Spirited Mama

Living a SPIRITED life filled with wanderlust, emotions and everything in between

Month: December 2019

#GoodTidings Advent Calendar to enjoy a #WasteFreeFestive Season with WWF

ENJOY A #WASTEFREEFESTIVE SEASON WITH WWF SA’S #GOODTIDINGS ADVENT CALENDAR

‘Tis the season to be jolly and South Africans are bracing themselves for a sunny festive season filled with family, loved ones and the gift of giving. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa wants to encourage consumers to reduce the amount of waste usually associated with the holidays.
”The WWF mantra is to “refuse, reduce and reuse” and then “recycle”. This includes asking yourself whether you really need what you’re about to buy, taking your own reusable bags along with you to the supermarket, cutting down on packaging, and choosing reusable, durable goods over single-use items. Once you’ve followed all these steps, we also want you to recycle as much as possible.” Says Eitan Prince, Digital Communications Manager with WWF-SA.

How to reduce waste this festive season

A fun, interactive way for consumers to make better choices this festive season is to sign up for WWF’s brand new #GoodTidings advent calendar which is brimming with clever waste curbing ideas.
Daily tidings come in the form of videos, demos, blogs, photo galleries, recipe cards and more created with support from WWF ambassadors including Chef Zola Nene, media personalities Zoe Brown, Carl Wastie, Claire Mawisa and sustainable fashion guru, Jackie May. Here’s a sneak preview on what you can expect from the calendar.
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1. All that glitters is not gold
Sparkly glitter is undeniably festive but much of it’s made from microplastics which can end up polluting the environment or be consumed by fish, birds and other animals. Consider plastic-free décor such as glass jars filled with beautiful succulents and decorations made from fabrics or ribbon.
2. Gift wrapping alternatives
Wrapping paper – its festive, it’s fun, it’s fleeting. Each year tons of it finds its way to landfills so why not use leftover birthday wrapping paper or gift bags? “You could experiment with covering gifts with fabric, old newspapers or put them into any attractive tins, boxes or jars you may have lying around your home or office,” offers Prince.
3. Show love to local producers
There are many local designers and producers making exciting and innovative products from sustainable materials. Gems such as Uzwelo, who teams up with local communities to convert banners to fabric to make functional, fashionable and affordable bags, can all be found on the newly revamped WWF e-commerce site. Prince explains, “Proceeds from these sales help support the WWF’s vital work.”
The festive season no longer needs to be the season of excess and waste. By visiting www.wwf.org.za and downloading the #GoodTidings advent calendar with its waste busting tips, you’re on the right track to being part of the solution for a living planet while having a jolly good time as well. Don’t forget to share!
Happy Festive Season!
Spirited Mama
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Stuck on what to buy this Christmas? Here’s Hasbro’s TOP TOYS & GAMES for 2019

Stuck on what to buy this Christmas?

Christmas is only 13 days away! And I haven’t bought anything yet! Normally, I would have been patting myself on the back by now with everything being bought and hidden away from the kids. Last year, I still went to the shops on the 24th of December for last minute errands. Did I like it? Yes. The shops were not too busy and I was in and out in a flash with my purchases. Will I chance it again in 2019 to brave the shops on 24 December? I’m not entirely sure as this long weekend would be the ideal time for some Christmas shopping.

Hasbro’s Top Toy & Games Suggestions for 2019

Hasbro, one of the largest toy, game and entertainment experience companies, has released their anticipated 2019 list of suggested toy and gifting solutions including a wide range of ‘stocking fillers’.  Hasbro’s commitment to creating the world’s best play experiences ensures there is something for everyone – from fun family activities to active play, imaginative play, creative play and so much more.

Here are some of Hasbro’s 2019 best sellers:

Joshua is beside himself because according to my 10 year old son, You can never have too many NERF guns! There is an exciting range of Nerf blasting options on offer:

  • The Nerf Trilogy DS-15 toy blaster has ejecting shells to heat up your Nerf dart-blasting action. Unleash a triple-dart blast with this Nerf N-Strike Elite blaster that shoots 3 darts at once from each shell.
  • The Nerf Fortnite AR-E blaster, inspired by the blaster used in Fortnite, is the only way to play Fortnite in real life. Drop into indoor and outdoor Fortnite action with this motorised, dart-firing Nerf Elite Fortnite blaster that features two flip-up sights to help you align your shot and an acceleration button to power up the motor.
  • Go into battle with the bolt-action Nerf Rival Helios XVIII-700 Pull back the bolt to prime the blaster and unleash rounds at a velocity of 30 meters per second. The bolt placement can be customised to accommodate right or left-handed battlers.

Transformers are Noah’s thing! I mean, I have never watch so many Transformers movies, over and over and over on repeat all day! At this rate I just want to get him the Bumblebee 🙂 but I can’t find stock!

  • Transformers War for Cybertron: Siege plunges fans into the epic fight to survive on the final day of the Autobot and Decepticon battle to control Cybertron. Build the ultimate battlefield with Transformers War for Cybertron: Siege toy figures with customisable weapon configurations.

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  • On the Transformers Cyberverse animated series the Allspark can harness incredible new powers, including the power to convert Earth vehicles into Spark Armor: battle-ready gear that allows them to fight in new places and in new ways. Kids can collect assorted Spark Armor figures (each sold separately) to discover more exciting characters from the Cyberverse series.

 

  • Imagine teaming up and battling the Power Rangers’ toughest enemies with these Power Rangers Beast Morphers Action Zord figure assortment (which include: Beast-X Megazord and Beast Racer Megazord). Standing 25 cm tall, and with the included accessories, these action figure toys are ready for action against any foe.

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  • Young fans of the Disney Frozen movies will love the Frozen 2 Singing Elsa and Anna Fashion dolls (each sold separately). Each doll includes a Frozen 2 inspired outfit, press the button on the bodice to watch the dress light up and hear a snippet of an original song from the Frozen 2 movie. Sing along while imagining scenes with Arendelle’s favourite sister duo. Kids can take magical Frozen adventures on the go with the Fold and Go Arendelle Castle portable playset. Inspired by Disney’s Frozen 2, this castle set has two floors of fun that fold up and fun accessories are included to decorate the rooms.

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  • Baby Alive Happy Hungry Baby loves to eat. Mix baby’s food with water to make doll food that looks like the real thing. When you give baby her spoon, she opens wide and really eats her doll food. She also giggles, moves, and asks for more. With over 50 sounds and phrases, this sweet baby doll makes feeding and changing time feel oh-so-real and fun for little mommies and daddies. The Baby Alive Snip ‘n Style Baby is ready for you to brush, trim, and style her hair. Brush baby’s fringe with her interactive brush and watch it grow then hold the interactive scissors up to baby’s fringe and pretend to trim and watch the fringe get shorter! Includes 35+ sounds and phrases, and 12 hair accessories to style baby’s hair for any occasion.

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  • Play-Doh continues to captivate kid’s imaginations. Picture a land of colourful dreams where unicorns poop Play-Doh ice cream. Meet Tootie, the hilarious unicorn ice cream maker who loves to create silly Play-Doh sundaes. As she dispenses Play-Doh colours this unicorn toy makes laugh-out-loud sounds and even changes her facial expression.  There’s no stoppin’ the poppin’ fun with the Play-Doh popcorn maker toy, which includes everything you need to make creative Play-Doh popcorn masterpieces. Crank pretend popcorn into the 3 bucket sizes and mix it up with silly snack mixes. Add fun play food toppings like pretend pretzels, crazy candy, and more with the candy-themed stamps and moulds. Don’t forget to squeeze in some silly syrup or butter with the syrup tool.  Little chefs can go pizza crazy with the Play-Doh Stamp ‘n Top Pizza Oven.  Stamp a pizza crust in the oven, then go wild creating and customising with the variety of tools and moulds included. 

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  • Potato Head Movin Lips is an interactive talking toy, that’s fun and entertaining for kids as well as adults. Just attach his mouth and press the buttons, his lips synchronise to wacky songs and some funny phrases.

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GET YOUR FAMILY TIME GAME ON WITH A WIDE RANGE OF GAMES TO SUITS ALL AGES FROM HASBRO GAMING

 

  • Meet MONOPOLY – a self-made investment guru, who is here to celebrate women trailblazers in the first game where women make more than men. Instead of buying properties, players invest in groundbreaking inventions and innovations made possible by women throughout history. From inventions like WiFi to chocolate chip cookies to space station batteries, MS. MONOPOLY celebrates everything from scientific advancements to everyday accessories. In the MS. MONOPOLY game, women get a higher payout at the start of the game and more money when passing ‘Go’, but who you are is up to you!

 

  • Monopoly Fortnite – in this thrilling Fortnite inspired edition of the Monopoly game, players claim locations, battle opponents, and avoid the Storm to survive. The gameplay, design, and components of the board game include elements inspired by the video game including Fortnite locations and loot chest cards. Instead of Monopoly money, players earn Health Points (HP). Like in the Fortnite video game, the last player standing wins!

 

  • Make Monopoly Cheaters Edition board game a favourite go-to game for game nights and other fun get-togethers. Lean into those iconic (yet unspoken) Monopoly moments in which rules are bent, money is borrowed, and funny business is welcomed. Fake a die roll, steal some bills from the bank, and even skip out on rent. Complete a cheat to get a reward but fail a cheat and pay the consequences. The pretend handcuff unit that may leave players “chained” to the board is a fun addition to the game.

 

  • The Connect 4 Shots game combines the gameplay of the original Connect 4 game with fast-paced, competitive excitement. Two players at a time race to get four balls of their colour in a row to win. Kids can also practice solo to prepare for a future Connect 4 Shots matchup.

 

If you’re looking for stocking filler ideas:

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The Monopoly Deal Card Game is all the fun of the Monopoly game in a quick-playing card game. It comes with 110 cards including Property Cards, Rent Cards, House and Hotel Cards, and Wild Property Cards and ideal for on-the-go fun.

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Have a blast with Play-Doh Colour Burst, it’s the classic non-toxic Play-Doh compound with an innovative way to mix and play. Use the roller or your hands to squish and blend the two colours together for a cool marbling and blending effect and watch the colours swirl and change before your eyes.

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Blast into big fun with the Nerf Microshots Fortnite series of collectible, mini-sized Nerf toy blasters. Blasters in this assortment include replicas of the FORTNITE TS blaster, FORTNITE RL blaster and FORTNITE Llama blaster, inspired by the iconic purple pinata loot box used in the popular video game.

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Look out for the Lost Kitties Mice Mania milk carton singles, which comes with a mouse or kitty figure, meme stickers, two hidden accessories and a collector’s sheet. Store the compound in the resealable carton so you can keep discovering over and over again.

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Kids can image new adventures with their favourite rescue birds-in-training with the Top Wing Single Figure Assortment. Each poseable 7-cm figure is ready for action with five points of articulation and includes a snap-on ‘wings’ badge that kids can wear (figures sold separately).

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The 15-cm Power Rangers Beast Morphers figures feature multiple points of articulation and design. With the included Morph-X key, kids can imagine unlocking hero powers in the Beast-X Morpher toy (sold separately).

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The Marvel Figures assortment includes classic Marvel design. With these action figures kids can create scenes from the Marvel Universe or imagine their own incredible adventures. This assortment includes Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man and Thor.

Hasbro products are available from leading retailers including:  Takealot.com, Makro, Toys R Us, ToyZone, Toy Kingdom, Game and Checkers.

Hope this helps you find some Christmas gifts and stocking filler ideas!

Have you bought your gifts and stocking fillers yet? Or are you on my bandwagon…I haven’t bought anything yet *yikes*

Spirited Mama

x

**Disclaimer: We were gifted some stocking fillers from Hasbro. Images were supplied too. 

 

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Disney’s The Lion King LIVE In Concert with The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra

10th, 11th and 12th of December 2019

The Sun Arena at Times Square in Pretoria

 

Disney’s The Lion King LIVE in Concert

I’m sure that by now you have seen the ads on TV about the Disney’s The Lion King LIVE In Concert with The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Last night, I was invited to the rehearsal show. Man alive, what an experience! The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra has just taken the Lion King up a few levels! It’s definitely an experience not to be missed. Also, did I mention that it’s family-friendly 🙂

In The Lion King LIVE In Concert, the all-new Disney film that was released  a few months ago, will come to life on an epic scale as it’s screened and accompanied LIVE by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

Disney and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra brings you even more magic in a perfectly synchronised live orchestral performance.

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Credit: Celeste van der Berg Photography

This unique family entertainment experience combines the screening of Disney’s The Lion King directed by Jon Favreau with the epic live orchestral performance of Oscar® and GRAMMY®-winning composer Hans Zimmer’s original motion picture soundtrack that also features South African legend Lebo M.

Disney’s 2019 release of The Lion King features the voices of artists such as South African Dr John Kani, as well as James Earl-Jones, Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, and Beyoncé bringing the unforgettable host of characters to life.

“Now begins another tale told about my continent, about my country, about my people and about my heritage. These animals are mine. That’s what the great generations of my ancestors left to me to inherit and when that story is told I feel SO proud that the world is listening to Africa,” says Dr John Kani. “It warms my heart knowing that it’s now being taken to even greater heights as an all new live orchestral experience – I cannot wait for local audiences to experience The Lion King in this way,” he added.

The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon. Utilizing pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way.

The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra

The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, which has always provided the best of local and international soloists and conductors will add harmony to the new film. The Orchestra epitomises the highest standards and world class skills in performing arts.

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Credit: Celeste van der Berg Photography

The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) was formed in May 2000 by a group of committed and resilient musicians following the demise of the National Symphony Orchestra. It has continued to consistently perform regular series of Symphony Seasons, attracting the best international and local soloists and conductors, as well as being the orchestra of choice for State functions in Gauteng.

 

  • The film is presented, on a 13mx7m projection screen, its full duration of 118 minutes and accompanied by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra throughout. Computicket is the official ticketing partner.

 

Are you going to see the Lion King LIVE in concert with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra?

10, 11 & 12 December 2019 at The Sun Arena, Times Square Pretoria.

Here’s an opportunity to add an unforgettable experience to your family festivities this month.

Spirited Mama

x

** Disclaimer: I was invited to attend the rehearsal. Thank you Just A Mamma for  graciously sharing Celeste van der Berg Photography’s beautiful pictures with me.

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Chalmer Beef celebrates Golden jubilee and raises funds for Little Eden Society

Chalmar Beef celebrated their golden jubilee whilst raising funds for the Little Eden Society

A few weeks ago I was invited to a Beef Auction. My initial reaction was “what would I possibly do there”? I’m delighted that I said “yes” because not only was it fun and interactive BUT the food! OMG, the food was AMAZING! I am not a big meat eater BUT I do love a piece of good meat, every now and then.

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Chalmar Beef recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. While this milestone was a worthwhile celebration, how they chose to commemorate their special day was even more astounding; raising funds through a meat auction with some of the proceeds for Little Eden Society which cares for 300 residents living with intellectual and physical disabilities.

 

“The auction was a wonderful success. A portion of the funds raised will go towards supporting the daily costs associated with running Little Eden. We are very much entrenched in our community and honouring our legacy while taking care of those in need is part of our value system,” explains Chalmar Beef CEO, Willem Wethmar.

 

Chalmar had a variety guests attend their golden jubilee, with their customers, suppliers and members of the media making up most of the turnout.

“People who love to eat are always the best people.~Julia Child”

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My friend, Chanene, from Tonic and Tiaras

Find yourself a friend who will share their BEEF with you 🙂

“Our customers are our greatest stakeholders. Having them celebrate with us was very important and we hope to continue enjoying the working relationship we have with them,” continues Wethmar.

Also, I got to hang with the MC, “Lallie” aka Thabiso Khambule. And yes, I did ask him to “laugh” like he does on Jacaranda FM.

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The Chalmar Beef farm and abattoir operation includes over 300 dedicated and passionate people, it has a farm feedlot capacity of 20 000 cattle and a further 19 000 cattle on pasture. The farm also produces maize silage on 1 000ha of high potential soil. The grain feeding of the cattle at Chalmar Beef is an exact science which requires dedication and hard work. Their operation runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“There is one constant which has not changed and will not change for Chalmar Beef and that is the focus on producing consistently tender and juicy beef. As we don’t buy market-ready cattle from other feedlot producers, we have complete control over the production process from the feedlot into the abattoir,” Wethmar explains.

The farm is still owned and managed by the Wethmar family who started the business 50 years ago. They continue to be proudly involved in the day to day running of Chalmar.

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“We would like to thank the many people who came out to support us and the worthy cause we are advocating for. We would also like to extend our gratitude to those that have played, and are continuing to play, a positive role in setting the culture of our work ethic and core values. We look forward to a future of innovation, growth and mutual success as Chalmar Beef celebrates another 50 years,” Wethmar concludes.

Beef with a cause! Well done Chalmer Beef. Here’s to another 50 years.

Spirited Mama

x

P.S. Did you know that you can order your meat online and it will be delivered to you 🙂 You can thank me later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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