Currently… 29/01/2015

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I feel like I am in some weird parallel universe or Twilight zone… it has been seven weeks since Knox was born and my baby girl turned four this month…four! What the hell. I also seem to be entering my midlife crisis about ten years early… If i knew what I know now… growing up is a trap – don’t do it! Listen to Peter Pan!

One of my favourite bloggers – Cindy from 3 Kids 2 Dogs and 1 Old House – has done a series of “Currently” posts and I loved the idea… I’ve taken it and added some of my own sections – it was the only way I could explain this specific article and to document everything that is going on without writing a 20 000 word essay. I hope she doesn’t mind that I am stealing her post idea  – I’ve already stolen her son’s name as well (not really, but kind of).  

{Review} NooNoo Pie Tie… Snug And Free, The Natural And Flexible Baby Carrier For Babywearing {GIVEAWAY CLOSED}

There is no better feeling in the world than holding your little baby in your arms – my favourite part of the day is lying on the couch with my little Knox sleeping against my chest, taking in his scent (nothing in the world smells better than a baby!) and kissing his perfect little head.

Having a busy toddler makes having these special moments rather difficult. There is just so much to do  – I’m sure all moms can agree. With the NooNoo Pie Tie you can still have baba close to you even when you are busy. Knox was a month premature and spent a week in NICU due to having some breathing difficulties. We were not allowed to touch him at all and I got to hold him for the first time when he was about a week old. Needless to say, once I finally did hold him I never wanted to let go. The lovely ladies at NooNoo Pie sent me a wrap to try out and it arrived the day after we finally brought Knox home. It must have been extremely stressful for him to all of a sudden be in such a drastically different environment than the NICU with all its beeping machines and he was crying quite a lot – that wrap worked wonders. As you can see in the photo, I got the wrap horribly wrong the first time around! Luckily, through NooNoo Pie’s amazing hands-on approach, they guided me in the right direction…

* CLOSED * Win A Pair Of Pitta-Patta Baby Shoes

Head on to our Facebook page and enter our latest competition where you can win a pair of Pitta-Patta Baby shoes of your choice! Click here to be directed to the competition.

{Interview} Tattoo Artist Tamar Thorn Talks To Us About Her Past Life, Tattoos And A Beautiful Future. No Egos, No Bullshit, Just Passion.

This post is long overdue… I have always been fascinated by tattoos and the industry that surrounds it. Tamar Thorn from The Body Architects Tattoo Studio is a dear friend and is one of my personal favourite tattoo artists. She is responsible for my modified Viveros piece on my upper arm and is one of the best portrait tattoo artists in South Africa. She took some time to chat to us about fashion, being a female tattoo artist and business woman as well as some of her favourite pieces!

Q: Before becoming a tattoo artist, you were an amazing fashion designer… What made you leave the fashion industry?

 A: I think I got into the fashion industry for the wrong reasons and if I look back I was never very happy doing all that stuff. Of course there were inspiring aspects to it. I loved designing prints and artworks and doing storyboards, but as the import side of things grew, the artistic element of the work died significantly. Also it became more and more a job of getting a garment designed by someone else (overseas designers mostly), tracing the pattern, finding the fabric and trims and putting it into store, which killed the idea of ‘design’ for me. I started really craving some kind of creative outlet and spent more time painting at home.

Q: So many young girls want to get into the fashion industry, it always seems so glamorous- as someone who made it out alive, what are the things they do not tell/teach you at fashion college?

 A: I think my answer above covers this! Haha! Although I do need to point out I never went to college. I went to a big fashion company straight from school and worked my way up from making tea for the designers. I suppose they don’t tell you that unless you have your own label and your own space to sell, you won’t make a name for yourself. If you are designing for a company you won’t get any recognition. It can end up being quite soul destroying. Also you have no idea the amount of time and effort and phonecalls and emails and arguments and wheeling and dealing and driving around and hair pulling and crying it can take for a button. Not even kidding.

Red My Lips 2015 – Join The Sexual Violence Awareness Campaign

Join Red My Lips this April (2015) for the 3rd annual Red My Lips campaign!!! ♥

Wear red lipstick all throughout the month of April (Sexual Assault Awareness Month) and help raise awareness about sexual violence and SPEAK OUT against victim-blaming! This is not about VANITY. It’s about VISIBILITY. (Kind of like Movember…minus the brilliantly creepy ‘staches). Spread the word that RAPISTS are responsible for RAPE…not drinking, short skirts, or makeup.

Sexual violence is NOT a WOMEN’S ISSUE. It is a HUMAN ISSUE. It affects us all..

My Life – Living With Bipolar Disorder – Growing Up, Pregnancy and Motherhood

It has taken me a long time to write this post. It is something so deeply personal, but I can’t tell you how good it feels to let it all out. This is my clean slate… my fresh start to 2015. Sometimes the baggage gets too heavy to carry in your mind.

Up until a few years ago, most of my thoughts consisted out of wanting my life to end. There was no real reason – I just didn’t, and sometimes still don’t, want to be here any more. It has taken me years to understand my disorder. I know I will never be cured, but after years of juggling medication, therapy and building a support base I know I can manage it. I am no healthcare professional, I believe there are as many ways people develop to cope (or not cope) as there are people suffering with depression and Bipolar. I am simply telling my story.