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How useful is a nappy bin? {Win with Tommee Tippee!}
As the name of my blog would suggest, I’m a bit of a nutjob when it comes to making lists. Needless to say, I knew exactly what I wanted and needed, while planning for baby Asher’s arrival. I had opted for items that were practical and efficient. Price point was important and I also wanted to know that I would get the full use of product, instead of throwing money at something that I would only use for 2 weeks. (It happens, Mary, it happens.)
Any the hoo, one of the items on my list was a nappy disposal bin BUT I wasn’t completely sold on the idea. I mean, my initial thought was “how useful is a nappy bin really?” I had managed to successfully raise 3 whole other children without one and I was pretty sure that I would be okay, sans nappy bin/diaper disposal system, this time around too.
And then I got one, you guys. And it changed my mind, like, a lot.For starters, between Jojo’s pull ups and Ash’s nappies, our previous – uhm – ‘nappy disposal method’ was stinky, to say the least. Who wants to have to deal with a bin chockablock full of dirty diapers?! Not I, sayeth the queen.
I investigated a bit more, and found out that the Tommee Tippee Twist and Click Nappy Disposal Bin is so worth the investment! I mean, it’s a kickass nappy bin, sure, but what if I told you that you could use your nappy disposal bin for so much more than just diapers! I know, my mind exploded into a billion pieces too.
Here are 5 different uses for your Tommee Tippee Twist and Click Nappy Disposal Bin. You’re welcome.
1. Top notch nappy disposal bin
The Twist & Click nappy bin keeps your home fresh and stink-free because it has guaranteed odour and germ protection (powered by Sangenic). Yep, that means less trips to the outside bin! Woohoo! The inbuilt plunger pushes up to 30 nappies deep into the bin, sealing each nappy in an anti-bacterial film, to stop germs and smells from invading your home. Very ninja-esque.
2. Sanitary napkin disposal
Once you’re done using your nappy bin for its intended use, you could repurpose the bin and use it to dispose of sanitary napkins and tampons. Yep, you heard me! Because of its sleek and compact design, the Twist & Click nappy bin fits into any room and would actually make for a really stylish looking sanitary pad disposal bin. Plus the twist and click function will ensure that each item is individually wrapped in the optimum amount of antibacterial film. Less waste! Less mess!
3. Skip the flush, bin the paper
South Africa’s water crisis has made us so aware of the amount of water we waste each time we flush the toilet. (It’s 7 to 9 litres, by the way). One of the ways that we’ve been trying to save water, is by skipping the flush. (If it’s yellow, let it mellow etc) Not flushing, every time you go, would make a big difference! But, with this practice comes the question: where do I put the toilet paper?! Well, you could use your nappy disposal bin to bin your paper hygienically. The Twist & Click nappy bin’s anti-bacterial film kills 99% of dangerous germs like e-coli and Staphyloccus Aureus.
4. Covid-19 single use itemsFor those who are in the habit of using single use masks and gloves, during the Covid-19 pandemic, I’m sure you’re quite pedantic when it comes to the disposal of those items. The safest thing to do is to put used masks and gloves into a plastic bag, and then seal it. Because of the “twist and click” feature, the Twist & Click nappy bin individually wraps each item in multi-layer, anti-bacterial film, making this a clever way to bin your used PPE, dramatically reducing the risk of contamination. I also appreciate that the refill cassettes are made from 98% recycled plastic.
5. Food waste
If, like me, you aren’t keen on leaving food waste in the bin where they can attract pests, develop an odor, or become covered in bacteria, why not repurpose a nappy bin to take care of the problem for you. The Twist & Click nappy bin will seal away household waste, with each click, and it’s citrus scented refill cassette will leave your kitchen smelling fresh. Plus, with its slimline, compact design and the on trend colours, it will not look out of place in your kitchen! It’s available in white, blue, green and pink.
Convinced yet? Get your very own Tommee Tippee Twist & Click Nappy Disposal System from one of these stores. You can read more about these gorgeous bins over on the Tommee Tippee website.
Win a Tommee Tippee Twist & Click Nappy Disposal System!Tommee Tippee would like to give one lucky My Spreadsheet Brain reader a Tommee Tippee Twist & Click Nappy Disposal System of their own! To enter the giveaway, simply follow the links to these posts on Instagram and Facebook, and follow the instructions there.
Terms and conditions:
You can enter on Facebook and on Instagram. Decision is final and we reserve the right to disqualify winners should entry mechanisms not be followed. Products are not redeemable for cash. Winners of any Tommee Tippee competitions in the last 6 months will not be eligible to win. Winner will be drawn on 31 July.
Disclaimer: This post was done in collaboration with Tommee Tippee. Some of the images, in this post, belong to Tommee Tippee.
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How to celebrate a birthday when you’re stuck at home {Win!}
Stuck at home, on the brink of celebrating a birthday, and you’re not exactly sure how you’re going to do any celebrating at all? Well then, friend, this post is for you!
Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, lock down birthdays are now a thing. And, I mean, you’re probably considering the fact that you kinda need, well, other people in order to put the “party” into “birthday party”. And you’re not wrong. But there are ways and means to celebrate the birthday boy/girl, even though you’re limited on people and resources.
I love birthdays! And I believe that the only real bummer, about a solid birthday celebration, is not having a solid birthday celebration. And you can quote me on that!
Anyways, before I break into song, dance and monologue, allow me to share with you my list of ways to celebrate a birthday when you’re stuck at home:
1. DecorationsDecorating a room in the house, as a surprise, is an easy and cheap way to make a birthday guy/gal feel special! A sneaky late night set up will have your special person waking up to a gloriously festive birthday hoorah in the morning! Here are some ideas:
A balloon wall – All I’m saying is that balloons have the magical powers to make any room feel a lot more festive. There are no hard rules when it comes to this. The more balloons the better! A balloon wall would most definitely impress. Find an easy tutorial here.
Streamers pinned to the door frame – Who wouldn’t want to open their bedroom door, on the morning of their birthday, to find this colorful surprise awaiting them?! Tutorial here.
Make your own bunting – I did this for Jonah’s birthday. His “lock down birthday” theme was Obnoxious Spiderman which is my way of saying that I made sure to incorporate as many images of Spiderman in the decor. He’s 3 years old, and Spidey is his hero, so this totally made his day. Tutorial here.
2. Presents
So we figured out that Jonah was super excited to open a ton of gifts because he had been eyeing all the gifts his sister received at her birthday party. Since we were unable to invite guests to celebrate with him, that meant that there would be no pile of presents for him to open. So we decided to get him a bunch of smaller gifts (things like color in books and crayons, small games, puzzles etc) and wrapped them up individually so that he would have his very own “birthday party gift pile” to indulge in.
3. Drive and DropI know that drive-by parties are all the rage and if you have friends and family members who would be keen to do a drive and drop, then that’s swell! Make it extra festive with balloons and a sign that says “Hoot once for the birthday boy!” displayed outside. Birthday boy/girl could have their own special chair set up, so that they can bestow their royal birthday wave, as their friends drive by.
If you don’t want your guests to leave empty handed, a slice of birthday cake, in a takeaway box, will do the trick. (For teens, how about a slice of pizza?) And again, this is particularly helpful if you have friends and family members who are looking for an opportunity to celebrate with you, and want to drop off a prezi.
4. Fun activities
You could totes make the day fun by arranging a cool scavenger hunt (ooh, hide away the gifts and design a real treasure map!) or by playing backyard or board games with your family. A “game show birthday party” is a fun way to bring some extra glitz and glamour to your celebrations. The usual foray of birthday party games (pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs) are always a hit and will definitely help to keep the energy up!
5. Virtual fiestaWe fortunately have the technology to stay in touch, even though we can’t physically be in the same room. You may consider hosting a Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype or House Party celebration.
Teens might prefer connecting with their buddies via Xbox or Playstation online gaming. Yep, it’s totally a thing now, parents. I know, I suddenly feel old too.
6. Cake!
I mean, without cake is a party a party? (The correct answer is “heck no”) I knew that I wanted to go big with Jonah’s birthday cake, so I called in an expert to assist.
I had been eyeing the creations over on the Whole Latte Love Facebook page and knew that Leanne would nail my Spiderman birthday cake idea. Leanne’s love for baking started when she tried her hand at making her nieces and nephews birthday cakes. People were kinda impressed with her skill (also, guys, this cake is flippen delicious!) and word got out, which resulted in the start of a little business.
When I asked for a list of flavours to choose from, these were the ones that I had my eye on:
Chocolate chip cake with caramel and chocolate ganache
Chocolate cake with chocolate fudge buttercream
Mint chocolate chip cake with mint buttercream and chocolate pieces
Vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream / Swiss meringue buttercream
Carrot cake filled with homemade caramel and salted caramel buttercream
Red velvet cake with Oreo pieces and Oreo cream cheese icing
Hummingbird cake with cream cheese icing
Lemon meringue cake filled with lemon curd and covered with toasted meringue
Toffee apple cake filled with homemade caramel and cinnamon buttercream
I know what you’re thinking… YUM! I ended up choosing the chocolate cake with chocolate fudge buttercream because chocolate “cakey” is my boys absolute favorite. The price was quite reasonable and she ended up totally making all my Spidey birthday cake dreams come true. Plus she delivers during lock down. If that isn’t rad, then I don’t know what is!
Other treats available:
Brownies (available in different flavours!), Blondies, Cupcakes (available in a variety of flavours), Cheesecake mousse cakes, Profiteroles, Eclairs, Lammingtons, Cinnamon rolls and more! You can place your order via Facebook.
Win a dozen cupcakes for from Whole Latte Love!Guess what my friends *I say, dramatically, with tears in my eyes* …. Whole Latte Love is giving one of you a dozen of her most delicious cupcakes, to help you celebrate that special ‘lock down birthday’! I KNOW! I’m not crying, you’re crying! Okay, I’m totally crying.
To enter, simply check out this post on Facebook and follow the instructions there.
Winner will be announced on Friday 3 July. Winner must reside in Port Elizabeth and must be able to collect cupcakes in Sherwood.
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MAGGI Hi Fibre Noodles – worth the hype?
I sometimes wonder if my kids are trying to Leon Schuster me. I mean, one day they love peanut butter sarmies and nothing else, the next day they shun my specially prepared sandwich as if it’s the plague. Come on – there HAS to be a camera hidden away somewhere, right?!
Seriously though, if getting them fed isn’t enough of a chore, one also has to consider WHAT we are feeding them. Nutrition plays a vital role in a child’s development. Proper nutrients keep your children healthy and strong. And regular. (Need I remind you of the Big Constipation Debacle of 2009?)
So I was especially thrilled to discover MAGGI Hi Fibre Noodles. I mean, its our fave two-minute noodles, with like, super powers. AACK! BUT will a change in formula withstand my picky eater’s taste test?
In case you didn’t know: MAGGI Noodles contain no artificial colourants and no added preservatives. I usually stock up on the multipacks because it’s such a convenient meal solution for my whole family. I add fresh ingredients (proteins or veggies or both) to make it a wholesome meal when I’m in a rush.It’s the one to grab when my kids want a snack, and Miss Kari loves it, so I was a bit nervous to try out the new hi fibre variation on her.
Oh, and talking about hi fibre, did you know that a packet of MAGGI Hi Fibre Noodles has the fibre equal to one bowl of oats?! I mean, that’s kinda impressive for noodles, right? It’s made with Sunflower Seed Oil (so, lower saturated fats) and is a great source of Iron.
Anyways, our verdict:
I was pleasantly surprised to find that preparation is still quick and easy! Simply add your water, pop it into the microwave (or on stove top) and ta da! Delicious noodles, ready to devour!Miss Kari decided to be the taste tester. After sniffing it out (yes, she actually smelled it) and then proceeding to subtely nibble on a noodle, before chomping down on a mouthful, my precarious little girl finally declared that they are “delicious!” (Her words, not mine). Whew! The relief! So thrilled that I can give her a bowl of hi fibre deliciousness now!
Check out the MAGGI website for a bunch of lekker recipes you can make, for your family, using their noodles.
Disclaimer: This post was part of a sponsored campaign for MAGGI.
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Uhh, scrambled eggs and beef… together? {Quick recipe}
My grandmother was a chef of note. But, back then, we didn’t call her a chef… she was our Ma. And there were no fancy cookbooks or food blogs to guide her. My Ma Lamie cooked from her heart. And, truth be told, often her meals were a bunch of ingredients she had in her fridge, thrown into a pot, seasoned with a mix of the best Malay spices and, obvz, a dash of love.
One of my favorite “Ma Lamie dishes” was a mince and egg concoction that hit like no other meal could. I mean, I wouldn’t dare to scramble eggs into curried mince and call it a meal… but that mix, on a slice of thickly buttered bread, pretty much sums up my childhood. AND it’s flippen delicious!
I decided to introduce it to my daughter (she did not have the opportunity to meet Ma) as a way of passing down something from my grandma to her. I admit, I did boujee it up a bit and added extra ingrediants… not that it needs anything, its delish as is! Extra veggies will make it more heartier though. I use McCain veggies because they are precooked and prechopped so you don’t have to do any extra work. Score.
Ma Lamie’s Scrambled Egg and MinceIngredients:
2 Diced onions and 1 diced green pepper
Punnet of mushrooms (cut as small as you’d like)
Spinach (I use the McCain bags)
500g Mince
6-8 Eggs
Method:
In a saucepan, brown your onion and then add your green pepper (I usually also add some garlic and ginger paste).
Add your chopped mushrooms and allow to cook through. Then add your spinach and cook until slightly wilted.
Remove from heat and empty pan. You’re going to need it for the next part.
Brown another onion and add your mince and your spices (for me that’s salt, pepper and paprika).
Once this has cooked through, add your veggies and mix well.
In a separate bowl, add your eggs, a dollop of milk (optional) and some salt and beat together.
Add your egg mix to the pan and use a big spoon or ladle (not a fork), to mix through, until eggs are sufficiently scrambled and cooked through.
The beauty of this dish is that you can literally add as many veggies as you’d like. Or, if it’s that time of the month, simply brown your mince and add the eggs.Oh and did I mention this is carb free too? I know, just when we thought it couldn’t get better! Please do let me know if you end up trying this at home! My Ma Lamie would be so proud!
Disclaimer: This post was done in collaboration with McCain
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Peaceful sleep with the Tommee Tippee Grobag {Win!}
I love sleep. There, I said it. I mean, I function better when I’m well rested, you guys. It’s just, like, a fact of life! And so, because of this fact (uhh of life), I’m always super keen when a brand tells me that their product promotes better sleep for babies.
Ash has always been a good sleeper, but truth be told, I’m always super anxious when he sleeps soundly. I check on him every so often, to make sure that he is the right temperature and that his breathing is regular. I mean, you can call me paranoid, but not to my face.
And now, with Autumn in our midst, the colder weather would mean more blankets. Well, usually, right?
But what if I told you that you don’t really need more blankets, to ensure that baby is snug and comfy? I know I told you about it before, but friends, these Tommee Tippee Grobag’s are perfect for this sort of thing!
For starters, the promoting of “safer sleep for babies” is not just clever words that they say to impress you. The prestigious Lullaby Trust – a UK based charity for safe sleep, highly recommends this multi-award winning product. And, a survey done in the UK actually proved that 71% of babies slept for more than 6 hours, in their Grobag. Legit, right?
The main draw card, for me, was the fact that I don’t need to use extra blankets in his cot. The togs come in various weights and sizes, so Ash is sorted during Winter AND Summer. And, with the ample leg room in the tog, he doesn’t feel restricted. (Also, have you seen his chubby thighs? Lots of leg room is needed to house those bundles of deliciousness.)
Ensuring that your baby is the right temperature is important, since overheating can result in cot death. *shudder*
Your Grobag comes with a cute Nursery Thermometer, helping you to ensure that baby is at a safe sleep temperature. I also like that the YKK zipper and chin guard helps to prevent chafing.
But more than anything, I do appreciate that it’s easy to use, 100% cotton AND machine washable (can I cry now?), so I can pop it into the washing machine if need be. The designs are gorgeous (check them out over here) and would make for such a cool babyshower gift!
PSA: If you purchase your Grobag before end of May 2020, you can use my code: gb15spreadsheetbrain and score yourself 15% off!
Check out the Tommee Tippee online store for this and more amazing Gro products.
Win a Tommee Tippee Grobag!Tommee Tippee and My Spreadsheet Brain are giving ONE lucky reader a gorgeous Grobag! To enter, simply find this specially marked post on Instagram and follow the prompts!
Terms and conditions
Giveaway ends on 30 April. Competition is open to SA residents only. Competition is not affiliated with Instagram. T&C’s apply. Decision is final and we reserve the right to disqualify winners should entry mechanisms not be followed. Products are not redeemable for cash. Tommee Tippee will deliver goods to winner.
Disclaimer: This post was done in collaboration with Tommee Tippee
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#Covid19 – Why I haven’t been posting about it
So our darling Presi’s official announcement (about a nationwide shutdown) was absolutely well-received last night, right? I mean, for the most part.
Some peeps are still outchere, trying to cheat the system by breaking government rules. Lest your social life be affected by a virus that kills people. I mean, the audacity.
But, for the most part, we’re all very relieved that very stringent measures have been put in place to help #flattenthecurve.
Social media has been quite an interesting place to visit the past few days. I mean, I go there for the Social Justice Unicorns who single-handedly save the world one post at a time, while reprimanding everyone like a headmistress would a naughty child. And I also go there for the “101 things you can do with your kids during a lock down” and the “here’s how you should actually be washing your hands” posts.
But I mainly go there for the posts that are unrelated to Covid-19. I mean, amidst all the doom and gloom, I’m constantly looking for stories of hope and inspiration (and hey, entertainment) so as to keep my stress levels at a minimum.
Consuming one piece of Covid-19 content after another has made me feel, well, a little depressed, you guys. It’s depressing. It’s freaking scary. It’s enough to make you not want to get out of bed in the morning. The weight of the reality of the pandemic is that heavy. And while I want to stay abreast with what’s happening, I’m trying to be responsible, with regards to the type of content I am allowing my brain to consume.
It got me to thinking about your brains. (Unnecessarily gross, I know). I mean, I am responsible for the type of content that I produce. Am I churning out content that is fear-mongering or depression-triggering? Am I aware of the source of information – is it fake news? Am I 100% sure that it’s not?
Anyways, needless to say, I’ve had a lot to
obsessthink about while I figure out my new normal, with regards to this blog and my social media presence.
After much mulling around, I finally reached a conclusion: I don’t want share a lot of random content with regards to Covid-19.I want to post content that uplifts and entertains, rather than content that makes you feel as if you need to plan how you’re going to consume your husband’s remains when the food runs out. (Unnecessarily gross again, I can’t help myself…)
Is coronavirus a real threat? Well, yes. The pandemic should (obvz) be taken seriously. But, besides for resharing actual news stories (you know, from reputable media sources), I probably won’t be basing all of my content around Covid-19.
I admit: it’s going to be pretty inauthentic to fill my pages with the usual content, when the world is facing something so terrible. I’ll also admit, I do have a few brand campaigns running, that I had committed to prior to Presi’s announcement. And then another admit: I know that it’s going to feel lank weird to talk about arb ish, while I’m sitting at home, praying for our country.
But I will try to keep my posts upbeat and interesting, to the best of my ability, curbing the sponsored stuff (besides for a few more that I really want to share) and sticking to stories that distract you from our current pains, atleast for a little bit.
And my solemn promise to you is that if I share anything Covid-19 related it will be factual and helpful. I promise to help you to fix your mind on whatever is good and helpful and hopeful and truthful. And even if I don’t have a recipe for making your own hand sanitizer at home, I hope to better your day (atleast for a few seconds while you skim through these posts) with articles that make this shutdown a little more brighter.
For the most part, I plan to write stories from the heart (call it entertainment, inspiration, madness, whatevs) with the intention of making the next 21 days a little less gloomier. And hopefully, once all of this is over, we’ll both come out on the other side, changed but not scarred.
Image by Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pixabay
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5 Home Date Night Valentine Activities
I’d like to think that I’m an expert at staying at home. In fact, all of my best Valentine’s Day dates took place in the comfort of my living room. True story!
I mean, I love the idea of spending quality time with my Hubstopher, but the lure of my comfy couch and pajama’s is a lot stronger than the thought of having to scramble for a babysitter, pre-cook meals for the kids, get all dolled up and then drag myself (and my Hubstopher) to a restaurant, only to check in on the kids every few minutes and then call it a night when exhaustion hits me. (At 9pm, guys. The exhaustion hits at 9.)
I mean, who says a home date night has to be boring, anyways?! When it comes to planning the perfect Valentine home date night, you need to have a few key things in place:
1. The kids are bathed and in bed by 8pm.
2. We have a list of fun activities to partake in.
3. Someone has their Uber Eats app open, because mama’s not cooking tonight!The app has a wide variety of cuisines with over 400 000 menu items available. We usually order a “starter” from one eatery, a “main” from another, and a dessert from a completely different restaurant, just to spice things up a bit! The cool thing is that the new Uber Eats delivery fee (which is super low anyways) depend on the distance between the eater’s delivery address and the restaurant you’re ordering from. So we always feel like we’re winning!
Once you’ve sorted out kids and food (at this point, you may consider taking a nap, but I dare you not to), how about partaking in these interesting home date night activities:
5 Home Date Night Valentine ActivitiesMovie Night
Set up your very own indoor cinema, complete with romantic lighting and lots of comfy pillows. You could add a romantic element to the movie-watching i.e. “One kiss every time someone says the word love” or “share a secret every time someone hugs”.
Watch your wedding video
Take a walk down memory lane by watching your wedding video together. My Hubstopher gets especially teary eyed every single time he watches us exchanging vows – it’s super cute! Up the ante, by including conversation prompts (questions in a jar) that would take you all the way back to when you first met.
Questions and Answers
We love a good questions and answers game, you guys. It’s really simple: write down questions (we usually do 20 each), place them in a jar and then take turns to ask them to each other. It makes for really interesting conversation starters and you end up learning a little bit more about your partner.
Board Games
A game night always scores a thumbs up from us. We’ve figured out ways to adapt even the most complicated of games, to a two-man show, making things a lot more fun. Hint: Add some prizes and penalties to make things a bit more dramatic and interesting. This is when I’d usually order some dessert, because with an under 30 minute delivery, it’s there before my Hubstopher conspires to win, keeping him distracted and letting mama sail to victory.
Dance it out
Move the furniture in your living room, put on those slow love songs, and enjoy the evening in your partners arms, dancing the night away! Add an element of surprise, by each creating a special playlist and then putting it on shuffle, surprising each other with your song selections.
It’s easy with Eats!
Whatever you end up doing, to celebrate the day of love, always remember that the real treat is in being together. Keep the night simple by ordering in via the Uber Eats app, and enjoying quality time with your loved one. Download the Uber Eats app from either the App or Google Play stores or order at ubereats.com
Disclaimer: This post was done in collaboration with Uber Eats.
Header Image: Freepik
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How to Keep Your Home Tidy and Have More Time for Yourself
Sponsored – The popular psychology that comes from the Far East says that a clean house helps us keep our minds clean as well. There is even a book by a Shin-Buddhist monk, Shoukei Matsumoto, that addresses the issue — ‘A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind’.
While some people simply don’t mind being messy, we can’t deny that a clean space does transmit better vibes. There are a variety of cleaning methods out there – perhaps the most well-known is the KonMari Method. Whatever cleaning system you use to keep your house clean, here are a few tips that take inspiration from the KonMari cleaning method that you can include in your everyday routine.
Put Everything Back to Its Place
This might seem like an impossible task at first, but once you create a habit of it, it will vastly influence the overall free time you have each day.
The majority of people leave things wherever they find themselves at a particular moment. You come back from work, take off your shoes in the corridor, leave your bag in the living room, and your coat on the couch.
The situation repeats when you are leaving your home — you do your makeup and leave everything on the table. Or you take things out of the closet, and while you try them on you throw them on your bed before you finally choose what you’ll wear.
And while these actions don’t seem like anything that can cause trouble, repeating them day by day will create a huge mess that will stress you out the moment you start cleaning. The stress will also occur when you try to find a particular item the following day and get lost in the pile of things you have created.
That’s why the KonMari method advocates for creating a habit of putting everything where it belongs immediately after you are done using it. That way, you will always know where to find your things and you will have less work to do when cleaning. Therefore, you’ll have more time for your favourite activities.
Don’t Put off Until Tomorrow What You Can Do Today
Another thing that people often do is procrastinating and postponing responsibilities for one more hour, day, week, or even month. Although we sometimes plan when we are going to do certain things, it is not necessary to strictly stick to the schedule when it comes to things that don’t require a deadline.
Maybe you planned to mow the lawn or organise your accessories on Sunday morning. However, your friend cancelled the picnic plans you had for Saturday and now you have nothing to do. So why not finish on Saturday whatever you had planned for Sunday?
Even one day without any tasks awaiting in the morning will make you feel relaxed since you will be able to spontaneously do whatever you feel like and simply go with the flow.
Kill Two Birds With One Stone
This trick is one of the best time-savers you can use each day. The process of ‘killing two birds with one stone’ doesn’t mean that you should do two things at the same time because, in that case, you wouldn’t be able to focus on any of them properly.
What you can do instead is to finish some minor things while something else is ‘getting done’. In practice, this includes situations like wiping your kitchen counter and putting the dishes in the machine while the turkey in the oven is getting ready. Another option that can save your time is cleaning the sink while the acid you sprayed your shower with works on melting the limescale.
These little things make your home clean for longer and help you reduce your cleaning time to a minimum later on.
Do Regular Seasonal Cleaning
Even if you follow all of the above-mentioned steps and your house doesn’t look like it needs a seasonal cleaning, devote one day at the beginning of every season to detailed cleaning.
Pay attention to all the things you are not going to use in the following months. That can include putting away winter clothes that take up half of your closet, storing your roller blades or anything else that doesn’t belong to the current season.
So take these suggestions, inspired by Marie Kondo, and enjoy all the free time you have from cleaning efficiently!
This was a guest post written by Kyle Moore.
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Making up for lost time this festive season
You’ll often find me flexing my Genius Mom status ’round about these parts because… well… I have five children, people. That’s five whole human beings whose lives I contribute to in a major way. I mean, let’s just say that three of them won’t have clean bums if I’m not around. So that’s, like, a pretty big deal.
But, because there are that many children under my care, I also have to find new ways of
making them believe that I’m amazingentertaining them. This was especially challenging this December because we’ve added our latest member to the troupe a mere four months ago!So, the other day, when our eldest turned a whole 18 years old (yes, I do realize that I am now parenting another adult) I decided to flex that Genius Mom muscle once again by incorporating as many kids as possible into baking Now-Adult-Son’s birthday cake. The result? Pretty epic, even if I do say so myself. (Which I do.) I mean, homemade baking just tastes better, right?
Now, I need to add a teeny tiny disclaimer right here: I don’t bake.
Like, if you had to rate my skills and abilities on a scale of 1 to 10, I would probably score a solid -11 when it came to baking. Yep, it’s real bad.But I know that baking is a labor of love. I needed to remedy this situation AND gain the respect and awe of my children simultaneously.
So I was especially chuffed with myself for remembering that I had a box of Golden Cloud Cake Mix in my cupboard. Although, let’s be honest friends, I wasn’t going to pass out in shock if I flopped on this too. I mean, I’m okay with it. One can only have so many amazing talents (this is me trying to make myself feel better).Anyways, I whipped out the cake mix box and quickly scanned the pretty straight-forward instructions. I only needed to add the “wet” ingredients… the rest was in the box, including yummy icing! That was such a score already!
I was also impressed that I didn’t need to have special cake-making-things to make the cake (you guys know what I mean, right?) There was no mention of fancy cake making tools and equipment. Needless to say, I felt like I was winning and the cake wasn’t evens made yet.
We finally got cracking (literally, cracked the eggs, I know, I’m a lyrical genius) and, with the help of my kids, had the cake in the oven in no time! The icing was super easy to make and we got so much out of it, I could keep some aside for our Golden Cloud cupcakes (also so easy to make, my five year old practically did it by herself!)The kids enjoyed decorating the cake. I enjoyed eating the cake. Both for obvious reasons. The result? It was super yummy and moist! Honestly, I was a little bit shocked… why didn’t anyone tell me that it’s this easy to bake a cake, yo?! I feel like the universe has been holding out on me!
I’ve now stocked up on as many Golden Cloud mixes as possible. It’s such a great way to make up for lost time AND, if you involve them, you get to be creative with your family. We are loving the cuppacino muffin mix and my kids are begging me to try the bread/dombolo mix! My sussie and I whipped up some scones for her Ma the other day and, I must admit, it felt good to beable to casually mention that I had just “popped them into the oven earlier”. Watch out Cake Boss, I’m coming for you!Have you tried the Golden Cloud mixes? Which are your faves?
Disclaimer: This post was done in collaboration with Golden Cloud
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=729439874223131
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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.
