-
Mommy, what happened to your tummy?
“Ew mommy, what happened to your tummy?” my little girl asked me, while keeping me company in the bathroom. Apparently I need supervision while I shower. Mind you, I knew the day would come when my kids would start paying attention to body parts. I just didn’t expect that MY body would be the first point of interest.
If I were to be sincerely honest – and I plan to be, because this blog is my therapy space – her question totally and completely devastated me. I mean, to say it nicely: it made me feel lekker junk.
It made me feel junk because, I mean, who has lus to hear about their flaws, and from their own offspring nogals.
But, it also made me feel junk because you kinda expect your child to think that you are a superhero (until they are 14 and detest the way you chew you food). I didn’t want my 6 year old to see me as weak or flawed, I guess.
Anyways… as this, and a billion other things (like: “dammit I need to go on that onion diet”) run through my head in a matter of seconds, I had to come up with a wise response to madam’s question.
Our conversation went something like this:Karis: Ew, mommy what happened to your tummy?!
Me: My tummy looks like this because I’ve had FOUR babies in it!
Karis: Is that alot?
Me: Well, yes, can you think of another mommy who has had four babies in her tummy?
Karis: (trying to calculate) Uhhhhhh no…
Me: There are many different ways to become a mommy, but not many mommy’s have had four babies in their own tummy’s. So yes, it’s alot. (Me trying to not sound defensive lol)
Karis: But mommy, I’ve seen other mommy’s who have tummy’s like yours too and I don’t think they’ve had four babies in it.
Me: That’s because a mommy’s tummy is a magical place… even if she’s only had 1 baby in it!
Karis: (scrunching her nose) Is that why your tummy is so big?
Me: Yes! Because a baby has to grow and live in a mummy’s time for a long time before it comes out! So that’s why my tummy is so fluffy.
(Can we all take a moment to collectively laugh at the fact that I called my tummy “fluffy”)
Karis: (thinking)
Me: (bracing myself for questions about how babies get into tummy’s in the first place)
Karis: Mommy
Me: Yes babes (trying to quickly put on a t-shirt before homegirl asks me why my boobs are so saggy lol)
Karis: I think I also want to have four babies one day…
Me: (burst into a flood of tears, as I rock back and forth, on the floor in fetal position)
Kidding. But I did have a moment of intense pride. And it totally did kick the butt of my insecurity. The conversation reminded me that I am the blueprint… If I want my daughter to love her body, I need to show her that I love mine. These days I am a lot more mindful about what I speak over myself, especially when I am around her.
My body – your body – is a gift. God’s grand design. I want her to grow up knowing that no matter how toned or not toned her ab muscles are, or how jiggly her thighs are or how wide her hips are… she is His precious masterpiece and her body was created with purpose and beauty in mind.
So that’s my reminder to you today my friend. You are a masterpiece. Fluffy tummy and all
-
Dress like a princess with Classy Baby Boutique {Win!}
Pretty dresses are my daughter’s jam. The girl believes that she is a princess (and I am the queen, duh), so she kinda insists on only wearing dresses, because this is what princesses wear.
Her princess-dress-wearing is not just for special occasions, mind you. In fact, her princess-dress-wearing is not limited to time or day or activity. We are a princess, so we wear a dress. Finish en kla.
And although it does cause my spreadsheet brain to short circuit because I obviously plan her outfits in advance, her attitude towards dressing up also reminds me to enjoy my beautiful things. I mean, who says that beautiful princess dresses are only to be worn on special occasions?!
So when I spotted the gorgeous princess dresses over on Classy Baby Boutique, I knew that I had to get my hands on one. I mean, even though they don’t fit me (and they wouldn’t because, uh, it’s a boutique for baby girls), I had a very specific little girl in mind who would totally rock a princess dress.
Yumna, fellow mom and owner of Classy Baby Boutique actually says that she started the boutique because she couldn’t always find those gorgeous princess dresses for her little girl.
And so her project soon turned into a fully fledged business where she sources the best dresses, for princesses, ensuring that quality and design is always on top of the list of boxes to tick.
Comfort also plays a big role in the type of garments she keeps in her store, because you know, princesses want to play all day too!
My niece, Ameera, tested the dress out (i.e. she played all day… dirty feet and all!) and agreed that it definitely was comfortable! I liked that the fabric is gorgeous but not too heavy.
Ameera says she liked that she looks like a super star. I concur.
After a couple of hours of playing in said dress, it still looked as good as new. (I mean, her mom had to wrestle her out of it, but that’s another blog post for another day). We made promises that she can wear it to her birthday party next week (our birthday’s are a day apart!). But seriously guys, I was impressed that the dress held up, considering the fact that Ameera plays hard.
Yumna’s range of gorgeous little girl dresses can be found on Instagram. Guys, they are simply stunning!The order process is simple: place your order via DM or Whatsapp. An invoice will be sent to you. Once payment is processed, her very secure courier company will make sure the goods arrive at your door in no time. You will receive a tracking number to keep an eye on your parcel.
Win a gorgeous Classy Baby Boutique for your little one!Classy Baby Boutique and My Spreadsheet Brain would like to give one little girl a gorgeous princess dress! To enter simply follow the prompt on this Instagram post!
The giveaway ends on 27 March at midday. Classy Baby Boutique is responsible for sending the prize to the winner.
-
Show Your Style with MRP x Barbie! {Giveaway!}
My daughter has an eye for style! (Must get that from her mom… cough cough). She loves to show off her (sometimes interesting) outfit choices and I enjoy letting her do just that. (Mom’s who allow their kids to put together their own outfits – hollar!)
I see clothing and fashion as a way for her to get creative and express herself. And I love that her choice in clothing often represents her mood for the day. But, no matter the mood, the girl insists on looking fabulous at all times. So she was absolutely smitten when she received a gift containing some of the stunning new MRP x Barbie pieces.
Yep, you read that right, friends! Our favorite fashionista – Barbie – has released hot new items which can only be found in MRP stores.
Yes, you may “aaack”, I’ll wait.
In case you’re wondering, we’re aaacking because MRP always brings the hottest fashion at affordable prices! And with Christmas around the corner, it’s cool to know that we can pick up our fave Barbie styles, from one of our fave retail stores, and not break the bank doing so.Kari and I decided to play around with some of the MRP x Barbie items (because being extra is the new chilled). I love the easy to wear denim pieces. The fabric is perfect for a hot South African summer, while not losing the chicness that only denim can bring.
Another fave is the printed fringe vest, that my girl insisted be worn over her swimming clothes, as she lounged at the pool. The slouchy fit and bright coral makes it kinda perfect for the beach, don’t you think?We also adore the MRP x Barbie range of bags. The duffle bag is great as an overnight OR for trips to the beach. The sling bag is kinda cool, you guys. You could fill it with funky accessories and sweeties, for a fabulous Christmas stocking gift idea. I know, I’m a genius.
In true Kari style, my girl wanted to show her cousins her fabulous new outfits. So we decided to put together a few flat lays.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: you probably have to be a Pinterest Mom to get your flat lay just right. Well, friend, I’m here to share with you some of my easy flat lay tips. I mean, it’s so easy even I could do it (with a baby on my hip, no lie).
Here are a few flat lay tips:
1. Always use natural light. Stand in front of a window for the best results!
2. Try to stick to one color pallette or theme
3. Choose one item to be your focal point and add props that complement that item, but does not steal the show.
4. Move around props after every few frames, to ensure that you have a nice amount of pics options to choose from.
5. A white background (or anything with a solid color) works best because it is not distracting.
Win one of two MRP x Barbie hampers valued at R1000 each!
We are giving away two gorgeous Barbie hampers valued at R1000 each! We’ll choose one winner from Instagram and one from Facebook. To enter, simply follow these prompts:
Instagram: Find this post, on Instagram and follow the prompts! (Entry prompts have been changed to give more people the opportunity to enter)
Facebook: Find this specially marked post on Facebook. Take a snap of your little one rocking her Barbie outfit and upload it in the comments section, using the hashtag #MyBarbieStyle. Make sure you’re following My Spreadsheet Brain on Facebook to check if you’re a winner!
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 MRP x Barbie.
-
Lil Punk Boutique: Four ways to style a tutu
With colder weather approaching, I have to get creative when it comes to choosing outfits for my girl. I mean, she insists on wearing dresses and skirts! Not ideal when it’s storming outside. But how does one up the cuteness level of a Winter outfit, while keeping a very ‘girly girl’ happy? Enter: The Tutu Skirt.
We were so excited to receive a gift from Aunty Jill, of Lil Punk Boutique, that contained the cutest tulle tutu skirt and retro tshirt set in the whole wide world! Like, it’s so cute, I would wear it! The retro shirt is part of the latest Lil Punk range and you can pick up these funky retro ringer necks in long sleeve too!
After a long time of producing the funkiest kids clothing, Jill finally designed a tutu skirt that meets her high requirements. These are super comfy (thick waist band), and the tulle is of the best quality (and none of that “rip around the edges” type… you know what I mean). I also appreciate that there is 2 layers of quality tulle and 1 layer of extra thick satin right at the bottom, because modesty is a big deal when it comes to my baby girl.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: Luchae, seriously, how many tutu skirts can one girl own? Well, not enough, according to my little girl. BUT if you have the RIGHT tutu skirt, it can grow with your girl (shorter skirts can be worn over pants) AND you can rock it in many different ways! Check these outfit ideas out:
Four ways to style a tutu
Tights and sneakers
Pair your tulle skirt with a pair of thick winter leggings and a pair of cute sneakers, to pull off an effortless and comfy rainy-weather party look! Darker tutu’s, like this gorgeous black tulle tutu by Lil Punk Boutique, pair well with those warm winter tones and hey, you could team this up with just about any hue of thick winter tights! I mean, the funkier the better, right? A neutral or metallic sneaker will complete the look. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Denims and diamante
Dress up a tulle skirt with denims, for an instant glam look. We paired this denim jacket with some warm leggings, cute gum boots and sparkly accessories, for a fun Winter vibe. I love that the Lil Punk Boutique tulle skirt has a bottom layer of extra thick satin, which makes it the perfect skirt for those cold days. Kari clearly loved this outfit!
Chunky knits
Don’t be afraid to layer those chunky knits and team it up with that favorite tutu skirt. The comfy look of those cute winter jersey’s work so well with a glammed up tulle skirt. The Lil Punk Boutique skirt has a fabulous glitter waist band (nice and thick, for extra comfort) and sprinkles of glitter on the body of the skirt. Kari insisted on wearing her favorite brown Winter boots and chunky knitted hat. I think she looks kinda cute, don’t you?
Jeans and statement tees
You could even pair that tulle skirt with a pair of skinny jeans, a funky statement t-shirt and a pair of sneakers or boots! Who said that jeans and a tshirt has to be boring. A pretty tutu skirt can totally spruce that look up, getting you party-ready in no time. Karis is literally okay with basically any outfit, provided she gets to wear a tutu over it. I mean, the girl makes sense, right?
Lil Punk Boutique tulle tutu skirt: R200 – R280 (size dependant)
Lil Punk Boutique short sleeved ringer tee: R200You can order these items directly from Lil Punk via the stores Facebook and Instagram accounts
-
Fashion Friday: Celebrating authenticity with Krulkop Society
My children dress better than I do. There, I said it. Kiddies fashion has really gone up a level though, and I love that we now have a bunch of lekker local online kids stores to choose from. I’m very proud to say that some of these online boutiques are owned by Nelson Mandela Bay locals (#sharethebay, yo). Kids fashion in the Bay is slamming! (#biasednotbiased). So I thought to show you guys some of my fave proudly PE online kids boutiques and how cute my kid looks modelling their fashion. Hows that for a double whammy? Disclaimer: These weekly Fashion Friday posts may or may not spur on a crazy online shopping spree.
Krul Kop Society
It’s no secret – I love dressing my kid up! And she loves it too… can you tell? I’m totally going with her flow, if you know what I mean. I’ve decided long ago (never to walk in anyone’s shadow?) that I’m going to let my curly girl be exactly who she wants to be – who she was called to be! And yep, that includes not straightening her hair, unless she asks. Do you blame me though, her curls are on fleek. (Pretend I said that all cool-like, and stuff).
So when I met the gorgeous Abegail of Krulkop Society and learnt about her passion – to create a culture of self-acceptance and authenticity in society- I was like, yasss girl! I can get on board with this!
Krulkop Society was birthed in 2017 when Abe saw this gap in the market… this need for people to realize their worth and celebrate their originality. She wanted to start a brand (and a movement, yo) that celebrated this authenticity… you know, the unique characteristics that makes you, you. And so the Krulkop slogan tee was born. It was originally aimed at naturlistas, basically helping them proudly wear their hair decisions on their sleeves, so to speak. With funky fresh slogans and designs, Abe’s concept took the local naturalista scene by storm, and she soon found her range morphing into something else.
I mean, I don’t have curly hair but I want a t-shirt too! What do I do?! Well, Abegail caters for you too, my sleek-haired sister! There is now a Krulkop slogan tee for just about everyone – the bearded brother, the brother with no hair, the naturalista and the straight-haired diva. We are all catered for.
And by “all” I mean men and women, young and old! In these pics, Kari models her two fave Krulkop slogan tshirts, paired with her KidCoCo tutu skirt. I love that there are “Krulkop Seun” tshirts too! These tshirts are a comfy fit and they maintain their shape and quality, even after it’s been through the wash.
But wait, there’s more! Because the branded t-shirt range grew quite popular really quickly, Abe saw opportunity for expansion. This eventually lead to the birth of her gifts range. Looking for a cool, affordable gift idea? The Krulkop gifts range offers you quirky gifts, bedecked with really cool slogans and words of encouragement that aims to leave your gift recipient a little more empowered and uplifted. Hows that for a double score?
What’s next for Krulkop Society? Well, Abe is so keen to get more involved with like-minded organisations and businesses who are looking to partner with her. She is also planning to host unique events in the city to help promote the Krulkop message of self-love and acceptance.
She also told me that her new range will be out soon. So keep your eyes glued to social media for more on that! For more information or to get in touch with Abegail, you can find Krulkop society on Instagram and Facebook, or email her directly.
About this shootThis photo shoot was done in collaboration with Kelly Adams of Basically Kelly at the gorgeous The Windermere hotel in Nelson Mandela Bay.
All photos in this post was taken by my talented blogger friend, Odette Johaar of Odette Johaar Photography and Totally Confident & Completely Insecureblog.
-
Bath Time with Pure Beginnings
Bathing my kids has become a mission, you guys. I mean, for starters, there are two of them under the age of four. And secondly, they are both crazy-busy! Bath time with us usually means Kari trying to wash her Barbie dolls hair, with her favorite Pure Beginnings shampoo, while Jonah puts a bar of soap in his mouth as he simultaneously attempts to sit on his sisters head and make a poo. I’m not even joking, this has really happened.
But, with all the scooping of baby poop out of the bath, I’m so glad that I don’t have to worry about what’s in my kids bath products too. We’ve been using the Pure Beginnings Organic Baby products and I’m totally smitten with this fantastic smelling, all natural, locally produced, organically certified product!
The Pure Beginnings Baby Wash and Shampoo comes in a squish top bottle (which has been especially helpful in monitoring how much wash Kari puts on her Barbie). I love the mild, clean aroma and, I know this is a weird thing to be thankful about, but I appreciate that we can use as much of it as we want, as often as we want. I mean, you guys, when you’re bathing two kideos at the same time, you can’t guarantee that the soap will go where you need it to go. It goes, like, everywhere. Everywhere, you guys. Pure Beginnings is filled with nourishment and none of the bad stuff, so I’m okay with it going everywhere, if you know what I mean.And yes, when I say “bad stuff” I mean things like: Synthetic colorants and fragrances, sulphites, parabens, petrochemicals and phthalates and basically all the other swear words in the organic vocabulary. Nope, none of those in your Pure Beginnings products. How legit?!
Kari has been enjoying the Pure Beginnings Vanilla Mint Toothpaste. It tastes really lekker too… I’ve been told… Okay, okay, fine, I’ll admit, I tasted it! A few times. But that’s only because she often complained about the previous toothpastes that we’ve tried. This delicate Pure Beginnings paste is free of harsh chemicals. It has a mild, pleasant taste, that will have your kid’s pearly whites looking all…er… pearly white!
I love that they’ve extended their range to now include the Pure Beginnings Biodegradable Wet Wipes (with organic aloe) and a Pure Beginnings Baby Bum Cream that also has organic boabab. The wipes are really fresh smelling (yes, it’s a thing) and the bum cream has a creamy consistency, goes on well, and protects your kids bum-bums, while nourishing it. I mean, hello, your kids bottom is delicate and you should avoid using harsh chemicals in that area, at all costs!
And talking about costs, you would expect a quality all organic product, such as Pure Beginnings, to cost a pretty penny. But it really is affordable, yo! You can shop online at Faithful to Nature store or check out the Pure Beginnings website for a stockist near you. -
Styled by my 3 year old: The KellyKariKollab
A few weeks ago, the very sweet Kelly Adams of Basically Kelly asked me if she could do a blog feature with my 3 year old Karis Leigh. Kelly wanted to be styled by my 3 year old and I knew that Karis would totally eat that up! Now, if you guys frequent my Instastories you’ll know that my Kari is full of sass. She loves the camera. She loves to dress up. She loves make up. And she loves to tell other people what to do. (I’ve been told it’s a toddler thing. Her dad says she got it from her mama. You decide.)
The wonderful staff of The Windermere Hotel, located in Summerstrand, Nelson Mandela Bay, agreed to give us their stunning venue as the location and we were so thrilled at the opportunity to feature some of our fave Nelson Mandela Bay kiddies online boutiques.
Now ladies, let me tell you something, I learnt that if you want to unlock your little girls inner diva, give her your make up to play with! Karis got into that make up, styling Kelly like it’s nobodies business! (I sat on the couch, with some chicken nuggets, and chilled. I mean, it was like an afternoon off for me. Who’s complaining?)The girls did each other’s make up (aren’t they cute) and chose outfits for one another. Both went for a pink ensemble and Kelly got a pair of high heels, picked out by Miss Kari, who had been eyeing them. (She has a thing for shoes).
A fresh hair-do later, and they were ready to work the camera, with “Uncle Human” (Kelly’s boyfriend, Hughan) behind the camera, making the girls look as fabulous as they are. We honestly had so much fun and I would totally do something like this again! But hey, check out the vid below for more: -
Mommy and daughter pamper with Amani Spa at Radisson Blu
Look, if anything, Kari has inherited my love for all things girly. I mean, my child is the girliest girl in all of the world! (And hey, that rhymes too) So we were super duper chuffed when the lovely Radisson Blu team invited us to visit their Amani Spa for some school holiday fun. Amani Spa is an award winning, leading spa brand recently partnered with Nelson Mandela Bay’s own Radisson Blu, located on the beach front.
The name ‘amani’ means ‘peace’ and guys, this is exactly what I felt as we entered the tranquil, beautiful setting at the boutique hotel. I love that the spa brand is 100% owned and operated by women, and is dedicated to female empowerment. Girl power! Each spa is unique in respect of location, client and ambiance. Your experience is personalized and the service and care is exceptional. And while school holidays can be pretty bland, what better way to treat your girl than to give her a proper spa experience? I mean, one that won’t involve me sitting on a couch and watching her get pampered… mommy needs some pampering too!
On arrival, we were offered some beverages and little miss politely accepted orange juice, while living the life on a spa chaise, overlooking our beautiful beach front. She had a gazillion questions and exclaimed “it’s so wonderful!” a million other times, so it’s safe to assume that she was excited. We had to keep her quiet though… I mean, the kid does not own an inside voice as of yet. Our lovely spa therapists give us an express mani and pedi, complete with the full works and (her personal fave) a glitter accent nail. She was so pleased with herself. Fortunately, the Amani Spa therapists are so warm, friendly and above all, PATIENT. They answered every question, waiting patiently while she went to the loo, like, 9238471 times (it’s how she gets me to explore a new place with her) and redid her mani when she accidentally smudged it. How’s that for dedication!
I was quite impressed to learn that the spa offers a Young Adults and Tiny Tots menu. Both include spa treatments from as little as R190. Your young adult (12 – 16 years) will feel especially fabulous after one of the spa’s Glowing Facials which lasts for a whole 45 minutes! Kari really loved the toddler treatments, even though it’s aimed at kids aged between 6 to 11 years.
But whatever your age, Amani Spa has something for you. From Mom To Be packages to bridal treatments (there’s even an Amani Man menu!). If you’d like to see what’s on offer, check out the Radisson Blu PE Amani Spa menu on the website or visit the Radisson Blu Port Elizabeth Facebook page to stay up to date with what is hot and happening at the boutique hotel and for more school holiday ideas in the bay! -
What my kids are playing with: Enchantimals
I always feel like I’m winning at life when I find a toy that keeps my precocious 3 year old busy for long periods of time. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love the little bugger, but she constantly needs to be entertained! And I don’t always wake up feeling like Beyonce, if you know what I mean. So when I received a special Enchantimals blog drop from Mattel the other day, I gave myself a metaphorical high5!
Well, for starters the cute Enchantimal characters are really pretty and their unique features and outfits are simply fabulous, dahhling which means Kari will be instantly hooked. But (and this is the winning part) they also each come with an animal bestie! That’s right, each of these rather whimsical half-animal, half-girl characters has a quirky animal best friend. I love this so much!
The Enchantimals story lines encourage friendship, compassion and harmony, and its “Caring is our everything” slogan sums it up rather nicely. Each doll shares a ritual with her animal friend that celebrates their unique traits and personalities. Together they work to create balance, peace and harmony among all living things.Some of the Enchantimals characters include:
Felicity Fox and Flick – Felicity is a nifty, curious little character, who loves exploring with Flick
Danessa Deer and Sprint – These two love racing through the forest to see who is fastest
Sage Skunk and Caper – A great problem solver, Sage loves music and she and Caper are always working on new songs together or planning a clever prank
Bree Bunny and Twist – This DIY duo has a penchant for creating things and are like twin fountains of bubbling creativity
Patter Peacock and Flap – Patter is a fashionista extraordinaire, and she and Flap enjoys singing together
The Enchantimals are available at selected retailers nationwide. Product princes range from R129.99 to R719.99. The play sets are super cute and your little one will enjoy collecting the various dolls and their matching accessories. You can following along on the Enchantimals journey on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. -
Schnooky Pie Girls Summer 17: Pretty and Practical!
I love that my only daughter is the girliest girl in all the land! She’s like, a proper girly girl. She wears my high heels and jewelry around the house and asks for lipstick and make up. I mean, who chooses to wear heels, at home, for fun?! This girl does. She was especially overjoyed the other day when we opened a beautiful parcel from Jaclyn of Schnooky Pie. The bow bedecked box gave us a sneak peak of the proudly South African clothing brand’s new Girls Summer 17 range. If you guys remember, Kari has modeled for Schnooky Pie before. You can read more about Jaclyn’s amazing story on this post I did over at SA Mom Blogs.
