Handy Home HintsHow to cook the perfect steak on your BBQ!Many steaks have been ruined on a summer's day barbeque! Here are 4 simple tips to turn you into a barbeque wizard.
GardeningFertilisers - like a slap-up meal for your garden!Just like us, plants need nutritious food to grow and stay healthy. The range of commercial fertilisers available is huge but there are a few guidelines you can follow to help you make the right choice for your garden.
Handy Home HintsDried herbs and spices - 5 alternative uses you might not know!Most of us have a range of dried herbs and spices in the pantry - but they are more versatile than you think. Here are 5 different uses.
Fun With KidsA camping trip at home? Fun and easy!At the end of the day, it’s the camping experience kids often love more than the location, so why not take them camping in their own backyard. There’s no packing, planning or long car journeys – and you have the luxury of bathroom facilities on your doorstep!
Tips8 signs your gutters might be blockedThey may not be the most glamourous part of your house, but they are very important!
RecipesKaffir Lime Chicken with Mango SaladFresh, fragrant, deliciously light and perfect for a sunny day. Yum!
.jpg)
Community TipsTurn cupcakes into cash!Help your child to release their inner entrepreneur by having a cupcake stall at home. It’s a great way for them to make some pocket money or donate to charity.
Handy Home Hints4 easy ways to rescue burnt saucepansIf you've had a saucepan disaster and are left with a burned-on mess, don't despair! Try one of these clever tricks to bring it back to life.
.jpg)
TipsHere comes the sun!Get your home ready for summer with block out curtains and blinds.
.jpg)
Fun With KidsMake your own frozen dinosaur eggsThis icy dinosaur egg activity is easy to make and lots of fun. It does need some time to freeze though, so plan ahead to avoid disappointment!
.jpg)
Community TipsInspire your street to pick up litter!Litter can have a negative impact your sense of community and safety, not to mention making an area look messy and uncared for. Research also shows that areas where litter is a problem can lead to other antisocial behaviour such as graffiti and vandalism.
Handy Home Hints6 tips to keep your barbecue cleanIt's time to unveil the BBQ and get it back to work. Here are 6 tips to keep it clean and in tip-top condition for summer.
Reduce Reuse RecycleRecycle your empty drink containers and collect cash Containers for Change is a new state-wide container deposit scheme that lets you cash ineligible drink containers for 10 cents each. Here's what you need to know.
.jpg)
Community TipsHow to reconnect with your neighboursNeighbours are important because good relationships with others can transform communities. Social connection also makes us feel better as it helps prevent loneliness, isolation and depression.
.jpg)
TipsDon't DIY pool fencingThere are complex regulations for pool fencing and for good reason.
RecipesEggs with Spinach, Leek and FetaBored of the same old breakfast? Try this delicious egg recipe, ready in under 20 minutes. Perfect for a long weekend brekky (or any breakfast any day of the week!).
GardeningIt's time to plant some marvellous marigoldsEasy-to-grow marigolds will light up your garden with a blaze of fiery orange hues from spring right through to early autumn. They are low maintenance and hardy, suiting traditional as well as contemporary garden designs.
TipsAre your taps dripping money down the drain?The drip, drip, drip of a leaking tap can be very annoying. But it's also wasting a precious resource and can increase your water bill substantially. Here are four common causes of leaking taps.
GardeningHanging baskets are not just for flowersHanging baskets make a great container for growing cherry tomatoes. They provide a blast of colour and they have advantages over growing them in the ground or in pots.
RecipesBaked chicken with lemon and herb rice - so simple and so deliciousThe flavours of the marinated chicken infuse through the rice as it cooks, creating a dish that's every bit as delicious as it is simple.
.jpg)
Community TipsFather’s Day gift ideas that don’t cost a cent!Forget the socks and undies! This year give your dad something money can’t buy. Here are some great Father’s Day ideas that won’t cost a cent.
GardeningGo troppo with hibiscus in your garden!Add tropical colour to your garden with a selection of hibuscus plants. Their beautiful flowers come in a huge array of colours and sizes, some as big as dinner plates!
Handy Home HintsNine handy recipe substitutesEver get to a crucial point in a recipe and discover you’ve run out of something? Or you can’t find an ingredient in the supermarket? Don’t panic, here are some things you can use instead.
.jpg)
Community TipsIt’s citrus season - spread the word!If you have citrus trees in your garden, chances are you’ve got excess fruit. So why not have a marmalade-making session and share the joy by giving neighbours a jar to enjoy.
Community TipsThe role you can play in your children’s sportsKids love it when their parents volunteer to do things with them. By taking an interest in your children’s sport and making it a positive experience for them, you can set them up for a lifetime of benefits.
TipsMatch the perfect split system air-conditioning to your room5 things to consider when choosing a split system air conditioner
.jpg)
Fun With KidsSend your kids to work in their own shop!Playing shop can spark hours of imaginative play while teaching social skills, language, literacy, numeracy and problem-solving.
.jpg)
Fun With KidsRemember to play memory games with your kids!At the ages of 6-14, kids’ brains are working overtime to build new pathways. It’s the best time for them to learn whatever they can, and these memory games are great fun at any time.
.jpg)
Community TipsMake someone's day with a 'Hello' cardWith an endless list of electronic communication tools at our fingertips, not much lands in our letterboxes these days. Why not reboot the art of sending cards by making ‘hello’ cards with your kids.
.jpg)
Fun With KidsBack to the future with a family time capsule!A time capsule makes a great family project and imagine how amazing it will be to open it in the future and see how life has changed!
RecipesSpiced Orange BiscuitsSimple shortbread-style biscuits scented with orange zest and mixed spice. A nice and tasty alternative to plain shortbread and perfect with a cuppa or as an after dinner treat.
.jpg)
TipsHow to spot ticks and fleas that drive your pet crazyThe soft, warm fur of dogs and cats is like a 5-star hotel for ticks and fleas. These insects feed on your pets blood and can cause a range of health problems, some of them serious.
GardeningFabulous fuchsias to brighten up your gardenBeautiful and vibrant fuchsias originate from the cool, coastal region of Central and South America. They come in a variety of shapes, forms and colours, so there’s always something perfect for your garden, pots or baskets.
.jpg)
Community TipsTime to toast some marshmallows around your outdoor fire pitThere’s nothing more relaxing and soothing than sitting around a warm fire with friends and family, and with the cooler weather it’s the perfect time – before spring arrives and it starts to warm up again.
Tips4 great reasons to replace your old driveway with paversIf you've decided to renovate your driveway, here are 4 great reasons why you should choose pavers over other materials.
Handy Home HintsHow to deal with difficult-to-budge oil splatter on your clothesOil splatters are common when you're cooking, but when it gets onto your clothes, it can be difficult to remove. Don't panic, you can save your favourite shirt from the bin by trying one of these 3 tips to remove oil stains from fabric.
.jpg)
TipsRoman blinds getting grotty?If the blinds in your home are beginning to look a bit the worse-for-wear, you might think the only option is to have them replaced. But it's not. Here's how you can bring your Roman blinds back to life.
.jpg)
Community TipsHost a party - without upsetting your neighboursCelebrating special occasions can be fun, but it’s important that disruption is kept to a minimum to maintain a good relationship with your neighbours. Here are 6 tips for hosting a successful party and keeping everybody happy.
RecipesRed Lentil Curry with Roasted CauliflowerIt's packed full of fragrant spices and perfect for everyone including kids (just don't tell them it's healthy!).
TipsHas your metal roof got a screw loose?While a metal roof is low maintenance, it doesn't mean no maintenance!
Handy Home Hints7 fast and fabulous cake decorating ideasIf you need a cake for a special occasion or a party but are a bit short of time, here are 7 fast and fabulous decorating tips. You could even use a ready make cake or try our simple Classic Victoria Sponge recipe.
GardeningStunning small trees for small gardensNot everyone has the luxury of a large garden, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on beautiful trees. These deciduous, small trees have a great shape, excellent autumn colour and will grow in most soils with added compost, mulch and a little fertiliser.
RecipesSpaghetti with Prosciutto and Green BeansSweet green beans with the salty crunch of grilled prosciutto makes for a simple, tasty and filling dinner the whole family will enjoy.
.jpg)
Handy Home HintsHow to remove permanent marker from carpet, glass, walls and moreIf your little budding artist has got carried away with the permanent markers around your home, don’t panic. We’ve found ways to remove it from 5 different surfaces.
.jpg)
Community TipsTeaching kids to get involved in their communityTeaching kids the importance of being involved with those around them will help them to become active members of their community. It will show them that one person can make a difference and the rewards will last a lifetime.
RecipesYorkshire ParkinParkin is a gingerbread cake traditionally made with oatmeal and black treacle, and eaten in the North of England on Bonfire Night. Try it, it's delicious!
GardeningA colourful garden without flowers?I'd like to see that! Have you heard about Bromeliads?They are striking, tropical to cool-temperate plants, native to Central and South America. They range from 1cm miniatures to 10-metre giants and are hugely diverse in foliage patterns, growth habit and flowers.
.jpg)
Fun With KidsCalming the kids with a sensory bottle!Sensory bottles are often referred to as ‘calm down’ bottles. They’re a great activity to do with the kids when it’s time to slow things down a bit.
RecipesSensational Scandanavian Seeded CrispbreadFull of flavour and simple to make, store the crispbread in an airtight container and it will keep for a month or more (but will probably get eaten way before then!).
.jpg)
Community TipsIt’s a great time to reconnect with your neighboursIf recent events have taught us anything, it’s the importance of local communities. Catching up with neighbours is always a great thing to do, so why not invite them around for a cuppa and a chat and find out what they’ve been up to.
TipsMake messy pipes and awkward spaces disappear like magic!Here are 5 creative ways to use a bulkhead in your home
Reduce Reuse RecycleJoin your local Buy Nothing group and ‘give where you live’You may have seen Buy Nothing groups popping up on Facebook. They are a way to reduce waste and recycle items that you don’t need anymore, by giving them to someone in your local community who would find them useful.
TipsDon't Cook - Won't Cook Challenge!Support local restaurants and cafes and set yourself a Local 'Don't Cook - Won't Cook' Challenge! The challenge is to order a takeaway (or dine-in) from every restaurant or café in your local area.
.jpg)
Fun With KidsHow to make glass bead fridge magnetsThese unique fridge magnets are very simple to produce and they can be personalised to make great gifts for family and friends. Use any images you like, such as photos, maps, drawings, gift wrap or even fabric.
RecipesRosemary Biscuits - shortbread with a twist!A buttery biscuit with a little bit of sugar, lightly fragranced with rosemary. Don’t have rosemary? Try finely chopped lavender, nuts, choc-chips, crushed cumin seeds or citrus zest - whatever takes your fancy!
.jpg)
Fun With KidsCraft activities with dried pastaA bag of dried pasta is a great pantry staple – and it can also be used as a fun activity for your kids. It is easy to dye all sorts of dried pasta in different colours and then leave the rest to their imagination. Dyeing the pasta is an activity in itself, and your young ones can choose their favourite colours.
GardeningCreate a waterwise verge and get your plants established before the summer heatAccording to the Water Corporation, we use over 40% of our water in the garden, and this includes water-guzzling verge lawns. By transforming these lawns into waterwise verges,we could each save a significant amount of water every year.
Reduce Reuse RecycleWhat to put in the yellow-top binStill confused about what goes into your yellow top recycling bin? Here’s a simple guide.
Money Saving HacksMeal plan and save up to $50 a week!The average WA household throws away thousands of dollars every year in wasted food. Simply by creating a meal plan - and sticking to it - the average family can save up to $50 per week.
GardeningWinter has arrived - here is what you can do in your gardenWinter is upon us and the temperature is dropping, but there are still plenty of things to be done in the garden. Keep on top of those weeds, start pruning and plant some winter veg. It’s also time to plant natives and roses and divide perennials ready for spring growth.
RecipesLamb Rosemary Rag PastaEnjoy the rustic flavours of lamb and rosemary with torn rag pasta. Using lamb sausages is an easy way to add more flavour without lots of preparation or extra ingredients.
.jpg)
Fun With KidsCreate a cherished memory book with your kidsMemory books make a fantastic project for kids and a treasured keepsake for parents. It can help children retain some of the memories, thoughts, ideas and feelings that they may otherwise lose touch with. And it will be a great (and sometimes amusing!) thing to look back on as they get older.
.jpg)
Community Tips10 simple ways to spread kindness in your streetKindness is a powerful tool and one small, thoughtful gesture can make someone else’s day. It has huge benefits everyone inclucing reduced stress and anxiety, and improved happiness. Here are 10 simple ideas to spread some kindness (and you might even find it’s catching!).
Reduce Reuse RecycleHow to recycle your soft plastic so it doesn’t end up in landfill****Please Note**** The soft plastics recycling programme via REDcycle has been paused. Please visit redcycle.net.au for further information
RecipesEasy Peasy Fish PieFish is one of the healthiest foods on the planet! It’s loaded with important nutrients such as protein, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. It’s also super delicious in this easy-to-make fish pie.
GardeningSix fabulous plants that will make your garden look lovely and smell greatWouldn’t it be nice to have colour and scent in your garden all year round? Well, with a bit of planning, you can. We’ve found 6 scented plants that flower at different times throughout the year, so you garden looks and smells beautiful whatever the season!
Fun With KidsGeocaching – the modern equivalent of a treasure huntGeocaching is fun for both kids and adults alike, making it the perfect outdoor activity for all ages. It combines the excitement of a treasure hunt, with outdoor fun, exercise and technology. Caches are always hidden in plain sight and never buried – but they are cleverly camouflaged.
.jpg)
Community TipsMake your neighbour’s day and offer to walk their dogDog walking has countless benefits both pet and owner. But what if you don’t or can’t own a dog? Borrow your neighbour’s! You’ll be helping a neighbour and getting some exercise.
GardeningNew plants from oldHaving a beautiful and vibrant garden doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Many plants grow easily from cuttings and you can get together with friends and neighbours to swap the best ones, so you all get a variety. It’s a great way to fill up your garden beds and all it will cost is a little time.
RecipesSlow cooked Balsamic Roast Beef15 minutes prep, then set and forget in a slow cooker! Perfect for busy weeknights and ready to be eaten when you get home.
Fun With KidsHow to create a busy boardA busy board like this one helps toddlers to develop their fine motor skills as they delight in discovering how things work. It is an enjoyable project to work on and they make great gifts. All you need is a selection of interesting hardware and something to mount them on. A pinewood chopping board is ideal.
.jpg)
Community TipsHelping kids in your street learn how to earn!Raking up leaves is a job that no one really enjoys doing. The solution? Get one of your neighbours’ kids to do it. They would probably love to earn a bit of extra pocket money – so it’s a win-win situation! Ask their parents if this is something they would like to do.
RecipesFrangipane Nectarine TartImpress your guests with this elegant tart that is deceptively simple to make. It features a frangipane base and soft juicy nectarines in a puff pastry case.
GardeningPlant some fern-tastic ferns!If you’ve got a shady area in your garden where not much seems to thrive, try some ferns. Ferns love dappled light and areas with shade and bring texture, drama and colour, depending on the varieties you choose.
TipsInstall power points with an inbuilt USB charger and keep your devices fully chargedGreat news! Now you can plug in and power up at the same time.
Fun With KidsMake your own paint using pantry ingredientsDon’t rush out to the shops to buy paint for the kids to create their masterpieces; make your own instead! It’s a simple process and because all the ingredients are from your pantry, it’s safe and fun to use as finger paint as well.
.jpg)
Fun With KidsCreate some fun with empty cardboard boxesKids love a cardboard box. Parents see this at Christmas and birthdays when the box gets more use than the toy that came in it! Save cardboard boxes of all sizes and let your kids’ imaginations run riot. Boxes can be stored flat and reassembled when you’re ready to use them and can also be reconstructed inside-out for a plain surface to decorate.
.jpg)
Community TipsShare your excess home-grown fruit and veggies with your neighboursWe’ve all done it – enthusiastically planted fruit trees, veggies and herbs only to discover we can’t possibly use everything up before it goes off or goes to seed. Why not take any excess you have and share it with your neighbours and passers-by.
Reduce Reuse Recycle10 easy ways to cut down your use of plasticIt’s great if you’re recycling your plastic rubbish correctly, but the best way of helping our environment is to avoid buying products with plastic packaging in the first place.
Handy Home HintsMake your own laundry liquid with 5 simple ingredientsThere are so many benefits to making your own laundry liquid. All the ingredients are readily available at supermarkets; you are helping our environment by reducing packaging and you can recycle containers to store it in and there are no nasty chemicals in it.
.jpg)
Handy Home HintsFind matching sheet sets quickly and easilyIf you’re fed up of sleeping on mismatched sheets and pillowcases because you can never find the matching set; or forever seem to be frantically digging around in piles of fitted sheets, flat sheets and pillowcases to find a set for a single bed rather than a double, try this simple tip.
.jpg)
.jpg)
TipsPaint your timber window frames and protect them from water damageDon't wait for paint to flake!
GardeningGrow your own handy herbs for cookingGrowing your own herbs saves money, trips to the supermarket and is less wasteful as you only pick as much as you need for whatever you are cooking. You can plant them in your garden beds or in pots; try to find a spot close to your kitchen for easy access to regular watering and harvesting.
.jpg)
Community TipsShare your details and stay connectedWhen communities stay connected, they are safer, stronger and more resilient. At times like these, staying connected might take a bit more effort, but there are still some simple things you can do.
.jpg)
Handy Home HintsMake your own all-purpose cleaner with sodium bi-carb, vinegar and lemonCleaning products are in high demand at the moment, but what’s already in your cupboards may do the job just as well. Vinegar, sodium bi-carb and lemon are common household ingredients and can keep your home clean and fresh. You will also save money in the bargain.
.jpg)
Community TipsGet some fresh air and stay connected in your communityWith social distancing in place, people are taking more walks to get out of the house and into the fresh air. It’s great opportunity to keep in touch with your community and even make more connections (while maintaining social distance rules of course, keeping at least 1.5 metres or two arms’ length apart).
TipsPrepare your working-from-home area with extra power points and efficient lightingMany of us are now working from home and life will be so much easier if your work area is properly prepared. Here are three things you can do to create a great working space.
.jpg)
TipsSave shopping trips and money with a home water filtration systemSave money, keep plastic out of landfill and enjoy filtered water on tap.
RecipesChocolate and Black Bean SliceDon't let the ingredients put you off! This is a seriously delicious treat with a healthy twist! Use gluten free oats and baking powder if you want to make this completely without gluten.
RecipesChicken, Kale and Cannellini Bean SoupComforting and nutritious, this soup is a great way to use up left-over roast chicken, or, if you have more time, poach your own chicken to make stock from scratch.
RecipesBroccoli and Blue Cheese SoupWhen the cooler weather arrives, there's nothing more comforting than a delicious bowl of soup. This delicious combination needs only 6 ingredients and can be ready in under 30 minutes.
RecipesBanoffee Pie - the perfect combination of caramel and bananasGooey caramel, ripe bananas and whipped cream on a biscuit base. This is an easy option for next time you’re asked to bring dessert!
GardeningDon't leave your soil naked over winter!Plant a compost crop and and reap the benefits next season. A compost crop, or green manure, is a crop that’s grown to enrich and improve the soil and your veggie garden will thank you for it. Here how to start your very own compost crop.
