They say first impressions are important. When you meet someone for the first time it only takes a tenth of a second to decide whether you like them or not.

So if you’re still reading this then you must be intrigued. So let’s get to it, because it’s time for you to meet the Bala’s.

Sam and Christine Bala are the founders of Bee Wrappy, Australia’s number one choice for beeswax food wraps.

To get to know them a little bit better, we’ve put together an up close and personal interview that will either leave a good impression, or have you wondering how Christine has put up with Sam for so long.

1. What do you do when you’re not working?

Christine: I love doing craft with the kids. I like painting and when I have time I try to watch a bit of telly and enjoy a little bit of reading. But most of my time is spent with the kids enjoying them!

Sam: I roam the house and make it messy (Just kidding!) We try to do the garden and I like to cook.

2. What makes you laugh the most?

Christine: The TV show ‘Would I Lie To You’ and the kids, they make me laugh all the time!

Sam: Our daughter Hazel makes me laugh. She mirror’s everything we say but with a really serious look on her face.

3. What is your favourite way to relax?

Christine: We don’t really relax but we’re happy that way. When I can, I like to watch anything documentary related.

Sam: There’s only one way I relax which is when Christine gives me a face massage.

4. What is something you think everyone should do at least once in his or her lives?

Christine: Go and see the Northern lights, they were amazing.

Sam: Use an expertly crafted Japanese chef knife. The joy you get from cutting so cleanly is something that gives me goosebumps.

5. What would you do if you won the lottery?

Christine: I wouldn’t mind to win it so I could do more for charities and organisations, but I wouldn’t change my lifestyle.

Sam: I wouldn’t  change a thing.  I would give it away to family and friends and put some in a trust fund for my kids. I know that if I changed anything  it wouldn’t make me happy

6. What is one thing you’re glad you tried but would never do again?

Christine: Scuba diving in Iceland, it was amazing but I wouldn’t do it again.

Sam: Skydiving, it scared me big time!

7. When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?

Christine: People ask me to listen to them.

Sam: Fixing stuff. When I asked Christine’s parents to marry her, they thought I had come for a chat and asked me to fix a radio.

8. What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?

Christine: I like to do things in an uncomplicated way. I wouldn’t really call that old fashioned but I like to keep things simple.

Sam: Anything to do with cooking, I like making my own butter. I like making my own bacon from scratch. I made my own laundry detergent at one point. I find it fun.

9. What gets you out of bed every day?

Christine: The kids and Otis the dog.

Sam: The dog, he just licks your hand and your face.

10. What is one thing on your bucket list?

Christine: To do things with the kids for their ‘firsts’. Just taking them travelling would be fun.

Sam: I want to go to the Millennium stadium in Wale, watch a rugby game and listen to the welsh men sing. The way they sing is amazing.

11. What would you tell your teenage self if you could go back in time?

Christine: I would say, there’s more to come and you’ll be blessed with a great husband and two beautiful children.

Sam: You’re going to marry a beautiful women, don’t worry about anything else.

12. What’s the best thing you got from your parents?

Christine: Where do you start? Everything! A strong sense of community and family. The grounding and stability they gave us. I loved the consistency they gave us, I want that for our kids too.

Sam: We’ve been very lucky, anything they do for us is amazing.

13. What’s one responsibility you really wish you didn’t have?

Christine: I don’t particularly like having to make beds. It’s hard for me to do it with the kids running around but I always I try to put a bit of love in it.

Sam: I hate going to sleep and then remembering that I have to do something. It sounds silly but once you’re comfortable in bed it’s the worst getting back out.

14. What goal are you working on now?

Our common goal is to have a successful business so we can achieve our original goals of flexibility, freedom and give back to the community.

The post Meet the Balas appeared first on Bee Wrappy Blog.

Once in a blue moon you might find yourself surrounded by peace and quiet, so this is your opportunity to grasp it!

And no, it’s not time to tidy up. This is the time you should use to look after yourself because having some ‘me’ time can do a world of good!

1. Reminisce through the photos on your phone (and delete those embarrassing ones of you that you might not want anyone to see)
2. Call a friend to brag about the fact that you’re not doing anything right now!
3. Attempt to do an at home workout and feel so much better about yourself for having a go.
4. Open the kids colouring books and go wild (they will never know)
5. Raid the fridge and eat any forbidden snack you want!
6. Put your earphones in and lip sing to your favourite tunes! Don’t worry we won’t judge you if it’s a Justine Clarke song.
7. Play with play dough. Nothing is more calming than making exotic animals out of pink clay.
8. Have a shower and wash your hair.
9.  Start a journal and write down your thoughts. The next time you look at it could be months so this is always a good laugh.
10. Lastly…lie on the floor and just take in the moment!

The post 10 things to do…when you get 20 minutes to yourself! appeared first on Bee Wrappy Blog.

While the halfway point of winter has officially passed, the remainder of the cold season still looms ahead, and you might be wondering what you can do to keep your family busy until the sunshine returns! If you have kids, winter can be difficult, because the frosty weather makes outdoor activities less appealing, but it doesn’t stop hyperactivity and boredom from setting in. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of three great things that you can do with the family this winter.

1. Get your skates on

Rollerskating and ice-skating are great winter activities, because most cities have indoor rinks, and strapping on some skates is a great way to burn excess energy and stay fit and healthy. Most people eat more and spend more time indoors during the winter, so making a visit to your local ice skating or roller skating centre will get you moving and release some of those great endorphins you’ve all been missing!

2. Visit the museum

If your family have inquisitive minds, the museum is a great place to spend a chilly day. The displays usually range from dinosaurs to historical artefacts, to animal and plant specimens. And museums aren’t just for kids. You might find yourself learning something too!

3. Crafternoon

You don’t have to go outside to keep the family entertained. Why not transform your dining room into a craft centre and create your own ‘crafternoon’? You can source a variety of supplies such as collage materials, plasticine, cross-stitch and fabrics. Each member of your family can make an item that appeals to them, and foster their creative talents. At the end, why not do a little show and tell, where everyone can share what they have done?

As you can see, just because winter is still breathing her cold breath across the country, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. Make the most of the cooler months and try something different with your family today. Take a look at www.beewrappy.com.au for further suggestions.

The post 3 things to do with the family this winter appeared first on Bee Wrappy Blog.

You’ve heard of the term work-life balance right? What if we told you that there’s no such thing.

You probably think that there is no way you can manage a business, work your day job and find quality time to spend with your family. That is without fitting the word balance in there somewhere.

Well here’s a glimpse into our daily lives, to encourage all those families wanting to start up their own business to just go for it!

What would an average day in your lives consist of?

If we’re all home together on the weekend then I (Christine) will generally wake up with the kids, then Hazel, our daughter will run down the hallway and wake Sam up, sometimes with a musical instrument! She’s so proud of herself when she does that.  We’ll normally do a quick tidy up of the house, do groceries and have a family day. We love to do craft or cooking together. Hazel loves to bake! There's time every day for lots of playing and fun and preparation for the next days activities like bush school.

What is your favourite part about being parents?

Does watching your kids use your own words against you count?

Now that Hazel’s getting older, I like watching her do things that I wouldn't be brave enough to do. I love seeing her do her gymnastics and overcome obstacles that she might have been a bit worried about. And I love to watch Jarvis learn and explore new things everyday.

How do you find the time to run your own business with two young children?

We both have strengths that we bring to the table and we meet halfway to find time to do little things for the business each day, but we always put our family first.

What is the hardest part about raising children?

As a parent there can be a lot of external expectations put on you that you feel you have to live up to. You’re never going to get it 100% right all the time, but you just have to feel confident in your decisions and not measure yourself against other people’s standards.

How do you balance responsibilities around the house?

I think we have a good delineation of tasks. We work with time frames. Every morning I (Sam) will wash the cloth nappies and then Christine with hang them up. We balance the responsibilities based off what time we have. It doesn't matter what the job is it just comes down to time constraints, so lots of the time Christine might start a job and then need to help the kids so I'll finish it off.

What does work-life balance mean for you?

We don’t believe in work-life balance anymore. We’ve come to discover that when you’re at home you still need to do stuff for work and vice versa. For us it’s important to have fun no matter what we are doing. As long as it’s fulfilling it’s all just part of your daily life. We both feel the same way about this so it makes it easier and more enjoyable to work on necessary tasks, even on the weekend amongst family time.

What is your best piece of advice for other parents wanting to start their own business?

Make sure it is something you can involve your partner in. You both have to be invested in it and as long as you're both serving the best outcome for the customer and the company then it’s definitely doable.

They say first impressions are important. When you meet someone for the first time it only takes a tenth of a second to decide whether you like them or not.

So if you’re still reading this then you must be intrigued. So let’s get to it, because it’s time for you to meet the Bala’s.

Sam and Christine Bala are the founders of Bee Wrappy, Australia’s number one choice for beeswax food wraps.

To get to know them a little bit better, we’ve put together an up close and personal interview that will either leave a good impression, or have you wondering how Christine has put up with Sam for so long.

1. What do you do when you’re not working?

Christine: I love doing craft with the kids. I like painting and when I have time I try to watch a bit of telly and enjoy a little bit of reading. But most of my time is spent with the kids enjoying them!

Sam: I roam the house and make it messy (Just kidding!) We try to do the garden and I like to cook.

2. What makes you laugh the most?

Christine: The TV show ‘Would I Lie To You’ and the kids, they make me laugh all the time!

Sam: Our daughter Hazel makes me laugh. She mirror’s everything we say but with a really serious look on her face.

3. What is your favourite way to relax?

Christine: We don’t really relax but we’re happy that way. When I can, I like to watch anything documentary related.

Sam: There’s only one way I relax which is when Christine gives me a face massage.

4. What is something you think everyone should do at least once in his or her lives?

Christine: Go and see the Northern lights, they were amazing.

Sam: Use an expertly crafted Japanese chef knife. The joy you get from cutting so cleanly is something that gives me goosebumps.

5. What would you do if you won the lottery?

Christine: I wouldn’t mind to win it so I could do more for charities and organisations, but I wouldn’t change my lifestyle.

Sam: I wouldn’t  change a thing.  I would give it away to family and friends and put some in a trust fund for my kids. I know that if I changed anything  it wouldn’t make me happy.

6. What is one thing you’re glad you tried but would never do again?

Christine: Scuba diving in Iceland, it was amazing but I wouldn’t do it again.

Sam: Skydiving, it scared me big time!

7. When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?

Christine: People ask me to listen to them.

Sam: Fixing stuff. When I asked Christine’s parents to marry her, they thought I had come for a chat and asked me to fix a radio.

8. What’s something you like to do the old-fashioned way?

Christine: I like to do things in an uncomplicated way. I wouldn’t really call that old fashioned but I like to keep things simple.

Sam: Anything to do with cooking, I like making my own butter. I like making my own bacon from scratch. I made my own laundry detergent at one point. I find it fun.

9. What gets you out of bed every day?

Christine: The kids and Otis the dog.

Sam: The dog, he just licks your hand and your face.

10. What is one thing on your bucket list?

Christine: To do things with the kids for their 'firsts’. Just taking them travelling would be fun.

Sam: I want to go to the Millennium stadium in Wale, watch a rugby game and listen to the welsh men sing. The way they sing is amazing.

11. What would you tell your teenage self if you could go back in time?

Christine: I would say, there’s more to come and you’ll be blessed with a great husband and two beautiful children.

Sam: You’re going to marry a beautiful women, don’t worry about anything else.

12. What’s the best thing you got from your parents?

Christine: Where do you start? Everything! A strong sense of community and family. The grounding and stability they gave us. I loved the consistency they gave us, I want that for our kids too.

Sam: We’ve been very lucky, anything they do for us is amazing.

13. What’s one responsibility you really wish you didn’t have?

Christine: I don’t particularly like having to make beds. It’s hard for me to do it with the kids running around but I always I try to put a bit of love in it.

Sam: I hate going to sleep and then remembering that I have to do something. It sounds silly but once you're comfortable in bed it’s the worst getting back out.

14. What goal are you working on now?

Our common goal is to have a successful business so we can achieve our original goals of flexibility, freedom and give back to the community.