Here is a look into my mom's house over this advent season:
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Come on in and tour the Christmas house with me!
Christmas is fast approaching! Rebecca will be 10months old on Christmas Day! Can you believe she started walking at 8months, and is now so confident in her mobility that she runs around and before you know it she's half way up the staircase or into the tupperware cupboard.
Here is a look into my mom's house over this advent season:
Here is a look into my mom's house over this advent season:
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Bitter sweet
Hi there everybody! I can finally tell you my news and what I'm up to. On 15 December 2012 I will be "closing" my beauty salon that I have been running for 11years. I have enjoyed every minute of running my own business, and definately recommend it to anyone to give it a try. It's been hard, constant work..but FUN! My clients are all awesome, and many have become great mates too. Running a beauty salon you always get to hear what's going on in Durban, and always feel part of the weddings or special occassions taking place. It was a decision that I had to think long and hard about,and pray about....but with Rebecca who's almost 9months old(and walking already!!!), it really was a no brainer. I would much prefer to me a "full time mom"! I said "closing", however.....I aim to open in late January 2013 after a quick overhaul, move ,paint etc and I will keep on my pedicure and eyebrow wax clients. I will have more space, as all I need is a corner for the pedicures , so I plan on having some retail space.
The idea is that I will see only 1 or 2 clients a day, and rather spend my time bringing up our dear daughter. My husband can see how well she is developing being in a "one on one" environment, especially with a granny who is an ex school teacher and librarian. Rebecca gets sung to all day long and shown interesting objects. Yes it will be a bit tough on the pocket with me not "earning", but we will make a plan and survive. My clients have been so understanding and back me 100% telling me "your baby will be grown up before you know it"! My friends all call me "lucky!" - perhaps, but I'm not "stopping" to be lazy and sit on my butt all day, I do plan on tackling a few things and bringing in "pocket money"!
I will be fun to make jewellery again, scrapbook and make cards, sew, bake and cook. Possibly garden a bit too. My goal is to host "Open days" where I can sell my wares, and possibly those of friends too. I am a very keen buyer of vintage and antiques, but space is running out in our home. so before a become a hoarder, I thought "good time to have a Spring clean and make someone else happy!" I love beautiful old things, and have realised I don't have to own and possess each and everything- I can still have these objects in my grasp, but pass their beauty on. So I also plan to "buy and sell" - message me if you have anything interesting you are planning on parting with, perhaps we can make a plan.
There are fun projects I am going to take on too, like repainting and decorating 2 old Barbie houses and sorting out my wardrobe and costume jewellery once and for all.
. It is scarey giving up what I know and love, and the constant happy chatter, but it is time for a "new beginning" and to unleash the creativeness I have building up inside, aswell as the "domestic goddess" who's just dying to come out and play! I look forward to 2013!!!
The idea is that I will see only 1 or 2 clients a day, and rather spend my time bringing up our dear daughter. My husband can see how well she is developing being in a "one on one" environment, especially with a granny who is an ex school teacher and librarian. Rebecca gets sung to all day long and shown interesting objects. Yes it will be a bit tough on the pocket with me not "earning", but we will make a plan and survive. My clients have been so understanding and back me 100% telling me "your baby will be grown up before you know it"! My friends all call me "lucky!" - perhaps, but I'm not "stopping" to be lazy and sit on my butt all day, I do plan on tackling a few things and bringing in "pocket money"!
I will be fun to make jewellery again, scrapbook and make cards, sew, bake and cook. Possibly garden a bit too. My goal is to host "Open days" where I can sell my wares, and possibly those of friends too. I am a very keen buyer of vintage and antiques, but space is running out in our home. so before a become a hoarder, I thought "good time to have a Spring clean and make someone else happy!" I love beautiful old things, and have realised I don't have to own and possess each and everything- I can still have these objects in my grasp, but pass their beauty on. So I also plan to "buy and sell" - message me if you have anything interesting you are planning on parting with, perhaps we can make a plan.
There are fun projects I am going to take on too, like repainting and decorating 2 old Barbie houses and sorting out my wardrobe and costume jewellery once and for all.
. It is scarey giving up what I know and love, and the constant happy chatter, but it is time for a "new beginning" and to unleash the creativeness I have building up inside, aswell as the "domestic goddess" who's just dying to come out and play! I look forward to 2013!!!
Monday, October 1, 2012
Pregnancy to 7months!
I have been reading so many personal blog posts and articles recently about different ladies and their take on pregnancy, chilbirth, breast feeding etc that I thought I had better get around to jotting down my own thoughts on what I have experienced before I forget them! Obviously this is my personal take and is unique, I don't plan to offend anyone or say my way is best. So here goes ......
Pregnancy.....before you fall pregnant you think 9months is a long time and you can get a lot done, WRONG!... it flies by...well at least mine did! So I started buying bits and pieces right away, and my husband and I also chose to find out the sex of our baby so that we could do up the nursery. So at about 16weeks we found out a little girl had chosen us as her parents. And a few days later we named her Rebecca Anne. My pregnancy was honestly so easy, while other friends were complaining of sore backs and hips or suffering with morning sickness, I was just glowing. My skin was great, my hair was thick and shiney.
Rebecca was due on 3March 2012, but arrived one week early on 25 February. I had wanted a natural birth all along, and that is what I was blessed with. Labour was short and pretty easy going, I arrived at the hospital at 8:45pm and our princess arrived at 11:40pm. I survived with no epidural!
I promised myself to get up every day, bath, wash my hair and get dressed!- I have done this every day I am proud to say it.
Breastfeeding came easily to both of us. She latched and I produced. Unfortunately though I did go back to work and started to pump, and slowly but surely introduced bottles and formula, so breastfeeding only lasted 5months. I honestly would have liked to have carried on till about 8 or 9 months, but my daughter weened herself off and surprised us with 2 teeth at 4.5months. I started solids at this time, and haven't looked back. She enjoys her food and loves sampling off our plates.
At 4.5months Rebecca started properly crawling, we knew it was coming though....since a few days old she had chosen to sleep on her tummy, and since birth had managed to keep her head up for long periods. We used to drape her over a bolster and her little legs would work like crazy. She is now 7months old and walks around the house holding onto furniture and pulls herslf along. She lets go now for about 10 seconds testing out her balance.
I feed her on Purity bottled foods (*gets ready for the abuse to me hurled my way!*). I really thought we were going to cook for her, but for us this just makes sense. The serving size is just right, it's convenient and we don't heat it, there are awsome flavours "butternut,mielies and pasta bake" and be honest most if us were fed it!!! I watch my friends lovingly make meals from scratch and carefully store and label in the freezer, and I admire that, but it doesn't work for me. My child is healthy and weighs what she should for her age. Also my mom said to me once "she'll be eating off your plates before you know it", and it's true. She also gets snacks like biscuits, rice cakes, fresh fruit and cheese. She doesn't like rooibos or bottled water, just her formula. I don't feed her at set times,I do believe in routine however, but you have to be flexible, so if breakfast is somewhere between 9 and 10am I'm cool with that, and lunch anywhere between 12 and 1:30pm.
Bath time happens at night when we get home from work, usually while my husband cooks dinner(yes I married a winner!)- this can happen anytime from 5:30 to 7! I believe you have to provide yourself some wriggle room and be easy going, because if you get stuck up on "times" you can end up moody and in tears when things don't work out.
Sleep:- Becca slept through from 6weeks old *don't be cross at me!* it just happened!(thank God!) I am not hung up on her sleeping in her cot at every nap. On weekends I love seeing her asleep on her doughnut and thoroughly enjoy her sleeping on me chest, there is no better feeling. Many women have said to me " ooh you're spoiling your child letting them sleep on you", I totally disagree, it's bonding time which you don't get back, they are only tiny for so short a time. People also have thoughts on rocking your baby to sleep "it's a big NO NO, once you rock them you will always have to rock them"!-lies, it's comforting for both mother and child and doesn't have to be habit forming. -Rebecca has prooved this. Also, babies will sleep anywhere...I believe as long as they're getting the sleep they need, it shouldn't matter where this takes place.
The cat: Becca and our cat became best buds when she was tiny, people cringe when they see our baby girl clutching fur in both her hands and her mouth full of it!- so far no allergies people!!!
As I mentioned in a previous post, I am lucky that I work from home and Becca is with me, my time with clients is flexible and whilst I work my mom looks after her. I have a happy go lucky little girl, who is always smiling and laughing. Yes my sleepless nights and sick days might still come, but I remain positive and savour every moment watching this little creation grow up! Don't believe the negative moms who try and scare you with "the sleepless nights,the teething,it's all such hard work"- take it in your stride, do what you can possibly do, and remember that "when you know better, you can do better!" Be calm, relax and just be!- your baby will let you know if you're doing ok!
Pregnancy.....before you fall pregnant you think 9months is a long time and you can get a lot done, WRONG!... it flies by...well at least mine did! So I started buying bits and pieces right away, and my husband and I also chose to find out the sex of our baby so that we could do up the nursery. So at about 16weeks we found out a little girl had chosen us as her parents. And a few days later we named her Rebecca Anne. My pregnancy was honestly so easy, while other friends were complaining of sore backs and hips or suffering with morning sickness, I was just glowing. My skin was great, my hair was thick and shiney.
Rebecca was due on 3March 2012, but arrived one week early on 25 February. I had wanted a natural birth all along, and that is what I was blessed with. Labour was short and pretty easy going, I arrived at the hospital at 8:45pm and our princess arrived at 11:40pm. I survived with no epidural!
I promised myself to get up every day, bath, wash my hair and get dressed!- I have done this every day I am proud to say it.
Breastfeeding came easily to both of us. She latched and I produced. Unfortunately though I did go back to work and started to pump, and slowly but surely introduced bottles and formula, so breastfeeding only lasted 5months. I honestly would have liked to have carried on till about 8 or 9 months, but my daughter weened herself off and surprised us with 2 teeth at 4.5months. I started solids at this time, and haven't looked back. She enjoys her food and loves sampling off our plates.
At 4.5months Rebecca started properly crawling, we knew it was coming though....since a few days old she had chosen to sleep on her tummy, and since birth had managed to keep her head up for long periods. We used to drape her over a bolster and her little legs would work like crazy. She is now 7months old and walks around the house holding onto furniture and pulls herslf along. She lets go now for about 10 seconds testing out her balance.
I feed her on Purity bottled foods (*gets ready for the abuse to me hurled my way!*). I really thought we were going to cook for her, but for us this just makes sense. The serving size is just right, it's convenient and we don't heat it, there are awsome flavours "butternut,mielies and pasta bake" and be honest most if us were fed it!!! I watch my friends lovingly make meals from scratch and carefully store and label in the freezer, and I admire that, but it doesn't work for me. My child is healthy and weighs what she should for her age. Also my mom said to me once "she'll be eating off your plates before you know it", and it's true. She also gets snacks like biscuits, rice cakes, fresh fruit and cheese. She doesn't like rooibos or bottled water, just her formula. I don't feed her at set times,I do believe in routine however, but you have to be flexible, so if breakfast is somewhere between 9 and 10am I'm cool with that, and lunch anywhere between 12 and 1:30pm.
Bath time happens at night when we get home from work, usually while my husband cooks dinner(yes I married a winner!)- this can happen anytime from 5:30 to 7! I believe you have to provide yourself some wriggle room and be easy going, because if you get stuck up on "times" you can end up moody and in tears when things don't work out.
Sleep:- Becca slept through from 6weeks old *don't be cross at me!* it just happened!(thank God!) I am not hung up on her sleeping in her cot at every nap. On weekends I love seeing her asleep on her doughnut and thoroughly enjoy her sleeping on me chest, there is no better feeling. Many women have said to me " ooh you're spoiling your child letting them sleep on you", I totally disagree, it's bonding time which you don't get back, they are only tiny for so short a time. People also have thoughts on rocking your baby to sleep "it's a big NO NO, once you rock them you will always have to rock them"!-lies, it's comforting for both mother and child and doesn't have to be habit forming. -Rebecca has prooved this. Also, babies will sleep anywhere...I believe as long as they're getting the sleep they need, it shouldn't matter where this takes place.
The cat: Becca and our cat became best buds when she was tiny, people cringe when they see our baby girl clutching fur in both her hands and her mouth full of it!- so far no allergies people!!!
As I mentioned in a previous post, I am lucky that I work from home and Becca is with me, my time with clients is flexible and whilst I work my mom looks after her. I have a happy go lucky little girl, who is always smiling and laughing. Yes my sleepless nights and sick days might still come, but I remain positive and savour every moment watching this little creation grow up! Don't believe the negative moms who try and scare you with "the sleepless nights,the teething,it's all such hard work"- take it in your stride, do what you can possibly do, and remember that "when you know better, you can do better!" Be calm, relax and just be!- your baby will let you know if you're doing ok!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Guess I just dissapeared there for a bit ......
Once again I must apologise for lack of posting!-this was probably my longest break yet. My daughter is now 6months old, crawling around like a crazy ant and pulling herself up onto everything. So inbetween taking a few clients to keep my beauty salon going and putting some "dosh in the kitty", I am running around making sure my little one is safe. Thank goodness I have a mom with a HUGE heart and she helps me out as much as possible. She really is a saint!
There is so much I want to blog about, but I never seem to find a chance. I started getting a little depressed about this fact....but then I realised I am lucky!So so lucky! I get to see my "pixie" grow up right before my eyes. I also get asked all the time to join Pinterest ....but I am slowly realising all these things are sweet time wasters. Fun yes....but before you now it, an hour has passed. Facebook,Twitter and BBM all eat into my day...they all do provide inspiration, but I do have journals full of clippings etc that I really should start working on.
I have many good ideas, and they will still be there...I am just sitting on them for the time being. "Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow, so quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep, for I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep!"
I would love to get my craft room back up and running, make jewellery again, do some trade in antiques and vintage, teach some crafts and host tea mornings, blog for a living and review products BUT for the time being I am bathing in the glory of all that a MOM is, counting my blessings and realising...I am ONLY 30....tomorrow is another day! I have a full FUN life ahead, I don't need to rush.
I will however try and be a bit more consistent with my blog. I am busy reading through a dear friends "blogging notes", and will try new things like "linking". haha.... SMALL steps!!!
There is so much I want to blog about, but I never seem to find a chance. I started getting a little depressed about this fact....but then I realised I am lucky!So so lucky! I get to see my "pixie" grow up right before my eyes. I also get asked all the time to join Pinterest ....but I am slowly realising all these things are sweet time wasters. Fun yes....but before you now it, an hour has passed. Facebook,Twitter and BBM all eat into my day...they all do provide inspiration, but I do have journals full of clippings etc that I really should start working on.
I have many good ideas, and they will still be there...I am just sitting on them for the time being. "Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow, so quiet down cobwebs and dust go to sleep, for I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep!"
I would love to get my craft room back up and running, make jewellery again, do some trade in antiques and vintage, teach some crafts and host tea mornings, blog for a living and review products BUT for the time being I am bathing in the glory of all that a MOM is, counting my blessings and realising...I am ONLY 30....tomorrow is another day! I have a full FUN life ahead, I don't need to rush.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Rebecca's first sleep over
We went to visit dear old friends of ours in the KZN Midlands last month. It was Becca's first night away from home, and she was a sweetheart. "Grim" and "Sjark" spoilt us as usual. It was fun exploring their new home and meeting all the new "animools". "Sjark" has an awesome home office and crafting studio, with it's own fireplace!!!- I'm quite jealous, as my studio is in total disarray. I took a few(a lot) photos of their lovely and unique home. I always come home inspired. Awesome couple!
I am alive
I'm still here my dear bloggers!-just these days my time is taken up by a pretty little pixie. I hope to catch up on some posts this week!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Photoshoot
So our precious angel had her first professional photo shoot at just 3.5weeks of age! 2hrs and over 80prints later, it's difficult to choose a favourite. And this was done as a surprise for daddy.
Thanks so much to Roxanne Basing for taking such amazing pics!
Thanks so much to Roxanne Basing for taking such amazing pics!
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