2020 to 2022 was not a (few) good year (s) for my weight – and yes I am lumping them all together, because quite frankly, they sucked. I managed to gain 20kgs. I do not fit into any of my beloved jeans and have a double chin. I hate it enough to start getting back to myself this year.
Last year we moved into our dream home – which needed a lot of TLC. Our home renovation took 11 months in total; 4 months for the big projects a contractor helped us with (before we could move in) and an additional 7 months for projects we took on ourselves. Now we have a beautiful home that reflects our family in a neighbourhood we love.
It can be hard to stay within your budget when it comes to home renovation projects because the costs of materials and labour are constantly on the rise. But, with just a little bit of research and preparation, you too can stay within your home renovation budget – just like us!
Our home renovation project
Our home renovation included projects that we needed to complete before moving in and some that could be done while we lived in the house. Our renovations included:
Retiling the main house as it had cheap laminated yellow floors – and finding an uneven concrete floor that first needed to be fixed
Repainting both the inside and outside of the house, including the roof and ceilings
Replacing old-fashioned light fixtures
● Some electrical rewiring and discovering that there was underfloor heating in the main bedroom (and trying to figure out where it switches off)
Waterproofing the roof
Reinforcing the floor of my upstairs office and installing beautiful laminates and wallpaper
Upgrading the alarm system
Fixing the electric fence
Replacing the gate motor and tracks as well as adding additional parts to keep my cats away from the road
Pouring a floor in one of the cottage’s kitchens and installing a new kitchen unit as we found rot caused by an incomplete building project that left exposed dirt under the kitchen unit
Installing a filter in the Jojo tank and adding a pump after removing the tree that was growing inside
When planning a home renovation, it is important to set a budget and stick to it. There are many ways to save money on a renovation, but it is important to be realistic about what you can afford.
One way to save money is to do some of the work yourself. This can be a great way to get exactly what you want, but it is important to know your limitations (even after watching hours of online tutorials) and when to hire a contractor.
Another way to save money is to shop around for the best deals on materials and labour. Get multiple quotes for any work that will be done and compare prices before making a final decision.
Identify your home renovation projects (and urgency of each)
What do you hope to achieve with your home renovation? Is it simply to update the look of your home, or do you have more specific goals in mind, such as increasing its resale value? Be clear about what you want to accomplish so that you can make informed decisions throughout the renovation process.
Develop a budget for your project. Keep in mind that unexpected costs always pop up, so it’s important to leave yourself some wiggle room in your budget.
Not all home renovation projects are equally important. Some may be more urgent than others, so it’s important to prioritise accordingly. For example, if your roof is leaking, that would take precedence over adding a new coat of paint to your living room walls.
Once you’ve prioritised your projects, it’s time to start getting quotes from contractors. Make sure to get multiple quotes and compare them before making a final decision.
Once you’ve selected a contractor and finalised your budget, it’s time to start making a plan for your renovation project. This will help ensure that everything stays on track and that you stay within budget.
PS. Don’t be afraid to negotiate with contractors to get the best possible price.
Get quotes and references from contractors
Get quotes and references from each contractor. This will help you ensure that you’re getting a fair price for the work being done, and also give you a chance to check out the contractor’s previous work.
When requesting quotes, be sure to be as specific as possible about the work you need done. The more information you can provide, the more accurate the quote will be.
Project manage your home renovation project
Things can quickly get out of hand if you’re not monitoring costs, timelines and deliverables.
Renovations can take longer than you think, so it’s important to create a timeline that allows for delays. Build in some flexibility so that you’re not caught off guard if things take longer than expected.
Keep track of every detail during the renovation process so that you can stay on top of progress and budget
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that renovating your home can be a costly undertaking. But by following these tips, you can stay within your budget and get the renovated home you’ve been dreaming of.
About Kandua
Kandua.com is South Africa’s #1 online marketplace for home services. They feature over 30 000 verified pros with 100+ skills who are willing to help with any job – from emergency repairs to large-scale renovations. Kandua was started with the mission to shorten the distance between having a skill and making a living from it, helping small businesses and independent professionals make more connections with people who need their expertise on projects. Every Kandua pro has verified reviews from previous customers, showing that they’re worthy of your trust in them. Simply answer a few questions on their website about your project and up to 5 pros will be in touch with a quote within minutes.
Phew, I have to vent! When we had our youngest daughter’s party we only invited 5 kids. Most of the parents arrived within 15 minutes of the start time – except one. She arrived an hour late…
Not only did she arrive an hour late, she neglected to RSVP for her 2-year-old and a nanny!
When something like that happens once, you kind of understand, because with kids anything can happen.
Then, not even a month later we happen to all be invited to another party. The party had a scheduled start and end time on the invite. This woman once again arrived late. She arrived 15 minutes before the end of the party, brought the nanny and 2-year-old again. She didn’t waste time to get her kids on the slip-n-slide while the rest of us were busy packing up.
Ok, so that is twice…
Then we all got invited to a third party (all in a span of 5 weeks) and she arrives the last half an hour at a venue where you have to be out of that party area based on your booking – and that’s not even the worst part. She sent the nanny off to take the kids to the activity area and she grabbed a takeaway box and packed it to the brim. When the nanny got back, she instructed the nanny to pack a second takeaway box. Then she sat down and directly ate from the platter while there were plates right next to it. She even dipped a finger snack she had already bitten into, in the sauce!
I was mortified!
I will never invite her daughter to another party because of her mother’s tardiness and bad manners. You better believe that I am judging her because she doesn’t have the excuse of she has to do everything herself, or that she had a work emergency, or that she can’t afford to buy takeaways based on the cars they drive and a full-time nanny that goes everywhere and her not working… her behavior is just not OK.
Kids Party Etiquette for Parents
If your child has an older/younger sibling, ask the parents if it is OK to bring the child with when you RSVP as they have to cater for an extra child and pack a party pack. Never bring an additional guest unannounced
Take a gift on the day. Most parents don’t expect you to spend hundreds on a gift, they just want to spoil their kid with a party where all their closest friends are
When you walk into the venue, greet the hosting parents and thank them for inviting you
Find the birthday boy/girl and wish them a happy birthday and let your child hand over the birthday gift
Arrive within a few minutes of the starting time and be mindful of the end time as shown on the invite as the venue may only have been booked for a specific timeslot
If there is an open “bar” for drinks, be mindful of not going wild and ordering just because it is free
Never pack a takeaway unless the hosts explicitly offers you a takeaway
Don’t eat directly from a communal platter, pack some snacks into the provided plates or a napkin draped in your hand
Never dip a handheld snack into a communal dipping sauce – especially if there is a tea spoon to let you scoop some out onto your plate
If there are toothpicks or forks or thongs to use with the food, please do use it!
When you are ready to leave, thank the parents for a great party and compliment them on the choice of venue, the cake or something
Offer to help clean up
When your kid gets invited to a party, you (as a parent) are one of the background characters. Your job is to get them to the party on time with a gift in hand, take them to the bathroom, chat to the other parents so the hosts have time to take photos with their kid and make sure you are ready to leave at the designated time.
Montecasino, the multi-award winning entertainment destination in Fourways Johannesburg, have teamed up with Kickstart Productions, the popular Durban based Theatre Company to present a fun filled family pantomime for the festive season, Sinbad The Sailor at the Teatro, Montecasino from 19 November to 23 December 2022.
It is a riotous romp over the Seven Seas, in the company of the famous sailor, Sinbad, and his madcap crew and family! With gloriously colourful sets and costumes that evoke the exotic mystery and magic of the Arabian Nights, and exciting music and dance, inspired by Bollywood, this is a unique, unforgettable pantomime experience for the entire family.
Kickstart Theatre Company is famous for their holiday pantomimes and this year is no different. The 16 strong cast features some of the cream of South Africa’s talent. Sinbad features newcomer Micah Stojakovic in the title role, Schoeman Smit as Dame Donna Kebab, Murray Todd as Long John Slither and Samantha Peo as Morgiana the Magnificent.
The delightful heroine of the piece is Princess Marina (Kiruna-Lind Devar) and the magical larger-than-life Genie of the Seven Seas is played by Yamikani Phiri with Lelo Ramasimong as the no-nonsense Ameena; Sandi Dlangalala as the deliciously vague Silly Billy Souvlaki; and Mthokozisi Zulu as the trusty pirate side-kick, Mustapha Kitkat. The ensemble is made up of Marang Khwene, Kutloano Rankoe, Hannah Rudnicki, Kyra Teague, Joshua Groenveld, Thokozani Jiyane, Lwazi Pinyana and Sabelo Radebe.
Written and directed by Steven Stead; designed by Greg King, with choreography by Evashnee Pillay, lighting by Denis Hutchinson,
Sinbad the Sailor is perfect year-end holiday entertainment for the entire family.
The Durban critics raved:
“Sinbad The Sailor is a rollicking, delicious romp which has the audience in stitches or gasping in amazement.” – Caroline Smart
“Gloriously over the top fun…. Sinbad is Panto-tastic!” – Estelle Sinkins, The Witness
“For a whale of a time… Dive in” – Billy Suter
WIN TICKETS
Do you want to go see the show this Saturday (19 November 2022). I have 2 sets of 2 tickets to give away. Let me know on this blog post who you will take to see the Sinbad the Sailor at Montecasino. Winner announced 10am on 18 November 2022 by random draw. T&Cs apply.
My kids are 4 and 6 this year – and they’ve seen their very first professional ballet already! I am so proud of myself that I am continuing the traditions my mom and I started since I moved to Joburg more than 2 decades ago.
We went to see Joburg Ballet’s Cinderella and we sat in the front row! My kids were so excited and posed for many selfies in front of the stage while we waited for the performance to start…
I did spend a bundle on snacks (lesson learnt). I bought 2 mini Pringles, 4 (skinny) Cokes, 1 big Astro and 1 big Smartie pack for a cool R245.
Lexa was mesmerised by the graceful dancers gliding across the stage. Kitty was ‘wow-ing’ and clapping hands. They appreciated the story and the art… The step sisters definitely stole the show with their manly features and movements stood in stark contras to the petite Cinderella.
The second half little miss Kitty wanted to go home. She was crawling over my lap, trying to find a spot to sleep, whispering “pssspsspss home’ in my ear. The minute the lights came on and the curtain fell for the last time she was out of that theatre before 95%. We got into the elevator to take us down to level 10 (the lowest) parking area and drove out without having to wait in a queue.
Should website owners be held accountable for what is listed by third party resellers when it comes to counterfeit products?
The simple answer is yes. When you provide a platform without the necessary safeguards to filter and block sellers of counterfeit goods, and the goods are sold via your website and you take a percentage of the sale… you should be liable. This will force website owners to put more checks in place to protects buyers.
How this all started for me
I have been lusting after 2 specific luxury bags in a specific print for months and decided to start looking at where I could purchase it in the secondhand market – because buying it new, is not going to happen.
… and before that, I watched hours of YouTube videos on how to spot a counterfeit, which bags have the most issues after a period of time, how to get it professionally authenticated and rather importantly, where I could take it to have professionally cleaned near me.
I felt prepared to weed out the counterfeits and to ask for the right pictures to get a proper authentication.
However, I wasn’t prepared for the oodles of fake bags being sold openly on Social Media and preloved goods websites. While I understand that to a degree sites like these rely on shoppers to spot and report counterfeit goods, not enough is being done to curb this very illegal practice. Action is also not taken fast enough after an item was reported.
While I really want this specific luxury bag and have a small budget, I am not willing to settle for a fake luxury bag. (And no judgement if you do have a fake luxury bag either, I get it.) I do have a problem with sellers trying to pass off knockoffs as the real deal.
A listing caught my eye, but I felt that niggling feeling of “it just can’t be real” – and I was right.
The listing description referred to an Instagram account of Brand Habit in BallitoShe claimed that it did have some sort of certificate and it was an authentic item bought from brand habit
I then asked her for more images to authenticate the bag and she sent me pictures of a completely different bag.
Finally she admitted to the item being fake or replica
I reported a listing to Yaga around 20 hours ago as I am writing this post, and the item is still active. I reported 3 further products in the last 13 hours, and they are also still active.
I also checked the Brand Habit Instagram page and they listed everything from Goyard to Louis Vuitton for max R3,000.
Not all counterfeit products are equal
Some fakes you’ll spot right away whilst others are far harder to identify. Some sellers will claim they bought it secondhand but lost dust bags and certificates of authentication. They’ll try convince you that you are mad for not jumping on the opportunity of owning a luxury bag at a bargain price…
My advice
My advice is to insist on pictures of the item with a list of shots and angles – especially when buying on a preloved website. Then submit those picture to an online authentication service for peace of mind.
Don’t buy because you think it is authentic because of higher price than you could get it from a hawker or china mall (there, I said it).
If however your budget can be stretched, consider buying from one of the reputable preloved websites that pre-authenticate and supply the certificate.
www.selten.co.za
www.theluxportal.com
www.luxity.co.za
Want to know more about spotting fake designer things?
I think in my life I have ran away from problems in the most creative and spectacular ways and was able to hide almost every bad day I’ve ever had.
When I was a kid I would write and word my poems to hide what I was feeling in the most masterful ways. In my teenage years I just threw myself into my own dream world, where I was perfectly thin, at sports all the time and doing great in school – and nobody knew just how far I was from what they thought I was. After school I moved far away to start over – away from anyone that I ever knew.
Then came the lonely years of clubbing and ‘jawdroppingly’ low cut tops. I was living it up in Joburg and found my best friend. We were the life of almost every place we went… but I was so very lonely.
This was followed by a time of bliss, finally. I started dating my husband, got married, dragged him all over Europe and then infertility, IVF and feeling like I was stuck in a dark room. Nobody at work even knew because when I walked through that door, I left everything at the door. I literally cut myself off from anyone that I knew would recognize that something was amiss. I made sure nobody could see behind my walls.
Just as I thought I had it all together again, I lost my Genie (cat) and mom in just under a year and a half.
When we were in that 5-week moment of watching her get weaker and disappear, I just existed in that isolated room with her, I didn’t think of the baby and toddler at home with my husband and mother-in-law. I felt compelled to just be present in that windowless room. I think I knew from the first day that this was the last time she would leave a hospital.
I still can’t make peace with the fact that I should’ve insisted she see a specialist in Joburg instead of relying on a doctor that in the end, cost me a mother. I knew it in my gut but I let it go because she was so sick.
At her funeral I could read my last letter to her without seeing the words – I stood up there, even if my dad had initially suggested his brother should. It was my place to be up there and I knew I would’ve regretted if I didn’t do it.
I was devastated. I had lost my mom and I had just realized just how far my dad had distanced himself from us, his family. I wasn’t quite ready to step back into that role of mother, so I took a spectacular trip to Cape Town to visit my best friend.
Then lockdown happened and there was nowhere for me to go and no mom that could pull me out of my spiral. We were stuck in that apartment that suddenly became so very small. When we could finally cross a provincial border I made my way north to the Kruger Park to scatter my mom’s ashes with my dad – but in the end I brought her back to my sister, it didn’t feel right. I made a gesture, but I think it meant more to me than to him.
In the last year and a half, I haven’t needed to escape. I stayed.I had to grow up sometime, right? I had to be responsible for the family that I willed, the cats I adopted. I had to be in the life that I wanted to grow old in.
Have you ever wanted to stay in a castle in South Africa? Well, we booked a night at the Castle in Clarens – and it was a surprising quaint stay on top of a hill with a view.
We decided to split our drive from KZN in 2 parts and booked a night at the Castle in Clarens. It was a wonderful experience in this tiny 2 bedroom castle. The castle was beautifully decorated with paintings, ornately painted in gold with small details at the bottom of the stairs.
We stayed for one night in the middle of the week and spent R1400 for the 4 of us (self catering).
When we first turned off the main road we had to drive around a 3 – 4 km dirt road to the entrance of Castle in Clarens. The castle gates were hard to miss. Once through the gates the castle revealed itself. The kids spotted the turrets and Rapunzel’s hair first.
The kids excitedly jump from the car and ran towards the garden gate of the castle as dad flung it open. They could barely wait for dad to unlock the front door. The first floor is a living room with a fireplace and it is decorated like in a fairytale castle with big chairs and a framed view of the valley and Clarens in the distance. Little knickknacks and paintings everywhere and then the stairs that wrap around the wall…
The first bedroom is just off the living room on the ground floor. It is Romeo and Juliet themed with a huge mural and beautiful stained-glass windows plus its own bathroom.
The views from the Castle in Clarens were spectacular. The views stretched over working farms and into Clarens from its hilltop perch
On the first floor is the kitchen. On this floor you can also enjoy the views from Angels Landing, the patio in the sky with sunset views. The kitchen has everything you may need including a fridge, microwave and a coffee machine.
When he flung open the door to Angels Landing the kids could not believe the views. One the one side you had rolling hills towards the town of Clarens, cattle in the distance , people walking from work to home. The little bench has the best views during sunset… On the other side there is another hilltop with a little garden at the back and the word Rapunzel in plants.
Walking up the last flight of stairs you finally get to the main bedroom with a big fourposter bed, really tall windows and a pebble bath. The kids were in the bath faster than you could say Castle in Clarens.
We felt like royalty when we found the 2 crowns upstairs in the main bedroom – which the kids promptly placed on their little blonde heads..
It was just such a great place to stay and the kids really loved being princesses for a day. I most definitely would love to take them back one day.
MIRA Premiere Episodes Saturday, 2nd April & Sunday, 3rd April at 17:30
Brand – new episodes of Season 2 of Mira, Royal Detective as a weekend stunt, 2nd and 3rd April at 17:30
Inspired by the cultures and customs of India, the series follows the brave and resourceful Mira, a young girl who travels throughout the fictional land of Jalpur solving mysteries for her friends, family and extended community.
In one of the new episodes, “Mystery in the Sky”, when Mira sees a strange speck in the sky, her friends help her investigate what it could be.
Then in “The Case of the Message in a Bottle”, Mira and her friends follow the clues found in a message in a bottle.
Tune in for new episodes from Season 2 episodes of Mira, Royal Detective on 2nd and 3rd April at 17:30 on Disney Junior
T.O.T.S
Monday – Friday from 18th April at 14:00
“T.O.T.S.,” a heartfelt animated comedy series for pre-schoolers, explores the hilarious adventures of best friends Pip and Freddy, a tenacious penguin and a kind-hearted flamingo, who are the only non-stork delivery birds in-training T.O.T.S. As new members of the esteemed team, these junior flyers must use tender care in taking baby animals—kittens, cubs, calves, bunnies, puppies and joeys among them—from the nursery to their forever families around the globe.
In the first of the new episodes, “The Great Fredamingo” (Monday, 18th April at 14:00), Freddy mistakenly thinks he turned Pip into a penguin lovey with his latest magic trick. In “Ram-Bunctious Baby” – When JP tries to control a baby ram delivery, the little guy becomes more rambunctious.
Catch brand-new episodes of T.O.T.S from 18th – 22nd April 14:00 on Disney Junior
MARVEL SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS
Special Earth Day Event
Friday, 22nd April from 16:00 – 20:00
“Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends” is the first full-length Marvel series for pre-schoolers.
The series follows Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales and their adventures as the young heroes team up with Hulk, Ms. Marvel and Black Panther to defeat foes like Rhino, Doc Ock and Green Goblin and learn that teamwork is the best way to save the day.
In the Earth Day inspired episode “Going Green” Team Spidey must stop Green Goblin from spewing his green gas all over the park in order to make it safe for the trees again.
Then in the episode “Coming Clean” – After Peter’s new invention begins swallowing everything in its path, he and Miles work to stop it.
Swing into action this Earth Day with Spidey and His Amazing Friends on 22nd April from 16:00 on Disney Junior
AMPHIBIA
Season Premiere
Monday – Thursday from 4th April at 17:50
“Amphibia” chronicles the adventures of 13 year old Anne Boonchuy, who is magically transported to the fantastical world of Amphibia. There she meets an excitable young frog named Sprig Plantar, his unpredictable sister Polly and overprotective grandpa Hop Pop.
In this new season Anne and the Plantars are transported from Amphibia to her hometown of Los Angeles, where the Frog Family must learn to navigate the complexities of this modern-day world, conceal their identities as talking frog people and search for a way home.
Catch Season 3 premiere episodes from Monday, 4th April at 17:50 on Disney Channel.
WALK THE PRANK
Season Premiere
Monday – Friday from 11th April at 18:40
The series is about practical jokers Herman, Chance, Bailey, and Dusty, who set up elaborate pranks and find real people to perform the pranks on. Their pranks usually involve supernatural, scary, funny or gross elements.
Blending scripted comedy with real hidden-camera pranks, each episode follows four kids’ antics in school and at home.
Season 1 episodes from 11th April at 18:40 on Disney Channel.
EASTER PROGRAMMING STUNT
EASTER PROGRAMMING STUNT
DISNEY MAGIC BAKE-OFF
Season Premiere
Friday, 15th April & Saturday, 16 April from 12:00 – 17:00
Catch up on back-to-back episodes of Disney Channels’ new baking show Magic Bake-Off, which combines the wonder of baking with the ingenuity of young pastry chefs.
Imagination rules and teamwork triumphs as three teams of two race against the clock to design a Disney-inspired cake, including classics such as “Star Wars,” “The Lion King,” “Toy Story,” “Descendants,” “Zombies” and more.
Watch the entire season of Disney Magic Bake-Off on 15th and 16th April at 12:00 on Disney Channel.
