Family Holiday Part 1 - Melbourne

After months of keeping this family trip for hubby's 50th birthday a secret Friday 15th April finally rolled around, we woke up way too early and set off....finally our destination would be revealed....

At about this time the girls may have cottoned on that there was a plane trip involved!!!  And the fact that Melbourne was our destination was revealed.

Miss 7 had never been on a plane and Miss 11 last flew when she was 3 years old so there was excitement all around!

Thankfully it was smooth flying....I had my concerns given that I was at the doctors at 10pm the night before our departure with Miss 15 being prescribed antibiotics for an ear infection :-0

We dropped our luggage at our accommodation in Melbourne and headed out for lunch and local sightseeing!

It didn't take long for the girls to cast their eyes on Spencer Outlet Centre.....in fact it became a daily destination in the time that we were there.  So many bargains....and I'm pretty sure the girls found them all.

A short walk up the road for the best Chinese meal....ever!!!!  So good in fact that we may have headed back the following night for some late night spring rolls :-)

Our accommodation had an indoor pool with an amazing views. It was impressive by day....




And even more so by night....

A trip to Melbourne is not complete without a tram trip and a visit to the Queen Victoria Markets so that is where we headed on Saturday morning.

It would be some 20 years since I last visited Melbourne and the Queen Victoria Markets and I still love the markets as much as the first time that I saw them.  

The girls loved the markets too....Miss 7 couldn't resist these cute little dolls!

And let's just say it was lucky we brought extra luggage for purchases made!

Sunday rolled around and we took a tram to Docklands to wander around.

It was a great place to stroll along looking at the market stalls and eating ice cream!!

It was also a great place for Miss 18 to get out her camera and have a play.

With all this shopping, markets and photography we decided to add in an activity for hubby, after all it was his birthday trip!!  So off to the AFL we went.

Did you know that each quarter of an AFL game goes for 30 minutes....then add in the quarter time breaks and the half time break....and you have one long game.  But they do have the best roast beef rolls there so all was forgiven!


Sadly our three nights in Melbourne had come to an end and we packed up ready for Part 2....and another surprise for hubby and the girls!!

Stay tuned for Part 2....it is pretty awesome even if I do say so myself!!



Linking up with Essentially Jess for #IBOT

Review of Bunchems Mega Pack

Sponsored post brought to you by Nuffnang and Funtastic

We arrived home on Friday night after a week of holidaying...I was exhausted from the months of planning, the holiday activities, the traveling and the 2 hour shuttle bus trip home thanks to Sydney traffic!!  But the girls arrived home full of energy!!

So when I saw a box of Bunchems on the front door step thanks to Nuffnang and Funtastic I couldn't believe my luck!

The Bunchems Mega Pack comes with 370 Bunchems and various accessories and the girls were straight into it....allowing hubby and I some rare quiet time to contemplate our holiday!

All the girls joined in the fun with the Bunchems and using the little booklet of ideas included in the pack creations began to appear.

The first thing I noticed about the Bunchems was the bright colours.

I also liked the fact that there was no mess (because that would be the last thing I would have needed after a day of travelling home laden with dirty washing!!)


Creations were made and then pulled apart and new creations made and the Bunchems are still going strong.  The creations hold up well and the cute accessories add character to the pieces.

The pieces feel quite nice to play with which would be great for sensory development.  They are little furry 'burr' like plastic spheres that simply stick together!

Overall I'd say that the Bunchems are great....not only because they saved my sanity in a time of need but because of how they allow the girls imaginations to run wild making their own creations.

The product is recommended for ages 4+ and I must say that with the pieces being small adult supervision would be recommended with younger children...but then you'll probably want to have a play with them yourselves lol !!

You can get your hands on a pack for only $45.00 by clicking here.

I'd love to see what creations you and your family come up with using Bunchems so be sure to come back later and post a pic.

"If you can think it you can create it with Bunchems"

10 on 10 Photography Circle - April

I can't believe how quickly these monthly photo circle posts are coming around....bam it's April already...and it's my birthday today too...woohoo!!!

Don't forget to follow the link at the bottom of my post and see what each of my wonderful blogger friends have been up to this month!


In our crazy little corner of the world it is 5 days til we head off on our secret family holiday....the one I planned for hubby's 50th!!!  I am so totally excited....I think it's going to be an awesome holiday....even if I do say so myself!!!

Are the girls excited you might ask....well this weeks quote is from Miss 16..."My friends are going to be having so much fun in the holidays and I have to spend a whole week with my family"  so yeah I'd say they are totes looking forward to it !!!!

Keeping this trip a secret has been killing me!!!  I am hopeless and keeping secrets and even more so at keeping them from hubby!!  And with 6 people harassing me each day it has taken great strength not to cave!!!

So here's my 10 on 10 post for this month....



When hubby turned the big '5' - '0' 
I knew the perfect place to go

I decided to keep it a surprise
which feels like a web of deceit and lies!!

Where are we going?  Well nobody knows!

What do we pack?  Will we need one of these......

or will we need one of those?

Wherever it is you'll need this for sure

And according to miss 7 she needs a whole lot more....

Can I trust you with a little clue?
You won't tell now will you....??

If you want to know more then follow along on Instagram

Where from Friday on you'll see the big reveal and pics of me and the fam!!!



I know there's only 7 pics but hey....trying to wash clothes and get them dry for packing in between soccer games and the rest....7 is just gunna do!!!!

Be sure to check out instagram for all the reveals as we travel during the week....!!!


Pop over to check out what Di has been up to this month at Studio 10 Creative