Working on the go with Officeworks products.

When I was approached by Officeworks to try out some of their new products that allow you to work on the go I jumped at the chance! As my job allows me to work from home and various other locations I need certain products that help me get things done while I'm out and about. I love that I am not tied down to the traditional office space.

I thought I would share a few of the different locations that I work from and the products that keep me mobile yet connected to my work. I keep all of my tech equipment in this padded Targus Legend IQ Backpack so I can move locations easily with no damage to my laptop and there are so many specific compartments for chargers and wires that everything is organised and nothing gets left behind.

Outside at home

As Summer approaches it's great to create a little workspace outside to take advantage of the warm weather and fresh air. I set myself up with laptop, phone, head phones and power pack and get some work done. Being outside means I'm not distracted by the housework or all those other jobs that seem to call out to you when you are trying to work from home. Also on the days that Noah is home from kindy I can set him up with a movie and get through some phone calls with no background noise.

My favourite products for outdoors includes -

*Case-Mate Sheer Glam iphone case

*Targus 3D Protection for iPad

*Beats Wireless Headphones

*Comsol Ultra Slim Lightning Power Bank 3200 Gold

The Park

Having the flexibility to work on the go it's great to take the advantage of certain products and multitask.  If I have a few urgent emails to answer and also the boys to entertain I will pack everyone up and head to the park. They have fun with the basketball courts and running around and I get to finish off some work. Win, Win!

My favourite products for the park are the -

*Targus Legend IQ Backpack

*Otterbox protector case for iPad - various ipad covers found here

*iphone case protector - you can find one to suit your phone here

*Comsol Ultra Slim Lightning Power Bank 3200 Gold

The Car

I think most of us have used our car as an office at one time or another! I like to use the downtime in between appointments, running errands and waiting for school pick up to return phone calls, answer emails and update my blog and social media accounts.

My favourite products to use for this are -

*power bank charger - you can find one to suit your needs here

*headphones - Officeworks have so many to choose from here

*iphone case - find one to suit your phone here

I love the range of colours, styles and features they have. 

(The sheer and the marble are definitely my pick)

The Beach

Sometimes if the weather is amazing and far too tempting to stay inside and get any work done I will set up in a little sheltered spot on one of my favourite beaches and make a little deal with myself.

1 hour of work then I'm free to swim, read a book and take advantage of the sunshine!

This is usually when I have work that can easily be done on my phone or ipad. This mainly consists of writing blog posts, editing photos and answering emails.

The products that I always take are -

*my backpack - keeps everything sand free! If you prefer a different style of bag Officeworks have satchels, laptop sleeves etc. Lots to choose from here

*my trusty power pack - it's tiny and will charge my iphone nearly twice from a flat battery.

It's also got a built in cord to save the hassle from bringing any other cables.

*Lifeproof case for my iphone and ipad to keep my tech safe from water and sand

I really love the wide range of on the go tech accessories at Officeworks and how they give me the luxury of being able to work in so many locations. The products include laptop bags and sleeves, mobile phone and tablet cases and they're available ina range of styles and for a range of different uses, giving you the option of working the way you want.

Working away from a desk keeps work feeling fresh and I'm inspired by everything I see around me.  

They also give me the ability to multitask and use the downtime in between different appointments constructively insteading of wasting it scrolling through my Facebook or Instagram feeds. 

Where is your favourite space to work?

 Do you have a favourite product that helps you get your work done while out and about?
I'd love to hear about it!

This post was a collaboration with Officeworks. All thoughts are my own. 

I only work with companies and products that I truly believe in.

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Officeworks - #YourWorkYourWay challenge

This coming week I will be showcasing Officeworks products and participating in the #YourWorkYourWay challenge.

I will be working in 3 different locations and showing how having the right tech products lets me work anywhere at anytime.

The Officeworks products I will be using this week to achieve this are -

Targets IQ Backpack

iPhone case

iPad cover

Power bank

Headphones

I look forward to sharing my different work spaces with you!

Officeworks also has a great quiz on their site so you can find out which kind of work style you have and techniques that can make you more productive.
I loved their suggested play lists, books to read and tips from working at home.

You can read more here -
http://www.officeworks.com.au/campaigns/your-work-your-way

Mother's Day Gift DIY - family photo blocks + inspirational quote cards

With only a couple of weeks until Mother's Day the time has come to start thinking of a wonderful gift for mum!  I've teamed up with Officeworks to bring you 2 fantastic DIY Mother's Day gift ideas using the Kodak Picture Kiosk available in all Officeworks stores.

I loved the idea of creating something personal to go along with the usual chocolates and flowers. Mum is always asking for photos of the boys so I thought this would be the perfect gift for her.

I loved how they turned out so much I'm also going to do some for my mother in law.

These DIY ideas were created by Katrina and I've put my own spin on it to suit my mum and her home. I've followed Katrina's steps and shown you my process below -

What you’ll need:

Photos – pop  photos on a USB stick or you can print pictures straight from your phone using the easy Kodak Picture Kiosks in store. 

Pull up a seat, use the touch screens and within minutes you’ll have your photos.  

I needed 8 photos so it cost me less than $6.40 to have these printed up.

I wanted quite a large size and chose the 6" x 6" (15cm x 15cm)

I chose the square shape as it suited most of my photos thanks to my Instagram addiction!

Blocks of wood – I went to my local hardware store and bought a 32mm thick piece of MDF offcut for $5.00 and asked them to cut it into 8 x 18cm x 18cm blocks. The cutting cost me $10.00.

It was too easy, I didn't have to pick up a tool!

Paint - we had loads of white paint left over from the renovations so I used this.

I painted the blocks of wood white so the colours of the photo would pop.

Decoupage glue - I also had some of this in my craft cupboard (Mod Podge)

Step 1.

I painted my wooden blocks. I gave them 2 coats each.

Step 2

Once the paint on the blocks are dry, paint on a layer of decoupage glue and position your photo in the centre of the block.  The reason I have used this product is because it dries clear and is an all-in-one glue, sealer and finish.

The glue goes on white but dries clear and adds a lovely gloss finish and extra texture to your photo.

Step 3

Let the photos dry for a few hours. Then use the glue again to coat the entire block all over.

I'm so happy with how they turned out.
I love the size and sturdiness of the block, such a great way to display your memories.
They were really quick and simple but I love that they have that personalised touch.

Although if you don't have the time it’s worth noting that alongside photo printing, the Kodak range at Officeworks has a wide selection of personalised items which make perfect gifts, including coffee mugs, calendars and photo canvases.

The next DIY I decided upon was Katrina's inspirational quote cards

My mum loves affirmations and quotes and often texts me one each morning.
So this combination was perfect for her.

All you need to make this Mother's Day gift is your photos, a business card holder and some printed text. It's simple and cost less than $10 to create!

Again I went with the larger size photo (15cm x 15cm) printed from the Kodak Picture Kiosk

What you'll need

Photos - pop them on a USB stick or print straight from your phone. Print them from the Kodak Picture Kiosks in store. Within minutes you'll have our photos.

Scissors

Card stock

Glue - a regular glue stick is fine

Business card display holder 
As my photos were bigger than Katrina's I used a photo frame stand instead.

That's one of the things I love about Officeworks. It has everything you need under the one roof.
You can get everything for these projects here - photos, stationery, etc.

Step 1
I gathered some of my favourite quotes and printed them out on card stock.
I printed them out on my printer at home but if you don't have a printer, pop them on a USB stick and have them printed out at Officeworks while you get your photos printed.

Step 2
Trim your quotes and stick the card stock to the back of your photos

Once you have glued the photo and the quote together, pop them under a few heavy books to ensure they stick together and stay flat while they dry.

Step 3
Pop them on your stand or in your business card holder. They make the perfect addition to the coffee table and you can create a lovely vignette with them.

Now mum can pick out a quote each morning and change the photos around as it suits her.

I know most mum's and grandmothers love a gift with a personal touch and I think this project is great as you can change the quotes to suit the person.

I used recent photos as mum had been asking for new photos of the boys but I loved Katrina's idea of using old photos and bringing back some amazing memories.

It's so good to get all of those photos I take off my phone and on display.
My next project is Photo Books but I'm a few years behind so I've got some work ahead!

What do you think?
Are you tempted to make some for Mother's Day gifts?

I really love how these projects turned out and I will be keeping these up my sleeve for gifts in the future too.

Have you printed out some photos lately or are they all still on your phone and laptop?!

Refreshing my Desk Space - making my dollar work harder at Officeworks.

We're on the last day or 2 of our renovations and I can't wait to get home and start putting everything back into place. It has been a great opportunity to clean out any unwanted items and I'm looking forward to rearranging furniture and giving everything a little refresh.

One of the spaces I can't wait to style is my office space.  You have seen plenty of photos of my old desk space but towards the end it became a bit of a dumping ground and I hated walking in and seeing a messy desk. Also as it was in quite a visible spot, I really needed to organise a better system.

My desk space as seen in Adore Home Magazine coffee table book.

I packed my old desk away and used the space for a set of drawers to store my cutlery, platters, entertaining stuff and I've found a new nook for a little desk and a designated spot for my work. I can't wait to show you the finished space once we've moved back in and are settled.

I was approached by Officeworks to put together some options for a desk refresh for varying budgets.

I've put together options for under $50, under $100 and under $200.

There is so much to choose from at Officeworks. From office furniture, storage ideas, desk accessories, stationery, fresh pencils and paper (my favourite!) The prices are so reasonable, such great value for money. Your dollar certainly works harder here. We also buy all the kids school supplies from Officeworks too as there is such a great variety.

My favourite piece that I bought was the Kallis Computer desk for $21.75!! It fits perfectly in my space and I've jazzed it up a little by painting the legs gold! Can't wait to show you :)

Here are a few pics of desk spaces I'm using for Inspiration....

I'm all about the neutral spaces at the moment.

Desk Refresh for under $50

1. Large Square tin - perfect for stationery bits and bobs you want hidden - here

2. A5 Felt Diary - I love the colour and also the day to page - here

3. Clear Pencil caddy - here

4. Black folders for hiding paperwork - here

5. Kallis Computer Desk - here  I've sprayed my desk legs gold and it looks stunning!

6. A4  Clipboard  x 2 - perfect for displaying inspiration pics, calendars, art etc - here

Desk Refresh for under $100

I would include all the items above and add the following

7. Acrylic mini stapler - cute and I love that it matches the other desk accessories - here

8. Acrylic 2 hole punch - here

9. Desk lamp - I love that this lamp comes in so many different colours - here

Also a lovely bunch of flowers to add that pop of colour. Laptop, glasses and artwork my own.

All of the above 9 items come to the total of $100. I think that is such great value for money.  Plus I love the fact you can get furniture, stationery and desk accessories from the one place.
So with my last $100 to spend I would add the following items to my picks above - 

Desk refresh for under $200

10. Scissors - here

11. Highlighters - here

12. White desk chair - here

13. Clear hooks for popping up clipboards etc - here

14. Natural Cork Tag/Labels - here

15. Notebook - here

It's amazing how you can change the whole look of your work space and get so many useful items with as little as $200.

How is your desk space looking? Could it do with a little refresh?

Is there any particular item you swear by to keep you organised?