me Life and Times of the Fireflies: May 2016

Friday 27 May 2016

Comfy and Chic - Fashion Inspiration for the New Mom


When we become mothers our whole lives change...but that doesn't mean our style has to suffer! Sure enough our lifestyle undergoes a major transformation, and similarly our wardrobes need to be adjusted as well; but gone are the days where the mom wardrobe consisted mainly of 'mom jeans' and stretch pants (I may be the only mom still living in mine though) and clothes we spend years procrastinating about fitting back into (only me?).
The new age mother seems far more put together and dignified. They haven't lost themselves in their new role, and managed (somehow) to maintain their identity and still look good! In a day and age where there never seems to be enough time; least of all to care for your style; Moon shows us that fashion for busy moms isn't as complicated as a stressed out mother might think. All it takes is a few versatile garments, some accessories and wardrobe staples to amp up your "Mom Style" and make your wardrobe more mom friendly at the same time!

We all know that as a new mom, comfort is key and just because heels might be temporarily out of the equation, it does not mean we have to give up on fashion entirely. There are plenty of ways you can be comfortable and cosy and still look stylish and chic!  Moon's combination of a trendy shirt dress, paired with a skinny jeans and comfy (yet trendy) ankle boots shows how we can be modest, practical  and completely trendy, while still comfortable enough to perform all our mom duties!

















Outfit Details :
Shirt Dress : H&M
Jeans & Boots : Woolworths
Necklace & earrings  : Lulu Belle

Watch : Fossil

Rings : Forever 21 & Honey

Bracelets : Gifts 


Photography : 2Cherries Photography
Thanks for reading!
Peace,
NAMU :)

  

Wednesday 25 May 2016

Our #KidzSeason Table Mountain Adventure

It looks like snow, but it's actually clouds!

When you're living in one of the notoriously most beautiful cities in the world and the backdrop is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World; you tend to take things a little for granted! It's impossible not to gasp at the beauty that is the ionic Table mountain in all it's glory and splendour irrespective of the season or time of day...Whether it's basking in the red and orange hues of sunset, or draped in clouds on a cold wintery day; like a seasoned model, it has the ability to look good in just about anything, any time of the year!

 Besides looking on in awe every now and again, It remains one of those elusive enigmas that you admire from a distance, but never actually venture close enough to (except that one time we made the sweaty and tiring trek up Platterklip Gorge on a balmy Summer morning). We tend to reserve these experiences for the tourists that frequent our city, but about a week ago I got to experience Table Mountain in all it's glory and splendour  when I was invited with my family to be part of the first ever #KidzSeason meet!

The thick morning fog had me wondering about the weather and visibility at the summit, but after getting the green light from the event organisers, we made our way (albeit with padded back up gear "just in case" in our car boot) to the meeting place at the parking lot at Lower Tafelberg road ( on the corner of Tafelberg and Kloofnek roads) and in true grandeur; as we made our way out of the suburbs and into the city; Table Mountain stood out like an oasis of sunlight amidst the fog and clouds!



We gathered our name tags and treasure maps and took the free My Citi bus up to the Cable station; which is quite convenient considering the parking dilemma and free workout one would  normally get walking the incline to the cable station! We managed to totally evade the exhaustion, meltdowns and the 'Are we there yet?' questions as everything was so easy and convenient!




Grandma joined us as Dad was at work

No queues and a smooth running operation system meant that we were up the final steps and took the last few paparazzi snaps before our 5 min trip to the top in the state of the art Cable Car that comes complete with rotating floor; giving everyone a true 360 degree panoramic view as we ascend to the summit!




Check the cloud cover! Table Mountain was the only part of Cape Town basking in sunlight!

Once on top, everyone was allowed to navigate at their own pace and leisure and soak up the truly exquisite and captivating views! The treasure maps are ideal for younger kids, but my bigger two preferred to soak up the scenery, clamber up boulders and take selfies and pictures that were worthy enough for Instagram! Experiencing it all under slightly chilly circumstances made for some really awesome images too! I had to literally sift through hundreds to choose these few favourites of the day.



It seemed like a good pose at the time


Naani enjoying the sights






Peace!







<3






 


After a quick pit stop at the cafĂ© for lunch, we made our way to the newly opened WIFI lounge which comes complete and fully equipped with comfy sofas, plug points and USB cables for cell phones and cameras and FREE WIFI ! We even managed to win the most delicious Fudge for most original image :-) Though the kids have been up before with my sister ( read here), it was a first for us and certainly a memorable experience to share with their Grandma.



Our winning pic!





The Table Mountain Aerial Cable Way has made all of this a little more attainable for everyone to experience with the #KidzSeason special. Here's what you need to know:
  • If you have more than one child (or nephews, nieces and grandkids) then take advantage of the annual 3 for 1 #KidzSeason special. 2 kids ride for FREE with an adult who has purchased a return ticket. This way, the whole family can join the fun!

  • This offer is available annually from 1 May until 30 September on weekends, public holidays and during the June/July school holidays.

  • From 1 June, tickets for the #KidzSeason will be available online.

  • There's a free shuttle, My Citi bus that leaves every 20 minutes from Lower Tafelberg roads, making it easy and convenient. The same bus will transport you back at the end of your outing.

  • Check their Facebook and Twitter accounts to stay updated with weather conditions if and when you decide to go. 
Zee gives the outing a double thumbs up!

Until our next adventure!
Thanks for reading,
Peace,
NAMU :)
*Our tickets and meal was fully sponsored by the Table Mountain Aerial Cable Way.

Friday 20 May 2016

Inspired by an Angel

Blogging for me has always been an expression of my own personal journey. From life lessons, to parenting woes and preserving my memories with my family; it has been a journey of self growth and evolution. And though I mainly document my internal growth and feelings, I have also been touched and inspired by so many people I've met along this journey in the most unexpected of ways! In a world where bitchiness and back stabbing reigns supreme, I am glad to have connected with truly inspiring beings who have helped me with my evolution.

I have always used motherhood as an excuse for many things...I wore the title as a noose around my neck and it handicapped my own progress. It took precedence over a lot of things, including the way I dressed and groomed myself...the way I portrayed myself to the world. But I now realise that the external was really a reflection of  what was going on in the inside.

A good friend and fellow blogger, Rushda from RuBe's Closet, has been pivotal in inspiring me to step up my fashion game, dress up again and stop hiding behind my Mom status. She has taught me that fashion has no rules, that there is no sin in a mom dressing well, and that it's possible for comfort and glamour to collide!

Now, I'm first to admit that I'm no fashionista...though I do pride myself on being able to pull myself together when need be! So I was particularly chuffed when I made the exact same purchase as my favourite fashion blogger late last year. We decided to do a friendly collaboration to show that it is possible for friendships to exist in the bloggesphere and also show how individuality affects fashion. The same piece of clothing can be styled in endless ways depending on the person and your mood.

 I suppose this sequins top is symbolic of my new frame of mind. In a way it reflects how I feel on the inside! Traditionally, I would wear this with heels to a function or a night out, but if life has taught me anything it's that rules don't apply to fashion. Combining sneakers with this look was an extremely liberating experience for me! For me it was more than just a fashion statement, it was a Life statement...breaking free from tradition and finding my own identity through it all... 

I've enclosed both versions of how I styled this look, as both reflects my evolving personal style.








Image: My own



Image: My own


(image: my own) For a formal function I dressed it up with a silk pants and heels.
 
 
Don't forget to stop by Rushda's blog to see her take on the same Sequins Top  here
 
 
About this look :
 
Sequins top: Local designer, Ayshah for Human Image
 
Black jegging: H&M
 
Black heels : Woolworths
 
Sneakers : Addidas Superstars
 
Silk pants: had it made
 
Photography : 2Cherries Photography
 
Thanks for reading!
 
Peace,
 
NAMU :)