Heia Safari - great for family outings!

The welcoming committee at Heia Safari - Zebras drinking water

We were on our way to a rural restaurant on the public holiday last month! They laughed at us for thinking that we would get a spot, so we had to get back in our car and drive around. We did not want to travel that far! We found Heia Safari Ranch, which apparently is now named Cradle Moon Lakeside Game Lodge!
We attended the Peace Concert here about two years ago, and always wanted to come back.

It was once again one of those serendipitous adventures that ended in the most beautiful place!

The photos tell the story!
 

We had a lovely lunch here

Little Miss was a bit worried about a few bees

Lots of playground for little ones

Lake Heritage

Picture pretty!

Lookout point

We did not find the rhino!

I sprained my ankle while walking around here, and Hubby went to fetch the car. We had to wait because he had to arrange for  a ranger to come down.

Rescue on the way

They charge a conservancy fee of R30 for each person, but it is totally worth it!
It looks like the hiking and off-road biking is also big here, and I would love to come back for that!

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!

George Hay Park - a lovely outdoor venue for the family

We spent the rest of Election Day last week at George Hay Park in Parkview.There were food trucks parked for the day.
It is a stunning suburban park run by the resident's association of the area.

It was packed with families, but there were enough space for everybody, and the children could play while their parents enjoyed a picnic.

Little Missy wanted a kite for ages, and we finally had a place to fly it!

The play grounds (there are a couple in the park) kept all the children busy!

Definitely a place to go back to!

Parkview autumn street

Wordless Wednesday #208 - Sunshine days

Lazy days of summer

Halftone 2

We are enjoying thus summer at home! We had an early vacation in the bush in the beginning of December. Now we are totally lazy getting the much needed rest at home!

This year I welcome it. The previous years I felt a bit depressed staying at home over the festive period, but it has been so relaxing to sleep late each day and just chill.

We also love spending time with family and friends!

And deciding on a whim each day to do some of the fun stuff here in Johannesburg...

We went on a drive to Maropeng today, but landed in a loop on the Kromdraai road. (I can see my dad and sister shaking their heads, because they have excellent direction, but even my iPad maps took us to the wrong place!)

It felt like a drive in the countryside and we did not mind. We will definitely go to Maropeng this coming week!

We took a detour to a fabourite place, Maggie's Farm, and of course had pies for lunch.

The pIcture is created by the Halftone 2 app, a comic book creator. It is the free gift available to download today from the 12 Days of Gifts.

The 12 Days of Gifts from the iTunes store are great fun. There is a free fun app or music or game to download from iTunes each day. This is happening from the 26th of December until 6th January. It is definitely worth downloading!

Wordless Wednesday #208 - Harties Cableway

PediaSure for sure?

I was invited to a talk on child nutrition, but was unfortunately not notified that it was cancelled! Not nice when you organise with Hubby to pick up the little one, and drive through afternoon traffic to get to venue! Luckily it was a great venue and Hubby and Little Missy joined me at Panettones in Parkview. Definitely a place to go with little ones.

So I got the goody bag from the marketing people, which includes pamplets on PediaSure, and a Mr Growing Grass Head which are giving us a daily fun factor when we arrive home. To see how much the "hair" has grown!

I am giving extra vitamins to our little one, but I don't think supplements are the final answer to nutritional deficiencies. We need to get the right stuff from the original source. But sometimes it can help, especially when you knows she needs that extra oomph after a few days of bad eating.

We tried the PediaSure milkshake and it is very tasty. I can't get my preschooler to drink milk. Only once in a blue moon, and then only a few sips. I don't know if it has anything to do with my extended breastfeeding (which hasn't stop), but I think she is only getting a little bit at this stage.

I am not worried, as my oldest was also not into drinking milk!

The Pediasure tastes like vanilla milkshake, and she loved it. But she also only drank half of the glass!
I think I will try and put the PediaSure into some of our food to get her to consume more. They have very nice recipes to try out!

There are days when the sweets of the day far outweigh the healthy food consumed! It happens with a manipulating picky eater who LOVES the sweet things in life! This is great to have in your cupboard as a back-up when you want to ensure they get in a little bit extra nutrition!

Disclaimer: I got the goody bag with the PediaSure as pictured in the photo above.

A Sunday winter afternoon - at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens

I don't know why we haven't been going to the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens on a more regular basis.
It is one of those places where you go to when you feel you need to get a breather in nature.
When you are feeling stuck in suburbia...

This afternoon was a bit chilly, but it was lovely soaking in some sun.

We will be coming back!