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**Disclaimer – Puveshree, from Life’s A Treat, received a gift card to purchase any item on her wish list from Wellness Warehouse. The views and opinions expressed are Puveshree’s own. Photo credits go to Puveshree too as all images were supplied by her 🙂 **

I decided to feature a series of Wellness posts to find out how other moms #LiveLifeWell The purpose of this series is to enlighten readers and show you how small changes can yield big results for you and your family too.

Part 4 – LiveLifeWell with Wellness Warehouse & Life’s A Treat

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Puveshree from Life’s A Treat

1. The woman behind Life’s A Treat – meet Puveshree

My name is Puveshree and I live in Johannesburg with my dear husband, precious little girl and 2 dogs. I have a full time job in corporate and 2 blogs.
Life’s A Treat is a my main blog and bloomed around me overcoming health conditions like gestational diabetes, PCOS and gall stones. I had to take charge of my health and had a passion to empower other women to do the same. I’ve always loved food and travelling, but most of all being a mom so the blog bloomed into a lifestyle, food and parenting blog.

2. Why you choose to #livelifewell

I wasn’t always healthy. In fact, as a teenager and young adult I ate really badly and was constantly on a diet or skipped meals in the hope of losing weight. I constantly complained of being tired and having digestive issues like bloating, cramps and all sorts. I eventually was diagnosed with IBS and developed gestational diabetes while pregnant. At this stage, I knew that changes needed to be made so I can be the best me for myself, my husband and my daughter.

Gradually, I realised I had to change my destructive ways, understand where my food came from and my journey into veganism started. I learnt to cook and started eating whole foods mainly vegetables and found I was falling in love with food, life, and most important of all, myself. My taste buds were transformed and I started craving the healthier meals. The afternoon energy slump was eliminated, binge eating went out the window and I kicked my sugar addiction. All that came from giving my body what it needs! It’s such a good feeling.

3. Share with us what you bought at Wellness Warehouse

My voucher from Wellness Warehouse served me very well and I have estimated that these ingredients will take me through at least 10 to 12 smoothie bowls which is my perfect breakfast packed with superfoods and nutritional value. Below are the items I purchased:

Products purchased at Wellness Warehouse

Cravings Bountiful Dreams – This healthier version of a biscuit ticks all the boxes. Not too sweet with the perfect texture for a coconut biscuit. The chocolate flavour comes through in the right amount. It is vegan and gluten free.
Biona Date Syrup – Made from certified organic dates. This syrupy goodness is perfect in smoothies bowls, on pancakes and waffles.
Nature’s Charm Coconut Chocolate Fudge Sauce – This is a vegan sauce free from soy and gluten. Made from raw cacao powder and coconut milk.This sauce bloomed with each mouthful of the smoothie bowl I made. It is so versatile and can be used as a chocolatey topping on smoothies, in icecream for that chocolate ripple taste and has toppings to desserts.
Raspberry powder – Freeze dried raspberries blended to form the perfect powder. Freeze drying ensures maximum nutrients are retained. This powder is not only a beautiful shade of crimson but packs the ideal level of tartness to balance a sweet dish. Perfect for smoothies, acai bowls and toppings on desserts.
Hemp Seeds – Hemp seeds are rich in healthy fats and essential fatty acids. They are also a great protein source and contain high amounts of vitamin E, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron and zinc. Ideal on smoothie bowls, salads and sprinkled on cooked meals.

Using the above ingredients and frozen fruit I made a raspberry and chocolate ripple banana smoothie bowl (some people call it a nicecream bowl), its dairy and refined sugar free.

Perfect for those mornings when you need a boost of nutrition and energy.

“nicecream” Smoothie bowl by Life’s A Treat

Here is the recipe for the smoothie bowl:

1 cup frozen banana

Quarter cup coconut water

1 tsp date syrup

Blend until ice-cream texture forms.

Top with biscuit, chocolate fudge sauce, raspberry powder and hemp seeds.

Happy smoothie making.

I will be putting up more recipes on the blog using the above ingredients.

Where to find Life’s A Treat:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifesatreat_sa_blog

A new page to follow: https://www.instagram.com/jhb_vegan_kitchen

Blog Website: www.lifesatreat.co.za

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifesatreat

Win with Wellness Warehouse & Life’s A Treat. Follow the link below

Spirited Mama

x

T’s & C’s apply

Part 1 – LiveLifeWell with Wellness Warehouse & Spirited Mama

Part 2 – LiveLifeWell with Wellness Warehouse & High Heels and Fairy Tales

Part 3 – Back to school snacks to LiveLifeWell with Wellness Warehouse & MammaChef Jozi

NB! Remember to subscribe to my blog to catch the other parts and giveaways in this series.

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Back to school snacks to Live Life Well with Wellness Warehouse & MammaChefJozi… Part 3 + Win

By spiritedmama1

On January 9, 2019

In Lifestyle, Wellness

**Disclaimer – Jeanne-Riette, from MammaChefJozi, received a gift card to purchase any item on her wish list from Wellness Warehouse. The views and opinions expressed are Jeanne-Riette’s own. Photo credits go to Jeanne-Riette too as all images were supplied by her 🙂 **

I decided to feature a series of Wellness posts to find out how other moms #LiveLifeWell The purpose of this series is to enlighten readers and show you how small changes can yield big results for you and your family too.

Part 3 – LiveLifeWell with Wellness Warehouse & MammaChef Jozi

MammaChef Jozi – Jeanne-Riette

1. The woman behind MammaChef Jozi – meet Jeanne-Riette

MammaChef Jozi is a blog that started around a table and it revolves mostly about what’s on the table, i.e. the food, the treats, and of course the wine.

It’s also about who’s around the table, the stories that are told around the table and often even about what we do to put food on the table.

Sometimes it’s about what makes you want to bang your head on the table and even occasionally, dancing for joy on the table!

In short, it’s family, food and feels!

2. Why you choose to #livelifewell

My food philosophy is really very simple. I believe in cooking healthy, uncomplicated meals with fresh ingredients. I choose to #LiveLifeWell in all aspects of life, looking after our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, doing our bit for the environment and doing good where and when we can.

Obviously this all sounds very idealistic and life does tend to happen. Sometimes just getting through the day and ending it off with a warm plate of food and a glass of wine is enough!

3. Share with us what you bought at Wellness Warehouse

Wellness Warehouse makes it easy to #LiveLifeWell with their wonderful variety of products for eating and lifestyle.

With a new school year on the horizon, I decided to focus on healthy snacks for school. I have been experimenting with different kinds of “energy balls” for a while now and the kids absolutely love them!

What’s great about these is that they’re affordable to make, I know exactly what has gone into them, making them is a fun activity for the boys and I and you can really use your imagination and combine all kinds of ingredients!

What I bought at Wellness Warehouse

My voucher from WW really went a long way! I bought:

Steel cut oats

Dates

Almond butter

Chia seeds

Flax seeds

Raw almonds

Dried cranberries

Raw honey and

Wazoogles Superfood Powder (which I am a little obsessed with, I got two different ones)

Wazoogles Superfoods

From this I will be making at least three different types of energy balls, which I will be posting on the blog leading up to school starting on 16 January 2019! On the menu are Cranberry, Vanilla and Nut balls, Chocolate Brownie balls and some Almond Date balls. I can pop them in the freezer in the meantime and when needed, pack them in the lunchbox with some fruit and rice cakes, egg wraps or a sandwich.

Where to find MammaChef Jozi:

Blog: https://www.mammachefjozi.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mammachefjozi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mammachefjozi

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mammachefjozi

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mammachefjozi

Win with Wellness Warehouse & MammaChefJozi. Follow the link below

Spirited Mama

x

T’s & C’s apply

Part 1 – LiveLifeWell with Wellness Warehouse & Spirited Mama

Part 2 – LiveLifeWell with Wellness Warehouse & High Heels and Fairy Tales

NB! Remember to subscribe to my blog to catch the other parts and giveaways in this series.

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Medical Aids…what THEY don’t tell you… Part 1

By spiritedmama1

On January 7, 2019

In choices, Health care, medical aid

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are MY own. This is NOT a sponsored post. I am in NO way referring to any one medical aid. The aim of my post is to shed some light on the terminology referred to by medical aids and/or medical professionals and to hopefully help YOU avoid going through unnecessary drama in case you have to deal with your medical aid.

With a new year brings a healthy new balance of medical aid funds 🙂 If you have kids, you will understand how towards the end of every year you use your funds cautiously, to ensure that you are covered right up until 31 December!

Medical Aids

We JUST can’t live without it. Well, my family can’t. We have two kids. Albeit, they are NOT sickly/unhealthy, we have had our fair share or trips to the Emergency Room and being admitted to hospital. We have a comprehensive plan that cost quite a bit every month. It is becoming more prevalent that people are seeking out only hospital plans as opposed to a full comprehensive plan.

For me, the pro’s outweigh the con’s when it comes to a full comprehensive plan. I heard people saying, “save the monthly premium that you would give to the medical aid”. In my experience, even if we saved up a full year’s premiums, we would still NOT have enough money to cover everything that the medical does. Also, none of the people who say this actually have a savings plan as they advise…

I get that life happens and you might save the first month or three, but then other expenses creep in and you suddenly use “that saving” towards something else. And before you know it, the year is gone. What have you actually saved?

Medical aid is my family’s perk!

What your medical aid doesn’t tell you

Do you know what a PMB is? PMB=Prescribed minimum benefit. That means that YOU are entitled to receive the necessary medical attention and the medical aid SHOULD pay for it as long as your treating doctor deems the diagnosis as a PMB. Every medical aid has a PMB list. This list should be readily available to members on their websites or sent to members upon request. Do you know what YOU are eligible for under PMBs? READ THE FINE PRINT!

Some doctors will motivate a diagnosis and others won’t. The gist of the matter is that medical aids are slightly more inclined to pay for your expenses should your doctor motivate certain procedures and/or medication.

Co-payments for medical procedures

Do you just pay or do you question WHY you have a co-payment? Fact is that I have been told I needed to pay and then in fact it was NOT the case. Refer back to getting your doctor to motivate a procedure and/or medication. Do not just pay the co-payment. Question them. You are entitled to an explanation as to why this expense is your responsibility. You might be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

Another situation that has surfaced is that so many doctors are contracted out and require a payment upfront from the patient or patient’s parent/guardian. I get that some medical aids will pay only the bare minimum and I also get that some doctors charge exorbitant fees. BUT can doctors and medical aids not reach a compromise? Not everyone is by means to fork out cash upfront, that’s why you pay for medical aid.

I also understand that as a patient, you are the customer, and it is your right to shop around. But what do you do when doctor X is the only doctor closest to you that can do whatever procedure is required BUT they charge 300 sometimes 500 % of medical aid rates?

This discussion on medical aids can go on to infinity and beyond. Hence, why I said that this is only PART 1. I know that I won’t change the situation with just one post BUT I do think that we, the customers, CAN and WILL make a difference is we SPEAK UP!

Do you have a medical aid?

Do they cover everything without you having to donate an organ?

Spirited Mama

x

P.S. Happy 2019 folks!

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Live Life Well with Wellness Warehouse & High Heels and Fairy Tales… Part 2 + Win

By spiritedmama1

On December 17, 2018

In Lifestyle, Wellness

**Disclaimer – Charlene, from High Heels and Fairy Tales, received a gift card to purchase any item on her wish list from Wellness Warehouse. The views and opinions expressed are Charlene’s own. Photo credit go to Charlene too 🙂 **

I decided to feature a series of Wellness posts to find out how other moms #LiveLifeWell The purpose of this series is to enlighten readers and show you how small changes can yield big results for you and your family too.

Part 2 – LiveLifeWell with Wellness Warehouse & High Heels and Fairy Tales

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High Heels and Fairy Tales family

1. The woman behind High Heels and Fairy Tales – meet Charlene

I’m a stay at home mom, homeschooling my little girl. I love high heels, but I practically live in sneakers these days because well, #momlife. I’m a Disney fan, and on a movie night in, nothing’s going to win over Marvel or Star Wars.

I’ve been blogging for a few years now. My blog is my little space online where I talk about mom life, places we’ve been, food and products that we’ve tried and loved, and pretty much everything in between. My little family loves to travel, and we’re busy preparing for our most last-minute holiday yet – can you say EXCITING?

2. Why you choose to #livelifewell

Having a little person really motivates you to #livelifewell. I want to make better choices for my family, so that we’re able to fully enjoy every second together. I also want to be to be able to set a good example for my little one when it comes to truly living life well.

3. Share with us what you bought at Wellness Warehouse

Skin Creamery’s Everyday Cream has been on my wish list ever since I read some great reviews earlier this year. I’m so glad that I finally got to try it. The South African product contains all natural and organic ingredients. It’s gentle enough for the face, yet rich and moisturizing enough for the body.

Personally, I find it a little too heavy for my face especially in this weather. I do think it would work wonderfully in Winter though. I absolutely love how the cream feels on my arms and legs. My skin feels amazing, and I can’t help but use it as a hand cream each time I wash my hands! It absorbs quickly, and you don’t need to use too much.

The brand’s ethos is to be kind to the earth (hello pretty glass bottle), and kind to your skin. Very cool. The packaging also gets a thumbs up – the black and white box and the clean, simple design of the bottle are both lovely.

Where to find Charlene:

Blog: http://highheelsandfairytales.co.za

Facebook: https://facebook.com/HighHeelsAndFairyTales

Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlene_bhana

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeelsFairyTales

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4cCyXTlw4zMJOIed_qog7w

Pinterest: https://za.pinterest.com/charlu18

Win with Wellness Warehouse & High Heels and Fairy Tales. Follow the link below

Spirited Mama

x

T’s & C’s apply

Part 1 – LiveLifeWell with Wellness Warehouse & Spirited Mama

NB! Remember to subscribe to my blog to catch the other parts and giveaways in this series.

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Ever considered buying a car seat as the Christmas gift?

By spiritedmama1

On December 11, 2018

In Car seats, Child safety

** disclaimer – This is NOT a sponsored post. We actually BOUGHT the car seat and have been using it almost a year now. I just wanted to share some information with you and challenge your thinking.*

***The two seats in the featured image – 1985 is the seat that Dudie’s teacher, Mrs R-thank you for sending me the picture, used when she was a little girl. This was an actual car seat and lawd alone knows how that seat could have passed safety testing. 2018 is the seat that Troll is currently using.

Reality is little Johnny is not going to be phased with the latest and greatest toy. And I bet that your sweet angel will be playing with pots/pans/cups/cutlery and vegetables almost as quickly as you take down your Christmas tree. Just out of interest, do you buy your baby/toddler expensive gifts/practical gifts?

In the Spirited house – Safety first – NO compromise. The car does not move until you have your belt on and that goes for every single occupant, adult and child alike. Before the kids came along, Dude and I followed this rule regardless. It has become a natural habit for us. You get in, put your seat belt on and start the car. Even Dudie and Troll know the drill, belts on! Period.

I challenge you to think rationally and consider buying a car seat. It is an INVESTMENT. With the festive season in full swing, you might be travelling or not. BUT driving down the road is just as dangerous than taking on a road trip. You just don’t know what lies ahead. Are you sure that you are giving your child(ren) the best safety options, considering what is best for you?

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Image credit from @CARSEATFULLSTOP.ORG

I get that budgets differ and as parents we all try to do the best we can in the present moment and circumstance. But I still see way too many kids bobbing around on the seats in moving vehicles on the road. I cringe when my extended family think that I’m being a hard ass about the fact that my children MUST be strapped in EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY ARE IN A CAR! They are my children and I must ensure that I protect them as best I can!

We are currently use the Be Safe iZi Combi x4 isofix for Troll. Yes, I know it’s not an average priced car seat but here are some of the reasons why we bought it anyway:

Safety crash tested
Can be used rear or forward facing, although I prefer to keep Troll rear facing. He loves it and chats to me via his mirror 🙂 Dude has used the seat forward facing…
Can be secured with either isofix or seat belt
Comes with SIP (Side Impact Protection)
Excellent value for money
And Troll seems very comfortable in this seat, being a slightly bigger than average child.

*Don’t fret if you don’t have isofix fittings in your car, securing the car seat with the seat belt actually feels very sturdy.

Click here for more information about the iZi Combi x4 car seat.

Troll and I recently visited the Born Fabulous office in Johannesburg. Here is Troll in the iZi Flex Fix iSize (New Booster Seat from BeSafe).

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Troll testing the izi Flex Fix booster seat

He is not ready to move over to this seat as I think he can still get some good wear out of his iZi Combi. But I was keen to see this seat as it is more suitable for Dudie, still in a booster seat at 9 years old and will be in a seat until he is 12 years old if I can help it.

An interesting feature is that the seat is a smaller version of the previous booster and the SIPs (Side Impact Protection) are removable. Technically, you can now fit 3 of these seats next to each other on your back seat. I’ve seen the question of “which seats can be recommended if you need to fit 3 car seats into your vehicle” pop up often. Well, here is something that you might want to consider if you need three car seats on your back seat.

Click here for more information on the iZi Flex Fix iSize.

Another upgrade is the belt collector. We’ve used version 1 and although it served it’s purpose, I am way more impressed with the new belt collector. Here’s a demo of how to install it.

Today, I want to challenge you to rethink your Christmas gift guide.

Would you buy a car seat as a Christmas gift? Why not get family members to chip in and buy a collective gift, re: car seat?

Spirited Mama

x

** After months of extended research and speaking to industry we decided that BeSafe was our best option. There are many people willing to give advice BUT I do recommend that you chat to Mandy Lee Miller at CarSeatFullstop for expert and proven advice and guidance. You can also chat via the facebook page and join the conversation with other parents also looking for advice.

Live Life Well with Wellness Warehouse & Spirited Mama…Part 1 + WIN

By spiritedmama1

On December 4, 2018

In Lifestyle, Wellness

Why I choose to Live Life Well

***Disclaimer – I received a gift card to purchase products at Wellness Warehouse. However, if you follow my social media accounts you will see that I often use their products in our daily lives. The views and opinions expressed are my own.***

Wellness Warehouse is for ordinary/normal/conventional/traditional/etc people. Everyone. The very people you pass in the streets who are trying to make better lifestyle choices.

I’m not skinny nor am I a health guru/expert but I am a parent, trying my best to give my family some wellness, balance and healthier lifestyle choices.

As a mom, I’m always looking for ways to #LiveLifeWell and naturally I was intrigued and drawn to Wellness Warehouse, who encompasses the very essence of living life well. Wellness Warehouse not only caters for my needs but my entire family benefits from my wellness expeditions.

Background snippet to Wellness Warehouse or simply click here for more information. Did you know that you can also shop online 🙂

Established in 2007, Wellness Warehouse is the combined inspiration of brothers Sean & Carlos Gomes.
Sean is a medical doctor with a passion for preventative health and Carlos is a pioneer and health-obsessed visionary with a lifetime of retail experience.
With their combined skills in retail and medicine they created the first store in South Africa with the sole purpose of offering a comprehensive list of health and wellness products to help you to live life well.

I decided to feature a series of Wellness posts to find out how other moms #LiveLifeWell

Part 1 – LiveLifeWell with Wellness Warehouse & Spirited Mama

I am NO expert, neither am I a food/fitness fundi. I am a woman as well a mom looking for ways to get my and my family’s wellness on track.

I was first introduced to Wellness Warehouse on social media and then at a media event at one of their Gauteng branches. Well, it changed my thinking.

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spiritedmama quotes

Not only will you find organic and plain old fashioned just good for you products but all sorts of interesting goods you may not even have known existed. There is no way of popping into a store quickly. You will spend a fair amount of time inside the Wellness Warehouse and you will want to go back as they always have new products to try. From superfoods to body wash, toothpaste to an organic baby range.

Did you know they have a wellness consultant in store to answer any questions you have and to advise and/or recommend products for you, to suit your lifestyle?

An added bonus are the in-store wellness cafés, where you can recharge with a smoothie, fresh pressed juice, coffee and even some delicious gluten free florentines or just good old chocolate cake. In my opinion, both are equally delicious. If you happen to visit one of the bigger stores you are in for a treat as they have a buffet station too. Be it breakfast/brunch/lunch, you will enjoy their healthy yet homely foods on offer.

In our home we have made small changes which are yielding big results. Some of our favourite Wellness Warehouse products are:

Milk Thistle capsules for me

Superfood shakes for Dudie, I use these as post recovery drinks as this child has a very active lifestyle with sports. Recently, I started adding moringa powder. It doesn’t alter the taste so the child is non the wiser BUT he just seems like a better version of himself. These shakes are also my go to drink when I’m having a crazy day trying to get my eldest to his extra murals.

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Gluten free flapjacks as well as Gluten free chocolate cake for Dude. If you offer him anything healthy, he’ll turn his nose up BUT these two specific items are the ones that he generally wants more of.

Troll, currently 22 months old, just eats whatever is on offer. Although, these orange chocolate bliss balls are a favourite as well as the dried cranberries. *Troll and I are the only two, in this house, who love dark chocolate. It’s my little treat just for the two of us to share 🙂

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Want to WIN a R500 Wellness Warehouse voucher?

Comment below with either your favourite product from the Wellness store, or a wish list item if you haven’t been to or experienced a Wellness Warehouse prior to this post.
Like Wellness Warehouse & Spirited Mama on Facebook.

NB! Remember to subscribe to my blog to catch the other parts and giveaways in this series.

Additional entries:

Share the post on Facebook and tag a friend, remember to tag me @spiritedmama1 so that I can validate your entry.
Follow @spiritedmamablog on Instagram. Follow the steps outlined in the post. I will link the post to my bio.
Follow @spirited_mama1 on Twitter. RT the competition post, I will pin this blog post on my profile, and make sure to tag me and use #LiveLifeWell and #spiritedmama so that I can validate your additional entry.

Spirited Mama

x

T’s & C’s

**Competition closes Sunday 9 December 2018 at 23:59. Winner will be announced on my social media accounts, 10 December 2018.
Open to South African residents only.
Winner will be randomly selected.
No correspondence will be entered into once a winner is selected.
I reserve the right to disqualify invalid entries. **

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52 lessons for 52 weeks: Week 17 – LISTEN

By spiritedmama1

On November 21, 2018

In About me, Goals

Listen more than you speak

Do you listen more than you speak? I’m very guilty of NOT listening enough. Just ask Dudie, my 9 year old son. I have this kak habit of answering him before he is done speaking… I’m working on it, I promise. Maybe I should put my finger on my mouth whilst I wait for him to finish, like we did in primary school when we had to be quiet 🙂

On another note, time is precious and the amount of questions or information that my child shares with me is incredible. I have been apologising so much lately that I’m too impatient waiting for him to finish. No matter what he is saying, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIM. I am acknowledging him and his needs.

Listen more than you talk. Nobody learned anything by hearing themselves speak. – Richard Branson

Listen with intent to understand the message being conveyed

Honestly, I’m so consumed in my own tasks that I forget to listen to the actual message. I summarise and grab bits of information and then just draw my conclusion from there. I’ve gotten it wrong so many times. BUT I have realised that I am wasting more time. I really should just stop and LISTEN and get it right the first time. It’s a work in progress.

Did you know that listening is a skill? By listening you will ensure that you will be communicating effectively. Do you know if you are an active or inactive listener?

I used to be an inactive listener until I decided no more. I try my hardest to actually listen to what is being said. I would summarise the message and regurgitate what I think the message was. This way I’m establishing whether I’m on the right track with said message.

I’m sure you are familiar with the saying about why you have two ears, “listen twice as much before you speak”…

Well, take note and LISTEN! It’s all about intentional living now.

I’m striving to be a more active listener…

Are you an active listener?

Spirited Mama

x

If you are new to my series find the previous posts below:

Week 1 – Living with intent

Week 2 – Be an example

Week 3 – Be YOU

Week 4 – Treasure people NOT possessions

Week 5 – Change is inevitable

Week 6 – Let it go

Week 7 – Love YOURSELF

Week 8 – FORGIVE

Week 9 – TRUST

Week 10 – BELIEVE in yourself

Week 11 – Find GOOD Friends

Week 12 – Enjoy the small things… F*ck balance

Week 13 – Be KIND

Week 14 – Be PATIENT

Week 15 – ARM yourself

Week 16 – Take a TIME OUT

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Experience a global favourite – The ABBA Show

By spiritedmama1

On November 14, 2018

In Entertainment, Lifestyle

The world`s premier live ABBA tribute show is set to return to mesmerize Johannesburg audiences in January and February 2019 – two years after a virtual sell-out performance run at Emperors Palace.

Nostalgic memories of the 70’s and 80’s, platforms and leotards as well as your favourite ABBA hits will be all the reason to see The ABBA Show live at Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace in the New Year.

Far from being deemed as just another cover band, The ABBA Show is brought to you by the internationally acclaimed tribute act, ABBAsolutely fABBAulous. This full-scale concert production features over two hours of fun, energetic musical performances with a live backing band, replica costumes, theatrical lighting and all the dancing an ABBA fan can handle.

The ABBA Show gives fans of all ages a chance to re-live the ABBA concert experience, celebrate the music of ABBA and dance the night away.

Hannah Pocock

Brits Hannah Pocock as Agnetha and Jenna Ball as Frida are set to dazzle audiences while Brent McMullen and Zac Coombs will take on the roles of Bjorn and Benny!

Audiences will see ABBAsolutely fABBAulous belt out classic ABBA hits on stage such as Dancing Queen, Knowing Me Knowing You, Ring, The Winner Takes It All, Fernando, Super Trouper and many more.

“The timeless and instantly recognisable tunes of ABBA are bound to keep audiences on their feet throughout the show. This is the music that transcends age and brings people together to sing along and enjoy a night of hit performances, because – let’s face it – who doesn’t love a good ABBA singalong?” says Celeste-Anne Nicholas, the Group Entertainment Manager for Emperors Palace.

The ABBA Show @ Emperors Palace – 18 January until 10 February 2019, presented by Showtime Australia.

Tickets for this spectacular show can be purchased via Computicket at either www.computicket.comor via Checkers and Shoprite retail stores, countrywide, and are priced between R250 and R470 each.

For further details about the show, visit: www.facebook.com/theabbashow as well as the show’s official website at www.theabbashow.com.au

Mamma Mia, here we go again!

Spirited Mama

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Cancer was the reason I never ate birthday cake yet

By spiritedmama1

On October 30, 2018

In Birthdays, Cancer

Cancer took over

Little did I know the magnitude of emotions that the past few weeks had in store. Dude planned a getaway to Cape Town for us. Among all the schedules, we had planned on visiting my aunt, she was more like my big sister though. She was diagnosed with Cancer in 2104. She underwent a mastectomy and received aggressive treatment and was given the all clear in 2015. As a family, we exhaled. She was in remission. Then… earlier this year, the cancer was back and even more aggressive than before. The plan was to spend part of my birthday, 19 October, with her…

Cancer is not new to us But it’s not something one can ever get used to. I wrote about When Cancer happens in our family. In September, I hopped on a plane to spend the day with my big sister/aunt. Although very few words were said, in her fragile state, I still had the best time with her.

I never ate birthday cake yet

On my birthday, I got a call from my cousins, aunt’s kids… you need to come see mom… we got there and I was so numb seeing her like that. She knew I was there, she even held my hand. No words were spoken as I just had NOTHING… My heart was broken as I knew what was inevitable.

Sadly, she passed away on Saturday, 20 October. The day after my birthday. My heart is shattered. The past few days have been a roller coaster of emotions. But Wednesday, after she had passed, was hard. As I left my office, I had Mamma on my mind. I wrote about her here and a few other places too. When I turned on the ignition in the car, at that exact moment the radio played “Home” by Michael Bublé.

In that moment, I couldn’t hold it together, I broke. But my heart was also filled with JOY. When Mamma passed it was this song, but sung by Ruben Studdard, that ripped through me. So when I heard the original song by Michael Bublé, I knew Esmé had gone home to be with Mamma…

She was laid to rest on Saturday, 27 October. Only 3 rows behind Mamma…

Rest in Peace my Esmé ❤ I miss you more than words could ever say. I miss our late night chats and our hour long conversations in the afternoons as I cooked/went out to run errands/run after the kids at home. I miss waking up to your messages as I fell asleep during our chats.

You put up one helluva fight!

Lovies

Spirited Mama

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52 lessons for 52 weeks: Week 16 – Take a Time Out

By spiritedmama1

On October 29, 2018

In About me, Goals

You deserve a TIME OUT

Whether you think you don’t, believe me you deserve a TIME OUT. No matter how small that time out is. Remember the saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. Well, that’s where I’m finding myself. So two weekends ago, Dude decided we need a time out. Off we went to Cape Town.

Normally, we would stay with family but this time we found a holiday apartment at the beach 🙂 This is where we found Dudie most of the time…

Take a TIME OUT already

With life being so busy and getting even busier at times, everyone can do with a little break. We don’t normally do holiday getaways with the masses during peak season but rather prefer an “off season” frequent break every now and then. Due to budget constraints we can’t do this as often as we would like but we manage to squeeze them in. Also, it’s tricky to coordinate schedules so many times we just wing and make prior arrangements to catch up on school/work once we get back.

We also had birthday celebrations in between. My MIL turned 70 years and I turned 35 years old the day after her birth day. Dude and Dudie made a lavish breakfast with all the bells and whistles. Even non-alcoholic champers so that Dudie could toast with us 😜 Troll used his water cup to join in on the toast.

Cut yourself some slack

You really need to cut yourself some slack. You give the best of you but do you recharge YOU? Yes, I’m talking to myself here BUT I know that most of you can relate. You give and give, and give some more. When do you cut yourself some slack? Personally, this is extremely difficult as I feel that if I loosen the reigns things will fall apart. It’s OK to loosen the reigns a bit. My new motto; if it’s not going to harm anyone it will be OK.

As family, we needed to do “nothing”. We needed to let go of the routine and just wing it. We were busy but we needed the busyness of doing nothing. It was good for our souls.

The nothingness also became a big something as we said our final goodbyes to a family member. So in the midst of taking a time out, it was perfectly planned that we were in close proximity to be with family in a desperate time of need.