This is the last article in my essential style series, so it is entirely appropriate that it be on the ‘finishing touch’: How to ‘dress’ the part of…
Over the next two months, Kiwi Families is featuring posts on education and technology. We are talking to some more great kiwi families about their experiences. In this…
“Good morning/afternoon! How can I help you today?” I have long since lost track of how many times I’ve said this line in the years I’ve served as…
I learned the word “Luddite” a few years back when someone remarked that I’m likely one, because I had this suspicious disdain for buzz-whirring gadgets and technology. Could…
Technology is part of our lives and it is not going away. How much you want to let it into your life and for what purpose are questions…
In today’s busy fast paced world, technology can be a godsend. If you can transact online then that’s one less thing you need to worry about right? The…
Have a quick read of this article by the Khan Academy (free internet learning) founder. While I agree with Khan’s premise that we should acknowledge our children’s/students’/own learning efforts and…
The first mention of ‘education and technology’ tends to bring people out in a rash of raising funds for computers in classrooms, and making sure every child has…
Are you too busy – spending your days rushing from one activity to another? Do you feel pressured to live up to other’s expectations – or your own…
I was at a conference recently and one of the speakers was talking about how she was doing this science experiment with her kids that involved planting a…
Kiwi Families has a focus on pregnancy and babies at the moment, and we’ve been talking to some more great kiwi families about their experiences. In this post,…
When you’re juggling a busy life, the last thing you want to do is get slowed down by having to deal with light bladder leakage.
As parents, our job is to protect our children and support their development; so one day they can stand on their own two feet, and support themselves. Part…
There’s no telling some people how much parenthood will change you. My little boy is four years old now, and in this time with him – we spend…
Storylines Festival Family Days are and always have been free for children and their families. There are now six of them round the country and every year thousands…
If you watch TV at the moment, you will have seen one of the many cooking programmes, which make cooking careers look amazingly glamourous. There is a vast…
SO many embarrassing things happen when you’re a parent. As you pass through the years of parenthood, your resilience grows – or at least I’ve found I’ve learnt…
The seasons are changing again and the time is right to set in motion the birth of a multitude of wee babies. The responsibility is huge. I do…
“Mom, can I pleeeeaaase go to Regina’s* Birthday party/Sleepover on Saturday?” pleads Miss 14. “Which one is Regina again?” I reply. “Remember, she’s that new girl I met at School last…
They were first noticed swooping in and out of the garage. Checking it out to see if this would be a safe home. Very quickly Grand-daughter aged 8,…
Congratulations on becoming a mother, how exciting! It is a brand new chapter that is exciting and full of changes. It is also a time when we feel…
It’s Money Week in New Zealand, and the word on the street is that we’ll need $4,000 in retirement just to spend on eggs! Time to get some…
Sadly over the first week of the school holidays, I found myself lying in bed for 10 days with Influenza. I have gone nearly seven years without any…
Pregnancy is a major life event, and therefore a great time to reflect on your health and what you eat! Now is the time to consider incorporating the…
Not content with ‘just’ having preschoolers and deciding more children was not a happening thing, our wee family decided on a new addition. The question was-would this fifth…
6 steps to fabulous wardrobe planning, it all sounds so wonderful doesn’t it? A great personal style filling you with energy and confidence, all your friends wanting to…
As many mothers know, one of the most significant questions you will face as an expectant parent is: “How will having a baby change my life?”
New Zealand is known for its clean green philosophies and certainly more and more families are embracing natural products and solutions. But did you know that your fertility…
This month, it has been lovely to hear about how some Great Kiwi Families keep themselves healthy. In this post, we meet Corinne Austin. Corinne loves an adventure and…
In the next of our ‘Great Kiwi Families’ posts, we introduce the Finlay family. These intrepid kiwis spend part of the year living on a small island in…
What exactly do we mean when we say someone’s “got style”? We often think of style as a gift that some people naturally exhibit without apparent effort, some…
There was a time when I felt relatively in control of my life, in the days before kids. I wanted to waste half of Saturday in bed, so…
Facebook is a huge part of many young people’s lives and it can be mystifying and quite frightening for some parents. If you’re not on Facebook, you might not…
I don’t know about you, but the thought of my children being active online terrifies me. They’re still young, but I’m well aware of the dangers that children…
What are mealtimes like at your place? Do you have family ways of serving, eating or talking together? Would you like some fresh ideas to make the most…
As we head into winter, the usual ailments start to raise their heads and we dread the onset of the coughs, runny noses and aches and pains attached…
Do you ever feel worn out and tired and grumpy and the kids are fighting and you feel like you just have no reserve left? You don’t need…
When we had baby #2, hubby and I fell into the pattern of ‘tagging in and out’ with the kids to GTD (get things done) or have some…
My eldest daughter was just one of those kids you never had to ask to do their homework. She flew in the door from school, nearly knocking me over…
It might seem like a long way away but now is a great time to decide what you want to eat during those lazy hazy days of summer.
Modern life, for many families, can be a bit like living in the fast lane. We simultaneously pursue careers, raise children and continue our personal or professional development…
If you’re a solo parent with primary care, the “Good Time Parent” is the parent who has your child primarily on the weekends, doing fun things, while you slog…
Some couples say having a baby strengthens their relationship and brings them closer together. Yet many parents struggle with maintaining healthy relationships after having children. Here are some thoughts…
“I am no supermum”. I tell myself this each day as I try to attain a happy healthy balanced life for my family and for myself. I remind…
‘Pear’, ‘pineapple’, ‘strawberry’, and ‘banana’ might be a great recipe for a fruit salad, but it can also be a recipe for confusion about our body image. To…
What is healthy eating? Does it mean something different to you than it does to the person next to you? Chances are it does. We all know that…
I always find it so inspiring to hear about the way that different families create their lives and this is certainly the case with Siri, Gus and Liv…
It’s Allergy Awareness Week soon and we talk to a family where allergies are part of everyday life. Kiwi mum, Amanda, talks about living with allergies for 6 year old Amelia.
New Zealand Sign Language Week raises awareness about New Zealand’s Deaf community and the contribution and colour NZSL brings. New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is the natural language…
How fortunate for all the mothers out there that The Food Show in Wellington happens to coincide with Mother’s day?
I’ve always longed to discover and ignite the spark of my creativity in some dramatic fashion. Here are eight keys to help you get out of your own way…
Making your own pizza with kids is easy! Too often we perceive making things by scratch to be difficult and end up spending way too much money to buy a…
When I was at Primary and Secondary school I knew I was dumb. I didn’t do well in my classes and I envied the brainy kids who did. It…
Colour has a kind of magic about it. Choosing particular colours can make your complexion glow with health and your eyes sparkle with vitality. Then there are the…
Here’s 5 easy Easter activities to make with kids. Spending time together on a food, or craft, activity is an awesome way to make some memories during your time…
If you’re looking for a fun, free way to keep the kids entertained these April school holidays, look no further than your local Westfield for a variety of…
A friend reminded me the other day that: “A happy mum means a happy family”. I can hear you say “What has that got to do with creativity?”…
While not being at the beck and call of the hungry and demanding summer veggies plants, the cooler months are a great time to look at the garden…
As the very well known saying goes “variety is the spice of life” and so it is with our food. When our diet is varied we are much…
My Food Bag’s Cecilia Robinson has used creative thinking to build multiple businesses, and become one of New Zealand’s most successful business women. Cecilia gives us her thoughts…
My young grand-daughter had to make up a story using as much creative ability as possible. She hummed and bounced many ideas of us, and finally presented this:
Retirement is going to be your single largest milestone in your life, one that without proper planning could well become a millstone.
A writer’s son is doomed to tell stories. In the the mornings it’s his dreams and at night it’s his days. He falls asleep to tales of seafaring…
The word ‘creativity’ scares a lot of people, often because they don’t think they are creative people. The term has been stolen by the media and features heavily…
I don’t know about you, but when I think about Easter, I think about eggs. Mostly often, it’s chocolate eggs but don’t forget traditional eggs, too! This recipe…
Fitting exercise into your working day couldn’t be easier, that is if you explore the possibilities. From start of your day to the end there are so many…
We all have these ideals about our lives. Maybe how we hope to raise our children, what our families will be like and what our homes might look…
Kids specialise in concrete thinking. The idea of praying and concepts like gratitude and forgiveness can be pretty hard to grasp – even for adults! You can help everyone…
Are you rushed off your feet? Tired, exhausted and overwhelmed from the demands of everyday life? Lacking in confidence and motivation to overcome procrastination, other people’s opinions, negative…
We’re really excited about this new series of posts where we’ll talk to some inspiring mums and dads about their great kiwi families! This week’s mama is Becky…
As a Former Green MP I spend a lot of time thinking about sustainability. My job involved advocating for a smart, green, sustainable future for all New Zealanders,…
Angela Mollard is a national columnist in Australia’s News Corp publications each Sunday. She writes about lifestyle, relationships, parenting, politics, society and news-based issues and appears regularly as…
Many families place security right at the top of their priority list – they want to know that money will be there to pay their bills and that…
Plunket has been a big part of my life for more than 30 years. Ever since I had my boys all those years ago, getting involved and becoming…
Ready or not, the blissful chaos and flexible routines of summer have come to an end. And with the kids back at school, now is the perfect time…
Here I was thinking all this time that I needed to take dance lessons when it seems that I am actually rather acquainted with the Cha Cha, and…
In the interests of my sustainability in keeping up with modern trends whilst raising teen grandchildren, I agreed to let my 17 year old grand-daughter take me shopping…
It feels good to have and make family traditions, even more so in a Single Parent family. It gives my daughter (Miss 13) a greater sense of family…
When I see the words ‘sustainable families’, I think of families that last the distance. What is the secret ingredient that helps some families last the distance? My…
Do you know where your food comes from? Do you know what has been done to it in order to get it to your table? Is it even…
Let’s get S.M.A.R.T with goal setting this year. A reliable way to help you achieve your fitness goals is by using the S.M.A.R.T model.
Sustainable family living means different things to different families. What I’ve discovered is that our family lives fairly sustainably, but it’s certainly not be design. I like to…
One definition of sustainability is when all parts of a system are in a balanced state, allowing natural development. In a family system, this means each person’s needs for food,…
Our first Au Pair joined us from Germany when Tom was 6 months. As the founders of Au Pair Link, we’d given some thought to the type of…
According to the Oxford dictionary the first definition of diet is: “The kinds of food that a person, animal or community habitually eats.” The second definition is: “A…
The word ‘sustainable’ comes with a lot of fish hooks attached. It seems simple enough – the dictionary definition is “able to be continued.” It’s when you start…
With the school holiday already becoming a distant memory, and the school term getting into full swing, it’s an ideal time to establish some routines and expectations in…
Another year is almost over… Christmas has been and we’ve all breathed a sigh of relief. And then there’s New Year! I’ve never been a particularly boisterous celebrator…
Since 1999, young people in New Zealand have been able to buy alcohol from the age of 18. And as we all know, loads of under 18s get…
Christmas is just around the corner. I’ve always loved Christmas and after becoming a mum last year I think I love it even more! I love everything about…
I don’t know about you, but I always like things to look pretty at Christmas. However, costs mount up and it’s easy to get carried away! This simple…
From Rudolf and Santa to Slinki Malinki and the proverbial Pukeko in a Punga Tree, there’s a Christmas-themed picture book for everyone. In most bookshops, though, Baby Jesus…
I have never purchased a Christmas tree – well, not a chopped down pine one, as such. At the same time, we never miss a Christmas morning with…
What am I on about I hear you say? Think about this: imagine a family member being diagnosed with say, cancer. Of course this is not conducive to…
Somehow, it’s almost Christmas and it’s time to start thinking about long summer days, celebrations and relaxing for a little while.
With the Christmas holidays just around the corner – that old familiar feeling is coming back… I think they call it madness. Not only do we need to…
I was once told by a wise friend that we should take every opportunity that comes our way to celebrate. It could be taking pride in our local…