Easter Crafts!

Mia had so much fun doing some Easter crafts yesterday.

We made Easter cards to give to family members - super easy and fun and came out so pretty - I'll do a step-by-step explanation of the craft below the piccies.

Then we went off to my sister's house - my folks are visiting for the weekend, yay!  Mia helped decorate the Easter Tree - first time we do this, but definitely a new tradition to keep!  My mom has this little wire tree, and she bought little hanging egg ornaments - it looks beautiful and festive!

After decorating the tree, my mom and Mia did some gardening, planting beautiful daffodils in pots - a perfect spot for the Easter Bunny to hide a choccie or two! ;-)

I found this idea for an Easter craft on Pinterest.

1. I didn't print out an egg template, just drew some on a couple of papers, and then the same amount that I drew, I cut out using my craft knife, to use for the "frame".
2. Cut strips of coloured paper - old bits of scrapbook paper worked perfectly for this.
3. Then I let Mia put glue on the page with the drawn egg template, this can be nice and messy, doesn't have to be done exactly right. :-)
4. Then positioned the coloured strips of paper on the glue - here I helped Mia to arrange them reasonably straight.
5. Then use the other paper with the cut-out egg, put more glue onto either paper, and stick it on to create the Easter egg effect of the coloured paper strips.
6. I used the paper-cutter to then just cut off around the edges to get it nice and tidy.
7. What got me excited about this craft, is how you can apply this to whatever theme you want! Yay!

xx

Girls Weekend!

I got invited on a girlfriend getaway this past weekend.  We went to Magaliesburg for a night, and it was just the most fun ever! Giggles, chats, games, dancing, booze, hubbly-bubbly, tree-climbing and laughter galore!

We're all trying to follow healthy eating plans - so our supper was a divine steak and roast veggie meal, and our dessert was paleo-friendly icecream and paleo-friendly chocolate brownies! Really yummy - with none of the added guilt that eating the usual types of icecream and brownies would bring! Bargain!

We kuier'ed until 1am on Saturday night - and then I slept sooooo nicely until 8am - treat deluxe!

I was away from home for less than 24 hours - left on Saturday at 2pm and back on Sunday before 1pm - but I missed lil Mia so much - we had the most divine snooze together on Sunday arvie.  Wyn was great with her, managed so well with everything, including the 6am wake-up on Sunday. ;-)

Good times, special memories.  This is going to be an annual getaway, yay!

Two-and-a-half!

This week, Mia celebrated her half-year birthday. Two years and six months old.  30 Months!

Now, if you ask her how old she is, she answers, "two... two and a half!" Love it.

To celebrate, I bought a cake at the dairy farm, and cut it in half, and put two and a half candles on for her to blow out.  She loved it!

Umhlanga Holiday 2013

We had such a fabulous lil getaway last weekend!  It was exactly what I wanted, what my soul needed. 

We left on Friday morning just before 6am.  We stopped at Villiers Engen garage for a Wimpy brekkie, then did a good long stretch, with a quick loo stop along the way.  We arrived in Durban at 12h30 already! Made such great time!  We could only book into the hotel from 2pm, so went to Pavilion Mall for some ice-cream. Then booked into the hotel, unpacked quickly, and headed down to the beach.

Aaaah, the sea.  I do love it!  We had a nice splash in the waves and a lekker walk along the beach.  Then it was about 4pm, and Mia had only napped a short while in the car earlier in the morning - so we decided we'd all have a catnap at the hotel.  Bliss!  Woke up just after 5, then explored the hotel, and then had supper in the hotel's restaurant.   The late nap worked well to stretch Mia's bedtime - we were all lights-out at 9pm!

Saturday was our day at uShaka Marine World.  We met friends of ours there, who drove all the way from Richardsbay to be with us for the day, it was great fun.  Mia loved the fishies, stared in disbelief at the sharks, was in awe of the dolphin show, and was fascinated by the penguins!  Such fun.  Then had a nice lunch with friends, and Mia had a nap in her pram.  Perfect!  Supper at the hotel again.

Sunday was our beach day - Mia loved the waves and the sand.  We sure got our fair share of exercise running after her!  After a while on the beach, we went back to the hotel for a swim in the hotel's heated pool to wash off all the sand.  Mia enjoyed that so much, we had to bribe her with choccie to get her out of the pool!  After a short nap, we went to Gateway Mall for a stroll and for an early supper.

Monday morning we had our last buffet breakfast at the hotel, packed up, and left at about 9h30.  We only stopped once along the way, and both Mia and I had a snooze in the car.

The three days went by so fast - but it was perfect - couldn't really do the small hotel space for much longer than that!

We stayed at the Umhlanga Garden Court, and I was really impressed.  The rooms were really nice, the staff were super friendly, and the brekkie buffet was yum!

Sand, sand, glorious sand! 

Fun in the sun

Run, mommy, run!

 

Happiness!

Her face when the dolphin show started!

Mia adored these lil rides!

Earphones - now she can watch her dvd's and we can listen to music, yay!

Wonderful, amazing, special, fantastic time!

xx

Lately...

Found this post on an awesome blog I read, Vanilla Blonde, and thought it's a really nice update questionnaire, and felt like doing the same.  :-)

I've been planning... Oh gosh, lots of things.  Our seaside holiday for this weekend...  Business promotions to get some more clients and sell some more products...  Easter weekend's treasure hunt and family get-together... Arts and crafts things that I want to do...

I've been eating... low-carb - mostly! I'm feeling good, it seems to suit me.

I've been dreaming about... The sea!

I've been splurging on... Hmm, nothing really! Been trying to get my finances in order a bit, so mostly only spend money on groceries, boring, but true!

I've been reading... Lesley Pearse.  Been re-reading lots of her books, busy with Gypsy at the moment, really good book!  Also busy reading The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf.

I've been wearing... my denim skirt, that I don't wear very often but I actually really like it!!

I've discovered... That I can live without dairy products, easily.

I've been struggling with... Losing weight!!  I seem to be on the common diet where people eat well Mondays to Fridays and then fall off the wagon on the weekend and undo the previous 5 days of hard work...  Really need to try harder.

I've been happy about... the general state of my life.  Sure, I could do with making some more money, but other than that, I'm super happy.  Love my husband, love my daughter, love my work, love my friends.

I've been creative... with trying out some low-carb meals, making them low-carb yet tasty.  Meatballs, sweet potato mash and home-made tomato and onion sauce is totally delish!

I've been inspired by... my friends who are on weightloss journeys.  And Pinterest, of course!

xx

Love this

I'm so lucky!

Oops, been quiet on my blog, but really been so busy. Busy making memories!

The Market Day that I was trying to promote my business at didn't go very well, unfortunately.  Most people were there to browse, and were walking around without any money, so I didn't sell any products.  I did hand out quite a lot of pricelists, samples and product brochures, so hopefully I get some phone calls soon.  *Mental note to self: Don't try and do marketing at this market day again!!

The low-carb eating plan is going well, mostly.  Although it really does take time - time to plan meals, time to prepare them.  Last week was difficult, because I was at product training for two days, and then away for a couple of days - but as much as I can, I am avoiding white carbs, concentrating on smaller portions, and trying to make better choices.  I just do love my choccies and vino so much tho...

Mia and I had a great visit with my folks in Pietersburg!  It felt like my college-days: lounging on the couch, reading, watching tv, eating mom's home-cooked meals... Bliss!  I shared a bed with Mia, and she's such a lil snuggle-bug! I didn't sleep very well, coz I was so aware of her - but I did savour the closeness - and both mornings she woke up before I did and woke me up by saying, "You're so lucky, Mommy!"  Yes, indeed I am, baby girl! Lucky and blessed.

On Friday my folks came back to Gauteng with us - my mom came with us and my dad came in his car.  What fun to have extra time to spend with them!  Had a special braai at our house with both my siblings on Friday evening, and on Saturday arvie Mia and I went for snacks at my sister's house, and me, Mia, my mom and my sis sat on a blanket on the grass and had such a special time together. ♥

Next up is our weekend at the sea!  Whoop whoop!  Can't wait to just to chill out with hubby and lil girl.  It's a long way to go for three nights, but my soul truly has a yearning for the sea, I can't wait for the assault on my senses: To see the ocean, smell it, feel it, hear it!
xx

Roadtrip to P'burg - stopped for snacks along the way!

Mia loved the water fountain at the garden centre! She had granny walking through it too!

The girls ♥

Low-carb eating, Market Day, and March plans!

On Monday I started following a low-carb eating plan.  I'm still on the Weight Watchers program, have about 4 weeks left that I paid for, but then I won't go back though.  The concept is a brilliant one, but the meetings are a schlep to get to, 5pm in our house is supper-prep time!

The low-carb eating guidelines are that I'm basically trying to avoid white carbs, processed foods, and added sugar.  Been having scrambled egg for brekkie, tuna salad for lunch, nuts and biltong for snacks - going really well so far, granted it's only day 5!  I've allowed myself small portions of brown rice or wholewheat pasta at dinner time, but really small.  And had oats for breakfast one morning, without my usual milk and sugar, only a small dash of honey!

On Sunday there's a Market Day on at the clubhouse at the estate where we live.  I decided to buy a stall for my business - this really is my target market, and I do need some new clients.  I must still decide what special offer I must run for the day, something really irresistible so that people will book an appointment straight away!  Vitaderm has been really awesome with their support, and have given brochures and samples to hand out, and pretty banners to put up.  I'm quite excited about this!  Hope it's successful.

March is turning out to be my roadtrip month!
Next week Mia and I are going to go visit my parents in Pietersburg for a few days.  Looking forward to some quality time!
Then the weekend after that we're going on a mini-break to the coast.  It's far to drive for just 3 nights...  But I really really want to do this!  My soul is yearning for the sea.  And I can't wait to take Mia to uShaka!
The weekend after that I'm going on a girls weekend away with some girlfriends - just for a Saturday night.  We're going to Magaliesburg, so nice and close.  I've already had a dream about this getaway - all I packed was a bottle of red wine and a packet of NikNaks.  Sounds perfect, hehe!

Let me go make my low-carb meatballs and mashed sweet potato lunch!
xx

Cara-Sue's First Birthday Party

We went to the inlaws in the Free State this weekend, to celebrate my sister-in-law's little girl's first birthday.  I played photographer for the party and had lots of fun doing so! :-)

The party preparation:

Party time:

Birthday Girl, Cara-Sue and family:

"I want a butterfly"

This morning my heart burst, when Mia was pointing out a butterfly in the book that we were reading, and I told her "yes, such a pretty butterfly!" And I couldn't believe my ears, the next thing she said was:

"I want a butterfly, on my finger!
I will kiss it,
And love it,
And put it in my 'handsak'!"

Oh, bless!
My heart!

♥

xx

Moms & Tots Class

I took a few snaps with my phone camera at our Moms & Tots class this week.

Mia really enjoys the class, often if I ask her what she wants to do, she says "go to tannie Estie!"  Mia doesn't interact much with the other children, but she does take part in all of the activities, often gets super excited, and can see she loves it.  However, when somebody gives her individual attention, she gets super shy.

Each class starts off with free-play time, where toys/activities/puzzles can be taken off the shelves and played with - but in a structured way - each child has a chair and table, and after each activity the toy must be put away before choosing another one.

Then we go outside for an obstacle course, and then back inside to sing some songs with movement, march in a circle, play with a musical instrument, play dress-up with cat ears, play with big exercise balls, etc.  Each week there is a colour-theme, which Estie then shows them all sorts of things in that colour, and gives them each a little plastic container with those coloured things in for them to explore and look at.

Then it's "Give-mommy-a-Barney-hug" time, which I just love - when Mia was a bit smaller she used to let me hold her, but looked at the other kids more.  Now she hugs me the whole time, with her head on my shoulder, i LOVE it.  Then story time on a blanket.

After story time it's craft time - one of Mia's favourite activities.  They make supercute things each time.
Then it's messy play outside, this often varies, but includes: sand, finger paint, playdough, coloured sand, birdseed, water with dishes to wash or clothes to wash, water with fishies, boats or sponges, koki pens, chalk crayons, iced marie biscuits, cones in icing sugar, big paint boards...  Another of Mia's favourites, of course!

Then we end with juice-and-chippy time, where the kids all sit at a table with their snacks that Estie provides, and the mom's have tea time - we make turns each week who brings something along.

I'm so glad we do this - it's special time for the two of us together, and Mia learns a lot.
:-)
xx

Big girl sleeps in a big bed now!

For a couple of weeks now, I've been telling Mia how it's time for her to sleep in the single bed in her room, and not in the cot - she would hear nothing of it...  The one time I tucked her into the bed and left the room for her to have a nap, she cried and cried.  I told her that one day she will have a baby brother or sister who will need to sleep in the cot, and I asked her, "where will the baby sleep if you sleep in the cot?" to which she replied, "baby can sleep there in the big bed!"

I was worried about her falling off the bed - so we tried removing the bed's base so that the mattress was on the floor.  Mia was NOT happy with "sleeping on the floor".  So we put the base back.  I looked at Baby City, and their guard railing didn't look nice, it had a railing that I just knew Mia would try and climb.  Then I saw a pic of a different mesh kind of bed guard on a friend's photo, asked her where she got it, and off we went to Baby Boom yesterday!

Found the mesh bed guard, and while we were installing it, I told Wyn, you know what, we might as well take the cot out of her room, so that she doesn't have a choice as to where she sleeps.  So we made a big deal out of rearranging her room with her, letting her help us move things, telling her how exciting it is and how pretty her room is, putting her favourite dudu toy, "Bubu" (piglet) on the big bed, etc - and she got caught up in the excitement and loved it all.

Come nap time, she asked me to lie down with her, so I did for a few minutes, but then told her it's dudu time, kissed her and walked out.  I stood with the AngelCare monitor listening, fully expecting to be called within seconds... But she was fast asleep!  Yay!

Bedtime, same thing - I lay down with her while she had her tea bottle, then kissed her and left, and she didn't make a squeak until 6h30 the next morning.  Another yay!

The transition was easier than I expected.  Hold thumbs it stays this way!
xx

Mia the little Gardener!

We had so much fun recently planting a few seedlings.
Mia did most of it herself! 
Putting soil into the pots, putting the seedling on top, filling it up with more soil, and watering it.  
Super cute!
xx

Weight Watchers - making some progress!

I've had four weigh-in's at Weight Watchers so far.  The results have looked like this:
Week 1: Lost 1kg
Week 2: Gained 0.2kg
Week 3: Lost 1.2kg
Week 4: Lost 0.8kg

Total loss so far: 2.8kg

Very pleased with the progress so far!

I'm not keeping the food diary as diligently as I should be though - but I am being attentive as to my portion sizes and food choices.  I bought a kitchen scale, and can't believe the differences between the actual recommended portion size and my usual guesses...  For example my oats for breakfast, it's recommended to stick to 100g cooked oats - I think I was easily eating double that.  So I think my success thus far is very much due to concentrating on smaller portions, and then adding salads or veg to bulk it up a bit.

I'm taking some weight loss supplements as well - USN Phedracut XT capsules, and Biogen CLA 3000.

Exercise goes well sometimes, other times not so much - last week my energy levels were really down and I just couldn't get myself to try harder.  This week I have been too busy with clients, so I haven't been able to go to the gym as often as I would like to.  Hopefully I can make up for it over the weekend.

I have 8 more weeks to go on the Weight Watchers program, if I can keep up this steady pace, I'll be able to be very close to goal weight by the end of it.  Really hope so!  I need to stay focussed and motivated. 

xx

We made Moon Sand!

This weekend we had some fun making moon sand.

I got the idea from my friend Debs, and looked around on the internet for recipes, and came across two variants, of which Debs did the second one - which turned out to be the better one of the two!

Recipe 1:
4 cups play sand
2 cups corn starch (I used Maizena)
1 cup water

We mixed it all together - and I was a bit disappointed with it - it didn't really have a very "special" texture... Mia ended up adding more water to it, which made it quite gooey, but very very messy.

Recipe 2:
8 cups of flour
1 cup of oil (preferably baby oil, but I used sunflower oil)

This was divine!  It made a soft crumbly texture - it made me understand the term "moon sand".  I'd love to walk on a beach of sand like this!

We built miniature sandcastles with is, although it broke quite easily.  We hid small plastic animals in it.  And we squished it with our hands and feet!

I made a small batch, we just used 4 cups of flour, and just over half a cup of oil.  We put some glitter in it to make it sparkle. :-)

Will definitely do this again soon, I had just as much fun as Mia did, if not more!

I heard it can be put in a sealed container and kept for another time, but we messed so much, it wasn't worth cleaning up, easier to squirt it off the deck with the hosepipe.

Highly recommended for some fun messy play! :-)