christmas

12 Days of Christmas Giveaways

December 1 2019 By melbournemamma 1 Comment

I’ve got 12 days of AMAZING GIVEAWAYS to celebrate the festive season and say THANK YOU to all of my fabulous followers.

There’s almost $2000 of prizes given away this year, with fabulous gifts and fun for the whole family.

12 Days of Christmas giveaways kicks off on my Instagram page at 8.00 pm (Melbourne time) on Sunday, 1 December 2019.

One prize will be ups for grabs each day. Just follow the prompts and you could be one of my lucky winners.

Check out the amazing giveaway lineup below:

DAY 1 – Sunday 1 December – SMIGGLE Goodies

One lucky person will WIN a Smiggle prize pack containing 1 x Smiggle Star Wars Kylo Ren Hardtop Backpack, 1 x Smiggle Pen Mix (30 pack), 1 x Smiggle Twin Tip Markers (12 pack), 1 x Smiggle Scented Colouring Pencils (12 pack) and 1 x Smiggle Scented Pencils (4 pack). Total prize value: $147.45.

To view the complete Smiggle Star Wars range or shop all the awesome Smiggle goodies visit smiggle.com.au

DAY 2 – Monday 2 December – SANTA’S MAGICAL KINGDOM Family Pass

One lucky person will WIN a Family Pass to Santa’s Magical Kingdom at Caulfield Racecourse. Total prize value: $143.

The magic of Christmas will come alive at Santa’s Magical Kingdom with an interactive walk-through adventure land including everything that you love about Christmas, plus the Bertocchi International Spectacular Christmas Show that will amaze everyone.

For more information on Santa’s Magical Kingdom or to book tickets visit santasmagicalkingdom.com.au

Winner can choose the day and time they would like to attend, subject to availability. Tickets are not transferable and must be used for the December 2019 event. Family pass is four tickets – 2 adults + 2 children OR 1 adult + 3 children.

DAY 3 – Tuesday 3 December – WAHU Summer Fun Goodies x 2

Two lucky people will each WIN a Wahu prize pack containing 1 x Wahu Memory Dive, 1 x Wahu U Sink ‘n’ Score, 1 x Wahu Skim ‘n’ Hoop and 1 x Wahu Surfer Dudes. Total prize value: $349.92.

Hit the pool, the beach or the park with Wahu’s brilliant inflatable toys and games for kids. For more information and to see the full Wahu range visit wahu.com.au

DAY 4 – Wednesday 4 December – SUGAR REPUBLIC Double Pass

One lucky person will WIN a double pass to Christmasland at Sugar Republic. Total prize value $76.60.

Rejoice, Christmas-lovers, for Melbourne’s jolliest pop-up is here to bring you all the seasonal cheer! Come and re-live your childhood in our immersive festive spaces. It’s jolly good fun for all the family.

For more information on Christmasland at Sugar Republic or to book tickets visit sugarrepublic.com.au

Winner can choose the day and time they would like to attend, subject to availability. Tickets are not transferable and must be used for the Christmasland 2019 event. Double pass is two tickets – 2 adults OR 1 adult + 1 child.

DAY 5 – Thursday 5 December – VTECH Goodies

One lucky person will WIN a VTECH prize pack containing 1 x Toot-Toot Drivers Train Set, 1 x Toot-Toot Drivers Track Set, 2 x Toot-Toot Drivers Vehicles, 1 x ZoomiZooz Alligator, 1 x ZoomiZooz Animal Train, 1 x ZoomiZooz Characters (3-pack). Total prize value: $177.65.

To view the complete VTech range of learning and educational toys visit vtech.com.au

DAY 6 – Friday 6 December – LEGOLAND® DISCOVERY CENTRE Christmas Bricktacular Family Pass

One lucky person will WIN a Family Pass to Christmas Bricktacular at the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre at Chadstone Shopping Centre. Total prize value: $130.

Experience the magic of the festive season with a LEGO® twist at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre with Christmas Bricktacular running every day from 1-24 December. Kids can write a letter to Santa Claus and post it in the LEGO mailbox. One of Santa’s elves – also known as LEGOLAND Discovery Centre’s Master Builder – will grant five guests’ LEGO-related Christmas wishes! Families can also take a photo with the 1.9m tall LEGO Christmas tree, build a LEGO penguin in the Creative Workshop, make their own Christmas tree badges (weekends only) and enjoy festive cookies and cupcakes from the café!

For more information on Christmas Bricktacular at the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre or to book tickets visit LEGOLANDDiscoveryCentre.com.au

DAY 7 – Saturday 7 December – SNUGGLEBUM Pjs

One lucky person will WIN three pairs of kids Snugglebum Christmas pjs. Choose from various designs in sizes newborn to 16 years! Total prize value: $158.65 (max.)

Snugglebum also have matching jammies for mums and dads so everyone can be twining on Christmas morning!

To view the complete Snugglebum range visit www.snugglebum.com.au.

Terms & Conditions: Winner can choose any three items from Snugglebum’s Christmas collection only. Not transferable.

DAY 8 – Sunday 8 December – ARTVO Family Pass x 2

Two lucky people will each WIN a Family Pass to ArtVo Melbourne. Total prize value: $156.

ArtVo is Australia’s first immersive, ‘trick-art’ gallery! Priceless photos. Unbelievable scenarios. Explore the interactive gallery over 11 themed zones, touch the art and have fun!

For more information on ArtVo Melbourne or to book tickets visit artvo.com.au

Terms & Conditions: Winner can choose the day and time they would like to attend, subject to availability. Tickets are not transferable. Family pass is four tickets – 2 adults + 2 children OR 1 adult + 3 children.

DAY 9 – Monday 9 December – HOOPLA bag

One lucky person will WIN a mustard coloured Hoopla mini bag. Total prize value: $89

Add some colour to your wardrobe with a gorgeous leather handbag from Hoopla. Sleek, classic designs and fun colours to match your personality.

For more information or to shop the gorgeous Hoopla range visit hooplatotebags.com

DAY 10 – Tuesday 10 December – LEGENDS IN CONCERT Double Pass

One lucky person will WIN a double pass to Legends in Concert at The Palms at Crown Melbourne.

Legends in Concert is one of the longest running and most popular shows in Las Vegas, and this January, the show is returning to Melbourne by popular demand for a fourth season with tribute artists Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, Elton John, Johnny Cash, Village People, Dusty Springfield, Diana Ross and Lady Gaga.

This high energy internationally acclaimed production takes audiences on an electrifying journey through the songbooks of these legendary singers accompanied by a live band and with talented singers, dancers, lavish multimedia theatrical sets and authentic costumes.

For more information on Legends in Concert or to book tickets visit crownmelbourne.com.au/entertainment/concerts

Terms & Conditions: Tickets are for 7.30pm performance on Thursday, 9 January 2020. Tickets are not transferable. Double pass is two tickets.

DAY 11 – Wednesday 11 December – THE CUPCAKE QUEENS $150 Voucher

One lucky person will WIN a $150 voucher from my favourite cake shop The Cupcake Queens. Total prize value: $150.

Use your voucher to purchase delicious treats from The Cupcake Queens Christmas range or order some cupcakes or a cake for your next special occasion.

The Cupcake Queens are a family owned and operated business, and since launching in 2005 in Williamstown, they have expanded to 10 locations across Melbourne. To find your nearest location or to view their range visit thecupcakequeens.com.au.

Terms & Conditions: Voucher is valid until 30 June 2020 and can be used at any The Cupcake Queens location. Check website for Christmas order cutoff dates.

DAY 12 – Thursday 12 December – LUNA PARK Family Pass

One lucky person will WIN entry and unlimited rides Family Pass to Luna Park Melbourne. Total prize value: $155.

Let the good times roll with new sights and heights this Summer at Luna Park. Gather the family and head to Luna Park for a trip up, up, up high into the sky that’ll have you screaming with delight all the way!
Check out the brand new SUPERNOVA – a giant swing tower that takes passengers for a super high and fast 360° spin 32 metres into the sky!

For more information on what’s happening this Summer at Luna Park or to book tickets visit lunapark.com.au

Terms & Conditions: Winner can choose the day and time they would like to attend, subject to availability (21 December 2019 – 2 February 2020). Tickets are not transferable. Family pass is four tickets – 2 adults + 2 children OR 1 adult + 3 children.

Giveaway Terms & Conditions

Enter via @melbournemamma Instagram page.
The more times you enter, the more chances you have of winning.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. You understand that you are providing your information to the owner(s) of the Instagram pages and not to Instagram.
Each giveaway will run for 24 hours from 8.00pm until 8.00 pm the following day (Melbourne time) from Sunday 1 December until Friday, 13 December 2019.
Giveaway is open to Australian residents aged 18+ only. Void where prohibited by law.
Winners will be chosen at random, and announced at the end of each day on Instagram.

Please note: I cannot guarantee delivery of product prizes by Christmas but we will do our best to get them to you in time.

GOOD LUCK!

Top 10 Family Christmas Movies

December 14 2018 By melbournemamma Leave a Comment

Top 10 Family Christmas Movies

It’s time to curl up on the couch with the kids and enjoy some wonderful family Christmas movies.

My kids love all of these movies and I sometimes find them watching throughout the year and not just at Christmas time.

I’ve included all the movie classifications and as a guide, the age that I’ve found them appropriate for my kids (Note: all children are different and only you know what is best for your own child). If in doubt I recommend you visit commonsensemedia.org, for further infomation regarding each movie and to see reviews from parents and children who have watched the movies themselves.

Home Alone (Rated PG, Age 8+) – An eight-year-old troublemaker must protect his house from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation.
The Polar Express (Rated G, Age 6+) – On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.
Jingle All The Way (Rated PG, Age 7+) – A father vows to get his son a Turbo Man action figure for Christmas. However, every store is sold out of them, and he must travel all over town and compete with everybody else in order to find one.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG 13, Age 13+) – The Griswold family’s plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (Not rated, Age 3+) – Laughed at because of his nose, Rudolph runs away into the North Pole wilderness, where he meets a gentle polar bear. When his friend Zoey, an attractive young doe, is captured by evil Ice Queen Stormella, Rudolph comes to her rescue and also helps Santa save Christmas.
Elf (Rated PG, Age 7+) – After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity.
The Santa Clause (Rated PG, Age 8+) – When a man inadvertantly kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.
Gremlins (Rated PG, Age 9+) – A boy inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas (Not rated, Age 4+) – Disney’s biggest stars shine in a magical all-new movie – sure to become a holiday classic! Mickey, Minnie, and their famous friends Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Pluto gather together to reminisce about the love, magic and surprises in three wonder-filled stories of Christmas past.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Rated PG, Age 7+) – On the outskirts of Whoville, there lives a green, revenge-seeking Grinch who plans on ruining the Christmas holiday for all of the citizens of the town.

And it just wouldn’t be a Christmas movie list without me mentioning my own favourites, they’re not really suitable for the kids, so wait until they’ve gone to bed to curl up on the couch or in bed; Love Actually, The Holiday, Die Hard, Trading Places and It’s A Wonderful Life.

What’s your favourite Christmas movie?

Dear Santa Printable Christmas Letter

November 27 2018 By melbournemamma

I made a Dear Santa printable letter for my kids and I’d love to share it with you.

You can download and print a copy of the letter below.

dear santa christmas letter template

As my children get older (8 and 11), I’m finding it harder and harder to come up with great gift ideas and I’m sure Santa struggles too.

They usually end up giving me a long list of random stuff – stuff, that they don’t need or even really want. Stuff that they play with for a short amount of time, sometimes only Christmas Day (don’t you hate that!!!), before it begins to gather dust on a shelf or gets hidden in a cupboard.

In this letter I give them five choices only – something they want, something they need, something they’ll wear and something they’ll read. They can also ask for one special thing that they REALLY want, so that Santa knows which gift they’re hoping for the most. It’s also a great way to steer them away from only asking for toys.

Please feel free to print it for your kids too. Click here to open PDF version for printing.

There’s only four weeks until the big day, so make sure you get the kids to mail their Dear Santa letter to Santa ASAP.

What are your kids asking Santa to bring this year? Share them in the comments below to help other parents (ie me!) come up with some great ideas.

dear santa christmas letter

Ultimate Melbourne Christmas Gift Guide 2018

November 5 2018 By melbournemamma 1 Comment

There’s just seven weeks until Christmas and I’ve rounded up the best products from some of my favourite local stores and created my Melbourne Christmas Gift Guide.

When you shop from local stores this Christmas, you won’t be helping some CEO get a nice fat Christmas bonus, you’ll be helping a local Melbourne family have a wonderful Christmas, or perhaps a much needed family holiday or even make it easier for a business owner to send their kids to a school holiday program while mum and dad are working during the school holidays.

Avoid the mayhem at the shopping centres and shop from the comfort of your home (all products are available online). Not only will you be doing yourself a favour but you will also be supporting local stores that really appreciate it – especially at this time of year.

In the guide you will find gifts idea for kids of all ages, along with mums, dads, teachers and stocking stuffers under $20!

Rainbow Wall Clock $79, ICONIC Rainbow Puzzle $110, Kid O Myland STEM Car $60, Toddler Christmas Creative Box $39.95, See-ya Suitcase $99, Red Velvet Santa Sack $69.95, Toddler Dinosaur Creative Box $39.95, Vintage Balance Bike $99.95, Dinosaur Crayons $16.95, My First Multi Play Activity Cube $64.95 ,

Preschool Christmas Creative Box $39.95 , Name Crayons $20, Animals of the World Canvas $124.95, KontraBand Kids Headphones $34.95, Sunjellies Retro Basket $35, Dear Little Mailbox $39.95, Le Toy Van Popcorn Machine $69.95, Preschool Space Creative Box $39.95, KICKBricks $99, Sailor Wall Clock $79

Freckle Christmas Tree $4.95, Sphero Mini $81.99, Neon Clock $69, Happy Mail $21.95, DIY Sound-Activated Walking Dinosaur Kit $36.99, T-Rex Money Box $19.95, Wing Bookends $59, Hands Free Walkie Talkies $39.99, LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar $38.95, Christmas Reindeer Chocolate $6.95

Forever Young Print $99, Origami Animal Necklace $99, Harry Potter Hedwig Owl Mug $24.99, Stainless Steel Flask $45.00, Neon Clock $79, Metropol Scooter $129.99, Beach Sounds $69.95, Herschel Backpack $79.95, Ultra Drone Storm Camera Wi-Fi $94.95, Tallala Towel $39.95

Craft Beer Gift Box – Four Pack $44.95, Chocolate Freckle Thanks $6.95, Best in Black Tea Kit $35, The Ultimate Movie Buff Quiz Mug $22.99, Teacher Gift Box $20, Personalised Teacher Bookmarks $17.95, Twelve Days of Christmas Tea Advent Calendar $40, Weekly Pad $12.95, Santa’s Specialty Hamper $40, Michel Cluizel Chocolates $49

Christmas Calories Block $6.95, Antipasto Platter $85, Glasshouse Hamper $119, Bucket List $29.95, Sun Umbrella from $129, For the Love of Tea $80, Goal Digger Planner $44.95 , Vintage Ladies Bike $289.99, Folding Wine Table $99.95, Kollab Shopper Tote $24.99

Skwosh Swim Trunks + Craft Beer $99, LEGO Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter $114.99, Personalised Best Dad Bamboo Wall Hanging $45, Beard Oil Gift Pack + Craft Beer $59 , Get Shit Done $12.95, OrbitKey Clip $49.90, Weekender Hamper $149, Gents Shoe Polishing Kit $32, Mens Travel Set $185, Coffee Break Basket $60

Get Shit Done $9.95, Pastel Arch with Unicorn BIY Kit $19.95, Outer space crayons $16.95, Mini Patternation Magnetic Game $18, Xmas Grab Bag – Chocolate Raspberries $6.95 , Fortnite Do Not Disturb Sign $12, QUUT Alto Sand & Snow Toy $19.95, Fornite Dance Tee $15, On The Go Colouring Book with crayons $6.50, Glow In The Dark Temporary Tattoos $7.99, Who Am I? The Hilarious Guessing Game $14.99, Little Messages $16.95, Xmas Chocolate Freckle Pop $6.95, Little Whale Light $19.95, Desk Pad $12.95, Frosty The Melting Snowman $16.95, Mesmerised Book for Newborns $15.95, Apple Park Mini Bunny Rattle $11.99, I Love Gaming Poster $12.99

Have you started your Christmas Shopping? What’s on your wish list this Christmas?

All prices in the Melbourne Christmas Gift Guide were accurate at the time of publication. Please contact individual stores for any porduct enquiries.

* This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase via one of these links, I will receive a small commission, at no cost to you.

FREE Dear Santa Printable Letter

December 11 2017 By melbournemamma 2 Comments

Here’s a FREE ‘Dear Santa’ printable that I made for my kids.

They often get carried away with a list longer than the Great Wall of China, so I give them five choices only. That way Santa knows which gifts they’re hoping for the most.