In celebration of Disney's 10th birthday in Africa, win hampers

Disney Africa is celebrating it's 10th year in Africa. Ten years ago on 25 September 2006, Disney Channel (DStv Channel 303) aired it's first broadcast to South African viewers on DStv.

It has been a month of celebrations! 
Disney Channel has opened the DStv Extra and Compact customers from 5 September to 9 October 2016. Disney’s 100th Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), Adventures in Babysitting, had it's premiere. Stuck in the Middle is a brand new live-action comedy series. Joining the Thank Disney It’s Thursday slot (5:25pm–7:05pm) are new episodes of fan favourites Alex & Co, Girl Meets World, and Mako Mermaids, with season finales of Backstage and Austin & Ally. Also Disney’s first ever South African long-form series production Disney Cookabout, the comedic adventure game-show that uses food preparation, cooking and outdoor exploration. Disney Channel’s series Bizaardvark, the side-splitting comedic adventures of two quirky 13-year-old best friends, are also worth mentioning!

Disney Channel’s most popular movies, such as Full Out, A Bug’s Life and Ratatouille, have been part of the festive fun as Disney Channel celebrates 10 years on DStv.

Disney is giving away three festive hampers to celebrate their 10th year! 
Just in time for the holidays!

To win yourself one of these amazing hampers, name one of Disney Original movies that aired in the past 10 years?
Answer in the Comments below.
This give-away is only open to South African readers.
The three winners will be drawn on Monday 3 October 2016 at 9 am SAST.

Fans can get in on the birthday celebrations by using the hashtag #DisneyChannel10
Facebook: Disney in Africa
Web: Disney in Africa


The winning entries drawn through Random.org:

Congratulations to!

1. Bongiwe
2. Heather
2. Cat

 Please send me your email details!

Wordless Wednesday #311 Lovers' Lane

Graduation and the end of an era

We attended the final graduation ceremony of the Student yesterday. She received her post-graduate diploma in Management. She finally finished her final subject in Accounting with a distinction after she did not make it last year!

The day was filled with pride, but also with nostalgic reflection of a time that has passed very quickly!

It was the best of times!
It was a difficult time, especially in the first year of initiation!
It was a time of great friendships!
It was a time of hard work!
It was a time of play!

I am so glad that my daughter had this time in her life!

I think that is one of the greatest accomplishments for parents when their children successfully earn their qualifications to get a kick-start in life!

The friends...

 A special person...

The family...

Thanks to a Dad who had to drive the taxi when the lifts failed. He even drove one evening from a function to pick up his sick daughter to bring her back home before he went back to his work conference.

My eldest is not a Teen nor a Student anymore!
I feel like shedding a tear and shouting Hallelujah at the same time!

So proud of you!
You are my the my example of Parenting-done-right!
Well done, my girl!

Win tickets to a pre-screening of The Secret Life of Pets at Ster-Kinekor this Saturday

Celebrate Heritage Day with pre-release screenings of The Secret Life of Pets at Ster-Kinekor this Saturday. This looks like a definite winner for a family outing at the movies!

"Set inside a Manhattan apartment building, a terrier named Max finds his status as favourite pet in jeopardy when his owner adopts a giant, sloppy and careless mongrel called Duke. After being dragged into the city and caught by Animal Control, they're sent to the pound, where they're recruited into an army of lost pets by a bunny named Snowball."
Starring voices of: Ellie Kemper, Jenny Slate, Kevin Hart
Directed by:  Chris Renaud, Yarrow Cheney
Produced by:  Janet Healy

Here is a short trailer for you to watch and get a glimpse at all the exciting adventures ahead:
The Secret Life of Pets - Ster-Kinekor

We have 4 tickets to be won. It would be great for a family still undecided what to do on Saturday 24 September. This is a nationwide pre-screening, so winners can attend at any of their local Ster-Kinekor theatres.

The pre-screening times available for viewing on the Saturday as per follows:
9:15        11:30     14:00     17:00     19:30     22:00

To win 4 tickets:
1. Please comment below and tell me which pet in the movie trailer best describe your pet while you are away from home?
2. Please leave your email address and nearest Ster-Kinekor cinema in South Africa. (Check out the drop-down menu on Ster-Kinekor's website)

The winner will be announced on Thursday 22 September at 9 am SAST.
This give-away is only open to a South African reader who is able to get to the Ster-Kinekor theatre by own transport.


Congratulations!

The winner through Random.org: Charne Ayres!
I will forward your details! Enjoy the movie!

The 100th Disney Channel original movie, 'Adventures in Babysitting', premieres Friday 23 September On Disney Channel

Disney Channel (DStv Channel 303) is celebrating it's 10th anniversary on 25 September on DStv! Disney Channel is open to DStv Extra and Compact customers from 5 September to 9 October 2016.
(A whoop-whoop from the MomAgain@40-clan as we are also able to enjoy this for the month!)

As part of the month of celebrations, Disney will be unwrapping the very latest and greatest programming, including returning seasons of fan favourites and brand new live-action and animation series. Disney’s 100^th Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), Adventures in Babysitting will premiere this Friday on 23 September at 5:25pm. 
 

Happy 10th birthday, Disney Channel!

We attended the launch of Adventures in Babysitting on Saturday. 

Little Miss really enjoyed it because of all the "adventures", but also because of the likeable characters in the movie! She is looking forward to the series!

"In a heartfelt story that celebrates individuality, friendship and self-empowerment, the live-action adventure comedy made for kids, tweens and families, pays homage to the 1980s classic with familiar references and iconic scenes.

Hollywood Records recording artists Carpenter and Carson perform the movie's end credit song "Wild Side," produced by Jens Koerkemeier, Emanuel Kiriakou and Andrew Goldstein.

"Adventures in Babysitting," unfolds when Jenny Parker (Sabrina Carpenter) and Lola Perez (Sofia Carson), two teen girls with distinctly different personalities, each interview for a coveted photography internship and accidently swap phones. When the Anderson family calls Jenny's phone looking for a last-minute babysitter, audacious Lola, in need of some extra cash, picks up and nominates herself. Meanwhile, dependable Jenny is already set to babysit the Cooper family for the evening. Unfortunately, Lola's first attempt at babysitting takes an unforeseen turn when one of the Anderson kids sneaks out to go to a concert. Jenny, determined to protect her reputation, and Lola with the remaining kids in tow, head out and have the adventure of a lifetime during one magical night in the big city."

Little Miss had a balloon ball!

Happy birthday, Disney Channel!

5 Most favourite handbag necessities

I always like to be prepared and carry part of my life with me. My bag is usually very heavy, but just in case... I had once won a prize for having everything in my bag that they could think of! (I'm sure I am not the only one?)

Especially if you have a little ones who sneezes at the most inopportune times and hands you the snot ball in your hand... It happened to Hubby who did not look before he took the "present" to discover what it was! 

I have a little bag of necessities with a few headache and allergy pills in case of emergencies.

I have identified five items that I have come to depend upon that should be in that little bag of necessities at all times!

Five Handbag Necessities

1. Tissues

You can't have too much tissues!

2. Rescue Remedy

I love having the Rescue pills or drops nearby, especially when it's a stressful time. It's also nice to have handy when Little Miss needs a bit of a pep-up. I was at a Bach blogger meetup a while ago to hear that Bach (pronunciation Batch) was the original flower remedy. I absolutely love the Bach pastilles, but we eat it like sweets! If I can't afford it (most of the time), I have a generic equivalent in the my bag. I wish I had it nearby when Little Miss was a baby and had her dyschezia issues. I'm sure it would have helped! The vet also wanted to put our angst-ridden dog who barks incessantly on anti-depressants, but suggested rescue remedy as an alternative when he saw my face (counting the cost of monthly anti-depressants for my dog!).

3. Zam-Buk

This cream has been a constant in our home because it works for everything! From a scratch, to a pimple, to an insect bite! Nothing that soothes a playground mishap as quickly as this! If I don't know what the red or inflamed or bump is on our skins, I use this!

4. Hand lotion

I always make sure that I have hand cream in my bag, because I have very very dry hands. I love the Rain Africa hand lotion that I got in my goodie bag at the latest Jozi Meetup. It's got a lovely fresh smell: saffron tangerine!

5. Letibalm

The Letibalm was a blogger drop just before winter this year. I am so impressed with how well it kept our lips and noses from going dry and cracked through the winter colds! I start and end the day putting it on my lips, as well as putting it on Little Miss' lips.


What are your necessities that you can't go without in your handbag?

Wordless Wednesday #310 - Zoob creations

 

How do we teach them to be water wise?

It's very dry here in South Africa, and there are more and more water restrictions being implemented.
I am always trying to teach Little Miss to be conscious about the water that she is using. To not let the water run when she is brushing her teeth, or washing her hands is but one idea.

Is there something more we can do to save this precious resource and that we can teach our kids?

There was a Bird Fair at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens the previous week. We came across Rand Water's Water Wise campaign.

Water Wise has a great website with lots of advice and great stuff for the kids to do!

The following are worth reading and doing with the kids:

- The Water Wise Quiz

- The Water Wise Pledge

- Sign up to the Water Wise Club to get information, newsletters and play some fun games.

- Water wise activities for the classroom. It would even be great to use it at home or homeschooling.

- Water wise games

- Water wise calculator

- Water wise songs


I am glad I found this resource on the web. There's probably lots more!

What are you teaching your kids about water?


*Not sponsored*

No friends

Lonely

What can the mother and father do to help?

I wish I can help, but don't know what to do except than trying to tell her to be nice to her friends? To be the friend she would like to have in her friends?

Little Miss has been complaining for the past few weeks that she has no friends at school. She does not have friends to play with during break times, or at the aftercare.
She had the fall-out with a best buddy. She will never forget that day. It seems it is escalating. The heartache of girl politics is taking its toll! She is being excluded from the girl cliques.

She told her dad last night that she climbs a jungle gym at school during break times with a sandwich bag in her mouth, and eats her food while watching the playground... She took a file with papers and coloured pencils to school today to help her keep busy during breaks!

Oh, man!

It breaks my heart!

Ten ways to love your man

Relationship advice

It's September, and it's a great new season to start afresh with relationships.
Hubby and I do not even find the time for date nights anymore...
Checking my calender right away! Even though the budget is tight, we can still make a plan?

I needed to hear this today!
Maybe also you?

Janice Windt from Working Mothers Expo has great advice:

We know what it's really like. When you have young kids, a job to hold down and a house to run, it's not easy to find the time or energy to love your man...

But the truth is that we believe the most important thing you can do for your kids is love your man. And we mean LOVE. We mean look up to him, build him up in your children's eyes and let them see love modeled in your relationship. They will not see it anywhere else. They are more likely to experience the exact opposite in the world, their friends' homes and lives, everywhere really.

         Love is hard to find and hard work to keep... so let's get started.

Ten Ways To Love Your Man
1) Tell him he is awesome...

 Read more: 10 Ways to love your man 



The Working Mothers Expo, in partnership with MiWayLife, brings together everything working mothers need under one roof. It will be from 4-6 November 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The MCs are Elana Afrika and Claire Mawisa.

The Working Mothers Expo Tickets are available at Computicket now!




Disclaimer: I will be getting tickets to attend The Working Mothers Expo in November.

Vegetarian - not difficult at all!

I have been a vegetarian for 8 months now! It has not been as difficult as I thought it would be!

I woke up on 2 January this year and decided that was the day I needed to change. I have been saying for most of my life that the day I have to kill for my food, is the day that I would become a vegetarian.
My family has been very supportive! Thanks, dear Hubby and kids! 

I have been a hypocrite for too long! What will I think of myself in my golden days when I have been living a lie for so long?

I would love to cut out eggs and cheese as well (Vegan), but for now I am happy that I have not eaten meat and fish for 8 months in a row!

I feel great! I feel healthy!
I am still struggling to not overeat on carbohydrates, but that has always been a problem. Not only now! :-) I see a dietician every two weeks, and she gives me great advice! I think I am her "off-the record" client, because I have not been losing weight for many months, but I always ask her not to "fire" me! Next time I will have lost some weight! Definitely!!

I take my mushroom with me when we go to a braai (barbecue), and Hubby also sometimes makes a brinjal over the fire. I do not like the over-processed vegetarian meals and "meats", and I don't think it is healthy at all!

I can make a mean curry bean dish by now (it gets spicier with each try), and have found the most wonderful spicy dishes on Google! Chilli, nutmeg, paprika, coriander, curry, mustard, cinnamon, garlic, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin... All of it works wonders with any type of of bean in the cupboard!

When we go to restaurants, I usually try the vegetarian options. I found the best vegetarian burger so far in Melville at Gravity on Saturday, but I will continue the search!

This has been a great adventure!