As a kid I was crazy about arts and crafts activities. I was the perfectionist crying in the corner…read moreif my googly eyes were a little off centre or the clag glue had smeared my coloured paper. My mum who fancied herself an artist would give me unhelpful advice and tried to fix that bunny rabbit/ Christmas tree/ mother's day present herself until we would both run off in temper tantrums. SKC (Start Kidz Creating) would probably have been a great experience for both of us. The staff at SKC are mobile art educators bringing innovative, specialised craft activities to parties, functions and events. I ran into SKC at Sunnybank Plaza Shopping Centre where they had set up a mask making activity outside Coles. My girlfriend's two kids immediately begged to have a go. The staff were helpful and patient though I wasn't sure why all the kids were decorating their masks in exactly the same patterns and colours. Mask painting is a fabulous craft idea but it seemed there could have been more room for originality with the decorations. Nevertheless, my girlfriend's kids had a blast. The group can cater for kids from Prep through to Grade seven so the next time you want a party idea, give them a call.

Gymbaree at Sunnybank Plaza has excellent art, music and movement programs for infants and…read moretoddlers. When my sister first told me about Gymbaree, I assumed it was like a child care centre. Nu-uh. You can't leave your kids unattended here. Part of the programme teaches parents how to encourage their kids to develop motor skills and socialisation by modelling the teachers. You may think this is instinctive and for some adults it is. Since attending a couple of sessions of Gymbaree, I can see that some adults are not comfortable playing and don't really know how to interact with toddlers. However, after a couple of sessions, adults and kids quickly learn to play together. The other incentive for carers and parents of young children to attend Gymbaree is that it enables them to link up with other parents for friendship and support. If you're not sure whether this is for you, jump online and sign up for a free holiday class. NB: Don't bother fighting to get a premium car park at Sunnybank Plaza. Go around the back to the outdoor parking area with the sails. The Gymbaree entry is outside near the Coles entry.

This is a great school. I went to this school when I was…read moregrowing up. Not sure if the same teachers are still there, but still an amazing school. Would recommend any parent to send there children to this school :) This school as grown and expanded over the years to accomadate the growing number of children. I hope this school continues to grow for many more yeaars to come.

Theatre and Dance is one of the best performing arts schools in Brisbane! Having only discovered…read morethem in my adult years, I only wish that I had been sent as a kid to learn how to sing, dance and act by the amazing teachers Theatre and Dance have to offer. The dance school is in an industrial area of Coorpooroo and is an absolutely huge warehouse space with a theatre and six rehearsal rooms. Classes are available in singing and dancing for tiny tots all the way up to adults, so stop singing into your hair brush in front of you mirror and give these guys a call! I've rehearsed for shows at Theatre and Dance as well as taken singing and dancing classes with some of the teachers, and I must say I've never been disappointed. The little kids who learn at the studio all seem so happy and there's absolutely no Toddlers & Tiaras parents running around spraying hairspray in someone's eyes. I would highly recommend Theatre & Dance to anyone who has little kids or teenagers who are interested in the performing arts. It has a great family feel and the staff are brilliant.

Each year, I leave the Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF) inspired, stimulated and sad that it's over…read morefor another year. For a week every September, BWF inhabits the State Library of Queensland bringing a host of local, national and international literary talents to its stages. Writers from all fields--literature, science, politics, psychology--come to talk about their work, discuss topics with other writers and deliver workshops over the week-long festival. The first four days are usually filled with events for school groups and the real events kick off with the opening night on a Thursday, followed by 3 jam-packed days of events for the adults. At BWF, there are both ticketed and non-ticketed events. I've always just stuck to the free ones and have never felt like I've missed out on anything. If happy to splash out, however, $15 to $20 will get you into a ticketed events. Master classes will set you back around $75 for 3 hours. Keep an eye on their website for the release of each year's program. Hard copies are also distributed in the Courier Mail nearing the festival and at bookshops such as Avid Reader, West End.

If the thought of books, writing, or reading makes you want to jump for joy, then the Brisbane…read moreWriter's Festival is a must. This festival has gone from strength to strength over the years, and attracts a strong variety of local and international writers every year. Last year, Jonathan Franzen, Ann Patchett, and Philip Pullman were among the big names that drew record number crowds. There are always interesting panels, workshops (oftentimes free, and many of them geared towards kids), and author interviews every day of the festival, and the venues for each event alternate between the clean, modern State Library facilities. The catering has also improved; this year they offered festival-goers a variety of sandwiches and freshly baked muffins, as well as rice paper rolls. Each year there is also a surprise flash mob too; two years ago a group of dancers executed a choreographed routine in one of the tents, and last year, a choir began singing on the ground level of the library.

I organised a Life Drawing class for my bestfriend and Foxy Hens Party went above and beyond. The…read moreclass was hilarious and the model was very professional and made everyone feel comfortable.

We had an amazing party with Foxy Hens last night. Our model was stunning and made our night…read moreunforgettable! Highly recommend!

Driving pass the Griffith Film School at night is like witnessing a cinematic set for a devil's…read moredinner party. The dramatic up-lighting emphasises the red stain glass which looks just like hell's hearth and dark shadows play dramatically across the window panes. By day it is just an educational institution, home to emerging filmmakers, game designers, animators and scriptwriters. The Griffith Film School boasts impressive facilities with its computer labs, editing facilities and film studios. Its new 92-seat cinema features a five metre screen, digital projection and Dolby 7.1 surround sound. It is a learning facility as well as being available to hire for private screening functions. Some of Australia's most respected filmmakers are amongst their Alumni including Peter and Michael Spierig, documentary filmmaker Peter Hegedus, scriptwriter Alice Addison and director Anthony Mullins. So if you fancy a career in filmmaking, you can't go wrong with a degree from this worthy institution.

The Film School (or GFS) is the hub for the filmmakers, animators and game designers of Griffith…read moreUniversity, the building is beautiful, the amenities are clean and kept and the facilities are second to none. As a third year film student I have had the privilege of meeting industry professionals and award winning creatives, I have learned the latest techniques on the most up to date software, I have had a chance to use some of the best and most recent cameras in the field and have had a blast doing it. The teaching staff are friendly and truly care about each student and each project as if it was their own. As a soon-to-be graduate I feel confident that I can leave this school with the skills I need and the knowledge to get me to where I want to go.

Ah Stuartholme, with your stained glass window and your old conventy ways... was my school for 3…read moreyears here in Brisbane. Although the architecture of the school has since been updated and modernised, the old school remains true to the Sacred Heart motto. Being an all girl Catholic day and boarding school has its perks, for parents looking for prospective places to enrol your child for years 8-12 this is a good one, the prices are a bit steep a term, in 2012 you're looking at about $3000 a term and just over $4000 to have your child board as well, the food, the values and the school life is one that has built many memories for me both good and bad. If you're getting married, they have a chapel with a massive stained glass window, many old Stuartholme girls always head that way to be married as it's huge and beautiful and looks awesome in the wedding photos. I would definetely send my daughter here if we can afford it in the future!