NIkKI ELLIS, FOUNDER LOVE MILO HOMEWEAR, IN CAPE TOWN
Nikki Ellis is a creative at heart. Her inspiration partly came from her mom who was an artist and also the environment she grew up in, filled with art and beautiful thing. It's quite naturally that she founded Love Milo, a gorgeous homewear brand and design studio.
"When I entered the workplace and started working for other peoples' visions, I stunted my creative process and often made things I didn't even like. When I got pregnant with my first child "Milo" - I suddenly felt a sense of mortality and also responsibility to be a role model - so I literally left everything I knew, rented a studio and started making only things I liked", she explains.
Nikki translates the gratitude she has for earthy elements into nature-inspired designs, with the hopes of arousing a collective consciousness of nature’s splendour and sacredness. "My company is rather a reflection of me and and what makes me happy", she confesses. Nikki loves sharing her values and fascination for nature with her three kids: "I think kids need to see the beauty that exists around them."
IN CAPE TOWN WITH NIKKI ELLIS
Eating out with the kids. For lunch my favorite places are:
Tokara Deli. It has an amazing view, food and playground for kids.
The Roundhouse also offers a great view and food. Kids can run around on the lawns, and there are often lots of other kids go so they usually make friends.
Cafe Paradiso. It is so great for kids, they take the kids to the kitchen and they can bake their own cupcakes or pizza, it means you don't see them for about 30 mins (which is great!) and then they have a good experience and something to eat after!
For dinner, it is more difficult as they need to go to bed early, if I want to go for a good dinner I don't take them! If I do take them:
Massimos: a pizzeria in Hout Bay, great food, jungle gyms and kid-friendly.
Spur: it's my absolute worst place in the world to go to and it gives me anxiety attacks just thinking of how bad the decor is, but the kids LOVE it and it's a South African favourite - I myself was somewhat of a legend in the colouring in competitions when I was a kid! They now have a jumping castle, face painting, balloons, games and they also make a great burger!
A pretty shop for kids. I used to be a Country Road ambassador, but we now have new and "cheaper" brands which I love!!! I'm 100% a Cotton On kids ambassador now, especially with 3 kids, it's cheap but so great, such cool designs for boys and girls. If I want basics, H&M, both at the waterfront.
Having fun with the kids on a sunny day. We go away most weekends, our family have holiday houses in Paternoster and Greyson, I think theses places are so great for kids. Obviously boys and girls like different things, my son is happy as long as there is a body of water he can catch things in, such as frogs or fish. I highly recommend getting a cheap fishing rod and taking them to Kalk Bay harbour to catch fish off the pier, if it's a good day you can actually see the fish come to your bait - WARNING: as a mom with boys you will need to learn the art of finding someone to take the fish off the hook, it's very fun to catch the fish but once it's on the hook it freaks me out!
There are also great plays around Cape Town so try see that. There are many common things like the Aquarium to do but personally I find it too overwhelming so only ever do that when it's quiet in the week. I find many children these days get taken to all these places as entertainment and I don't think it's healthy to feel you must be permanently entertained; and so I will often take my kids to places without entertainment. I highly recommend Cecilia Forest, you can hike to the waterfall and you can also take your dogs!
BEACHES: ok we have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but I can tell you hanging around on the sand with wavey, cold water is boring for kids. I try to find places with tidal pools and natural interest for them. If I don't have time I take them to Beta beach, just past Camps Bay, a tiny beach with rock pools and places for them to explore. Otherwise the tidal pools on Kalk Bay, Simons Town side are great!
Having fun with the kids on a rainy day. To be honest, the Waterfront is pretty convenient as it gathers a lot of different activities in one place (movie theaters, the aquarium, an indoor golf...)
A cultural activity with the kids. Hout Bay - seal island - great trip and so pretty.
-Table Mountain: beautiful and cable car is great.
-Kirstenbosch: the boomslang wooden bridge the kids love and so pretty.
-Cape Town Castle: not many people go here but I love it and so do my kids!
A kid-friendly hotel in Cape Town. If I go to a hotel I am definitely not taking my kids!! but if I was coming to Cape Town with kids, I would honestly use Airbnb, get a great house and let them be free. If you willing to pay I'm sure the Mount Nelson is lovely, especially for girls who like high tea!
How do you keep up to date with the latest kids' activities in Cape Town? We get a magazine called Child from our kids at school but to be honest I would never buy it, I rather check online what's going on and hear through friends, I also find nature to be my go to place, be it a beach or mountain, this is always my first choice before shows and other entertainment.