The weather in Sydney is set to be sunny (how that makes a nice change that the sun is sticking around - hurray for glorious sunshine!) and so there’s plenty happening in our community so get along and support events in your neck of the woods.

Let’s start with Sydney -

The little school with the big heart aka Russel Lea, Lithgow Street, Five Dock is having a fete this Saturday 12 May 2012 in their grounds so if you are stuck for something for mum (YES INCASE YOU DIDN’ T SEE THE ADS ON TV OR THE JUNK MAIL IN THE LETTERBOX THIS WEEK FOLKS, IT’S MOTHERS DAY ON SUNDAY!) So pop along and grab something and support this lovely little school at the same time!

Birchgrove Public school, Birchgrove Road, Balmain is also having their school fete this Saturday 12 May from 10-4pm.

Riverstone is having their Riverstone Annual Festival on Saturday on the Cnrs of Pitt, Park and Market Streets from 9-3pm. It’s sure to be a great local community event so get along and be part of the fun.

If you’re down in Wollongong this weekend, why not head over to Waniora Public School, Ursula Road, Bulli on Saturday 12 May for their school fete. 

In Queensland, Ashgrove State School is having a “Ye Olde Traditional” fete on Saturday 12 May 2012 as well.  Make it. Bake it. Create it. (EAT IT I SAY! :D) Get along and be part of the fete fun at 31 Glory Road, Ashgrove 4060

Hambledon State School in Cairns is having a Mothers Day fete on Saturday 12 May 2012 from 3-8pm in their school grounds 77-83 Stokes Street Emdonton 4869

Have we missed your school fete? Let us know about it so we can give it a big fat shameless plug!

Have a great weekend and Happy Mothers Day to all the mums out there - LOVE YA MUM xx

I love going to the Easter Show, have done so for so many years. I had the best memories as teenagers with my mates going and having such a great time.  Ahhh those were the days seeing if my lunch would stay down after the super loop, cha-cha and the wild mouse.  Yes they were the days where I had the disposable income and not a care in the world. Now I’m a first time mum and things have changed dramatically.  Not only do I have the sleepless nights and worries of parenting but also that disposable income has gone and we’re also down from 2 incomes to 1 while I care for our baby.

I found Boredom Busters when I was googling budgeting ideas to help me adjust to my new role as “Minister for household fun and finance” and I’m so glad I did.  I was able to lay-by my entry and a Visa gift card that paid for all of the day and fun at this years Easter Show.  When I say all of the fun, I mean all of the fun. Food (yes we took our own lunch but you can’t go to the show without having fairy floss and a dagwood dog for my hubby) and our showbags - you’re never too old or too young for a showbag and yes, our son got one too.

It’s funny, we got home after our big day at the show and waiting for us was the electricity bill in the mail box.  Something that I didn’t have to worry about or feel guilty for going to the show as I had already paid for the day out so the budget was safe and untouched. Actually I was so careful with our day out that I had $27.00 left over from the Visa card that is going towards the bread and milk for the rest of the week.

I’m wrapt and just wanted to say a big thank you for having a great concept which has helped keep me as Minister for Household Fun & Finance for another year.

Thank you M Williams of Seven Hills NSW for sharing your story with us, you’ll receive free postage and handling with your next order.  If you’d like to share your Boredom Busters story with us, simply email us with your details and we’ll post them here on our blog.  You don’t have to include personal photos, we just want to hear it from you - your experiences.

Another weekend has rolled around so quickly hasn’t it? As they say time flies when you’re having fun.

So what fun can you be having this weekend? Why not check out what’s on in your local community.

Here’s what’s happening this weekend:

All weekend - ACT - ACT Autumn Antiques Fair starts tonight at Canberra’s historic Albert Hall. Times - Friday 6-9pm, Saturday 10-5.30pm, Sunday 10-4pm.  Hosted by Rotary the event this year is celebrating it’s 25 anniversary. Over 20 local and interstate dealers who specialise in Antiques will take part in the fair.  Entry: Adults $7.00, Concession $5.00, children 14 and under FREE.

NSW - Parramatta West Public School, Cnr Auburn and Young Streets, Parramatta is having a multicultural fair on Saturday 31 March.  All welcome.

ACT - Evatt Primary School, Heydon Cres, Evatt is having an Environment fair on Saturday 31 March 2012 from 11-3pm.  Come and enjoy the fun of the fair and learn more about how you can help the environment at the same time. Loads to see, do and learn.

National - Earth Hour - Saturday 31 March from 8-9pm. Help the environment and your electricity bill at the same time. Turn off the power for an hour and be part of the largest annual environment event.

Do you have an event that needs some promo and plugs? Let us know at customerservice@boredombusters.com.au and we’ll help spread the word about your event.

Oh the sun is out wahoo! Let’s all enjoy the rays and get out and about. What’s on in your local community?

If you are partial to a fete and a community festival and celebration in Sydney, here’s 2 events that are on tomorrow that you may want to check out as well as one in ACT and one in Victoria:

NSW - Kemps Creek PS, 100 Cross Street, Kemps Creek is having their fete on Saturday 24 March 2012 from 10-2pm.  Over 40 stalls and live entertainment amongst others making the day one to not miss out on.

NSW - Harmony Day is being celebrated at Toongabbie East Public School, Harris Street, Wentworthville, a community event celebrating the diversity amongst our community. Run by the Constitution Hill Leadership group this year there will be  sport with games, entertainment, multicultural performers and free multicultural food testing. FREE EVENT. ALL WELCOME.

ACT - Charnwood-Dunlop School, St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School & Mt Rogers Scouts is having “CHARNY CARNY” from 12-6pm on Saturday 24 March 2012,  A community carnival for the whole family. Durkin rides, live animals, aerobounce, market stalls etc.

VIC - Cheltenham East Public School, Silver Street, Cheltenham is having an Easter Market and Family fun day on Saturday 24 March 2012 in the school grounds from 10-3pm. Market stalls, Trash n Treasure, foods, rides & loads of activities.

Have a great weekend folks!

Well as part of our 5th birthday celebrations we would like to launch our schools program.

For every order placed from your school community we will donate $5.00 back to your school. How easy can fundraising for your school be?

It’s simple, write your schools name in the additional information box at the checkout by the end of March 2012 and we’ll take care of the rest.

So what are you waiting for? Lay-by your fun today.

For further information, give us a call on (02) 8840-9445 or email us at customerservice@boredombusters.com.au .

When I first found Boredom Busters, I didn’t exactly know what to expect. Was their customer service good? Were their products worth the time? What was I to gain out of ordering with Boredom Busters? As a first time mum, money is limited as there is only one income at the moment. This is where Boredom Busters came into my life.

I started off with a small order first with just some movie tickets, now the skies the limit!

With my most recent lay-buy one of the places we went to was Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. What a great day we had and my now 17 month old daughter was amazed and truly excited at all of the wonderful animals and many displays that Taronga Zoo has to offer, you can only imagine what the little ones are thinking! I think that her favourite judging by her behaviour was the reptiles, the lions and tigers and the turtles (mostly the turtles)!

The best part of my day was not just the enjoyment of watching my little girl’s excitement but because I had lay buyed my tickets with Boredom Busters I had a little extra money in my pocket (that I normally wouldn’t have had if I had to pay entry on the day), and with that extra bit of money in my pocket I was able to buy a souvenir for my little girl and yes it was a stuffed turtle!

Next weekend (weather permitting!) we are off to Manly Water Works! And yes lay-buyed through Boredom Busters.

JA.  Sydney

Thank you JA for sharing your story with us, you’ll receive free postage and handling with your next order.  If you’d like to share your Boredom Busters story with us, simply email us with your details and we’ll post them here on our blog.  You don’t have to include personal photos, we just want to hear it from you - your experiences.

Hands up who enjoys a trip to the movies?

Excellent.

Leave your hand up if you also like a choc top and tub of popcorn to enjoy the cinema experience with.

Awesome.

Hands up if you think the movies are an expensive outing.

Yep, ah huh… gotta agree with you there * nodding in agreement feverishly *

That’s why Boredom Busters has our movie tickets at discounted rates. Lay-by your movie tickets or buy them outright, you’re still saving up to 30% when you order from us.  All day, every day. 30% cheaper than the cinemas are we.

All of your favourite and local cinemas are here ready for you to lay-by today - Event (Greater Union), Reading, Hoyts, Village, IMAX, to your local independant cinemas like Dendy, Ritz, Palace & the outdoor Moonlight cinemas.  Want to go Gold Class? Yep, we have that covered as well.

Our movie tickets are able to be redeemed online - it’s an easy process according to our customer Sharon Behan and her experiences with Event cinemas using our tickets. From the cinema website you simply select your tickets and then click on the redeem your tickets/vouchers button and enter the 3 digit PIN located next to the barcode. You then choose your seats and print your receipt. The cinema may charge a small additional booking fee but you are still saving!

So that said, there’s no excuse to not purchase your movie tickets from us. Oh that is unless you don’t like to save 30% on your movie ticket prices then go right ahead you have your reason. Valid but full of logic? hmmm think not.

Now we will tease you with some of the movies coming out this year. Have a look at our listing and see for yourself what you would like to go and see.  Then you can start to pay for your movie tickets with a simple lay-by order of the cinema of your choice.  Truly, its’ that easy folks.

Oh and final sales pitch… order any or as many as you like, lay-by for as little or as long as you like, as always with Boredom Busters - the choice is yours and yours only.

OK so here’s just some of what’s coming out to a cinema near you in 2012.

February 2012 - The Artist, Any Questions for Ben? Chronicle, The Vow, My week with Marilyn,

March 2012 - A little bit of heaven, 50/50, 21 Jump Street, The Lorax, Wrath of the Titans,

April 2012 - American Reunion, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Wish you were here, Movie 43, Scary Movie 5, The Avengers

May 2012 - Men in Black III, What to expect when you’re expecting

July 2012 - Ice Age - Continental Drift, The Dark Knight Rises,

August 2012 - The Bourne Legacy, The Expendables 2

September 2012 - Madagascar 3 - Europes Most Wanted,

November 2012 - Twilight Saga - Breaking Dawn Part 2

December 2012 - The Great Gatsby, Les Miserables.

So that’s just a snitch of what is coming on at the big screen. So get onto our movie section and lay-by today your movie tickets.

The kids are back at school. Happy days (except if you’re a teacher or worse, my kids teachers * evil laugh * ) 

We survived the school holidays. Considering the weather was mostly so crap here in Sydney that was a bonus. Thought the kids would have gone stir crazy by the end with the endless rain we had but then again, they were quite eager to return to school. Hmmm…

So onwards we go with another school term and before we know it, Easter will be here and another round of holidays.  Time is right to start planning for the next holidays - what do you want to do that you didn’t do these school holidays? Gosh the kids still have plenty on their wish list that wasn’t done these holidays, no doubt we will attack the list with gusto then.  A friend recently commented that she thought my holidays was well organised and structured, not so. I leave a lot of room for spontaneity but a lot of the fun things is left up to the kids to decide what they want to do, I just organise it with our own tickets lay-by and with what time we have to work it in the schedule, that’s about it.  Again, I’ve witnessed friends paying for their spontaneity via their beloved credit cards or then scrimping and trying to get by with their budget meals as they’ve done their doe at the school holiday entertainment and then whinging about the cost of it all. What’s the saying again about leading that horse to water? Oh well. Their problem not mine!

Right, back to the coalface, filling up that water trough for the horses and savouring that serenity until time for school pick up!

Loads happening as we count down the sleeps until Christmas 2011.  If you are looking for Carols by Candlelight events in the lead up to Christmas, why not see what’s on offer around Australia this week.

ACT - Canberra’s 67th annual Carols by Candlelight is on again Wednesday 14 December 2011 at Stage 88, Commonwealth Park from 7pm.

ACT - Gininderra District Girl Guides Annual Family Christmas Carols will be held on the oval on Walhallow Street, Hawker from 7-9pm on Thursday 15 December 2011. BYO picnic dinner. All welcome.

NSW - Redfern - Carols on the Block 2011. Friday 16 December 2011 6-9pm. A free community event of Carol singing, prayers, BBQ and entertainment at the Block on Eveleigh Street, Redfern (opp Redfern Station)

NSW - All Saints Church, North Epping is hosting Carols on Epping Oval, Norfolk Road, North Epping on Friday 16 December 2011 from 7.30pm.  Christmas Carols, Food, drinks and glowsticks available. Carols begins at 7.30, fireworks at 9pm.

NSW - Toongabbie.  Light of the World Ministry Church, 244 Toongabbie Road, Toongabbie is having a Christmas party on Friday 16 December 2011 from 7.30pm. Free admission. Singing, carols, dancing, food and great fun.

NSW - Hurstville City Carols by Candlelight and Childrens Festival will be held on Saturday 17 December 2011 from 4.00pm at Woodville Park, Hudson and West Streets, Hurstville. Starts with fun and interactive games, food and drinks available for purchase, face painting, craft and youth activities. Concert starts at 7pm. Bring a rug to sit on and enjoy.

.NSW - Carols by Narrabeen Lake will be held on Saturday 17 December 2011 at Berry Reserve Narrabeen from 7.00pm. BBQ, drinks and Santa. BYO blanket and arrive early to get a good spot for carols. Fireworks will finish the celebrations.

. NSW - Springwood/Winmalee Community Carols will be held on Saturday 17 December 2011 at Winmalee High School from 5.30pm. Food and drinks available as well as fun and entertainment for the kids before the carols start at 8.00pm.

. NSW - Carols on the Grass, Erina will be held on Saturday 17 December 2011 at 331 Terrigal Drive, Erina. Join in for a fun carnival of carols, entertainment of face painting, jumping castles, BBQ, drinks etc

. ACT - Tuggeranong Salvation Army’s Carols in the Park (town park) on Sunday 18 December 2011. A great family event with loads of free entertainment (face painting, jumping castle, farm animals etc) fun kicks off from 5pm, carols later at 7pm.

. NSW - Merrylands Anglican Church, Denmark Street Merrylands is holding Carols on the Corner on Sunday 18 December 2011 from 5.00pm. Petting zoos, jumping castles and loads more before the carols and entertainment later. All welcome.

. NSW - WestSide Church is hosting carols at Greystanes High School, Beresford Road Greystanes on Sunday 18 December 2011 from 5.00pm. BBQ, petting zoos, face painting + loads more before the carols at 6.30pm. All welcome!

. NSW - Emu Plains Community Baptist Church, Melrose Hall, Emu Plains will be holding an indoors celebration on Sunday 18 December 2011 from 6.00pm.

NSW - Carols in the Carpark, hosted by St John’s Asquith will be held Sunday 18 December 2011 at 6 Royston Parade Asquith from 6.00pm. Live entertainment and refreshments available before the carols start at 7.30pm.

NSW - Carols in the Carpark, hosted by St Marks Anglican Church Revesby will be held Sunday 18 December 2011 at 91 The River Road, Revesby from 6.00pm. Live entertainment and refreshments available before the carols start at 7.00pm.  Will be held indoors if wet - it’s going ahead rain, hail or shine!

NSW - Bethlehem Carols in Mittagong will be held this Sunday 18 December 2011 in front of St Stephens Anglican Church, Main Street Mittagong from 7.00pm.

NSW - Pitt Town Anglican Community Church 110 Bathurst Street, Pitt Town invites you to join with them at Carols on the Lawn this Sunday 18 December 2011.  Starts at 7pm - all welcome.

It’s that wonderful time of the year when the Carols by Candlelight occur around Australia.  If you get a chance to get along with your family and friends to one of your locally run events, please do so. They’re such a wonderful evening and certainly get you in the Christmas and festive mood.

Here’s where you can get along to an event in Sydney over the next few weekends.

NSW - Toongabbie Baptist Church is having a Carols by Candlelight in the grounds of Metella Road Public School, Metella Road Toongabbie on Saturday 3 December 2011 from 4pm. Free entertainment as well as food and fireworks complete the great community event.

NSW - Carols in Boronia Park, Epping. Sunday 11 December 2011 Presented by the Churches of Epping so join the 5,000 in this fantastic celebration. Full program from 7.15pm ending with fireworks finale at 9pm.