February 11, 2019 2 Mins Read

One Beary Beautiful Night Sky for Kids with Chicco First Dreams Baby Bear

A cuddly bear, projector, music maker and nightlight all in one.

The Chicco First Dreams Baby Bear night light is probably one of our (my and Lexa’s) favourite items ever. It is the perfect little bear for her to cuddle with and even I love watching the stars against the ceiling with her.

Way back when we bought Lexa a nightlight, a turtle. She never paid any interest in it even if the turtle made the most beautiful starry display – all because she couldn’t hug a soft body. This Chicco Bear… now that piqued her interest.

What I like about the Chicco Baby Bear night light:

The plush bear is super soft
The starry display that changes colour
Can wash it once the electronic box is removed
Can switch the sound on or off
Simple to use for kids

We’ve had the bear for over a month now and the bear is still going with no stitching coming loose, music and lights still working – and that is 2 washes later!

What I didn’t like about the Chicco Baby Bear night light:

I struggled to get the electronic box back in place perfectly again so the button aligns to the hole. We just added an extra piece of fabric to push it in place and it’s good to go.

Information

The bears are available in pink and blue and retails on Takealot for R599.
The dimensions of the bear are 20.3 x 25 x 31 cm.
It weighs 1.8kg!
30 minutes of melodies in the genres of classical, jazz, new age and nature sounds.
Star projection with automatic colour change.

Note: We received the Chicco First Dreams Baby Bear to test and review. However the review is unpaid and my own opinion.

February 11, 2019 1 Min Read

‘n ietsie vir jou

Net vandag, net vir jou
‘n drukkie in jou oor
‘n soentjie op jou hart
net jy sal weet, want dis net vir jou

February 7, 2019 2 Mins Read

It’s the end of the world as we know it…

I wish I had 2 seconds to rub together… seriously, just 2 seconds to myself. My husband was in hospital for a week.

If I was a stay at home mom it would be my sole job to look after the kids and cook – so it probably wouldn’t have impacted me as much. I’m not a stay at home mom, I work full time and have clients that expect services and deliverables. I can’t say I’ll do it tomorrow as if it’s nothing, if I don’t deliver my clients’ bread and butter getsaffected and then I might lose my client.

I probably haven’t slept more than 4 hours a day (since husband got admitted) and none of those hours were continuous. I haven’t been able to sit and work when the kids are off to bed because I am just so tired.

Getting up for 2 kids all hours of the night and then having to sit and wait for the nanny that arrives late every morning has me climbing up the walls. Every day she is late I am late and to me being late is the absolute end of the world. I get anxious and angry plus then add the tiredness and I’m a red hot fire that needs to contain itself.

Don’t get me wrong, I love working from home and not sitting in traffic to Sandton every day. However, I wish I could sit and work anywhere in my house without a toddler trying to get in on the laptop action by screaming like an absolute terror.

I can moan if I want to, because it’s hard to have a career/business and still be a parent when your co-parent isn’t around.

February 6, 2019 2 Mins Read

Dischem BoobaLoo Expo for Moms, Tots & Babies {WIN}

Too much baby stuff this week on my blog!

The BIGGEST Baby and Toddler Expo to hit my neighbour city, Pretoria, is happening on 1, 2 & 3 March 2019 at the Sun Arena. This year you can once again expect the same high level of products and services, expert seminars, amazing show specials, exciting competitions, live entertainment and more.

You can get your tickets at Computicket or enter this competition to win a set.

About Dischem BoobaLoo Expo

The expo provides knowledge-hungry new parents the opportunity to engage with professionals for indispensable advice and workshops. New Parents can join engaging seminars and hands-on workshops held by expert educators, physicians, and renowned brands under one roof, delivering the tools and education families need for their growing household.

Follow the Dischem BoobaLoo Expo on:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/BoobaLoo.Baby.Expo
Instagram: https://instagram.com/boobaloobabyexpo
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/boobaloobabyexp

How to enter:

Tag a friend on the Facebook post.
Follow the Dischem BoobaLoo Expo on Facebook
Leave a comment on this blog post that you would like to go and that you have followed the first 2 steps.

T&Cs

You have to be able to get to the expo in Pretoria. This prize excludes transport and accommodation.
I will need your name and contact details as you will need to pick up your tickets at the door.
The prize is sponsored by the event organizers.
Competition closes on 20 February 2019.
Winner will be selected by random draw.
If winner cannot attend the tickets will be offered to the next random draw winner.

February 5, 2019 3 Mins Read

The last thing I want to think about… diaper rash – It’s a kind of #PampersAirMagic

Last week Thursday I dropped my husband off at hospital. It is almost a week later and he is still there. I have barely had time to do any work, let alone write a blog post. I feel overwhelmed and developed a cold from being so run down… the last thing I want to have to worry about is a baby bum or diaper rash (on top of no sleep and no time for myself).

We first bought Pampers Baby-Dry #PampersAirMagic with “2 Air channels” in December as Lexa suddenly developed an extremely bad diaper rash and no cream worked. We literally went into Dischem to see if we could find a diaper alternative. When we first unpacked the newly launched Pampers our first thought was that the diaper was quite thin compared to her old diapers – but diaper rashes make you try pretty much anything – am I right?

Pampers Baby-Dry #PampersAirMagic with “2 Air channels”

It is important for companies like Pampers to be innovative and not just rest on their tried and tested formulas. I know that with the launch of #PampersAirMagic #PampersAirMagicMoment Air Channel in their Pampers Baby-Dry range Pampers has established a new standard of excellence.

If it wasn’t for this campaign I probably wouldn’t even have thought about checking what makes this diaper different. Now I know…

Pampers Baby-Dry #PampersAirMagic with “2 Air channels” allows air to flow directly to your baby’s bum, for breathable dryness. #PampersBabyDry has been specially designed to distribute wetness evenly from front the back across nappy and lock it away even better allowing your baby to enjoy up to 12 hours of dryness.

Airflow directly to baby’s skin eliminates hot and moist skin that can cause rashes.
These Pampers nappies are less bulky and don’t sag giving babies and toddlers a little more comfort and freedom to move about.
They also sport anti-leakage barriers to help prevent those little accidents leaking out.
The innerlayer has micropearls that are able to absorb up to 30x of its own weight and help lock away wetness for up to 12 hours.
It also has a dry layer that absorbs the wetness and keeps it away from baby’s bum.
Smaller sizes also have a wetness indicator.

Find it on the shelves

I know that not all babies have the same urine pattern, but find a diaper that works for your baby’s bum health, after all nobody wants to have to deal with diaper rash and an unhappy baby.

If however you want o try this out, look on the Pampers packs for these symbols:

This is a paid campaign and I have received product to test – however, Lexa has been wearing Pampers Baby-Dry #PampersAirMagic with “2 Air channels” since December 2018 already. #ad #sponsoredpost

February 1, 2019 1 Min Read

tel die enkellopendes

6 stoele om ‘n cafétafel
4 mense wat daar gesels
2 afwesig
1 is almal

January 31, 2019 2 Mins Read

Make this delicious Lindt Fondant at home

Do you wonder about how the stuff looks before they hit the shelves and you enjoy them? Since doing the spice tour on Zanzibar Island and the Vanilla tour on Reunion Island it fascinates me even more than before.

From pod with fleshy white interior to cocoa beans… and then pure chocolate cocoa to what I’ll be eating.

Lindt Dark Fondant Pudding Recipe

Ingredients

100g 70% Excellence Lindt Chocolate
100g butter
50g egg yolk (of 2 large eggs)
100g eggs (white and yolk)
50g flour
20g castor sugar
4 white Lindor Truffles

Method

Place the butter and chocolate into a bowl and melt. Set aside when all is melted.
Whisk the eggs until it is pale/light.
Add the chocolate to the mixture and stir in the flour and sugar mix.
Cook and Spray your fondant ramekins.
Pipe the mixture into the ramekins – leaving about 1cm at the top.
Bake 7 to 9 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
Make a small incision into the fondant and insert the Lindor Truffle.
Unmold into a place.
Serve hot and with a scoop of ice cream.

Notes

You can double up the recipe, but take into consideration if you pour all your hot chocolate into the whisked eggs you will have scrambled chocolate eggs. Nobody will be eating that.
Add castor sugar in the bottom of the fondant ramekin for an extra crunch.
Don’t leave your fondant in the ramekin to cool down, it will continue cooking.
Don’t substitute chocolates… This recipe is 100% perfect and the fondant is sweet as honey.
Do book the class with the Lindt studio in Jozi or Cape Town… it is really amazing.

January 30, 2019 3 Mins Read

Retrenchee to entrepreneur – get inspired by MUD SA owner Brenda Botha

Last year I was invited to a PR event to learn more about MUD South Africa. Little did I know that we would be meeting the owner, Brenda Botha – or that she would be so relatable.

I have been holding onto this piece about MUD since July! Inbetween we went to Reunion Island and we had another baby… but it was always there just waiting. I’ve rewritten it so many times because it felt like I didn’t do the experience or brand justice.

Retrenchment is coming…

A few months before Brenda was retrenched from her job at a cosmetics company she per chance met an owner of a South African based cosmetics company. At the time she wasn’t interested, but she took the card anyway.

After her retrenchment she decided to Google the company South African Mud Cosmetics but the website was down – instead she stumbled upon MUD in LA. She immediately fell in love with the brand and knew that this is what she wanted to do. She ordered samples…

When her MUD samples arrived, her fate was sealed.

Bringing MUD to South Africa

At first MUD wasn’t interested in expanding into South Africa, but Brenda was determined. Eventually she met with the LA-based owners and she made it happen!

It hasn’t always been easy for this non-corporate company with it’s small marketing budget in the beginning. However now MUD South Africa supplies professional make-up kits to students and make-up artists, train make-up artists and offer make-up services to the public. There are professional make-up kits as well as direct-to-consumer products.

What you need to know about MUD

MUD believes the true purpose of make-up is to correct, cover and conceal.

MUD products are pigmented, lasts longer and uses higher quality ingredients.
Quality comes down to the milling and pressing too.
Quality control – Each batch of products has to be quality approved before it gets sent out to customers.
MUD covers professional and home user products.
All MUD make-up artists have to complete their training at one of MUD’s training facilities.

MUD South Africa is owned by a woman that had the determination to realize her dream – even after retrenchment.

What you need to know about Brenda Botha

Brenda was raised in the small Karoo town, Middleburg, and matriculated in Bloemfontein.
She went on to study Somatology and practiced as a beauty therapist for one of South Africa’s award-winning skincare brands.
She has the prestigious CIDESCO qualification for Beauty and Aesthetics under her belt and over 10 years’ experience in the beauty industry.

My MUD experience

What struck me most about MUD is the versatility and pigment in the products. The demonstration at the PR event included a day-to-night make-up look with a single palette; as well as a demonstration on using eyeshadow as lipstick; Swatching ourselves with eyeshadows and lipsticks was encouraged too.

I loved the magnetic palette casings that you could fill with all your favourite colors
The lipsticks…

I fell in love with this brand too, just like owner Brenda Botha. I also got to take home a little bit of her dream in the form of a MUD palette that I have been using regularly ever since.

Since the PR event I have been toying with the idea of following my dream too… and it involves makeup and investing in myself. Plus now that I’m on the road of not spending on doctors…

January 29, 2019 2 Mins Read

Reunion Island: Volcano and Volcano Museum

We went all the way to Reunion Island and didn’t even get to see the volcano – how crazy is that!?

We stayed in La Plaine des Cafres, the closest town to Piton de la Fournaise. It is only 27km… but can take you anything from 50 minutes to actually get to and from the volcano.

The road, as all roads on Reunion Island, is the stuff that nightmare are made of. They are narrow. They wind around sharp curves. They are scary as hell – but with spectacular views.

It was raining that day, but we thought the rain may stop and we might get view. We were too optimistic… it got worse. The black volcanic landscape eerily unfolded in the mist and rain. The vast empty landscape was beautiful, unusual and magical.

It was still an experience to just get to the top…

“The journey not the arrival matters.” –T.S. Eliot

If you are staying over in La Plaine des Cafres you might as well visit the Volcano Museum. The rock (or lava) samples were really interesting and Lexa loved getting her little hands on all the moving and interactive parts of the exhibition.

If you haven’t read the other posts about our Reunion Island family holiday, here are the article links:

January 28, 2019 2 Mins Read

Heerlike Lindt Fondant Resep

Wonder jy hoe goed lyk voordat hulle op die rakke beland en jy dit verorber? Sedert speseryplaas-toer op Zanzibar-eiland en die Vanilla-toer op Reunion-eiland, fasineer dit my selfs meer.

Van pod met vlesige wit binneste tot kakaobone… en dan suiwer sjokoladekakao.

Lindt Donker Fondant Nagereg

Bestanddele

100g 70% Excellence Lindt Sjokolade
100g botter
50g eiergeel (van 2 groot eiers)
100g eiers (wit en eiergeel)
50g koekmeel (sonder selfrysmiddel)
20g strooisuiker
4 wit Lindor Truffels

Metode

Plaas die botter en sjokolade in ‘n bak en smelt. Sit opsy sodra alles mooi gesmelt is.
Klits die eiers totdat dit liggeel is.
Voeg die sjokolade by die mengsel en roer die meel en suikermengsel by.
Spuit jou remakins met Cook & Spray.
Gebruik ‘n “piping bag” om jou mengsel in die ramekins te spuit. Stop so 1cm van die bokant af.
Bak 7 tot 9 minute teen 180 grade Celsius.
Maak ‘n klein snit in die fondant en plaas die Lindor Truffle binne-in.
Bedien warm en met ‘n skeppie roomys.

Notas

Jy kan die resep verdubbel, maar neem in ag dat warm sjokolade jou eiers gaan kook (jig!.
Voeg strooisuiker in die bodem van die fondant ramekin vir ‘n ekstra kraak.
Moenie jou fondant in die ramekin laat afkoel nie, dit sal aanhou bak.
Moenie sjokolade vervang nie … Hierdie resep is 100% volmaak en die fondant is soet soos heuning.
Bespreek die klas by een van die die Lindt-ateljees in Jozi of Kaapstad. Dit is regtig wonderlik.

Susann