This excites me because I’m on a tough mission to make the safe trampoline cool, and yes, that’s a Springfree™ Trampoline.

A little bit of background, we’ve been chatting with a couple of super guys from South Africa, called the Brother’s Streep.

Introducing the Brother's Streep

Basically they’re comedy song writers – they wrote a hilarious song about Anna Paquin and even got to sing it to her on the BBC on The Graham Norton show. Definately worth a look!

I loved it so much, I gave them a call. We eventually ended up chatting about trampolines (safe Springfree™ ones of course), and Dylan, Simon and the rest of the boys wrote a trampoline song. We totally loved it, and decided to help them out by supporting their trip to the Edinburgh comedy festival. (They have just arrived in London, and we’ll of course show performing pictures).

We loved the trampoline song, but we were even more excited when the boys did a special Springfree version just for us! We should have it soon… but in the meantime we’re going to keep being excited that there’s an actual song, about  jumping on trampolines!

The guys will be performing The Trampoline Song as part of their set over the next couple of weeks – AND will have a Springfree™ Trampoline on stage when they’re singing it! Yeah!!

Go, jump on your trampoline!

Chance to win tickets and meet Justin Bieber!

Washington, all you have to do to enter,  is head into our Springfree Trampoline Seattle Store before Monday 28th June to enter:

1875 NW Poplar Way, Suite 1
Issaquah, WA, 98027
United States

First prize:

One winner to receive two (2) tickets to the Justin Bieber concert on July 13th, Comcast Arena at Everett, WA – (2) meet and greet passes to meet Justin Bieber – (1) Justin Bieber prize pack

Second prize:

One winner to receive (1) 8ft. Springfree Trampoline and (4) tickets to Woodland Park Zoo. Trampoline values at $1,350.

You can email kristen@springfreetrampoline.com for more details

Most parents purchase the Springfree™ Trampoline because it’s the safest trampoline, and they can have confidence their kids can exercise without injury.

This is true! But are there any other ‘grown-up’s’ out there that enjoy the safety of our trampoline to avoid life’s general mishaps?

I love jumping on our trampoline – it has me the fittest I’ve ever been and confident that I can exercise safely. I also know when jumping, I’m in a “padded cell” and for a period am protected from my clumsy/ disaster prone nature.

To give you an idea of the last 5 days on a trip to the US, and back to Canada… my top three (and these are the top of many) are:

1. Managing to irritate a customs officer into giving me the full once over (fortunately it didn’t get quite to the rubber glove stage) but still, I was patted down, and questioned to a point of compromise
2. After finally, getting over 2 delays and a grounded plane, the flight I was on was HIT BY LIGHTENING travelling into San Francisco. Let’s just say, huge bang, big blast of sparks, and 30 seconds of utter fear before the captain announced “Ladies and Gentlemen, no need to worry, we were just hit by lightening, but fortunately we’re okay”??!!
3. To add insult to injury, today, I was responsible for “killing” the Springfree™ Trampoline van on my first trip back to the office. Take one major 8 lane Canadian highway, a large wrapped Springfree™ Trampoline Van, and add me as a driver and of course the transmission will blow. Fortunately, while I tweeted my distress (waiting crouched on the passenger side with rush hour traffic zooming by after crossing 4 lanes with loss of speed and hazards and horn going – did I mention I was listed as “the slow vehicle blocking the exit lane” on the traffic report?!) a twitter friend found my frightened image amusing… and crafted this wonderful PhotoShop picture for me…

When my transmission broke on the highway...

Let’s just say, I think I’m safer in a Springfree Trampoline.

Is anyone else this accident prone?

We have a bias of course :), but think the Springfree™ Trampoline is one of the best backyard solutions – your kids will enjoy safe outdoor play summer after summer.

• Make Peanut Butter Bird Feeders. Tie strings to pine cones, or to a bagel, stale bread, or even a corn cob from last night’s dinner. Cover with peanut butter; roll in bird seed. Hang the feeders in the trees and wait for the birds to come visit. What birds do your kids see?
• Make your own chalk by mixing one cup Plaster of Paris with 1/2 cup of water. For colorful chalk, add a spoonful or two of tempura paint. Pour into an egg carton or into a toilet paper tube (but tape up one end) and let dry over night.
• Whip up a batch of homemade playdough. Mix two cups of flour, one cup of hot water, and one cup of salt. Add drops of food coloring to make any shade you wish. Wrap the playdough in plastic wrap when you’re done, and it will stay fresh for a long time.
• Make your own volcano. Surround a tall jar or drinking glass with newspapers to build up the volcano (you may want to tape it to the table or to a cardboard base). Cover with aluminum foil and make a hole where the jar is. Pour baking soda into the jar. Add some dishwashing liquid and food coloring. Pour in some vinegar, and stand back!
• Plan a picnic—kids love them! Let them concoct the menu and assemble the sandwiches. Cheese and crackers or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are great take-along snacks.
• Make a paper-mache animal! Mix one part flour to two parts water; add a pinch of salt to form a thick paste. Cover an inflated balloon with strips of newspaper covered in paper mache. Once dry, use halved toilet paper rolls and fasten them on for ears. Let dry. Paint and decorate to make a pig, cow, dog, or cat.

We’d love to hear your activity ideas – I know our Mum’s and Dad’s are always looking for good suggestions!

Our Springfree™ Trampoline CEO Steven Holmes is currently cycling with his wife Cheryl and friends in the South of France. He’s knows we like to blog a lot, so he’s helping out by tracking their adventure.

Hopefully, in the next photo’s they’ll be wearing their Springfree™ Trampoline shirts!

Posted for Steve, by Kristen

DAY ONE: We arrived safely in Paris and transferred to the train. The transfer with 4 bike cases and 4 pieces of luggage was a little more effort than planned but we made it to Aix-en-Provence, a beautiful city in the in Southern France about 30 kilometres from the sea. The first night we walked the streets and alleys enjoying the culture, food and sights and sounds of the city. Tomorrow we’ll spend the morning in the market followed by an afternoon of riding.

DAY TWO: Well, we woke up early and ventured off into the Saturday morning markets, some would say in search of strange and weird socks for Brent to wear and/or gift to Doug Hill (our Springfree Trampoline VP). For those of you who know Brent (our legal counsel), cycling 125 kms is no problem compared with 15 minutes in the market, and we spent 3 hours in the market.

We enjoyed the whole experience but in the 3 hours probably only saw 1/2 the market. It was interesting to see the contrast that occurs when a City opens up to markets and right in front (I mean 3 to 4 feet outside the front door) of major brand stores like the GAP, Louis Vuton, LaCoste and selling everything else you can imagine… eggs, fruit, vegetables, pastries and much more.

There were probably 5 streets full of fresh cut flowers and they were spectacular….. Jo commented at least every 15 minutes….”I can’t believe Brent is in the flower market”.

Amazing flowers in the market

From the market to the bikes for an afternoon ride, more up Brent’s alley and we were in search of the centuries old aqueduct and any cycling shop we may pass on the way. After we got out of the City, we were faced with a beautiful 12 km climb with some exceptionally steep switch backs but nothing fresh legs couldn’t overcome. Arrived at the top and still looked as fresh as when we started…..A nice descent down a different root and back to the City. Met up with our guide Philippe and enjoyed the evening planning for the rides ahead.

DAY 3: Well I experienced my four most feared bike demons (and Brent’s favourites)…..mountains, wind, scary steep descents and a long distance…oops one more, a wrong turn. This was scheduled to be a 98km day with four very long climbs into the Sainte Victoria Plateau unfortunately due to an early wrong turn we ended up with a 125km day and 5 very long climbs and the unplanned 35km head and side wind. Both Cheryl and I love the climbs but we do not have the fitness to attack them the way the Brent and Joanne do and so our climbs were much slower than we should have achieved. Brent and Jo patiently waited at each summit which we appreciated. Our riding time in the saddle today was close to 6.5 hours and my bum said it felt like more like a lifetime.

"Up the Hill we go..."

The demon lovers rode an additional 31km beyond Cheryl and I just to prove they could and for anyone who has any doubts, he can! They are an incredible tandem machine! As was the case in Tuscany last year, without Cheryl I would have given up. She calmly and patiently encourages me to just stay focused on the cadence (keeping my feet moving) and she will watch up the hill rather than me looking and getting discouraged that there is no end in sight. At lunch break today I was almost done in and was very quiet. Brent commented that he had finally found a way to shut Holmes up…even then I didn’t have the energy to counter…..maybe tomorrow. Left hotel at 8:00am and arrived in St. Remy at 8:00pm….found a shower, food and fell quickly into bed in preparation for tomorrows day of climbing.

Three-time Olympic medallist Cockburn won the women’s trampoline title with 38.10 points, ahead of Li Meng of China at 38.00. and Rosie took bronze with 37.50 points.

In the men’s trampoline final, Burnett edged Jan Zie of China for gold with a score of 41.10. Read more: http://bit.ly/9AitDc

Little ol’ Springfree™ Trampoline is expanding quickly, and it’s now my new job to assist the team in our Head office in Toronto in developing programs for all our markets. We’re forging ahead quickly.

Of course Springfree™ Trampoline is looking after me amazingly well, but no matter what way you cut it when you move stuff is just different – fortunately it’s been different good/exciting! (The good thing is, I am half Canadian so have lots of friends and family here which makes integrating much easier).

So far the major change is driving…. wrong side of the road, in snow, in the dark, unsure of where I’m going…. all while in the work van. The wrap on it looks beautiful… but you cannot see out the back windows, period. (Last night the rear view mirror fell off, but it was irrelevant anyways!)

Regardless, venturing out all the same and experienced first highway drive last night… and so far fortunately for me, the vehicle and the citizens of Toronto – we’re all unscathed.

The parking space at my apartment is also ‘narrow’. Once in, the door can only opened max a foot. I litterally have to go on a diet to be able to exit my car with more ease! Or I could just ramp up my involvement in the Springfree Fun and Fitness Challenge…

Also enjoying grocery shopping. Yep, I’m a little pathetic. Many of you saw my fascination with the concept of ‘Chicken in a Can’ – well I spent 3 hours in the supermarket completely amazed at some of the weird stuff I found. Heaps of great choice too… but honestly…. Marshmallow whipped toast spread? Cinnamon spread? Prawns in a tin? Oh and even worse than Chicken in a can, Jellied Beef in a can. I am not game for that at all.

Now this store was the equivalent to Woolworths, next shop will be at the Supermarket by our work which is an International chain. From what I hear, there’s whole roasted ducks, eel, lots of sushi…. intresting.

Right, enough of my garble. A big shout out to our Aussie Team, miss interacting day to day – but always exciting to see the numbers, work, and team wins. And thanks to our Canadian office – everyone’s making me feel pretty welcome. Kristen

So with less square footage to play with, what gets real estate space in backyard these days?

Obviously, we hope that it’s going to be a Springfree™ Trampoline, but what else vouge in family outdoor life?

According to one news story from Adelaide, the top backyard priorities for families are:

1) Trampolines

2) Sandpits

3) Swing Sets

4) Cricket bats

5) Balls

http://city-north-messenger.whereilive.com.au/news/story/go-out-for-xmas/

Unfortunately, the trampolines referred to will be dangerous spring designs… but there you go.

So what’s your number one pick? And what’s important to you as you choose outdoor products?

 It’s hard to remember not checking Springfree™ Trampoline’s Facebook page before opening my inbox, or seeing if there are any tweets to follow up. Not to mention both Erin and I thinking about every event, saying, item or product in terms of “wow, that would make a great blog”.

As marketers, most of us are still trying to work out how to develop a successful online presence, and before we even got our head around that, it’s become important to engage. My boss appreciates Social Media, but admits he’s an old dog “You do that Facebook thing, it’s great, but I just don’t get it”.

We’re loving Facebook and Twitter especially, and are big fans of www.essentialbaby.com.au and www.trendwatching.com

What really makes interesting interaction for all our parents out there? We’d love to know your favourite sites and why you love ‘em.

Is it having a good conversation? Good stories? Or meeting like minded people and getting advice?

I’ve done this for a couple of years and it really does surprise receivers, who end up being amazed by your creativity, and warmed by the fact that you put your own time, energy and effort into their gift.

And best of all, unlike lots of Xmas baking… they don’t take long, and the kids can help!

These ones come from Jo Seager, a legend of a Kiwi cook J

White Chocolate Cointreau Fudge Truffles

• 375 g dark chocolate (1 packet nestle chocolate melts)
• 200 g butter
• 150 g packet mixed peel
• 1/4 cup Cointreau (or other orange liqueur or orange juice)
• grated zest of 1 orange (about 1 teaspoon)
• 3 cups icing sugar
• 750 g white chocolate for dipping (2 packets nestle chocolate melts)

Melt the dark chocolate and butter together in the microwave on medium heat for about 4 minutes stirring a couple of times during cooking. Stir in the mixed peel, Cointreau, orange zest and icing sugar until well combined. Chill in the fridge until firm enough to handle and roll into balls about the size of a walnut.

Place the balls on a foil-lined tray and freeze until really solid about 2 hours. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave on medium power or over a pot of hot water, dip the truffles in the melted chocolate. A chocolate dipping fork which are available at

good cookware shops is invaluable for this job. Allow excess chocolate to drip off and leave to set on a foil-covered tray. DO NOT store in the fridge as the chocolate tends to sweat, but keep them in a cool place. A good idea is to keep a plastic container of un-dipped truffles in the freezer, to be removed and dipped as you need them, for after dinner treats or small gifts. I always cut  green and red marachino cherries, and put on top as the white chocolate is setting, to make it look like holly on the top of Xmas puds.

Special Instructions: For cappuccino truffles replace Cointreau with coffee liqueur or essence and delete the mixed peel and grated orange rind. These can be dipped in white or dark chocolate.

For peppermint truffles delete Cointreau and mixed peel and orange rind, for 1-2 teaspoons of peppermint essence.

For toasted coconut and liqueur truffles, replace the Cointreau, mixed peel and orange rind with Irish cream liqueur or bailies etc. and add 1/2 cup toasted coconut