Daiso Australia

Brrrrrrr! Welcome to freezy winter – the perfect excuse to snuggle up indoors, put on  your DIY pants  and conjure up some magic to keep you and your loved ones warm. Following on from last week’s nifty Daisolutions, this week we’ve been hunting for the best tips for winning at winter with a little DIY knowhow. Keep these 11 tips and tricks up your woolly sleeve to stay snuggly and keep your heating bills low.

#1 ~ Rug up in winter woolies and stay warm on the inside with delicious soups and drinks too

Image by @lequirkychaton

Winter craft DIY idea by @cherrie.diane.dodson

Deck yourself from head to toe in winter woollies – we’re talking beanie, scarf, gloves if it’s convenient, socks and snug house slippers. You can learn to knit your own with DAISO’s needle and yarn supplies, or grab an old jumper and some hot glue (see the links below), but if you’re not so handy then you’ll also find all your woollies pre-made in store! 

Matcha cookies with white choc chips yum! available at your nearest Daiso. 

Once you’ve rugged up, heat your belly with comforting liquid treats like hot chocolate, tea and wintry soups. DAISO has the cutest soup stirrers and ladles to colour your cooking with sunshiny vibes, and the mugs and soup bowls are just waiting to add rainbows to  your kitchen. Again, if making ain’t your thang, hit up the soup and noodle aisle for some super easy instant warming winter snacks. Miso miso miso!

LINKS WE LOVE!

How to finger knit an infinity scarf (YouTube)

Find out the WARMEST way to wear a scarf (YouTube)  (see video at 3.42 minutes)

Quick DIY beanie and legwarmers with hot glue (YouTube)

Turn woolly socks into fingerless gloves

Super wintry soups on Pinterest

18 tasty ways to make hot chocolate ~ YUMMO!

Mulled wine, anyone?!

#2 ~ Make your own rice bag warmer and sleep soundly all night

5 min hot packs: http://www.raegunramblings.com/2014/05/5-minute-hot-pack-tutorial.html#_a5y_p=2039488

There’s nothing nicer than slipping into warm PJs and getting into a warm cosy bed when it’s cold and raining outside. Aaaaaah! Just heat your warmer in the microwave for half a minute, wrap your PJs around it and place under your covers a few minutes before you head to bed. It’s so easy to make your own rice bag warmer that you’ll wonder why you haven’t done this sooner (and made heaps more for your friends!).

Check out Wellness Mama’s awesome tutorial with bonus alternatives and hand warmer tutorial.

TIP: Make mini ones to place in your shoes just before you put them on. Mmmm, warm toes!

#3 ~ Bake like the apocalypse is coming! Use that oven to heat your home

Get your baking essentials from Daiso

We are all for the convenience of microwaves, but your oven can be your best friend in winter. Baking will not only yield a scrumptious selection of amazing smelling comfort foods to keep you satisfied, but when you’ve finished baking and you leave your oven’s door open as it cools, you’ll be treated to a most delicious ambient heat. *Skip this tip if you have pets or young children in the house!*

LINKS WE LOVE!

Bakers Corner – wow!

Healthy baking at Taste.com.au – failsafe baking from Australians who know how!

Mister Nice Guy’s Bakeshop vegan cupcakes recipes with videos! (yes, we’ve tried these fluffy, divine mouthfuls of yumminess  and we totally rate them!)

#4 ~ Keep out icy draughts with velcro, magnets and pool noodles

Windows and doors are the worst culprits for letting all the cold in and all the heat out of your rooms. So how do you stop this temperature to and fro? Easy. Just get some velcro or magnetic tape to create a temporary seal between the edges of your curtains and your window frame (sides and bottom). If your curtains meet in the middle, you can create a seal along the edges here too. 

For under-door draught gaps, especially in older homes, pick up some pool noodles (or other tube foam), make a single cut along the length of the noodle and slide it to fit along the base of your door. Shut the door and keep that heat in! DAISO also stocks door draught stoppers.

#5 ~ Humidify the house to make the air warmer and go green

Image by @yantiranbitan

Did you know that dry winter air actually feels colder, dries out your skin and is bad for your sinuses? Increase the humidity in the air by placing well watered plants around the house. A herb garden in the kitchen, some flowering pots by the back door? Your house will look lush and inviting in no time, and you’ll breathe easier.

Or add a few dehumidifiers around the house to refresh every room!

TIP: If your glass surfaces start fogging up with condensation then your air is TOO wet, so you might have to give your green babies a day outside in the sun.

LINKS WE LOVE!

15 houseplants for improving indoor air quality

Indoor pot plant Pinspiration

Indoor gardening 101 from Planet Natural

Advanced info about indoor plants and humidity at Indoor Garden HQ

#6 ~ Reflect the heat rays back where they belong with aluminium foil

Instead of letting the heat escape through nearby glass windows or by rising up the walls, line the wall behind your radiator or wall-mounted heater with aluminium foil and reflect the heat back into the centre of the room. Extra toasty!

#7 ~ Avoid chills – get those light summer frocks out of sight! Don’t even be tempted to take them for a spin!

If the sun pokes its head out even for a few hours during the midst of winter, we always seem tempted to strip down to our summer gear only to freeze all day and wish we were wrapped head-to-toe in a doona. NOT THIS WINTER! NOPE! This winter is all about getting those summer threads packed away and out of sight. Pick up some vacuum seal bags from DAISO and make sure you dress sensibly ALL winter!

#8 ~ Make your own floor rugs with old sheets, t-shirts and fabric scraps

Rag rugs are SO IN right now, and most designer stores charge an absolute fortune for them. To that, we say, “Nope!”. We are all about home decorating on a budget. You can pick up all your sewing supplies for $2.80 each at DAISO if you need to stock up (don’t forget your toothbrush! – see the tutorial below), and dig out old sheets and other scrappy fabric at home. This fantastic DIY project makes it so satisfying to curl up on your new rug at the end of a rainy crafternoon indoors!

Check out the tutorial at Rag Rug Cafe!

#9 ~ Try heating your home with tealight candles and terracotta pots

Surely this is some kind of secret passed down and adapted from ancient times – our ancestors sure did know how to survive the chilly months! Pick up some terracotta pots with holes in the base, and tealight candles at DAISO and you’ll be able to make your small-space heater in no time. Perfect for home offices! See how to make a flower pot heater via Daily Mail's story. Warning: do not use plastic pots! 

#10 ~ Make your own warm insoles for your shoes and boots with insulating products

Mini Picnic Mats 

90cm x 180cm reflective mat 

A wall of rainbow felt 

Toasty tootsies all winter long! Yes! If you haven’t already picked up a pair of insoles from DAISO’s huge range in store, why not have a try at making your own? You can use all kinds of things to line your shoes on the inside, including cardboard, yoga mats and cork sheeting. We also recommend using DAISO’s reflective silver mats, picnic mats, felt squares or insulating bags for your materials. EASY DIY!

See this Wiki-How tutorial for how to make them

#11 ~ Try some DIY tricks to get into a de-frosted car in the morning

Park with your windscreen facing east. Easy! The rising sun will melt the frost away …  at least in theory!

If you’re worried about ice crystals forming on your windscreen wipers, place knee socks over the wipers at night and take them off again when you’re ready to drive. You can also keep a squeegee wiper in the car to remove any remaining frost (or scrape frost off with your credit card).

If you want to prevent frost on your windows from the beginning, you’ll need to make up a  3:1 vinegar:water mixture and use a spray bottle to apply the mix to your windows. Keep your spray bottle in the car.

You are now armed and ready to take on Old Man Winter like a summer-lovin’ pro. Get to it, you warm-blooded winter warrior. And, while you’re at it, we KNOW you have your own winter secrets to share!

Share your winter secrets via Instagram and Facebook by tagging us and using the hashtag #mydaisowintersecrets . 

Now go forth and conquer those winter chills, Hot Stuff!

xo

Team DAISO

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It’s getting chilly, the wild weather is on its way, and spending the next three months wrapped in your blanket cocoon is looking like a great option. But if you have to emerge from bed and step out into the cold cold world of work, school, uni and everyday life, make sure you do it right. Get your winter game on and thaw out with these winning warmers …  

#1 ~ Keep your typing fingers frost free with touchpad gloves

Finally, you can use your phone or tablet device without getting frostbite! Normal gloves just don’t cut it when you need to urgently snapchat your bestie about what they’re missing out on RIGHT NOW. Don’t let the moment (or your phone) slip away. These touchpad gloves have screen-friendly soft-grip coated fingertips that mean your phone ninja skills will be just as good in winter as they are in summer.

#2 ~ Heat yourself, not the house

Your secret cost-saving grace this winter, and also great to help heal sporting injuries! Tear yourself away from hugging the heater but stay super snuggly with pocket warmers and heat patches. With an average temperature above 50°C lasting 10+ hours, these self-contained heat packs will keep you snug even in the snow and are much more discreet than that hot water bottle you’ve been tempted to carry around. Just peel off the backing, stick the pack to the inside back of your winter coat and enjoy a cosy walk outdoors. Always follow instructions on the pack for optimum warmth and safety. Here’s how they work.

Not convinced? Check out what users have to say:

“Pocket warmer can really keep you super!”

“Warmth from a heat pack”

#3 ~ Keep winter sneezes at bay with cold-fighting tea 

Ginger tea has many health benefits however there are side effects and precautions to take. Read more here: http://www.newhealthguide.org/Ginger-Tea-Benefits.html

Give yourself a hot pre-winter boost with antioxidant-packed tea. Green tea is especially good for you, and a squeeze of lemon will help flush out any toxins (perfect after a night on the town). We love the lemon squeeze-pourer that allows you to pour your fresh lemon juice into your tea instead of all over the kitchen bench, and its handy cap will allow you to keep your lemon fresh in the fridge longer.

Bonus tip: Stay hydrated with lukewarm water and a squeeze of lemon juice between teas.

And if the sniffles set in: Check out this epic tea recipe you can use to kick that cold to the curb.

#4 ~ Don’t freeze your butt off this winter! Warm your tush! One for the cyclists and skirt-wearers.

Cold seats and short skirts: you know the story. Colourful woolly short johns (just like long johns but mini) will keep you warm AND make sure your butt looks extra sassy in those Marilyn-Monroe-on-a-windy-street moments. Oh my!

#5 ~ Get your snuggle on with mini snuggle blankets

Take the edge off of winter chills, whether you’re at your desk, watching TV on the couch or cheering on the local footy players from the sidelines. Mini fleece snuggle blankets are 80cm x  60cm – small enough to squash into your bag and big enough to wrap around your knees to keep the chills away. Perfect for kids too.

Bonus tip: Snuggle blankets are also just the right fit for pet beds, and your furry friend will love nuzzling into them.

#6 ~ Waterproof yourself with great value brollies from only $2.80

Step 1: Layer up your winter woollies.

Step 2: Wait for rain.

Step 3: Add a raincoat and umbrella to your look.

Step 4: Strut your stuff on the footpath like it’s the hottest runway this side of Paris. Own it!

#7 ~ Buy your boots half a size too big to make room for thick fuzzy socks

Keep your tootsies toasty all winter. Like newsreaders in Hawaiian shorts, there’s something cool, cute and rebellious about secretly wearing bed socks with your serious work clothes!  

#8 ~ Embrace soup season and share the love

A big batch of wintry soup is just the thing to make you feel hugged on the inside, but when you’re trying to slurp your way through it all over a week, your tastebuds will probably feel a little bored, right? Solution? Start a soup club at uni or work, where a group of you all make different soups, freeze them in batches and do a swap. DAISO has all the colourful soup paraphernalia you need to get the club started, right down to the office-friendly heat-keeper mugs for sipping your soup between filing and spreadsheets.

Bonus tip: If you’re in a rush and making soup for one, a cup of instant miso soup will warm you up fast and is packed with health benefits.

#9 ~ Make like a squirrel and stock up on emergency hibernation food

That moment when you get home after a long day, you find the cupboard bare and you know you have to brave the cold outside to get to the supermarket before it shuts. Noooo! Stock up now on emergency supplies and your future self will thank your current self (or is that past self?) for your excellent planning. DAISO has noodles, soups (including miso), dried goods like mushrooms for bulking up your meals, and snacks to get you through the deep dark winter. Here are just a few of the things available.

Need quick Japanese recipe ideas? Hello gyoza, sushi and other delicious treats!!

Have you seen DAISO’s dumpling maker in action? 

#10 ~ Maintain your glow from top to toe with weekly pampering

Who doesn’t love luxurious pampering to look and feel amazing?! While winter layers help us forget about the finer details (yeti legs!), cold winter winds and indoor heating really dry out our skin … and then spring is suddenly on the doorstep wanting us to look our best moisturised selves for the racing season! Ugh! Get the jump on it all with some weekly winter maintenance. We put together a few tips for you during the spring racing carnival that you can revisit. And remember that charcoal does wonders!

There’s no way we’re going to let winter rain on your parade! What are your Daiso winter secrets? Share them with us by hashtagging your social media pics with #MyDaisoWinterSecret . You can also post pics directly to us using @daisoaustraliaofficial .

Here’s to a cosy winter ahead!

xo

Team DAISO

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Your mum gave you the gift of life, helped you tie your shoelaces and used her superhuman powers to see you through your awkward teenage years, and now you’re giving her a cookbook in return? STOP! Step away from the bookshelf and ask yourself, “How can I make Mother’s Day something really special for the woman who raised me?”.

Well, here’s a clue: It’s the thought that counts! The gift that says, “I love you to the moon and back” will always outshine the gift that says “I love you as much as this designer handbag cost me”. So, this week, we’ve dug deep down in our warm fuzzy hearts to come up with 10 of the best ways to spend time with your mum this Mother’s Day and give her a gift pack that shows her how much you care. So put that token gift back on the shelf and listen up!

#1 ~ Fortunate cookies for the mum you couldn’t possibly appreciate more

A little twist on traditional fortune cookies that tell a fortune, these “fortunate cookies” each hold a little note telling your mum why you’re so fortunate to be her offspring. We’re not sure you’ll have enough cookies for all the reasons, but it’s a start! Cooking instructions at allrecipes.com.au.

Image from: http://www.tipjunkie.com/

Pick up your “fortunate” message paper (DAISO has so many elegant origami papers you can choose from), some cellophane, a beautiful Japanese ceramic bowl, and some ribbon to put your gift together. DAISO also has all the cookware you need to get started on the making and baking too.

#2 ~ Get back to your roots with a day in the garden with your green-thumb mum

It’s relaxing, it makes your outdoor spaces look glam, and it gives you a great reason to play in the dirt with the woman who used to tell you off for making mud pies! Gardening might be just the thing to for spending quality time with Mum this Mother’s Day.

A colourful new gardening kit will come in handy for planting your mum’s favourite flowers and vegetables. DAISO also has pots in heaps of shapes and sizes to suit Mum’s garden, or to sit prettily on the windowsill. Succulent pinspiration, anyone?

#3 ~ A high-tea ceremony to celebrate the mum who taught you how to make a good cuppa

Imagine the ladylike delight on Mum’s face when you set the table for high tea (make scones and sandwiches if you like) and open the afternoon with an official tea-pouring ceremony to declare your appreciation for all that she has done for you.

Pick up some beautiful ceramic cups and a teapot (or tea strainers or filter papers), some tea and some pretty Japanese cloth or paper to line the table, and set the scene for an afternoon of chatting like you used to do before your life became so busy.

#4 ~ A mystery weekend away for the mum who loves an adventure

“But that’ll cost an entire week’s pay!” you’re thinking. Think again, outside the box. Take her to your own home, or set hers up like a hotel – somewhere where you can take care of all her meals and give her silver service – or  consider heading somewhere in driving distance where you can do a free house swap for the weekend.

Can you imagine how excited your mum will be when you show up at her house with a travel gift pack and tell her to pack her bags for a weekend away? Best offspring ever!

#5 ~ Get moving for a cause with the mum who wants a better world

All around Australia on Mother’s Day, mums and their sons and daughters will be walking or running to raise money for breast cancer research in the Mother’s Day Classic (details and registration here). DAISO has no official connection with the event, but we think it’s a really great cause!

Mum’s running pack will need to include a water bottle; some sweet nibbles to keep her sugar levels up; sports socks; hair ties and bobby pins to keep her hair out the way; and heat packs and bandaids just in case.

#6 ~ A stress-busting afternoon of pampering for the mum who does it all

Being a mum can be amazing but stressful! Show your understanding, and surprise Mum with a day off so she can get the me-time she deserves. Run her a hot bath and set her up with all the pampering and preening extras to make her feel like a whole new, revitalised wonderwoman.

There are so many pamper-pack options on DAISO’s shelves that you’ll be able to customise a gift pack that’s just right, whether your mum wants to make her skin glow, her nails sparkle, her toes twinkle or her locks shine with lustre.

#7 ~ Try your hand at portraiture for the mum who still keeps your embarrassing school art on the fridge

It might make her laugh, cry, or recoil in horror and enrol you in an art class, but a portrait of you and your gorgeous mum painted by you is a gift from the heart. Work from your favourite photo and write your heartfelt Mother’s Day note on the back.

You could start a sketchbook with Mum too, where you take turns filling up the pages and exchanging the book as a way of sharing your creativity. Nawwww!

Image by @akolamble2

Art supplies can all be found in the arts and crafts aisle at your local DAISO. Put together a pack for Mum to help her explore her inner da Vinci.

#8 ~ Wine and dine Mumtime for the mum who only gets to see you on special occasions

If you only get to see the most important woman in your life on special occasions, then make this occasion a real celebration with a bottle of Mum’s favourite drop and some nibbles to match. There’s nothing quite like spending some quality celebratory time together talking about all the memories you’ve shared.

DAISO has beautiful modern stemless wine glasses that your refined mum will love to get out whenever you come around.  If you want to add a little touch of your artistic flair, check out this dotty idea on Pinterest.

#9 ~ An afternoon of baking with the mum who makes the most delish chocolate cake you ever tasted

Break out your apron, arm yourself with a whisk and a bowl, preheat the day to awesome and get cooking with Mum, just like you used to when you were a kid. Maybe start a recipe book together to record all the delicious things you cook together from Mother’s Day onwards.

There is something satisfying about replacing old bakeware with new, and your mum will love taking it for a testdrive with you.

(With Mum’s permission, remember to take the old cookware to your local charity store so someone else can make use of it!)

#10 ~ A cleaning kit with your name on it, for the mum who spent years cleaning up after you

Have some fun with this one! Put together a big box of brand new cleaning supplies, including cute sponges and colourful cloths to make it look like a real gift, Your mum will most likely be horrified by your choice of gift, until you turn it around to reveal your own name on the gift tag and a card that entitles her to a day of housecleaning by you.  Watch her breathe that sigh of relief and set you to work! Chip chop!

We’re sure your mum won’t mind looking after this collection of practical cuteness until the next time you come around to flaunt your domestic skills!

Can’t spend the day with Mum but still want to give her a gift that shows how much you think of her? Time to put on your DIY pants!

So, how will you be spoiling Mum this Mother’s Day? Whatever you do, and whatever you give, remember it’s all about the thought. And if you need MORE inspiration, we’ve pinned a whole lot for you.

Oh, and one more very important thing: remember the tissues! When your best-ever gift of time+love+effort lands in her hands, there are sure to be some happy tears.

Hooray for mums and all their fabulousness! They truly are the queens of their tribes.

xo

Team DAISO

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Easter. Japan. Chocolate. Dumplings. WE LOVE THEM! So, in a stroke of genius at DAISO HQ, we put them all together to bring you a foodie marriage made in heaven: EASTER EGG DESSERT DUMPLINGS!

Taking Easter to a whole new level with Easter egg dessert dumplings!

If these dumplings aren’t the pinnacle of Japanese inspired Easter indulgence then we don’t know what is. These Japanese dumplings, or “gyozas” (pronounced GHEE-OH-ZAS), are super easy, fast and fun to make, and they will literally melt in your mouth. A few words of warning though: they are delightfully addictive, and eating too many may turn you into a gyoza, so remember to share them with friends and family over Easter.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED …

–light cooking oil (vegetable, sunflower and coconut are all good)

–water

–gyoza dumpling wrappers

–fruit of your choice (we tried strawberries and bananas)

–Easter eggs (we used Hilliers Easter eggs available at DAISO).

The kitchenware we used is also available at DAISO for only $2.80 a piece. The dumpling/gyoza press is an absolute must-have for this cooking project, and it will make your gyoza sculpting so much quicker and easier than doing it by hand!

Clockwise from top left: oil absorption paper, frying pan (not available in DAISO), bowl and spoon (may need multiple small bowls for ingredients), gyoza dumpling press, mini fruit and vegetable slicer with container.

Watch the dumpling process unfold or skip below the video for full instructions:

We garnished our Easter egg gyozas with fresh banana slices, DAISO banana chips in brown sugar, DAISO salted caramel Mallow Moment (NEW!) and sprinkled them with DAISO’s caramel cinnamon sugar (yes, we went all out on the sugary treats!). Plate, chopsticks, and scarf used as table runner are all available at DAISO.

HERE’S HOW TO PREPARE YOUR GYOZAS …

Step 1 ~ Prepare enough filling to fill however many gyozas you want to make - aim for about 4 slices of fruit and a mini Easter egg per gyoza (if you try to fit in more the gyoza wrapper might split). We used DAISO’s handy slicer with container to make sure our fruit was cut into super thin slices and could be stored easily.

Step 2 ~ Lay gyoza wrapper on the dumpling press and, using your fingertips, lightly press it down in the middle so that you have a dip in which to place your filling.

Step 3 ~ Place your filling in the centre of the gyoza skin. We used 4 or 5 thin slices of strawberry or banana and a mini Easter egg.

Step 4 ~ Dip your finger in the water and then run your finger around the edge of the gyoza wrapper. This will help the wrapper stick together so your filling doesn’t fall out.

Step 5 ~ Pull the handles of the gyoza press together firmly. Then pull them apart, remove your gyoza and set it aside.

Step 6 ~ If you prefer your gyozas to stand with their fanned edges up, stand them up this way on a flat surface and press them gently to create a base.

Step 7 ~ Repeat steps 2 to 7 until you have sculpted all your gyozas.

NOW TO GET COOKING! …

Cooking is a little trickier and you’ll need to really keep your eye on your gyozas to make sure they don’t burn on the high heat.

Step 1 ~ Make sure you have a plate ready for your cooked gyozas. We placed DAISO’s oil absorption papers on our plates to make sure our dumplings didn’t go soggy. Keep your jug of water nearby too.

Step 2 ~ Heat light cooking oil, like vegetable or coconut oil, in a frying pan over high heat until it begins to form tiny bubbles.

Step 3 ~ Place your dumplings in the pan until their bases are golden brown. If you’d like all sides of your dumplings golden and crispy, use kitchen tongs to turn them.

Step 4 ~ Once they’re all browned, pour over ¼ cup of water. The pan will sizzle and spit like crazy so be careful! Once the water evaporates your gyozas are ready.

Step 5 ~ Remove your gyozas from the pan and rest them on oil absorption paper for a minute.

Step 6 ~ Serve your gyozas on cute plates and garnish them with fruit, cinnamon sugar, nuts or chocolates of your choice.

You know the greatest thing about gyozas? You can put ANYTHING you like in them! Helloooo, world of sweet, delicious possibility! We also tried banana and nutella gyozas. Just like the strawberry-Easter-egg and banana-Easter-egg combos, these took us to our happy place.

We skipped the dipping sauce, but heat up a little Nutella in a dipping bowl and you’ll be in a chocolate gyoza dipping bliss daze in no time! Sweet gyozas are also amazing served with a scoop of your favourite ice cream.

More sweet filling suggestions for you to try:

~Sweet potato and crushed pecan (a maple syrup dipping sauce is dreamy with these!)

~Chilli spiced Nutella

~Easter egg and marshmallow (try a salted caramel sauce with this)

~Stewed apple and cinnamon (sprinkled with extra cinnamon sugar)

~Apple and blueberry (with hot peanut butter sauce)

~Fruit-mince (for Christmas) (these are wonderful with ice cream and brandy sauce)

~Chocolate and Walnut Gyoza (with Strawberry Balsamic Dipping Sauce)

There are so many possibilities!

We hope you have loads of fun trying out your own sweet gyoza experiments with our awesome gyoza press. Remember to Instagram or Facebook your mouthwatering successes with #daiso.

Good luck with your gyoza-ing!

xo

Team DAISO

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There are many kinds of housemates. The first is you: the perfect housemate (you know it!). Then there are others.

Whether your housies are family, friends or too-good-to-be-true randoms you’ve plucked off of an internet site, they probably all have some habits that’ll make you KERAZY! Nobody’s perfect, right (except for you)? So instead of hiding in your room posting out calls for help on Facebook, or staging a really awkward whole house intervention, why not prep your home with some gadgets to help everyone be as fantastic and considerate as you are.

We love solving your problems with awesome $2.80 solutions, so here are our Daisolutions to help out the housemates who just can’t seem to get it right.

#1 ~ The open bag bandit

When you go to find the soy sauce in the back of the cupboard and knock over a 2kg bag of rice your housie hasn’t bothered to re-seal …

This battery-operated bag sealer works by pinching and melting the plastic to create a seal. It brings so much satisfaction to sealing a bag that they’ll want to use it EVERY SINGLE TIME they open something. They’ll even start opening things for fun, but that’s ok because they’re going to re-seal that baby right back up.

But what about the bags of coffee beans and your fancy muesli that cost a day’s pay and came in an artisan paper bag made by a spiritual guru? No sweat. Pegs work too. Check out these cute Mickey Mouse pegs and colourful bag clips – so bright and cheery, no paper bag will look complete without them.

TIP: The date flower bag clip allows you to record when you opened the bag so you can make sure things haven’t been open for too long.

#2 ~ The stove slopper

When you have to clean the oven *again* because your housie has let the pasta water boil over and your stovetop looks more like a gunky swamp of goop …

Simmer down! We’re sure they didn’t do it deliberately. Pop this boil-over preventer (also called a pot-watcher) in the bottom of your pot of water, milk or soup before you start heating and it’ll stop your liquids boiling over. Wisegeek tells you how it works.

Tell everyone in the house how to use it, and leave it by the stove for easy access and a visual reminder.

#3 ~ The garlic handler

When your housemate cooks an amazing meal packed with garlic and then touches the remote, the door handles, the tap handles and the icecream scoop with garlic hands …

Image via Instagram @Daiso_Goodidea

We love garlic, and we love housemates who cook with garlic, but only when they don’t make everything else in the house smell like garlic too. We’ll forgive them for the garlic breath, but keep one of these by the sink for them to wash the garlic smell off their hands. All they need to do is wash their hands with the soap (no detergent soap needed) under running water for 30 seconds and the garlic smell will be gone. Find out how it works at Huffpost.

TIP: Stainless steel soap also removes strong odours like onion, durian and fish.

#4 ~ The cheeky clothes borrower

When you discover deodorant stains in your favourite jacket, and you know they’re not yours (you use that invisible stuff) …

Sure, you might’ve made an agreement in the early days that they could borrow your stuff whenever they liked – those were the days. But you draw the line at deodorant stains (and body odour is a big NO!). If they’re not going to dry-clean your clothes after borrowing them, take a preventative measure and stick some underarm sweat absorbers in. They’re just like the ones in this demonstration video but are $2.80.

#5 ~ The wishy washer

When your housemate has been really nice and done all your washing for you … with the towels … and your woollens are covered in lint balls …

Ok, points for kindness and consideration even if they’re no domestic god or goddess. But what to do about the lint that’s making your clothes look old and shabby? This battery-operated lint remover will do the trick, and as you see those aggravating little balls of fuzz disappear, you’ll feel a satisfied calm wash over you. Thank your housemate and let them know how to use the lint remover for their clothes too.

#6 ~ The clothesline hog

(While we’re on the topic of washing) … When your housie decides to take up the whole washing line with their smalls …

Seriously, do they really need ALL that room just for their undies? Who even has that many pairs?! Give yourself some line space by encouraging your housie to use one of these handy delicates dryers. It’ll take up one peg’s worth of space on the clothesline and can be brought in quickly and easily if it rains.

#7 ~ The mid-tube squeezer

When you find the toothpaste squeezed from the middle of the tube … again … 

Image via: http://www.weekendnotes.com/amazing-items-daiso/

And the tube of condensed milk?! Noooo! You might have to pick up a few of these if you have a serial mid-tube squeezer on your hands. Clip this tube roller to the end of the tube and turn the winder to squeeze out the toothpaste. No promises on this one, but your housie might enjoy this little gadget more than squeezing from the middle, and, if not, at least it will help you get to the very last drop of minty (or sugary) freshness.

#8 ~ The in-shower shedder

When you have to call the plumber again because the bottom of the shower is filling up like a bath …

Long-haired housemates are often the prime suspects. Instead of launching into awkward conversations about hair loss, just protect your drains with some drain catchers. Remember to encourage everyone to clean them after they’ve had a shower or bath, and enjoy a plumber-free house-sharing experience.

TIP: Use a drain catcher in the kitchen to stop food remnants from catching in the drain and causing unpleasant odours.

#9 ~ The canoodler

When you feel like an intruder  walking into your loungeroom because your housemate is always in there canoodling on the couch with their boyfriend or girlfriend …

Watch video of iPhone Trumpet Speaker in action

Keep one of these on hand for those times when you want to clear the room and have a good laugh. Cue up some cheesy saxaphone music on your phone, place your phone in the speaker and hit play.

TIP: If you don’t have a sound system to play your music, this will also help you drown out the giggles coming from the other rooms.

When your housemate’s annoying habits give you a reason to pick up really cool things that’ll make your life easier, living with them doesn’t seem so bad afterall. And if you’ve discovered you’re a stove slopper, shower shedder, mid-tube squeezer, garlic handler then maybe you could do with some of these gadgets just for you. We hope they give you that extra little bit of domestic bliss you deserve.

Good luck!

xo

Team DAISO

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Remember the year the Easter Bunny retired and decided to load up your parents’ secret present cupboard with chocolate instead of creating an enchanting hunt in the garden? We do too. *sniff*. So this year we want to make things right and add some awesome grown-up Easter sparkle to your very long weekend.

We have everything Easter in store for a kid-friendly weekend too, but you already knew that, right? So while you’re picking up everything to keep the little chicklets happy (you can adapt all the activities below for kids too), think about how you’re going to have the fun you deserve too.

Before you stop by, we should also let you know that DAISO is selling its Easter products (except for chocolate) for just $2.00, and everything else is still just $2.80 a piece. More fun, less $$$ ... Easter win!

Here are our favourite Easter activity picks just for you, whether you’re a parent or just a big kid at heart.

#1 ~ EGGIES FOREVER! Put a hop in your step right from the get-go.

it’s important to start each day with a healthy, nutritious breakfast, and (sadly) chocolate doesn’t count even at Easter (except if you have a Nigella Lawson chocolate croissant on the side! NOMMMM!!!). So, get to the shops, pick up your eggs and get set for your four-day-weekend breakfasts. That’s enough time to try your hand at poached, scrambled, sunny-side-up and soft boiled eggs with toast soldiers – simple, classic, delicious.  

There’s no need to be a pro in the kitchen. As well as all the basic kitchenware you need, DAISO has these eggscellent tools to make sure you get a perfect egg every time.

L to R: Colour changing egg timer, eggshell opener for hard- and soft-boiled eggs, silicone egg holder for poaching made easy.

Want to make your eggs something eggstra special? Try Taste.com.au or eggsplore eggs.org.au.

TIP: If you’re planning on getting crafty with eggshells later, plan for scrambled eggs or an omelette! Gently poke a small hole in each end of the eggshell and then slowly blow the yolk and white into a bowl (BUT HOW?!). Once you’ve done this to all your eggs, you can leave your intact shells to dry while you move onto scrambling for breakfast.  

#2 ~ SHARING IS CARING! Get your friends around for an Easter brunch eggstravaganza.

There’s nothing quite like sitting around with friends and eating your way through a spread of amazingness before the afternoon really kicks off. Get everyone to bring one Easter themed dish, and you provide the brunch time tea, coffee and punch (if that’s your thing).

DAISO can help you out with its signature range of colourful ceramic plates, bowls, cups and mugs. Give your setting Easter flair by scattering chocolate Easter eggs, glitter and Easter friends among the dishes. Remember all non-chocolate Easter items are $2.00 each at the moment!

Here are some recipes we love to get you started, and remember that DAISO also has cooking utensils if you need any:

Rose punch (adults only)

Iced lemon tea with herb and flower ice cubes (add a splash of vodka for an adults only beverage)

Fresh lemonade

7 delicious Easter cocktails (adults only)

Easter Bunny bread rolls

Hot cross buns with DRIED MANGO!!! You know how much we crave DAISO’s dried mango!!!

Decadent Easter sweet treats from Handmade Charlotte

Even more Easter recipes on DAISO’s Easter tribe Pinterest board

#3 ~ HOST AN EGGSTREME EASTER HUNT FOR ADULTS! Because what’s Easter without the hunt?!

The best things about hosting an easter egg hunt for adults are

a) adults are taller and know their limits, so you can hide things in the most absurd places

b) you can do it at night by torchlight

c) you can do it indoors or outdoors, or both, without fear of kids being mischievous or clumsy and breaking things (but watch the cocktail consumption beforehand!)

d) you get to make Dad jokes about putting all your eggs in one basket, and your jokes might even be appreciated

e) the host gets to wear these awesome ears and nobody’s allowed to make fun of them because they’re the host:

f) Get together a whole lot of chocolate eggs, or other items (whatever you like) clearly marked with Easter ribbons (and small chocolate eggs if you like) and hide them wherever you like! The postbox, up trees, on the roof, in the electricity box, on top of your car tyre, inside tulips, on cactuses … anywhere. Get creative, but remember to make a list of where you’ve put them, especially if the hunt is at night and they’re extra hard for your guests to find (nobody wants fat possums running around the roof after Easter).

Give your guests some Easter baskets or gift bags to fill and set them on their way.

TIP: Love a good yolk? Then why not use blown eggs with joke messages hidden inside, fortune-cookie style. They can even be Easter fortunes: You’re one funny bunny, but be careful about placing all your eggs in one basket / You’re one cute Easter chick, and somebunny will soon fall in love with you.  See how.

TIP: Hide a golden egg that you’ve made yourself (see #4), and the person who finds it gets a special prize. Maybe you’ll cook them dinner at a later date. Maybe they get a gourmet egg-making kit complete with everything to make every kind of egg imaginable. You’re only limited by your imagination.

#4 ~ GET YOUR GROWN-UP CRAFT ON! And step back in time to pre-Easter childhood crafternoons.

The lead-up to Easter used to be all about making cute bunny cards, colouring Easter eggs with onion skins and making marshmallow bunnies. Unless you’re a teacher or an awesome craft-savvy parent, it’s probably been a while since you did any of that. Have an eggstra special time reclaiming Easter crafternoons with DIY adult-friendly speggtaculars you can use for centrepieces for your Easter feast or as gifts.

Photo via Instagram @sweetmintstudio

Our favs:

Martha Stewart sure knows how to make an Easter egg tree

Style and Cheek makes the prettiest eggs!

Perhaps a little something for those with succulust? Succulent eggshell planters in egg cartons. So rustic and beautiful. Decorate your eggshells with markers first for that personal touch.

Nail polish marbled eggs (eggcellent for using up the last of your nail polish pots)

Gorgeous glitter easter eggs. Kid-friendly craft but with adult fancy

Pantone Easter eggs (for your inner design hipster)

Washi tape Easter eggs (Any excuse to get your washi on)

Easter mason jars (everything you need is at DAISO)

Heaps more Easter crafternoon ideas on DAISO’s Easter tribe Pinterest board

#5 ~ COLOUR BOMB EASTER! Outdoor Easter shenanigans with the colour and sparkle of mardi gras!

Our favourite pick to get the Easter celebrations off to a cracking start: Egg-paint bombs!

Image from: http://imgkid.com/cool-things-to-paint-on-canvas-tumblr.shtml

Blank canvas boards are available in the craft aisle at Daiso 

Take the top off an egg with an eggshell opener (see first image in this blog post), empty out the yolk and white, rinse, fill with non-toxic paint and/or glitter and then glue over coloured tissue paper to seal. Set them up in an egg carton ready for the big event. You’ll need at least a carton for each guest.

What could be cooler than everyone throwing paint-filled eggs at a giant white-sheet canvas (Available at Daiso) in your backyard and creating a cool piece of artwork together?! Ok, ok, so throwing them at each other might be even better – if your friends aren’t afraid to get their hands (and clothes, and hair and EVERYTHING ELSE) dirty … but remember to supply goggles (available in the sports aisle)!  

TIP: Get the outdoor party tunes happening with Spotify, Soundcloud or Rdio!

#6 ~ BONUS EASTER THEMED WIND-DOWN! An adorable end to the Easter weekend. 

After all the wild partying, or crafternooning, luxuriate in a hot shower with this cute super soft animal sponge that smiles right back at you to wish you a final Happy Easter. Yup. Adorable.

Whichever way you roll – parents, big kids, quiet crafters and partytime extroverts – it’s time to put a stop to Easters that are just about the kids. We hope with all the food for thought above, you’ll have a hopping good Easter, and a fabulously colourful, glittery, wondrous, baking, making and colour-bombing four-day weekend!

Remember to share your DAISO inspired Easter pics online using #mydaiso #eastertribe. We can’t wait to see what you do!

Hippity hoppity, that’s all for this week, folks! Find your nearest store here

xo

Team DAISO

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It’s true. Charcoal is a game changer in the beauty world, and for good reason: it works wonders.

Photo credit via Instagram: @pumpkinsister_id

No, not the stuff you find in your BBQ or in your old art supplies – wrong kind of charcoal, all kinds of bad! – we’re talking about ACTIVATED charcoal.

Japanese women have been using it for centuries in their beauty routines, and the beauty industry is onto it. Don’t worry, DAISO is too, which means you can get all the perks of the luxury brands but for a fraction of the price. Each product is just AU$2.80, so if you buy all the charcoal products listed in this blog post, that’s your skin and hair taken care of for only AU$16.80! Helloooooooo saving for that holiday in the Bahamas!

Heads up! Here’s what you’ll find at DAISO.

Why change to charcoal?

Aside from providing minutes of entertainment when you look in the mirror with your face covered in black goop (chim-chiminy-chim-chiminy … ), activated charcoal is said to have real beauty benefits.

When you use it on your face it:

draws out the impurities that get into your skin each day – bacteria, poisons, harmful chemicals, dirt and microscopic particles

unclogs your pores

makes your skin look and feel fresher

helps combat pimples and blackheads.

Skin won’t dramatically change after a single use, but you’ll notice improvements after a week or two.

When you use it on your hair it:

draws out pollutants and grease

leaves hair deep-cleaned and soft.

Customers swear by it, like it’s the holy grail of skincare and haircare. Read the proof in these honest-to-goodness reviews from around the world:

Makeup Alley (DAISO charcoal mask)

Beauty and Budget blog (DAISO cleansing cream, foaming cleanser and face mask; DAISO’s SUMI shampoo)

April Fool Romance blog (DAISO face mask)

What is activated charcoal? Is it safe?

Activated charcoal is charcoal that’s been heated in a way to make it super porous, meaning it has so many tiny holes that it can hold 1000 times its own mass (like an intensely absorbent sponge or filter, but on a microscopic scale).

It has extreme absorbtion ability. No, that’s not a typo. Absorbtion chemically attracts and sticks other substances to the charcoal’s surface, rather than drawing them in to become part of it (absorption).

Because charcoal isn’t something that can be absorbed by the body, it’s safe. In fact, pure activated charcoal is commonly used in medicine, and some monkeys eat charcoal to help their digestive systems.

So, how do you use charcoal products?

Just like you would your usual ones. Each of DAISO’s products have instructions on the pack, but here are a few pointers for you to incorporate DAISO’s charcoal range into your beauty routine.

Remember to always test products on a small patch of skin first to make sure you’re not allergic to ingredients.

Cleansing cream

Remove makeup and daily impurities. There’s no need for water – just apply and wipe off. It’ll leave a slightly sticky residue that you’ll need to wash off with cleansing foam.

2. Cleansing foam

Squeeze a little onto your hand and use a foaming net to create a lather (see a handy tutorial by midsummer3v3 on how to use DAISO’s foaming nets). Massage the lather into your skin, rinse off, and pat your face dry with a soft cloth. Moisturise if necessary with your favourite moisturiser. TIP: You can use this to cleanse your hands too. Over time, it’ll make them look and feel more youthful.

3. Sumi blotting paper

Keep these beauty saviours in your bag for on-the-go oil control throughout your day. Blot whenever you’re feeling like your face needs more of a matte finish.

4. Natural pack peel-off face mask (once a week)

This one is trickier, depending on your skin type. If you’ve ever used a pore strip across your nose, you’re familiar with the feeling of a super sticky strip pulling out not only your blackheads and whiteheads but also a layer of peach fuzz hairs from your skin! This mask is just like that but on your whole face, so, sensitive petals, beware, and only use in oily areas where you really need a deep clean! To use it, apply in a thick layer (avoiding delicate eye areas, eyebrows, hairline, and lips), dry for 15 minutes and then peel off. Look at all the dead skin and tiny hairs and blackheads and whiteheads – horribly satisfying isn’t it?! Moisturise if necessary with your favourite moisturiser.

5. Pore care packs (once a week)

Like the peel-off mask, these will pull out blackheads and whiteheads (and tiny peach fuzz hairs!) from your nose. Just wet the strip, apply it to your nose, press down, dry for a few minutes and peel off. Satisfying!

6. Sumi shampoo (once a week)

Because this shampoo is so rich in sweet-smelling detoxifying loveliness, it’s more like a hair treatment or conditioner, so you only need to use it once a week as a special treat for your hair. 

Lather in, rinse thoroughly and dry. Gaze upon your shiny, rejuvenated hair and book a night on the town.

Who would've thought that something as black as charcoal could actually get your skin and hair so amazingly clean and detoxed?! Not us, but we've tried it and it works!

We’re excited to hear your success stories and see your results with DAISO’s charcoal range, so remember to share them with us on our Facebook page or on your favourite social media with #mydaiso.

xo

Team DAISO

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These melamine sponges aren’t quite as cute as others you’ve seen at DAISO, but they have cleaning superpowers to champion those scuff marks on your floorboards and marks on your shoe rubber that no other sponge can conquer – AND there’s no need to use harsh synthetic chemical cleaners! All you need is good old-fashioned tap water.  

They’re everything you want in a cleaning product – cheap, easy to use (forget the elbow grease), gentle on your surfaces and eco-friendly.

Warning: Once you start using them, you may want to clean everything!

What are they exactly?

Melamine sponges are made of melamine foam, which is made up of formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer. For non-scientists, this means that while the sponges feel like normal sponges, they actually work like super-super-fine sandpaper, getting into tiny grooves of the object you’re cleaning.

Are these the “magic erasers” that cleaning experts talk about?

Yes! Sort of. Just a different brand.

But while you can pick them up in supermarkets for AU$4.40 for a pack of 8 mini-blocks, at DAISO you’ll pay just AU$2.80 for so many more!

What can you clean?

So many things! The sponges are gentle enough to use on glass ceramic, stainless steel, aluminium, ceramic, melamine (Formica), tiles, wood, chrome and fiberglass.

Here are just a few ideas, but you can clean just about any hard surface.*

walls, doors, skirting boards and floorboards – remove crayon, marker and scuff marks

ceilings and cornices – remove mould and smoke stains

light shades and fittings - remove cooking grease buildup on your kitchen lights

whitegoods and appliances –remove dirty fingerprints, grease and food splashes, and gunk inside your microwave, dishwasher, oven and refrigerator

pots and pans with a metal surface – remove food buildup and burn marks

cups and mugs – remove coffee and tea stains

jars - remove sticky residue from labels

grills and stovetops – remove food and grease buildup

kitchen benchtops – remove tea and coffee rings, food splashes and grease

kitchen bins - remove marks, food splashes and grime (wipe over afterwards with an antibacterial agent like white vinegar)

bathroom surfaces – remove hair dye, stains, dirt, soap scum, mould and lime buildup around taps and between tiles, and in the bath and shower. Wipe over with an antibacterial like white vinegar to prevent mould.

Vinyl furniture - remove dust and dirt

wooden furniture – remove water rings and other stains (test a spot first and rub very gently in the direction of the wood grain)

toilets – remove toilet rings by letting a mini-cube sit in the toilet overnight, and wipe away stains from under the toilet seat

sportswear – remove grass stains, dirt and scuff marks from hard plastic and rubber surfaces (great for shin guards)

shoes and sneakers - remove grass stains, dirt and scuff marks, even on patent leather (test a small area first)

car interiors and rims – dashboards and vinyl seats (but not the outside of your car - except car door indents)

car door handle indents – remove fingernail marks - see a YouTube demonstration

shed and garden tools - remove dirt and grease

metal and other surfaces - remove rust

cement – remove green algae from bird baths, steps and ponds

camping gear - remove mildew and mould from tents, vinyl canopies, awnings, fiberglass items, etc.

computers - remove grime from your mouse and keyboard (unplug first and then make sure the sponge if fully wrung out to avoid water damage) (also test a small area first and clean lightly)

photocopiers and printers – remove inky fingerprints and grime from buttons

power outlets and light switches – remove dirty fingerprints and grime (use dry sponge or with minimal water).

*For surfaces that are easily scratched, these sponges can leave a dullness to the surface. Test the eraser on a small, unnoticeable, part of the surface you need to clean before you clean the rest.

How do you use a melamine sponge?

Put away your cleaning products - there’s no need to use any.

Wet the sponge with water.

Wring it out.

Rub it gently over surfaces to clean away dirt and grime.

*~Ta-da! Clean!~*

The sponge will gradually wear down over time like a pencil eraser (or you can cut sponges to size for single use).

A pack of these is a fantastic investment for only AU$2.80 !

DAISO sells them in various shapes and sizes, including packs of

30 mini-blocks

16 standard blocks

Lengths to cut to your own size.

Where can you find them?

Head straight to DAISO’s cleaning aisle to see the range.

Find your nearest DAISO

Need more motivation?

Check out more before and after shots using melamine sponges.

We hope these magic wonders are as life-changing for you as they have been for our other happy customers who use them. May your house always sparkle!

Happy cleaning!

xo

Team DAISO

We'd love to see your before and after photos using DAISO melamine sponges, so please share them with us on our Facebook page, or on your favourite social media with #mydaiso.

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With O-weeks in full swing around the country and a mountain of stationery catalogues piling up in your mailbox, the back-to-uni shopping rush is about to begin. Woo! New stationery to start the year fresh! But we’re pretty sure you already know you can get all your stationery needs sorted at DAISO (of course you do!), so this DaisO-week we’re giving you the secret-squirrel heads-up on some awesome things you didn’t even know you needed AND that suit your uni student budget!

Drumroll please! …………………

#1 ~ Folding anti-static brush or comb

Australian weather can play havoc with your luscious locks and well-crafted quiff, and summer flyaways can really ruin a good uni ID photo. Don’t let the frizz get the better of you. Tuck one of these anti-static hair wranglers in your bag and keep your hair in check all day.

Bonus tip: If your hair stands on end from electricity in the air, run a metal coathanger over your (dry) hair before you leave the house. It’ll absorb all the electrical currents. Bzzzt.

#2 ~ Lint brush

Speaking of hair … You don’t want your new uni pals thinking you’re the crazy cat lady, right? If you have a cat or dog that likes to brush up against your legs right before you leave the house, you’re going to need to keep one of these lint rollers by the front door. Roll it over your clothes for fur-free, lint-free uni days.

Bonus tip: These are awesome for cleaning out the crumbs in the bottom of your bag and pencil case too.

#3 ~ Glasses cleaning cloths

Whether or not you wear specs, these supersoft cleaning cloths will serve you well. Sure, you can keep your poindexter/hipster reading specs shiny and clear, but these cloths are also a must-have for your sunglasses AND your laptop, tablet and phone screens. No need to fork out on expensive screen cloths – save your dollars and get three of these for $2.80.

Did you know?... DAISO also sells phone screen covers to keep your screen free of smudgy fingerprints. They’ll also help prevent cracks if you drop your phone.

#4 ~ Earphone cable holder

That awkward moment when you’re packing up at the end of class and pull your ipod out of your bag only to pull out a treasure trove of other things that have tangled in your earphone cords. We’ve all been there. Get your cords under control!

#5 ~ Coffee, coffee, coffee

When you’ve got a 9 am assignment deadline and your barista can’t come around at 1.30 am to whip you up a creamy latte with some kind of animal crafted out of the froth, you’re going to have to settle for an instant caffeine fix. Two jars for $2.80! 

Did you know?... DAISO sells milk frothers so you can still make your own creamy lattes? Of course, they’re $2.80 too.  

#6 ~ Sturdy ceramic keep cup

Coffee on the run will probably become part of your daily uni routine too. Take your coffee from home and save your dollars or have your barista fill this cup instead of a paper cup. You’ll be doing a little something for the environment, and your barista might even give you mate’s rates on your coffee ~ errrybody wins!).

#7 ~ Shoulder magic heat patches for aching muscles

Not just for Nanna, these adhesive heat patches may just be your saving grace by the end of semester when you’re hunched over a pile of assignments for hours on end. Soothe your knotty shoulders and neck without having to shove a hot wheat pack under your clothes (unsightly!). These patches are super thin, so nobody will know you’re wearing one even under your T-shirt.

Bonus tip: For chilly winter months, stick one of these on your lower back to keep your kidneys warm during the day.

#8 ~ BB face mask

Going in and out of air-conditioned classrooms and lecture theatres all day can leave your face dry and prone to breakouts. Keep your complexion glowing all semester with a weekly BB face mask treat that locks in the moisture and keeps your skin plump and perky. Here’s looking at you, hot stuff.

#9 ~ Happy bunny body glove and happy bath seal bath bombs

Photo cred: @emalta_

Ok, so you don’t need these but you *neeeed* them in that way you need ice-cream comfort after a breakup, or a kebab after a night on the town. Take the healthy road to relaxing and soak away your troubles in a hot bath with these adorable pals. Uni stress will just disappear. Your bunny sponge will smile back at you even when you’re grumpy and tired, and your bath bomb will dissolve to soothe your muscles and reveal a teeny tiny seal to sit next to you. Squeeeee!

Did you know? … DAISO also has other happy bath bombs that include pandas, bears, ducks and DINOSAURS! They come in a range of delicious scents to keep you smelling yummy too.

Photo cred: @clobert

Good luck for first semester!

May your headphones never be tangled on your hairbrush, and may your collection of tiny happy seals and dinosaurs grow and grow across the year.

Remember to share pics of your DAISO uni haul on any social media and hashtag it with #MyDaiso

Go get ‘em, tiger.

xo

Team DAISO

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If those front-row tickets and private jet to Monaco are a little out of reach this Valentine’s Day, don’t despair! Showing your love doesn’t need to be about draining your bank account. There are so many better ways to show your beloved that your heart belongs to them. Here are our picks for turning budget gifts into epic experiences for you and your love.

#1 ~ THE CHOCOLATE TRAIL

Chocolate is one of the key ingredients to an indulgent, romantic Valentine’s Day. It’s the go-to. But everyone gives chocolate. Delicious but unoriginal, and kind of token. Where’s the love, where’s the thought, huh?

Transform a potential V-Day fail into an alluring chocolate trail.

Buy a whole lot of chocolates, or make your own, and place them in a line leading all the way to the romantic candlelit dinner you’ve prepared (or another special surprise you’ve prepared in the house).

+10 bonus points: Use the same number of chocolates as the number of days, months or years you’ve been together.

+50 bonus points: Tie a note to each chocolate with one reason you love your partner. By the time they get to the surprise at the end, they’ll be glowing with warm fuzzies.

+100 bonus points: Both of the above, and place photos of the two of you every few chocolates. Sentimental journey + chocolate + surprise at the end = EPIC ROMANCE

#2 ~ THE HOME ADVENTURE

Food is the way to most people’s hearts, and a home-cooked meal done well is always a winner. Team that with a hotel experience at home and you have your own DIY date night in the comfort of your own surroundings. Cupid-inspired genius right there.

You’ll need recipe inspiration.

You might need tips on how to set up your love nest.

You’ll definitely need all the finishing touches that make for a hotel experience (even the popcorn bowl for the movie!):

+50 bonus points: Prepare your bedroom like a hotel, including wrapped mint chocolates on each pillow and foldable slippers at the end of the bed. Create a rules book, like you’d find in a hotel, listing all your nearby favourite restaurants, where to find the massage oils in the room, and when to rise for the Sunday breakfast.

+100 bonus points: Send your partner out while you prepare the house in secret. When they get home, hand them their fancy dinner clothes along with a blindfold and tell them that you’re bug-bombing the bedroom and dining rooms so they can’t go in. When they’re dressed and blindfolded, take them on a walking or driving adventure. Turn a few corners so they have no idea where they are when you arrive back home a short while later. Make them wait outside or in the car while you get everything in place (get dinner cooking now, music on, bring out the wine), and then lead them through the house to the dinner table. Then it’s time to remove the blindfold. Surpriiiiiiise! If you want to trick them again, you can convince them that you really are going to a hotel, but they have to be blindfolded again. This one’s a tough trick to pull off, but a good one!

#3 ~ THE FUN-LOVIN’ FUTURE FAVOUR

Keep your relationship fresh with your own DIY couple vouchers. These are an old favourite for the thrifty romantics out there, but it’s true that nothing says “I love you” like promises tailor-made for your sweetheart, especially when they can redeem them at their leisure.

DAISO has all the pretty paper, paper punches, pens, stickers and ribbons you’ll need to create your own. You can also download this free template to print out if you’re running short on craft-time.  

Stuck for voucher ideas? Lucky for Pinterest! Check out some love coupon pinspiration.

+10 bonus points: On Valentine’s Day they get to pick one voucher in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Ooooooh, so much romancin’!

+40 bonus points (and more epic than you think): Step outside your comfort zone and offer to try new things with your partner that you never would’ve done by yourself or that you’re a little scared of. Go on! Live a little!

#4 ~ THE FRENCH ROMANTIC

How divine to whisk your love-of-loves away for a picnic to a mysterious location, playing their favourite tunes in the car, telling them how much and why you love them, and then arriving somewhere leafy to feed each other chocolate covered strawberries and all the other foodie delights. So Frenchy, so chic!

Don’t have a car? Take a train or bus far, far away and get some headphone splitters you can plug into your phone while you share the tunes. Supercute.

Pick up picnicware essentials in the kitchenware and travelware aisles at DAISO.

+25 bonus points: If your first date was an outdoor picnic, set up there or nearby so you can reminisce arm-in-arm.

+200 bonus points: At the end of the picnic pretend the car has broken down, or just come clean and reveal the overnight bags, snack food and camping equipment in the back of the car. Camping out under the stars is SO romantic! You’re scoring some serious love points here! (It’s probably good to keep your schedules free for the next morning)

#5 ~ THE GREAT VALENTINE’S TREASURE HUNT

Not for the faint-hearted, this challenge will need you to muster all your  time, adventure, creative prowess and thoughtful gift giving in an ultimate test of love. Are you ready, you crazy love fool?

First, you’ll need your heart-melting grand finale gift. It can be anything, but let’s say it’s a smashingly romantic dinner prepared by you. This is the treasure.

Second, you’ll need to pick the spots to leave the clues and get together a whole bunch of “clue gifts” that relate to the next step in the treasure hunt. For example, if the next clue location is on the bedroom fan, you might use a mini fan as a clue. Or if it’s in the car, you might use a car cleaning sponge or a toy car. (You don’t have to include gifts with your cards, but it’s a fun touch, and DAISO will help you keep it cheap.)

Third, you’ll need to write and attach clue cards (a little DIY and thinking effort needed here). Write poems or just straight text. Be as cheesy and as cryptic as you like! For example, to your mini fan you might attach a card that reads:

I love you even when we’re sleeping. Put your hands up for your biggest fan!

Cute, cheesy, clever? It doesn’t matter. The next clue will be found on the bedroom ceiling fan. Get it?

More ideas on Pinterest.

Here are some of the little things you might use:

Ice cream scoop (leading to the freezer)

Kawaii erasers (a cat eraser leading to a clue behind the cat’s bed)

Pegs (leading to the washing line)

Socks (leading to the sock drawer)

A key to the shed (leading to the toolbox)

You can use ANYTHING!

+15 bonus points: If you’re really clever, you can make sure clue gifts can be used later when your beloved redeems their love vouchers (which can be given with or as the treasure). For example, a car cleaning cloth will be useful when they redeem the car wash you’ve offered.

+50 bonus points: Let your memories do the talking. Hide clues with things they’ve given you in the past, or with things that trigger memories, and include a note that says how much you appreciated their gift, or how much fun you had creating the memory.

+500 bonus points: Take the treasure hunt beyond your backyard. Hide your clues in all your favourite couple spots in your city and plan a day of scavenger in the city. This one earns you EPIC ROMANCE POINTS because of all the effort you have to go to to make sure your clues are safe with cafe owners, under rocks and tucked in other secret places. You’ll also get to have a super fun, memorable adventure together!

We hope this helps you raise the bar this Valentine’s Day. It’s not a competition, but we all want to be the best Valentine, right?

Remember to share photos of your DAISO inspired V-day ideas on social media with #DaisoLoveTribe to be in the running for one of five $28 vouchers. Winners announced February 16 at noon.

Wishing you a Valentine’s Day full of love and all the sweetest things imaginable,

xoxo

Team DAISO

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Oh hey there, good lookin’! Are you ready to join the DAISO love tribe and knock the socks off your special someone with a Valentine’s Day they’ll never forget?

It’s all in the details, so here are our tips to make sure you’ve got your V-Day covered from all angles for a day or night of romantic perfection.

And for those who are single or avoiding Valentine’s hullabaloo? Well, you surely you deserve some indulgence anyway. Skip to the end of this blog post for something just for you, you gorgeous gals.

*FEBRUARY 14* ~ LOCK IT IN!

Block out your calendar for February 14 and confirm your date’s schedule is clear for that day too. Nobody wants to be left moping over takeaway because someone forgot to save the date!

This is a day just for the two of you so, if you have kids, organise the babysitter NOW before they get booked out by all the other parents.

Book your Valentine’s Day breakfast, lunch or dinner A.S.A.P. or plan for a fancy home-cooked meal that will melt your beloved’s heart.

Links we love

Find a restaurant to suit your tastes, your location and your budget on Urbanspoon or get the app on itunes

GIVE YOUR DATE THE MOST ROMANTIC GIFT EVER

Step 1. - Think.

Step 2. - Think some more.

Step 3. - Put a little more thought in for good measure.

Step 4. - Shop or make.

Step 5. - Remember the card and pour your emotional heart out.

If you want your sweetheart to swoon over your gift (and you!) and don’t have a whole lot of money to spend, a gift box is always a winner. DAISO has heaps of gift boxes to choose from, and you can fill them with loads of little gifts from in store that show how well you know your Valentine – don’t be afraid to pack in some fun things that remind you of your couple in-jokes. Check out our product range.

And of course we have your Valentine’s cards and Valentine’s chocolate bags in store too (what’s Valentine’s without the Chocolate?!).

Tip: Take the Valentine’s Day challenge with your partner and set a small budget or DIY rule for gifts. It’s fun, leaves you more $$$ for your meal and it’ll prove that you haven’t just walked into a fancy store and grabbed the first expensive thing off the shelf.

We haven’t forgotten you, crafters and bakers!

We’ve been busy collecting a whole bunch of DIY crafty and bakey ideas for you on our Facebook page and Pinterest boards. You can pick up all the tools at your local DAISO store. Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll find.

Tip: Make your own crayons by melting them into silicone chocolate heart moulds (See the tutorial). For your romantic home-cooked meal, cover your table with craft paper and use the crayons to write messages of love to each other and draw pictures together. Nawwwww! You guys are so cute!

COOK THE SWEETEST THINGS AT HOME WITH ALL YOUR HEART

And all our hearts!

If food is the way to the heart, these moulds will make your food into the most adorable express line to your Valentine’s.

Feast your fluttery eyes on heaps of hearty food ideas on our Facebook and Pinterest pages.

And you’ll need to decorate your sweet creations, so DAISO has chocolate graters and all the other decorating supplies you’ll need.

Links we love

Ice-cream heart sandwiches, anyone? Watch this video by My Cute Attack.

Chocolate heart recipes ~ check out that chocolate caramel slice! Yum!

Use heart pancake rings and make beetroot pancakes for breakfast

SET UP YOUR LOVE NEST

Balloons, candles, wine glasses, roses, cute bowls filled with your DIY sweet treats, champagne chilling in the fridge and the lights dimmed. Love is in the air, everywhere I look around …

Tip: Remember, no pain, no gain! So vacuum, clean up after any cooking, and make your bed with fresh sheets and fluffy pillows!

Links we love

Have a giggle over Japan’s most recognisable Valentine’s Day song

These are the 25 most-streamed love songs on Spotify

THE FINISHING TOUCHES RIGHT TO YOUR FINGERTIPS

Reservations? Check.

Awesome gift? Check.

Making and baking treats complete? Check.

Home fit for Cupid? Check.

All that hard work and you’re probably ready for some you-time before the we-time. Spend the day before Valentine’s looking after you, and take an hour or so out to give yourself a gorgeous Valentine’s mani-pedi with romantic sparkles.

Links we love

A definitive guide to the mani-pedi

ALL THE SINGLE LADIES (all the single ladies) … AND THOSE WHO JUST AREN’T IN THE MOOD FOR VALENTINE’S …

Feast your independent woman eyes on this beauty!

Caught the love bug yet? We certainly have.

We’ll be blog-lovin’ again next week with Valentine’s Day ideas for the thrifty spenders, so stay tuned!

Remember to share photos of your Daiso-inspired V-day ideas on social media with #DaisoLoveTribe to be in the running for one of five $28 vouchers. Winners announced February 16 at noon.

Hugs and smooches until next week,

xoxo

Team DAISO

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Stick IceCube Tray- perfect for big and SMALL bottle necks!

Available in-store now

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Daiso presents the "Rotating Stapler". If you're a problem solver, you'll love this 2 in 1 stapler featuring: 1. Rotating section for easy binding both horizontally and vertically and; 2. Handy staple remover which quickly removes staples without ripping or tearing the paper.

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Parents, brace yourselves! Back-to-school time is here.

It’s time to put an end to the frenzy of last-minute shopping stress, anxious kids and a pain in the budget. Take a deep breath and get ready to ease into a stress-free start to the school year with these 8 back-to-school preparation tips you can start now. 

1. BATTLE THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL BUTTERFLIES

If your mini-me has butterflies in their stomach about going to school (and even if they see school as a meltdown-inducing black hole of anxiety) encouraging positive thinking can help. Tell them fun stories about your own schooling, and ask them questions like:

what are you looking forward to at school?

what do you want to learn?

what kinds of cool school supplies do you want?

what sports do you want to play?

Bonus tip: Get kids to make a poster or book of all the things they’re looking forward to. They can draw, write or cut pictures out of old magazines to put it together. DAISO’s huge range of craft gear and stationery might help too.

 2. DARE TO TURN HOLIDAY FUN INTO A SCHOOL HEADSTART

Sometimes as a parent you have to sneak in learning opportunities where your kids least expect it. Coat education in sweet fun with these ideas:

Sports like jump rope, tennis, frisbee, 4 square, football, soccer, swimming and running are great opportunities to practise physical skills and enjoy each other’s company.

Excursions to historic sites, zoos, aquariums and museums can help with history and science knowhow.

Trips to the library offer endless opportunities to read about anything. Even comics will help your child practise their reading skills.

Cooking, building and crafting help in learning measurements and in following steps.

Bonus tip: Too many options? Write different activities on ice-cream sticks that have been covered in washi tape. Get kids to pick one each morning of the holidays to decide what you can all do that day. See this and other ideas on our Back to School Pinterest board.

 3. DIVE INTO BED EARLY AND RISE AND SHINE WITH THE BIRDS

If you and the kids haven’t been go-getter morning people for a while, it’s time to set your alarms earlier and start getting the right amount of sleep. Avoid the back-to-school equivalent of jetlag by getting into the morning groove now.

Bonus tip: Make a morning routine chart for the kids to start now. You can find all the supplies you need in DAISO’s craft aisle. If you want to encourage kids to keep up their routine, teach by example and make a chart for you too. 

Check out crafty ideas for routine charts on Pinterest.

Links we love

Sleepyti.me bedtime calculator will help you determine the best time to go to bed or wake up based on your sleep cycles.

 4. LAUNCH THE SIMPLE LUNCHBOX STRATEGY

Set up lunch stations to make the art of packing a lunchbox easy for you and the kids. 

One basket in the fridge containing ziplock bags of pre-cut vegetables and fruit, sprouts, containers of leftovers, yoghurts, and sandwich making supplies like jams; one basket in the pantry with breads, dry biscuits, cereals, muesli bars and other dry snacks. On the outside, place a label indicating what needs to be put into the lunchbox (a piece of fruit, two vegetable snacks, a sandwich, a yoghurt etc. for a balanced meal). See this and other ideas on our Back to School Pinterest board.

Fun Idea: Creating healthy bento lunch boxes (Kyaraben style) for the little ones. It's a great way to get them excited about going back to school and in-particular eating the healthy snacks you pack for them. See our bento accessories and ideas on our Everything Bento Pinterest board. 

Bonus tip: Invest in some lunchboxes that have multiple compartments. DAISO has a great range of these, as well as insulated lunch bags and bento boxes for Japanese inspired lunches.

Links we love

Kids healthy lunch box recipe ideas on Taste.com.au

Real Food easy freezable lunches to make in advance

Meld Magazine’s healthy bento lunch box ideas

 5. CONQUER COOKING FOR THE FIRST WEEK BACK – NOW!

Let’s face it, the kids are going to be exhausted in their first week back and you probably will be too. Give your future self a break and prepare freezable dinners for the family now. Single serves are easiest to store in the freezer in containers and freezer bags. When you want to have meals, take them out to defrost in the morning and heat them up in the evening.

  Bonus tip: For homemade sauces and soup, use liquid tight freezer bags (you’ll find these in DAISO’s cooking aisle).

Links we love

10 easy kid-friendly freezable meals on Kidspot

Freezer-friendly meal plan from Foodwise

Golden rules of freezing food + bonus what not to freeze

  6. CHANNEL YOUR INNER THRIFTER WHEN YOU SHOP

Kids don’t want boring school supplies – they want colour, sparkles and all that jazz – but fancy stationery can often empty your wallet in no time. Either stick with the basics and get kids to decorate items with cute stickers (bonus crafting kudos!), or you can always pick up fun colourful stationery at DAISO (either way, each item is only $2.80 so you’ll stay well within your budget). Get a taste of what you can find at DAISO.

  Bonus tip: Did you know that the Australian Government offers a Schoolkids Bonus to eligible families, which can help you pay for school fees and supplies? Find out about the Schoolkids Bonus.

 Bonus tip: Shop now to avoid the last-minute rush and empty shelves!

Links we love

Follow the beat of your own drum with Back to School DIY on Pinterest

7. TAME THE WILD STATIONERY WITH A HOMEWORK STATION OR CADDY

If the coloured pens and pencils are scattered around the house, in the car, in the dog’s bed and goodness knows where else then it’s time to get kids organised with a homework station with all the bells and whistles.

Organisation is the key to keeping it neat and tidy, so provide lots of compartments to store everything the kids will need to do their homework. Set up a small area of your home, or make the homework space portable with a caddy. Erasers, pens, pencils, highlighters, scissors, scrap paper and clean new paper, pencil sharpeners, notebooks and a ruler for each child should fill all the cute containers you can find. Check out our favourite caddy ideas on our Back to School Pinterest board.  

Bonus tip: If you have more than one child, put together a stationery set for each of them in a different colour. This way, nobody will be fighting over which scissors, notepad, eraser and lead pencils belong to whom.

Bonus tip: If your child uses a computer or laptop, keep cords all wrapped up with a kawaii cord pet available in the electronics aisle of DAISO.

Bonus tip: A whiteboard will help you and your child keep track of homework tasks and make them feel like they’re kicking goals as they cross things off.

Links we love

Homework caddy ideas on Pinterest

Craft-O-Maniac’s kids craft station - the cute spotty bowls are available at DAISO!

 8. LAUGH IN THE FACE OF LOST PROPERTY - WITH LABELS

Despite how excited kids get over new school supplies they’re bound to misplace a few things when they’re at school, so label everything to make sure items find their way home. Washi tape + waterproof pens are great for creating name labels on stationery, lunchboxes and other hard items, and fabric labels can be used for clothing, towels and book bags. If you’re keen to get busy with a needle and thread, you could sew your child’s initials on the tags of all their clothes.

Bonus tip: Get kids involved. Write their name on plain book labels and let them decorate around the letters.  

Links we love

DIY printable labels on Pinterest including these cuties

You’re now all set to embark on the back-to-school journey.  We hope you’re feeling reassured that you CAN get your kids back to school without the stress and without burning a hole in your pocket.

With the 8 tips above you’ll be able to conquer back-to-school preparations like the hero we know you are! If you want more inspiration, remember to follow us on Facebook and Pinterest!

We are now on Instagram! Follow us @DaisoAustraliaOfficial for the latest and greatest at Daiso!

Stopped by DAISO for your back-to-school prep? We’d love to see photos of your haul or crafting genius in action. Just upload your favourite pics to Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest or Instagram and tag them with #JoinTheTribe

Blue skies, balmy nights, and giant pyramids of juicy watermelons in the supermarket – the Australian summer serves up a feast of sunshiny bliss every year, and we can’t get enough of it. Here are our top 8 reasons why we’re all about the warmer months, and why you should get on board with some summer lovin’ too.

#1 ~ Bad hair, don’t care

You’re either going to have that awesome, no-care beach hair that all the other beachgoers have, or you’re going to be hiding your summer locks in a messy bun or under a hat. Easy! Bad hair days be gone, at least until summer ends.

Useful links we love:

Summer hair stylin’ on Pinterest

Hot hat hair on Pinterest

#2 ~ Flip-flops and twinkle toes

Flip-flops, jandals, thongs? Whatever you call them in your part of Australia, they’re comfy, they’re perfect for protecting your feet from both searing hot cement footpaths and public shower germs, and you can slip them on with just about anything from your summer wardrobe. But what we love most about them is that they give you all the reason you need to get creative with your pedicure and show off your twinkle toes.

Pedicure essentials 

Useful links we love:

Summer pedicures on Pinterest

A definitive guide to the mani-pedi

Nail art ideas and DIY tutorials online

#3 ~ Beach days

Australia and the beach go hand in hand. You haven’t experienced Australia if you haven’t spent time at one of its famously gorgeous beaches, built some sandcastles (or been half buried mermaid-style) and played some good old-fashioned beach games. But which games will you choose? Maybe we can help you out.

Useful links we love:

101 best beaches in Australia

Beach fun activities

#4 ~ Picnics in the shade

Getting together a bunch of your family and friends and sharing a meal under a tree is a perfect way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon. It’s what good memories are made of. The kids run around and tire themselves out with games in the park while the adults while away the afternoon and snack on all the bite-sized goodies that everyone’s brought along.

Useful links we love:

Taste.com.au picnic recipes

Satara’s list of Australia’s best picnic spots

Wellness Mama’s homemade bug spray recipes

#5 ~ The great Aussie BBQ

There’s nothing like the waft of snags on the barbie to kick off a summer weekend in Australia. Good food made simply, summer tunes on the radio and great company in the backyard make us feel like summer could last all year. Backyard games like croquet, badminton and quoits make the day even better.

Useful links we love:

Taste.com.au BBQ recipes

How to clean a barbecue

#6 ~ Ice cream!

There IS a cure for those summertime blues! The food that fills all the gaps when there’s no more room for real food. Yes, we know you can have it at any time of year, but ice cream really hits the spot on a hot summer day. With the wonders of Pinterest (see below image for link), some freezer moulds and a few simple ingredients, you don’t even need to leave the house. Is it any wonder we think ice cream is one of the greatest things about summer? Mini ice creams in the backyard hammock? Yes please!

Useful links we love:

Make ice cream like Sydney’s famous Messina

Taste.com.au ice cream recipes

Pinterest ice cream recipes

Cool ice cubes on Pinterest

#7 ~ Getting fit outdoors

We’re lucky to live in the southern hemisphere where summer allows us to keep all our New Year’s resolutions to get fit and healthy (ok, so maybe an ice cream here and there). This is the season to skip the gym and head outdoors on your personal fitness quest. Save money and breathe in that fresh summer morning air. Being outside is so much more motivating than a room full of hot sweaty bodies and muscleheads checking themselves out in the mirrors, right?

Useful links we love:

Top running apps for your smartphone

12 exercises to get in shape which you can do anywhere

Skipping exercises for fitness

Monthly fitness challenges on Pinterest

#8 ~ Roadtrippin’

Taking a roadtrip to one of Australia’s awesome destinations, sporting events or festivals, windows down while you sing your heart out to whatever old tunes you have on your car stereo, is LIVING THE SUMMERTIME DREAM! Pack some supplies to keep cool and comfy, fill up the petrol tank and off you go.

Useful links we love:

Best Australian roadtrips

The 50 best roadtrip songs of all time

Australian sporting events guide

Australian summer festivals guide

Are you feeling the summer love yet? Are you just bursting to get outside? Or do you need even more summer inspiration? Check out our Summertime Fun board on Pinterest for ideas that’ll make you love summer.

We’d love to see how our products help you stay cool and have fun this summer, so remember to tag your pics with #mydaisosummer.

Put on your party pants, say sayonara to 2014 and set the tone for 2015 with a New Year’s Eve party to rock everyone’s socks!

All you need to put on a fun New Year’s Eve party is a little time and a few inexpensive supplies. Just add friends and family and you’re all set to go. Let us get you on your way.  

#1 ~ Send your invites out ASAP! Pronto! Now! Get cracking!

Facebook makes it easy to send out invites to all your favourite people and get a quick turnaround on RSVPs – as long as your favourites each have a Facebook account that is! For those who don’t, call them or send an SMS so they don’t miss out.

Tip: Ask your guests to RSVP with their top 5 favourite party tunes and prepare a party playlist to keep everyone happy.

Tip: Get on the BYO bandwagon and ask guests to bring one plate of snacks and whatever they’d like to drink.

#2 ~ Set the mood for 2015 with some fancy lighting

String up colourful paper lanterns above the snack table, in trees, along your walkway – anywhere you want your guests to gather. They’re colourful, cute and classy all at the same time. Lanterns are just $2.80 each at DAISO, and many use LED lights so there’s no fire danger from the candle+paper combo.

Candles always glam up a party too, so gather up all that you own and sit them around your party space. Place them in jars so they don’t blow out in the wind, so they don’t set anything on fire and so they sparkle more.

Tip: Safety first! Always keep candles within sight.

Tip: If you want candles to burn for longer, place them in a ziplock bag and leave them in your freezer the night before.

#3 ~ Get set to get snap-happy with a camera and some props

If you have a digital camera with a remote control, it’s easy to set up your own photobooth. Just set your camera in a safe place (preferably on a tripod), fasten the remote to it with a long string, set a chair or two in front and provide some fun props for your guests to take their own silly snaps.

If you don’t have a remote, just set your camera on a mini tripod (available at DAISO) and designate friends to be photographers across the night.

Props are $2.80 each at DAISO, so they’re an inexpensive way to have some fun.

#4 ~ Bring on the colours and make some noise for 2015

Even the classiest of New Year’s Eve parties have colourful party poppers, finger pompoms, streamers and glow jewellery, and all the noisy whistles, clackers, tooters and shakers to ring in the new year. Place a big bowl of them on the table so guests can choose their own.

Tip: Fill balloons with confetti and glitter, inflate them and hang them up above guest so that they can pop them during the countdown. DAISO even sells balloons to make balloon animals (if you and your guests are feeling creative!).

Tip: If the Australian summer brings a hot New Year’s Eve and you’re having an outdoor party, arm guests for a glittery water balloon fight that will start at midnight! Fill as many water balloons as you can with glitter and water before the party, and bring them out before the countdown. Remember to tell guests not to wear white!

#5 ~ Be nice to your 2015 self with disposable tableware

When your head is pounding, your sleepy feet are stumbling and everything in you is telling you that you never want to have a big night again, the last thing you feel like doing is cleaning up the debris from the night before. Let your 2015 self lie in bed a little longer, and get your 2014 self organised with cool disposable tableware for a hassle-free cleanup.

Tip: Remember to recycle!

Tip: If you prefer a more environmentally friendly option, pick up some durable, easy-to-clean melamine plates.

#6 ~ Embrace the midnight munchies

Keep peckish guests full by filling your table with bowls and bowls and bowls of snacks in a sweet and savoury assortment. DAISO has all the nibbles you need, from nuts and crispy rice crackers to candy and DRIED MANGO!!! Nobody can resist the dried mango, so make sure you buy extra!

Image - choose a small assortment from 

See what other snacks you can pick up at DAISO

Did you know … that in Japan, people eat long soba noodles, or toshikoshisoba, before midnight as a symbolic way of wishing everyone a long life ahead?

#7 ~ Keep it fresh on the midnight dancefloor   

Midnight kisses happen, and salty snacks can be real romance killers. One second you’re about to celebrate, and then POW! – a waft of seaweed cracker right in the kisser! Nobody wants that memory. Keep the romance alive by putting out a big bowl of sweet smelling candy, as well as some toothpicks.

The countdown to 2015 is on! So pop in to your nearest DAISO and get set for an awesome party that’ll have everyone kicking on and dancing till the early hours.

As always, we’d love to see how you set up your New Year’s Eve party with DAISO, so remember to post your pics to your social media account of choice with #happydaisonewyear #mydaiso.