Looking for a fun day out with the family and not sure what to do. Well, you can be excused for not knowing about ‘Family Funday Sunday’ as it seems to be very poorly advertised, but for only $2.50 per person you and your family can enjoy unlimited travel all day in the Sydney metropolitan area. Considering that kids under 4 travel for free if you have a really young family then you could ride the buses, trains and ferries to your hearts content all day Sunday for just $2.50 per parent/adult.

Cityrail Brings Exploring Sydney To The Masses

But wait it gets better than this, Family Funday Sunday tickets include valid travel to outer metropolitan areas too, so you can travel to Newcastle, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, Hunter and Illawarra areas and back, all for yes you guessed it the low low price of $2.50 per person. You have to ask yourself why would you drive anywhere on a Sunday ever again!

Where Can You Buy Family Funday Sunday Tickets

How do you get involved I hear you asking,

• You can buy your tickets onboard the bus (except PrePay bus services and train replacement bus services), at CityRail stations, CityRail ticket vending machines and station ticket offices and ferry ticket offices and on board selected Sydney Ferries services on Sundays.
• Or on any day of the week, (for use on Sunday) you can buy your tickets at TransitShops and ticket outlets (including many newsagencies, 7-Elevens and convenience stores).

*If your first journey for the day is on Metro Light Rail or a PrePay Only bus service, buy your Family Funday Sunday tickets at a CityRail station or a ticket outlet before you travel.

Terms And Conditions Of Family Funday Sunday

As with any amazing deal there are obviously terms and conditions.

• You must be family, meaning you must be related.
• The tickets are only available for use on Sundays and until 4am Monday morning (that is if you want to keep your kids out that late on a school night!)

Exceptions to valid travel where Family Funday Sunday tickets cannot be used are on special event buses (except Moore Park Special Event Bus services), charter and tourism services, private ferry services including Manly Fast Ferries and Sydney Fast Ferries, CountryLink services and the Monorail.

And that’s pretty much it for the terms and conditions so “get on board”.

Want more information:

http://www.131500.com.au/tickets/explore

http://www.cityrail.info/tickets/which/funday

Ride It Before It’s Gone

While you are at it with this whole public transport Family Funday Sunday extravaganza why not use your Family Funday Sunday tickets to get your family into the city and ride the monorail before it’s gone.

• Once the calendar strikes 30 June time is up and the monorail is no more.

Personally I don’t think I could look my kids in the eye if I knew I let the opportunity for them to ride the monorail before it reaches extinction slip pass.
After all monorail day pass is only $9.80 per person or $24.00 for a family monorail day pass valid for 2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children, such a small price to pay for enjoying a piece of history.
For all you crazy trainspotters out there why not put a different spin on it all and see how many modes of transport you can use in one day, from riding the train, to jumping on a bus, enjoying a majestic ferry ride, cruising the monorail and back again.

For cheaper than buying one of Svens Swedish Wood Fired Pizza’s, specifically a large YGGDRASIL, a Garlic & Chilli Marinated King Prawns Crispy Pancetta with Roma Tomatoes and Chèvre Goats Cheese pizza you and your family can ride all day long. Because on the monorail children 5 years and under traveling in small family groups are free, this means if you have 2 small kids under the age of 4 then you can ride the monorail and Sydney transport all day for $24.60 why would you spend $25 any other way? Who needs pizza anyway it just makes you fat, instead get out and explore Sydney.

http://www.monorail.com.au/whats-on/25-reasons-to-ride/

The federal government has abolished the baby bonus in their recent budget in an attempt to bring the budget back into the black in four years time. The $5,000 baby bonus which was introduced by the Howard government will be axed from March 1, 2014 which means if you aren’t already pregnant then you will not be eligible to receive the baby bonus because your baby will be born after the axing date.
It is estimated cutting the baby bonus will save $1.1 billion over five years and the government has instead looked to increase family payments (Family Tax Benefit Schedule A) for eligible families when they have a new baby. The key word there is ‘eligible’ as it will leave about 28,000 stay-at-home-mums who don’t qualify for family payments with no government support.
The increased payments for the Family Tax Benefit Schedule A (FTB-A) will be $2,000 for the first child and an additional $1,000 for subsequent children.Eligibility requirements however are much tighter than they have been for the baby bonus.

Amlost 30,000 Families On Their Own

Currently the household income cut-out for FTB-A for a family with two children is about $112,000, where as a mother can earn up to $150,000 a year before losing access to the baby bonus.
The Labour Government predicts about 161,000 families would have received the baby bonus in 2014-15, now under the new system expects, 113,000 families will qualify for the boost to the FTB-A, and 20,000 families will take up the alternative paid parental leave scheme.

Paid Parental Leave The Alternative

Paid Parental Leave scheme gives financial support to those eligible working parents of newborn or recently adopted children. Under the Paid Parental Leave scheme, the government funds employers to provide Parental Leave Pay to their eligible employees. From the 1st July 2012, Parental Leave Pay is $606.50 per week before tax.

• The current daily rate of Parental Leave Pay is $121.30 per day ($121.30 per day x 5 days = $606.50) for up to 18 weeks, equivalent to getting the minimum wage when they take time off work to care for a new child.

Full-time, part-time, casual, seasonal, contract and self-employed workers may be eligible. The parent must be on paid or unpaid leave and not working from the time they become their child’s primary carer until the end of their Paid Parental Leave period to be eligible.

As an employer, your business must have an Australian Business Number to participate in the scheme and you must provide Parental Leave Pay to an eligible Australian based employee who:

• Has worked for you for at least 12 months before the expected date of birth or adoption.
• Will be your employee until at least the end of their Paid Parental Leave period.

Dad And Partner Pay

Finally some recognition for the important role partners play in helping raise a new baby with the government introducing Dad and Partner Pay for eligible working dads or partners, including adopting parents and same-sex couples (they just can’t legalize their relationships yet!). Under the Dad and Partner Pay scheme they may get up to two weeks pay at the rate of the National Minimum Wage. They must not be working during this time or must be on unpaid leave.

See the following link for further clarification of the paid parental leave scheme http://www.humanservices.gov.au/business/services/centrelink/paid-parental-leave-scheme-for-employers/

Otago University recently released a report following a unique study investigating the impact of kids TV time as a child and adolescent on behaviour later in life. The study which was published in the United States journal Pediatrics looked at 1000 children born in Dunedin in 1972-73 where every two years between the ages of 5 and 15, they were asked how much television they watched and subsequently they were tracked until they were 26 years old. It is believed to be the first real life study of it’s kind following TV viewing throughout childhood and then looking at a range of antisocial outcomes and drawing conclusions.

The findings were quite concerning regardning the impact that allowing our children too much TV can have later in life on them and society as a whole.

The study found the risk of having a criminal conviction by early adulthood increased by about 30% with every hour children and teens spent watching TV on an average weeknight which is a staggering finding. Co-author Associate Professor Bob Hancox also said “While we’re not saying that television causes all antisocial behaviour, our findings do suggest that reducing kids TV time could go some way towards reducing rates of antisocial behaviour in society.”

Watching More TV In Childhood Is Associated With:

• Aggressive personality traits.
• Increased tendency to experience negative emotions.
• Increased risk of antisocial personality disorder in adulthood.

It was noted that a limitation of the study was the lack of information on the type of programmes the children were watching. So telling if it was a particular type of programme or just the fact they were watching TV at all that led to these changes.

whether the content contributed to violent and antisocial behaviour later in life, or whether the amount of time spent watching television meant children did not develop pro-social behaviour and life skills, he said.

It was suggested that as an observational study, it cannot prove that watching too much television caused the antisocial outcomes, but the findings of this study are consistent with other research and provide further evidence that excessive kids TV time can have long-term consequences for behaviour later in life.

University of Canterbury sociology professor Greg Newbold said bad parenting, rather than excessive television watching, caused children to become criminals.
“The primary factor, I think, will be the fact that kids who are allowed to watch lots and lots of television have parents who do not play a very active role in their lives. Bad parenting and television are linked and criminality is a consequence of that.”

Sport Waikato in New Zealand a Community service which fosters participation in sport and active living makes the following recommendations regarding TV exposure and children, not discriminating between TV and time on the computers, ipads as being something different it all falls under the blanket of screen time.

Screen Time

Being the time children spend in front of screens, including the TV, DVDs, the computer, ipad and even mobile phones.
When children are engaged in screen time they’re usually sitting still and missing out on healthy physical activity and eating junk food while sitting in front of a screen is a recipe for child obesity.

Many child development experts recommend the following:

• Children under two: no screen time at all
• Children aged 2-5: no more than one hour of screen time a day
• Children over five: no more than two hours each day.

It is suggested that any screen time should be followed with an outdoor activity like going to the park and if your child is snacking during screen time, keep snacks healthy as always.

Angelina Jolie has recently made her first public appearance since undertaking a double mastectomy, the team at baby social would like to applaud her courage and commitment she made to her family in making the decision to undergo the surgery and the increased awareness and resulting discussion about women’s health has benefited greatly as a result of her brave choice.

A Family History Stopped

37 year old Jolie lost her mother Marcheline Bertrand actress and producer to ovarian cancer in 2007 at the young age of 56 and earlier this year her aunt Debbie Martin died of breast cancer aged 61. After discovering she had inherited a genetic mutation that put her at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer Jolie decided to have her breasts removed and reconstructed in a three step surgery process over a period of a few months and reports having completed the surgeries she feels great and that her “chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent.”.
After discovering she had the genetic mutation of the BRCA1 gene and the estimated risk was that she had “…an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer…” she made the difficult decision to be proactive and minimize her risk as much as possible and have a preventative double mastectomy. It was a decision she said that ultimately came down to her kids, actor Brad Pitt and Jolie have three biological and three adopted children. Jolie said after the surgeries “I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.” Pitt said “The beautiful thing is that for us, life will go on. … It certainly brought our family tighter together.”

Breast Cancer: The Facts

According to healthinsight operated by Healthdirect Australia, breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in Australian women. A total of 2,618 women died from breast cancer in 2006, making it the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths for women.
Age is the biggest risk factor in developing the disease. Over 75% of breast cancers occur in women 50 years and over.
A mastectomy is an operation that removes all or part of the breast. Jolie was quoted as writing “… that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made,”
According to the National Cancer Institute BRCA stands for breast cancer susceptibility genes, a class of genes known as tumor suppressors.
Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have been linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. A simple blood test can determine if a woman is “highly susceptible” to the cancers.
Jolie is not alone, fellow Hollywood actress Christina Applegate had a similar procedure in 2008, who also had a mutation of the BRCA1 gene.

Jolie stated that she wants to “…encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices.” Acknowledging surgery might not be the right choice for every woman but it is important to know your options.

An Inspiration To All Women

She just continues to inspire, what an amazing woman in arts, charity, family and life, Angelina we applaud you. The decision to remove your breasts for any woman would be an unbelievably difficult one and for someone so firmly in the public eye and considered one of the sexiest women alive year after year making this decision must have been arguably the most difficult decision of her life to date and the fact that she has used her position of influence to help cast such a positive light and sense of hope and importance on women’s health issues is truly inspiring.

The Best Organsational Iphone Apps

1. Taskify ($5.49)
Taskify is my favourite organisational app. Taskify keeps track of tasks by project, folder, place, person, tool or date . All features of the Taskify application are designed to be quick, intuitive and easy to use. Taskify allows you create simple to do list, or having multiple complex projects. It helps you figure out anything you need to do quickly and easily, whether it`s a shopping list, project steps or things to do, whatever you need.

2. Evernote (Free)
Evernote makes it easy to remember things big and small from your everyday life using your computer, phone, tablet and the web. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity. Evernote lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders–and makes these notes completely searchable, whether you are at home, at work, or on the go.

3. Cozi(Free)
Cozi is every parent’s dream. This app lets you manage the schedule’s of your entire family. You can create a master calendar for everyone and also color code a calendar for each individual. When creating events, tasks, or shopping lists, you can add which family member needs to go. Now, “sorry mom, you didn’t tell me about soccer practice” is no longer an excuse. This app is great even for non-families. In college, this app would’ve been helpful for planning group meetings, coordinating among roommates and more. Plus, it’s free!

4. Toodledo ($2.99)
Get organized and stay motivated with this powerful to-do task list. Toodledo is a powerful task and note manager, for the iPhone and iPad. It will organize your to-do list and notes, and make you more productive.

5. Home Routines ($4.99)
HomeRoutines is simple, encouraging, and designed to support the structure of housework systems that you already know and love, while still remaining flexible. Take charge of your recurring household tasks with HomeRoutines. Create routine checklists, then complete them on your chosen days of the week, with reminder notifications to keep you on track, and a gold star for each completed task. Your checklists can automatically reset – start fresh each morning, week, or month. Free online editing and syncing between your devices. HomeRoutines is totally customizable, easy to use, and friendly, not bossy.

6. Drop Box (free)
Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again! Access any file you save to your Dropbox from all your computers, iPhone, iPad and even the Dropbox website!

7. Budget Touch ($6.49)
Budget Touch is a fully featured budgeting app for iPhone and iPad. Use on its own on your iOS device, or with Budget for Windows or Mac desktop software.Budget Touch uses the envelope model of budgeting. Set aside money for your standard expenses, then know how much you have left to enjoy. Enter your expenses, and view your account and envelope balances while on the go. You can also get reports, see graphs, list your transactions, and much more.

8. Weave (free)
Weave is a beautiful, easy-to-use and free app that helps you feel organized and in control of your life! Keep track of what’s going on with your business, your hobbies and everything in between – all focused on the projects that are important to you.

9. Marble Jar (free)
Marble Jar is an app that uses the ideas of positive reinforcement and child participation in monitoring their own progress. great motivator for mums although designed for kids. You can set up different jars with different goals for each. For the child who won’t go to bed on time, try adding a marble to her “bedtime” jar each night she goes to bed on time without whingeing. Collect 10 marbles in a jar and they can have friends over to play. Maybe for mums you could use this as an exercise app, each time you go for a run, or go to the gym or walk the pram/dog you could collect marbles in your “new you fit” jar and get that new dress.

10. istuiez (2.99)
A parent’s life is a dizzying mix of family activity and just plain craziness! For parents trying to take care of your kids and to catch up while they are in school. Take charge of your kids schedule and put iStudiez Pro to work for you! Take advantage of iStudiez Pro easy navigation and never miss another course, class, track tasks and deadlines, plan homework, arrange assignments and much more!

Guys, trouble under standing your two year old? You’re not alone.
Ever been kicked in the balls by your two year old and somehow it ends up upsetting them and you’re the one who ends up appoligising to them. Or found yourself in an argument with your toddler and drawn parallels to having an argument with the fairer sex? An argument where all rational thinking goes out the door, they adopt a win at all cost approach and logical reasoning with either party in the heat of the moment is near on impossible, the end result being despite all evidence overwhelmingly supporting your cause self preservation kicks in and you find yourself backing down from your principles in order to maintain a harmonious living environment.
Following my two year old beating me into submission with yet another irrational tantrum a couple of days back it got me thinking about the ways a two year old is like a woman.

Top 10 Ways A Two Year Old Is Like A Woman

1.  Both of them have you repeatedly sitting through watching horrendous movies or TV shows and seem to beleive in their own way that “Shrek” and the “Notebook” are actually real and are dissapointed because you can’t turn into a giant ogre, a fire breathing dragon or Ryan Gosling.
2. Selective memory, when it suits them they don’t forget. They never forget. If you ever say anything, even in passing they will latch on to it like a dog with a bone and use it against you or to their advantage at a later stage. Never say you will fix something, never even say “yeah, yeah I’ll take care of it” and never ever say “if you eat up all your dinner I will build you a princess castle” they just may call your bluff.
3. Neither have any understanding or appreciation for the game of cricket and that it should be watched uninterrupted in its entirity from start to finish.
4. The easiest way to end an argument with either of them is to buy them a present.
5. Getting dressed in the morning can require going through almost every outfit in their wardrobe before they end up wearing the original thing they’d chosen anyway.
6. Arguing with either of them is pointless. Regardless of the strength of your argument you have lost before you started, you can not compete with either irrational thinking or tears. You will always end up appoligising. Refer to number 4.
7. They never seem to want to eat unless you are eating something and then they will happily pick away at the food off your plate.
8. The 180. Two seconds after everything was all rosy and happy and everyone is laughing, seemingly for no reason they will just start spontaneously crying.
9. Both of them think that the word “want” and “need” can be used interchangeably.
10. Every time they should be going to sleep they try to start up a conversation with you.

I ran my top 10 by my wife prior to publishing it and after day or so when she started talking to me again she presented me with her top 10 list, to be shared in my next blog (with expletives removed). One thing I have learnt when dealing with both women and toddlers is that a lot can be solved with a cuddle and that payback can be a bitch!

New label Charlize is creating magic with their handmade Kimono Capes in beautifully printed floaty sheer chiffons, silks and heavier satins for winter. Charlize’s new Autumn/Winter 2013 collection features stunning printed heavy silks reflecting earthy tones and rich colourful accents of tangerine, warm purples and sea blues.

Some of their signature prints include ‘Indian Princess’ in Chiffon, ‘Lovelace’ in Cotton Lace, ‘I Feel Pretty’ in Chiffon, ‘Vintage Bloom’ in Chiffon, ‘Ten… birds’ in Chiffon and of course Baby Social’s fav are the new 100% silk boho collection.

Charlize Story

Charlize was founded by two busy mummy’s of two who love this type of garment but struggled to find nice prints at the stores. A few long sewing sessions saw the start of what is now the popular Charlize kimono.

So how did Charlize become one of Australia’s quickest growing fashion brands? Through the quality and demand for these gorgeous kimono designs suitable for the beach lifestyle in Australia and through social media like Facebook and Instagram. After only 6 week old Charlize went internationally reaching the USA, United Kingdom and New Zealand! We just love success stories from hard working mums and these girls have certainly got it all going on!

For Stylish Mums-To-Be & Mums

Charlize offers 5 sizes. Cropped is a shorter version (falls to the waist area), semi mid (falls to the hip area), mid (to the knee), mid calf (between the knee and ankle) and long (to the ankle). The kimonos can be worn casually with leggings or shorts and a floaty top or more dressy paired with a nice dress and heels. They are one size fits all.

Check out the latest designs on www.facebook.com/charlizekimono or Instagram: charlize_kimono. You can contact them by Sending a Facebook message with your choice of fabric and length or via Email: charlizekimonos@gmail.com

For a limited time Charlize have created girls night pop-up shop parties. The girls at Baby Social got involved and we had an absolute blast. Great excuse to get together with the girls and get added bonuses for hosting the event with your friends.

God bless her little soul, she wants another cubby house. A hideaway for the soul, so her and mummy can go underneath giggle, read books, have tea parties and let our imaginations run wild.
I find myself making cubby houses out of sheets with furniture indoors, sheets and ropes outside but realised it’s time for mummy to make one of those gorgeous teepee ones you see on Instagram, Pinterest and crafty mum blogs.

Below you will see some of my favourite inspirations for a gorgeous cubby house.

These designs are just stunning, I have collected these images over time without knowing where I found them. If you know one of the bloggers or one of the companies that sell any of the above. Please let me know so I can attach details and link to share with our fans! Thank you

Ginger and Fox is an online store that stocks an exclusive and vintage inspired line of bibs, t-shirts, bodysuits and blankets that are designed to provide something special and unique for babies and toddlers.

Ginger and Fox creates designs that are original and hand pressed to order – ensuring that your baby, toddler or gift stands out in the crowd with a one of a kind piece. “We transfer personalised designs onto our organic apparel – giving your baby a piece of clothing that is unique to them. However, if you don’t fancy a personalised baby bib, t-shirt, bodysuit or blanket, you can opt for our non-personalised range”.

Our range isn’t just great for your own young ones, either. If you’re looking for a stand out gift for a baby or toddler, our exclusive items are the perfect fit for all celebrations. Easy to browse and buy online at www.gingerandfox.com.au, they make for a special gift that will be remembered for years to come.
When you order from Ginger and Fox, you’ll be sure to receive high-quality pieces of babies clothing and accessories made from fine organic materials that are hand pressed to order.

The Beginning….

Ginger and Fox was started in early 2012 by two sisters with a passion for fine babies’ clothing, unique gifts and vintage inspired design. Deciding to combine these passions, Ginger and Fox has created a range that embodies an individualised and refreshing approach to babies’ fashion & accessories.

Dedicated to stocking only the highest quality, organic items and committed to offering their customers a range of babies clothing & gifts that dares to be different, the team at Ginger and Fox is in the business of helping parents make their young ones look the part in unique, eco-friendly bibs, t-shirts, bodysuits & blankets.

We’re also a great place to start when you’re trying to find that stand out baby gift for a special celebration. Ginger and Fox makes it simple to browse and buy online and easy to find and personalise a unique, high-quality gift for little ones.

View and shop the full range at www.gingerandfox.com.au

Jason Lee an inspirational Dad who has captured his gorgeous kids through the lense of his camera which he only picked up a year before his daughter was born which was about 9 years ago now. Natural talent we are sure.
His photography captures his girls day to day life and the fun certainly shows in as you see these little girls play. The smiles light up any photograph.
This savvy dad is also a wedding photographer and has an awesome collection of his images on his personal blog http://kristinandkayla.blogspot.com.au/ also check out his photography website http://www.jwlphotography.com/