Woo Hoo - Thank you!

I just wanted to say thank you again for all your support of Honey and Fizz in the Kidspot Bloggers Competition.  Due to all your lovely comments and votes, Honey and Fizz has been voted number 1 in the Peoples Choice Awards!

I can't believe it! I'm so happy and honoured to have been part of this competition, Kidspot is also giving me a brand new ipad!

I didn't win the Ford Territory those big Congratulations go to Melissa from One Crafty Mumma who really deserved her win! 

She created a wonderful scrap book of her Adventures with the Ford Territory along with all her beautiful crafts she shares on her blog.

 This competition has been wonderful in exposing me to so many wonderful blogs and meeting so many fabulous new people who are as passionate about blogging as I am :) 

A big thank you to you all again xx

Simone xx

Oh What a Day! - A big thank you xx

I have just had a fantastic day, thanks to Kidspot, Ford and 4 other fabulous bloggers :)

Today I flew to Melbourne with Chantelle from Kidspot (fatmumslim) and Eden (edenland) to meet up with Melissa (onecraftymumma), Sandra ($120 food challenge) and Kellie (1000 homes of happiness) to celebrate our collaboration with Ford and Kidspot in the Top 5 Blogger competition.

We were treated like royalty from go to woah, chauffered around in our Ford Territory. We swung by the Motor Show to check out the spectacular Ford display. It was the biggest and best one there by far!

We were then taken to lunch at a cool hotel at Albert Park where we indulged in a glass of champers and canapes before going into a sumptuous lunch. Talk about spoilt!

Our VIP parking spot for the Ford Territory!

In front of each place setting was an apple with a name tag.

I thought this was a gorgeous touch.

Also a little pressie for us all.

Personalised stationery! Swoooon!

It was just so lovely to be part of this fantastic experience.

A big thank you to Chantelle,Linda, Maree and Georgie from Kidspot,Jeremy, Yutong, Jess and Lizzie from Ford and also Tammy from Ogilvy Public Relations for organising this wonderful day.

I truly felt spoilt and it was also a real treat to meet some of my fellow bloggers, Eden, Kellie, Sandra and Melissa. 

It was fantastic to meet you all! 

me, Jess, Sandra (back), Kellie, Eden, Melissa, Yutong

Thank you also to you my lovely friends for all the support you have given me through out this competition with your votes and comments.  The competition ends tomorrow and the winner will be announced next week.

I'll keep you posted!

Simone xx

Please mum, can we keep him? - the Ford Territory

I have had the fantastic experience of driving the new Ford Territory around for the last 4 weeks and I can honestly say I don't want to give it back!!!

It is an amazing family car that has suited us right down to a tee! I wanted to share with you all the bits that I loved about this gorgeous car.

First up I loved the colour of the car (is that such a "girl" thing to say?). I had the Ford Territory Titanium version.

It was a sexy, glossy black with tinted windows and shiny alloy wheels. Inside had creamy leather seats and a dashboard full of buttons and gadgety things. If I'm constantly playing "mum's taxi" I want to look good doing it!

The car had so much leg room and space for the kids and their friends, 7 seats all up! Plenty of room for school bags, handbags , jumpers, umbrellas and everything else that finds it's way to the floor of the car!  

There was also so much boot space, oooh the luxury! Perfect for the surfboards, scooters, skateboards, 2 x folding chairs for football, pram, groceries and shopping bags I'm always ferrying around. 

We adored the DVD player for the kids in the back. 

The headphones were a novelty for the boys and even the short school run necessitated a dvd! Sometimes Jasper wouldn't want to get out of the car as he wanted to stay in and finish watching his dvd :)

Finn loved hooking up his ipod and sharing his music with the rest of the car. My Adele CD got quite a work out this month in the CD player. I had access to all the controls on my steering wheel so there was no leaning over to turn up the volume or skip certain tracks. I also loved having my phone hooked up to blue tooth.

Little luxuries I know but they were definately ones we appreciated!

Some of the other features I also loved were .....

*the diesel engine. It sounds fabulous and gave a great Vroooom every time I took off! Plus it reduces CO2 emissions so it is a bit greener and better for the environment. I also loved that a tank of fuel lasted me FOREVER. I literally only filled up once. My husband couldn't get over the fact that you could do so many km's on one tank!

*digital speedometer - so basic but a good visual reminder of your speed and to check the speed limit!

*single zone air-conditioning system - both the passenger and driver could control their own sides and set the temp to their liking.

*the Navigation system was easy to use and follow even for someone like me who is a bit map challenged at times!

*the reverse camera felt like that bit of added safety. The beeps cautioned you if anything was behind you and the really fast beeps   advised me how close I came to hitting the pylon at the local shopping centre! Must work on my reverse parking!

see how it matches my garage perfectly? :)

*Other standard features like the ABS brakes, driver & passenger plus side curtain airbags and the electric power assisted steering were fantastic and made me feel really safe.

I truly did love this car and would honestly recommend it as a wonderful family car. So much space, technology and the quality of everything was so high and reliable. 

It drove like a dream not to mention it looks very cool!

So please, please, please can we keep it?!

I still have the car until the 17th July so I am going to squeeze in a 7hr road trip to visit some family in Griffith.

 Can't wait to travel in luxury!

What do you think?

Could you see yourself cruising around in one of these?

What colour would you choose? ;)

Simone xx

This post was the last part of the Kidspot/Win a Ford Territory Challenge.

A Social Week!

Isn't it funny how some weeks you don't have anything on socially and then everything comes at once?

This week, as well as being the school holidays (so my days are extra full!) we have friends coming over for dinner tonight with their kids. 

I'm catching up with an old school friend on Wednesday that I haven't seen in 17 years! (can that be right? I left school in 1994! oh my god I feel old!) We have caught up on facebook of course but I am soooo looking forward to seeing her face to face :)

Then on Friday I am flying to Melbourne with the other Top 5 Bloggers in the Kidspot/Ford Territory competition for a spot of  lunch and a car show! It feels so weird to being doing something like that because of this little blog. I will be really putting myself out of my comfort zone as I am so shy! 

But this year is all about trying new things and surrounding myself with wonderful, positive people.

How about you? 

Do you socialise much in Winter or do you hibernate and come out in the Spring?

Simone xx

image via cocokelley.blogspot.com

The Style File. This is me.

Evolving  mother   blogger   hugs  inspired green tea  ballet slippers  heart   family  optimist   shy  but getting braver  friend  art  cotton sheets sunshine finn  trampolines  jeans  comfort  a million books to read  squishy pillows  kisses  memories  coconut body-wash neat  pretty things  home  comfy slippers  vodka lime and soda  cheesecake jasper iphone beach holidays  magazine addict  lover  laughter  shopping   bicycles owls  confident homemade pizzas intelligent dancer  home is my sanctuary  peonies coffee table books scented candles notebooks sunday drives coco chanel byron bay bubble baths jane austen paris popcorn walks  hammocks cocktails  banana bread  puppies babies in pyjamas raspberries
snuggles with my boys  iced coffee kate moss  happiness architecture long lunches washing drying in the sun chocolate icecream typography  neutrals photo walls scarves cushions white chesterfields leopard print necklaces  simon entertaining family and friends spring bbqs

swimming in our backyard pool vintage cutlery stamps  

Mor Marshmallow reality tv new york new york faded beach towels cute stationery  lazy days love love love weekends in a hotel chandeliers afternoon siestas strawberry lip balm daydreams

So this is me, this is my style. 

Ever evolving, ever changing but the core values remain. 

What are a few words to sum up your style?

Simone xx

PS - This post was written as part of the Kidspot/Ford Blogging Challenge. 

Road Trip?

What would be your ultimate Road Trip? It's got me thinking....

The  School Holidays are coming up and I will be taking the kids and driving 7 hours to visit some family. My essentials with the boys are food (I try to get a mix of healthy and "fun" snacks!) and entertainment (ipod, dvd player, games etc)plus pillows, blankets etc to encourage that fabulous thing called sleep :)

The reality of my Road Trips is depicted in this picture below!

Think National Lampoons Vacation!

Think "are we there yet?", Wiggles songs, endless games of Ispy, squabbles between the boys, need I go on?!

But my Ultimate Road Trip would look something like this!

A girls Road Trip, heading to a gorgeous Beach Destination :)

Anywhere with sun, sand and surf would be fine with me!

Swoon, the perfect holiday cottage?!

My Road Trip Essentials include :

1. Fabulous company - a great friend up for some fun interspersed with relaxation.

2. Yummy snacks - Favourites from my childhood are Chico babies, Minties (remember the competition to unravel the wrapper into the longest piece?) water, fruit (boring but makes me feel virtuous!) I always intend to pack healthy sandwiches, dried fruit etc but you will mostly find me doing a Maccas stop or chips from the Service Station ;)

3. A comfy wardrobe.

 Think denim shorts, Havaianas, sunglasses a MUST! 

4. The Playlist - My taste tends to run to the Golden Oldies when driving thanks to my parents. I still remember every song to John Williamsons "True Blue" album (thanks dad!) 

Growing up the tapes played were Kenny Rogers, Dr Hook, Credence Clearwater Revival, Jimmy Barnes and I love to have one or two Power Ballads to belt out. Think "Total Eclipse of the Heart" or anything by Pat Benatar :) 

My eldest son and I share a love of Top 40 Music, so when we travel together we are singing along to Katy Perry, Rihanna, Adele, Bruno Mars etc. It's an eclectic mix!

But on my ultimate Road Trip to a beach holiday I would have to have The Beach Boys playing. I especially love Little Deuce Coupe.

So Summer, So Fun!

I've had some fabulous Road Trips in my life so far. 

Family holidays to the Gold Coast, Girls trips away to the South Coast (there is a coastal theme happening here!)and the most adventurous was Simon and I driving around Europe together before we had the boys. I can't wait to create more Road Trip memories for the boys and for us as a family.

 So tell me all about your Road Trips so far. 

What would be your ultimate trip? Who would you take?

What is your favourite driving song? Favourite snack?

I'd love to know :)

Simone xx

PS- This post was written as part of the Win a Ford Territory and Kidspot Challenge.

I've been nominated!! - Kidspot Top 50 Bloggers.

Squeal!!!! Wow, I can't believe I have been nominated as one of Kidspot's Top 50 Bloggers!

I am so honoured to be nominated with so many other fantastic blogs. I'm up there with some of my favourite daily reads!

Kidspot is setting a few challenges for us to compete for "the title" and I will be posting these in the next few days but today 

I just wanted to ask you to "Please vote for me!" - 


If you follow on the link and like Honey and Fizz, I'll be your best friend forever!! 

I'm off to a little do tonight to meet some of the other nominees and fellow bloggers and the Kidspot team. I'm both nervous and excited in equal parts!

I thought I'd share with you below my little interview with Kidspot about why I blog and why I started Honey and Fizz.

Thank you so much to my lovely bloggy friends who take the time to read my little blog each day and leave comments and encouraging words. You truly make my day.

Happy Reading :)

Kidspot - Why did you start blogging? 

"Introducing Honey and Fizz…"

I've been blogging for almost a year now and I can't imagine not doing it. It has become one of my favourite parts of my day and a constant source of happiness and inspiration for me. Honey and Fizz is "my" place, somewhere I can disappear, into a world of love and pretty things. It is all very light and airy fairy and that is just the way I like it!

I started blogging as I was looking for something "more". More than just a wife and mum. I was looking for me, the person I used to be and the person I wanted to be. I stumbled across a couple of blogs and was so inspired my them I decided to start my own.I chose the name "Honey and Fizz" as it conjured up to me a combination of the sweetest and the most exciting and happy things in life. Exactly what I wanted to write about :)

Kidspot - Why do you keep blogging?

"Blogging is a lifestyle!"

I blog every day. My posts are not long but a prerequisite is a gorgeous picture. Gorgeous pics are a very important part of "Honey and Fizz"! I love that my blog is a constant in my life. I adore those moments to myself in the morning to post my feelings, inspirations and tidbits of my life. I love feeling a part of the blogging community and I have made some wonderful friends through this little world. I will keep on blogging until my inspiration disappears. I hope this never happens! Instead I think my blog will evolve and change and reflect the changes I am going through and my new loves and obsessions.

Kidspot -What is your inspiration to blog?

"Inspiration Overload!"

My inspiration to blog comes from everywhere. I don't really have a choice. It is something I NEED to do! My inspiration may come from something I read in one of the thousands of magazines that I read, a colour I love, something I bought that I just HAVE to show my bloggy friends, the need to share my rearranging of my furniture, which I know my friends will appreciate :)I follow lots of other blogs and constantly find inspiration in their crafts, clothes and style. It makes me want to make "Honey and Fizz" a prettier and "nicer" place. I love words, quotes and typography and this is a must on my blog. I want people to read "Honey and Fizz" and think, wow this is a nice place, I want to stay a while.

Kidspot - How do you overcome blogger's block?

"Beating the Blogging Block!"

My sure fire way to overcome writers block is to use a beautiful picture! I have sooooo many in my files waiting to be used that I always have something up my sleeve. Sometimes I find the less words the better. There is nothing worse than someone waffling on with nothing much to say, just to fill the space.I also think that is why I blog every day. It is easier to keep the rhythm going but in all honesty, I never really run out of things to blog about. Because above everything else, "Honey and Fizz" is for me. Don't get me wrong, I love all my followers and the interaction with them but this place I have created is like my own diary filled with thoughts and dreams and pretty things I covet and want to own one day.

Kidspot - What's been your best blogging experience to date?

"The Sweetest Thing!"

Out of everything I have gained through blogging this last year the best and most rewarding experience has been my friendships I have made through this blog world. From comments on blogs that led to personal emails, that led to phone calls that led to coffee and drinks and resulted in real life friendships.To be around like-minded people who are positive, happy and interested in beautiful things and exploring new horizons as been so wonderful. It has let me be Simone again and not just mummy. It reminded me of a big, beautiful world out there that doesn't revolve around school pick ups!I have discovered new restaurants, gorgeous homewares, fantastic books to read, new destinations to add to my "one day - travel list", the sweetest and most supportive community. I can truly say it has been nothing but a positive experience and one I would definitely recommend. I have already converted a couple of friends to Blog World!

Hope you have a gorgeous day

Simone