Tag: in these stilettos

Finding My Tribe

Finding My Tribe

Posted on by Rebecca

When you become a mother, your life, your lifestyle, your relationships change. Whether you are a stay at home, work from home, return to the workforce kind of mum it doesn’t matter, things (and people) change. The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” is 100 percent true, but not only for support of the child, but support of the mama too.

The “mom” world can be full of comparison and judgement. Breast vs bottle, baby led weaning vs puree, cloth vs disposable. There is no right or wrong. Its every parent doing their absolute best and working out what is best both for baby and mummy. That’s why finding your mom tribe Is so important. Your mom tribe of friends support your journey no matter what path you choose. These are the friends you can completely be yourself around. The kind that don’t mind if you are 30 minutes late because you had a kid that refused to get dressed or you had a diaper mishap on your way out the door. They understand, they have been there. These are the ladies that won’t look twice when you end up with paint or half chewed cookies all down your front. Heck they won’t even blink an eyelid if you haven’t brushed your hair. They get it. Your mom tribe may not even include your closest circle of friends, but rather mothers whose paths you’ve crossed along the way.

Growing up I lived with aunt in the USA for a year while her children were still very young. I got to know her “mom tribe”, we called them the “mummy mafia” and I saw first-hand how this group of ladies formed bonds across playparks and school classrooms. Over the past 15 years I’ve watched the move through phases, to different schools and graduations. Divorce, Deaths and changes of career, these women have been there for each other through it all. They are the epitome of a “mom tribe” and each other’s family away from family.

 

Looking back on my journey of motherhood I would say the first year of Aadams life were very different to the past 4 years. I didn’t have a “tribe”, I didn’t take him to any “moms and tots, In fact, looking back, I isolated him a little too much. I think any first time mum can relate to this, I found it quite difficult to coordinate everything: nursing, nap times. I certainly was not a “natural mother” like some of my other friends who seemed to ease into everything. It was hard! Sure I had playdates with friends of similar ages but I don’t remember every doing anything to actively stimulate him (or me). Lets face it though, from newborn to about 6 months you don’t really actively do “playdates”.

Then came our move to the Western Cape, in a new town all alone. I was 7 months pregnant and so desperately wanted my little adventurer to make some friends. Enter my first mom tribe. Our weekly get togethers were so crucial not only for Aadams’ development, but for mine as a mother too. With you first child everything is new! You don’t know about making playdough or stimulation acvities, messy play was a foreign term that I hadn’t even considered! We shared numerous cups of tea, ideas on things to do with the kids, worries of life. These are the friends with whom we may start a conversation via text on Monday and I may not hear back until Friday, but that’s ok. We understand, and we remain constant. 2 years later and a move back home I was left “tribeless again”. With a 1 year old desperate for some additional stimulation I tried various “moms and tots” classes to no avail. Then I stumbled across Adventure Clubs and met up second “Mom Tribe”. We all found ourselves on similar outings, with children on similar ages. All of us trying to balance working from home, motherhood, side hustles to bring in extra income. We all wanted to expand our children’s minds and tried to find alternatives to having them cooped up in classrooms from such a young age.

I am so grateful in my life to have these women. We have lived through the early years of parenting together, when the days were long, and fatigue was strong. My friends that I can completely be myself around. The kind that don’t mind if you are 30 minutes late because you had a kid that refused to get dressed or you had a diaper mishap on your way out the door. They understand, they have been there. These are the ladies that won’t look twice when you end up with paint or half chewed cookies all down your front. They won’t even blink an eyelid if you haven’t brushed your hair. They get it. Your Mom Tribe is more than just finding a group of women… it’s knowing that you have a group of friends that are there through it all.

I’ve been thinking about every single member of my mama tribe lately and how so very lucky I am to have found them. For all the laughs and conversations around “conventions”. Thank you for loving my babies the way you love your own, thank you for lifting me up and for just stepping in and making things easier without being asked.  This is a letter of gratitude to every single one of you.

Tips on finding your tribe?

I tried the “moms and babes” classes and never really formed deep connections there, same goes for the ante-natal classes. Though I know a lot of mums who did connect there. I had a few “almosts” with moms of the kids playgroups, amazing ladies but we never really found the time (I’m also to blame). My mom tribes funnily enough came through social media, with all its flaws and scares for helping me find my “mom tribe”. Facebook groups and the adventure clubs app all played a huge role in this and I would highly recommend turning to them for support if you can.

My Top Family Friendly Parks + Picnic Spots in Johannesburg

My Top Family Friendly Parks + Picnic Spots in Johannesburg

Posted on by Rebecca

The weather is warming up and the first blooms are showing signs of flowering.  Bring on warmer weather and long summer days. Living in the city I try to get out into nature most weekends, my soul craves it and its one of my biggest challenges with living in Joburg.

I’ve put together a list of my absolute favourite Parks and Picnic Spots around Gauteng to maximise those beautiful warm days heading our way. Only once I compiled the list did I realise just how many options there are, so to make it a bit easier I have separated the lists into Johannesburg and Pretoria.

To kick off let’s have a look at some of Johannesburg’s glorious garden spots:

Emmarentia Dam and Johannesburg Botanical Gardens

One of our favourite spots to ride bikes and take in the view. This park is particularly popular with joggers, bike riders and rowers. The Park offers different sections, in the northern section, take a pleasant stroll through a rose garden, indigenous herb patch, or view an amazing collection of succulents at the Johannesburg Botanic Gardens. The gardens have terraced ponds and fountains and a Shakespearean garden, with herbs and roses. In the North east section is the dam which is popular with canoeists and families feeding the ducks.

Zoo Lake, Forest Town

Joburgs backyard forest. Our family (and a large portion of Johannesburg) have been visiting Zoo Lake for years. Popular with families for braais, picnics and birthday parties on the weekend. The park also has probably one of the biggest Moyo’s in it and is a firm favourite when entertaining foreign visitors in Joburg. Rent out a boat to row on the lake or enjoy a picnic under the shady trees. Watch out for the VERY friendly ducks and geese 🙂

Mushroom Park (Our hidden gem), Sandton

Right in the heart of Sandton, surrounded by cloud touching sky scrapers, mushroom park offers a beautiful reprieve from big city life. It has a lovely little river running through it, an outdoor gym and about 5 different jungle gyms.

Delta Park, Randburg

Probably one of the largest parks in Joburg extending right the way from Craighall Park to Randburg. Delta Park is offers a beautiful 104 hectares to explore. It has a fantastic kiddies play area and extensive nature trails, including bird hides. The Environmental Centre offers a fantastic range of nature related courses for children and adults alike.

Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens, Roodeport

Absolutely breathtaking and well worth the short drive to Roodepoort. The best place to get back to nature in Joburg. The Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens offers beautiful surrounds, a glorious waterfall and if you are lucky you may even spot a pair of Verreaux Eagles. There is a small entrance fee to maintain upkeep of the gardens

The Wilds, Killarney

I have to say, I lived in Killarney for a number of years and at the time I would never have considered stepping foot in this park. I always longed to explore it but never felt safe. That’s all changed due to a recent revamp by the community. There are 67 owl sculptures across the park alongside fountains and sundials. Ramble across the hillsides with views of the city from various sides, mixing urban life with local vegetation.

Lonehill Park, Lonehill

Another one of our favourites. Lonehill park is exceptionally well maintained and safe, with a security guard on duty patrolling the area. There is a fenced off kiddies play area that my boys adore and of course a dam where you can fish on a catch and release policy. Its home to bass, barbell and carp  This is one of the best kept secrets for those who want to take a walk or are just looking to get some open air.

 

Gillooly’s Farm, Bedfordview

Gillooly’s Farm is another very popular picnic spot. Beautiful views of the lake with several braai area’s available as well. The large grassland is perfect for soaking up the sun (whether in Summer or Winter), braai areas are available and there is a memorable amount of bird life at the lake.

Golden Harvest Park, Randburg

This was a new one for me, you see even after so many years of exploring I still stumble across new gems.  A great park with unspoiled indigenous bushveld, ideal for walking dogs, walking trails and a peaceful picnic.  The park was established in 1972 and offers forms of recreation such as walking/jogging, fishing, mountain biking, various sports including beach soccer, and bird watching. If you are a bird love apparently the park offers over 60 species of birds, and its dam is home to geese, carp, barbel, crabs, frogs, otters and mongoose !You do need to be aware of your surrounds and go at busier times, but it has had a revival of sorts and there is a parkrun that runs through.

Sandton Field and Study, Sandton

An age old favourite in the Sandton area and popular with dog walkers. The park offers a number of different braai area’s along the river and a nice kids play area. You can also take a pony ride through the equestrian centre or enjoy a cappuccino at River Café.

Florida Lake, Roodeport

Situated in suburban Roodepoort, this lake and park promises a fun family-day outing. It has a putt-putt course, an Olympic size swimming pool as well as a playpark for kids. There is an incredible Bird Park next door.

Rietfontein Nature Reserve, Paulshof

This 25 hectare nature reserve in the heart of the Northern Suburbs.  The indigenous green area, with a quartzite koppie, has walking trails and beautiful lawns for an idyllic family picnic. The reserve hosts an array of birds as well as blesbok, duiker, klipspringer and steenbok. The reserve is open every day from 6 am – 6 pm. Entrance is free, but please note that no dogs are allowed in the reserve. There is a short and relatively easy walking trail in the reserve – suitable for kids – which takes visitors to the top of the ridge with great views of Sandton.

Rietvlei Zoo Farm

Rietvlei offers a jam packed day filled with family fun. Enjoy a picnic under the shade of the large willow and oak trees or partake in a round of putt-putt, then have a look at the farm animals, or take a ride on the steam train or tractor. Rietvlei offers beautiful natural wetlands and well maintained gardens.

Nirox Sculpture Park – Krugersdorp

A little piece of heaven on earth in my opinion. A privately funded park but open to visitors every weekend. Standard entrance fees are R100 per adult and R50 for kids under 12. The sculpture park comprises of cultivated landscape and water ways designed to showcase sculptures. It is located within a privately owned nature reserve which has more than 40 kilometers of walking, cycling and game drive trails through unspoiled grasslands, natural fountains and indigenous forests.

Bartlett Park/Boskruin Koppie, Boskruin

The Boskruin Koppie is one of the protected areas in the city, alongside the famous Melville Koppies Nature Reserve, Delta Park, Emmarentia Dam, the Johannesburg Botanical Garden and Golden Harvest Park. The Park is a beautiful safe green strip hidden in amongst a residential area. It has wild bunnies for the kids to feed so be sure to take some carrots and keep an eye out for the feisty rock dassies !

Walkhaven, Muldersdrift

Walkhaven is situated in the Muldersdrift area right next to the Cradle of Humankind on 22 hectares of rolling grassland. It has a fully stocked dam surrounde by wetlands and is home to a number of bird life. Braai and picnic facilities are strategically placed throughout the park should you wish to bring your own refreshments. The park was initially started as a dog park and is a popular outing for the entire family. There is a small entrance fee of R20 but its open daily from 7am.

Brookwood Estate, Cradle of Human Kind

Technically not a park, but Brookwood Estate is a peaceful retreat and the perfect picnic spot! Its situated an hour outside of Johannesburg.The farm offers 5 stock dams for the fishing enthusiasts among you and their picnic site, right next to the Blaaubank Spruit river, is well looked after. Braai facilities are available as well.

Oh For The Love Of Books – Giveaway For Book Lovers Day

Oh For The Love Of Books – Giveaway For Book Lovers Day

Posted on by Rebecca

I will take any excuse to snuggle in and read a good book. August the 9th is “Book Lovers Day”, an unofficial holiday that encourages people to pick up a book (or two) and spend the day reading. Thankfully here in South Africa it coincides with Woman’s Day and we all have the day off, it’s the perfect chance to tuck into a good novel.

Book stores to me, are places of magic, libraries are historical wonders. The smell of the paper pages as you walk through the doors instantly transports me to a place of calm and peace. I used to work right above a bookstore and would go down and least 4 times a month, walking away with a new treasure to devour. I’m what you may call a compulsive reader, when I finally get a chance to sit down with a book I enjoy I am fully immersed. I must finish the entire book then and there, forgetting about any of plans for the day. My mum and sister always tease me about my taste in books. I prefer “softer” books, books that take me to a happy place and leave me feeling good. They prefer deeper sci-fi styled books, or historical masterpieces.

Becoming a mother unfortunately put my love for reading on a back burner. For the first two years I didn’t even manage to pick up a book and certainly didn’t have time to browse the book stores either. Thankfully as the boys have gotten a bit older and I have been able to carve out a little more “me time” my love for reading as reignited and hopefully I can pass that onto my boys. Growing up we had a dedicated weekly slot at school for library. In primary school this involved getting a story read by the librarian and then browsing the gigantic library to find a book to take out for the week. It saddens me to think that this may not happen when my boys.

Some of my favourite authors include Nicky Pellegrino whose tales are set in Italy, her stories are about friendship and food, passion and family secrets. JK Rowling, because… Harry Potter, enough said. Sophie Kinsella, yes, I love me a little bit of the Shopaholic series. Not only do the main character and I share a name but we also share a certain penance for our love of shopping. Lastly Lesley Pearce focuses on mainly historical adventures and crime mysterious and writes about characters that are almost impossible to care about.

If you are feeling a bit detached from the literacy world, or even want to encourage reading in your children, here are a couple of ways to reignite your love for reading:

1) Visit your local library

In Johannesburg we are blessed with beautiful local library’s that are largely forgotten about. My favourites are Olivedale and Rivonia. Sign up or dig out your library card and get reacquainted with some lovingly read and best of all, free books!

2) Reread an old favourite

The Harry Potter Series will never get old for me, neither do Nicky Pellegrino’s Italian adventures. Books like this immediately transport me to another place.

3) Visit a literacy haunt

We spent hours on a trip to Rome hunting down a Caffe Greco. It’s not only the oldest café/ bar it Roma but it is famous for being a place where authors and poets used to go and sit for inspiration. Hans Christian Anderson, the famous poet Keats, all frequented this popular coffee house. Such an incredible feeling to enjoy a coffee in the very same spot.

4) Start a book club

Whether it’s done for social needs or to reignite your passion for reading, a book club is a great way to focus your goals, swap and exchange good reads or to just catch up on good gossip.

Together with CNA, One of South Africa’s oldest and most loved Book and Stationery stores, I’ll be giving away one set of books from International bestselling author Lesley Pearse. This set of 3 includes two of my personal favourites, “Belle” and “Dead to me”

 

To Enter:

Share this post

Comment below on your favourite book memory.

Winners will be announced Monday the 13th August.

Winners must be residents of South Africa and not have won any other “In These Stilettos” competitions in the last 3 months.

Surviving Two Under 2

Surviving Two Under 2

Posted on by Rebecca

I remember the very first night we were home as a family of 4. Aadam used to sleep through the night in his own room at that point (I don’t know how we have regressed so much), and toddle into our room at about 6 am. He came through to our room while I was feeding Yusuf and proceeded to break into the most heartbreaking cry ever. My little 18 month old baby was devastated that mama had another baby on her chest and just couldn’t understand why I wasn’t holding him.

I am certainly not the first mother that’s had two under two, in fact in my circle of friends the majority of us have had two under two at some point (clearly we are all daft), but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. NOT ONE SINGLE THING.

I remember being pregnant with Yusuf and looking at my 13 month old toddler trying to take his first steps, wondering how on earth I could have another baby in a few months when my baby was just a baby. I worried so much about Aadam and how he would adjust or how I could ever give him the attention he deserved. Having such a small gap between my boys meant two things. Firstly, I had an extremely active second pregnancy. Climbing my jungle gyms and pushing a pram while I was 9 months pregnant was normal. The second being I was absolutely determined to have my second baby naturally as I could not fathom walking around with a Cesarean section scar aching while my toddler was running around. People underestimate the monumental shift that going from 3 to 4 is. Gosh, I had just gotten used to being a wife when I had to adjust to being a mum for the first time and a family of 3, and suddenly we were transitioning to 4 !

Through it all, I made it, and now my boys are the best of friends. They fight like cat and dog, but they also proudly declare that they are each others best friends and it is the most beautiful thing to see. So here are a couple of pieces of advice I gathered when dealing with 2 under 2.

1.Call in the troops

If your mother or mum in law offer to come and help out with the new baby, TAKE THAT HELP! You will need every extra paid of hands you can get in those first few weeks. Dinner time with a 16 month old and newborn around? It’s a little trickier than before and having that extra set of hands is a welcome relief.

2. Prepare your partner 

You have only just adjusted to your new little family when suddenly you are welcoming one more. It is stressful on your partner and they may get bumped down the ladder in terms of priority for a few weeks. Make sure they know you love them and together you will weather the storm. Make time wherever you can to sneak in some alone time. We had our nanny in one weekend for an hour one Saturday and quickly snuck off to the beach while the babies were having their morning nap. It was just one hour but I will never forget that time.

3. Your toddler will get jealous, your baby will not.

I know this sounds harsh but my aunt gave me this piece of advice and I never looked back. Apart from feeding and nappy changes a newborn doesn’t “require” a lot. Have a mobile bed set up in your living area and whenever baby is sleeping try to devote your time solely to your toddler.

4. Get your kids excited about the baby

Easier said then done when your toddler is only 15 months old. By the time I was 8 months pregnant though, even though he couldn’t speak yet, Aadam would kiss my belly at night and give his brother “hugs”.

5. Invest in a carrier 

I feel like this should be priority number one in terms of importance. I had various slings and wraps when Aadam was born but to be honest, I never really used them or got the hang of them. Fast forward 16 months and my baby wrap became my best friend and saving grace. With a toddler you NEED that pram and you NEED two hands. I would carry Yusuf around on me most of the time and had my hands free to tend to “big brother”.

6. Try to synchronize nap times

However you do it, it doesn’t matter, but it will be a game changer. Of course one being a newborn and the other a pint-sized toddler they wont sleep all at the same time but for your toddlers morning and afternoon naps try to get in 45 minutes where you can. I have no shame in saying many a time I chucked them both in the car and drove around until there was silence.

7. Balance your attention

Think of a triage system in hospitals, and yes, your house will resemble the emergency room quite a few times. I typically prioritize based on whose need is bigger or more “urgent”. If the toddler is crying because he can’t get because he can’t reach his toy, and the baby is crying because she is hungry, the baby wins. But if the toddler is crying because he just fell down and needs help, and the baby is crying because he needs to be burped or held, then the toddler wins that time.

8. One day at a time

This is the GOLDEN rule. ALWAYS. One step forward, one foot in front of the other, one day at a time. Each day it will get a little easier, each day they will grow a little bigger. The younger baby will grow up much quicker and the moment he/she is sitting you will blink and they will be crawling, and then…… well then the real fun starts!

 

Review: The Laser Beautique

Review: The Laser Beautique

Posted on by Rebecca

Lets talk about ageing….. or actually, lets not. Lets talk about PREVENTING any signs of ageing. I have this problem, even though I am comfortably into my 30’s now, I still think of myself as an early 20’s university student. Every now and again someone refers to me as “mam” and I nearly trip over my heels. MAM? When did that happen? I also avoid wearing my glasses whenever possible, stupid I know, but thanks to my difference to wearing them I have developed a spectacular frown line from squinting. I’m a little scared of the thought of Botox, but I also know I don’t want to end up with wrinkles like my mum (sorry mama, at least I’m not a smoker). Laser is something I have always been curious about, a little nervous, but curious and may just be my “in between” solution. It typically has me thinking of hair removal, not beauty, turns out there’s a whole world out there I didn’t know about.  The Laser Beautique is a chain of salons specialising in laser beauty therapies like pain-free hair removal, laser lipolysis and more. I was invited to experience their Cinderella Effect facial, using NIR technology, and left very, very impressed. But before I jump into telling you all about it, let me first explain what it is.

The “Cinderella” Effect

The Laser Beautique offers a Cinderella Facial which is a combination of magical lotions and potions using RegimA or Nimue skincare ranges, and Near Infrared (NIR) technology. This combination ensures your skin glows instantly, revealing it revitalized and refueled while being supplied with active ingredients that will leave you feeling and looking fit for a ball. This is a facial designed for royalty, and boy did the Morningside branch make me feel like a princess.

The Laser Beautique makes use of Near Infrared technology to heat the tissue under the skin’s surface, stimulating the infiltration of fibroblasts and the formation of new collagen, this enhances the tightening effect and helps to bolster the skin against future aging. Treatments provide safe, effective skin tightening, body contouring and improves skin laxity and skin architecture.

NIR or Near Infra Red is a type of light that can penetrate deep into your skin to heat up the tissue, causing the collagen fibres to contract, essentially tightening up your skin. The effect is instant but continues over a period of weeks after your facial. This procedure results in the tightening of the skin utilising safe, infrared light that triggers a biological response. NIR is useful in any facial or body area, where there is loose or lax skin. (Why not even use it for post pregnancy loose skin?) It is also useful for improving thin skin or any areas where there is distinct collagen loss.

I was greeted by Ronel, the owner of Laser Beautique Morningside, who walked me through the business and gave me a breakdown on exactly what they could offer. Together we decided the Cinderella facial would probably be best for me. I’m interested in Microneedling as well but baby steps…. Ronel introduced Sarah, my therapist to me, who was professional and friendly but what really impressed me was her knowledge of therapy itself.

A layer of Grape Seed Oil was applied as the base and the laser initially starts on a low energy setting and gradually gets higher and higher until it reaches a warm, manageable level which is when your collagen starts to tighten up. They recommend you have 3 to 4 of these treatments for maximum effect, but Sarah did half of my face first, to show me the difference between the two sides and it was an instant, obvious difference. The half that had received the treatment, was glowing, plumped and flushed, kind of like I had a really good work out ;).  For this reason, many celebrities opt for this kind of facial just before a big red carpet event as well as brides before the big day.

When it comes to laser hair removal this has been something on my bucket list for the past 3 years. I wanted it so badly I even asked for it as a birthday present one year as I always thought it was a bit “expensive”. Sarah gave me a quick underarm hair removal treatment as in insight into the level of “pain”. Well, there was none. If you get your eye brows threaded its a similar feeling, with less pain. A slight pull and “tug” feeling every now and again but nothing at all to make me reconsider. I am so excited to finally get my legs done. It turns out you don’t actually have to pay that big “lump sum” for 8 treatments. Though it does work out cheaper, if you want to start you can pay per session.

So, would I recommend the treatment? Would I go back to the salon? Absolutely! I really do believe that if you want to seriously invest in your ski, then “technology” facials are the way forward. Sure you could go to a “spa” and spend your money on a pampering surface facial, but lets me honest, we can also do a lot of that at home. The theory behind NIR treatments is tried and tested and if we want to invest into good skin going into our 40’s I would recommend this.

I’m already booking my follow-up treatments on my own accord. Thank you Ronel and Sarah for educating this beauty “sissy” and for helping this mama to get a little of her glow back!

DIY Bathtime Playdough

DIY Bathtime Playdough

Posted on by Rebecca

Any lush fans in the house? Since we made our own bath bombs ,I’ve really been enjoying reading up on the various different bath options we can create. If you are a lush fan you’ll be familiar with their “bath time playdough”, we’ve had the rainbow one a couple of times, and I never realised just how easy it could be to create! These are literally two of the greatest things in the world colliding into one ball of awesomeness. Playdough and Bath time are my boys absolute favourites, and this was just so much fun.

You’ll need 3 simple ingredients:

Cornstarch

Your kids body wash/ Castille soap

Food colouring

Essential Oils (optional)

This does require a fair bit of kneading before it gets to a manageable consistency. I did the initial mixing an then let the boys get stuck in. Simply start with 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part body wash. I started with 2/3 cups cornstarch and 1/3 cup body wash. Stir the mixture together until it’s all combined. If the resulting mixture is too solid, add a bit more body wash and vice versa. If you are using food colouring, mix it in with the body wash first (I didnt, and it created a slight marbled effect).

 

Let them have fun and play in the bath. Roll off a small amount of the dough (about a tablespoon). You don’t want to use it all in one bath session. It will disintegrate in the water but stay solid as they rub it on their bodies. It smells amazing and they’ll get clean while they play! You coul also use it in sensory play, as part of a water table, for your kids to use when cleaning toys, or as a dry playdough.

Making this playdough is also a fantastic sensory experience and fine motor strengthening activity.

Have you tried making your own bathtime playdough? I’ve seen a couple of variations on the recipe and would love to hear how you made yours.

Party Inspiration – Lightning Mcqueen

Party Inspiration – Lightning Mcqueen

Posted on by Rebecca

Its been a while since I last shared party inspiration (apart from the last Golf themed party). Racing is always a hot theme and when its lightening Mcqueen you are guaranteed a win. I shared our last racing party here but we recently attended one that took my breath away! Liezl’s attention to detail is impeccable and as always her baking skills are on point. You may remember that I used her to make Yusuf’s birthday cake, cake pops and chocolate dipped oreos.

I have so many highlights from this party:

The Chocolate Dipped Oreos

Insanely detailed Cake, have a look at that checked inside!

Sensational Sugar Cookies

Custom made frame made from used tyres

Inflatable tires in the Front

Red, Yellow and Green Traffic light toothpicks

Over to Liezl and her fantastic Mcqueen Party:

Ka-Chow! Diego turned three and celebrated with an awesome Lightning McQueen party! 

The party was held at the Randburg Junior Traffic Centre, (our favourite for anything racing related) where kids spent the day racing their bicycles around the kid-sized roads, even stopping at the traffic lights too.

As a freelance Graphic Designer and part-time Party Planner, I tend to always go a bit crazy when it comes to my children’s birthday parties! Diego is mad about the Cars movies, so it was a no-brainer to include the racing references like checkered flags, McQueen’s signature red and yellow, as well as cacti for Radiator Springs. The food was also Cars-inspired and guests appreciated the special touches, like traffic light toothpicks of cheese, tomatoes and cocktail onions, as well as the themed baked goods.
In lieu of the typical candy-filled party favors, I opted for traffic light playdough packs and Cars stickers, and I think the parents appreciated them just as much as the kids did!
Suppliers details below:
Decor, Food platters, Jelly, Cake, Sugar Cookies, Cake pops, Chocolate Covered Oreos – http://www.sugarandpaper.co.za/
Printed temporary tattoos – https://nutmegpartyboxes.co.za/
Pin the teeth on Tow Mater & Ramone Tattoo Sign – http://www.sugarandpaper.co.za/
Playdough for party favors – http://www.partyplaydough.co.za/ 
If you have any party’s that you would like featured you can email any submissions through to inthesestilettos@gmail.com .
HAPPY PLANNING!
Finding My Balance

Finding My Balance

Posted on by Rebecca

I’ve always been a believer that if you manage your time properly then you can fit most things into your life and for the most part I still believe that. Managing your time and prioritising what’s most important is hard and takes practice  but it’s not impossible. However, something I’ve realised lately is that there is only so much time in the day and it’s not physically possible to do it ‘all’.

I was up last night thinking about balance, well the concept of it anyway. Everything you see these days points to “Finding a Balance”, magazines, health seminars, articles on how to create the perfect “work/life” balance. Is it possible to actually achieve a balance? Honestly? I don’t think so . You will never be able to balance all aspects of your life all at one time. Life has seasons, and chapters, and it ebbs and flows. “Balance” is not static, it’s a state of constant flux. The pressure we put on ourselves to try and equalize “life” and “work” is ridiculous. I honestly think the drive to achieve “a balanced” daily lifestyle could lead to put so much additional pressure on ourselves.

Raising children is hard enough, and then there’s building your career. Life is a constant balancing act of work, time with children, school runs, lunch appointments, if you are lucky you get to squeeze in a gym session, but when do we stop? When do we just breathe and take a moment?

If we just accept the fact that some weeks may be easier than others, some weeks you may get to gym 3 times a week, and others you may skip completely, but you know what, that’s OK! As long as you don’t lose sight of your greater goal/intention, you can only do the best you can. I LOVE my time at New Body Studio. I adore my Pilates, Yoga, Ballet and yes SOMETIMES even Rebound. More than the exercise itself I love connecting, having a good chat and spending time with like minded people. I am far from a fitness freak, but every person needs their “something” whether its immersing yourself into art classes, cooking up a storm, walking in the wild or perfecting your tree. Its important to take time out for self care, to reconnect your soul and mind. Try and find your thing and always keep sight of it.

We have to stop thinking that there will be a magical moment where it all pans out. A place where we will suddenly juggle work, family, self-goals and still roll into bed at 10 pm. There are not enough hours in the day! Life involves constant adjustments and priority shifts. You put focus into one area, and another area has to step back for a while. Some weeks I may work until 3 everyday and get to do fun activities with the boys, and others I may only get home in 5, just in time for dinner, bath and bed time routines. On those nights, I cherish my snuggles and kisses that much more. Not being able to take my boys out and about when they are on holidays and I’m in the office pushes my mommy guilt through the roof! I wish I could just show them everything the world has to offer, It doesn’t make me a bad mother, it makes me a normal mother! Trying to balance life in heels. Months may fly by where I don’t make one on one time with my friends, I feel like I’m the worlds crappiest friend or sister. Yet other months we may see each other 3 times in 2 weeks. The ability to see beyond the “black and white” balance is what I’m trying to get at. I need to stop focusing on trying to cram all things into one day, but step back and evaluate what matters and reallocate time to those things.

Let go of “trying to be perfect”! People living “perfect” lives and posting about them online can be daunting for those who live a normal life and are constantly scrolling. Don’t succumb to the pressure, the idea of perfectionism is hugely subjective. If you can accept that no one is perfect and absolutely no human being has the perfect balance you will let go of the guilt. Go easy on yourself mama, one step at a time, one foot in front of the other.

So yes some weeks I may cram in a million crafts and adventures with my boys, and other days I am a Martha Stewart extraordinaire. Sometimes I even get it right and manage my 3 days of exercise per week, or push out 3 blogs in a week, but mainly I’m just trying to find a way to get through my to do list, one point at a time. From high heels to high chairs, trying to balance work, life, motherhood and marriage. Life is beautiful! With all of its chapters and seasons. If I ever find the magic formula I’ll let you know 🙂

Recipe: Milo Crunchies

Recipe: Milo Crunchies

Posted on by Rebecca

I promised some Milo inspired baking recipes this week and these Crunchies are proving to be a treat with the whole family. We recently got to experience a fantastic morning thanks to Nestle South Africa, where we learnt how to make our own MILO® Energy Cereal and its re-ignited my love for this malty drink. A Crunchie is the perfect sweet treat to enjoy with a hot drink, or as a snack in a lunch box, its also an ideal baking activity to do with kids with little hands to help you press into the tin.

This is a good old fashioned recipe, with sugar (maybe a little too much), butter, oats, coconut and flour, and of course my favourite Milo! You can pretty much add anything you like to the base of butter, flour, oats and egg.

 

 

Ingredients

1/2 Cup self raising flour

1/2 Cup cake flour

1/2 Cup grated chocolate – I used Milo Chocolate , you could also cut into chunks as opposed to grating

1/2 Cup Milo

2/3 Cup desiccated coconut

1/3 Cup brown sugar (original recipe had 2/3 cup but i found that too sweet)

125g melted butter

 1 cup oats

Grease a baking tray and preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius

Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix

Press into baking tray

Bake for 15-20 minutes (Crunchies will harden as they cool)

Allow to cool before slicing and serve with your favourite hot beverage

All credit to mommalikeme’s beautiful mama for this fabulous recipe. The perfect weekly bake in under 30 minutes from start to finish!

Make Your Own Milo Cereal

Make Your Own Milo Cereal

Posted on by Rebecca

Im a “Milo” Girl, I always have been and always will be. Growing up it was both my 4pm snack as well as my before bed drink and that’s never changed. Every night I still have a mug of Milo before bed and I’m passing on my love to my boys.

Since becoming a mother however I have become much more conscious of what I give to my boys and the amount of sugar in things. My youngest has the biggest sweet tooth and will happily consume anything with sugar in it. As consumers we often see “labels” like “reduced fat” or “less sugar”, but how much of that is actually real?

When Nestle South Africa launched the “Secret Moms Club” I was immediately intrigued. Anything to get more ideas on how to give my boys healthier options. Hosted by Dr Michael Mol, the event was aimed at helping moms understand exactly what ingredients go into the MILO® Energy Cereal and that the improved recipe contains ‘less sugar and more benefits’. We had no idea what we were making in the kitchen at the time, with Chef Sizwe shouting instructions on what to do and when. As soon as I saw liquid malt extract, I had a pretty good idea it may have something to do with my favourite chocolate drink. Nestle took us through making our very own Milo Cereal, which we only discovered at the end and once everything was out of the oven, so we could see first hand just how little sugar the new Milo Cereal has in it. There is nothing better then a brand that provides you with first hand experience on what they claim.

I’ll be sharing that recipe and a few more Milo inspired recipes this week. I LOVE the fact that I can make this with my boys so they can see how their morning cereals are made, plus rolling out the little balls is excellent for find motor skills!

Ingredients – this recipe yields approx 2-3 Servings

Dry Mix

5 tbsp Wholegrain wheat flour

1 tbsp Corn Semolina fine (Maizena)

2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Cocoa powder

Wet Mix

3 tbsp Boiling water

2 tsp Cooking Oil

1 tsp Sugar

 

Milo Slurry for the Coating

1 tbsp Cocoa powder

1 tbsp Liquid malt extract

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp Skim milk powder

1 tbsp Boiling water

1/2 tsp Vanilla extract

1/2 tsp Cooking Oil

Method

Cocoa Cereal Balls

1.Mix the flour and Corn Semolina in a mixing bowl and sift the cocoa and baking powder together into the bowl

2. For the Wet Mix, put oil and sugar in a medium bowl, add the boiling water and mix

3. Pour the wet mix into the dry mix and stir with a spoon until it comes together in a lump. Dont over mix but the mixture should not be sticky. If need be add a little more flour.

4. Divide the dough into 3 portions

5. Roll each portion into a rope shape and cut into small pieces. Roll each little piece into small balls and place on a baking tray

6. Bake in a preheated oven at 160 Degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes.

7. While the dough balls are baking, prepare your slurry.

Milo Coating Slurry

8. Put cocoa powder, sugar and milk powder in a small bowl and mix. Add vanilla essence, oil and boiling water. Mix well until no lumps.

9. Drizzle about a tbsp of the slurry over cooled bowls, mix vigorously until the cereal balls are well coated.

10. Transfer the coated cereal balls into a lined baking tray and dry in oven at 120 Degrees Celsius for 5 minutes or until dry.

11. Cool down before serving.

There you have it! Of course this isn’t the “exact” secret Nestle recipe, its been translated into relatable terms but we were all plesantly suprised at how simple it actually is. The new MILO® Energy Cereal is now in a crunchy round shape, and boasts only 1½ teaspoons of sugar per serving, a higher wholegrain fibre content due to the use of whole grains, more protein and Activ-Go, which is a unique blend of malt extract and micronutrients that play a vital role in energy release. Have a go at this recipe at home with the kids, whether you use your cereal as a dry snack or a morning meal, you will never look at your box of MILO® Energy Cereal in the same way again!