tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87481070910509687732024-03-19T04:53:22.650+02:00The Jozi WAHM's Guide to EverythingA Johannesburg work from home mother of two shares her news, views and guidance on work, play and everything else in Jozi, South Africa.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-60025901568147046932017-04-05T16:01:00.000+02:002017-04-05T16:01:08.752+02:00Hi thereHello. Yes, it really is me! You may have noticed that this blog has been ominously quiet of late. <br />
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The plan was to surprise my readers with a new, exciting and revamped blog.<br />
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Firstly, this blog isn't working functionally the way I want it to- suddenly I can't control little things like fonts and colours and everytime I see Times New Roman size ten I have the urge to discard my blog post (like right now, the inconsistency with my other posts is driving me crazy but I am fighting theurge to delete this blog post). This one feels broken. Also, I don't feel the current blog is true to who I am and where I am at right now so a shiny new blog with a shiny new domain is definitely in the pipeline. <br />
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However, this has taken longer than anticipated as I have changed my mind many times as to what I want the new blog to be. Do I use my real name this time? What will the core themes be? I think it is what they call 'analysis paralysis'. So, I can't give timelines yet but I can promise that when it is ready, it will be good.<br />
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So, current updates (apart from being gravely concerned about the future of our country and its economy... along with everyone else):<br />
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Work drama has taken over my life. Literally. It turns out that my big career decision a few months ago was a monumental fail and I let that take over the rest of my life. I have had days where I have literally come home crying and now it is time for yet another big change and this change is currently in progress. <br />
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My little ones are growing up so fast! Grade one is far more taxing than I imagined it would be but Noodle is surviving and thriving! I don't remember being loaded with homework and having bags equivalent to our own body weight when we were so little but that is the reality in this day and age. Squish is a 'big boy' now (as he keeps reminding us). I am amazed by his independence as he goes about his day, getting dressed, going to the bathroom and getting himself snacks, all completely unassisted. He still lives in a fictional world of superheroes and dinosaurs, which I am sure is a far more pleasant place than the real world.<br />
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I hope to have further updates up soon on the next step from here...<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-39740428229279389002016-12-06T09:17:00.002+02:002016-12-06T09:17:43.356+02:00The School Year That Was<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXJpdexyyIJt2qCmHxO1ibSoslhIi7VHwxq5Bz9f8L5MoDDV_N6n7W5IsjlfbsXhjQjiPfQfec2q0ymNI2S3owY_R38Tq1UGBd-dePq0EJpzkI69Y0bEII1SUSCwD8dVEdEq9AHv6AWk/s1600/noodle+and+squish.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXJpdexyyIJt2qCmHxO1ibSoslhIi7VHwxq5Bz9f8L5MoDDV_N6n7W5IsjlfbsXhjQjiPfQfec2q0ymNI2S3owY_R38Tq1UGBd-dePq0EJpzkI69Y0bEII1SUSCwD8dVEdEq9AHv6AWk/s200/noodle+and+squish.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>I have heard that as we get older, the years seem to go by faster and faster and if 2016 is anything to go by, this is certainly true for 2016. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">It seems like just days ago that the school year began and yet tomorrow marks the end of the school year for both my little ones. Soon my little ones will turn 6 and 3- I cannot believe how time flies!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">Not so long ago, it was Noodle's first day in Grade R. I remember that day so clearly, putting on her uniform for the first time. It was miles too big for her,even though we bought the smallest size and she did not want to wear it as it was green- previously her least favourite colour. Now, at the end of the year, her uniform is a perfect fit and the colour green has grown on her. I remember her biggest fear on the first day was getting lost in such a big school but now she is a professional at navigatng her way through the corridors. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">My little baby has grown in confidence this past year- she can dress herself, read surprisingly fluently (I even have to change the passwords on my phone so she does not eavesdrop on my Watsapp messages), add, subtract and colour in the lines. Her big challenge this year was religious classes- she is much younger than the other children in her class and battled at the beginning of the year but she was determined to figure it all out. I can remember hearing her practice her work long before we even woke up in the mornings and her hard work and stubborn determination has paid off. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">As for Squish, the first few days of creche this year were tough- he was used to having big sister by his side so it was an adjustment. Now, he has his own circle of close friends and has become so independent. His language has grown in leaps and bounds as has his imagination. He has had and outgrown an imaginary friend. He shocks me everytime I see how precise he is in drawing pictures or putting together Lego blocks. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">For both my children, 2016 was the year of the fire engine. Both little ones are obsessed with fire engines in every form. Even their TV viewing is dictated by this, with Paw Patrol and Fireman Sam being firm favourites. They recently got to ride a real fire truck- a real dream come true.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">Both little ones participate wherever they can- from school galas (yes, with a pool Noodle) to inter-school competitions. </span><span style="color: #674ea7;">They both just had their school concerts and dazzled us with their tirelessly rehearsed performances- definitely a highlight for the year. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">What has the highlight of your childrens' school year been? I would love to hear from you. </span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-87302931957817506032016-10-24T09:18:00.001+02:002016-10-24T09:18:20.456+02:00I Have A Secret and I Can't Keep It Any Longer <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So I have a little confession to make. Okay, maybe not so little. Or maybe not that big- it depends on your perspective I guess. Uhmmm, where do I start? </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkkjyWvlB22VZod19zJpW_wpC3A5jnAEXpAARYBSBH9APNuCjUxRUOkSrRIhejaTrgvzN_H_PYYHbHLy9qBHw9JMPgTSxBrg3PowPKhr6vkBH7U5e9Z6d0ItE9AesR4nRgjOHSkvvz4o/s1600/heart-leaf-rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkkjyWvlB22VZod19zJpW_wpC3A5jnAEXpAARYBSBH9APNuCjUxRUOkSrRIhejaTrgvzN_H_PYYHbHLy9qBHw9JMPgTSxBrg3PowPKhr6vkBH7U5e9Z6d0ItE9AesR4nRgjOHSkvvz4o/s320/heart-leaf-rain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have been avoiding this blog a little bit this past month, partially
because I felt a little bit guilty about being potentially perceived as being
disloyal to my readership. What am I on about?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I spent a lot of time on this blog advocating the work from home lifestyle
(it is even embedded in my blog name and persona!) and to a large extent, that
is who I was and what my blog was always all about. I loved working from home and getting to spend time with my little ones while earning a living.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then recently, something HUGE happened. Out of the blue, I got an offer for
a dream job (or what seemed like a dream job) at a time when my bank
balance was looking a tad bit deflated- working from home means that there are months of
earning a lot and months of earning very little and I got the call during one of them. Part of me missed the corporate world, being able to apply my mind to real challenges and getting to go to the bathroom undisturbed and I sometimes felt like I was wasting my qualifications with my part-time work at home. Coincidentally, around the same time, my mom, being the only other person in the world that I trust
completely with my kids, stopped working full time and found herself with lots of time to spare. She eagerly volunteered to take up the task of looking after my little ones after school and chauffering them to extra-murals in the afternoons. It all seemed to
make sense and to fit into place at that moment. So, after much deliberation, I took the plunge and went back to work full time.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yikes, what was I thinking, I ask myself some days. Going back to work full time has been much more challenging than I anticipated! I
forgot how nasty corporate politics can get and came to find out how it came to be that such a
great position became vacant in the first place. I swopped little kids with
little tantrums for grown up kids with grown up tantrums. The little ones battled
slightly in getting used to a new routine but have since settled down well, although it is a struggle to fit in everything we need to in just a few hours in the evenings. The hours are less flexible than anticipated and while I have a boss who will let me disappear for an important school event or sick child, not having the ability to do things when and how I want has definitely taken some getting used to. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Have I made the right decision? For now, probably. I loved every moment of WAHM'ing for the last three years but this is where life has lef me now. I am challenged and
stimulated and thinking about far more complex issues than before and I have the
chance to influence a much larger sphere than previously. I am gaining valuable
new experience and learning new things. I am not broke. My children are still well taken care of and my
mom loves getting to spend extra time with them. Is it worth it? Only time will
tell and if not, it will be easy enough to go back to WAHM'ing- I have
allowed enough safety nets to enable myself to do so should I so choose.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So for now, here is my big question... </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Do I keep this blog as 'Jozi WAHM' or
do I re-brand?</strong> Would keeping the name make me seem less legitimate? I would
love your thoughts. </span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-79548976422754587102016-10-16T17:51:00.001+02:002016-10-16T17:51:06.750+02:00Our Favourite Family Friendly Movies This October<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Given that it was school holidays, it was inevitable that we would watch a
few family friendly movies this past couple of weeks. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrabJYiiPZTvVj9KYmIhIr9oCsaEa01ohh7V5225PZO-YE5N11ObIYXJFD9tX8nNiWYYb68dX5p2xY2T2C4wa4A4uWVxYZ_bKvYyn26wastb_HVBrj1u_PKjBSr-FBg9zoN4uy2QqCee0/s1600/food-686922_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrabJYiiPZTvVj9KYmIhIr9oCsaEa01ohh7V5225PZO-YE5N11ObIYXJFD9tX8nNiWYYb68dX5p2xY2T2C4wa4A4uWVxYZ_bKvYyn26wastb_HVBrj1u_PKjBSr-FBg9zoN4uy2QqCee0/s320/food-686922_1280.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Last year we were
invited to a couple of movie premiers that were a bit taxing as my son was
still too young to sit still for very long. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Now we are finally at a stage where both children are
old enough to sit still for long enough to watch an entire movie and
without causing too much of an inconvenience to others and we have been taking full advantage of this fact. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Here is what we have been watching:</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Barbie Starlight Adventure</span></span></span></b></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPCMondg1QLDnuY35nfeBEh9YK6eNqaIYvO3wTMJcbVJeBqH3gquFvnbtrNjvbmkPiMGdte0E_b1Y1brtrywEnvFCrJEeEdeLzyTz0YLIfgHJgeWRE_a1uHS6V31yCIX574VvOg9B0kw/s1600/DSC_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPCMondg1QLDnuY35nfeBEh9YK6eNqaIYvO3wTMJcbVJeBqH3gquFvnbtrNjvbmkPiMGdte0E_b1Y1brtrywEnvFCrJEeEdeLzyTz0YLIfgHJgeWRE_a1uHS6V31yCIX574VvOg9B0kw/s320/DSC_0056.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Noodle is obsessed with everything Barbie related- the toys, the clothes and even the TV series so she was beside herself when I announced that we were going to the South African launch of this
movie. The event was as much of a hit as the movie itself. We entered a
world of pink, with an array of fun activities and delicious snacks to keep the
kids entertained. Best of all, Noodle enjoyed meeting a real live Barbie
and getting her personalised autograph.</span></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmZ_6tyO-xfCjqbSr8J3cPoGe7MyDV-9fgMtouINUX9Hx27cETbRnjJo-nKHCSVgF5vzgZeD5q-p2vq8ZoxsFf7r4PQApBV2l2YbYd7X6xbKYkYSxpXuOrNTA9P3T7GlqnBtLT12N4IA/s1600/IMG_20161008_110448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmZ_6tyO-xfCjqbSr8J3cPoGe7MyDV-9fgMtouINUX9Hx27cETbRnjJo-nKHCSVgF5vzgZeD5q-p2vq8ZoxsFf7r4PQApBV2l2YbYd7X6xbKYkYSxpXuOrNTA9P3T7GlqnBtLT12N4IA/s320/IMG_20161008_110448.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Given the insane price of movie tickets these days, a free movie, slush and popcorn is enough reason for me to be singing praises. Besides the fact that I didn't have to take out an overdraft facility to pay for movie tickets, I can genuinely say the movie was
actually quite cool. It was less stereotypically girly than previous Barbie
movies and very futuristic- a bit like Insurgent or the Hunger Games minus
the violence. Barbie, who has a few secret special talents (who lives in outer
space) has to help save the universe.</span></span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">I noticed that Barbie's look has changed a bit. Noticeably, she was sporting
the famous Elsa braid. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Both little ones loved it, even Squish, who said he didn't want to watch 'a
girl movie'. He even turned out to like his new 'Popcorn' (Barbie's pet)
toy. Speaking og toys, Noodle won a Sal-Lee doll in the lucky draw on the day (Sal-Lee is Barbie's amazing sidekick in case you didn't know). The Sal-Lee doll is something I would have dreamt about having as a child- just like a regular Barbie doll but she spins and makes different sounds depending on which way she is angled.</span></span></span><br />
</blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The Secret Life of Pets</span></span></span></b></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Noodle stumbled upon the trailer for this movie, which is all about
what pets get up to when their families are not around) about a year ago and
has been watching the trailers on repeat ever since.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_xJ754RvNR8dNqo20pIUk4WaT8pVA93_wZ4wpYfN-fokTfDkyVrOBRF22qyYdPLAHITH2C0kuRQCdGB0Dco23aZyB8LpwlVmvKzF2muGoC2WF5ZJ73X0PvmlPM9xU35aBcDEz8cjYcc/s1600/pets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_xJ754RvNR8dNqo20pIUk4WaT8pVA93_wZ4wpYfN-fokTfDkyVrOBRF22qyYdPLAHITH2C0kuRQCdGB0Dco23aZyB8LpwlVmvKzF2muGoC2WF5ZJ73X0PvmlPM9xU35aBcDEz8cjYcc/s1600/pets.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">So when it finally hit the big screen, we knew we had to watch it. Noodle
and I loved it while Squish and hubby were less captivated (though I can't
understand why as the characters are just so cute and it has all the elements for a perfect family movie). We
watched the movie in 3d. Have I mentioned how much 3d movies cost these days? Crazy!!! Luckily, there was enough action to warrant the 3d glasses.</span></span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">There was also a short Minions movie before the main movie- always a hit
with my bunch.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><i><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The BFG</span></span></span></b></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">This was one of my all time favourite books as a child so I was keen to
watch the Big Friendly Giant movie.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SXRuvsGiIgGoDFaEwyltAigJMGQCixK8LYg7zT8aCAivDX6dizR_7cu7mIo-84ONm_lvIyiPbWz100WawxMwulGiPkvojea7z30Y4tesOfxLdTUY7dCNqdCh2RiNU_58zaGoS1CGlkw/s1600/bfg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SXRuvsGiIgGoDFaEwyltAigJMGQCixK8LYg7zT8aCAivDX6dizR_7cu7mIo-84ONm_lvIyiPbWz100WawxMwulGiPkvojea7z30Y4tesOfxLdTUY7dCNqdCh2RiNU_58zaGoS1CGlkw/s1600/bfg.jpg" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> My little ones were not as eager as the
picture advertising the movie didn't quite grab their attention (come on, look at it, it is a picture of a weird looking old man) but I convinced
them otherwise and they both really enjoyed this classic story. Noodle seemed to
enjoy the fart humour the most (sadly).</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Yes, the movie was almost as good as the book (movies are never as good as
the book but this came close). Now that Noodle can read (and enjoys it so much), a set of Roald Dahl books is definitely on my wishlist for her- it might just be her next birthday present!</span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Three movies watched, three movies enjoyed. So
if you are looking for a good child friendly movie, there is quite a bit to
chose from at the moment. P.S. We already have plans to watch the Thomas the Tank
Engine movie which is coming out soon and Storks looked super cute too.</span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-58662310930284118192016-09-06T09:04:00.000+02:002016-09-06T09:04:01.503+02:00Keeping on Top Of Being Supermom
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a mom of younger children going to school or crèche means
that, like it or not, besides your normal day job and seeing to your home, you
also have an additional PA role.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s face it, smaller children would leave their own heads
behind if it was not screwed on so it is up to the parents (read in, the mom)
to make sure that the right books are packed, that clothes for various extra
activities are packed and that nobody forgets bakersman, an outfit for some or
other fantasy dress up day (and there is always a dress up day) or show and
tell.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXJpdexyyIJt2qCmHxO1ibSoslhIi7VHwxq5Bz9f8L5MoDDV_N6n7W5IsjlfbsXhjQjiPfQfec2q0ymNI2S3owY_R38Tq1UGBd-dePq0EJpzkI69Y0bEII1SUSCwD8dVEdEq9AHv6AWk/s1600/noodle+and+squish.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXJpdexyyIJt2qCmHxO1ibSoslhIi7VHwxq5Bz9f8L5MoDDV_N6n7W5IsjlfbsXhjQjiPfQfec2q0ymNI2S3owY_R38Tq1UGBd-dePq0EJpzkI69Y0bEII1SUSCwD8dVEdEq9AHv6AWk/s200/noodle+and+squish.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sort of have a system in place. I know that on Monday’s,
Noodle needs to take an object starting with a certain letter and that Squish
needs a book on Tuesdays. However, try as you may, surprises will always be
sprung on you. Take last week for example. We thought we had spring day sorted-
a plant for Squish to plant (as requested by his teachers) and lovely spring
day outfits packed out the night before. Spring day arrived and I was super
pleased with myself as it was seven a.m. and both kids were dressed and having
breakfast- perhaps we would make it on time for a change! No such luck. Halfway
through breakfast, Noodle pipes up “Don’t forget that we have a picnic today
and we need to take picnic blankets and snacks for the entire class”. This was
the first I was hearing of any picnic so had to spring into emergency action. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then late last night, when Noodle was sound asleep, her
class Watsapp group came to life, mommies scrambling to find out what was
required for today’s homework. Now, Noodle did not mention anything about
homework yesterday (it is very rare that they have homework per se). Which
meant that this morning, during breakfast, she was scrambling to put something
together. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As my children get older, I do expect them to take more
responsibility for remembering their own stuff but for now, they are just too
young. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here are my ideas for keeping on top of being a super
mom:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; list-style-type: disc;">
<li style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep a monthly calendar on the fridge with
everyone’s weekly schedules and what has to be packed for each day.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pack lunches the night before and refrigerate.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have an emergency stationary stash. Ensure that
at all times, you have a supply of coloured cardboard, markers and glitter
glue. Keep this in one place, together with scissors, glue and tape. </span></div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ALWAYS have an emergency stash of quick baking
ingredients, for example a cupcake mix. Oh and keep an eggless recipe on hand
because chances are that when a mommy emergency crops up, it will be 10 p.m.
and you will be out of eggs.</span></div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If your child has to take a set amount of money
each week for bakersman or some similar activity, have a stack of coins stashed
in a convenient place, already sorted into piles of the right amount so that
you are not scrambling to find the exact amount of change during morning rush
hour. </span></div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you need to send nappies and spare clothes to
nursery school, pack five piles with the right number of each item into
individual Ziplock bags over the weekend and then just pop one bag into the bag
each day. </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now for me to practice what I
preach! What are your top super mommy time-saving tips?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-90276305965310407152016-08-18T16:21:00.000+02:002016-08-18T16:21:01.647+02:00A Noodle Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXJpdexyyIJt2qCmHxO1ibSoslhIi7VHwxq5Bz9f8L5MoDDV_N6n7W5IsjlfbsXhjQjiPfQfec2q0ymNI2S3owY_R38Tq1UGBd-dePq0EJpzkI69Y0bEII1SUSCwD8dVEdEq9AHv6AWk/s1600/noodle+and+squish.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXJpdexyyIJt2qCmHxO1ibSoslhIi7VHwxq5Bz9f8L5MoDDV_N6n7W5IsjlfbsXhjQjiPfQfec2q0ymNI2S3owY_R38Tq1UGBd-dePq0EJpzkI69Y0bEII1SUSCwD8dVEdEq9AHv6AWk/s200/noodle+and+squish.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of Noodle's favourite games is still the one where the two of us tell a chain story where each one adds a line and the next continues. Her tales continue to amuse. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is last night's bedtime chain story.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once upon a time there was a little girl called Layla. She had a birthday party but it was not just any party. It was a princess monster party and everybody had to dress up as monster princesses. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First she sent out special invitations which only appeared on the paper when you poured water on it. She invited a few of her close friends. They played games and ate cake. The cake was a monster cake but it tasted yucky so everybody started throwing it at each other... until the birthday gilr said 'stop it, I don't like it'. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then they played some games. One of the games was building puzzles (<em>I think I have a nerd in the making</em>.) Then they hit a pinata. The prizes in the pinata were super special, better than any other prizes they had ever seen before. It has (<em>wait for it</em>) stationery in it. (<em>See, nerd in the making... but hey, she may have got it from her mama.</em>) It also had a few magic wands in it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the girls used her magic wand to win all the games. The other children were very cross that she was cheating and started hitting her with their wands. (<em>Yes, Noodle decided that this was cheating</em>.) She felt really bad and wated to make it up to them so she turned all their cakes and sweets into giant cakes and sweets and made magical party packs with sweets that would never run out. They all enjoyed the rest of the party and only did nice magic tricks with their wands. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then they used their magic wands to clean up all the mess (yes that was my contribution of course). </span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><br /></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>THE END</strong> </span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-67327439115308609982016-08-12T21:09:00.001+02:002016-08-12T21:09:27.357+02:00Just Catching Up<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">I just realised I have not blogged in two weeks. It has been a busy patch
with lots of changes and lots of work and this one is going to be a quickie post too (especially since our WIFI is acting up as well). Where has the time gone?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">My kids are growing up so fast! Squish is finally making progress with potty
training- thank goodness as I am totally over cleaning up and disinfecting
little puddles around the house. Noodle is very proudly reading books all on
her own and she reads bedtime stories to me! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Both kids are obsessed with My Little Pony (even my son) after we received a
blog drop with some really cool toys and discovered that it is back on
Nickelodeon. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are still stressing about grade one registrations as we have not received
confirmation from our preferred school yet. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have fallen off the healthy eating and exercise bandwagon (again) this
last few months but am trying to be good again because most of my pants will no
longer close at the top. Hubby has downloaded some great exercise apps and we
exercise together and I am reading a very insightful book by Deepak Chopra
about changing your mindset when it comes to food. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am enjoying the slightly warmer weather and can't wait for spring and also to doing proper blog posts again soon. That's
about it from me. What have you been up to? </span></span></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-936129013074110522016-07-28T11:03:00.000+02:002016-07-28T11:03:21.656+02:00Saying No to Mommy Guilt<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Part of the basic anatomy of being a mother is wanting what is best for our children. However, as parents, sometimes that comes with doubt as to what actually is best for our children and for our families as a whole. With every decision comes positives and negatives, and with the negatives comes the mommy guilt that so many of us are guilty of inflicting on ourselves. I know I am guilty of it. (Disclaimer: while I refer specifically to mommy guilt, I am certain that much of this applies to daddies too.)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The mom who chooses to stay at home with her family may be filled with guilt about sitting at home all day, not contributing to the household income. She may spend her free time feeling guilty about having free time to do things on weekdays and wonder about whether she would have been able to provide more for her family if she had been a working mother. She may feel guilty about wasting any special talents that she may have which could benefit society at large by only seeing to her family's needs. She may feel guilty when she cleans the house instead of actively playing with the kids and she may feel guilty when the house does not look like something out of a magazine because surely as a stay-at-home mom she has all the time in the world to get it looking that way.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The working mother may feel guilty about not spending enough time with her children or about missing daytime sporting events. She may feel especially guilty if her family can get by without a second income but she chooses to work despite this, whether to provide for a better quality of life, for personal fulfillment or to make a contribution to society at large. Even the work at home mom might feel guilty about not giving her children her undivided attention while seeing to her work, or not giving her undivided attention to her work while tending to her children.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even everyday decisions about what we allow our children to do may lead to feelings of guilt. Putting a firm stop on all sweets may lead one to feeling guilty about depriving them of fun and enjoyment while giving in will no doubt lead to guilt about enabling unhealthy food habits and possible health issues later on. You may feel guilty about sending them to play at grandma's house so you can sleep in a bit longer and just as guilty if you didn't, as you deprived grandma of the chance to play with them when you know she was looking forward to doing so. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chances are, that as a parent, you will feel guilty sometimes about shouting your children too much or losing your temper when you shouldn't have. However, let's face it, children know how to press all the right buttons and it would take a saint to never get angry with her children. While we can all work on trying to control shouting matches before they set in, meltdowns (both of the child and the adult variant) are inevitable. The list is endless.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Personally, I often feel guilty about all these things, amongst many others (and I have not even started on the guilt that comes with being an imperfect spouse.) Today I am making a conscious decision to rid myself of mommy guilt, in the knowledge that whatever I chose to do today, it is what I feel will best benefit my family in the long run. I am making the decision to be firm against indecisiveness and doubt and to stick to my guns. I am making the decision to strive towards perfection but to accept and embrace the inevitable imperfection. I hope that some day, my children will come to understand the decisions that I have made and respect them as I have come to respect the many sacrifices that my mother made for us. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you suffer from mommy guilt? Have you managed to overcome it? Or do you choose to embrace it? Please share your story. </span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-35907981695656009172016-07-26T11:25:00.001+02:002016-07-26T11:26:10.506+02:00A Date with My Daughter<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Do you ever spend alone time with just one child or go on a 'date' with your child alone? I have been reading a lot lately about the importance of spending one-on-one time with your children individually, to help them feel valued as individuals and to keep the lines of communication open. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">While I have lots of alone time with my son, who only goes to nursery school a few days a week, it is very seldom that I get to spend alone time with Noodle and I got the
feeling that Noodle was craving some one-on-one attention. When Squish was younger, his nap time always used to be our special bonding time but he has dropped his midday nap a few months ago. We decided to declare this Saturday 'Noodle Day'- a day to do what she wanted
to do (within reason). The two of us would have a girls morning together, while dad and son got some quality bonding time too.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The top item on her list, surprisingly, was to go for a haircut. She has been asking us to take her to get her hair cut for ages and her hair
has grown super long, going all the way down her back so it was probably time
for a trim. We went to <a href="http://www.chopit.co.za/">Chop It</a>, a child-centred hair salon at Lifestyle Centre in Randpark Ridge. It is a child friendly salon set in an 'enchanted forest'. The little ones get to watch a DVD of their choice while they get their hair done and they get treated to a lollypop and a balloon afterwards. It is a great place for younger children who are a bit nervous to get their haircut and you can even get a certificate for first hair cuts.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Besides the awesome hair salon, the other reason I picked Lifestyle Centre is because they have so many other things for children to do, making it perfect for our date. Noodle went on a couple of rides at the amusement park and had fun playing on the jungle gyms. We went for a walk through the nursery and the pet store (her favourite place) and had a good chat. Then we stopped at The Silver Birch for some hot chocolate (we couldn't finish them- they are huge!). Noodle and I had a good chat about anything and everything. </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3a_BJ6FgZ0CgACdcFcBJJo0dOP_xDOUxGNr4oWQKnT3k8eQbnnLa5xF5TFLa9ckeEFM8XWkhC9lXaXXWeKhKCfZabQpSyZRhoJT8wogkjwSjGvF90v9vKMGehsbO7bp1dQFriZjuZpM/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3a_BJ6FgZ0CgACdcFcBJJo0dOP_xDOUxGNr4oWQKnT3k8eQbnnLa5xF5TFLa9ckeEFM8XWkhC9lXaXXWeKhKCfZabQpSyZRhoJT8wogkjwSjGvF90v9vKMGehsbO7bp1dQFriZjuZpM/s200/DSC_0034.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">After we had some family visit us in the afternoon, the fun continued in the evening with a visit to Montecasino- this time with daddy and baby brother too. We never go near the casino area here but there is lots of other entertainment for the whole family and the kids had a blast. They played games, had a bite to eat and ran laps at the big grassy patch outside. We have been watching Youtube videos learning about various geographical landmarks- the Kabah, the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben etc. So my son was very excited when he spotted the clock tower at Montecasino, saying "look- there's Big Ben!".</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpjcr4fgvj8QXY1xRI4Bh-9f877WYwCpYXFyFujxinzHlwgUX-S_D82e3WEf1gmRlwoQ2D3GYjno_h0x1t-IqU03Y7ugvqzWwVrPZgtHsxAUWpU2QnAtw2T_DwI5-hSRD6HcEPLrMNSs/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpjcr4fgvj8QXY1xRI4Bh-9f877WYwCpYXFyFujxinzHlwgUX-S_D82e3WEf1gmRlwoQ2D3GYjno_h0x1t-IqU03Y7ugvqzWwVrPZgtHsxAUWpU2QnAtw2T_DwI5-hSRD6HcEPLrMNSs/s320/DSC_0039.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">All in all, it was a great day for the whole family and Noodle declared it the best day ever. Operation Noodle Day was a success! </span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-37441964506452699742016-07-20T09:10:00.002+02:002016-07-26T11:26:43.888+02:00Potty Training: Girls vs Boys<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">I am not a potty training expert but having had two children, a boy and a girl, I have noticed huge differences in the potty training habits of girls and boys. My findings are in no way based on scientific empirical evidence but merely from what I have observed from discussions with other moms, what I have seen in the potty training classes at my children's pre-schools, exte<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">nded </span>family members and most importantly, what I have seen with my two little ones.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMhayyOg6Gw5L7IeNCY-60mA4iKhd5xF4eMM-8sxn89vI6aGkm8X2TtxSn52xfahuuhX9Q8HBtkkS1Ju8dlXaWusUEOBn8OrMfAjDU0_LiakISor1vBaGx9MDZABXxyGOpa0T-SRu_ac/s1600/potty-training-153278_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMhayyOg6Gw5L7IeNCY-60mA4iKhd5xF4eMM-8sxn89vI6aGkm8X2TtxSn52xfahuuhX9Q8HBtkkS1Ju8dlXaWusUEOBn8OrMfAjDU0_LiakISor1vBaGx9MDZABXxyGOpa0T-SRu_ac/s320/potty-training-153278_1280.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">To me, it seems like girls are WAY easier to potty train than <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">boys</span>. Case in point- Noodle was fully potty trained by her second birthday while Squish, at two and a half, is still pursuing an ongoing, seemingl<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">y unending</span> potty training journey. He is getting better at going to toilet whe<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n he needs to but we still have some work to do. I have heard that potty training gets easier <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in warmer w<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">eather, so lets hope that spring brings with it new beginnings.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the meantime, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">here are some of my observations of boys compared to girls. </span> </span></span></span> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">GIRL:</span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Uses potty. All bodily fluids flow downwards in a steady stream into the designated receptacle. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span></span>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">BOY:</span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Uses potty. Forgets to point urninary transmission apparatus down and sprays liquid on every surface but the toilet.</span></span></span><br />
<blockquote>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">GIRL:</span></span></span></b></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Has an accident. Shy's away in embarrassment. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span></span>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">BOY:</span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Has an accident. Thinks it is hilarious and decides to replay the scene, this time pretending he is a fire truck putting out an imaginary fire.</span></span></span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">GIRL:</span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Wears a panty for the first time. Keeps it on<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> proudly.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">BOY:</span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Wears an underpants for the first time. Quickly discovers the ease of removal and uses it as an opportunity to constantly play streaker. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">GIRL:</span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Needs to do a number 2. Indicates this need and goes to toilet. Blames the Minion on his underpants <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">for making a poo<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">BOY:</span></span></span></b></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Needs to do a number 2. Does it wherever he happens to be. </span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What do you think? Are girls easier to potty train than boys? <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">W<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hat are your best potty training <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tricks?</span></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-60381478045337168022016-07-15T13:16:00.000+02:002016-07-15T13:16:21.179+02:00A First Visit to The Planetarium and Fun at Sci Bono<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I gave my little ones the choice to pick a place for one last school break
day trip and they both enthusiastically chose Sci Bono. We have been here
before in November last year (read about our previous visit <a href="http://joziwahm.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/my-kids-learnt-about-science-and-they.html">here</a>) but they liked this visit as much
as the last one, if not more. </span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdZgIPvl7jHeNai2cr8nC6CuTeQO8BBNxvMGGacHGa2rokwFSVwJlfLTqNTdjn6Rmcn7mMane1vW7t2Ml3P2hJSPnOf5JwQZJ4XIa_ApR5iirlMLkIGBsnFQOCLvqm0SnrVxzOA8O2Yk/s1600/20160712_124434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdZgIPvl7jHeNai2cr8nC6CuTeQO8BBNxvMGGacHGa2rokwFSVwJlfLTqNTdjn6Rmcn7mMane1vW7t2Ml3P2hJSPnOf5JwQZJ4XIa_ApR5iirlMLkIGBsnFQOCLvqm0SnrVxzOA8O2Yk/s320/20160712_124434.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There were a couple of new things since our last visit. We got to watch an interactive show on how various parts of the body work. There was also a large new play area for 1
to 9 year old's which my little ones loved. Besides Lego etc to play with, this area has a
lot of interactive science displays which are specifically pitched at a
younger audience. A lot of the displays for older children are simplified and then there are some different ones too- like feeling different animal hides and identifying different smells blindfolded. (P.S. The Body Worlds Vital Exhibition is also on at Sci Bono at the moment. I went to this about five years ago and it is absolutely fascinating but I was not sure if it is age appropriate for my little ones.)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The other major highlight for my little ones was the
Planetarium. Now, I had pictured a large auditorium like the big one at Wits
University (which, while admittedly I have not been to in almost twenty years, I have very fond memories of). This
one was much more simple and much more compact- in fact it was just a big dome tent with
a projector. The R10 ticket price should have given this away but I guess I just thought it was really great value for money. Instead of cinema style seats like the Wits one, it is just an empty tent and you lie down on
the foam floors and look up at the stars. The show is also quite short, less than half an hour, but with younger children I think that is ideal as their attention span does not last beyond that anyway. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-djUM68pG9PpcB1iph8Lja_lmUr7Teu45ii-4s20I6dZyxzr74ZuwoUQlmQUEIevtMUBG6LnsvToc28ZEUxaRnvuFBw1nVmHKTpzsx5MXH0sWdW90AbDjGtDK0n2xZvoygR60o-cgi8/s1600/20160712_123358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-djUM68pG9PpcB1iph8Lja_lmUr7Teu45ii-4s20I6dZyxzr74ZuwoUQlmQUEIevtMUBG6LnsvToc28ZEUxaRnvuFBw1nVmHKTpzsx5MXH0sWdW90AbDjGtDK0n2xZvoygR60o-cgi8/s320/20160712_123358.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My
little ones enjoyed hearing about the solar system and space travel and
I think Squish was almost lulled to sleep while gazing at breathtaking
auroras, which the reclined floor position encouraged. Noodle seemed to
absorb a lot of what she had heard and had many questions afterwards. This seems to be the start of a new fascination with astronomy. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcSGkLzl4oONvd1lxidTHXDPkpDrIc0stmLTOkJPRQrV7gR6hsI7ND5DJ9OgDo3EBPU4UkA29xUqDaYJoddxbuL4v5N1JIwN3gbCEK5VrFuJrb9IXIKlT8I9789W4bZVatZqlidbjISE/s1600/20160712_124704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcSGkLzl4oONvd1lxidTHXDPkpDrIc0stmLTOkJPRQrV7gR6hsI7ND5DJ9OgDo3EBPU4UkA29xUqDaYJoddxbuL4v5N1JIwN3gbCEK5VrFuJrb9IXIKlT8I9789W4bZVatZqlidbjISE/s320/20160712_124704.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you do decide on a trip to Sci-Bono, especially if you want to attend any of the shows, be sure to allocate a whole day to it. We arrived at 9h30 and by 15h45 I had to literally drag my little ones out of there as I knew we would get stuck in horrific CBD traffic if we left any later.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-74875227238092651782016-07-11T07:00:00.000+02:002016-07-11T07:00:10.833+02:00We Tried Out Sweepsouth... And This Is What we Found<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Have you heard of <a href="https://sweepsouth.com/">Sweepsouth</a>? If not, it is pretty much like Uber for domestic workers (or as they prefer to call them "professional cleaners"). You pay per hour for someone to come clean your house, when it suits you. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUqmZUu9mDkx0YlL7JKHvkI5P-mr3DE0rGo7ojqBg5YYUkiho6vNEBPIVXbmTczSZUlA274bO9pB9kwS95tnwHSQSPZPx7ccW5ALDfE0ow7Gljlq5yLuwFT7hqbG862ttp4uzWLUTY74/s1600/cleaning-268126_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cleaning broom" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUqmZUu9mDkx0YlL7JKHvkI5P-mr3DE0rGo7ojqBg5YYUkiho6vNEBPIVXbmTczSZUlA274bO9pB9kwS95tnwHSQSPZPx7ccW5ALDfE0ow7Gljlq5yLuwFT7hqbG862ttp4uzWLUTY74/s320/cleaning-268126_1920.jpg" title="sweepsouth" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The process is quite simple. They have a group of carefully vetted ladies who have gone through criminal checks, test cleans etc and you book them as at your convenience. You log into their website, tick when you need someone to clean, specify how many rooms and it will give you an estimate of how many hours you need to book for. Then you punch in your address and your credit card details and poof, a magical cleaning genie appears at your doorstep at the time you requested. They even work weekends and for an added fee, you can even get them to bring their own cleaning products!</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHI3reaE-AdG-uCpe-mbof95l-hVRC8ilM8EtHevz2GYMxx8S39VZ-KSiW5ZhmjnDjaCBeGfZpE5CCm9JHtTMXNVvxWL-SEv4FBzUZ5RK6SKQMHTBPXyc5ayu-qHRrzA1DFto7YamKf8/s1600/genie-312442_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHI3reaE-AdG-uCpe-mbof95l-hVRC8ilM8EtHevz2GYMxx8S39VZ-KSiW5ZhmjnDjaCBeGfZpE5CCm9JHtTMXNVvxWL-SEv4FBzUZ5RK6SKQMHTBPXyc5ayu-qHRrzA1DFto7YamKf8/s200/genie-312442_640.png" width="107" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is our experience. We have a regular cleaning lady who comes in one day a week (as she only has one day free) but she is near retirement age so were keen to explore other options for when she retires or for when we have a bit of extra work and need someone on a different day of the week on an ad hoc basis. Sweepsouth were kind enough to sponsor us with an eight hour cleaning session- every mom's dream! </span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Laureen was friendly, needed very little supervision and was very thorough in her cleaning. A once-off proper clean was exactly what my home needed and we definitely got that! The recommended time allocation for cleaning my house and having ironing done was eight hours (they give you an estimate based on the size of your house), so that is what I booked. The allocated eight hours was enough for her to get through all the cleaning but not all the ironing. However, bearing in mind it is school holidays and with two busy little ones causing havoc, my house was a bit of a tsunami, so the fact that a little bit of ironing was left behind is understandable. The clothing Laureen did manage to iron were ironed properly with no burn marks or shiny marks left behind (my personal pet peeve). </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__muN3HmSlZwKmWY9wFOQsS5Aab4oa44eu6XiibGjSL-tubuSVS0ioMl28TbewBFB4ioTEPb-Ori2z7SV8qlMZ1LDkOOpGj0ImyMsS5ChgFSOCKRAaRXjVX5R1NydlhXOjkjLg8gQPCs/s1600/iron-6046_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__muN3HmSlZwKmWY9wFOQsS5Aab4oa44eu6XiibGjSL-tubuSVS0ioMl28TbewBFB4ioTEPb-Ori2z7SV8qlMZ1LDkOOpGj0ImyMsS5ChgFSOCKRAaRXjVX5R1NydlhXOjkjLg8gQPCs/s200/iron-6046_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Laureen had a fascinating story. She is from Zimbabwe and is re-doing her matric in order to improve her marks in the hopes of going on to study physiotherapy. Sweepsouth's flexible hours allows her the flexibility to complete her studies while supporting herself and her eight year old son.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The verdict? Yes, I would use them again. If you need someone on a permanent basis, more than once or twice a week, a regular domestic worker would probably be a better bet as it will probably be cheaper and you can train someone to do things exactly the way you like it. However, if you just need someone occasionally and don't want to be stuck with the drama of dealing with all the labour law issues and other complications that come along with having a regular domestic worker, this is a great option and you can request to have the same person come back if they are available. In my opinion, that's a pretty good deal! </span></span></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-41434935449356778822016-07-07T14:18:00.001+02:002016-07-07T14:18:46.147+02:00Work, Play and Other Random Things<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Yes, this blog has been a bit quiet... Again.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">With a combination of major deadlines, Ramadaan and two little ones at home
and all of us having the flu it has been chaotic and busy. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While I was so busy, I relied heavily on my <a href="http://joziwahm.blogspot.co.za/2016/06/beating-holiday-boredom-with-boredom.html">Boredom Bowls</a> to keep my kids
entertained (click on the link to see what this was all about- I can now confirm that this operation was a success).</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWEv_bBFqZc0iXVfDZCAW02GOt16MCPa3bBneS-l7GtwZAWm4KNka0BFKryBBw5pH5pb64-0Aq9Qn9wUCPUsP64I3zHkoRnmXak_59UXVcB7lvolUBGsOmv4rFQw-uK-QQrpl_o0V8dg/s1600/bored+bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWEv_bBFqZc0iXVfDZCAW02GOt16MCPa3bBneS-l7GtwZAWm4KNka0BFKryBBw5pH5pb64-0Aq9Qn9wUCPUsP64I3zHkoRnmXak_59UXVcB7lvolUBGsOmv4rFQw-uK-QQrpl_o0V8dg/s200/bored+bowl.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I also moved my office to the garden occasionally (one of the
advantages of WAHM'ING) since the kids need outdoor play to stop them from
turning into monsters and it is far warmer in the sun than indoors during
winter in Johannesburg anyway. Besides papers blowing away in the wind and having to worry about battery power on my laptop, working from a picnic blanket actually worked surprisingly well!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My deadlines were mostly met the day before Eid and then the kids helped me bake a
bit and then they made these Eid cards for family members. They were super easy for them to make but turned out well (or at least I think so). </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2ARe7z8v8I5gC7oXp81Cuq_sbTD6nHjcCUNrW1fgev66TT1IQ73uMp7hQeP0l7iSYV8fFdvZO785bQRSKawb3jE2w6_iQmUQO7RfrE6ExaPz9WChaMm9qm7g_uhz33U4-8n88MoRC0c/s1600/20160705_135408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2ARe7z8v8I5gC7oXp81Cuq_sbTD6nHjcCUNrW1fgev66TT1IQ73uMp7hQeP0l7iSYV8fFdvZO785bQRSKawb3jE2w6_iQmUQO7RfrE6ExaPz9WChaMm9qm7g_uhz33U4-8n88MoRC0c/s320/20160705_135408.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I drew the crescent moons on gold paper plates that I had lying around and
Noodle cut them out and pasted them on the coloured cards. We had tons of gold
stars from one of our Kids Book Club books and Squish enjoyed sticking these
all over. Then Noodle used dainty silver alphabet stickers to spell Eid- just 'Eid', as we did
not have enough a's to add 'Mubarak' on each card. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now the deadlines have passed and we had a lovely, albeit very busy Eid. We
got to spend time with family and extended family, eat all the yummies and the
kids got spoilt rotten! </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, I have a week to just relax and have fun
with the kids at home before some more really big things ahead. After being cooped up at home for the first two weeks of school holidays (except for trips for grocery essentials etc), we went to <a href="http://www.ijump.co.za/views/home.php">iJump</a> today. The kids had the time of their lives! </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While I can't really comment on the main section of iJump, other than to say it looked like lots of fun, I can say that my little ones had a blast in the 2-6 year old section. For the younger kids, there were lots of tiny trampolines to jump on, a foam pit with a balance beam to dive off and some climbing walls, together with a mini-soccer field. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsngH4Y9D9TAnKhAnOwzVUexd6EPJDbg8n__c55TFOxZWk6KZQaq7FD2LY8ySi7EdU7o4186mzRPvXgFM81CJh_cNzql7caIRd4gqDReDAuXMSsFxPnDNLWc_PXFxU4luK1SBeJc9GyA/s1600/20160707_114220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsngH4Y9D9TAnKhAnOwzVUexd6EPJDbg8n__c55TFOxZWk6KZQaq7FD2LY8ySi7EdU7o4186mzRPvXgFM81CJh_cNzql7caIRd4gqDReDAuXMSsFxPnDNLWc_PXFxU4luK1SBeJc9GyA/s320/20160707_114220.jpg" width="297" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The part my little ones liked the most was the upstairs maze, which ends in two huge, fast slides at the end.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2b3E5K8rS2KExxHZM4Try3Hd-NX8T7zD8C65k2aVt1zjtFBJ6cA5R1O1n2a6D_xw6_9OAsqELZbyHjYzvPzu3IuioAUxIX0PcCQmBbqrm_9DwLEonYVy3DLV4yDPp0vAdI9X1VMHmSg/s1600/20160707_111529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2b3E5K8rS2KExxHZM4Try3Hd-NX8T7zD8C65k2aVt1zjtFBJ6cA5R1O1n2a6D_xw6_9OAsqELZbyHjYzvPzu3IuioAUxIX0PcCQmBbqrm_9DwLEonYVy3DLV4yDPp0vAdI9X1VMHmSg/s320/20160707_111529.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">iJump can work out pricey if you stay for more than an hour but an hour is more than enough for the younger ones (I am sure my daughter would have happily remained for a second hour but my younger one seemed tired by then and I could see a lot of the other younger kids got bored much faster). Also, I wouldn't recommend it if you have children of mixed ages unless you have more than one adult to supervise as you cannot really keep an eye on both sections at once (there are childminders for the younger ones but personally I would not risk leaving them unsupervised). <br /> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What have you and your little ones been up to these school holidays? I would love to hear from you!</span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-26325188843684781712016-06-30T12:35:00.003+02:002016-06-30T12:35:39.591+02:00In Jozi this July/ August<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Hi All</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Sorry for the lack of blog post- I have been battling to juggle lots of work and having my little minions home all day during the school holidays.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Here are some things happening in Jozi in the next few weeks that you need to know about:</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">THE FUN ZONE SANDTON CITY</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">My Little Pony, Play Doh and Nerf- need we say more? The Fun Zone is giving your kids the chance to play with some of the latest
and greatest Nerf, My Little Pony, and Play-Doh toys.</span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">"There will be three branded stations that your kids
can experience, and the best thing is that it is all for FREE and there
are exciting prizes to be won!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">At the <b>Nerf</b> station, there will be a Nerf
firing range, where kids can blast away and potentially win some great
prizes, a demo table where kids can learn about the new Modulus Blaster
range, and finally, an iPad station with online
games, and the chance to sign up for future events and giveaways.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The <b>My Little Pony</b> station features a
community activity table, with activities like friendship bracelet
making, colouring in, a toy play area, and a hair salon where we will
‘ponify’ your little one’s hair. There will also be character
cut-outs available for photo opportunities.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The <b>Play-Doh </b>station is where your kids’
imagination can run wild. There will be creativity workshops that
feature the latest Play-Doh food playsets, and all kids will receive
little chef hats and will be able pose for photos with
their creations."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Where and When:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Sandton City, Mr. Price Court between <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1834285799" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">28 June – 4 July</span></span>, or Durban, Gateway, 6-10 July and Cape Town V & A Waterfront H & M Court 13-17 July. </span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">REACH FOR A DREAM SLIPPER DAY</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">5 August- buy a sticker from Wimpy or Pick 'N Pay for R10 and wear your slippers to school, work or wherever you wish- all for a great cause! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">“It
is such a simple and easy way to do something good and support children
fighting life-threatening illnesses. Even during tough economic time you
can make a difference with just R10 and doing something fun with your
feet! By wearing your slippers on Slipper Day, you can help to bring
dreams to life and if we can make dreams come true, we can instil hope
in a child which will help them to continue fighting,” said Julia
Sotirianakos, Reach For A Dream’s CEO.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">If you wear your striker, you can also get a free coffee at Wimpy on 5 August- win-win!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">For more information on Slipper Day or the Reach For A Dream Foundation, visit: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.slipperday.co.za&source=gmail&ust=1467368313243000&usg=AFQjCNGyyXTqpVvhlCwNaZG_k6UjFb6oag" href="http://www.slipperday.co.za/" target="_blank">www.slipperday.co.za</a> or <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.reachforadream.org.za&source=gmail&ust=1467368313243000&usg=AFQjCNF3iJVnFP8yfFcu6Fnl0xu-QISFpA" href="http://www.reachforadream.org.za/" target="_blank">www.reachforadream.org.za</a>. </span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">PIC NIC AT WORK SHOP NEWTOWN</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">It turns out that family fun in the CBD is possible.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOms10iODVS_8RVBUz7RltVjzrLA3lWLeCLDyHfmuRRP6wfb69ESkEku6GPwaJ-ykz1TDBqqVYAU3vbsMZFZMRBdkbL90I95xfiT2hgBejf6MLz0r8WWInzYv0od8sKQMxXFIxdWf0Cc/s1600/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOms10iODVS_8RVBUz7RltVjzrLA3lWLeCLDyHfmuRRP6wfb69ESkEku6GPwaJ-ykz1TDBqqVYAU3vbsMZFZMRBdkbL90I95xfiT2hgBejf6MLz0r8WWInzYv0od8sKQMxXFIxdWf0Cc/s320/unnamed.png" width="285" /></a></div>
Jozi WAHMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02053845664292327383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-23680733397637197082016-06-22T09:29:00.000+02:002016-06-22T09:29:07.268+02:00Beating Holiday Boredom with Boredom Bowls<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, we have just a couple of days until school closes and until I know I will hear the incessant 'I'm bored' from my little ones.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The thing is, even though I will be home with my little ones, I will be working too- and I anticipate a big work load in the next few weeks with a big project starting next week. Chances are, I will not be able to take them out much in the first two weeks of school holidays and too much television is a recipe for disaster. So, I have decided to prepare boredom busters in advance- things my little ones can enjoy at home with minimal parental involvement.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First of all, I have created a boredom bowl- where they can dip their hands in and get an idea for something simple to do. I think my children may have too much toys- so much so that they forget what they can play with and just play with the obvious cars and dolls. Often, my children are creative and come up with their own imaginative games. However, at least once a day I get nagged because they have nothing to do. Typically, this is when I am in the middle of something deemed more important by the adult brain and can't come up with good ideas. So now I decided to give some though to simple ideas for when this is needed. The first bowl contains basic ideas like riding bikes, hide and seek, playing with Lego, Play-Doh or drawing pictures (with ideas of new things to draw or build). It also lists ideas with new things to do with their toys. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For the idea tags, I cut up bits of foam. You can put ideas on both sides of each tag. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ7W7RfYUnz1nrXsg9K5qDDcOpMLSOq_U9h8aYPsrQRIIE9sJd3pPnQF2CEVlDsC3bNbg2Mq0LNDsCkrpAD4FfgJqkTgzKDj5d63zyFbcpz9C54KIp8Vd56-h7oB8JLdHpSHCB4z4YRo/s1600/bored+bowl+tags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQ7W7RfYUnz1nrXsg9K5qDDcOpMLSOq_U9h8aYPsrQRIIE9sJd3pPnQF2CEVlDsC3bNbg2Mq0LNDsCkrpAD4FfgJqkTgzKDj5d63zyFbcpz9C54KIp8Vd56-h7oB8JLdHpSHCB4z4YRo/s320/bored+bowl+tags.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The bowls are recycled yoghurt tubs. I have drawn patterns on it with permanent marker and will let Noodle colour these in or paint these on one of the 'bored' days.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then I have a second bowl with more structured activities- mostly craft ideas which I found on Pinterest or Instagram or ideas of things to make in the kitchen. The ones that I think my little ones will like best are making brown paper gingerbread men (Noodle's favourite sweet treat), rock painting and a paper plate fish bowl (as our pet goldfish is such a prominent feature in our home right now). I have gotten the resources needed to make the craft ones together so that this can be done with minimal effort when the time comes.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">How do you keep holiday boredom at bay? Please let me know! </span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-15628640847439953312016-06-20T12:11:00.002+02:002016-06-20T12:11:30.325+02:00Raising a Muslim Child in a World Where "Muslims Are Terrorists"<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UF8Nl-L_IF6fntgknVzab8VXQs6u-ULxgeFB_ZZieZ5fKAdm6teTvx-zYXdXJzr4RhezmixEPpmkca-oqP8eP-TiGEdYiFLX5KCoAMauN6jko4oJ99BQzwEHutiiNlZF9QleJZKIELs/s1600/harmony-1424745_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UF8Nl-L_IF6fntgknVzab8VXQs6u-ULxgeFB_ZZieZ5fKAdm6teTvx-zYXdXJzr4RhezmixEPpmkca-oqP8eP-TiGEdYiFLX5KCoAMauN6jko4oJ99BQzwEHutiiNlZF9QleJZKIELs/s200/harmony-1424745_1920.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">In some ways, life was simpler when I was growing up. Despite it being the tail-end of Apartheid in South Africa, I grew up in a neighborhood surrounded by White, Afrikaans neighbors and attended multi-racial, multi-religious schools without ever feeling judged for being Muslim. I grew up having friends of all races and religions. I never felt like I was treated any differently by friends of other backgrounds<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and i</span>f <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Islamapho<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">bia existed, I was blissfully u<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">naware of it. In fai<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rness, this was the era before social media, before <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">peo<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ple's <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook statuses and rants on Watsapp groups gave away the<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ir true thoughts.</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Then, towards the end of my high school years, 9-11 happened. Paradigms shifted. Suddenly, Muslims were the bad guys. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In short, t</span>hings changed. Yes, I s<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">till have friends of all races and religions but <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in this day and age </span>I <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">sometimes feel like I need to be careful of <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">what I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> say or do for fear of being <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">labelled a terrorist, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">even though <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the most violent thing I have ever done was shoot a <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">toy water pistol. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Since then, time and time again, we have had to face attacks on the world by so-called Muslims (I cannot identify them as Muslims in my own mind because the religion that I know is one of peace and tolerance and would never condone the acts of extremists in this day and age). <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The rel<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">igion that I know strongly condemns suicide in any form and never allows the killing of c<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ivil<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ians, e<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ven in times of war. The Islam I know teaches the str<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ongest respect for Christianity and Judaism, being rooted from the same principles. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">As an adult Muslims in the Western world, I myself sometimes grapple with issues of how to react to this hatred. In fairness, I can<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">no</span>t blame the bulk of non-Muslims from having the impression that they do about Muslims<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. T</span>he image portrayed in the media of Muslims is not a pretty one and organisations like ISIS scare me just as much as they scare any non-Muslim. I don'<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t know why a cowardly few <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">commit atrocities sup<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">posedly in the name o<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">f religion or even if these people are r<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">eally Mu<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">slim<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> but they sure do make life difficult for us regular Muslims. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">For now, my children are blissfully unaware of the prejudice shown towards Muslims. However, I know that at some point, <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">they are going to become aware <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of the <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">complexities</span> of this worl<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">d</span></span></span></span>. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> How do I explain all this to my children? Do I explain it to them at all? </span></span>How will <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it</span> make them feel? Will they be saddened, embarrassed, or worse, ashamed to be Muslim? There are of course, no easy answers to these question<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">s, especially when I myself do not have all the answers. </span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">For now, I don't think it is necessary to tell them anything. I need to do what I have been doing- raise them to be good, responsible, kind human beings who are willing to help others and make a difference to society. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I refuse to raise them to be ashamed of their religion. Rather, </span>I need to<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> introduce</span> them the peaceful brand of Islam that I know. I need to teach them not to take things at face value so that later on they can make their own, informed views about what they have learned about religion. As they grow older, I would like them to learn to be able to use their discretion when listening to things in the media and to do their own research on things, both pertaining to religion <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and</span> other areas of life<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> as Islam in fact does teach one to think and to question. I am confident that they will come to the same conclusion that I have- that this really is a peaceful religion. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hope and p<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ray</span></span> that <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ou<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">r future gen<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">erations will hold the solutions for finding<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> a peaceful <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">existence</span> for<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">individuals<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span> of all races, nationalities and religions and that they will not have to grapple with these issues.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-34148147004961454782016-06-10T10:12:00.004+02:002016-06-10T10:12:35.322+02:00Random Stuff I Wish Johannesburg Shops Would Stock<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think by now everyone knows that I enjoy shopping. I shop enough to know exactly which shops have what. Despite that, there are a few things that our Johannesburg shops seem to lack- if by some chance business owners are reading this, perhaps here is your gap in the market.</span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Shoelaces</span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, I know this sounds weird but shoelaces are impossible to find. I have a five year old who is a novice at tying laces and somehow always manages to break the aglet of the lace or even the entire lace (yes, at some point in my adult life I discovered that the plastic bit at the end of a shoelace is called an aglet). Has anyone else tried looking for plain black or white shoe laces or kids sized shoelaces generally? I have tried grocery stores, the likes of Clicks and Dischem and even the Chinese places without luck and it seems pointless to buy an entire new shoe when only the lace is damaged.</span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. A decent range of trousers for shorter people</span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I hate having to hem everything that I buy (which usually means that it sits in my cupboard for a year before I get round to sorting it out). The only place I know of with a 'petite' range is Edgars and even their petite trousers still need hemming (and I seldom find anything I like there). I am 1.56 metres tall, which, while definitely on the short end of the spectrum, is certainly not unusual for an adult female. Unrelated, I wish there was some consistency in the way shops size their merchandise- how is it that I am an extra small at one store and a large at another? Or wear size 3 shoes from one place and size 5 from another? </span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Children's Underwear</span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have two gripes here- the first being that everywhere only starts children's' underwear with an age 2-3. Now, both my children were drowning in this size by the time they started potty training. Also, I have seen complaints on mommy Facebook groups about the fact that girl's underwear all seems to be a weird shape that cuts into the crotch and I have also found this to be true (except for one brand, which I find very expensive). Whoever it is that makes underwear for little people, please listen to our call.</span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. Appropriate children's clothes</span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In winter this is not as much of a problem but in summer, the range of children's clothing we have had lately is appalling. Children's clothes should be cute and comfortable and not consist purely of crop tops and cheeky shorts. Oh, some variety in boys clothing would be nice too. </span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. Halaal Restaurants</span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While Halaal restaurants in Johannesburg are a dime a dozen, there are a few things the Halaal restaurant market in Johannesburg shorts. The one is decent, upmarket restaurants- the type that you would go to on a special anniversary or to wow an important client. The other thing that would be amazing is a decent child-friendly Halaal restaurant, the likes of Bambanani, Papachinos and such. Finally, some variety in cuisine types would be awesome (for example, proper Korean, Mexican or even proper Chinese food). Restaurant owners, are you listening?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you know where to find any of the above? What do you wish that you could find in our local shops? Please pop a comment. </span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-2498094972445999422016-06-08T11:27:00.001+02:002016-06-08T11:27:09.514+02:00The Goldfish<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xfyNw3S8qGUUThoylM8d8M6Q8WUm8fZYHBk5xGmXb3nd94DMExiVFD3nCD_JvOSCZ8o-QCpO5o4LEJ59ZO4ll5oJnP76fTv5tdmV2nV3ahe1L1F6A6CkOGWKXOH9H-ht6ijeqxKieGc/s1600/goldfish-30837_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5xfyNw3S8qGUUThoylM8d8M6Q8WUm8fZYHBk5xGmXb3nd94DMExiVFD3nCD_JvOSCZ8o-QCpO5o4LEJ59ZO4ll5oJnP76fTv5tdmV2nV3ahe1L1F6A6CkOGWKXOH9H-ht6ijeqxKieGc/s200/goldfish-30837_1280.png" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">The topic of introducing a pet was a hotly contested one in the Jozi WAHM household. See, while we love animals, before we had kids, hubby and I were both always way too busy with our careers and not home often enough to even consider introducing a pet. Then, we had small children to feed, change and keep alive and the thought of introducing another living being that needed to be fed and looked after seemed even more preposterous.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">By the time Noodle was about three, she began asking for a pet. After much deliberation, it was decided that we would only get a pet once our little ones were old enough to help caring for one (and once the risk of said creature being accidentally killed by a well meaning toddler had passed). Noodle had an imaginary dog who went everywhere with her. Then she began plotting to get a cat (something which is unlikely to happen as my husband is not particularly fond of cats and we all have slight allergy issues). "We will buy a cat and hide him away in a cage when daddy comes. If he meows, we will make meowing noises and daddy will think it is us." Animal cruelty concerns relating to caged cats aside, this was not going to happen.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then, a few months ago, the decision was prematurely made for us when well meaning friends gifted us with a goldfish, together with a bowl and a month's supply of food. Before we could object, Noodle had already fallen in love and picked out a name. So the goldfish was here to stay.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, I had no clue how to care for a goldfish. Just feed it, right? At least that is what I thought. I immediately consulted my dearest friend Google, while Noodle got on the phone with granddad, who breeds marine fish (which, other than both being aquatic creatures, have little in common). I discovered a wealth of information about goldfish. For example, did you know that the three second memory thing is a myth? They have a short memory span but it is a few months (which to me seems to oddly coincide with their typical lifespan in a bowl surrounded by kids). It turns out that goldfish can live for up to ten years if properly cared for and if not overfed by over-eager children. They also need their water changed daily if in a bowl in order to keep oxygen levels high enough and because they produce a significant amount of poop (which gets stuck between the rocks and shells and is a pain to clean).</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Initially, the little ones were super eager about their new pet. They fought over who got to feed it that day and stared at it for hours on end. Noodle decorated his bowl with shells that she found on the beach some time back. Squish's brand of love scared us at first as he was determined to hug fishy and let him share his cot at night. He soon learned what is and what is not acceptable behavior, though for safety reasons, I still have fishy up on a very high counter which Squish cannot reach easily without assistance. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, while the goldfish is still much loved, the novelty soon wore off. "This fish is boring" said Noodle. "He is cute and I love him but I can't play with him or even take him for a walk." The fights to feed him have turned to "no, its your turn" and we all know who is left cleaning the fish bowl every second day. While fishy is still alive (which is a good sign) and part of the family now, we have decided that this family is not yet ready for a larger, more serious pet. </span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-71275717548090466002016-06-03T15:23:00.001+02:002016-06-03T15:23:29.494+02:00I'm Not Going to Write You a Love Post<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yesterday, my dear hubby asked me why Noodle got a special post dedicated to her and he got nothing. The words that started playing in my head were those of that Sara Bareilles song 'I'm not going to write you a love song... coz you asked for it, coz you need one...'.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the other hand, my husband really is really awesome, he is possibly the sole reader of this blog and today is a special day (he knows why)... so here goes.</span></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dear Husband</span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have known you for a third of my lifetime and yet each day I love you even more than the day before. It sounds cliched but it is true. Sure, it may not be that 'can't keep my hands off you every split second of the day' honeymoon kind of love (because then nothing would ever get done) but something far more real, more enduring and more substantial. </span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">The qualities that drew me to you, that shy certainty, strong sense of direction, patience and humbleness (and smoking good looks that you were oblivious to) have not faded. You have matured over the years though, becoming more assertive and confident. You have become a father and a great one at that. </span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Am I allowed to add that you have impeccable taste in women? Let's face it, we make a great team. While marriages around us are breaking down, people don't believe us when we tell them that we have never had a proper fight. It's not that we avoid conflict, we have just never needed to. We have faced many challenges together and there is nobody else that I would rather face this journey called life with.</span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></i> </blockquote>
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<i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The rest of this post will be continued live... in person.</span></span></span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Love</i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Jozi Wife</i></span></span></span></blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-41249025796965553702016-06-02T07:35:00.002+02:002016-06-02T07:35:37.753+02:00The Samoosa Boycott<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wait, what? A boycott of samoosas? <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who a<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">re we protesting against? No<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, this is not <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a</span> mass politcal or ideological protest, it is just<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>my immediate family and I boycotting against our own vices and extravagences. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Next week marks the beginning of the month of Ramadaan, the month where Muslims around the world abstain from all food and drink from sunrise to sunset.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, if my Islamic memory of Islamic history serves me correctly, back in the day when the Prophet Mohammed (SAW) broke his fast, a simple meal of dates and water was typical, with perhaps light food thereafter. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In contrast</span>, in this day and age, it has become a tradition in many parts of the world, South Africa included, to break ones fast with a vast array of delicious samoosas, pies, spring rolls and all sorts of other<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-</span> usually deep fried delicacies. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Typic</span>ally, in my home, a main<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> meal or <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a </span></span>rich dessert often follows thereafter. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-3GTAM2a8_ICsHBUXu46W0vuXIV3ynss1HMa_ar1481-5zeMfI8cU4pn7DfJz-qbfLtqTF2KN957YmM-L5EZAkpjeJesJFOjXHdnBeT6jAbrCzfmV152W2kCYf3gxJLM-kAmajCq_58/s1600/pastry---baking-samosa-s-2_2248532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-3GTAM2a8_ICsHBUXu46W0vuXIV3ynss1HMa_ar1481-5zeMfI8cU4pn7DfJz-qbfLtqTF2KN957YmM-L5EZAkpjeJesJFOjXHdnBeT6jAbrCzfmV152W2kCYf3gxJLM-kAmajCq_58/s320/pastry---baking-samosa-s-2_2248532.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have often pondered on how this tradition came about, as to me, it seems to far from the simplicity and modesty that the Muslim religion propagates. I have heard the argument that these foods can be prepared well in advance, eliminating the need to spend hours in the kitchen during the month of Ramadaan<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and</span> thus leaving more time for prayer during this month. Paradoxically, I still usually find myself spending more time on food preparation in this month than I usually do<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span> I can put together a healthy regular meal in the same amount of time or less than it takes to fry up two or three varieties of frozen savouries (which took many hours to reach the stage where they get stacked in the freezer). </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think the other reason we tend to prepare all these delicacies is that we feel like we have earned it. After a day of no food, we crave all things delicious and want to treat ourselves to all things delectable. However, I do n<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ot <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">believe that this month is or sho<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">uld<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">be about rewarding oneself. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">This year, we have decided that we will do something revolutionary (okay, perhaps not revolutionary for poverty-stricken Muslims across the world but revolutionary in our circles)- cut out the fried savouries. This was my dear husband's idea but I am more than willing to play along. In previous years, we noticed that after a couple of weeks of too much oily stuff, we noticed the outward physical effects- feeling sluggish and bad skin (not to mention all the damage all that cholesterol must be doing internally). I have even been known to put on weight during Ramadaan! Surely that can't be right? Part of being a Muslim is taking care of the assets left in your trust, which includes looking after your body. So this year, we will for the most part, be preparing the same meals that we usually do during the rest of the year.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">As an added bonus, I now have more time on my hands in the weeks preceding Ramadaan. I plan to use it doing fun Ramadaan based crafts with my little ones in the next few days, creating crescent moons and the adorable moon-sighting binoculars that I have seen all over social media. I have seen some great Ramadaan craft ideas all over the internet but I think this post by <a href="https://gildeddunya.com/2016/05/25/ramadan-with-my-3-year-old-with-a-ramadan-box/">Gilded Dunya</a> has some that are perfect for the age-group that my children are in.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>To my Muslim readers,n early Ramadaan Mubarak. <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">W</span>hat do you typically eat in Ramadaan?</i> </span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-61628860696179483892016-06-01T09:49:00.001+02:002016-06-01T09:49:34.004+02:00A Letter to My Five Year Old<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dear Noodle</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNGYasP-cIGa8ZGU4G2-n5f7RvdiXO2VOi43eVs9aq3weL_Yf2jNuTk7gXLt8Fgr5MVxGPY6qPUEFgg96Oy-pzXdbzFABNv4mikiJZs9RQDRhaTjYFq9lLEq8xkS0tJVPW07hkytKkTE/s1600/noodle+and+squish.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNGYasP-cIGa8ZGU4G2-n5f7RvdiXO2VOi43eVs9aq3weL_Yf2jNuTk7gXLt8Fgr5MVxGPY6qPUEFgg96Oy-pzXdbzFABNv4mikiJZs9RQDRhaTjYFq9lLEq8xkS0tJVPW07hkytKkTE/s320/noodle+and+squish.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know I don't tell you this all the time but I am so proud of the little lady you are growing up to be. I sometimes wish I could keep you little forever but I know that I need to let you go to leave your own unique mark on the world. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You have grown up so much this year. We were afraid of putting you in 'big school' this year as you are the youngest of all your friends but you have met every new challenge with so much of determination. The first few days of school, you were afraid of getting lost and we had to walk you to your classroom. Now, you casually hop out of the car and run off to your friends like you have been doing it all your life! I hear you practicing things that you have been learning even before the rest of the household wakes up. You have figured out how to read basic English sentences all on your own and can even read and write basic Arabic, a language you do not speak! You write your very first exam today. While mommy is a little nervous for you, you are confident and have this one covered!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know it seems like daddy and I are always shouting you for the little things that you do wrong but it is only because we love you and want what is best for you, always. We also notice the kind things you do for others, like helping your friends or preparing surprises for family members. I see how you protect your little brother around strangers. Even the pretend games you play show good character. Like yesterday, when you and your brother were pretending to be beggars (where on earth did you come up with that game) I was blown away by the kindness and compassion you showed your 'beggar' brother. Or the way you wept when you read the story of Nooh (Noah's) ark as you were saddened by the fact that only two of each animal were allowed on the ark, saying "The rest of the animals were not naughty. Why did they need to suffer?" </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes, daddy and I get annoyed with you carelessly spilling things or not throwing out all your toys but then all is forgotten when I remember the worst day of my life- the day we almost lost you. You were only five months old when, after a sudden illness, you needed a lifesaving emergency procedure. The angels were watching that day. You had never been sick a day before in your life but was fate that when you got sick that day, you happened to have a paediatric nurse in the room with you. She recognised the symptoms that someone who is not medically trained may have missed and made sure that we got you to an emergency room immediately. That day, I promised to protect you with my life, always and forever and I plan to keep that promise.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, we probably will keep shouting when we need to and we may fight sometimes but I still love you more than you will ever know. I can see so much of potential in you, always the deep, philosophical thinker who dares to ask the questions that others shy away from. Whether you chose to use that potential to save the world (which I truly believe you are capable of) or to just share your light with others, I will always be proud of you. Like daddy always tells you, even when you are fifty years old, you will always be our baby and we will always love you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Love,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mommy</span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-27649650032498359342016-05-27T07:30:00.000+02:002016-05-27T07:30:14.418+02:00Win one of Five Packs of Pampers Premium Care Nappies<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Attention! Calling all <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">parents of babies and to<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ddlers<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know how much you all love giveaways and today we are giving away the new, super soft Pampers Premium Care Nappies to <b>five</b> lucky readers!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zW9LWlV1FUyC7z24FF2nwnA0eyMdqSKcRmR5pQsQIBp80jgStqrCEPTdKpRmYMivpKjZnYsaBnZnh3eqIpUNdD2551TFuQGyobfutOlR8KgZ7Uakhu05gijC6yCao7SYXZ6CSet5Mqk/s1600/20160526_092918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zW9LWlV1FUyC7z24FF2nwnA0eyMdqSKcRmR5pQsQIBp80jgStqrCEPTdKpRmYMivpKjZnYsaBnZnh3eqIpUNdD2551TFuQGyobfutOlR8KgZ7Uakhu05gijC6yCao7SYXZ6CSet5Mqk/s320/20160526_092918.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We recently got to test out Pampers' amazing new premium nappies. There is a link to my video test and review <a href="http://joziwahm.blogspot.co.za/2016/05/we-got-pampered-by-pampers-and-tested.html">here</a> (hint: you can follow the link to find <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the</span> answers to our competition question). By the way, I don't think I mentio<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ned this in my previous post<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> but the new Premium Care <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nappies go all the way till size 5. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please follow the steps below to enter (you don't need to follow all but the more steps you follow, the greater your chances of winning). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="b6817c087" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b6817c087/" id="rcwidget_5qffymbn" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*The competition ends on 3 June 2016. Winners will be randomly selected using Rafflecopter.com and Random.org and winners will be announced on this site. Only participants with a South African delivery address are eligible to enter. The competition prizes are sponsored by Pampers South Africa, who are solely responsible for the distribution of prizes. </span></span></span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-76222959333122013582016-05-25T11:21:00.002+02:002016-05-25T11:21:57.472+02:00The 7 Quickest No-Bake Treats for School Events<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We've all been there. It is nine p.m. and your child nonchalantly alerts you to the fact that it is their turn to take something for school bakers day, the very next day! Or perhaps you know it is your turn but you are simply too swamped with... well... life to create a Pinterest-perfect culinary artwork.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4Yb1LTIl19wI2my_-YdvViRcAeucGcEifDRk8E6y7KyXYhPXjmyKsTiZ-8MABt7mtPLMYiFhmZSMJSMnqxDXkyf7fHflxBcEcVOQXwlcQrgFWIjEwc_K_W5-gQ0be0f5FCer5-hSQTs/s1600/cake-419241_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4Yb1LTIl19wI2my_-YdvViRcAeucGcEifDRk8E6y7KyXYhPXjmyKsTiZ-8MABt7mtPLMYiFhmZSMJSMnqxDXkyf7fHflxBcEcVOQXwlcQrgFWIjEwc_K_W5-gQ0be0f5FCer5-hSQTs/s320/cake-419241_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At this point, between two kids, it feels like I have to send eats to school every second week between bakers days, school cake sales, end of term parties, birthdays and even extra-mural functions. There is no way I am able to break out the Martha Steward bells and whistles every single time I am required to make something, so I have acquired an extensive artillery of quick and easy options for such eventualities. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are some of my quick and easy favourites:</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">POPCORN:</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
one is cheap and anyone can do it. I have a great popcorn machine but
microwaving popcorn seeds in a sealed brown paper bag works just as
well. You can add any colour or flavour you want, or even mix with
sprinkles or other sweets and serve in individuals bags or popcorn
buckets.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv9r83gHdJCWQDQfGjSI05AkLcud05DfOGb3k526r03Iy5-ZT_kacWoOK6AC4XvC0I23kDHycJ52fKGiI_t7-SLzDLp3K7oWV2j8knpneaXVuSUFW5rQWUj6ODNkIjplU8Wljv2Jnmn0/s1600/popcorn-1085072_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="school treats" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv9r83gHdJCWQDQfGjSI05AkLcud05DfOGb3k526r03Iy5-ZT_kacWoOK6AC4XvC0I23kDHycJ52fKGiI_t7-SLzDLp3K7oWV2j8knpneaXVuSUFW5rQWUj6ODNkIjplU8Wljv2Jnmn0/s200/popcorn-1085072_1920.jpg" title="popcorn" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">RICE CRISPY TREATS:</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Melt rice crispies and marshmallows together and shape into anything under the sun. Decorate as desired. A super cute and easy idea is to stick the treats on ice-cream sticks so that they look like ice-creams and then decorate.</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MARIE BISCUIT TREATS:</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If
you are in a hurry, this is an easy cheat. All you need is some Marie
biscuits, icing and sweets of your choice to decorate. I make a simple
glace icing using icing sugar and adding a few drops of water at the
time until I have a firm but pliable icing. Then I add food colouring
(it is normally best to split your icing into smaller bowls so you can
create individual colours) and perhaps some flavoured essence. Then you
can decorate, either using a spatula or piping the icing, depending on
how much time you have. Your decorations can be very simple (just flod
with sprinkles and sweets) or incredibly intricate. I have successfully
created ladybugs, Minions, spiderman designs, Mickey Mouses (using one
large Marie biscuit and two miniature ones for ears) and flowers. You
can individually wrap each one if you want to look like you put some
effort into it.</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">FUDGE:</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This one is great as it can be made quite far in advance (so working moms can make it over the weekend to be served later in the week). Mix 125g melted butter, 2 cups castor sugar, 1 tin of condense milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence. (You can also add in chocolate, nuts or cherries). Microwave on high for ten minutes, stopping to stir after every thirty seconds. Allow to cool slightly (be careful, it is really hot!) and then pour into a greased square tin. Cut into squares once set. You should get about two dozen pieces from this recipe. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MARSHMALLOW POPS:</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stick two or three marshmallows on a skewer, dip in melted chocolate and decorate as desired. (Find a more detailed recipe <a href="http://joziwahm.blogspot.co.za/2015/12/easy-marshmallow-pops.html">here</a>.)</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIzvtWjBCTTFRbR41welGiMaZGa3lp6x3G6kjya_D8nJ8wkd2lYcoo1BlaVeFkkSBpdO0NrDcTQAbody43WjQ6UnT26taextriE3gEGXQVjXMVmvT1Zw_Fnpez5qgUhsH2Dw6ngkaCEc/s1600/marshmallow+pops+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="school" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIzvtWjBCTTFRbR41welGiMaZGa3lp6x3G6kjya_D8nJ8wkd2lYcoo1BlaVeFkkSBpdO0NrDcTQAbody43WjQ6UnT26taextriE3gEGXQVjXMVmvT1Zw_Fnpez5qgUhsH2Dw6ngkaCEc/s200/marshmallow+pops+%25282%2529.jpg" title="marshmallow pops" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">MILK AND COOKIES:</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have seen one mom send a package with a few Oreos, coupled with a small carton of milk for each child. Genius- no effort at all! She presented each one in a cute little box so it looked very appealing. Find out if there are any lactose intolerant kids first though!</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC:</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Take one Barni cake bear and decorate using melted chocolate or icing and sweets to highlight the bear's features. (You will need to buy enough bears for each child so this might not be the most cost effective option but it is an easy one).</span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>What are your favourite bake cheats? Please let us know!</i></span></span></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-64582665427161586832016-05-23T11:59:00.001+02:002016-05-23T11:59:37.242+02:00I Never Meant to Become a Mommy Blogger<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">There has been a lot of emotive discussion lately about what it means to be a mommy
blogger and the potential negative connotation this label carries. There has always been the perception that mommy bloggers are inferior to other bloggers out there and then there was <a href="http://josidenise.com/dear-mommy-blogger/">this very angry viral post</a> which had mommy bloggers everywhere up in arms. Of course, there are one or two truths hidden beneath all the anger in that post but for the most part, the various accusations in that post are not true for the bulk of 'mommy bloggers'. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">If you had to tell me a decade ago that I would become a mommy blogger, I
probably would have pointed you in the direction of the nearest mental assylum.
At that time, I had just finished studying and was establishing my position as
a task to be reckoned with in the corporate world. Sure, I had always enjoyed writing (I was even the captain of our high school newspaper club) and had for a brief period in high school considered a career in journalism but found that academic writing was more my cup of tea (yes, while my style of writing for this blog is very colloquial, I spent many years engaged in more formal academic writing). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Then things changed. I had two mini-me's. I decided to work from home. One day, on a whim, I decided to start a blog. I went with the free blog
platform as I had no idea whether I would tire of this side project after a few
months (note to self: upgrade to a more professional domain). With zero coding
or graphic design experience, I designed all my own headers and social media
icons (note to self: get a professional to sort all that garbage out). I learnt
about foreign terms like search engine optimisation, Google Analytics and even a little bit of coding. Here I am, a year and a
half later and still enjoying my thought outlet. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">When I started this blog, the intention was for the blog to have more of a
business focus- writing about the struggles of establishing a professional home-bases
business (back before I was deluded into believing that was possible) and
about achieving adequate work-life balance. There was always going to be a mommy aspect
to the blog (there is the term 'mom'right there in the WAHM title) but that was not
going to be the focus. What changed? For one thing, my entrepreneurial articles
seemed to bore people and nobody read them.I think my focus changed a little bit too- spending more time at home with my children meant that parenting and lifestyle topics were at the front of my mind. I still do entrepreneurial posts sometimes but they are the exception these days.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Do I believe that mommy bloggers are sell outs as implied by that infamous article? For the most part, no. The mommy bloggers I have met are all likeable individuals with a strong moral backbone (part of the job description for being a good mommy). Part of being a decent mother is to conduct yourself in an honorable manner in order to teach your children about building good character and I think most mommy bloggers endeavor to do just that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">The truth is, that mommy bloggers are sometimes persuaded to 'sell' a certain product by PR companies. More often than not, these PR companies will not even pay for these services, instead paying in a currency called 'exposure' (a promise to drive traffic to your website), which carries no Rand value and so, usually do not pay said mommy bloggers' bills. Sometimes there is a freebie product or two delivered to said mommy blogger. It can sometimes be difficult to draw the line between pleasing a 'paying customer' and giving an objective review. However, I think most mommy bloggers realise that there is never any obligation to publish posts (unless there is a specific contract in place) and I personally have on several occasions refused to post about products that I am not convinced by. I will criticize where needed and I refuse to change this even if it means not pleasing everyone. I choose to have more personal posts than product and event related posts as I do not want this to become an advertising dumping ground. I will not buy social media followers even if that means that my following remains fairly small and I do not get a lot of paid work because of it. All of the above is true for most of the mommy bloggers I have encountered too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">So, while being a mommy blogger is not something I ever imagined myself doing, it is something that I love doing and this journey is not ending yet, even if there are a few scorned individuals out there who have a problem with this.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748107091050968773.post-29491225280236601332016-05-18T06:00:00.000+02:002016-05-18T06:00:25.444+02:00Why Kids Need Breakfast and Win with Kellogg's <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Who likes cereal? I know I do. Well guess what? It's competition time and we are giving away two delicio<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">us </span>Kellogg's hampers worth R300 each!!!</span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZo0ZUeYV8gSyWBIxoJXXLPniWNS3Er6NdlDHBhk1og5XriepMhRrtmExFH3dlmSnlmNgGULn6huquJfDOJI98UuJ_oZ5Fsxvd8_-sjWvmzPCi8FMrHiNJv1bFqhbDi9XUGYk_Dx5Q7E/s1600/Giveaway+hamper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZo0ZUeYV8gSyWBIxoJXXLPniWNS3Er6NdlDHBhk1og5XriepMhRrtmExFH3dlmSnlmNgGULn6huquJfDOJI98UuJ_oZ5Fsxvd8_-sjWvmzPCi8FMrHiNJv1bFqhbDi9XUGYk_Dx5Q7E/s320/Giveaway+hamper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yet it is also the most commonly missed meal. According to</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></span></span></b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">
dietician Kelly Francis, spending breakfast time together
as a family has a noticeable, positive effect on the children’s learning
and wellbeing. She says “It
is important that families sit down at breakfast time as a family. We
teach our children how to walk, talk, but we forget that it’s important
to teach them how to eat properly, to fuel their body with the right
kind of foods. It’s about being an example and conscious of what we are
teaching our children”. </span></span></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">According to Francis, breakfast provides the
body and brain with fuel after an overnight fast (that's where its name
originates, breaking the fast). "Without breakfast the body is
effectively running on empty, it’s like trying to start a car with no
petrol!”</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Studies
indicate that breakfast helps children feel more alert and be in a
better mood in the morning. That first meal of the day supports
concentration in the classroom and helps fuel physical activity on the
playing field which can translate into more fun. Breakfast intake has
also been associated with improved memory, test grades and school
attendance. Parents
who encourage breakfast time with their children also encourage a
healthy relationship with food and healthier snacking habits.Research has shown that children who start their day with breakfast
tend to have a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) and less chance of being
overweight or obese. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kellogg's believe that healthy eating habits </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> in adulthood start with education in your
childhood. So if you don’t already, try and take the time to ensure
your children are properly fueled with breakfast, to feed not only their
tummies, but their minds too.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">“Children
must focus on putting the right nutrients in their bodies as soon as
they wake up. This will ensure they can learn and grow, and become the
best they can be<i>,”</i> Francis adds. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Unfortunately,
many households do not always have access to breakfast and almost one
in five children in South Africa goes without breakfast every single
day. Kellogg’s South Africa has aimed to combat this issue with its
Breakfast for Better Days™ initiative (read more about the programme and Jozi WAHM's involvement <span style="color: #674ea7;"><a href="http://joziwahm.blogspot.co.za/2016/03/the-real-hunger-games-kelloggs.html">here</a>).</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enough about all that now, who who wants some delicious cereal? Enter here following the Rafflecopter prompts below. You don't need to follow all steps but the more you follow, the more entries you get. Don't forget to share with a hungry, cereal loving friend!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ENTER HERE:</span></b> </span></span><br />
<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="b6817c086" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b6817c086/" id="rcwidget_yiugnpgu" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">*This competition closes on 25 May 2016. Entries only open to South African entrants and winners will be chosen randomly using Rafflecopter and random.org</span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">**This is not a paid post. However, Kellogg's South Africa will be sponsoring the prize and are responsible for delivery of prizes. </span></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00723032914536470255noreply@blogger.com0