Have you spied us in the latest Practical Parenting Magazine(December 2011) yet? We are in the GREAT OUTDOORS section. Practical Parenting says "have safe and happy playtime in the water with these fun and practical pieces for your little ones".

Also look out for us in the Shop4Kids Summer 2011 extra section.

The daily buzz is a great website that lets you know about all the new and great stuff available for kids. Click on their name to see the write up about Rashoodz.

Do you think your child is totally adorable?

Do they have what it takes to win our annual "SUMMER FUN PHOTO COMPETITION"?

All you have to do to enter is email us a photo of your child wearing one of our Rashoodz having safe fun in the sun. We will then post it on our facebook fan page under the photo album named Summer Fun Photo Competition 2011 and here on the blog.

Then all you have to do is get as many people as possible to vote (click the like button) for your photo or for the photo that most embodies Summer Fun. The photo that gets the most votes wins.

You and your child will win a RASHOODZ BABY SUMMER BEACH PACK,

which includes, a Rashoodz Swimbag, Hooded Towel, Sunscreen, Beach Toys, and a New Rashoodz of your choice and the glory of being named RASHOODZ BABY OR TODDLER OF THE YEAR! So its time to get snapping

. Voting will finish January 10th 2012. Please email photos to laura@rashoodz.com.au

To see the photos and to vote for them go to our fan site (click on the button below) and click the like button on the photo that you like best.

Click on the facebook fan link and check out the photos page to see the latest entrants

Its Queensland Sunsmart Day today. Its the biggest ever sunscreen drive to help raise funds for skin cancer research and to make Queenslanders more aware of how to stay sunsafe! Did you know Queenslanders have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world?

The cancer council has changed the Slip Slop Slap saying we all learnt in school, to SLIP, SLOP, SLAP, SLIDE, SEEK.

Slip on your shirt

Slop on your sunscreen

Slap on your hat

Slide on your sunnies

Seek out the shade

Materials

• Sandpit or large box with rice/bird seed

• Play space

• Multiple copies of laminated cut-outs of fi ve sun protection images

or SunSmart Countdown number characters (image sheets provided)

For variations to the game – copy the different images onto different coloured card

and have enough for each child to have a complete set of fi ve plus four extra sets

(for spare cards). Click here for the link to the card print outs and many other actvities. 

Instructions

Bury the laminated pictures in the sand pit/rice box (or alternatively hide them

 around a designated space). Bury the laminated pictures in the sand pit/rice box (or alternatively hide them. Children try to dig up/fi nd as many SunSmart items as they can.

To add to the challenge, once all of the items have been found, children then need

to try swapping their items so they end up with a complete set of fi ve cards –

either five of the same image or a set of fi ve sun protection measures/SunSmart

Countdown number characters. They can only swap one card at a time.

Children try to dig up/fi nd as many SunSmart items as they can.

OR

3 Children can only dig up one of each of the SunSmart Countdown cards. If they  

fi nd one they already have, they need to re-bury/re-hide it. They need to fi nd all

fi ve cards in the set to complete the game.

We love having fun at christmas with the kids! These craft activities are simple and easy. All you need to do is eat a few ice creams or ice blocks by the pool while watching your kids splashing around in their rashoodz swimwear, then get creating! The links to the "how to do" pages are listed below. We would love to see photo of your kids finished chrissy decorations on our facebook page. 

http://www.facebook.com/RashoodzSwimwear

Here is the list of the amazing craft websites and their instructions:

Snowflake decoration : The Crafty Crow

Christmas Wreath: Art Sand

Nutcrackers, Santa, Snowman and Sleigh: Squidoo 

Reindeer: Craft For All Seasons

Angel:Craft For All Seasons

Stars: Kaboose.com

Christmas Trees: Scrapfx.com

Packing can be a nightmare if you don't plan and write lists. I'm a list a holic! I have lists for my lists! Seriously though, a list is all you really need to keep packing for holidays under control. Simply tick off each item as you go. Then there will be no last minute "did I pack the change mat?" panics. There are heaps of great websites out there that have already done the thinking and created the lists for you to make printable checklists!

Check out these ones: 

* A general printable packing list

*A printable packing list for baby 

But if you really want to be specific on your list you MUST visit this website called "Don't Forget your Toothbrush" It generates a list for you based on how many people, destination and weather. It also can send you email reminders to do things such as cancel the paper delivery, book someone to feed the cat. It really is the best website EVER for those who need a little help or a personal assistant when getting ready to go on holidays!

And lastly dont forget to pack your sun safety gear!

* A Rashoodz Swimsuit with UPF50+ protection and built in hat! from www.rashoodz.com.au

* Sunscreen

* Sunshade Shelter Tent: The cancer council has some great one 

* Sunglasses : Check out the cancer council website too

(thanks to The Graphics Fairy for the free luggage image)

Christmas is not too far away now and it's time to get planning for holidays. There are some parents out there, myself included, that are petrified of taking very young children anywhere for holidays. However, after a brave trip overseas, and a few more holidays interstate I now have some clever tricks and tips that keep our holidays blissful (as much as it can be with three children under the age of four). 

The "Holidays with Kids" blog will come in four parts.

1. Choosing a Destination 2. Packing 3. Traveling  4. Holiday games and fun.

1. Choosing a Destination

There are so many "children friendly" holiday destinations out there it can be hard to choose. However there is a great company called Holiday with Kids that does all the research for you and has the top 10 Family Resorts as well as the top 10 Holiday Parks, for Australia, and other overseas destinations. You can choose the above 4 star or below 4 star option. 

There are also travel guide companies that specialize in booking for holidays for families with kids. The one I like the best is byokids.

There are also some great books with literally hundreds of holiday destination ideas for kids. My favourite is the 1000 Great Places to Travel with kids in Australia. Click on the images below if you wish to read more about them.

Part Two: Packing (coming soon)

SunSmart App 

This awesome SunSmart App helps you be super smart in the sun. It has a weather forecast, UV level and sun protection times for your local area.

It also has a Vitamin D tracker, so you can check that you are getting enough.

When the UV level is high enough to require sun protection, the app can be programmed to give you a reminder.

                                                  UV Safe Timer

After you have covered the kids in sunscreen, use this handy app to count down the time till you need to re apply! It will calculate the time based on skin type, location and weather.

Surf Life Saving Beach Safe App

This app has 12,000 beaches in its database. The app will find your closest beach for you, tell you the weather, tide times, swell, water temp, the patrol times, and any cautionary information. It also gives details about the swimming, surfing and fishing at your beach of choice.

                                                        uSwim

uSwim is a ‘learn to swim’ program. Watch the professionals on the video and then follow the lesson plans to help your kids become better swimmers. It has lessons for babies starting as early as 4 months and covers safety fundamentals and stroke development for kids over 3 years.

This app is created by the Australia’s premier Swim School - Aquatic Achievers. Rashoodz thinks this app is good if used in conjunction with lessons from a qualified swimming instructor.

                                              CPR Rescue

This one is free and good to have on your phone "just incase". There are two modes: "Training" and "Emergency". Training mode can be read at your leisure for a refresher. Emergency mode, it scrolls through each step automatically with a handy voice over. It also beeps to help keep you in time with the compressions.

Here at Rashoodz Swimwear we love a party and of course we LOVE swimming. Nothing sounds better to us then our combined loves...... A pool party!

If you have ever thought of giving a Pool Party a go but put it in the too hard basket, never fear! We've collated some great ideas, tips and pretty pictures just for you!

Invitations

                                                    http://kellyandersonphotography.com

Invitations set the mood of any party! Any invitation with a little swimmer on it gets everyone in the mood for swimming and a party. We had to include this invitation because it's so cute. We love the vintage image! If you would like to create your own, you can check out JWIllustrations a seller on Etsy that gives you cute digital images for around $5!

                                                            http://www.toddlebits.com/

How great is this idea! Blow up the beach ball and write "Come have a ball at ..... Pool Party" and then fill the other stripes with the date, place and time! Then deflate the ball and pop in the post! A clever lady from toddlebits.com came up with this idea! We LOVE IT!

Last but not least is this totally fun invitation. (Obviously not for posting!) "Use your noodle and come over to swim". Pretty easy to make, and pool noodles are about 2 dollars each! Check out  Jacolynmurphy.blogspot.com for a better look at these!

Fantasyjnr.com also has free printable invitations, all the hard work is done for you just print and fill!

Games

Without a doubt the best game to play at a pool party is "Water ballons!" There are no rules, but watch the kids play it for hours! You could also have a contest for the best dive, biggest splash, and ping pong ball toss, where you throw 150 balls in the pool and have a few with the birthday number on them. The kids who find the birthday ping pongs win a prize! This idea and others are on The hostessblog.com.

You could also try some olympic type games, with races and challenges. Look at Doheny's blog for some more ideas.
 

Food

Woman's Weekly Birthday Book - Swimming Pool

Its up to you wether you make the food yourself or get someone else to do it for you. We couldn't go past the vintage pool cake from the woman's weekly book (which they have re released!) Kids love to help making cakes and these are easy and fun. The Teddy swimming cupcakes are simple and easy for the little fingers that are helping.Click here to see the how to!

Decoration and Favours

The options are endless on how to decorate your pool party. It is best to stick to just a few colours. Below there are some example pool party images to get your creative juices flowing. Just click on the image to go the page with more details. We cant neglect to mention, everyone should wear our beautiful Rashoodz Swimwear!!!!!

We have listed some of our favourite pool parties that are on the net.

http://www.bellyfeathers.com/2009/08/connors-second-birthday-pool-party-with.html

http://www.hostessblog.com/2010/08/real-parties-blue-green-pool-party/

http://www.thecakeblog.com/2011/08/lil-sunshine-1st-birthday.html

http://simplycreativeinsanity.blogspot.com/2010/03/under-sea-6th-birthday-party.html

If you have a party of your own, please send us some pics on our facebook page. We love sharing! www.facebook.com/RashoodzSwimwear

Oh and don't forget to be sun safe! Have sunscreen available for everyone! We love the way Martha Stewart has displayed it!

http://www.marthastewart.com/

We just had to share these adorable and simple craft activities for the kiddies. There is a mermaid wand in the shape of a star, or a little keepsake sandy hand print! You can do it at the beach, or even in your own sandpit at home. Its also a great idea to make for a christmas gift for the Grandparents. Click on the link below or the images to get the instruction sheet. 

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/beach-craft-make-a-sandy-handprint-keepsake

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/mermaid-wand-1019696/

We don't always feel glamorous getting into the pool for swimming lessons with our little ones. If only they made these flippers for Mummies! Swimwear always looks better in heels! They are so practical. Tee hee.