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Be Inspired, Featured Posts, Food, Interviews, Real Women.Real Life, Recipe Books

Real Women Real Life…

Real Women Real Life Sarah Graham

Today on Real Women Real Life, we get to look inside the life of Sarah Graham. Sarah is the foodie behind the blog afoodieliveshere and author of Bitten.

Sarah Graham – Bitten

Tell Us About Yourself:

As of October last year  Johannesburg is now our home. Having moved from Cape Town (Sarah used to live in the same area that I do), I approached the move with the usual disdain (for anywhere other than the mother city), that one would expect from Capetonians 😉 I have however been pleasantly surprised.

My goal in life is to raise content and considerate children, in a happy home with my amazing husband, to continue cooking with abandon for as long as I love it.

Where Do You Find Your Inspiration?

I am motivated and inspired by my family, friends and my love of food.

Indian-style Coconut Fish Curry Recipe from “afoodieliveshere”

 

What Are Your Strengths & Weaknesses?

I am not afraid of a challenge or hard work! I also like to think of myself as considerate and objective. On the flip side I can be impatient and feel that sometimes I am not spontaneous enough.

What Are Your Fears?

My biggest fear is rushing through life, getting to the other end and not having savoured all the special moments along the way.

What Keeps You Busy?

(Besides for being a mom, writing a blog and publishing a cook book!)

I am one of the founders and now marketing director for an award-winning responsible tourism company, www.africanimpact.com.

What Do You Do To Let Your Hair Down?

I love to socialize and cook. I spend my free time going to the movies, reading, doing Pilates and I love spending time in the bush.

What Is Your Favourite Foodie Website?

One of my best SA food websites for everything from recipes, to shopping and restaurant reviews is Eat In, who recently featured my book and my very precious 6 Minute Chocolate Cake Recipe.

What Do You Feel Your Biggest Success In Life Is?

Having a baby and so far being a reasonable Mum 🙂 Writing and publishing my cook book, entitled Bitten, which is currently available for purchase, in stores in South Africa and online.

What Has Been Your Greatest Challenge In Life?

Without a doubt – having a baby and being a parent has been my biggest challenge, it teaches you amazing selflessness, commitment, hard work and an overwhelming sense of unconditional love.

Thanks Sarah for sharing a bit about your life with us, we definitely share a passion for food and I look forward to trying more of your recipes! We wish you every success with your cook book and your life as a Mum.

Also in this interview series Real Women Real Life, meet Chicara from Lipgloss Kisses

 

Image Source: Sarah Graham, afoodieliveshere & Food 24

Children, Education, Family, Featured Posts, Lifestyle, Websites

Mammabella

My Community Feature this week is somewhat different as it is more of a cyber-community feature. Both my husband and I are rather passionate about education, both in our immediate family enviroment and in the greater community around us. We are always on the lookout for new and innovative ideas and concepts, like the one that I am about to introduce to you.

The website is called Mammabella, which is a fun website developed out of the need to create both an interest and appreciation of the Afrikaans language. Afrikaans is spoken natively in South Africa and it is the third most spoken mother tongue in the country. Most English-speaking schools, in South Africa, require Afrikaans to be studied as a second language, which can be difficult for parents who do not speak the language themselves and are not able to assist their children. Mammabella could be instrumental in encouraging learners from a young age to enjoy learning this language.

Who Is The Person Behind Mammabella?

Kirsten Rossiter, is the creator of Mammabella, she is a home-schooling mom of 3, a musician, songwriter and graphic designer. “Mammabella is a true extension of who I am and what I do – I love music, language, art and teaching.”

Why Did You Create Mammabella?

Mammabella started off as a challenge…to encourage my children, to want to learn Afrikaans. I began by making up funny, catchy songs in the car, in the kitchen, in the bedroom…anywhere…to try and teach them a basic Afrikaans vocabulary, made up of day-to-day things. I have been very impressed and surprised by the impact these songs have had on my children, they have grown in confidence in their Afrikaans vocabulary and actually started showing an interest in learning the language. After this personal success I decided to make my music available to other families too. I hope that Mammabella helps spark an interest in other children and encourages them to learn Afrikaans and enjoy it!

Where Does The Name Mammabella Come From?

The name Mammabella is one that is very close to my heart. Princess, a special Malawian friend to my daughter, Bella, used to call me Mammabella, in other words Bella’s mother. I was never Kirsten to her, only Mammabella…and I fell in love both with her and the cute little name she gave me. Shortly after she moved back to Malawi, my ideas for this site began to form, and there seemed no better name than Mammabella as a way of remembering little Princess.

What Can You Hope To Find On The Mammabella Website?

The website offers fun, sing-along songs, catchy tunes and entertaining pictures that will take your children on an Afrikaans musical adventure and while at the same time giving them a foundation in basic Afrikaans vocabulary. A selection of modules are available on the website, along with registration details and costs. Mammabella is currently offering a free introductory module, so pop over to their website and start your Afrikaans Musical Adventure!

Each song that you purchase forms part of a module that includes the following:

To find out more about this fun and inspiring website click on over to Mammabella or email them on [email protected] You can also follow them on Twitter.

Images: Mammabella

Fashion, Fashion, Featured Posts, Lifestyle

Giorgio Armani Fall 2012

 

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I am in love with this collection by Giorgio Armani, my favourite colour fuchsia, features a great deal. I adore the sleek lines and the combination of black and bright colours. The full collection has a fairly masculine feel about it, with fitted jackets, narrow cut trousers, and brogue-style flats. The overall look is sexy and polished.

 

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Too see the full collection and read the review of the collection, visit the Vogue website.

Be Inspired, Featured Posts, Interviews, Real Women.Real Life

Real Women Real Life Interview Series

Kathryn Rossiter Becoming You

Today we get to look inside the life of Kathryn Rossiter; Kathryn is the creator of the blog Becoming you.

Tell Us About Yourself:

I am from Cape Town, South Africa – the top tourism destination in the world!

I live in an area known as the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town. It is a beautiful area surrounded by mountains, forests, nature reserves and beaches! It really is a paradise to raise small children and I have to pinch myself that we are so blessed to live in a place so many people pay a small fortune to visit on holiday. We enjoy a wonderful outdoor lifestyle with great weather (besides the wind!) I love living in Cape Town as I am very fortunate to have grown up here and all my close family live within 10 minutes drive!

I am passionate about my children, family, friends, chocolate, magazines, books, photography, blogging….

My Dream – To be a success at raising my children while not losing sight of who I am or how important my marriage is! To travel the world would be pretty nice too!

What Motivates & Inspires You?

Hard to know really but I do want to end my life knowing I was really great at something. The admiration of my children and family as well as an inner drive to succeed at all I do also spurs me onwards….

God, the ultimate creator, is a pretty awesome source of inspiration don’t you think??? Just look at nature and how perfect and scientific and beautiful it all is. I mean babies – come on they are the ultimate creation, totally amazing!

What Are Your Strengths & Weaknesses?

Strengths: The willpower to avoid chips and fizzy drinks Weaknesses: The lack of willpower to avoid chocolate and cake…. Seriously my greatest strength is my organizational skills; my greatest weakness has to be patience as a mom or on the road 😉

What Do You Treasure Most In Life?

My husband is a gem, memories, happy times with family, good friendships, holidays, photographs, sentimental jewellery like my engagement ring, and the security of my home!

What Are Your Fears?

Like most, the fear that keeps me awake at night is probably that health problems would befall me or my family, security is a big concern in SA and the future well-being of my kids is pretty scary too. But perfect love casts out fear and I’m pretty well covered by someone much larger than me who is looking out for all these concerns!

What Keeps You Busy?

I have always wanted to work in publishing from the age of 14, when I would spend all my pocket-money on magazines and then pour over them for hours in my room on my own! I still would love to do this but for now I have 3 jobs – the paying one is as a Media Liaison where I write documents, guides, newsletters, website content and do social media 1 day per week. The unpaying one is my blog – Becoming you – which is something I hope will grow into a paying job soon! It is my current baby and I love it. My unpaying, full-time, no overtime, intensively emotionally draining job is being a mom to 2 employers! 😉

What Do You Do For fun?

Have I said blog? Yes that is pretty time intensive at present. Also seeing friends, walks in nature, eating out when the budget allows, outings with my family, painting, and entertaining but not cooking, visiting the beach, reading, watching movies, camping holidays or weekends away.

I try to find time for blogging, photography, gardening, Beth Moore bible study, painting, some baking and sewing crafts or things for my kids occasionally (when patience allows)

What are your successes or failures?

My greatest successes are the 2 little people I birthed; my greatest failure is not always seeing what value lies in raising 2 little people to become successful big people!

What has been your greatest challenge thus far in your life?

As a child and teen my family went through a few rough years in terms of health, finances, job security, moving city, changing school and subsequent friend issues. It was a very hard time for me and not one I wish to repeat but I definitely think that what they say about difficulties making you who you are is true in this case. I learnt a lot during that time and I am better for it now. Another difficult period in my life was when I was newly married and living in a foreign country for 2 years with my husband. The experience was full of very high highs and low lows but we definitely learnt to rely heavily on God and each other during this time!!

If you could do something different with your life what would it be?

Occasionally I do regret that I didn’t go to university after school – not due to grades but rather finances…. I don’t think I am worse off today because of it but I would like to prove myself, mostly to me but to others too! I’m not sure if I’m committed enough to study part-time though, not yet anyway. If I could change something in my life right now it would be to have more travel experiences… I would love to see somewhere new or go on an adventure once a year.

Thanks Kathryn for sharing your life with us, we wish you every success and we hope that one day you will realise your dream of a life in journalism!

Also in this interview series Real Women – Real Life, meet Ellie Coburn from The Ellie Life….

Image Source: Kathryn from Becoming you

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