If you have updated your Facebook iPhone app to the latest version, you would have probably seen something strange in your tool bar… Fish with Attitude?

This App request is not from a friend, not from you using the App, but seems to be taking up the tool bar space of everyone who has upgraded.

If you don’t want to see this App in your toolbar, feel free to do the following to remove Fish with Attitude from your Facebook toolbar.

Go to your Privacy settings > Blocking and under ‘Block Apps’ type in Fish with Attitude.

And viola! The Fish are removed from your toolbar on your iPhone App….

Did you notice the app? What are your thoughts?

FOPTM  </fop-tuh m/> : noun

a fear of paying too much

Some people are afraid of spiders, some are afraid of public speaking… me? I have been diagnosed with a serious case of FOPTM…. a fear of paying too much.

We’ve all been there, you go to a store, find something you would love to buy, and then after purchasing it, you see it for 20% off in the store next door…. FOPTM…

Some major retailers including Target, Myer and David Jones have price matching policies and allow you to return items within 30 days as long as you have a receipt. This can aid the symptoms of FOPTM as you have the assurance you can always return a product and get them to match the price (if your ego permits!).

FOPTM has different severities, and can affect people depending on the product they are purchasing. Larger purchases such as televisions, furniture and baby needs such as strollers and prams can trigger a bought of FOPTM, on the other hand even everyday items such as the price of petrol or toilet paper can surface the fear of paying too much. I have to confess that once I walked from my local Coles to my local Woolworths just to see the prices of cooking oil at both outlets.

What can you do if you experience FOPTM?

Here are our tips:

- Become a smarter shopper, and make sure you do your research by using website such as Lasoo

- Ask close friends to tell you when key items such as nappies go on sale

- Create an alert on Lasoo (FREE for members!) which will send you an email when a product goes on sale.

- Get Appy- take the power of smarter shopping with you using the Lasoo App (Free for all mobile devices!)

Do you suffer from FOPTM?

Have you subscribed to our weekly Newsletter?

By doing so, you get the latest catalogues delivered straight to your inbox every week, to make sure you never miss a sale. We have just redesigned it so it looks even better on your desktop and…wait for it… your mobile! Yep, the same email magically reshuffles itself on mobile, making it easier to browse and click through to the catalogues you love!

Make sure you check your profile under ‘subscriptions‘ to ensure you receive the Lasoo Newsletter, or Join NOW.

Do you like our new Newsletter? Comment below and let us know what you think!

It is not often you can get discounts on gift cards, but when you do, it is a great time to stock up for yourself, or emergency gifts!

iTunes gift cards are especially useful to help limit the spending on music and games for your children’s iDevices.

Right now at Target you can buy 2 x $30 iTunes gift cards for only $50!

Find the deal here: http://www.lasoo.com.au/offer/-30-itunes-cards/4u1qdn4n6.html?smid=blog

The deal runs from the 27th of March to the 3rd of April, 2013

Myer also has a deal starting tomorrow with 25% off all iTunes gift cards: http://www.lasoo.com.au/offer/gift-cards/itunes-gift-cards/4u2ysskur.html?smid=social

There’s something magical about Easter Egg Hunts and on Easter morning on the 31st March, 2013 you can make it one to remember!

Kids love running around looking for surprises hidden around the garden and this activity can be exciting and rewarding.

Here are our tips for adding a little magic into your Easter Egg hunt:

1) Create your own Baskets- Let the kids make their own ‘baskets’ using paper plates. Staple into a semi-circles, cut out a handle near the arch (forming a handle and an opening and use coloured pencils  and craft items to decorate and personalise the ‘baskets’. If you are feeling more adventurous you can try these cute bunny baskets. Click here for amazing step by step instructions from JellyfishJelly.

2) Colour code the eggs- To help keep things fair, especially when you have kids of different age groups. For example, one child is looking for pink eggs, another yellow and so forth.

3) Maps - In keeping with the theme of colour coding, you can provide each child with their own ‘map’ of the garden, showing hints of where their coloured eggs may be. It will also help them learn orientation, to  follow instructions and develop an understanding of how to read a map.

4) Special Surprises - Some of the clues on the map can lead to ’secret’ eggs that give clues to a ‘treasure chest’ or in this case, larger Easter treats which they can share at the end of the hunt. This way you are also not overloading the children with chocolate while still providing the excitement of a hunt!

5) Baby Powder and little bunny prints leading to the garden are a sure way to get them running out of bed on Easter morning!

6) Dress up- Little bunny ears are easily available to buy and can be fun to wear as the kids run around the garden. You can shop for Bunny Ears on Lasoo to find them in a store near you.

What ideas do you have for an Easter Egg hunt?

Butter or Margarine

It’s an age old dilemma. Butter tastes creamier, but Margarine spreads better… then add to the equation the pros and cons of  oil… saturated fats, trans fats, unsaturated fats…. it’s all a bit confusing…

I recently watched this video explaining it all and it got me thinking -  Do we know what is in the products we consume?

Just looking on the side of the packet of apricots I am currently consuming as I write this, I would think the ‘Ingredients’ would be simple: ‘Apricots’. But, to my surprise there are a few ambiguous items such as Preservative 220 (What does that number even mean?) and Vegetable Oil (is it Palm Oil? Olive Oil?).

Right now Google is probably the best place to find out the meaning of all the words on the packaging of our grocery products, so that is just what I have done and I found this link: http://mbm.net.au/health/200-290.htm - what does all of this mean? And who knew there were so many types of preservatives?  If we are trying to do what is best for our health and our family’s health, surely things should be easier!

How do you know what is good for your family and what isn’t?

Watch the video that got me thinking here and learn what the differences between butter and margarine.

http://youtu.be/KG_ybdk1VaE

Easter is in a few weeks so it is a great time to prepare for the celebrations with family and friends.

There are lots of fun activities to do with the kids from egg painting, to easter egg hunts and even some cooking activities to get them involved in the preparations for any Easter feasts!

Here are some fun ideas we found on Pinterest to help you have fun with the kids this Easter:

Fill some clear plastic bags with orange jelly beans other lollies, tie with green ribbon for sweet carrots your kids will love to eat!

Decorate paper cups for cute table decorations

Paint swatches make great Easter party decorations such as this garland to hang around the home.

What are your favourite Easter activities?

1) Bananagram

http://www.lasoo.com.au/offer/board-games/bananagrams/4sxq9y9jn.html?smid=blog

Bananagram is the word “anagram game that will drive you bananas”. Game play involves arranging tiles into a grid of connected words faster than one’s opponents. The object of the game is to be the first to complete a word grid after the pool of tiles has been exhausted. The tiles come in a cute , banana-shaped case.

2) Bop it Bounce

http://www.lasoo.com.au/offer/board-games/bop-it-bounce/4tph95rli.html?smid=blog

Bop-it Bounce helps develop your co-ordination, encouraging you play 6 different games using the controller and ball. An electronic voice command to cue you through a series of challenging exercises such as:

Max Bounce -  tests how fast you can bounce in 30 seconds

Infinite Bounce - tests how long you can keep bouncing

Hang Time-  tests how high you can bounce

Right Height - challenges you to match the shots called by the electronic voice

Little-Middle-Big - challenges you to bounce at exactly the right height and

Free For All - lets you bounce it out freestyle. Includes game unit, ball and instructions.

3) Logo

http://www.lasoo.com.au/offer/board-games/the-logo-board-game/4tph98ac4.html?smid=blog

If your family loves brands and knowing little trivia about products this game is for you! Using iconic household names such as Weet-bix, Mortein, Coon cheese and more, the game gets players to identify logos, and characters from brands to win.

4) Master mind

Logic and recognizing patterns is the secret to mastering this game. A game for two, you are set to ‘break’ the secret combination of colours of your opponent by guessing different patterns.

http://www.lasoo.com.au/offer/board-games/mastermind/4tfmn0ye9.html?smid=blog

5) UNO

http://www.lasoo.com.au/offer/board-games/uno-card-game/4tph930dn.html?smis=blog

UNO is the perfect travelling game when you are on a road trip and stop for a quick break, or when you go camping and you can play on the floor of the tent. The cards move quick and it can bring hours of entertainment if you play a few rounds.

6) Monopoly

http://www.lasoo.com.au/search/monopoly.html?smid=blog

Everyone has their favourite piece, and for some of us our own ‘rules’, but playing Monopoly is a great way to teach kids about investing, saving, spending and getting a return on their investments. Plus - it is always nice to finally have a big wad of cash!

7) Scrabble

http://www.lasoo.com.au/search/scrabble.html?smid=blog

8 ) Twister Dance

A ‘twist’ on the traditional Twister, this version features artists such as Britney Spears and encourages kids to make dance steps that match the song.

http://www.lasoo.com.au/search/twister.html?refine=691&smid=blog

9) Jenga

“Jenga… Jenga…. J-E-N-G-AAAAA!” This game has been a family favourite for years, and helps develop hand eye co-ordination as well as an understanding of the laws of gravity! Poking blocks from the bottom of the tower and then carefully placing them on the top is pretty much the way you play the game, but it is full of suspense and fun!

http://www.lasoo.com.au/search/jenga.html?refine=691&smid=blog

10) Hungry Hungry Hippos

http://www.lasoo.com.au/search.html?term=hungry%20hippos&?smid=blog

A classic game that is perfect for younger children. You have your own ‘hippo’ that you use to eat as many marbles as possible until they are all gone. Your child can then practice counting to see if they have more marbles than every other player to see if they won!

After a hard day’s work a little indulgence I enjoy is to put my feet up on the couch, grab a warm cup of tea and relax with a fragrant candle.

Candles can add a beautiful calming atmosphere to your home and are also a comforting way to add fragrance to your surroundings.

There’s something about a candle flame that instantly adds a sense of calm and a mood of relaxation. If you buy aromatherapy candles they are also believed to have mental and physical benefits such as:

- Alleviating stress, anxiety

- Creating a balancing effect on mental health and mood

- Aiding nausea, headaches and respiratory conditions.

Since the Ancient Egyptians began burning herbs and spices to ‘purify’ the air, it is believed different scents have a responding purpose.

Lavender- is believed to help relieve stress, to providing a soothing and relaxing environment conducive to relieve headaches.

Fruity scents-  liven up a room, invigorating the senses and believed to also help concentration

Cinnamon- the smell can remind you of baked-goods but it is also believed to help with exhaustion and fatigue

Rose- a subtle sweet fragrance that is feminine and calming

Sandalwood- is an earthy scent that is often associated with meditation

Do you use candles to relax? What is your favourite scent?

One of the most important lessons I learned from a young age was ‘the value of money’. I had an understanding from a young age, basic financial principles that if I saved $1 here and there, one day I would have $100 or that if I then put that $100 in the bank, the bank would give me more money i.e. ‘interest’ if I kept it there.

Many parents want to teach their children life-long skills but there are other ways of teaching them about the value of money without shouting “money doesn’t grow on trees!” every time they ask for a new toy.

Here are some fun and practical ways you can teach your children the value of money:

- Pretend Play – Children love pretend play and playing ‘Shopping’ is a great way of engaging them to ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ items. You can use everyday items in your home such as little cans of food, or vegetables and re-enact a shopping experience with them using the items. You can also purchase little ‘shopping play sets’ that will aid in play. Engage in dialogue that helps your child understand basic exchanges:

“How much does it cost for the bread?”

“But I only have $5 so I won’t be able to buy the bread and the carrot”

- Start a piggy bank – Buy your child a piggy bank (or a saving jar) to let them see how a little bit adds up over time. If your child gets 50c a week you can give them the option of putting it in the piggy bank or they can buy a treat from the shops. If they put it in the piggy bank after a few weeks show them that they now have money to be able to buy a toy.

- Board games – older children love playing games so pull out some of the classics like Monopoly to get them handling ‘money’ and purchasing and selling. (It might also teach them about natural disasters like ‘earthquakes’!).

How do you teach your child the value of money?

Shopping Play sets can be fun and educational