! You can find  #radiantreturn on Facebook.



I was shocked at how Radiant really brightens the colours in the wash. It was like our clothes had found a new lease of life when I took them out of the machine. The smell that permeated out of the machine was awesome too.

In the theme of Mud Day I did my own experiment. I found a patch of mud and splodged this t-shirt right onto it. I left it for 30 minutes, rinsed off the mud and then chucked it in with a load of washing. As you can see, it came out squeaky clean and bright.

I have bought Radiant before, and been impressed with the results. It does cost a bit more than other brands, but is worth the money. I was excited to see it half price at Woolies, which is when I usually buy it!

I was sent Radiant Sensitive to try. It's formula is dermatologically tested, hypoallergenic and gentle of sensitive skin.

Radiant comes in two other varieties, Brilliant Whites Sharper Colours and No-Sort. All contain Colour Guard technology which is how Radiant keeps your colours newer for longer. You can check out Radiant Return website for more information.

Thanks to Radiant, I have a $50 Big W voucher to giveaway to one of you. All you need do, to be eligible, is leave a comment, answering this question. Which variety of Radiant would you most likely need in your laundry and why?

Terms and Conditions

1. Prize is 1 x $50 Big W voucher awarded to one chosen winner.
2. Giveaway runs from 6 am, 29th June 2014 until 6 pm, 6 July 2014.
3. Competition is open to Australian residents only, 18 years and over.
4. Winner will be judged on their skillful answer to the question. Chance plays no part.
5. The winner will be emailed. If no reply has been made to that email in 3 days, another winner will be chosen.
6. The prize is not negotiable.

Beating the Mozzies (Para'Kito review + Giveaway)

You wouldn't believe it, but a neighbouring towns' footy team are called the Mozzies. They do pretty well and have a proud and loyal following, as with most country footy teams. Being so popular and successful brings much animosity, nothing brings more satisfaction to opposing teams than beating the Mozzies.

This post is not all about local footy, but the annoying little buggers that buzz about on hot summer nights, leaving us with itchy welts and slapping ourselves. The dreaded mosquito.

I was introduced to the Para'Kito mosquito repellant, and I am quite impressed and am loving having it at my disposal.

They come as a wristband, which can be worn on the ankle, as Summer did at a recent garden wedding we attended. I did hear one guest saying she was being attacked, and was at ease in the knowledge that Summer was protected, and rightly so, she had not one mozzie bite. Usually she will have several and they come up in welts, they love her.

There's also a clip that holds the repellant pellet. It's handy for the nappy bag, which is always nearby when we go out, the pram or clipped to belt loops.

Each pellet is infused with seven essential oils, are totally natural, waterproof and suitable for pregnant women and children. 

I have no qualms about putting them on the girls when they are outside and even leave them on their bed heads at night to keep the mozzies at bay. So far, so good. 

I must say that there was a day or two, after the 15 days that the pellets last for, that I noticed the girls have a mozzie bite each, and it was straight out with a new pellet and there hasn't been a mozzie bite since.

It was invaluable on our recent caravan trips, protecting the girls and us from mozzie bites while we played outside and slept at night.

You can see the products, purchase or check for local stockists in your area at the Para'Kito website, and find them on Facebook.

You have the opportunity to get your own Para'Kito pack to protect your family too. The prize consists of -

• 2 Para'Kito Wristbands valued at $24.95 each
• 2 Para'Kito clips valued at $24.95 each
• 1 Replacement pellet pack valued at $15.95

That's a total prize value of $115.75!! Pretty cool. 

Just answer the question - Where are you likely to use the Para'Kito?, via rafflecopter. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We've been marinading!*

*I was supplied with the four flavours of 'Marinade in a bag' from a PR company for this review, with a voucher for meat. This is my honest and truthful opinion.

Years ago,  the colour of our lounge room walls were a Dulux colour, called Marinade. It was red wine coloured and I loved it. When we built on, I wasn't ready to let go of the colour, it went so well with the space. I couldn't find the colour again and went with a colour called Murray Red. I died in the arse, when a four litre tin came to nearly a hundred bucks. Surely it couldn't have been true, but I was assured it was. Shite!

It was the best colour that went with the other colours in the space, 'WaxWay', a yellow and 'White duck', which is more of a grey!

When did paint become so expensive? I have never been such a princess on colour and price, but suck it up I did. Never looked back, I love our two feature walls in the big expanse that is our lounge/dining/ kid play area.

Recently I was asked to try out McCormicks, Marinade in a Bag. It reminded me of the wall colour in my previous, minute lounge room, and strangely enough, of a box of bladder wine. 

I have many memories of blowing up that bag to get every morsel of wine out. Those were the days. In my old age, I prefer to buy by the bottle. Especially when I have an image to protect, you know the image of wheeling a pram through the bottlo and not seeming like a total alco.

My favourite was the Terayaki flavour, when I got a whiff of this one as I opened the bag, I knew it was gonna be good, and it was. I chopped up some breast chicken into the bag and made kebab skewers. This was the most delicious of the range, but the others were just as awesome.

Izzy loved helping putting the chopped up breast chicken in.

Terayaki chicken skewers were tasty as!
Terayaki for chicken, pork, beef, fish and stir fries

The bags were very convenient, with a zip lock, however the seal was a bit hard to break open initially to get the meat into. Understandably so I suppose, so the marinade would not escape the bag. 

Once you have up to a kilo of meat in the bag, it is easily stored in the bag in the fridge, laid flat or just chucked in the door. 

If you are the kind of person who likes to be organised, it can be loaded with meat on shopping day, and thrown in the freezer for later use as a prepared meal ready to be defrosted for a BBQ or a family meal.

The marinades were very tasty and convenient. The meat is easily transferred onto a roasting dish, grill, BBQ or fry pan. There is some handwashing involved after this process though, depending on how much marinade you want in said roasting dish or grill, I had to get my hand in there and individually get the chops out the bag.

McCormicks Marinade in a Bag, is available to buy at Coles and Foodland supermarkets(RRP $2.99 each).

It is easy to throw in an esky for a BBQ or in the fridge or freezer for an easy tasty meal, using a wide variety of meats.

Chicken wingettes with Honey and Soy, der-licious :)
Honey and Soy marinade perfect on: chicken, pork, fish and stir fries.

Pork chops with Sticky BBQ :)
Sticky BBQ perfect on beef, chicken and pork.

Lamb chops with Red wine and garlic :)
Marinade perfect on beef, lamb and chicken.

A week off...

I've had a week off. It's been swell. 

I have come full circle back to Monday. Open slather.

I have nothing. I have lots, nothing to say. That's just me. Bursting with information with nothing to say. 

Boring as batshit, eh? I sometimes wonder about Jakes' aspergers,  and wonder if I am a little that way inclined. In the fact that I am not a great communicator. Not a big talker. And when I do talk it comes out all awkward. 

I go through the week, light bulb moments. Scenarios exploding in my head. I come to sitting down at the computer, I have zilcho mundo. 

I have a recording function on my phone. Why don't I just hit record and talk? Beats me. Note. to. self. press record.

There has been lots happening. 

I received an email from an elderly gentleman.  A photo of his wife at ten years old in front of a rotunda with her relatives in 1940. Trying to find the location of that rotunda. It looks like our town rotunda. Amazing old photo, has me intrigued, referred it to the local family history group. Interesting stuff.

Buzz has gone on to another home. After the fourth time escaping the fence, Brett let the pound find him a new home. I was in two minds. He is such an active dog, he needs more room. He was bloody marvellous with the kids, but he is a farm dog, an intelligent, working dog. We love him but realise he is the wrong dog for us, right now. When it comes to the crunch we had to seccumb to reality and not sentimentality. He already has a new suitable home. I hope they have a basketball for him, he's a bloody good dog.

The council dog catcher referred us to www.petnet.com.au and rightly so,  for the next time we want a new dog, we will be most certainly be following this advice. 

About receive my first parcel in the mail for review. Excited plus. 

I am in the process of writing up a disclosure/PR page. No friggin idea what I am doing. But I'll keep thinking, piece of piss, and trogan on as per usual!

I haven't been totally slack, you will surely notice I have spruced up the place :) 

What's been happening with you?