Christmas: Tis the season for overspending

Christmas Tis Season Overspending

Ideas to budget this Christmas Season and avoid Overspending

Christmas is a time to be merry, jolly and festive. Also known as the silly season and the festivities can easily cripple your bank account. With this holiday season comes expenses and spending that the majority did not save a cent for.

Most people earn their holiday pay or bonuses at the end of November or early December.  This also intensifies the spending spree as there is more money in your bank account. Thus making Christmas the most expensive season of the year as people buy more than usual and overspend on items that they don’t really need.

During December prices are steeper than any other time of the year. Overspending on gifts, food and social activities leave most cash strapped before or just after Christmas. Receiving a salary early in December poses a problem. It could be up to 6 weeks before receiving the next salary at the end of January.

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Sisterhood: The bond, differences, conflict and comparison

sisterhood bond differences conflict comparison

Seeing differences in your children is only natural. Having a girl and a boy; it is inevitable that there would be differences due to their gender. However sibling comparisons often occur when you have children of the same gender and it often happen between sisters.

My mother loved to dress my sister and I the same when we were younger.  This despite the fact that she is 7 years older than me.

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My Sunday Photo – Volunteer Wildfire Services Open Day

Sunday Photo Volunteer Wildfire Services Open Day

This week my Sunday photo features VWS

Yesterday we attended the annual Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) Open Day held at the Newlands Fire Base. A fun filled family day with so many activities.  The activities included a demonstration of firefighting skills, rides in the firetruck, abseiling, a snake display, helicopter display, firefighting equipment, food stalls and later a foam party.

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Flippin’ Good Flapjacks

flippin' good flapjacks

My flippin’ good flapjacks will make you come back for more. This no-fail recipe takes little effort. It is super easy to make and takes less than 5 minutes to make the batter.

Flapjacks are most probably the ultimate comfort food and inexpensive. Delicious all year round and could be served for breakfast, as a snack or dessert.

Enjoyed either sweet or savoury with it’s endless possibilities of toppings.

Flippin' Good Flapjacks

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Delicious all year round and served either plain, sweet or savoury.

Prep time: 5 min plus 20 min to rest

Cooking time: 10 min

Ingredients

    • 1 cup cake flour
    • 2 tbsp sugar
    • 2 tsp baking powder
    • ½ tsp salt
    • 1 egg
    • 1 cup milk
    • 3 tbsp butter, meltd

    Directions

    • Sift the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
    • In a separate bowl, beat egg, milk and butter until blended.
    • Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and beat well using a whisk.
    • Do not be alarmed if batter looks lumpy. Cover with clingwrap and let the mixture rest for 20 min.
    • Lightly grease a large pan and place on medium heat.
    • Add 2tbsp of batter per flapjack and cook until bubbles form and brown.
    • Turn the flapjacks and cook on the other side until nice and brown.
    • Serve with toppings of your choice.


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Born too soon: The uncertainties and ultimately surviving the NICU Journey

On World Premature Day

Giving hope to new NICU parents

born soon uncertainties ultimately surviving NICU journey

To the new NICU mom and dad, it is undoubtedly not your desire to become one. Whatever the reason for your baby being born too soon; it was a situation that you had no control over.  You did not envisage this to be part of your birthing plan. Even more so that your tiny little human will be lying in an incubator hooked to beeping machines, struggling to breath and fighting for his/her life.

As you sit in the chair staring at your tiny baby, you look tired and worried. The minutes turn to hours but it feels like a lifetime. You experience multiple emotions at once – joy, love, fear, sadness, anger and frustration.  Feeling helpless and alone and thinking that nobody understand your heartache.  A feeling of uncertainty about what the future holds is not strange.

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My Sunday Photo – Lourensford Wine Estate

This week’s Sunday photo features the beautiful Lourensford Wine Estate.

A couple of months ago we visited Lourensford Wine Estate. Situated in Somerset West and is approximately 50km from Cape Town. Being one of the oldest wine estates in Somerset West, this estate is full of rich history and scenery.

Sunday Photo - Lourensford Wine Estate

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Pet Attraction

Pet Attraction

Reasons why getting a pet is good for your child

Many of us have fond memories growing up with either having a pet dog or cat. No matter our cultural backgrounds, those of us who had and still have pets have this special attraction to them.  We consider our pets a part of our home and family life.

I was always a dog lover as grew up having them as pets. I remember having my first dog when I was about 6 years old. A cross between a poodle and a border collie. His name was Spotty as he was white with big black patches. He was so cute and adorable.

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Ageing Parents

Ageing Parents

On the eve of my dad’s 70th Birthday, I find myself writing this blog post but feel a little perturbed.  The whole time my main focus was on his milestone celebration. Joyful and grateful that God’s grace was bestowed on my dad’s life.

But with all this hype – I failed to take into account that my dad is ageing. Not just my dad but that I lost focus that my parents (including in-laws) are ageing.

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When Children Bring Bugs Home

Children bugs home

There is so much excitement when your child start school.  They embark on this new adventure in their life.  But parents brace yourself – with school comes a guarantee that your child will pick up a bug and bring it home.

School is a breeding ground for all sorts of bugs. Spread via personal contact, transmitted through contaminated surfaces and airborne droplets.

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