If you’re a fan of global mega-brand H&M you’re probably already planning your first look and the new store at Sylvia Park that opened it’s doors for the VIP shopping preview last night. Guests were not disappointed. The red carpet was rolled out, shopping bags, …
Having the kids home for the school holidays is the perfect time to try out some new recipes (Chocolate Chip and Macadamia Cookie anyone?) and get the kids comfy in the kitchen. Learning to follow recipes, prepare and serve food, clean up (!) and share …
Like many (MANY) Mondays, I woke this week determined to pay for the excesses of the weekend.
Tell me I’m not the only repeat offender who does this?
There was a bit of carb-fest on Sunday as we hibernated, watched a movie and lazed around with the kids after a fairly epic Saturday night farewelling the 2016 rugby season with Dave’s team formal at the club.
So, in full My-Body-is-my-Temple-mode, I punched out a steady 5.5km run on Monday with Dave pushing Nixie in the stroller. I’m always about 15 paces behind Dave and was harassed by a retired gentleman who noted that it looked like Dave was doing all the hard work! Bastard! I tried to think of a snappy retort but let’s face it, even if inspiration had struck it wasn’t like I had any puff in me to yell it over my shoulder at him.
He’ll keep.
It wasn’t the fastest run, I did get a little distracted by Pokemon along the way, but I did it. And I felt quite good! Knowing that I’d be writing a blog post for Berlei this week – you’re reading it now fyi – I thought, this is the perfect time to get an authentic, subtle, Mummy-appropriate snap of one of my new Berlei sports bras.
Instead, and all my self-conscious sensibilities are screaming at me NOT to post this image on the internet, I got this picture;
Nixon, having a fan-freaking-tastic time (I mean LITERALLY almost in tears he was giggling so much!) investigating the momentous squishiness of Mummy’s Big Boom-Boom Tummy – his words NOT mine! I’m a toddler stress ball I guess. I would add that to my Linkedin profile if I actually thought anyone looked at minor Mummy Blogger profiles!
So, here’s the truth, I HATE that belly, I despise my thighs and I really, really dislike the bingo-wings that have shown up recently.
I have a Mum Bod. And, it’s not one of the Beautiful Mum Bods either. But it’s mine and it still likes, and is able to run and play touch rugby and surf and dance on a Saturday night every now and then.
Mums and their Mum Bod’s need sports bras too. There’s a lot of wobbling that goes on when I decide to work-out and this makes me feel even more self-conscious. The secret to minimising my wobbles and therefore maximising my exercise motivation is twofold; compression tights and a really, really amazing sports bra. Which is where Berlei come in, I mean if they’re the only bras Serena Williams trusts then who am I to argue?
By removing some/all of the factors that can cause you to be self-conscious you can focus your mental energy on the task at hand – actually completing your goal distance, making it to the next lamppost before you stop running, getting out there day after day in the pursuit of health. Not a thigh-gap, or abs, but simple health.
If my boobs are protected and aren’t bouncing and my thighs aren’t rubbing together and eating a pair of too short running shorts, then I feel comfortable and that means that I’ll get back out there the next day, and hopefully, the next day after that. That’s a Mum win right?
Berlei is the #1 sports bra brand in New Zealand and their new range is both totally gorgeous and serious about reducing breast bounce, up to 60%! I breast-fed two kids and am now a c-cup so I’m pretty keen to minimise the trauma my boobs have to go through on a day-to-day basis – Mums need support too!
These are my two faves from the new range and the bras I’ll be wearing this season for touch rugby and running; (L) Shift Contour Bra (those straps are SO wide and comfy!) and (R) the Electrify Underwire Bra. Both have convertible straps which is awesome for those hot summer touch rugby games and killer runs where you have to wear a tank top or pass out from heat exhaustion!
Both are available now from Farmers in store and online.
Last week we braved the long drive, the blizzardy weather, the LOUDEST two children on earth and made a family mini-vacation in the snow happen. I’m going to need a whole year to recover before I attempt that again so I hope our little guys …
If you haven’t yet stumbled upon the goodness that is the super grain phenomena, fear not. It’s not as hipster/foodie as it sounds and, it could be as simple as switching your white rice for brown. There’s been a very defined consumer shift in the …
The 2016 rugby season has just about wrapped up for us. Ethan’s J1 team played their last game together on Saturday, a huge milestone as 18 out of the 22 boys are heading off to high school next year. Saying goodbye to the rugby club and teammates you’ve played with since you were 5 (or younger!) is a big deal for both parents and players alike – whether the boys would admit that or not is a different story of course!
Ethan’s played rugby for 6 years now, and I’ve managed his team for most of those seasons. Saturday morning is for rugby.
End of story.
This year our family was even more committed to the oval ball as Dave joined our friends and played his debutante year in the President’s (Over 35) division.
Edit: Saturday, in it’s entirety, is for rugby.
One of the perks of running the rugby gauntlet all the way to J1 is that kick-off is at the leisurely (when you have kids!) hour of 10.40am. That leaves plenty of time to enjoy a slow start to the day – complete with a hot breakfast of oats and a warm MILO – and just enough time to laze in your pajamas a bit too long, so even though you had plenty of time it’s always a mad rush to get everyone ready and out the door. Ahhhh Saturday, you’re actually just like every other day but with a different uniform lol.
As Saturdays stretch from 10am when Ethan’s warmup begins to 4pm when Dave’s game wraps up, Ethan’s rugby bag needs to be well stocked with LOTS of food and water. He is usually one of the Touch Judges for his dad’s afternoon game and would fade like a flower if he hadn’t managed to refuel properly after his own game. As part of his Saturday lunchbox, I’ve been slipping in a MILO ready to drink to keep him going for the afternoon. Ethan’s not a big milk drinker so as well as ensuring he’s actually taking on-board enough calories for the day, I’m stoked because I know he’s going to get 50% of his daily calcium requirement from one 200ml Tetra pak.
I have really busy, really active boys. If Ethan and Nixon are barely slowing to eat it’s really important to me that what I can get into them is nourishing, addresses at least some of their nutritional requirements and gives them the energy they need to get back outside/on the field/in the mud! If food is not fit-for-purpose then young boys simply won’t stop to eat. When Ethan’s on a rugby bender all day on a Saturday, he’s going to opt for quick, convenient and ‘attractive’ options that don’t slow him down for too long. MILO ready to drink has an impressive 4.5 star health rating and when combined with the other nutritious components in Ethan’s packed lunch, it ticks all the boxes and 99% of the time pre-empts the call of the greasy chips at the rugby club tuck shop.
That’s a choice I’m happy with.
Choosing wellness and teaching our kids to do the same is an integral part of modern parenting. Encouraging active play, participation in fun, outdoor activities and getting bums off couches is something that unites all parents as we strive to do the best we can for our kids and ourselves.
Check out the new Nestle Choose Wellness website, take the Wellness Quiz and gain a little perspective on how you might be able to integrate small, meaningful changes into your daily life.
If you would like to win an amazing Nestle Choose Wellness Prize Pack valued at $150 , just share a wellness tip in the comments below.
NZ residents only, competition closes 15/10/16.
Thanks so much to the MILO team for sponsoring this post and treating our rugby team to MILO after their final club game for 2016!
Friday is always the best day of the week when you’re a kid and this winter Dave has started a new breakfast tradition that has the boys getting to the breakfast table even faster than usual. Ethan is a kid who has remained true …
Having an indulgent, ‘treat’ breakfast is one of life’s little luxuries whatever age or stage you’re at. By getting a bit creative with the ingredients, you can help reduce the ‘guilt’ factor many of us feel and make an easy family-friendly meal that can be …
Last week I shopped online at The Warehouse* and was able to pull together a super cute spring outfit for Nixon in literally, a matter of minutes (you can check it out here).
This week, for Part 2 of my Head to Toe series, I shopped in-store at The Warehouse as I wanted to take a good look at the whole Spring range and check out the new arrivals in person.
I mixed-and-matched a series of outfits from the boys aged 3-7 range that form a pretty comprehensive Toddler Capsule Wardrobe for the season ahead.
Spring can be notoriously tricky for styling due to it’s transitory weather, fleeting showers and sudden cold snaps. Layers are your secret weapon here as you can easily add warmth and long sleeves while doing away with the bulk of winter outerwear.
All of the pieces I’ve picked will do double duty in the Summer months ahead. The long sleeved shirts and pants are lightweight enough to wear once the sun goes down and the drop-hem tees and denim shorts won’t be going out of style anytime soon.
Jeans $29, Denim Shirt $25, Lumberjack Shirt $20, Wide Stripe Tee $15, Yoke Mesh Tee $15, Hi Canvas Shoes $20, Cap $12, Chino Kanga Pants Pants $29, Yarn Dyed Printed Tee Shirt $15, Zip-Thru Hoody $10, WZ Denim Shorts $20, Velcro Shoes $15.
If you’d like a $50 Gift Card from The Warehouse to kick-start a Spring Style make-over for you or one of your Little People, just comment below with your favourite item featured above and you’re in the draw to win!
Competition closes 15/9/16. NZ residents only.
*This post was sponsored by The Warehouse.