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It was an exceptional year of big birthdays and launches for Barbie this year – and I was there!

Barbie made her first appearance on 9 March 1959 – 59 years ago! Since then she has been updated in colours, shapes and sizes to be more inclusive. She now also has more careers to inspire girls to be more when they grow up – and it is for this reason that I’m including Barbie on my gift guide.

Over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide!

Barbie® Color Surprise™ doll

As a kid I would’ve killed to have a Barbie like this. You (or your little girl) can change the color of Barbie® doll’s hair from pretty pastel shades to bolder, brighter hues with ice cold water. Simply spray with the included bottle and watch her pastel pink, blue and purple hair become bold pink, teal and purple streaks. Use the four hair stencils (with iconic patterns) and stencil tool to create designs as you spritz water to alter the doll’s hair colors for unique, customized looks.

Barbie® Dreamtopia Rainbow Cove Castle

A beautiful castle inspired by the colorful land of Rainbow Cove™ will spark all kinds of storytelling. It has four magical play spaces and 15 pieces, that include a puppy.

Barbie® Cooking & Baking Ultimate Kitchen

Your daughter’s Barbie could have the Ultimate Kitchen playset with working features and amazing accessories! Kids will have all the ingredients they need to prepare delicious dishes, from simple snacks for one to gourmet dinners for family and friends!

Barbie® DreamCamper™

Now this is my favourite! It reminds me so much of all my family holidays as a child… We never had a camper, but we camped everywhere and saw so much of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. I was a very lucky child to have grown up in a time where our adventurous spirit could still just hit the road.

The amazing Barbie® DreamCamper™ transforms from a stylish RV into a spectacular campsite – with 35+ pieces and endless ways to play!

Everybody wants a Fashionista that looks like them – right?

Barbie now has so many different shapes, sizes and colours that you might just be lucky enough to find your doppelganger in the Fashionista range. My personal favourites include:

Barbie® Fashionistas™ Doll 97 – Petite with Brunette Waves
Barbie® Fashionistas® Doll 48 Daisy Pop – Curvy
Barbie® Fashionista® Doll 67 Cactus Cutie – Tall

Career Girl Dolls – Inspire your Daughter

Have you heard of the Dream Gap Project? If not, click here to read more.

Barbie® Robotics Engineer Doll
Barbie® Chef & Waiter Dolls
Barbie® Astronaut & Space Scientist Dolls

This year is so close to the end I can almost smell Christmas cake!

It was a BIG year for us. First learning that our surrogate is expecting our baby and then finally holding the little ting-ting. Lexa became a big sister! We also found Sandton at the SPCA last year December and he finally moved in all the way from Polokwane mid-January. I got to go to Reunion Island with Lexa, my hubby, my mom (who got her first off-Africa passport stamp) and dad – and had a blast. It wasn’t all good news unfortunately… My mom got diagnosed with blood cancer  a month or 2 after our big island adventure – but she is still undergoing treatment and doing OK with my dad right by her side as always.

“At Christmas, all roads lead home.” – Marjorie Holmes

My gift guide picks for women bosses/boss babes

This year I’m making a simple picking of some of my favourite things that range from affordable to scandalous. I’m a Boss and I know what I’d want 🙂

“Smile and Slay.
You have to slay it in life or life will slay you.”
― Janna Cachola

Help her take care of herself

Not all gifts have to be expensive, but sometimes the more affordable gifts will become favourites. It’s not a secret that I love Matsimela products and that my house is stocked to the rafters with everything from fizz balls to hand creams from them.

Get the boss babe in your life this hand & nail repair cream because it fits right into one of her car’s cup holders – always ready for her to take care of her hands.

Baobab Seed – Intensive hand and nail repair

You can also browse through the rest of their website to check what else you can add into a nice little package. She will love it, I promise. You can also check out all that I’ve written about Matsimela here.

Help her relax a little

Everyone needs a little something-something to help them relax – especially if you are out there making business happen. This Stoneglow candle from The Whimsical Whippet is one of my absolute favourite things with its delicate notes of oolong tea, infused with bergamot and mandarin, are lightly combined with bamboo, lemongrass and bittersweet neroli.

Bling her up with something personal, but not too girly!

I love wearing letter jewellery, it makes a statement “It says I am who I am and I love it!”. I wear an S on my right ring finger that I bought from Lovisa a couple of years ago but I won’t mind adding an S to my neck 🙂 Hallo Jane has a nice little disk with cut-out letter and its not too expensive.

A pen to get contracts signed

I believe in rocking up to meetings with a good pen, scrap that, a great pen. There is something about holding a pen that won’t let you down and looks like it cost more than R20… (It is true what they say about spending money to make money.) Best pens in the world since I got my first one in primary school is PARKER. There is nothing wrong with choosing a Parker Jotter or Parker IM, but… once you’ve held an uber premium Parker you will want one for your business meetings too.

Parker – Urban Premium Silver Powdered Chrome Trim Fountain Pen

A sweet for my sweet 🙂

Get her a new bottle of her favourite fragrance or the one she’s been lusting after. I would highly recommend Olympea, it is feminine, but still strong. This is actually what hubby got for me for Xmas…

As charming as a modern goddess and just as disarming. Salty-vanilla, watery jasmine and ginger flower wrapped in cashmere. A divine potion of addictive sensuality. As soft and enveloping as skin.

A great business bag!

As a business woman I like to have impressive bags and shoes that attract attention – telling people that this woman has it made and they should be doing business with her. The bags that I would like to add to my arsenal are all made in South Africa and they are gorgeous!

This black and tan business bag from Wild Leather Co is amazing! They do have it in a selection of other colours, but… I love this 2 tone.

I can see clearly now…

The essential gift for every working woman that spends hours and hours on her laptop… My eyesight is perfect but next year I am going to get blue-blocker lenses and I will need frames that look amazing. This is what I’m looking at in terms of colour and style – this pair is from SNOB Milano. The best part is, it  is also available with blue lenses if you don’t want reading glasses!

MILF SNV09-C05Z Cyclamen pink frame

By the way the SNOB Milano Optical Collection has a magnetic flatlens clip-on feature! Reading to sunnies with 1 frame and an extra set of dark lenses is all you/she’ll need.

Peels scare me. I don’t like the idea that my skin may be burnt (with chemicals) and I can’t leave the house because I’ll look like a monster for the next few days. This all changed when I went for an Optiphi 30|30 Peel at Life Day Spa in Rosebank.

The Optiphi 3030 Peel takes 60 minutes – but you can also opt for the 30 minute version. When you walk out, you can go back to the office… gasp! You read that right, there is NO DOWNTIME!

I know you are asking yourself if it then really works…

My take on the Optiphi 30|30 Peel

It does work! It has been just over 3 weeks since the peel and this is what I’ve noticed about my skin:

  1. Lines around my eyes reduced
  2. My cheeks, which always looks inflamed, no longer has a bright red glow but rather a slight pink tinge
  3. I haven’t had a breakout again – and I was on the road to KZN, stayed in a gross hospital for a night, went to the beach… and by now I should’ve had some real nasty zits
  4. It may be my imagination, but my pores seem smaller – and I’m using less pore refining cream under my makeup – my sister will tell me when she sees me
  5. My skin doesn’t look tired anymore

I spoke to the beauty therapist and she says that they recommend a few rounds of the Optiphi Peel with a 2 week “resting” period after the first round.

What the Optiphi 30|30 Peel is meant for:

  1. Alleviating skin sensitivity and redness
  2. Reducing sun damage, pigmentation, acne scarring and uneven skintone
    (I can’t confirm if my pigmentation has improved… I have loads of freckles and studying patterns on my face makes me dizzy)
  3. Rehydrating your skin and helps to improve suppleness
  4. Refining pores
  5. Reducing fine lines and wrinkles
  6. Reinforcing the skin’s protective barrier
  7. Enhancing skin radiance and vitality

How does it work?

Research indicates that photo-damage and sun-induced aging are some of the most prevalent skin concerns on a global scale. Optiphi has recently developed an advanced professional peeling procedure to help alleviate this skin condition. The new 30|30 Peel is an ingenious combination of 30% Glycolic Acid, 30% Ascorbic Acid and Glycyrrhetinic Acid, taking the trusted Optiphi Skin Rejuvenation Treatments to new heights. This trio of acids, synergistically and directly
targets the signs of UV-induced aging.

Once you are at the spa, you get into a robe and slippers and make your way to the treatment rooms upstairs (Life Day Spa Rosebank) and then you go into a treatment room. First you get a “massaging facial” which is pre-peeling preparation part of the treatment. Then the glycolic acid peel is applied which will make your skin feel tingly or as if something is crawling over your skin. The therapist will keep the peel on for as long as she thinks it’s necessary. When the peel is removed a post-peel “cream” is applied to calm the skin.

Can you see my acne scarring, redness and sun damage?

After they remove everything and you are on your way home (or the office), your treatment is actually still hard at work just under the surface of your skin. If it is a sunny day you may be asked to put on a sunscreen, but you will be able to go back to work.

The big question – how much does it cost?

Currently Life Day Spa Rosebank lists the pricing as R550 for the 30 minute treatment and R770 for the hour treatment. However they have the Optiphi Skin Rejuvenation Peel – Package of Six (30 min)  for R3150. If you book 6 x 30 minute sessions it will cost you R3300 and if you book 6 x hour sessions it will cost you R4620.

As soon as I’ve recuperated from paying all the medical bills for the surrogate I want to do a series of 6 treatments. I was that impressed with the peel!

If you want to find out more about Optiphi products and treatments, find your nearest store or spa on this page.

I know you love free stuff just before Xmas, so today I am giving you the chance to win a bunch of little charms for your memory locket (or for someone you would like to gift this to). If you don’t win you can still get these on Everything4Less.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

T&Cs

  1. This prize is sponsored by Goddess Blog and Everything4Less.
  2. Only completed entries will count.
  3. The free prize draw is open to all fans of Goddess, who are Residents of South Africa and over the age of 18.
  4. By entering the prize draw, you are deemed to have read and accepted these terms and conditions. All entry instructions form part of these terms and conditions.
  5. If the winner is chosen and there are noted irregularities (i.e. the email address or person does not exist, is not delivered to a person, or is forwarded to a person with a different identity etc.) the winner will be disqualified and a new winner will be drawn.
  6. Any entries received after the closing date will be invalid. Goddess accepts no responsibility for any errors of any other kind which may restrict or delay the sending or receipt of an entry, or for delayed or lost entries.
  7. If we are unable to contact a prize winner, we reserve the right to pick another.
  8. All entries will be examined and the prize shall be awarded to the winner selected at random by Goddess from all eligible participants who have correctly entered the prize draw in accordance with entry instructions. No correspondence will be entered into.
  9. The winners will be notified via Facebook and/or Instagram, and the prizes will be issued as soon as possible.
  10. The winner has 48 hours to respond after the winner announcement.
  11. The prize will be delivered via courier.
  12. Prizes are not redeemable for cash.
  13. Goddess reserve the right to cancel or change the promotion at any time and will endeavour to give you advance notice of any such change or withdrawal. However, in some cases, advance notice may not be possible.
  14. Prize: a bunch of Memory Locket charms.
  15. Competition closes 30 November 2018.

We went to Reunion Island in 2018 with my elderly parents and 2 year old daughter on a self-drive/self-catering holiday for 9 days.

Here are my Reunion Island travel tips:

  1. Rent the smallest possible car that will fit your luggage (gasp). We rented a Renault Trafic 9 seater mini bus… and it was a scary drive! The roads are quite narrow and most of the town and scenic routes have a ditch on the right (passenger side) and a barely there yellow line shoulder. Plus you get to drive a left hand drive… Take the super waiver damage cover because plant life most certainly will hang over the road when the road is at its narrowest with a car coming from the front.
  2. Eat where the locals eat. The food will be traditional Creole and the portions bigger for a lot less. Check out for the takeaways painted in the Dodo beer colours.
  3. Learn some French or install a translation app on your phone. A lot of the locals, including business owners and staff, do not speak English.
  4. Sundays and Mondays not all attractions are open- this also extends to restaurants. However, if all else fails, go to the beach. If you happen to stumble over some black sand and rocks on the beach it’s probably volcanic rock.
  5. If you want to swim and sit on a great beach… look for the beach route. The best beaches stretch from Plage des Brisants to Plage de Boucan Canot – around Saint-Gilles.
  6. Install Google Offline Maps for Reunion Island. These maps have all the roads and most attractions. Plus you don’t need to delete them when you get home because they expire. Get the steps here.

You may also be interested in reading my article How much does (it) cost on Reunion Island?

Another Johannesburg perfume sale… just in time for Xmas presents! This is not the usual Johannesburg perfume sale that is held in Kramerville… This perfume sale is at the Edenvale Bowling Club and has different brands. Last time I bought a Lady Emblem perfume and Jimmy Choo… I think I may have too many perfumes!
This sale is not as big as the Kramerville perfume sale but worth the drive if you like these brands (that may be available at the sale):
  • Jimmy Choo
  • MontBlanc
  • Dunhill
  • Ted Lapidus
  • Kim Kardasian
  • Balmain
  • Repetto
  • Rihanna
  • Rochas
  • Ferrari
  • Oscar de la Renta
  • Abercrombie & Fitch
  • Hollister
  • Boucheron
  • Lanvin
  • Paul Smith
There will also maybe be GOSH cosmetics as well as DogFight, Boss, Lanco, Tomato, Buren and Tommy Hilfiger jewellery (read watches).
As per usual… expect queues, don’t take handbags or a pram. They don’t accept cash so take your debit or credit card. Take water, put on sunscreen and let me know what you got!

Where is this perfume sale?

Edenvale Bowling Club

When is this perfume sale?

30 November 2018 from 9 to 6
1 December 2018 from 9 to 5
2 December 2018 from 9.30 to 3
Johannesburg Perfume Sale November 2018

I can hear a little magic in the air. Everything seems a little more brighter, colourful and festive… and we all plan to indulge just a little more than usual. I can’t wait to see my family and spend Christmas eve around the table!

Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling. Edna Ferber

Treat Your Friends & Family to Parisian-Inspired Coffee and Petit Fours

There’s a certain je ne sais quoi about the festive season that tantalises our senses and heightens our expectation, so why not up the ante and treat your loved ones to Parisian-inspired coffee and petit fours? ​Nespresso has launched their annual Limited Edition ​Variations coffees, made with Parisian treats in mind. These coffees, inspired by the traditional French flavours of Parisian patisseries, including Macaron and Praliné, are the crème de la crème of decadent delight. These treats are perfect for any summer soiree and sharing special moments with loved ones throughout the festive season.

To bring these flavours to life, Nespresso has modernised the traditional praline choux. Together with the ​Variations ​Paris Praliné espresso, the hazelnut, chocolate, cream and dark chocolate all come together to remind you of this timeless Parisian dessert.

Give this recipe a try; it’s sheer Parisian chic in a cup.

Variations Paris Praliné ​​ ​Indulgence

1 capsule ​Variations Paris Praline​​, brewed as an espresso 100 ml milk 1 teaspoon Hazelnut Crumbs 1 teaspoon Dark Chocolate Shavings 2 teaspoons Chocolate Spread

Here’s how to make it: Pour 2 teaspoons of chocolate spread into a cup. Extract the coffee over it. Froth your milk and pour on top of the coffee​. Sprinkle some crumbs and dark chocolate shavings on top and enjoy!

Plan a Picnic

The days are long and the weather is fine; it would be a waste not to take advantage of this age-old cliché by spending these glorious moments inside. Grab some pillows and blankets, savoury snacks, sweet summer fruits and a flask of iced coffee, and head on over to your favourite picnic spot or lakeside vista for the kind of déjà vu you’ll want to have again and again.

Pro tip: a great way to kick your iced coffee up a notch is to infuse ice cubes with interesting flavoured syrups. As the day gets warmer and the ice melts, your drink will slowly but surely change flavour.

Head Out on a Road Trip

We live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and the lush landscape in December is just begging to be explored. The open road with a great playlist and even better company is a great way to spend quality time while discovering all of the wonders that South Africa has to offer. Charge a couple of ​Nespresso travel mugs with your favourite brew, fill your picnic baskets and let your wanderlust lead the way.

Indulge in Coffee Cocktails – Poolside

Wonderful, warm summer days make sipping on an iced glass of your favourite ​Nespresso coffee next to the pool the place where paradise is found. Beat the heat and enjoy your caffeine kick in a new and exciting way – try it with a few blocks of flavoured ice, or simply add your favourite flavoured syrup or ice cream; why not smear the sides of your glass with a chocolate spread or add a tot of rosewater or even tonic for a refreshing twist? Grab your towel, lounge on your pool lounger, and enjoy the sun whilst sipping on a refreshingly iced coffee cocktail par excellence.

Recipe to Try:

​ Variations Paris Macaron ​​ With Almond Milk

1 capsule ​Variations Paris Macaron​​, brewed as Espresso 30 ml Almond Milk 10 ml Almond Syrup 4 Ice cubes

Here’s how to make it: Pour the almond syrup into a cup. Place 4 big ice cubes in the glass.

Pour in the almond milk. Extract the coffee over it. Add the remaining two ice cubes and mix. Et voila!

To celebrate the launch of the Limited Edition ​Variations range, ​Nespresso is offering you two free Touch Lungo Cups for every 15​ Variations sleeves from 26 November to 4 January. If you buy 25 sleeves, ​Nespresso​​ will sweeten the deal with four free Touch Lungo Cups.

What’s more, from 14 December to 4 January, if you purchase 15 ​Variations sleeves, you can get your hands on two boxes of ​Nespresso’s bespoke milk and dark chocolate. If you buy 25 sleeves, four chocolate boxes will be yours. Nespresso ​Limited Edition Variations are available now from ​Nespresso ​​Boutiques and Booths worldwide, as well as through orders from the ​Nespresso Club ​​on 0800 637773 or online at ​www.buynespresso.com​.

2 years ago I lost my beloved Genie. He was mine for 16 years. He was the most beautiful little person who loved me right back. He meant more to me than anything.

2 years before that I found him unconscious on the grass after work. He was still breathing and we immediately rushed to the vet. He was diagnosed with diabetes – and I didn’t notice that his weight loss was too rapid for the diet he was on. He was in hospital for a week and I was there from 3 to closing time every day.

He got well enough to come home – with his insulin injections. I opted to do the unthinkable, to take on the care of a cat that is insulin dependent – who would have to get his injection at the same time every day. It was Genie, for Genie I would do anything.

Today I took my kitten, Sandton to the vet for a check-up. Every single time I walk in through those doors it is like a punch in the gut. They gave Genie and I as much time together as they could, but still… I was already emotional by the time I got home and then a newsletter from Hills about cat diseases, Diabetes Mellitus.

So here it is, a link so you can know what to look for.

If you’ve stepped out into any toy store recently you would’ve noticed a “larger than normal” presence of Mickey Mouse (and Minnie) toys. This is due to the big birthday coming up on 18 November – and here you were thinking it was for Xmas.

Since I have a baby just days away I thought I’d start with all the wonderful Disney Baby things you can get – thanks to Prima Baby.

The Disney Baby ring rattle is the cutest little thing, perfect for little hands to grab onto. So colourful and perfect for those precious early play times.

I did say I’m going all out baby for this post… Wouldn’t you want a Mickey Comforter? I can see many fun play time hours on this!

I do have bottles from number 1, but a girl can look – can’t she?

 

And of course you can also get a milk powder dispenser with Minnie or Mickey on it.

DISNEY BABY MICKEY MILK POWDER DISPENSER

Now we are getting to the part where baby is getting a little older with itchy gums and little hands that want to explore and touch everything – and this Disney Baby Mickey Mouse teether activity toy is just what baby will want.

It’s not all about the plushies… anything with wheels was always a winner for Lexa and I’m hoping little miss Lily will also enjoy a bit of vroom-vroom. Can I have this for my desk – pretty please!

DISNEY BABY MICKEY RACING KART

One of the very first things Lexa mastered was to sort shapes – and that was before she was 1! Her shape sorter wasn’t this fancy, but you never know what may arrive from all the aunts and uncles!

DISNEY BABY MICKEY AND FRIENDS SHAPE SORTER

You can never have too many rattles! Lexa had a few and inevitable they all ended up being missing for a few days. Plus the little car is a soft teether. (2-in-1 mum!)

DISNEY BABY MICKEY KEY RATTLE
DISNEY BABY MICKEY KEY RATTLE

I have a thing for cameras so this list would not be complete without me sneaking in a cute camera!

There are so many toys I would like to include on this list, but you will be reading all day if I did! However, I can tell you that toys aren’t the only things you can get from Disney Baby either…

Some people say don’t give a dummy and others swear by it. For me personally I don’t see why a baby can’t use a dummy when they need it in the early years. This Disney baby natural pacifier is only suitable for 6+ months, but it is just too sweet not to include on the list.

When you have a pacifier, you need a pacifier case – because there is nothing worse than thinking of all the germs floating in the air with a new baby.

Then, when baby is older you will need plates, spoons and other utensils!

DISNEY BABY MICKEY MICRO SET

DISNEY BABY MICKEY CUTLERY TRAVEL SET

Win a Disney Baby Mickey & Minnie Mouse plushie set!

Prima Baby has generously sponsored a Disney Baby Mickey Activity Plush and Disney Baby Minnie Activity Plush combo. I’m kind of jealous that I can’t enter my own competitions, but I’m going to be so happy for whomever gets to have these little rascals!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&Cs

  • Competition closes 18 November 2018
  • Prize is sponsored by Prima Baby.
  • Prize consists of a Disney Baby Mickey Activity Plush and Disney Baby Minnie Activity Plush combo.
  • Only completed entries will count.
  • The competition is open to all fans of Goddess, who are Residents of South Africa and over the age of 18.
  • By entering the competition, you are deemed to have read and accepted these terms and conditions. All entry instructions form part of these terms and conditions.
  • If the winner is chosen and there are noted irregularities (i.e. the email address or person does not exist, is not delivered to a person, or is forwarded to a person with a different identity etc.) the winner will be disqualified and a new winner will be drawn.
  • Any entries received after the closing date will be invalid. Goddess accepts no responsibility for any errors of any other kind which may restrict or delay the sending or receipt of an entry, or for delayed or lost entries.
  • If we are unable to contact a prize winner, we reserve the right to pick another.
  • All entries will be examined and the prize shall be awarded to the winner selected at random by Goddess from all eligible participants who have correctly entered the prize draw in accordance with entry instructions. No correspondence will be entered into.
  • The winners will be notified via Facebook and/or Instagram, and the prizes will be issued as soon as possible.
  • The winner has 48 hours to respond after the winner announcement.
  • The prize will be delivered via courier.
  • Prizes are not redeemable for cash.
  • Goddess reserve the right to cancel or change the promotion at any time and will endeavour to give you advance notice of any such change or withdrawal. However, in some cases, advance notice may not be possible.

Cricket SA are in the unique position where, through their transformation programme, they have created a truly representative team with members as diverse as the nation it represents.

While they are all athletes, they have relatable interests like everyone else. Mignon du Preez has an honours degree in Marketing, four members of the team are studying at university, Masabata Klaas is mother to a five-year-old daughter, there are several coaches and Laura Wolvaardt writes music, plays piano, sings and is preparing for medical school next year.

Laura Wolvaardt, Chloe Tryon

As a school learner Dane’ van Niekerk played for Pretoria Northerns before becoming one of the first two South African females, along with Marizanne Kapp, to be included in the Eastern Province cricket team academy – a male team.

Kass Naidoo (Sports Presenter), Dane van Niekerk (Captain), Marizanne Kapp

Opening bowler Shabnim Ismail is ranked as one of the fastest women bowlers in the world. She can bowl at a record speed of 128 km per hour. She’s a really good soccer player and loves sports cars. She is currently driving a Ford Focus ST.

Shabnim Ismail with me

Tumi Sekhukhune is the small one in the squad and is nicknamed “shorty”. The petite powerhouse made her mark during the series against the West Indies. Tumi was born to be a sports star and before cricket she played provincial tennis.

Chloe Tryon is the entertainer on the team and a party doesn’t start until she has arrived! She has a tertiary qualification on Coaching science. She loves the beach and enjoys soccer, tennis and surfing.

If you want to know more about South Africa’s National Women’s Cricket Team, I have more!