The Greatest Christmas at Menlyn - on our bucket list

We are not so lucky to be able to go away this December. The budget is non-existent. Fortunately there is a lot going on in Gauteng. We still like to do things that are festive and family orientated. If it is "free" even more so!

Menlyn Park in Pretoria has launched their Greatest Christmas at Menlyn campaign on Saturday with a Carols in the Sky show. It was fantastic! I wish I knew how grand it would be, so I could have told you before the time. *Sorry*
See my Instastory for some of the magic. Conductors Tim Roberts and Unathi Malunga were fantastic together with the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra. Then there was Zanzi Afrirca and Brandon October as soloists. The Ndlovu Youth Choir was the cherry on top. Excellent! Excellent! Next year make sure you attend as well.

First ever The Greatest Christmas Carols In The Sky @MenlynSA #MenlynSky#CarolsInTheSky#ChristmasAtMenlyn pic.twitter.com/BXeWMBH95e

- Karen from the Roof (@karentoittoit) December 1, 2018

Ed Sheeran Shape of You in Zulu The Ndlovu Youth Choir #ChristmasatMenlyn #MenlynSky #CarolsintheSky: https://t.co/naguuYdXtO via

— iloveza (@ilovezacom) December 2, 2018

Fortunately Menlyn has a whole programme running until 23 December.

Santa Visits

Meet up with Santa at Mini Cavendish Court from 9am - 7pm.

We got our photo. Santa is friendly and he doesn't mind posing for hundreds of photos every day. He wanted to know what Miss Fine wants for Christmas. She doesn't want to tell us, but we have a good idea.

Zip Zap Circus

Zip Zap Circus - CC Menlyn

Every day at 3 pm and 7 pm at Cavendish Court.
We missed the launch tonight *crying*, but this is definitely on our list for December.

The Zip Zap Circus is a social circus that was founded in Cape Town in 1992, with the aim to inspire young people and help build a new culture of peaceful coexistence in South Africa.
Working with a diverse community of children from all backgrounds, Zip Zap helps kids to ‘dare to dream’ and learn to make those dreams a reality.

Menlyn is raising funds for the Topsy Foundation, which empower rural communities infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. You are welcome to give a donation at Menlyn or online.


See you at Menlyn?


What more is happening in Pretoria this holiday?

Early Man releasing 2018 A.D. - Free Activity Sheet

Early Man poster

Stop-motion animation at it's best. EARLY MAN is the latest film from the Aardman studios. The EARLY MAN Official Trailer is already a hoot. We can't wait to take the family.

The prehistoric comedy adventure from four-time Academy Award®-winning director Nick Park is done in Aardman’s own distinctive style. The film takes audiences on an extraordinary journey into an exciting new world, unleashing an unforgettable tribe of unique and funny new characters voiced by an all-star British cast. 

Breaking taboos - Unembarrassing periods!

#Unembarrassed

Libresse is breaking taboos with the Vagina Varsity and now with "Unembarrass your perod!" The Fearlessly campaign deliberately makes fun of the world's attempt to use strange metaphors when describing periods and pads!

"Worldwide, women just aren't comfortable talking about pads and periods. In South Africa's conservative society, stigma and shame about periods are entrenched. South African girls and women learn to not discuss vaginal care or associated concerns like odour control out loud and the result is that myths and health problems are common." 

                                                      - Boniswa Pezisa (Net#work BBDO South Africa CEO)
                                                                                   
                                             
We had lots of fun making our own videos on unembarrassed.co.za at the launch of Libresse's "Unembarrass your period"-campaign! Mine is here: Unembarrass your period by showing just how crazy it is when we don't say what we mean when we are talking about periods!

Make your own #unembarressed video
Unembarress your period!#vaginavarsity
Give our daughters the right language! https://t.co/6OXHiqLW9C

— Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit) June 6, 2017

This campaign rings true to home as we have just embarked on our own journey of opening up the world here at home. Little Miss has lots of questions that have to be answered. We have a book that helps, but most of the time we have to be ready with the answers! I had to field questions about condoms in Dischem two weeks back. I have learnt to keep a straight face, and answer as truthfully with the correct terminology as possible. As soon as she gets the answer, she moves on to the next thing.

Libresse has had so much success with their Vagina Varsity campaign. You and your daughters can sign up here for a free four week course delivered to your inbox every day: Vagina Varsity.

Vagina Varsity success

The Libresse pad ad is also not embarrassing! Space rockets, teddy bears and saxophones are part of Libresse deliberately making fun of the world's attempt to use strange metaphors when describing periods and pads.

Live fearless!
There is so much in the world to worry about! Let's make it one thing less for our daughters!

Words of wisdom from Mothers of Africa #MondayMotivation

Celebrating Mothers of Africa

The Working Mother's Expo shared the output of a recent survey. A stunning number of women, over 1200, responded to the survey, sharing their words of wisdom.The ebook is divided in sections of Courage, Perspective, Work Life Integration, We're in this together, On Happiness, Self Care, When the going gets tough, Perfection, On Motherhood. All with beautiful photos of real moms who are doing it day-by-day!

This helps for a bit of Monday motivation when the Monday feels a bit blue!

As Janice Windt, MD of the Working Mothers Expo says “The truth is that we’re all in this together. The challenges we face are not unique. No matter the colour of our skin, our marital status or job description, working motherhood is a challenge. If you find it hard, trust me, you are not alone. That’s why we are bringing everything working mothers need together under one roof at the Sandton Convention Centre in November - to help working moms make life work.” 

Signing up to be reminded of the Expo in November is for free!

Easter fun for the kids at Silverstar

We had a fantastic time at Silverstar on Saturday. They have a great line-up for families during Easter, from 19 March to 3 April.

There are the kid's fun on the Square, with jumping castles, a kiddies' train, a Maze and the interactive water fountains. The Easter Bunny are going to make an appearance each day, with movies on the Square, and an Easter Market.

The best of all! The entertainment on the Square is FREE! 

It is wise to also take an extra set of clothing and a towel. No kid can resist the water fountains, as well as the jumping castle with the slide into water!

So much fun!

Little Miss got me to go along into the Wind Castle-thing (see below)! It is very safe, and even the littlest enjoy going up... and DOWN! And up and DOWN again!
Hoots of fun! (Five times for Little Miss!)

The things you do for your child!
(Totally worth the screams! From me!)

There's also The Magic Company with arcade games, Laser Tag and Ten Pin Bowling that keeps them entertained. And movies! (Not for free!)

The Magic Company fun

This is a great way to spend the day with the family!
We will be going back!

Disclaimer: The family got an invite for a breakfast at Vigour & Verve at Silverstar on Saturday, 
30 tokens at The Magic Company, Easter eggs and hot dogs at the food stand on the Square!

The rest (and best fun!) was of course for free on the Square!

Have fun with Barni this week at The Zone in Rosebank - FREE

A great fun activity for children 3 - 7 years of age: Barni's Great Big Learning Adventure.
It will be open at The Zone for the rest of the week until the 18th of December. It's near the outdoor area where The Zone has put up a plastic bottle Christmas tree . It is open from 10 am - 4 pm daily.

Did I mention it is for free?

The little one's love the colouring and making finger Barnis. They are stepping into a giant storybook being helped along by friendly Barni helpers. Barni and friends also sings and dance and "picnic" (eating Barni sponge cakes) every hour on the hour.

If you haven't seen the Barni Chocolate cakes in shops already, your child will definitely have seen at in school lunchboxes. Little Miss convinced me about two months back to buy her a box of five for school, and she loves absolutely loves it! It does help that the Barni sponge cakesdoes not have colourants, preservatives or trans fats.

We were invited to the activation on Saturday, and Little Miss did not want to leave!

Photo op with Barni
(Big Sis had to pose alongside!)

Making Barni finger puppets

Part of the entertainment area

Barni adventure story being told
- each child gets a chance to pull on the kite string

What does Barni eat?
Barni chocolate sponge cakes!
Off course! ;-)

We have a problem! - how do we get her to leave ? #BarniBear pic.twitter.com/lOdxlji5aX

— Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit) December 12, 2015

What kind of tourist are you?

We got our visas approved for our overseas tour to America in June! *Happy dance!*

I stressed about all the paperwork, and we went in with four complete files proving that we have work here, with bank statements, letters from my brother, from work and from school. And more...

They did not ask for one single thing. They only wanted to know where we are going, what our occupations are (of course she wanted to know what an "archivist" is), and how we are going to pay for it.
Luckily we could say that we are going to stay with my brother.

It is a relief to finally being able to focus on planning the touristy things!

I am Googling all the free things (with kids) we can do, because our ZAR is worth nothing when converted!
Any suggestions about San Antonio in Texas?

That's why I immediately completed a questionnaire from Flight Centre in my Inbox today: "What kind of tourer are you? 
[Unfortunately it is not available on the web, but if you send me your email, I will be happy to forward it to you.]

I got the following result:

"You are a Youth Tourer!
This is for the young and the young at heart! Party like a rock star in the Greek Islands, leave what happens in Vegas in Vegas, or explore the exotic beaches of South East Asia. You make every minute of your holiday count with the coolest sights, activities and places to go specially selected so that you get all the best parts of each country you visit. You believe life is about making memories, visiting inspiring places and living in the moment."

You can also go and do the following quiz from The Science Channel: What kind of tourist are you? 

This quiz got the following result:

"34 - 66 Proceed with CautionColumbus you're not, but you definitely like to get away from time to time. You appreciate the comforts of home even when you're on the road. Not that we're saying there's anything wrong with that."

Please share what kind of Tourer (not an actual word for tourist?) are you?  


Photo: taken in Publicity on Friday at Silverstar while we were on our date night for our anniversary.


Disclaimer: I am very excited about finally going on an overseas tour. (You will probably see some more touristy things here.)
I was not paid to mention Flight Centre.

For the Over 40 Mothers - a free tribute e-card

Celebrate Motherhood over 40 Mothers' Day e-card

I did have a child over 40 years of age, but you tend to forget it in the normal rat-race that we are in....

There is nothing like having a little kid in your life that makes you forget your own age!
Until you get reminded of it again! :-) (Thanks, Angel!)

A Child After 40 has launched a beautiful tribute album for Mothers' Day 2013 to reveal the true faces of the rising number of over-40 moms.

MOTHER'S DAY 2013: 

True Faces of Rising Number of Over-40 Moms Revealed 

In a bid to dispel unfounded, negative stereotypes regarding maternal age—and uncover the real benefits to children of the dramatically rising population of women having children after 40—AChildAfter40.com is launching the "The Over-40 Mother's Day Album", via social media. 

A leading advocacy website for later mothers, AChildAfter40.com says the free online gallery is set to reveal the true faces and authentic voices of the growing ranks of women creating “a mother of an evolution” at the very heart of the Western nuclear family. MORE

Web:  http://www.achildafter40.com 

Email:  angel@achildafter40.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AChildAfter40

Twitter: https://twitter.com/achildafter40  

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/AChildAfter40 

.

Free Collins Big Cat apps

Collins Big Cat apps 

I was alerted to the Collins Big Cat apps via Dizzy C's Little Book Blog.

I have downloaded only two at this stage, but I will definitely download the rest as well.
They are very cute and interactive stories, which can be enjoyed by a toddler, as well as school-going children when they start reading by themselves.

I especially love the option to create your own stories with your own voice.
We are having fun already making our own story creations.

"Developed in partnership with Shoo Fly, all  8 apps are free to download until September 2013, and not only support a love of reading but the development of creative writing skills too. 

They feature:

• an animated, interactive version of the book
• a record your own narration feature
• a story creator tool - make your own book using characters, key vocabulary and 
  • backgrounds from the original story
• support for parents to get the most out of the book."

iPad screen print
In the Garden
(photo courtesy of Collins)

The titles are:

Around the world

The steam train

It was a cold, dark night

My bike ride

In the garden

At the dump

Playing story 

The farmer's lunch


The apps are here: Collins Big Cat apps

The best! They are free until September of this year!!