2017, you are finished!

2017 in review, it's stale already!

It feels like our house at the moment. There's been too much holiday, and not enough cleaning around here!

Tomorrow we will start afresh!

2017 in review

This year has been tough! But here we are! We made it through! I look at my 2016 Done and Dusted post, and I had a few expectations of 2017. Some came true, some not!  I'll  run through the list again, thanks to Tanya at Dear Max and Rebecca who reminds us each year of Nafisa's questions.

I look back, and think to myself; This was not so bad! Why did I think the sky was falling down and everything was bleak?

As an archivist I get to listen to many the-sky-is-falling speeches, and predictions of a future that is not painted as bright! And then it's a future that we have already surpassed, and we made it through much better than we thought!

2017 had it's moments, but it was also a tough one!

Cheers to us for making it through!

Miss is 9 years old

Birthday Girl

We have a girl in our house that turned 9 yesterday! Miss is big. Very big! It's sad that's she's not the Little Miss any more, but we love the interesting dialogues we have with her now! She questions the world, and she's got some of her own answers! She has been living the 9 years old life for a year! (What happens when you only turn your age at the end of a year!) By all accounts this year went very well! We are very happy with her report card!

All I want for Christmas...

Christmas wishes

Is all I have!

It is always difficult for me to decide what I want for gifts! It is sometimes much easier to buy presents for other people. I also usually buy the things I love the most. When someone asks me what I want, I usually can't think of a thing!

That's what makes me so grateful!

The Circus is in Town with The Grifizzi Brothers at Emperors Palace

The Fantastic Grifizzi Brothers Circus at Emperors Palace

Emperors Palace is host to The Fantastic Grifizzi Brothers, the incredible 'animal-free circus' extravaganza! I still remember the excitement when the circus came to town. There's nothing as mesmerising as entering the Big Circus Tent and being entertained by magic and skills and absolute wonderment, with a good dose of humour by the clowns.

Not only does Emperors Palace entertain families with the Garden of Lights this season, but also with the Circus by The Grifizzi Brothers with The Story of the Moon. It's a double whammy for families, as you can't go wrong with either, and it is even better when you book for The Grifizzi Brothers AND the Garden of Lights together!

Johannesburg Staycation Wish-list

Hanging in my city!

It's finally finally the holidays! It's lovely summer weather in South Africa.

We are staying at home this year. It has been a rough year financially, and we have to save for a wedding next year, as our Eldest is engaged and they have a date!

I have been working on a list of places to go in Johannesburg. The list is all the things we can do as a family together. There's so much to do here, that I don't think we will be able to do everything. It's great to know we have options, and that it not such a bad idea to travel in my own city. I've already bought the Entertainer App 2018, but they have added extra items on each of the offers available. I am also able to Ping a 1000 (1000!!) of these offers. (Let me know if you want a ping? One meal or experience for a the same value.). 

Wordless Wednesday #343 - Ramkiki feels like holiday

The Beach at The Mall of Africa - put it on your Staycation list!

The Beach at Waterfall Park - The Mall of Africa

We have The Beach in Gauteng! We are sorted this year! We don't even have to have FOMO when we see beach pictures on our feeds. This year we can also write the YOLO. It is summer and it is hot in Gauteng, but luckily The Mall of Africa has us sorted!

We were invited to The Beach at Waterfall Park at The Mall of Africa on Saturday. Our Miss did not want to leave. But we will go back! At the price of R25 entrance it is well worth going for a day (or more)!

This is on my Staycation list!

The Magic of Emperors Palace Garden of Lights

Emperors Palace kick-starts the festive season with the dazzling Garden of Lights

Christmas Lights! There's nothing that kick starts the festive season better than Christmas Lights! Emperor's Palace has switched on their magic Garden of Lights for the tenth time this year.

Best of all! You spread kindness by going! The proceeds from the R25 entrance fee will be donated to The Cancer Association of South Africa, and the Peermont Childrens and Education Trusts. Children under two go in for free, and a family of five only pays R100.

This is the first time we saw the Garden of Lights! It is well worth the drive to Emperors Palace if you are not staying nearby! The Garden of Lights was switched on on Thursday night, and the night was perfect at the Peermont D’oreale Grande Hotel gardens. The rain gave us a little break to have a wonderful unforgettable experience!

Emperors Palace sunset

Questions to the nearly 9 year old

Miss faces

It's been a year, and it's always good to sneak in a few questions to our daughter. There's some "Ah-hah" and some "Really?".

She's been with me at work for the first day of school holidays, and she's managed to use up 4G of my 5G dongle before lunch. Now she is tasked in making me a picture for my office, and I try not to look at the mess... (This is going to be a long 6 weeks!)

Wordless Wednesday #342 - Second Cup

Happy birthday to the best Dad!

To the best Dad in the whole wide world! Happy birthday!

You are the best Dad!
We appreciate you so much!

A car seat with built-in airbags - Maxi-Cosi sets a new standard

A Little Something blog drop #maxicosisa

Once a new standard has been set, it is difficult to go back to the old way of doing things. I have not thought about car seats for children with airbags, but now, of course, it is the ONLY thing to focus on! It's the future, and that's where all car seats should be!

I was invited to the launch of the Maxi-Cosi car seat with built-in airbags, at MamaMagic at the Ticketpro Dome. Warren Murray, Exhibition Director of MamaMagic SA, introduced the new technology!

Warren Murray introducing the Maxi-Cosi car seat with airbag technology

Kindness Online

I am a subscriber to the Screenagers Movie newsletters. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I definitely want to in the future. It is a movie that all parents should watch. The impact of screens on our children's lives are not yet fully understood, and the consequences will only be comprehended much later... We hope it won't be too late. See the trailer below.

As much as I am an advocate for the use of technology and how much it is enhancing our lives, I am also aware that we should control this tool and not the other way round!

The latest newsletter is about encouraging small acts of kindness online! As it is the month of kindness, and kind is my word of the year, I love this idea! Sometimes you don't know how to be kind! Is it only the money I give at the robot (traffic light), or are there other ways in my daily life to be kind?  How do I teach my children to be kind online?