Reviews
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Keeping it cool with Converse and Rookie USA (WIN!)
I think I say this more than I probably should but my kids are way cooler than I am. In fact, I would even go as far as to say that they are cooler than I’ve ever been… in, like, my whole entire life.
I do think that it’s because kids today have a lot more liberty than we did growing up. I mean, as a kid, I didn’t dare tell my mom what I wanted to eat for supper. You eat what everyone else is eating. Meanwhile, my 5-year-old has decided that he only eats roasted potatoes, pizza, noodles and peanut butter sandwiches. Sometimes all at the same time.
My daughter, on the other hand, has a whole mind of her own (it’s the audacity for me) and enjoys choosing her own outfits, when getting dressed. I mean, when I was a kid, my outfits reflected whatever mood my mom was in. I also didn’t have much influence when it came to persuading my parents to buy me branded clothing. My kids get to shop (online nogals) from the Rookie USA store, and they get their pick of some of the swaggiest brands this side of the ozone layer.Rookie USA seriously has the best drip for kids. I mean, from Nike to Converse, to Levi’s, it’s literally an online store filled with fabulous clothes for small people. What is this life evens?!
As you may know, I am a yer-huuuuuuge Converse fan. I love my Chucks. In fact, I am getting a dog, just so that I can name him Chuck Taylor. (Was going to get another kid, but my husband says no). I’m a fan, okay.I am absolutely smitten with all of the rad Converse swag on the Rookie USA website. I especially love the frequent Converse collab’s that will have you swooooning at all the specially designed Converse sneakers, featuring some of your kids most favourite characters. My favorite themes to date has to be the Converse X Pokemon collab, the Converse X Space Jam collab and the current Converse X Peanuts collab.
For the Converse X Peanuts collab, Converse teams up with the iconic comic strip, Peanuts. Cool right?! This limited-edition Chuck Taylor All Star design features Charlie Brown, Snoopy and all the characters you know and love, on the classic canvas. These designs are so special and unique. I mean, I definitely have to get them all!
WIN with Rookie USA!Rookie USA is giving one lucky person a voucher to the value of R2000! To enter, simply check out this post on my Instagram grid. The giveaway ends at midnight on the 30 June! Good luck!
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Yoto Player – the screen-free audio and music player for kids
Kids today are especially advanced when it comes to all things digital. I mean, my 6-year old could pretty much show me how to recalibrate my phone, if I asked her to. (No, I don’t think that re-calibrating a phone is a thing. But I’ll check with my 6-year old, just to be sure.) I get it though: we would LOVE to have our kids playing outside, you know, just climbing trees and making mud pies and scraping knees etc (all the stuff that our childhood was made out of) but the truth is that kids today will always be drawn to technology. Whether we like it or not.
And that is why I was really interested to learn more about the Yoto Player, when I heard that it recently launched in South Africa. Yoto is a screen-free audio and music player for kids, that encourages them to use their imagination. The Yoto Player acts as a Bluetooth speaker box. It is, essentially, an audio book player, with the books being cards that you can purchase and collect. The “book card” (as I like to call it) is inserted into the player giving the child full control over their listening experience.
I love this concept for numerous reasons. I’ll list mine below:
1. My children are a lot more captivated by the stories being told via the Yoto Player. I mean, they do enjoy reading but are easily bored.
2. Because its screen free, I love that they get to practice those imagination skills, painting a picture mentally while they are listening to the story.
3. It doesn’t take away the joy of using technology for fun. The Yoto Player app (oh yes, there is a phone app as well) also gives your child access to an abundance of entertaining content, which encourages imaginative play.
The Yoto smartphone app is so cool, you guys. It gives me access to the Yoto Player (you can control settings and content) as long as I am in close proximity to the device. There is a variety of free content available via the app (songs, audio games, more story books etc) and it even connects with Bluetooth speakers! How cool?! This is actually so perfect for those long road trips!
You can purchase and collect content cards (book cards), just like how you would build a library of books. But you can also load these books onto your app, to make it that much easier to play the content, when you’re on the go. Simply tap the the card to the back of your smartphone. Easy peasy. You are then able to manage your book library via the app. I love this!
Oh and guess what – you are able to purchase blank cards, which you can use to load your own content to! I mean, I can think of a bunch of things to do with these, like:1. Record your own voice, telling your kids favorite bed time stories. How comforting that will be for your little one to hear mom/dad’s voice at night, while settling into bed.
2. Get your children to sing specials songs and record them on the cards as a cool memory album.
3. Put together a compilation of songs, which can also be added to the blank cards.
Yoto Player was named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2020 – that’s legit. Yoto Player is available for purchase at a recommended retail price of R2499. The Yoto smartphone app is available to download for free on iOS or Android. The Yoto Player is now available across the country at selected Toys R Us stores, iStores and a branded store on Takealot, South Africa’s leading online store.
I have a Yoto Player giveaway running on my Instagram right now (it ends on Monday 25th!) so follow this link to enter!
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How clean is your mouth?
This may come across as a bit of a weird question but – how clean is your mouth? No really… how clean? I’m only asking because September is Oral Health Awareness month and I thought to spread the word about good oral health.
The thing is this, my dearest friends, so many people think that simply brushing alone is enough to ensure good oral health. But cleaning between your teeth is super important too, because that is where majority of the cavities start!
The team over at Sunstar GUM are actual gum health experts, so I take their word for it when they say that teeth have five sides and that brushing only cleans three of those sides. So yes, daily interdental cleaning will ensure that you have a healthy mouth and fresh breath. (It’s actually recommended by dental professionals, yo!)
Sunstar GUM has an unrivalled range of professional interdental tools & floss – the biggest range in SA, actually. Their nifty nickname for the range is: #GUMEssentialWorkers and that’s because these interdental tools do important work! The ‘Gum essential workers’ help to clean where your brush can’t reach! (Sounds like an important job to me).
Some of my fave Sunstar GUM interdental tools are:
GUM Soft-Picks Advanced
These are my ultimate fave! This curved interdental pick has soft rubber bristles that gently remove plaque and debris between teeth. You can use them on your orthodontic braces or if you have sensitive gums. Oh and they are ideal for adults AND children – how rad? I also love that it comes with a convenient travel case. I always have these in my hand bag.
GUM Trav-Ler
These are reusable interdental brushes that are really nifty when it comes to keeping those tight spaces in-between your teeth clean. The bristles are anti-bacterial and is proven to remove up to 25% more plaque than standard bristles. The neck is quite bendy and flexible. These are perfect for kids and/or adults with wide gaps between the teeth, food traps, orthodontic braces; sensitive or bleeding gums; implants or bridges; Oh and it comes in 10 different sizes.
GUM Original White Floss
If you’re a flossy kinda gal, you definitely will appreciate this quality, waxed floss. It contains micronized silica which helps to remove surface stains between teeth, where your toothbrush cannot reach. The floss is shred-resistant and it also contains fluoride. This product is recommended by dental professionals.
All Sunstar GUM products are available from dentists, Clicks, Dis-Chem, leading supermarkets and pharmacies.
WIN with Sunstar GUM!Sunstar GUM is giving you TWO opportunities to win some awsome Sunstar GUM prizes!
1. My Spreadsheet Brain blog giveaway: Simply pop on over to this specially marked Instagram post and follow the instructions. A Sunstar GUM hamper, to the value of R800 could be yours!
2. Sunstar GUM #GUMEssentialWorkers giveaway: Vote for your favourite #GUMEsssentialWorkers this September and you could win awesome Sunstar GUM prizes! To top this off, they will donate to the Dental Wellness Trust on your behalf. How cool is that?! Visit this page to vote.
Terms and conditions:
Giveaway closes on 23 September at midnight. Competition is open to SA residents only. Competition is not affiliated with Facebook or Instagram. T&C’s apply. Decision is final and we reserve the right to disqualify winners should entry mechanisms not be followed. Products are not redeemable for cash. Winners of any My Spreadsheet Brain competitions in the last 6 months will not be eligible to win.
Disclaimer: This post was written in collaboration with Ivodent
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What do you know about the Uber In-App Emergency Button?
I recently learnt about the Uber In-App Emergency Button and, I must admit, the e-hailing service went from amazing to even more amazinger™ (words by Luchae) in my books!
At the end of a busy day at the office, nothing is more relaxing to me, than a scenic drive home. There’s something about the peace and quiet, after the bustle of a busy day, that hits me right in the feels. And, when I’m not driving myself home, I must admit I get a kick out of sinking into the backseat of an Uber, while the driver’s choice of music settles my mind. I mean, as a mom who works full-time, nothing beats a couple of minutes of “alone time” albeit in an Uber.
I’ve always felt safe during my Uber trips. And I appreciate that their safety measures are so stringent. I mean, with all the e-hailing services available these days, I take comfort in knowing that Uber sets the standard for safety by having over 20 dedicated features to ensure its community’s wellbeing.
For starters, Uber’s checklists (that riders and drivers must acknowledge before the ride), ensures that both parties are Covid-19 compliant.
The Check Your Ride protocol helps you to verify that you are getting into the right car. Riders have a view of the driver’s information, including photo, license plate and car make/model.
You are also able to share your location – giving a loved one access to your geolocation and ETA all in real-time!
With Uber’s Safety Toolkit, the app houses all its unique safety features in one convenient spot. Identifiable by a shield logo, it can be found on the bottom right when on the app. Trusted Contacts and the in-app emergency button can all be accessed from this by simply tapping on the shield.In fact, you are able to designate up to five friends and family members as Trusted Contacts, to be prompted to share trip details with them during every ride or night-time trips. How cool is that?
A key feature that certainly stands out is the In-App Emergency Button. During a ride, with the push of a button in the app, you can connect directly to private security and medical assistance when needed via a third-party supplier. This key feature sets the app high in my rankings as an option of travel (especially when alone), as a female!
Thanks to technology, Uber’s Ride Check can even identify rare events like unexpected stops or possible crashes, with its response team contacting you to check on your safety!
I mean, how’s that for riding with safety?! These safety measures, and the e-hailing services commitment to driver and rider safety, is what sets Uber apart for me, without a doubt!
This post was paid for by Uber South Africa
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Christmas Gift Idea: Thomas & Friends Walking Bridge
If you’re looking to score “Cool Mom Points” this Christmas (I mean, who isn’t? Cool Mom Points are the only points I want!) then you totes should consider adding this cool Thomas and Friends Walking Bridge to your Christmas gift ideas list.
I mean, besides for Thomas being a really cool, timeless toy engine that everybody loves, the walking bridge is rather rad, Brad!
With the Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Walking Bridge train set, little engineers can use this super-cool addition to Sodor to help Thomas cross the broken bridge. When Thomas, or any other motorized engine, rolls onto the bridge, it walks to the other side (Other engines sold separately and subject to availability). Kids can also use the levers to reveal trap doors that send Thomas racing under the bridge and around more than 6 feet of reconfigurable track.This phenom gift set comes complete with more than 6 feet of track. It’s compatible with Thomas & Friends™ TrackMaster™ track sets to create limitless Sodor adventures! (Track sets sold separately and subject to availability.)
My genius idea (all Cool Moms get these genius ideas now and then…. embrace it) is to set the track up under the tree on Christmas morning. Can you imagine Jonah’s expression when he runs to the tree to find this stunning track waiting for him? Karis enjoyed checking it out for me. Her words were:You can pick this set up at any participating retailer. Check out more about it here on the Fisher Price website.This was a paid collab with Brand Alley. -
Christmas Gift Idea: The original Magic 8 Ball
Q: What’s better than giving your kid the latest fad toy for Christmas? A: A really cool classic game that we probably played when we were growing up! I mean, I don’t know about you guys, but I kinda enjoy gifting my kids with things that I’ve mastered before. Those novelty toys of yesteryear are the bomb!
The original Magic 8 Ball™ is one such toy… right?! This novelty toy lets anyone pretend-seek advice about their future! And no, it does not work with voodoo… it’s actually for “jokes”… and it can get quit silly. All you have to do is simply “ask the ball” any yes or no question, then wait for your answer to be revealed.
Turn the toy upside-down and wait for your answer to appear through the window. Each pack contains 1 Magic 8 Ball novelty toy. It’s a really fun way to replace your dice, on a board game!Back in my day (look at me pretending to be really old when I’m only semi-old) we would use things like Magic 8 Ball and other such frivolities (paper predictors) to help us determine whether our school crush has a crush on us. (Yes, I too would like to give younger me a hug).
`Since then, I’ve become older and wiser (I’d like to think) and I don’t rely on hocus pocus and “what ifs” to determine my future. Although, come on, that first cup of coffee kinda helps us to decide exactly how great our day is going to be #amIright?You can grab your Magic 8 Ball from Takealot for only R169.This post was sponsored by Brand Alley -
Toy Story brings the magic! {Toy Review}
Hands up if you’ve watched your kids favorite movie over and over and over… I mean, let’s be honest, we are able to quote those movies word-for-word already, right? Heck, I even have my favorite scenes, and even though it’s, like, the gazillionth time that it’s on, I find myself glued to the screen. Don’t look at me like that Martha… I’m not ashamed to admit it.
When it comes to kids movies, one of the absolute faves is Toy Story. We love the adventures of Woody and Buzz! (I’m here for Lil Bo Beep, to be honest). So I was super thrilled when we received a Disney Pixar Toy Story 4 action figure to review. Jo is so big on dinosaurs right now (which helps when planning his birthday party, not gonna lie to ya!) and he was chuffed to find a Rex figurine in the package!
This particular collection of “road trip figurines” includes six action figures altogether. Each figure is highly posable, for big action play, helping your child recreate the movie’s vacation scenes at home and on your next holiday. You can pick up Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Rex, Slinky, Jessie or Forky.The giftset is well priced (Christmas gift idea, yo!) and it comes in true-to-movie RV packaging.
You can pick these up at major retailers such as Takealot, ToysRUs, Toy Kingdom, The Kid Zone and Loot.The post was paid for by Brand Alley. -
Cooking up some fun with the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Magic Color Mixing Bowl
When it comes to pretend play, my kids are expert chefs. I mean, I would know, since I’ve had to pretend sample all of their – errr – delicious foods, brought to me on tiny saucers and in tiny cups. My baby boy has since learnt the art of throwing together a bunch of invisible ingredients into a bowl and turning it into an invisible masterpiece. It’s wonderful to watch, no really.
When we received the Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn® Magic Color Mixing Bowl I knew it would be an instant hit! Your baby can mix up lots of yummy pretend food with this magical mixing bowl.
This light-up musical mixing bowl ‘magically’ knows when little bakers place the ingredients inside and rewards every put-and-take action with colorful lights, music, sounds, and learning phrases.It has six removable ‘ingredient’ play pieces, two buttons that activate more fun songs and sounds, and an adorable light-up face… Asher was beside himself!
I love that the toy introduces him to the alphabet, colors and numbers. It also helps to develop those fine motor skills through grasping and moving the play pieces in and out of the mixing bowl, helping to strengthen his dexterity and hand-eye coordination. It also encourages those thinking skills by introducing him to the fun of cause and effect as he figures out how to activate the lights and music by placing the ingredients in the bowl or pressing the two buttons.
If you’re looking for a cool Christmas gift for your baby (it’s perfect for babies aged 6-36 months!) or maybe you’re just really hungry for pretend food and would like to enslave your child to cook for you – you should totes consider investing in the Magic Color Mixing Bowl. Fisher Price is known for their quality toys.Oh AND the best part (for me, atleast) is that it comes with 6 removable play pieces, including rattle egg, milk bottle, set of 2 measuring cups, pretend cherries, BPA-free teethable chocolate bar, and spoon for stirring.
For more information check out the Fisher Price website.
You can purchase Fisher-Price® Laugh & Learn® Magic Color Mixing Bowl from Toys R Us
Disclaimer: This post was paid for by Fisher Price
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Fisher-Price Linkimals: My baby’s new crew of talking, singing, light-up friends
When it comes to friends, one could say that I’m my baby’s bestie. I mean, it’s a no brainer… the kid wants to hang out with me, like, 24/7! And hey, I don’t mind at all – have you seen his cheeks? Best cheeks in all the land. But – not gon’ lie – I was super keen when I heard that Fisher-Price Linkimals were being launched in South Africa!
For those who don’t know, this toy is dubbed as “baby’s crew of talking, singing, light-up friends” (yes, just like in my title), because it’s loaded with exciting interactive play elements that are both fun and educational.
The fun lights and songs introduces baby to counting, colours and more! Pressing the Linkimals Musical Moose starts a totally rockin’ light-up learning party (one could say it’s “lit”) and, what’s even more fun is the synchronized music and light show when a bunch of Linkimals are hanging out together!
The Linkimal characters “recognize” each other and they create a synchronized music and light show. How legit?! So the more Linkimal characters you have, the better!
Where development comes into play:
Early Academics: Sung songs and phrases introduce your baby to colours and counting from 1 to 10!
Sensory: The moose’s light-up belly, playful songs and sounds, and soft antlers engage your baby’s developing visual, auditory, and tactile senses.
Curiosity & Wonder: Your baby can discover the fun of cause and effect as they press the belly button to activate music and lights or bat at the bobble head.This toy is perfect for babies ages 9 months and older. Fisher-Price Linkimals are available from Toys R Us.This post was paid for by Brand Alley. -
Ace that space with Sunstar GUM
A huge lesson that I am taking with me after all of the 2020 shenanigans (for lack of a better word) is that health is wealth! I mean, we’ve all been reminded of the value and importance of looking after your body #amiright?
I was also reminded that a healthy mouth and fresh breath goes hand in hand with a healthy body.
In fact, September is National Oral Health Month and Sunstar GUM is on a mission to help us ‘ace that space’ by efectively cleaning in-between teeth for a healthier mouth and body.
Did you know that only a third of South Africans floss or clean in-between regularly? Shocking, right? (I mean, how shocked am I really when I am NOT a part of that third… I know, I’m giving myself a stern talking to…)According to dental experts, you actually NEED to clean between teeth every day. Children should start cleaning in-between once their permanent teeth start to touch. It’s actually good to get them to play with interdental tools at a young age, familiarizing them with the concept of healthy teeth.
Fortunately, Sunstar GUM makes it pretty easy to keep our “inbetweens” clean, with their unrivalled range of flosses, tooth picks and tiny interdental brushes. There is literally an interdental tool for everyone… even if your gaps are small or you wear orthodontic braces!
Oh and they’ve made it even easier for those of us (me, definitely me) who are too busy/lazy to actually figure out which interdental tool would suite your needs. Simply visit the Ivo Health website and take the Sunstar GUM #AceThatSpace quiz (www.ivohealth.co.za/ace-that-space).
Besides for letting you know exactly what you need to keep your pearly whites, well, pearly white, by completing the quiz you also enter yourself into a cool giveaway. You could win prizes valued at over R1,200 – including top quality Sunstar GUM oral care tools and a professional EMS Guided Biofilm Therapy Treatment with a Swiss Dental Academy qualified oral hygienist.
According to the Sunstar GUM #AceThatSpace quiz, my perfect interdental tool is the Sunstar GUM Easy Flossers which are designed to make between-teeth cleaning easy and (very important) FAST! I like that it has an easy to grip handle and that it’s shred-resistant. This makes it ideal for kids and those who may find traditional floss difficult to manage. It also comes in a handy travel case.
Hubstopher has sensitive gums and would probably have to use the Sunstar GUM Expanding Floss. It’s thin and easy to insert between teeth, comfortably. Once inserted, it then cleverly expands for a more effective clean around the tooth and gum line. This one is ideal for those with small gaps between teeth or if you have sensitive or receding gums.If you have orthodontics, bridges or implants, guess what, there’s an interdental tool for you too! The Sunstar GUM Soft-Picks Advanced is perfect for you because it has a curved dental pick (the only curved pick on the market, btw). The curve follows the natural shape of the joy, which makes it easy to reach between each tooth. The soft rubber bristles helps to gently dislodge food and plague. What’s more, it is available in small, regular and large. How’s that for convenience?
But wait, there’s more! Sunstar GUM makes it even easier for you to practice good dental hygiene with their genius Sunstar GUM Red-Cote Disclosing Tablets. Once chewed, these tablets make it easy to find plaque by colouring the plaque red. You are then able to target the areas that need extra care, ensuring that your teeth and gums are completely clean! This product is recommended by dental professionals to help children learn to brush and clean between the teeth effectively, and for adults who want to check how well their oral care is working.
WIN a Sunstar GUM oral care kit valued at R812!We’re giving away a Sunstar GUM #AceThatSpace oral care kit valued at R812. It contains everything you need to ‘ace that space’ including a Sunstar GUM ActiVital Sonic brush, floss, three types of interdentals, GUM Original White paste and mouth rinse.
To enter simply find the specially marked posts on Instagram and Facebook and follow the instructions!
Terms and conditions
Giveaway ends on 9 October. Competition is open to SA residents only. Competition is not affiliated with Facebook or Instagram. T&C’s apply. Decision is final and we reserve the right to disqualify winners should entry mechanisms not be followed. Products are not redeemable for cash. Ivo Health will deliver goods to winner.
Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Ivo Health.
