Organising an event for the first time has been a rewarding and challenging experience. Together with Laura from Harassed Mom we have been planning the #MomBlogMeetup for some time. I can honestly say everything went so well in the end and we had a fabulous time.
In the lead up to the event, we did have some difficulties but I think that the things that go wrong provide opportunities for alternatives that may work out even better.
Both Laura and I had car problems this week. Laura’s car wouldn’t start and she was going back and forth from the dealer trying to sort it out. She did eventually get a replacement car. I was feeling all smug about my working car and then the brakes failed. It had to go in to be fixed and a ton of money had to be spent…
All of this meant that our planned get together for Wednesday the 25th to do the goody bags had to be cancelled. I packed at home what I had while my car got fixed.
Then on Friday it probably worked out better to set up the whole room in preparation for the next day. Free Range Lifestyle Centre really spoiled us with a variety of goodies from their shops so we packed that all into the Gumtree bags with their stationery.
The event itself was as lovely as the location. Bloggers arrived and enjoyed capaccinos from Fresh Culture Cafe. We also had some lovely snacks in the middle from The Lot Restaurant.
I think it was interesting how each speaker had a different facet to share on what to them is important about health.
1) EXERCISE: Georgia Torres is an executive committee member of Exercise is Medicine. She was introduced by fellow council member Preethi Mistri. (Yes, I know, Preethi was meant to speak, but as Laura said, sometimes you just have to go with the flow and this, I think turned out for the best as Georgia is also a mom who recognises the challenges of exercise and kids)
Some tips I picked up from Georgia:
-Watch your child and find out what form of exercise they like. She said she noticed her child liked jumping so she got him a trampoline. At the moment I must say that Nicky is really into cricket but he likes throwing and running after balls rather than batting. He now says: “Bat!” when he wants to go and play this game. Oh and he does like jumping too.
-Recommended amounts of exercise are: Adults = 150 moderate exercise for the week, Children = an hour a day.
-Given that the sedentary lifestyle is such a problem in our culture, she recommends breaking up the sitting every hour to get up for five minutes. She is in favour of kids standing at their desks which I thought was a bit weird until I remembered how Nicky really prefers to stand rather than sit at his table.
-Limit screen time in the day by providing active alternatives such as balls, bat, hula hoops and bikes. Just going outside opens up more active alternatives such as a jungle gym or trampoline.
2. THE FUNCTION OF FOOD: Nicqui Grant was a very informative speaker. What I liked about her was that she emphasised the function of food for individuals rather than a bland universal approach. She even told us about how she does genetic profiling to help figure out these individual approaches.
-The other interesting thing about her is that she doesn’t agree with Banting. She prefers the fat the Paleo diet allows and is against the cream etc that Banting promotes. She says you need your fuel (CARbohydrates). In some instances you can decrease your carbs but not totally eliminate them.
-She spoke a lot about insulin and how important it is to get that under control, especially from a hormonal perspective and not to mention obesity.
-Proteins are also essential but she recommends meat that has been grass fed rather than corn fed. This was the first thing she mentioned to me when I asked advice about fertility because of the hormones in the food that can disrupt things in your cycle.
-Some environmental toxins you should watch out for include drinking water out of plastic bottles and aspartane which has also been shown to disrupt serotonin which affects your sleeping patterns.
I think this is someone I really learnt a lot from and I felt afterwards this is the kind of person I would like to keep talking to….
3) PRACTICAL, EASY AND FUN FOOD: Margy Vally from The Olive Branch Cooking School shared some fun recipes which I think merits its own blog post (which Jolene has done here). Suffice to say I think she brought the seriousness down a notch (after the other experts had left) and showed us how to make some fun food. I liked the way she decorated the food to look like objects and animals e.g. boats, fishes and mice.
I think she deserves the biggest thanks of all for letting us invade her space, helping set up and with minimal time to prepare for her next class. We are so appreciative, Margy, of the way you let us mom bloggers into your cooking school, we really enjoyed how fast and easy these creations could be.
Oh and I have to mention that her son’s name is also Nicholas and I could see how helpful he was fetching things for her and taking pictures. That is an encouragement to me, lol!
Finally I really want to list our sponsors who really came to the party and gave us some lovely things.
1. I’ve already mentioned our venue Free Range Lifestyle Centre and the cooking school The Olive Branch (thank Margy for those cooking course prizes you donated!), as well us the delicious Lot Restaurant, but I also want to mention that there are other shops in the centre who provided discounts for us. Calico Rose was having a sale and I got some lovely tops, one of which I wore to the event. It was just right for me and for the occasion.
The other shop I loved was Pangolin Toy Store. The first time I went to Free Range I got a threading activity for Nicky (a nice large one). This time I got a wooden train set, kinetic sand that sticks together and more intricate threading.
When I got home I couldn’t wait to show him the sand and he got busy. At first he was treating it like normal sand, sprinkling it everywhere, but today I hit on the solution of a tray which kept it in nicely. He also had fun with his trucks in this sand.
We also got some nice goodies in our goody bag from the Lot – delicious salad dressing, coffee beans from Fresh Culture Cafe and from the bakery Not Bread Alone some tasty treats. Clamber Club also gave us vouchers.
2. Gumtree have been fantastic sponsoring the stationery. I really liked the quotes they put on the notepad. It was really a relief to have that completely taken care of. They also sponsored a blogging and tweeting competition which has given us some motivation to get creative.
3. Our other sponsored speaker apart from Margy was Georgia Torres and I’m thankful to Coke for providing us with helpful tips on exercise.
4. OV Optics outdid themselves when they showed us their kid proof sunglasses which can bend and then proceeded to give us each one! My husband has taken them!
5. NUK gave us a lovely hamper of stuff. They also worked with Margy to give her their products to use for her demonstration. We each got some really nice food pots from them. So thank, NUK!
6. Tamsin, from Berzacks, representing Babymoov. gave us some awesome thermo sensitive spoons (that change colour) and the cutest monkey key ring that has rustling ears when you feel them.
7. Fountain Medical gave us a hamper of a Ella’s Cookbook and Avent bowls as a prize, as well as Ella’s pouches for each of us. Nicky loves pouches!
8. Speaking of pouches, we got a generous discount from Sinchies reusable pouches! Thanks!
9. Bloggers absolutely loved the wine from Tangled Tree.
10. Lovely baby barrier cream from Beautiful Earth.
11. A delicious treat box from Baby Tastes / Toddler Tastes / Exquisite Tastes
12. A voucher from Babygroup.
13. A prize of a toddler bamboo blanket from Jules and Milly.
Oh, and let’s not forget our fabulous bloggers! Each one of you really made the event possible, so thanks for coming and see you at the next one!
Other posts on this event:
Gauteng Mom Blog Meetup -February 2015
The Jozi WAHM goes to the Johannesburg #MomBlogMeetup
On Mommy Bloggers, Integrative Medicine and Food for Kids
Finally putting faces to bloggers
The Cape Town one you can read about on Cindy’s blog here, which also has links to other posts.
Thanks, and thanks for coming!
Yay! So glad you did too.
Thanks Namreen!
Looks like it was a success! Well done!
Looks like you all had a fantastic morning!! YAY for meeting other bloggers and learning new things.
IT was a fabulous event Heather! Hats off to you and Laura!