In February this year, I was fortunate enough to attend the Gauteng Mom Blog Meetup and was given the opportunity to review the Real Kids Sunglasses, imported into South Africa by O-V Optics.

Pixie just loves her sunglasses. These glasses are AWESOME and virtually indestructible. They are pricey, but well worth it. We will be getting the older 3 each a pair over time.

Here are the two available styles
Swag:

Sport:

Real Kids Shades – Now in South Africa!

100% UV protective sunglasses for children!

Our product-testing program is rigorous and comprehensive. All Real Kids sunglasses are third-party tested to provide 100% UVA/UVB protection as measured by the strictest American, European, and Australian governing bodies.

All our sunglasses are:

100% UVA/UVB Protection

CPSIA Compliant – Lead-free with no bisphenol A and no phthalates

CE Certified

Rx Capable – you can fit your Real Kids Shades with prescription lenses

FDA Approved

Melanoma International Foundation Seal of Approval

The Melanoma International Foundation (MIF) has awarded Real Kids its Seal of Approval. This signifies that Real Kids has met MIF standards for 100% UV protective eyewear for children. MIF developed its Seal of Approval endorsement as part of its mission to prevent serious sun damage and has recognized Real Kids for helping to protect children from permanent UV eye damage.
These sunglasses are perfect for kids. They bend and twist without breaking and offer the best UV protection to the eyes. Watch the video below to see how these awesome glasses sand up to abuse.

What is UV?

UV or Ultraviolet Radiation can be classified as UVA, UVB or UVC according to wavelength
UV light is not visible to the naked eye.
UVA and UVB rays penetrate the eye whereas most UVC rays are absorbed by our ever thinning ozone layer.

When UV is absorbed by a molecule, energy is transferred to the molecule and causes damage to the tissue. This causes changes to DNA, resulting in distorted proteins and death of cells.

Protecting your eyes from UV

A large brimmed hat can provide up to 50% protection from UV
Wrapped sunglasses with a UV 400 filter on the lenses provide maximum protection from UV
Tinted lenses or sunglasses with no UV filter cause the pupils to dilate even more in sunlight than if one were to wear no lenses at all – this allows even more light flood into the eye resulting in increased UV exposure.
Bad sunglasses = MORE damage than no sunglasses!

UV Damage in Children

Children are more vulnerable to UV damage as they have larger pupils and clearer lenses – a greater amount of light penetrates the ocular tissues causing an increased risk of complications.
Children spend more time outdoors – approximately 3 times more than adults.
The lenses in children’s eyes do not block as much UV radiation as they do in adults’ eyes, putting them at increased risk for sun damage to the eyes.
UV damage is cumulative – when damage occurs it can never be reversed, only treated.

You can read more on the UV Damage Effects on the Eye HERE.

WHO IS O-V- OPTICS?

O-V Optics Pty Ltd – Protecting the vision in your child’s future
O-V Optics Pty Ltd was founded, and is owned and operated by Tanya and Zulé. The two head up a team of passionate individuals, sharing strong family values and the belief that they all have the right to protect our children in any scenario imaginable. The O-V Team’s mission is to educate and inform about the dangers of UV exposure to the eyes of children, so empowering and enabling you, as a parent, to protect your little treasure.

Sunglasses are a necessity for all, not just an accessory for some!
Tanya qualified as an optometrist from The University of Johannesburg and has extensive experience in practice and in optical sales, having consulted for Johnson & Johnson Medical and Hoya Vision Care. Her perseverance and dedication make her an exceptional problem solver, never giving up until a solution is created. Tanya’s broad optical knowledge is the core of the outstanding service and products O-V Optics Pty Ltd deliver.

Zulé, an adventurer at heart, completed her Psychology qualification through UNISA, while travelling the World. She was enlightened and astounded by destinations such as the natural diversity of England, South Korea, Seychelles, and the South of France in the Mediterranean. She filled various positions in various industries learning from many, but ultimately practicing her passion as a Professional Photographer. Zulé’s unique worldly experiences give her an edge when connecting with people and ensuring O-V Optics Pty Ltd stick to our core values.

Together the duo traveled the South American continent, spending six months volunteering in the rural countryside, touring cities, and appreciating natural wonders – even undertaking the 4 day hiking journey to Macchu Picchu. The two vowed that they will not return home until they had formulated a solid plan to change the future of as many others as possible for the better. With Tanya’s passion and expertise in the optical field and Zule’s vision, literally, as a photographic artist her most prized gift, it could be expected that they would want to protect the sight of others for the future. With the shared belief that prevention is better that cure, and that pro-active living is the way to a healthy future they set out on a mission to protect young eyes.

What they Value Most

– Families First – YOUR family, OUR families and The O-V Team as a big, supportive Family

– Open Honesty Always – They are here to give you the facts

– Create Happiness and Fun – They always leave you with a SMILE

– Embrace Creativity and Change – They find new ways to do things betterSunglasses at School

– Always Passionate, Always Humble

WHAT THEY DO and HOW THEY DO IT?

Our MISSION –They create greater awareness of the effects of UV sun damage on the eyes of children by informing parents, teachers and children of the imminent dangers. They encourage the habitual use of UVA and UVB protective eyewear as part of our ingrained culture, and as part of your child’s school uniform for maximum protection every day.

They pave the way to the positive societal opinion that wearing sunglasses when outside is a necessity FOR ALL, not only for adults, but their children too. They do this through speaking engagements – directly with you, parents, teachers and children. They provide necessary health and safety information that you may not be aware of as part of The “Sunglasses at School” Program, a FIRST in South Africa. This, in turn, creates the need for a product that can be trusted by parents to offer the desired protection their children need. They source only the best quality in international, children specific frame designs. O-V Optics Pty Ltd distributes your child’s ordered sunglasses to member schools directly and a trained professional will fit each pair to your child’s unique features to ensure optimum comfort and protection.

They are the industry leader in the supply of children’s sunglasses as they offer unmatched quality and value in our products and services.

Speak to your principal TODAY to become part of The “Sunglasses at School” Program!

Most Importantly WHY THEY DO IT?

They believe the dangers of UV damage to the eyes aren’t being spoken about enough and they will make the facts known by educating and informing as many as possible.

They believe YOU, as a parent, have the right to protect your child from any danger that may befall your little one.

They believe you have the right to a quality product that provides value for money and protects your child’s eyes adequately.

They believe in providing a quality service, ensuring optimum comfort and safety to your child.

They believe every child has the right to eye protection and aim to establish Charitable Projects in lesser fortunate communities that will provide access to decent eye protection for all.

O-V Optics Pty Ltd – Protecting the vision in your child’s future

 

 

 

Product Review: NUK Junior and Sport Bottles

For over 50 years now, NUK has been ensuring that mothers and their children enjoy a sense of wellbeing and security like no other in their constantly evolving world. NUK soothers were designed by Dr. Müller and Prof. Balters who used their expert knowledge of orthodontics and found that the mother’s nipple changes shape as she breastfeeds. It does this by adapting optimally to the baby’s mouth. This is why they developed the natural NUK Shape for soothers, which is exceptionally well-suited to the baby’s jaw. Most South African orthodontists use NUK soothers for their own children. All NUK products are the result of the latest medical know-how and the practical experience of mothers and midwives. Only in this way can NUK offer every mother the sense of security she needs to make such an exciting time the happiest time of her life.

We met up with the representatives of NUK SA at the Gauteng Mom Blog Meetup in February. I was given the opportunity to review two of their products, the Junior Cup for Pixie and Sports Cup for Koko. We love these bottles so much that we bought Fifi a Sports Cup too!

These bottles are the perfect size for their little hands and hold the perfect amount of water for car rides and extra murals. Their bottles get filled with water every morning and popped in the refrigerator. They fit perfectly into the door for easy access. I just love the themes they have gone with on each of the bottles. Pixie’s Junior Cup has a cute little girl that reminds me of Alice in Wonderland on the side. Koko’s Sports Cup has bikers on it and Fifi’s Sports Cup has a ballerina on the side. They love their “cool water bottles” and they aren’t “babyish” at all! They go everywhere with the children when we go out and have helped with increasing the children’s water consumption.

We only use these bottles for water and tea. I don’t recommend putting milky drinks into these as the spouts do not disassemble and will make cleaning the milk out nearly impossible. You can swap out the sport sipper for a non spill sippy spout (sold separately) that is easy to clean. I use these with Pixie when we travel (the girl LOVES her milk).

Junior Cup – Push Pull

For fun and games in all weather. Ultra-lightweight and unbreakable. For young adventurers aged 3 and upwards.

The bigger and more active your child is, the more he or she will need to drink. The NUK Junior Cup with its 300ml capacity and Push-Pull Spout 3 is ideal for children who are already exploring the world on their own two feet.

Features and Benefits:

• with non-spill push-pull spout that can be easily opened and closed by any three year old: simply press, pull and drink!
• made from ultra-lightweight and extremely sturdy polypropylene (PP) material
• includes a clip to prevent the spout from getting lost and an integrated protective cap to make sure nothing falls out!

Specifications:
Designs: Mickey, knight, Alice
Size: 300ml

Sports Cup – Push Pull

For fun and games in all weather. Ultra-lightweight and unbreakable. For young adventurers aged 3 and upwards. A new attractive companion for the whole family!

The bigger and more active your child is, the more he or she will need to drink. The NUK Sports Cup is the biggest of NUK Cups with its 450ml capacity and Push-Pull Spout it is ideal for children who are already exploring the world on their own two feet.

Features and Benefits:

• 450ml capacity ideal for games and sport
• With pull-pull soft silicone spout that can be easily opened and closed by any three year old: simply press, pull and drink!
• made from ultra-lightweight and extremely sturdy polypropylene (PP) material
• includes a clip to prevent the spout from getting lost and an integrated protective cap to make sure nothing falls out!

Specifications:
Designs: Ballerina, Bike, Mickey, Minnie & Mickey
Size: 450ml

 

The Importance of Water Consumption in Children

Why should we be concerned about kids drinking water? Water is a vital nutrient and, because it has no calories and is free when it comes from the tap, it is the ideal drink for thirsty kids.

The Kidlets drink copious amounts of water every day. I rarely have juice in the house and when I do, they are limited to a glass or two a day.

Many people are surprised at the amount of water they drink and that they will ask for more if their water bottles are empty. I am often asked how they can get their children to drink water and not demand juice, milkshakes, etc. My answer is simple, if its not accessible to them, they will drink water when they are thirsty.

Children and adolescents are not consuming enough water, instead opting for sugar-sweetened beverages (sodas, sports and energy drinks, milks, coffees, and fruit-flavored drinks with added sugars), 100% fruit juice, and other beverages. Drinking sufficient amounts of water can lead to improved weight status, reduced dental caries, and improved cognition among children and adolescents.

While water drinking is important to both adults and children, children are more likely to lose water during activity because of their size and might be less aware of their thirst than adults, Kristen E. D’Anci, a psychology researcher at Tufts University, has pointed out.

Here is a great tool for calculating how much water needs to be consumed per age.

Signs of dehydration

When our bodies don’t have enough water, we are said to be dehydrated. One of the first signs of dehydration is feeling thirsty.

If you think you may not be getting enough fluids, check whether you have any of these other common signs of dehydration:

• dark urine and not passing much urine when you go to the toilet
• headaches
• lack of energy
• feeling lightheaded

Resources:
Encouraging Consumption of Water in School and Child Care Settings: Access, Challenges, and Strategies for Improvement
Water Consumption Webtool: How Much Water to Drink A Day?
Easy access may boost kids’ water consumption
Water and drinks
Water In Schools
NUK South Africa

 

 

A farm fresh farmer’s box of carefully selected, locally grown fruit and veggies delivered to your door, anywhere in Johannesburg.

FarmFreshOnline.co.za is Joburg’s first online Green Grocer delivering farm fresh produce to your home or office. Started in November 2014 FFO has grown considerably and earned a reputation for quality service and produce. Soon they will be delivering Pantry Fillers like herbs, olive oil, honey and more as well as dairy and farm fresh eggs.

I had the opportunity to review the products and service of Farm Fresh Online and I must say, I am very impressed with the quality of the produce we received. Farm Fresh Online is an online business that delivers fresh fruit and vegetables (depending on your order) right to your door. I ordered the Family Seasonal Veggie Box and the Family Fresh Fruit Box. The prices are incredibly good and the quality of the produce is great.

I HIGHLY recommend anyone within Johannesburg to make use of this service.

Below are pictures of the produce we received. These photos were taken the day of the delivery. Most of the fruit was consumed within the first 5 days, LOL. The convenience of the delivery has made my life so much easier and we no longer need to stand in queues on weekends with the kids asking for everything their eyes see. This way I get what I need for the week. The kidlets are excited to see what gets delivered every week and can’t wait to tuck in. Those carrots never last the whole week, they get eaten straight from the bag!

Family Seasonal Veggie Box

The Family Seasonal Veggie Box contains a variety of 15 to 18 different seasonal vegetables every week. Included are all of your staple favorites to sustain the household for a week. To give each week its own flavour, they also throw in whatever interesting and exciting seasonal fruits and veggies South African farmers are growing.

1kg Potatoes

1kg Tomatoes

1kg Brown Onions and a head of garlic

Lettuce

Large cucumber

Large butternut squash

Cocktail tomatoes

1kg Carrots

4 Avocados

6 Gem Squash

Pack courgettes

Cauliflower

Pack of small aubergine

3 Bell peppers

Family Fruit Box

The Family Fresh Fruit Box contains a variety of 6 to 10 different fresh fruits every week.

4 Mangoes

2 Pineapples

Peaches

Naartjies (clementines)

Large red apples

Oranges

Purple plums

The fruit and veggies lasted well over 2 weeks and as a result we have decided to rather place the weekly order for the Family Fruit and Veggie Box. The Family Fruit and Veggie Boxes contain a variety of 16 to 20 different fruits and vegetables every week. Included are all of your staple favorites to sustain the household for a week. To give each week its own flavour, they also throw in whatever interesting and exciting seasonal fruits and veggies South African farmers are growing.