In our busy modern day lives, over time more emphasis is being placed on how we present ourselves to the world. Our clothing has become a vital aspect of how we decide to portray ourselves and our personal style. Our clothes speak a thousand words about us. With a great washing machine you can save time, money on electricity costs as well as being gentle on our garments, so half the battle is already won.
I received this awesome infographic on one of South Africa’s great washing machines, to show you how innovative technology can help you live a better life and enjoy a better world today.
Today I am supporting the campaign to create awareness for farm murders. And this is why…
I am a farmer’s daughter.
I grew up on farms on the border of Botswana and elsewhere. My uncle and one of his sons are farmers. My grandfather was a farmer. My mom grew up on a plot in a rural area.
I am petrified for my parents out on the farm. They are old, gentle people just a couple of years from retirement. When I can’t reach them by phone I immediately start to panic – I will dial non-stop and even phone the neighbours to go check on them… Once I was ready to drive the 450km just to check on them.
Farm murders are brutal and bloody
I can’t stomach the pictures from various attacks, so I can’t share them on my blog. However I urge you to watch this video clip by a murdered farmer’s friend who pleads for public support.
South Africa’s murder rate is horrendous – but the level of bloodlust and torture when it comes to farm murders are on a level you don’t come across in all murder cases.
These murderous criminals torture, maim and rape. Their purpose is not to rob or get food… it is to get rid of farmers. They walk around with pure hate and anger and commit premeditated brutal attacks on vulnerable families.
This is what I every South African has to realise, farmers are normal hard-working people like you and me. These horrible crimes leave scars – and we should all be concerned. They (farmers) are also not just white – we have hardworking black farmers that are also in the same boat.
…and this is why you should be concerned:
Farmers grow your food, raise the beef and chickens that you eat. They are responsible for employing people that support their families.
Without them we will have to import everything. Pay more for everything. Employees won’t be able to support their families. They will just become another unemployed statistic.
The government wants you to believe that these murders are nothing more than a small insignificant statistic. However, there has been more than 340 attacks this year alone – and 70 bloody murders. These criminals also sometimes go after the workers for trying to intervene.
Our government is not doing enough to protect the people of South Africa. Criminals are not behind bars, they get light sentences when and if they get caught.
I can only imagine the pain of losing someone in a crime so heinous… but to know that nothing is being done about it, makes it worse.
Don’t get me wrong, violence, murder and racism towards any South African (or person) is wrong. Just like I don’t say that all people from a specific race are thieves and murderers – you can’t say that all farmers are white and bad. Every South African is important and we should look after our people.
What to do when you love eating out, but you still have to be a bit conscious of your spending because you have big bills to pay… This is our dilemma.
Then hubby and I did our research on all the apps and loyalty programmes – and one of the apps that stood out was the Entertainer App. We bought a subscription earlier this year for the Johannesburg App, which is around R500 – but since then we have saved that and more.
What we used the Entertainer App for
To eat at our favourite restaurant twice in a row – and only pay for two main meals instead of four. On average say we spent R120 on a meal, we then saved R120 on the other meal.
We have tried out new restaurants – and that was pretty amazing!
We also fed my Bubble Tea obsession! And my hubby got his for free.
What else can you save on with the App?
Food & drink
Beauty & fitness
Attractions & leisure
…even the Joburg Zoo!
Retail & services
Hotels worldwide
What I like about the App is that it’s not just for restaurants. You can make a whole outing with the family. And you can also share out a voucher to someone else…
Are we going to renew it for next year? You bet!
This post has been simmering in my drafts from the beginning of the year, because I wanted to try the App out. Even paid for it ourselves to make sure that we aren’t biased in any way.
It’s always so fantastic when you read about the successes of local brands like Pure Beginnings. This year they have reached the 10 year milestone! That is huge…
Who’s behind the brand?
In 2006 Kate Moore-Gordon, a chartered accountant, acquired a natural diabetic supplement business. She grew the supplement range to include a natural diabetic foot cream… and then she saw natural and organic products in a new light.
Not long after Kate realised that there was a gap in the market for an organic baby skin care range. And that is how Pure Beginnings started…
Pure Beginnings
In the beginning Pure Beginnings was only available at selected independent health stores – whilst the team kept developing and expanding the range into a full baby range and a range for adults.
After 6 years Pure Beginnings landed on the shelves at Baby City countrywide. It huge victory for a small company.
Ingredients & Organic Certification
Pure Beginnings uses a range of botanicals specifically chosen for their mildness and suitability to sensitive skin. They also do not ingredients banned by Ecocert.
Ingredients used include: Aloe Extract, Chamomile, Coconut Oil, Baobab Fruit Extract, Tea Tree Oil, Shea Butter, Rooibos Leaf Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Orange Peel Oil, Marula Oil, Inulin, Rose Geranium Oil, Xylitol, Lavender Oil, Ylang Ylang Flower Oil and Kalahari Melon Oil.
Pure Beginnings has carried the Ecocert organic certification since 2014.
When Lexa was born we received a bunch of stuff and in there was a gift bag with bum creams from Pure Beginnings… we only finished using it about 3 months ago. As South Africans we should always try support local first. Not only does it create jobs – it’s also a smaller green footprint we leave.
Last week Friday I popped into Nelson Mandela Square here in Joburg for a quick breakfast with African Extracts. The food was to die for. I had a sandwich with hummus, avo and rocket leaves – and I scoffed it down unashamedly… even though I was full at the halfway mark. (That is what Tasha’s will do to you.)
Anyway, on the table there was a gift bag for each of us with the African Extracts Rooibos Facial Oil and hand cream. I think I was the first to dive right in and rip open the boxes.
I’m on a super high after trying another local brand – so I have high hopes for this dry facial oil from African Extracts. I tried it for the first time last night – and left out my night cream. This morning I still have no wrinkles.
I have been using Yungskin for just over a month now. At first I was quite skeptical… but was pleasantly surprised by this local beauty range.
When I went to the introduction/launch and they talked about the ingredients, vegan-friendly, paraben-free and the like – I was quite keen to try it out. I can now say that I believe them – my skin didn’t become irritated and it looks like I did a radical treatment to have it looking younger.
What I liked about the Yungskin range
I am going to put this out there, this range is quite different from the normal “drugstore” ranges I have ever used. Everything in this range smells like flower blossoms – without the cheap chemical smell you sometimes get.
When I was in high school I used a range made from Avocado by a company near Tzaneen. It was also all natural and really amazing on my skin – but then I couldn’t get my hands on it when I moved to Joburg – Yungskin, reminds me of that.
The Yungskin Night Cream is really nice and thick and the next morning my skin looked hydrated. It also seemed to get rid of the frown lines between my eyes… bonus!
The Yungskin Day Cream wasn’t oily. My makeup stayed on without looking melted…
Yungskin Toner – I usually don’t like to use toner as it always feels sticky. However the toner from this range I didn’t mind because it went on and it felt nice, non-sticky. The price on this is R100 for 100ml – so it is definitely affordable.
Yungskin Face Wash – I used it for a whole month at night only and I’m not even half into the bottle. At R90 for a 100ml I would buy it again. The blossom aroma I loved!
Yungskin FOOD – I really liked the drops in my water! It didn’t change the taste and it may just be psychological, but I felt energised. I generally don’t drink any vitamins as I can’t get pills down, but this just goes into my water. It is a 30ml bottle for R175 – but you only take 10 drops in the morning… so it can last more than a month. It contains:
Yungskin Sunscreen SPF 40 – spent a day out at the Voortrekker Monument and my face, neck and shoulders didn’t get burnt. I love the consistency, it wasn’t oily and it feels like it moisturises as well. Definitely keeping this in my travel bag.
The day cream is really thick – and I had to check, on the days I go makeup free, that I had no white cream stripes on my face. The day cream felt heavy as I applied, but worked fine with my makeup. I also had to apply sunscreen on top of the day cream… I prefer an all in one.
When I finally checked out the pricing on the website I almost fell on my back. The day and night cream is waaaaay out of my budget at R395 and R410 for a 50ml tub! The rest of the items compare in price with similar products.
If you want to splurge on a vegan-friendly beauty range – Yungskin should definitely be on your shopping list.
The world’s first energy-infused skincare line based on Acupuncture face-lift points.
Yungskin is a natural-based skincare range manufactured in South Africa. The first of its kind, it was developed on the principles of homeopathy and acupuncture. Created by renowned homeopath and acupuncturist Dr Philip Sherwin, Yungskin products are energised using quantum energy science and cellular stimulation principles. The products are infused and energised through a high-tech process in order to stimulate acupuncture face lifting points on the face and neck at a deep cellular level. When used correctly, the range can yield the same results as an acupuncture face lift procedure, but without the needles and the pain. Yungskin products regenerate the skin’s natural vitality and youthfulness, reduces fine lines and wrinkles significantly and with regular use, the skin takes on a more youthful appearance.
The products were designed to complement one another, and to achieve the best results, a five-step approach is recommended: Wash – Tone – Moisturise – Feed – Sunscreen.
At the beginning of the year I was super keen to go to my high school reunion. I had booked a place and got hubby on board – and then things changed…
One of my school friends (from primary school) recently asked me to help him send out his CV. I took time out of my schedule and mailed it off to a (large) number of advertisers. He then landed one of these jobs and then it went sideways…
He ran off with his new employer’s bakkie and cash. He sold off the canopy, abandoned the bakkie and after almost a month there has been no word. The first I got wind of his “antics” was when his new employer phoned me – and I was embarrassed. I never expected him to do something like this and then as the story unfolded on his Facebook page I realised that he wasn’t the person that any of us thought he was.
The disappointment I feel about this situation has left me quite hesitant to go to my reunion. I feel betrayed and not sure I want to reconnect with more old school friends. I know that most won’t be like that, but… I feel like crap for saying yes and then turning around saying no.
Plus, if I really think about it – why would I reconnect with people that I rarely if ever see? I don’t have that many fond memories of most of the people. I remember everything…
I am very conscious of the hours I spend on the road, so when I had to take my car for a service and was faced by Uber costs and almost 4 hours on the road I was not too keen.
I dropped my car off in Jozi City (eeeeeek!) and decided that I’m going to try find a desk on short notice. Most of the hot desk offices only supply an email address and form to enquire – and one of those phoned me at around 1pm. However I found QSL on 44 – with a number – as it is part of a hotel.
They had space and I caught an Uber. I got the grand tour on arrival and set up my desk. I fully expected a full office, but I struck it lucky as most people were sitting upstairs. I had the run of the downstairs hot desks!
I love being able to test all these new products that I get. Sometimes I only get to really test them out a few weeks after an event, but… let me introduce you to Yungskin.
I went to an event for Yungskin and was surprised to meet Dr Sherwin (Homeopath, Acupuncturist, Naturopath and Reflexologist) who actually created the range.
Yungskin is the world’s first energy-infused skincare line based on Acupuncture face-lift points. It is designed to help restore the skin’s vitality, reduce the visible signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles, and rejuvenate and regenerate skin cells for a more youthful appearance.
I’m always skeptical about new products, but if it is natural… I’m willing to try it out. I haven’t looked at the prices on their website yet – because I want to keep an open mind about the products.
This week I’m going to shelf all my current products and try out Yungskin for a month and let you know how it goes.
There is also a Yungskin Food with dropper for my water… so let’s see how long I can use it. Tasted it, and it is flavourless.
You’d think that I have enough on my plate, but somehow I managed to pull off an event in Umhlanga, survived an aspiration, the waiting for good news and a 6.5 hour drive with Lexa!
When I booked the coffee shop, Iwantmycoffee, a few months ago I was worried that the venue might be too big… but then the event rolled around and it was almost too small!
The talk part
I had organized lovely speakers for this year’s event. There was Verushka that gave blogger tips; Nelisiwe from Conversation Lab that shared how agencies identified influencers; Sharla from MUD; and Ryan from Rain.
What I loved about the speakers was that there was variety. You could learn from 2, discover a new brand or product and revel in the delicious luxury of Rain.
In-between the talks I also ran competitions to win goodies from sponsors on my Instagram and Twitter. A few very lucky bloggers walked away with really awesome prizes.
The sponsors
I cannot begin to thank each and every sponsor enough for each product that made its way to the event. I would like to thank:
Conversation Lab for organising products from Environ. I love that it is a South African product. I have tried it out in the past, so will definitely be using the opportunity to reacquaint.
Rain for giving spot prizes and a gift to each attendee – plus for sending Ryan to join us for the day. Rain’s home may well be Swellendam, but my Rain goodies have a new home and I can’t wait to show my sister… and make her jealous.
MUD, for spoiling the bloggers with something new to try. I haven’t tried MUD blush before… so next time you see me it might be with rosy cheeks from MUD.
Vita Liberata – I’m sure Lisa from Forts and Fairies will be enjoying her luxury tan voucher! It is such a lovely prize and just in time for Spring and beach time.
Milk Solutions for the delicious products! With flavours such as grapefruit & pomegranate and soya milk & quince. I’m sure we are going to get along just fine when everything smells beautiful!
Elle Kay Fabrics… I can only say that the room was suitably impressed when the two spot prize winners showed off their goodies. How lucky was it that Alison won green that went perfectly with her house? Siobhan was the other lucky winner. Thank you for adding much excitement to the day Luhanda!
Dupe Factorie for sponsoring a makeup brush for each blogger. I have been to the Melville store and thought the products were good value for money…and that in today’s economy your pricing makes it possible for anyone to own beautiful products.
Forever Aloe products from Alison that we could try out. I am currently using the Forever Aloe Lips with Jojoba to try and get my lips ready for the hotter months…so far, I have seen more moisture and no flakiness after 4 days.
…and for last I have left Origin Bespoke Stationery – I love what you chose for me. My stationery perfectly suits my laptop bag and document folder from Lou Harvey! I’m sure that all the bloggers will love their gifts as much as I love mine. Thank you to Francie who personally delivered the goodies to me in Ballito. PS I actually still write Thank You cards 🙂
The event could never be a success without all the wonderful bloggers. I hope to see you all again next year – and that we will have many more bloggers attending.
As a special mention, Asha Singh that drove all the way from Port Shepstone! … the bloggers that attended both last and this year: Camilla, Siobhan and Lungi, you guys rock!
What this event means to me
KZN is near to my heart as I’m trying to make it home the times we are here. I don’t know if I will ever give up Jozi, or my roots in Limpopo… but it is sure nice to meet all the interesting bloggers out here.
I want the KZN meetup to be that once a year event where we meet and learn from eachother. I hope that going forward we will all support eachother, share a post or tweet…
What to do when you love eating out, but you still have to be a bit conscious of your spending because you have big bills to pay… This is our dilemma.
What else can you save on with the App?
