Family In Focus NZ

Hey everyone :)
Was curious if anyone had tried these NutriBullet NZ Portable Blenders
https://nutribullet.co.nz/collections/personal-blenders/products/nutribullet-portable-blender-1

Or any of the similar ones from the likes of Kmart etc?
Something that I was thinking about for the likes of when we aren't at home, but want to be able to create the nutritious goodies that the family love.

Would love to hear anyones opinions :)
Thank you in advance

NutriBullet Portable Blender Hit the road with the nutribullet® Portable Blender, an on-the-go blender that mixes smoothies, protein shakes, party drinks and more, wherever you happen to be. Charged via USB-C, this blender is designed for optimum portability, with a handled lid and a battery equipped to power through 15+ blend...

In preparation for the festive season, we stocked up on some of our favorite treats, and some new items to enhance our cheese platters. After grabbing some of our known favourites, we chose to explore a selection of unique accompaniments, including Barkers Mango, Chilli & Lime Jam, Chilli Jam, and Blackcurrant & Red Onion Jam. Although we used two of these options over Christmas, the Mango, Chilli, and Lime jam remained unopened until recently.

While making homemade pizzas, my husband and I were eager to elevate our meal with a burst of flavour, so went hunting and saw this in the cupboard and decided to drizzle a bit of this jam onto our pizzas. The result was exceptional; it quickly became a new favourite of mine. We subsequently experimented with the jam on burgers and even hot dogs.

Barkers has consistently been one of my go-to brands, renowned for their diverse array of delightful flavours. The Mango, Chilli, and Lime jam is truly exceptional—fresh, flavourful, and with just the right amount of zing. It offers a subtle heat complemented by an abundance of taste, making it a standout addition to our meals.

Spent yesterday afternoon baking and the kids are over the moon lol
Fudgecake - an old recipe I was given years ago
Caramel Slice - My Mums recipe
Coffee Slice - I was looking for a recipe that was online in about 2010 and asked AI to find it. It couldn't but gave me this one lol

I have to confess, I'm not exactly the biggest chip enthusiast—unless I have an impressive amount of dip on hand (because let's be real, I'm really having chips with my dip). But when I stumbled upon these intriguing little snacks, I thought, “What in the snack world is happening here?” Naturally, I had to give them a go.

Now, I find myself in a culinary conundrum!
Chips are supposed to be salty or savoury, right? But these sweet little temptations have me munching away like there's no tomorrow. And unfortunately for me, my husband is on board with this unexpected flavour adventure which means less for me lol

Anyone else tried them?

Having one of those days I really need to get in and do housework and baking but the motivation is low.

Anyone have any 'tricks' for cleaning (especially the shower walls)
I've tried so many different hacks but none have really made much of a difference lol

We’re currently in the early planning stages of a family holiday to Queensland in 2026/2027, and I would love some advice from anyone who has travelled with a large group.

There will be eight of us in total — my husband and I, our three younger members of our family (twins aged 20 and son aged 16), one of our adult daughters, and her two young children (age 8/9 and 5) — so finding the right accommodation and travel setup will take a bit more thought than usual. Ideally, we would love to stay together rather than having to book multiple apartments, as spending time together as a family is a big part of what makes these trips so special for us.

One of the things my daughter and I really enjoy is starting the day with a quiet cuppa, reflecting on the day before and planning what the day ahead will bring. With young children in the mix, that’s a little more challenging, so we’re considering options such as a larger Airbnb or similar family-friendly accommodation.

If you’ve travelled with a large family group before — particularly with young children — I would really appreciate hearing about your experiences, tips, or accommodation recommendations. Any ideas or suggestions would be very welcome.

This is a very important family holiday for us, and we’re hoping to make it as enjoyable and stress-free as possible for everyone.

Thank you in advance

Another year has come and gone, and here we are already on the 5th of January.
I’ve never really been one for New Year’s resolutions — but that doesn’t mean I’m blind to the fact that some things need to change.
This year, I’m being honest with myself about where I’m at, what’s working, and what isn’t. That goes for my personal life and for Family in Focus. Growth doesn’t always come from big declarations — sometimes it comes from quiet shifts, better boundaries, clearer priorities, and doing things with more intention.

The start of a new year feels like the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and get excited about what’s next. I’m stepping into 2026 with clarity, motivation, and a commitment to making it a damn good year.

Did any of you make resolutions — or are you more about changes over promises?

Well Christmas is done and dusted for another year and I'm exhausted. My plans for a more simpler Christmas didn't happen and as per usual, I did too much lol.

Was a great time though, we spent some of Christmas Eve at my daughters, going over plans for the next few days and nibbling on finger foods for dinner.

Christmas Day we went round to her place early and one of my highlights was definately spending time with my grandchildren. Seeing them love not only their gifts but knowing that they had also bought their own gifts for each other (and their Mum) and that the giving meant as much to them, as the receiving, if not more. Same with my own children, they had put so much thought into their gifts and the love on their faces when they saw how much their gifts were appreciated, was priceless.
Hubby spoiled me and bought me a Kobo to read books on. I have always been an avid reader but getting older has made things so much more difficult so this was an amazingly thoughtful gift, and I am looking forward to finding favourite authors, and catching up on books. I always said, I'd NEVER have technology that enabled me to read, I love the feel of a book in my hand. But this old body has other ideas haha.

Another gift which reduced me to tears was a registry in the Stellar Star Registry for my Mum who passed away 2 years ago. She was always a star to me, and now she has her own star.

Boxing Day, everyone was round here - and it was a houseful lol but the laughter from my grandchildren, the excess of food, the love that radiated from everyone, was an amazing way to end 3 days of Christmas celebrations.

But now it's time to catch up - on housework, on sleep, on routine, on everything that isn't over the top haha.

How did your Christmas go?
Were you good and got everything you wanted, or did you find coal in your stocking?
Did you eat too much?

I hope your Christmas was as good as ours
Love and Best wishes to you all

This year, we’re stepping away from the traditional Christmas Day roast lamb and similar classics. Like many others, rising costs have made that option less practical. That said, we still want a table full of festive treats, so we’d love to hear your favourite Christmas recipes to help us create a delicious and joyful spread

Is anyone else excited?
Lol I don't have all my shopping done. I don't have all my lights up, but I'm still excited to be sharing the day with my children and grandchildren