Become a cupcake angel

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When people think of me, baking doesn’t come to mind, at least I don’t think so, if you think Ella and baking comes to mind, come over, lets chat, I’ll bake for you and food poisoning will come to mind, hehehehe. Okay I’m not that bad I can follow a recipe pretty easily and no one has ever gotten sick off one of my recipes. I’m just more into decorating than baking. Even so I have signed up to be a cupcake angel J

Cupcakes of HOPE is a Non-Profit Company whose aim is to raise awareness and funds for families in need of medical assistance, through cupcake themed fundraises.

I had a lot of fun making bows as Oh!Boy for Reach for a Dream earlier this year and thought this was an equally noble cause for Oh!Boy to get into, because childhood illnesses are close to my heart and cancer even more so.

So on the 26th of September my cupcakes will join hundreds being sold for this noble cause, I think I’ll stuff those babies full of chocolate so they have a chance of being noticed among the crowd of those donated by professionals J

All jokes aside I’m quite excited

 

Do consider getting involved, they swear that all they require is the cupcakes are made with love… click below for more details

 

http://www.cupcakesofhope.org/cancer-foundation/get-involved.html
I have included a basic cupcake recipe to get you started and fellow bloggers AMELIA, RUTH and LUCHAE will be posting recipes of their own so keep an eye out

 

Basic vanilla

·         2 cups flour

·         1⁄2 teaspoon salt

·         2 teaspoons baking powder

·         1⁄2 cup butter, softened

·         3⁄4 cup sugar(if you like your cupcakes very sweet, add a little more.)

·         2 eggs

·         1 cup milk

·         1 teaspoon vanilla essence(optional)

Directions

1.     preheat oven to 375f or 150c; line muffin cups with papers.

2.     cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy. beat in eggs one at a time.

3.     add flour (mixed with baking powder and salt) alternating with milk beat well; stir in vanilla.

4.     divide evenly among pans and bake for 18 minutes. let cool in pans.

(recipe from food.com)

 
 

 

The real Wahms of SA – Lindsay on Faith

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It’s Wahm Wednesday around these parts but today is a little different, I had originally asked Lindsay to write a guest piece on faith but when I started the Wahm series I realised that she fit into this category as well, so instead of the usual Wahm interview, here is Lindsay chatting about her business (which is super cute printed kids clothes) under the banner of No Fear Just Faith…A mid week shake up 🙂 Also it’s her super cute son, Josh’s birthday today so send her love 🙂
 
 
 
 
Stepping out in Faith…

 

I’ve always wanted to branch out and start my own little business, but I was never sure on how to actually get it started.

 

This dream started when I fell pregnant with my 1st born, I loved being on maternity leave, bonding with my precious baby and just being a Mom was perfect for me. Being able to celebrate week after week how he had progressed, ticking off his milestones, pure bliss. Not that it was an easy period at all, there was many other drama’s happening in the background and I had made the decision to be a Single Mom, really this was my first step of Faith, which was hard but due to circumstances it was safer and better for us, but us, my bond with my little boy kept growing stronger. During the period of his first year I took the next step of faith, I resigned from my job, which I had spent 5 years and stepped from the financial industry to the medical sector. Thankfully Admin work is similar no matter where you go. I was nervous, I was a single Mom but I knew I wanted to give my son the best I could.

 

“You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand”

Hillsong United, Oceans (My theme song)

 

I started 2 weeks after Dan’s 1st birthday and immediately felt like I was home. That is exactly what I needed to foster my creative mind for the next 5 years. I didn’t walk into a company, I was welcomed into a family . We’ve gone through highs and lows together, we lost people together and welcomed new babies into our families together.  Carl, bless his soul during this period had to listen to me babble on and on about starting a business.

 

After I had Josh this need, this deep desire flared up in full force. I envied the stay at home Moms, I envied the work from home Moms (Big props to you ladies and  some of the Dads, I know its hard and your hours are ridiculous and its not always fun but you’re present and that’s what I craved, to be present in their lives, more than I was), I so desperately wanted to be the Mom who can attend school events (during the day) and be actively involved in the boys education, and do play dates, and spend afternoons in the park while enjoying the sunshine. I wanted all of this, but I love my comfort zones and stability that comes with working for a stable company. But one day I will God willingly be there.

 

It was such a huge decision for me to leave my team, in March I took my next step of faith. I packed up my desk, I said my goodbyes and I left.

 

On 1st April 2015 I started my new job (thankfully still within the same company, just a completely different environment and a long drive to Stellenbosch daily).  Its amazing what working in a healthy and positive environment can do for you for ones soul. I felt recharged, my energy levels are back up and most importantly I’ve become a tad more positive.

 

Roll on August and we kicked it off with launching “Love Made Me”, the something small I’ve been wanting to do for forever, another BIG step of Faith. I really could not have done this without my Husband. I have said it before and will continue to say it, this man, knows my heart. He is my biggest supporter and fiercest critic. He motivates me to a point where I could possibly throat punch someone. But I know, at the end of the day he’s just pushing this comfort zone prone procrastinator into the right direction. See I battle with making decisions, and he loves making decisions. Perfect Team! I dream, he makes it happen and we build on it together.

 

You may ask why I chose “Love Made Me” as a name for our business, well this has been in my heart for so long, and through Faith and Love I was able to start my business.

 

I take nothing for granted, I am where I am because of God’s Amazing Grace (even have the tattoo to prove it) in my life, in our lives. This is special to me and I hold our new baby very close to my heart.

 

If you’re keen to see some designs or would like a custom made item then hop over to my Facebook Page “Love Made Me” or feel free to drop me a mail at heygirl@lovemademe.co.za and I will happily do my best to accommodate your needs.
Alternatively you can always see what we’re up to by following my blog, “ What Happened to my Body? ” where I try and share the good, the tough and the fun side of life and parenting while trying to embrace my lumps, bumps and wonderful post baby body. Having kids has changed every aspect of my life, and changed my body in so many ways but I rock my Mom rolls proudly!


 

When you feel like the problem

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Don’t get freaked out by my headline, I do not have Munchausen by proxy syndrome (making child sick to get attention for myself) I have “what now syndrome”

I recently took Aidan to an Occupational Therapist, I was hoping she would tell me his food issues are related to some textural problem which I could sort out with a few activities and Aidan would go from “pickiest eater in the world” to “pass the (ANYTHING REALLY) mom”.

I know it was a naive thought because therapy would have been way more than colour between the lines, “dadah you are cured”, but I guess I was just looking for a  “reason”.

I needed a reason for my son eating the bare necessities (if the bare necessities are crackers and apples that is).

I needed a reason for him crying when I eat and for never seeming to get hungry.

I needed that reason not to be, “actually you just suck as a mom, he should be eating so much more, shame, you suck”

From the moment they place a baby in your arms each parent has a variation of the phrase “Don’t F this up” running through their minds.

I’m no different, but when it comes to food I fear  I might have F’d it up. I’m not very good when it comes to tough love and Aidan.

Maybe it’s because I don’t often have to use it, a stern “Aidan I am going to count to five and you better . . . ” works for most things except eating.

Tough love has always been difficult for me, when he was a baby I could never let him cry it out, that whole don’t make eye contact after a certain time thing was a major fail and the thought of forcing him to eat (sit down, stick spoon in his mouth, you are not leaving till you ate this, style) would leave us both in tears ( he would also projectile vomit)

Instead I have just been working on giving him healthy options and pumping him full of vitamins and tricking him with smoothies and juices which contain vegetables and fruit, which has resulted in a healthy kid who  does not eat “people food” no fish fingers or mac and cheese, nix!

When the OT told me there was nothing wrong with Aidan I felt like she might as well have been saying, “the thing is Mrs Douglas-Meyers, you are just not very good at this mothering thing, your job here is simple, feed and clothe, and 50% is not a pass”.

Okay she didn’t say that, but I felt so awkward as I ran off a list of things he ate, she looked at me questioningly as she double checked that this seemingly healthy boy didn’t eat ANY meat, eggs, “wet fruit” and his vegetable intake is made up of sips of mommies veggie juice. “Yogurt, provita and dry cereal you say”, yes *cringe* and dried fruit sticks

“have you tried … and … and how about …” the answer to everything , “yes I tried , but he freaks out!”

According to her Aidan seems to be a “happy well adjusted little boy”  with no texture issues which is clear from his love of paint, play dough and messy play.

She suggested a dietician, but I’ve done that before, I have a pretty clear outline of what he should be eating… He just wont, he cries, he vomits, he sits defiantly, he does not respond well to “force”.

The OT then suggested not making too much of a deal about eating in front of him. I think she is right, I realised he knows it upsets me and food is becoming a source of anxiety for him, over the last few weeks the first thing I hear when I get home is “Aidan was naughty, didn’t eat all the foodies”

He responds well to having things explained to him. Example: “why is mommy cross, is it because of the mess” (when he pulled kettle cord) I explained that I was cross because he knew he was not allowed near there and could have burned himself. A few days later when the kettle clicked off he runs up to me and says, “the kettle is done, but I won’t touch so I won’t burn and you won’t be cross”.

We are trying the explanation thing with food now, explaining to him he needs food like cars need petrol, and if he wants to be big and strong he needs to eat food.

He also likes to feel independent, so giving him two or three options to chose from seems to be working , he even helps to pack his lunch in the evening.

It’s working so far (almost two weeks) knock on wood… He actually eats at school, I send a few healthy options and more than half is eaten every day, I’m extremely chuffed with this (Two weeks ago he ate NOTHING for three days straight). He still seems to have a fear of upsetting me and apologises if he didn’t finish everything, I’m working on letting him understand that food is not a punishment. Now that he is off the bottle things are really looking up

He has added toasted cheese spread sarmies to his meal list along with provita with the smallest amount of grated cheese and breakfast biscuits, he eats cups of otees and raisins, apples are always a win and if I fry potato chips in coconut oil (figured this out when my oven gave in and couldn’t do oven chips) he will ask for seconds, Aidan never asks for seconds, ever!

I’m feeling motivated to test out different foods and to branch out on what he likes… wish me luck, here goes nothing

Sick on the inside,smile on the outside

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How is everyone this morning?
Hope you had a super weekend, no seriously, hope it was awesome so I can live vicariously…
At the risk of sounding like a Naggy Nancy this month (no offence to anyone named Nancy I’m sure you nag about the regular amount if not less,but naggy Eleanor just doesn’t have same ring to it) I’m feeling a little bleugh today as everyone in my house has flu so this weekend was spent hibernating and hoping to vote flu off the island, but flu had formed an alliance with exhaustion and their torches are still burning bright.
I’d been feeling “under the weather” most of the week but by Friday, “weather” was replaced by “bus”  and by that evening I felt like a remote control with dead batteries; you know how you keep pushing the buttons a little bit harder hoping it will make it work again, but no such luck.
I spent most of Saturday and Sunday looking after my sick boys. Rob and I took turns taking a medicated slumber while Aidan played around because for him being sick and being tired are not even in the same dictionary.
I made him some play dough with essential oils to keep him busy and open his chest and I even made a hobby horse because I felt guilty that he had to miss a birthday party, but truth be told, most of the time I just lay there in a semi coma while he watched YouTube clips of people playing with play dough or opening toys, he loves it, I don’t understand it.
This morning we are feeling a little better (fake it till you feel it)
Everyone has been sent off to work and school and there are lunches in lunch boxes, even if grownups this morning have snack packs of cereal biscuits and raisins, we got out the door and are dressed, that is all we could hope for this Morning.
I’m not complaining though, just sharing, I’m nothing if not a sharer… Besides today I might be bleugh, but tomorrow could be a step up to meh and by Wednesday I could be k, heading for cool, so here’s to faking it till you make it.

*picture from freedigitalphotos.net

DIY family wall for kids room

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I am blessed to come from a pretty tight knit family, Aidan LOVES his cousins (Caleb, Kammy and Cruze are our siblings kids and Taylor, Kirsten and Cody are my cousins kids) We try to set up as many play dates as possible and it is such a blessing to watch them grow 🙂 I thought it might be fun to put up some pictures of them in Aidan’s room but didn’t want it to be your run of the mill framed pics so this is what I came up with. . .

I took pictures of “the crew”

Using a simple photo program I converted them all into sketches, LIKE SO
Using a different colour for each kid

Aidan set to work colouring in his cousins
This project could actually work as a colouring book for a family day me thinks 🙂
I then used prestik some animal stickers I got at Crazy Store and pegs to create wall clips
See so cute!!! Aidy then chose which animal match which  




The wall in conjunction to his room



The real WAHMs of SA – Mandy writes

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I’m super excited today!
On Monday I thought, “hey, it would be so awesome to interview Work From Home Moms now that I have first hand experience in how crazy tough it is”…any work that needs to be done between changing your boss’s nappies, is going to be difficult me thinks.
I sent out a message into the social networking sphere asking if any moms would be willing to chat to me between their spa days and personal trainers (HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA they wish) between the school drop offs and stock taking rather, and the response was overwhelming.

Today  I start with Mandy from Pregnant in Cape Town and Ever After, I love her blog and her supermom series and was really thrilled that she agreed to chat to me…here is what she has to say.

The former PR exec whose hair makes Rapunzel jealous, works from home as a freelance writer with her bundle of joy Charly and like me she is lucky enough to have her mom help out with the baba

 

Tell us about your family.

Brett and I were married on our 7 year anniversary because we wanted to start trying for a family. One month later exactly we fell pregnant with our honeymoon baby 🙂 Charlotte Rose (Charly) was born a teeny weeny 3.19kgs on 10 February 2014. She is now a scary smart little action madam, who is happiest wearing a tutu and gumboots, running full pace and kicking a ball or “reading” a book out loud to anyone who will listen. My mom is an integral prt of our little family as she “works” for me by taking care of Charly 4 days a week from 8:30 – 3:30 (excluding nap time when Miss C only sleeps with me); we are incredibly lucky to have her here. The timing worked out perfectly as her company changed locations out of her range and I realised there was no way I could continue working at home while taking care of C on my own; so we made an arrangement that gives her the financial freedom to not have to go in search of a job and I don’t have to worry about my daughter for a second. Winning all around. Brett, Charly and I live in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town with our two cats, Trigger and Gizmo.

Why did you become a work from home mom?

I was headhunted a few short months before my wedding to work at incredibly busy PR agency. I adored the job and the people, and we worked incredibly long hours under intense pressure, which was fine at the time. I found out I was pregnant at 5 weeks and resigned a week later. The long hours and stress weren’t good for me or baby and I always planned to work from home when I became a mom. I am a writer first and foremost and one of my previous clients insisted they wanted to be my first client the second they found out I was freelancing, so they signed a retainer and I was officially a business owner with my own client getting paid to do what I love 🙂

What was the most unexpected part of becoming a wahm?

I love that I get to keep my mind stretched and engaged and I get to practice my writing and editing skills; and I am loving even more helping small businesses get out there and build their brands more effectively. I have always been incredibly dedicated and focused. At the same time, I love spending time with my daughter and knowing that she knows she always comes first. The unexpected part for me is how much I struggle to do both effectively at times; feeling like I’m never quite focused on one or the other. I have always been great at multitasking and splitting my focus without being distracted, but being a sleep deprived mommy seems to have messed with that superpower. While WAHMs definitely have many of the benefits of a SAHM and working mom, we also definitely have all the worst of both too.

 

What has been the hardest part?

Focusing enough to be able to deliver high quality work without falling asleep on my keyboard. Tied closely with balancing my time with big blocks of time taken up with my relationship with my baby. I stop no matter what the deadline or how engaged I am in the process, to visit with her if she needs it, to “come see mama”, to calm a bad tantrum, to give her kisses or play a game of hide and seek, to breastfeed her and settle her for her nap when she is ready between 11 and 12 and then I have to stay next to her until around 1:30 (because she wakes often to check if I’m there and won’t sleep if I’m not). I work on my phone so it’s not the end of the world, but it can be very disruptive.

What is the most rewarding part?

I don’t miss anything. I’m there for every milestone, every accomplishment, every new word, every nap, every giggle. Even if I’m in the next room I can get to her if she takes a fall or gets a fright or just needs her mommy. I am so lucky to have that. 

 

I also don’t work on Wednesdays. My mom can’t be here and I can’t work when she’s not here, so Wednesday is Charly and mommy day. I love that I can choose to do this and be there for her!


What is your day like?

 

 

Chaos 😀

Charly still wakes at least every 90 minutes all night, but she mostly (on a good day) only gets up for the day just before 7. We wake daddy and head downstairs about 7:30. While Brett makes me toast and coffee (yip, I’m that lucky) and Cs fruit and cold meat and sometimes toast; C and I cuddle a little. 

Once she goes into her highchair in front of Curious George for breakfast around 8, zombie mom drinks coffee and starts her work day by checking mails and messages online on her phone. 

My mom arrives at 8:30 and I head upstairs to my home office. I start with client work or PiCT posts (on feature days)nor deadline stories for other publications, and I do that until Charly demands a visit around 10:30. I stop for a cup of tea and a cuddle or a story, and then she plays with granny again until she comes and tells me it’s time for her nap. I then continue working on my phone, checking mails and usually writing for PiCT. 

At 1:30 my mom comes and sits with her (coz if she wakes then she has slept long enough), and I head down and prepare lunch for myself and sometimes Charly too bad if there is prep needed. If she wakes we eat together, if she doesn’t I go back to work around 2 and my mom feeds her after some mommy cuddles. 

From 2-3:30 I try to focus fully on PiCT work for my series or giveaways, the things that take research and contact and in depth writing. 

 It’s then mommy-Charly time from 3:30-4:45 when daddy comes home. Daddy spends about 10 minutes catching up with his girl and then preps dinner and puts it on bits then family time until around 6:30 when we sit down together and eat. 

Bathtime around 7, family story time and then I feed miss C to sleep. Once she’s out I log back into my phone and check my mail, social media platforms and do some writing.  
Sometimes there is some mommy-daddy time, other times we both work and yet other times I pass out right alongside Charly to start the cycle all over again 🙂
 
 

Tell us about your business.

I create content for businesses, everything from blog posts to journal columns to newspaper articles to website copy and advertorial and and and.. 

I also do some proofreading and editing if I find projects I am passionate about, like the awesome entrepreneur business advice book that just went to print 🙂

I am also passionate about helping small brands; particularly mom-owned businesses and blogs. I use my PR and Marketing experience, my love of consistency and attention to detail to help look at their brand identity and whether they are sharing the story of who they are and what they do effectively.

I have just taken on another big project, but that announcement is not quite ready to be made… I will be sharing it all soon enough 😉

 

Where did business idea and name come from?

The business idea was easy; I took what I was best at, looked at what parts of that I loved and focused on that. My blog has also given me the freedom to practice and stretch myself and my skill set and I am loving being able to use these new skills to help others.
Haha, since I am my brand I decided to keep the name simple as Mandy Lee Miller and I added a .com to make it official. I love my married name and all its Ms and Ls 🙂

What sets you apart?

I am not only passionate about what I do; I am exceptionally good at all of it. 

 

By focusing on what I love, I have been able to constantly improve and expand in specific areas, which means I don’t get bored and wake up every day excited to get going (even when I’ve had no sleep the night before). 

 

I also practice what I preach; I write and edit every single day for my own brand Pregnant in Cape Town & Ever After. I have also just done a complete brand review of my own and have seen phenomenal growth in a very short time. 

Where do you see it going?

 

I hope it stays exactly on track as it is! I love the direction I am growing, expanding more into parenting writing for other brand and I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about my new venture… No really, I can’t tell you no matter how much I want to!! It’s of the bounce up and down, squeeeeeee level of excitement though. 

 

YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH MANDY