Mum & Me Recordable Book

Many might say that Mother's Day (8 May 2011) is a "Hallmark Holiday" so perhaps it's fitting that this year Hallmark has released a mother's day gift with a twist. Called "Mum & Me"

Recordable Storybooks allow your wife  and your child to record their voices on every page, creating a lasting keepsake.  Hallmark has both mums and grandmothers covered with three titles - Mum & Me, Grandma & Me, and I Love You Grandma.

The books include simple prompting questions, which your kids record answers to e.g. "If mum won a million dollars, what would she do with it?"

The Hallmark Recordable Storybooks are available for $34.99 at retailers and also online at the Hallmark website.


Dad Rating

Matt
Novel Idea.

Stevo
Fun for the littlies.

Mother's Day Suggestion- Simply Gifts Hamper

With Mother's Day soon upon us (this year, Australian Mother's Day falls on Sunday 8 May 2011) its time to help kids make the right decisions.

We don't really understand why, but Mums just love herbal  tea  - something about pampering and time to themselves I guess. If your wife is one of those sorts of people, you should get the kids to take a look at SimplyGifts.Com.au  - this fast, secure and easy to use website has heaps of pamper hampers for your wife or mum. Simply click on the "Mother's Day" link on the right hand side for lots of idea - we loved the "mum's favourite tea" hamper.

Items arrive quickly and beautifully presented in gift wrapped boxes. Orders placed online prior to 2pm are received next business day, anywhere in Australia. Couldn't be easier!


Dad Rating

Mark
Well presented and well priced.

Steven
Easy to use website and fast delivery.

Siera Trading Post - Online Store

If you are in to sporting, outdoors or fishing clothing, take advantage of the strong Aussie dollar and buy from some of the great international websites that serve Aussies.

One of our favourites is Sierra Trading Post  . Based in the good old US of A, this store has  a huge range of outdoor, sporting, fishing and cycling gear at up to half the price of Aussie stores. For example, we bought some columbia fishing pants for just $29.95 when the exact same product at a certain Australian large boating, camping and fishing retailer, cost $89.95. Even with the cost of postage and handling ($10 to Australia), we still spent less than half.

Delivery was excellent, with our product arriving at our door in Australia in just 6 days. Sierra Trading Post has a great tracking system so you can log on and track your parcel as it travels from the Midwest USA to your door.

Dad Rating

Mark
Great products and great prices.

Simon
The strong Aussie dollar means its time to shop offshore for savings.

Good News Week

While we often fight over whose choice of TV show is stupid, all the Dads agree that Good News Week is possibly one of the funniest and cleverest shows on Television.

Since it initially Aired in April 2006, Paul McDermott, Mikie Robbins and Clare Hooper and their guests have made us laugh out loud. For such a long running show, it manages to remain topically and fresh. We wish that was something that many other Australian made TV shows could say the same.

Our only complaint is that in recent years it has seemed that the Channel 10 Cross Promotion machine has ramped up, and this can be a little distracting.
Dad Rating

Simon
Laugh out loud.

Steven
Worth staying in for.

Volunteers in Kids Sport

As cricket and swimming winds up and the football (of what ever code) and netball fixtures start, we want to take the time to give a big thumbs up the the tens of thousands of volunteer coaches, managers, co-ordinators and others that work hard to make kids sport in this country work as well as it does.

If we added up all the hours donated by these largely unsung and sometimes unappreciated men and women, the numbers would be staggering. And sure, as parents we complain if training or a game gets moved or cancelled or if we have to drive more than 20 minutes to get a game, but overall the machine that is amatuer children's sport in this country works well and produces so many sporting heros and more importantly so many more happy and health children.
Dad Rating

Steven
Well played and well done.

Sean
Thanks from me and the tribe.

Books4PNGKids.org

We've recently learnt about the great work being done by an Australian charity called Books for PNG Kids.

Papua, New Guinea is Australia's closest neighbour. Inhabited by 6 million people, it is only one hour's flight from Cairns, however, for the nation's children in remote highland and coastal villages, there are no high tech' classrooms. Villages and communities must construct their own elementary and primary school buildings and organise their own education systems.

Schooling is not free in PNG! Kids can only go to school if their families are able to pay fees. Villagers rely on sales from their fresh produce to the other locals and from their craft works to the occasional tourists who find their way to these remote parts of the country

If you can help with  good used books - suitable for  primary school children, teachers and schools, please contact Books 4 PNG Kids.

Dad Rating

Steven
A great way to help our near neighbours.

Matthew
Send those old books to a place where they really make a difference.

Sportbrella Sunshade

The Aussie Sport-Brella is a beach umbrella, sun tent and rain shelter all in one. Folding out in just three seconds and weighing less than 6.5 kilograms, the shelter is a handy addition to your outdoor festivities.

The Sport-Brella opens up like a traditional beach umbrella but includes side flaps that fold down and can be tethered on windy days for extra protection.

The Sport-brella gives you  2.4m of maximum sun protection which we found to be plenty for a family of 4 and their gear. 
We liked the 30 day guarantee and the fact that with SPF50 it blocks 99.5% of harmful UVA and UVB rays.

The Sport-Brella retails for $99.95, and is available through Rebel Sport, Amart All Sports Stores nationwide and online at http://www.sportbrella.com.au/ or by phone at 1800 110 160.
Dad Rating

Mark
Handy addition to the family outdoor gear.

Simon
Not as easy to set up as it could be but once up a great unit.