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How to pick out great Christmas gifts
I love giving Christmas gifts a lot more than receiving them. Is that weird? I get a kick out of seeing a loved one’s reaction when they open their presents – it’s one of the reasons why I adore this time of year! I mean besides baby Jesus, Christmas gifts are the best part of the festive season!
According to experts (*cough* – me, according to me) a really great Christmas gift has to meet at least one of these three requirements:
- It must hold sentimental value
- It must be something the person would definitely use (practical)
- It must be something that would suite the gift receiver (I call it the “this made me think of you” factor)
This year, I tried to apply my strategy while choosing gifts for my family. I’ve done my research and found a couple of fabulous Christmas gift ideas on Superbalist. My family will love these!
For the kidsSuperbalist’s range of kids’ fashion is SUPERB (see what I did there). I spotted the most stunning crossbody bags for little girls on the website. They come in a variety of colours and will make for such a pretty Christmas gift. I would definitely fill it with lip glosses and girly things, to make it extra special. Find it here.
My boys are superheroes crazy. They would absolutely love these character metal drink bottles. I also spotted a really cool My First Magnet Set from Edu-Science. Your kids can use this to experiment with cause and effect. It includes various games and activities. Find it here.
For the teensBuying gifts for my teens can be a tad bit harder because, well, first of all, I’m not a millionaire.
But also – what do teens even want these days? Well, I found just the thing! I absolutely adore these bright-coloured Skull Candy wireless headphones. They are such a cool yet practical gift. The headphones are collapsible, they use Bluetooth wireless tech and they have up to 22 hours of battery life! How impressive is that? Find it here.
Another really great Christmas gift idea, which definitely ups the sentimental factor, is an Instax mini camera kit. Superbalist stocks a great range of Instax products. I especially love the camera kits. They usually come with a camera case, film, batteries, and even a camera strap. Find it here.
For him
If you’re wondering what to get that special man in your life for Christmas, you need to check out Superbalist’s range of Fossil, Casio and Daniel Wellington (and more) watches.
I love the spunky Adidas Originals and Puma timepieces. The classic Fossil watches are always a firm favourite. Of course, if your man wants to up his wrist game, he would love to have an Armani Exchange timepiece on his arm. This is probably something that he would never splurge on, but definitely the type of gift that I would like to spoil him with. Find it here.
If all else fails, why not pop on over to the Superbalist website and purchase an e-gift for your loved one? You can purchase a Superbalist gift voucher on the website, and have it emailed directly to your loved one. Or, simply print the voucher, and tuck it into a card. Easy peasy.This article was paid for by Superbalist.
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5 ways to prepare for December in January
January is no joke, you guys. I mean, for starters there are 136 days until pay day and, secondly, why didn’t anyone wag their stern finger at me while I was spending all my moola on junk food and frivolities, in December?! Not funny. Not funny at all.
Now, you all know that I have a spreadsheet brain. I mean, I talk about it alot. So obvz you should know that my brain has already concocted a clever way to not sit with this brokeage and regret the next time January comes around.
Livin’ la vida loco doesn’t have to have a bad aftertaste, you guys. Surely there are ways to be better prepared for the big days (aka festive season)?
That was a rhetorical question, Susan, the answer is yes. Yes there are ways to prep for December… in January. Here are five clever ways to make your randzelas work for you in the new year:
5 ways to prep for December in January
Vouchers and hampers
While others are clutching to their coins at the end of January, hoping to hold on to their moola a tad bit longer before settling the debt made in December, I am gleefully giving my bucks away! Why? Well, because I start paying off on my December hampers at the end of January. I participate in an amazing stokvel-type hamper where I pay a fixed amount every month for 11 months and then collect my grocery/meat/luxury hampers at the beginning of December. These hampers are always so generous in portion size which means I will end up having enough to cover January and February too! And the peeps who run the one that I participate in makes sure to check sell by dates and only provides quality items. AND they deliver the hampers to my front door! It’s such a win, honestly. (If you’re in PE, you can connect with Christmas Made Easy here).No stokvel hamper club in your area? It’s all good. You can purchase Savings Stamps from Shoprite, Checkers or Usave in units of R10 and R20. Save up all your stamps and use it for those often pricey grocery (or back to school) purchases in December and January.
Sales and more sales!
Hot tip: most retailers run amazing clearance sales immediately after Christmas, to get rid of excess Christmas stock. I always factor this into my budget because hello cheap gift sets, future birthday prezzies and inexpensive Christmas decor! You could totally buy next year’s Christmas gift, like, this year.I have a special storage space, at home, for my gifts surplus. I regularly replenish this with items that I pick up when I have extra moola, or if I can get it at a really good price. This definitely helps me to not spend too much at the end of the year, because I have a stockpile of gifts to choose from, when wrapping those gazillion secret santa prezzies.
I also stock up on my kids summer clothing (swim suits etc) during Winter… because, you guessed it, it’s usually so well priced then.
Gift Cards are a friend of mine
Another way to prepare is to start purchasing gift cards from all your favorite stores. You can then load money on to the cards, through out the year, helping you to be spend ready, when the big days come. Oh and super top tip: some online sites allow you to exchange rewards for gift cards. I use my Baby City card to purchase nappies and milk for baby and I store up my Clicks club points to purchase gifts, toiletries and, hey, even wrapping paper.Back to school throughout the year
I try to do my school uniform purchases through out the year. I mean, why wait until January to buy the bulk of your kid’s school items? Hold on to the receipt if you’re worried that they will outgrow the items. Or, simply get a store card from your favorite school retailer, and continue to load money onto it, in preparation for those January blues.Back to school stationary can also be purchased throughout the year. A friend of mine has a stationary box where all extras are stored in and she usually tries to use last year’s stationary list, for the relevant grades, to help prepare for next years stationary requirements. I mean, how cheeky, but absolutely brilliant, right?!
Don’t be a foolio
When it comes to festive spending, I can be a bit of a foolio. You know, unnecessary and silly. So, when my Christmas bonuses reach my bank account, I immediately transfer a bulk of it to a seperate savings account (you can even lock these and only give yourself access to it after 30 days, yo!) to deter myself from spending unnecessarily. I mean, when the money is easy to access, chances are I will, well, easily access it.If you don’t trust yourself with your own savings account (I mean, it’s happened to the best of us, Margeret, don’t be a hater), then draw the money and ask someone that you trust to save it for you. This extra money will be very welcomed when the dreaded Januworry comes around.
Those are my very clever tips on how to get more bang for your buck and not be stuck in the muck (haha, see what I did there) next year January. Do you have any frugal/money saving tips to share? Please drop us a comment down below.
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Baby’s First Christmas: 5 gifts that are totally legit
Okay, so a serious topic popped up at the dinner table the other night. My kids (mainly the most dramatic one) wanted to know if baby Asher will be receiving a Christmas gift from Father Christmas. They firmly advocated for their baby bro, explaining why our four month old shouldn’t be left off of the Christmas gift list just because he’s still little.
They made fair points, I must admit. And I totally could get the kid a small gift just to, you know, have his name on something under the tree. But then I had a brain fart you guys. (Yeah, flexing Genius Mom muscle).
My brain wave is this: I’m going to give baby Asher a useful gift that will benefit me too. Woohoo! *raises hand for a high five*
Don’t leave me hanging. Do you think this is a brilliant idea, or what?
Well, fortunately for me, my friends over at Chicco and Prima Baby usually have us parents in mind too, when devising all their nifty kids toys and accessories. These are my top five Chicco finds, this festive season and would make totally legit Christmas gifts… uh… for your baby.
1. Chicco First Dreams Mobile I didn’t know how much I needed one of these until I installed Asher’s mobile and found myself baby-free for a good while! He was so fascinated by the four removable plushies and, the soothing classical music made bed time that much more calmer. It also has a diffused nightlight and can be attached to wooden and travel cots, as well as co-sleepers.
My boy permanently wants to be in my arms, so it really helped that I am able to lay him in his cot for a tad bit longer, while I see to my other kids. It also gives him something to focus on (other than, you know, crying) when he wakes up and I’m not around. Double score, in my opinion.
2. V-Tech Baby My First Gift Set I love the idea of the V-Tech Baby hamper. I mean, it has four really legit tech toys that can serve as entertainment (uhh, aka mom hands-free time) all while helping your kids reach his/her milestones. The boxed set includes a soft hippo teether, a rattle and a cool musical piano that has three light up music buttons, introducing your child to animals, numbers and colours.
3. Chicco Move and Grow Tummy Time Pillow A tummy time pillow fascinates me because, to be honest, tummy time makes me nervous. I mean, who else hates laying your baby on a flat service while they strain to lift their heads to find you. There is usually lots of tears and crying involved (baby cries too)… so I’m not a fan, but I know that it IS important for baby’s development. The Move and Grow makes tummy time a bit more pleasant. It’s made of memory foam and has lots of entertaining accessories attached. The book, mirror, textures and colours are designed to keep their developing minds busy and active. I also like that the pillow was made by Boppy – leaders in the nursing pillow market.
4. Disney Baby Mickey and Minnie First Abilities 25CM PlushWhat’s better than a cuddly soft toy? A cuddly soft toy that keeps your kid busy for long periods of time, giving you a couple of minutes to enjoy your coffee while it’s hot. Right? These Disney Baby plushies are designed to do just that, friends. It features various activities to keep your baby engaged, while developing those fine motor skills. It’s a great cuddle buddy too!
5. Chicco Move and Grow Happy Hippy Walker I love the colourful and interactive Happy Hippy Walker from Chicco. With fun colours and activities designed to stimulate, the walker is a fun way to encourage your child to take their first steps. The walker also serves as an activity station and is perfect for kids aged 9 – 24 months.
Find these toys at selected stores including Babies R Us, Takealot.com, Loot.co.za, Thekidzone.co.za, selected Kids Emporium stores, Hamleys, Lilliputs and others.
This post was done in collaboration with Prima Toys.
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Make bath time oozy, gooey fun with Zimpli Kids! {Giveaway}
Our kids are going crazy for the Zimpli Kids Gelli Baff and Slime Baff products. And this is me being nonchalant about it. When I say they are “going crazy” I mean they are totally freaking out!
I always try to keep my small ones out of the pool when it’s super hot outside, simply because I’d rather them not be in the sun for too long. The baby pool is fun, for a while, but I soon have a pair of hot, bored small people who are driving me cray cray.
Enter: Gelli Baff and Slime Baff! (Yes, this is me flexing my Genius Mom muscle again). My friends, you’ll thank me for this bit of information. Simply add this amazing product to your baby pool water to turn it into fun goo! This instantly turns the boring ol’ baby pool into a super cool gooey, oozy bath of gunk!Slime Baff turns your bath water into a gunky bath of slime. By just adding more water, the slime can be diluted into coloured water that can be safely drained away. I hide small toys away, in the slime, to make a fun interactive sensory game fit for most kids and toddlers!
Gelli Baff is a totally unique fun bath time product that lets you turn water into goo and back again. By adding Gelli Baff powder to water, you create a thick colourful goo. Add a ‘dissolver’ powder, to turn the goo back to water. Pretty darn clever. I mean, if your kid isn’t into bathing, you could totally use this as a draw card.The Glitter Gelli Play is super fun and, yep you guessed it, glittery. My daughter is obviously a fan of this one.
These amazing products have been designed with bath time in mind. So, because of this, they are non-irritant and 100% safe on skin, stain free and non-toxic. Pick them up at Want It All, Takealot and Toys R Us.
Win a Zimpli Kids Gelli Baff/Slime Baff hamper!
Zimpli Kids would like to give one My Spreadsheet Brain reader a cool Gelli Baff/Slime Baff hamper!
To enter, simply follow the prompts below find the specially marked post on Instagram and follow instructions!
Giveaway open to SA residents only. Winner announced on 27 December and has 24 hours to claim prize.
This review and giveaway was done in collaboration with Zimpli Kids.
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Christmas gift idea: Roly Polyz for the win! {Giveaway!}
Since it’s Jojo’s first Christmas as an actual person (aka he’s old enough to know that it’s Christmas) I knew that we had to make it extra special. An extra dollop of festivities and a special Christmas gift is a must!
Festivities and cheer, I can do. I mean, come 1 December, I pretty much jingle as I walk. But I wasn’t really sure what type of gifts to get him. I don’t know about you guys, but I always find gift buying for boys a lot more challenging than it is for girls.
Jonah loves music and sport… so getting him a musical instrument or a ball is kinda… I don’t know… obvious. I wanted to add something else to the mix.
When I spotted these super cool construction and monster trucks from Roly Polyz, I knew that they’d be a legit finishing touch to his gift!
The Roly Polyz monster trucks come in a variety of colors and you are even get a monster truck launcher that propels the truck and makes fun monster truck sounds. Build your own ramps and set up your own off road adventures, then use the launcher to propel your truck over the obstacle course.They come in a variety of designs and colors and are super sturdy, making it perfect for outside play.
The Roly Polyz construction range features construction vehicles AND a construction worker uniform and tools, making imaginative play that much more interesting for your little one.
My kids enjoyed using the construction trucks to really dig up and transport dirt (so fun for me to clean up afterwards). I love that it’s more than just a pushing around of mini cars. They really get into it!
I love the idea of these novelty trucks because, well, they are flippen cool! But also, I like that there are various items in each range, making it a great gift that you can add on to for birthday’s and special occasions.When it comes to Christmas gifting and toddler boys, I never spend money on toy/pretend weapons, simply because I don’t want my kid to grow up thinking that a gun is fun or something to be desired.
I also don’t want to spend copious amounts of money on intricate toys that they will probably lose interest in or rip apart after a while. Also, while I am a firm believer in books and puzzles, I know that my two year old is a rambunctious scallywag and he needs a bit more than a good ol’ book to keep him occupied.
So the Roly Polyz construction diggers and monster trucks kinda hit the mark for me! They are available from Toys R Us at a sweeeet R70 each! How’s that for a great deal?
Win a RolyPolyz trucks hamper!
RolyPolyz would like to give one My Spreadsheet Brain reader a cool trucks hamper complete with 6 monster trucks and 4 diggers!
To enter, simply follow the prompts below:
1. Find the specially marked post on Instagram and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.Giveaway open to SA residents only. Winner announced on 27 December and has 24 hours to claim prize.
This review and giveaway was done in collaboration with RolyPolyz.
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Girltivity: helping to restore the balance of girl power, one box at a time!
My favourite thing about raising my daughter is that I get to show her that the world is her oyster. I mean, growing up as a girl child I felt very limited. You could blame it on my own personal misconceptions, my upbringing, society or the mindset of the community I was raised in… point all your fingers or just one, either way, you won’t be wrong. And I say this as politely as I possibly can.
Now, I don’t know about the rest of my girlfriends, but I’ve always felt as if it were my fate to find a nice office job, marry a nice boy and, you know, settle down. Nicely. It was only later on, when society and the media celebrated the successful woman more openly, when I realised that I don’t HAVE to be a receptionist or a teacher or the lady who did the books. Not that there’s anything wrong with those vocations… but, I mean, I finally saw that there are MORE OPTIONS.
I know that I’m not the only female who has felt restricted… limited… unable to reach her full potential because she wasn’t given as many options as boy kids had. According to UNESCO statistics, women make up only 23% of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) talent globally, and this inequality is often felt in South Africa’s science, technology and engineering industries. Meh.
Geared to tackle this daunting problem head-on is an Umhlanga based mom, Romona Mahadeo, and her daughter Kiara, an ambitious kidpreneur. Together they have built the Girltivity™ brand – to inspire and empower girls aged 3-12 through a monthly subscription ‘STEAMED UP’ box. How rad, right?!‘STEAMED UP’ stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics, Entrepreneurship, Design, Understanding and Practice. The Girltivity Box is thoughtfully designed by educational experts to encourage creativity, curiosity and support literacy development.
Each box includes a 20-page Girltivity™ activity book highlighting a Female role model and her unique story, with 10 to 15 hands-on ‘STEAMED UP’ activities. Also included is a creative play prop, a featured character trait that helped her succeed and 2 to 3 practical tips for parents to easily nurture that trait, experiments, games, collectibles plus so much MORE.
I love the Girltivity™ mission: “to restore to the balance of girl power everywhere!” Yasss queen! I see this as more than just a subscription box… it’s a phenomenal way to invest into a girl’s future, inspiring her to be confident, brave, fearless and to… well… do it like a girl!These boxes are filled to the brim with gorgeous and interesting activity and, friends, a box like this will be a BOMB Christmas or birthday gift as well! There is an option to subscribe to receive a monthly box and I love that there’s an option to gift it too! Your gift will include a personalised message. Very, very cool. The Christmas orders close on 16 December, so visit the website now to place yours!
Disclaimer: The Girltivity box was sent to me and some of the pics in this post was taken from the Girltivity website.
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Festive feeding: carb free tuna dish with KOO {Giveaway}
When it comes to festive eating, I only have 3 requirements: quick, easy and yummy! Oh and it would help if it’s good for my body too. Because of this (and because I like to work smart, not hard) I revised a delish Tuna Mornay recipe that I had spotted online. The recipe is CARB FREE (that’s right… call it a unicorn, I don’t mind) and the ingredients are basically 2 tins of tuna, some cheese, and as much KOO tinned goodness, as you’d care to add. That easy!
Fortunately, KOO’s ever expanding “bean family” comes with new flavours this festive and I ain’t mad at it! First of all, can we talk about the KOO Black Beans in Mexican Sauce flavour?! If you’re as big of a Mexican foods fan as I am, then your heart probably did flip flops just reading that, karnal!
I’ve also been eyeing a delish-sounding KOO Baked Beans in Chilli Wors flavour and I’m still crazy about the KOO Cape Malay Curry flavour.For my recipe today, I am using some of our fave KOO tinned veggies… you know, the ones you simply can’t do without. This recipe is kind of like a “choose your own adventure” book – you know, you get to choose which flavour journey you want to go on. And guess what, no matter what you choose, you’ll probably STILL enjoy this dish because it’s that flexible. It’s perfect for Summer feeding! Check it out:
Easy Peasy (no carb) Tuna MornayIngredients:
1 onion
2 tins of tuna (either in brine or water, doesn’t matter, because you’ll be draining it)
Cheese (as much cheese as your cheesy lil’ heart can stand)
1 tin of KOO Creamstyle Sweetcorn
1 tin of KOO Whole Kernel Corn
1 tin of KOO Garden peas
You can add any flavour of KOO mixed veg, but remember that too much sauce might change the consistency, so balance the sauce out with more whole kernel corn or peas.
Spice for flavour (I usually do without any! It’s that wholesome and good!)
Method: In a large pot, brown your onion and add your drained tuna and brown together for about 5 minutes.
Add all your “unsaucy” veggies to the mix. Cook together for about 3 minutes.
Add your binders (your saucy tins, i.e. the creamed corn). Allow to cook for another 3 minutes. You can add your spices now. Again, I don’t add any salt or spices to this dish.
Transfer your final mixture to an oven dish and stir in some grated cheese, finally topping the dish off with a layer of grated cheese.
Pop into the oven until your cheese is nice and golden/gooey. (I prefer gooey over golden).
And that’s that. A quick veggie based dish that doesn’t take a gazillion years to put together and it’s flop proof! As I’ve said before, I would add one of the KOO mixed vegetable variations, if i’m looking to change it up. You can totally make it your own!So what do you think friends? Would you try this at home?How would you make it your own, if you do?
Win a KOO hamper valued at R500!KOO wants to give you a festive hamper filled with some of their classic and newer product offerings, as well as some funky KOO branded items!
To enter, simply follow the prompts below:
1. Find the specially marked post on Instagram and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
3. Comment below and let me know which of the newer KOO tins you’d like to try, to grab 1 entry.Giveaway open to SA residents only. Winner announced on 6 December and has 24 hours to claim prize.
(EDITED: The KOO giveaway has been extended! Winner to be announced on 16 December.)
This review and giveaway was done in collaboration with KOO South Africa.
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Hasbro’s Top Toys & board games has something for the whole family {Giveaway}
Shopping for Christmas gifts can be a tedious affair. I mean, how is one to know what “kids these days” are really into? Someone needs to tell us these things! Aaack! (Freaking out on the inside, smile and wave on the outside).
Well, Hasbro has made it considerably easier by releasing their Top Toys and board games list. (And the crowd goes yay). My favorite thing about this list is that it’s filled with nifty little gifts that would make for perfect stocking fillers. You know, the type of stuff you want to throw in your handbag, when you’re on your way out and you need something to keep your kid entertained.
I’m also a huge fan of the Hasbro board games. You guys, it’s no secret, board games are my jam. I love everything about a good game!Board games make for such cool Christmas gifts too! I mean, put together a little snack hamper, a scoreboard and matching buffs, and you have the perfect FAMILY gift! (JustEllaBella actually does this, so yes, I’m totally stealing this idea from her).
Some of my fave Hasbro board games include:
- Speak Out brings friends and family together for laugh-out-loud entertainment as players try to say different phrases, while wearing a mouthpiece that won’t let them close their mouth. Their teammates need to decipher what they are saying to earn points.
- Pie Face is another game for the whole family filled with fun and suspense, and somebody’sbound to get splatted! Just add some whipped cream or place a wet sponge on the ‘hand’ of this hilarious game unit and start turning the handles.
- Still a firm family favourite, Monopoly Mzansi, featuring 22 local locations, makes a perfect gift for the festive season. A definite must have for travellers, Monopoly Mzansi provides an opportunity for family and friends to come together and enjoy some quality time, Mzansi style.
- Add a twist of classic fun with Twister, the game that ties you up in knots and gets everyone moving.
- Try the fun block-stacking, stack-crashing game of JENGA that questions how you will stack up against the law of gravity?
If you’re looking for fun stocking fillers, your kids would probably go ga-ga for these latest top toys fads:
Play-Doh, always a fave, continues to captivate and capture kid’s imaginations. This time with Play-Doh Color Burst – a cool new addition to the Play-Doh range. It’s quite enchanting, watching the colors swirl and change, as the speckles of colors fuse for a cool marbling and blending effect. The pack contains 4 cans and a roller.So unless you’re living under a rock (the metaphorical rock of “no kids”) you would know that the Disney Frozen 2 movie will be released soon. If your kid is a fan like
I ammine is, you would totally make her Christmas with one of the cool Singing Elsa and Anna Fashion dolls. These come with Frozen 2 inspired outfits, light up dresses and they even play snippets of an original song from the movie! Want to score even more Mom Points? Well, then you definitely should grab a Fold and Go Arendelle Castle too. This castle has two floors and fun accessories, to decorate the rooms. How rad?!
The Lost Kitties Mice Mania milk carton singles are fantastic stocking fillers and I enjoy that there’s a bit of a mystery to it. It comes with a figurine, meme stickers, two hidden accesories and a collector’s sheet. And, best yet, you can store it in the resealable carton, so your kid can keep discovering over and over again.Everyone’s favorite rescue birds-in-training, the Top Wing crew, is a sure fire way to get your kid smiling on Christmas morning. These Top Wing figurines are 7cm high, poseable and includes a snap-on wings badge that the kids can wear.
My Little Pony, well known in the kiddy world for it’s magic, messages of friendship and overall coolness, has a gorgeous range of figurines and dolls. The Equestria Girls collectibles make for rad stocking fillers. You can even pick adorable My Little Pony baby dolls, that features moulded diapers, removable bibs and bottle accessories. I mean, I wouldn’t mind getting one… for myself.
And then this one is for all the Marvel fans… these Marvel figures are amazing! The Marvel action figures will give your child the inspiration to recreate scenes from the Marvel Universe, or imagine their own incredible adventures. This assortment includes Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man and Thor.If figurines are your – uh, I mean, your kids – thing, then check out the 15-cm Power Rangers Beast Morphers figures. I really love the size and that with the included Morph-X key, kids can imagine unlocking hero powers in the Beast-X Morpher toy (sold separately).
My favorite one yet is this Monopoly Deal Card Game! If you’re a Monopoly fan, you’ll enjoy this quick-playing card game that comes with 110 cards, including Property Cards, Rent Cards, House and Hotel Cards, and Wild Property Cards and ideal for on-the-go fun.Hasbro products are available from leading retailers including: Takealot.com, Makro, Toys R Us, ToyZone, Toy Kingdom, Game and Checkers.
Win a Hasbro Top Toys hamper!We’ve partnered with Hasbro to give away a cool Top Toys hamper to one lucky reader! The hamper will include a Hasbro Gaming family game, Nerf Micro shot, Lost Kittie Collectable and a Play-Doh item.
To enter, simply follow the prompts below:
1. Find the specially marked post on Instagram and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
3. Comment below and let me know which of the Top Toys your kids will be excited about, to grab 1 entry.Giveaway open to SA residents only. Winner announced on 6 December and has 24 hours to claim prize.
This review and giveaway was done in collaboration with Hasbro.
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Tommee Tippee’s Perfect Prep machine makes the perfect bottle! {Giveaway!}
It’s 3am and I hear Asher waking up for a feed. My heart is saying yes, but my body says no as I try to rise out of bed to see to him. I mean, I had literally just closed my eyes. Need sleep… can’t function. I nudge Hubstopher… it’s a silent “tag you’re it” and he grunts as he tries to escape my plea for help. I decide to grab baby, prepare his bottle and kinda just, you know, deposit him into his father’s arms, as one does.
The boy is a giant. And I’m not just saying so because it sounds like a fun thing to say. He is heavy. Juggling him, his blanket and bottle, while not stepping on toys, as I creep towards the kitchen, is probably what ninja training is made of. Once I reach the kitchen, I switch on the kettle, trying to shush him and prepare the bottle at the same time. It takes forever. The shushing is now accompanied with a little dance, as I try to keep him quiet. If the other
monsterskids wake up my dream of getting some rest tonight will be just that – a dream. The water is finally boiled and I now have to figure out how I’m going to get it into the bottle, and get the bottle made AND cooled, without upsetting my hungry baby even more. I silently mouth a prayer, while wondering how much Hollywood would pay me for my life story since it pretty much feels as if I am living in a sitcom. Baby starts crying again. This time, it’s loud enough to wake the others up. Jonah cries. Karis cries. I cry. The end.Okay, okay, my evenings aren’t thaaat dramatic. Well, not all the time atleast. And especially not since we got our hands on the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Perfect Prep machine. Now, I know what you’re thinking… it’s the same thing my mom said when she realised that we use a whole machine just to prepare our baby’s formula bottles: “Seriously Luchae, do you really need a machine for that?!”
And the answer is yes. The biggest, fattest yes!
The perfect bottle… every time!Because I combo feed my baby, I may not always have a readily prepared bottle on hand. I mean, sure you can prepare your formula bottles ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. But even then, it would probably need to be heated up, before baby would take it. Heating a formula bottle in the microwave is not advisable since it might heat unevenly, creating ‘hot spots’ that would burn baby’s mouth. So doing it the old school way is probably your safest bet. And yep. that takes time.
The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Perfect Prep machine prepares the perfect bottle in under two minutes! And friends, I’m talking perfect temperature, correct amount of water, in under two minutes AND you can operate it using only one hand… which, in my opinion, is the biggest score!
Your bottle will be the correct temperature for your baby pretty much immediately! No wait time. No screaming children. No headaches.The Perfect Prep has a filter system that removes impurities from the water and it’s initial “hot shot” kills any bacteria that may be in the formula.
And, my favorite thing about it is that it’s so easy to use, I even have my teenager prepping bottles! This machine is great for when you’re leaving baby with a babysitter or a helper and you’re concerned that they may not prepare their bottles correctly. There is no way they can get it wrong! Perfect Prep gives you the extra peace of mind that comes from knowing your baby’s bottle will be perfect every time.
Win a Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Perfect Prep machine!We’re giving away a Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep dream machine to one lucky reader! To enter, simply follow the prompts below:
1. Find the specially marked post on Instagram and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
3. Comment below and let me know what you think of this amazing machine, to grab 1 entry.Giveaway open to SA residents only. Winner announced on 6 December and has 24 hours to claim prize.
This review and giveaway was done in collaboration with Tommee Tippee.
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The four gift rule: why giving books is a must this Christmas! {Giveaway}
We all love a good Christmas gift (or two… or three) and, sure, we get a kick out of seeing our children’s eyes light up at the sight of a gazillion gifts under the tree. But, friends, the days of going on a spending spree to satiate my children’s need for a gazillion gifts is over.
I recently heard about the four gift rule and I love this concept so much! So basically, parents are pledging to give their kids just four presents this Christmas. AND (here’s the plot twist) they can’t all be toys. (Mind blown)
So, the rule is: Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read.
This works for us because, seriously, they have a ton of toys sitting at the bottom of their bottomless pit of a toy box, that they do not play with. Why add to it?! Also, pajamas is on my list of things to buy anyways… giving it as a gift would be a double score.
Lastly, I freaking LOVE giving books as a gift! And if you’re going to give them a book, why not one written and published in South Africa?
Kenny the Kudu and Ozzie the OstrichWe were recently introduced to Kenny the Kudu and lovable Ozzie the Ostrich – both characters in the stunningly illustrated children’s books by Grahamstown native, Victoria Mallett.
Victoria shares that she and her business partner and illustrator, Riëtte Basson, are passionate advocates of instilling confidence and essential life skills in children. With captivating illustrations and clever rhyme, the duo are focused on sharing stories that help to raise happy, well-rounded kids who believe in themselves and have the confidence to pursue their dreams.
I mean, Victoria and Riëtte even took the decision to not sign with a top South African children’s publisher, choosing instead to pursue their passion project themselves, a 5 book animal series with powerful themes and messaging, and they haven’t looked back.
The story line in both books are rather entertaining (I read them to the kids and actually wanted to see what would happen next #momlife). The illustrations are really gorgeous… my kids were captivated! (Even 2 year old Jojo, who only stops moving when he’s asleep).The story lines:
Ozzie the Ostrich, an awkward ostrich with a gammy leg, struggles to fit in with his very intimidating peers. And then one day a chance meeting with a flock of flamboyant flamingos changes everything!Kenny the Kudu contends for a position as a Santa-sleigh-puller (why should only reindeer’s have the honor, anyways?) This book shares about the power of believing in and never giving up on your dreams.
Both books would make such great Christmas gifts. In fact, the Kenny the Kudu book is perfect to add to your Christmas Eve box!
They retail at R150 each and you can pick them up at one of the following stockists:Blume and Co – Cnr 9th Ave and Main Rd, Walmer, Port Elizabeth
Fogarty’s Book Shop – Walmer Park Shopping Centre, Port Elizabeth
Lighthaus – 23 Bowls Rd, Arcadia, East London
Noom – Rautenbach Road, Grahamstown
Nuts about books & toys – 3 Mare Street, Howick
Cape Mohair – 35 Kendal Road, Diep River
Cape Mohair – Monkeyland Road, The CraggsFor more information about the books, author & stockists visit: www.vbinkstudio.com or contact Victoria – victoria@vbinkstudio.com or 083 633 1486
Win a Kenny the Kudu and Ozzie the Ostrich book hamper!We’re giving away a cool Kenny the Kudu and Ozzie the Ostrich book hamper to one lucky ready! To enter, simply follow the prompts below:
1. Find the specially marked post on Instagram and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
2. Find the specially marked post on Facebook and follow instruction to grab 1 entry.
3. Comment below and let me know which of these two characters your kid would love, to grab 1 entry.Giveaway open to SA residents only. Duplicate entries will not be counted. Winner announced on 6 December and has 24 hours to claim prize.
