Mom's Notes Oct/Nov 2016 by TwoRedPens

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The definition of home, be it ever so humble, it’s more than just a place. It’s also an idea - one where the heart is. It’s not hard to understand ‘home’ on a physical dimension, from the walls, roof, to the kitchen sink. Phrases such as ‘home address’ or ‘home base’ point to the where we can orient ourselves to and from. Home is an intriguing psychological sense that is found in human relationships. The feeling of having a home is key to understanding what it is our children and youth need from us and is one of the greatest needs of every human being. As creatures of attachment it is from this sense of home that our story begins and ends. In this edition we show you what to look for in buying your own nest, how to keep your family safe around household hazards and keeping your home looking fresh with floral decor.

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FAITH, HOPE & LOVE ”And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

PILLOW TALK Are you stuck in a duvet cover rut? Freshen up your linens and transform your bedroom in the process.

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SECRET TO DECORATING WITH FLOWERS

HOUSHOLD SAFETY: POISON Our home contains many poisonous items. Knowing what to do in an emergency is a must.

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CYBER SAFETY It’s important to make sure that the safety of your child is not at stake.

contents

SPOT A STROKE Know the warning signs and steps to take in the event of a stroke.

IT’S TRAVEL TIME Discover the history of Vanderbijlpark and enjoy an adventure at the Emerald Casino.

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What is home to you?

ED’S letter

hat old phrase is spot on: There’s no place like it. As we journey through life - dodging the occasional difficult obstacle, it’s comforting to know that a cozy bed, loving arms, and perhaps even a munchkin or two await, just across the threshold. Homes can be apartments, duplexes or mansions. But what home means to me is a place, a wonderful safe place that you can spend your life in. A warm bed that you can’t get out of in the morning, a place you can feel comfortable cooking breakfast in your pajamas, and the sound of your loved one’s key in the door at the end of the day. But there is one aspect of home that we all need to think about: safety. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, especially when children are involved.You turn your back for a moment and your youngster thinks the dishwashing liquid is cream soda. Statistically most accidents happen close to home, that’s why we have included household safety in this edition. These helpful tips will help you to keep your loved ones safe. In this issue of Mom’s Notes you can look forward to a step by step guide on purchasing your home, decor tips to have you house summer-ready and welcome the family with warm Indian cuisine. To all our readers, remember that a house is build of walls and beams, but a home is built of love and dreams.

“I’ll never be a stranger, and I’ll never be alone. Wherever we’re together, that’s my home.” - You’re My Home by Billy Joel

Amanda

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Amanda Espag DESIGN Bronwyn Swart, Chris Broderick PHOTOGRAPHY Eunice Nieuwenhuis ARTICLES Cora Breytenbach, Amanda Espag PROOF READING Edit Pro ADVERTISING Jenni Zondagh, Amanda Espag, Janica Coetzee PRINTER Paarl Media KZN WEB www.tworedpens.co.za FACEBOOK facebook.com/mom’snotes ONLINE issuu.com © Copyright 2016 Mom’s Notes. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of Mom’s Notes Magazine or TwoRedPens. Mom’s Notes Magazine, TwoRedPens, staff and contractors accept no liability for the loss or damage in any form whatsoever arising from information, submissions or opinions expressed in this publication. Public comment and submissions are published at the sole discretion of Mom’s Notes Magazine. E&OE.

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on this issue’s

COVER

On our cover of this issue is an isometric illustration done by Bronwyn Swart. Isometric drawings are a method of visually representing threedimensional objects in two dimensions. These styled graphics were used in early video games during the 80s and 90s. It is with these “building blocks” in mind that we used them for our home edition.

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faith, hope &

”And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

urs is a story of hope, the Biblical “faith, hope and love…”, as well as the worldly way of saying: “we are hoping for the best.” And like all things that God prepares us for, it was a long way coming. When I came to the Lowveld, I was a single girl, fresh from finishing my Biokinetics Internship at the University of Zululand, after a 2 year working holiday in the United Kingdom (saving to pay off the study loan, as well as touring a bit). I started working as a Biokineticist at the (then) White River Gym. Later on I got the opportunity to take over the Biokinetic Practice and met the most wonderful people (who all still feel guilty, when they meet me in town, because they haven’t “been exercising as I should”). One of the gym members was a very

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tall, quiet guy by the name of Dewald, who used to train with his friends. That tall, quiet guy was to be my future husband. It wasn’t love-at-first-sight; in truth quite the opposite. I apparently put him off when I demanded he pay for a spinning class that I had previously invited him to. Luckily he decided to forgive me and stay a gym member. We started spending time together and he invited me to accompany him to a friend’s wedding. Then to another wedding ... and another. It so happened that we went to 8 weddings together in that year. Dewald showed me the beauty of the Lowveld, where he has been living since he was a toddler. The warmer climate was quite a change from the cooler weather I was used to in Pretoria. But fortunately I wasn’t a stranger to change.

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Being the daughter of two teachers, I frequently moved between my parent’s job promotions. I became known as a jack of all trades and a master of none when it came to school activities. Never being in one place for too long, I had many friends, but not many that carried through the years. Dewald reminds me a lot of my dad. The cliché: “you marry someone like your dad”, is indeed true for me. He is quiet, but when he speaks up you can always listen. He loves nature (in fact he loves it so much that he visited the Kruger Park 48 times the year before we met). He is a handyman, loves gardening and cooking; he has even tried his hand at cheese. He is also famous for his fridge cheesecake that he makes for the office every year on his birthday. Because he loves nature so much he is an excellent bird photographer, at least in my eyes. When I met him he was still using film, which in many people’s opinions is a much bigger challenge. We spent many evening at a local photography club where photos were shown and judged. All this was done with the intention to become a better photographer. 20

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With our shared love of nature it should come as no surprise that he proposed in the Kruger Park. From being a single girl, praying and longing for a special someone to share my life with, I progressed to being newlywed. And after 3 years enjoying the married life, we were ready and longing for the miracle of becoming parents. The desire to have children went hand in hand with a long wait, lots of prayers and emotions. After an early miscarriage, some tests and another year of trying, we made the decision to do In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). Our faith was rewarded with the success of IVF. Finally we could experience the miracle of life and start our very own little family.

The good news didn’t stop there. We weren’t expecting just a boy or a girl, but one of each. Our ultrasound scans confirmed that we were having twins.

In week 31 of a wonderful and healthy pregnancy, I was admitted to hospital due to pre-eclampsia symptoms. It’s a condition that some women develop and is marked by high blood pressure which usually occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy and worsens over time. I was monitored in hospital for 10 days still feeling as fit as a fiddle, and felt fortunate to have my own private room with a balcony. We then got the shocking news that my kidneys were under dangerous strain and that I had to have an emergency Caesarean. Demar and Zelé Nel were born at 08:05 and 08:07 on 20 December 2011, at 32 weeks, and 3 days. Parents of premmies – as babies born prematurely are called - will understand that every day counts. Demar weighed 2kg and Zelé weighed 1.76kg (once again every gram counts). They were admitted to Neonatal ICU and we got to experience the tough road of having premature twins, and spending 40 days in Neonatal ICU. This is a possibility that a multiple-birth mom always has to keep in the back of her mind, but it is also a possibility that nothing or no-one can prepare you for.

That is also the reason why I joined the Neonatal Buddies Facebook group, a group that supports parents whose babies are in Neonatal ICU, and became the Lowveld Representative for them. Only a parent who has seen a baby weighing less than 2kg and had to leave hospital without their baby can understand the feeling. If you were denied the privilege of holding your baby because she was on a ventilator for the first 10 days of her life, and you got to “feed” that baby by holding the nasogastrial tube, that’s attached to a syringe with 5ml of expressed breast milk, then you might know how to support someone else who is in the process of NICU. After 40 days in NICU we could finally go home, with two babies weighing just more that 2kg. Home, to the routine of feeding them every 3 hours, which was simultaneously comforting and draining. But babies do grow, and so they did. They also reached the milestones of smiling, teething (no-one prepared me for how tough this could be), rolling, sitting, crawling and pull-to-stand. Created by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

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Well, this was how it was supposed to be, but when Demar started rolling and then sitting, and Zelé wasn’t close to any of those, I started feeling uncomfortable and quickly realized we were going to have to get some help. Even though you keep hoping that every mom saying: “Don’t worry, she will sit, some babies just take longer …” is right. So our journey started: from Paediatrician, to Neuro-Physiotherapist to Chiropractor to NeuroOccupational Therapist. A journey of learning: how to cope with her physically, how to handle yourself and your mixed emotions, how different people (especially your loved ones) treat and/or cope with situations and the “unknown” differently. It was also a journey of looking for reasons, of trying to blame someone and then that someone always ended up being yourself. A journey of making peace with yourself and then losing that peace again, of learning new medical words and terms and especially learning to pray, to believe, and to keep the hope alive! Because in fact, Zelé has cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia), and even though she is beautiful (to us the most beautiful little girl ever) and clever (to us the most clever) with a bright personality and lovely sense of humour, she as yet still can’t walk. And working with a wonderful OT, we eventually got to the milestones of sitting, rolling, and also crawling at the age of about 3 years. This is when your ideas and dreams are challenged, because what is important: that she is independent (with the help of a walker), or that she struggles to walk on her own - without the walker? We are still working hard, every week, with that specialist OT, a specialist Physiotherapist and she also does horse riding. This satisfies her love for animals and also works her “core” really well to help all the muscles prepare for walking and running around with her friends and twin brother...when the time is right. And that’s when you realize the truth behind the saying: “You will do anything for your children”. You realise that you will really do anything and everything for your children, even dream a new, slower dream. Next year we have to start grade R. The specialists working with Zelé are convinced that she is a bright little girl and will be able to excel in a main stream school, so we are taking on this new challenge in faith, being led by her, as in all things, but always open to adapting the dream. Many kids with Cerebral Palsy can, will and should go to mainstream schools. Cerebral Palsy doesn’t necessarily mean learning difficulties. People with CP often have an equal or better IQ than everyone else. Every case of

Cerebral Palsy is as unique as the person who has it and kids with CP are still kids. Nothing more and nothing less. These are the truths that make up my dreams and help me to keep dreaming, when I wake up in the middle of the night and think of all the things we “still can’t do”. Then, when your heart stays heavy, and the day also seems dark, you grab God’s Word and read what and who it is all about.

What Is Cerebral Palsy? Cerebral palsy (CP) is a broad term used to describe a group of chronic “palsies” - disorders that impair control of movement due to damage to the developing brain. CP usually develops by age 2 or 3 and is a nonprogressive brain disorder, meaning the brain damage does not continue to worsen throughout life. However, the symptoms due to the brain damage often change over time - sometimes getting better and sometimes getting worse. CP is one of the most common causes of chronic childhood disability. About 10,000 infants are diagnosed with CP and up to 1,500 preschoolers in the country are recognized as having it each year. They also may have learning disabilities and vision, speech, hearing, or language problems. Much remains unknown about the disorder’s causes, but evidence supports theories that infections, birth injuries, and poor oxygen supply to the brain before, during, and immediately after birth are common factors. Premature infants are particularly vulnerable. Severe illness (such as meningitis) during the first years of life, physical trauma, and severe dehydration can cause brain injury and result in CP. Article: Marné Nel Photography: Eunice Nieuwenhuis from NIEU Photography

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home$WEEThome

The Start-to-Finish Guide to Buying a Home

Purchasing a home is a major milestone that tops many people’s lifetime to-do lists, and maybe their list of financial fears too. But it certainly doesn’t have to be a scary or stressful experience. With time, care, and research, you can take control of the home-buying process. Because while house hunting for the first time can be exciting, tales of regretful home-buying mistakes and the not-so-distant housing market meltdown have also given it a bad rap for being a stressful and confusing process. It doesn’t have to be - that’s why we created this handy nine-step checklist, which helps explain how to prepare to buy a house - and help safeguard your finances in the process.

DETERMINE WHAT YOU CAN TRULY AFFORD

Well, there are no surprises here:Your first step in the home-buying process is to determine your budget, just as you’d likely do for any other major financial decision.

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But where should you start? “As a general rule of thumb, you should be looking at home prices that are two to three times your annual income,” says Tom Gilmour, a Personalized Financial Planner. “This helps ensure that you’re not taking on a larger mortgage commitment than you can afford.” Speaking of mortgages, Gilmour recommends that payments generally shouldn’t exceed 30% of your monthly gross income - but if you have other high costs, such as private school tuition, it can be wise to pare down this percentage even more. If you’re not sure what’s realistic, consider seeking help from a financial professional, who can help walk you through an appropriate breakdown, based on your individual situation. Once you’ve defined your budget, it’s time to look at your cash reserves. Gilmour suggests saving up a minimum of 20% for your down payment in order to avoid having to buy private mortgage insurance, plus another 3% for closing costs. (More on that later.)

duration of the loan, or an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), in which your rate fluctuates to reflect market changes. “[ARMs] can be a good option - but usually only if you plan to live in your home no longer than the original fixed period,” Gilmour says. Otherwise, if the interest rate rises, you could find yourself with a mortgage payment that’s higher than you planned and, depending on your budget, may not be sustainable. As for the length of your loan, agencies prefer a 30year term over 15, even if you think you can pay off your home faster. “Building equity in a home can be a good way to grow your wealth, but it’s important that you do so in a way that doesn’t stretch your finances too thin,” he cautions. “Things can get really ugly when the housing market declines, so it may be a good idea to take out a 30-year mortgage but accelerate your monthly payments as if you had a 15-year mortgage. If you ever need to lower your payment in the future, you’ll still have that option.”

You’ll also want to make sure you have enough savings left over to help pay for any home improvements, decorations or miscellaneous moving and maintenance costs that may pop up - in full. Translation:You should not be using your emergency fund to cover these costs.

Next up on your to-do list: Apply for a pre-approval, the process in which a lender reviews your financial information - such as your credit report and bank statements - and commits to giving you a mortgage for a specified interest rate. It’s a good idea to consider doing this now because it can prove to a seller that you’re a qualified buyer, and once an offer is made, the bank will just have to appraise the home - not the property and your finances.

“Being a homeowner often comes with surprises, like a burst pipe in the middle of the night that needs to be fixed right away,” Gilmour says. “So you need to be financially ready for these surprises, which means you shouldn’t deplete your emergency fund for expenses like furniture or remodeling.”

But a word to the wise: A bank may approve you for a larger loan than you’ve determined you can afford. So don’t be seduced by their findings and stick with the number you landed on in step one.

KNOW WHICH MORTGAGE IS RIGHT FOR YOU

Now that you’ve nailed down your numbers, it’s time to start shopping for a mortgage lender with a reputation for good customer service and timely closings.You’ll likely have a lot of questions - like how long the process will take and what the qualifying guidelines are - so choose a lender who answers them all satisfactorily.

Next, decide which mortgage makes the most sense for you. There are plenty of different options to consider. Although Gilmour advises choosing one of the most common two: a fixed-rate mortgage, in which your interest rate remains steady for the

CONSIDER A FINANCIAL TRIAL RUN

If the idea of not being able to afford your mortgage keeps you up at night, this step is all about assuaging those fears by simulating the experience of being a homeowner before you buy. Start by totaling up all of the monthly costs associated with a home purchase, including your projected mortgage payment, tax and insurance estimates, HOA fees and home maintenance costs. And don’t worry if you don’t have concrete numbers - the point is to see if you can afford a ballpark amount. Created by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

If the sum of the expenses equals more than what you’re paying for housing now, then subtract your rent from the total. The difference is what you should consider transferring to your savings account for a few months to simulate what you’d be paying out to cover your monthly new-home costs.

as a mediator between you and the seller. To find someone, interview several buyers’ agents, this means they exclusively represent you, and not the seller. But whether or not you decide to hire an agent, you should hit the ground running now on viewing as many houses as possible.

If you can comfortably pull this off, then rest assured that you can probably handle the typical expenses of being a homeowner. But if you can’t - or you’re making unpleasant trade-offs - consider readjusting your home price until all of these costs are feasible on your current income.

DECIDE WHICH FEATURES ARE MUST-HAVES AND NICE-TO-HAVES

It’s the rare lucky person who finds the perfect home within their budget, so before you go house hunting, brainstorm a list of what you absolutely must find in a home and which features are simply nice extras. Examples of must-haves might include the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, proximity to work and other places you frequent, and access to your preferred school districts.You might also have a strong preference on the amount of outdoor space a house offers, and whether it’s move-in ready. Things that shouldn’t be on your must-have list? The way a house is decorated, well-manicured landscaping, a pool or anything else you can easily fix or install yourself. Refer to this list if you need help down the line making an objective decision between two or more houses as well as to remind you of what’s really important, versus what could be luring you to pay more than necessary.

START HOUSE-HUNTING, AND DECIDE IF YOU NEED A REAL-ESTATE AGENT Now for the fun part: house hunting! Browsing online resources and local newspapers for available homes in your city is a good place to start, and can help confirm whether your budget and house musthaves are reasonable in light of what’s for sale. This is also a prime time to decide whether you’ll hire a real estate agent, if you haven’t already. While you’re under no obligation to do so, there are several potential benefits to working with one. First of all, an agent can provide access to more home options than you’ll likely find yourself, as well as set up viewing appointments. Since home-buying can be an emotional process, an agent can also act

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RESEARCH HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE

Your lender will probably require the name of the agency providing you with home insurance, which is why you should shop around for a quote while you’re still house hunting.

Basic insurance typically covers fire, theft, storm damage and liability should someone get injured on your property and sue you. But you can also add on riders for things like expensive jewellery, furniture and home office equipment. To find a provider, you can shop around online, from agency to agency, or use an independent agent, who can provide several quotes to review at once. It varies based on your area and, of course, the value of your home.

PUT IN AN OFFER

So you’ve fallen in love with a property that meets all of your needs and some of your wants and it’s within your price range. Let’s make an offer! But here’s where it can get tricky:You don’t want to low-ball your offer, and risk losing the home to another buyer or insult the seller, but you also don’t want to pay more than is necessary. So how do you land on the ideal number? While there are no hard-and-fast rules, a few factors can help inform your decision. First, look at other home sales in the area. Is the house you want priced reasonably in comparison? Did other homes sell for less or more than the asking price? If they sold for an amount that’s comparable to your seller’s list price, that’s a good indication you should be offering a number close to asking. Next, consider how long the home has been on the market, and how incentivized the homeowner is to sell. For example, if the seller is living in a transition home while waiting to sell, you may have a better chance of getting the seller to accept a discounted offer. But if he’s casually putting the home on the market to see how much he can get, the seller may be more apt to wait for the perfect price. Lastly, what’s the market like in the neighborhood? Is it like West Acres and Steiltes, where places get snatched up with high-cost offers, or are you in a Stonehenge location, where empty homes are a common site? In the former situation, it may be a good idea to start with a strong offer to beat out an

army of other suitors, whereas you may have more leeway in a market like Stonehenge.

REVIEW THE CONTRACT AND SUBMIT YOUR MORTGAGE APPLICATION

The seller accepted your offer - congrats! But before you sign on the dotted line, you should make sure that you review the contract thoroughly and understand every single clause. Pay special attention to contingencies in the contract, which spell out situations when you can back out of the sale to help protect yourself in case something goes wrong. For instance, such scenarios can include if you discover that the home has serious physical defects or if your bank rescinds financing. Speaking of defects, now is also the time when you’ll get the home inspected, which typically costs between R2000 and R5000. If there are issues, such as non-functioning water pipes or an old geyser, you may be able to ask for a price reduction to help cover the cost of repairs. And if you find any deal breakers, such as an unstable foundation or serious mold, you have the option of backing out now. Once your inspector confirms that there are no big defects that could affect the home’s value, you’ll submit a mortgage application. Review all closing costs - the ones you’ve hopefully saved up 3% to pay for, which might include an attorney’s fee, title insurance and partial property taxes - before you sign the contract.

SIGN THE PAPERS

Before the big day, you’re entitled to a walkthrough to confirm that nothing has changed since the inspection. After that, make sure you have all the money required for the closing wired into the correct account. Ask the settlement agent for copies of all the paperwork you’ll sign before closing, so you can carefully review them at your leisure.You’ll be putting your signature on several items, including the settlement statement, which details all of the costs related to the home sale; the Final Truth-in-Lending Act statement, which outlines the cost of the loan and the interest rate; and your final mortgage paperwork. On closing day, bring your photo I.D., as well as any paperwork you received throughout the homebuying process, including insurance and home inspection certificates. Once you’ve signed the paperwork, you’ll be handed the keys… and you’ll officially become a homeowner! Created by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

WE’RE MOVING

oving house is something that most of us will do several times, if not dozens of times in our lives and it’s important to try to make these occasions as stress free as possible. Moving sucks. There’s really no way around that, but it can be a lot more tolerable and a lot less stressful. Here’s a look at our best recommendations for an easier and more efficient move.

the exterminator come and spray. Even if you don’t see any bugs, it’s likely they’re there, and you don’t want to have to share your new digs with pests.You know it’ll be more difficult to find and evacuate any critters after all your stuff arrives. And this way, you won’t have to worry about your children or your pets being exposed to harsh chemicals during the bug bombing or spraying.

CHANGE THE LOCKS

START FRESH

As soon as the closing is over and you’ve received the keys to your house, either buy and install new lock sets or have a locksmith come to the house to switch them out. Let’s face it, the previous owners, Realtors, maintenance folks and who-knows-who else are all likely to have keys to your place. For some peace of mind and as a necessary step in making this house yours, get new locks installed immediately.

PEST-PROOF YOUR NEW HOME

If you have access to your new place a day or so before the moving van is scheduled to arrive, take that time to get a few things done around the new homestead.You could set off a bug bomb or have 28

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Another great way to take advantage of your stillempty abode is to give it a deep clean. It could use it, especially if you’ve followed the pest control advice from the previous page. Cleaning the floors, baseboards and windows will never be this easy again -- you’ll have unhindered access to everything. Think about it: no curtains to take down, no rugs or furniture to move. And don’t stop there.You can wipe down all the countertops, shelves and drawers -- replacing shelf paper if necessary. Run a phantom load in the dishwasher and washing machine, clean out the oven if it needs it, and don’t forget the refrigerator and freezer. If possible, hire a cleaning service to help you get it all done. If you aren’t able to do the cleaning prior to unloading the moving van, hiring a cleaning service will be even more helpful.

laundry detergent. A well-placed extra shelf, coat hook etc. will go a long way toward making the house that much easier to live in.

CURTAIN CALL

While we’re not suggesting you tackle all your windows at once, do try to dress the windows in the most essential rooms. When night falls, you don’t want you, your family and all of your belongings on display for every passerby to see. Of course, if you’ve yet to even consider your window covering needs, head for the boxes marked “linens” -- you can always tack up a sheet or two until you have time to decide on a more personalized style for each room.

ORGANIZE AS YOU UNPACK

Unless you’ve hired the movers to help you unpack, don’t try to unpack everything at once. Sort your carefully labeled boxes so that you only have to unpack what is absolutely necessary. This gives you the time to organize your space as you go, instead of being forced to toss things randomly into cupboards and closets. Look for towels, bed linens, toiletries and other essentials. Unpack a few clothes so that you’ll have something to wear over the next few days. Find the coffee maker and your favorite mug. And don’t forget to find Fido’s food and water dishes and a few of his favorite toys.

PAINT IT ALL

This can be really time consuming, so you’ll probably want to hire professionals if you can. There’s no point in just slapping up a coat of paint if the walls and ceilings are damaged — if they have cracks, holes and other defects. Prepping these surfaces can be a real chore. So unless you have a relative or two who can help, save yourself a lot of time and just hire someone.Also, if you’re short on time and the house is in dire straits and every surface needs painting, consider one neutral colour for every room. This will just make it easier and limit the number of decisions you’ll have to make now.You can always go back and repaint rooms the colors you want as time permits.

GET ORGANIZERS

Many older houses suffer from closets that have a simple pole and shelf (if that). Look at where you’ll store what and get the closets outfitted to accommodate everything, to make moving in less stressful and your life in the new house more enjoyable. And don’t just look at the closets. Think about where you’ll put everything, from winter boots to

MAKE THE BEDS

While you’re rooting around in the linen-filled boxes, unpack enough bedding to set up beds for everyone who is actually going to be sleeping at your house. If your friends aren’t staying over, don’t bother with the guest rooms -- you can take time later in the week or next week to get to that. For now, concentrate on the kids’ rooms and your master suite. Make sure you find your daughter’s favourite purple princess blanket and your son’s flannel robot sheets; you want their first night in the new place to be a good one. And while you’re at it, don’t forget your husband’s anti-snoring pillow.

GET SOME SLEEP

Not to be too redundant but … moving can be tiring and stressful. So, after you’ve spent the day schlepping furniture and unpacking boxes, you need a good night’s rest. There’s no need to stay up until 2 or 3 a.m. Those boxes aren’t going anywhere, and by now, you’ve already unpacked the essentials. By getting an adequate amount of sleep, you’ll be ready and able to get started on whatever you need to do the next day, whether it be unpacking the library, hanging all the paintings or taking the day off to explore your new town.

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HAPPY HOME happy family The importance of raising children in a nurturing environment

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iven a choice, young children will usually choose to be in a natural environment. They want to be outdoors, in the fresh air and sunlight, barefoot, surrounded by grass, trees and flowers, hearing the birds and the wind, playing in water with sticks and rocks. When children spend time outside where they can run, jump, climb, swing, swim and play, they eat better, sleep better and are happier. We all know that children thrive when outdoors.Yet we often forget how much the environment can affect a child’s mood and behavior. When children spend too much time inside they can get easily irritated and disagreeable. Our environment affects us all and we all have different sensitivities, but children do not have the filters that most adults have acquired. Children absorb all the sights, sounds, smells, textures and emotions around them. Environments that meet adult needs or that adults can tolerate often feel very different to children. The philosophy that “it’s a cold, cruel world out there and children may as well get used to it right now” is completely counterproductive to raising children to be as whole, healthy and resilient.

Have you ever heard young children talk about how much they love it when the power goes out? Without electricity no one is on the computer or watching television. The whole family gathers in one room by candlelight and tell stories or play games. Our lives today are often so hectic that many homes feel more like a home base where the family sleeps, showers, does laundry, cook, eats meals and watches television. For the first seven years of life children need their home and family to be their most nurturing environment. Since many young children now spend more of their waking hours away from home than at home, they need a nurturing home environment more than ever. Creating nurturing environments for our children means meeting their physical survival needs of food, clothing, shelter and protection. Creating environments in which children can thrive means consciously creating warm, loving, sensory rich environments where their physical, emotional and spiritual needs are recognized, honored, and met by their family. It is true that children “live what they learn”. The potential children are born with will be limited by or nurtured by their environment. A nurturing environment is one that gives children the security and opportunity to discover themselves and their world. In a nurturing environment the family spends more time gathered around the table than around the television. The family table is where the family is both nourished and nurtured. Working on projects, drinking hot cocoa, playing board games, learning to peel carrots and roll out cookie dough, having tea parties and eating birthday cake together turns the family table into a nurturing “center” where many of the most important, interesting and nurturing things happen in the home. A rocking chair is an essential piece of furniture in a nurturing environment. Children crave the nurturing of touch. Whether we are soothing a baby or reading stories to a young child, rocking is nurturing to both the adult and the child. Children rarely refuse an invitation to be rocked, especially if it also means hearing a story or a song. The rocking chair should be in the room where we will use it the most. We love rocking chairs so much we have one or two in almost every room. Outside, a hammock creates another nurturing place to cuddle, read, sing, tell stories and rock. Gathering around a fire has always been a symbol of physical and emotional warmth. Children love gathering around a campfire or fireplace. Even if we don’t go camping or have a fireplace or wood stove to gather around, simply lighting a candle at the dinner table can create the warm feeling of gathering around the fire. Another quick, and

convenient source of warmth is the clothes dryer. Imagine how nurturing it feels to get out of a bath and be wrapped in a warm bath towel and dressed in warm flannel pajamas. One of our favourite warm comforts is the rice pillow you heat up in the microwave to warm cold feet, sooth aching muscles or just to cuddle up with.

Nurturing ‘n child sense of personal worth and therefore hope and dreams for a wonderful future, is perhaps the most important responsibility of every grownup in a child’s life. - Wess Stafford When we garden with children they feel connected to the earth and nature. Children need to touch the earth and feel connected to living things. They love to dig in the dirt, plant seeds and seedlings and watch them grow. Even if we don’t have space for a garden or know the first thing about it we can still give our children the nurturing experience of gardening. We can put a seed in a jar of soil, transplant marigolds into a window box, plant a tree on a child’s birthday or measure and record the amazing daily growth of an amaryllis during the holidays. Any connection to living, growing things creates a nurturing environment for children. The living things most children love to be connected to are animals. Most children dream of having a pet to love and care for. Hanging a birdfeeder where children can watch it through the window is a great way to give children a connection to nature. Even if our living situation does not allow pets, we can provide children with access to animals through friends, relatives, neighbors and community. One of the most important aspects of a nurturing environment is ritual. If we grew up in a family where rituals were an important part of family life we are more likely to continue with rituals in our own family, but even if we don’t recall many rituals, we can create new ones for our family. Lighting a candle at the dinner table, reading at bedtime, having pizza on Friday night, become rituals when we do them consistently. Daily, weekly, and seasonal rituals give children a sense of security, stability, and belonging. These family rituals become an anchor for children as they navigate their way through a world filled with inconsistency and uncertainty. CORA BREYTENBACH Educational Psychologist 082 810 2409 corabreytenbach@yahoo.com Created by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

Sleeping beauties Good Night is a child and baby sleep consultancy that specialises in helping parents with children who struggle to sleep soundly and is tailored for parents who have difficulties with children who cannot sleep through the night. Good Nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aim is to help parents of children who are challenged by successful day naps and overall sleep health. 32

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e specialise in all things sleep when it comes to babies and young children. This includes help for expectant mothers, parents of newborns, as well as toddlers and even school-ready children. We teach parents how to help their children sleep well and self-sooth by providing a variety of services that include private consultations, in-home overnight stays, workshops and seminars. We also sell sleeprelated products. By providing parents with a personalized sleep plan we believe all children can have the gift of a Good Nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep. Our trained sleep consultants are unique in Southern Africa because they are trained professionals who undergo strict screening and education processes.

THE GOOD NIGHT PHILOSOPHY

We believe that no two children are the same, and therefore sleep programmes should be tailor-made to suit every child and circumstance. We believe that a well-rested child makes for a healthy child, and a happy family, we will teach you skills to enable your child to become a healthy and happy sleeper. Just like with eating and walking, a child needs to be taught to sleep, and we do so in a gentle and nurturing way. We never ask a parent to do anything they’re not comfortable with, and we don’t believe in the misconception that leaving a baby to cry will of him a good sleeper make.

WHAT WE DO:

• We give you information about why sleep is such an integral part of your child’s health, well-being and learning. • After assessing your family’s unique needs, we provide you with a step-by-step guide of the changes you need to make. • We carefully assess your situation to determine your challenges, and then we tailor-make a step-by step sleep plan that is suited to you and your child. • We offer support in the form of calls and emails, and our consultants are also equipped to stay over at your house for added assistance if required. • We offer follow-up meetings and monitoring to help your family progress to natural, healthy sleep patterns. • We provide seminars, talks and workshops on Sleep.

THE GOOD NIGHT PROGRAMME CAN HELP YOU IF:

• Your child will only fall asleep with a “sleeping aid” such as a bottle, toy or the TV. • Your child just “doesn’t sleep”. • You’re walking up with your child during the night. • Your lack of sleep is affecting your work performance and relationships. • Bedtime is a constant battle. • Your baby can’t self soothe and put himself to sleep. • You’re pregnant and want to learn good sleep habits from early on. • You’re faced with new challenges such as potty training, teething, sleep resistance and nightmares. • Your child is struggling with naptime and day-time sleep. • You want to make sure that your baby is on the right sleep and feeding routine.

FOUNDER OF GOOD NIGHT:

Good Night was started by Petro Thamm, whose passion for sleep was birthed from her own sleep-deprived experiences when her son was born. She found herself in America, where she trained as a sleep consultant.

The knowledge she gained helped to transform her son into a good sleeper. This made such an impact on her that she decided to dedicate her professional life to helping families in Africa; educating them on the importance, relevance and manageable aspects of child, toddler and baby sleep. Good Night Mpumalanga’s Consultant, Corlia Dreyer contacted Petro to help with her 2nd child, who was waking and feeding every hour at four months old. After only 2 nights, her son’s sleeping habits had improved so much, that he slept through the night. As her husband, Leon quoted: “the best investment ever made”. After this experience she decided that there is hope for Sleepless families, and wanted to introduce this service.

HOW DOES A PRIVATE CONSULTATION WORK?

• COMPREHEND: This is a comprehensive questionnaire that you’ll need to fill out about your child’s sleep routine, habits and issues. No two children are the same and we want to give you a plan that will work for you. • CREATE: We provide you with a detailed and customised sleep plan. This is tailor made for your child’s sleep needs and for your family’s situation. • CONSULT:You are entitled to a private, 90-minute consultation. We’ll discuss your issues, and provide you with solutions, as well as help you to troubleshoot challenges. • COACH:You will receive follow-up calls during the first week after the consultation discussing your child’s progress, as well as any challenges or obstacles you’ve encountered. Hereafter you will receive email correspondences and support to ensure that you stay on track with your sleep consultants guidance. PLEASE NOTE: We do NOT offer generic sleep training services! Our training includes modules that inform our consultants on the basics of neuroscience, nutrition, breastfeeding, stimulation, behavioural therapy, phycology and other sleep related topics. Our focus is on how these facets relates to sleep for infants and toddlers. We don’t follow one particular methodology. Good Night is associated with international associations and accredited by the South African Sleep Association. We believe in a start-to-finish solution for you and your family!

GET 15% OFF ON YOUR CONSULTATION

Corlia Dreyer Good Night Consultant • 084 299 3569 • corlia@goodnightbaby.co.za • www.goodnightbaby.co.za Created by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

pillow Are you stuck in a duvet cover rut? Freshen up your linens and transform your bedroom in the process.

nvesting in new bed linens makes sense in so many ways. Not only is it a relatively cheap and easy way to transform the look of the room, but feeling comfortable and happy in your bed could also help you sleep better. Too many of us are living with scratchy, gray-white, threadbare sheets that have seen better days. So take the plunge and give your linens a style refresh. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bound to boost your mood in the morning.

EXPERIMENT WITH COLOR

A chic duvet cover in a bold color is a low-risk, low-cost way to transform the look and feel of your bedroom. If you decide you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like it, you can simply take it off. It also means the other elements in the room can be kept fairly simple. This gold duvet instantly lifts and warms the elegant, paredback space. Why not invest in a handful of differentcolored duvets and change them to suit your mood? 34

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talk

TAP INTO ONTREND PINK

Pink in the bedroom isn’t just for 5-year-old princesses. Soft rose shades are popular at the moment and look fresh and airy when used on pillowcases, blankets and duvet covers. Here, the wide stripe and dusty shade keep the look chic and contemporary. Pink also works well with gray walls, which can be a wonderfully soothing shade for a sleep space.

FOLLOW DESIGN TRENDS

Duvet covers tend to reflect the fashions and obsessions of our times. If you can navigate past the acres of sheet sets featuring superheroes and characters from Frozen, you’ll discover a world of tasteful, contemporary designs. There are lots of lovely modern botanical fabrics around right now, such as this smart gray fern print. This space artfully pulls off a modern “living room” feel thanks to the display shelves and houseplants, but the duvet cover is the real star.

MAKE AN IMPACT SPLURGE ON SILK IN A SMALL It may not be cheap, but if you from allergies, natural silk BEDROOM suffer bedding is a luxurious as well

If you have a tiny room, you won’t have space for lots of accessories or style details, but one eyecatching duvet can make all the difference. In this simple, compact room, the bold geometric cover adds a maximum dose of retro style with minimal effort.

as practical choice. It’s naturally hypoallergenic and can help you feel cool, which is handy if you tend to overheat at night.

Using a silk pillowcase is also said to help prevent wrinkles, according to beauty experts. And, of course, it looks and feels beautiful.

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What you will need • Dresser (choose a particular pieces of furniture that is sound in structure, but devoid of any real character) • Chalk Paint in Country Grey, Burgundy, and Aubusson Blue • Clear and dark waxes • Wood Finishing Cloths (Staining Wipes) in Dark Mahogany • Different drawer pulls • Assorted hardware styled from old suitcases or briefcases • Leather scraps • Upholstery tacks • Permanent marker • Clean cotton rags to use while staining and waxing • Paintbrushes • Nails • Drill or a hammer a good idea to wipe down *TIP It’s alwaays clean cloth avoiding chemical

everything with interfering with cleaners.You don’t want dust s of the drawers rior inte the out e Wip k. wor your to have e Nic . inet cab and the inside of the . with t star to n clea ing everyth

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Steps

Stain everything with the Minwax Cloths except for the drawer fronts. Here are some tips to use: Stains today are designed for the inexperienced decorator. Stain comes in oil or water-based products. Water based stains are low odor and fast drying which will allow you to stain and finish within 24 hours.

Use a pre-stain conditioner that’s water-based. It’s gonna be like your little insurance policy. Use a foam brush to apply a thin coat and let it dry about 3-4 minutes before applying your stain. Give it a light sanding before staining, too.

Apply a liberal amount of stain in sections and wipe with a rag. Remember the longer you leave on stain, the darker it will get. Sand before you stain and always sand in the direction of the grain with a light 180 grit sandpaper. Remember to never sand after you stain either!

Next paint the drawer fronts with your chosen colors. Be sure to choose the three main colours of the room you want to place the suitcase dresser in. Want to be creative? Why not try using material to paste across the front for a more elegant display.

*TIP: How to Give Furniture an Aged Look:

You can ad an aged look to furniture by using any kind of wax from your local Build It. First we waxed the entire piece with clear wax and a cotton rag. You don’t want to start with dark wax because it will stain your piece and alter your color significantly. We then grabbed a disposable plate and put a dollop of both clear and dark wax on it with a plastic spoon, and also got two clean cotton rags. Work in sections- with the first rag we took some dark wax and rubbed it into the hutch, focusing a little more in the grooves. Rub it in pretty well and then take your other rag and get some clear wax- then rub it over the dark wax you just applied. It will remove some of the dark wax- the more clear wax you rub on, the more dark wax will come off. Keep enough of the dark wax on to give it a natural aged lookyou don’t want it looking like someone threw mud at it! When you finish one section, move to the next area. Keep referring to the sections you’ve already finished to make sure there is consistency in your “aged” areas. Remember if one area is darker you can always add more clear wax to lighten it up.

After painting, protect your hard work. We used clear and dark wax on the top drawer to make it look aged and only clear wax on the other drawers. Depending on your dresser, you may need to drill new holes for hardware. The really fun part is choosing which hardware and accessories will go on which drawers.

We played around with the design and then cut leather strips for two of the drawers, applying Mod Podge to glue them on. (I also added upholstery tacks to the strips on the blue drawer.)

We drew on the red drawer with a permanent marker. Feel free to create quarter circles in the corner to give the illusion of corner finishing tips.

Apply a top coat after you stain your wood. A water-based polycrylic is best! And yes, you can use a water-based top coat even if you’re using an oil-based stain. And here’s the finished suitcase dresser.

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decorating THE SECRET TO WITH FLOWERS

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ith all the beautiful blooms around this time of year, it’s a great time to take advantage of these botanical blessings to decorate the home. The variety of flowers and ways to display them seem endless - how can you possibly decide? Take a good survey of your home. Whether gracing a table for a party or simply adding a bit of colour to your bedside table, floral decor can breathe new life into any room. Take into account the decor, colour schemes, natural light, and possible display surfaces. From there you can play around with your floral arrangements to best enhance your home. Here are six perfect perennial displays to get you inspired.

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TUCK IN, THEN FILL YOUR FRUIT

Summer is all about fresh fruit salads, selfies with watermelons and fragrant cocktails with a slice of fruit on the edge of your glass. And you’d be bananas to throw away the fruit leftovers.You can create a summer-inspired vase or plant holder by putting those tropical delights on display. Note: flowers wilt more rapidly when there’s fruit nearby. So use pots to protect your plant of flowers from the fruit.

GET TO WORK WITH THE MELON, PINEAPPLE OR COCONUT

Cut the top off the melon and pineapple. Cut a circle in the flesh of the fruit that is the same size of the glass or pot that you want to insert into it.The flesh is easy to remove by cutting it like a grid, for instance four vertical and four horizontal cuts.

HYDRANGEA ARRANGEMENT

By late summer, these hardy shrubs are bursting in riotous colours and textures. The recent explosion in Hydrangea breeding has brought so many exciting new flower forms to this easy-to-grow shrub! Once considered quite choice, lacecap and oakleaf varieties are now widely available, and the latest cultivars include changing bloom colours and continuous panicle growth.

AQUATIC PLANT

Beat the summer heat with a container water garden that doubles as a beautiful decoration. These water plants get their nutrients from water and require no soil to thrive.

Remove the excess flesh with a spoon. This creates space for the glass- and gives you a tasty snack at the same time. Place the pot or glass in the pineapple and melon. Put your plant or flower in it, and it’s job done! Created by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

MIXED BOUQUET ARRANGEMENT A mixed bouquet is artfully rearranged among a dozen slender vases, freeing each bloom to flaunt its beauty. Much is made of long stems, but trimming them to staggered heights lets individual roses stand out.

ORCHID ARRANGEMENT Designed to replicate exotic blooming trees, this poetic display is

an illusion contrived by securing blossoms to tree branches. Bursts of color electrify the wood and its surrounding space, making an ideal - if ephemeral - setting for entertaining. Not to mention the long branches in a tall glass vase add texture and height to a room.

EGG IT Flower arrangements in eggshells might seem a bit strange to most

of us, but it is a popular alternative to the standard vase. Individually or grouped together in a centerpiece, these tiny arrangements make a wonderful addition to the place settings at your table. And they don’t just look pretty either, you can also use them for starting your own garden. Evidently, eggshells make the perfect size seed starters, are natural, biodegradable, can be planted directly into the soil after being cracked a little, and supply nourishment to the plant and surrounding soil. Here are some instructions for your very own eggshell planters, for those of you that might also want to give it a whirl as planting season starts up!

YOU’LL NEED:

• Eggs • Egg carton • Planting soil • Small spoon • Awl, or wide sharp needle 42

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• Seeds • Spray bottle

7 8 9 10

When cracking the eggshells, slice the top part of the egg (narrower end) with a sharp knife and gently pour the egg from the opening for use.

Reserve eggshells, rinse well inside and out with water. For extra caution, you can boil the shells for a few minutes to make sure all traces of egg are cleaned out.

Rinse eggshells again, and gently place them back in their egg carton to dry. Once dry, gently chip any rough edges of the eggs to desired opening size.

Use awl, or wide sharp needle to gently puncture a single hole in the base of the eggshell. During this step, you may have to remove parts of the thin membrane alongside the eggshell.

Place eggshells back in carton and spray gently with water using your spray bottle.

With a small spoon, gently scoop planting or potting soil into eggshell to fill.You may want to gently shake egg to even out the soil. Plant seeds according to directions to determine depth and any other special care. Spritz again gently with spray bottle and place in well lit area with sun indoors. Water plants accordingly, watch and wait for your seedlings to sprout.

Once sprouts have grown large enough to transfer, thin them out and plant directly into the ground or larger planter after gently cracking the eggshell around them. The roots will grow beyond the eggshell into the soil, the shell will continue to provide nourishment to the plant and surrounding soil, and will eventually biodegrade.

Nelspruit Flower Market stock a wide variety of flowers and accessories and have fresh cut flowers daily. Flowers for events such as weddings, conferences, funerals, functions. We understand your vision and we can make your dreams become a reality. Weekly flower standings for businesses and household.

ket.co.za 013 752 7688 | flowers@flowermar Nelspruit 104 Ferreira Street, Roycol Building, Created by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

LONGER RUNTIME

LESS WEIGHT

The Husqvarna Battery Series offers all the power, performance and intuitive design you expect from Husqvarna. Lightweight, easy to start and easy to use without the need for petrol or refuelling, their high-quality, long lasting lithium batteries give you quiet, clean, convenient operation. When itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to take your garden to the next level, visit www.husqvarna.co.za

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WHY CHOOSE BATTERY? For over 327 years, Husqvarna has applied pioneer thinking and first-class engineering to ensure that we provide users with products that are powerful, reliable and safe. We’re now adding a new chapter to our history of innovations – The Husqvarna Battery Series. Quiet, convenient, easy to use and completely free of fumes, our range of battery-driven products includes chainsaws, grass trimmers, brushcutters, hedge trimmers and blowers.

Battery-power means silent operation, improved user comfort and low maintenance.

Dramatically reduced vibrations – work longer with less stress on the shoulders and arms.

One battery fits all* * BLi80 battery applicable to models 136LiHD45 and 136LiL only. Short charge time

Easy exchange of battery from one machine to another

100% Husqvarna, with classic features like ergonomic design, low weight and built-in safety as standard.

Simple push button operation.

Low maintenance thanks to the electric drive system.

FIND YOUR HUSQVARNA AT

1 Plankie Street Nelspruit Tel: 013 753 3631 Fax: 013 752 6282

MOVING TO NEW PREMISES SOON!

HOUSEHOLD SAFETY:

poison

ur home contains many items that can poison a child. Items like cleaners, medicines, plants, and alcohol can be very dangerous, even deadly, especially to children. While you are busy doing other things, your child may be exploring closets or under bathroom sinks, where dangerous household items are often stored. Children are at risk for poisoning because they like to put things into their mouths and taste them.Young children do not know which items are safe to eat. It only takes a few seconds for a child to swallow a dangerous amount of a poisonous product. Remember to always keep a close eye on your child. Watch your child even more closely when you are away from home—especially at a grandparent’s home, where medicines are often left out and within a child’s reach. Here are some important ways to help prevent kids from ingesting a poisonous substance.

KEEP DANGEROUS ITEMS OUT OF REACH

The best way to keep your child safe from poisoning is to lock up dangerous household items out of your child’s reach, including: • Medicines (especially those that contain iron) • Cleaning products like dishwasher and laundry detergents, bleach, ammonia, and furniture polish • Antifreeze, paint thinners, and windshield washer fluid • Spirits, thinners, turpentine, paraffin, lamp oil • Pesticides • Alcohol Always store medicines and household products in their original containers. Children can get confused if you put them in containers that were once used for food, 46

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especially empty drink bottles, cans, or cups. Also, many dangerous items look like food or drinks. For example, your child may mistake powdered dish soap for sugar or lemon liquid cleaner for lemonade.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME POISON-SAFE IN THE KITCHEN

• Store medicines, cleaners, furniture polish, dishwasher soap, and other dangerous products in locked cabinets, out of sight and reach of children. • If you must store items under the sink, use safety latches that lock every time you close the cabinet.

IN THE BATHROOM

• Keep all medicines in containers with safety caps. But remember, these caps are child resistant, not childproof, so store them in a locked cabinet. • Get rid of leftover or expired medicines. Remember to remove labels with personal information from prescription medicines. • Store everyday items like toothpaste, soap, and shampoo in a different cabinet from dangerous products. • Take medicine where children cannot watch you; they may try to copy you. • Call medicine by its correct name.You don’t want to confuse your child by calling it candy. • Check the label every time you give medicine. This will help you to be sure you are giving the right medicine in the right amount to the right person. Mistakes are more common in the middle of the night, so always turn on a light when using any medicine.

IN THE GARAGE

• Keep paints, varnishes, thinners, pesticides, and fertilizers in a locked cabinet. • Read labels on all household products before you buy them. Try to find the safest ones for the job. Buy only what you need to use right away. • Open the garage door before starting your car to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. • Be sure that coal, wood, or kerosene stoves and appliances are in good working order. If you smell gas, turn off the stove or gas burner, leave the house, and call your gas supplier.

POISON HELP

• Poison Information Cetre: 086 155 5777 This number will connect you right away to a poison expert in your area, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also call if you have a question about a poison or poison prevention. • Be prepared. Post the Poison Help number by every phone in your home and programme the number in your cell phone. Be sure that caregivers and babysitters know this number.

SWALLOWED POISON

If you find your child with an open or empty container of a dangerous nonfood item, your child may have been poisoned. Stay calm and act quickly. • First, get the item away from your child. If there is still some in your child’s mouth, make him spit it out or remove it with your fingers. Keep this material along with anything else that might help determine what your child swallowed. • Do not make your child vomit because it may cause more damage. • If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures, call 10111 or your local emergency number right away. • If your child does not have these symptoms, call the Poison Help number, 086 155 5777.You may be asked for some information. • If the poison is very dangerous, or if your child is very young, you may be told to take him to the nearest hospital. If your child is not in danger, the Poison Help staff will tell you what to do to help your child at home.

POISON ON THE SKIN

If your child spills a dangerous chemical on her body, remove her clothes and rinse the skin with roomtemperature water for at least 15 minutes, even if your child resists. Then call Poison Help at 086 155 5777. Do not use ointments or grease.

POISON IN THE EYE

Flush your child’s eye by holding the eyelid open and pouring a steady stream of room-temperature water into the inner corner. It is easier if another adult holds your child while you rinse the eye. If another adult is not around, wrap your child tightly in a towel and clamp him under one arm. Then you will have one hand free to hold the eyelid open and the other to pour in the water. Continue flushing the eye for 15 minutes. Then call the Poison Help number, 086 155 5777. Do not use an eyecup, eyedrops, or ointment unless Poison Help staff tells you to.

POISONOUS FUMES

In the home, poisonous fumes can come from: • A car running in a closed garage • Leaky gas vents • Wood, coal, or kerosene stoves that are not working right • Space heaters, ovens, stoves, or water heaters that use gas • If your child is exposed to fumes or gases, have her breathe fresh air right away. If she is breathing, call the Poison Help number, 086 155 5777, and ask about what to do next. If she has stopped breathing, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and do not stop until she breathes on her own or someone else can take over. If you can, have someone call 10111 right away. If you are alone, wait until your child is breathing, or after 1 minute of CPR, then call 10111.

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Article: Debolina Raja

SAFETY RULES

You should teach your children

re you constantly worried about your childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety? If you are wondering just how to go about it, we have the answer for you. Keeping your children safe at all times means constant adult supervision. It also means implementing a few important changes and rules that ensure their well-being. As a parent you may want to always be present near your children. But this is not possible.You have to let them venture out without you. There are places where they will meet others in your absence, for example, at school. They may also need to be at the day care or at home with a nanny. Also, it is important to prepare your kids for basic safety steps in the event of an emergency. Here we list out top 10 safety rules, that will help in ensuring safety at school and home.

YOUR NAME, NUMBER #1KNOW AND ADDRESS

Your children may be small but it is important to teach basic contact details like your and your partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name and contact number. They should be able to share your contact number with someone in case of an emergency. Also, knowing where home is and any nearby landmark is also important. Help your kids memorize these with regular practice at home. Also, help them to memorize a backup number to call, like a grandparent, uncle or aunt. 48

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DO NOT EAT ANYTHING GIVEN BY A STRANGER

You need to teach them about the dangers of eating food that is given by a stranger. No matter how tempting the treat is, if it comes from a stranger, they should not eat it. Teach your children that it is dangerous to accept food from anyone. Ask them to politely refuse in case someone is offering food without your consent or in your absence.

BE CAREFUL IN THE YARD

Your kid may be playing ball and suddenly it bounces off to a space outside the fence. Inform them never to try and retrieve something by climbing through a fence. If something like this happens, they should ask the help of an adult. Similar to the point above, they should know that it is not permissible to walk out of the yard alone. If they need to go out for anything, you or some known adult should be accompanying them at all times.

WITH FIREWORKS IS #4PLAYING NOT ALLOWED

Whether or not you are at home, your children should know that it is absolutely not allowed to play with fireworks. Only if you are around and have given your permission can your child be near fire. Make sure all fireworks are safely out of your their reach.

GO ANYWHERE WITH #5NEVER A STRANGER

Your kids should know that no matter what the reasoning, it is not safe to go anywhere with a stranger. Inform them that if a stranger tells them something like ‘Your mom asked you to come with me immediately,’ they should stay where they are and shout out for help. Ensure that if there is an emergency, you will always send a family member, like grandparent or aunt, to be with them and not a stranger.

ONE IS ALLOWED TO #6NO TOUCH YOUR CHILD’S BODY

This is a very important safety rule for children and you should teach them about it as soon as they can understand the basics. Teach about good touch and bad touch. Tell your kids that no one is allowed to touch them except mommy, and sometimes papa, if needed. If anyone else has touched them, they should immediately shout for help and alert people around.

YOU GET LOST, STAY WHERE #7IFYOU ARE

In the event that your child gets lost, tell them it is important they stay right where they are. If they

see any other mom with kids nearby, they can ask her for help.Your child should stay inside the place and not go out, even with the other mom. Most common places where children get lost are the shopping centres. Let them know that they can walk up to the counter of the store and tell the person they are lost.

NOT SHARE PERSONAL #8DO DETAILS WITH ANYONE

Children should know that it is unsafe to share personal details like phone numbers, address, email ids or pictures with strangers. Any information that is shared should only be with your consent or in your presence.

I AM UNCOMFORTABLE I #9IFWILL NOT DO IT

No matter what your kids may be asked to do, if it makes them uncomfortable, they should NOT do it. This could be something as simple as taking off clothes in front of others and diving in a home pool. If they feel uncomfortable about it, no matter how many friends are doing it, they should not do it at all.

THEM ABOUT #10TEACH ROAD SAFETY

Adults need to talk to children about road safety in ways they will understand, keeping messages simple and clear. Even at home, parents need to watch young children carefully, as they can move quickly, especially when left unsupervised. Whenever children are in a car, they should be safely buckledup in child car seats that are correct for each child’s age and size. While driving, adults can explain how child car seats and seatbelts keep us safe, why it is best to use the Safety Door (rear door closest to the kerb, footpath or gutter and away from the road) to get in and out of the car and other passenger safety messages. By holding their hands when walking and teaching them safe behaviour, you can protect them from danger and help them become safer pedestrians. Setting family rules about playing safely, away from footpaths and driveways can help keep them out of harm. Adults need to make sure children hold a grown-up’s hand, wear a bike helmet, or wear a seatbelt, even though they may resist. It is important that you teach your kid about these basic safety rules for kids as soon as they are able to understand. There are certain things that you can start teaching your kid as early as three years of age. Make sure you speak to your kid in an age-appropriate language. Also, always keep communication open. This will encourage your child to tell you everything. Created by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

WATER A

ll kids love water.You probably have a hard time getting your kid out of the bath tub or from playing with too much water. While playing with water is a lot of fun, this curious nature of kids also puts them at a greater risk of drowning themselves. Whether you are visiting the dam, river or swimming pool, you need to keep an eye on your kid and teach him the basic water safety tips. Make sure to stay together wherever you go. Once a child’s head goes underwater, it only takes a few minutes for her heart to stop and brain damage to occur.

WATER SAFETY RULES FOR KIDS

Here are some of the simple yet important tips on water safety for kids that you must remember before going near water: • Keep your preschooler or toddler at an arm’s reach when he is near water.You must always keep a watch on him. • Do not distract yourself with other activities when your kid is near a pool or river. • If it is a pool, equip it with 4 sided fencing of at least a meter height. Put anti-entrapments and a rigid cover. Remove ladders from the pool after using them. • Do not keep toys scattered around the pool water. • It is better not to rely completely on air filled tubes for safety of your child.

ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO LEARN SWIMMING

Toddlers and babies learn swimming very fast. Swimming lessons are a great way to make your kid

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safety

comfortable in water. Try to enroll your child for swimming classes to improve his skills. Keep in mind the following: • Make sure to choose a programme that is age appropriate. • Toddlers and preschoolers must learn how to swim under supervision. • The swimming programme you choose must be certified and offered by instructors and professionals only. • Swimming classes will help children learn about water safety.

STAY AWAY FROM SWIMMER’S EAR

This is a kind of painful ear infection that affects the outer ear canal. The bacteria multiply when moisture lingers after the swimming sessions.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

In case you find your child infected with swimmer’s ear, you need to do the following: • Inform the doctor if you find leakage from the ears. • See if the outer ear looks swollen. • Ask the child if the tab or lobe in front of the ear hurts when touched. • Doctors generally prescribe ear drops to keep the canal dry for 3 -7 days.

LOOK FOR INFECTIONS FROM CONTAMINATED WATER

Children learning swimming generally get an infection from contaminated water in pools, dams and rivers. The infections are known as recreational water infections that results from germs that enter from fecal contamination. The most common infections are: skin infection, eye infection, ear infection and respiratory infection. While you should let your child have fun in the pool or lake, make sure to keep in mind these safety lessons when it comes to kids water safety.

FIRE K

safety

ids grow and learn at home, a place where they find comfort, love and care. For them, this is one of the most secur places where they can see, touch, explore and experience the world around them. At the same time, home should also be a place where kids need to feel safe. They should be taught about safety measures at home, but the most important one of them is fire safety for kids.

HAVE AN ESCAPE ROUTE

Fire can break out at anytime and anywhere due to lot of reasons, one of the primary reasons being short circuit. Most of us panic when we see a fire. So the first thing we should tell our kids not to panic when they see a fire break out, instead follow these kids fire safety tips to prevent damage.

PATHS TO EXITS SHOULD BE CLEAR

BE ALERT

Noting can be better than being alert to prevent fire. It is advisable to fit smoke alarms in every room, except for the kitchen and bathroom. As a precautionary measure, test all alarms periodically. The sooner you are alerted to a fire, the more time you will have to get out of your house before the fire spreads.

AVOID SMOKING

Always be prepared with a plan about how to escape if a fire breaks out. Try to explain the plan to your kids as well, in simple language, so they know what to do in case of an emergency.

Always keep the paths to all exits clear. In case a fire safety exit is blocked by fire, find out all alternative routes and exits to escape.

REMEMBER YOUR KEYS

Keep any keys near to the door or window they open. During an emergency, you may not get the time to go into a different room to get a key to an exit.

BE CAREFUL WITH ELECTRICITY

Reports say, several fires in home cases occur due to smoking every year. So don’t forget to completely put out a cigarette before you go to sleep. Also, never smoke in bed, as you might fall asleep with the cigarette still alight.

Don’t overload electrical sockets, which can be highly dangerous. Instead use one plug per socket.

SAFEGUARD KIDS

Never keep electrical devices on standby; it increases the risk of fire. Make sure to switch off and unplug electrical appliances.

Kids should be kept away from lighters, matches and candles. Make sure that your kid is not alone in a room where a candle is burning.

SUPERVISE KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

Your child can try his culinary experiments in the kitchen, but be alert when he/she is near the cooking oven. Cooking oil can cause kitchen fires, so be careful with it.

UNPLUG ELECTRICAL DEVICES

We hope our fire safety tips for kids prove helpful for you to keep your home safe from the danger of fire. Always remember safety is in your hands. So don’t panic during an emergency, stay calm and take the right steps to avoid any danger.

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CYBER W

safety

ith the number of social networking sites on the rise, it is important to make sure that the safety of your child is not at stake. These days, teenagers and kids who are on the verge of reaching their teenage stage, are very interested to use the Internet as there is endless information available for them at their fingertips. Even though it is good for them from an educational point of view, the Internet also has some explicit contents which are not ideal for your kids. Hence, it is essential for you to make sure that your kids don’t fall prey to the ‘predators’ of the Internet. If you have kids or teenagers at home, it is important that you teach them few basic rules of online safety as soon as they begin to use the Internet. Teaching internet safety to kids is must, as your children might feel threatened or upset, if they face any rude behavior or view some disturbing content. The following simple tips would help you to make sure that your kids are safe and secure while they browse the Internet.

PLACING THE COMPUTER

Never have a computer in your kid’s room. Place the computer in the living room or a common study room, as it will help you to see what your kid is browsing. Also, this tactic will lower the risk of your kids accessing those websites that have unsuitable materials. This setup would also help prevent your kids from having any unknown friends online, who might be from a criminal background.

PREPARE A “TIME” AGREEMENT

Whether it is for study or leisure purpose, usage 52

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of the Internet must be restricted on a daily basis. However, place the time limit for Internet usage based on the age of your kids and the class they are studying.You must also consider the list of subjects for which your kids need to be online to do their homework.Talk with your kids about this and arrive at an agreement and make sure that they stick to the rule everyday.

CHECK WHAT YOUR KIDS POST ONLINE

These days, social networking websites play a prominent role in your kids’ life as it helps them to keep in touch with their loved ones and friends. But such social platforms also have a high security risk when your kids share some pics or post which might reveal personal information about you. Warn your kids that they must not make any posts that have any details, which might affect their privacy.

DON’T CLICK ON AD BANNERS OR POSTS

Most companies follow online promotion to spread the word about their products or services. While some firms market their products in a genuine way, some scam companies also follow suit to gather the personal details of the online users. Tell your kids about these online scams and inform them that it can make them a cyber victim, if they click on it.

OPT FOR AN HIGH END SECURITY

These days, it is essential to get regular updates for your personal computer or laptop. Teach your kids that if they open any website or an email or click

on a pop up window, it can cause a malware or spyware to download into your computer, and may even erase all vital data within a few minutes. This issue can be averted when your system has updated security software. Such software would install a firewall to prevent pop ups and stop the trespassers from getting access to your PC.You must also tell your kids that they must not turn off the firewall option.

SHOP AT REPUTED WEBSITES

If your teenage kids love shopping online, make sure that they shop at reputed websites. Insist that they should not share trivial details such as credit card or debit card numbers, address of your home, bank details, etc. Make your kids realize that if the website is not a reliable one, then there are chances that these vital data can reach the wrong hands.

REFRAIN FROM SHARING VITAL INFORMATION

When your kids are browsing a public website, instruct them not to use any personal email address of theirs, yours, their siblings, your office phone number or contact address. This is important as it would let other people know where you are working and can even put your career at stake. Inform your kids that cyber bullies would also misuse such information to create problems for your whole family.

NEVER SUBSCRIBE FOR E-NEWSLETTERS

sign up for the newsletters of all websites related to music, fashion or online shopping. Tell your kid that these websites would demand too much personal details and exchanging the same is not advisable. Instead of opting for the site’s newsletter, it is better to bookmark and check those sites regularly.

USE A TOUGHER PASSWORD

Make sure that your kids safeguard their security with a protective password that is very tough to decipher. With a weak password, it becomes easier for hackers to invade your accounts. Hence, whenever they create an account online, ask your kids to choose a password with lowercase and uppercase to make sure that others do not decipher it. Also ask them to refrain from disclosing the password to anyone, online or offline!

AVOID MEETING ONLINE FRIENDS

If you have teenaged kids, they would be making many online friends and eventually, one of them would express their interest to meet your kids. Do tell your kids to be wary of such people, as the person’s pics that they see on the online site or the details that they know about them might not be true.Your kids, no matter how reliable their contacts might sound, must avoid such meetings. Today, children are tech savvy and what’s more, well-connected online with their family and peers, which also makes them vulnerable. Following these internet safety tips will keep your kids safe when they are using the Internet. Happy surfing!

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5 Foods That Lower Your Blood Sugar Quickly

ollowing a whole foods, plant-based diet is one of the simplest ways to manage your blood sugar and elevate your health to a whole new level.Your blood sugar controls several different hormonal responses in the body, all of which contribute to your energy, your mood, and even your hunger levels. Healthy blood sugars are also vital to prevent or manage Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hypoglycemia. Eating a diet that supports your blood sugar can also assist in preventing obesity.

1.MAGNESIUM-RICH LEAFY GREENS All leafy greens such as: kale, spinach, romaine, arugula, all lettuces and any other greens you can think of, are absolutely wonderful for your blood sugar. However, a few are especially rich in magnesium, which is acts like a “super nutrient” once it enters your body. Magnesium-rich greens include: kale, spinach, collards, romaine, and Swiss chard, which pack more of a nutritional punch for your blood sugar than other types do.

2. WHOLE GRAINS

4. ALMONDS

Almonds are another powerhouse of magnesium, fiber, and protein. Almonds contain a higher amount of magnesium than other nuts, with cashews being a close second. Go for a handful of raw almonds next time you get the munchies.

5. SEEDS

Seeds such as chia, flax, sunflower, pumpkin, hemp, and sesame seeds are powerhouses of nutrition! They’re wonderful sources of vitamins, minerals like magnesium, protein, and even iron. Take a look at this: chia seeds have 24 percent of your daily magnesium requirements, while animal-based foods have little to none. All seeds are also rich sources of protein, their complete nutritional profile supports your blood sugar on every single level.

Visit your nearest Mopani Pharmacy to see our wide range of diabetic friendly products. We also stock grains, nuts and seeds.

Oats, rice, wheat germ, amaranth, teff, quinoa, brown and wild rice, and millet are also great sources of magnesium. They can all be made into a porridge for breakfast or used in various recipes.

3. CACAO

The cacao bean is thought to be the most abundant source of magnesium in the world. It’s also a fantastic source of fiber, iron, and even protein that benefits your blood sugar. While it’s probably not the best idea to eat cacao all day, a little bit may go a long way towards lowering your blood sugar fairly quickly. Cacao is also rich in chromium, a mineral that helps lower blood sugar even further.

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THE BIG FAT REVOLUTION

WHAT IS BANTING?

efore we go any further on “What is Banting”, let’s first look at why and what makes us fat. When we consume carbohydrates such as breads, cereals, rice, pasta, potatoes, sugar, fruit, etc. (from now on we will just call them “carbs”), our bodies see it as glucose and it raises our bloodglucose concentration. The body doesn’t like a rising blood-glucose concentration and uses the hormone insulin from the pancreas to drop it. Insulin will drive glucose out of the blood stream and into the muscles and the liver, and as long as your muscles and liver can store the glucose it is fine. But if you have the condition known as insulin resistance, then it means that the muscles and liver do not have enough space to take the excess glucose and it will be turned into fat and stored into the fat cells. Insulin is a fat-building hormone and this is a crucial basis for understanding obesity, which comes with a simple solution; reduce your insulin and you will reverse obesity. The only way to do that is to cut carbohydrates from your diet. Now it is important to understand that the ONLY thing that can make us fat is carbs and that NOTHING else can make you fat. The myth that fat will make you fat is absolute rubbish, as good fats such as animal fat has zero carbs, it cannot activate the hormone insulin which is only activated by carbs or rising blood-glucose in our blood stream, so very simply, fat cannot make fat. Back to the first question, “What is Banting?”. On 19 November 2013, Prof. Tim Noakes and Jonno Proudfoot, CEO of The Real Meal Revolution, launched their book “The Real Meal Revolution”. The Banting Philosophy (Some extracts from an article published by “The Real Meal Revolution”) The Banting Diet is named after William Banting, a prominent English undertaker who lived in the 19th century. The Englishman’s self-published work, Letter

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on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public was the world’s first dieting book and documented the diet that lead to his dramatic weight loss. While William Banting had it mostly right (in terms of lowering his intake of carbohydrates), The Real Meal Revolution has used advances in nutrition and medical understanding since then to release a more sustainable version. Because carbohydrates raise your insulin and insulin is what we wish to reduce, Banting focuses on the lowering of carbs (including sugars). The diet comprises of between 25g and 200g of carbohydrates per day. Humans need real food. Our bodies were designed to eat real food. If we feed our bodies food that they weren’t designed to eat, they’re going to react in ways that they weren’t designed for. So, the complete definition of Banting is as follows: Banting is eating delicious real food that is low in carbohydrates, which relieves the symptoms of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. ‘Banting’ was never meant to be a religion. In our view, The Tim Noakes Diet, The Banting Diet, and LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) are all similar, or the same in some ways. Then what is Banting? • It is learning you are right to challenge your existing beliefs • It is taking control of your life and living on your terms • It is refusing to accept the status quo • It is making healthy choices and knowing why • It is being empowered, not overpowered, by what you eat • It is digging in. Not passing up • Not depriving • It is indulging in delicious meals you used to think were harmful • It’s avoiding other meals you believed to be good

• It is overcoming your body’s harmful addiction to sugar and carbs • It is saying ‘yes’ to real fats and real foods, and ‘no’ to refined grains and processed goods • It is voting against the foods you don’t want by choosing the ones you do The number one rule when Banting is to eat real food – no sugar, no refined carbs, no processed foods. This is not a diet; it is a lifestyle, and it is your lifestyle. The rest is up to you. Some people make the mistake by describing Banting as a high protein diet. It is rather a Low Carb, Medium Protein and High Fat diet. To make it easier as to what and what not to eat, Prof Noakes and The Real Meal Revolution team created three lists of food items to help us while Banting. • THE GREEN LIST: Green is an all-you can-eat list - you choose anything you like without worrying about the carbohydrate content as all the foods will be between 0 to 5g/100g. It will be almost impossible to overdo your carbohydrate intake by sticking to this group of foods. Eat a moderate amount of animal protein at each meal. Include as much fat as you are comfortable with - bearing in mind that banting is high in fat. Caution: even though these are all-you-can-eat foods, only eat when hungry, stop when full and do not overeat. The size and thickness of your palm without fingers is a good measure for a serving of animal protein. • ORANGE is made up of ingredients containing between 6g and 25g of carbs per 100g (6% 25%). Chart your carbohydrates without getting obsessive and still obtain an excellent outcome. This list will assist you to stay under a total of 50g carbs for the day. These are all net carbs and they are all 23 to 25g per indicated amount. Ingredients are all fresh unless otherwise indicated and mainly comprise of certain fruits, nuts and vegetables. • RED will contain all the foods to avoid as they will be either toxic (e.g. seed oils, soya) or high carbohydrate foods (e.g. potatoes, rice). We strongly suggest you avoid all the items on this list. They will do nothing to help you in your attempt to reach your goal. To help you with any of your Banting questions, or for a free introduction, call Sandra, your Certified Banting Coach in the Lowveld at +27 78 315-1553.

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indian cuisine

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rava dosas with summer vegies PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 25 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 35 MINUTES | SERVING SIZE: 4

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

SUMMER SQUASH + TOMATO CHICKPEA MASALA

Toast the coconut in a heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and wipe out skillet. Place the skillet back over medium heat and add the oil. Once hot add the onion, garlic, ginger and serrano pepper, cook for 3-5 minutes or until the onions have softened. Add the zucchini, summer squash, spicy curry powder, garam masala and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Continue to cook the mixture another five minutes or until the vegetables and spices are fragrant. Now add the chickpeas, tomatoes and 1 cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.

• 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut • 1 tablespoon coconut oil • 1 small onion, chopped • 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated • 1 serrano pepper, chopped • 2 small-medium zucchini, chopped • 2 small-medium summer squash, chopped • 1 tablespoon spicy curry powder • 1 teaspoon garam masala • Pinch of salt and pepper • 2 cups cooked chickpeas (rinsed and drained if using canned) • 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes • 1/3 cup canned coconut milk • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

RAVA DOSAS (INDIAN CREPES) • 1/2 cup semolina flour • 1/2 cup rice flour • 1/2 cup white flour • 1 serrano pepper, finely minced • 1 green onion, finely chopped • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds • Salt and pepper, to taste • Butter, for serving + greasing

Meanwhile make the rava dosai (plural of dosa). In a four cup glass measuring cup or bowl combine the semolina flour, rice flour, white flour, serrano pepper, green onion, cumin seeds, salt and pepper. Add 2 cups water and whisk until combined. The batter should be thin, add more water if is seems too thick. Generously brush a nonstick skillet with oil or butter and heat over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Stir the batter well and pour in a circular motion starting from the outside and going in, filling in the gaps as you continue to pour in a circle motion (don’t worry if there are few tiny holes throughout the dosa). While cooking, drizzle butter or coconut oil onto the dosa. Cook, undisturbed, until dosa is set and edges are golden, about 2 minutes. Flip using a spatula (just like a pancake) and cook dosa until underside is golden in spots, about 1 minute more. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter, stacking and covering loosely with foil to keep warm. Once the masala has thickened stir in the coconut milk and cook until combined. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro and toasted coconut. To serve, spoon masala filling onto one half of the dosa. Pull the other half over top. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro. EAT! Created by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Soup PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 45 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 60 MINUTES | SERVING SIZE: 4

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

• 1 head garlic, for roasting (or you may sub 2 cloves garlic, not roasted) • 2 tablespoons coconut oil • 1 red bell pepper, chopped • 4 cups butternut squash, peeled + cubed • 1 teaspoon spicy curry powder • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika • 1/2 teaspoon cumin • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped (or 1/4 teaspoon dried) • 1 can coconut milk • 2 cups veggie broth • salt and pepper, to taste • 4 ounces goat cheese, softened + more for topping roughly chopped cilantro + pistachios, for topping arils from one pomegranate, for topping • naan, for serving

Preheat the oven to 200 ̊C

COCONUT GINGER CREAM • 1/2 cup cooled canned coconut milk • 1-2 tablespoons fresh ginger

Chop off the top portion of the garlic head to reveal cloves. Peel any excess paper/skin off the bulb of garlic. Pour about one teaspoon of olive oil on top of the garlic cloves and cover with foil. Roast for 45 minutes, or until the garlic is golden brown and soft. Remove from the oven and allow to cool five minutes. Squeeze garlic out of the paper skin into a small bowl, mash well with a fork and set aside. Meanwhile, add the coconut oil to a large soup pot set over medium heat. Once hot, add the red pepper and cook for 3-5 minutes or until soft. Add the cubed butternut squash, spicy curry powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 3-5 minutes then pour in the coconut milk and veggie broth. Bring the soup to boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the butternut squash is fork tender. While the soup is cooking, make the ginger cream. Add the cold coconut milk and 1 tablespoon ginger to a small bowl. Taste and add more ginger if needed. Cover and place in the fridge until ready to serve. Once the butternut squash is tender, add the roasted garlic and the crumbled goat cheese to the soup. Remove the pot from the stove and allow to cool slightly, then puree the soup in a blender or food processor. Return the soup back to the stove and heat through. To serve, ladle the soup into bowl. Drizzle the coconut ginger cream over the soup and swirl with a spoon. Garnish with chopped cilantro, chopped pistachios and crumbled goat cheese. Sprinkle with pomegranate arils. Serve aside a hot piece of naan.

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creamy cashew chicken PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 4 HOURS TOTAL TIME: 4 HOURS 10 MINUTES | SERVING SIZE: 4

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

• 450g boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders, cut into bite size pieces • 2 potatoes, peeled + cut into 2.5cm cubes • 1 red bell pepper, sliced • 1/2 cup roasted cashews • 1/2 of a sweet onion • 2 cloves garlic • 1 inch knob of fresh ginger, peeled • 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste • 1-2 teaspoons garam marsala (optional)* • 2 teaspoons chili powder • 1 teaspoon cumin • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper pinch of salt • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice • 2 cups cashewmilk • 1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped + more for serving • steamed rice + fresh naan, for serving

Combine the chicken, potatoes and red pepper in the bowl of your crockpot. To a blender or food processor, add the cashews, onion, garlic, ginger, Thai red curry paste, graham marsala (if using), chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, a god pinch of salt and lemon juice. Puree the mixture until completely smooth. If needed, add 1/2 cup of cashewmilk, to help the mixture blend. Pour the paste over the chicken. Add the remaining cashewmilk. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. If the sauce is too thick, add more cashewmilk to thin it, if the sauce is too thin, crank the heat to high on the crockpot and let cook, UNCOVERED for 20-30 minutes. This will thicken the sauce. When ready to eat, stir in the fresh cilantro. Serve with steamed rice + fresh cilantro and basil...and of course, naan! *TO MAKE THIS ON THE STOVE: To a blender or food processor, add the cashews, onion, garlic, ginger, Thai red curry paste, graham marsala (if using), chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne and lemon juice. Puree the mixture until completely smooth. If needed, add 1/2 cup of cashewmilk, to help the mixture blend. Drizzle a large pot set over medium heat with oil. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Add the curry paste, cashew milk, potatoes and red pepper. Cook, partially covered over medium-low heat until the potatoes are tender and the sauce has thicken, about 30-45 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and serve as directed.

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Almond Chicken Curry PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 20 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 30 MINUTES | SERVING SIZE: 4

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

RICE

• 2 cups coconutmilk • 1 cup jasmine or basmati rice • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

CURRY

• 2 tablespoons olive oil • 450g boneless, skinless chicken, cut into bite size pieces • 1/4 cup coconut oil • 2 small or 1 large eggplant, cut into cubes • 230g button mushrooms, sliced • 1 cup cherry tomatoes • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger • 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated • 1-3 tablespoons Thai red curry paste • 1 tablespoon curry powder • 1-2 dried chile de arbol, crushed or 1 fresno pepper, seeded + diced • 2 cups coconutmilk • 3 tablespoons creamy almond butter • 1 can chickpeas, rinsed + drained • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped • 1/2 cup fresh basil chopped • fresh mint, for serving

Add the coconut milk to a medium size pot. Bring to a low boil and then add the rice, salt, ginger and 1 tablespoon coconut oil if desired. Stir to combine and then place the lid on the pot and turn the heat down to the lowest setting possible. Allow the rice to cook ten minutes on low and then turn the heat off completely and let the rice sit on the stove covered for another 20 minutes. After 20 minutes remove the lid fluff the rice with a fork. Note that rice can cook differently for everyone.

CURRY

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once hot, add the diced chicken and saute the chicken until browned all over and cooked through, about 5-10 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and place on a plate. Add a 2 tablespoons coconut oil to the skillet. Add the eggplant, saute 3-4 minutes and then toss in the mushrooms, tomatoes, ginger and garlic. Saute the veggies another 5 minutes or until they just begin to soften and the tomatoes burst. Add the chicken back to the skillet and toss everything together. To the skillet add the curry powder, curry paste and chile de arbol or fresno pepper. Give everything another good toss. Cook 1 minute and then add the coconutmilk and almond butter. Stir to combine, bring the mixture to a boil, cook 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly. Remove from the heat and stir in the chickpeas, basil and cilantro. Serve the curry over the rice. Eat with Naan!

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SPOT A STROKE

FAST FACE DROOPING

ARM WEAKNESS

SPEECH DIFFICULTY

TIME TO CALL 10111

When blood flow to the brain is cut off or severely limited, brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and nutrients, and brain cells begin to die. This can lead to a medical emergency called a stroke. Having a stroke can be a life-altering event for the patient and his or her family. Unfortunately, time is not on the side of a stroke victim, so knowing the warning signs can minimise brain damage and other health complications. WARNING SIGNS OF STROKE • Confusion and/or speech problems, such as slurring words, or difficulty understanding speech. • Stroke patients can develop sudden numbness or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg. • Vision problems in one or both eyes, such as blurred or blackened vision, or seeing double. • Loss of balance or coordination including trouble with walking, or stumbling. If you think someone is having a stroke, remember to think and act fast – use the F.A.S.T. acronym (Face, Arms, Speech, Time): FACE: Ask the person to smile and look closely to see if one side is drooping ARMS: See if they can they raise both arms when asked to without one arm drifting downward. SPEECH: Are they able to repeat a simple phrase without slurring their speech or sounding strange? TIME: Don’t wait to see if more symptoms develop or the existing ones worsen. Call for help right away and watch the person carefully while you wait for first responders to arrive. Article: Melanie Ramos

SWIPE | EARN | SAVE 66

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ADULT

CHILD

Abdominal Cramps

Hyospasmol Syrup / Buscopan Tablets

Hyospasmol Syrup / Buscopan Syrup

Allergies

Allergex Tablets / Telfast

Clarityne Syrup / Telfast Suspension

Burning Urine

WomansChoice Cranberry / Citro Soda Granules

Mist Pot Cit Mixture

Burn Wounds

Phenegran Cream / Mebo Ointment

Burnshield Hydrogel

Colds & Flu

ImmunoChoice / Corenza C Eff. / Linctagon C

ViralChoice Junior / Linctagon Syrup / Coryx

Cold Sores

Fenivir Cream

Constipation

Dulcolax Syrup / Movicol

Dulcolax Syrup

Cough Mixture-Dry Cough

Pholtex Forte Syrup / Phensedyl

Pholtex Junior Syrup / Hedelex Syrup

Cough Mixture-Wet Cough

ViralChoice Cough Syrup / Alcophyllex Syrup

Flusin Junior Syrup / Hedelex Syrup

Diarrhoea

HydraChoice / Imodium Tablets / Smecta Sachets

Pectrolyte Suspension / Smecta Sachets

Disinfecting Wounds

Germolene Ointment

Ear Drops

Aurone Ear / Covancaine Ear Drops

Eye Drops

Safyr Bleu Eye Drops

Saline Solution / Oxylin Eye Drops

Fungal Infection on Skin

Terbicil / Ketazol / Covarex Cream

Terbicil / Ketazol / Covarex Jnr Cream

Heartburn

Lansoloc OTC Tablets / Maalox

Indigestion

Spasmo Canulase Bi-Tablets / Maalox Plus

Spasmopep Anti-Spasmodic Formula

Insect Bites

Dilucort Cream / Anthisan Cream

Dilucort Cream / Stingose Spray / Allergix Syrup

Insomnia

SleepChoice / Somnil Tablets / Betasleep

Sister Lilian Rescue Drops

Local Anaesthetic

Anethaine Cream / Topla

Emla Patches / Topla

Mosquito Protection

OnGuard Insect / Tabard Insect Repellent

Motion Sickness

Avomine Tablets / Stugeron Tablets

Nauzine Syrup / Valoid Syrup

Muscle Pain Topical

Transact Patches / Panamor Gel / IcyHot Cream

Arnica Massage Oil

Muscle Pain Oral

Norflex Co Tablets / Ibumol Tablets

Ibumol syrup

Nausea & Vomiting

Valoid Tablets

Valoid Syrup

Pain & Fever

Lenadol Tablets / Lenapain Tablets / Ibumol

Panado Syrup / Calpol Syrup / Nurofen / Ibugesic

Rehydration

HydraChoice / Rehydrate Sachets

Hydra Assist Sachets / Rehydrate Sachets

Sinus / Blocked Nose

Sinuclear Tablets, Syrup / Texa Tablets

Sinuclear Paediatric Syrup / Sterimar Nasal Hygiene

Skin Infection

Bactroban Topical Ointment / Phenergan Cream

Betadine Cream / Germoline Ointment

Soften Ear Wax

Similasan Ear Wax Relief

Cerumol Ear Drops

Sore Throat

Orochlor Solution / Orochlor Spray / Andolex

Orochlor Solution / Calpol Syrup

Sunburn

Freeze Gel / Burnshield Hydrogel

Toothache

K - Fenak Tablets / Voltaren Actigo

Prodol Teething Drops / Calpol Syrup

Sore Legs

Antistax Tablets/ Thrombophop

Pro-Biotic

GastroChoice Probiotic / Reuterina Tablets

Reuterina Tablets / Reuterina Drops

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Vanderbijlpark

It all started in 1920, when Dr HJ van der Bijl, a brilliant young scientist working in the United States at the time, was called back to South Africa to advise the government on planning South Africa’s industrial development. Van der Bijl oversaw the Iron and Steel Corporation’s first plant at Pretoria, but with the increased demand after World War II, 100 km² was bought to build a large steel works and model town.

he steel works began operating in 1947 and the town was proclaimed in 1949. The town attained municipal status in 1952 when Governor General Dr EG Jansen opened ISCOR’s second steel works. Vanderbijlpark is known for their shaded streets. The 500 000 trees are named after scientists, engineers, composers, poets, writers and medical practitioners. They house one of the most cosmopolitan communities in the country.

THINGS TO DO: 70

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THE EMERALD CASINO

Should you fancy a wager in the casino, Emerald Resort & Casino delivers an enthralling gaming experience that is second to none. With the conveniently spacious non-smoking and smoking areas in the Casino, your gaming experience will be teeming with entertainment, excitement and stylish comfort. The main Casino offers the latest in video, traditional and retro slots, with an abundance of frequent progressive jackpots and promotions consistently in play.You can bet on a great day out! Our climate controlled Aquadome is an indoor water wonderland. Slip down the waterslide, explore the ship-wreck or simply take a dip in the warm water. With fully trained lifeguards on duty it’s not just fun, it’s perfectly safe too.

EMERALD ANIMAL WORLD

In 2001, the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa established the 203-hectare Emerald Animal World housed at the Emerald Safari Resort and Casino in Vanderbilpark. The facility comprises a 189-hectare game park and a 14-hectare zoo. The Emerald Animal World facility houses more than 600 animals representing 128 species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Animals that can be viewed there include white rhino, hippos, lions, cheetah, various antelope and reptile species and even bats! All the animals were provided by the National Zoo’s two other satellite facilities in Lichtenburg and Mokopane.

SCORE WITH BUBBLE SOCCER Imagine being ensconced in a great big inflatable Zorb ball, now imagine bouncing around and rolling across green turf while attempting to play soccer and score a goal. Welcome to Emerald Resort & Casino’s new Bubble Soccer!

“It’s perfectly safe for the entire family,” says Laurent Pacariz, Leisure and Entertainment Manager at Emerald Resort & Casino. “In fact, you’ll probably be laughing really hard as you watch friends, family or colleagues rolling around on the soccer pitch, legs in the air, trying to score goals in their opponent’s net.” Zorb or “bubble soccer” is a relatively new recreational pastime or sport which in essence is a cross between soccer and zorbing (Zorbing is an activity where individuals roll down a surface, including water, in a giant plastic orb). The objective, like soccer, is to win the game by scoring more goals than the opposing team. The difference however is that player’s hands remain inside the zorb leaving the legs free to run and handle the ball (and to knock each other down!). Zorb soccer has literally taken the world by storm, it can be played by anyone, in any weather (may be even more fun in the wet) and is popular amongst friends looking to participate in a competitive, fun and safe activity. Where else is it within the rules and accepted practice to try and knock the boss over? The sport then becomes ideal for corporate team building and parties.

06:00: Nelspruit - OR Tambo - Bloemfontein 06:00: Nelspruit - Durban (only on Thursdays & Sundays) 07:30: Nelspruit - PTA - Rustenburg/Polokwane 10:00: Nelspruit - OR Tambo 10:00: Nelspruit - PTA - Lanseria 13:00: Nelspruit - PTA 14:00: Nelspruit - OR Tambo - Vanderbijlpark 18:00: Nelspruit - OR Tambo

info@citybug.co.za | 0861 334433 (08:00-17:00) After hours: 082 420 0187 (17:00-20:00 & 05:00-08:00) • Corner of N4 & Graniet street, Nelspruit • OR Tambo Airport Kiosk No3 Buss & Coach Terminal • 165 Haldonweg, Bloemfontein www.citybug.co.za

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Tired of LICE? Get rid of them NOW!

head Lice is a medical problem that requires a medical solution. para plus Lice spray is a powerful formula registered with the Medicine Control Council. unLIkE ThE varIETy of unrEgIsTErED naTuraL proDuCTs ouT ThErE...

Para Plus Lice Spray

kills 100% of Lice and nits in one 10 minute application. no need to re-treat. remember to look for para plus Lice spray at the oTC section of your pharmacy.

Para Nit Remover Gel

Detached nits after anti-Lice Treatment

Do noT usE on ChILDrEn unDEr ThE agE of 30 MonThs. for fuLL proDuCT InforMaTIon pLEasE rEaD paCkagE InsErT!

Manufactured by: Technikon Laboratories(Pty) Ltd. • 1073 Anvil Road, Robertville Ext 1, Florida, 1709 • P.O.Box 150, Maraisburg, 1700 Tel: +27 (0) 11 674 1091 • Fax: +27 (0) 11 674 5300 • Email: marketing@techlab.co.za • Web: www.techlab.co.za.

NELSPRUIT PRIMARY

50TH SCHOOL REUNION AND A GENERATION TO FOLLOW

013 741 1658 | 013 741 1651 32 Sarel Cilliers St, Nelspruit admin@nelspruitprimary.co.za

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ur 50th Anniversary is a moment of rejoicing. We give thanks to our God for the many blessings this school, Nelspruit Primary, has received. We delight in continued interest of past alumnae, parents, colleagues, SGB members and our early pioneers.

The stones speak of unwavering faith and conviction of the importance of the education afforded by Nelspruit Primary School. Each of the five decades since the school was registered and officially opened on 12th November 1966, from the early days of Grade 1 classes being turned into Loerie Preprimary currently (and many classrooms added), has witnessed succeeding generations picking up the torch taking “courage” to ensure NPS’s vitality as a school of excellence is maintained. May our celebratory year inspire all to renew our commitment to the educational vision set out by the ideals of our past principals, Mr v Zyl, Mr Steenkamp, Mr Norval, Mr C v d Merwe, Mr G Webster and currently Mr Wynand Viljoen. A great deal has changed over five (5) decades. We are much bigger. The school started with facilities for 450 pupils, currently we have 1160 pupils. The original Grade One classrooms became Loerie Pre-school, and a Media Centre with an auditorium was built incorporating five classrooms underneath. Mr Matthews Phosa (Premier of Mpumalanga) opened this extension in 1992. In 2014/2015 five more classrooms were built. In December the Media Centre was converted into 3 classes and a Library. The new office block was completed which includes the principals brand new office. Nelspruit Primary has always done well in sport and can boast with achievers in tennis, rugby and cricket. The dedication of coaches and the sport organizer allows the pupils of Nelspruit Primary to develop their skills as well as their sportsmanship which is a valuable life skill. The pupils participate in the Science Expo yearly and Primary has achieved wonderful results, with pupils going on to national level to participate with schools from all over South Africa. The pupils excel as actors, musicians, and we have an ex pupil who is currently an SA Idol. Nelspruit has staged wonderful productions from Pantomimes to musicals. Our participation in the Eisteddfod annually affords many accolades. As our school song reverberates “over the bush and the fields sounds the call of the youth of this beautiful land. For we honour our school. We are proud of our land. It’s our Primary School, our Primary School, it’s our NELSPRUIT PRIMARY SCHOOL.” May the next decades attest to excellence, courage and an unwavering trust in our Lord from whom all blessings flow.

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WHOSE HANDS ARE YOU HOLDING? ON AVERAGE, 95% OF PEOPLE DON’T WASH THEIR HANDS PROPERLY

Protect yourself and your family with Mopani Pharmacy’s wide range of hand wash products and hand sanitisers. SWIPE | EARN | SAVE 78

Created by TwoRedPens | www.tworedpens.co.za

advertising@momsnotes.co.za

Kiddies Parties and so much more! • Themed kiddies parties • Jumping castles • Waterslides • Hiring of tables, chairs, table cloths, and theme related nicolette@monkeymagic.co.za | www.monkeymagic.co.za Unit 11, central park, 12 suikerriet str, nelspruit Tel: 013 010 1245 | 082 388 0594

A SAFE PLAY, LEARN AND TALK CENTRE