Family - Inspired Living SA

Children, Competitions, Family, Lifestyle, Parenting

Sleep Wizz Competition

I am sure as moms you have tried it all when it comes to soothing your baby, either trying to get them to sleep or simply calming a cranky baby. I found one thing that always worked for me when trying to calm my girls was music. I played music for them long before they were born and have very vivid memories of lagging a CD player everywhere we went, so that they would not be without their music!

Needless to say technology has moved on somewhat since then and Majors for minors have recently released a collection of music apps called Sleep Wizzz. These amazing apps are on hand no matter where you are: in the car, out at friends or travelling the world!

Sleep Wizzz is a collection of 3 apps designed to help the parent in forming a progressive calming environment to stimulate the baby or infant to a state of calm and eventually sleep. The music is designed with a specific tempo to echo the rhythm in the brain and the frequencies are in line with those of the sounds of the ocean or pink noise.”

The three apps are called Bedtime, Playtime and Storytime.

Bedtime

Playtime

Storytime

To find out more about the Sleep Wizz Apps you can pop over to their website or email them at [email protected]. You can also follow Majors for Minors of Facebook. Here are the links to the Products on iTunes: Bedtime, Playtime and Storytime.

Super Mom Blog love these apps so much that we are running a competition where 5 lucky winners can each receive a full download of the Sleep Wizzz app collection for iPhone/iPad.

All you have to do is answer one simple question:
Q: How many apps make up the Sleep Wizzz collection?

Please leave a comment on this blog, below the post, with your answer. Do not forget to also leave your details in the comment section (please include your email address). If you do not complete this step your entry will not be valid. Please tweet the competition to friends and family – win super sleep apps with @supermomsablog and @majorsforminors

Competition Details:

The Sleep Wizz Competition will run from Wednesday the 11th July 2012, until midnight on the 25th July 2012. The winner/s will then be randomly selected and announced on my blog on the 26th July. The winner/s will also be notified by email that they have won.
Conditions of entry: Anyone may enter this giveaway but they will need to have an iPhone/iPad to be able to download the apps. The prize may not be exchanged for cash. Any person/s that have won a competition on Super Mom Blog in the last 3 months are not eligible for entry.
Winners will be sent redeemable coupons via email to access the full collection.

Be Inspired, Children, Family, Food, Healthy Eating, Kids Food, Reviews and Features

Fruit Pack

Today I am reviewing a great product for kids called Fruit Pack. As moms it can be a struggle to always have a healthy snack on hand where ever you go and Fruit Pack provides a solution to this dilemma. Fruit Pack is a new healthy fruit snack for children on-the-go, conveniently packaged in a fun, easy-to-use squeezable and resealable pouch. Made from 100% natural fruit with no added sugar, Fruit Pack contains no colourants, no flavourants and no preservatives.

Whether you’re travelling or at home, Fruit Pack’s healthy and delicious flavours can be enjoyed anywhere and make it easier for us parents to feed our kids better food when we’re out and about. Pouches are strong enough to be tossed into a handbag and compact enough to fit inside a pocket or lunchbox. Just twist off the cap and squeeze!

The packs are suitable for kids from the age of 10 months and there are three flavours to choose from. Each flavour has it very own personalised animal character, so not only are the packs nutritious but they are also fun. The flavours are Awesome Apple {Gina the Giraffe}, Strawberry & Banana {Mani the Monkey} and Apple & Pear {Eli the Elephant}.

So if you are looking for a convenient healthy alternative snack to pack in your bag for the little ones, for those unexpected moments or something extra to add to your kids lunch box, Fruit Pack is definitely something you should try. A great suggestion was to place the packs in the freezer, especially in summer so the contents will remain chilled and be a great refreshing alternative to Ice Lollies {less messy too} or fruit juice. Or my husbands idea was to use them when he goes on long cycles to replace electrolytes! Who said you needed to be a kid to enjoy Fruit Pack!

Cape Town Lifestyle, Children, Entertainment, Family, Kids Activities, Lifestyle

V&A Waterfront Kids Holiday Program

The midyear holidays will soon be upon us and if you are not jetting off to some faraway destination you will most definitely be interested the fantastic indoor children’s programme that the V & A Waterfront is offering.

From June 24 until July 15, a combination of free and affordable activities will be on the go daily from 10am until 5pm, for children aged four to nine years.

Barrow Court, in the heart of the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre and adjacent to children’s retailers, is where pint-sized food lovers and blossoming eco artists should go to have a blast starting from July 3. The Waterfront’s Kids Ahoy play zone is offering one hour workshops, at R50 per child, where your littlies will be introduced to the fun side of food, arts and crafts.

Activities such as pancake decorating, craft making and even Mini Master Chef challenges, where children will learn how to make their own mystery main meal with pre-cooked ingredients or decorate desserts with filling, icing and fresh fruit, will entertain and delight while giving mom and dad an hour of their own time,” said Chantelle Cole, V&A Waterfront Executive Manager of Strategic Marketing. “At 4pm each day, there will be free puppet shows and an opportunity to meet Sam the Two Ocean Aquarium’s penguin mascot”.

From July 3 in the Red Shed, alongside the Cape Town Fish Market and Ster-Kinekor, kids will be entertained by qualified child minders with age appropriate toys and games for R30 an hour for up to two hours, freeing up parents to do their shopping or have a relaxed meal.

In the Craft Market, adjacent to the Two Oceans Aquarium, a one hour craft market, at R50 per child, will be hosted twice daily; parents are welcome to join in the fun. Plant Craft Mania at 1pm, will see children potting, planting, painting, platting, pressing, decorating and doing creative recycling, while animal craft creations at 3pm will spoil pets back at home with specially decorated drinking bowls and homemade bird feeders.

Children can make friends with ducklings, piglets, chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits at the Craft Market’s Petting Farm from 10.30am until 4.30pm daily. Entrance is R20 for all ages.

Children can also enter our ‘Mouse Explores the Waterfront’ colouring-in competition by collecting a sheet from Barrow Court, and completing it either at home or while at the V&A Waterfront and enter before July 22 to win great prizes such as a birthday party at the Two Oceans Aquarium valued at R 1 650, Happy Hopper Memberships or a Mini Master Chef DIY Cooking Hamper valued at R 500”, said Cole.

Space for all activities is limited and bookings can be made at the Waterfront Information Kiosk from June 23.

Other family friendly activities include favourites such as the Wheel of Excellence, the Jolly Roger pirate boat, Scratch Patch and cave golf.

To find out more about this amazing V&A Waterfront Kids Holiday Program visit their website – here.

Entertainment, Family, Lifestyle, Movies, Parenting, Pregnancy

What to Expect When You’re Expecting

On thursday I was invited to attend the press screening of What to Expect When You’re Expecting, which is soon to be released in cinemas. I was really looking forward to seeing this movie as it promised to be a heart warming big screen comedy; I love a film that is both funny and meaningful.

The film is based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. It tackles a variety of preconceived ideas that people have regarding pregnancy and parenthood. Although light-hearted, the film also focuses on the more emotional aspects of being a parent-to-be. The basic plot follows the lives of five couples, as they each prepare for the responsibilities of parenthood. Each of the couples are representative of possible pre-parenthood situations, which allows most viewers to connect with a few of the various stories portrayed. As a mother, having gone through two pregnancies myself, I could certainly relate to quite a few of the situations in the film.

The star-studded cast all deliver great performances but my favourite character in the film is Wendy, played by Elizabeth Banks. Wendy is a baby-crazy author who when faced with the reality of her own pregnancy realises that it is not all that the books and magazines portray it to be! She is constantly searching for the “glow” that pregnancy promises to bring.

Another actor that stands out is Chris Rock, who is the leader of “the dudes group”{the dads}, who in my opinion brings the true element of comedy to the film. The dads agree that ‘whatever is discussed in dudes group stays in dudes group’ and they have a strict policy of no judgement! The film although funny is definitely not a side-splitting comedy but rather a romantic film peppered with humorous moments.

Ultimately the film is about understanding that no matter what you plan for, life (and especially parenthood) doesn’t always deliver what you expect.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting is due to be released in cinemas on the 15th June 2012.

To find out more about the film and cast see my previous synopsis of the film click here

Image Source: Numetro

Be Inspired, Charity, Children, Family, Life, Lifestyle, Out & About

Believe in Zero

There are many campaigns worldwide which focus on the wellbeing of children but one that touched my heart recently is the UNICEF “Believe in Zero” campaign. As a South African and a mother I feel that this is a message that needs to be heard by everyone, whether you are a parent or not! This is my chance to get the word out there and use my blog to support this cause and “Lead SA” for our children.

UNICEF is calling on all South Africans to unite behind the goal of zero violence against children. In the run up to Child Protection Week (28 May- 3 June), its newly launched ‘Believe in Zero’ campaign highlights the role that everyone – not only the authorities – has to play in the protection of children.

South Africa’s levels of violence against children are among the highest in the world. Tens of thousands of children are victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation every year – and offenders often go unpunished,” says Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative.

Statistics from the South African Police Service confirm there were more than 54,000 reported crimes against children in 2010/2011; however, crimes against children are grossly underreported and the real figure is much higher.

Sexual offences make up about half of that figure, while around 30 per cent of these victims are under the age of 10 years. Research has shown that in most abuse cases, the offenders are known to the children.

UNICEF Ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka has added her voice to the Believe in Zero campaign: Child protection starts with every one of us, as individuals – no matter who we are and where we live.”

UNICEF is driving the Believe in Zero initiative online. You can support the campaign and express your support on a specially designed Facebook app, here you can upload photos or videos, post messages and join UNICEF in the goal of zero child abuse.

Among those people who share their views through the app, one passionate supporter will be given the chance to take a field trip with UNICEF to see first-hand how the organisation works with partners – and children themselves – towards the fulfilment of child rights.

To find out more about Believe in Zero, or participate in the campaign, visit www.unicef.org.za or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: UNICEF