Author Archives: KMB

Easter events have really grown in Wellington over the last couple of years, in fact, you could have a jam-packed weekend of fun without a single egg hunt at your place!  If you’ve got visitors, why not take a head out to one of our fantastic attractions and get amongst some Easter fun.  Here’s our pick…

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  SUGAR SUGAR EVERYWHERE … Sugar, sugar, everywhere; but nobody’s allowed to eat it. What’s up with that? Why aren’t we allowed to say “I give my kid this every now and then” without being informed by people passionate about sugar consumption. Or maybe it’s just me because I have a large audience. Maybe it’s because […]

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  My kids have been following along on  with Rosie as she traveled the world on her big OE.   Rosie takes her job as the DairyNZ cowbassador quite seriously and she is on to a winner with her new app,  our kids are having fun as they learn.  That is the best way! A rundown about the app. They can play their way around Rosie’s brand new world of safe, educational mini-games and… – Run along The Great Wall of China – Snap photos on safari in Africa – Dodge rolling cheeses on Cooper’s Hill in England – Dance the mambo in Cuba – Deliver milk through narrow Indian streets – Build the famous Taj Mahal – Feed Cuba’s most famous cow Ubre Blanca. Download for Android Download for ios Click here to play from a computer My kids have been  enthralled with the – Serve gelato in Italy mini game on the app. It’s easy but it’s not as easy as one would think, there is hand eye co-ordination, patterns and the further along you get the faster the customers demand that Gelato. The better they perform at serving the Gelato the more money they earn. Educational, fun and addictive.  I am My kids are slightly obsessed with beating my score.   Serving Gelato in Italy is as easy as this   William likes to play the app on the PC via the website no photos Mum I am far to cool for you but yes I will beat your score.  (Are all 11-year-old this competitive about gaming?). Jacob really likes this mini game, he enjoys relaxing with the app after daycare, I make sure our device is fully charged (he is obsessed with it being fully charged at all times) and he just chills out for a while and makes some Gelato for all of his customers – he really digs it cos it’s playing shops, tapping into his imaginative side. Emily likes to serve Gelato via Rosie’s Big OE App,  surrounded by all her favorite things, with her favorite pet kitty – she gets so into this game I can tell how successful she is being by the sound of her voice, when she loses she gets a bit scratchy. Something I noticed that both they do is mimic the Gelato customers expressions as they play  – it’s hilarious. Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Could you go download Rosie’s Big OE App and let me know what you think in the comments? Is it a hit with your kids? Save Save Save

The post Serve Gelato in Europe – With Rosie’s Big OE App appeared first on Lisasaurus .

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https://www.starship.org.nz/foundation The Starship Foundation is a social-profit organisation that raises funds so Starship Children’s Health can better care for its young patients. The Starship Foundation’s vision is to create meaningful and magica… Continue reading →

The Du Lac Chronicles

“It is dangerous to become attached to a du Lac. He will break your heart, and you will not recover.” So prophesies a wizened healer to Annis, daughter of King Cerdic of Wessex. If there is truth in the old crone’s words, they come far too late for Annis, who defies father, king, and country to save the man she loves.

Alden du Lac, once king of Cerniw, has nothing. Betrayed by Cerdic, Alden’s kingdom lies in rubble, his fort razed to the ground and his brother Merton missing, presumably dead. He has only one possession left worth saving: his heart. And to the horror of his few remaining allies, he gives that to the daughter of his enemy. They see Annis, at best, as a bargaining chip to avoid war with her powerful father. At worst, they see a Saxon whore with her claws in a broken, wounded king.

Alden has one hope: When you war with one du Lac, you war with them all. His brother Budic, King of Brittany, could offer the deposed young king sanctuary—but whether he will offer the same courtesy to Annis is far less certain.

The Du Lac Chronicles has a recommended reading age of 16+

My Review

I do have a bit of a thing for historical novels. This is set rather earlier than ‘my own’ period, it follows the lives of the sons of Lancelot, knight of Arthurian Legend. King Arthur and Lancelot are both long gone, Cerdic of Wessex now rules Arthurs old kingdom and has his sights set on the high kingship. He has invaded the kingdom of Cerniw and taken Alden du Lac, son of Lancelot and King of Cerniew captive. Tourtured and sentenced to death, it seems that there is no escape, but Wessex’s daughter, Annis risks everything to save Alden, even though it means giving up the only life she has ever known.

Alden and Annis battle their feelings for one another, whilst fleeing from Wessex and attempting to reach one of Alden’s brothers; Budic. Alden needs the support of Budic and the army of Breton, if he is to have any chance of winning his kingdom back. Even if he does manage to regain his previous position, will any of his subjects ever accept a member of the enemy’s family as their Queen. Everything seems to be against Annis and Alden, but they cannot help but be drawn together.

I have noticed in other reviews that people have commented that Annis was a little whiny and annoying. To be honest, I think that anyone who had be brought up the way that she has, would be unlikely to be that self assured and would no doubt be quite insecure. Either way, it wasn’t something that really irritated me. I liked both Annis and Alden, although Alden’s other brother, Merton, stole the show when he appeared.

I did like the way that all of the characters were fairly complex. All of the Du Lac’s and Annis had different things to deal with and it was not always obvious how they would react to the situation. I think that in many ways this was a lot more realistic than other books that I’ve read. Battling their fears and worries made them seem like more rounded and real characters. 

This is described as a young adult novel, something that I would normally ignore. I’m not sure what exactly puts it into that genre, don’t let it put you off, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I don’t usually go for YA novels. While there is a strong romantic element to this story, there’s also a lot more going on. 

I really loved this novel and couldn’t wait for the next installment. Fortunately I was able to get hold of the novella; The Pitchfork Rebellion and I already have The Du Lac Devil, book two to read. Review to follow shortly.

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This is normally one of the first questions that I get asked by people when I say that I homeschool, especially because our daughter is an only child. How will she make friends? Won’t she be lonely? What about social skills? How will she learn to work … Continue reading →

Cake decorating and cruising on the Pacific Jewel ship with P&O Cruises… what could be better?Sandra from Kiwicakes will be demonstrating and teaching as part of a P&O Cruises “Sea Break” cruise leaving Auckland Friday 29th Septembe… Continue reading →

I keep forgetting to update you on the Anxiety front.After the last 2 blogs about my anxiety I received some great messages of support and a phone call from a very panicked mother a few weeks ago who finally started to read some of my blogs… (I may have neglected to tell her about getting some medication).But I just want everyone to know that I am doing fine.I have had one pill a week or so ago, which I actually took because my back was having a bit of a spasm and causing some pain and Continue reading →

I’m writing as I watch…. unfiltered and raw. S03e04 The Bachelor NZ Girl on Girl Zac who? Date One Viarni used the while rose, she took the date from Bel.  I think they have great chemistry. Shopping trip, all The Department Store product placements were so over the top,  “I’m kind of like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Except I’m not a hooker.” she said 🙄 Meanwhile back at the ‘mansion’ Bel is talking about Viarni stealing her date like Viarni knew it was hers, duh she had no idea it could have been any one of the other girls date. Viarni got a rose straight after they had been speaking about Crohns Disease..romantic….   The next day Cue the bitching, omg get a life.  I bet the producers encourage it… RATINGS The Group Date They played touch, Tayla won one on one time and you could tell they didn’t really have much connection or attraction, she is very competitive, it is hard to tell if she is there for him or just to WIN.  I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets sent home.   The Rose Ceremony –  2 Eliminations Bel comes across as being very sweet, he seems interested in her.   Zac let it slip that he has a date set for her later on, basically confirming that she will get a rose, Zac really seems to be more of a straight up kind of guy and I like that! Nina – it’s totally fine… ahahahahah awkward laugh – she should have been like I understand but I was upset. (People pleaser). She just let Maddie interrupt her time.   I don’t know why they media is making such a big deal about the kiss, Rose Order for The Bachelor NZ S03e04 1 – Rosie 2 – Hannah 3 – Maddie 4 – Bel 5 – Nina 6 – Jess 7 – Lily 8 – Sophie 9 – Molly 10 – Claudia 11 – Ally 12 – Lucia Eliminated The Bachelor NZ S03e04  – Tayla and Stephanie   The episode can be summed up like this..girl-on-girl action for the first time. The peck on the lips between Katey and Lucia during the rose ceremony? It was all about the cattiness and smack talk and that brutal game of touch rugby. Who do you think will win The Bachelor NZ? Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save

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I was intending to get this post about Blake’s surgery out last night. But by the time we got home last night we were all so emotionally and mentally tired that all we wanted to do was go to bed and forget the day. I do want to thank all the people who commented and …

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Tahu is having brain surgery this morning. I have literally no frame of reference to imagine this ending badly. It feels like one moment we were all just ticking along, talking about work and kids and plans for the year and now we are staring Death in … Continue reading →

Do you love green smoothie? This 4-ingredients dairy free green smoothie is the most decadent and refreshing drink I ever made. Green Smoothie – Almond Milk smoothie recipe to reach your 5-a-day goal Hello world! Still on maternity leave at the moment. But as I told you in my last posts I developed tons of healthy…

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