Issue 29 | Johannesburg - East Rand | February 2020
From The Editor’s Desk... It’s 2020 and a new beginning! Christmas is a distant memory and the kids are back at school - where did December and January go?
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, for one, am happy that “Januworry” is over! My son started Grade 1 this year - a huge milestone for our family! I’m really looking forward to all this year has in store for my son - he will be learning so many new things! He’s already come home speaking in Zulu and Afrikaans, and is starting to read words – I’m amazed at how much they have learnt
in just a few weeks! Did you make any resolutions for 2020? I decided to make just one – to learn to value myself and to put my well-being first. As a mom, it’s so easy to put your own needs on the back-burner and ignore your health issues, as you are so busy trying to keep your family fed and happy! Well, this year I’m going to learn to treat myself better. Starting with a new healthy weight loss plan as of February, so watch this space!
I’m also expecting great things for Mum’s Mail this year! We have some exciting plans in the pipeline, and I look forward to sharing it all with you in the year to come. I hope you like our new look mag and enjoy reading our articles. We have some great content for you this month, from educational articles and financial advice to health advice, competitions and more! Enjoy! Sarah
CONTENTS
Everyday Life 3 4 5 6 7
From the Editor’s Desk... Meet the Cover Stars Book Reviews by Bargain Books Turn Your Financial Situation Around in 2020 Green Your Home In 2020
Healthy Life/Beautiful Life 8 9 10
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Get Gut Right Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Month Your Wellness in 2020
EDUCATED LIFE/PARTY LIFE 11 12 13 14
To Win Or Lose? Glowing Magic Milk Science Experiment Tween Birthday Party Ideas Exciting February Events
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The Mum’s Mail Team
Editor: Sarah Mackintosh • sarah@mumsmail.com • Enquiries: 031 - 714 4700 Accounts: meghan@mumsmail.com • Designer: Wendy Offer Advertising Sales: Bev Delew • bev@mumsmail.com | Anisha Singh • anisha@mumsmail.com Cover Photographer: Shoot the Moon Photography, shootthemoonza@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Neither the Publisher, Printer or Editor can be held responsible for damages or consequences of any omissions or errors, as every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in Mum’s Mail. We do not guarantee the performance or quality of service of any of the advertisers in this magazine. No part of Mum’s Mail magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the Editor.
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Meet the Cover Stars Meet our cute cover stars, Elle (4) and Lexi (2). They live with their parents, Anro and Anneri Oosthuizen on a small farm in Pretoria East.
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nro is an accountant and Anneri is a paediatric Occupational Therapist. Elle is our head girl of the family - she was born responsible and takes great pride in keeping her room neat and doing self-care activities for herself and helping us with chores around the house,” says Anneri. “She is a very quick learner and frequently surprises us with all she remembers. She is extremely empathetic and always wants everybody to feel happy - she will pick up when someone is down and immediately help when a friend or her sister gets hurt. She is a soft and gentle soul with an intrinsic understanding of music. She loves Barbie and playing mom with her dolls. She is a pink fanatic and wants to be a ballerina mermaid when she grows up.
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She is a very good swimmer and loves being in water, having started swimming lessons at six months of age.” “Lexi is a fiery, feisty, independent and courageous little girl. Her hero in life is her sister and she is a Frozen groupie - if she could, she would change her name to Elsa! She loves animals especially dogs and she is a born entertainer,” laughs her mom. “She loves belting out tunes, dancing in front of others and strutting her stuff. Sitting still is not something she does. She is our light and shines so bright. She does not really care what others think and is very headstrong about what she wants in life - she will make a plan to get it. She is our humorous little human and she has a very enigmatic personality - drawing everyone she meets towards her. Lexi is eager to learn new things and certainly keep us on our toes. Oh, and to my dismay, Lexi also loves sweeties...” As a family they enjoy travelling whenever they can to see new places and experience cultures together. They also enjoy spending time at home together. “We love dancing and singing - at least the girls
do... we just watch the “shows” they put on for us!” says Anneri. What do you love about being parents? Anro and Anneri say they love experiencing normal everyday things/ tasks through the eyes of children. “They really do see magic everywhere! We love those special moments where they say funny and sweet things or that they love you... And also the few moments that they play and get along! Lying with them in bed and chatting about special and silly things, having to make time to just be and to have fun - we forget as adults because of the tempo of modern life.” Advice for new parents: Anro: “Routine, routine, routine - and it gets better and easier because you get to know them and they get to know you. Anneri: “Checking and adhering to awake times for different age groups makes such a huge difference to their mood, growth and development. Day sleep determines night sleep. Teach them about balance in life. Let them be little! Create a village for yourself... and use them! You are doing great!
By Sarah Mackintosh
Book Reviews by Bargain Books Mum’s Mail has a R2000 Bargain Books vouchers to give away. For children FULL DISCLOSURE by Camryn Garrett. The uplifting story of an HIV-positive teen, falling in love and learning to live her truth. Simone Garcia-Hampton is starting over at a new school, and this time things will be different. She’s making real friends, making a name for herself as student director of Rent, and making a play for Miles, the guy who makes her melt every time he walks into a room. The last thing she wants is for word to get out that she’s HIV-positive, because last time… well, last time things got ugly… THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR BOOK AND TOY GIFT SET by Eric Carle. This gift set includes a mini-hardback edition of THE all-time classic and bestselling picture book. Telling the story of the very hungry caterpillar undergoing a remarkable transformation, to become the beautiful parts that make up the butterfly. Hardback with Toy WHERE’S SPOT by Eric Hill. Spot the puppy has been a story time staple since author Eric Hill created the original Where’s Spot? for his son Christopher. This marks the 40th anniversary of Eric Hill’s beloved character. Let your child join the hunt to find lovable puppy, Spot, in Eric Hill’s first ever lift-the-flap tale. WARNING! If your child is a fan of listening to the same book a thousand times over, you’ll be reading and looking for Spot till the end of time! Board Book with Soft Toy.
For adults TO DRINK COFFEE WITH A GHOST by Amanda Lovelace. You may not think poetry books are for you, but these are some of the most powerful poems we’ve ever read. Find out for yourself! From the bestselling and award-winning poetess, comes the finale of her illustrated duology, Things that Haunt. In To Drink Coffee with a Ghost, the pages are heavy and emotionally taxing to read but there is so much light, love, self-reclamation and healing. There will only be a few that will read this and walk away unchanged.
Contact: Bianca Noel-Barham, Bargain Books, 021 706 1461, bianca@bargainbooks.co.za, www.bargainbooks.co.za. Facebook: Bargain Books SA, Instagram: @bargainbookssa.
WIN! WIN! WIN! Mum’s Mail has a R2000 Bargain Books vouchers to give away. Visit www.mumsmail.com to enter. WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM EVERYDAY LIFE
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Turn Your Financial Situation Around in 2020 E
xcessive bills and the responsibility of paying off undue credit are not at all easy or desirable. But as tough as it is, don’t you think 2020 is the ideal time to start to turn your financial situation around? “The shocking 1.90 trillion outstanding consumer credit indicated by the National Credit Regulator (NCR) paints a scary picture. Being proactive and adding some urgency to your financial New Year’s resolutions and goals should, therefore, be your top priority right now. It is the ideal time to avoid being or becoming part of these statistics, and keep your mini-economy going instead,” says Carla Oberholzer, debt adviser at DebtSafe. Here are four financial goals that you can incorporate in 2020: Budget properly and make alterations if and when necessary It is important to keep track of your finances and what better way than to have a budget outlined according to YOUR needs for each specific month. If you decide that you have to make amendments to
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In a flash, December has come and gone. Was all the glitz, glamour and gloss of the 2019 festive season worth it, financially? your monthly budget, do it sooner rather than later. Take stock’ of your income, necessary expenditures and avoidable costs It is of utmost importance that your expenses do not exceed your income amount. If you have your budget ready - great. But, NOW is also the time to tackle those unnecessary ‘spending leaks’: • Print out your latest bank statement or the previous three months’ statements and get out that magnifying glass and calculator of yours. Make sure that all the things you are paying for currently are indeed needed. • Identify costs that should have been avoided AND that you have to exclude or delete from your budget from now on. • Avoidable expenses can be things like those takeaway meals, excessive shopping sprees or paying for services you do not use or need (like a gym contract or subscription). • When it comes to your medical aid, life insurance, pension fund or similar
plans and offerings - regularly revise your contracts and providers. You never know where you can save a bit of money when it comes to the same type of plan or package. Up your level of involvement Remember, actions speak louder than words. Are you involved with what is and what has been going on in your finances? Don’t be an ostrich and think, that if you stick your head in the ground, all of your financial woes will poof disappear. To get out of debt is not a one-man show Lastly, don’t go it alone. There are financial planners, advisors, and bankers available to help you. In severe indebted cases the NCR, as well as debt counsellors, can guide and assist you to overcome your over-indebted situation. Kickstart your 2020 year with a clean slate. Especially when it comes to YOUR goals, YOUR choices, YOUR pro-action, and YOUR GO TIME to get your financials on track again. Turn a new leaf and try not to look for excuses or waste time pondering IF you want to do something significant this year. Take care of your financial situation as it will surely help you and your loved ones in the future.
By Carla Oberholzer, www.debtsafe.co.za.
Green Your Home In 2020 Now that the season of feasting, revelry and popping champagne corks has come to an end, 2020 is a good time to re-introduce a note of sobriety and to reimagine how families can lighten our impact on the environment around us, writes Tony Carnie
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here is no easy 10-step guide to saving the world, but here are some ideas to start recognising the damage we cause to the vanishing world of nature. Reimagine your garden: Many suburban gardens look “green”. However, look a little closer and most are ecologically-sterile deserts with neatly-mowed lawns and brick-paving, roses and other alien plants which provide very little food or benefit to local birds, small animals and insect-life. A good place to start is to buy a copy of Charles and Julia Botha’s book Bring Nature Back To Your Garden. (To order, contact Marylynn Grant on 082 663 8266 or email nflora@mweb.co.za) Some of the ideas in this book may challenge your comfort zone, but you don’t have to change everything overnight. Start slowly, gradually replacing exotic plants with indigenous varieties that will provide edible fruit, nectar, seeds and berries during the different seasons. Reduce water waste: The biggest water-guzzler in your home is the toilet. In most households, 35% of the water bill gets flushed down the loo daily. No one wants smelly toilets, but
do they have to be flushed after every visit? Can we redesign our homes to harvest rainwater for flushing? Don’t waste expensive tap water on topping up your pool. Rather buy a detachable length of PVC gutter pipe and hook this up to a gutter down-pipe to catch rain water off your roof. You’ll be amazed how quickly the pool fills up after a heavy downpour. You can also install a JoJo tank to catch more rain to water the garden during dry months, but also select local, water-wise plants that are adapted to survive in dry weather. Reduce your electricity footprint: This is not just about saving money. Most of South Africa’s electricity comes from burning coal in Eskom power stations which produce greenhouse gas emissions that heat up the world and change the climate. Consider installing a solar-powered-geyser the next time your electric geyser bursts. Solar systems are getting cheaper, and will continue to get cheaper as more people make the choice to switch over to greener power. For starters, ditch the air-conditioner and open the doors and windows
when it gets hot. We have survived quite well without air-con for centuries, even in Durban. Also consider taking expert advice from an electrician and plumber on smarter ways to reduce your power bills and your climate-change footprint. Reuse, recycle and refurbish: Whenever possible, try to repair or refurbish your household appliances and fixtures instead of replacing them with new products. (This is not always easy, because manufacturers design products to wear out quickly and force you to replace them). But, if you ask around, there are still some skilled handymen who can fix things professionally. Rather than hauling bags of leaves and grass cuttings to the nearest garden refuse dump, build a small compost heap at home and start producing your own fertiliser. All you need are a few gum poles, wooden slats and some nails to bang together a simple storage area. The inconvenient truth is that we have to find ways to fly less, drive less and buy less while we navigate a very difficult path back to a less glamorous but more environmentally-sustainable future.
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Get Gut Right S
o you’ve had an amazing year-end break, but like most of us you’ve probably overindulged. Feeling bloated, lacking energy and in desperate need of a detox? Now that the fun and festivities are over, it is time to kick those bad habits you’ve picked up to get your health back on track. Our gut is the heart and soul of our body, and if it is not functioning to its best everything suffers. Hippocrates said more than 2 000 years ago that all disease begins in the gut, but we’re only now coming to understand just how right he was. Research has revealed that gut health is critical to overall health, and that an unhealthy gut can contribute to a wide range of diseases. Gut flora promotes normal gastrointestinal function, protection
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A post-holiday guide to restoring your gut health from infection, regulates metabolism and comprises more than 75% of our immune system. The most obvious first step in maintaining a healthy gut is to avoid all of the things that destroy gut flora – such as antibiotics, chemicals and a bad diet. As we start 2020, let’s look at how you can get your gut back on track and keep it there permanently: Increase the amount of fibre (prebiotics) in your diet. Fibre feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut and creates an environment that your gut bacteria can flourish in. Some examples of fibre rich foods include avocados, berries, brussels
sprouts, artichokes, chickpeas, lentils, nuts, beans and quinoa. Give your body a detox from the following foods: wheat, sugar, red meat, dairy and processed foods. Even just a few days will be beneficial. Cutting out portions of your diet that are harmful for your gut health is a great way to get your gut health back on track fairly quickly. Feed your body with probiotics. No matter how good your diet is or what supplements you take, your body cannot function 100% optimally without the correct balance of beneficial bacteria. If the gut flora is damaged, the best foods and supplements in the world may not be broken down and absorbed. When it comes to gut health, it’s about giving your gut what it needs to recover and work properly. When it’s working as it should, you’ll certainly notice a great difference. Efficient Microbes’ Rawbiotics range, a non-freezedried liquid and raw probiotics, is vegan friendly, GMO free and free of dairy, lactose, soy and gluten. This 100% natural blend of beneficial bacteria will ensure that your body is able to utilise the nutrition from the food you eat, prevent the build-up of harmful bacteria, promote a strong immune system and create its own natural vitamins. Visit www.efficientmicrobes.co.za for more info
Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Month February is Healthy Lifestyle Awareness Month, and there is no time like the present to change your lifestyle habits for the better.
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he obvious changes include good nutrition, regular exercise, cutting back on smoking and drinking and safe sexual behaviour. And then, of course, there is your mental and emotional health – are you spending enough time with your loved ones, getting enough sleep, and prioritising your own needs? I know from experience that moms struggle with this! A great starting point is to develop healthy eating habits. The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa offers some simple healthy eating steps to not only lower your risk of cardiovascular disease but also improve your overall health. Up to 80% of heart disease and stroke can be prevented by simply living a healthy lifestyle and that includes healthy eating. Eating well and making good nutritional choices is one of the best weapons to fight against heart disease, as well as many other chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and some cancers. Simple steps to healthy eating Eat more healthy foods such as: • Fruit and vegetables • Beans and lentils for high-quality carbohydrates, protein and fibre. • Low fat or fat-free dairy • High fibre wholegrain starchy foods such as whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oats,
whole-wheat pasta and barley, instead of refined cereals. • Lean and fresh protein like fish, eggs, skinless chicken, lean mince and ostrich meat instead of processed and fatty meats. • Choose healthy fats found in canola, olive or sunflower oil, soft tub margarine, peanut butter, nuts and seeds, avocado and fish. • Choose foods high in omega 3 fats which are good for your heart and can help to improve cholesterol levels. • Water and unsweetened tea or coffee Eat less foods with added sugar, salt and bad fats and look out for the Heart Mark on foods to help you choose healthier options. For more info visit www.heartfoundation.co.za. By Sarah Mackintosh. Factory shop – open to the public
13 Bundo Road, Sebenza, Edenvale
011 452 1083 factoryshop@ brunational.co.za
www.brunational.co.za
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Your Wellness in 2020 Adopt a new attitude to well-being, extending from food and fitness to your emotional and mental health, finances, work and family. Here are tips to get 2020 off to a good start, writes Glynis Horning
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CLEAN” EATING AND DRINKING It’s a buzzword bandied about by stars from Gwyneth Paltrow to Beyoncé, but it’s rooted in the natural health movement of the 60s and sensible principles. • Focus on whole, natural, unrefined foods: lots of veggies and fruits, whole grains and legumes, some lean protein (preferably freerange), and healthy oils and fats like avocados, raw nuts and seeds and their oils, and fatty fish several times a week. • Avoid or minimise processed foods, which often lose healthy fibre and nutrients, while gaining unwanted saturated fats or trans fats (“not healthy in any quantity,” says Joburg dietitian Lila Bruk), salt, sugar, preservatives and other additives. Read labels. • Drink water – invest in a filter, and keep a jug in the fridge, with sliced lemon, cucumber, apple or mint leaves for flavour; sip unsweetened tea or coffee. NON-TOXIC GREEN LIVING It’s easier to live a healthier and more ethical lifestyle than you think. • Buy local produce in season to lessen your carbon footprint (support farmers’ markets), and choose free-range and organic if you can afford it, “but only
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if it doesn’t mean you buy and eat less of a variety of fresh fruit and veges,” says Bloemfontein dietitian Tristi van der Spuy. Rinse well – even produce with inedible skins, as cutting through these with a knife may contaminate the insides. • Also look for organic, non-toxic products to clean your body (your skin is your largest organ and some chemicals can penetrate it and also be absorbed), as well as for your home, dishes and clothes. • Keep plants around the home and your workplace to clean the air because they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. ACTIVE LIVING Moving briskly for just 30 minutes a day will give your heart and other muscles a great workout, keep you strong and help you maintain a healthy weight. • Do what you enjoy, so you keep doing it: walk with a friend, dance with your partner, do squats watching the news. Three 10-minute sessions a day will do it. “Small pockets of exercise beat no exercise and add up,” says Durban fitness consultant Hayley Cassim of Gym in a Box. • Work out with weights (or water bottles) for 10 minutes, to strengthen muscles and bones.
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• Hire a trainer for a session to get guidelines on what works best for your body. EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WELLNESS This is vital to cope with the challenges in turbulent times, helping you put problems in perspective and bounce back. • Name your emotions: anger, stress? Don’t suppress or act on your emotions. Take a few moments to compose yourself (breathe deeply), then address them. If they’re more than you can handle, talk to an understanding friend, or a professional. • Know the signs of depression – ongoing low mood, crying, agitation, angry outbursts, tiredness, changes in sleeping or eating patterns or libido and withdrawal. “Start by seeing a doctor who can rule out physical problems such as anaemia and hormonal imbalance, and refer you to other professionals,” says Cassey Chambers, operations director of the South Africa Depression and Anxiety Group. • Get moving and eat sensibly: just exercising briskly for 20-30 minutes a day can help relieve stress and boost feel-good endorphins, and a balanced diet can improve mood.
To Win Or Lose? Has the fun element gone out of school sport? Does it matter if you win or lose? Should professionalism even be entertained at school-level sport? David Knowles tackles this thorny debate.
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rofessionalism has changed and continues to change the face of sport across all disciplines – it has also wrapped its claws around school sport, particularly rugby. People in their mid-40s and beyond will remember sport at school as fun, a chance to test your skills and enjoy time with mates. It never mattered who won or lost, and being chosen to play a game and representing your school was enough to swell the heart and get the adrenaline pumping. These days, school sport has become a semiprofessional environment. Youngsters with a particular talent are singled out, nurtured and enrolled in a designated high performance programme where they eat and sleep their sport, regaled with stories of big money backed by a lifestyle previously unheard of. Such a scenario begs the question, has the fun element gone out of school sport? It’s a topic of endless argument, yet the general feeling from a few sports
personalities in Durban strongly supports and ticks the “yes” box on this one. East Coast Radio sports personality Sky Tshabalala coaches 1st team rugby, 1st team girls’ soccer and U14 cricket in a school environment and has a two-fold outlook, depending on the status of certain schools. “I see a distinct A and B league especially regarding rugby at boys’ schools and hockey for the girls. For kids playing at 1st team level, it becomes like a job, their main focus, having gym sessions and the like during school time,” he said. “As a coach you like winning, but the underlying factor for the kids should be the privilege of representing their school at whatever level, no matter the outcome. Winning or losing should not be a representation of the status of your school or cast a dark cloud over a kid because he or she did not perform on the sports field.” Tania Richardson, mother of Dylan Richardson – who played 1st team rugby for two years, captained the side and made his debut for the Sharks in 2019 while also representing the SA U19 side – offers words every parent should heed. “Dylan started rugby at senior primary school and
it was something he took a liking to and pursued. He set his own goals and worked towards them in his own way. As a parent, I supported him but never forced him or interfered with what he was doing,” she said. “All he has achieved has been his own doing, but he enjoys it and still sees the fun element because he has appreciated what the game has given him without added pressure.” But, some schools say: “We believe that sports participation is more than just fun, more than optional recreation. It helps to build character. It teaches leadership. One learns to try harder when things get tough, instead of giving up, to persevere, concentrate, and practice.” To summarise: There is competition out there whether we like it or not. Some people get medals and recognition and that’s not a bad thing. As parents, regardless of our children’s struggles or skills, how we help them manage the competitive landscape, is key. Competition at school level needs to be healthy, but respect, humility, sportsmanship and enjoyment are the key elements, not a win at all costs, prove we are the best attitude. It’s an endless debate.
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Glowing Magic Milk Science Experiment Supplies: • Milk • Fluorescent paint or fluorescent watercolours • Squeezy bottles (eye droppers or pipettes may be substituted) • Dish soap • Cotton bud, toothpick or craft stick • Black light Directions: Fill a container/bowl with just enough milk to cover the bottom. Fill the squeezy bottles with fluorescent watercolours or with watered-down florescent paint. The traditional experiment is done with food colouring, so you want that consistency. Instruct kids to squirt paint around the perimeter of the container. Dab a cotton bud in dish soap and touch the centre of the container with the cotton bud. The colours immediately jump away from the cotton bud. For a short while the colours almost disappear, then they slowly creep back to the centre of the container. It is so cool to watch! You can also do this with food colouring instead of fluorescent paint, and then you don’t need the black light.
Source: www.learnplayimagine.com
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Tween Birthday Party Ideas Check out these cool birthday party ideas that your preteen will fall in love with!
Movie Themed Party
Where: At home or a hotel You will need: Ticket stubs, movie-theatre styled popcorn tubs and 3D glasses A movie themed party is fun, has popcorn, and sodas. If they have a favourite movie, the birthday party can revolve around it. Or, you can have a generic movie theme with fake movie ticket stubs, popcorn, sodas, and perhaps even fake 3D glasses for the fun of it. You can plan this party a little early on and get custom invitations that look like movie tickets, which the guests should bring with them to enter the party zone!
kids to bring their own) and lightweight balls. Fun games in the pool followed by delicious cake and snacks - equals happy, smiling children at the end of the day! Pool parties are just fun, more so for kids who love water. If you have a pool at home, organising a tween pool party gets a lot simpler. Clean pool, decorations, pool floats, snacks, and cake are all you need to host a party at home. If you don’t have a pool at home, you can find out about using a hotel to host a poolside party for the kids. Regardless of where the party is, ensure that the pool is clean and free of chemicals and other allergens. Most importantly, make sure that the kids are safe in the water, and your party will be a big hit with your child and their friends!
ROCK STAR Party
Pizza Party Pool Party
Where: At home or a hotel You will need: Pool floats, swimming clothes (ask
not have a pizza party for your children? The fun part of a pizza party is that kids can make their own pizza together and eat it too! The party can take place at your home with minimal supplies like flour, pizza sauce, toppings, and cheese. Kids can design and decorate pizza pies as they want to, in teams, and share it with each other. Plan it in such a way that kids have fun - you can get them all to make one big pizza or get them to make their own little mini-pizzas. Either way, they will leave the party with a full tummy and a happy face.
Where: At home or a hotel You will need: Flour to make pizza dough (or get pizza bases), pizza sauce and toppings and an oven to cook. Kids love pizza, so why
Where: At home You will need: Microphone and sound system If your tween loves music, a rock star party can be a cool birthday theme. Kids not only get to dress like their favourite rock stars or singers, but also get to showcase their talent and sing their favourite numbers.
Source: www.momjunction.com. WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM PARTY LIFE
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Exciting February Events Parker’s Comedy and Jive February 2020 When: 1 – 29 February Where: Parker’s Comedy & Jive, Montecasino, 1 Montecasino Boulevard, Fourways Cost: R120pp The epic comedy line-up of 2020 continues at Parker’s Comedy and Jive with the best and funniest local and international comics. For more info or to book: 011 511 008/2, info@parkerscomedy.com, www.parkerscomedy.com.
Chinese New Year & Lantern Festival When: 8 February, from 5pm Where: 11 Commissioner Street, Ferreirastown, JHB Celebrate the Year of the Rat with Joburg’s First Chinatown on Commissioner Street! They’ll be hosting their annual Chinese New Year & Lantern Festival, offering a fun-filled evening perfect for all ages. Be sure to take along some cash to grab a bite to eat at the food stalls. For more information, visit www.tcagp.co.za or contact info@tcagp.co.za or 082 456 4875.
Sleeping Beauty – The Royal Ballet When: 14 February at 6.30pm & 16 February at 2pm Where: Village Walk Retirement Village, JHB Cost: R80 – R100pp A fairy-tale is about to come to life with the wellknown and loved – Sleeping Beauty – The Royal Ballet. A must experience! Book at www.quicket.co.za.
Valentine’s Night Market When: 14 February at 5pm Where: Pretoria Botanical Garden Cost: R20 – R50 pp This is where you need to be for this Valentine’s Day as they host a Valentine’s for families with the Valentine’s Night Market. Amazing live music, exciting food stalls and more Book tickets here: www.miid.co.za. For more info: www.valentineforfamilies.co.za.
If you would like your event featured in our March 2020 Events Diary send your event information along with an image to sarah@mumsmail.com before 10 February 2020. (Events will be published space permitting and at the editor’s discretion) 14
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