Easter Fun and Games

22 March 2012 By Leave a Comment

Easter is a fun time to spend with the family as it generally revolves around good company, great food and lots of chocolate.  It is particularly enjoyable for young children as they are full of anticipation for the arrival of the Easter Bunny.

Making Easter baskets for the kids can often mean more than just Easter eggs - I mean how cool would it be for them to receive their very own bunny personalised labels in amongst their basket of goodies.

Crafts are a great way to entertain the children and dyeing hardboiled eggs is certainly becoming the tradition in many households.  However there are many creative ways to bring a bit of Easter magic into your household this year – how about these Lucky Rabbit Feet , Scratch Art Easter Egg or Thumbprint Easter Cards to name a few.

Baking can certainly add an element of craft to the holiday especially in the form of these stunning Easter Bonnet Cookies or Easter Basket Cupcakes.  Or you can even try your hand at making your very own Easter Eggs or Easter chocolates; you will need to source out some moulds for this, but at this time of year it should not be difficult to find something to suit your needs.

At this time of year, we also know how hard it is to get our kids to eat their vegetables when they have a basketful of delicious chocolate waiting for them – and really who could blame them!  But I don’t know many kids (or bunnies!) who could resist these cute Jelly Bean Carrots.

Happy Easter!

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Lost And Found

14 March 2012 By Leave a Comment

Have you ever taken the time to sort through a school lost and found pile in the hope of finding something which belongs to your child?  It makes me wonder how these children manage to lose as many garments and belongings as they do.  However when I see children filing out of their classroom with backpacks open and clothing barely on, then it all becomes very clear.

Thank goodness for personalised labels.  We carry two types of labels for ease of use:  sticker labels and iron on labels.  Both types have been designed with durability in mind and to prevent labels from peeling, we have added round corners to all our designs.

They are so durable that they will withstand the constant washing and drying that is part and parcel of a child’s wardrobe.  Same applies for the dishwasher and microwave when used for labelling lunch containers and drink bottles.

And of course all labels can be personalised with your child’s first name or surname ensuring that their belongings do not fall prey to the dreaded lost and found pile.

Purchasing labels is also far more economical than having to replace a school jumper or any of the other items which somehow manage to disappear from your child’s backpack or locker.

Browse our website with your child and get them to select the design of their choice – they will be only too happy to assist with the labelling of school items once they arrive on your doorstep.

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Painting

7 March 2012 By Leave a Comment

Creating an environment in which your child can let loose with their creativity is great for kids and parents alike.  Kids love to get messy and let their imaginations run wild and parents are happy for them to do so as long as the mess is contained in some way.

In the warmer months the artistic experiences can be held outdoors making it easier for everyone involved.  Paint smocks work well to cover the clothing and newspaper can be laid down on the cement, tiles or grass to catch any miscellaneous paint splatters.

Painting can be such fun and can allow for a lot of experimentation with objects other than just paint and brushes.  How about some bubble painting for example?  Mix some paint into some bubble blowing mixture or dishwashing detergent and put into an open top container.  Gently place the paper on top of the bubbles and take off to reveal the impressions left by the bubbles.

Finger painting is a lot of fun, as is hand painting.  Handprints can be turned into a variety of things including flowers, trees, animals and people.  Or let them try their hand at stamping with potatoes.  Cut out some fun shapes in the potatoes and let them stamp up their creations.

Take advantage of being outdoors.  Go for a nature walk and collect items which will work well with their art – leaves, flowers and sticks for example.  These can be used with the paint to create some great natural effects in their art.

If you are looking for some more artistic and creative ideas – check out these kid’s art projects by Martha Stewart.  You never know you might be able to create some interesting art pieces yourself in the process.

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About Thomas Smith

27 February 2012 By Leave a Comment

Thomas Smith explains his position in the Yayme! office…

When did you start working at Yayme!?

I started working at Yayme! in the summer of 2008 back at Huntingdale.  I started working during my uni breaks for the summer seasons.  In the middle of 2010, I finished my course and started working full time at Yayme!.

It seems you are working in a yet unnamed position – how would you describe your role?

My main role is the production of digital media and I have recently taken on an increase of warehouse responsibilities.

Name one aspect of your position you like in particular?

I like the relaxed working environment and being able to work with computers.

If people were to describe you using as few words as possible, what do you think they would say?

Honest, quiet and a total nerd.

Can you tell us something about yourself that might surprise others to know?

I like cooking, every week I set myself a task of finding something unique or difficult to make for the family.

What is your favourite Yayme! product?

Golf Balls.  Nothing cheers my day up more than saying a couple of ball jokes.

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Teach Your Child To Swim

23 February 2012 By Leave a Comment

Australians are a nation of swimmers so it makes sense that we ensure that our children are able to swim from a young age.  But sometimes it is hard to know exactly where to start when it comes to instructing our children.

This is where a website like uSwim can come in handy.  This site shows you how to start teaching your child from as young as 4 months of age and is broken down into three levels for ease of learning.

The first level is for children from 4 months to 3 years and shows you how to safely introduce your child to the water.  The second level teaches vital skills such as breath-control making your child safer in the water, more confident and ready to learn formal swimming strokes.  The third level introduces stroke development, teaching techniques to learn both freestyle (front crawl) and backstroke.

You may feel you are not competent enough to teach your child to swim however with the simplicity of the site, this will definitely not be the case.  All you have to do is watch the instructional video, print out the lesson plan and start teaching your child.  USwim also provides certificates to give to your child once they have completed a level.

And if you are still unsure whether this program is for you – even Duncan Armstrong (Olympic gold medal swimmer) and Stephen Widmer (Head Olympic Swim Coach) are advocates of the program.

Keeping your child safe in the water should be of high priority to any parent; add to that a positive and fun environment in which to learn and your child will be begging you to teach them more.

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Saint Valentine

14 February 2012 By Leave a Comment

It seems that as soon as the Christmas decorations leave the store, they are quickly replaced by gifts adorned by hearts and other such symbols of love which can only mean one thing – Valentine’s Day is not far away.  Have you stopped to consider why this day of all days is celebrated and for whom?

Like many of the early traditions which have survived to our modern day times, much about the historical significance of Valentine’s Day still remains a mystery.  Stemming from both Ancient Roman times and Early Christianity, Valentine was thought to be one of numerous Saint Valentines who achieved martyrdom.

The connection to how this day become associated with love and romance is even more mysterious although there are many stories and theories circulating.

Of all the stories I read, this was definitely my favourite theory.

“…Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl–possibly his jailor’s daughter–who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today.” – History.com

Regardless of the history, it seems that the day is more popular than ever.  There hardly seems a store that does not lend itself to a “Valentine-based” promotion and kids of all ages are making and sending valentines to their friends and families.

While it is not something we promote as a matter of course, we thought it would be fun to share our Valentine gift of choice.  Any thoughts?  To me it would have to be our personalised Teddy Bear.  Cute, cuddly and available in a choice of three colours – pink, blue and red – our teddy would have to reign as number one in the Valentine gift giving stakes.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

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About Louisa Emery

7 February 2012 By Leave a Comment

Louisa Emery works as an Administrative Assistant in the Party Plan Department of Yayme!

How long have you been working at Yayme!?

I started working at Yayme! in September 2011.

What particularly drew you to Yayme! in the first instance?

A position became available at Yayme! and I happened to be looking for work, the timing was perfect.  My two children have also received quite a few Yayme! products, which they love, so I jumped at the chance to become part of the Yayme! team.

What do you like about working in the retail division?

I love being able to provide customers with a great product that can be personalised with any name they want.

Describe a typical day in the Yayme! office?

BUSY!!  For me it starts with downloading orders, printing job sheets and labels so orders can go into manufacturing.  I also deal with our Party Plan consultants, helping them with any issues they may have, ensuring their orders are packed and booking couriers to deliver their goodies.

Can you tell us something about yourself that might surprise others to know?

Thanks to attending quite a few pole dancing classes, I can do an aerial invert and a cross ankle release.

What is your favourite Yayme! product?

I love the sports bags!  My sons have one each; they are perfect for footy training and also come in very handy when they have a sleepover.  

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Decorating Tips For Children’s Rooms

1 February 2012 By Leave a Comment

You don’t have to spend a lot of money or time to have a great looking bedroom or play area for the kids.  And before you ask – no, everything does not have to match.  Mismatching furniture can actually aid in the look of the space giving it a fun and playful feel in an instant.

Picture boards or pinboards work well to create clutter in a small area to keep the rest of the room clutter-free.  Create framed pictures of their artwork and update regularly.  Again this ensures that their treasures are given enough airtime without them taking over every area in the house.

Decorative wall hooks can add an instant theme while at the same time being a practical space for their items.

If they are particularly artistic and love to continuously draw on walls – try blackboard paint on one wall space allowing them to unleash their creativity.

If you are unsure of a theme or colour, select a nice print or fabric and then decorate to match.  If you have a bookshelf that needs an upgrade, try covering with wallpaper to coincide with the other items in the room.

Try and resist the urge to over-decorate.  Children have a tendency to give a room that “lived in” feel in a matter of moments so often less is more when it comes to their bedrooms or playrooms.

If you are still uncertain about what to do with your child’s room all things considered – the best thing to do is to ask them.  After all it is their room and they may be able to give you some suggestions which you may not have necessarily thought of.  However note that their ideas may be slightly at odds with yours – so it may be worth incorporating both your ideas to get the look that everyone is happy with.

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Freshen Up School Lunches

24 January 2012 By Leave a Comment

Sending kids to school with healthy lunches they will actually eat can sometimes be a chore.  Even if you relent and make something which is not as healthy as you’d like – often it too comes back uneaten.

With the return to school on the horizon, it is a good idea to do some lunch meal planning with your child and get them inspired about food.

If you are short a drop of inspiration or two, then have a look at these neat ideas.

  • Bento boxes seem to be all the rage and admittedly very appealing.  While traditionally a Japanese idea, bento can be as elaborate or as simple as you like.  Check out this fun idea from Another Lunch.  While the ingredients are easy enough – grapes, carrots, muesli bar, turkey, cheese and bread – the overall idea seems much more inviting than if it was put into a regular lunchbox.  The accompanying recipe for Rosemary Bread looks delicious as well.
  • If your kids are sick of sandwiches then wrap it.  Sandwich and pita rolls are perfect for school lunches.  Have a look at this delicious Creamy Avocado and White Bean Wrap or this Haloumi, Carrot and Pesto Wrap courtesy of Coles.  Is your mouth watering yet?
  • Does your fruit come home untouched?  Sometimes just the simple act of skewering it can often make it more interesting.  Your combinations can be dependent upon the fruit in season or just your mood at the time.  How about pineapple and grape kebabs or these Fruity Fun Skewers.

If you have any great ideas, please share them with us.  After all, the fussiness of children seems to be a universal trait!

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About Kelsay Dusterwald

19 January 2012 By Leave a Comment

Kelsay Dusterwald is employed as the Office Manager of Yayme!

How long have you been working at Yayme!?

I have been working at Yayme! since June 2010.

What is your favourite part of working as an Office Manager?

I like the variety of tasks that I have to undertake every day.

How does this job differ from other positions you have held?

There are definitely more responsibilities in this job than other positions I have held, and there is never a dull moment, or “nothing to do”.

Do you have a particular hobby or interest outside of work?

I love sport, both playing and watching.  There are very few sports that I do not like.

Can you tell us something about yourself that may surprise others to know?

I own a 135 acre farm with cattle and sheep.

What is your favourite Yayme! product?

I love the teddy bears, they are so soft.  They remind me of the ones that my children had when they were babies.

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