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How To Start a Blog in 2019
‘How To Start a Blog in 2019’ felt like the most legit title for this article since, you know, we have a bunch of resources available today that our forefather’s of yesteryear may not have had. (Toilet paper. Running water. Google. You know, important stuff.)
Truth be told though, starting a blog now a days is a bit like buying a camera and calling yourself a photographer – anyone can do it. It has become the hobby/part time job of choice and the thing is this: it’s pretty easy to catch the knack thereof, but you kinda need to be born with a certain je ne sais quoi for it, or else you’ll bore easily.
But, if you had to ask me (and so very many of you have asked me, hence this post) how to start a blog (in 2019) I would probably offer you these very simple tips.
(Disclaimer: I am by no means a professional anything (professional parent? is that a thing?) but these are some of the things I did when I started this very blog right here.)
Right, so first things first. What is a blog?
Well, I like to call my blog my online diary. But essentially it’s a website (usually a personal one) that contains a lot of written content (think: articles). Your blog can can be a resource of information, it can be a go to spot for tips and tricks or hey, it can simply be a place where you share your deepest thoughts. The cool thing is that it’s YOUR website and you can pretty much design it the way YOU want to. I think that this is the main benefit of having a blog… it’s a tad more personal than a business/news website because readers are able to link your face/personality to it.
How To Start a Blog in 2019:1. Decide on your blog niche. This means: figure out the type of topics your website will cover. There are a variety of options and you could pretty much have NO niche/genre and still be successful. But I’ve found that when you have identity, you kinda have vision… and when you have vision, you are more motivated to make a success of the thing.
2. Decide on your blog name. Remember that your blog name is, in essence, your website’s name/address. You would want to make it something that will be able to encompass you, as a brand. As I mentioned before, calling it “Single Girl in PE” is a cute idea, except that it may be limiting since you could actually get married and move out of PE one day. Choose a name that will still be relevant after a couple of years.
3. Choose a blogging platform. There are a variety of options (Blogger, Tumblr, Wix) but I’ve found that wordpress.com is the more popular and user friendly option. There are no start up costs, you don’t need to know coding and the themes make it really easy for you to get the look you want. However, keep in mind that because it’s a free option, you may be a bit limited on the design front AND your website will be owned by WordPress.
4. Create the blog. If you’ve decided on your blogging platform (step 3), all you have to do is register (duh). It’s pretty easy and straightforward. Once you’re registered you can choose your homepage layout, select a theme and create a free blog name domain.
Your blog name domain is the name of your website/URL. BUT it will be owned by WordPress, since it’s hosted on their web property. This means that your site will have the phrase “.wordpress” in its URL/address like so: www.girlintheworld.wordpress.com
You could totally roll with this free site (aka your wordpress hosted domain.) But if you wanted to go a bit more profesh (and get that “.wordpress” phrase out of your website address) you could purchase a domain. Buying your own domain is like paying for the space on the interwebs for your blog to live. Owning your domain kinda secures it and makes you look a bit more serious about what you’re doing. You can check out who the service providers are in your neck of the woods. I use Axxess. Other options include: Afrihost and MWeb.
(If you plan to not spend money on purchasing a domain, you can totally skip number 5.)
5. Buy your domain. (Clip note, you could do step 5 before step 4, I did it the other way around) Once you’ve purchased your domain, log into your domain’s admin panel (that means, go into your profile on the domain website). Okay, breathe girl, I know it looks overwhelming, but it’s not! Right, so most (if not all) of these websites will have a one-click option that will automatically instal your WordPress. Click on it, get that WordPress installed and then simply log into your WordPress using the details you’ve used in step 3 and Bob’s your uncle. Unless you really have an uncle named Bob… then you’ll have two uncles named Bob. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. For everything else there’s Google.
6. Appearance. You can now spend all of your days (okay maybe not ALL your days, but a large chunk of it, because this can get really interesting) designing and redesigning your website until you’re happy with it. Find a wide range of ready-to-use themes on WordPress under the Appearance>Themes option.
7. Plug-Ins. Instal plug-ins (that’s like apps) on your blog (under Plugins>Add New) that will help you to safe guard your website, help to track your readers behaviour and a bunch of other cool stuff. Plug-ins that I use include: Wordfence, Akismet Anti-spam, Jetpack and Yoast).
8. Blog, you blogger! Yep… you’re pretty much set up. Now you can start creating that quality content that the world needs to see! Remember that Google and Youtube is your best friend… you may feel as if you need to have an I.T. boffin by your side throughout this whole ordeal, but truth be told fam, my Hubstopher is an I.T. boffin and he literally did ZERO work on my website. I figured it all out myself and with the help of Google and Youtube. And friends, if I can do it, believe me, so can you.
Extra tip: A great idea would be to register social media accounts in your blog’s name. Hint: You would want to make the name similar across all accounts, making it easy for your readers to find you. Social media accounts, for your blog, is a great way to keep people informed with your latest posts. It is also a great way to build community with your readers and to see what people are interested in hearing about.
So there you have it. My very doable, very easy ‘How To Start a Blog in 2019’ guide. You’re welcome.
Other articles that can help you on this blogging journey:
Choosing a blog niche
Blog design
How to start a blog
More on ‘how to start a blog’A huge thank you to Odette of Confidently Insecure for reading through my post to check that I’m not a raving lunatic, giving you guys inaccurate information!
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‘The Little Generosity Shop’ is trading in your toys for chocolates!
Your kid’s have way to many toys. There, I said it. Whaaaat, mine do too. In fact, if you consider the vast number of children, in underprivileged areas, who probably don’t even own a decent pair of shoes on most days, I would say that our kids have a lot more going for them than a banging toy box.
The other day I
madeencouraged my kids to purge their toy box, in a bid to get them to, well, mainly have less crap in my house.But also, I want them to get into the habit of letting go of things that they don’t need, with the intention of teaching them about kindness and generosity. You don’t need to have a lot of moola to sow/invest into another person’s life. Heck, sometimes all you have is love and kindness.
But my point is that the lesson I wanted to teach didn’t involve having lots of stuff. Rather, it involves taking what is in their hands and passing it on to someone that could benefit from it. Often, it’s the smallest things that have the biggest impact.
This is one of the reasons why I love the Cadbury Dairy Milk’s The LIttle Generosity Shop initiative. Man, what a great idea! The Little Generosity Shop aims to bring a little joy to millions of orphaned children across South Africa) by passing on preloved toys, from your children, to them.
I mean, guys, these kids are not exposed to the frivolties that our kids are growing up with. Stuff like books, games and toys are a luxury to them! Healthy play is an important developmental tool for growing kids and I so appreciate that Cadbury Dairy Milk has seen the plight and have now taken it on themselves to collect as many toys as possible.And, I mean, if that is not reason enough to get involved, get this: when you donate your clean, unbroken, preloved toy to the shop, you receive Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate! How’s that for a score?!
“Through ‘The Little Generosity Shop’, South Africans will have a platform to share the spirit of generosity,” says Lara Sidersky, Mondelez SA Category Lead for Chocolate. “And so, we are urging all South Africans to get together and get behind this wonderful initiative. Together we can all be more generous. Not just by giving a toy to a child in need, but every day, with each other.”
Nelson Mandela Bay, you can visit ‘The Little Generosity Shop’ this coming weekend (15 & 16 June) at Baywest Mall. The shop will be open during mall trading hours.
If you’re in other parts of the country, check out ‘The Little Generosity Shop’ at a shopping center near you:
- Johannesburg: Sandton City, Checkers Court (29 May – 17 June)
- Durban: Gateway Theatre of Shopping, Centre Court (25 June – 8 July)
- Cape Town: Canal Walk Shopping Centre, Centre Court (19 July – 5 August)
The mobile ‘Little Generosity Shop’ will also be visiting:
- Bloemfontein: Loch Logan (7, 8 & 9 June)
- Pretoria: Irene Village Mall (28, 29 & 30 June)
- Nelspruit: Riverside Mall (12, 13 & 14 July)
To find out how to share your generosity, visit www.cadburyglassandahalf.co.za and follow along on @CadburyDairyMilkSA on Facebook or @Cadbury_SA on Twitter and Instagram.
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Netflorist’s personalised lunchboxes made me geek out
When it comes to giving gifts, I’m the type who loves to make it personal. I mean, fancy expensive gifts are totally amazing, but those low-cost, well thought out ones are pretty spectacular too. There’s nothing more special than knowing that some brain juice went into putting a gift together.
And that’s why I spent like, two hours on Netflorist the other day. I mean, you can pretty much personalise almost anything on the online gifting website! My brain was short circuiting, you guys. There were just so many cool personalised gifting options… I needed to have them all! I mean, I didn’t have any specific reason as to why I was shopping for gifts. But I don’t need one, okay? That’s my story and I’m semi-sticking to it.
Anyways, there I was, innocently minding my own business while cyber window shopping and then I spotted an email from Netflorist in my inbox introducing me to the funky Netflorist personalised lunchboxes. I totally spazzed out, you guys. No seriously, I broke out in manic twitches because, get this, it’s a funky lunchbox AND it can be a cool gift idea AND it’s practical… score! My inner Martha Stewart started break-dancing while beat-boxing all at the same time.
A gazillion ideas popped into my head… I could do SO MUCH with a personalised lunchbox and none of these ideas have anything to do with lunch. Guys, if I had a personalised lunchbox, the world would be my oyster! Here’s what I would do with it:
These would make for an excellent alternative to a boring ol’ gift bag or wrapping paper. I would totally fill a personalised lunchbox with trinkets and keepsakes, for an extra quirky and thoughtful birthday/Christmas gift idea.
It would also double as a really cute festive treat box! Moms who put together “night before Christmas” gift boxes, how about filling one of these with all your favorite festive season snacks? Or how about a “Exams Prep Box” filled with energy gummies and snacks that will get your kid through those long study nights?
My kids would love a personalised lunchbox filled with cool gel markers, felt tip pens and colour in pencils! This would make for a cool “back to school” gift or, hey, if you’re simply looking to make your kid’s day! (Oh and Father’s Day gift idea anyone?)What you need to know
These personalised Netflorist lunchboxes come in a variety of different designs. You simply pick your design and type in the name of the person that the gift is intended for. I appreciate that it’s a sturdy Addis lunchbox, which means it’s BPA free.
The dimensions of the lunchbox is 20cm x 15cm x 6cm which is perfect for safely and neatly storing lunch and snacks for a typical school day.
Order your personalised lunchbox online from NetFlorist at only R129,95 and have it delivered nationwide.
Okay, real talk, and this is a serious question: what would you put into your personalised lunchbox?
Disclaimer: these lunchboxes were a gift from Netflorist. And yes, I’m legit crazy about them!
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How to keep it classy on social media
If you’re a social media maven, like I am (haha look at me making myself sound cool and important), you would know that there are do’s and don’ts when it comes to posting to The Gram or Facebook. I mean, if you want to stay in the safe zone.
With that said, you could totally post a whole bunch of opinionated, subliminal updates, with the sole intention of ruffling feathers, and, you know, trying to rub your ex boyfriend’s new girlfriend the wrong way. If that’s your jam, I totally get it.
Me, I am not that person, yo. I keep it safe and I try not to start a huge debate on my personal social media platforms. Mainly because those debates get out of control and I just don’t have the time to moderate people’s comments. And, to be honest you guys, at the end of the day, no one’s really listening to anyone else anyways. It’s like a sibling squabble – there is literally no point to it.
In my many, many years (haha look at me trying to make myself sound experienced) of using social media (Myspace users – hollar!) I’ve found that there are five basic ways to keep your heart clean, and not get yourself into trouble, when sharing info and commenting on any of these platforms.
I call it my “how to keep it classy on social media” check list. You are welcome to call it “Luchae’s I’m-too-lazy-to-get-into-a-fight-that-I-won’t-win check list” … to each their own.
1. No one cares
I often remind myself that no one really cares, well, for the most part. This mindset helps when I spot a post with a gazillion comments all opposing what I believe. I mean, my little rant on the gazillion-commented post will probably have half the commentators laughing at me and the other half rolling their eyes. Kinda not the best way to reach out to people, right? If I really want to share my thoughts on a topic, I could simply start a conversation offline OR have a face to face conversation, you know, like how our grandparents did back in the day. If you have a relationship with the person, it should make it easy for you to address certain topics offline. Why do it where the world can see?2. The mute button is a real thing
If someone is constantly trying to berate or belittle me via their subliminal updates, I simply unfollow their posts on Facebook, or mute them on Insta or Whatsapp stories. No passive aggressive behavior needs to be unleashed, Stephanie Forester. I mean, clearly, this person has an issue and when I retaliate, I give them ammunition and probably make them feel as if their rude posts are actually getting them results. Henceforth: No results from me, because I didn’t even see what you said, Martha. Also, I get to keep my heart clean, because not reading your posts means I don’t get upset.3. I don’t angry post
If I’m upset with my Hubstopher (or anyone else for that matter, but I mean, let’s be honest, he’s a pretty good example) I don’t angry tweet/update because chances are that anger will eventually blow over, but alas, the whole world would now know about it. I mean, I get it, people need to KNOW what a terrible person so-and-so is. And also, sure, having a mature face-to-face conversation just doesn’t cut as deep as posting it to social media. I’m just like, what’s the point man, Helen Zille? What’s the point? Will I get the results I want/need? Probably not. Keep it classy.4. I ignore
If someone comments something really stinky on one of my updates or photos, I simply delete it or I just refuse to reply. Again, same concept applies: they don’t care what I have to say anyways. If I have a real relationship with the poster, I could take the convo offline… you know, where no ego will come into play. It’s crazy how having an audience can change the tone and manner in which we address each other. So yes, replying to a stinky comment online opens the door for those pointless online debates that pretty much serve as nothing more than entertainment for those people who don’t have work to do on a Friday afternoon. Ignore the trolls. Steer clear of the drama.5. I don’t invite you to play games
Luchae Williams has invited you to play Candy Forest Bonanza!
Luchae Williams wants you to send her a life on Candy Forest Bonanza!
No. Just no.So those are the few ways I try to curb my enthusiasm when I feel myself getting riled up, while scrolling through social media. There’s a scripture that goes: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.” This certainly helps me to weed out what I respond to on my personal social. I mean, the stuff that makes me feel “argh” inside deserves to be ignored. It’s another reason why I love this website… it has become a way for me to share my thoughts in a safe space, knowing that the people reading it have chosen to opt in.
Do you have a stance when it comes to what you tolerate on social media? Share them with us below.
Disclaimer: If you enjoy stirring the pot online then go for gold Donald. It’s your profile and you can shake things up if you want to. I’m not saying my way is the right way, but I AM saying that my way is the right way FOR ME. Shalom.
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ECMeetUp: why blogging is good for the Eastern Cape
If you called me an influencer or a blogger a couple of years ago, I probably would’ve laughed at you hysterically. I mean, “blogging” wasn’t something that I saw myself doing long term – or any term actually. Why would I want to put myself out there for all the world to see? And anyways, only desperate attention seeking people would go the extra mile to document their lives on social media. Right?
**Insert crickets chirping**
Anyways, after giving up my 12 year “single mom” stint, getting married at the fabulous age of 30ish and welcoming my baby girl into the world, I found myself really needing to say #allthestuff about this new life that I had chosen. And I had nowhere to put all the words.
And then my friend Ella re-introduced me to the world of blogging. She showed me that it was more than just about whose abdominal muscles are the tightest and that you don’t need to know how to “beat yo’ face” (apparently that’s what the cool people call putting on make up) if you want to make an impact and say your say. I mean there’s nothing wrong with toned abs and perfect make up, but I just couldn’t relate (and, let’s be honest, I had nothing to offer in terms of abs or make up.)And then I learnt about the wonderful world of mommy blogging and it was like a light had been switched on. I found solace and familiarity in the stories that other mommy bloggers shared (many “me too” moments was had) and I realized that blogging was more than just a way to become “famous” as someone pointed out (I’ll never get old of throwing this one out there, hello snide comments my old friend).
And friends, once I dipped my toes into the never ending pool of social sharing, I didn’t want to stop. I found freedom in the expressing of words – whether it was well received or not. Blogging was a new sort of “dear diary” moment for me and I loved every second of it.
I also learnt that blogging or influencing can be more than just a hobby. I mean, you can actually turn your website into a business. I found myself partnering with really amazing brands and businesses and my little corner of the internet became a lot more than just a way for me to show my ex how amazing I’m doing right now. (Hahahah imagine that were true)
After hosting our first ECMeetUp (it’s the annual Eastern Cape based blogger event that I co-organise with Ella) we were more aware of the financial and social impact that having a healthy blogger/influencer community would have on the Eastern Cape.
I mean, other parts of the country were doing really well… businesses were investing (think: brand launches where they spend money to throw lavish blogger/media parties) into other parts of South Africa and our part of the country saw zero action.
It made my face pain. (This is the term I use on my kids when they make me frown at them). My face was paining, you guys. Alot. #facepain (We should make this a thing.)
We then decided to take it on ourselves to have more blogger and influencer events in the Eastern Cape, allowing us to invite brands and businesses to partner with us. To date we’ve had about 7 ECMeetUps and a few business specific events and we’re proud to say that ECMeetUp (as a brand) is growing!
Our last ECMeetUp event (which took place on Saturday, 1 June) was a huge success. We had more than 50 influencers attend and had more than 40 brands that partnered with us for the event.It kinda thrills us when a huge business finds value in working with an online entrepreneur from the Eastern Cape. The creatives, based in the EC, have a lot to offer and we get like, maternal excited (that’s like normal excited with a dash of mama pride) when we see one of ours flourishing. It means we’re growing as a community and we’re growing, digitally, as a city.
A successful social media influencer/blogging/digital marketing scene would be GREAT for our city’s economy. Besides for brand launches and events, there is also opportunity for digital entrepreneurs to finally beable to quit that 9 to 5 and work from home. Being on the forefront of digital trends kinda isn’t the type of dream your grandma had for you, but that’s the direction the world is moving in. Why should we stay behind?
And anyways, if we aren’t punting the Eastern Cape and Nelson Mandela Bay online, who else is going to do it?
Needless to say, both Ella and I are super passionate about our city (#sharethebay) and we know that the people of the Bay have a lot more to offer than some people think. (‘Sup Gareth Cliff)
Anyways, before I break out into Celine Dions “My Heart Will Go On”, allow me to introduce to you some of the very fabulous, very generous 2019 ECMeetUp partners.Our bloggers found the following products in their goodie bags:
Blistex who gave them each a Blistex lip medex pot
Christian Art Media who so graciously gifted each blogger with a special gift
Faithful to Nature also gifted each delegate with a bamboo straw
It’s Cookie Time created special sugar biscuits for the event
Iwori gifted the bloggers with their amazing face masks and creams
Johnson’s Baby gave all the mommy bloggers something from their new range
KOO really spoilt each blogger with a hamper of the latest KOO products
Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism made special beanies for the event, we love them!
Oh So Heavenly really spoilt the ladies with shampoo and conditioner and creams
Silistraw gave each blogger one of their nifty reusable straws
Swiitch Beauty gifted each blogger with a lip primer kit and an eye liner
Tinkies gave us some of their delish product
Vaseline sent us each a few jars of their wonder working product
Woolworths Beauty came on board and gave each blogger a reusable shopper bag, to hold all of their booty in
Special mentions:
We also really need to send a huge shout out to Mastertons, Soga Organics, Oh Snap Instant Camera Hire and Hello for making our morning so delicious and entertaining. Our venue, The Boma, as always came through with the setting and the most AMAZING food you guys. We were so spoilt!Check out Eleanors post on some of the fantastic Locally Yours Market PE based brands that really came through with their amazing hand made crafts. And a huge shout out to our very own Milky Tea (Hughan Millborrow) for the gorgeous photos. We have some serious talent in the Bay!
The following brands also gave away really fabulous prizes!
Annique Beauty
Apiarista Farm Shoppe
Bonamia
Daily Dish
Fushin
Gumtree
Hasbro
HeraldLIVE
Kids Emporium
Kuzuko Lodge
Mastertons
Meridean
Netflorist
Pure Beginnings
Serenity Hair
Sunstar Gum
Vision WorksSjoe that was a mouthful! But I guess what I’ve come here to say is that blogging/ influencing/ whateveryouwannacallit, in the Eastern Cape, will probably morph and grow into something pretty spectacular (I mean, unless a huge Tsunami tidal wave hits and takes us off the map, but let’s not be morbid, Sheila). And we’re really excited to be involved!
By the way, if you’re keen to see who actually attended the event, check out the ECMeetUp website for more on the guest list.
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How to find exactly what you need, for less!
Ever had your eye on something really special, but it has been too expensive to buy on the spot? Perhaps you’ve wanted a new cellphone for a long time, or you have wanted to restyle your home with new furniture and decor. We’ve all wanted something a little bit out of our budget before, and it can be quite disheartening! However, with the right tips and tricks, whatever you want may not be too far out of your reach. Let’s look at how you can get your hands on the special things you have been dreaming of:
Keep your eye on the latest catalogues
Today, one of the best-kept secrets to finding the best deals is browsing through online catalogues! Yes, with sites such as latestspecials.co.za you can find all the latest leaflets from your favourite stores all online. This way, you can find exactly what you are looking for, on your phone or laptop, from the comfort of your home. And if you didn’t find it this week, perhaps it will be in tomorrow’s catalogues!
Simply browse the different categories, choose the retailer you would like to buy from, and then view their online leaflets – with all the latest discounts. Looking for a new phone? Browse through the latest MTN catalogue. Want amazing new furniture for your home? Try the Makro specials. It’s so easy to find all the things you want for less.
Shop at different stores
Retailers often have different prices for certain items. Therefore, it is worth it to shop around for a bit. If you’re not in a rush, shop around. The first store is not always the best or the cheapest! Try to compare foods in two supermarkets. Who has the better price for cooking oil? Is it Makro or Shoprite?
Start shopping onlineMore and more stores are opening their doors online. No longer do you have to go to the mall to find what you are looking for, simply browse your favourite store’s online shops, fill your cart and have the products delivered straight to your door. Many stores have great specials that are only available online. So, make sure you don’t miss out, and keep an eye on those online shops!
Try to buy second-hand
There are certain things you can’t buy second-hand but luckily, certain things you can! For example, cars, electronic appliances and furniture can all be bought from second-hand sellers. Just make sure that the person or company you are buying from, is a trusted seller. By buying pre-owned, you can save a lot of money.
Whatever it is you are looking for, be sure to use latestspecial.co.za to browse through the latest catalogue first. Not only will you save money, but you will also save yourself a lot of time. Think about the things you really want, and find it for less. Hassle-free!
Disclaimer: Post sponsored by Hyperia SRO. All content supplied.
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Motherhood: a stripping
I vaguely remember those days of bliss (painful bliss?), after birthing my babies. I mean, how much detail would you expect a stitched up, overly exhausted, hormone-wrecked new mom to remember? Post-birth days are a blur.
The one thing I do remember is the way I instantly fell inlove with each baby. Like, immediately. There is no feeling like it, right ladies? I lived in that euphoria for days post-birth… the pain and broken body not as important as the sweet smell of my baby.
And even when my sister and I jokingly chat about how scary I look post birth, I know that it’s in jest and I honestly couldn’t care less about my appearance or what other people think, in that moment.
But one comment that a visitor made after seeing me (in all my unkept glory) kinda stuck with me.
It had been about three days, post birth, and I was frazzled and in pain. Our visitors arrived with supper (praise the good Lord) and quietly had a peek at baby, before heading home (and again I say, praise the Lord). But not before I hear one innocently whisper to the other “yoh, motherhood strips you!”
At the time I remember thinking, gosh are these people really going to comment on my underwhelming appearance right now?! I mean, I was both mortified and uncaring about the whole situation. It didn’t bug me enough to want to, you know, block people on Facebook. But it did make me want to contour my face into perfection and put on a push up bra, like, immediately. (I did neither, btw.)
Looking back now, as I sit in pain with baby number five in my belly, I’m reminded of that comment. Motherhood strips you. How true those words are!
A close friend of mine shared that she learnt a lesson in being undignified the day she birthed her kids. There is nothing quite like the raw abandonment a mother feels, as she births her child. At that moment, you literally don’t care who sees your what.
Well thought out Brazilian waxes and tanned calf muscles are unimportant, as you thrust your legs up, on either side, to pretty much whoever wants to hold them, so that you can get the kid out asap. Your pretty Woolies bra and face beat really not that impressive, as you clutch your newborn tightly while they latch onto your raw nipple, drawing blood.
Those first few days of motherhood strips you and you become someone else – well, still you, I guess, but like, the undiluted version. You’re overly aware of your body and your child’s needs and, honestly, making sure that both are okay becomes the primary concern. All the other frills and bows are just… well, froth. You know, froth: the top part of a cup of really good coffee that gives it that pretty aesthetic but doesn’t determine how great the java is.
And as for the rest of Motherhood… yep, pretty much the same thing! Your children take priority – numero uno (have you seen Kari and I dress for church? She’s model chic and I’m “can someone tell Luchae that her top is on inside out”). Your priorities are never the same again!
I am reminded of this journey and just how much we go through to successfully carry, birth and raise our children. Reminded of the stripping… the vulnerability of the human body and how a mother abandons her own dignity, to ensure that her child is safe, alive and healthy.
I’m not saying that there is ugly in the birthing process. No matter how you’ve come to meet your child – whether it be on a hospital table or through a tear-streaked filling out of forms – it is beautiful… satisfying… a hot mess of emotions… but so fulfilling.
And if you think about it, a stripping HAS to take place. Because you’re pretty much never the same again.
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The big gender reveal
Well, I’m more than half way into cooking a whole baby in my belly and we have yet to reveal the gender to anyone. More so because we don’t know our little youngling’s gender either. And guess what you guys, we don’t plan to find out anytime soon.
Our big gender reveal will most likely only take place when baby Williams is actually here. Yep – we’re going ‘royal family’ and will only find out baby’s gender once he/she is born. As you can imagine, this was totally and completely Hubstopher’s idea (because I have a super intense spreadsheet brain and I need to know everything all the time). I had, in fact, planned many an elaborate gender reveal parties in my head (Imagine us skydiving out of an aeroplane and when our parachute opens up, it reveals either pink or blue! Genius, right?!) But alas, I will not be having my Youtube moment.
Current mood: Aaaaaack!
For the most part I’ve managed to keep my emotions in check and even though I try to read my ultra sound scans with a doctor’s eye (hey, I watch Grey’s Anatomy, I’m practically a doctor anyways), I’ve still not been able to decipher whether our little one has a winky or a wonky.
I mean, okay, you’ve got to give it to Hubstopher… not finding out the gender is pretty quirky and cool. But it DOES hold serious implications.
I mean, for starters, (and most importantly) do I buy pink or blue clothing? Fair enough, I have spotted really pretty baby wear in greys and tans and muted yellows and mint greens. But that’s not the point. Do I get pink or blue?! Huh?!
The other thing is that our sissie is convinced that it’s a sister. We’ve been trying to prepare our smallies for the impending birth of baby Williams, and we refer to it as “the baby” or as “baby brother or sister” but, you guys, she’s so convinced that it’s a sister that she’s actually convinced me too. (I do realize that it’s probably a boy, just because I think it’s a girl. Such is my life.)Not knowing the gender kinda deters us from deciding on a name. I mean, I’ve already decided on a name that is unisex (much to Hubstopher’s disdain). And when I say “decided” I mean, I’ve pretty much personalised items with the name on it. He says I’m rude for not waiting for his approval. I say “How many of our children have you birthed from your actual body? Exactly.” And back and forth we go. So we’re currently sans name.
I guess other cons to not knowing the gender is that it might be a bit harder to bond with baby… well, that’s what the internet says. I haven’t had that problem though (praise God) and to be honest, I’m actually a lot more excited about the birth than I thought I would be (natural birth yo, without any pain relief at all… it’s a trip!)
I guess finding out the gender at birth will be the cherry on the cake, after giving birth to three kids in a span of five years.
If you’ve held off finding out what your baby’s gender is, until birth, please drop me a message in the comments section below and let me know how it all went down!
By the way, current mood is still aaaack!
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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.
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Bath time with Child’s Farm
Our boetie (2) and our sussie (4) enjoys bathing together. Bath time is the best time for them. Also, it gives me 10 whole minutes of staring into space, while they play (I take my breaks wherever I can get ’em!) Recently, someone asked me when I would separate their bath times… because surely boys and girls can’t bath together once they’ve reached a certain age. Yes, Patricia, this makes sense, but am I meant to be thinking about these things so soon?!
The convo had me totally frantic, reading article after article, caught up in a Google wormhole that left my brain frazzled and my heart beating a little bit faster. I mean, I don’t want to give my kids issues by overexposing their private parts to each other.
I eventually had to calm myself down (will share a whole other blog post with more detail about the topic eventually). I came to the realisaton that hey, my kids are still young and right now I’m not damaging them by allowing them to share a bath together. I mean, they are FOUR AND TWO and honestly, right now their main concern with the difference in their gender is who gets the pink one and who gets the blue one. We allow them to choose what they like and don’t like on their own, but Kari is the princess and Jo is a boy’s boy and there is no way I can change that!
The only time gender comes up during bath time, is when I bath them with the wrong bath wash. The kids received a beautiful press drop from Child’s Farm and Kari insists that she HAS to have the blackberry & organic apple hair and body wash (bedecked with prancing princesses and a pony) and Jo HAS to have the sweet orange hair and body wash (which features a little boy, farm animals and cool tractor).They are also obsessed with the amount of bubbles the Child’s Farm bubble bath makes and I am most impressed with the Child’s Farm sun and swim products. The 3-in-1 swim product is perfect to use post swim, and I love that it washes away chlorine, leaving skin clean and hair shiny.
So yes, most nights you’ll find me using a special wash for each child, coupled with heavenly scented bubble bath and Child’s Farm shampoo. Can you imagine our bathroom during bath time? You’ll walk in to a medley of scents, from apple, to tangerine, to sweet orange and even raspberry and mango! The scents are simply spectacular and I love that the ingredients in each product are really high quality too.The Child’s Farm products have been designed to help protect, nourish and clean sensitive skin. Crafted with delicate skin in mind, these products can even be used on your newborn baby’s skin!
All the Child’s Farm washing and bathing products use naturally derived products and essential oils, and every detail is carefully planned to ensure that each product is suitable for all types of skin – yep, even skin prone to eczema!
Childs Farm products are currently available in Baby City, Clicks stores and via takealot.com. Prices range from R99 to R119.99, with a range of over 15 different products to choose from.For more information on Childs Farm products visit www.childsfarm.com or the local Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/childsfarmsouthafrica/
