Wordless Wednesday #348 - Coffee

Wordless Wednesday #342 - Second Cup

Wordless Wednesday #341 - Coffee is the answer

A Saturday night in another city

We had a most interesting Saturday night last week. The Voortrekkers had a Zoo Snooze at the Pretoria Zoo, and Little Miss HAD to be there!

The Child Friendly App - we found two great spots in Ballito

Child Friendly SA

I think I heard about the Child Friendly SA Mobile app on Twitter.  I downloaded it especially for our trip to Ballito as it was the first time that we were going to be on holiday there!

The weather did not play along each day, but you will never hear me complain. It is on these days that we try to explore and get to know the local places and entertainment spots! As we had Little Miss who would gladly have stayed watching Disney Junior all week long, we had to make sure that she also wanted to go on the excursions. We also searched for places nearby, as our budget were low, and we did not want to spend hours on the road.

Wordless Wednesday #325 - The lure of the sweet tooth

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.

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?

Wordless Wednesday #318 - Wake Cup

3 Ways to Create Me Time in Your Day - Guest post

The ultimate Holy Grail for mothers. Just a bit of me time!
Coffee in a coffee shop usually does the trick for me, but I am always eager to learn about more ways...

Guest post by Janice Windt, MD of the Working Mothers Expo:

Somewhere in the far reaches of my memory I can recall the concept of Me time: A moment that involved me, a book and a cup of chamomile tea on the two-seater couch that just fitted in my tiny first apartment...  A breeze would gently blow the sweet sound of children’s voices in through the open window.  I would lie peacefully, my knees over the couch armrest, dreaming of the day when I would be married with children of my own…

Today, Me time is the three minutes I get on the loo to check Facebook before one of my sons bursts through the door to see what I am up to.  It’s my drive to work – a luxury many stay-at-home mums would give anything to have – even once a week.  Me time is the thirty minutes I get here and there when I just leave everything – dishes, dirty clothes, toys strewn into every nook and cranny.  Sometimes I just look at it all and say “no, not right now” and I escape to my writing.  Sometimes, me time is a coffee, uninterrupted, during work hours.  That is a dream too – I know that and I appreciate every creamy sip.

So, what can you do, amidst the chaos that is your schedule, to create more Me time in your day? We have some suggestions for you below but we would really love to hear yours in the comments… because the truth is that we are all in this together:

10 Things that make me Happy

I was tagged on Instagram by Moipone Islam at ferocioushaven

Here is mine:

10 Things that make me happy!

(Not necessarily in this order)

1. Happy is a choice! I choose Happy!

2. My Eldest. When she’s happy, I am happy! It is so-so-so GREAT that everything is working out this year for her. She is finishing up with her studies, she got a REAL job, she is madly in love and she’s got a car!

3. My Youngest. She makes us happy every day! (Sometimes crazy, but mostly happy!) Just being her! So glad that she is in our lives!

4.  My Husband!  He’s our rock and showing us each day what a good husband, father and provider he is! He is the best chef as well!!

5.  The extended family that cares about us

6. Friends that care

7.  Our dogs (Hubby won’t agree on this one! ;-) )

      8.  Coffee/Red wine (equally happy!)

      9. Books/reading.

      10. Blogging

What makes you happy?

Jo Bean Coffee and Waffle House - another great spot for a coffee fix!

I always judge a coffee shop on it's cappuccinos!
Jo Bean Coffee and Waffle House, in an unassuming spot on Beyers Naude Drive, makes a great one!

Jo Bean Coffee

I love the interior in a New York style setting! 

Great waffles!

Little Miss with her clown hair and nose...

We will be back, especially since their menu does not break the budget!

27 Boxes

 

Shipping containers turned into a shopping experience at 27 Boxes in Melville, Johannesburg.

We had only one hour during lunch-time on Friday to check it out!
There is the cutest little shops with gifts, and clothes, and food...

"Stadstal" (city stall)

In a quaint coffee shop

Croissant at the coffee shop which name I did not get

What a lovely edition to Melville, the and I especially like the extra parking that has been created!

I will be back!

Currently...

I found this on Cat's blog: Juggling Act of Life

Listening to: Hozier - Take me to the Church
And I love this ballet version




Reading: Library Advocacy Unshushed MOOC, but struggling to keep up...

Thinking about: My wonderful Hubby who made Valentine's special with a date and movie, and he even bought flowers for the girls!

Looking forward to: Our trip to Texas in the middle of the year. Very scary, but also very exciting!

Anticipating: A very good and busy year! We are doing it!

Planning: The overseas trip (well, we should be starting...!)

Wearing: Cool summer clothes. It is the best time of the year!

Drinking: Coffee. A bit too much!

Eating: A bit more healthy. I am kilojoule counting with My Fitness App on my iPhone 6. Loving it! It seems it is starting to work as well!

Thankful: For being invited to the first International iPad Summit in South Africa the previous two days. My head still spins with all the possibilities. I am also feeling a bit more optimistic about South Africa's educational future with all the bright teachers that attended the conference!

Wishing and praying: Always my children. But it seems they are sorted this year. Little Miss has settled in nicely at school, and waves us goodbye with smiles in the morning. The Student is also enjoying her business classes this year!

Not looking forward to: My birthday! (Getting too near a big number... AAArgh!)

Dreaming about: New possibilities! In my career, mostly!


What's happening currently with you?

Coffee & Chocolate Heaven

Coffee & Chocolate Expo at Montecasino

I love love love coffee!
I love love love chocolate!

Combine these two at the Coffee & Chocolate Expo and you get a little bit lot of Heaven!

I was so lucky to win two tickets through Waiting for Meg at The Sun House blog.
(One day I will win the big cruise, or the car, but until then this was a good keep-on-filling-in-the-competitions motivation!)

I did not think I could get too much of either coffee of chocolate, but it is possible! We did not explore all the options, or I and Little Missy would have combusted in sugar and caffeine overload!

Tasting Queen

Our first coffee stop

Cappuccino's

The outdoor area at Montecasino

We had an espresso chocolate beer here

One of the many many stalls here

We did not explore all the workshops and coffee and chocolate tastings.
Next year I also want to check out the app (http://eventmobi.com/coffeechocexpo/) that they  helped us to download with all the info and news and navigation about the expo.

Did I mention there was wine as well? There was!

Next year, definitely!

Coffee and cake while doing good - Bonus at the upcoming Grace Factory Social #GraceFactorySocial

The Grace Factory Social will be on the 13th of July at Jump 'n Play at the Northlands Corner Shopping Centre.
(Unfortunately only in Gauteng!)

There is an open invitation to all moms to bring their kids for a free entrance for the first 30 minutes at Jump 'n Play.

They are collecting used and new goods for orphanages and places of safety in Gauteng.

Check out their The Grace Factory website for all the drop-offs that they are happening.
It seems they are getting the right stuff to the right people.

There will be coffee and cupcakes and socialising!

And you will be doing a good deed by bringing a donation!

(While checking out a new venue for the kids...)

Bambanani - Heaven for parents

I don't know why it has taken us so long to check out Bambanani in Melville, especially since we are always looking for new places to take the Toddler while we are able to enjoy our meals!

(You can only go so much to Papachinos, where they don't mind to be rude because they are so popular!)

The entrance does not look impressive, but when inside it looks calm and serene, and next time we will definitely try out the tapas while sitting inside.

We tried the outdoor area underneath the trees, where there are a wide variety of play areas for the kids. I am amazed at how much they have packed into the small area. There are balls, and climbing equipment for the older kids. Underneath the patio is a whole world of play rooms, such as a fully equipped play kitchen.

There are child minders who also look after the little ones.

And they make a great cuppa! We are definitely going back!