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My Spreadsheet Brain

A South African parenting blog, complete with clever quips and a dash of humor

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  • Win!
  • Parenting
  • Marriage
  • Heart matters
  • My spreadsheet brain
  • Kids fashion
  • Features
    • Bath time
    • Beauty
    • Nelson Mandela Bay
    • Reviews
    • Tips and tricks
    • What my kids are playing with
  • Win!
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • ECMeetUp
  • Awards and Media Mentions
  • Ear piercing for kids
    Parenting

    Ear piercing for kids: doing it right

    July 23, 2025 /

    So the great “when to pierce your kids ears” debate had me trolling the interwebs for hours. I mean, how else was I suppose to know whether my child is old enough to get her ears pierced?! Ear piercing for kids suddenly became a tad more complicated than I had initially thought it was. We sure do have A LOT of opinion about EVERYTHING. People seem to care a bit too much about how other people are raising their own children. And hey, I get it, who am I to speak? I have a blog and I tell you guys how I do things, right? Fair enough. But I’m not…

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    3 Comments

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    May 16, 2025

    Jonah’s first birthday nautical cake smash photo shoot

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    Choosing the right school for your child and other parenting headaches

    January 28, 2025
  • Cake smash alternative: First Birthday Paint Session
    Nelson Mandela Bay,  Parenting

    Cake smash alternative: First Birthday Paint Session!

    July 18, 2025 /

    Okay, so you’re a mom and you’re scouring the internet for ideas on how to document your little one’s first birthday. But for some reason, the idea of having your baby dig into a cake is just not appealing. That’s okay. You’re in a safe place, you can confess. Maybe playing with food is not your scene. Or maybe you feel like you need a fresh approach to the whole thing. Well, guess what, Michelle of  Cutepix Photography now offers moms a first birthday cash smash alternative: The First Birthday Paint Session! You guys, I LOVE this idea! And yes, I know, the way I gush on and on about Michelle’s…

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    July 5, 2025
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    May 9, 2025

    Cocoa Life: How eating your fave chocolate is changing lives

    July 25, 2025
  • 936 Pennies
    Parenting,  Win!

    936 Pennies: Discovering the joy of intentional parenting {Giveaway}

    July 16, 2025 /

    The thing about children is that they grow up so flippen quickly. I mean, one minute you’re staring down at your perfect bundle of joy and marveling at their newborn freshness and the next, you’re hunting down a bundle of – uh – poop, that your toddler has left for you in a misplaced nappy. It’s all fun and games really. But my point is that it goes by so quickly! How do you make the moments count? Well, for Jojo’s birthday play date I gave a few of my close friends a copy of Eryn Lynum’s wonderful book, 936 Pennies, and asked them to have a read through it…

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    Choosing the right school for your child and other parenting headaches

    January 28, 2025

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    Overwhelmed by motherhood

    March 14, 2025
  • Parenting

    Jonah’s first birthday nautical cake smash photo shoot

    May 25, 2025 /

    Learning that I was pregnant with our Jo came as a huge surprise. Let’s just say he was the sweetest surprise, out of all our surprises (another post, for another day). So when it came to celebrating his first birthday, I knew without a doubt that I needed to do a cake smash session with Michelle of Cutepix. Do you guys remember that Michelle took Jo’s newborn pics and Kari’s carnival themed cake smash? Anyways, I chatted to Michelle about having a first birthday nautical cake smash session and was THRILLED to hear that she still sources and makes all the props for the shoot AND she makes the cake.…

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    Help! My baby won’t take the bottle!

    September 15, 2025

    Teach your child the correct terms for private body parts

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    Breastfeeding is a pain in the boob

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  • Parenting

    First birthday party alternative: The birthday play date

    May 24, 2025 /

    Now while I love my fat cheeked child very, very much, I did not have the energy to plan an elaborate first birthday party for him. I mean, as I’ve asked before: Is a first birthday party really necessary? Yes. The answer is yes. Any kind of party is necessary, in my books, because: PARTY. But while I do love me some cake, I did not want to have your typical party for Jo for a number of reasons. Enter: The birthday play date. Combining the festivities of a party with the chilledness of a play date was the exact way we wanted to celebrate Jo’s first birthday. Here’s how…

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    Inducing labour: My birth story

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  • Parenting

    Creating criminals: How smartphone smart is your child?

    May 17, 2025 /

    I’m totally not hating on the fact that a tablet or cellphone screen can get my kids to leave me alone for a few minutes. I mean, come on, let’s be honest, we need our space (and a hot second to wash the dishes) right? And anyways, my 13 year old can’t get into much trouble online, right? Wrong. The truth is that the new generation of online sexual predator looks a lot like your kid. And as cool and trendy as social media is, you have to question whether it is creating a criminal right under your roof. (Perhaps one who is probably unaware of just how much trouble their…

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    So what’s my role in my childs education?

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  • Parenting

    How serious is nappy rash?

    May 8, 2025 /

    We all know that looking after your baby’s skin is important. I mean, you don’t need a rocket scientist to tell you that the skin in the nappy area is the most vulnerable. Sadly, a nappy rash gone out of control can turn deadly, due to hostile bacteria that can affect baby’s health. Scary, right? I mean, it’s just a nappy rash! But pioneer, Doctor Carol Hlela, who is a pediatric dermatologist and a leader in providing quality skin care, for babies in South Africa, shared some interesting tips and information at the JOHNSON’S® Baby Health wet wipes masterclass last week. JOHNSON’S Baby invited myself and a few others to Johannesburg to…

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  • Parenting

    Is it weird that I want to adopt?

    March 22, 2025 /

    Our family of six is pretty much complete, one would say. I mean, the recent addition of baby Jo came as a sweet bonus and when I held him in my arms – all soft and squishy – I immediately knew that my womb’s job here on earth was done. I had given birth to three beautiful children and was gifted the pleasure of being Seth’s step mommy. What more could I want? Well, I strangely do want more. Is it weird that I want to adopt? Is it totally loony toons that my heart does not feel as if it’s reached maximum capacity yet? I feel as if there’s…

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    Overwhelmed by motherhood

    March 14, 2025 /

    You’ve been there, I know. You’ve been overwhelmed by motherhood, wondering why on earth you ever signed up for this job. The perks are suppose to outweigh the cons, right? I mean, that’s what those soppy feel-good movies imply. And yet, I find myself, perk-less, knee deep in baby poo, day dreaming about the days when I took things like silence, long soaks in hot baths, and audience-less trips to the loo for granted. I find myself longing for a clean house and a bank account that doesn’t point and laugh whenever I swipe for yet another tin of formula. I stare enviously at friends who have yet to learn…

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  • How much do you spend on your child's birthday party?
    Parenting

    How much do you spend on your childs birthday party?

    February 28, 2025 /

    I think it’s ridiculous to spend thousands of rands on a kids birthday party. There I said it. *hides away* Hello? Is it safe to come out now, after dropping that bomb? I know, it’s not a popular thought but guys, the extent that some go through to throw that designer kiddies party is just plain crazy man! Moms, be honest: How much do you spend on your childs birthday party? Hundreds? Thousands? I mean, it is a bit loopy, don’t you think? Because those thousands could possibly have covered a pretty birthday cake, bought your kid a really legit gift and you’d have cash to spare which you could put…

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