HAVE A HEART, WEAR A SOLE! Why we're participating in Flip Flop Day this February

Childhood cancer is a frightening reality that too many families across South Africa have to deal with daily. Alongside little warriors fighting on the frontline, parents are facing the most challenging battle they will ever have to encounter. But luckily, no-one has to stand alone. And that’s where you come in.

Awesome People, Doing Awesome ThingsSamantha HerbstFebruary 10, 2022social good, awesome initiative, childhood cancerComment

5 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT... the Johannesburg Children's Home

Early last month, we were privileged enough to attend the Johannesburg Children’s Home Christmas party, where we interviewed the home’s managing director, Annette Brokensha. There were a few big takeaways from the day’s experience, but something that stood out for us was the realisation that many charity organisations and nonprofits like the children’s home mostly see an influx of donations around the festive season and in Madiba month. It makes sense that that’s when people would be feeling generous and charitable.

KID LIT WEEK: Kids Book Club

Today we’re all about Kids Book Club – an awesome monthly subscription service that brings age-appropriate books to your doorstep. You can subscribe to the tribe for as little as R159 a month and you’ll not only get some awesome new books, but also an activity pack including stickers, crayons and colouring-in pages as well as a wooden collectors tribe item that you add to your tribe mountain as your book collection grows.Why are we fans? Kids Book Club is managed by three moms (our favourite type of people). Mandie, Nadine and Tracy are dead-set on getting families reading, creating and educating and we are so on board!

Awesome People, Doing Awesome Things, CompetitionSamantha HerbstNovember 30, 2018kid lit, children's books, raising readers, readingComment

KID LIT WEEK: The Dear Human Series by Chris Bee

Our fourth and final Author Avenger is none other than Christine Bernard, otherwise known as Chris Bee (for the kiddos). Christine is a graphic and layout designer who illustrates on the side, but she's happiest when writing. She enjoys writing mystery/suspense and contemporary fiction (hello, holiday mom reads!) and this year published her first children’s books – a series of letters from pets to their humans.

Awesome People, Doing Awesome ThingsSamantha HerbstNovember 28, 2018kid lit, children's books, local author, picture flats, self-publishedComment

KID LIT WEEK: A Frog and a Whale in a Princess Tale by Tina Scotford

Today we’re featuring KwaZulu-Natal-based author Tina Scotford, another mom warrior who wrote ‘A Frog and a Whale in a Princess Tale. Written in what is now know as Tina’s signature rhyming style, this beautifully illustrated story features a quirky, comical frog on a quest to find a princess whose magical kiss will transform him into a man. He meets dangerous sea creatures along his journey and cleverly outwits them at every turn.

KID LIT WEEK: Henry by Megan Andrews

Our next Author Avenger is illustrator, designer, self-proclaimed wannabee hipster and mom of two Megan Andrews. Megan is a Cape Town-based creative with an epically diverse portfolio. This year, Megan dove headfirst into the world of children’s literature and, among other kid lit endeavours, self-published her very own picture flat.

Awesome People, Doing Awesome ThingsSamantha HerbstNovember 25, 2018children's books, kid lit, illustrator, graphic design, reading, authorComment

KID LIT WEEK: My Feeling Friends by Phillippa Morassi

Today we’re going into a bit more detail about our first Author Avenger: the indomitable Phillippa Morassi. Phillippa is an expert friend, registered counsellor, power mom to sunshine child Aurelia and author of the My Feeling Friends series of picture books, which guides children through emotional development and teaches them the appropriate coping skills for some heavy feelings that even we, as adults, might struggle with.

WORD NERDS UNITE! We're bringing you a week of children's picture books

Sisters in South Africa are certainly doing it for themselves, with more and more women – including a lot of moms – who have started self-publishing their books. In recognition of these amazing women, we assembled the author avengers and decided to showcase them on The Great Equalizer. We’ve also teamed up with the lovely ladies from Love Books, in Melville, as well as Kids’ Book Club – a genius online subscription service that brings age-appropriate children’s books to your door.

TALKING TITTIES with Being Frank

For a brief moment in time, on one glorious Joburg morning early this November, I felt cool. Cool and chic and effortlessly awesome. Being in the company of our Episode 8 guests, the duo that make up social entrepreneurial art club Being Frank, upped my game considerably. For two short hours I forgot about the strange colour of my son’s shit that morning and that I’d jammed to The Wiggles and Mr Golden Sun halfway to the interview before realising I could put my own music on. I was in the presence of Awesome People doing Awesome Things.