Working Mama July 2022

July Issue

WORKING MAMA 2022

OUR VISION To be the platform to inspire and em power women.

OUR MISSION

Working-Mama.org provides a global platform to celebrate moms, female entrepreneurs, and small businesses.

Serving as a networking tool for female entrepre neurs and small businesses to grow their client base.

Creating a community for women to share, support and strengthen each other.

Building a good relationship with readers based on

transparency and authenticity.

OUR VALUES

We promote honesty, integrity, and openness in all we do.

We are dedicated to build a culture of diverse per spectives and talents to support individual growth.

We foster an environment of collaboration. issuu.com/working-mama.org

July Issue CONTACT US +27 71 871 6601 wm.enquiries@gmail.

OFFICE OF THE CEO CEO Elize Fisher EDITORIAL Editor in Chief Lee-Yandra Paulsen Staff Writers Aamirah Jano Angela Martin Florian Ferris Kamogelo Tladinyane Kgopotso Nthane Nadia Horn Nayan Rath Contributors Michelle Hill Evangelique Adams ART & DESIGN Creative Manager Prince Sigudu Graphic Designers Elton Yasini Curt Gordon SALES & MARKETING Digital Marketing Manager Luke Lawrence ADVERTISEMENTS Ang Oils Inspiring Jatin MyFamApp Working Mama FOLLOW US issuu.com/working-mama.

@workingmama_za

WORKING MAMA 2022

Contents A Letter from the Editor-in-Chief

06

Beauty: Sultry Neutrals

08

Motherhood: Downside of Parenting Mistakes

10

Health & Fitness: A Mom’s Fitness Journey

12

Selfcare & Wellness

14

Food: Do what you can with what you have right now

16

Travel tips for Newbies

19 Photo by Camilo Jimenez on Unsplash

July Issue

20

Special Feature: Peter Pan Musical

22

Cover Story: Belle Togs,Your life is an occasion

24

Saving up for Retirement

26

DIY with Aamz: Side Table

28

Art Corner: Visual Art

33

Author Stories

36

Book Reviews

38

One Last Thing: 7 Apps to make #Momlife easier

WORKING MAMA 2022

EDITORS LETTER

It’s a simple word that is often most needed and comes to mind during these difficult times. You guessed it… MOM. Working and being a mom can be intense, so you will need all the help you can get -between work, cooking, and doctors’ appointments, you hardly have any for yourself then check out the Apps that make #Momlife easier (page 38).

For this issue, we are sharing stories of inspiration and authentic stories of A Mom’s Fitness journey (page 12) and Wellness Routines (page 14 ). Stories on parenting that may sound familiar or completely different from yours… Downside of Parenting Mistakes (page 10).

Moms tend to forget to prioritize themselves and when they do, the mom guilt sets in soon after, therefore it’s important for you to Pamper Yourself, Mom! (page 15).

As a thank you for our readers, please find our free gift (click here ) The Productive Mom. With Love and Peace

Lee-Yandra Paulsen

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July Issue

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WORKING MAMA 2022

SULTRY NEUTRALS….

Get The Look!

Soft brown shadows are universally flattering and look modern when worn as a smokey eye.

FACE Cetaphil Moisturizer.

R189.99

HELLO, GOOD STUFF! 3in1 FACE MIST from Essence.

R82.95 Why spend extra cash on a Foundation and Primer when you can get a product which does both as the KULTURE Foundation and Primer Duo. R229.00 at Foschini

Prime+ Studio Hydrating & skin refreshing PRIMER from Essence.

R99.95

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July Issue

BROWS

CHEEKS

The amazing and convenient KULTURE 3-in1 Eye & Brow Pen. R99.00 at Foschini

Essence Sun club natural glow Bronzer.

R99.95

Catrice Mineral Swirl Highlighter.

R169.99

EYES Essence Lash Princess WISPY effect false lashes.

R75.95

Now you can perfectly style your brows – even on the go – with the Brow Pomade + Brush from Essence. R99.99

LIPS

KULTURE Eyeshadow Pan Palette with 14 beautiful high-pigmented shades.

R229.00 at Foschini

Complete the look with a swipe of MACs Liptensity Lipstick for balance. (Smoked Almond) R350.00

Concealer Sponges from Essence.

R82.95 PRO.conceal HD Concealer from LA Girl.

R69.95

Soft & precise LIP PENCIL from Essence.

R25.95

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WORKING MAMA 2022

DOWNSIDE OF PARENTING MISTAKES.

By Ms. Nayan Rath Today’s parents are intelligent, no doubt. But in the pursuit of being the best, they make the mistake of expecting the very best from the child beyond the child’s grasp. They find themselves overwhelmed in pursuing wrong values, complacent attitudes, intolerant aptitude, equalizing the Parental sacrifices with self-centered attitudes and the list goes on.

This article deals with some common parenting mistakes done, inadvertently. Individual incidents happen where Positive Discipline gets disproportionate with negative discipline and how to be aware of it. The endpoint is how to deal with it by keeping a balance between the two. I hope this will help us live our parental life by choice rather than by chance. It’s divided into two parts. The second part will follow soon.

It’s difficult being parents. Where care and control clash and positive discipline gets disproportionate with a negative outcome.

Arun and Asima are both dotting parents for Arnab, their son. All comforts, abundant love and entitlements were hands-on for him. But somewhere, something got disproportionate.

When they tried to put some logical boundaries of entitlement vs. responsibility, their son revolted and drifted away emotionally. Things did not turn out the way they expected. Now they are at a loss to figure out what went wrong!

Many parents want to be perfect, dreaming of raising confident, successful kids. Most often, ambitious parents try to keep up with running trends prevalent and value their social status more than the child’s capacity. They take up revolutionary strategies to nurture a child’s development. But failed to execute in the correct perspective resulting inadvertent mistakes and their genuine intentions for children typically backfire.

A call to parents – Remember, children don’t need perfect parents; they need happy parents. Be a role model of change for your children, like your reactions, tone of voice, nagging, and whining. These will shape your child’s attitude towards life and you as well. Based on real-life, let us evaluate some negative behavior of children where inadvertent parental mistakes play a major role.

Observe Why Your Child Gets Jealous Parents only appreciate and congratulate children when they succeed but not when they put in effort but cannot finish it successfully.

Such kids crave genuine appreciation from their parents. When parents praise peers and siblings for encouraging them, they feel jealous.

Acknowledge their sincere efforts to achieve, that will keep them going and moving without jealousy. These children do not listen to their parents’ but listen to others because they often observe parents care more about what others think rather than what is right or wrong. Come up with your children’s primary needs and think about what you have done to satisfy them. Or reflect on decisions you have made that have resulted in better outcomes for your kids.

Celebrate their small achievements.

Children snatch things that do not belong to them.

This happens if parents don’t let their child or children choose what they want when buying items or deciding on the menu. When parents’ choice supersedes the emotional liking of the children, they feel unattended. In retaliation and negative reinforcement, they tend to take things from others. This may be embarrassing.

But your strictness with shouting will adversely impact their personality. You can adapt the technique of distraction from annoying. Allow them to choose the design, and colour of their dress, (even for you) choice of toys and food items in a restaurant. Children love adequate attention. Give them the much-needed concern, and help them cope with unexplored emotions.

When you make them feel wanted and respected, they will be closer to you. Even older children do need their mom’s undivided time.

“Come up with your children’s primary needs and think about what you have done to satisfy them. Or reflect on decisions you have made that have resulted in better outcomes for your kids. Celebrate their small Achievements.” nayanrath@gmail.com Facebook Nayan Rath, nayan.rath

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by Aswin

July Issue

If you’re a parent, co-parent, grandparent, or single parent, this is for YOU! We’re delighted to have launched the beta version of MyFam, our new co-parenting application.

MyFam is a co-parenting application designed and developed by parents for parents, of all sorts of families – whether you’re a single parent, divorced and co-parenting, a blended family, or simply a busy parent on the go.

Visit www.myfam.co.za today, to sign up You’ll be able to: - Securely add all your personal details like medical aid and banking details.

(If you are receiving maintenance or other payments from a co-parent).

- Add a co-parent - Add all the children - Add 3rd parties like nannies, grannies, social workers, and legal representatives because it really takes a village to raise a child!

- Link the children to the co-parent and 3rd parties - Easily set up maintenance orders - Set up parenting plans - Request and Accept invitations to events - Request and Accept payments Enjoy greater peace of mind as you easily navigate schedules and responsibilities, quickly and easily with MyFam! If you have any questions – we’d love to hear from you.

Mail us at: hello@myfam.co.za

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WORKING MAMA 2022

click here or image to watch video

A MOM’S FITNESS JOURNEY

By Kgopotso Nthane

“If you want to have it easy, it will be easy to lose it”- Ona Onalenna Nthane is a fitness enthusiast, a home chef, an engineer, a businesswoman, and a mom of two boys. She has always loved fitness way before having kids. In high school, she played netball, at tertiary, she played volleyball and only joined the gym when she started working.

After having her first child, she wanted her body back, but she struggled to balance time for herself, her child, and work because she was a single mom. After leaving work, she would go straight to the gym. Most of her training took about +/-45 minutes afterwards she would fetch her child from the daycare.

Taking care of herself has always been a priority; she believes it has helped her become a better mom. Her first child made some things easy for her, like not being a picky eater. On difficult days, she considered asking her mom to raise her son, but the thought of being separated from her son was unimaginable. So, she had to accept and make peace with her life. After her second child, things got better because her husband was there to support and assist her with the kids.

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Ona knew that fitness goes hand in hand with nutrition, and she had to learn to eat healthily.

Her knowledge of food was limited because she grew up eating pap, rice, meat and starch, and sometimes vegetables. When starting her fitness journey, she bought a book and followed the diet plan, which was very restrictive and not sustainable. She started eating healthy and no longer forced herself to eat salads every day but made healthy food, delicious and exciting to eat.

Although her business is hard labor, it is something she loves. Since it requires energy and time, being healthy and fit does help her cope with the intensity of the work. Her fitness journey has always had its ups and downs because sometimes she doesn’t feel like training, but still forces herself to train pauses and resets. She is still far from reaching her body goal however, she’s happy with the progress she has made.

Although it’s not about looking good in a hot dress, it’s about her health, teaching her kids to make better food choices, and being strong.

July Issue

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WORKING MAMA 2022

WELLNESS ROUTINES

By Angela Martin

A wellness routine means a few things: rest management/sleep, exercise, eating right, deducing the toxic load in your body/home, etc.

I am a wellness advocate for an MLM and focus on a wellness plan for clients.

The wellness plan I set up is as follows:

chemicals for natural alternatives (superfoods).

Informed Self-Care According to doTerra, understanding the problems that might not require immediate medical intervention is crucial. It’s vital to consult a doctor when necessary. Minor issues Exercise can be resolved at home, especially if you take a Exercise does not just mean going to the gym, proactive (as opposed to a reactive) approach to movement is exercise - take a walk around the block once a day or walk around the block for 30 care for your body. Taking care of your skin, mins a day, stretching is exercise, and it’s great taking supplements to support the health of your body’s systems, and keeping for your mental health! up with topics affecting women’s health Rest and Manage Stress Being informed about healthy habits does not EVERYONE struggles with this one. Life isn’t need to cost you anything; wellness advocates designed to allow for adequate downtime and generally do not charge for services. rest: if you’re a parent with a full-time job or business, then you know this reality all too well.

Eating better and exercising are great steps (click here) Eat Right Eat at least three meals per day, or six small meals to keep your body fueled.

toward improving sleep, and improving sleep helps manage your mental health. This will Reduce Toxic Load Everything used today causes a toxic build-up in help you cope with the stress of everyday our bodies. It is grueling to navigate, but we have life! several natural ways to switch the

My wellness consults are free. For more information contact me on: WhatsApp me | 072 746 7832 www.angoils.co.za www.mydoterra.com/ieatoils References doTerra. 2022. Informed self-care. Available on: https://www.doterra.com/US/en/strong-all-season/informed-self-care doTerra. 2022.Proactive Medical Care. Available on: (https://www.doterra.com/US/en/strong-all-season/proactive-medical-care)

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July Issue

PAMPER YOURSELF, MOM!

by Kamogelo Tladinyane

“Pamper Yourself” sounds easier said than done. Does it not? True, but it can be done. Mothers are a lot of things and do a lot of things. To keep doing and being these things, you must pace yourself and do something FOR yourself.

But how can I? I have so much to do, my kids need this, I need to finish that, I don’t have the time… this and more excuses, and yes, that’s what I call it, excuses. Because no matter how dire it might seem, they can all wait.

I say this with such certainty from experience. My mom would work herself like a dog every day. She should have asked for help sometimes and would have received it but she wouldn’t dare. She could have taken a breather at times, but, for some reason, she felt being tired or needing aid meant being less of a mother, or worse not being good enough.

She carried on like this for many years until my early twenties, when it all caught up, and she had a stroke! She now sits and gets mad at everyone because she cannot do the things herself like before.

So, my dearest moms, start by saying no and be unapologetic about it. You can do it; all it takes is practice with the little things. Take a walk, meditate, sing out loud to your favourite song, and dance. Try out a new hairstyle, a new restaurant, choose a bold new nail colour, and sit down for the whole evening from work. All these seem so meager, but the point here is that you do not need to break the bank with a vacation to The Poconos to recognize it as pampering. It’s the little things that matter. Once a routine is established, it’ll feel like second nature.

Remember that you are human, a super one for sure, but human still. You were someone before you were a mother or a wife. Remember what that person liked and try, really try, to incorporate those likes into the mother’s life.

We need you present but more so alive, happy, and healthy.

IMAGE BY Micheile-Dot UNSPLASH

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WORKING MAMA 2022

DO WHAT YOU CAN, WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, RIGHT NOW

By Michelle Hill I am Michelle Hill, the founder and owner of Home Is Where The Cake Is.

My formal training is in Occupational Therapy. My career experience is in adult rehabilitation (facility and community-based), working with children with learning and developmental delays and community health programs. The latter led to 11 years of managing care homes for cancer patients, which gave me an understanding of running a business (from HR, finances, admin and customer service, etc.)

I have two beautiful daughters who are creatives as well as sensitive souls. Mamahood started from a very young age for me, and I was a single parent for 16 years. With that, I’ve always had a soft spot for single parents. A friend recently told me that besides my passion for creativity, nurturing is innate to me and that’s why I have this yearning to help people.

So with the combination of my career history and motherhood, the contribution to Working Mama’s magazine becomes full circle.

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Firstly, we need to look at feeding our families. Healthy options are always favoured.

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Secondly, use what we have available because the cost of everything is increasing. And we can’t just jump into the car!

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Thirdly, we must include time in this equation as well as it can cause a disaster if we don’t do that. So, cook/bake when we have power/electricity.

Do what You can It’s a given that we must ensure that nutrition is one of our vital roles in looking after our families, so meals and the planning around that are always important.

Feed your family what they prefer, but it is up to us as parents (mothers) to provide them with these choices. We would all like to live a balanced lifestyle, but when our resources are becoming reserves, we must use what we have on hand. In our households, we always ensure that there is fresh fruit and vegetables with some basic carbohydrates/starches (rice, pasta, and alike). Once the fruit and vegetable become over ripen because, mama didn’t get a chance to use them when fresh ( it happens). We become creative with the fruit and vegetables.

With what You have. Right Now

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July Issue

HEALTHY OATS BANANA BREAD RECIPE Ingredients: 1.5 cups ground oats (or oat flour) (150g). You can use a stick blender to grind up jungle oats.

1 cup raw jungle oats (stove top, not instant) (90g) 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda 1/2 tsp cinnamon 3 ripe bananas, mashed 2 eggs 1/2 cup honey (170g) 1/2 cup melted butter/margarine (120g) 1/2 cup plain yogurt (145g) *omit the honey if you only have sweetened 1 tsp vanilla essence

To Make Preheat oven to 180˚C 1. Combine wet ingredients, eggs, honey, plain yogurt, vanilla, and melted butter in a bowl.

2. Mash the bananas in a separate bowl and mix them into the egg mixture.

3. In another bowl, combine the dry ingredients, ground oats, jungle oats, baking powder, bicarb, and cinnamon.

0.5 Alternative recipe You can bake these into muffins or mini muffins (lunch box snacks) Fill a prepared (buttered) muffin pan or mini cupcake pan with the batter.

Add chopped nuts, blueberries, raisins, or chopped dried fruit and mix in gently.

4. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredi ents and mix to combine. Do not over-mix the batter. The more you mix, the lumpier and stiffer your batter becomes.

Pop into the oven at 180˚C and bake for 30-35minutes (please check these, with a skewer, at around 25minutes as oven temperatures differ)

5. Pour into a prepared (buttered) loaf pan*, smooth the top, and bake at 180˚C degrees for 50 minutes.

If you get a wet crumb, you can then remove it from the oven as they continue to ‘bake’ or set after.

6. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then remove it from the baking pan and set it aside to cool completely. Slice and serve with your favourite topping.

These little power bites are great for lunch boxes and mid-morning or late afternoon snacks.

I used to have these on hand when we used to commute between day-care and home. A life saver when my then munchkin was raging with hunger.

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WORKING MAMA 2022

THE 3-INGREDIENT BANANA OAT COOKIES!!!

Yep, only 3 ingredients!

These cookies can be prepared in 10 minutes and stored in a container for those quick, healthy breakfasts or snacking on the go.

Ingredients: 2 ripe bananas (mashed) 1 ½ cups old-fashioned oats (stove top, not instant oats) 1/3 cup of chopped dried fruit (or raisins).

(I use Woolworths Breakfast Mix) *not so healthy option- chocolate chips

To Make Preheat oven to 180˚C. 1. Mash the spotty bananas with a fork.

2. Add the oats and mix until well combined.

3. Add the dried fruit/raisins and mix well.

4. Scoop about 2 tablespoons of mixture on the lined baking sheet, forming round cookies with your hands.

5. Bake for about 12 minutes at 180˚C. 6. Transfer baked cookies onto a wire rack to cool down for 5 minutes.

7. Once completely cooled, store in an airtight container.

Notes: If the mixture is too wet, add a few spoons of oats.

Don’t let the mixture sit out too long. It will thicken and become dense cookies.

Don’t let the cookies sit in that container for more than 2 days.

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Happy Baking Mama!

Non-baking tips: Hidden Veggies To up the nutritional value and to stretch meals a bit, you can: Add grated vegetables (carrots, marrows, butternut, etc.) to spaghetti Bolognese. The vegetables will absorb the flavour of the sauce.

Add a cup of cooked lentils to the Spaghetti Bolognese about 10min before it’s done.

Do the same with cottage pie and any other baking dish.

Please feel free to follow me on my social media accounts.

I often share baking tips on a Tuesday, #teachmetuesdays.

IG: www.instagram/home_iswherethecakeis FB: www.facebook.com/home_iswherethecakeis

July Issue

TRAVEL TIPS FOR NEWBIES Nadia Horn Discoveries, wanderlust, adventure - once you start traveling, there is no going back. Welcome newcomers to the exciting world of travel.

Research in advance Research the destination you plan to travel to, so you know when the best time is to visit the place. Check the weather forecast to plan your activities.

What to wear Wear comfortable clothes, when traveling for instance stretchy pants.

Bag Buy a daypack for trips (it should be waterproof) and can also use for your cabin. This flight backpack can hold a refreshing mini toiletry bag, an extra set of underwear, a reading book, a power bank, and a cell phone charger.

Day trip tips When you leave your accommodation for a day trip, make sure you have a light poncho and travel umbrella or, in sunny climates, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Google maps will come in handy when planning your route.

Travel adapters are a useful item. When buying the adapter, check if can be used for many destinations.

For the shopaholics among us: a travel scale to weigh our suitcases (so we can keep track of our purchases and there’s no big shock at the airport with the luggage weight). Checklist (here) https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/ track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:a3b7cb41-97f3336f-be5a-28492d0a1c74 Medical Supplies All travellers must always have a first aid kit. Be sure to pack your medications if you suffer from any chronic illness.

Transport The hop-on and hop-off buses exist in most countries and serve as a means of transportation. The stops are close to the main attractions, some admissions are free or discounted, and often the passengers get a free coffee. Travellers buy tourist passes in advance, for example, for countries such as Paris and Italy - these IMAGE BY KLICKORS MOE UNSPLASH

passes allow skip the line - no standing in line for long periods because tickets are purchased in advance, and visit many tourist attractions, and easier traveling on buses, trains, streetcars, etc. These passes allow savings. Book day trips in advance because this ensures availability.

Accommodations When you choose accommodations, choose those with value-added benefits, free transfers to shopping, the beach, or tourist attractions.

Hotels that offer both breakfast and dinner.

Hotels with water parks where admission is included in the price. Discounts for massages, lunches, and drinks.

When is the best time to travel?

Outside the high season.

Why do I need to use a travel agency when I can book everything online?

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We’re available around the clock in case of emergency

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We’ve access to various airlines, booking platforms, hotels, and day tours.

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We offer assistance with visas and travel insurance

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Especially now, during and after the Covid exit, travel agents have been at the forefront of helping their clients.

Don’t hesitate and inquire today...

Nadia Horn Travel Content Writer / Travel Advisor www.selenatravel.co.za

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WORKING MAMA 2022

PETER PAN MUSICAL

By Lee-Yandra Paulsen

South Africa, Cape Town, – Canal Walk Shopping Centre partnered with Heart FM to host a theatre production of Peter Pan. The Peter Pan Show with original music was written and directed by Fred Abrahamse and Marcel Meyer, an award-winning duo. The duo’s work is often presented on European and American stages.

Canal Walk Shopping Centre planned to donate a percentage of each ticket sold to the CHOC (Childhood Cancer) Foundation SA. CHOC is a foundation that aims to save lives through early detection of cancer and help families of children with cancer by making the journey less burdensome with comprehensive support programs.

The programs CHOC Foundation offers these families, are accommodation, practical support, awareness training & education, psychosocial support, etc. You can help support CHOC with donations and get involved by visiting their website (www.choc.org.za)

This classic tale adapted into a musical takes you on a magical ride to Neverland.

Where you can be entranced by the amazing storytelling, of much-loved characters and adventures in the tale of Peter Pan. Peter Pan Show took place from 25 June to 17 July 2022. The show brought to life each Contact details of CHOC Foundation character, most uniquely and enjoyably.

Tel: 021 531 0052

The cast of Peter Pan, also interacted with the audience during the show, making the audience feel as if they were truly a part of the show. Peter Pan’s Musical was really captivating and left the audience wanting more after the final curtain.

The musical was something for the whole family to enjoy. It is an experience you and your family most likely won’t forget.

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Email: wcadmin@choc.org.za Banking Details: Account Name: CHOC Western Cape Bank: Standard Bank Tyger Manor Account Number: 270894926 Branch: 050410

July Issue

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WORKING MAMA 2022

Belle Togs — your Life is an occasion!

Inspired by a feeling of being the most beautiful. Confidence is the best outfit out there. The name itself “Belle” meaning the most beautiful at any event, and “Togs” meaning a Cloak. So, imagine just draped in the most beautiful item that adds to & elevates your confidence.

by Evangelique Adams

This month we took the streets of Johannesburg, South Africa, and came across this beautiful fashion gem Belle Togs on 335 Jan Smuts Avenue in Hyde Park Terrace, Craighall Park. We had the opportunity to interview the founder Keke Moeca as she, share some tips and inspiration on the fashion industry.

Keke is a full-time graphic designer employed in the finance space, an entrepreneur in the fashion industry working with handmade leather products, and recently adding women’s fashion to the list. She believes in personal development, honest Women Empowerment, skills development, and leading by example in every sphere of your life. Her purpose is fueled by the need to pay it forward using her skills, collaborating with others, and sharing information. Keke aspires to be a limitless being in her endeavors, admitting that we as women hardly acknowledge how much fear creeps in when least expected.

When asked what fashion means to Keke, she responded that “It is visual self-expression, that fashion speaks for you before you speak for yourself, being more intentional than many things. It’s a subconscious expression that contributes so much to your being.”

As creative expressions take on so many forms, Keke started her own brand, Belle Togs, to share her skills and creativity because talent seems wasted when confined. Her interest in fashion sparked through personal experiences as she shares that “My natural obsession for shopping for the right clothes and feeling like there are very few options for an African shape anywhere. Having to buy clothes and still alter them all the time because my shape is not top of mind to the powers that be. No matter how big or small, most African women’s shape is unique. We struggle with flattering fits that are timeless.”

With so much passion and drive seen in Keke, I asked her to share some inspiration through a little Q&A, and this is what she had to say:

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July Issue When and how did it all begin? I launched in 2021 after struggling with my leather bag business and feeling like I needed something to lift my mood. Being in the pageant world as well as wanting to elevate my wardrobe and share it with other women. In my professional and personal life, many women ask me for shopping tips and styling advise.

Any lessons learned during your journey? I’ve learned that energy is a big part of my production. I’m now more focused on my well-being because it directly affects my business and enthusiasm to produce quality products that my customers can connect to.

Do you think the ever-increasing number of overseas brands coming to South Africa poses a threat to local designers? Now more than ever, local talent has the opportunity to spread their wings. If they can come here, it’s only a sign of how far we can go. We are all more explorative and should shake up that space.

Where do you see Belle Togs in the next 10 years? An international brand with strong local roots. I would like to see us providing a space for smaller creatives to come and learn, partner, and hopefully explore franchising opportunities.

How do you want women to feel when wearing your clothes? Like they are the most beautiful women in the room, I want to add to their confidence.

What advice would you give someone who wants to start their own fashion label? Your best billboard is yourself. Wear your brand, make it a lifestyle and present it to how you want it to be received.

Your biggest fear when going out and starting your own line? Not getting support and possibly the fear of not thinking things through. I soon realized that implementation is the difference between a dream and reality.

What motivates you the most about having your own fashion business? Knowing I am trusted to give my opinion on anything pertaining to the creative space. I value that and nurture my talent constantly because of that.

Thoughts on social media in fashion today? Fashions are ever-evolving and social media shows us that the principles remain the same, just with an added flavour. Therefore makes our role as designers invaluable to add that flavour to your staples.

What will be the must-buy fashion item for winter? I’m loving the ski-gear looks. Pity our winters are not that cold and long in SA to justify that purchase, but the knit dresses and my favs for now. Long and short sleeves. They go well with any existing wardrobe and are super flattering.

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WORKING MAMA 2022

Saving up for retirement

by Florian Ferris Saving for retirement is one of the most important financial goals for everyone and should be at the top of your goal list. Only 6% of South Africans save to see them through retirement. Considering that 45% depend on their family, 32% are obligated to continue working at their retirement age, and 17% rely on a government pension. You would need at least 70% to 75% of your earned income at the peak of your career to maintain your lifestyle at retirement.

Your retirement will be more enjoyable if your financial plan is structured in a manner that fits your lifestyle to ensure that you can enjoy it and protect the assets you have worked hard to acquire during your lifetime.

Saving from a younger age can have a significant impact on your retirement day it is therefore not an option to delay. Retirement is easy to put off and worry about later, especially when you’re young. But in doing so, you put yourself and your family in a less ideal situation.

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July Issue

Here is why retirement planning is important 1. You cannot work forever- No matter how much you want to keep working for your entire life.

The fact is, you will not be able to perform to the best of your abilities as you age progress, and your health also comes into effect.

2. Fewer companies are offering pension and retirement savings- Retirement is now more challenging than before. The responsibility of “saving for retirement” has shifted from the employer to the employee.

3. Another reason it is necessary to start saving for retirement as early as possible is that the longer lifespan has led to people outlining their savings.

4. Saving for retirement has a tax benefit meaning that you can pay less income tax if you contribute towards a retirement fund.

5. While saving for retirement, it is essential to consider if enough money is saved to receive an ongoing income during your retirement years. Do you have additional savings to cover any unexpected expenses that may arise?

6. At retirement, you do not want to be in a position of being dependent on your family. You would rather be in a situation where you can help if necessary.

If you have not started saving for retirement yet. It is not too late to start planning. Work with your financial advisor or trusted financial professional to help set out new savings goals so you can get back on track. With proper preparation and planning, you can have a comfortable retirement.

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WORKING MAMA 2022

#D.I.Y Side Table with Aamz

by Aamirah Jano

Create a DIY side table in the comfort of your own home.

Haven’t found a side table that fits in perfectly with your room theme or colour….? Don’t stress! Are you running around last minute for a cost-effective Side Table? Do you need to add some character to your living room? This little Col Timber DIY side table took me 10min to assemble. It’s so easy, practical, and looks great! The result is solid and firm and there is no need to sand it down as it arrives ready to use. The wood pieces are from Col Timbers, but You can purchase the full DIY Side Table package at Builders Warehouse or online from Takealot.

What’s great about these DIY side tables, is that you can be as creative as you want. You can create your OWN perfect finish such as wood stain, paint, or varnish! The choice is yours and you can get as creative as you want!

What you will receive: X1 tabletop X4 wooden legs X1 Table base X4 long screws X4 short screws X1 Allen key

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July Issue Step 1:

Start with the tabletop. Turn it upside down and using your short screws along with the Allen key, you can add on the legs of table one at a time.

Step 2:

Using the longer screws, add the base of the table. It’s that simple. Make sure you tighten it enough so that it’s stable and firm. It’s so easy to assemble, that even the kids can give a helping hand.

Step 3:

This is the fun part! You can get creative.

I used a wood stain from @builderssa (colour antique pine) to create my finish, giving it a lovely smooth chestnut look and enhancing the natural characteristics of the wood.

Application is fairly easy. To get into corners I would recommend using a small foam sponge.

I applied 3 thin layers of coating using a foam roller from Hamilton Brushware.

To view my Assembling video for COL Timbers Raw Pine Side Table, head over to the Link: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRmIZsPppIy/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= #DIYwithAamz

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WORKING MAMA 2022

Finished Result…

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July Issue

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WORKING MAMA 2022

Yasmeen Solomons Yasmeen Solomons is a fifteen-yearold currently in grade nine. She is a quiet person but tends to get vocal when excited about specific topics.

She enjoys writing and reading, however, always finds genuine happiness in art. Especially visual art as this gives her the ability to express herself and “bring to life” the images she visualizes.

Although she wants to attend an Art School the next year, she’s not planning on becoming a full-time artist.

She intends to follow a career in screenwriting as this has always been her dream.

Title:

Chae Hyungwon from Monsta X 0.1

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Title:

Chae Hyungwon from Monsta X 0.2

July Issue

Title:

Title:

Thameenah Daniels

Camilla Della

Title:

Win Win from WayV

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WORKING MAMA 2022

Click here or image to watch video

Program Description

30 Days Money Back Guarantee

This is a recorded course to help you with a step-by-step process And & techniques to Write, Edit and Publish your book in 21 days or less for FREE. Below is the synopsis of the program.

1. LIFETIME ACCESS TO THE RECORDED COURSE & BONUSES 2. SHORT & EASY TO FOLLOW RECORDED VIDEOS 3. WRITE & PUBLISH A BOOK IN 21 DAYS OR LESS 4. BECOME AMAZON BESTSELLING AUTHOR 5. LIFETIME ACCESS TO WEEKLY LIVE Q&A SESSIONS 6. LIFETIME ACCESS TO THE FB COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND GROW TOGETHER

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Click the link to register: https://rzp.io/l/H9QH1lU9

BUNDLE: BESTSELLING AUTHOR MASTERY & CONTENT SPINNER PROGRAM

July Issue

AUTHOR’S STORIES 5 Days at Sea: The Adventure of Princess Boombooli and Prince Ondrobolop 10-year-old Pratyusha Chatterjee lives in Siliguri, on the foothills of the Himalayas, in Eastern India. She is unschooled and has the whole day to read, write and play with her younger brother Pratyay. Pratyusha learns to play guitar, chess, western vocal, Spanish, and public speaking from various online coaching institutions. This is her first book of a series where the siblings, Princess Boombooli and Prince Ondrobolop, explore many exotic lands.

What is the book about?

10-year-old Princess Boombooli and her 6-yearold brother, Prince Ondrobolop, go on a cruise for 5 days. They start from their Kingdom of Siliguri and fly to the Harbor City of Bombay where the ship is docked. They start with several hitches in the beginning but end the cruise happily.

What words of wisdom would you like to give to the aspiring authors?

Learn from your Coach. (Inspiring Jatin sir taught my father and me, how easy it is to write books).

What inspired you to write this book?

When I was born, my father promised my mother that I will publish my first book by the age of 12 years. My mother told me about it last year (when I was 9). I decided to surprise my father by publishing my first book 2 years earlier.

What can people learn by reading your book?

We can have fun with simple, day-to-day happenings of life, especially when you are with your family.

How has writing this book changed your life?

Now I know that I can write many more books as I have so many stories to tell. I am already working on my 2nd book and have clear plans for the next few books.

Pratyusha Chatterjee (b. 01.01.2012) must be one of the youngest authors in the English language. She is working towards becoming a bi-lingual author very soon as she is learning Spanish.

This book is available on Amazon, or the click link below: https://amzn.to/3NeKAV8

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WORKING MAMA 2022

Busy to Highly Productive Jitendra Gupta is the Founder of Blissful Prosperity Solutions, a Spiritual Millionaire Coach. He has authored 5 books and impacted 5000+ lives across 5 continents in the last 14+ years. After completing his Chartered Accountancy (Indian CPA), he joined the banking industry but after working for 10 years, he resigned from his Corporate Banking Career to pursue his Calling to Serve Humanity - Bring joy, peace & harmony to the lives of people and joined a spiritual organization. He started training people in areas of money, spirituality, relationships, parenting, leadership, etc. He is a truth-seeker who goes to the root of problems affecting humanity and finds solutions that are effective and practical in day-to-day life.

This has resulted in him creating workshops & coaching programs like Spiritual Millionaire Coaching, 10X Productivity, Speak to Peace and Harmony, Sales & Profits Breakthrough Coaching, etc. He has the Vision to see every human being living a life of Joy, Peace & Prosperity. He intends to achieve this by creating Spiritual Millionaires across the world.

People who are spiritually grounded in their spiritual reality, materially abundance & serve society.

What inspired you to write this book?

IN 2014, I had the Vision to Transform the lives of people across the world by creating Million Spiritual Millionaires across the world. But even after 7 years, I was far behind my goals. I had invested a few millions of Rupees and 10+ years in my training and coaching but my success was far from satisfactory. On introspection, I realized that reason I have not achieved the needed success & impact is because of my poor productivity. I learned a lot but did not take action on my learnings. So, in 2021, I started studying what separates successful & high-performing people from unsuccessful and not-so-successful people. During this research, I discovered some key principles, mindsets & skillsets which made all the difference. As I started applying those changes in my life, I was able to complete writing & printing 5 Paper books in 2 Weeks, increasing my team size from 1 - 8 in 6 months. I then observed that many people are in the same boat. They had goals but nothing much has changed for them. People make the same goals year after year but don’t take action on those goals due to poor productivity mindset, skillset & habits. I thought it is my responsibility to share insights I got from my research & application with them so they can achieve their goals without wasting precious years of their lives. Hence this book.

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July Issue What can people learn by reading your book?

People will learn: 1. What mistakes they may be doing which keep them from achieving their goals.

2. Myths and misconceptions they may be holding which is not allowing them to achieve their goals.

3. High productivity principles and mindsets which can increase 10-100X their speed to achieving their goals effortlessly while balancing all areas of their lives.

How has writing this book changed your life?

Writing this book has increased my Self Esteem, it has established me as an expert and enhanced my credibility. In fact, writing, this book has also allowed me to become more productive myself. I could reach out to people who I could not reach before.

What words of wisdom would you like to give to the aspiring authors?

I would say: Don’t wait & don’t postpone. If you want to share your wisdom, get more leads, become famous, or leave a legacy. Just write and publish your first book. Your Self Esteem and your business will never be the same.

Other books written

by Him: ZeroHurt Communication His new books coming soon

The book is available on Amazon or click the link below

1)Secrets of a Spiritual Billionaire 2)Stuck! Can’t Stay, Can’t Quit 3)Master Secret

https://amzn.to/3yftiSx

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WORKING MAMA 2022

BOOK REVIEWS 5 Days at Sea- By Pratyusha Chatterjee 5 Days at Sea is about the adventures of a prince and princess named Princess Boombooli and Prince Ondrobolop. The world the book is set in has 4 statuses poor, normal, rich, and royals. The book mostly focuses on the royals as the main character are royalty.

The book gave a very authentic feel. Each character was full of life, although my favourite character has to be Prince Ondrobolop. The Prince is a prankster, who at times gets in trouble but he is also very curious, this gives the character such dimension.

5 Days at Sea is an amazing book, with each chapter taking you on a different adventure.

Recommended for younger readers, who enjoy Adventure fiction books.

-Reviewed by Lee-Yandra Paulsen

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July Issue

Busy to… Highly Productive – By Jitendra Gupta The book Busy to… Highly Productive is a motivational self-help guide, about high productivity, causes of low productivity, and how to achieve your goals.

The book gets the reader to first recognize the problems they have before giving them the solution on how to achieve their goals. Busy to… Highly Productive highlights the importance of high productivity and mistakes people make that keep them from being highly productive.

The chapters are short, with the information broken up into subtopics. This makes the information within the book easily digestible for readers. Recommended to people ready to be highly productive.

-Reviewed by Lee-Yandra Paulsen

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WORKING MAMA 2022

One Last Thing...

7 Apps to make #Momlife easier

by Lee-Yandra Paulsen

Working and being a mom can be intense, so you will need all the help you can get. Between work, cooking, and doctors’ appointments, you hardly have any for yourself. Here are some apps that might make managing your busy schedules easier.

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Baby Connect You may keep track of daily details about your kids with Baby Connect, including feeding, diapering, administering medications, taking sleep photographs, etc.

The app allows for the specification of several authorized users for each child (e.g., parents, family day-care). Baby Connect optimizes messaging and photo sharing for parents, nannies, and childcare workers.

Remember the Milk The Remember the Milk app was created to assist with task management. You won’t need to use sticky notes to compose your to-do list any more thanks to this app. The application refreshes each device as changes are made and syncs devices through your account

Cozi You can manage your activities and appointments in one place with the Cozi app.

Additionally, you may manage a shared grocery list and keep track of virtual class schedules and school events. This is an excellent tool to use if you want the whole family to help with chores.

Habit List Everything you need to achieve your goals is on the Habit List. It inspires you, aids in maintaining your concentration, and keeps you on course. With the aid of this software, you may develop the habit of doing simple things that add up.

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July Issue

MealBoard Look no farther than MealBoard, if you want to reduce the time spent on grocery shopping and dinner preparation. MealBoard is a single software that includes recipe management, meal planning, and grocery and pantry management. Your recipes, ingredients, food categories, meal types, shop, grocery goods, and many things are all manageable with MealBoard.

Trekaroo Trekaroo is a fun way to learn more about regular family travel. Locate family-friendly locations locally or abroad. You can book a hotel through the app and make a personalized travel guide for your journey. The Trakaroo app aids in locating the best family-friendly attractions, lodging options, and dining establishments.

Pocket Online articles can be saved, managed, and viewed with the app and web service, Pocket.

References • • • • • • • •

Baby Connect. 2022.Available on: https://www.babyconnect.com [Accessed 05 July 2022] Cozi Family Organizer. 2022. Must have App. Available on: https://www.cozi.com [Accessed 05 July 2022] Groovy Post. 2021. What is Pocket and How do I use it on My Devices?.

Available on: https://www.groovypost.com. [Accessed 05 July 2022] Habit List. 2022. Available on: https://habitlist.com [Accessed 05 July 2022] MealBoard. 2022. Build a better you. Available on: https://www.mealboard.com [Accessed 05 July 2022] Pocket. 2022. Available on: https://getpocket.com.

[Accessed 05 July 2022] Remember the Milk. 2022. Available on: www.rememberthemilk.com.

[Accessed 05 July 2022] Trekaroo Family Travel. 2022. Kids. Trips. Tips. Available on: https://www.trekaroo.com. [Accessed 05 July 2022]

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WORKING MAMA 2022

Women’s Empowerment Why is empowerinf girls and women so important?

When women are living safe, fulfilled and productive lives, they can reach their full potential @workingmama_za

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be produced or transmitted in any form or by any means: electronic or mechanical without the prior consent of the publisher. While every effort has been taken to provide information that is accurate as possible, the publishers and respective contributors and researchers do not accept any responsibility for injury, loss or damage occasioned to any person as a result of material in this book, No guarantee of product or service sales

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