My Winter Reading List

Hello Everyone

I think all moms can agree with me that once you have kids, the amount of free time you have to read decreases drastically. Before my little ones were born, I used to inhale books. We spent many a Friday night perusing the aisles of Exclusive books before we went to the movies...and usually left with a book or three to read during the week.

 Not long after Master J  was born, my family gave me a Kindle for Christmas. Now, I am quite a traditionalist, so the idea of reading an ebook was strange to me. At first I missed the smell of a new book, the feel of the pages between my fingers. But soon the convenience of having an entire bookstore at my finger tips on my kindle won me over.

One of my goals for this year has been to watch less TV and read more books. Quite honestly, I have struggled with this as the draw of sitting mindlessly in front of the box after a long day with the kids has been a strong one. But with winter having arrived, I can think of nothing nicer than having a hot (quick, due to the water restrictions) shower and then jumping into bed and snuggling under the duvet with my kindle.

This winter holidays I want to set the example for my kids by rather picking up a book than switching on the tele. I have been browsing through the kindle book store and have rediscovered some of my favourite authors. The following titles are first up and I cannot wait to get stuck in:

14th Deadly Sin by James Patterson 

This is the 14th book of the Women's Murder Club series. They are real page turners and if you enjoy a good whodunnit then you will love this series! I've had this book on my kindle for close to two years...I think this school holiday it's time to get stuck in.

The Missing Wife by Sheila O'Flanagan

Any Sheila O'Flanagan novel has always been a firm favourite of mine. I enjoy her style of writing. The Missing Wife blurb sounds a bit more serious than some of her other books that I have read, but I look forward to delving into yet another one of her stories. It's price on Kindle is also fantastic - $1.20!

The Woman Who Stole My Life by Marian Keyes

Marian Keyes' Watermelon was the very first "adult", door stopper sized book I ever read. Before that I devoured teen fiction such as Sweet Valley University. Therefore, MK will always hold a special place in my heart. I haven't read any of her books in the last 5 years, so I am really excited to read this book of hers. I love her sense of humour and all her books have always put a big smile on my face. Just the right thing to brighten up a grey, winters day.

Two by Two by Nicholas Sparks

No holiday reading list would be complete without a Nicholas Sparks novel. A Walk To Remember was his first book that I ever read and I was hooked after that. There is something sweetly romantic about his books that tugs at my heart strings. Be warned, having a box of tissues nearby is a prerequisite for any of his stories. 

Let me know in the comments below what you are busy reading and if you have any suggestions for me.

Until next time,

XX-L

Busy Bag Exchange

Hello everyone

A couple of years ago the prospect of being stuck indoors with a then 5 year old and 18 month old for the duration of the winter school holidays scared me senseless. We were tired of our toys and I could sense cabin fever setting in already!

One evening while scrolling through countless Pinterest posts, I discovered something that American moms were going nuts about - Busy Bags. A community of moms would get together and each decide on an activity to make. Each mom would then replicate her activity by the number of moms taking part. A few weeks later, a busy bag exchange would take place and you would leave with a variety of activities for your toddler.

At the time, Miss E and I used to attend a weekly Moms & Tots class. I placed an "ad" on our local mom's facebook page and quite a few mom's responded saying that they would like to take part. So together with our Moms and Tots class, we got started on making a variety of activities. Each activity came with a set of instructions as well as what the desired outcomes were or what skill your child would develop.

Some of the activities that were included: 

• Fruit loop counting and sorting
• Sensory fidget box (looong before fidget spinners were around)
• Colour wheel with matching pegs
• Sequencing caterpillar
• Go Fish game
• Alphabet Cards
• Lacing cards
• Popsicle stick puzzles
• Shape matching and sorting
• Felt shape snake

My busy bag exchange loot.

For more ideas, you can check out my Busy Bag Pinterest board here.

The activity that I made is called an "I Spy Fish". I sewed fish out of felt and used a durable plastic for a window in the fish's belly. 

Once they were completed, I filled each fish with rice and a few trinkets such as a big brightly coloured bead, different coloured paper clips, dice, plastic fish and then sewed the tails closed. The aim of the "I Spy Fish" is to have a key printed of what is hiding inside it and then the little ones need to maneuver the rice around until they have found all the objects on the key. This is a great activity when you need your kiddo to sit quietly for a while. I carry our fish around in my handbag (even though it's quite heavy). It's great to keep the kids busy in the doctor's waiting room, at church or in the car. This activity was definitely worth the effort!

All the I Spy Fish ready for our busy bag swop day.

I really enjoyed this project and it was lovely to meet a few "new" local moms. We have used our busy bags over and over again. This is definitely a fun project that I would recommend getting involved in!

Until next time,

XX-L

An open letter to my husband on Father's Day

"A father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there but a guiding light who shows us the way."

Photo credit: Tracey Baard Photography

To my Darling,

Today we celebrate you. I have loved you for so many years but with each passing day that I see you with our children, my love for you deepens.

You are the rock of this family. You are our guiding light. I could not have asked for a better example of what a loving, devoted father looks like for our children. You wear the noble title of "father" with pride. So today I want to say "Thank You".

Thank you for putting us first, always (especially when the fish are biting).
Thank you for being such a hands on, capable, 21st century daddy.
Thank you for allowing me the space to take some time out for myself to recharge my batteries.
Thank you for putting up with my moods.
Thank you for putting up with my obsessive cleaning and organising.
Thank you for doing the groceries every single week.
Thank you for working tirelessly to make ends meet so that I can stay at home with our children.
Thank you for always "making a plan".
Thank you for your endless patience.
Thank you for loving me when I'm at my lowest.
Thank you for always seeing the glass half full when I see it as half empty.
Thank you for not giving up on me.
Thank you for your words of encouragement.
Thank you for always listening and being willing to work out our differences.
Thank you for always protecting us.
Thank you for playing musical beds every night so that we can all get some sleep.
Thank you for your unconditional love.
Thank you for holding my hand through this journey of parenthood. I wouldn't want to share it with anyone else.

I love you.

Photo credit: Tracey Baard Photography

Until next time,
XX-L

Update on my Journey

Hello Everyone

For those of you who have been following my journey to become healthier, here's a little update.

(Picture: Pinterest)

The last 2 weeks have been quite challenging. I have been down with croup, so I have not been able to exercise at all and I've been on two consecutive courses of antibiotics...which is not really ideal. There were some days that I felt so ill that I just couldn't bring myself to eat. But once I started feeling better, I was like The Very Hungry Caterpillar. On top of that, I had quite a few social outings, which challenged me to make healthier choices than what I normally would - sometimes successfully, sometimes not. So, it has not only been a physical battle, but also an emotional/mental battle.

On the positive side, I will finish my last round of antibiotics tomorrow and I am feeling so much better. With the long weekend that's coming up, I hope to get out a bit and get some steps clocked up.

This morning I had my bi-monthly visit with my wellness coach / dietitian / mentor / motivator / generally the most amazing person, Amanda Weber. Each visit consists of a weigh in, measurements, a look at my food diary and then setting goals for the next two weeks.

I wasn't really looking forward to seeing my progress this morning as I felt that I hadn't given it my best try, but I was pleasantly surprised. Over the last two weeks I have lost 1.4 kilos and 3cm around my waist.

So the numbers, as they stand today, after 4 weeks on my new lifestyle plan, are as follows:

Weight lost in kilos - 4.8 kilos
Centimeters lost around my waist - 8cm

Next week our schools break up for the Winter holidays. So I really have to focus and stay on track.

My goals and plan of action of the following two weeks...

1. Drink my 8 glasses of water...every.single.day.
2. Keep my food diary religiously.
3. Watch my salt intake
4. Walk at least 3 times a week for 30 min (when the weather allows)
5. Incorporate more beans into my diet to boost my protein intake.

(Picture: Pinterest)

Have a super long weekend!

Until next time,

XX-L

Winter Comfort Food: Healthy Cottage Pie

Hello Everyone

Winter has truly arrived in the Cape. Over the weekend I was struck by a strong craving for hearty comfort food. One of my favourite winter meals is cottage pie. Below is my healthy version. It's nothing fancy, but tasted good and was a hit with the family. There is no better way to celebrate the welcome rain, catch up with loved ones and warm the soul, than gathering around a big bowl of deliciousness.

(Picture: Pinterest)

Ingredients:

Filling:
2 tbpn olive oil, divided
500g extra lean mince
3 medium sized carrots, grated
3 celery stalks, diced
2 tspn crushed garlic
1 onion, diced
1 tsp tomato paste
1tbspn worcester sauce
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tspn dried oregano
1 sachet woolies beef stock
1/2 cup of boiling water
Salt & pepper to taste

Topping:
3 medium sized orange sweet potatoes, peeled and diced.
1/3 cup of grated cheese

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celcius.

1. Brown the mince in the olive oil over medium heat. Set aside once done.
2. Slowly cook the onions, carrots and celery over medium heat for about 7 minutes until the onions are transparent and soft.
3. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute before adding the browned mince to the pot.
4. Add the rest of the filling ingredients and allow to simmer over a low heat until the sauce has reduced and become thick and glossy.
5. For the topping, boil the sweet potatoes for about 15-20min until they are tender. Drain the excess water. Mash the sweet potatoes.
6. Transfer the filling into an oven-proof dish and spoon over the mashed sweet potato. Sprinkle over the grated cheese.
7. Bake for 15-20 min at 180 degrees.

Serve with some steamed broccoli or a fresh, crisp salad.

Bon Apetite!

Until next time,
XX-L

Marvellous Manicures

Hello Everyone

If there is one thing that makes my heart want to sing, it's beautiful nails. Having my nails done is one of the ways that I recharge my batteries, prepare for a special celebration or reward myself for reaching a specific goal. I could spend hours looking through ideas on Pinterest of various nail designs. You can check out my Nails Pinterest board here.

One of the first things I notice about people when I first meet them is their hands. There is something about beautifully manicured nails that really speaks to me. Even though having your nails professionally done on a regular basis can become an expensive exercise, it's one that I feel can be easily justified.

But a manicure is so much more than just pretty nails. It nourishes your cuticles, removes dry skin, smoothes the nail plate, rehydrates hard working hands and improves blood circulation. Having studied to be a Health and Skincare Therapist, I have done many a manicure in my life but it takes an artistic flair and a particular passion to create some of those beautiful designs. Not one set of nails can be repeated. Each nail beautifully painted with the finest of details. Sadly, it's not a talent that I possess.

My go-to nail tech is Lisa-Marie from The Beauty Box in Somerset West. Lisa is so creative, she offers such a wide variety of colours to choose from and is always game to try new designs or ideas.

I like to wear my nails quite short and in a square-oval shape. I also prefer less "out there" designs for myself . Boring, I know, but it's my rarely seen practical side. I love having gel overlays on my nails. The best part about it is that you don't have to wait hours and hours for the polish to dry and stress about smudging them.

Below are some of the designs that I have chosen over the last year or so:

Until next time,

XX-L

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions in this blog are personal and belong solely to the blog owner and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organisation, company or individual. All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only.

Follow Me Friday

Happy Friday Everyone!

Throwback Thursday has been around for what seems like forever, but now the big thing amongst bloggers seems to be Follow Me Friday. So this morning I'm going to share with you some of my favourite bloggers/vloggers/instagrammers that I enjoy following. Some of these ladies live as far afield as the United States and some are beautiful local South African ladies.

At Home With Natalie

First up and probably the blogger I've been following the longest and makes blogging look super fun is Natalie from At Home with Natalie. Natalie is a mom of 4 little busy bodies with another baba on the way. Her positivity, creativity and honesty really speaks to me. I really enjoy following their adventures as a family. They live in Louisiana so it's fun to see what life is like there...kind of like traveling without the expense. Natalie often posts fun tutorials about the projects they make at home, like when they recently spruced up their backyard to prepare for summer fun. She also loves celebrating various special days (or holidays as they call it in the States) and posts some really cute party ideas. She offers an online blogging course, which I am really keen to do! Natalie is active on Instagram (@athomewithnatalie) and Facebook.

(Picture: At Home with Natalie)

The Freckled Fox

I started following Emily's blog, The Freckled Fox, through following Natalie. The first thing that struck me about her was that she had 5 kids in 5 years and she looked AMAZING! But reading further, I learnt about her intense heart-ache of losing her husband to cancer. Her strength and determination to carry on totally amazes me. She has found love again and I so enjoy seeing her updates about how her little ones are doing. She is also active on youtube and posts make up and hair tutorials. To me, Emily is an absolute inspiration. You can follow Emily on Instagram (@thefreckledfox) and Facebook.

(Picture: The Freckled Fox)

Jessica Van Heerden

I stumbled upon Jessica's you tube channel about a year ago while searching for make up tutorials. She is a local beauty who lives in Joburg. What first drew me in to Jessica's make up tutorials was that she used affordable, drug-store make up brands such as Essence and Catrice...and did an amazing job! The snob in me has always prefered higher end brands, but she opened the door to fabulous looking make up using budget friendly product for me. Her looks are always flawless. She has since started doing vlogs of events that she's been to and also covers fashion, hair and accessories. You can follow her on Youtube and on Instagram (@jessica_vanheerden).

(Picture: Jessica van Heerden)

Sarah Graham

So if you have been following my blog recently, you will already know that I adore following another local blogger: Sarah Graham. I shared one of her delicious soup recipes earlier in the week. Sarah shares so many of her amazing recipes and more on her blog on a daily basis and sends out monthly newsletters filled with all things lovely. Her drive to produce healthy, delicious food inspires me to keep on track with my health journey. You can check our her website and blog here, as well as follow her on Instagram (@sarahgrahamfood).

(Picture: Sarah Graham)

Fat Girl Fedup

Lexi is an instagrammer whose journey to health and fitness struck a nerve with me. She is a 26 year old girl who lives in the States. Lexi weighed 220kgs when she decided that she had had enough of sitting on the sidelines of her life. She has lost 130kg since the 1st of January 2016 on her own...through diet and exercise alone. I mean, what an inspiration! She often posts about what her diet consists of, her exercise routine and how she celebrates non-scale victories. You can follow her on Instagram (@fatgirlfedup) and facebook.

(Picture: Fatgirlfedup)

Until next time,

XX-L

Disclaimer: This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions in this blog are personal and belong solely to the blog owner and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organisation, company or individual. All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only.