Johannesburg International Mozart Festival - WIN tickets

JIMF 2020

Johannesburg International Mozart Festival to give resonance to Beethoven’s concept of unity

It is a special time of the year when it is the Johannesburg International Mozart Festival. The Mozart Festival has so much to offer families, whether you have a passion for classical music, or want to bring the joy to your children as well. We have been going for the past 2 years, and we have received tickets for the upcoming Chamber Music Orchestra with the Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble.
See details below on how two families can also win tickets for this Saturday's Show.

The JIMF  runs from 25 January to 2 February 2020.

NERF FEST 2019 hits Joburg in a week!

NERF Fest fun 

NERF FEST - "the ultimate Nerf obsessed fan experience" - hits Johannesburg on 26 and 27 October at GOG Lifestyle Park! We remember last year and how much the kids enjoyed the fun! The excitement is high, especially because we see that the venue is larger, and there are more activities. Nerf fans are again trying out the latest Nerf blasters and going to test their skills against each other. The title of Nerf Fest 2019 champions and some amazing prizes are up for grabs.

Nerf Fest caters for the whole family, and there's a whole day of activities.

Take a Walk in the Park Day - Dog Parks in Johannesburg

Walk the dog on Take a Walk in the Park Day

Every day should be a Take a Walk in the Park Day, but this specific day is coming up on 30 March. I am not sure that this a thing in South Africa, but the global village makes it possible for us to celebrate as well. Especially if for a good cause.

On Sunday the Muddy Puppy Dog Walk will be at The Wedge Outdoor Park. We have been invited to bring our pavement special dog for the event. Muddy Puppy is partnering with Pedigree Dentastix and Rodeo treats. 

Valentine's at Hard Rock Café at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre

Entrance to Hard Rock Café at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre

February is the month of love. This sucker loves all the schmaltzy Valentine's hype. Menlyn Park Shopping Centre went all out with an unforgettable Valentine's Day experience for 100 lucky couples, with dinner and The Muses entertaining at Hard Rock Café on February 14th.

“This month is a very special time for Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, and we are thrilled to have offered such an amazing experience to our loyal customers. We always encourage families to spend time together and as part of this we wanted to be a special moment in celebrating their love for each other,” said. Olive Ndebele, General Manager at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre

Aunty Merle The Musical - Top Notch

Aunty Merle (Marc Lottering character)

Joburg finally gets a chance to meet up with Aunty Merle from Belgravia Road, one of the oldest characters created by Marc Lottering.  She's all the hype and the SKINDER (gossip) worthy! Who does not know an aunt like her who knows everybody's business, and helps fixing where she can?

Aunty Merle the Musical is lots of laughs, some crying, family dynamics mixed with rich cultural diversities. Social commentary and politics are lightly interwoven, and we walk out of the Mandela Theatre with a beat in our step and a lighter look at our social political landscape. Four Fleur Du Cap Theatre nominations are well deserved.

The ABBA Show is in town and it's ABBAsolutely fABBAulous

The ABBA Show - CC Emperor's

Relive the ABBA Concert experience

That's exactly what we did! The ABBA Show is a real treat. It's on at Emperor's Palace until 10 February.  Who does not know the music of ABBA? We all grew up with it. Even Gen Xrs know their music. Hubby and I had a great date night on Friday. I made sure I had all the ABBA on our sound systems before we did the drive to the South, and it was more than worth it.

Fourways Mall with Santa Live heats up the Christmas spirit

Elf at Fourways Mall

Santa's Elves sent an invite to Miss Fine to Skype Live with Santa from the North Pole at Fourways. We love all the festivities and activations around Christmas during this time of the year. This is super awesome to take the kids to experience. Miss Fine was a bit shy to talk to him, but the super-friendly Elf helpers made it easier on her. And we got the photos to prove she spoke to him.

Video Chat with Santa - Fourways Mall

The Live Video chats are available from 1 - 24 December. Love that it is free.

Miss Fine Skype call to Santa at the North Pole

See the Santa Live call on my Instagram Stories: Santa Fourways

Fourways Mall has a number of festive activities. Bring the kids.

Fourways Mall

We made a whole outing on Saturday, with a lovely breakfast at Mugg & Bean (which is near Dischem Court and the Santa Live activation area) before speaking to Santa.

Breakfast at M&B at Fourways

Miss Fine got a Christmas cracker and popcorn from the Elf on the bicycle when we arrived. (See photo on top) Track him down when you see him.

Miss Fine with a Christmas Cracker

Thanks, Santa!

Disclaimer: Miss Fine was very lucky to get a Carry and care Baby Doll from Santa. Thanks to Fourways Mall and Tribeca for the invite.

A Christmas tradition: The Garden of Lights at Emperor's Palace

"Garden of Lights" - pose with the Garden Princess

By now we have a firm Christmas tradition: Visiting the Garden of Lights at Emperors Palace each year during the December holidays. The lights never disappoints, and it's a great way to start the Festive Season with kids. The best: The proceeds go to charity.

Santa Claus, Mrs Claus, Olaf, the Magical Fairy, the Gingerbread Man... There's too many of our favourite characters, but they are all there. It's all magical!

Santas Village at the Garden of Lights

Magical carriage at The Garden of Lights at Emperor's Palace

The Garden of Lights

The parentals were there 

We got our Christmas photo as well. 

Family Christmas photo at The Garden of Lights last night @emperors_palace #ChristmasPhoto #FamilyPhoto#FatherChristmas #MrsKlaus #SantaKlaus#GardenOfLights#emperorspalace #FestiveSpirit#ChristmasSpirit https://t.co/9TRcLeUVcP pic.twitter.com/smeM6Ygm01

— Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit) November 29, 2018

You won't be disappointed in visiting this year. This is the 11th Annual Garden of Lights at Emperors Palace, and there are a few surprises. (Hint: It gets better each year)
The Garden of Lights is on from 30 November until 9 January 2019, from 19H00-22H00 daily.
It should be on your bucket list for the holidays. 

Disclaimer: We got tickets to attend the opening night.

Coming to a cinema near you: Smallfoot - Win tickets

"Get Yeti" - SmallFoot Movie poster

Yetis or BIG Foots. Who knew they would be afraid of a SMALLfoot? Thinking of  a humans as a monster mythical creature... This is definitely a must see for the whole family. The movie will be in Ster-Kinekor cinemas from 28 September.

Perfect for the upcoming school holidays. Even better: Watching Smallfoot at the Kid's Cinema would be the perfect outing.

A Yeti called Migo (Channing Tatum) has a run-in with a small foot (a human) after a plane crashes in the Yeti world up in the clouds. Migo is terrified and curious of small foots because Yetis believe they are mythical creatures, in the same way small foots think of Yetis.   When Migo tells his tribe about his encounter, the tribe starts to panic and the stern elder of the tribe banishes him for telling tall tales.
With the help of Meechee (Zendaya) and the Smallfoot Evidentiary Society (S.E.S), which Meechee heads, Migo must come down to Earth and capture a human as evidence that small foots exist. The journey is hilarious, with lots of twists and turns, but it’s equally heart-felt with a message that sometimes what we fear, fears us too, and to never judge anyone based on what they look like.

HOW TO WIN TICKETS TO SMALLFOOT (FILM)

Two readers of this blog can each win a set of 4 family tickets each.

These are the participating cinemas that the winners can win tickets:

Greenstone
Mall @ Carnival
Cedar
CapeGate
N1
Parow
Promenade
Sandton
Gateway
Mall of Africa
Cresta
Eastgate
Blue Route
Cavendish
Tyger Valley
Bayside
Somerset
Irene

HOW TO WIN:

1. Comment below with the Ster-Kinekor cinema (listed above) where you would like to go and see the movie.
2. The competition starts today, and ends Friday 28 September at 12pm.
3. Only residents of South Africa who can get to the cinema by own transport is eligible.
4. The winner will be selected by Random.org and it will be announced here and on Facebook.
5. An entry is only allowed when you have not won here in the past three months.

Good luck, Smallfoots! ;-)

Thanks, Ster-Kinekor, for the opportunity, and for giving us two tickets as well to attend. 


WINNERS:

Congrats to Jessie McKay and Leandra du Toit. Please send your email addresses?

READ Word Warrior Competition - Keep them busy

Word Warrior Competition logo

The school holidays are long, especially if it's only the kids who are on holiday. The working mom guilt is more pronounced during this time. What do we do with her, and how do we keep her busy? Miss Fine has been in my office at work for threeeeeee days now. That's why I get excited when I get an email in my inbox about READ Educational Trust's Word Warrior Competition. Something to do that's creative, but also has a prize to aspire to. Miss Fine loves writing, and she loves winning something.

READ Education Trust

The READ Educational Trust is a platform used to promote literacy, reading and the art of creative writing among young South Africans.

How does the competition work?

Disney on Ice - Dream Big this year

Disney on Ice at Ticketpro Dome

We were at the opening night of Disney on Ice at the Ticketpro Dome on Friday night. It was a great way to start the holidays. Families, young and old, big and small. All were there, and all had a great time.

The show is getting better and better each year. We are looking at highlights of Disney one after the other. All the Disney princesses and princes from the great stories are included, and although we thought we could not handle another Frozen, the whole Dome was singing with gusto "Let it Go" together on Friday night. Your kids will totally thank you for taking them.

Wordless Wednesday #351 - It's a box life

Stunning Kids' Cinema at Sandton City Mall and how to win a birthday bash

Ster-Kinekor Kids' Cinema at Sandton City Mall

We were invited to a movie at the newly revamped Ster-Kinekor Cinema at Sandton City Mall on Sunday. Miss Fine was truly impressed. She said the seats are really REALLY comfy. Luckily Mom and Dad also get bigger chairs higher up, but some parents ventured onto the smaller seats.

Mom and Dad's view from higher in the cinema

Wordless Wednesday #349 - Travel in my city - Ramkiki

 

Festival of India at Montecasino - Great for families >Giveaway

 #FestivalofIndia - punjabi samoosas

This week has a public holiday coming up on Wednesday. The place to go is to the authentic Indian market at the Festival of India, open at Montecasino until 25 March.  This is a one-of-a-kind shopping experience with authentic Indian lifestyle, fashion, culture and cuisine. The performers and traditional foods, to authentic Indian clothing and genuine homeware, are one of the most vibrant festival offers that have something for the whole family.

The opening ceremony was on Saturday, and even rainy weather couldn't damp the colourful spirit. The festivities are inside a marquee tent which makes it perfect for any kind of weather.


There are two double tickets up for grabs. See below.

Make it Magical - Maddy Magoo Fourways Fairy Building Workshop *WIN*

Fairy House built at Maddy Magoo Fourways #MakeItMagical

Kids Emporium in conjunction with Maddy Magoo has come up with a brilliant concept. A Fairy Building Workshop. This works great for a children's party and any other excuse for doing something with your child. Think Dad and daughter dates, as well as with besties or your mates. Yes, even the guys would love this! ;-)

Fairy House Building Workshop at Maddy Magoo Fourways poster

A fairy house - great concept by @kidsemp @ontrendstylevents
@maddymagoofourways #magical #creatingmagic#creativeparties #beingcrafty#samomblogger#timeoutinsta #bloggers https://t.co/Syx8iRxkmM pic.twitter.com/4muGgpFXsQ

— Karen du Toit (@karentoittoit) March 1, 2018

Maddy Magoo Fourways is hosting the first three workshops at their branch at The Gantry, and the cost of a workshop is R295 per guest.

• You can win one of these workshops, as well as a Free Haircut.
• There's a second prize as well: A free haircut at Maddy Magoo Fourways. 

When you make a pitstop, but you want to linger...

Bru'House and Diner

We went to fetch Miss who was away on a camp this weekend. The camp was not that far, and it is welcome road trip out of the city. We were worried about her being sick, but she was fine when we fetched her. She did not get sicker and she listened to her mom who told her not to swim. Phew!

Fetching Miss at camp

WIN tickets to Alice in Wonderland at the People's Theatre

Disney's Alice in Wonderland - People's Theatre

We love the People's Theatre. The excitement and introduction to theatre for children are unsurpassed. We are so glad that they are going down the rabbit hole this upcoming holidays! Crazy, mad and wonderful Alice in Wonderland is always great escapism for the whole family.

In March and April, travel down the rabbit hole and join Alice, one of literature’s most beloved heroines, on her madcap adventures. The ever-curious Alice’s journey begins innocently enough as she chases the White Rabbit.  Her adventures become increasingly more strange as she races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, raps with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar  is shrunk, stretched, scratched and stuffed into a teapot, and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game!

Based on the Alice books by Lewis Carroll, the Peoples Theatre’s version of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland will bring all your favourite, wacky characters to life. And don’t forget the crazy ditties. Expect to hear all of them - from “In a World of My Own” to “I'm Late” to “The Unbirthday Song”.

Breather away at Dikhololo

Arrival on Friday at Dikholo Nature Reserve, near Brits

We had a good rest at Dikhololo, a second year in a row. We are very blessed to be able to celebrate my Dad's birthday away in the Bush!

We complain about the eleven kilometers of bad dirt road we have to get there, and we even said this year was the last! But thinking back about the weekend, I have a rubber arm! I would be there in a flash if I get the chance. A weekend away is a great way to breath. I have been spamming my Instagram feeds. Sorry! Not sorry!

It was great to get away from the year that has started with a bang!

#RELAX #unwind #weekendvibes #bushveldlife #dikhololo #swimmingpool #hminstachallenge

A post shared by Karen Du Toit (@karentoittoit) on Feb 10, 2018 at 5:07am PST

Wordless Wednesday #347 - Johannesburg International Mozart Festival

#JIMF2018