-
My husband won’t buy me Christmas presents (and other wifey drama that he puts up with)
If ever my husband should question whether I really love him, I would cutely point out that I am still married to him even though he doesn’t believe in buying me Christmas presents. (And the crowd goes gasp!)
I mean, one would think that he’d catch a hint after years of me giving him a death stare when he proudly retorts that HE is, in fact, my Christmas present. (It wasn’t funny 5 years ago, and it’s not funny now) But alas, here I sit, a grown woman, hinting really hard that I’d like to unwrap more than just the gammon and salt beef this Christmas. (I’m talking about festive meats, get your head out of the gutter, Sheila!)
Seriously though, I’m a sucker for all things Christmas. You guys know that when 1 December hits, I’m all about decking the halls with bells of holly. (Fala lala laaaaa) And, to be honest, I’m here for all the gift buying and presents wrapping. I think I enjoy giving Christmas gifts more than receiving them. (I know, what madness is this?!)
But, the other day, while planning my festive shopping list, I realised that Hubstopher and I are so consumed with making sure that our kids have the best Christmas, that we kinda forget about each other.
I mean, knowing my Hubstopher, he will pretend (or not really pretend, let’s be honest, the guy’s dramatic sometimes) to be so blown away by the specially wrapped socks and hand drawn card that Kari will give to him. (Yeah, it’s socks again this year, sorry babe).
And, knowing my Hubstopher, he would probably have forgotten to make sure that there’s something cute/silly under the tree for my kids to give to me. I mean, I’m sure the guy loves me (cough cough) but, truth be told, we have a lot going on.
Having children kinda changes Christmas for you. Sure, everything is just better because you get to experience Christmas through the eyes of your kid (hint: magicalness guaranteed). But, your focus changes. Your priorities shift. And suddenly YOU are not the the most important thing in your world.
Christmas changes a little bit more, with each new addition to our family. It’s as if you become a little bit more selfless with each whole new person that you have to look after.
We have FIVE children, you guys. Life right now kinda resembles living as if you’re on a post-Apocalyptic Earth… you know, reserving your energy and resources for important things. Five children means five gifts to buy and five whole other bodies to herd, as we motor from one family member’s home to another. Five is a lot. Five is overwhelming.
So, if my Hubstopher is doing a great job at giving all five kids a great Christmas then I forgive him for not getting me a Christmas gift.
The real present is his presence… getting to give each other an excited smile, as we watch the kids at the tree on Christmas morning. The gift is in the togetherness, when we show Kari how to use her toy for the first time. Or when we hear what Kyle wants to spend his “Christmas money” on. (Because money is a gift nowadays, did you know?)
The gift is going to the Christmas service, at church, together and hearing the kids sing the Christmas hymns and carols really loudly… and then going to visit our parents, where our smallies get to enjoy time with their cousins as our older boys put their screens aside, to play a new board game together.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that family is the real gift. And getting to spend another Christmas with my husband and kids is the only gift I want.
But, like, don’t tell my husband that.
-
Cocoa Life: How eating your fave chocolate is changing lives
You do know that chocolate really does grow on trees, right? Nope, I’m not selling Willy Wonka dreams here, my friends. The cocoa beans used to make your favourite chocolate grows on cacao trees – with more than 70% of the world’s cocoa grown by farmers in West Africa. (See why I love living in Africa?)
A few days ago we had the opportunity to sit down with Yaa Peprah Amekudzi, the inspirational Head of Cocoa Life Ghana, who explained that most of the cocoa farms, in West Africa, are family-owned. And, unfortunately, due to things like climate change, disease and lack of access to new farming methods, many of those farmers have seen their yields dwindling over the last few years.
Good Cocoa, Good Chocolate
Because of this, Cadbury has stepped up to the plate (the chocolate plate?), establishing the Cocoa Life Programme in 2012, which serves to improve the lives of farmers who are doing the important job of growing those “chocolate trees”. (my chocoholic pals – hollar!)
The Cocoa Life Programme directly contributes to sustainable farming and responsible sourcing, reaching more than 40,000 cocoa farmers in 450 communities across 17 districts in five regions of Ghana’s cocoa belt!
This means: the programme basically invests in community development, strengthening cocoa communities and inspiring the next generation of cocoa farmers. I love this so much!“Essentially, the aim of Cocoa Life is to ensure the cocoa that goes into Cadbury products is ‘made right’,” says Yaa.
“Making it right means tackling the complex challenges that cocoa farmers face by working hand-in-hand with the men and women who make their living from cocoa, focusing on where we can make a difference to transform the cocoa sector by inspiring lasting change, rooted in deep understanding, sector-wide collaboration and partnerships.”
According to Yaa, the programme touches on seven focus areas namely; child protection, community, environment, farming, livelihoods, women empowerment and youth development.
It also trains almost 150 000 farmers to grow cocoa more effectively. I mean, this includes so many things from identifying crop diseases to managing the soil and using chemicals responsibly. The new farming technology that these communities are introduced to helps to improve productivity and profitability.And you guys, it doesn’t end there. Cocoa Life also helps to provide female farm workers with the opportunity to set up small businesses, extending initiatives to microfinance schemes, village savings and loans.
To you it may be a delicious slab of chocolate. But to so many families, it is a source of income and when the cocoa season is on hold, these families need to find other ways to sustain their livelihood.So next time you pick up a slab of chocolate, check for the Cocoa Life stamp, which will be on all Cadbury Dairy Milk slabs from July 2019. And then give yourself a pat on the back for supporting farmers on our continent by simply purchasing product made from their farm yields.
More information about Cocoa Life and their initiatives around the world can be found on their website, www.cocoalife.com.
More about Yaa Peprah AmekudziYaa Peprah Amekudzi has been the country lead of Cocoa Life since its establishment 10 years ago when it was then known as the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership, forging strategic partnerships with government and non-governmental agencies to deliver the objectives of Cocoa Life. Starting with 100 communities in 7 districts, Yaa has expanded Cocoa Life to cover 450 communities in 17 districts within a period of 10 years, directly impacting 38,421 cocoa farmers and 415,464 community members of which 224,301 are young persons.
All the photos in this post were taken at the Mondelez International Cocoa Life Programme Bloggers Lunch, at No. 5 by Mantis, Summerstrand Port Elizabeth. The event was hosted by ECMeetUp. Photographer: Odette Johaar Photography
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by ECMeetUp
-
Your kids artwork could win them a share of R18 000!
Guys, guess what, your kid’s artwork can score you a couple of bucks. Yep! My inner Kris Jenner was like, yassss how do I sign up!
So, get this: Tavcor Volkswagen (Moffett Expressway, Nelson Mandela Bay) wants to give your kid the opportunity to win cash prizes to the value of a cool R18 000 and basically all the kid has to do is… well, pretty much the same thing they do everyday… put color pen to paper! Sounds easy enough right? The annual Design-An-Allspace Competition is that simple! Here’s more info:
2019 Design-An-Allspace Competition
Tavcor William Moffett is inviting learners, across Nelson Mandela Bay, to design an awe-inspiring vehicle wrap for their Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace. The theme for this year’s competition is Outer Space and your kid could pretty much design the wrap exactly how they would translate that theme… martians, aliens, space ships, planets, etc. What a great way to encourage them to use their imagination!
Do you think that your kid has what it takes? Well, duh, of cause they do (#biased #notbiased). To enter simply:
1. Grab an A3 entry form online or collect one from the dealership.
2. Encourage your kid to get a-cracking with designing that award winning wrap, while giving them snacks, shoulder rubs and encouraging affirmations like “you’re doing great, sweetie.”
3. Drop off the original entry at Tavcor Volkwagen, William Moffett by Friday 20 September at 5pm.
The nitty gritty’sThe competition runs from 1 May to 20 September, and is only open to kids who are still in school.
The Top 40 designs will be selected and displayed at the dealership in the month of October, and the public will then be encouraged to vote for their top picks.
The winners, including the people’s choice, will be chosen via a combination of public voting and the final judging process.
The final winners will be announced at an awards function at the end of October 2019. The top 40 must be present at the function, to claim their prize.
The total of R18 000 in cash prizes will be shared equally between student and representing school.
Two of the winning designs will be wrapped onto Tavcor Volkswagen demonstration vehicles (Tiguans in this year’s competition). These vehicles will be available for presentation at the winning schools.
For more information, check out Tavcor VW on Facebook and on Instagram.
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Tavcor Volkswagen Nelson Mandela Bay.
-
Meet the 2019 ECMeetUp Panel
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I mean, besides for my birthday and Christmas. Yep, that’s right, it’s #ECMeetUp time! For those who are new around these parts, #ECMeetUp is the biggest blogger and influencer event in the Eastern Cape. I get to organise it alongside my friend and family member, Eleanor of JustEllaBella (she’s family because I made her marry my cousin… well, not “made” but you get the gist).
Our previous meet ups have been pretty-flippen-fantastic, because the influencers in the Eastern Cape are rather spectacular. I mean, seriously, they are the most genuine bunch of peeps this side of the internet. And, if you consider all the drama that goes on in the online world of “influencing”, it’s rather refreshing to hang out with real life people who are super nice AND they understand what you mean when you say things like “I really need to find a plugin that will help me to monetize my website”.
We usually invite a guest speaker to join us, since we’re all about learning and growing. But, this time around, we followed the prompts of the pre-event survey (we usually send one out before each meet up) and it seemed that most bloggers wanted to learn from… get this… EACH OTHER!Eeeek! Feeling like a proud mama over here!
This totally blows my mind because it means that game recognizes game. I love that our local influencers rate each other AND that they are humble enough to want to learn from each other. That’s rare and beautiful and you guys can all have ice-cream for dessert!
I also love that we get to showcase (read: show off) some of the local influencers who are kicking butt and taking names. They are pretty rad, if I do say so myself.
Lastly, we want to celebrate diversity at this year’s meet up and what better way to do it than to witness the fitness of a group of influencer’s who each represent a different niche. I mean, it’s pretty cool, you have to admit.
Anyways, before I break out into song and dance, let me introduce you to the 2019 ECMeetUp panel. They are:
Anje RautenbachAnje Rautenbach is the Port Elizabeth based travel writer behind the blogs, Going Somewhere Slowly and Vroetelvoete. She has been globetrotting, writing, discovering and capturing the world as a solo traveller since 2009. Anje is passionate about responsible travel, animal rights in tourism and discovering the nooks and crannies of small towns and big cities. The award winning blogger has an extensive following with a over 20 thousand reach on social media alone. Her work has been featured in countless magazines and on numerous websites and despite being rather camera shy, she is one of the most recognized faces in travel blogging in South Africa.
Abegail WitbooiAbegail Witbooi, is a social media maven who has taken inspiration from her natural krulkop and used her social media presence to create a booming local business. Krulkop Society is a local South African brand which aims to create a culture of authenticity and originality. The brand expanded as Abby noticed the need for declarations of affirmation, love and appreciation in the society. This was how the Krulkop Society Gifting and Treats range was birthed. All merchandise and goods aim to uplift, empower and boost self-esteem, and confidence in society. A big part of Abby’s brand is growing a sense of community and togetherness. Her success has seen her being featured in numerous articles and on television but to her, seeing connections between people and in society is the biggest success and achievement for the brand.
Laurina Machite24-year old Port Elizabeth social media influencer, lifestyle blogger, part-time accounting student and school teacher, Laurina Machite manages her own online platform that empowers women with a range of lifestyle and beauty advice, from fashion tips to make-up tutorials. Laurina was a crowd favourite as one of the top ten finalists in the 2018 SABC 3 presenter search. She has worked with top national and international beauty brands and apart from regulary MCing various events, she is one of the featured faces of the All Things Hair web series. Laurina built up her following in just a few years and has accumulated a reach of 15.2 thousand.
Megan BothaMegan Kelly Botha is the blogger behind By Megan Kelly, mom of two boys, and Client Relationship Manager at SOMS. Her blog focuses on beauty, parenting, and lifestyle and aims to be a convenient one-stop platform, where you can catch up on the latest beauty launches, parenting tips, messages of faith and lifestyle trends, with a heavy dose of bad-jokes and relatable realness. Her passion for digital marketing saw her and her husband starting their own digital agency which later lead them to joining one of the fastest growing digital agencies in the country. She spends her free time watching far too much soccer and starting online petitions for chocolate to be recognized as a crucial food group.
Amanda KlaasAmanda Klaas from Yellow Orchid Child is originally from Kwa-Zulu Natal but has been in Port Elizabeth long enough to call it home. She studied Media Communication & Culture at Nelson Mandela University and started blogging in 2016 as a way to share her voice with those who might relate. Yellow Orchid Child is a uniquely curated style, lifestyle and motivational blog. She has used her brand of motivation to further her career as a keynote speaker and host at various events. She has also aligned herself with niche brands and has one of the fastest growing social media platforms, locally.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: Luchae, could you not have chosen a less attractive panel, I mean, we’re going to be SO distracted by their sheer beauty, how will we learn?! We’ll figure this out together folks.
Also, second thought: Luchae, where the guys at?! Good question, my friends, good question. We’re hoping to see more male involvement at future meet ups (‘sup boys) and hope to feature alot more male influencers at upcoming events. I mean, we’re known for pulling rabbits out of hats, but even our kungfu is not strong enough to include those who are not around.
Anyways, we are so excited to learn from these industry experts! Are you? Our 2019 #ECMeetUp seats are fully booked, but if you’d like to attend (because, as Dany Targaryen has taught us, you just never know), please do drop us an email and we’ll add you to the waiting list.
Check out JustEllaBella tomorrow for more deets on the upcoming 2019 ECMeetUp.
-
ECMeetUp: do bloggers actually like each other?
On Saturday we got to hang out with some of our fave Eastern Cape bloggers at our final ECMeetUp of 2018. The event was unlike any other blogger meet up we’ve ever hosted, because we wanted to see if bloggers actually like each other in real life. I mean, it’s easy to be all quirky and polite behind a screen. Right?
And hey, I’ve built many a friendship via the internet (you know who you are, friend!) But the cool thing about us EC bloggers is that the Eastern Cape is small, yo. And we actually have a chance to hang out a lot more than some of the other influencers, in other parts of South Africa. And so Ella and I wanted to facilitate a gathering of sorts, where we could all just let loose and focus on getting to know each other better. The night was filled with festive games and laughter. Plus, prizes and gifts… need I say more? You can read more about that over on JustEllaBella today. But I’m here to talk about the people.
My favorite thing about living in Nelson Mandela Bay, is the people. I mean, yeah we have a slammin’ beach and really cool touristy attractions and all of that. But our people are worth their weight in gold! Our (sometimes over the top) friendliness can often be misconstrued as being fake or false or “this woman is not right in her head.” But, in retrospect, living in a smaller metropole has its perks and one of the perks is that we are a tightly knit community and so even though you may not know everyone, chances her your new friend knows someone who knows someone who once worked with your family member at Cadbury. Or Volkswagen. Or Edgars, Greenacres. You get the gist.
Anyways, my point is that I am simply over the moon that our little EC blogging community is growing so nicely. Why be happy, some would ask. I mean, doesn’t this mean that there is less opportunity for the rest of us? Uhm, NO. It means that there is more of us to take note of! (That was me throwing shade at the rest of South Africa, who, it seems, often forgets about us). We are a growing force and a thriving community and yep, we actually like each other. How about that?
Anyways, before I trail off into another mommy-lecture, allow me to introduce the EC bloggers who were in attendance this Saturday. Please feel free to stalk away!
Bernadene Freeman of Be You Daringly – Facebook Instagram
Catherine Richards of Curious Cat – Facebook Instagram
Clarice Geduld of A Healthy Travel Addiction – Facebook Instagram
Eleanor-Douglas Meyers of Just Ella Bella – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Eridene Coltman of Journey with Deenah – Facebook Instagram
Jenine Damons Marneval of The Fat Fairy – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Kelly Adams of Basically Kelly – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Kenastacia Asia of Kenastacia – Facebook Instagram
Luchae Williams of My Spreadsheet Brain – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Mandy Frank of – Frankly Mandy – Facebook
Maverick Coltman of Maverick Coltman – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Melissa De Klerk of Fox & Owl Media – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Miriam Maulana of New Kid On The Block – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Nadine Rose Larter of Passing the Open Windows – Twitter Instagram Facebook
Odette Johaar of Totally Confident and Completely Insecure – Twitter
Ralph Dirsuwei of Chasing the Rainbow – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Ruth Abercrombie of Pursuing Purpose – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Sandi Leith of A Life In Spring – Facebook Instagram
Sarah Dirsuwei of Chasing the Rainbow – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Simone Cameron of An Ordinary Gal – Facebook Instagram
Tanya Lilley of Just Me, T – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Tayla Rodger of Tailored Inspiration – Facebook Instagram
Theresia Muller of Lessons Learnt – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Venean Bosch of In the Meantime – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Yolande Holloway of Sheer Empowderment – Facebook Instagram
Yolandi Barnard of Styles by Yolandi – Facebook Twitter InstagramDisclaimer: All the pics in this post was “borrowed” from the EC Bloggers Instagram accounts. Give them a follow! You can check out all the meet up action, and exactly what the bloggers went home with, by searching for #ECMeetUp on social media.
-
Three cool things to do with your family in Port Elizabeth
If you’re planning a visit to Port Elizabeth (now known as Nelson Mandela Bay) this holiday, firstly, you clearly have excellent taste. I mean, besides for the exquisite beaches, amazing nature reserves and friendly locals, Port Elizabeth also offers visitors a chance to get to know the city’s history. There’s something for everyone! Check out these three cool things to do with your family in Port Elizabeth:
The Beach
Always the beach. Whether you’re looking for a safe place to sun tan, or a shady area near the waves, to watch your kids play around in the sand, the beaches in Port Elizabeth are the perfect place to park your umbrella. The coastal region of Nelson Mandela Bay offers you 40kms of beautiful, golden beach! Kings Beach extends from the harbor wall to Humewood and is ideal for swimming and body surfing. Hobie Beach, which is in the vicinity of the Boardwalk and Shark Rock Pier, is a hot spot for volleyball enthusiasts and is the venue for the annual “Splash Festival”.
The History
My family and I are a sucker for a good adventure. We have spent countless hours exploring Port Elizabeth’s rich cultural heritage sites, such as the Fort Frederick, South End Museum and the Donkin Heritage Trail. The Donkin Reserve and Lighthouse building are famous monuments, and we’ve spent many a school history tour learning about these attractions and how they’ve played an integral party of the establishment of our city. But my most favorite monument of all has to be the Campanile. This historical building, erected to commemorate the landing of the 1820 Settlers, is situated at the entrance to the railway station and docks in Strand Street. It is 50m high and has a climb of 204 steps! The magnificent view of the harbor, once you’ve reached the top is priceless!
The Wildlife
While residing in Port Elizabeth is not exactly deemed as “outback living” we have our fair share of wildlife and nature. On the outskirts of Nelson Mandela Bay, you’ll be pleased to find an array of hot spots that showcase the natural beauty that the Eastern Cape has to offer. Some of these include Van Staden’s Wild Flower Reserve, Settler’s Park, Maitlands Nature Reserve, Baviaanskloof Wildnerness Area and Groendal Wilderness. You are also spoilt for choice, if gaming is your thing. Nelson Mandela Bay boasts an amazing selection of stunning game reserves and game drives that might bring you face to face with a member of the Big 7! For more, check out Addo Elephant National Park, Kragga Kamma Game Park and the Seaview Predator Park.
But hey, don’t take my word for it! You should totally give our friendly city a go, this coming Summer season! For more information do check out the Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism website, where you can find more deets on a NMBT pass card that will give you free access and many great discounts to many of these attractions!Disclaimer: This post was written in collaboration with SA-Venues.com.
All pics used in this post were borrowed from the NMBT website.
-
#ECMeetUp: Why we’re not inviting everyone
So as you guys may know, Ella and I host two #ECMeetUp blogger events each year. These events are basically a conference of sorts, for bloggers and social media influencer’s who are based in Nelson Mandela Bay. It’s our baby, but certainly wasn’t our idea… I mean, the Jozi and Capetonian bloggers have been hosting similar meet ups, probably since, like, the beginning of time. Or maybe a little bit after that. Anyways, not the point. The point is that we really love hosting this event… it has become a highlight on our calendar of life (so dramatic, always) and we get excited for every ECMeetUp. But, this time around, yoh, it’s become something else altogether. I mean, for starters, we’re not inviting everyone.
*pause for emphasis*
Okay that was me breaking out my inner Stephanie Forester because keeping people in suspense is so not my jam. Anyways, yeah, I said it, this meet up is not for everyone. Allow me to explain:At our big meet up (we casually call the May event the “big meet up”, and the end of year event, the “mini meet”) we open up the guest list to PR reps, brands and even peeps who are interested in blogging but may not have a blog at the moment. It’s a great way to encourage networking, within these circles. I mean, it’s all about “meeting up”, as the name would imply.
But this time – oh this time! We’d like to focus on blogger-to-blogger networking. Yes, that means, we want to get to know you guys man! And we want you guys to get to know each other too. I mean, blogging (much like any competitive industry) can become pretty ugly. But the one thing that makes us EC Bloggers remarkably different from the rest (sorry South Africa) is that we are PE girls/guys… we love people (for the most part) and we’re really good at community (when we aren’t in a bad mood because someones car got stuck on the N2 AGAIN).
Guys, we’re stronger when we work together. And while I’m not saying that we should be all up in each other’s faces all the time, I do think that being supportive and encouraging (or atleast, just decent human beings) towards each other, will go a long way towards building the blogging scene within the Eastern Cape. I mean, if you’re all for wanting to actually get to know the other bloggers in our region, I do recommend that you come and do that! We won’t bite, I promise.
Other highlights about our upcoming meet up:
1. No goodie bags. Instead, we’d like to give you a Christmas gift, thanks to some of our fave brands, who promised not to send nick-nacks. We’re also trying to plan a little somethin’ somethin’ that will help you kick start your 2019!
2. No long speeches and no long talks. In fact, we want to encourage you to talk to EACH OTHER. Ahhh a brave, bold new concept!
3. A lekker time to dress up, take cute photos, enjoy some festive spirit (read: food and music) and just soak up the ambiance of the most magical season of the year! Yes, I love Christmas, okay?!
4. A chance to #sharethelove, by bringing along a toy to sponsor to the Project Hope children. Project Hope is an organisation that feeds more than 100 disadvantaged children in the Northen Areas of Port Elizabeth.
5. Okay there isn’t really a number 5 but I just want to say that it’s going to be legit, man!So what do you think, EC Blogger? Are you in? Tickets cost R200, and includes a yummy three course meal from Bonamia, Walker Drive. Bonamia is actually owned by a fellow blogger too! So that’s a double win for us!
You are welcome to rsvp with myself or Ella. Tickets must be paid by November 25. We are only reserving 30 seats this time around, so I do urge you to make sure to rsvp as soon as possible!
Looking forward to getting all festive with ya!
-
Fashion Friday: Celebrating authenticity with Krulkop Society
My children dress better than I do. There, I said it. Kiddies fashion has really gone up a level though, and I love that we now have a bunch of lekker local online kids stores to choose from. I’m very proud to say that some of these online boutiques are owned by Nelson Mandela Bay locals (#sharethebay, yo). Kids fashion in the Bay is slamming! (#biasednotbiased). So I thought to show you guys some of my fave proudly PE online kids boutiques and how cute my kid looks modelling their fashion. Hows that for a double whammy? Disclaimer: These weekly Fashion Friday posts may or may not spur on a crazy online shopping spree.
Krul Kop Society
It’s no secret – I love dressing my kid up! And she loves it too… can you tell? I’m totally going with her flow, if you know what I mean. I’ve decided long ago (never to walk in anyone’s shadow?) that I’m going to let my curly girl be exactly who she wants to be – who she was called to be! And yep, that includes not straightening her hair, unless she asks. Do you blame me though, her curls are on fleek. (Pretend I said that all cool-like, and stuff).
So when I met the gorgeous Abegail of Krulkop Society and learnt about her passion – to create a culture of self-acceptance and authenticity in society- I was like, yasss girl! I can get on board with this!
Krulkop Society was birthed in 2017 when Abe saw this gap in the market… this need for people to realize their worth and celebrate their originality. She wanted to start a brand (and a movement, yo) that celebrated this authenticity… you know, the unique characteristics that makes you, you. And so the Krulkop slogan tee was born. It was originally aimed at naturlistas, basically helping them proudly wear their hair decisions on their sleeves, so to speak. With funky fresh slogans and designs, Abe’s concept took the local naturalista scene by storm, and she soon found her range morphing into something else.
I mean, I don’t have curly hair but I want a t-shirt too! What do I do?! Well, Abegail caters for you too, my sleek-haired sister! There is now a Krulkop slogan tee for just about everyone – the bearded brother, the brother with no hair, the naturalista and the straight-haired diva. We are all catered for.
And by “all” I mean men and women, young and old! In these pics, Kari models her two fave Krulkop slogan tshirts, paired with her KidCoCo tutu skirt. I love that there are “Krulkop Seun” tshirts too! These tshirts are a comfy fit and they maintain their shape and quality, even after it’s been through the wash.
But wait, there’s more! Because the branded t-shirt range grew quite popular really quickly, Abe saw opportunity for expansion. This eventually lead to the birth of her gifts range. Looking for a cool, affordable gift idea? The Krulkop gifts range offers you quirky gifts, bedecked with really cool slogans and words of encouragement that aims to leave your gift recipient a little more empowered and uplifted. Hows that for a double score?
What’s next for Krulkop Society? Well, Abe is so keen to get more involved with like-minded organisations and businesses who are looking to partner with her. She is also planning to host unique events in the city to help promote the Krulkop message of self-love and acceptance.
She also told me that her new range will be out soon. So keep your eyes glued to social media for more on that! For more information or to get in touch with Abegail, you can find Krulkop society on Instagram and Facebook, or email her directly.
About this shootThis photo shoot was done in collaboration with Kelly Adams of Basically Kelly at the gorgeous The Windermere hotel in Nelson Mandela Bay.
All photos in this post was taken by my talented blogger friend, Odette Johaar of Odette Johaar Photography and Totally Confident & Completely Insecureblog.
-
Styled by my 3 year old: The KellyKariKollab
A few weeks ago, the very sweet Kelly Adams of Basically Kelly asked me if she could do a blog feature with my 3 year old Karis Leigh. Kelly wanted to be styled by my 3 year old and I knew that Karis would totally eat that up! Now, if you guys frequent my Instastories you’ll know that my Kari is full of sass. She loves the camera. She loves to dress up. She loves make up. And she loves to tell other people what to do. (I’ve been told it’s a toddler thing. Her dad says she got it from her mama. You decide.)
The wonderful staff of The Windermere Hotel, located in Summerstrand, Nelson Mandela Bay, agreed to give us their stunning venue as the location and we were so thrilled at the opportunity to feature some of our fave Nelson Mandela Bay kiddies online boutiques.
Now ladies, let me tell you something, I learnt that if you want to unlock your little girls inner diva, give her your make up to play with! Karis got into that make up, styling Kelly like it’s nobodies business! (I sat on the couch, with some chicken nuggets, and chilled. I mean, it was like an afternoon off for me. Who’s complaining?)The girls did each other’s make up (aren’t they cute) and chose outfits for one another. Both went for a pink ensemble and Kelly got a pair of high heels, picked out by Miss Kari, who had been eyeing them. (She has a thing for shoes).
A fresh hair-do later, and they were ready to work the camera, with “Uncle Human” (Kelly’s boyfriend, Hughan) behind the camera, making the girls look as fabulous as they are. We honestly had so much fun and I would totally do something like this again! But hey, check out the vid below for more: -
Fashion Friday: The Little Closet’s trendy toddler fashion
My children dress better than I do. There, I said it. Kiddies fashion has really gone up a level though, and I love that we now have a bunch of lekker local online kids stores to choose from. I’m very proud to say that some of these online boutiques are owned by Nelson Mandela Bay locals (#sharethebay, yo). Kids fashion in the Bay is slamming! (#biasednotbiased). So I thought to show you guys some of my fave proudly PE online kids boutiques and how cute my kid looks modelling their fashion. Hows that for a double whammy? Disclaimer: These weekly Fashion Friday posts may or may not spur on a crazy online shopping spree.
The Little Closet and Co
If you’re looking to up your toddler’s wardrobe game, you definitely need to check out Nelson Mandela Bay’s own The Little Closet and Co. Inspired by her daughter, Eemaan, founder and designer, Sumayyah Ally used her own flair for creative styling and fashion to bring to you a kiddies clothing brand that is both hip and oulik all at the same time.
Adding a couple of trendy clothing pieces to your toddler’s “little closet” is a no brainer, if you’re a mum with an eye for fashion. But Sumayyah found difficulty in trying to source on trend clothing and accessories for her little one, without having to sell actual body parts to be able to afford it. International purchases are quite pricey, yo!She then started sourcing top notch kiddies apparel, and created a platform that enabled and empowered other moms to do the same! From beautifully crafted local outfits to imported pieces, The Little Closet makes it easy for YOU to style your kid!
And hey, this mama is super stylish herself! So she’s literally taken all her fabulousity and sprinkled it over her own baby and kids clothing line, called Eemaan Handmade.
She shares: “This range incorporates simplistic designs adding an edge using textures and current color palettes whilst inspiring new trends. Only the highest quality of material is sourced locally and each item is carefully crafted with love. Eemaan handmade aims to promote exclusivity to match the individuality of your little humans.”
I totally fell inlove with the Cosmic Romper. I mean, honestly, at first I wondered if this unisex jumpsuit would look good on a little girl. But guys, it’s so friggen adorbs! It features shoulder studs for easy putting on and nappy changing and the bottoms are a cool harem fit.Kari loved the pocket detail and the headband. The print is really funky and I appreciate that its unisex, yo! I mean, Jo could fit into this in a short while! So it’s a double score for me!
Cosmic Romper – R220
3 – 6 months to 4 – 5 years
The summer Jersey Romper is stunning! Firstly, this salmon color is all sorts of “aaack!” And secondly, the design is really pretty, featuring an adjustable waist, pocket detail and press studs along the inner leg.I am a fan of the soft breathable fabric and the ease of wear. I mean, this is totally the type of outfit that my kid could slip on, for a day at the beach or a summer kiddies party. The fit is loose, which means you could actually stretch out wear. Kari is 3 years old and the 3-4 year old fit is still really loose and comfortable on her. There are a variety of colors and styles available. Love them all!
Jersey Romper – R200
3 – 6 months to 3 – 4 years
With Spring around the corner and the impending Summer holidays waving at us, what better time to stock up on festive season looks for your kiddies, than right now? Visit the online store for more or check out the shops Facebook or Instagram accounts to stay up to date with what’s hot and happening in The Little Closet.
About this shoot (AND WIN!)This photo shoot was done in collaboration with Kelly Adams of Basically Kelly at the gorgeous The Windermere hotel in Nelson Mandela Bay. We are giving away a stay at this gorgeous location! For deets on how to enter, simply check out my Instagram page for the competition post! Competition closes on Friday 10 August and winner announced on Monday 12 August.
All photos in this post was taken by my talented blogger friend, Odette Johaar of Odette Johaar Photography and Totally Confident & Completely Insecure blog.
