My aim is to support and bring awareness to more local brands during 2019. Browse the winter range on Pickalilly’s site or in-store
Tag: Mom Blogger
Pardon the silence while I had a baby
TweetAfter a much needed break and lovely maternity leave, I am back at work and finding our new rhythm as a family of 5 (well 6 if you include Delta). If you’re like me and have just returned to work or will be returning to work shortly know that it is perfectly natural to have
Continue reading Pardon the silence while I had a baby
Like what you just read? Then share it!
Birth | Welcoming Baby Grace
Grace Leigh Thomas, born via a joyful and peaceful cesarean birth.
Psalm 139: 13-14
Like what you just read? Then share it!
How to Survive and Thrive as a Single Mother this Mother’s Day
TweetExperiencing my first I remember my first Mother’s Day, it was in 2009 and I was a Single Mother and although my family tried to make it special for me, I still felt left out. I had dreamt about my first Mothers Day and being woken up with breakfast in bed, a little hand written
Continue reading How to Survive and Thrive as a Single Mother this Mother’s Day
Like what you just read? Then share it!
Starting new traditions: The Night Before Christmas Box
TweetThe night before Christmas or Christmas eve, whatever you prefer to call it has always been a special one in our family. Growing up my Mom did a movie night, we’d watch Little Woman while wearing our new Christmas PJ’s and eating junk food and chatting about the reason we celebrated Christmas. Over the years
Continue reading Starting new traditions: The Night Before Christmas Box
Like what you just read? Then share it!
Out and About – The Cape Town addition
TweetSo today marks the second day of the school holidays (guys my Danny is off to Grade 2 next year) and your child is already pestering you with questions of what you have planned. Well we have you covered, whether you’re currently in your pj’s on leave or working through the festive season there’s something
Continue reading Out and About – The Cape Town addition
Like what you just read? Then share it!
We will be moving…
Good Morning Lovelies,
As most of my readers are aware I recently ventured into the Small Business world. In saying this I have definitely neglected my blog for a while, due to no time, no energy and no inspiration.
This being said I have decided to merge my babies, What Happened to my Body and Love Made Me.
So watch this space, soon I will be launching my website and if you’re still keen on reading what I have to say then you can follow me there.
Till later
Like what you just read? Then share it!
Supporting Momtrepreneurs : Meet Radhia from Treatmesweetlie
Relationships don’t always start with face to face interactions, sometimes the social media forces bring people together.
That in a very short summary is how I met Radhia, and how our relationship has grown. Now she’s one of my first go-to girls when I need advice or guidance.
So if you haven’t checked out her blog, Treatmesweetlie then shame on you. I’m biased, but she’s awesome!
- So tell us a bit about yourself, who you are, your background?
Hmm, I must admit, I am not fan of this question. Only because I never know what to say and because I end up replying with the normal responses….I am 29 years old, live in Cape Town, married to an amazing man, mother to a beautiful little girl, chartered accountant by profession and work for a giant South African retailer.
- Do you have any kids? Be biased and tell us how awesome they are.
I am a mother to an absolutely gorgeous little princess! She is my world and provides me with all the inspiration I need.
- How, when and why did you start your small business?
I started my business while I was maternity leave. Zieyaad’s (my husband) twin siblings both got married during this time, and of course my little girl needed to look exquisite. I managed to find the prettiest of outfits, but I could not find any pretty pacifier clips that were sold locally. All of the pacifier clips that I wanted needed to be imported, and there was just no time for that. I therefore decided to make them myself, and voila, Treatmesweetlie began!
- Starting a business has its rewards. What has been one of the highlights of venturing out on your own.
One of my biggest highlights since starting Treatmesweetlie has to be my first sale. It was a sale of a pacifier to clip to someone I did not know, who found me on Instagram and ordered via email. This first order has given me the courage to continue. I thank that person for my first sale, as I benefited so much more from that sale than just the income earned from it!
- When doing new designs, what do you look for. Comfortability, affordability, latest trends? Where does the inspiration stem from?
The Treatmesweetlie Handmade Pacifier Clips are fairly new to the market in South Africa. I have a few plans regarding new designs and expanding my product, however I am not ready to launch them yet.
- Can one only order via the catalogue you have available on Facebook or do you do custom orders too?
The pacifier clips comes in a variety of different colours. Colours (or colour combinations) not available can be made to order.
- What are some of the challenges you have experienced with starting a small business (be it time, suppliers, huge orders etc.)?
The biggest challenge I have experienced is time! All pacifier clips are handmade and packaged by myself. As you can imagine, having a full time job, being a mother and wife, and trying to run a small business on the side is really time consuming. It has taken much dedication from myself and my family, in starting Treatmesweetlie and continuing with it.
- Any upcoming markets or events we can come and support you at?
Treatmesweetlie will be exhibiting at the Mama Magic Expo in Cape Town! The Expo will be held at the CTICC on Friday 30th October to Sunday 1st November. All pacifier clips will be available for sale at the exhibition. This a huge commitment and I am really looking forward to it. And I am really looking forward to meeting all of you!
- Where can one find your awesome products?
The Treatmesweetlie Handmade Braided Pacifier Clips are currently available to purchase via email (treatmesweetlie@gmail.com)…
BUT
watch this space, I have a few tricks up my sleeve!
- Care to share a piece of advice with other aspiring small business owners
Commitment and patience. You have to be committed to your business and you have to be patient while watching it grow. These are two of some of the most important things I have to constantly remind myself of.
Thank you Radhia!
Hop on over to Treatmesweetlie Facebook page or over to her Treatmesweetlie blog and show Radhia some love, then go and place your orders. If you’re CPT based, why not pop in at the Mama Magic Expo and show your support.
Like what you just read? Then share it!
Dealing with pregnancy loss
They say having a baby is one of the most enjoyable and amazing experiences of ones life, an event that brings a couple together.
But thats not always true.
Having Danny was both amazing and hard.
Having Josh was unbelievably amazing.
But there was a time in between. One of the most challenging and hardest times of our marriage.
Falling pregnant came with its own challenges. We battled.
There were countless tests, Doctors visits, monitoring cycles, many negative pregnancy tests, needles, medications and eventually we received our first positive.
I’ll never forget sitting in the bathroom of our tiny flat with Carl by my side waiting to see 2 pink lines and when they appeared Carl had the biggest smile on his face. It was lots of laughing, smiling, hugs and kisses.
This explained the sudden fatigue and lack of appetite I had for a few weeks.
We were finally there!
I called my Docs rooms and scheduled an appointment for that week.
First scan confirmed I was just over 6 weeks along and there on the monitor was a tiny little sac with a bean.
A few weeks later I started to feel strange, since this was not my first pregnancy and I know my body well I could feel something was different. Insteaded of my preggy symptoms increasing they started fading slightly and I knew it was too soon for this.
That Sunday, we joined Carl at Koeberg Nature reserve for his weekly cycle with his Dad and brothers. I was 10 weeks along and counting down the days till I was in the “safe zone”. Later that afternoon I started spotting.
To me this wasn’t too much of a concern as I had it with my first pregnancy too. But it definitely raised a flag.
By the following Wednesday it was still there and I called my Doc and scheduled an appointment. She could see me the very next day.
Unfortunately for me Carl couldn’t join me due to work commitments and I didn’t think anything would be wrong. I was wrong.
My Doctor confirmed that there was no longer a heartbeat, and just like that. It was over.
The next few minutes with her are still a blur. I don’t remember anything she said apart from “I’m so sorry Lindsay”. Somewhere between Week 10 and 12 our Angel baby returned to heaven.
She booked me for an evacuation procedure the following Monday.
I walked out, gutted, heartbroken and in shock. I called Carl and cried, I ugly cried. Then I called my Mom and cried some more.
As I laid in theatre that Monday at Vincent Palotti the Anaesthetist held my hand as I cried. He told me he knew what I was feeling and that it would be ok. I may not feel it but I’d be fine. I could feel myself drifting away and crying. And when I woke up, it was over and Carl was sitting with me. I burst into tears again. I never knew I could cry that much. Then I demanded to leave. I needed to get out, to get away from the Hospital, the staff, the crying babies in the passages.
In the 3 months that followed Carl and I fought daily. We woke up angry, went to bed angry, shouted at each other, ignored each other, I became ugly towards him and then we decided to just STOP. Stop the fighting, the shouting, the swearing, the rudeness and put having a baby on hold.
We needed to forgive each other, to grieve together and focus on us or our marriage would not survive.
I stopped all the meds, I stopped checking temperatures, weight and cycles. I cancelled my follow up appointment and shredded my Pathcare forms.
This is what my marriage needed. We needed to be healthy and happy again, free from the added stresses in our lives and when the time was right, we’d venture down the fertility path again one day…
We got iur relationship back on track, we were happy and communicating better than ever before. But the baby thing… well…
Well God had other plans… and a few weeks later we were pregnant with Joshuah. Completely unplanned, and medication free.
But we survived, and we were in the right space in our marriage.
GOD’S timing is ALWAYS perfect!
Its hard when life doesn’t work out the way you envision or expect, but its how you handle the storm that makes the good times so much more memorable.
So just hang in there!
Like what you just read? Then share it!
Series : Supporting Momtrepreneurs – Meet Sam from Smallschoollove
Good Morning Lovelies
I ABSOLUTELY love doing these posts!
Do you know what grows businesses? Word of mouth and supporting our local companies!
This morning I’m so excited to share my latest find. I love all things Pinterest and love searching through Facebook for awesome baby and kids related products, so when I stumbled onto Sam’s Facebook page I fell inlove!
I have always loved wooden toys and accessories for my kids, I just feel they last so much longer and they’re just so different. Each one is unique, no 2 pieces of wood will ever be the same.
I recently asked Sam if I could do a feature on her and she jumped at the opportunity, I love that inbetween the busyness of running her own business and raising her family she still had the energy for me and my questions.
So here goes….
So tell us a bit about yourself, who you are, your background?
I’m a mom to 3 gorgeous kids and I’m a teacher running a small playschool from home. I have a background in graphic design.
So now that we know you have kids tell us a bit about them
Yes – 3 amazing kids! Our eldest is 17 – a beautiful young lady with only 1 year of high school left – I seriously can’t believe this!! Our middle is a boy of 13 – gentle kind funny and very sporty. Our baby is 2 going on 15 – incredible little guy who keeps us all busy and involved in each others lives… Talk about blessed – its a great privilege to be involved in their lives.
How, when and why did you start your small business?
As a mum and teacher I’m always on the look out for natural wholesome toys for the children. I’m drawn to wooden toys and love the natural textures…I also feel they stimulate the senses and are durable which is important in a school environment. While there are a lot of beautiful wooden toys out there most of them are painted and imported. I stumbled on a tutorial one day while I was searching for wooden toys and it was a lady making her own and I thought yes – I can do that!
9 piece
15 piece
Starting a business has its rewards. What has been one of the highlights of venturing out on your own.
The actual process of making the toys has been a major highlight – sourcing the sustainable local wood, making patterns and packaging up a final crafted piece is so fulfilling…I love that my kids can be a part of the experience and play around experimenting with their own creative journeys…
When doing new designs, what do you look for. Comfortability, affordability, latest trends? Where does the inspiration stem from?
I get a lot of my ideas on line. I also try to think about what children would like to play from their perspective and then experiment on my own kids! I often start off with an idea and it turns into something completely different that I hadn’t even considered…
4 Piece
Approx. 15cm X 39cm
8 piece
Can one only order via the catalogue you have available on Facebook or do you do custom orders too?
You can order via facebook catalogue and I do make custom orders!
What are some of the challenges you have experienced with starting a small business (be it time, suppliers, huge orders etc.)?
I definitely underestimated the amount of time and work that goes into each piece and finishing it off. So time is definitely a challenge for me and I do get carried away on each piece making sure they are perfect to send out!
Any upcoming markets or events we can come and support you at?
At the moment I’m just making orders that I get through facebook and I will be doing one twilight gift market at St Stephens church in Claremont on the 4th of December.
Where can one find your awesome products?
For the time being on line as I make to order!
13 piece
Care to share a piece of advice with other aspiring small business owners
I suppose the best advise is to just give your ideas a go – I never thought I could make my own toys but with the support and help of my amazing husband and family I was brave enough to try and the outcome far exceeded any expectations I had. You should also love your product or the hard work involved will put you off!!
So now that I’ve blown your mind with Sam’s amazing goodies, hop on over to her Facebook page or email her at smallschoollove@gmail.com and place your Christmas orders!
R100
R100
Some FAQ about the products
Do you use paints, varnish, or stains on toys?
No! All we ever use is non toxic beeswax and organic flax seed oil. Did you know wood is anti-bacterial & non-allergenic?! If you want RAW local woods just let us know. We use local sustainable farmed gum and pine.
How does postage work?
We are currently posting at about 1 week lead time. Once I have your location and order I can supply you with an exact postage price. All prices on the site exclude postage. We deliver your items in natural-style packaging.
Do you do local delivery or pick up?
Yes! Please email me for details.
How can I pay for these natural toys?
We accept eft’s.
Do you make custom orders?
With pleasure. Just ask us. We can make you something really special according to your specifications. (Two week turnaround on custom pieces.)
Will you make a personal love note for the little one I am sending this gift to?
Yes! Just ask. We love to personalize your gift and make it extra special.
Whats the best way to care for my special toy?
Each toy comes with a little care guide! It will give you information on how to keep that toy ready to play with for many generations.
