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Meet the Mommy Blogger: Lindsay Thomas of Love Made Me
One thing you might not know about us “mommy bloggers” is that we actually do have other interests besides our kids. I promise. I mean, take Lindsay Thomas of Love Made Me, for example. This lady is a certified Doula, you guys. That means she is a birth companion or post birth supporter, assisting moms during child-birth and basically being a voice of reason and calm at a time when emotions run high. How unbelievably legit is that?!Lindsay was introduced to blogging a couple of years ago when she fell pregnant with her eldest, after stumbling across another mommy blog. She shares: “On days when parenting was hard I would escape my reality and read. The thing was, all these other mothers out there were experiencing exactly what I was. I felt connected, somehow, to these hundreds of women all over the world and strangely enough it made me feel like I could do this.”
She only jumped onto the blogger bandwagon after her second baby was born, as a way to document all her thoughts during the particularly challenging days. The great thing about blogging is that it’s theraputic – your blog becomes your therapist and you get to vent and share your feelings to a super supportive audience. (Well, for the most part.) But the BEST thing about blogging is that when you put your own story out there, for the world to see, you empower other women who may feel as if they are the only one going through the exact same thing.“There have been a few life lessons I have learnt from blogging. I’ve learnt that patience is possible. I’ve learnt that its ok to open up. I’ve learnt that growth takes time and hard work. There are some great people in the world, some of which I would never have met (this goes for virtual world and in person) if it wasn’t for my blog. Not everyone will agree with me, share my views or think I’m great – AND THAT’S OK”
Lindsay proudly refers to herself as a “mommy blogger” because she shares so much of the highs and lows of parenting with her audience. Covering topics relating to parenting, lifestyle, food and travel, she aims to share posts that offer advice. “I look at posts this way – will this help someone? Whether its quick tips, sharing an experience or even doing a review – will it help?”“I want to inspire other moms out there. I want them to know that you are not alone in this wonderful journey called Parenting. Some days it can get rough, I know, but I want them to know that they can do it!”
It’s not all fun and games, you guys. Blogging requires some serious dedication, yo! Lindsay shares my sentiment. She says that the most challenging part about blogging is the part where you actually need to sit down to do it. I mean, the only time I actually sit down is when I use the toilet. And even then I sometimes have an audience. (The struggle is real).Last year was a hectic one for Lindsay. She says she suffered from a severe case of “Mom Blogger Guilt” because she had to put her blog aside for a while. But she’s back and ready for action, Jackson, with a super cool blog series! In the Rise of the Doula series, she chats more about the local Doula’s in her community and shares personal stories about successful Doula-assisted births.
“I believe that knowledge should be shared, and I’m doing my best to try and give some Doula tips to parents out there. My passion as a Doula is to focus on volunteering at local MOU’s and Government facilities, however my long term goal is to be a Doula full time.”
You can follow this amazing super mama over on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Check out some of my fave Love Made Me posts over here:
Having a Doula present makes a difference to your birthing experience
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Five things to do while he’s watching UEFA Champions League soccer
I don’t know much about soccer but I’m gathering that the UEFA Champions League is as important as a 7de Laan showdown between Charmaine and her crazy twin sister. I mean, I’m not saying they are dramatic or anything, but the guys in my family get really into it when their teams are playing. Like, really into it. Like, I wish they wouldn’t watch it in my living room into it. But with age comes wisdom, and I’m not as young as I look. So I’ve learnt that when it comes to soccer, I need to give my guys space to watch the game, update their fantasy league and debate about transfer fees while moaning at the ref. What do I do in the meantime? Well, here are my five things to do while he’s watching UEFA Champions League soccer:
1. I eat
No, I’m not joking. One of my conditions to a “soccer on a school night” night is that supper must be taken care of by someone other than me. Usually Hubstopher orders take-out. I’m okay with that. The other condition is that the kitchen must be spotless before the soccer watching commences. This is why take-out makes sense.2. I spend time with myself
My quality time usually revolves soaking in a hot bath and then watching episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and This Is Us, while ugly crying about Kate’s misadventures on my Instagram stories. It’s also a really good time to journal and self-reflect. Alone time is not that bad, you guys.3. I ask for an IOU
Ladies, this is a clever way to cash in some much needed favors. Pre-book that foot rub girl. The time is now. My IOU requests sometimes involve getting him to promise that he’ll watch Keeping Up with me. He can’t say no because, well, it’s the Champions League, after all.4. I do disgusting things
You know, things that you’d rather not want to have an audience around for. Like waxing your upper lip or plucking your chin hairs. I also do my nail art experimenting in this time, while donning a face mask and singing along to Tori Kelly.5. I do stuff that I don’t want to do
I use the alone time to get stuff done that I’ve been procrastinating on. Things like writing that blog post or repacking my closet. It’s also a great time to get your crafting on (If you’re that person. I’m not that person.) I figured if I’m going to be forced into the solitary confinements of my own room, I may as well do things that feel like torture. Kidding! But it does help that no one bugs me for a good few hours.So there you have it. Soccer isn’t all bad, ladies. And, I mean, if you’re feeling particularly charitable, why not surprise him by rocking up at the soccer watching party (that’s what it’s called…right?) with snacks and a big dose of team spirit. Just make sure you’re rooting for the right team.
Header image: Getty
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I was never ready to be a grandmother
Guys, I’m on the lighter side of 30 and so not ready to be anyone’s grandmother. Well, that’s what I discovered last week when my 16 year old came home, plopped a 2,5kg bundle of joy in my arms and declared “Congratulations! You’re an ouma!” I was never ready. I mean, seriously? A grandmother? Me? Firstly, no thank you, I’m too young. Secondly, no thank you, you’re too young! Thirdly, just no thank you. That is all.
After much debating, he politely let me know that it is in fact a school project, and even if he wanted to ditch the 2,5kg bag of flour (accurately dressed as a bouncing baby by his partner aka “babymama”) he couldn’t because he needed to pass his Life Orientation assignment.Anyways, I soon got over my feelings of animosity (mainly due to the fact that it’s actually a bag of flour and not a real baby) and we all found ourselves taking turns to hold the “baby” (who is oddly named Germaine for some reason) when Kyle had to go to the loo or wash the dishes. It was pretty awkward… and normal… in a weird way.
The initiative is part of the schools plight to teach students about teenage pregnancy and what it takes to raise a baby. He’s not allowed to leave Germaine without a babysitter. He has to feed Germaine and make sure “he” is clean and “comfortable”. Germaine can’t be left unattended and can’t be stuffed into a school bag. He must be treated like a real life baby and visitation times gets rationed between Kyle and his partner.
When asked how he feels about the project, he said that he already knows all about raising babies because he helps out with his baby brother and sister. It’s true though, he is an amazing big brother to his sibs! I sometimes joke around and call him our ‘deputy parent’. But he soon found out that having your own kid is not the same as helping out with your siblings. He had this to say about the flour baby project: “It doesn’t really affect me but it confirmed that I still only want to have a child when I am married.”
He says that the hardest thing about looking after Germaine is not forgetting the “baby” when he already has a bunch of other things to carry. I was like, yeah buddy, that’s life with kids! Having to juggle everything and still provide your offspring with attention and intentional care. Welcome to my world.He also says that sharing Germaine with his partner has made him realize that being a married parent is easier than being a single parent. “Single parenthood is tough!” He exclaimed. Followed by a “Mom, you’re a super mommy!” (referring to the first 12 years of his life, pre-Hubstopher, when it was just Kyle and I.)
As for me? Well, Germaine has taught me that I am not ready to be a grandmother. I have too much going on and even though we only help out when needed, this 2,5 kg bag of flour really slows me down. I blame it on the fact that I currently have two kiddies under the age of 4. They need to be grown first, before I can properly celebrate the idea of having grand babies. So let’s chill on the “grandmother” story, well atleast for a couple of more years, okay? -
Purge Party: Upgrade your closet for FREE
I don’t have a thing to wear! I mean, okay, shoes are spilling out of my cupboard and I need more packing space for my extensive scarf collection. But the mantra remains unchanged: I don’t have a thing to wear! Can anyone relate? Well, that’s how Purge Party was born. Purge Party is a nifty concept that will have you swapping out your preloved items for someone else’s. The idea behind the party is to get rid of the clutter to make room for new and hey, in the process, you may pick up a fabulous new look or two!
Hands up if you have a closet full of outfits but nothing fits. Well, that’s my closet. If I’m not saving items for when I’m skinny again, then I’m storing them because they have sentimental value or because I just can’t bare the thought of giving it to a charity shop who may or may not appreciate the value of a boob tube pin stripe dress. (Yes, I really own one. And yep, it’s the size of Ariana Grande’s small toe.)
Oh don’t give me that look Veronica we all have a cupboard full of preloved hand bags and wedding shoes that we’ll probably never use again. Needless to say, I needed new clothes. And I needed to free my closet of the outfits that I just don’t wear anymore. And, most importantly, I needed to not spend any money while doing either of these things.
Purge Party: Free your closet
At the very first Purge Party I hosted 10 friends at my home. The event has grown since then and we found ourselves hosting more than 30 ladies at a bigger venue, for the second Purge Party! I mean, ladies see the value in upcycling their outfits for someone else’s (so to speak).In order to make Purge Party work though we have some very strict instructions, yo. Firstly, you are encouraged to FREE YOUR CLOSET! Be intentional about it! This means removing items that you no longer wear. The items has to be clean, of quality and in great condition!
Hand in your stash, at the “buy” section of the Purge Party, where you will receive tokens for your goodies. Enjoy some coffee and snacks (and lekker conversation time) while the team and I get to do my favorite part: setting up the little preloved pop up shop.
When the pop up shop opens, guests have the opportunity to “shop” till they drop, using the tokens they had collected at the door. You guys, at the last party, I walked away with beautiful shoes, a handbag, and a stunning dress that I would never have bought for myself (because the kids come first… why buy for myself when I can get something for them. I know, it’s a “mom disease”…)
I also get a kick out of seeing Purge Party guests chat with their newly made friends – helping each other choose garments and try on jackets. The snippets of convo make my heart so happy! “Oh wow, this looks so good on you” and “you should definitely try that on” – I love when women empower and encourage each other!At the end of the day, all the clothing not claimed in the “shop” is boxed to hand over to a local charity. All in all a win-win situation in my books! The event was such a huge success that we’ve hosted quite a few Purge Parties last year. And hey, who knows, we could be hosting a Purge Party at a venue near you!
What do you think? Does the idea of a “Purge Party” make you want to burst out in hysterical laughter? Would you rather not wear someone else’s preloved clothing? Or do you think it’s a brilliant idea? Please leave your comments below. -
Meet the Mommy Blogger: Sharon van Wyk of The Blessed Barrenness
Ever come across a piece of writing that makes your heart go “aaaack”? Or do you find yourself reading something whilst quietly sobbing at your desk, like a lunatic, for people you have yet to meet? Well, friend, that’s me (on a good day anyways) visiting the blogs of my fellow mommy bloggers. And that’s me pretty much every time I visit Sharon van Wyk’s blog over at The Blessed Barrenness. I was introduced to Sharon’s blog a few years ago and my heart did all kinds of flip flops as I found my self re-reading heart wrenching posts where she shared about her struggles with infertility and the beautiful journey of adoption.Blessed barrenness
I love the name of the blog. I mean how kick ass of Sharon to turn something that has brought anguish, into celebration! I admire the spunk and vivacity of this woman so much! And blessed she is indeed (judging by her Instagram feed – yeah, I’m a stalker) with a loving husband and two beautiful girls who simply adore her. She shares that the blog has changed since its conception in 2008, and is now a combo of personal story telling, parenting and basically anything else that sparks her interest.“Interestingly, even though my style has morphed and changed over the years, I have never deleted any of my old posts. There is something about those old posts that’s comfortable like a worn shoe and I just can’t seem to let them go. So if you go back on The Blessed Barrenness, you can read posts from as far back as 2008.”
Sharon explains that for her blogging has become so much more than just words on a website. A lot of creativity and thought is invested into the design, layout, creating, editing of photos and videos. It really is a labour of love! She refers to it as soul food. (Interestingly, her posts about food are quite popular – she knows her high carb/low fat stuff, you guys!)She has played a ginormous role in the blogging community at large and nabbed the African Blogger Award for best parenting blog in 2015. With so many doors opening for her (TV, radio and print media) she sometimes finds the demands of running a blog and maintaining a healthy home/work balance to be a bit challenging. I mean, being a mom is a full time job! Who has the time (or energy) to sit down to write and create after a full day at the office and at home. But despite the ebbs and flows of creativity her 4am wake up calls and late night laptop rendezvous’ certainly is paying off because The Blessed Barrenness continues to inspire and capture hearts all around the country.
“Blogging has exposed me to an array of interesting people and experiences. It’s definitely taught me a lot of lessons, I’m more socially aware and I think kinder because of it.”
Read all about it
Sharon is quite the banting expert! Her banting recipes are quite popular and a must read if you’re all about that low carb life. (#breadmustfall)She’s also doing a bunch of cool stuff with Builders Warehouse and Cool Kids Cabs this year which should be up your ally if you’re looking for tips on home improvement and if you’re a mom.
I also love Sharon’s stance on being body positive. She is pretty honest about her life long struggle with breaking her negative mindset towards her body and food.
And of corse, if you’re looking to read more about adoption, Sharon is an adoption advocate and she has a lot to share! “My eyes have been opened to all sides of the adoption triad, to the joy and the miracle, the pain and the loss and I have tried to show all sides of that to fairly represent adoption in South Africa.”
You can also follow her in Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube and Instagram.
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Being body positive: I’ve never been a fan of my body
I’ve never been a fan of my body. I mean, I get it, I’m not overweight. But that doesn’t mean that I feel good about the way that I look. To be honest guys, I’ve been body shaming myself since primary school, when I was so skinny that my school socks needed to be held up by elastic. I hated how thin I was. And then I had Kyle, picked up some weight and hated how not-thin I was. I’ve never really been happy with my appearance. And I don’t know if I ever will be.
Why? Well, because I am female. And for some totally ludicrous reason, we girls seem to think that we need to be unnaturally perfect looking in order to be, well, perfect looking. Who made up those rules? Well, one could say that the media and entertainment world did. But quite honestly, I have my own brain and my own thought processes and I do believe that I am a strong woman capable of making my own decisions. So as far as I am concerned, if I’m going to point any fingers, I need to accept the fact that I’m my own worst enemy in this instance.
I hear you, magazines and music videos make us want to have big boobs, flat tummies and Kardashian-like hair. But I still get to decide whether those books and vids influence me. I get to decide whether I want to feel good about myself and the way that I look, just as I am. My worth is not determined by some misconstrued idea of beauty. I mean, if the girl on my TV screen is a template, and I’m meant to copy, paste, copy, paste, until I also have thick thighs, contoured cheekbones and perky breasts, then where’s the beauty in originality?
Where’s the beauty in being fearfully and wonderfully made by a God who doesn’t make mistakes? Where’s the breathtaking stunningness in being unique, exceptional, distinctive, special and a limited edition?
Anyways, this revelation hit home when I realized that I need to teach my own daughter that her beauty is not something to be determined by some crazy delusion. Being Kari’s mom means that I get to teach her how to be a woman who accepts and loves her body and the skin she is in. And I do that by accepting and loving my own body. I’m one of the main influences in her life and the scary thing is that when I body shame myself, I’m kinda telling her that it’s okay to hate on your own body. Body shaming myself let’s my little girl believe that she isn’t good enough just as she is.So I’ve decided to break the cycle. Can any of you relate? Has hating the way that you look become the norm for you? What are you doing to break the cycle?
Shout out to Laura of Harassed Mom for heading up and Ella of Just Ella Bella and others for sharing their own body positivity messages.
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The truth about Valentine’s Day
So today is the big V Day and judging by the amount of red and white outfits I spotted on my way to the office, people are really getting into it. But I was wondering, do you know the real story behind Valentine’s Day and why we celebrate it? I decided to pay Google a visit to find out the truth about Valentine’s Day and what I found was pretty interesting! Want to know more about it? Well, it goes a little something like this:
Story #1: Valentine – he was an actual guy
Some stories suggest that Valentine is actually a priest who served during the third century in Rome. Legend says that then ruler, Emperor Claudias II, had decided that single men made better soldiers than those with families because they fought more carelessly not having to worry about the wife and children at home waiting for them. So he basically outlawed marriage for young men. Yep – unmarried men could not put a ring on it. Anyways, realizing the injustice of the decree, Valentine unleashed his inner toyi-toyi and defied Claudius by performing secret marriages for young lovers. When Claudius discovered what Valentine was doing he ordered that he be put to death.Other stories suggest that Valentine was actually killed for attempting to help Christians escape Roman prisons (where they were beaten and tortured). Another suggests that Valentine was actually imprisoned and he sent the first “valentine” greeting to a girl he fell inlove with… The “soap opera” version implies that the young girl possibly was the jailor’s daughter and that she visited Valentine during his confinement. Before his death (which was supposedly very gruesome) he wrote her a letter and signed it “from your Valentine” and that’s how the expression was born.
Story #2: Valentine – a cover up
So some people say that Valentine’s Day was actually strategically placed in mid-Feb, by the ancient church, in an effort to “Christianise” the pagan celebration of Lubercalia. This event was a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture – Faunus. So at this festival, goats and a dog would be sacrificed and skinned in a cave that is said to have housed twins Romulus and Remus (who was nursed by a she-wolf… ya). Anyways the blood covered hide would be used to “gently slap” women and crop fields, in order to induce fertility and to “purify” the women. This act is said to guarantee easy childbirth too. Later on, young women in the city would place their names in a big urn and the city’s bachelors would take turns drawing a name of a dame that they would be paired with. The matches would sometimes end in marriage.February was also the month in which the Romans celebrated Juno Februata – the goddess of febris (fever) of love, women and marriage. So apparently on February 14, billets of paper, each holding a name of a teen girl, was put into a container. Teen boys would then draw a name and the pair would become a couple. Yep – a bonafide love lottery. They would be expected to join in erotic games, feasts and parties, which was celebrated throughout Rome. After the festival, they would sometimes remain together for the rest of the year. You guys, I’m not making this up, the custom was observed in the Roman Empire for a long time.
So there you have it. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Getting that fresh breath fix with Sunstar GUM {Win a hamper!}
February has been dubbed “relationship month” and I’m a fan of the festivities that go with it. I love that we get to celebrate relationships and love and intimacy. But, to be honest, Valentine’s Day in our home, at the moment, looks a lot like every other day. So I’ve made it a point to make sure that my time alone with Hubstopher is extra special. Yep, I might even wear lip gloss to bed.
Pretty pajamas and smooth legs aside, smelling good and having fresh breath are always a priority! Bad breath can be such a buzz kill. But hey, since it’s February (and also National Fresh Breath Month by the way) rather than getting in a twist about bad breath, it’s the ideal time to treat the tongue to a fresh breath fix. Experts say the tongue is often the cause of bad breath, and recommend daily cleaning as part of an effective oral care routine. Seriously though, when last have you intentionally cleaned your tongue? Exactly. When it comes to bad breath the tongue is often the culprit.
Looking good and smelling sweet are important factors when I schedule in some alone time with my love. (Yes, we have a lot of kids and literally have to schedule our quality time). I want to look good for him! And I want to make sure that the garlic roll I devoured an hour ago doesn’t come back to haunt me when I’m whispering sweet nothings in his ear. This is why I love the Sunstar GUM Tongue Cleaner, you guys! It has a brush on one side and scraper on the other for maximum effectiveness. Pair this with the unique GUM Technique Plus toothbrush (designed to provide advanced cleaning with its quad-grip handle), some GUM Original White floss and GUM Original White mouth rinse and you’re good to go!
Treat your tongue to a #FreshBreathFix this February
Does this sound like something you need? Well Sunstar has partnered with me to give one My Spreadsheet Brain reader an awesome Sunstar GUM hamper worth over R600, packed with all the oral care tools you need for a healthy mouth and fresh breath. Each kit includes a Sunstar GUM Tongue Cleaner, plus a toothbrush, floss, interdentals and Original White paste and rinse for a naturally brighter smile. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Winner will be announced on my Facebook page, so make sure you’re following me there. -
PE, meet Pieter-Dirk Uys
If you’re in Nelson Mandela Bay, and in the mood to talk “kaktus”, you’ll be pleased to know that South African theatre icon Pieter-Dirk Uys will be bringing his beloved character, Evita Bezuidenhout, to visit from February 22 to 24.The show called Evita Bezuidenhout and the Kaktus of Separate Development will be held at the Athenaeum in Athol Fugard (formerly Belmont) Terrace in Central. His solo show, The Echo of a Noise, will also run at the Athenaeum from February 26 to 28.
If you’ve been living under a rock, you might not know that Pieter is a veteran satirist and a stalwart in SA comedy. His Evita character is well known as a former apartheid ambassador in the Homeland of Bapetikosweti. She claims to now make her residency in the kitchens of Luthuli House where she cooks for reconciliation. Evita promises to give us a run through of the latest happenings in SA politics – and, as usual, cannot promise that she’ll be politically correct while doing so.
In Pieter’s solo act, The Echo of a Noise, he candidly reflects on moments that has shaped his life. Critics has called the show “vulnerable” and “captivating” with many of them lauding it even more entertaining than his high-heeled, wig-clad Evita character.Both shows start at 19:30. Tickets cost R130 and are available at Computicket.
WIN 2 tickets to The Echo of Noise show (Tuesday 27 Feb) by simply finding the Pieter-Dirk Uys post on my Facebook, and tagging a friend that would be joining you at the show. Winner anounced on Friday, 23 Feb)
CONGRATULATIONS: Marianah Lourens
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Meet the Mommy Blogger: Venean Bosch of In The Meantime
As far as friendships go, I’m quite selective about who I share my life with. I mean, you get friends-friends… the people you occasionally spend time and generally share the ups and downs of the day with. And then you get FRIENDS-friends… the (unfortunate?) ones who get to experience your beauty AND your ugly and they stick around regardless. Well, Venean has been the latter… in her I’ve found someone who actually encourages you to let lose and be whoever you darn well want to be. Her blog, In The Meantime, is a lot like that too. She chats about the realness of motherhood and she kinda leaves you feeling as if she’s your actual real life friend.Vee started blogging a few years ago, but wanted to keep it anonymous. After a lot of prompting she eventually moved over to her own domain last year and began to take this blogging thing seriously. Yay for us! Since then In The Meantime has grown and Vee’s anecdotes and personal stories have truly given me life, on those really crappy days.
“My blog keeps me thinking about ways I can be better at parenting, wifeing, lifeing. It keeps me asking myself why I did that, and what I can do to improve it.”
Vee explains that the most rewarding thing about blogging is that it keeps her constantly thinking about ways she can be a better parent or wife. I can totally relate! In a weird way, having a blog or being invested on a social media platform, kinda motivates you to make better decisions. Yes, it’s easy to get sucked into a “but how can I make this moment Instagrammable?” mind set. But you kinda feel responsible to share content and information that is rewarding/uplifting/necessary/a benefit.We share a similar story (teenage pregnancy, single mom, married man of our dreams, had a kid with him etc etc) and I personally love reading her blog and feeling as if she “gets” where I’m at right now.
“It’s been an amazing outlet for reflection even when I say the same thing over and over. Also having people comment and say – YES! ME TOO, or I feel you. It just means all that time I spent preparing and writing was for that one person to not feel alone.”
Vee and her hubby, Ian, recently started their own business, Ootrey, which specialises in affordable, funky prescription eye wear. I love the brand’s geek-meets-cool persona and their products are stunning! You can check out more on the website and catch Ootrey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Venean’s blog, In The Meantime, can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Check out some of my favorite In The Meantime posts here:
How to not ditch your husband after you have a baby
