Home Delivered Meals for Mother's Day

One of the big things about mother's day is that mum shouldn't have to cook! But what about if you're not close enough to drop around and cook mum dinner or take her out? What if you can't cook and for what ever reason your mum can't or won't go out?

If that sounds like  your mum, then take a look at Gourmet Dinner Service. Established back in 1995, the team at Gourmet Dinner Service pride themselves in delivering fresh and healthy meals to your door. They have literally hundreds of meal combinations to choose from - for example, how about  roasted lamb shanks with lots of roast garlic and red wine sauce accompanied by slow roasted potatoes and followed with a Tiramisu?

We tried the Gourmet Dinner Service Lamb shanks ourselves and they tasted great. Prices are comparable to restuarant prices - the Lamb shanks costs $17.90 with a side serve of garlic mash for $5.50 (plus delivery).

Preparation is easy, simply defrost for about 15 minutes in the  microwave and then heat for approximately  2 to 3 minutes. These aren't just frozen dinners though - Gourmet Dinner Service claim to use only the freshest ingredients and you can taste the difference.

Orders are delivered in an insulated box and are avaliable to addresses in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and regional areas such as Southern Highlands, Central Coast, Wollongong and Newcastle . Check out the Gourmet Dinner Service website for details. 

The website is easy to use and full of informative information including recommendations and dietary information.


Dad Rating

Ken
Good option for the mum who can't get out.

William
Dinner delivered to your door.

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.

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.

Science

It's not only dad's job to get the kids interested in science, but for many of us, it was an interest during our school years and we love seeing our own kids interested as well.

Cliches like "make learning fun" probably don't help anyone and are vastly overated, but how about "have fun, and maybe learn something as well"?

There are heaps of science experiments and toys that do just that, and one of our favourite businesses is Aussie owned, Mad About Science.

Mad about Science has an easy to use online store where you can pick up lots of great gadgets (we've spent hours playing wiht our Levitator) and even has an "experiment of the week".

The shop is run by skilled teachers with qualifications and experience in science research.


Dad Rating

Mark
Lab coat anyone?
Matt
Hard not to have fun and you can justify all these great toys as "science".

Gear Perfect for that Aussie Day Barbeque

Dubya" – XW GT Falcon Shirt

This year we've already got some great gear for our Australia Day Barbeque.

A few of us dads will be wearing stylish retro designed t-shirts from Aussie company Trippytaka. Launched in November 2009, Trippytaka is an Australian owned and operated clothing label with the goal; of providing Australian car enthusiasts with top-quality mens t-shirts featuring the coolest designs of their favourite cars.

If you're looking for shirts with stylish designs featuring Holdens, Fords and Valiants then you should check out Trippytaka from just $35. The shirts are well made, 100% cotton and are a comfortable fit.

Comfy and Patriotic

Below the belt, well be wearing the extremely comfortable boxer shorts from new Aussie label Grundies.  From just $19.95 you can fly the flag under the sheets so to speak and right now Grundies is donating $1 from every sale to the Queensland Flood Appeal (how Aussie is that?!)

Both Grundies and Trippytaka have online stores and fast delivery, so they are definitely worth a visit.



Dad Rating

Stevo
Well made gear.
Simon
Easy to use online stores and fast delivery

Australiana for Australia Day

We love Australia Day and we love getting out there in our Australia Day gear.  There is nothing more we like better on 26 January than getting in to our Aussie flag gear, draping an Australian flag off the front of the house and wacking a flag or two and a couple of stickers on the car, we are proud Australians and we are not afraid to show it.

Unfortunately some people nowdays have come to associate Aussie flag clothing and especially Australian car flags as rascist, but nothing could be further from the truth. Amongst our dads we have immigrants, children of immigrants and others whose families have been in Australia for hundreds of years and we see raising the flag as patriotic and, in a sense, reclaiming it from those few people who try to co-opt it as a sign of racism and exclusion.

So this Australia Day, get yourself some Aussie gear, invite a few mates of what ever colour, race and religion over for a barbeque. For a great range of Aussie gear including Australian Flags, Caps, Stickers, Bandanas and more, check out the reasonably priced range at the DCMA Collection.


Dad Rating


Stevo
Wave the flag this Australia Day
Matt
Reasonably priced Australiana.

Vistaprint.com - Free Business Cards, T-Shirts and More.

Vistaprint has been big in the USA for a long time but now Aussies can get great deals as well from Vistaprint.com.au . Basically they offer stuff for free (free t-shirts, free business cards etc) but the free versions have limited designs so you are encouraged to "upgrade" which costs a few dollars.

You also have to pay postage and handling but even with that, there are lots of great deals. How about a Free T-Shirt?

Dad Rating

Mark
Actually good quality stuff!

Simon
I got my free tee shirt and it only cost a couple of dollars for P&H..

RetailMeNot.com - Online discount coupons

RetailMeNot.com is a great site. This Australian idea has literally hundreds of thousands of discount coupons and specials for websites. Coupons not just for American and international websites but also leading Australian retailers like Virgin Blue, Ugg Australia, Dell.com.au and VetShopAustralia.
Dad Rating

Mark
I search it before I shop online!

Simon
Lots of coupons for Aussie online retailers.

FishMax - the Australian Online Fishing Magazine

As far as online fishing magazines go, we read a few but the only one we really come back to regularly is FishMax.  FishMax has the right mix of fishing tips, product reviews and funny stuff, and we particularly like all the fishing freebies.

other fishing magazines either seem to be written just to sell advertising or interview only professional fishermen on highly technical stuff that's more than we can understand. That's why we keep coming back to Fishmax.

Dad Rating

Mark
I like the celebrity fishing interview. Haydo, Barnsy and the rest.
Simon
FishMax got me out fishing with the kids!

VetShopAustralia.com.au - Discount Pet Supplies

VetShopAustralia.com.au is an Australian owned, family owned, vet owned business selling cheap pet supplies online. It was the first Australian business to start selling discount pet products online and has won numerous prizes, including Australian Online Retailer of the Year in 2009.

If you're looking for discount Frontline Plus, Revolution, Advantage, Drontal and heartgard or other cheap flea control or worming brands for your dog and cat, then check out VetShopAustralia.com.au

Dad Rating

Ranga
Great website. Low priced pet stuff!

Simon
Cheap stuff for my dog so I'm happy.