Friday 28 June 2013

Supernova volume 2.5

Supernova vol. 2.5
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Supernova is almost two years old! Since its first print-run in September 2011, 'the mag for curious kids' has grown to be a much loved publication among children, parents and teachers alike. This unique treasure chest of information continues to push the boundaries of what it means to publish for children. All content is proudly South African, written and beautifully illustrated to best engage a much neglected, but very important audience.

Volume 2.5 continues to deliver with exclusive, exciting content. Take a peek into the secret life of the coelacanth. This article will blow your mind, as you read about recently discovered facts about this living 'dinofish'.

You can also take a technological journey through the age of computers, stand on the conductor's rostrum in front of an orchestra, and get whisked back in time to one of the largest migrations in human history. If your head isn't already spinning, why not dive into this issue's article on wingsuit flying? All this and more can be found in the latest issue of your favourite kids' mag, Supernova!

So what are you waiting for? Get your copy of Supernova and get curious!

Wednesday 26 June 2013

It's all fun and games with a full programme for the kids at the 2013 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival



Children are guaranteed the time of their lives at the 2013 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, from 28 June - 7 July. Presented by Humpty Dumpty Windmeul Eggs, the Pick n Pay Young Oyster Festival will take place daily at the Festival Pavilion on Waterfront Drive and offers a full programme of activities, from sport clinics and races, to cultural and culinary workshops, and live kiddies’ entertainment, plus a dedicated Kids Zone complete with popcorn, candyfloss and more.



“The Festival has always taken place during the winter school holidays,” Festival Manager Nicci Rousseau Schmidt explains. “This year is no different, with the celebrations happening right in the middle of the vacation. With a full children's programme on offer, moms and dads can compete in the popular racing events, enjoy lunch together at the Tabasco® Oyster Hotspots, or participate in the over 100 other festival activities, knowing that the kids are having fun in a safe environment.”

The Young Oyster Festival will entertain children ages 2-12 years old with cooking lessons, arts and crafts, face painting, movie screenings, puppet shows, children's theatre, sport clinics and some exciting competitions. Plus, the older kids can take advantage of our all-new funfair - complete with inflatable fun and knock out games.

Children aged 6-14 years old can also take part in the Totalsports XTERRA Kids Race at 14h00 on Wednesday, 3 July, which includes both running and cycling, and will take place at the magnificent Conrad Pezula Private Estate Field of Dreams. Every entrant will receive a goody bag, and medals will be awarded to all finishers!

Plus, children aged 2-9 years old can take part in the Spur Rotary Knysna Children’s Tour (an official event of the Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour)  from 10h00 onwards on Sunday, 30 June at Steenbok Park on Leisure Island. For more information contact Megan Franz on 076 274 8958 or email
rotary@123.co.za.


Holiday care is also on offer by professional child-minders for children aged 2-10 years old at the Knysna Sunbird Play School from 07h30-13h30 for R120 per day throughout the Festival, or on the weekends for children ages 5-11 years at Stepping Stones, Knysna's private pre-primary school, for R50 per child per hour, including snacks, juice, lunch and activities. Parents must pre-book their place into the holiday care programme. For more information on Sunbird Play School visit www.sunbirdschool.co.za or phone Kim on 081 270 3441, or for more information on Stepping Stones visit www.steppingstonesschool.co.za or phone Janet Canny on 082 569 8974 or Magda Harris on 084 282 0129.


For kids aged 8-14 years old that just want to be in the kitchen, the Junior Kom Braai Competition with Pick n Pay is sure to light their fire. Free to enter, all competitors will receive a t-shirt and braai meat, which they will use to cook up a storm in a bid to win the title “Best Braaier” and a chance at one of three Pick n Pay Braai Hampers.

For family fun, pack everyone into the car for an adventure in the deep forest on the legendary Harkerville trails as part of the Hi-Tec Family Forest Hike on 1, 3 and 5 July. Each participant will receive a goodie bag and breakfast complete with coffee for the folks and juice for the kids. End off with the optional lunch, or take advantage of the on-site braai facilities – where even Dad can relax since the fires will be supplied! Priced at Adults: R275, including a Hi-Tec Dakota Fleece Top valued at R250; Children: R95; Family Special: R585 – 2 adults and up to 2 kids. Adults receive the Dakota Fleece Top. For more info e-mail robyn@electricink.co.za or click here to book:
http://ow.ly/kMHtO.

Finally, from 1-5 July kids can line up for free fun at the Knysna Library and the community libraries – including Hornlee, Fairview, Karatara, Khayalethu, Masifunde, Rheenedal, Rudolph Bali and Smutsville – where they can decorate cupcakes and gingerbread men, learn about recycling, colour in and play games.

“You’ll be hard pressed to find a more family friendly festival than the 2013 Pick n Pay Oyster Festival” Nicci concluded. “With over 100 sporting, lifestyle, foodie and kiddie events on offer – each of which benefits local communities and charities, the festival truly offers something for everyone. All you have to do is arrive – we’ll take care of the rest.”




For more information about the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, contact Knysna Tourism on 044 382 5510, visit www.pnpoysterfestival.co.za, or if you have a smart phone, be sure to get the innovative Festival App for the complete programme, mobile news and on-the-go information. To get it, go to Google Play or Apple iTunes, or simply scan the barcode on the festival website. 



Issued by:
FinePlaces Marketing & PR on behalf of 2013 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival

Tuesday 25 June 2013

Element Team Riders To Show Some Skill on the half pipe during the 2013 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival - presented by The Yard Skate & BMX Park

PRESS RELEASE

For a new twist on Rock n Roll, The Yard in Knysna – an indoor skate, BMX, scooter and rollerblade venue – is hosting a team of Element sponsored Team Riders during the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, complete with their own pro-half pipe.

Damon De Clercq, Giovanni Votano and Clint Theron are all world-renowned skaters and will be joining in the festival's 30th anniversary festivities with a demonstration of some serious skill at the Festival Pavilion.

Festival Manager Nicci Rousseau Schmidt explains, “It’s all part of the festival’s focus to bring in new and exciting events that appeal to people of all ages and interests. The Yard has organised some of the world’s most talented skate boarders to come to Knsyna and we’re only too pleased to have them as part of the schedule.”

On 5 July from 2pm - 4pm, the Element Team Riders will ramp it up at the Festival Pavilion with a demo on the half pipe, and after that they’ll head over to The Yard in Knysna's Industrial Area for the official Element Night Jam from 5pm - 10pm. There, the party will continue with more tricks, autographs and some pretty sweet prizes for participants, like Element skateboard wheels, T-shirts, hoodies, caps, shoes and more.

The Team Riders' afternoon demo is free to watch, while entrance to the Night Jam is just R25 per person, including entrance to the competition. During the festival, you can also head down to The Yard - open 7 days a week 10am-6pm (except Sundays, from 1pm - 6pm) and skate all day for only R25, or you can try your luck when the half pipe is free at the Festival Pavilion throughout the day and during the week.

Brothers Steve and Ivan Van Lier founded Knysna's only skate venue in 2009. Steve explains, "We sold our family business in the building industry in 2007. The Yard was an idea that developed with two things in mind - first, the tough economic conditions which seem to hit the smaller towns harder than the big cities and second, Ivan's sons Mathew and Troy's love for skateboarding and rollerblading. So on the one side, Ivan was driving through to the only park on the Garden Route in George for his kids to practice their tricks, and on the other side we had an empty warehouse in the industrial area just begging for something… so bam! It was to be a skate and BMX park."

Steve continues, "The park itself was designed and built by Roscoe Siebers – an experienced BMX rider from Port Elizabeth who has ridden in many parts of the world -  and the bowl, ¼ pipes, fun box, spine and banks all use steel framework manufactured in his factory, and cladding done by local Knysna carpenters. The park offers 500
 of indoor skating as well as 600 of outdoor plaza, which is the very best on offer on the Garden Route. We have a fully stocked shop which offers all the associated clothing with brands like DC, Planb and other skate-related brands to choose from. We have all the spares and complete boards any skater could dream of under one roof. For the hungry and thirsty we also cater from our in-house tuck shop."

"The skate and BMX park is open daily from 10am 'till 6pm with boards, BMX, scooters and safety equipment available for hire. This is a safe environment for kids to be dropped as there is always adult supervision. And at R25 for the whole day, it’s a bargain. Plus, we offer a Toppies evening on alternate Wednesday evenings from 6pm - 8:30pm for the oldies that want to skate without kids coming past at 100mph, which has broken all expectations on attendance! The quality of skaters coming is just amazing - who would have thought the moms and dads would want to get back onto their skateboards and not only skate, but do tricks that outdo the kids'! "


The Schedule:
5 July 2pm - 4pm, Element Riders Half Pipe Demo at the Festival Pavilion, Waterfront Drive, FREE
5 July 5pm - 10pm, Join in the fun at the Element Night Jam at The Yard, 5 Progress Street, Knysna Industrial Area, R25 per person, including entrance to the competition
Daily during the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival - skate all day at The Yard, 5 Progress Street, Knysna Industrial Area, for just R25

The programme for the 2013 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival has grown, with new and exciting events joining the stable of old favourites. “Last year’s programme sported more than 100 events,” said Festival Manager Nicci Rousseau-Schmidt. “And it is already clear that we’ll top that number this year.”

Other not to be missed events in the line-up include the Knysna Wine Festival on 1 and 2 July, where up to 50 of South Africa’s best wines will be on offer; the Pick n Pay Flavours of Knysna Gourmet evening, where Knysna restaurants will compete for cash prizes with their best oyster recipes on 3 July; and the Tabasco® Shuckle – on Fire with Nik Rabinowitz on 4 July, where the Oyster Shucking and Oyster Eating competitions will be held.

For the little ones, The Young Oyster Festival is gaining in popularity each year, providing an environment for kids to have a blast. Aside from the regular events, such as cooking lessons, arts and crafts, movie screenings, sport clinics, and exciting competitions, this year will see a dedicated Kids Zone complete with popcorn, candyfloss and all things necessary for exciting and entertaining kids.

Plus, the Pick n Pay Women’s Walk will take place on Sunday 7 July. The Women’s Walk is a popular event that takes place across South Africa. Bronwen Rohland, Marketing Director Pick n Pay, said, “This 5km event raises funds for PinkDrive, an organisation that provides free breast cancer screening and health education for women who cannot afford it.”

For more information about the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, contact Knysna Tourism on 044 382 5510, visit
www.pnpoysterfestival.co.za, or if you have a smart phone, be sure to get the innovative Festival App for the complete programme, mobile news and on-the-go information. To get it, go to Google Play or Apple iTunes, or simply scan the barcode on the festival website.

For more information about The Yard or the Element Team Riders Demo and Night Jam, contact Steven on 082 411 0950 or Ivan on 083 325 2526, or find them on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/11LZi6E. 

Wednesday 12 June 2013

Cashcow™ launch: accounting resource tool kit and board game for learners and teachers


CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, June 6, 2013:  Ebony & Ivory Consultancy has announced the launch of their one-of-a-kind Accounting tool kit and board game: CashCow™.

Ebony & Ivory Consultancy has a driving desire to help students and teachers understand and embrace the basic principles of Accounting. Their mission to make Accounting fun and interactive has led them to design and manufacture CashCow™, a revolutionary resource kit and board game.

“The idea that only future CA’s and Accountants must take Accounting as a subject is a misconception,” says Henk Koekemoer, founder and developer of CashCow™. 

“Accounting is in essence record-keeping - something we all need to do well – from the entrepreneur tracking costs to corporate departments following budgets to smaller personal and household budgets. CashCow™ puts the fun back into studying Accounting and makes it accessible to everyone.”

CashCow™ comes in the form of a tool kit and board game, and can be used in conjunction with entry level school and college textbooks. It is aligned to the current CAPS curriculum and is available in English and Afrikaans.

CashCow™ has been developed to:

· Make learning and teaching of Accounting fun and interactive
· Assist students to improve their pass marks
· Give teachers and lecturers an aid to assist in the teaching process.

The Department of Education, Gauteng, has listed the CashCow™ products as a resource for schools. CashCow™ will soon be endorsed by The Institute of Associated Bookkeepers (UK). CashCow™ is in conversation with Microsoft and is in the process of being developed into a digital product for the exploding international e-learning education market.

The CashCow™ products will be displayed and exhibited at the annual Africa Education Week being held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, from 20 to 22 June 2013.



To contact CashCow™:
Henk Koekemoer: 083 247 1336
henk@cashcowsa.com
or visit our website
www.cashcowsa.com

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Written by Candace van Zyl | Shift ONE for CashCow™.
For more contact
candace@shiftone.co.za.



Tuesday 11 June 2013

STUNT
Girl Power


Staring Saturday 8th June from 12:00
Airing Every Saturday & Sunday from 12:00 throughout June.
Repeats Monday to Friday from 18:05



On Cartoon Network, this is the month for Girl Power! Look out for the special programming which will include some top rating girly characters filling screens.


Be prepared to have some high flying action with Astrid from DreamWorks Dragons, be a princess with all the princesses from Adventure Time and get your drama queen on with all the girl characters from the Total Drama series. Some other girl characters to look out for will be Gwen from Ben 10 and Johnny Test’s Twin Sisters.


The stunt block is set to start on Cartoon Network on Saturday 8th June and it will be showcased every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 pm and week days from 18:05 with a longer slot, including The Amazing World of Gumball characters and The Powerpuff Girls.





WEEK END LINE UP:
Dragons: Riders of Berk: Sat & Sun @ 12:00
Total Drama Island: Sat & Sun @ 12:25
Johnny Test: Sat & Sun @ 12:45
Adventure Time: Sat & Sun @ 13:10
Ben 10: Sat & Sun @ 13:35


WEEK DAYS LINE UP:
Total Drama Mon-Fri @ 18:05
PPG: Mon - Fri @ 18:30
Dragons: Riders of Berk: Mon- Fri @ 18:55
Ben 10: Mon -Fri @ 19:20
The Amazing World of Gumball: Mon- Fri @ 19:45
Adventure Time: Mon - Fri @ 20:10


Press release brought to you by ARCAY Burson-Marsteller on behalf of Cartoon Network.

Monday 10 June 2013

Stay healthy in winter!

The Supernova team, who knows what it is like to not feel so good sometimes, thinks that it is a great idea to share Morvite's tips to stay healthy this winter. Read on!

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With winter upon us, the days are getting darker, colder and shorter. Our bodies are also more susceptible to all kinds of winter illnesses like colds and flu.

Morvite shares some tips on how to keep healthy this winter.

Get enough exercise and sunlight
Although it is very tempting to stay indoors in winter, it is important to remember that exercising during the colder months is just as important as exercising in summer. Not only is exercise good for keeping healthy and fit, it also leaves you feeling warm and full of energy. Exercising outdoors also gives you a chance to breathe in fresh air, and gives you a sound mind and body work out. A walk around the block is enough to get the blood flowing so set time to get out of the house even if it is just for 30 minutes.

Wash your hands
Keeping your hands clean is one of the most important things you can do to avoid getting sick and spreading germs. It is advisable to wash your hands with hot water and soap every time you use the bathroom and before every meal. Another important thing to remember is to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. By doing this, you will avoid getting germs on your hands.




Eat well
Starting the day with a healthy breakfast is something that everyone should be accustomed to. This is because breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Having a wholesome breakfast means you have the best start to your day. A substantial breakfast is linked to many health benefits, such as, improved mental ability, a healthy heart and consistent weight1.

Morvite is the perfect cereal to start your day with as it is filling, affordable, and requires no cooking. Morvite Orange contains the same vitamins and minerals as the other variants in the range but it is high in Vitamin C, which is one of the most important vitamins needed in winter. Vitamin C assists the functioning of the immune system and helps maintain bones, blood vessels and the skin.

It is also very tempting to eat a lot of unhealthy food in winter because of the low temperatures. The best thing is to include a lot of fruit, vegetables and other nutritional food in your diet.

Get enough sleep
To get a good night’s sleep, you should exercise regularly, and avoid stimulants such as beverages with caffeine after 4pm. You can also create a consistent bedtime routine by going to bed at the same time each night so that your body learns to anticipate sleep. Taking a warm bath or reading a book just before sleeping are also good ways of getting a peaceful night’s sleep.

Stay hydrated
Keeping hydrated is also very important, especially in the colder weather. It is important to drink plenty of water. The harsh winter weather can easily dry your skin, leaving it feeling tight, itching, and even flaking. You might also want to consider changing your skin care products in winter, for example, if you are using a lotion in summer, you might want to use a cream for the colder season.


References:


Issued by:
Kerry Campbell, Sabio Communications, on behalf of Morvite.

Friday 7 June 2013

Supernova once again gets kids excited!

On Friday 31 May 2013, Benoit Knox and Waldo Swart once again visited a school to get learners excited about publishing and Supernova magazine. This time they visited Marist Brothers Linmeyer. The learners were so excited about Supernova that subscriptions started pouring in shortly afterwards. Whoohoo!



If you would like BK Publishing to visit your school to chat to the learners about Supernova magazine or publishing as a career option, please contact Benoit Knox at +27 12 342 5347 or email him at benoit@bkpublishing.co.za. Please note that we are based in Gauteng, so only schools in this region may apply.







Winners of 9th FEDA play festival!

The Supernova team happens to be avid fans of theatre and all things drama. Check out these amazing budding performers!

The finals of the 9th FEDA play festival were held at the Joburg Theatre on 26 May.


Five schools made it to the finals out of 36 productions so they were all 'winnners' in their own way. Crawford College Sandton was once again in the finals, joined this year by Crawford College Lonehill, Randfontein, St John's, and St Stithians Boys, all producing work of the highest calibre. Crawford College Sandton has been in the finals every year for nine years, having won the festival six times.

This year, the Drama Department had ten productions at the school, two of which made it to FEDA. They were Tal Assabi's production of Monsters and Kerri Ichikowitz s production of The Boy who Fell From the Roof.

Fiona Ramsay, Tobie Cronje and Desmond Dube were our external judges and George Mazarakis (the producer of Carte Blanche) attended. They were totally blown away by the standard of the work.

St Stithians Boys won with their production of Minedumps and Highways. Sydney Spracklen from Sandton College of The Boy who Fell From the Roof won the Fiona Ramsay award for Best Actress. Crawford College Lonehill won best Original Production for Lights! Camera! No Action!


We are immensely proud of our drama students and their hard work, and applaud them. Bravo! Encore!

Press release distributed by Advtech House.

Thursday 6 June 2013

Eskom Expo for Young Scientists’ do South Africa proud at prestigious international science fair in Phoenix, Arizona

Supernova is super proud of these young science geniuses! In them we place much hope for the future of our beautiful country!


Nine South African learners have returned from the prestigious Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held from 12 to 17 May in Phoenix, Arizona, USA clutching awards and prizes for their outstanding projects.

These learners did exceptionally well in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair in 2012 and were, therefore, selected to represent South Africa at the largest science fair in the world.

Each year, more than seven million high school students from over 70 countries and regions compete in local and national science fairs with the hope of reaching Intel ISEF. Only 1 500 of those hopefuls are named finalists and given the opportunity to attend the science fair, where they are able to share their ideas, showcase their projects and compete for over US$ 4 million in awards and scholarships.

Even fewer walk away with awards, but this year South African learners: Danielle Mallabone, Philippe Lothaller, Ben Langer, Danielle Jacobson and Retselisitsoe Monyake were acknowledged for their scientific projects.

Danielle Jacobson, a budding scientist from Camps Bay High School, won a special award of a Renewable Tuition Scholarship Award to the value $50 000 from West Virginia University. This was for her investigation into how bacteria and Nano fibre electrodes could be used to increase the electrical output of microbial fuel cells.


She looked at maximising the area of the electrode to make it viable for commercial use in the future and the judges were so impressed that they offered her a four-year scholarship to West Virginia University.

Jacobson says: “I was sitting on the edge of my seat during the special awards and when they announced my name I was so happy - It’s great that I have done well for South Africa.”

Another winner was Ben Langer from Herzlia High School in Cape Town. Langer won the New American University Provost Scholarship, a comprehensive scholarship to study for four years at Arizona State University. In addition to this scholarship, Langer also won a one-time US$2 500 award to conduct research from the Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development.

Langer is a keen chemist and looked at ways to increases the thrust of rocket fuel. He found that it was possible to add small accelerants to rocket fuel to increase the thrust; ultimately increasing the power to weight ratio.

Langer also took home the fourth place award and US$500 in the chemistry category at the Grand Awards Ceremony.

Another prize winner was Phillipe Lothaller, a matric student at Rondebosch Boys' High School. He won a cash prize of $7500 from the United Airlines Foundation.

Lothaller has always been fascinated by airplanes and after seeing the puff of smoke that comes off airplane wheels after landing, he decided to look into modifying airplane wheels to reduce wear and tear.

He discovered that by attaching large scoops to the wheels, the amount of friction created on landing was reduced and this, in turn, reduced the wear and tear on the wheels.

Danielle Mallabone, a Grade 11 learner from St Teresa’s High School in Johannesburg, received a Special Award of US$1000 from the American Intellectual Property Law Association for her innovative life-jacket attachment.

Mallabone was concerned by the number of deaths caused by hypothermia following boating or plane accidents and so she decided to develop a life-jacket attachment that prevents hypothermia by producing heat on contact with water.

She says: “I would definitely encourage other learners to enter the Eskom Expo. I never thought I had an impressive project throughout the regional and national finals, but you never know that someone else might see value in your project.”

The final prize was awarded to Retselisitsoe Monyake. Monyake, a 17 year old student from Harmony High School in Virginia, also took home a fourth place Grand Award and US$500 in the mathematical sciences category at the Grand Awards Ceremony. Monyake had developed an alternative proof of the Pappus Chain Theorem, using the method of circle inversion.

He said: “We have a problem with maths at our school and the problem is the way people look at maths. I wanted to change their minds, my proof is visual and it gives people another perspective on maths.”

A key component of the “true South Africa” and one of our most valuable resources is the vast number of bright young minds – particularly in the scientific field – continuously emerging and proposing innovative solutions to the challenges faced by our country and the world at large.

It is these bright young minds that the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists so values, recognises and rewards. Executive Director of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, Parthy Chetty said: “For the past 15 years our team has always come back with an award. This is a fantastic achievement and this shows that if we commit to this we can achieve in international arenas. We believe the continued support of Intel ISEF is imperative because maths and science cannot be separated from future global growth. The competition encourages millions of students to engage their skills for innovation and develop promising solutions for global challenges.”

Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, who visited the learners at the airport to wish them good luck for the competition, said: “I was struck that you have found innovative ways to address some of our societal challenges and I hope you gain knowledge, contacts and culture enrichment.”

All the learners remarked that one of the things they enjoyed most about the trip was meeting like-minded peers from around the world and engaging with them on a meaningful level. Jacobson said: “It is mind blowing to see normal teenagers doing such amazing things and the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists is great for encouraging young scientists. I didn’t think it would go anywhere but it has. It’s been a lot of hard work but it’s rewarding hard work!”

The group were all incredibly grateful to Eskom and Intel for affording them this opportunity. Mallabone said: “I want to say a huge thank you to all the sponsors, the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, Eskom and Intel. It really has been a life-changing experience.” 

Press release distributed by Grounded Media

Wednesday 5 June 2013

Little Bo Baby turns your kid's drawings into soft toys

If you’re anything like me, your fridge is a collage of abstract art.

I’m not sure who declared the fridge the accepted medium for displaying your kid’s art, but it is. Pages of bold wax crayon artistic expression now cover the brushed silver finish we paid extra for. Finger-painted brown trees with orange and yellow autumn leaves are held up by a motley crew of magnets that range from thoughtfully selected gifts showing far-off places, to freebies we got in the post. In short, our fridge is a living scrap book.

The heart-breaking thing is that most of those pictures get replaced with new ones every week. And, although I try keeping the amazing ones, the rest end up in the ‘hands-off’ dust bin, soon forgotten.

With Father’s Day coming up, I was wracking my brain for something original and one-of-a-kind for him. He is, after all, a one-of-a-kind man, and being the father of twins makes him especially so!
Walking towards the fridge, hoping I’d find inspiration in there, as we do, I stopped dead. There it was, staring at me this whole time.

So, getting behind the sewing machine, I got busy. You’ll excuse my enthusiasm, but I’m so happy with the end result. It truly is a one-of-a-kind gift for him.

And now I give it to you.

Send me your child’s drawing, no matter the age, and we will transform it into a plush toy. A soft toy that is the exact 3D version of their drawing!

My kids were giddy when they saw their creativity come to life, and my husband’s face when he unwrapped it made my heart squeeze so tight my eyes got a little sweaty. I love giving gifts that mean something to the receiver, and oh boy, does this ever.

And as they say, a toy in the hand is better than two drawings on the fridge!

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To contact Gaya from Little Bo Babies, call 071 493 1825 or visit www.littlebobabies.com.
The prices for these handmade, one-of-a-kind soft toys range from R300 to R1300 and usually land in the R500 to R900 range.

Gaya is the founder of the Cape Town based Little Bo Babies Online store and information resource centre for parents of twins. She is the mother of adorable fraternal twins, Maya and Malia. She is married to her doting husband Saša. Gaya believes that a parent needs the following to have an enjoyable parenting experience: safe, value-for-money and convenient baby products, easily accessible advice and information, a positive attitude, and a hands-on partner!
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Written by Candace van Zyl from Shift ONE for Little Bo Babies. Shift ONE is a marketing agency in Cape Town that specialises in web conversion with websites, mobile devices, email, social marketing and online advertising.

Win a Dreambow classical guitar worth R2500!





This exciting competition is brought to you by 
Supernova, the mag for curious kids and Musica Instruments.

Tuesday 4 June 2013

What to do on the West Coast this Winter Holiday


Don’t let “I’m bored mommy!” be the chart-topping single permanently on repeat this holiday.

To keep parents from going completely off their rocker, here are some great ideas on what to do with your kids on the West Coast this holiday.

1. Free and easy:
Weather-permitting, this is first prize – it’s free, it’s physical, and the kids come back happy, hungry and tired! Bliss.

  • Sheltered jungle gym at Eden on the Bay This enclosed jungle gym is ideal for when the kids need to spend energy and its windy and wet outside. Kids under five eat for free at Snoekies, and the Vida e Café cappuccino will make everything feel all better again.

  • Bloubergstrand beach and tidal rock pools – A great way to spend time together looking for shells and pretty pebbles. Bring wellies, buckets and spades.

  • Small Bay – ‘Mommy’s beach’ as it’s affectionately known offers a grassed area with a sprawling jungle gym, great for picnics and play, with the beach nearby and the sea tickling your toes.

  • Blouberstrand Promenade – Stroll or cycle the promenade, buy a hot pancake on chilly days, or enjoy an ice-cream on those days where winter is forgotten.
Koeberg Nature Reserve (photo by Andrew Massyn)

  • Cycle or hike at Koeberg Nature Reserve –This free nature reserve has some lovely game, from springbok to eland. With kiddie-friendly routes, you can choose anything from an hour to a day outing.

2. Other fun outdoor activities:

  • My Citi Bus – take the family on an adventure ride to the city and surrounds. Kids love the idea of going somewhere on a big blue bus. The My Citi Bus is a great way to do this. From around R10 per person one way.
  • West Coast Farm Stall / Lion Park at Yzerfontein – take your kids to see the white lions, Siberian tigers and jaguars, and eat the best scones on the West Coast. Need we say more?

3. But baby it’s cold outside…
When it’s wet and wintery, and cabin fever is driving you nuts, here are some great options for you.


  • Mommy mornings at Izabella’s – This cosy restaurant at Eden on the Bay in Big Bay hosts mommy mornings every Tuesday morning from 9am – 11am. With kiddies’ tables and chairs, and activities to keep tots busy, mommies can enjoy a cuppa while chatting to friends and family, or reading a magazine.
  • Dragonland– A stunning new indoor play centre with a modest coffee shop. Safe, clean and spacious. Woolies and China Town are close by so you can do shopping while the kids play.

  • Tots n Pots – For hands-on cooking workshops for moms, dads and toddlers. Based in Table View you can enjoy quality time together with your little ones, and someone else does the tidying up! Book with Charmaine@totsnpots.com.



  • Creative Kids Corner at Eden on the Bay – Fun and creative crafts and activities on offer during the school holidays with a  full-time minder from 11am – 2pm. Book with monicaboshoff@gmail.com. You can shop and relax while the kids are inspired. Plus, kids under five eat for free at Snoekies. Definitely a win/win situation!

We hope that helps you with the ‘I’m bored’ scenario. Now if only we had a solution to ‘Are we there yet?’!

To connect with Eden on the Bay go to:
@edenOnTheBay
www.edenonbigbay.co.za
info@edenonbigbay.co.za
www.facebook.com/edenonthebay


Written for Eden on the Bay by Candace van Zyl from Shift ONE. Contact candace@shiftone.co.za for more.