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Review Amazon Kindle … reviewed by mums.

Amazon Kindle … reviewed by mums.
Average Ratings (from 23 ratings)
Overall star Rating
Would you recommend to other mums?
What did your child think?
Value of Product
Quality of Product
Dick Smith is a great choice for Christmas
Amazon Kindle ... reviewed by mums. :
4.47 out of 5 based on 23 reviews.
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The Amazon Kindle is the ultimate Christmas gift this year.

Weighing in at less than 170grams, it can hold up to 1400 books which makes it the perfect travel companion. It’s great for mums and dads alike, plus it’s simple to use and has adjustable text sizes so you can read comfortably.

Dont forget to pimp out your Kindle with a case from our Kindle accessory range!

The Amazon Kindle is available at Dick Smith Stores and online 24/7 at dicksmith.com.au

Recommended Retail Price $119.00.  Also available in Black.  3G model also available.

Check out more details on the Amazon Kindle here.

Check out the Amazon Kindle Product Reviews from Mouths of Mums members below.

At Dick Smith we’re taking the hassle out of your Christmas shopping. With great deals on the latest technology and more ways to shop, we make it easy!

We’ve got an extended range of technology so you’re bound to find the perfect gift for eveyone in your family. Get the kids sorted with something from our kids technology range or take care of mum and dad with the ultimate Christmas gift of the year – the Amazon Kindle. Check out our website for our extended range in home entertainment, Apple, digital cameras and more.

Can’t get to the shops?

Not to worry, shop online 24/7 at dicksmith.com.au where you can check out our full range, read reviews and shop.  Place your order by the 18th December and get delivery in time for Christmas (large items need to be ordered by 12th December).

Are you a last-minute shopper?

Use our Click and Collect function to reserve stock at your local store. It’s even available on your mobile, so you can reserve on the go.

For a great Christmas deal made easy, shop at Dick Smith.

Published 7th November 2012

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  • Kindle brilliant fantastic

    I love. My kindle its saved me hundreds of dollars I did not get to review a free one I had my as a Christmas present last year . My husband brought it from dick smiths.. It was suggested by a staff member when hubby did not know what to buy.. I would of liked a purple one but it only came in black or white… The money you save on books is so good as I love to read I light .. It’s so easy to charge . It fits in my hand bag.. It’s easy to se I have even cook books on it.. I love my kindle and now I can have thousands of books and it makes it so easy now if I want to re read a book . No more going to the garage and sorting through boxes… If there is one thing or good readers should own is a kindle.. I know some people still like a good old fashion book so do I. But the kindle is great..

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • THE KINDLE IS SO CONVENIENT - WHO KNEW?

    I’m loving the Kindle. I haven’t used one before this, and am delighted with it. My hubby and I can both put books on it and share it when we are travelling, this will save packing 2 or 3 books each time we go on holidays. As we are book lovers we will still take a book each and share the Kindle. He reads early in the day and I’m a night owl, so it works for us. Easy to use, light and manageable, definitely get Santa to bring you one. You will be happy!

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Overall

    Overall, would I recommend this product to other people? YES

    How do I like reading from a Kindle compared to a real book? Give me the kindle any day! I have done more reading with the kindle than I have from a book in a long time.

    Would I prefer the touch version over this one? Not necessarily. You quickly get use to the different features. I think people just want the touch because they are so use to that style from their smart phones. But making the switch is no probs.

    What is easier to use/hold/read from, a book or the Amazon kindle? Definitely the Amazon Kindle. So light, no funny feeling pages, no bookmarks required, no turning over the corner of pages, no books piling up on your desk, bedside table, on shelves and you can shop for a ‘new book’ at any time of the day or night, which is great if you are wanting a new book and the shops are closed!

    Would I buy this product as a gift for someone? I definitely would. My sister is rather jealous already ;)

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • The kids thought it was great!

    What did my children think? They loved it. It was something different so they were intrigued.
    I won’t be making the switch for the kids, as I think it’s important for them to have actual books, but for something different a couple of times a week the Kindle is perfect. Would be great when travelling and reading to the kids too!

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Someone call Security!.........oh Phew there it is!

    I’m back already!

    So, I downloaded a sample of a book, a free children’s book and a full version of another book, only $2.99 so it didn’t break the bank.

    Left it to charge, which btw, the USER GUIDE (yes I finally read it) say NOT to use any old AC adaptor, oops!

    Then when I started playing with it again it suddenly dawned me, SECURITY SECURITY SECURITY. I am a freak when it comes to security and I HATED entering payment details into my Amazon account, which btw you have to have set up even if you are downloading free content. Prior I thought, oh well, once you download a book remove the details until you are ready to purchase again, but then I thought okay, it’s time to read the User Guide Amy! and that is where I discovered that it does in fact allow you to see a passcode, PHEW! (this is not only to protect my money from baddies, but also to prevent my children downloading any old book lol)

    So now that I Have that sorted I can stop worrying and go to bed ;) hahaha

    ps My even more security conscious husband said “Maybe you can get a debit card and just transfer a small amount over that way if someone got a hold of it, they don’t have access to your entire bank account”. I might visit the bank tomorrow…….any excuse to go to the shops right ? Oooh and I can ‘fit out’ my Kindle at the same time.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • It's here! Thank you!

    Guess what I picked up from the post office today. The amazing Amazon Kindle wi-fi to review for MOM and Dick Smith. Thank you for choosing me!

    Is it a female thing to want to ‘fit it out’ the moment I have it in my hot little hands? Pity it’s 8.25pm and the shops close soon, darn! Though I could satisfy my urge to online shop, but then I would have to wait lol though it does make me wonder how long/short delivery is through Dick Smith. Hmmm I may have to go take a peek.

    First thoughts when I picked it up, it’s oh so light and really does fit into the palm of your hand.. Love the way it is packaged and if you were giving one as a gift you wouldn’t need gift wrap, just a gorgeous silver bow to match the kindle wording on the box and you’re done!

    Me being me, I decided to give it a go without looking up the online tutorial to truly see how user friendly it is. By the way, during the setup it will ask you to log into your existing Amazon account if you have one, or setup a new one etc and once you have chosen an option and logged in, you automatically get sent an email that links you through to ‘Learn how to get started and discover what your Kindle can do! ‘ Handy!
    Now big tip here, make sure you remember your Wi-fi password when setting it up. Because this isn’t a touch screen, if you are feeling a bit tired like I am, you may get sick of constantly entering your password if you continue to get it wrong like me lol. Not sure why it took me until my sixth attempt to finally look it up on my pc lol.

    So I’m all connected and now trying to decide whether to purchase an e-book or download a freebie, so I put the call out on facebook to see what others have suggested. Meanwhile I am browsing the free seletions and I suddenly thought, hmm how do I turn the page to continue going through the list (No, I have never used one before) so as you do with gadgets you look all over the outside of it to see what you can find, aaah more buttons, on the sides to TURN PAGES ;)

    I think I might call it a night and go and play around with it some more.

    Talk soon!

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • The libary

    Wow mum’s and Dad’s how cool is that either for your kids of for your self , no need to go to the library , you have got it all in one , a wicked and great gift for anyone, dam I wish I had one

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • I love my kindle

    My kindle goes every where with me it’s easy to charge. The charge last a long time. . It’s light weight . I can store thousands of books .. My favourite being cook books .. Books are at a fraction of the cost … You can change your print size. . So a fine print you can make into a large print . Yes I love my kindle as I do not drive I always use public transport so I always have a book with me.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • A must have for book readers

    I have now been using the kindle for several days and I love it. I have used it while waiting for appointments and on public transport to and from work. My oldest son is learning to read and he seems to enjoy using it. Overall I am very happy with the kindle and have already recommended it to a couple of my friends who I share books with.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Light and portable. It is very easy to use.

    I was delighted to be picked to review this product. I am a mad book reader and have been contemplating buying a kindle for the last few months. My friend has one and loves it. I have found the kindle easy to use and the charge lasts a surprisingly long time. It is much easier to read from the kindle than with a book in bed, which I do every night. I can get quite bad headaches from looking at computer screens but I have not had this problem with the kindle. I have just started to download a couple of books and it was very easy. I will report back once I have used it for a few more days. My only negative point is the lack of touch screens.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Suits some people

    I was given a Kindle by a generous husband who thought that I would get some use out of it as I read a lot of books and he thought it would be convenient, I think he was upsold at the store, I believe that for many people it is fantastic especially if commuting on public transport, and not having shelves of books around would be good, but I like the old fashioned book, and I find that I spend a lot of time looking at a laptop during the day anyway so it is nice to have a rest from a screen and read a book. So I do not use it. I have It charged and I can use it if I go out, I take it with me if we have medical appointments, especially if they are likely to last hours, and it is handy for that reason but for around home I like to give my eyes a change and use a real book.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • The libary

    Wow mum’s and Dad’s how cool is that either for your kids of for your self , no need to go to the library , you have got it all in one , a wicked and great gift for anyone, dam I wish I had one

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • interesting device

    The kindle is a lot different to what I was expecting it to be. It is very tiny and light weight, wouldn’t even notice it in your bag. The screen is so clear that it almost looks like an actual page of a book.

    Was easy to buy from Dick Smith, but would have been a lot cheaper to buy from Amazon.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • I love my kindle

    My kindle goes every where with me it’s easy to charge. The charge last a long time. . It’s light weight . I can store thousands of books .. My favourite being cook books .. Books are at a fraction of the cost … You can change your print size. . So a fine print you can make into a large print . Yes I love my kindle as I do not drive I always use public transport so I always have a book with me.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Kindle brilliant fantastic

    I love. My kindle its saved me hundreds of dollars I did not get to review a free one I had my as a Christmas present last year . My husband brought it from dick smiths.. It was suggested by a staff member when hubby did not know what to buy.. I would of liked a purple one but it only came in black or white… The money you save on books is so good as I love to read I light .. It’s so easy to charge . It fits in my hand bag.. It’s easy to se I have even cook books on it.. I love my kindle and now I can have thousands of books and it makes it so easy now if I want to re read a book . No more going to the garage and sorting through boxes… If there is one thing or good readers should own is a kindle.. I know some people still like a good old fashion book so do I. But the kindle is great..

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Not a big fan of the kindle

    I am not a big fan of the kindle and find i have alot of trouble finding my way around it. I use apple products and do believe them easier and cheaper with their apps. My kids love playing with the Kindle but always switch to the apple as well. I guess it is what your used to and what you dont mind paying for

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • The Kindle is loved by young and old.

    I actually bought a kindle for my Mum for Christmas. Dick Smith had the best price and range of accessories to match. Mum has downloaded some great reads and has included children classics for the Grandies to read. Would definitely recommend paying a bit more and getting the 3G Wi-Fi model so that you can downloadbooks anywhere.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • It's fantastic and I love it

    The kindle is a great product I love it I’m a massive reader so is my husband we have a very large book collection. Reading on the kindle is so much easer it’s light and easy to you you can take it anywhere, my son that is 8 has just started to use it and he wants one of his own.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Santa finally came to me... :-)

    Having used the kindle for the last 2 weeks, i am loving it. It has so many positives that it is unbelievable. Being an avid book reader and now living in a semi remote area this has been an absolute blessing of a a review for me to do. I always get things for Hubby and Son and always forget about myself… as most mums do, so i was glad to be able to review this as it was selfishly all for me.

    I read every spare chance i get, which is really not that much these days with a very active 2 year old and with my darling husband working away… but i grab every opportunity I can for a “little bit of me” time.

    I love to look up words that I don’t totally understand but with a paper book i have to put the book down, which generally makes me loose my spot as master 2 grabs the book, then i have to get the dictionary and answer all the what you doing mummy questions… which of course i do explain… but with the kindle you can highlight the word you want to know more about and it gives you the definition… fantastic.

    Although its not exactly Christmas at least i know i got a present this year and what a present it is. With hubby working away right up until chrissy im sure he wont get to the shops, which is fine and i totally understand… so thank MOM and Dick Smiths for my early present… definately no regifting this one.

    I can now read those heavy heavy books that i love so much in bed in comfort without having to reposition myself a million times as you get the sore arms going..

    Its lightweght, fits into my handbag, i can take it anywhere, the battery life is brilliant.. i have only charged it once in the two weeks and have been reading for about 15 hours on and off in total over the last couple of weeks.

    What was i thinking not getting one of these for myself sooner.

    All i have to do now is find out if we can get the Australian newspapers on it, then both Hubby and I are set.

    Living where we live it is not just a quick duck into the shops to get that book or get the paper… now all i have to do is set my phone to wifi hotspot (amazing it works) and download a new book. I can even add them to my wish list so i have a reading list ready to go next time im up for a new read. There are also a number of free books out there to try and a lot of other books that you can not get in the shops.

    I highly recommend this product to any avid reader.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • THE KINDLE IS SO CONVENIENT - WHO KNEW?

    I’m loving the Kindle. I haven’t used one before this, and am delighted with it. My hubby and I can both put books on it and share it when we are travelling, this will save packing 2 or 3 books each time we go on holidays. As we are book lovers we will still take a book each and share the Kindle. He reads early in the day and I’m a night owl, so it works for us. Easy to use, light and manageable, definitely get Santa to bring you one. You will be happy!

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Anywhere anytime making reading accessable to everyone

    i am not a huge book fan but love the kindle and the fact it is easy to use. My husband has claimed it for himself and he is now reading more than he ever did. we have been reading to our daughter and she is loving the types of books available. It is light and compact and can be taken anywhere.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Need one for each member of the family!

    I was very excited to receive the Kindle and wasn’t disappointed when it arrived.

    I really enjoyed having a play with it and found the set up and the navigation was very easy and user friendly. The Kindle was very compact, fitted nicely into one hand and I loved that I could turn the pages on either side of the device. I have read more since having the Kindle than I have in the past few months. It was a really nice change from reading books on my iphone & ipod, it felt much more like reading an actual book.

    Once my seven year old got hold of the Kindle I pretty much didn’t see it again. She loved it so much she read 5 books in two days and carried it everywhere with her. I am thinking of buying her one for Christmas as it means she only has to pack the Kindle not the usual dozen books she carts away with us! I also love that there are so many free or cheap books which you can receive instantly as I can actually keep up with how quickly she devours books.

    My 2 younger children also enjoyed reading stories on the Kindle, even though the books aren’t in colour, they insisted on having story after story read to them.

    All 3 of the kids had figured out how to use it within minutes of having it in their hands.

    I do recommend buying a case/screen protector etc as one of the first things my kids did was cart it around and inevitably they dropped it, the Kindle was fine but not sure how much rough play it will take.

    As the kids are asleep I am going to sneak off to bed and do some reading while I have the chance.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Overall

    Overall, would I recommend this product to other people? YES

    How do I like reading from a Kindle compared to a real book? Give me the kindle any day! I have done more reading with the kindle than I have from a book in a long time.

    Would I prefer the touch version over this one? Not necessarily. You quickly get use to the different features. I think people just want the touch because they are so use to that style from their smart phones. But making the switch is no probs.

    What is easier to use/hold/read from, a book or the Amazon kindle? Definitely the Amazon Kindle. So light, no funny feeling pages, no bookmarks required, no turning over the corner of pages, no books piling up on your desk, bedside table, on shelves and you can shop for a ‘new book’ at any time of the day or night, which is great if you are wanting a new book and the shops are closed!

    Would I buy this product as a gift for someone? I definitely would. My sister is rather jealous already ;)

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • A must have for book readers

    I have now been using the kindle for several days and I love it. I have used it while waiting for appointments and on public transport to and from work. My oldest son is learning to read and he seems to enjoy using it. Overall I am very happy with the kindle and have already recommended it to a couple of my friends who I share books with.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • The kids thought it was great!

    What did my children think? They loved it. It was something different so they were intrigued.
    I won’t be making the switch for the kids, as I think it’s important for them to have actual books, but for something different a couple of times a week the Kindle is perfect. Would be great when travelling and reading to the kids too!

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • The Heaviest of Heaviest Book... NO PROBLEM NOW!!! :-)

    So i downloaded Bryce Cortenay’s Brother Fish. I have had this book in the traditional book form for a while now.. in the Hard Cover form. Whilst i love books, this one is HUGE and now with a little one the only time I really get to read is in bed of a night time. With the Kindle it is so very light and so very compact it made reading this book a breeze… I started it from the start again and stayed up for a long time last night reading in bed, pure bliss.

    It was so easy to read, no sore arms, no readjusting myself to suit the heaviness of the book, i could just lie back and click a button to turn the page.

    What an awesome product… why didn’t i get one sooner. Ohhhhh thats right I am a mum and always forget about my self… :-) Thank MOm and Dick Smith, im keeping this one all to myself.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Light and easy to use!

    I was excited to use the Amazon Kindle. I am an avid book lover. I am a also a traditionalist and love the feel, smell and really enjoy the tactile experience as well as the imaginary one when reading a book. Unfortunately I was not blown away by the product.

    The packaging is brilliant and makes you feel like you’ve got something really expensive. The actual Kindle looks great too, it’s a simple, stylish colour and is really light.

    Unfortunately after having a play and then reading the user guide I felt sick and had a headache. So this isn’t a product I would personally use. My husband on the other hand is thrilled and has claimed it for his own as he has no issues reading from it and thinks it is brilliant.

    I think it is a little expensive to purchase ebooks. You can purchase an actual book for less than the price to download some of them. If I’m paying the same price for an actual book as I am for an ebook then I don’t think it’s great value.

    Hopefully I’ll be able to find some ebooks that are affordable and husband friendly so we get plenty of use out of the kindle!

    Overall I think it’s a great product, just not my cup of tea!!

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • so much like a real book

    the first thing i expected from the kindle was that it would be like a phone or a computer and have a backlight, but it dosn’t and it is fantastic it really is just like a book. You have to turn on a light to read it, there is no glare and no extra strain on your eyes, so there is nothing stoping you from reading as long as you normally would. i love the fact that it has wifi which means i can sit on the couch, download a new book (which takes seconds) and start reading all while i’m still in my pjs. Also i love long novels and the quite often get wrist pain from holding them but that problem is now gone because the kindle is so light. It has a great battrey life so i dont have to worry about charging it everyday and i dont have to stress that in the middle of the best part of the book that it will die. The prices of the books on amazon are quite a bit cheeper then if you went and brought an actual book, and amazon keeps all your books stored so if you ever lose or want to upgrade your kindle you do not lose all your books.You can also burrow books and lend books to friends which i love. Overall this is a fantastic product that i will use alot. I love to read and this product will make reading even more enjoyable.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Easy to naviagate, download books and find them again!

    What an amazing product! I didn’t know what to expect. I easily connected to my home wifi, logged in, navigated my way around and bought some magazine subscriptions and two books. It was so easy, simple and very handy to just pop into your purse and walk out the door! I love the usb charging, which means you can really charge it anywhere. It had such easy menus, that you really couldn’t go wrong. I think that it would be the perfect gift for my Mum and grandparents for Christmas – not to mention the teenage nieces and nephews! Don’t think this would be suitable for children under 8 years old.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas

  • Someone call Security!.........oh Phew there it is!

    I’m back already!

    So, I downloaded a sample of a book, a free children’s book and a full version of another book, only $2.99 so it didn’t break the bank.

    Left it to charge, which btw, the USER GUIDE (yes I finally read it) say NOT to use any old AC adaptor, oops!

    Then when I started playing with it again it suddenly dawned me, SECURITY SECURITY SECURITY. I am a freak when it comes to security and I HATED entering payment details into my Amazon account, which btw you have to have set up even if you are downloading free content. Prior I thought, oh well, once you download a book remove the details until you are ready to purchase again, but then I thought okay, it’s time to read the User Guide Amy! and that is where I discovered that it does in fact allow you to see a passcode, PHEW! (this is not only to protect my money from baddies, but also to prevent my children downloading any old book lol)

    So now that I Have that sorted I can stop worrying and go to bed ;) hahaha

    ps My even more security conscious husband said “Maybe you can get a debit card and just transfer a small amount over that way if someone got a hold of it, they don’t have access to your entire bank account”. I might visit the bank tomorrow…….any excuse to go to the shops right ? Oooh and I can ‘fit out’ my Kindle at the same time.

    Would you recommend
    to other mums?
    What did your child
    think?
    Value of Product
    Quality of Product
    Dick Smith is a
    great choice for
    Christmas
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Article Buon Appetito! A Busy Mum’s Guide To Memorable, Simple Summer Entertaining

Buon Appetito! A Busy Mum’s Guide To Memorable, Simple Summer Entertaining

I fondly remember slow, summer afternoons with family and friends gathered around a table of delicious finger-food during my childhood – the adults chatting and laughing, the kids pretending they understood the jokes. My parents had continued their Mediterranean traditions long after settling in Australia – and the simple joy of an effortlessly elegant gathering was one of my favourites.

What I don’t remember is my parents ever being stressed about the gatherings. It all just seemed to ‘come together’. Ah, how times have changed!

There’s something about the Italian style of entertaining that’s still so alluring in our fast-paced family lives. The idea of La Dolce Vita: a sweet life surrounded by family, friends, food and minimal fuss. Which is why we’ve enlisted the help of the entertaining experts at Sandhurst to share easy tips for elegant, memorable summer get-togethers.

We also asked our community of mums to share their tried and true, easy summer entertaining ideas, and we can’t wait to share them with you!

Euro-Inspired Entertaining

Sandhurst

Before we dive into the delicious world of sumptuous, simple summer entertaining, it helps to know a little about the inspiration behind our guide. And that’s the concept of Italian entertaining – where time is taken to lovingly grow ingredients, before enjoying them with those you love.

Established in 1988, Sandhurst was born from the time-honoured traditions of generations of the family behind the brand – a proud Italian Australian family passionate about quality produce sourced from world’s best growers.

At the helm of Sandhurst are brothers Mimmo and Ray Lubrano, who live and breathe the impeccable ingredients that become the centrepiece of so many gatherings in Australian family homes.

“Tradition is what we stand for. We’re custodians of Italian values,” explained Mimmo. “When we go to Italy we see it in our grandparents, our parents came from Italy in the 50s. The tradition is a set of values: honesty, teamwork, participation, family – all the things you would associate with Italian family are the values.”

And it’s these beautiful values that make summer gatherings in Australia an extension of the European table.

Easy Summer Entertaining Starts With … Time Saving Secrets!

Sandhurst

A sweet summer of entertaining doesn’t need to be stressful. In fact, it shouldn’t be. It’s a chance to spend time with loved ones. To press pause on life and make memories. And it can be simple! So here are some really easy tips for making your home the place where everyone wants to gather this summer.

Create An Entertaining Kit

Whether it’s pre-planned or you’ve had friends or family drop-in, having a few things ready to go immediately melts away any stress. Here are some things to include in a summer entertaining kit:

  • A red table cloth: It instantly says festive!
  • Some platters and serving dishes
  • Candles
  • Some quality antipasto ingredients that simply need to be decanted and enjoyed!

Many Hands Make Light Work

As mums, we tend to be our own worst enemy when it comes to delegating tasks. But remember, a summer of entertaining is about creating memories – not perfection. So let the kids help, and accept offers from your guests who’d like to bring something along to share.

“It can be overwhelming, so just delegate, and prepare. I do one dish prep per day and pop them in the freezer. Then they just need to be heated up. Let the kids do the decorating for you – plus keeps them busy!” – MoM Member Kirsty

Decorate With Happiness

There’s no need to pull out your finest crystal to pull off an elegant get together. Take a look around your home and garden to see what will bring your table to life. A bowl of lemons is a gorgeous addition, as is a bunch of gum leaves. Keep it simple and understated.

Sandhurst

Finger Food For The Win

Nothing says simple summer elegance more than a charcuterie board (or three!). When my friends and our families get together, it’s our go-to – every family is asked to ‘bring a board’. Some do savoury and some sweet, so we’re covered for a long afternoon of catching up.

“Food wise, I keep it simple by doing cold deli meats, cheeses, fresh fruits and veggies.” – MoM Member

But just because boards are easy to put together, doesn’t mean they can’t ooze elegance. And that comes down to including quality ingredients. Choosing Sandhurst products is the easiest way to guarantee the highest quality ends up on your table. We love the premise behind the brand: from our family to yours – it invokes that nostalgic feeling of shared stories, history, gatherings and family.

How To Put Together A Charcuterie Board 

Sandhurst article image

There are no right or wrong ways to create a charcuterie board, but to ensure a balance of textures and flavours try to include:

La Dolce Vita!

A summer of sophisticated entertaining doesn’t have to be hours and hours of work. We don’t want it to be! By grabbing some beautiful ingredients to fill your pantry next time you’re shopping, you’ll know that at a moment’s notice you’ll have everything you need for a Euro-inspired gathering. No fuss, but plenty of substance and style!

Sandhurst

Ready to host your own summer gathering? Choose Sandhurst’s quality produce and look for the red lid.

Mouths of Mums is proudly working with Sandhurst to bring you this article.

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  • I’ve really needed some inspiration this year for Christmas and this is great! I Love a good charcuterie board and I think I may do one this year for the family as well as all the regular Christmas trimmings. I have 6 kids and all the extended family coming to entertain and feed!

    Reply

  • I’m loving all the ideas here in the comments and pictures above! I love to be able to just look at what others have done and straight up copy it. Takes all the thinking energy out of entertaining!
    Such a good and trusted brand to purchase over the silly season! You know you are faring great quality and value!

    Reply

  • We often have homemade pizza nights aka fakeaway night! And my pizza is always on a low carb Pizza base with roasted and sundried tomato and capsicum. My fav combo with grilled chicken and a swirl of peri peri mayonnaise! Making our own is always better than takeaway versions and healthier!

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  • Sandhurst products are my go to for great healthy and tasty snacks, especially after school.

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  • Great information! Loved it. You can see https://reminiiapp.com/

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  • Looked so good I couldn’t wait – Dove in off the end of my bread baton and swirled around in a couple of cheesy dips only to finish up at the Sandhurst stackers and sun-dried olives, who needs a Holiday when there is one in the kitchen, I can take any day.

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  • I have been buying Sandhurst Kalamata Olives, Sandhurst Semi-Dried Tomatoes, Sandhurst Baby Capers, Sandhurst Sicilian Green Olives for years as our kitchen staple adding that extra flavours to our dishes. I buy Sandhurst products for Gift Baskets as presents for family and friends and they love this idea as I add a chopping board and a knife and crackers and cheese for a celebration of flavours.

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  • Great ideas for entertaining guests and love that brand I buy it all the time

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  • i buy this for family they love the brand and the taste of sandhurst and the different flavors and range to choose from and i find it great value for money, i re-use the jars when im done with for small items in the house.

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  • I have been a purchaser of Sandhurst goods ever since they first appeared on supermarket shelves and still buy it to this day. The Sandhurst brand is the best without a doubt. This year I have not been able to find the Sandhurst cheese stuffed baby capsicums anywhere. I have tried to get on the Sandhurst site, but no luck with what they make. Help – these are such a wonderful addition to a salad.

    Reply

  • Fantastic Article

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  • I Love a good charcuterie board. I Love all the different options all on the one board. I love to do a chocolate board when we have guests over, it’s a fun way to do dessert after dinner. The kids love seeing everything layed out so they can pick and choose.

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  • This is great for the grandchildren they love them as they use them as finger food and make up their own meal and use plenty of ingredients including meat and cheese on the dips and crackers. We keep it simple with the Sandhurst’s products as it is a meal in every jar and the kids love them.

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  • This looks like the perfect relaxed way to have a picnic! I am loving the idea of this! Just bring along lots of fillings and plenty of cheeses and breads and of course a little alcohol and you’re all set. This sounds like the perfect way to catch up with friends!

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  • I hate being taken to a third party page to enter comps.

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  • Certainly most welcome for summer, and would be wonderful for the festive season. I can see this platter on the table Christmas Eve, when we get together with our neighbours.

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  • Love the look of the olive on creamy fetta

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  • This is timely and helpful, thanks – I aspire to entertain more and tips to make it less stressful are very welcome.

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  • Charcuterie boards are the absolute best! We do these so often in the warmer months because there’s something for the whole family. People pick and choose what they like and there’s no complaints because there’s so many different options to choose from, everyone is happy. It’s such a simple stressful way to make dinner.

    Reply

  • I absolutely adore finger food and this style of feeding people when we have family and friends at our home; or when we go out for a picnic, bbq or get together. These types of food are so easy to source and to buy and to prepare and to happily eat.

    • Yes I agree, finger foods are easy and yummie ! And you can assemble a healthy enough plate (certainly when you add salads, cheeses, nuts, fruits, boiled eggs, olives and rustic breads) that it can certainly can replace a meal (either lunch or dinner). Everyone happy and no hours of preparation in the kitchen :)

      • Also; the other bonus is less mess to clean up when cutlery is not needed. Finger food is the best for laid back and relaxed get togethers. There is always such a clam and relaxed feel to a finger food meal without the need for any fancy and stuffy table settings.

    Reply
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