So many good ideas ... So little time!

I have got hooked amongst many on "pinterest" - such amazing ideas & artistic people out there!

We are trying to sort our house out now .. Wish us luck!

We bought some lights from Robin Mills Auctioneers.. And this has started the creative bug!!

Live LIFE!

Life is so short and I am sure we can all relate and know of some family or friend that has recently passed away. With work and life and kids...life can run away with you! It is so important to grab those opportunities that come across our path's to LIVE LIFE!

Today I took the day off work to attend my eldest son's Sports Day - what fun to see the kids run for their houses :-) Then the mommies had a chance to run.... phew seriously lived life today! Those mom's can sprint....may not be able to walk tomorrow but seized the day today :-)

We are off to gym to hopefully expound some more boy energy and have a quick look at Robin Mills Auctioneers who have 'big blue' stock less 60%...i love specials and living life!!

Hope you all have a fab weekend and LIVE the ONE LIFE you have to the FULL!

October - BIRTHDAY MONTH!!

This month has gone by far to quickly - jam packed with birthdays! We have had a fair amount of family birthday's and friends... isn't life wonderful! Today we had a school friends birthday party at Fish Hoek Primary School - fantstic venue, R500 for 3 hours and TONS of space & jungle gyms etc. The weather didn't play along but that did not deter the kids who ran riot in the rain.

Inside eating - well trained kids ;-)

Outside fun!

As we fly into November and then December we welcome the warm summer weather! I have recently purchased an ice-cream machine - so far we have made banana/coffee and strawberry ice cream - so refreshing! I am hoping to make strawberry and vanilla ice cream tomorrow.... inbetween rugby and church! The only snag with making your own ice cream is that it is a PROCESS not an instant pudding :-)

Home-made strawberry ice cream :-)

God's Goodness

I feel almost compelled to update with a quick post - it has been awhile & after a fabulous ladies evening out at my youngest son's school with lovely ladies/moms & teachers I felt like I needed to update my blog :-)

Last week was a crazy week with an old school friend of mine's brothers funeral & the next day another lovely friend who is going through a rough time's prayer afternoon. I felt like I had been in an emotional rollercoaster! Ontop of all of it I was on anti-biotics for a nasty throat infection (not uncommon with our weather we are experiencing!), my eldest son got a stomach bug & was home for 2 days. What a privilege it is to be home & with your children when they are ill... and the weather is bad :-) I thank the Lord for the time of rest as we all need that. Be quiet & know that HE is GOD..

I have been struck once again by the meaning of life - RELATIONSHIPS! God has pre-destined us to have a relationship with Him & with others, we CAN NOT go through life alone. The shortness of our life here is also another reality we all have to face at some time in our life. Lets do the most we can with the time we have & build ROCK solid relationships in HIM!

WORSHIP - another key factor to having a life built on HIM. I need to get to CUM books soon to get some more worship CD's - looking forward to buying Chris Tomlin...Our God is Greater, we are singing way to many of these songs at Church to not own one :-)

At our ladies meeting last night I was reminded of my shopping skills - so for those that don't know this SATURDAY (26 Aug) all items on the Woolworths sale will be marked down to R25!!! HAPPY SHOPPING :-)

SHOPPING ;-)

Yesterday my mom & I did a little factory shopping..

Merrypak- you can spend hours here!! So many lovely things and so much to choose from! The sticker collection has definately grown since I last went.. why is it that when you are looking for something you can't find it & months after there are tons of what you were looking for in the shops! My eldest son had a pirate party last November & I STRUGGLED to find pirate stickers - Merrypak had quite a few yesteday ;-)

We visited the Woolworths/Truworths handbag/wallet/scarf/beanie/hat/glove factory (the road behind Merrypak) - I managed to buy some fingerless black gloves for R10!!! And my mom bought a nice small handbag, R75 - we have been looking everywhere for one for her as she is fussy!

Then off to Epping, which is so close to Ndabeni (just take the back road to the casino for 10 minutes & you are there!). We ran through the Greencross factory (end of Benbow Ave)- tons of lovely & expensive shoes! The boots (lots of my friends have been talking about) are lovely but R900 a pair is a bit steep & the really lovely ones where size 3! They had lovely kids takkies for R150 & up... they looked pretty decent & not able to scuff/break easily - we go through a pair of takkies in a couple of days with our boys & the black motorbikes at school!! Most of their sandals were on special - R150 upwards.

Then stopped at Giant Sweets (just up the road from Greencross, 3 Benbow Ave) and it was packed..note to anyone going do not go at 12h00 - 13h00 - crazy time! We bought lots of sweets & choc's - belgian choc's from R10 a box!! I also managed to get some pirate sweets & fun skeleton sunglasses for a friend having a pirate party on Saturday for her little boy!! They really have EVERYTHING (except teddy bear jelly babies - I had to buy some for FHPS GR R - Teddy hibernation day today, I did manage to get teddy bear biscuits - honey & choc chip for R10 per pkt), make sure you have time to look & stand in the que! After that is was EASY WEAR - clothing, bedding & TOYS! Was rather sad as the last time I visited there we got lots of lovely toys & games for R20, this time their prices were a bit higher but you can still buy board games - hi ho cherry o, chutes & ladders, sorry - for under R40. ALSO managed to get my youngest son POWER rangers colouring in & stickers - he was sooo impressed!! A lot of their costumes/bikini's are on special now so good time to go. They also stock Zara - very exciting!

I have been debating for awhile now to stop using wheat & move to the wheat free side of life as my husbands whole family have a wheat intolerance... so bought my first box of Glutagen wheat free self raising flour & I am going to attempt to make a banana bread later... hold thumbs! I also bought cheese rolls..non-wheat free as the SPAR has them on special this week R1.99 each! Glutagen mixes are also cheaper at the SPAR R28.99 per box.

I also recently bought PNP clothes washing powder for automatic washing machines - so impressed with it..it comes with its own scoop & is much cheaper than Omo/Skip!!

Slivers Biltong & Nuts has carob coated dates on special this month - they are delicious & worth the R27 for the packet ;-)

LASTLY - if you like Estee Lauder SA on FB & enter your cellphone number - you will get a free sample of Advanced night repair & 10 day supply of perfect foundation...if not why not!

Hope you have a lovely weekend! We have a pirate party to attend & social with friends :-) Will post pics soon!

Holiday fun..

It really is important to get away and get a change of scenery! We recently hit the Matroosberg Private Nature Reserve for the night - wow beautiful scenery all over. What a privilege to get away. Below are the lakeview cottages.. we are definately visiting those soon! It always amazes me how our souls are made to be in nature and how refreshed we get by doing so... and there was SNOW!

Last week I was helping a friend with a kids playroom in the Sunvalley Mall- hardwork but awesome to meet other parents & see kids having FUN! So important for our kids - to play

 & have fun :-) What was really amazing is that all the equipment - jumping castles, cupcake icing, colouring in etc was DONATED & FREE to play for as long as the kids wanted.. people still care.

Next week I plan on relaxing and spending time with my boys & friends. Imhoff is on our list along with Somerset West & maybe Melkbos to visit our family.. we are blessed to live in such a beautiful place..

Another favourite CPT spot is the Aquarium -we went the other day & found the new tug boat.. looks like fun :-)

Long weekend ..

Finally the Easter weekend is upon us, what we celebrate with whom & for what reason are all personal decisions. Our weekend looked rather relaxed until suddenly it was full with friends birthday parties, the Two Oceans (we were lucky enough to see a good friend run past :-) ) and family... we are so blessed to be part of it all!

Yesterday we were invited to Yentl's 4th birthday - what a wonderful morning full of fun for the kids. I am always amazed at how girls LOVE pink & make-up & bling, it doesn't matter what age they are they want to be a princess! Yentl got the pink dress & shoes below from her Ouma in PE.  The dress was bought in Johannesburg by her Aunty & posted to PE & the shoes were bought en-route to CPT! Her Ouma also bought her REAL pearls from J-Bay. Yentl's necklace is really clever as the clasp is a magnet - perfect for little hands that can't do proper clasp's yet. On our way home we popped into my Aunt & Uncle for a family lunch, we were late but still managed to eat way too much - delicious home-made snoek pate, matzo's, pickled fish & hot cross buns.. I won't mention all the delicious puddings! What a privilege to be with family over this important religious holiday, after all God is all about relationships.

 

Last week Sunday, I was lucky enough to be invited to High Tea at the Table Bay Hotel for a special friends birthday - there was something for everyone. A serious spread of seriously yummy cakes & savouries, along with a piano player & the best view of our fabulous Table Mountain. The weather was perfect along with the setting, food & drinks (from cafe lattes to tea of different sorts).  It was mad hatter's themed so when I bit into a pink meringue, expecting to taste something pink and instead had a bannana taste in my mouth, I was surprised! Such beautifully presented cakes with different taste sensations! I did have a apple tart - which I have been dreaming about ever since...and trying to figure out how to make (in both pictures below with the gooseberry & cream ontop)..

I think I may have to attempt making those yummy apple tarts soon :-)

May this Easter weekend be one of family, fun & God's peace, provision & blessing!