Sunday 30 June 2019

5 Reasons to Build a House in Australia

Building a house from scratch in Australia is a dream. It has so many benefits to buying a home that is already built. The thought of it can be daunting and getting around legalities can be a minefield but with expert help from Prime Lawyers, moving should be a breeze.


Here are 5 reasons why you should build your home:

1) You deal directly with the builder
You won't have to deal with a middle man, you will be directly involved with the builder and therefore you know that they will understand exactly what you want as you are dealing with them yourself.


2) You can build your home to suit your lifestyle
If you love games then why not add a games room. If you like reading you could add a room as a library or if watching films is your thing then why not build a snug movie theatre. The world is your oyster. 

3) You can build an environmentally friendly home
If you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint then this is the time to do it. This will also help you save money on those dreaded energy bills too. You could add solar panels to your new home home and/or use eco friendly building materials.

4) You are the designer
The best reason to build your own home is that you become the designer. You make decision on everything from the garden to the bedroom. You choose where the walls go, what doors you want, how you want your kitchen, whether you want open plan living or not. You name it, the decision and choices are all yours.


5) It'll be easier to sell down the line
Your built home will be easier to sell in the future (if you ever wanted to) as it'll be unique and it'll stand out from the crowd. It will have fantastic structure and design with all the mod cons that buyers would be interested in.


Have you ever built a home or considered it?

*This is a collaborative post*
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Be in the Picture - Weekly Favourites 10

Welcome back to the Be in the Picture weekly roundup. Once again there were lots of wonderful pictures shared on instagram and I struggled to pick just a few favourites. I could have featured so many. If you missed the last roundup you can catch up with it here, Be in the Picture 9.

For those of you that haven't heard of #beinthepicture, it is an instagram hashtag that myself and Alana from Baby Holiday created. It is designed to encourage you to get in-front of the camera as opposed to behind it. I used to always be the one taking the pictures and I was never in them myself. 


You can use the hashtag on any pictures that feature you, whether that be fashion, parenting, travel, with your partner etc. You name it, we want to see it.


This week I chose family pictures. There's been so many lovely family shots over my instagram feed with families on holiday, in flower fields, at the beach etc. 



Here are my favourites:


First up is this stunning floral family pic from Steph at renovationbb.






Next is this fab beach shot from Lauren at @scrapbook.lives




Just look at this stunning photo from Rachel at @illustratedteacup. The colours are perfect.





A few thoughts on the eve of Dexter's birthday. I always imagined I’d mother girls. I guess because I’m one of three girls and have a close resemblance to my own mother. I just figured I’d have girls too. And then I had Henry. And that was great. I’d always wished for an older brother. When I was pregnant the second time around, almost everyone thought I was having a girl until we had a scan to reveal, Dexter, another boy. And I was OK with that. I’m perfectly happy being a mama of boys. In fact I love it. There’s so much to love about two boys. And now I’m at a full year of mothering two boys. Dexter just about turning one years old; to be honest I think this had been the fastest year of my life. A full rotation of the Earth around the Sun, and I’ve had the honour of watching my two boys grow up and start creating a wonderful bond together. More in my blog post... Link in my bio Moral of the story: I love being a mum to my boys. Photos by @heatherlerrynphotography (complimentary - no obligation to share)
A post shared by Rachel / BoyMama + StoryTeller (@illustratedteacup) on

Last up from people that joined in with the hashtag is this adorable one from Emily at @emilyandindiana. I couldn't resist popping some Disney into the roundup as we all know I'm partial to a spot of anything Disney.





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Can you guess what we did today? I couldn’t wait any longer to see Toy Story 4, so I booked us last minute tickets this afternoon (a very risky move with 3 tired kids after a morning swimming..) It was sooo good though and had such a lovely ending! Even Lilah was mesmerised and sat so well throughout! Have you seen it yet? • • • • #mycolourfulkids #motherhoodthroughig #letthembekids #tinybigadventure #myfamilyadventure #myhappycapture #channelmumvillage #littlesnippetsofus #snaphappybritmums #lifecloseup #rememberingthesedays #celebratechildhood #getintheframe #beinthepicture #motherhood_magic #parentsinthepicture #thepeacocksdodisney #disney #disneylandparis #disneylandparis2019 #disneyobsessed #disneylover #dlp #disneygram #instadisney #eurodisney #studiospark #disneystyle #toystory4
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My favourite picture from my own instagram grid (@kerrylouisenorris) was this one taken today on a family picnic.



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Bloody love this pic taken of us today 💕 Even Eva’s over the top cheesy toothless grin lol. I haven’t felt myself in the last couple of weeks which I think has been down to over tiredness, being too busy, being away from the kids, on and the dreaded PMT and Mother Nature lol. Next month is super busy for me again and I’ll be away from my girls for quite a bit with work, uni, weddings and hens. Hate being away from them so much. I just need to sort my time management out, hit the gym more to focus my mind and practice lots of well-being so I don’t burn out. Today we had a lovely few hours together having a picnic and throwing rocks into the sea. It’s these simple days out that always give the fondest memories and leave me with a huge smile on my face. It’s these days I need to think about when life gets too hectic 💗 #meandmineproject #meandmine #lifecloseup #wellbeing #postivevibes #postivethoughts #myhappycapture #beinthepicture #familydayout
A post shared by Kerry Norris (@kerrylouisenorris) on

Make sure you join in with #beinthepicture over on instagram and also follow it to see everyone's pictures. 
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Saturday 22 June 2019

Keeping Tabs On Your Child

More and more people are capitalising on the possibility of using mobile phone spy software.
Spy software presents many benefits – a lot of which you may not initially think of. One of the main reasons why people use these programs is to make sure their children are being safe online and monitoring their whereabouts. In today’s social media age and digital environment, the safety issues regarding children seem to be increasing by the minute, and so it is understandable that, as a parent, you want to do everything in your power to make sure your child is safe and keep tabs on where they are.


Nevertheless, there are other uses for programs like this, for example, spy software is extremely beneficial in terms of business as all corporations will be able to track employees and so you can improve knowledge, efficiency, productivity and cost-effectiveness.

However, in order for this to be the case you need to make sure you have the best cell phone spy software in place. Luckily that is where this blog post comes into play. Consider the following points and you should have no trouble making the perfect purchase...

Physical Access
This is an obvious point, yet one that is so frequently overlooked and thus simply must be mentioned. You need to be able to have physical access to the phone you want to be able to gain information on. If not then you are going to purchase software you are not even able to use. This shouldn’t be too much of a problem when considering the main uses; i.e. parents easily have access to children’s mobile phones, and employers can call in all employee mobile phones merely for an update of software.

Features
You need to consider the features the software has available in relation to your main reasons for wanting to implement spy software. For example, you may want to find hidden apps on Android phones so you can know what your kids are up to. For instance, if you have employees who are frequently conducting work out of the office then you may wish to check that they are being productive and are not doing out-of-work activities in work hours. In order to ensure that this is the case, you will need to opt for spy software that has GPS tracking.

Remote or Local Data Access
The next thing you need to consider is where you wish to access the spy information from. If you are only going to be using the software from home or work then you may as well merely go for local data access. However, remote access is generally considered the more desirable option. By going for this you will be able to access information no matter where you are. Thus, if you are on a trip and want to check in on your child while they are being looked after by a babysitter it won’t be a problem.

Company’s Reputation / Good Reviews
You need to make sure the company providing the software has a credible reputation. In order to do this, you merely need to do a little bit of digging and some researching online. You should soon be able to deduce how legitimate the company is. Furthermore, if people have had bad experiences with the company in question then they will more than likely post this on the internet for all to see as they will want to warn you from utilizing the company’s service. Thus, only reviews are always beneficial.

Data Processing and Alerts
The last thing you need to consider is how the data is going to be processed. You need to be able to put criteria in place whereby you are notified if something happens e.g. if your child visits an age-inappropriate website or if your employee is going off their route on GPS. If the software doesn’t have this feature then you are going to have to spend all day manually the person or people in question. Needless to say, this will be highly inefficient and unproductive.

As you can see, there is a lot that needs to be considered when you are looking for the right software for keeping tabs on your child. Of course, this is not something all parents like to do, but it is a necessity. Plus, you can also use this software for business purposes too, so there are dual benefits.

*This is a collaborative post*

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Monday 17 June 2019

Weekly Meal Plan - 17/06/19

Here is this week's meal plan. I try not to cook different meals for the kids but some things on this weeks menu they aren't fussed on so they are having alternatives. I don't factor snacks into the weekend (I just wait and see what I fancy). I also haven't planned breakfast and lunch on Sunday incase we decide to go anywhere. 





Monday
Breakfast - Bran Flakes
Lunch - Chicken Wrap
Kids Dinner - Sharing Charcuterie Plate
Dinner - Minted Lamb Chops with Rice
Snacks - Rice Cakes

Tuesday
Breakfast - Coconut/Chai Overnight Oats
Lunch - Salmon Fillet and Green Veg
Kids Dinner - Meatballs and Spaghetti 
Dinner - Chicken Wraps
Snacks - Hummus and Carrots, Apple

Wednesday
Breakfast - Smoked Salmon, Eggs, Spinach
Lunch - Prawn and Asparagus Salad
Dinner - Apple Turkey Burgers with Sweet Potato Wedges
Snacks - Greek Yogurt, Nuts

Thursday
Breakfast - Loaded Overnight Oats
Lunch - Feta, Beetroot and Sweet Potato Salad
Kids Dinner - Fish and Vegetables 
Dinner - Black Bean and Prawn Quesadillas 
Snacks - Rice Cakes, Low Calorie Jelly

Friday
Breakfast - Bran Flakes
Lunch - Cheese and Onion Omelette 
Dinner - Pork Chilli
Snacks - Banana, Rice Cakes

Saturday
Breakfast - Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Egg Bagel
Lunch - Tuna Pittas
Dinner - Chinese Fakeaway

Sunday 
Dinner - Roast Dinner 

If you're looking for any other meal inspiration then check out my last meal plan, Weekly Meal Plan.

What's on your meal plan for this week? I'm always looking for new ideas. 


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Wednesday 5 June 2019

Remembering my Super Fan Days

Disclaimer - AD/Sponsored post

As I was sat in Orlando airport waiting to board a flight home from our dream holiday, I had a quick browse on social media which gave me the case of the green eyed monster. Why I hear you ask? I was greeted with many images and videos of my friends at the Spice Girls gig in Cardiff. Back in the 90's I was a superfan and if I'm completely honest with you I still am.
When they announced they were reuniting and touring again, I was over the moon but once the tour dates were released I quickly realised I wouldn't be able to make the gig. I was gutted.

90's music in my opinion was epic. There were so many awesome bands who were producing hit after hit. There was Take That, The Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Blur, Blink 182, Destiny's Child, The Foo Fighters to name a few.

The Spice Girls and Take That were my favourite. I remember the day when Robbie announced he was leaving the band. I locked myself in my room and cried for hours, my mum outside the door desperately trying to calm me down and not understanding what the fuss was about. I can remember saying nothing will ever be the same again, I can't believe he would do this, how will I go on. Haha, pretty intense words for a teen. It honestly felt like the end of the world.

The Spice Girls were another level of awesome. They were new, unique, quirky and above all they had girl power. Every one wanted to be in the band and be the 6th Spice Girl. I had their posters all over my wall.

Through writing my blog I was actually able to meet Emma Bunton. Oh my goodness could I not contain my excitement. To be able to meet one of your childhood idols is pretty awesome. I was nervous, excited and so worried that I would burst into an awful rendition of wannabe. She was such a lovely lady. She was everything I hoped she would be when I was younger and more. 


I recently saw the new Walker's Crisps advert which features The Spice Girls turning up to the house of 'their biggest fan'. I wished it was my house!!! I'll have to enter the competition to try and win VIP tickets to one of their remaining tour dates.


Were you a Spice Girls fan? If so what was your favourite song?


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Tuesday 4 June 2019

Learn The Happy Art Of Saying No

*This is a collaborative post*


Two simple letters. One syllable. 'No' might be easy to learn to write, but when it comes to saying it, most of us struggle rather more. It's deeply ingrained in most of us, especially women, that saying no is a bad thing. Blame evolutionary psychology. Humans are by nature social animals, who evolved to live cooperatively in packs. This requires social agreement and co-operation - making decisions, perhaps at personal cost, for the overall good of the tribe. Millennia have taught us that working together and helping each other out is security could even make the difference between life and death - and saying 'No' is a slap in the face to this. We have learnt to say yes, even when it doesn't suit us, even when it goes against our own wishes and needs. Yes is the default position. But when we automatically go with yes, we can over commit ourselves, losing energy, time and finances in the process. We are not being mindful when we say yes without thinking. 'No' feels illicit, but it's actually a powerful tool which can give us back control of our own destiny - if only we learn to use it properly.

Learn How To Decline Gracefully

Often we struggle with saying no because we're worried about appearing rude, but in fact there are ways to decline something with grace. In fact, Coco Chanel herself said that 'Elegance is refusal'. If in doubt, the best policy is to reduce the amount you speak. The less you explain, the better. When we over-explain, it makes us look weaker and insecure in our decisions - and it allows an opening for other people to try and compromise our will and find cracks to try and change our minds. Keep it very simple, - 'I'm sorry, that doesn't work for me' is a good catch-all polite refusal. You don't need to elaborate any further. Don't apologise or start to try and justify what you're saying - you simply don't need to. Having confidence in your own decision is key.

Buy Some Time

If you are genuinely unsure about a request, play for time. You don't have to make a decision right away, especially if you think you may be tempted to say yes by default. Avoid stress and retreating into a grey haze by simply deferring, again in a concise way - 'I need to check my schedule/funds/plans. I'll get back to you soon'. It is better not to take too long to give your final answer, it the other person may start to hound you which can make you waver. Again, whether you deliver your decision on the phone, in person or over email be brief but firm - don't apologise or add lots of qualifiers. This tactic can be useful if you find yourself getting pressured into over committing a lot of the time.

You Are Enough

Sometimes, the three little words above are all we need to hear, especially if we're feeling like our self-confidence is low. Saying yes to other people's demands in the hope that it will make us a better person somehow is wrong. Saying yes all the time doesn't make you kind - in fact, it can be unintentionally cruel by taking you away from other people and commitments which are more deserving of your time. Equally, guaranteeing that you have time for you and your own self-care isn't selfish, it's necessary in order for you to carry on helping others and living your life to the fullest.
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