Coffee makes me happy!

Coffee on my iPhone feed

Coffee is one of the things that makes me happy! It's usually the little things! (That is also the very biggest things in life.)

If something makes you happy, why can't you spoil yourself with it on a regular basis? I am specifically thinking here about coffee. I love buying a filter coffee to brighten up my day. Sure, I can make a Ricoffy at my office, but it is just not the same as a great filter coffee! Weighing up the cost of a cup of filter coffee against saving a bit of money...

Coffee wins every time! 

(I just need to let go of the guilt!)


What makes you happy?



Related: Coffee on my blog.

5 Things you would not have experienced without being a parent

Being a parent is one of the most difficult things in life!

Who knew that the older you get, the less you think you know anything about this parenting journey? I even have a claim on a child we successfully managed to raise, but that doesn't guarantee anything! (You would think that I would have the know-how! Not so!)

Raising the Little M has made me realize that each of them comes with a different manual. Some of the manuals are definitely more easier to understand!

As a mom I am always thinking about what I could have done better, or different.

I wanted to compile a random list of some of the parenting woes that comes with being a parent. Who think of this when they start with their parenting journey?


5 Things you did not think about before becoming a parent

- You have to attend school meetings, revues, concerts, parenting evenings as well as hang around the school endlessly waiting for activities to end. Who knew you would go back to school?


- You not only have to get yourself out of the door in the mornings, but the little ones as well. Each successful drop-off at school with children fully clothed, with a packed school bag and a lunch box should get a medal. (How do parents with multiple children manage?) It is an accomplishment, and we should praise ourselves more for just doing this!

- You worry constantly about your child when they have no friends, and also when they have friends. What can you do to help them in getting friends? What can you do when the girl politics are making her miserable?

- You are always searching for misplaced stuff that's not yours! In the house. Going back to places. At school. Maybe life is preparing us for our own later years?

- How many times have you longed for that lunch box that got sent to school that comes back intact? Those times that you have emptied your purse at the last minute and you did not make your own lunch? Too many times!


Do you have any other points I can add to this list?

Would I change any of this?
No! But it helps to get it out of the system!

KEEP CALM

Wordless Wednesday #320 - Gymnast

Duck Duck Moose apps review

Duck Duck Moose - Itsy Bitsy Spider, Math, Reading

Little Miss had the opportunity to play and review three apps on video through Xander Apps.
At this stage the apps are still free on iOS, Google Play Store and Amazon. (Go get it!)

Duck Duck Moose Itsy Bitsy Spider

A musical book based on the popular children’s song. Follow the spider through the captivating, inter-connected scenes as he goes up the water spout, comes down with the rain, and watches the sun dry up all the rain.

Duck Duck Moose Reading

Follow Milo the Meerkat and his sidekick Puffs through the zoo on a phonics learning adventure! Duck Duck Moose Reading has 9 different word and letter activities that help kids learn by feeding and playing with flamingos, monkeys, lions, and more. Collect animals for your habitats and make your own zoo scene as you learn more letter sounds.

Duck Duck Moose Math

Moose Math engages kids in a mathematical adventure and teaches counting, addition, subtraction, sorting, geometry and more. While playing 5 multi-level activities in the Moose Juice Store, Puck’s Pet Shop and Lost & Found, kids can earn rewards to help build their own city and decorate buildings.

The Duck Duck Moose Math app is Little Miss' favourite. She loves playing with it.
The apps are for children younger in age (up until 5/6 years). Maybe that's why we couldn't get her more excited while reviewing it, especially the Reading and Itsy Bitsy Spider apps. ;-) (*sigh*)

As a mom I love the characters, the bright colours and variety of actions of the apps.

Go see for yourself: Xander Kids apps review - February 2017

We had a good rest at Dikhololo

Dikhololo is a great place for families. It was just under a two-hour drive from Johannesburg, and we were in the Bush-veld on Friday this past weekend.

Of course we were still emotional about the loss in our family. Stew's death left us reeling! We had his funeral on Monday this week.
(I don't know if you ever get over the loss of a young family member? How do you smile when you know there are so much sadness?)

Little Miss did not stop swimming for the whole weekend. The best of all! We could watch her swimming from our chalet as all the chalet clusters are built around swimming pools. How cool to watch her swimming from the bed (while reading) or braai (barbecue) for the whole weekend!

We went exploring, water sliding (even me, and I loved it! Little Miss hated it!) and played tennis while we were there! We could have stayed MUCH longer, but a weekend is of course way too short! We did not even went to the indoor heated pool (it was too hot!), or drove around too much looking at the wildlife. The putt-putt also did not happen. Next time...

I am sure we are the only family that got lost from a viewpoint on our way to our car... But that was part of the adventure! My Dad with his in-built GPS could only shake his head when he heard about us walking around the hill searching.

We celebrated my Dad's birthday this weekend! How blessed we are to still be able to go on holidays together!
He is such an inspiration for always being active and on the go!

Thanks, Dad, for all the holiday fun!

This is life! Summer, the Bush-veld, a fire going, a swimming pool and a drink!

This was a good rest!

Life is precious - RIP Stew

In loving memory of Stew Booysen

Life is precious!

A dear cousin died yesterday, and we got the sad news at 10 pm yesterday!

He was 28! So young! So bright! So vibrant!

RIP STEW! Stew Booysen!

We have no words!

It was so sudden, so unexpected!

Only this weekend he was doing the Magaliesberg Canopy Tours and he was raving about how much he enjoyed it (although he has vertigo)! He went in to hospital for pain and a pancreas infection on Monday, and they were still busy doing tests... They found him in hospital where he has died, from a blood clot or heart attack?

I haven't seen him in months, and we missed him at the previous family gathering in December.
(We should make time for family more!)

You are missed!
(All we have left is the memories, and the photos we frantically page through on social media after we heard of the tragedy!)

So sorry for your loss, Jan and Solet! He is a son to be proud of!

Family braai day a while back, just found this photo. #southafrica #igers #portrait #photography #outside #me

A photo posted by Stew Booysen (@stewbooysen) on Feb 1, 2017 at 12:56am PST

Wordless Wednesday #319 - Paper doll work mate

Walking for the owls at Delta Park - Voortrekkers

Delta Park views

Little Miss signed up to the *Voortrekkers at her new school. It is still one of the best ways to meet new friends in a new school.

The Voortrekkers had a fun walk at Delta Park on Saturday. The contributions of all entries (It was R10 each, but we were a big group) are going to upgrades of the owl boxes at the Delta Park Environment Centre. We were not even aware of the owls and owl boxes before this excursion.

Aptly dressed with an owl t-shirt

The children were extremely excited and ran ahead. We only caught up with them at the end. We did a 4km walk, not the total 5km of the Delta Park run. In the end the Eldest and I did not see any boxes or owls, but Little Miss was extremely excited about the owl box and the bat box that she was shown. Next time I will try to search for them again! 

(When you are unfit and just trying to keep up, then it does not work looking up in the trees the whole time...*sigh*)

Little Miss with her owl mask

What did you do that was exciting this past weekend?

*Similar to Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts


Related post: Fun Walk at Alberts Farm

Five for Friday #1

I am making use of Cat's Five for Friday editions idea. We have finally arrived at the best day of the week!

- Wake Cup

I treated myself to a Wake Cup this morning. Nothing better than standing in the traffic to be able to buy a hot cup of filter coffee! My Friday started on a great note! I love the entrepreneurship of such a good fantastic idea!

- Little Miss

Little Miss was a leeettle bit sick this week. She struggled with a runny nose, sinus and a sore throat. The throat also made her cough, but not hectic. On Wednesday morning she was crying about a headache as well, and that the school "does not allow sick children"! (True that! But we are working parents!) I decided to take her to the doctor. (Luckily we have child leave sick days at work! It really helps!) She had a throat infection, but not hectic! I usually don't encourage staying at home, because I think it is important not to loose too much at school. So she's had a couple of annoying "preaches" (she immediately shuts me down when I want to get in my bit of "Mom Wisdom") about rather going to school and not miss out on something... Thankfully she is much better now, and back at school today!

- Second Month of the Year

Star Wars Calendar from Typo

It's February already. We are looking forward to a weekend away this month, celebrating my Dad's birthday! I still feel that I did not get enough holiday during December! This will definitely help!

(How cool is this Typo calendar? It was a present to myself  in December)

-  SnapnSave

SnapnSave

I saw the SnapnSave app reviewed on Hayleys' Joys. You get cash back while shopping. I tried it this week. I am still not convinced that I am saving that much, as I have bought things I would otherwise not have bought. The trick is to only buy things you really need. I also saw that there are cheaper options on the shelves available. But I will give it a fair try. It's only the first week!
I've made R15 and R39.80 is waiting for approval from my first slip scanned.
AND I have two bottles of red rosé wine for visitors! *wry smile!* (I don't drink rosé.)
You can use my code to earn the first R10 when you sign up: Karend870

- It's the weekend

I can't wait! Hubby is going to watch some cricket. We are planning a fun walk with the Voortrekkers searching for owls.
We are going to relax!

Finally!

What are your plans?