The journal
Real life as it evolves — style, family, food, wellness, and the causes close to my heart. Shared when it feels true.
On Writing The Quiet Red Flags
Why I wrote my first book — on recognising misalignment, rebuilding self-trust, and choosing better love.
Read the story →
Why I Chose NexGen
On peptide purity, the gray market problem, and why sourcing matters more than people realise when it comes to what you put in your body.
Parenting a Child Who Learns Differently
On raising my son Jordan — who lives with ADHD and dyslexia — and what learning differently has taught our whole family about patience, advocacy and seeing the whole, brilliant child.
Bone Marrow Donors | What is stopping you?
A newly released survey conducted by the South African Bone Marrow Registry has found that most South Africans are still confused about bone marrow…
RISE UP FOR HEALTHCARE
Updated media statement from Netcare The doctors met with Netcare on Friday morning in a very productive meeting to discuss the situation they…
Fundraiser for CANSA | Mrs South Africa
Living a life of significance is my main goal in this beautiful life I have been given, and so being involved in making a difference in various…
1, 2, 3... LEGO!
I don't know about all you other mums, but there are very few other activities that keep my kids engaged and entertained as long as LEGO® does! All…
Women in Power | Recipe Book Launch
Sister Chef Duo Are ‘Bringing it Home’ It was such an honour to have been invited to attend the launch of The Chilli Chocolate Chefs in Women's…
Brooklyn's Winter Wonderland 5th party
This year there was no getting away from it. Brooklyn's mind was made up on the party she wanted... and she wanted FROZEN. Believe me when I say I…
YOU CAN BE PART OF SOMEONE’S TOMORROW!
Bone Marrow donations are not painful like people think they are, and they can SAVE LIVES
SABMR Charity Golf Day | March 2022
The South African Bone Marrow Registry’s (SABMR) first big fundraising event of the year kicks off on Friday, 11 March with a Charity Golf Day at…
Nicci Boutique | Launch
I was invited to attend the launch of the new Nicci Boutique store to open at Gateway Theatre of Shopping. It was a lovely event where guests were…
36 & Thriving | Event
I'm a November baby, a typical Scorpio in true form :) and something I absolutely love doing is celebrating all occasions, not least of which…
How to set up a Blood & Stem Cell Drive
Here is the process you will take to set up a drive in your neighbourhood. Please understand that the SANBS and SABMR want to do everything in…
The 12 Apostles | Review
Early May we were lucky enough to head to the Cape for a few days, and even luckier still to spend time at the highly rated 12 Apostles Hotel…
Coco De Mer
Before we knew it April was upon us this year, and a week before our anniversary Justin & I looked at one another with a blank look when someone…
Shayamanzi House Boat
In April this year we were invited to attend a 'social cruise' aboard the Shayamanzi II house boat in Jozini. We were invited as a family, and…
Mokaikai Girls Trip
Early March I joined a group of girls to the bush for a 3 night stay in Bela Bela. After the speed in which Jan & Feb passed us, as well as coming…
Brooklyn's 4th Birthday
My little girl turned FOUR in Feb this year (2021), and she knew exactly what she wanted for her party. She is a real little lady who loves all…
The Cavern: Berg at it's best
Ever since we heard about the Cavern Resort & Spa in 2018 and paid it a visit, we have been enamoured with the place and it is an honour to share…
Girly Birthday Party Ideas
I asked some of my fellow community for some ideas for B's 4th birthday party and boy, they delivered :) There were many repeats, but close to 50…
Christmas Gift Guide
Festive shopping is well underway in our home, and I thought it would be helpful if I put some of my favourite gift ideas together (as well as some…
Baby Shower | Boho Chic Picnic
How do you create the perfect Boho Chic Picnic baby shower? Well, if you live in Durban you hit up all the suppliers mentioned in this post, they…
Heritage Week muffins
DON’T THESE SOUND DELISH?! IN HERITAGE WEEK THESE ARE THE PERFECT SA MUFFINS! THANKS @DISNEYCHANNEL FOR SENDING THROUGH BILTONG, DROËWORS, CHIVE…
Clarens - where to stay
I recently asked for recommended places to stay in Clarens as we are going there for a wedding soon, and tons of people asked me to share the…
An open letter to white mamas
On 2 June 2020 we stood together in unity and blacked out our social media with a movement that was, in my opinion, a well overdue deep-dive into…
Local Brands Gift Idea Guide for men
Celebrating the men of our homes is such an honour, and I thought what a better way than to celebrate them whilst also supporting small businesses…
What does generosity mean to you?
Generosity;1. the quality of being kind and generous. We know well the meaning of generosity, but what does it mean to you?I believe that…
Brooklyn's Third Birthday Party
Our little girl's THREE-esta party
Party Stationary | Party Box Co
It was an absolute pleasure to work with Lyndi from The Party Box Co as she launched her sensational party stationary business. Lyndi was so great…
Party Furniture Rental | Hired&Co
All furniture and selected decor items were provided by Hired&Co. From start to finish Lisa was a pleasure to work with. I sent her my mood board…
Party Flowers | Adore Weddings & Events
It is hard to imagine that Brooklyn's Fiesta would have been as feminine, vibrant and colourful without the work of heART by Carolyn from Adore…
A letter to my 3 year old daughter
My beautiful baby girl. You are three and whenever I allow my mind to truly sit on that fact for more than a few seconds, my heart starts to hurt a…
Artichoke Dip Recipe
As promised, here is the artichoke recipe I said I would share with you. |It was sent to me by a friend after I had it at her house, and it is…
Mental Health | Tips on getting through lockdown
You are not alone.
Collagen | FAQ
I’ve received loads of questions about collagen since sharing the discount code with you all, and even more since the competition launched and so…
Kid-friendly TV
If your household is anything like ours during the Lockdown then your TV is likely to be on a little more than "normal". I hit a little wobble the…
Covid19 | Education & videos
I’ll keep adding helpful videos that I come across so you can download and share on Whatsapp with loved ones and hopefully people in our townships…
10 Steps to ensure Mental Health Wellness during ‘lockdown’
The thought of enduring a country-wide lockdown for 21days (or more) naturally brings with it a large dose of anxiety. Some of us will be in…
Resources for at kids home
I am asked multiple times a day for resources like schedules, ideas and links by mummas like me who are (thankfully wise enough to be) staying…
Covid19 update | SA in National State of Disaster
This is what I took from President Ramaphosa’s address 15 March 2020 side note: I was listening and trying to type as I went so I definitely didn’t…
My Skin Care Routine | Serums
Something you may start to notice as you enter your 30s is that your skin looks less full. According to Dr Levin, a board-certified dermatologist…
My Skin Care Routine | Essence
Since an essence provides an extra layer of hydration, those with dry skin can obviously benefit. If aging is a major concern, this added boost of…
My Skin Care Routine | Toners
I have learnt that it is imperative that those of us with oily or acne-prone skin use a toner. It helps to better unclog pores by removing oil,…
My Skin Care Routine | Exfoliators
This post stems of my orginal skin care post & overview here Entering your 30s brings about various changes to your skin. One most noticable of…
My Skin Care Routine | Cleansers
My favourite cleansers - targeting anti-aging, pigmentation & acne - skin care for 30 somethings
My Skin Care Routine || Overview
Skin Care for 30 somethings
Gravity Hotel | Review
We stayed 5 nights total in Uluwatu, and Gravity Hotel was where we spent the last 3 nights. Gravity was recommended to us by a friend who travels…
Lloyds Inn Seminyak | Review
ARRIVAL & FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Our arrival at Lloyds Inn was a little underwhelming to say the least - we had just traveled from Uluwatu through to…
Tandweni Villa | Jozini
We were invited to spend a weekend away in Jozini checking out a private luxury villa called Tandweni. Tiger fishing and sunset bush drives left us…
An Escape to the Cape | Where to stay
Is there anything better than a quick escape to the Cape? Short answer: No. No there is not! Shopping at the V&A, eating loads of delicious food…
Cape Town Cuisine | Where to eat
Cape Town in synonymous with great food & coffee... and let's not forget wine! If you are a foodie then here is a short list of places you need to…
Review | COMO Uma Ubud
ARRIVAL & FIRST IMPRESSIONS:COMO Uma Ubud was the first resort we stayed in upon our arrival in Bali, and there could not have been a warmer…
Our Home: Entertainment Area
One of the requests I get most frequently is for a tour around our home, so finally here it is. Starting with our downstairs living area. We sorted…
Bowel Balance | Review
When I was first approached and asked if I wanted to be part of a community chosen to trial Bowel Balance and feedback on my experience my first…
Review | Renaissance Uluwatu
ARRIVAL & FIRST IMPRESSIONS: You don’t need to even have arrived at the Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa, to feel it’s brilliance. As you…
A Mom's Review | Peugeot 5008 SUV 7 Seater
Peugeot 5008 SUV 7 seater You won't believe how many moms I have heard say they don't want more than two kids because they "don't want to drive a…
Fitchef | Review
In July I was asked to review the FitChef meals and I have been inundated by questions from you all asking how we found it and if I would recommend…
Best Birthday party venue for kids! | Jackson's party
Our precious first-born son turned seven in September and what is a birthday without a party, right?? For nearly a year Jackson has had his heart…
#SpringInTheCity | Luxuria Lifestyle SA
Last Saturday, 7 September 2019, I flew to Johannesburg with butterflies in my belly in anticipation for the Luxuria South Africa Spring in the…
Party Furniture | UNIK
If you are looking for furniture to hire for any party or event in Durban I can highly recommend the services of UNIK. They are a Durban-based…
Fireman Birthday Party | Jordy turns FIVE
Pic by BlondeZulu Photography Our precious Jordan Rock turned FIVE years old this August, and his party theme of choice was a FIREMAN party. It is…
Party & Event Photographers | BlondeZulu Photography
One of the most essential additions to any of our parties has to be the presence of a professional photographer. Justin and I are so busy…
Birthday Cake | Decor & Delights
A birthday cake is such a huge centre of attraction at a birthday party, and I think that must be why it is something that brings me a lot of…
Biodegradable Party Balloons | Yolo Party Shop
I was introduced to a wonderful new party shop on the North Coast called Yolo Party Shop. I was already excited at the prospect of sharing about a…
Balloon Art | Mad Hatters Party Shop
If you are looking for a balloon supplier who is not afraid of a challenge and always open to learning and pushing herself then look no further!…
Party Planning | POSH EVENTS
I have shared about my love for Natasha Parsons before, but I need to just once again stress the value she brings to my events and parties.I first…
Party Entertainment | PlayDoh
As moms we know all too well the many benefits of our children playing with PlayDoh, not least of which: Enhances fine motor skillImproves…
Party Decor & Boxes | TM Signs, Ricardo & Vinyl Deco
It was such a huge blessing having the input, design skills and assistance of this awesome trio of family-run businesses! Husband & wife team,…
Party Entertainment | Coach Learnmore
Coach Learnmore is the most wonderful addition to any birthday party! We have known Coach for about 3 years now, as my boys did Footy with him down…
Party Food | Chilli Chocolate Chefs
When I thought about what to do for food at Jordy's party the first company that came to mind was the Chilli Chocolate Chefs. I had recently…
What’s breast for you {& your babe}? | Repost
It's #WorldBreastfeedingWeek, and over this past week my inbox has been flooded with emails entitled or including the #breastisbest slogan.…
10 beauty hacks for over 30s
I have to say, I love the way people are embracing getting older. I feel as though birthdays which took people, women particularly, out of their…
Midlands escape | Travel
There is no better time to connect with loved ones than over a weekend away! Our lives have been so busy this year that we found ourselves really…
Marc Anthony Grow Long | Review
It was about one month ago now that I received the new Marc Anthony Grow Long products, including the Shampoo, Conditioner, Volumizing Texture…
Pirate Party | Jackson turns 6
NOTE: This post is from last year's party !! Very delayed haha My boys are almost exactly 2 years apart, and for the longest time they shared…
Social Media Course | Basics
If you would like more information on the Social Media Basics course I am running please follow this link: Social Media with Shan The course will…
A Baby Shower for my bestie
On Saturday 8 June I hosted a baby shower in my home for one of my best friends, Natasha. She is expecting her second baby in less than a month,…
Nurturing Nannies | WIN
We were gifted with a term of Nurturing Nannies classes, and I can honestly say that it was the most wonderful gift, and it blessed three of us:…
Brooklyn Turns Two-Tu Cute
We celebrated our little baby girl with the most perfectly PINK party, put together by the incredibly talented and wonderfully special Natasha…
Tea4Kidz - Laager
With so many over sweetened, artificially coloured, and sugared-up choices for kids, I absolutely love it when brands that offer healthy…
The Sheba Shopper| Giveaway
The Bag itself: The gorgeous Sheba Luxury Shoppers are rapidly becoming an essential item amongst busy, organized and sophisticated women across SA…
Fundraiser Pics | Claire Kicking Cancer
I met Claire Hodgson years ago through my great friend, Justine. A friend of a friend to me, and someone who I've stayed connected with through…
Our House Build | Coastal Timber
In concept stage of our house we had lots of ideas. There were loads of ideas of things we loved and hoped to try incorporate. I think I had…
#OOTD | August September
I seem to get a lot of interaction when I share my OOTD posts on my Insta stories, so I thought I would put a little post together with some of my…
How I created a LEGO party
sharing how we threw a lego party in the hope that it might help someone keen to do the same
Rhino dehorning | my experience
One of the most emotionally taxing experiences of my life so far
Jordy's LEGO Party
When I asked Jordy what theme he wanted for his birthday he responded - "I want what Jackson is having for his party"... He has serious heart eyes…
Why date your hubs?
Justin and I went on a date night last night for the first time in what felt like forever. Life has just been really busy and to be honest we have…
MOMMING IN THE FAITH THAT I AM ENOUGH
I wrote this for all the moms who have moments of feeling completely overwhelmed, under-qualified and downright fearful of this massive task of…
The Myth of ‘Supermom’
There is no denying that life as we know it today is intense. We have heard it from our grans over a hundred times; we are too busy, there is too…
Mom Hack 101 | Johnsons Baby Wipes
Having kids is a challenge that no one can ever be fully prepared for. Having three kids, well, let's just say it is "full-on". Thankfully, though,…
Weekend in Pics | 29 June - 1 July
Friday: After cramming in some work that morning (while the boys and Miss B played so beautifully in the playroom next to my office), the boys and…
My Childhood Memories |& WIN a trip to Zanzibar
Taking a walk down memory lane always brings up all of the feels, doesn't it? Sometimes those memories flood back in the most unlikely of places,…
The Cavern | Review
The Cavern Resort & Spa in the Drakensberg just gave us one of our best family holidays yet. It was a beautiful holiday for all five of us and here…
REVIEW | Kids Headphones
We were sent a pair of the Snuggly Rascals headphones to review, and my goodness have I been excited to share this product with you guys! And the…
Flavour of the month | Beauty. Skin. Hair
Hi lovelies! It has been a good long while since my last "Flavour of the month" post! I am so sorry about that! I am super excited to share this…
Avon Anew Reversalist Night Cream | Review
I was asked to be part of the #AvonAnew30DayChallenge and trial the revolutionary new product from Avon: Anew Infinite Effects Night Treatment…
Weekend in Pics |May 18-20
What a wonderful weekend we had! One that left the love tanks feeling full and hearts warm. Here it is in pics: FRIYAY: Friday afternoon I fetched…
Pregnancy Shoot | Jordy
The only pregnancy we did a shoot for was our precious little piggy in the middle - my Jordan Rock! Looking back at these pics makes me so wish we…
Birth Story | Jackson
I was made aware of the fact that April is caesarean section awareness month, and because I have been promising to share my birth stories with you,…
Discipline.
What a hot topic this has been! Since posting a video of Jordy (3) emphatically defending his brother Jackson (5) at the announcement that his…
Our weekend in pix
In the hopes of trying to be a bit better at regular posting {now that my life is starting to become more manageable again!!} I thought I would…
Brooklyn's 1st Birthday Party
It was the perfect ONEderland for our ONEderful little girl x
Brag post | Bloom COLOUR RUN
I would like to start this post with a little brag. The subject of all this bragging: Well... I happen to know this girl... well she was a girl…
WIN | My Little Picasso Experience
The day before schools went back a couple friends and I decided last minute to take our littles for a fun outing. We threw around a few ideas and…
Our Valentine's day in pictures
It was a different Valentine's for me. Waking up without my favourite person lying next to me was not the best feeling; Justin was in JHB on a…
Review | LG Smart Inverter Top Loader
If you have followed me a while you will know that we are so very excited to be building a house - a dream come true for us, complete with a big…
REVIEW | Sugar & Spice Spa
I was so excited when the lovely ladies at de Charmoy Estate invited me to enjoy and review their Sugar & Spice Spa. To be very honest too, though,…
Jordy - the little sponge
I cannot take any credit for this - all his daddy [wpvideo fB9stX8T ][wpvideo VF0jitYw ]
No.1 on my list of #NYresolutions
Be Better. Going into 2017 I didn’t have any New Years resolutions. I knew the year ahead would have challenges as we grew our family from 4 to 5.…
Same oven & recipe, but very different buns!
My two boys could not be more different. They are on opposite ends of the spectrum in nearly every way you can imagine! Same oven (me), same…
My role in 16 days of Activism Campaign
We are five days into the "16 days of Activism" campaign, and jeepers have I been overwhelmed with emotion with it all. To be completely honest I…
MiTreat | #MiTreat2You
Since attending the launch event of MiTreat last night a number of people have been asking for more information about the app. So here it is:…
5 steps to lifting my spirits when I'm low
If I'm honest I am blessed with a generally happy disposition, so most days I am in a happy place and space and feel love all around me…
Makakatana Bay Lodge
When it comes to getting away, I personally have never found any vacay to be more relaxing than a bush vacay! I don't know if you feel the same…
Our Bali babymoon adventure
So in November of 2016, Justin and I whisked ourselves away on a Babymoon prior to our lives becoming that much more crazy by adding another little…
Flavour of the month | October
Hiiiii you guysssss! I’m starting a new series on my blog - things I’m loving at the moment! I may post about this every month, or I may not :) you…
Finders Keepers | Kids Party Fun!
I was recently invited... hang on... my KIDS were recently invited... to the launch of a new kids party entertainment concept called "Finders…
The things I loved & loathed about being in hospital
1. C U D D L E S - L O V E I loved the cuddles. Feeling my baby snuggling into my chest has got to be one of the best feelings on the planet, and…
Summer with Clarins
What is not to love about Summer? My hair gets lighter, my skin gets darker, and the benefits of Vitamin D (also known as the "sunshine vitamin")…
Chickenpox | Our experience with the virus
Picture the scene: 01 September 2017 | Friday morning | 06:35am I am woken with these dreaded words: "Mom, look at all these spots on me!" There…
Baby's best buys :)
Every since my maiden post back in August on my Top 12 Baby Essentials, I have been overwhelmed by the number of messages I have received from new…
Spring is upon us! That means 🌻🌼🌸🌺
Spring is THIS Friday, and the boys' school is doing a spring hat parade! So we spent the afternoon making their hats! I could have posted this…
Let's Camp Out!
I hate keeping secrets, especially from my boys, and most especially when it is something fun or exciting for them, because I often feel that the…
REVIEW | John Frieda Sheer Blonde
According to a study into the psychology of hair color, "Blonde is actually seen as the most covetable hair color among women, since it's rare but…
What's breast for you {& your babe}?
It's #WorldBreastfeedingWeek, and over this past week my inbox has been flooded with emails entitled or including the #breastisbest slogan.…
Oh Baby!
My new baby essentials!
REVIEW | Johnson's Top-To-Toe
Don't you find yourself drawn to baby's soft, plump cheeks? It's almost impossible not to smooch them!! And don't even get me started on their…
REVIEW | Post Baby Cleanse
Post - dated post x As of 8.30pm tonight (26 July 2017) I've completed a 3day juice cleanse. I'm so proud of myself because gosh it wasn't easy.…
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