Month: July 2015

Shop Tour | Global Baby

Shop Tour | Global Baby

This little blogging gig does wonders for getting me out and about and exploring different parts of Auckland – it’s also pretty deadly on the credit card as I discover more and more fabulous businesses that are doing things so right in this very competitive retail 

Mad About Mega Beasts! Giles Andreae & David Wojitowycz

Mad About Mega Beasts! Giles Andreae & David Wojitowycz

I LOVE picture books and I love it when my kids love books.  In our house that means rhyming and animals. The latest offering from Giles Andreae, author of Giraffes Can’t Dance, is a gorgeously illustrated romp introducing nature’s most MEGA animals.  There’s a dino, a tiger, 

Say hello!  Limon & Coco + Giveaway

Say hello! Limon & Coco + Giveaway

I AM IN AWE OF THE MANY INCREDIBLE MUMS OUT THERE, DOING A FAB JOB OF RUNNING THEIR OWN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES WHILST SIMULTANEOUSLY HOLDING DOWN THE FORT AT HOME. I’M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE ‘MET’ MANY OF THESE LADIES ONLINE AND CAN’T WAIT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME NEW FACES AND THEIR AWESOME ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVOURS.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED AND HAVE YOUR BUSINESS FEATURED, PLEASE SAY HELLO!  MELISSA@THEBESTNEST.CO.NZ


 

Mummy Auckland Blogger New ZealandYay!  It’s Monday!  No?  Will Say hello! help?

Today we meet a gorgeous blonde Mum-duo who are super passionate about whole foods and making them convenient and accessible to even the most time poor amongst us.  Lucy & Cushla are Limon & Coco, and are totally dedicated  to whipping up clean, lean snacks so you don’t have to.

These fabulous Mum’s just exude positivity and though I’m pretty sure they would fit right into the ‘selling ice to eskimos’ category, their range of clean snacks is both incredibly moreish and incredibly nourishing.  

Lucy is a mother of two and a personal trainer with over 20 years experience in the fitness industry.  Her holistic approach to health and fitness means nutrition and maintaining healthy eating habits are two of the cornerstones in any client’s potential lifestyle change.

Cushla began her own healthy eating journey to aid in her recovery from illness.  She describes the rush-rush habits that we as mums are all so guilty of perpetuating, and credits following the 80/20 rule with maintaining a happy, healthy diet for herself and her family.

1. You’re obviously both really busy Mums outside of Limon & Coco.  How are you managing the daily juggle of business and family commitments?

It’s very tough at times but we are both totally committed to our business and our future plans.  At this stage we don’t feel it is affecting our family life but we are both blessed to have wonderful supportive families to help us on our journey.

It’s all about time management and prioritizing the important things, communication and great team work is key for us.

2. You both seemed to have ‘arrived’ at Limon & Coco via quite different routes!  How do your differences work together to make your brand what it is? 

We met through our love of health and fitness. Our paths met when Cushla needed a personal trainer and found Lucy, and the rest as they say is history.

Mummy Auckland Blogger New ZealandLucy is a real people person and loves nothing more than motivating her clients. Cushla has a hold on all the technical stuff. Together though, we love creating different healthy snacks.  Both bring different skills to the business which put together make a fantastic combination.

3. There are SO many conflicting messages around what to and what not to eat, how do you two navigate this when deciding what ingredients to include in your amazing products?

This is really easy for us as we only use Whole foods, nothing processed and as near its natural state as possible.

4. If you could give other Mum’s three pieces of advice to help them make some healthful changes in their diet what would they be?

Eat more whole unprocessed foods…..Drink water….lots of water…! Sleep…give your body time to rest and recover.

5. What’s ahead for Limon & Coco?

Oh! so much… We have a lot of plans for the future which will be revealed when the times are right. At this stage we are just concentrating on growing our brand and helping others with easy healthy eating options.

Mummy Auckland Blogger New Zealand

To be in to win a fabulous tasting box from Limon & Coco, visit The Best Nest on Facebook and enter via the competition image.  Competition closes Sunday 2nd August @ 10pm.
Just.  Be.  Nice.

Just. Be. Nice.

This week I was privy (loathe to use that word as it sounds like a privilege which was definitely NOT the case in this instance!) to some communication that was just so nasty and unnecessary that had it been intended for me, I would have 

Sugar-free Lemon Curd and Cookie Recipe + Giveaway!

Sugar-free Lemon Curd and Cookie Recipe + Giveaway!

We have been in our house for just over three years now and the little lemon tree we planted has produced it’s first serious citrus bounty.  Luckily we all love the addition of lemon in baking so my new oven {{sigh $$ sigh}} is set to 

Munch Reviews | Baby Food Tray + Giveaway

Munch Reviews | Baby Food Tray + Giveaway

I’M SO PLEASED TO HAVE JOINED MUNCH COOKING THIS YEAR AS ONE OF THEIR MUNCH MUMS!   LOOK OUT FOR MY REVIEWS AND GIVEAWAYS EACH MONTH AS I INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME AWESOME {AND PRETTY INNOVATIVE} PRODUCTS FROM THE MUNCH CUPBOARD.

Munch Review and Giveaway Mummy Blog NZ

We get to see a lot of the ‘latest and greatest’ kids products here at The Best Nest so I hope you trust me when I say, this new offering from Munch is one of the coolest, most useful things I’ve received in quite a long while.

The Baby Food Tray is quite simply, genius.  I made all of Ethan and Nixon’s baby food and would have loved the simplicity of this container.  I was forever digging deep within the freezer trying to keep track of little pots of baby food, the dates always rubbed off or stickers fell to their deaths deep in the ice………you get the picture.

Made from food grade, BPA free silicone (which is super sturdy btw, not all floppy like most silicone trays), you can just push up the bottom to remove a perfectly portioned 1/4 cup serve.  

Obviously we are way past feeding Nixon purees and mashes but there are so many other uses for this container.  Nix loves it as a meal tray, exploring the 7 compartmentalised options has definitely resulted in an increased uptake of new foods.  The novelty factor is a big win!

The lid snaps on super firmly so is also a perfect on-the-go snack box.  I find having to fill 7 spaces is making me get a bit more creative and think outside of my normal options for the little guy.  There are so many other ways you could use this marvel of the tupperware drawer (do other people call it that or is it just us?), I’m thinking freezing stocks (you can write on the lid and it washes off with soap and water!), gravy, mini jellies, lemon juice, it’s oven safe so you can even use it to whip up perfectly sized mini-muffins or quiche for kindy/school lunch boxes!

Vital Stats: Munch Baby Food Tray (Toddler Snack Box lol)
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Food grade silicon
  • Microwave safe
  • Oven safe
  • BPA Free
  • Durable
  • Available from Munch Cupboard $24.99
I have one of these awesome Baby Food Trays to giveaway!  Head over to The Best Nest on FB and comment on the competition image to be in to win before 29/7/15
Say Hello! Dot Dash

Say Hello! Dot Dash

I AM IN AWE OF THE MANY INCREDIBLE MUMS OUT THERE, DOING A FAB JOB OF RUNNING THEIR OWN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES WHILST SIMULTANEOUSLY HOLDING DOWN THE FORT AT HOME. I’M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE ‘MET’ MANY OF THESE LADIES ONLINE AND CAN’T WAIT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME NEW 

On Being a Blogger with Depression

On Being a Blogger with Depression

Living with depression and anxiety of course means vastly different things to different people.   But, over time, it also means different things to those who live with it; each month, week, shit…….even each day, I can find myself mired in different manifestations of the same 

Win a NEW Mini Maker from EasiYo! (closed)

Win a NEW Mini Maker from EasiYo! (closed)

WHEN LESS IS BEST – EASIYO’S NEW MINI MAKER

New mums will love EasiYo’s new mini yogurt maker. Ideal for making yogurt for baby, the new half-size model means less waste and easy storage. In stylish apple green, smooth surfaces make for easy cleaning and other user-friendly features include an easy-grip handle and non-slip feet.

For the freshest tastiest yogurt with no artificial ingredients and billions of live cultures in every spoonful, use with EasiYo’s new mini yogurt sachets, conveniently packaged in boxes of three. Just add a swirl of pureed fruit for a delicious, nutritious meal for baby – so easy and made by you!

Available at New World and Pak’nSave supermarkets nationwide, EasiYo mini maker RRP $20 and mini yogurt sachet three packs RRP $10

 www.easiyo.com  – Facebook

Win EasiYo Mini MakerBABY YO – WIN WITH EASIYO

Win a ‘Baby Yo’ prize pack thanks to EasiYo. Ideal for new mums, the prize includes EasiYo’s new mini yogurt maker, two packs of mini yogurt sachets and a Breville Control Grip stick mix. Value $150.  To enter just comment below and tell me whether you’ve tried delicious EasiYo before.  Competition closes Friday 24th July ’15.

There is another prize pack up for grabs over on Facebook so head over and double your chances!

Sunday in the City

Sunday in the City

The antarctic-like temps that have been plaguing Auckland over the past week have meant the kids and I have been hibernating a bit more than normal.  Hard not to do when the boys and I all succumbed to a wicked head cold and Ethan was