Hello hi, yes. I’m absolutely back with another blog about lockdown. My fellow South Africans, the country is somewhat open (and very open if you’re on social media). The lockdown has moved down to level 2 and our new cases are supposedly getting lower. I’m lucky enough to stay at home, work consistently and have a somewhat stable income. And what’s a girl to do when she’s bored in the house and in the house bored? Shop online.
I try and share a lot of resources on this blog from black-owned thrift collectives to businesses to support when you’re PMSing. I shop online a lot and if I can’t find content on the things I find interesting, I try and create it myself.
I have resigned myself to staying indoors, save for the occasional grocery run/delivery, until the end of the year. I’m fortunate enough to do this but honestly, it’s not about me. I’m staying home so that I’m not part of the spread.
The outside was never safe, but right now, it doesn’t feel refreshing to go outside when I might walk into literal illness. Anyways, I’ve found a few businesses to support during this time. I’m trying to support mainly POC-owned businesses, but small business in general as best I can.
Masks
I was looking for fabric face masks and a friend of mine shared this Cape Town-based brand called Care Croft. I didn’t want to leave home without one and soon after the government made it a mandatory aspect of level 4. They have an online store but only deliver to the Cape Town area because of restrictions. The masks are double layer, so you need to add your own filter and so far, I’ve had nothing but good service from them.
Other alternatives include ZANA, PH Boutique and Mungo.
Groceries
I’ve been trying to order my groceries online where possible. Most of the major retailers are woefully backed up and so it just makes sense to try smaller businesses. A friend recommended Valota Farming to me, she’d bought their fruit + veg box and showed me how big it was. I ordered from them over a week ago and we’ve barely made a dent in what we got so far.
Other options include Umthunzi Farming Community, Granadilla Food Market and Wild Organics.
If you’re looking for vegan/plant-based options – I also tried out Herbivore Earthfoods. I saw them on my social media and just thought it would be good to know if it was good to try. I ordered the cashew milk, their cereal and their burger patties. I’ll definitely buy the patties again, because I don’t really enjoy meat burgers unless it’s from a fast-food spot (classy, I know).
Treats
I love sugary goods, from fizzy drinks to caramel popcorn. So during all levels of lockdown, I’ve been trying out new products. Last month, I bought Ma Mere Confections for the first time and I love pretty much everything they make. I had the honeycomb and it felt like I was touched by an angel.
I’ve also been drinking Dope, it’s sugar free with 6mg of CBD which really helps me fall asleep. It’s been a stressful time and I tend to drink more soda when I’m a bit out of whack. So I’ve tried to swap out my regular Pepsi for sparkling water. No regrets.
Hope this was helpful and feel free to share your own recs with me!
x A
alyx carolus 
Thanks for sharing such useful information for your article. keep it up!