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Ramadan Corner -Ramadan Crafts for Little Ones

Ramadan Corner -Ramadan Crafts for Little Ones

Posted on by Rebecca

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, It is the month in which Muslims around the world fast to commemorate the first revelation of the Holy Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (AWS). It’s a month about learning to exercise self-control and to give charity to those less fortunate. Growing up in a Christian household and having Christmas holds very special memories to me, as a child so much excitement is created and there are endless activities to do as a family. As a revert I want to get my kids just as excited about Ramadan, especially as they are not fasting, getting them involved in activities with the rest of the family. I created a “Ramadan corner”, an area especially for the kids to sit and hear stories and craft.

The first thing I wanted to create and I have seen quite a few of them doing the rounds online was a Ramadan Calendar. My one may be no where NEAR as beautiful as some of the fabric ones I have seen but it was a whole lot cheaper! It’s not perfect, but neither am I 🙂

After much back and forth I settled on making it with a large artists canvas. I painted that and then cut of pieces of felt which I stuck onto the canvas with a hot glue gun. I then painted the numbers onto the pockets with a stencil. Each pocket has a different activity to do inside the relevant days.

I’ve been getting quite a few questions since I posted on my instagram stories on what to include inside my Ramadan Calendar.

Here are a few idea’s to get you started:

 

Bake Ramadan Cookies

Make a Ramadan Banner

Make a treat with dates

Learn a new Surah (verse of the Quran)

Donate two toys to Charity

Donate some clothes to Charity

Make Eid Cards

Make a Masjid out of Card

Read a story on the Prophet Muhammed (AWS)

Read a story on the Prophet Issa (AWS) (Jesus)

Read a story on the Prophet Jonah (AWS) (Jonah) – You get the picture. We try to cover all the Prophets

Learn about how they celebrate Ramadan in another country.

Here are some other craft ideas to include that I have done with the boys so far :

Making a crescent moon out of a paper plate – for some reason my boys loved this activity even though it was the most simple.

Sticking on buttons onto a moon – This is a great fine motor skill for little ones. My youngest loved sticking on each button individually and putting them together like a puzzle.

Moon Sighting binoculars – Easy as pie with two toilet rolls. We decorated ours with star stickers to tie in with the night theme.

Ramadan Lantern – This craft got to me the most. It didn’t come out as neat as I would have liked it too and my control freak kept wanting to interfere with the boys. Anyway – cut down the skyline of mosques and cut out shapes. I took clear coloured paper and stuck that onto the stained glass window. Wrap it around a bottle (I used a 500 ml coke bottle) and put an LED candle inside.

My First Dua Book – I first saw the idea on The Muslimah Guide’s Blog here .This was made using a cut out of the boys hands. On each page, once a week we will try to learn a new Dua (Prayer). Preschoolers can learn simple Dua’s like Giving Salaams, giving thanks to people (Jazak’Allah Khairan) and giving thanks to Allah (Alhumdulilah).

Make your own Sadaqah jar : Giving charity is absolutely essential for Muslims, It is one of our 5 pillars of Islam and is at its core. There are two types of Charity a Muslim should give – Zakat – this is compulsory, and is a set percentage of ones wealth to charity (a bit like Tithing in Christianity). Sadaqah is the voluntary act of Charity for the benefit of Allah (and a person’s soul). Its giving money to the guy on the street, volunteering your time at an orphanage, giving food to the homeless.

We made our own Sadaqah jar for the boys to fill up and give to people after Ramadan. I took a plain tin that cost R8 at flowerspot and painted glitter at the bottom. They decorated it with stickers.

30 date Jar – Children are visual (hence the advent calendar as well). In Islam we break our fast everyday with a date and water. I filled a jar with 30 dates so everyday the boys can take our their date and they can see the jar becoming emptier.

Make a Ramadan Banner – you could go traditional with a bunting style but i cut out circles from paper plates. The boys painted the plates with their rainbow paint set and then i just wrote out Ramadan Mubarak. Punch holes in each circle and string together with twine.

The idea’s are endless really. You can create whatever you want, I like to recreate the stories we tell. For example when telling the Story of the Prophet Yunus (AWS) (Thats Jonah and the Whale in English), we make a whale out of a paper plate to go with the story. Just have fun with your kids and learn as you go. Ramadan is about learning, it’s about family, it’s about coming together and strengthening your faith. For non-Muslims I hope you learnt a little more about our faith from this article and that it helped in some way.

These crafts will help your little ones (and you) understand the traditions, culture, and festivities of Ramadan a bit more and will bring you all together. Do you have any other fun crafts to do ? Id love to hear about them.

Ramadan Mubarak everyone !

 

“Crafting for Mom: 3 DIY Gift Ideas”

“Crafting for Mom: 3 DIY Gift Ideas”

Posted on by Rebecca

May to me is “Mothering Month”; Mothers Day of course, falls in May as well as my own mama’s birthday. While Mums special day may have come and gone, I’m always looking at unique gift ideas to give to the special ladies in my life. There’s something special about a homemade gift to me, the time and effort that goes into it and the fact that it was made just for you, it’s my favourite type of gift to give (and receive). Having two young kids to jump in and help with the crafting is just the cherry on top!

Here are 3 quick and easy DIY gift ideas to use for your next gift – ALL are kid friendly, in fact my boys did 70% of these and all take no longer than 5 minutes (apart from the drying process).

1.Popsicle Stick Picture Frame

You’ll need:

  1. 4 craft ice cream sticks, in colours of your choice (I got mine from CNA)
  2. Glue Gun
  3. A Magnet
  4. Various decorations of your choice (I used stickers and pom poms)
  5. A picture of your choice

I used a glue gun to stick all four sticks together, i wanted this to be strong so the kids didnt help me here as glue guns can get super hot! Attach the picture to the back of the ice cream sticks.

Using a good quality graft clue (for kids) or a glue gun (for mama), stick on any decor items of your choice. For the first frame i found a gorgeous paper butterfly that I wanted to utilise so I stuck that on the corner and then the kids went crazy with their stickers (a good compromise 🙂 ). For the second I hoped onto the pom pom trend and made another frame with a fiesta feel.

Lastly I took the glue gun again and just put a blob of glue on the back of the photo to attach the magnet to, so it can sit proudly on Grandma’s fridge!

Seriously one of the quickest and most heartfelt gifts you could give, and what kid doesn’t like decorating their own masterpiece?

2. Air Dry Clay Necklace

You’ll Need:

  1. A Packet of Air-Drying Clay (I also got this from CNA) – you could also use Salt Dough, see my previous recipe here – but the Air Dry Clay is easier and more time effective
  2. Paints of your choice
  3. Ribbon/Twine
  4. A straw

Get the kids to knead their clay to a nice soft consistency. Roll it out to the thickness you desire and take your mould, whatever shape it is ( I used cookie cutters). Cut it out and take a the straw or toothpick to make the hole for the chain to string through. Dry your pendants by placing them on a flat tray with some wax paper. Drying time varies, I gave mine 12 hours and it was perfect. Once the clay is dry let your kiddies paint away ! Its quite hard to tell from the picture but the purple heart has the boys thumbprints indented into it. I filled their thumbprints with glitter and now I’ll always remember their little thumbs at 4 and almost 3 years old.

The sky is the limit with this one. The versatility of air dry clay is endless and really with this idea your imagination can take you anywhere. I have seen so many options, you could add beads at each end, stamp an initial for a monogram charm, really do whatever your heart desires.

3. Personalised Mug

You’ll need:

  1. Plain porcelain mug of your choice (I feel white is most effective)
  2. Porcelain pens/oil-based pen markers (Any guesses where I found mine? Yup, CNA is my go to craft shop).
  3. Vinyl stickers – the thicker the better

To start off; make sure your mug is completely grease free. Take a little bit of vinegar on cotton and just wipe your mug down. Once that is prepped use your stickers to spell out whatever you want, or just use a monogram. Give your pen a good shake and press it down on a piece of paper a few times to get the liquid flowing. Next, make dots all around your stickers, you want your dots as close as possible at the start and you can gradually space them out as you move further away from your chosen word. The closer together they are initially, the better your word is formed. You can add in as many colours as you like, or you may even chose just one. You have to let the paint dry before peeling the stickers off. 4 hours is a safe bet. Once dry, preheat your oven to about 160 Degrees Celcious and “bake” your mug for 90 minutes. This sets the paint and ensures it wont come off in the wash. Its best to hand wash these mugs in any case.

Its that easy!! Your Eid/Christmas presents for this year are sorted ! You can personalise a mug for every member of the family. We have literally done this as teachers gifts, Christmas gifts as well as Mothers Day. The boys adore it and in a way, their designs are more effective (they have less patience with the dots and tend to scribble towards the end).

SO there you have it! 3 super quick and easy DIY gift options, perfect for the Mothering month of May.

Dear Mama – Because it all makes sense now

Dear Mama – Because it all makes sense now

Posted on by Rebecca

Dear Mama,

I don’t quite know where to start. The day I became a mother was the day I could truly say I understood you. I understand the long days and tough nights, I understand you saying “Just try some” at every meal, I completely get the scrambled eggs for dinner on a Sunday night. At bedtime, when the boys wont stop wriggling, I remember you telling me to “stop wriggling and settle down”. I understand it all now.

You have never been one to conform. You certainly are not a conventional “Martha Stewart” mother, in fact quite the opposite. From what I can remember Dad did the bedtime stories and weekend cooking. Yet you are the perfect mother, to me.

You are a strong, free-spirited “Hippy” child. I’ve often thought that you always consider me to be a “bore”. The perfect example of a strong woman, you created an empire and had a passion and vision for what you did, you showed me that I can achieve anything! Through hard work and drive, I can do whatever I set my mind too. I remember as a child, I was often upset when you missed swimming galas or competitions, award ceremony’s or homework; wishing you could have been more like the mum’s who didn’t work in an office. Looking back, I hold none of it against you. You were a business woman, and thankfully, I never took it personally. You are the perfect example that as long as you have a passion, you can achieve anything. Growing up and seeing your ambition is what taught me to be strong and to not let every little thing life throws at me tear me down, but instead, build me up.

In my opinion, I had the perfect childhood. I grew up in the bush and either spent my afternoons swimming, playing some sort of ball sport, making forts under thorn trees and chasing snakes (yes you read that correctly). How I didn’t end up with any serious injuries is beyond me. Weekends were always spent at the Yacht Club, either sailing, swimming or paddle boarding. Thank you for not being a “Helicopter parent”, thank you for allowing me the freedom to explore and adventure.

As I grew older, you continued to give me freedom. Freedom to make my own mistakes and to learn. Thank you for always having trust in me. You and dad always treated me as an adult. You never gave me a “strict” curfew, you never stopped me from doing something I wanted to do. You trusted me, and I never had a reason to rebel. Your confidence pushed me to be the best that I could be. You gave me just enough freedom that I could explore and learn, but I always knew what was right and what was wrong.

When I had a meltdown because I wanted to go to boarding school (I know right?), I literally remember crying my eyes out because all my best friends were going, you held strong and said “I need you here”. When you forced me to take a gap year before university, even though I may not have wanted to at the time, you knew what was best. You always pushed me to explore, to travel, to adventure.

You are the “cool” mum. All our friends loved coming over and you loved entertaining.  I have the best memories of my birthday parties and all the amazing cakes you did. My love of events stems through your passion and expertise. You love a good party, and my social skills are certainly down to being your daughter. You believe that life is meant to be lived, and enjoyed, and everything should be enjoyed, in moderation of course!

While I was growing up we used to disagree a lot (we still do), on how life should be and what matters the most. Now that I’m a mother, I cannot tell you how grateful I am. For all the shopping trips to Woolworths, the grocery shopping and my endless nagging “Can I have this, can I have that”. The help you have gave me with the boys, straight after birth was invaluable. I couldn’t have done it without you. Yes you may not have been the best “night nanny” :), but You always looked out for ME, because without me being strong, the boys couldn’t be strong. You always put ME first. You’re also pretty darn good at singing babies to sleep.

I love you mama and you have been the best role model. I couldn’t be more thankful for all that you do, for all the little white lies you told to protect me, to protect my childhood, for all the times you pushed me out of my comfort zone. For all the times you simply didn’t ask questions, thank you for giving me the freedom to soar. Sometimes, I know I get busy, but you are so appreciated. Certainly I wouldn’t be the woman I am today if it weren’t for you. So, thank you – for absolutely everything.

You’re my hero.

PS.. Dad dont worry, fathers day is coming soon 🙂 🙂

Top Childrens’ Book Picks for Ramadan

Top Childrens’ Book Picks for Ramadan

Posted on by Rebecca

Ramadan (a Muslim holy month of fasting, where we commemorate when the Quran was revealed), is fast approaching and I’m busy preparing myself as a working mum, for an even busier month ahead. Meal plans, activities for the children and stocking up the house. A like to create as much excitement for my boys around Ramadan as possible.

Teaching my kids to love books and reading is hugely important to me, as is teaching my children the history of Islam. Naturally in Ramadan we increase our reading a bit more, I normally put away all of their other books and we only focus on our Islamic ones. They are at that “in-between” age at the moment, where they are a little too young to start Madrasah (Islamic studies for kids) but are at the perfect age to learn about Islam and its history. I try to increase their knowledge by reading Islamic books at home and encouraging learning in everyday tasks and crafts.

Suhayla Kids is my go to for all Islamic books and educational toys. In Johannesburg I don’t particularly like driving into Fordsburg/Mayfair and dealing with parking and traffic. SUHAYLA kids is an online store and has the best, most up to date titles, follows global trends and they deliver nationwide (they have even done deliveries to Botswana). Their customer service is second to none, and Taahirah’s personalised notes and quick delivery makes every customer feel special and unique.

These books are great for Muslims and Non-Muslims alike. Teaching other children about Ramadan and why their friends families are “fasting” teaches understanding and respect. They have also been great helping my family (who aren’t Muslim) understand our traditions and celebrations more.

Here’s a list of my top picks for Ramadan:

Night of the Moon – Hena Khan

I ADORE Hena Khan’s books. She has such a beautiful, simple style of writing and this book in particular is both my boys favourite (apart from Ilyas and Duck which we will get too). Its also a great book to teach little ones about the cycle of the moon.

“The sighting of the Moon’s first crescent begins the month of Ramadan for Muslims all over the world. This vibrantly illustrated story invites children to experience the traditions of the month through the eyes of a seven-year-old girl named Yasmeen, who watches every night as the moon grows and shrinks and finally disappears. When the moon’s first crescent reappears, it’s time to celebrate “The Night of the Moon” and the gift-giving holiday of Eid – when Yasmeen has a wonderful gift in store!”

Available from Suhayla Kids for R230.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of colours – Hena Khan

I got this last Ramadan and we still love it.

“With breathtaking illustrations and informative text, this book magnificently captures the world of Islam, celebrating its beauty and traditions. This book uses objects found in many Muslim cultures to teach colours. With simple language suitable for even the youngest readers, a young Muslim girl and her family guide the reader through the traditions and colours of Islam.”

Available from SUHAYLA kids for R120.

Ilyas & Duck and the Fantastic Festival of Eid-al-Fitr – Omar S. Khawaja

One of the boys favourite’s (and mummy’s too). So much so that my son wanted to dress up as Ilyas for World Book Day this year.

Part of the highly-acclaimed Ilyas & Duck series! Eid-al-Fitr is here!

“It’s time to celebrate! But what is Eid all about? Join Ilyas & Duck in this fantastically delightful story as they explore the fun and excitement of Eid while learning about the charitable nature of it all. Eid has never been so much fun!”

2015 Moonbean Children’s Book Awards Silver Medal (Multicultural – Non-Fiction picture book)

Available from Suhayla Kids for R235 (and so worth it).

Hassan and Aneesa love Ramadan – Yasmen Rahim

We love this series, another one we love is the “Hassan and Aneesa go to the Masjid”.

“It’s the night before Ramadan and Hassan and Aneesa are very excited for this special month to begin. During Ramadan, they will read the Qur’an, give charity, share food with neighbours, and try to fast as their parents do.

Follow Hassan and Aneesa on the first day of Ramadan and find out why they love it when this holy month arrives.”

A steal at R50 from you guessed it, SUHAYLA kids

On our wishlist:

I haven’t got my hands on these yet but am determined to add them to our collection this year.

Its Ramadan, Curious George – Hena Khan

One of the most popular books in the UK, and proving to be so here too (Its currently sold out and on my wishlist too).

It’s the first day of Ramadan, and George is celebrating with his friend Kareem and his family. George helps Kareem with his first fast and joins in the evening celebration of tasting treats and enjoying a special meal. Then, George helps make gift baskets to donate to the needy, and watches for the crescent moon with the man in the yellow hat. Finally George joins in the Eid festivities to mark the end of his very first Ramadan.

R125 from SUHAYLA Kids for R125.

Migo & Ali: Love for the Prophets – Zanib Mian

 

I LOVE the fact that this book tells a summarized version of each prophet.

“This delightful hardback book, with 164 full colour pages, contains vibrantly illustrated stories of the prophets, from Adam (as) to Muhammad (saw). These stories are concise, and told in engaging, child-friendly language. A question and answer session after each story is also unique in its style, depicted as a conversation between the two lovable characters. Ali pretty much asks Migo the questions that will be on your child’s mind.”

R275 from SUHAYLA kids

Allah Tells Me – Ali Gator

 

This book just looks like a beautifully simple introduction of the Five Pillars of Faith in Islam.

“This book introduces young children to the 5 pillars of Islam through beautiful illustration and gentle words that will develop both a consciousness of Allah as well as a curiosity to learn more.

InshaAllah (God Willing) this book will inspire young hearts to learn about & love Allah.”

R75 From SUHAYLA kids.

 

That’s our top list! I would love to hear some of your favourites too. ALL of these books are easy to read with no uncomplicated language or descriptions, perfect for young minds. The bright illustrations help children remember and I cant wait to put them all out for our Ramadan book corner this year.

If you are in Johannesburg next week (3-6 May 2018), SUHAYLA Kids will be at the Eid Shopping Festival at the Dome (Stall C5). They will have a wide selection of their Islamic books, toys, decor and more, all to inspire and expand young muslims minds. Including one of our favourites, the Dua Pillow.

Keep an eye on the blog or subscribe to follow some of the cute Ramadan crafts I have planned over the next month!

 

Homemade Bath Bombs

Homemade Bath Bombs

Posted on by Rebecca

I’m jumping on the latest internet craze once again. Its safe to say bath bombs are pretty much everywhere. I was surprised to see how much these balls of scented goodness can retail for. Everyone loves baths, with my boys we often use little fizzies in the bath to colour up the water, and I just use them for their glorious scent and healing properties.

With mothers day coming up they are the perfect gift to give to someone special. You can customize color, scent, and shape to perfectly suit the person, and its a heck of a lot cheaper to make them at home. It was such a fun activity to do and the boys loved watching their balls form.

Ingredients:

1 Cup baking soda (Bicarbonate of Soda)

1/2 cup Epsom salts

1/2 cup Citric acid

2 tsp Essential Oil (I used Lavender)

1 tsp water

3 tsp Coconut Oil

Plastic moulds/ egg shells (I used those little plastic ornament shells for Christmas as well as egg shells). Silicon moulds work really well as well.

All these ingredients are natural so the bath bombs are safe for kids and toddlers. I chose to omit glitter, as pretty as it is, on purpose. Most glitter is made out of plastic and I have become quite conscious of what goes down our drains and into our water system. You can choose to add dried petals, or even those little magic grow beans to hide inside.

  1. In a bowl whisk together the baking soda, citric acid, Epsom Salts.
  2. In a separate small bowl combine the melted coconut oil, water and essential oil
  3. While whisking, very SLOWLY drizzle the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients until well combined. You can choose to do this with a spray bottle. DO NOT be tempted to add more liquid. If the liquid gets too wet it will activate the fizzy part of the bath bomb too soon!
  4. TIGHTLY pack the mixture into each side of the mold then press the two sides together. Ideally let it stay in the mold overnight, then lightly tap around the mold with a spoon to very carefully open and remove bath bomb.

What I learnt:

It is so important to add in the liquid as slowly as possible. I have seen some people using a spray bottle for this step, just to ensure a thin mist. You do not want the Citric Acid to start reacting.

Some recipes contain Corn Starch, I chose to omit that on purpose as I wanted the bombs to be as natural as possible. My little guys suffer from Eczema and I didn’t want the corn flour blocking up their pores in any way. I would like to try that recipe in future though.

This is a messy activity so do it somewhere that’s easy to clean up. Citric Acid is easier to find then i thought, i searched Dischem and Clicks and ended up finding it at good old Pick n Pay, right next to the Bicarb.

 

This is one fun activity and now that I have all the ingredients on hand its time to play! I want to try mixing up essential oils and colours. Its a little addictive, and the boys loved it!

Review: Eucerin’s DermoPURIFYER Range – has it really made a difference?

Review: Eucerin’s DermoPURIFYER Range – has it really made a difference?

Posted on by Rebecca

The DermoPurifyer range has had a bit of a makeover and three new products have joined the range – Micellar Water, The Skin Renewal Treatment and the Mattifying fluid. All the formulas are enriched with exfoliating acids, in sleek modern packaging.

I never expected this result. I will be completely and utterly honest, I have never noticed such a dramatic difference from using a single product before. I received the Eucerin DermoPurifyer range a little over a week ago, and was fully prepared to write a review after about a month, but here I am 9 days later, that is how great a difference I have seen. This past year I have battled with my skin, whether its age, city living or lack of sleep my face has taken a beating and I started getting small little pimples all around my jaw line. I don’t have “oily” skin as per say, just your typical T-Zone, so I have battled with “normal” acne skincare products as I find they dry out my skin too much, causing it to be tight and uncomfortable.

I certainly have my hero products in the range, and there are a few that I’m not one hundred percent in love with, keep on reading to find out my thoughts.

EUCERIN DERMOPURIFYER MICELLAR WATER

I have only recently started using Micellar water in my skincare routine, in fact I never really knew when to use it. My routine this time around has been at night to use Micellar water before I cleanse to remove all excess make up and oil, and then I go in with the toner after I cleanse. This one is quite gentle in comparison to others I have used. It’s also loaded with humectants, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, that attract water into your skin, keeping it well hydrated. It leaves my skin feeling clean and soft, but I did find it didn’t remove make up as effectively as others (Tracers of mascara still remained).

EUCERIN DERMOPURIFYER OIL CONTROL CLEANSING GEL

I’m obsessed with the pump action of this product. It makes it so incredibly easy to use and the bottle just looks so refined. Its lightweight, not too think and not too foamy. It uses gentle surfactants that strip away only excess oil, not all the oil. Despite the fact its out there fighting wars with the acne causing pollutants on your skin, its gentle enough that I don’t feel my skin has been stripped of its protective barrier.

EUCERIN DERMOPURIFYER OIL CONTROL SCRUB

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Oil Control Scrub has a small amount of lactic acid in it, the beads and pore-refining micro-particles gently exfoliate the skin, unclogging the pores and refining skin texture at the same time.

I have used this twice I think, typically exfoliating once a week. It definitely left my skin smoother and brighter, with the little pulp particles lifting all dead skin. After exfoliating I used my L’Oreal Pure Skin Clay face mask. It would be nice if Eucerin had a mask in this range as well.

EUCERIN DERMOPURIFYER OIL CONTROL TONER

This is possibly my least favorite in the range. I prefer more natural toners and steer away with anything from alcohol it in. I find it dries out my skin and leaves it tight and normally use a toner that is as close to good old rose water as possible. I found this toner to have too much alcohol in it, and could smell it before i even applied it to my skin. That being said, this didnt strip or dry out my skin as much as other alcohol based toners do. My go to before trying to range was the Eucerin DermatoCLEAN Clarifying Toner which i may go back to .

EUCERIN DERMOPURIFYER OIL CONTROL SKIN RENEWAL TREATMENT

This is my hero product. Literally. I know its probably a combination of everything, but I’m giving a large portion of the credit to this bad boy here. The DermoPurifyer Oil Control Skin Renewal Treatment is one of the newest additions to the range.

It has a blend of 10% Hydroxy Complex which is made up of highly effective peeling agents − Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Polyhydroxy Acid , they treat breakouts and prevents them from coming back. This triple action combination removes and exfoliates dead skin cells from the surface of your skin so your pores won’t get clogged up again. It boots collagen production to firm up your skin, while the Salicylic Acid gets deep inside the pores and unclogs them from within. I literally noticed a difference with all those pesky white heads around my browline within one week.

It’s a lightweight texture and sinks in quickly into the skin. I’ve been using it at night, straight after cleansing and toning. It doesn’t feel too strong on my skin at all. After application I do get a slightly tingly feeling on the areas where I had breakouts, but this lasts about 20 seconds and is gone. My skin is quite sensitive, It hasn’t been red, or dry once!

All these products have lightweight textures that absorb quickly into the skin. None of them have dried out my skin. My pores are visibly smaller, my skin smoother and the affected areas of my face have reduced and are less inflamed. I haven’t tried any of the moisturizers in the range, I’ve been using the Eucerin Sun Fluid Anti-Age SPF 50 together with my normal retinol day cream.

I would absolutely recommend taking the time to use this range if you have been battling any sort. I feel so much better about my skin and cant wait to see how it continues to improve!

Before

After , see all the little bumps around my eyes and jaw line have almost all dissapered.

Life before kids – the top 10 things i took for granted

Life before kids – the top 10 things i took for granted

Posted on by Rebecca

I think most parents can agree that their lives changes forever when you became a mom or dad. I found my purpose, my meaning in life. I’m responsible for raising good, strong, giving future leaders. For teaching them right from wrong, for bringing smiles to their cute little faces. I love every single minute, despite how tired I am. Once in a while however, I get little “flashbacks” of things that did “BC” that I completely and utterly took for granted.

So here’s a list of some of the things that I took for granted for all of you “parents to be”.

  1. Top on my list has to be sleep. UNINTERRUPTED SLEEP! Whether it’s in a nap form on a Sunday afternoon on the couch, or in my own bed, not having to share my pillow with anyone or a Lie in (what’s a lie in?)– sleep is the one thing I will miss forever.
  2. Watching TV – Since becoming a mummy I can honestly say my TV watching has gone out the window. (I’m not referring to Barney or Paw Patrol). I’m talking about my weekly date with Greys Anatomy and consistently sitting down to watch my favourite shows. It just doesn’t happen anymore. EVER. I’m sure I’ll get back there at some stage in my life, and ill probably have to buy at least 10 box sets to catch up.
  3. “ME Time” – I’m referring to Salon visits here – Pedicures, facials are few and far between. Typically because any extra money I get is typically spent on my kids these days but also because I don’t have the free time anymore. 
  4. Hot Food and Beverages – A hot, uninterrupted mug of tea is literally my absolute favourite thing in the world. My kids have a built in sensor, it beeps every time I sit down to drink my tea. I never get a chance to sip and enjoy my hot cup of tea, in silence. Actually enjoying a long meal from start to finish. All of my meals, including dinner are typically wolfed down and of course is eaten in between cutting up food and giving mouthfuls to my two fledglings.
  5. Travel – Of course travel doesn’t have to stop once you have kids. I just took for granted how easy it is to just book a flight and travel overseas when its just you to think of. Now I have 3 other people to consider (and pay for). 
  6. Running Errands – Mundane things like popping into the store on the way home to boy milk or paying bills at the post office. I always have little people around which involves car seats, “mummy can I have this sweet” or “how long will this take. Enjoy running your errands in peace if you can 🙂
  7. Going to the Shopping Mall – I literally only do this as an absolute last resort if my kids are with me, or if I have back up. I miss strolling through Zara looking at the latest fashion or spotting a cute pair of heels. Nope, none of that now
  8. Lazing by the pool – I used to love lying by the pool, feeling the sun on my skin and closing my eyes. Drifting off on my Lilo. I can’t close my eyes for a minute with my boys by the pool, never mind the fear of drowning, they love splashing me with water !!  
  9. Date Nights – Date Nights were never really “Date Nights”, they were just nights out. Going for a movie or grabbing a dinner after work. I miss that bonding time I had with hubby.
  10. My Parents – from the moment I gave birth I realized just how much I needed my mommy. I am so incredibly grateful and appreciate my mom and dad so much more since becoming a parent. All the sacrifices they made for us, all the times I asked for a chocolate or Fizzy drink whilst shopping. The incredible childhood they gave me, I will never ever take them for granted again. 

I know there will be a time in my life where I get all of this back, and I am certainly not complaining at all. I cherish my children more than life itself, I just thought it would be a nice little reminder for any parents to be to enjoy all the little things; before your lives are turned upside down with sweet kisses and sticky fingers.

Returning to work after baby – tips to help you through

Returning to work after baby – tips to help you through

Posted on by Rebecca

Returning to work…. Three simple words to send a feeling of dread down any new mothers spine … The cause of stress, anxiety and a few grey hairs I’m sure. We can all agree it’s a painful time. Mum guilt is real.

In South Africa we are not as blessed as our European colleagues who can get up to one full year off, though we are a great sight better off than moms in the USA, who typically receive NO paid maternity leave. But at 3 months old, You have just started to bond with your baby, your cute little cherub is actually starting to show some signs of personality and independence. You have just begun to learn your baba’s cues, yet suddenly you’re preparing to leave them with a caregiver of some sort. It’s completely understandable that’s it’s so stressful.

Coupled with the nerves of leaving your baby behind, you also have to deal with your position at work. Will things have changed? Did your colleagues manage your work load smoothly, or did they do it better than you perhaps?

Heres a little advice I can give, based on experience, to help you through.

This too shall pass. Actually, that may become one of my life’s motto’s. It gets easier with time.

Millions of women go back to work after maternity leave. Breathe. You can do this!

Remember that your entire world has just changed, you are dealing with a change in dynamics at home, sleep deprivation, it will take some time to get used to. Go easy on yourself.

Don’t be afraid to enjoy your own time – I can actually laugh when I say that when I went back to work with my eldest, I almost ran out of the front door that first morning. I was lucky though, I had a nanny that I trusted (and continue to trust) tremendously, and at the time, I had slightly flexible hours. I relished the fact that I could get a break from worrying about nap times and smelling of sick up. Being a SAHM is rough yoh!

Nurture your support system – It really does take a village. Make sure that you trust and respect your chosen caregiver, go with your gut and make sure you are comfortable. Ensure that your carer is comfortable with your expectations and has time to adjust to baba before hand. Make sure they know about correct dosages of Panado and signs to check in nappies.

Don’t be afraid to cry – Lets be honest, Mum guilt is VERY real! Remember though, you’re providing for your baby. You’re bringing home money that may better your child’s life. You’re are teaching your child that a woman can have a successful career outside of the home.

If you are breastfeeding don’t be shy about it – There are laws in place to protect you as a new mum. Find out from your HR department what rooms are private and available to use. I used to prop my chair up again the back of the door, because of course It didn’t lock 🙂  Car journeys are also surprisingly the best use of time for pumping. Aint nothing like a traffic jam on the way home with hard boobs 🙂 If you can invest in a great hands free kit, Medela offers a fantastic range and put your car journey to good use.

Stock up on supply – Again if you are breastfeeding you need to start at least a month in advance of building up your freezer supply. I started a bit too late and ended up working myself into a mess making sure baby had enough.

The anticipation is way worse than the reality – Its amazing how you will slip right back into the routine. While the time apart is difficult, it does make you cherish the time you do spend together.

I know from experience your baby wont “forget you”, you’ll see his/her little face light up the second you walk back in the room. Yes your baby may cry when you leave him in the morning, but it will stop, and then you’ll cry the day he doesn’t cry, but its OK, he’s comfortable. It gets easier. The time you do have is more precious and you learn to value quality. Don’t be afraid to find out if your company has flexible hours or family support. You’ll be surprised at how many South African companies are adopting a more global, adaptive structure.

If you have returned to work after baby, what tips helped you get through things?

Make your own Squishy Balls

Make your own Squishy Balls

Posted on by Rebecca

“Squishy Balls” aka good old stress balls, have had their fair share of You Tube fame recently, the latest trend in the toy world. I’ve been seeing the most amazing tension relieving creations filled with different concoctions and decided I HAD to try this with my boys.

Firstly, Stress balls are hugely beneficial for children and help relieve worry, tension and aid in concentration. They are also advocated by many OT’s as squeezing a stress ball can help to rehabilitate and strengthen your hand. Typically, a child’s hands are weaker, learning to hold a pen or pencil can be tricky. The repetitive action of squeezing the stress ball makes the muscles stronger and aids in writing skills.

I wanted to do a little more than the traditional “flour” or “rice” filled stress balls, and i thought it would be a great experiment for the kids if we compared the different types of fillings and then chose their favourite.

The fillings I chose were:

Water beads (soaked in water overnight)

Floam

Floam mixed with Slime

Plain Slime (You can find my slime recipe here)

Corn Flour and Water

Together with your choice of filling you will need:

Clear, latex Balloons (I got mine from PartySpot)

A few plain coloured balloons (If you choose cornflour and water)

A funnel (I took a 2L Coca-Cola bottle and cut of the neck section, it was the perfect size)

A spoon/long stick for poking the filling through.

Floam filled Squishy Ball

Attach your balloon to the bottom of the funnel, add in your choice of filling, as much as you can. You want a nice rounded shape for your ball. Keep enough space to securely tie the neck of your balloon. Cut off the extra end to make a nice round shape.

If you chose to do the Cornflour and Water (Gloop) mixture, double up two plain coloured balloons. As this mixture is heavier the balloon is more likely to pop so you need to make sure the gloop doesn’t get everywhere. You can also cut the neck off a deflated balloon to “cover” your ball to ensure extra coverage.

Floam mixed with Slime

Have fun with your kids! Our favorites by far were the water beads, purely because it was just so pretty and pretty satisfying, as well as the slime mixed with Floam. They were so successful I decided to create a Clubhouse Adventure with Adventure Clubs with it, showing other kids how to make their own squishy balls.

Waterbeads (Orbeez) filled               Squishy Ball

Have you made your own stress balls before? Do you find them beneficial?

 

How To Parent Children With Different Personalities

How To Parent Children With Different Personalities

Posted on by Rebecca

It’s something I should have always known, no two children are the same. Growing up with two other siblings, our personalities were all different, yet we had largely the same upbringing. It still surprises me however, just how different they are, and just how difficult it is to parent different personalities. Do you change parenting styles according to your children? How can I be the best parent to each one when their needs, interests and quirks are so drastically different?

You are the same person, you love your children all with the same devotion and vigour, give them all the same opportunities, and to a large extent try to balance out the same attention. Yet they are not the same people and they never will be, I’ve started to learn that you most definitely have to adapt your parenting styles.

One might be more timid and easy-going, while the other is highly social and passionate. One adapts to change, while another might need extra time to adjust. Same parents, same house, same culture, yet two completely different personalities.

The Soft Soul

I have two boys, pretty close together in age (so I haven’t changed much), my eldest is a soft soul. My husband thinks almost too sensitive. He’s not shy at all, in fact quite the contrary, he loves his friends and has the confidence to speak up in a room filled with 100 people. He thrives on praise and has the softest heart in the world, but you just need to look at him with a little disappointment or anger in your eyes and he picks up on it and will cry. He cries for a lot. He is highly empathetic and will cry if he feels he has hurt you.

I know however that is future is bright, he is empathetic, he understands others feelings. He would make a great therapist/doctor one day (though all he wants is to race for Ferrari in Formula One).

Then we have our defiant one

My youngest, he’s a force to be reckoned with. He is not even 3 yet, but yesterday this little guy, in the middle of a meltdown, actually said “Daddy and I both have short tempers”. How right you are my little munchkin. He also adores praise, and love, however, when he decides he wants something, he WANTS that thing, it’s all or nothing and boy oh boy he will break you till you cave. He throws things, he gets cross if things don’t go his way. To put it frankly, he is stubborn as hell.

I know however that if I can nurture this passion properly, I can help him to become a great leader, a confident CEO of a grand empire (though all he wants is to play Golf).

How do parent different personalities in the most effective way?

I’ve come to realise a few things, looking at their “love languages”. The outcome needs to be same because that’s fair but the parenting style needs to be tweaked a bit for their individual style. My eldest thrives on praise. Words of affirmation and encouragement. My youngest doesn’t actually need the encouragement as much, he knows hes got this down and has the confidence to jump right in. While he also thrives on praise, I have also learnt with him to stand strong to your word. Don’t falter, because he does test you. He requires an enormous amount of patience and guidance. I also know that just because he is more “strong willed” it certainly doesn’t mean he is not sensitive. In fact, in a way, he is MORE sensitive and the “aggression” often comes from not knowing what to do with that emotion.

It’s important to give all your children the same amount of attention, take a day in the week or month for some undivided one on one time. Let their own strengths shine through.

Steer clear of labels (which is exactly what I just did when i described them), by repeatedly referring to a child as “naughty”, they will believe that they are indeed naughty, and use that as an excuse to fall back on. I’ve heard my youngest a few times saying “I’m naughty hey”.  Don’t over emphasize their differences either.

The truth remains that even when there are two boys being raised by the same two parents, they will be different for so many reasons. I’m looking forward to seeing how they continue to develop and watch as their personalities develop even further. I think as long as you instill the same values and principles in life, the same positive belief in each child you are on the right path. This in an ongoing journey…challenging me every day, but I’ll be sure to keep you updated every step of the way.

I know one thing is for sure, if they can keep the same bond they share now throughout life, they will lead lives filled with adventure with each other by their side.