Win This Mothers Day!

COMPETITION TIME

Motherhood is challenging. It’s beautiful and it’s rewarding in so many ways. But you only truly understand just how hard another Mom works on a daily basis once you become a Mother yourself. The lists are endless, and very seldom are we ever thanked for all that we do.

 

This month, we celebrate Moms! Every mom from every walk of life. We salute you for all that you do. We appreciate you for all of the sacrifices you have made for your children and for your families.

And, we want to reward you, and to encourage you to take a moment to yourself this month!

One lucky Mom will be winning a R1000.00 Spirit Jewellery voucher to spend either online or in-store, a pair of gorgeous Poppy Divine PJ’s valued at R900.00 and a voucher for you and a girl friend to have some ‘you’ time enjoying a Foot Soak and Massage at Rouge Day Spa valued at R150.00 each.

The total value of this special Mother’s Day competition is R2200.00.

In order to enter, please visit my Facebook or Instagram account to enter!

The winner will be randomly selected. Please note that we will be checking that each entry has been successfully completed.

Please note: Rouge Day Spa is located in Cape Town, you may still enter if you are an SA resident, but aren’t in Cape Town, and you are welcome to gift your voucher to a friend who lives here!

GOOD LUCK, and may you all feel appreciated and relaxed this Mother’s Day! This competition is only open to South African residents! The prize is not refundable and may not be exchanged or returned.

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Photos: Criene

The Shop That You SHOULD Take Your Kids To!

How many times have you glanced through the windows of a beautiful store, but dragged your kids in the opposite direction? Each time you do your grocery shop at that shopping center, that shop pops back into your mind, but the thought of all of the things your kids will want to touch and may break just creates an urge to ‘go inside to browse next time without the kids rather’.

It is incredibly rare to find a shop like Diggers and Dandelions, which can be found at the Checkers entrance of the Sun Valley Shopping Mall. A hidden gem that stocks some of the highest quality, exclusive pregnancy, newborn, baby, toddler and kids products. The owner, Jurika, supports local South African designers and brands, and you will find a handful of the most breathtaking products which she has hand selected herself. She only has three international brands stocked in her store, including the well loved Melissa and Doug.

Back to my point – what makes Diggers & Dandelions so rare? They encourage the kids to touch and play with everything in the shop while mom browses. Did you hear me? THEY TELL YOUR KIDS TO PLAY WITH THE PRODUCTS IN THE STORE WHILE YOU SHOP!!! There are two gorgeous areas in each corner of the shop that have little set up areas where the kids can quickly snap into their imaginary world, they are allowed to go around the shop and touch, feel, pick up and play with the gorgeous products that are in store. I was in the shop for about an hour, and my three and a half year old son was totally fascinated and entertained the entire time. This never happens!

Jurika believes that every person who comes into her shop should be able to leave with something, no matter how big or small, that makes them feel special. Whether it be a handmade dummy clip or something larger like a hand crafted wooden reading nook. She has created a place that has products of all price ranges, and after browsing her store in depth, I noticed that even the high end products are priced at a very affordable cost!

The baby clothing is just divine. Some really unique and high end garments made locally. It certainly makes me wish to have a baby to dress up again. They have a wonderful selection of wooden toys from the well loved toy collection – (Melissa and Doug, which you could win an R800 voucher for, to choose a toy of your choice!).

What I loved about the shop is that from the moment you step food through their door, it’s almost like stepping into a fantasy world – partly for moms, because, well…when do we ever get the opportunity to really look at a shop? And for kids, having the opportunity to explore. But, apart from that – seeing so many new products in a shop that you haven’t seen before. I love that! I so  often walk into a shop and just find shelves packed with the same thing I saw at the last shop. So, I really do find it so refreshing to see some original products, but to also see the well loved ones snuck in there too.

I really encourage you to pop into their store at the Sun Valley center when you happen to be that side. For baby shower gifts, there is no doubt you will leave with something truly special, or even for your own baby, or a gift for a toddler. They have also recently launched a maternity range, which is awesome!

You can also shop online, so if you aren’t in the area, don’t fret! You can do your shopping from the comfort of your own home here:

Want to find out how you can win a Diggers & Dandelion voucher valued at R350 AND a Melissa and Doug prize valued at R800 (of your choice). Pop over here to enter the competition:

Enter Here

I truly do wish for each of you to visit the beautiful Diggers and Dandelions store, because my photos really don’t do it justice. I would love to know if you do visit, and would also love to hear your thoughts on it.

DO take your kids, and DON’T avoid it because you have them with you. There really are no excuses!

Happy Birthday, Diggers & Dandelions! To the next 2 years of providing beautiful products to the Valley.

Colour Your World With Bokomo OTEES!

In every family, at least one member will be more creatively inclined. Whether they just enjoy doodling, or are avid painters or drawers. Those that could sit and create magic all day long.

My little boy is beginning to reach that age, but it definitely isn’t hasn’t come naturally to him. He will sit down to colour or paint for 5 minutes before rushing back outdoors to get dirty instead. So, this was bound to be an interesting challenge for him.

My son has been a lover of Otees since his very first taste of the scrumptious loops as a toddler. I would take them along as snacks when we would go out because they weren’t messy. So when we had some delivered to our door for him to colour in, he was beside himself.

Since then, Otees has sort of become a staple breakfast, and lunch in our home. He rushes back from school, and gives me that look – the one where I know he’s about to ask me for something. He then tiptoes to the cereal cupboard, and whips out the open box of Otees, with this cheesy smirk on his face. ‘Yes love, you may have a bowl of Otees.’ ‘Again???’, he responds with a proud look on his face. An expression that only gets pulled when he’s truly excited and surprised about something.

You should have seen his face when I told him that he could even colour in the box WHILE eating. We certainly haven’t seen that response from him for colouring in. There was something special about this.

That being said, it’s obvious that something unique and special like this is bound to go down well with most kids! Take them to the store with you, let them pick which limited edition box THEY want to colour in, and take it home and allow them to have a bowl of Otees while creating their very own magical masterpiece. And as long as they submit it, they may see their very own creation on the shelves FOR SALE! Imagine that, the pride they will experience seeing something that they did in the store. Incredibly special, I’d say!

So, HEAD OVER TO STORES, PURCHASE A BOX OF THE EXCITING NEW OTEES TO TAKE PART IN THE COMPETITION. THE ULTIMATE WINNER WILL HAVE THEIR ENTRY PRINTED AND PUT IN STORE WITH 100 CONSOLATION WINNERS. AND…

GET COLOURING!!!

#oteescolouryourworld
#ColourYourWorld

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HOW TO ENTER:

• Participants must buy any Bokomo OTEES competition pack
• Go to http://www.oteescolouryourworld.co.za & register their details for prize redemption
• SUBMIT their unique code on-pack to unlock the design game.
• DESIGN their unique OTEES box and hit ENTER OR colour in an actual pack and submit a photo to enter OR post a photo of the pack with the hashtag #oteescolouryourworld on any one of these:
  –www.oteescolouryourworld.co.za
  –OTEES SA Facebook page
  -Your own Facebook or Instagram profiles

• OTEES will select their top 10 designs to be features on facebook and the facebook community will vote for their favourite one which will become limited edition pack in store in June/July
• The top 100 designs will be randomly selected from all valid entries & will each get a case of OTEES cereal with their design

Win: Social Media Workshop Valued At R2950.

I love hosting competitions on my blog, but it’s ones like this one that make my heart skip a beat. So many of us are working moms, but many of us also run our own businesses – whether it be on the side, or your full time job.

What makes my job as a blogger so rewarding, is giving women like YOU the opportunity to win prizes that enable you to broaden your knowledge on how to run your small business, hopefully resulting in your business blooming!

So, let me get to introducing you to this weeks competition.

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CAPE TOWN LADIES (Small business owners), this one is for you!

Are you wanting to learn how to improve your marketing skills?

Leigh Tobin, co-founder of Alphabet Workshops is giving away a seat at their Social Media Workshop on THURSDAY 22^ND MARCH valued at R2950! The workshop will be held at at the award-winning The Table restaurant (@thetablefood), in Stellenbosch, with incredible food. Time: 08h30 – 16h30

An effective strategy can make all the difference in driving more business through Instagram & Facebook. The Alphabet Workshops teach YOU the tools to build an effective strategy and hands on coaching relevant to our student’s business. The wonderful thing about the workshop is that it is a small group, which means that you get individual coaching.

Head over to my Facebook or Instagram account to enter!

Good Luck, if you would like to share the link to your small business – website, or social media account, please do so in the comment section!

Eliminating Sugar – Ceres Fruit & Water Swirl.

Sugar, sugar, sugar.

As a child, I remember sugar and sweet treats predominantly being party food. Dessert consisted of peaches and ice cream or jelly and custard, once a week. It wasn’t a privilege, it was a luxury. Something we knew not to even bother asking about. We knew when it was allowed.

Fast forward to 2018. Lunch boxes are packed with treats and snacks packed with sugar. Schools have to send notes home to parents requesting for junk food to NOT be sent in their lunch boxes. I see families out with their young kids with fizzy drinks bubbling away in their juice bottles. What is the world coming to?

Sugar doesn’t full a child’s stomach.
It doesn’t feed their brains.
It feeds cancer cells.
It creates obesity.
Sugar is an addiction.

Feeding your kids wholesome foods and keeping sugary treats for parties, and special occasions is not depriving them. It is doing them a favour. Providing your child’s body with goodness is one of the best things you can do for them.

I’ve heard many parents saying that it is easier for them (perhaps working parents) to just throw a couple of snacks into a lunchbox because they don’t have time to prepare lunches. I don’t agree! This post was created for those parents. It is possible to choose healthier alternatives to junk food.

Here’s my list featured in the photos:

– Rice Crackers (the ones without any flavouring – avoid the ones that are covered in a powdery flavouring). My son also loved the ones covered in carob and yoghurt as a toddler.
– Droerwors (I buy a few sticks, and then just break the longer strips into about ¾ pieces. This goes a long way!)
– Dried fruit (Again, I buy a big pack, and only put 2-3 pieces into his lunchbox – remember, even when feeding your child healthy snacks – it’s about portion control).
– Berries/fruit (I wouldn’t usually add both fruit and dried fruit into his lunchbox on the same day, but just wanted to show options).
– Animal crackers (I buy them from Woolies, they’re plain with no flavouring).
– Baby Tomatoes / Baby Carrots / Cucumber

#Ceresfruitjuice challenged me to creating three nutrient packed lunches for Olly over three weeks. Less sugar – more goodness relating it to the new lunch box solution – Ceres Fruit & Water Swirl.

They have already diluted the juice with water meaning that there is no fuss and no arguments with the tiny humans. They taste delicious, and are perfect for party packs, outings, and school lunch boxes. I’ve seen the difference in my 3 year olds behavior and attention span when unnatural sugars are eliminated from his daily diet.

The Ceres Fruit & Water Swirl comes in three delicious flavours:

– Apple: 45% Less sugar than Ceres 100% Apple Juice
– Raspberry & Apple: 40% Less sugar than Ceres 100% Secrets of the Valley.
– Fruit Punch: 50% less sugar than Ceres 100% Medley of Fruit.

They taste great with the benefit of less sugar and are high in Vitamin C.

They are available in all major retail stores.

Tell me which healthy snacks you add to your kids lunchboxes on days where you are in a rush. Do you keep things on hand for days like these?

Share your thoughts & ideas, and you could win one of the Ceres Fruit & Water Swirl flavours in a pack of 6.

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#Sponsored

Photos by Criene Images.