Features
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Everybody come see my new hair
This post is a few days late, but I had to dedicate a whole blog post to my new look. Why? Well, Coco Chanel says when woman cuts her hair, she is about to do something super duper amazing (okay that was part Coco Chanel, part “I cant remember so I put my own words in that quote”). But you guys, considering the fact that my hair has been the same length and color for most of my adult life, changing it was a big deal to me, okay? There, I said it. Don’t judge me. Well, if you’re going to judge me, only do it quietly behind my back, please. Kidding! Where was I going with this? Oh yes, my new hair. Well, this is the story all about how my life got flip turned upside down…
If you’re still around after that horrendous intro (complete with incorrect Coco Chanel quotes and a Will Smith rap piece) then you must really love me. So hello, friend! Let me tell you, the past few days have been straight up ridonkulous. For starters it was ECMeetUp and with that came enough craziness to render a successful Dr Phil reboot. But also, I decided to chop all my hair off on Friday. (And by “all”, I do mean “a little bit of it but it feels life changing okay?!”)
Why the big chop? Well, my hair has been breaking off so much that I pretty much freaked out like, alot (for those of you who sat through countless Instastories of me talking about my hair, I salute you). I do think that my brittle hair was due to postpartum hair loss coupled with the recent onslaught of grey hair. Guys, if I didn’t tell you before, let me say it now: my grey hair is poppin’ AND they seem to be duplicating. Let’s just say I became intimately acquainted with boxed hair dyes recently and yep, the ammonia has definitely damaged my tresses.
Enter: Michelle Kritzinger, the “hair whisperer” over at Stylish Steppers. You may recall, I’ve chatted about Michelle and her super powers a while ago. I am ashamed to admit that Friday was my first visit to her salon. Shocking, I know. Especially since half of Nelson Mandela Bay knows her and swears by her expert fingers. Anyways, Mish took one look at my hair and was like “we’re going to give you a whole new look!” Insert the loud, screeching “aaack” right here.
One thing I appreciated about Michelle is that she shared SO MUCH knowledge and information with me, while she was seeing to my mane. I’ll be sharing more about that soon! But for now, I can tell you that she decided to cut off all my dead hair because it was definitely weighing my tresses down. I think Michelle kept some of the length, because she didn’t want to give me a heart attack. She’s so kind.
She also decided to give me a lighter look because of my grey hair. She explained that the lighter your hair, the easier it is to conceal those grey hairs, when they come in. (Duh, Luchae.) So I might be going even lighter than this, over the next few months.
How do I feel about my hair? Well, guys, let’s be honest. I love the whole Kardashian look. I love having my hair long and dark (and easy and basic). I don’t have the time or energy to worry about styling my hair every morning. BUT I do love the versatility of this look. I do feel a bit more spunkier and a sense of freedom. Will I cut it again? Not sure. Do I love the color? Yep, I think a change from the all black was good. Would I recommend Michelle of Stylish Steppers to my friends? Heck to the yes!
So what do you ladies think? Do you like my new hair? Anything I should change, when I go back to Michelle next month?
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#ECMeetUp 2018 – Who are the EC Bloggers anyways?
Well, ECMeetUp 2018 has come and gone and as usual it was completely amazing. And this is not me being biased, you guys. I mean, yes we come for the goodie bags, giveaways and food but in reality the people that attend are what makes every single ECMeetUp as awesome as it is. We were also very heavily supported by HeraldLIVE and Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism and are so grateful for that! Check out JustEllaBella tomorrow, because Ella wants to tell you guys a bit more about the brands that tied in this year and what our delegates went home with(and it was alot, yo!). But I thought to let ya’ll in on our guest list. I mean, who are the EC Bloggers anyways, right?
I must admit, when we started this ECMeetUp gig, we probably only knew five Eastern Cape based bloggers, between the two of us. Our meet up guest list reached a max of 80 this year, with majority of the list being local bloggers keen to connect with like minded folk. We had a couple of open seats, which we gladly gave to some of our local brands. I mean, besides for hooking the bloggers up with chow, knowledge and freebies, we also wanted them to hob knob with some of the brands that are looking to work with them. It’s win-win really.We were honestly so chuffed to have the guys from Travelstart join us this year. Lyle Scritten (who also blogs by the way, oh and remind me to tell you about his dad jokes) shared some wise nuggets on blogging and Kirsten Litsen shared more about the Travelstart affiliate program. The very charming Aislinn was my favorite though – but don’t tell the rest of the team.
Anyways, I could say a gazillion more things about this year’s meet up (and I probably shall) but let me rather just tell you who was there. The bloggers and social media influencer’s in attendance at the ECMeetUp 2018 were:Amanda Klaas of Yellow Orchid Child – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Andrew Sampson of V Model Management – Facebook Instagram
Anje Rautenbach of Going Somewhere Slowly – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Bernadene Freeman of Be You Daringly – Facebook Instagram
Cassidy Pautz of The Novice, The Pot and The Pantry – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Chantal Bezuidenhout of Social Media Shakeup – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Christopher Williams of Groove Station – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Claire Kivedo of Overall Events – Facebook Twitter
Cleo Allison of CASA – Facebook Instagram
Davene Prinsloo of Daveneprinsloo.com – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Eleanor-Douglas Meyers of Just Ella Bella – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Elgee Davies of Elgeedavies.co.za – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Elsie Mutsaka of Elsie Mutsaka – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Felicity Triegaardt of Travelbucket – Facebook Instagram
Inge Triegaardt of Travelbucket – Facebook Instagram
Jacqui Truelove of OVB – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Jenine Damons Marneval of The Fat Fairy – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Karyn Singh of Galicious – Facebook
Kelly Adams of Basically Kelly – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Kerryn Botha of A Girl Named Kez – Facebook Instagram
Kirsty Ferreira of Raising Rem – Facebook Instagram
Lana Breedt of Nog Steeds Lana – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Laszlo Maya of Maya Deaf Foundation – Facebook Twitter
Luchae Williams of My Spreadsheet Brain – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Mandy Frank of – Frankly Mandy – Facebook
Megan Kelly of By Megan Kelly – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Miriam Maulana of New Kid On The Block – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Neal Prinsloo of Storie En Al Films – Instagram
Odette Johaar of Totally Confident and Completely Insecure – Twitter
Ralph Dirsuwei of Chasing the Rainbow – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Ranique Roberts of Big Mouth Entertainment – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Ruth Abercrombie of Pursuing Purpose – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Sandisiwe Mfazwe of Sandys Place – Facebook
Sarah Dirsuwei of Chasing the Rainbow – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Sarah Huddy of The Mommy City – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Sarah Massey-Hicks of The Sunshine Thread – Facebook Instagram
Simran Jugal of Burgandy Beauty – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Tanya Lilley of Just Me, T – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Taskeen Daniels of Styled to the T – Facebook 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
Vuyo Ndongeni of Loving Me – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Yolande Holloway of Sheer Empowderment – Facebook Instagram
Yolandi Barnard of Styles by Yolandi – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Zaahida Joel of Journey with Mum – Facebook Twitter Instagram
Some of the brand reps that joined us (thanks for coming ya’ll!):Amy Mcbryne of The Beauty Store
Cameron Millar and Melvin Iverson of Yo! Media
Darryl van der Berg of KFC
Farren Foutie of Cute and Chic Event Styling (the sweety table was amazeballs!)
Gerald Pietersen of Agape Coffee Shop
Gillian Pillay of Mastertons (always a fave!)
Hannah Atterbury of Geekworld
Ian Bosch of Ootrey
Karin Le Roux of Fairview Race Course (what a stunning venue!)
Lameez Khan of Clarins
Lize Fouche and Micell van den Bergh of Nutristart
Maaasha Ismail of MoFireFly Photography (our meet up photographer)
Marelize Rosa and Richard Rosa of Bohemi Yoga
Michelle Kritzinger of Stylish Steppers
Octayvia Nayce and Zama Ndulom of HeraldLIVE
Rene Derrocks and Reuann Smith of NMBT (love and appreciate you ladies!)
Rika Olivier of Ivohealth
Waahida Williams of Woolworths Beauty
These images were very clearly sniped from the bloggers Instagram accounts. Please do give them a follow for more and check out the #ECMeetUp hashtag across all platforms. The official meet up pics will be posted later this week. -
Is having a first birthday party necessary?
The other day I had a brain fart moment, struggling to remember what we did to celebrate Kyle’s first birthday. Keeping in mind, the kid is a million years old already and his first birthday probably happened when I was 12 (I was a teen mom, remember) and reckless and not Martha Stewart enough to find serviettes that matched cleverly picked out balloons. Yep, feelings of “bad mom” befell me faster than the speed of light and I had to calm myself down, because, let’s be honest, the kid probably doesn’t even remember his first birthday. (I asked, so I’m sure) But wait, hey, this means that none of my kids remember their first birthdays. Right? And if they don’t remember, then why the heck am I trying to find serviettes that matches cleverly picked out balloons for Jo’s first birthday?! I mean, does any of that even matter? Is having a first birthday party necessary?
If you’re able to spend those extra ronds on an elaborate first birthday party – that’s amazing! Celebrate your baby, girlfriend! You’ve managed to parent the kid for a whole year without losing your sanity. It’s a milestone worthy of celebration.
BUT since I have a big family and many a birthday to consider, I’ve decided to not do a big first birthday party for Jo this year. Honestly, the boy is much more concerned with how he can get his own toes into his mouth. Needless to say, my matching serviettes and cleverly picked out balloons will not impress him one bit.
Instead, I’ve opted for a cake smash shoot with Cutepix (Michelle did Kari’s cake smash shoot as well). I love this concept because it documents all the elements of a birthday celebration – the cake, the decor etc – and puts it altogether in one beautiful taken photo shoot, giving us those important first birthday memories (and baby pics to share at his 21st).
But, of course, a cake smash doesn’t include people and fun! So my spreadsheet brain and I decided to have a birthday PLAY DATE! What is a birthday play date and how on earth does it differ to a birthday party or a normal play date, I hear you ask. Good questions, Margaret, good questions. Well…
1. A birthday play date’s emphasis is on the word PLAY. I wanted to incorporate a lot of fun and toys and interaction with other kids HIS age. So yes, that meant that the invite list comprised of “one and unders”… no older kids. And yes, that also meant ALOT of playing because it’s his day and I want him to have fun (and possibly conk out afterwards, hello Greys Anatomy my old friend, how I’ve missed you)
2. The birthday play date would have NO: matching anything, birthday cake, elaborate decorations. Those things don’t matter… well, atleast not to my Jojo. And as for the pics… the cake smash took care of that, remember?
3. The birthday play date’s emphasis was on: Interaction. The mommy’s were encouraged to hang out and chat (I even told them to come wearing flip flops and yoga pants if they wanted) and the kiddies were encouraged to have fun. Instead of focusing on “what must happen next” ala birthday party vibes.
4. The birthday play date allowed me to celebrate my baby boy but it was minus the formalities, minus the stress and minus the copious amounts of spending money I dont have on stuff I don’t need… stuff that is probably not important to my 12 month old. Stuff like matching serviettes and cleverly picked out balloons.The result? Probably the best birthday celebration we’ve had! I’ll share pics and more on what went down tomorrow. But I’d love to hear your opinion: Do you prefer a big birthday bash for your one year old? Or something more low key? How much money would you spend on a first birthday party?
Header image taken by Cutepix. Will share more about the cake smash pics on Friday!
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#ECMeetUp: Because the Eastern Cape is lekker!
If you guys follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed the mini rant I had the other day. I threw my metaphorical toys out of the cot about the fact that our wonderful Eastern Cape (and all it’s amazing people – myself included) are sometimes overlooked. I mean, clearly I love living here. Which is another reason why we are so proud of ECMeetUp. The event brings together bloggers and social media influencers based in and around the Eastern Cape and I get a mommy thrill (same as a normal people thrill, but with an extra dollop of emotion) when I spy EC bloggers building relationship with each other and growing their brand!
We are so proud to once again feature collabs with a bunch of Eastern Cape based businesses at this year’s ECMeetUp. These include a few newbies, that Eleanor will introduce to you guys on her blog today, as well as some “golden oldies” – the EC brands who have journeyed with us pretty much since Day 1. I’m talking about:
Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism
I am so proud to be affiliated with NMBT. The Bay’s PR team have been a great support since the very beginning… I mean, honestly you guys, I can’t think of another event of this type that is so well supported by a tourism department. Headed by Reuann Smith, NMBT gets on board every year with the main intention of helping bloggers to grow their brands and to get involved in the city’s various media and press events. We are so keen to hob knob with them at this year’s meet up.The Herald
I’m not being biased (because they’ve employed me) or anything, but The Herald is possibly the more popular newspaper this side of South Africa. It is the oldest and most well-read print paper in the Eastern Cape and the HeraldLIVE online newspaper is certainly growing in stature, reaching more than a million readers per month. (Can you tell that I head up their online advertising?) The newspaper house always partners with the meet up as a media sponsor and support system and I love that they are so open minded with regards to working with bloggers and expanding their online reach.
Mastertons Coffee
You guys, one of my favorite things about ECMeetUp is our sweet partnership with Mastertons. For starters, Gillian, who heads up their PR, is a darling! We always enjoy working with her and definitely enjoyed her talk at last year’s meet up. And then, of course, there’s the coffee. Mastertons spoils each delegate at every single meet up and I’m sure we’re in for a treat this time around too.Dockside Brewery
We’re excited to welcome Dockside Brewery to the fold again. I mean, if you’re a beer fundi, you’ll go gaga for this proudly PE third generation brew team’s artisan concoctions. At past meet ups, the brewery has introduced delegates to it’s extraordinary beers and we’re kinda excited to see what they’re bringing to the party at our next event.Stylish Steppers
Michelle of Stylish Steppers is such a sweetheart and we’ve enjoyed having her on board at previous events. This Nelson Mandela Bay born and bred lady started her salon a few years ago and has since seen it grow to become more than just another hairdresser. In fact, she even creates her own hair products and is known as a “hair whisperer”. So excited to have her on board again this time around!
Geek World
Our geeky friends over at Geek World sent us legit unicorn horns and Shrek ears for one of our previous meet ups. I mean, how rad are they?! This online (and popup) store is proudly PE and features goodies that range between “quirk” and “geek”, with the BEST gift ideas and novelty items around!Bubiroo
Bubiroo’s all natural products were a huge hit at a previous meet up and guys, I’m literally using one of the little tubs of Healing Balm as I type this. (Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up, it’s amazing) The Bubiroo products are all natural, cruelty free and handmade with love by Dorae – a mom who knows and cares! You want to try this at home!So, what do you think? Do you have your ECMeetUp ticket? All tickets have been provisionally booked, but you’re welcome to drop me an email, just in case a seat becomes available! Tickets must be paid by May 25th. We’re super duper excited to see you guys there!
Check out our previous posts where we share more about the 2018 ECMeetUp and what’s in store for you, EC Blogger!
Meet Lyle Scritten of Travel Start
Meet Megan Botha of By Megan Kelly
ECMeetUp venue: Fairview Race Course
5 reasons to go to an ECMeetUp -
What my kids are playing with: Fisher Price
When it comes to keeping our smallest (and arguably, our cutest) child busy, we’re willing to pull out all the stops. I mean, the kid is inquisitive for days! He usually guns for TV remote controls or a cellphone when we’re not looking. Thankfully, Fisher Price has sent him two of their latest gadgets to try out (big brother Kyle says thank you for that… the remote is no longer being held hostage) and it was so cute to see baby Jo inspect each toy in true Sherlock Holmes style.
Fisher-Price baby’s first activity book
With big sister constantly pretend-reading her own story books, baby Jo was pretty pleased with himself when he got to turn the pages of his own book. The Fisher-Price baby’s first activity book features a variety of different colorful textured fabrics and elements, to stimulate his sensory, cognitive and motor skills. It has a squeaker, crinkly page, peek-a-boo, plastic rings, a rubber teether attached and Jo’s fave – a round mirror. This boy is too clever! He is also a biter. Seriously though, and he only bites me! And now, he also bites his activity book. Winning at life.
Fisher-Price Chime Bell Rattle
Another fave is this Fisher-Price chime bell rattle, that features colorful textured fabrics and elements to stimulate his senses. Well, for starters, it looks pretty cool! I mean, I would totally brag on the play ground if I had this baby. Also, I love the design and that the plastic rings encourages him to work on those motor skills. I’m totally sold on the fact that it can attach to his stroller or baby carrier. I’m tired of looking for toys on the floor of our car you guys. The fact that it’s a rattle impresses him so much, that he bashes it against objects, just to hear it make a noise. Yes, sometimes the object is me. Again, winning at life.
Jokes aside, when it comes to choosing toys for my little one, I always check for SAFETY first! And, let’s be honest guys, it’s worth it to spend that extra few rands for the guarantee that your kid will be safe. Play is the way children learn best. Hands-on play is what Fisher-Price is best known for. With your kid’s development in mind, they develop and design baby gear and toys that will help you give your child the best possible start.You can check out the latest in toys and baby gear on the Fisher Price South Africa website.
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My hair is breaking off
My hair is breaking off, you guys! What the heck does this evens mean?! I honestly don’t even notice these things, because my hair goes up in a bun at home, and I pretty much finger brush it en route to work. I’m very low maintenance like that (because of my many, many children). But alarm bells went off when people kept asking me if I had gone for a hair cut (which I didn’t btw). I decided to do my own inspection and noticed that sections of my hair are definitely shorter than the rest. (If you’re following me on Instagram, I’m sure my hair rants in my Instastories must have had you rolling your eyes) Anyways, panic ensued and I almost went to the emergency room. Kidding! But I did I chat to a few experts and did my research on hair breakage. It’s a matter of “process of elimination” for me now. I need to figure out what is causing my mane to become brittle. Here’s what I found:
Lay off the heat
You guys, I’m a brown person. And like most brown people, I grew up heat styling my hair. I think the introduction to my best friend, the flat iron, may have taken my relationship with heat styling to the next level. Heat styling is obviously not natural and it does damage your hair and makes it weaker and more susceptible to breakage. I only flat iron my hair once a week but I don’t use a heat protector before doing so. I know, right? I could totally give myself a stern talking to right about now.Chemicals
Overprocessed hair is not healthy hair. I mean, even your simple boxed hair dyes contain chemicals and solutions that strip your hair of its natural protection. And, for those who don’t know, guys I’m greyer than the most ashiest elbows in the world. I pretty much dye my hair, at home, every six weeks to avoid looking like a Golden Girl. The chemicals in boxed dyes are not brilliant for your hair. Apparently I am meant to apply a salon-grade treatment to my hair every now and then to make it feel loved and special. I obviously don’t do that (many kids, little time, remember?). Could this be my hairs passive aggressive way of telling me that it wants to be loved?
Basics
You guys, I am so shocked to learn that sleeping on a cotton pillowcase could be damaging my hair! Say what?! Cotton creates friction between the fabric, and the hair. Satin or silk pillowcases are apparently way more gentle on the hair. Did you know that even towel drying is a bad thing? Tying your hair in a towel can lead to breakage and tangling. I read that you need to swop your towel for an old, soft T-shirt instead, which is more absorbent and less abbrasive. Go figure. And duh, combing versus brushing your wet hair is way more smarter.Thirsty hair
Yes, you read it, my hair is probably just thirsty. Dry hair is more prone to breakage. Make sure you’re using the correct shampoo and conditioner, friends! I mean, I generally grab whatever is on the shelf (and cheaper, let’s be honest Maggie) but in order to ensure that your hair receives ample moisture, you need to make sure the product you use contains ingredients that help to hydrate your locks. Also, did you know that the more you wash your hair, the more you’re stripping it of natural oils?! So yes… that.All in all, my hair is breaking off. Excuse me while I freak out.
I’m considering going for a super dramatic hair chop. I need to get rid of the damaged hair. And getting it all to one length again, would also be a great idea. The lopsided look is not working for me. I must admit, I am freaking out. Oh wait, I told you that already. The thing is, I’ve always had long hair, but I guess with long hair, comes great responsibility (I’m sure I heard that on Spiderman). If you’ve had experience with hair breakage, and have some advice to share, please drop it in the comments section. You guys, I don’t want to chop all my hair off! Help!
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Meet the ECMeetUp speaker: Lyle Scritten of Travelstart
I’m not going to lie to ya, when it comes to ECMeetUp, I totally get my thrills just by sitting in a room full of bloggers and influencers who probably understand the crazy going on in my head. I mean, we love talking “shop”, right Bloggers?! And we love learning about the latest influencer trends – the what’s hots and what’s nots, if you will. Well, this is why the ECMeetUp team is so excited to welcome speaker Lyle Scritten of Travelstart to our 2018 ECMeetUp panel. You guys, Lyle knows what’s up. And I’m not just saying so because he told me that.
Besides for working at Travelstart – one of the top online travel agency’s in Africa – the guy is also an avid blogger himself. His blog, VersatileLyle, celebrates its 10 year anniversary in June! Lyle will be joining us to talk about Travelstart and their amazing blogger affiliate program. He will also be sharing hot tips and information with regards to working and building relationship with brands. Travelstart will be partnering with ECMeetUp extensively and guys, I’m not saying that some of you may very well get a paid gig out of this, but I’m not saying that you won’t. Please, stop giving me those eyes. I can’t share anymore information. AAAAAAACK!
We also have some AMAZING Travelstart goodies up for grabs and, Oprah moment, everybody’s getting one! Anyways, enough of my chit chat. Here’s more from Lyle:
1. Hey Lyle, ‘sup! Tell us more about yourself – Who is Lyle?
Who is Lyle really? Great question, you should speak to my wife I feel she knows me better than I know myself haha. Well first and foremost I’m a 33 year old male born and bred on the Cape Flats of Cape Town. I’m happily married and have 2 wonderful sons, all of whom I love dearly. I spend the bulk of my time at my second home, namely Travelstart HQ, where I oversee and run blogger and influencer marketing campaigns for our core markets in South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt.In my spare time, I try to do some blogging under the pseudonym, VersatileLyle and as the name states my blog is versatile, so no specific niche for me. Quick fact on that, while my blog is not yet where I would like it to be, I am proud of the fact that I managed to be a finalist in the Samsung Blogger challenge back in 2014 and even got the chance to be featured on Expresso, yeah that was pretty cool. Lastly I was recently asked to join the leadership team for the Cape Town Chapter of Travel Massive. So, I get to work alongside the incredible Dawn from the The Incidental Tourist and Linda from Moving Sushi, on Travel specific networking events in our city, which I simply love! I’m quite a busy guy lol!
2. Tell us more about Travelstart (for those of us who never go like, anywhere, ever)
Travelstart is the leading online travel agency in Africa and to wake up every morning knowing that I work for such a great company is a blessing to me. Our aim is to make travel simple and easy for everyone and this means I have to do my utmost best to collaborate with the best bloggers and publications in South Africa to get our name and message across to all citizens.
3. Have you learnt alot during your many years working with influencers?
Influencer Marketing is not as easy as most people would think. I have learnt that, while I would like to work on every pitch or proposal I receive, I simply cannot. Ideally I would love to send people around the country and world to write and create content but this is not the case. Each proposal has to be look at in detail and depending on how good it might look on paper we would need to see the value from a business point of view and if it meets our ROI standards then it might get the go ahead. So, ROI is major factor to consider when pitching ideas.4. You get to visit like, the most beautiful city in the world! Are you excited about your visit to the Bay?
I would be even more excited if you told me I could take a long hot bath but the fact of the matter is that the water crisis is a real thing and an issue we all need to become more aware of. Honestly speaking I am super excited to be joining you guys and to be able to share some of my knowledge with your guests.5. What will you be teaching us at the ECMeetUp?
I will be sharing some real life scenarios from my past and tying that back to how bloggers should approach pitching collaborative ideas to brands. I’m all about knowledge sharing and motivating other to do their best in this industry.Head on over to JustEllabElla, to learn more about our other guest speaker, super blogger, By Megan Kelly. Excited yet? Aaack! To get your hands on a ticket, simply use the bank deets below to make your purchase. Can’t make a purchase right now? It’s all good! RSVP with either Luchae (that’s me, yo) or Eleanor and make sure to pay for your ticket by May 25th. See you soon!
Purchase by making payment to FNB 62712255365, and using your name and surname as reference
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Mother’s Day: gifting with intention {Giveaway}
With Mother’s Day nearing, I’m keeping a keen eye out for extra special gifts for my moms. I mean, macaroni necklaces and paint bedecked cards are cute and all, but when the kid is in her thirties (me, I’m the kid), I’m pretty sure the mom expects a little something more. And I get. I totally do. Mom’s have the hardest and most important jobs in the world! And they deserve to be treated like the queens that they are. That’s why my motto this year, while gift shopping, is: Mothers Day gifting with intention!
If your mother is a super woman (I bet ya she is) or if you have any other super women in your life that you’d like to spoil, I highly recommend you pop on over to CUM Books to check out their latest best sellers. I mean, besides for their really amazing Mother’s Day related paraphernalia and gift ideas, they also stock inspirational reads. I love that Christian Art Media has a large foray of books that are both interesting and intentional – leaving the reader with a lot more than just an entertaining story. Here are some of my top picks, that would make really great Mother’s Day gifts. (Oh and I’m giving some of them away too!)
Adamant – Lisa Bevere
Lisa Bevere is a popular international speaker and New York Times bestselling author. This lady is amazing! She has spent nearly three decades on her mission to empower women of all ages, with a mandate to help women find their identity and purpose. I love this so much. You may recall her previous best sellers, Fight Like a Girl, Lioness Arising and Girls with Swords. Well, her latest book, Adamant, is definitely one to get your hands on. The book is described as “theologically deep yet intimately accessible”. In it, she provides you with the tools you need to navigate through a sea of untruths, as we push to find our own truths. A truth that is immovable, invincible, unshakable and the cornerstone of all we are and ever dream to be.
Unexpected – Christine Caine
Australian born Christine Caine is an activist and international speaker. If you know her name, you’ll know that she founded The A21 Campaign – an anti-human trafficking organization. In her latest book, Unexpected, Caine speaks about having peace in an uncertain world. She deals with issues of control (I mean, hands up if you have control issues) and shares about her own journey, giving us real-life strategies and biblical inspiration to help us move from fear and worry to hope and trust in God. Learn how to manage dissapointment, strengthen your heart and build your faith with this glorious read.
Mother Tongue – Leonard Sweet
Leonard Sweet is a professor, teacher and an author of more than sixty books! How is that for impressive? In his most personal book yet, Mother Tongue, he shares a story about an ordained minister and missionary, Mabel Boggs Sweet. This book is full of truths and teachings, and you’ll probably find yourself taking a moment, after each chapter, to let the wisdom sink in. Mabel’s story is one that will have you considering the call of God on your own life. With its focus on heritage and legacy, it will make for a really poignant Mother’s Day gift.
The Way of Abundance – Ann Voskamp
If you guys recall, I’ve reviewed the amazing Ann Voskamp’s previous novels on the blog a while ago. Her new York Times bestsellers One Thousand Gifts and The Broken Way are both amazing reads and I’m so chuffed to introduce her new book to you. In The Way of Abundance Ann tackles topics of grief and brokenness, talks about healing and how to allow it to be a part of your victory. She shares so much wisdom in these sixty vulnerable, soulful stories, and takes the reader through a journey of intimate soul searching and restoration. “Discover how surrendering in unexpected ways is the first step toward receiving what you long for. Discover the good news that your beauty is not in your strength but in your fragility.”
Giveaway!
Are you a mommy or are you looking to spoil a special mommy in your life? You’re in the right place, sister! Thanks to Christian Art Media, I get to give away a couple of these reads to some well deserved mamas, for Mother’s Day! To enter, simply rack up the points the following ways:
1 point – Comment below, letting me know which of these you’re most interested in
1 point – Visit this post on my Facebook account and tag a mommy friend
1 point – Visit this post on my Instagram and tag a mommy friend
1 point per share – Share this tweet:
“Eek, I’m so excited about the #myspreadsheetbrain Mother’s Day #giveaway over on @luchae’s blog! @cartmedia #bloggiveaway #bookgiveaway”Winner’s announced on Friday, May 11th.
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Husband, do you still think I’m pretty?
This morning en route to work, I asked my dear ol’ Hubstopher: “babe, do you still think I’m pretty?” How needy of me, right? But the thing is, it’s almost a year since I gave birth to Jo and I pretty much feel as if I’m still pregnant. Maybe it’s the constant need to shove food in my face, or the fact that I want to live in gym pants. Maybe it’s the excessive tiredness or that my waist band has expanded and it clearly has no desire to return to it’s former state. I mean, we can mull over the details some other time guys. But for now, I just wanted to come here to let you guys know that I feel like a fat slob and I often wonder if my husband thinks it too.
He obviously gave me the standard “I think you’re the most beautiful girl in the world” response, which I guess is a better option than “get out of the car, fatso”. And I obviously wasn’t happy with his reply. I was all “yeah, you HAVE to say that, because I’m your wife”.
And he sighed.
The sigh said a lot. The sigh said things he probably didn’t have the time or energy to get into. His sigh reminded me that to him my loveliness isn’t dependent on what I’m wearing or whether I brushed my hair. To him my beauty has nothing to do with the size of my clothing or whether my eyebrows are on fleek. He doesn’t base his opinion of my worth on whether I can successfully wear a pair of hot shorts in public. Heck, my hubstopher isn’t even concerned about whether my shoes and handbag matches. And that’s because when he looks at me, he sees his bride. And he sighs because he doesn’t feel as if he needs to justify why he thinks I am the most beautiful girl in the world.
It got me thinking: “what the heck is your problem, woman?!” No, seriously, I asked myself that question in a candid one-girl conversation. What the heck is your problem?! Why do you base your beauty on superficial things like weight and appearance? Moms, why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to look like a super model, post-kids? It’s almost as if we want our appearance to be UNCHANGED by motherhood. But the truth is that being someone’s Mama changes you in every single way!I don’t know about you guys, but my children have completely rearranged me! Their little hearts have reshaped and molded me into a woman I never thought I had the capacity to become. And when my daughter looks at me, the last thing I worry about is whether she thinks I’m beautiful. When my boys talk to me, I’m not standing there wondering if they are impressed by my carefully applied face beat.
When my kids think about me, I want them to remember a kind and compassionate heart and a willingness to serve others. I want them to remember a strength to stand up for what is right and a humble soul, not driven by ego. When they think about their mom, and associate me with beauty, I want them to find the glory in how I helped to draw them closer to God… and NOT in a perfect, size 6 appearance.
All of this from a simple sigh, this morning, when I asked my hubstopher “babe, do you still think I’m pretty?”
Oh and disclaimer, guys: I do believe that we should look after ourselves… caring about your health and how you present yourself, is important. But set healthy expectations for yourself. Your face is not the most important thing about you! The size of your legs and flatness (or lack thereof) of your belly does not determine how valuable you are. And you, my dear, are far more beautiful than you realize.
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#ECMeetUp – A trip to the races!
Bloggers based in the Eastern Cape are in for a treat on June 2nd, when we celebrate another year of blogging at the annual ECMeetUp. It’s ECMeetUp time you guys, and this time around we’d like to invite you to go and see a man about a horse. That’s right, we’re hosting the meet up at the very classy Fairview Race Course! Aaack! A trip to the races, anyone?
Why the race course, I hear you ask in shock and amazement. Well, for starters, since we will be partnering with Travelstart (yes, the actual real life Travelstart… more on that next week) we thought that “going places” is a pretty apt theme for the meet up this time around. And while I’m sure you’d much rather travel on a jet, than on a horse, we figured that having meet up on a jet would be a bit far fetched even for us. Anyways, we had a chat with the lovely Karin of Fairview Race Course and they are super-duper thrilled to host us.
I mean, we are so blessed to live in the best city in South Africa (seriously though… right?) and there are a ton of amazing venues and attractions that some of us (me, I’m talking about me) may not know about. The meet up is a great way to get us bloggers to explore and learn more about the city AND to show others just how “kwaai” we are. (Because we are very, very kwaai in my totally biased opinion)
Fairview Racecourse
For those who don’t know, yes there is an actual race course in our beloved city. And yes, it’s like, the real thing. Ella and I oohed and aahed while visiting the other day… the facilities are really posh, you guys! The horseracing track is legit and racing takes place every Friday and occasionally on week days (no entry fee… so cool). The venue also doubles as a wedding/function facility and can accommodate 300 people, with full bar and restaurant. (More about the posh ECMeetUp food over on Ella’s blog today).The Fairview Racecourse is managed and maintained by Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Limited. The race course is more than 40 years old, but the beautifully renovated facilities and new stabling complex hides its age well. I mean, I’m not saying come to meet up wearing wide brimmed hats and fancy pants, but you might just wish you did, once you’ve stepped inside the venue and allowed the tranquility of the magnificent greenery and large glass windows to sweep you in. Photographers – get your cameras ready!
Of corse, there will be food, goodie bags, giveaways and a chance to mingle and learn (more on the guest speakers next week). We have also invited a few PR reps to join us for a while, so there is enough time to rub elbows (don’t forget the Campher cream) and swop business cards. But more than that, we’re just so flippen excited to see you guys man!
Got your ticket?
To secure your ECMeetUp ticket, use the bank details below to purchase. If you’re unable to purchase right now, you can RSVP to Luchae (that’s me, by the way) to hold one for you. Tickets cost R150 and all monies must be paid by May 25th. There are only 70 goodie bags available you guys, so I’d say put this as a priority on your to do list, for sure!Purchase by making payment to FNB 62712255365, and using your name and surname as reference
