LAST POST BEFORE THE #DIRTY THIRTIES

Good day and happy March to all my starterFashionistaMas':-)


I can’t believe I went the whole of February 2016 without blogging and am very sorry. That was not planned but work and life generally sometimes gets toO busy, but let us keep pushing and pressing on to be better as the year progresses.

 Why the excitement  about March? I am sorry for being biase about March but everyone loves their birth month and with me turning 30 this year (4 more days to go) ,my excitement is on overload!!! 30 is next biggest milestone to me after 21.

 I posted a status on the 29th February 2016 on my FB account saying Dirty Thirties loading and a lot of people were so confused and some what shocked(I recently found out while planning my 30 party that this is what the 30s age group was called.) The shock was mostly due to me not really being that much of  a "dirty"(wild) person of course  but it got me wondering and really curious why this age group (30s) is referred to as the dirty thirties so that will be the main focus of this post.

We often use so many of these phrases cause they the “it thing” and everybody is using them but it’s also wise to know their origin and what they really mean (well at least I think it is)!A quick side track , I've always been know as a very emotional person and one who often and if not always wears her heart on her sleeve and I don’t mind….lol….so I (dramatic pause) celebrated it and made it official(another dramatic pause...lol)- I did it Bucklist for 30 Item no. 3 CHECK!!! 




So excited ….what u think?

So back the "dirty thirties"

.....

According to Urban Dictionary it is:The age at which single women without children realise that their biological clock is ticking, As a consequence they may lower their standards and increase their willingness to perform sexual acts as a matter of desperation in order to find a mate/sexual partner. They may also attempt to hook up with younger males as an attempt to elongate their youth.The expression almost always refers to women, as men are thought to always be in this state.
Another explanation for the "dirty thirties" or "dust bowl days" according to www.legendsofamerica.com is that The Dust Bowl of the 1930s, sometimes referred to as the "Dirty Thirties” lasted about a decade. This was a period of severe dust storms which caused major agricultural damage to American and Canadian prairie lands, primarily from 1930 to 1936, but in some areas, until 1940. It was caused by severe drought and decades of extensive farming without crop rotation.The primary area of impact was on the southern plains, though northern areas were also affected, though not nearly with as much devastation. The drought hit first in the eastern part of the country in 1930 and by the next year it began to move westward. By 1934, it had turned the Great Plains into a desert and helped to lengthen the Depression.For decades, farmers had unknowingly not utilized the concepts of fallow fields and crop rotation, cover crops to manage soil fertility and quality, or other techniques to prevent erosion. The deep plowing of the topsoil had killed the natural vegetation that normally kept the soil in place and trapped moisture even during dry periods and high winds. Wheat crops, in high demand during World War I, further exhausted the topsoil and overgrazing stripped the western plains of virtually all other cover.As a result, during the drought of the 1930s, the soil dried and turned to dust, soon blowing in large dark clouds. Given names like "Black Blizzards" and "Black Rollers," these rolling clouds often reduced visibility to a few feet.The Dust Bowl got its name in April, 1935, when Robert Geiger, a reporter for the Associated Press, traveled through the region and wrote the following: "Three little words achingly familiar on a Western farmer's tongue, rule life in the dust bowl of the continent - if it rains." The term stuck, spreading across the airwaves and newspapers, though the people of the region hated the negative term, which they knew played a part in diminishing property values and business prospects in the region.




So in general it seems things associated with 30 are dreary and depressing. But I believe it all up to you. Growing up in general is not so easy. You getting older, more responsibilities and you loosing the carefree joys of your youth. But it doesn’t have to be a time to go wild and behave like you are having an early midlife crisis…..lol…(except on your party if you have one-then a lil letting go is allowed) and it also doesn’t have to a depressing and sad time either.I choose to view this as milestone ,a time to groom myself to be a better and a more wiser me. In your twenties you still getting to know who you are  and what you believe your purpose on this earth is. Although you can never fully know yourselves;God has made us such intricate beings- SO MANY LAYERS TO US ALL. The thirties are when most know who they are generally and what we want out of life.
This period of my life I will use to cultivate myself….I will get dirty pruning and digging and ploughing my soul so that the true me is revealed to the world. I will use these years to be more true to me, what I believe and most of all I will believe more in me and my abilities. I will push myself more, love myself more and risk more and hope for a better a great reward and rate of return on investments in myself and my dreams. I will also this period in my life to share my wisdom that I’ve gathered so far in my life with the youngings around and most importantly shape my daughters to be great woman who will grow up knowing that they can be great! SO with a few more days left till my life transitions -hese are my words and promises to me….SO HELP ME GOD!

Looking forward to a lot of interesting new challenges and experiences in life. This is also my advice to my mommies who might be entering this phase soon: Let us mature like fine wine which gets better with time and tackle this new chapter of our lives head on. And to all my mommies who are already strolling in their 30s keep growing and improving.


Hope you will take all this advice straight from my heart to your heart.Hope it will encourage you to have the courage to grow and look forward to it.
xxx Lots of love ,signing out @starterFASHIONISTAMA'

2016- THE YEAR TO BE!!!


2016!!! THE YEAR TO BE?..... (lol I know Im like 26 days late but better late than never).


What is 2016 the year of to you?This is what I asked myself and am still asking myself even now. I just decided to boil it down to 2016 THE YEAR TO BE!!! Be more of you i.e. true to yourself, Be more determined to reach your goals and dreams and be a better you than you were last year.

I'm sure by now you have read so many blog posts and articles of achieving your goals and achieving them in the new year and that's good ,keep reading cause what you fill your heart with is what will come out. I'm still gonna read more and more so I'm set on the journey I intend on undertaking.

This post is just to encourage all my fellow mommies and sisters that we should keep setting goals and striving to achieve them. I will be sharing tips I got from other bloggers and other sources thus far - things that really hit home!

Tip 1. Make your own a vision board!

 I was on a famous plus size model Liris Crosse 'THE NAOMI CAMPBELL OF PLUS SIZE' Instagram page the other day and she was busy with a vision board. I thought to myself ;no wonder she's so successful!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAYQnf6kSJV/?taken-by=lirisc

This is not just a good idea and fun to do but is also very scriptural -Habbukuk 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

 Its easier to get to where you going , when you know where it is and how to get there. Also a vision board helps you keep track and monitor your progress.
Tip 2. Read,read,read!!!-Invest in your intellect!

Have you noticed how successful people always seem to know alot and often quote so much;the reason is simple reading i.e. investing in your intellect.I believe this is one of the most important keys success in life as a whole. I will read alot more this year in order to achieve my goals and so should you! By reading I mean
-Motivational books i.e. books written by people who have achieved alot. Books that challenge you and make you strive for more in life. - The biblefor me this is one of the best motivational books ever, I'm not talking religion but rather referring to how the most simple human beings achieve the greatest things
-Books that also improve your general knowledge and overall knowledge.

Please mommies lets invest more in reading not only for ourselves but also for our little ones as well! 

Tip 3. Don't limit yourself 

This is the easiest key to success but yet the hardest to achieve (for me). If you can get this right , I believe you can do anything!Life and its circumstances always finds ways to make us feel inadequate and powerless but we created in God's image so we can clearly do alot of the things we dream about...Right. God is a visionary, he dreams and then speaks/meditates and then He does-It comes to pass. We should learn to not limit ourselves in life.You are so much bigger and greater than what people say or most importantly what you think you are.


There are so many keys to success I'm sure we've all heard of but these tips are what stuck out to me.

The last tip and the most important tip is STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND PROCASTINATING. Now is the time !!! Now is the time to open that business or to make that dream God has given you to come true! Now is the time to take charge of your health and your life. NOW IS THE TIME TO BE SO JUST BE!!! 


 ONE MONTH IS ALREADY GONE IN 2016 SO START NOW! 

 Happy 2016 and all the best for the year ahead.....JUST BE!!!
(LATE POST) -Mommy Monday #fives- Five important go-to –not-so-pricey-Baby Shower gifts

I would firstly like to start this post by apologizing for posting it late (it’s a Mommy Monday feature as well as the first of fives I promised to post the whole week so was rightfully supposed to be posted yesterday.) In general I would like to apologise to my audience and myself as well for not giving the blog attention it deserves lately, going through a bit rough patch in my life career wise but I promise I will deliver more posts in future especially with my leave coming up real soon Yipee.
I promise!

Ok now that the serious stuff is out of the way…..LET THE FUN BEGIN!!! So…. like …you know how they usually say that December is wedding (and partying) season….My December so far has been Baby Shower season. I have attended two baby showers the past two weekends and have another one still pending . I KNOW-I KNOW MY FRIENDS ARE REALLY POPPING THEM BABIES OUT .LOL. But I absolutely don’t mind, not only is it such a beautiful moment for the mommy-to-be but also baby showers are very helpful to mommy, daddy and baby. Before motherhood I would tend to buy the cute little items i.e.outfits ,blankies, teddies etc , not that there is anything wrong with them, but motherhood has taught me differently. There are a lot of useful and budget friendly gifts to buy that the new mommy as well as other guest hardly think of. And let’s be honestly raising a baby is not exactly cheap these days and the new mom and dad really appreciate the little boost that the gifts give them. THE GAMES , DECO AND TASTY TREATS however also make Baby Showers a whole lot of fun as well!!!
Check out a few pics of the shower I went to last weekend -5 November 2015. The theme was 50 Shades of Pink (How cute!!!)




Photo credits: SpekATcular photography



NOW here are my 5 go-to- important + budget friendly Baby Shower gifts:

11.Baby neck positioner
Price range ( R50-R60)
Baby neck positioner- How cute are these versions not sure where you can get these in SA


I probably wouldn’t buy this gift alone as it is quite a small gift. But regardless of its size, this is a very important  gift as it balances the babies neck while his/she is asleep in the car seat or pram. This gift ismy favourites go-to-baby shower as new mommies hardly think of it and also hardly anyone else thinks of it too, so the mommy-to-be is sure to appreciate this pressie.


22.Breastfeeding pillow
Although I hardly breast fed any of my babies, I honestly believe breast is best. This cushion is similar in shape to the neck position just BIGGER but it for mommy , to assist her balance the baby while she breastfeed. It also mommy to get into a comfortable position and also baby as well. This gift is very thoughtful and I recently saw a variation of it which even apparently allows you to walk while you breast feed! Imagine! The variation is called Breast Friend.(pic?). And added plus of the gist is that it allows later helps teach baby how to sit! So its like TWO GIFTS IN ONE! Nice neh?

Photo credit: Internet (Amazon )



33. Hooded towels, burp clothes and baby soft face clothes and face clothes
(Price range- R150- R180)
I have paired all these items as one gift cause the mostly come as a set and also cause you could purchase and make you own gift set out of these and maybe even add baby cosmetics and make it a bath set gift. These gifts are often purchased but honestly when you have a new born you can never have even burp clothes, hooded towels and soft face clothes. I love the soft face clothes especially cause you can travel with two and wipe baby whenever they have a little vomit , milk or drool. When my girls were tiny weeny babies,I was never caught without these little clothes in my diaper bag.



   4. Nappy /Diaper bag
Price range (R200-R300)
I believe its ok for every mom to have max of 3 Diaper Bags so even if mommy-to-be has most probably bought her own and although she will also get one from her hospital, a diaper bag still makes for a nice gift.This will allow mommy-to-be to mix and match based on her oufit, mood or where she and her new baby will be heading to. I recently saw one by Fisher Price (at the baby shower I went to Saturday) which was so elegant and classy and didn’t even look like a diaper bag ,although my girls are toddlers now, I am soooooooooo getting this bag for myself- I JUST HAVE TO!!!

   5.Oral hygiene set/ Baby care kit/Medical kit
Price Range (R189-R250)
This gift comes in different variations. Some contain a brush, comb ,nail clipper and medicine dropper etc or some it’s just oral hygiene or some it’s a theremometer, medicine dropper and nasal aspirator so you can choose the best combo for you. I love this gift cause its very thoughtful and helpful.


Bonus gift – Nappies  and /or Bum Buddy





I absolutely love the bum buddy by Bennetts. It’s a must have for every nursery. It’s a combination of baby wipes and bum cream (pic). And I believe it’s also refillable. What a great invention hey. Nappies are also the more “boring” and hardly bought gift but let’s be honest as a new mommy for a new baby you can never have enough nappies! NEVER! So although it might seem like a boring gift , mommy-to-be will definitely appreciate the thoughtful and pratical gift.

I sincerely hope my 5 baby shower gift ideas will help you next time you have to attend a baby shower. Next time you have to buy a new mommy gift try these gift ideas ( and maybe buy a litte cute outfit on the side-cause they soooooo hard to resist and see how mommy face lights up. Motherhood is so wonderful and a journey of care and love so this journey with us caring and making the mommy to be feel loved. What is your favourite baby shower gift you have bought or received?
P.S. Comments are very welcome


STAY BLESSED ….LOTS OF LOVE @starterFASHIONISTAMA’
HELLO.......IT'S ME...I WAS WONDERING ...LOL (Just had to have an Adele moment there...lol)-  (Tiny weeny post)

Its the 1st of December and I can't believe that there is only one month left to 2015. Time for backtracking, were and of your goals achieved and setting new goals for the new year! So I decided next week I will be dealing with 5s!!! As I look through my 2015 journey and forward to my 2016!!!

 I will be posting the whole of next dealing with 5s....kindly visit my blog to see what I have in store for yall.

 STAY BLESSED MOMMIES @starterFASHIONISTAMA'

10 things I have to do before 30!!!# Bucketlist PART2



before30bucketlist....continued....loading
.........
.....
..
.
6. GO NATURAL

 As black woman the quest in beauty often involves weaves,weaves and lots of weaves. This often comes with neglecting your own hair and a receding hairline,which was the case with me so I cut my hair and I'm going back to nature!I'm really loving the short hair thus far, miss the weaves but for the health of my hair .Its worth it. Which is also why I will never relax my babies hair.




7. Host a big shun-dig of a party (I have never had a huge b-day party)

 LOL....THIS ITEM IS A MUST!!! Not only because I will celebrating entering into a new milestone of life but also cause I never had a big birthday except for my 1st birthday-not that I remember, just saw pics. I refused to have a 21st ,was going through my strict Christian phase, where I was still focusing on getting God's approval by dead works so I thought it would be wrong for me to have a party and all the other birthdays were just normal. BUT NEXT YEAR I will be hosting a huge party- theme, dress-up,venue and all!!!I believe I will be rewarding myself and most importantly celebrating the gift of life God has blessed me with. Can't wait ....definitely gonna write  post about i
Photo cred-H Samuel Jewellers website

8. Start a business

 Not only is life so expensive nowadays that you need more than one income stream to enjoy life, but God has over the years blessed me with loads and loads of business ideas. I pray for the grace to start a business next year. God gives us gifts,ideas and passions and its our duty to make em come to plus with His Grace. Im really praying and hoping this prayer of mine comes to life before my 30s. Prayer+ Faith+Hardwork=SUCCESS!!!....PRAYING REAL HARD....
9. Go on a nice holiday with the hubby and kids.

Simply because it would be to nice to have a family vacay and I can't wait to see my little babies in their cute bikinis and the little feet pitta-pattering on the beach.

 10.  BE MORE BEAUTIFUL, MORE WISER AND BETTER!!!

 In short I want to be like fine wine which gets better with age!!!
I just cant wait for the 30s....I'm ready


10 things I have to do before 30!!!# Bucketlist

 Its been a loooooooooooooooooooooong post coming....Sorry for the silence! Life happened and have been a bit busy but also a bit lazy. To all of you who kept visiting my page even during the silence- So sorry and thank you for keeping the faith in me!


Anyway on a lighter note ,with the year coming to an end......(time flies!!!) and me turning 30 in the new year 2016,  thought I should share my  bucket list of things I HAVE TO DO before I HIT THE BIG 30!

30 is a big milestone and you're officially not a "young adult" anymore but a FULL GROWN WOMAN! I refuse to call it growing older but wiser, so most (not all) of my bucket list items are not so "wise" things I want to do before I reach what I will feel will be my full maturity point. Whether I do all of them ....hmhhhhhhh but here's my list anywho...lol....

Please keep an open mind and don't judge ,I've lived quite a quiet life so allow me to be adventurous and silly toe!!!


10 things to do before the BIG 30!!!


1. Enter a reality competition!

Don't know how far I will go in the competition but I just have to do this before I turn 30. I am going to wait in the queues of either IDOLS, Clash of the choirs or any other preferrably singing /talent competition before I hit the big 30, will even post about the experience. lol...#CAN'T WAIT!!!



2. GO bunjy jumping!

I know some of your ladies have most probably done this but I am such a scary cat but this I have to do . I'm seeing this as me facing my fears and leaping into a new chapter in my life.


3. Get a tatoo!

Get a heart tatoo on my wrist like (see pic)
I love love love this tatoo and I often draw it on my hand. Hearts symbolise love and I'm all about love and also it will represent that as an full adult I will always wear my heart on my sleeve....live life honestly.As whether I will pluck up the courage to do it...

4. Do something I've never do!
 This I can actually tick off my bucketlist but can't share what it is ...but I did it!



 5. Spoil myself where I can...
 We work hard as moms especially as working moms and we need to sometimes spoil and indulge in ourselves. This I have also started doing and this item I will do before and through my 30S AND BEYOND!I even recently started a designer perfume collection for myself  just to pamper and spoil myself (WANT TO COLLECT 10 BY 30)cause I deserve to smell glorious,feel luxurious and be  spoiled -love myself. Please ladies we deserve and should love ourselves, if you don't spoil yourself ever .....please start!!!The main thing is to balance don't overindulge in yourself and loose focus of the kids and hubby and mostly GOD!



I have decided to make this post in two parts. I will post Part 2 of this post Thursday 12/11/2015...hope you like it so far!


P.S- FROM NOW ON I VOW TO POST AT LEAST TWICE A MONTH.
P.S.S- THANK YOU FOR YOU CONTINUED SUPPORT
P.S.S.S- I LOVE YOU .....lots.....@starterFASHIONISTAMa'

SUPER LATE POST ....Lelo's 1st Birthday And Rori's 8th combined party

HI MAMMIES!!!

Finally back after a hectic week of Project  Management training (will share more on it on Wisdom Wednesday) and as promised lots of pics from my last born's 1st Birthday. Please don't forget to give feed back  on my party planning skills please!!! lol....Can I quit my day job to pursue the event management business full time yet????


Anyway this post is going to have little writing (mainly pics post). Hope you enjoy the post and maybe use some of the tips when planning your kids parties in future.

Decor setup- I used Royal Blue for my nephews soccer/sports party and Baby pink for Lelo's Teddy bear party



I know is very generic and clique but the colours just worked out and looked great together don't you think? I used little touches in the the party cups and party hats and serviettes to go with the respective themes of soccer balls and teddy bears. In retrospect if I had a good phone(my phone got damaged ) I would of taken close ups of the cups ,decor pieces etc.



More Decor ... I was so excited bought party packs cause I made em myself:-)

Lelos cake table
Rori's cake table

 

I was so pleased with this cake...it exceeded my expectations. A friend's fiance' Chef  Nick Thomsett made this cake 


It was chocolate flavoured and oh so cute!





These were just a few elements I used for my little ones' special day. I really enjoy event planning and I hope to one done pursue this business avenue as a career. It looked pretty  , was happy with the overall results and most important my nephew and daughter had a special day!!!!!!!



Special SHOUT OUT to my sister Refilwe Makhafola for making the day memorable for the kids (I'm sure I have the best sister in the world) and who is  a first time reader here. Hey sisi!!!


Lots of love!!! @starterFashionistama'XOXO
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)