Melbourne may not be hosting this years beloved AFL grand final, however we shouldn’t let that stop us from being able to celebrate it in some way or another. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we can adapt and find new ways to communicate with each other. So we may not be at the MCG this year, celebrating at a local pub, or friend’s house but there are still some creative ways to celebrate grand final day in lockdown.

ZOOM PARTY

For many of us, prior to lockdown, we had never even heard of Zoom before, yet now it has become a common form of communication amongst family and friends. Grand final day can be the perfect opportunity to organise a virtual zoom to connect with other footy fans and watch the game together.

VIRTUAL DINNER PARTY

Go one up with the zoom and make it a footy feast/dinner party. Design your menu, recipes and ingredients list, share this with your friends and get cooking at the same time. Sit down to enjoy your virtual dinner party together whilst watching the game.

GOOD OLD-FASHIONED BBQ

Don’t let lockdown stop you from that quintessential grand final day BBQ feast. So there may not be many guests except those in your home, but you can still certainly cook up a feast to enjoy over the game. Head to Woolworths and BWS for all your food and beverage needs. Not sure what to cook? For inspiration, look no further than Woolworths delectable range of recipes here.

TAKE AWAY NIGHT

Cooking not your jam? No need to worry. Thrift Park have got you covered for take away options so you can just focus on watching the game. Grab a fresh pizza from Crunch Gourmet Pizza, or grab a sub from Subway. You can also relive that footy experience and grab yourself a delicious pie from Thrift Park Pies & Cakes.

HAVE SOME FRIENDLY COMPETITION

Why not create a prize pool with your friends, pull some players names out of a hat, write down some categories and see who picks the right player! Categories could be anything from which player kicks the first goal, to who wins the Norm Smith - there are so many options. Get together online and have some fun with family and friends during the game!

Don’t let lockdown stop you from celebrating one of Melbourne’s iconic sporting events. Heads to Thrift park for all your supplies for grand final day. Find us on Facebook.

Well Melbourne, here we are with lockdown 2.0 and you may be thinking how on earth can I keep the kids entertained second time around?

This is certainly a challenging time for many families as they navigate tough restrictions, home schooling, work commitments, park closures and more.

So, take a breath, we have been through it once, we can do it again and here are some of our handy tips to keep your kids entertained during lockdown:

Pen pals

While it may be a new concept to your kids that us oldies actually used to send letters instead of emails, it can be fun to get your kids to write a letter to their friend and send it in the mail. Ask friends and family who would like to be involved, get their address and start writing. If your child isn’t quite at the writing stage, why not get them to draw a picture, colour in a drawing or decorate something with stickers. You will be surprised how excited a child can get receiving a letter in the letterbox!

Cubby houses, puppet shows & make-believe adventures

You don’t need much more than a good imagination, a couple of sheets and some chairs to create the ultimate indoor cubby or puppet show. Kids love it when an adult can get involved at their level of story-telling. Sail the high seas, navigate alien invasions, steer clear of pirates - the possibilities are endless. And your kids will love the adventure!

Treasure & scavenger hunts

This is a great way to keep kids entertained by hunting for treasures and can be done both indoors and outdoors. Why not come up with a list of treasure items the kids have to find, print off a list and get them searching! Some areas in Melbourne have even started Where’s Wally hunts and Where is the Green Sheep walks. All of which can be done in your own home! Good House Keeping have some great resources on creating scavenger hunts that you can find here.

Games nights

Why not dedicate a day or night during the week to play your favourite board games and card games? Classic games such as Uno and Snap are great for the young ones and can help consolidate learning numbers, patterns and colours. Games like Twister, Operation, Pictionary, Scrabble are classics games to get the kids involved in, and if you’re up for a challenge, there is always a game of Monopoly to be had!

Get baking

You would be surprised how much some kids enjoy baking and being involved in the cooking process. Make a list of foods you would like to bake each week and have your kids help out in the kitchen. With so many recipes online to choose from, you are sure to find a tasty recipe or two that will keep everyone happy! Woolworths have some great recipes suitable for kids here.

How have you been keeping your kids entertained during lockdown? Let us know on our Facebook page.

Spring gardening tips

There’s no better time to get stuck into the garden than the start of spring! The warmer climate, coupled with longer days and more sunshine make for optimal conditions when it comes to planting many varieties of fruits, vegetables and flower seeds. With more time at home these days, it can be therapeutic to get out in the garden, tackle those pesky weeds and create that herb or veggie garden you have been meaning to do!

Follow our easy spring gardening tips to have you on your way to the perfect garden:

Weeding

This is a job many of us put off for another day but with spring time upon us, dedicate a weekend to tackling those pesky weeds so you can clean up your garden and promote healthy growth of existing and new plants. Manual weeding is the best and safest option for weed removal by avoiding chemicals and pesticides. For best results , remove weeds from the root.

Prepare your soil

Healthy soil is crucial to optimise growing conditions for seeds and seedlings. After harsh winter conditions, it is important to prepare your soil well for the spring and summer climate. You can do this by digging your soil and using a rake to remove dead grass and weeds and aerate the soil. Adding organic mulch and manure also enhances the quality of the soil for planting. Water the soil and add mulch, leaves or even hay to protect the soil and encourage beneficial insects like earthworms and spiders that will keep pests in check.

Sow the seeds

Due to the climate, spring time is a welcome opportunity to plant many varieties of seeds. Head to All Green for a comprehensive list of flowers, veggies and herbs that are best to plant in spring time in Melbourne.

Involve your children in gardening

Most children will marvel at the prospect of helping out in the garden. Little people love to get their little hands dirty and feel involved, so why not consider getting your child to plant their own seeds and look after a dedicated area. They can create their own little garden or even have their own veggie/herb patch to water daily and watch grow.

Build a raised garden bed

For the ultimate DIY project this spring, why not consider building your own raised garden bed where you can plant and harvest a large number of plants. Homes to Love have a great step by step guide on how best to build your own garden bed from scratch, you can check it out here.

Garden design

If you have numerous ideas and visions floating around in your head but want to see a visual representation before you make any long-term commitments look no further than a garden planner app. Here you can create and design your own garden based on your visions to get the perfect layout.

Have you started a DIY garden project? Share it with us on our Facebook page.

Current restrictions have seen the rise of people venturing outdoors and going for a daily stroll to counteract the fact many of us are spending much more time inside. Winter may be cooler and wetter than its predecessors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t venture out for a day walk, a quick stroll around the block or a walk with your beloved pet!

Mentone has some picturesque and historical walking trails to add to your to do lists this winter!

Here are our top picks for walking locations around Mentone to get you out and about exercising, and exploring your neighbourhood:

Mentone Historical Walking Trail

Discover Mentone’s rich history, charming architecture and character, as this 4km walk leads you to this area’s poignant features and historical landmarks. The one hour and ten-minute walk will guide you through a geographical time warp and highlight some of the town’s most important landmarks. The City of Kingston have developed a pocket guide to provide all the historical information you need to complement your adventure. You can download your copy here.

Mentone Beach North Walk

Starting from Mentone Beach and stretching northwards along the foreshore to the high red cliffs of Beaumaris, this stunning coastal track is one of the best in the state. This 2km trail offers stunning and serene beach views, with native flora and fauna at your perusal. The well-maintained trail offers built in seating for those moments you want to rest or simply take in the picturesque scenery. Enjoy spectacular cliff top views, and cosy niche’s hosting picnic areas should you wish to stop for a bite to eat.

This is a walk for the whole family - dogs included!

Black Rock to Rickett’s Point Marine Sanctuary

For a coastal adventure exploring crystal clear shallow waters, sandstone reefs, sea caves and rockpools, Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary is still a great place to visit in winter. Although swimming is off the cards in winter, there is so much to explore here as Rickett’s Point is home to unique animals and plants that call these rockpools home.

Make a day of it by starting your walk from Black Rock Gardens, following the sealed pathways accessible from the ramp and take the Bay Trail along Beach Road. The easy walk is just under 3km and well worth the views! For more information about Rickett’s Point Marine Sanctuary visit the Parks Victoria website here.

Don’t forget to grab all of your winter essentials from Thrift Park this season. For our guide to keeping entertained this winter, don’t forget to check out our blog post here.