Ice blocks, Popsicles, Ice Pops, Ice creams…………….. whatever your favourite frozen treat, consumption is always 1000 x more complicated, messy and prone to spills, drops and tears when you share with little people. Nix is (of course!) in love with frozen treats and eats them with …
Before merino was the hot buzzword (and rightfully so!) in kids clothing, there was one brand that had already identified it as a wonder-fibre and was creating innovative sleepwear that would be imitated the world over. Merino Kids has been setting the standard in kids …
So good.Let’s see; live music, temporary tattoos, storytelling, dancing, painting, bubbles, COFFEE, drumming, craft………..
Are you getting the picture?
We headed into Auckland City Limits as the gates opened at 11am and went straight for the small fry festival – Auckland Kiddie Limits. Nix was checked in at the front gate and was given a wristband with our names and contact details in case he decided to bounce and hit up Action Bronson sans parents. En route to the MOTAT village green (the home of AKL) we popped in to the Radio Hauraki tent where they had the fore thought to provide FREE amazing, ear muffs for the little rockers in attendance! So rad.
So, onward to the Village Green we went.
By this point I could tell Nix was a little overwhelmed with everything. In hindsight we should have brought the Mountain Buggy so he could relax and take everything in without having to be so ‘out there’ and amongst it all before he was comfy. He was happy enough, just very quiet.
When we entered the official ‘Home’ of Auckland Kiddie Limits it felt SO perfect. Nestled around the perimeter of the green amongst the old buildings were the activities and (minimally invasive) vendors, hand picked to provide just the right amount and variety of activities for little festival-goers. This felt like a calm, chilled out space where families could get down to the level of their kids as well as escape from the hubub of the main festival.
Nixon was enthralled with the mural painting and definitely spent most of his time in this lovely shady corner, splashing paint around and definitely NOT staying within the lines lol. We loved dancing to the infectious Kath Bee and listening to Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes as well as watching the kids get their punk rock makeovers – the face painting and hairstyling was awesome – Nix had NO time for it unfortunately!
The out-of-the-box concept (why this is I have NO idea?) of being able to share the main festival with your kids is long overdue and so much fun. Ethan had more pressing commitments than spending the day with his parents and the BEST music festival Auckland has ever seen – but that’s another blog post ; )
Another genius value-add was being able to leave Auckland city Limits, drop Nix home to his babysitter and head back to the city to enjoy the evening acts after super-duper, easy re-entry. Amaze.
Do it guys. Take your kids to Auckland City Limits and Auckland Kiddie Limits next year. There were so many little ones of all ages enjoying themselves, taking in the sights, devouring the delicious food on offer (you were able to bring in snacks for the babes) and enjoying the music and atmosphere as much as anyone else attending.
Taking your under 10’s (at NO additional cost) to see world class musicians perform is a major coup in my books and something we will be looking forward to doing again next year.
So today whilst Nixon was throwing an almighty tantrum because I wouldn’t let him pick up the dog shit with me (I really am doing this parenting thing all wrong aren’t I?), and I was ruminating on how I was going to create a calm, …
Easter needn’t be all about chocolate and picking up the pieces after the kids crash from the sugar rush! Add some style and whimsy to your Easter baskets this season with Auckland designer Catherine Melo’s ‘Burrowers’ collection from Burrow & Be. The iconic Mr. Hopkins print …
Here at The Best Nest we are doing a spot of celebrating ourselves, with three days of Easter themed DIY’s, all shopable at Spotlight, plus there is a $100 Spotlight Gift card to be won each day!
Down to the business end of our Spotlight birthday series You can catch up on Post #1 here and Post #2 here – make sure you have entered EACH day’s giveaway!)
There are so many cute and creative ways to gift Easter Eggs but if I’m going to make something myself, it’s got to be super easy lol. These little Bunny Bum Cups work really well and are quick to put together.
You will need:
Instructions:
Happy 20th Birthday Spotlight! This month Spotlight celebrates 20 years in New Zealand with in-store parties this Saturday, March 12th at all Spotlight NZ stores. Visit your local for huge discounts, giveaways, games & even birthday cake at 1pm in each store! Here at The Best Nest …
Happy 20th Birthday Spotlight! This month Spotlight celebrates 20 years in New Zealand with in-store parties this Saturday, March 12th at all Spotlight NZ stores. Visit your local for huge discounts, giveaways, games & even birthday cake at 1pm in each store! Here at The Best Nest …
Reigning in our family’s screen time has been high on my list of priorities over the last six months since it has become apparent that little-big Nixon was seemingly getting as attached to his ‘iPad’ as the rest of us are to our phones and devices.
But, to be honest, those lovely (?) screens are a crutch that we seem to be using more and more. I freaking LOVE my phone but now that it is seemingly an extension of my arm as both the blogger tool-of-the-trade and the source of much entertainment, it might be time to really take stock of how much power our devices are yielding within our family.
There are screens everywhere in our house. Total first-world problem I know and I’m almost ashamed to admit that the house is positively littered with electronic devices capable of watching videos of grown-ass men opening toys on YouTube at any given time!
And this is the stuff my kids watch.
So. It’s about time Dave and I pull our heads out of the sand and wrest back some time and energy from our collective phones, iPads, Laptops, Chromebooks, tablets and iMacs. Time that would be much better spent on any one of 10,000 things than beating another level in Candy Crush.
I love my phone but I love my family MORE.
Obviously right? I mean we all do. The problem is that despite our very best intentions, societal norms have changed as have our expectations of how/when/with whom we use our devices and what is acceptable on our ‘down’ time – that time not spent at work or school. Eight years ago I remember worrying about whether or not I was addicted to the internet because I checked my email more than once a day!!!
Can you even? How laughable is that by today’s standards lol?
So. This month, on the weekend of the 19-20th of March, The Jacks (that’s us FYI) are making a pledge; I’m signing all of us up for 24 hours of device free time along with thousands of other kiwi families in an effort to put the fab back in our family. That’s what the Hyundai Power Off/Family On campaign is all about; sign up online and pledge to power off for a few hours or the full 48, it’s up to you. Because family roadies are one of New Zealand families favourite ‘do-it-together’ past-times, all who register to Power Off online go in the draw to win one of 100 x $100 fuel vouchers to help get the crew on the road and off the couch!
I plan on making the most of the lovely Autumn weather and getting the kids into the bush and out on the beach for a picnic dinner.
Share what you plan on doing with all of your device-free time over the Hyundai Power Off/Family On weekend below and enter to win a $100 MTA Gift Card to kick off your own amazing adventures!
Breakfast wouldn’t be breakfast if pancakes weren’t on the menu at least once a week and every weekend without fail you guys go Google crazy for our pancake recipe. But, there’s always room for improvement and trying new things. This morning I showed Ethan the …