Wether your kids are heading off to Summer Camp or Day Camp, being prepared means one thing is always at the top of the list – labels. As most camps require that all of your kids’ clothing and belongings are labelled, Stuck on You have put together the Ultimate Camp Labels Checklist to make sure that you have all of the labels that you need. I know it might seem odd to get excited about Labels, but working at Stuck on You, you really can’t help it.
I get a LOT of satisfaction sending my kids off to camp knowing that when they leave their stuff from one end of the camp to the other (as they do at home) it will all still make its way safely back home. The clothing maybe dirtier, the shoes worn, the towels a bit smelly and the kids exhausted, but they all come home.
Not just name labels and clothing labels, a few Personalized items means they return home too. Check out our Kids Backpacks, Personalized Toiletry Bags, Sports Bags, Beach Towels and Journals too!
If you are nervous about sending the kids off to Summer Camp read our 8 Tips for Summer Camp to get some tips from our guest blogger, Stephanie Wilson from Stuck on You Canada. She went to camp many times as a girl and now has two girls of her own preparing for Summer Camp this year.
Click on the image below to get a printable version of The Ultimate Camp Checklist, get an idea of how many labels you need for all of your kids’ items and place your order online at Stuck on You.
Congratulations to the 5 winners of our What’s the Word Competition, you each win a Personalised Canvas or Personalized Canvas (for our friends in the USA and Canada). Our winners are:
Julie Ellis
Katrina Whittaker
Happy Homebird
Jolyn Andy
Vettechic
Email jenna@stuckonyou.biz to claim your prize.
We accepted both PERSONALISED and PERSONALIZED as correct entries. You are all very clever and we have decided that we need to come up with trickier puzzles in the future. Thank you so much to all of you who entered, we were so pleased with the response that we have decided to make these a regular thing so, stay tuned for future What’s the Word challenges!
Did you miss out on a Personalised Wall Canvas this time? Take a look at them online at Stuck on You, they are now available in medium and small with over 35 super cute new designs.
We’re giving away 5 new Medium Personalised Canvas valued at $44.95 AU in the design of your choice.
How to Play What’s the Word
The 4 pics have 1 word in common
The blank squares show the number of letters in the word
Select from the available letters
Can you guess what it is? Post your answer in the comments section of this blog.
Share with your friends if you need some help or so they can enter too.
Entries close 4pm AEST Monday, 29 April 2013.
5 correct entries will be chosen at random to WIN.
Read our Terms and Conditions
We recently teamed up with Bloggers Connecting in New Zealand and invited all of the Bloggers attending their Around The Table event on the weekend (12-14 April 2013) to choose their favourite Stuck on You product and write their most creative review. For the winner, we offered $250 cash and a $250 Stuck on You Prize Pack to share with their readers.
It was an absolute pleasure to work with these fabulously talented and creative women and we loved seeing our products presented in so many fun and creative ways. Here at Stuck on you HQ we thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every one and shared them with the Stuck on You team all over the world.
But there can only be one winner and on this our judges were unanimous. The ever so clever Stella Rutherford, the creator of The Golden Adventures of a Very Dark Horse created the most amazing review that we have ever seen. You take a look and be the judge.
How cute are those kids?! You can read the entire blog post entitled Our Intrepid Lives here. Want to know how she did it? Well, Stella has posted a how-to along with many other craft tutorials, you can read it here.
Congratulations to Stella for doing such an awesome job and showing the Stuck on You Lunch Pack in such an awe-inspiring way. Just as Einstein said (and a quote that adorns a wall here at Stuck on You HQ), “Creativity is contagious, pass it on.”
Stay tuned, later this week we will have an interview with Stella Rutherford.
As many Moms and Dads in the USA and Canada begin to think about Summer Camp we thought it was a good time to start thinking about how to help the kids (and parents) prepare. Stephanie Wilson from Stuck on You Canada has teenage children and is a seasoned Summer Camp mom. She is this month’s Guest Blogger and here she shares her 8 Tips for Summer Camp.
Summer Camp is where so many wonderful childhood memories and friends are made. To help your child have a fun and successful experience, preparation is important. Whether your child is going to day camp or sleep away camp there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Take a moment to read the list supplied by the camp on what to bring and get it organized early to ease last minute stress.
- Camps will also request that everything come labelled with your child’s name so start a list of clothing labels and name labels requirements and check your stocks.
- Resist the urge to buy new clothes – life at camp can be a little rough and dirty.
- Resist the temptation to pack any electronics, most camps will ask that they not be sent.
- Once you’ve worked out what to bring then let your child help pack so they know exactly what is in their bags and where.
- Talk to your kids about what they think their camp experience will be like and ease any worries they may bring up. Discuss the different activities they will enjoy while at camp.
- If your child is going to sleep away camp, organize letters or care packages for them to receive while they are there.
- Lastly, send self-addressed envelopes and paper with them so they can write home.
Then let them go and don’t worry, they will come home with some great memories, albeit a little dirty and tired.
Now that is Easter is over it means there’s chocolate, and lots of it! I know in my house we never have the problem of uneaten chocolate but many people I know seem to be finding leftover Easter eggs and bunnies months later. At Stuck on You HQ we have been talking about ways to use up those leftover bunnies and here are our favourites:
1. Choc chip cookies
I do love a good choc chip cookie, especially with a nice cold glass of milk. An easy way to use up some leftover chocolate is to break it up into small pieces and substitute it for chocolate chips in your favourite cookie recipe.
2. Chocolate fondue
This idea is great because it uses lots of fresh fruit – perfect if you overindulged over Easter but still includes something for all of the chocoholics out there (and in here!). Basically all you need to do is combine cream and chocolate pieces in a saucepan on the stove over a gentle heat until you have a rich, chocolate sauce. Whilst still warm serve with pieces of fresh fruit on sticks. I love bananas and strawberries but you can use any kinds of fruit.
3. Chocolate mousse
Chocolate mousse disappears even faster that Easter eggs in our home. Instead of using regular chocolate when making homemade mousse, try substituting some flavoured Easter eggs, such as peppermint for a minty chocolate mousse or honeycomb eggs for a mousse with extra crunch. The possibilities are endless!
4. Hot chocolate
It is Autumn here now and with the cooler weather approaching, nothing beats a mug of hot chocolate. Melt some chocolate and add milk, heating until milk is warm and chocolate is melted through. The final touch is a sprinkle of shaved chocolate and a delicious marshmallow on top.
How do you use up leftover Easter chocolates or is this a problem you never encounter? Would any of these ideas inspire you to stash away some chocolate to use later on?
By
soy on Wed 27
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Last week at Stuck on You we released our Personalised Reward Charts with 8 new designs. Each pack includes 3 Personalised Reward Charts and 70 stickers with a mix of pictures, encouraging words and personalised messages. We asked our Facebook fans about their experiences with reward charts and got lots of great responses with four areas where parents have had success.
- Toilet training
- Good behaviour
- Jobs and chores
- Working towards a goal e.g. saving for a bike or holiday.
Here are our top 5 tips to success with Reward Charts:
1. Keep It Simple
The point is that your child can see how their behaviour can quickly and easily earn them rewards. If your reward system is too complicated or each sticker is too hard to achieve they will lose interest. I know there is a tendency to want to reward your child for every sticker achieved but you will be surprised at how much gratification a child will get out of just getting a sticker on their chart and a bit of fuss made. For me, a reward when the chart is complete works best. That way, the reward for each sticker comes from the achievement itself.
2. Rewards for Toilet Training
Many parents find reward charts to be good for younger children when toilet training. In my work as a nanny, and now as a Mum, I have used a reward chart for toilet training for kids as young as two with great results. Pop a sticker on the chart with a huge applause and a ‘yahoo’ and watch their little chest fill with pride. Even young children can understand the concept of receiving a sticker for a ‘job well done’ and mums love that they are getting close to saying goodbye to nappies!
3. Rewards for Good Behaviour
As children get older, reward charts are a great way to encourage good behaviour. I have actually had better results with a reward chart when there has been a persistant negative behaviour than with the naughty corner (or yelling). It is also great for us parents to begin to focus on when they get it right, catch them out in it and make a fuss with a sticker on the chart. It just helps move the focus from what isn’t working to what is.
4. Rewards for Jobs and Chores
This is a great way of encouraging your child to take on chores and other responsibilities.Depending on their age you can use the Reward Chart for when their jobs are completed – if they are two there could be a reward for bringing their plate to the sink, making their bed or putting their toys away. For my older kids they have a chore each day and if they do it without being asked they get a sticker.
5. Choose the Right Rewards
It’s all about coming up with a system that resonates with and motivates your child. Giving them achievable goals and allowing them to see that their behaviour helps them make steps towards achieving it will bring the best results.
As the Stuck on You Reward Charts only have 10 steps until they achieve their goal it keeps them engaged. I have found that if there are too many steps or if the rewards are too far apart they can become disengaged. As we have three charts in each pack you can make a small reward for the completion of each chart and then a large reward for the completion of all three.
- Cash incentives – for some kids (as with grown-ups), money talks. A small payment per sticker or a larger amount at the completion of the chart for them to save or spend on treats when next at the shops. (Behaving when going shopping is sure to earn a sticker as well!)
- Fun experiences – these work best for my daughter and it’s wonderful to see how much enjoyment they get out of choosing their own experience. At the completion of one chart we might go to a movie, her choice of restaurant or a picnic. For the completion of all three we might go to Luna Park or the Zoo.
- Screen time – many kids just love a bit of screen time and you can use the Reward Chart as a way of rewarding good behaviour. Some mums suggested each sticker equals 30 minutes of screen time or let them watch their favourite DVD. Others suggested each sticker equals 5 minutes and they can cash them in when the Chart is complete.
- Gifts – if your kids are collecting cars, toy animals or books adding a sticker to the chart and working towards the next part of their collection can work a treat.
The most important thing is to choose the reward that works best for your child and each child will be different. If you are finding that you aren’t getting results or that your child is not engaged, it is usually just a matter of choosing a more suitable goal for them.
We’d love to hear about your experiences with Reward Charts. What tips have you found to be the most effective? What areas have we missed where you have had success?
Have you been marking the kids height on the back of the kitchen door? At our house, in the past we have marked the kids height with a permanent marker on the loft bed in my son’s bedroom. The idea behind it was that, because we rent, we may one day have to move house and I would want to take all that wonderful information with us.
With Stuck on You Height Charts you can mark all of the special events, the gorgeous designs look fabulous in the kids’ bedroom and when your child outgrows it you can roll it up and keep it forever. I can just imagine getting my kids’ height charts out on their 18th and 21st birthdays. Personalised Height Charts have been a favourite with our customers for many years and we are so excited about the new designs available in our Personalised Height Charts that we had to share them with you.
These make the most gorgeous personalised gifts for kids or a fabulous present to celebrate the birth of a new baby. There are over 25 new designs to choose from and each Height Chart can be personalised with the child’s name and birthdate.
- Each Personalised Height Chart comes ready to hang
- They are made from quality artists canvas
- Each Height Chart comes with stickers to mark special dates
- They measure 400 x 1270 mm – perfect piece of art for your kids bedroom.
No more scribbling dates on the back of the kitchen door, you can now mark off significant dates with the stickers that come in the pack. Each Height Chart has a matching set of stickers of stickers with significan milestones such as My 1st Birthday up to My 9th Birthday, 18 months old up to 4 ½ years old and MY 1st Christmas up to My 5th Christmas.
Are you heading somewhere fabulous with the kids this Easter? We have an exclusive offer for Stuck on You customers in Australia and New Zealand. Order one of our Personalised Travel Packs by midnight tonight for a bargain price. Each pack includes a Personalised Toiletry Bag, 4 Travel Bottles and 4 Labels that you can personalise online.
Personalised Travel Kits Australia
Personalised Travel Kits New Zealand
Our Personalised Toiletry Bags would have to be one of my top 10 favourite of the Stuck on You personalised products. Not only are they available in red, pink or navy, you have over 25 new designs to choose from to create the perfect Personalised Toiletry Bag for your child.
They have some awesome little features that will make them your kids’ favourite too:
- Fully lined – makes them easy to wipe clean
- Easy to carry handle – very cute and proudly carried in little fingers
- Hook on the inside to hang on the bathroom door – or on the cupboard door for little people
- Elasticated hooks on inside – 1 for a toothbrush, 2 for a spare
- 4 inside pockets – perfect for travel bottles, toothpaste and creams
- Extra room inside – plenty of room for a face washer, any medications, a hairbrush, a little mirror and more.
Hurry up and take advantage of our special price on Personalised Travel Kits for today only!
Are you on Pinterest? We are too and to celebrate we’re giving away 5 x $50AUD* Stuck on You vouchers in our first Stuck on You Pin It To Win It Sweepstakes. Here’s what to do:
- Follow the Stuck on You Pinterest Page
- Pin your favourite Stuck on You products from our website www.stuckonyou.biz
- Use the hashtag #StuckonYou in the description of each of your Pins
- 5 winners will be randomly selected. Each will win a $50AUD* Stuck on You voucher.
Our Winners will be announced via Pinterest and here on our blog on Friday, 15 March, 2013. Full Terms and Conditions apply. Read them here.
New to Pinterest? Pinterest 101
Pinterest is like a series of boards just like pin-up boards or notice boards you may have used in the past. Compared to many other social media platforms, it is extremely user-friendly and super easy to get started. Here’s a few tips for newbies:
- Go to www.pinterest.com and sign up using your Facebook and Twitter logins or your email address.
- Assign a username to your page and upload a photo. (If you sign in using Facebook or Twitter it will just use your profile pic).
- Pinterest will ask you to follow 5 things to get you started. These pictures are called ‘Pins’. Just pick anything that tickles your fancy – a recipe, a funny or inspiring quote, fashion pics, food pics, anything. Don’t stress – Pins can be deleted or moved from board to board very easily.
Start Following
Stuck on You – www.pinterest.com/StuckonYouAust
You can follow individual boards that people have set up, people or companies (this means all of these Pins will appear on your feed).
Find and Invite Friends
Click the dropdown menu on the top right to invite or find friends. There are Pinterest prompts to help you along the way.
Create your Boards
Boards are the places you Pin your images to. Pinterest sets you up with a few standards Boards when you sign up (such as Products I love, Books I Love etc) but you may want to add your own.
- Click on Add+ from the top right hand corner and then click Create a Board (like categories for your Pins).
- Create any Boards you fancy, don’t worry about the Board names, they can easily be changed and pins moved from board to board. Some examples: if you’re decorating your home you might have a Board named “Kitchen Designs’ or ‘Bathrooms’, if you love dogs, ‘Dogs’, if you love food ‘Food Food Food’ or ‘Yummy Cakes’ etc.
- Select a category that suits the Pins you will have on that Board from the dropdown.
Get Pinning
There are a few ways you can Pin:
- Click Add+ from the dropdown menu on the top right of your Pinterest Page. This allows you to Add a Pin using an image URL, or upload an image from your files. You then Pin it and choose the Board you would like to Pin it to.
- If you don’t have a Board that suits that image, you can create one from this dropdown menu also.
- On many websites and blogs you will see a ‘Pin It’ button. When you see an image that you like click ‘Pin it’, select the image you would like and choose the Board you want it to be Pinned to.
- You can upload a ‘Pin It’ button to your browser here. Click Install Now, click on the download and it will pop a red Pinterest ‘P’ to the top right of your browser. Whatever website or blog you are on, click on the Pinterest logo on your browser and it will give you a selection of images to Pin from that page.
Re-Pinning
- Re-Pinning is Pinning an image from another Board to one of yours. Go to www.pinterest.com and by clicking on the choices from the bar at the top you can browse Categories, Everything, Popular, Gifts etc.
- WARNING: many hours can be lost looking at beautiful images on Pinterest.
- When you hover the mouse at the top of each image you will see the option to Repin It, Like or Comment. Click ‘Repin’ and choose the board you want to Pin it to.
Pinterest Hashtags
- Hashtags in Pinterest are used in the same way as Twitter and Instagram, they are simply a way to categorise Pins and to aid searching.
- For example, when you Pin to enter the Stuck on You Pin It To Win It Sweepstakes we have asked you to include a hashtag in the description like this: #StuckonYou
- If you would like to see all of the entries in our Pinterest Sweepstakes, simply search #StuckonYou
That’s Pinterest 101. Now get Pinning in the first official Stuck on You Pinterest Sweepstakes and good luck!
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