TheBleghHousewife

The Deets: This gem is all kinds of amazing. Situated next to a driving range AND a car wash, it means that you can grab a breakfast, let your little one play and get your car cleaned all at the same time (#Winning). Find it at 47 Boeing Road West, Bedfordview, 2007. (Next to Gilloolys Farm) : Open 9.00am – 4.00pm (Tues – Sun)                                                                     Creeky Tree has two Lapa areas that can be booked out for functions – either for kids birthdays, baby showers and sometimes even year-end functions. The food: Creeky Tree has a beautiful restaurant area that stretches the entirety of the under-cover patio. ...

So I'm immensely lucky to know and call Ana Trujic a friend. Seriously, she's a bomb-shell, model, blogger and bad-ass mom to two beautiful little boys. She has somehow kept her fashionista status (and figure) throughout pregnancy, breastfeeding and running after a toddler. I'm in awe of her. Seriously, she ALWAYS looks amazing and just seems to be juggling this mom life with ease. So at one of her playdates I asked her how she manages. Read her answers below: As a mother, how has your fashion/dress sense changed? I’ve definitely traded my heels in for sneakers when I received my new Mama title. Running after your toddler in heels is not so glamorous. And I guess, with sneakers comes a more casual look. Sometimes sporty. My heels do still have their place for those rare kid-free nights out. But day-to-day I’m the sneaker lady. Let's talk about dressing for breastfeeding without looking like a troll: how do you manage to look so stylish all the time w...

As a mom sleep is such a contentious issue. From that new-born stage, to the various (effing) sleep regressions and then of course the teething - sleep, or rather the lack of it, is a continuous point of conversation. So whilst I don't have the answers on how to get your precious cherub to sleep (seriously, I rock, bounce, sway, sometimes co-sleep, and do anything possible to get my child to sleep), I did ask Monique at Spoilt Inc. for some tips on how to counter those puffy eyes. I mean just because you are sleep deprived, doesn't mean that you have to look like it. So here are five tips on how to reduce puffy eyes: 1) Water. Yeah - we've all heard this one, and I may sound like a broken record, but seriously - water! The more water you drink the less water you retain with the effect of toxins being flushed and swelling reduced. So keep that water bottle with you throughout the day. 2) Try sleeping (when sleep actually happens) with 2 pillows, elevating y...

The Deets: This place is honestly a gem in itself. It has everything a kid could want. Animal Farm? Check! Play Area? Check! Food? Check! Find it at 48 Keyes Avenue, Rosebank. Open 9.30am – 4.00pm (Tues – Sun)                                                                              The Noisy Rooster boasts Catz’s nail and beauty salon, and a farm stall/ market which sells organic food from the Heversham farm. You can also host a children’s birthday party at The Noisy Rooster.   Different programs for kids are continuously running here, so check out their website to keep yourself up to...

So I've back and forthed on this one for a while. The statistical number of the amount of images a child has posted of them on social media by the time they are five years old is astronomical. It just makes me want to scream 'Curate your content!' I'm probably not going to be very popular here, but honestly, you don't have to share every picture of your kid every second of every day. Also, if you are posting pictures of your child in marginally different (but mostly similar) positions doing exactly the same thing - why? Just why! Can you not just pick one? Okay, that's mostly on a personal note. Most of the time I LOVE looking at pictures of my friends kids (and by extension my son's friends - shame, he thinks he has a choice in his friendships, but really it's all me). But here's my deal (and this is what works for me, it's definitively not for everyone). I don't post my son's face on social media. Occasionally my friends will p...

Mom Life can be pretty hectic with very little (read zero) downtime. This means that selfcare often goes out the window, which is kind of crappy because you can’t pour from an empty cup – ya know what I mean? So I decided to get my nails done (treat yourself!), but I literally only had an hour to spare. I popped into Spoilt Inc and boy – did they deliver! In one hour I got a gelish mani and pedi, which is kind-of a big feat. And when you’re running after a little person every hour counts. The ladies were absolutely lovely and completely understood what I wanted. I don’t like to get tips because a) I have a fear of stabbing my child with my nails whilst changing his nappy and b) for the first few days I’m completely useless with zips – seriously, I can never get the zip of my jeans up (yes, I’ve picked up weight, but that’s not the reason and totally besides the point and deserves an entire post on its own). Anyway, I digress: The point (or not really – get it?) is that I ...

The Deets: So this past week we’ve had some decidedly cold days in Joburg, leaving me wondering what to do with a busy toddler. Kidz Fun House is undoubtedly the answer. Find it at 11 SunRock Close, SunnyRock Park, Ext 2 Edenvale: Open 9.00am – 5.00pm (Mon – Sun) Kidz Fun House is complete with Pit Stop Cafe, The Nail Bar, Natasha’s Hair Salon and a huge indoor play area. There are also three venues that you can book out for birthday parties, making this playground a hit with moms and children alike. The food: PitStop Café boasts a huge counter with all sorts of chocolates, sweets and fridges filled with different cold drinks and waters. Off the menu you can order the likes of toasted sandwiches, burgers, hotdogs, Cappuccinos (always a necessity!) and milkshakes (Yay!). The Atmosphere: The atmosphere is mostly mom orientated – which means you’ll either see groups of moms, or a lone mother watching her child play. PitStop café has a separate area (de...

The Deets: So this is a regular hangout spot for me because a) the coffee is GOOD and b) it’s got a really great vibe. Find it at 24A Riley Road, Bedfordview:            Open 8.00am – 5.00pm (Tues – Thurs)                                                                                             8:00am – 8:00pm (Fri & Sat)                           ...

So I've back and forthed on this one for a while: What is the best age gap between children? I think the reason I'm so hung up on this is because while I want a second child I don't want it to affect my son negatively. That sweet, cuddly nature of his - will it change? The way he grabs my hand and marches me around the house to show me things. The way he's discovering his independence. At the end of the day, I don't want him to feel less. Less wanted. Less loved. Less independent. Receiving less attention. Just less. The other side of the coin is that I think he'd really like having a sibling. How beautiful will it be to see him as a big brother? Will his nurturing nature translate well into big brother status? Will he share all of his newfound independence, encouraging a little soul to get up to no good with him? And then, if this is all to be true (and believed), then what is the best age gap between children? And so I go back and forth. Breastfeed...