Sunshine

Tequila Christmas Cake

Once again this year, I've had requests for my Tequila Christmas Cake recipe so here goes:

Please keep in your files as I am beginning to get tired of typing this up every year!

1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup water
1 tsp. salt
1 cup brown sugar
Lemon juice
4 large eggs
Nuts
1 bottle tequila
2 cups dried fruit

Sample the tequila to check quality Take a large bowl; check the tequila again to be sure it is of the highest quality.

Repeat.

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again.

At this point, it is best to make sure the tequila is still OK. Try another cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.

Break 2 eggs and add to the bowl and chuck iin the cup of dried fruit.  Pick the fruit up off the floor.

Mix on the turner.

If the fried druit getas stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the tequila to test for tonsisticity.

Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something.

Check the tequila. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.

Grease the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.

Don't forget to beat off the turner

Finally, throw the bowl through the window.  Finish the tequila and wipe the counter with the cat.

Cherry Christmas

Fairies

Mind your manners

We teach our children to say 'please' and 'thank-you', to eat with mouths closed, to share (sigh!) and to be generally behaved in social environments.  I sound like a broken record as I remind the Bean all day long!  Gioia is rather polite as a result, and I beam with pride if she gets it right without my prompting.  Saturday afternoon we met a new friendie called Caru-lize, I posted photos of their playdate over the weekend.  The little 15 month old maaitjie had a bit of a chest on her, and as the afternoon wore on and she got more excited she began to cough.  Being the well-mannered head girl our daughter is, Gioia took it upon herself to place her hand in front of the bewildered offending toddlers mouth everytime she dared to cough followed by an 'excuse me'.  Children, kindly mind your manners! Gioia will be quick to remind you though, should you forget.  This way we will all be ready for tea with the queen.

Potty progress

I think I am nearly ready to say that Gioia is day-trained in terms of potty success!  It has been more than a week now and she is at the point where she is discussing poop sizes.  Small ones are called 'baby poo' and bigger ones are labelled 'mommy poo' with the occassional 'daddy poo' to keep it fair.  This morning while Granny-B was on potty duty she was reminded of this fact.  Gioia cant get off until 'daddy poo' arrives! 

The Bean has also decided that her bath time routine is not complete until she has 'shaved' her legs with her tooth brush and tooth past.  So we wait patiently for her to slide the brush up and down her shin, note-to-self: move razors to top shelf, preferably in neighbours bathroom.

Her Afrikaans has also improved dramatically after just one weekend in Kroonstad. The, be it short, playdates with her Free State maatjies have been most beneficial to her grasping her daddy's native tongue.  We now like to play wolf-wolf-hoe-laat-is-dit in Afrikaans.  Her favourite words are 'klaar' and 'kom' and then of course 'mooi-maaitjie'.

Alesia and Juane

Look at this beautiful mom-and-tot duo! It felt like I was cheating on an exam because this little monkey was so easy to capture. She smiled and posed like a professional, Gisele Bunchen your days are numbered, this Free State princess will steal you pay cheque the moment she is legal. Be warned.

Sunday in Kroonstad

Gioia had a full day today.  Nana came for lunch after I paraded her around at the local Methodist church.  Then we had a photoshoot and quick playdate with Juane and her mommy Alicia.  I hope the mozzies don't carry us out the door this eve, we were halfway to the township last night before Granny came to our rescue with her magic box of mosquito repellent.

Long distance phone call to Johan

Making friends

Gioia and I are visiting Granny-B and Fa (Grandfather) for the weekend.  It is a beautiful Kroonstad afternoon and we are so enjoying the cool shaded back garden with all the soft lush grass.  Gioia is parading around in her new swimming costume, while we fill a clothing bath with water for her.  Caru-Lize is coming over for a playdate and we are practising to say her name while we wait.  The girls played together smashingly while the Grannies watch over us lovingly.  I decided on an imprompt tactile messy play session, so out came the sugar, the flour and most of my dad's shaving cream. Thank you Rowan for your contribution, you were asleep, otherwise I would have asked first.  Gioia has now missed her nap and I am waiting for a meltdown.  I have decided that before it even happens I will allow my folks to deal with her, I'm sitting back on this one.  A fresh approach to a hysterical exhausted toddler might just do the trick. Hold thumbs for them.

Gioia's new friend

Happy Friday

The puppet show was a blast.  Mackenzie, Rebecca and Gioia laughed along with the group as the tale unfolded between screechy voices and rapid puppet cast changes.  I’m still not completely clear with the moral of the story was or if there even was one because we mommy’s in the back row took the opportunity to catch up. 

Gioia and Rebecca then took the chance to play ‘Idols’ on a stage set up for a party.  With microphone in hand, Bean pulled an ‘Ashley Simpson’ and mimed along to whatever track was playing.   She shook her tiny kaboos and arms wildly as the excitement took over, mimicking the big girls moves. Oh goodness, I have a two year old that loves 'clubbing'!

Taking command of the stage

New baby Wian

Welcome to Earth

Wian Smit

Cardboard Gift

Should your child be artistically inclined...maybe they can colour in/paint their own doll house, http://www.cardboardtoys.co.za/. This is something different!

Origami Heart Workshop

I am presenting a workshop in December! So far eight people are attending. This shocks me and panic has sunk in.   I tell myself though that it is a workshop about folding paper, not a motivational talk on world peace/dominance...what can possibly go wrong?

Gioia is going to a puppet show tomorrow at jingle jangle, I cant wait to see her face light up for this new experience.

Christmas Market

Our little friend Serinie-pie may have chicken pox?  I thought to cancel a playdate with Hes and Mikayla as Gioia was exposed to the virus yesterday afternoon! Over kill...perhaps...better safe than sorry is my moto most of the time, and I am afraid of Hes!  Gioia seems fine, but I believe it can take up to two weeks to reveal itself on her tiny body.  So now what to do with our free time?  Instead of infecting friends we know I thought to spread the pox around at the UNICA Christmas market!  What a lovely afternoon indeed.  We ate pancakes and queued for ten minutes for an R8 can of diet sprite. I had to convince Gioia that mermaid or not, swimming with the ducks was not her best idea ever.  I distracted her with a toilet stop and  a promise that this time she could flush.  Since she now no longer wears nappies during the day, I find myself looking for loo's around every corner and tree, its hard work to keep her drained and dry.

Mermaid Gioia

Gioia is swimming so beautifully, I am convinced she is part fish, or squid! I am so proud of her.  She jumps off the step, with both arms tightly wrapped around the pink noodle and then proceeds to kick forward like a little mermaid.  While she waits her turn to swim with Lizette she likes to jump up and down on the step, lowering her head  and face under the warm water and then popping up for a congratulatory wink and grin from me, her most ardent fan.  I managed to film most of todays lesson on my BB, so I can brag with her wherever I go.  I tend to pull out my brag-phone at the drop of a hat, be it the petrol attendant or the green grocer aisle packer. Today she attempted the breast-stroke, I think this time next week she will have the butterfly waxed.

PUSH RUSTY PUSH

My friend Carike is on her way to hospital to have Wian.  I am waiting pensively by my blackberry for news.  Carike is having her little boy the traditional way.  She is one of only a few of my friends that has gone through with natural birth, and I am so proud of her.  I had Gioia via a c-section and am eternally grateful to the medical profession for giving us alternatives.  Needless to say, I like to boast about my friends like ‘Rusty’! I will post photos of little Wian Smit just as soon as I have taken them.  Push my friend...and breath!

William is marrying Kate...big SIGH

My Free State childhood dream has been shattered, Prince William has proposed to Kate! This act has truly marked the end of my childhood.  Yes, I realise I am thirty something and wedded (to the best man alive) but alas, I am Mrs Benade, not HRH Princess Lee-Anne, future Queen of the sunniest land, England (it would be sunnier if I was queen).  My friend, who currently resides there, reminded me this week about our scrap book hobby in primary school.  We would collect every clipping, picture and article about Princess Diana and pritt them into these A3 size books we bought at CNA.  I had such an impressive collection.   I also inherited fat completed books from older collecters that lost interest along the way. Justine, I have no idea where these books are, I think they might be in Kroonies up in the cupboard along with my love letters from Bert Kooy and Birtie Myburgh.  Needless to say I felt connected to the royals, and my destiny was to be married to either one of them (they both had  hair back then).  I feel unburdened now that my secret has come to light; I will try and carry on as best I can as the queen of my Gioia-beans heart, which is possibly the best consolation prize in the world. 

Comfort food around your neck

Devoted to documenting

I completed my degree in science and then walked away from the sterile white world of gloves and lab coats for a life of design and colour. I think though, it is because of this that I have a need to write down and thoroughly document Gioia's progress, milestones and firsts! I’m sure she will one day be so pleased to know the exact date that she first ate baked beans, or was stung by a bee?  I’m just so chuffed that I’ve stuck to a project for so long, and what a pleasure it has been Gioia, to run to the fridge and write down whatever amazing thing you just did on your personalised stationary. 

Documenting everything you did and said

Paper Heart Mobile

Origami is the best way to knot your fingers.  I have always been intrigued by this skill because I suffer from hypohydrodism and could never work precisely or neatly with my hands.  Since discovering Driclor I can fold and write without turning the paper into mush.  This morning I folded as many as I could with the left over party paper and stuck them to bits of ribbon.  I secured the ribbons to one of those embroidery rings, and then hung it above Bean’s changing table.  I am excited to now teach a few ladies in December how to make this in a creative cell as led by Jody.  Gioia showed my handy work to the guests when they arrived.   I will take this as a sign that she endorses my art.

Cell group ladies tea

I stopped going to Moses and Lena’s wonderful couple’s cell group because I was no longer a couple. Eventhough Gioia and I partner up for most things; she is unable to be my plus one for cell group.  She is too busy and boisterous and rather than having the members boo us away I bowed out.  Never the less the wonderful wives in the group like to include me by coming over to our flat for tea and non-skinner chats.  I adore these mornings as they are warm, refreshing and honest. Today I learnt that Pam is pregnant with a girlie, CONGRATS you guys! This would be the 4^th baby girl in the cell group! No boys yet...Jody?  They have not as yet decided on a name for the new baby, but I like the suggested one so far, Sarah.  See Pam, it’s beautiful in writing...sweet Sarah Opperman...how about Dr. S Opperman, or President Sarah Opperman?

Gioia goes it alone in ‘barbers’ chair

Friday at noon was the moment our daughter became too independent for my liking.  As with the two or three haircuts before,  I accompanied  Bean on the chair, both of us shrouded in tunics, but this time she tuned me ‘Gioia’s turn’, so I conceded!  She sat like a little model, looking up and down as Karen instructed, enjoying every minute of the attention.  The result is just so adorable, and I think rather European?  My little French sugar bun...you’re so sheek for a two year old!

Gioia’s wonderful carer

This is Lena, she is my right hand and we love her dearly.  She has been helping me with Gioia since the day we got home from the hospital.  Gioia adores her and Lena responds with hugs, nudges, a tender voice and pappies for breakfast.  This is how Lena manages to do her chores while at the same time singing Bean to sleep. My favourite part of the day is coming home from gym to find Gioia either shrieking with laughter in the garden or snoozing contentedly on Lena’s broad back.  I am so grateful for and to this wonderful Zulu lady with the soothing spirit!

Angie-you took my breath away

Mark’s blackberry status update was a warning, ‘’hmmm...Angie’! It put trepidation in my heart and I nearly decided to call in sick.  That would have been an obvious cop-out and Mark would have only chastised me at a later stage.  On arrival at Ballistix Fitness at 8am I was greeted with the wonderful smell of fresh paint and Mark’s grin.  I fear that grin, as it signals bloodshed, or at least the taste of blood in ones mouth and ringing in ones ears.  Today’s workout was Angie, 100 pull ups, 100 push ups, 100 sit ups and 100 squats, but Mark decided to modify my routine in terms of pull-ups...I was going to do them without the band-aid.  My heart was in my chest and I felt dizzy and all I had done was read the work out on the board.  Five pull-ups at a time with a 5m walk in between reps kept me busy for fifteen minutes or so, but I did it! The paint fumes made it easier of course! With Sparky Mark’s glaring stare but constant confirmation I completed 20 rounds.  My hands are broken but my hard core GI Jane walk of fame out the gym made up for it.  I rested in the car in the parking lot for a further fifteen minutes and waited for the swimming stars to float away before I made my way home.  AWESOMENESS!

I heart BF http://www.ballistixfitness.com/

Signs of a successful play date

Its 5 o’ clock.  First glass of chardonnay in hand.  As any mommy anywhere in the world would know this is in fact the witching hour.  Folk legends depict midnight as the time of day when the monsters come out, but I hereby publicly beg to differ.  Gioia is naked on her potty and crying hysterically.  ‘Mackenzie Mackenzie’ is all that I can make out between sobs.  The play date has come to a teary end, your first clue that it was successful?  The Bean is completely fatigued as the girls danced, laughed, sang, sobbed and ramshackled the flat together, your second clue that the afternoon went well.  I have to get her into a warm tubbie because her lips are a shade of azure (that is blue to you Johan) and signs of hypothermia are becoming apparent.  Mackenzie and Gioia spent the last fifteen minutes playing between raindrops and jumping in the puddles, a simple feat that delighted them completely and seemed to beautifully punctuate the end of the day.  Now, monster Gioia has reared her head.  Instead of fighting the storm like Rambo with an AK47 and I decide to try an alternate, more homeopathic method. I turn up Enya’s soothing voice and pour myself yet another glass of chilled wine before coming to her rescue.  Rubbing my earlobes slowly, while chanting woosaa, seems to facilitate the process and gives me the confidence I need to make my way down the passage and into the monsters lair.  Alright, I’m ready now.

Benade Babes



Life's simple pleasures



Shopping without a nappy on!

Today is the first time that I took Gioia-bean shopping without the safety of a nappy.  She happily pushed her little trolley through the spar aisles with a little yellow pantie on under her stripey leggings.  Her jeans and shorts seem to just fall off her body now because her silhouette has changed.  She really is a teeny toddler.  En route to grocer I asked her what we needed to buy, and she began reciting items like a pro to-do lister. 'Milk, bread, sugar and tuna', then she went quiet and remembered the most important item 'ice-cream!' I agreed with her list and we slowly made our way through the busy aisles quickly filling her toddler trolley.  She is so polite.  She greets the cashier and the guard at the door with a beaming smile and a 'see you later'.

Gioia has certainly got the hang of the potty training.  Our car has been in the shop so we have been spending much time at home, embracing her budding independence together.  My wonderful domestic, Lena, advised me to insist on potty stops every half an hour. Gioia resisted at first as she liked to call the shots by yelling ''mommy come now - loo!'' but with a little encouragment and the promise of a book read she manages to produce enough fairy wee-wee to make that running water sound.  We applaud and she sticks her sticker on her chart.  Today she did her first really BIG poop in her potty! She was as surprised as me when we viewed the results before flushing.  A spontaneous happy dance followed to celebrate the wonderful event. 

She is fast asleep now, and the world seems a better place today, is it because of her accomplishments, or is simply because she is in it?




Astonishingly cool - that's my Gioia

 

A new baby to join our circle of friends

CONGRATULATIONS to Roger and Elzette! It would seem Rebecca will be a big sister in 8.75 months! Fingers crossed...I am betting it will be a BOY! Its so much fun waiting to hear all the bits as the months progress, I have suggested she blog about the pregnancy.  This holiday has indeed been fruitful.

Have fun this holiday? And I thought you were writing exams LZ? You can indeed multi-task!

Identikit for your Child

My friend, and fellow super mom, Carike, is a wealth of knowledge.  She mentioned this site as source of information, http://www.yourparenting.co.za/child/care/safety/how-to-keep-you-children-safe, and I found an article on Identikits, this subject matter irks me terribly. What are your views Moms?  I am considering putting one together for Gioia.

I thought to run the subject matter past Johan, and I liked his response,  'Its being responsible', so I have now added Identikit to my to-do list.

Bad hair day, everyday

I no longer know what to do about this nest at the back of Gioia's head.  Other than shaving off her hair, are their any other alternatives.  It looks like this every morning before I tackle it with her brush.  She is going for a trim again on Friday, and I do condition it three or four times a week so I reckon it is in good condition...eish, she looks like Dame Edna! Her severe bad attitude is subsiding now, the results of her labour visible.

Personalised Gift Stickers

I thought to take the personalised theme to the max for Christmas, everybody can expect to have their gift adorned with a cute Christmas sticker...if anybody wants me to design a personalised gift sticker, I will glady do so for a small fee.  I am waiting for the quote from my vinyl guy...watch this space for printing costs.

Home made charts

Educating Gioia is fun, I love personalizing stationary and learning aids for her.  See my latest project.

Shapes, Colours and Numbers

Christmas Gift Idea for the Kiddies

My friend Carike knows all when it comes to happening events for kids, and great gift ideas, she sent the following blog address to me http://whimsyandwhatnots.blogspot.com/, and I got very excited when I saw the personalised cutlery set for kids! I think it is such a fun idea...order now for Christmas!

Salute to Julie - Creative Mommy of the Week

Us stay-at-home moms keep ourselves busy by doing very creative things, some with our children, some without! I want to post great mommy accomplishments on my blog, so email me photos of what you have done that is original and of course fabulous. This week I am saluting my friend Julie who baked this really cute cake for her man Peter, to welcome him home! To read more about this you can check our her blog.

http://mackenzieandreagan.blogspot.com/

Julie also emailed me a pic of Reagan's forehead after her fall off the swing at Gioia's party. I think it was Reagan's first taste of Karma? She bit Cian's toe earlier in the day and it would seem the universe wanted to teach her a lesson, I think Julie is showing me the middle finger for writing my thoughts on this matter.

It will heal quickly little monkey!

Jog the Frog entertains my Spud

Gioia had her very first graduation ceremony today! A great green frog was officiating the proceedings much to my spuds delight.  With a surname like Benade she was first in the row to receive her certificate and her medal from Jog.  She very enthusiastically approached the amphibian, but her courage disappeared as she came into 'high-five' distance.  She settled for my lap instead of his. So we posed for a photo and she was awarded her medal for bravery.  Granny B joined us and Gioia was so thrilled to walk her down the fairy path, pointing out all the objects in the trees and shrubs.  The graduation took place right after 2 hours of Sunday school, so when we arrived home she was completely and utterly exhausted.  I can tell this by the number of times she can aqueeze NO into a sentence.  She wore her new clamber club t-shirt with pride, Thank you Michelle! Your the best!

Dance Liam

The weekend started with a bang, my godson Liam took part in his school concert that had a soccer world cup look and feel.  He shook his hands, his feet, his arms and anything else connected to his body.  It brought tears to my and Sansie's eyes!

Prize giving