Hobbies

How to take better photos

Family snaps where everyone is perfectly arranged and saying cheese can end up looking awkward or boring.

Turning hobbies into work

Technology appears to be making timeless crafts more popular, as people making handmade goods find a market online.

Change your life in 30 days

Condensing a challenge into a bite-size time-frame can be liberating. Here's how to become a new you.

Craftwork is cool again

No longer the land of lace doilies and macrame plant-holders, craftwork is cool again.

Down and dirty for dash

A Wellington mother is getting dirty for the sake of fitness, as she trains for the upcoming Warrior Dash in Wellington.

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Gift ideas for mum

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Between the to- do lists and the Christmas shopping for the family there is one special person who often gets forgotten during Christmas - you. Here are some Christmas gift ideas to inspire mums, because you deserve it.

Miniature vegetable gardens

If microgreens were to be compared to a brand of car, they'd be a Toyota - really low maintenance, easy to drive, fuel efficient and no fuss.

Christmas gardening gifts

With Christmas quickly looming, one's mind turns to sorting out what tokens and gifts we will give to family and friends.

Putting on colour for growth

Red plastic mulch, also known as selective reflective mulch, laid under tomato plants can produce up to 20 per cent higher yields.

Baby blanket tutorial

Colleen Simpson gives step-by-step instructions on how to make a beautiful, snuggly baby blanket.

Tips on food blogging

Want to start a food blog? A visiting US expert is keen to help.

Tips for a good family photo

Photographers make it look easy, but getting a family photo where everyone looks good can be anything but.

Guilt free 'me-time'

We all legitimately need child-free time to refresh and re-energise, so learn to fit in things you like to do - and don't feel guilty about it.

Rise of mummy bloggers

I've been blogging for about four years now and it has been strange to see how in that short period of time how blogging has taken off.

Cupcakes made easy

Fancy a good cupcake? How about making your own? Go on, you can do it.

Art in the eye of the beholder

Police were called over a woman's award-winning photo of her 7-year-old daughter in a bathtub.

Online crafting takes off

If you're itching to take up knitting or are stuck in a beadwork project, there's help - and many classes - online.

Time for tomatoes

You can sow tomato seeds now for an early start.

Toddler photography tips

You can take some great shots of the toddler doing their favourite activity. If you make the photo-shoot a fun and exciting experience, it is likely the toddler won’t mind (and even enjoy) having his/her photo taken.

Close to perfect

Hellebores offer a variety of colourful options for gardeners, writes Genevieve Willoughby.

Free photo editing apps reviewed

You can process photos on your PC to your heart's content without spending a cent.

Our family's edible garden

There are many positives to growing your own fruit and veges at home. Apart from the financial benefit of having fresh fruit and veges at your fingertips, there are benefits if you get the kids involved too. Here's how to start planting.