BUILD Mag July 2023

ideas
July2023
A magazine for small women-owned businesses
SMALL BUSINESS
FEATURE:
MAYLENE SEAH
5 Tips from
a Brand
Strategist
to make your life easier
On Our Bookshelf
Homeopathy &Stress
Dr. Zahraa Kazee
VISIT
Who is your
madagascar
spirit animal?

Contents
7
SMALL BUSINESS FEATURE
27 PINKX
10
TOP 6: Free AI
Websites for your
Business
26
ON OUR BOOKSHELF:
What I'm reading & What
My Kids are Reading
2
Editor's Note
7
Small Business Feature
27Pinkx
10
Free Business Resources
Editor's picks for free resources
available to business owners
14
5 Secrets to Your Brand Strategy
Maylene Seah shares her thoughts
20
Your Spirit Animal: Madagascar
Edition
See yourself here?
21
Visit Kenya
Spotlight on this bustling African country
23
FOOD: 5 Healthy Dessert Treats
26
BOOKS: On Our Shelf
What we're reading this month
7
SMALL BUSINESS FEATURE
Pour yourself a coffee and settle in to read
about this incredible go getter spirited
entrepreneur
B U I L D I D E A S | 2

Editor's Note
It has been an incredible month of growth. I just need to remember how to
replicate this! The thing is though, growth is very different to each person.
Growth may not always be directly proportional to revenue or profit
generated, but it could be growth in learnings, growth in brand awareness, or
for me - growth in being more confident about what I'm doing.
How are you growing? What are the things that you want to focus on and
encourage growth?
Sometimes we get so caught up in buzzwords, they start losing any meaning. I
recently came across an announcement of someone being nominated for an
award and I had to cut through so much of jargon just to understand firstly
what the award was about and secondly why the nominee was being selected.
We're so flippant about throwing things around like growth, impact driven,
collaboration, innovation and and and... But if we actually attach meaning
behind these words they would hold so much more value.
So, having said that. Take some time to think about your own growth, whatever
that may look like for you. And be proud of what you have achieved, even it is
partially towards a bigger goal. That small step, is growth.
I certainly did not plan this, but I love how all this talk about growth is
happening in an issue which has green accents!
Part of growing is learning and we have some incredible workshops and a
webinar coming up soon that would certainly give you the kind of nourishment
you need to grow.
Get cosy, grab a cup of whatever fills you with joy and indulge in our best issue
yet!
Zainab
Just changing the world. Nothing fancy...
B U I L D I D E A S | 3

How Homeopathy
Can Help You Manage Stress
Dr Zahraa Kazee is a homeopath who specializes in working with
women and children. Her special interests include working with
endocrine disorders such as insulin resistance and hormonal
imbalances. Dr Kazee believes in bringing holistic healthcare to
her patients, by supporting their mental, emotional and physical
wellbeing.
As a small-business owner, stress can
inevitably creep up on us. There is a
constant mental and physical to do list,
maintaining standards and managing
external factors that can make each day
stressful.
In this article, I hope to share with you:
1. How to identify stress
2. How to manage your stress
3. How to prevent burnout from
prolonged stress
We know we’re stressed out, but what is
stress?
What does stress look like?
We’re all different and unique and an
individual will respond to stressors
differently. Creating awareness of your
personal experience with stress and
channeling your energy into identifying
early and sustainable responses is crucial.
Muscle tension, headaches, fatigue,
digestive issues, brain fog are a few of the
symptoms associated with chronic stress.
Over time, a build up of stress coupled
with the physical effects on our bodies
leads to burnout and mental fatigue.
Stress is a normal physiological response.
In fact, the human body is designed to
experience stress and react to it. When
you experience changes or challenges,
your body produces physical and mental
responses. That’s stress.
In short doses, your body responds to
stress by increasing your heart rate and
breathing, we often call this our “Flight or
fright” response.
How do I fix it?
It’s important to realise that stressors will
always exist, but how we assist our body
in responding to them is essential. Below;
I’ve introduced my 3 favourite
complimentary medicine suggestions for
stress.
The constant stress stimulus has a
significant impact on our body and
consequentially our mental, physical and
emotional well being.
B U I L D I D E A S | 4

Cycle of Magnesium Deficiency
1. Magnesium
Magnesium is a component for over 300
pathways in our body. Stress depletes our
magnesium stores and low magnesium stores
causes a stress response in the body, so
introducing a good quality magnesium stops
that cycle from occurring.
Magnesium is great for muscle tension,
headaches, restlessness and sleeplessness.
2. Ashwagandha
This powerful adaptogenic herb has become
very popular for its use in stress and anxiety.
Ashwagandha helps the body cope with stress,
and promotes restful sleep. Take it in the
morning if you need to feel calm throughout
the day, or at night if you’re having trouble
sleeping
3. Homeopathic Remedies
Homeopathic remedies often get overlooked,
but there are so many powerful remedies that
can assist your health. A good homeopath will
help you find the remedy that best suits your
needs and symptoms. Some of my commonly
used ones are:
-Argentum nitricum, which I love for
anticipatory anxiety (if you’ve got a pop-up or
presentation)
-Kalium phosphoricum is great if you’re
exhausted from overwork or illness and feeling
a deep sense of anxiety and inability to cope.
-And Ignatia amara, if you’re mentally and
emotionally stressed.
As a small business owner; you’re taking
care of so many things but it’s important
to take care of your wellbeing too!
I've managed my stress, now what?
Despite the stressors in our environment
remaining unchanged; the aim is to adapt
our bodies and minds to manage stress
better. But we need to recognize that
prolonged and excessive stress leads to
burnout, and the ideal is to prevent that
burnout by:
1. Eat a balanced diet (our food is our fuel
and determines a lot of how we feel)
2. Get some movement in (the
endorphins are incredible for you)
3. Practice good sleep habits (so you’re
operating with a refreshed mind)
4. Take a break when you need it
(sometimes a little breather allows us to
return to work with a different
perspective and better outcomes)
Your small business, your ideas
and your work ethic are inspiring,
and in the same way you put
energy and love and care into your
business; you need to channel
some of that care towards
yourself!
B U I L D I D E A S | 5

B U I L D I D E A S | 6

SMALL
BUSINESS
feature
BUILD caught up with the founders of 27Pinkx for this issue of the
Small Business Feature. These dynamic sisters, Anjum and Khatija,
started from hosting makeup workshops, and when they realised
they could offer this market so much more - they built 27Pinkx
Who or what is 27Pinkx?
27Pinkx is an internationally award winning beauty destination where our goal
is to make women feel good. A place you come to, to find confidence and
inspiration when it comes to how you look and feel.
27Pinkx is made up of a spa in Johannesburg Sandton; a beauty bar in Pretoria
and an online store.
Our vision is to bring the best beauty from experts from around the world to
South Africa. Our Spaces are not only beautiful but we have expertise,
technology and the world's leading products .
B U I L D I D E A S | 7

How did 27Pinkx come to be? What was the inspiration behind
starting your own business? Tell us the conception story for your
business.
If you know us, you’ll know it was always a childhood dream . The journey
began with makeup workshops 10 years ago . We were still studying and we
would host makeup workshops on weekends and after hours, this became
very successful and we quickly grew out of our space and that was when we
opened the 27Pinkx beauty Bar in Pretoria .
Share one of the most triumphant moments in your business
journey
There are so many from being featured in Vogue India, to winning the
ISCLINICAL global world star award in Los Angeles .
Share with us something in your business model that didn’t work,
that you needed to pivot. Did you yield a better result?
Not outsourcing trying to do everything ourselves.
It's important to hire your weaknesses.
SMALL BUSINESSfeature
Did you have any unsuccessful business ventures prior to
27Pinkx? Share your experience
Yes and we only learnt from these, It wasn’t really a business venture but
Covid taught us so much. Three months prior to Covid we opened The
View Spa in Sandton and that was very challenging.
B U I L D I D E A S | 8

What, in your opinion is something that is often over-looked as
a small business, but that you have learnt is really important
to pay attention to, for the success of your business?
Always have a plan B ready. One important lesson came when we learnt
that our our busiest and most skilled therapist had to resign due to family
circumstances . As soon as we found this out we had to start working on
plan B .
Our target audience is small women-owned businesses, which you
can relate to. Would you like to share any advice or insight for
other aspiring businesswomen, that you learnt from owning and
running your business?
We’re lucky enough to be working in an age where technology has become
so advanced, we can connect from all over the world, Its important to
always research trends, be on trend and be adaptable
SMALL BUSINESSfeature
B U I L D I D E A S | 9

Six
Small Business Owners
Resources - 6 Free Useful Websites!
Sharma Deepak of @askyourdigitalagency on Instagram shares some
very useful free websites that can help you automate business functions.
Did we mention FREE!
Fireflies AI
Automatically record and transcribe
meetings. Transcribe meetings across several
video-conferencing apps, dialers, and audio
files.
Integrates with apps like Google Meet, Zoom,
Teams Webex, Ringcentral, Aircall and other
platforms.
carrd
Free one page landing sites with hundreds
of free templates to choose from.
You can use it to create a personal profile
or a landing page to capture emails.
CLEANpng.com
The site offers free high quality images
without backgrounds. You can use the
millions of PNGs for brochures, artwork,
websites and more.
pixlr
Edit photos and create stunning designs
right in your browser, on your phone or
desktop for free. Start from an empty
canvas, a photo, a video or select one of
our professionally crafted templates.
dictation.io
Dictation accurately transcribes your
speech to text in real time. You can add
paragraphs, punctuation marks, and even
smileys using voice commands.
alternativeto
Ever come across an app or software that
would be perfect for what you need it to
do, but it may be too expensive? Enter
AlternativeTo. Simply input the software
you would like to find an alternative to and
the website will give you options.
B U I L D I D E A S | 1 0

INTERIOR DESIGN
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
HOSPITALITY
WWW.SHUMUKHDESIGN.COM
B U I L D I D E A S | 2 5

THE FALLACY OF
"Small" Business
Zuhayrah Khan
Zuhayrah is a Grade 11 student and aspiring business woman. She has a
few projects on the go and recently founded Millennial Marketing, a
social media and graphic design agency.
I hope this article encourages others to think BIGGER and aim for the stars
~Zuhayrah
Why call us a ‘small’ business when what we do is nothing short of building
an empire?
We are pioneers of our fields, paving the way for young entrepreneurs to be
brave enough to try. We give form to our dreams and aspirations. Carving
the way to success with blood, sweat and tears, we are everything but
‘small’.
The term 'small' is used as a construct by society to limit our potential. A
way of subconsciously classifying and categorizing us. No, we are Goliaths
of our industries, who know no bounds to our ambitions. What we lack in
numbers, we make up for in gumption and sheer stubbornness. Never giving
in to the darkness of quitting. Shouldering the weight of a growing
superpower while still somehow managing to be a human. Do you want to
know what it takes to run a business? Let’s take a look…
A dream. That is where any business stems from. A vision for the future that
translates into action. A way of escaping the chains of the system, breaking
the generational gap and building something of your own.
B U I L D I D E A S | 1 2

A business is only as strong as the people behind it. That is what’s required,
a network of support. Running a business is no easy task. Having a support
system of friends and family is essential in building from a solid foundation.
These are the people who make your dream possible.
You run your business, essentially, by yourself. You are the CEO, manager,
labourer, finance officer, marketer and sales representative and delivery guy
all in one. You begin to encompass your business as it becomes who you are.
A Moghul of your industry. It takes over major aspects of your life, leaking
into your personal life. A sacrifice in it’s own right.
Your dedication is put to the test. Trial by fire as your business begins to
boom. It is easy to give up when sales are low and your income is dwindling.
Conviction and consistency are determining factors in your business’
success.
You need to adapt with the latest trends and change with the times, to
keep your business relevant. Think about it, would you buy a Nokia 3310
today?
Taking all this into consideration, businesses trudge through the obstacles
thrown at them and beat the odds to defy the laws that define them.
Working everyday to make the dream work and leave a legacy behind. Now
do you understand why no business is small?
B U I L D I D E A S | 1 3

Secrets
5
to Capturing the Hearts and
Minds of your Dream Customers
Maylene is an award-winning brand strategist and designer at studio NOOR ANISA, founder of
Poppetry (sold in 2020) and multitasking mum of two, who dreams of elevating the ummah, one
brand at a time. Maylene helps visionary small businesses become recognised, remembered
and raved about as the GO-TO with a captivating brand.
Hands up if you’ve ever felt like you’re When I had my first small business –
getting overlooked by your dream Poppetry – inspiring faith in little ones
customers, or are attracting the wrong
ones? And that means you are not
getting the consistent sales you desire
to grow your business and make a
positive impact, and give you the
freedom to focus more on what really
matters.
through modern, Scandinavian-inspired
home decor, I had spent 2 years
perfecting a kids prayer mat that was
unlike any in the market. It was a labour
of love, and I was elated when a wellknown
Islamic toy store wanted to place
a wholesale order for them.
Even though you pour your heart and
soul into your business and know deep
down you’ve got something amazing
that will make a difference to others, you
can’t help feeling frustrated, or feel your
confidence and sense of worth crumbling
a little.
I want you to know – you are not alone.
The joy and excitement quickly turned to
disappointment, and even a streak of
anger, when the stockist suggested I
should be selling the prayer mats at a
fraction of the price, which was even
lower than what I had spent making
them. She had not been able to shift the
mats. And many other mats in the
market place were a lot cheaper.
B U I L D I D E A S | 1 4

Of course it felt like a punch to the guts.
But I decided to analyse the situation
and come up with a plan. Turns out, it
wasn’t because my products were bad or
I wasn’t worth it.
We were both based in the UK, and we
had quite different audiences. My
customers were also loyal to my brand.
Instead of lowering my prices, what I did
next led to the prayer mats being
successfully sold out at a premium price.
HAVE A NICHE
My products at Poppetry were NOT for
everyone. They were for parents who
wanted to inspire 2(not fear-monger)
their kids to love Islam; who love the
clean, Scandinavian aesthetic for their
home and who were willing to pay a little
more for well-made products, instead of
buying cheaply mass-produced pieces.
This wasn’t most of my stockist’s
customers.
Wherever you are at in your business, you
can also have a captivating brand that is
recognised, remembered and raved about as
the go-to, and that your dream customers love
and value.
As someone who has worked in top
branding agencies on global brands like
Unilever and Proctor & Gamble, and also
built a well-loved small business from
scratch and then sold it, here are 5
valuable lessons I’ve learnt that you can
implement today.
UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE
EVOKE EMOTIONS
95% of purchasing decisions are made
subconsciously. Which means people buy
based on how they feel about and what
they perceive of your brand – whether
it’s through storytelling, the packaging
experience, store interiors etc. Instead of
just listing benefits, 3I focused on how a
parent would feel to see their kids
praying on my mats, and the positive
changes that would bring. In my
promotional video, the prayer mats are “a
space to reset emotions”, “a fun spot for
tummy time or to play imam” and to
“come to prayer, come to success” .
What are their frustrations, fears, wants,
desires? What do they struggle with
1
daily? What brings them joy? This meant
my messaging was really speaking and
connecting with the people I wanted to
serve. And because they feel validated
and understood, they are aware that I
may have the solution they’ve been
looking for.
B U I L D I D E A S | 1 5

BE KNOWN FOR ONE THING THAT’S DISTINCTIVE
4
With Apple, it’s about thinking differently with innovative yet easy-to-use sleek products.
Nando’s is well-loved for its flame grilled peri-peri chicken and wit. Poppetry was always
about inspiring faith in little ones with home lifestyle decor that has a Scandinavian twist.
What’s important, is that this is consistent in every aspect of the customer journey, from
your social media to your website, and even the brands you collaborate with.
GIVE VALUE
My mats weren’t selling so well on their own. So I bundled them up as a “gift of Salah”, and
included items such as a tasbih, tote bag, qibla sticker, colouring Salah tracker, “Allah is
wherever you are” cloud pin, and made the whole unboxing experience unforgettable. 5The
other items weren’t expensive to produce, but they were in a similar style and added to
the whole “learning to pray” experience, which meant I could keep prices at a premium.
Which tip are you most excited about implementing? Are you ready to elevate your brand
so that you are standing out to your dream customers as the best and only option?
Connect with me on social media to let me know! In the meantime, own your brilliance –
I’m rooting for your success.
Maylene Seah
Brand strategist | Designer @studio.nooranisa
Save the Date!
&
Are coming together to bring you a FREE Webinar on
Maximising Brand Strategy for Your Small Business
Date: 29 August 2023
Time: 10:30am to 11:30 (SA TIME) Details to follow
B U I L D I D E A S | 1 6

Are you
Pricing
CORRECTLY?
As a small business consultancy, BUILD has
come across numerous cases where
business owners are not pricing their goods
adequately. Not well enough to see the kind
of profit that they're hoping to.
Often as entrepreneurs and startups, we
don't consider the time we put into making
things happen as part of what makes up our
cost.
Whether this time is creating products,
drafting documents to send to clients,
driving to get resources to make products -
all of these things in a normal business
situation would be considered billable.
As small businesses we are trying to keep
costs down so that we can be as affordable
as possible to our potential clients. And while
that may work to some extent it is not
making too much sense for you as the
business owner and sometimes sole
employee.
So what can you do to measure your costs
better, and by extension allocate pricing for
items?
Before we get into any Pricing Strategies -
start with a BUSINESS OPERATIONS
AUDIT.
At our last BUILD workshop, we spent
some time discussing Business Operations
within your business and how to do an
efficiency audit. The idea was to assess
how much time you spend as a business
owner within each of the functions of your
business.
The functions can be divided into Financial,
Production, Logistics etc.
After understanding how functions are
meant to support each other to ensure
the most efficient outcome, attendees
completed an exercise to do an audit on
their businesses and have actual data to
corroborate with how they think they
spend their time.
If you would like more information on how
to do an actual business audit contact
BUILD and we can help you undertake this
process.
B U I L D I D E A S | 1 8

At the end of the audit you will be able to
firstly assess how much time you spend
doing what, but it will also help you identify
which functions are costing you money.
Many times, clients do not think to add the
cost of driving two blocks away to deliver a
customers product. But if you are doing that
drive 3 times a week or even 6 times a
month - that's a cost! And if you're not
including that in your pricing then you are
giving that away.
So before we even get into HOW you need
to be pricing; your first step is to make sure
that you have considered ALL your costs in
the equation.
Now on to some common Pricing Strategies:
COST PLUS PRICING
This is the most commonly used pricing
strategy. The formula here is to add up the
costs of the product or service and add to
that a percentage markup, which is your
profit.
This can be a good strategy if firstly you are
covering all your costs, and secondly you
have a decent markup. A 10% markup may
make this product or service low priced and
attractive to customers but is this
sustainable for you in the long run? You
need to work out a profit margin that your
customer would still pay for, and that makes
business sense to you.
COMPETITIVE PRICING
This is another common pricing strategy
used by small businesses. Matching your
competitor does not necessarily mean you
will be more attractive to potential
customers. Coming in lower also does not
mean you will move your competitor's
customers to you. Is there more value being
added? How does the product differ?
It is a good idea to keep your finger on the
pulse and know what your competitors are
charging, but your product or service
offering may have added value that your
competitor does not.
PENETRATION PRICING
This strategy helps new entrants get in to
new markets. The idea here is to start at
low pricing to entice the market and build
brand awareness and trust with customers
and gradually increasing prices over time.
This is risky and may not always work.
Make sure you have a clear plan on how
you will implement this. At what points will
you start increasing prices and by how
much - timelines, sales revenue thresholds
etc.
PREMIUM PRICING
Here you are setting the standard of
pricing as there are no comparative
products in the market. You have to be
careful not to get carried away - too high
and you might lose credibility with your
market indefinitely.
Choose the Pricing Strategy that best suits
your business model. Think carefully
about things like how your product differs
from competitors, what value does your
product or service offer, are there
alternatives for your brand? Take into
consideration things like your packaging
and branding and how that sets you apart.
Pricing is not only about how much your
competitor is selling it for; or being as low
as possible. It needs to be a carefully
implemented strategy that you are
consistent with throughout all your
product offerings and services.
B U I L D I D E A S | 1 9

W H A T I S Y O U R
Entrepreneur
S P I R I T A N I M A L ? ( M A D A G A S C A R V E R S I O N )
ALEX
You are liked and
respected. You can do
the talking and get
people on your side. You
need a strong team to
support you.
GLORIA
You are a no nonsense
leader. You stand up for
yourself and will not take a
no very easily. You are
loyal. You love to network
and collaborate.
KINg Julien
You are here to have fun!
You can charm your way
around. People love your
energy and will stick
around just to see what
you have planned next.
Kowalski
You are calculated and data
driven. You are always
coming up with new plans
and ready to pivot as soon
as something doesn't work.
You are a problem solver!
B U I L D I D E A S | 2 0

Visit kenya
Profiling another African country rich in agriculture and wildlife,
Kenya is a delight to anyone that visits its vast and breathtaking
shores.
Nestled in the eastern region of Africa,
Kenya is a country that effortlessly blends
breathtaking landscapes, abundant wildlife,
vibrant cultures, and a rich historical legacy.
From its thriving wildlife parks to its bustling
cities, Kenya has become a must-visit
destination for travelers seeking an
unforgettable African adventure.
Geography and Wildlife
Kenya's geography is a kaleidoscope of
wonders. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean
to the east and shares its borders with
Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania,
and Somalia. The Great Rift Valley runs
through the country, gifting it with stunning
landscapes, such as the majestic Mount
Kenya, Africa's second-highest peak, and
the picturesque Rift Valley lakes.
The country's diverse ecosystems have
made it a wildlife enthusiast's dream come
true. Kenya's most famous wildlife reserve,
the Maasai Mara National Reserve, is home
to the Great Migration, where millions of
wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles traverse the
plains in search of fresh grazing lands.
This spectacle is considered one of the
most magnificent wildlife events on the
planet.
Beyond the Maasai Mara, there are
numerous other national parks and
reserves, such as Amboseli National
Park, Tsavo National Park, and Samburu
National Reserve, where visitors can
spot the "Big Five" (lion, elephant,
buffalo, leopard, and rhino) and a
plethora of other wildlife species.
Cultural Heritage
Kenya is a melting pot of cultures, each
with its own unique customs, traditions,
and languages. The Maasai people,
easily recognized by their vibrant red
clothing and distinctive beadwork, are
renowned for their deep connection
with nature and their semi-nomadic
lifestyle. The Swahili culture, influenced
by centuries of Indian, Arab, and
Portuguese traders, is prevalent along
the coastal regions, with Mombasa
serving as a significant cultural hub.
B U I L D I D E A S | 2 1

Additionally, Kenya boasts a rich
archaeological heritage, with various sites
like Koobi Fora and Olorgesailie providing
valuable insights into the early
development of humankind. These sites
have revealed ancient tools and fossils
dating back millions of years, making Kenya
an important destination for archaeologists
and paleontologists.
Nairobi - The Capital City
The bustling capital city of Nairobi stands
as a testament to Kenya's progress and
modernity. With its vibrant markets,
contemporary skyscrapers, and cultural
attractions, Nairobi offers a unique blend of
tradition and modernity. The Nairobi
National Park, located just a stone's throw
away from the city center, allows visitors to
witness wild animals grazing against the
backdrop of the city skyline, offering an
extraordinary experience.
Nairobi is also home to the David Sheldrick
Wildlife Trust, a sanctuary for orphaned
elephants that provides excellent
rehabilitation and conservation efforts.
Visitors can get up close and personal with
these majestic creatures, creating
unforgettable memories while supporting
critical conservation initiatives.
The Kenyan Spirit
One of the most striking aspects of
Kenya is the warm and welcoming nature
of its people. Known for their hospitality
and sense of community, Kenyans
embrace visitors with open arms, eager to
share their culture and traditions.
Whether it's joining a Maasai dance,
savoring Swahili cuisine, or participating
in traditional ceremonies, visitors to
Kenya often leave with lasting memories
of the genuine connections they've made
with the locals.
In conclusion, Kenya is a nation of aweinspiring
beauty, captivating wildlife, and
a rich tapestry of cultures. Its
commitment to conservation, paired with
its warm and inviting people, makes it an
unforgettable destination that leaves a
lasting impression on the hearts of all
who visit. As travelers continue to explore
this enchanting country, it is essential to
remember the significance of responsible
tourism, ensuring that Kenya's wonders
remain preserved for generations to
come.
B U I L D I D E A S | 2 2

5 Healthy Dessert
ideas
HEALTHY CHOCOLATE PUDDING
Credit:www.acouplecooks.com
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons Dutch process or dark
cocoa powder (not regular cocoa
powder)
½ cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt
1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup
Method:
Mix everything together in a bowl. It will be very thick at first, but it will
smooth out once the cocoa powder incorporates. If your yogurt is very
thick, you can add ½ to 1 tablespoon water to get a bit lighter texture, but
all yogurts vary. (Also, you can always add a little more cocoa powder or
maple to adjust to your own taste.)
CHOCOLATE COVERED BANANAS
Credit: www.acouplecooks.com
Ingredients:
2 ripe medium bananas
1 ½ cup dark chocolate chips* (5 ounces)
1 tablespoon refined coconut oil
1 pinch salt
Toppings (optional): 2 tablespoons each crushed peanuts,
crushed pistachios, and all natural sprinkles
Method
Freeze bananas and slice. Make sure you have your dark chocolate
melted ready. Dip the slices in one at a time and place on parchment or
baking paper. Sprinkle your toppings and return to the freezer. Serve
from frozen
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ONE INGREDIENT BANANA ICE CREAM
Credit: wwwacouplecooks.com
Ingredients:
4 ripe bananas, peeled
1 tablespoon milk of choice or water (optional)
Method:
Slice bananas and freeze them for at lest 3 hours
Place in a blender and blend until smooth add milk if you would like.
Add honey if you want it sweeter.
You can eat immediately or refreeze. This makes it more scoopable
This is best eaten the day it's made.
You make find icicles forming if left for too long
EASY STRAWBERRY SORBET
Credit: www.acouplecooks.com
Ingredients:
2 pounds strawberries, hulled
1 cup granulated sugar or alternative
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 pinch kosher salt
½ cup ice
Method
1. Place the strawberries in a food processor or high-powered blender and puree. Add
the sugar, lime juice, salt and ice and puree until smooth. (To make ahead, you can
refrigerate at this point until you want to churn, up to 2 days.)
2. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze for 20 to 25 minutes. The texture
will be very frosty and creamy at this point. Serve immediately. Or, line a container
with parchment paper and freeze up to 2 hours day of. Store in a parchment lined
sealed container for up to 1 week; allow to come to room temperature for about 20 to
30 minutes before scooping.
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Ingredients:
300g Philadelphia cream cheese
1 tbsp honey (or more to taste!)
1 tsp vanilla
Crust
1 cup oats
1 tbsp coconut oil, (it's a heaping
spoon)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp honey
PHILADELPHIA CREAM CHEESE NO BAKE CHEESECAKE
Credit: homemademastery.com
1. Mix the ingredients for the filling in a bowl with a fork until combined.
2. For the crust blend the ingredients until you get a crumbly, but sticky mixture.
3. Spread the ingredients for the crust in a container of your choice. Then press
the mixture for the crust down and flatten with a spoon.
4. Spread the filling on top and flatten with a silicone spatula.
Freeze for at least one hour and pop the cheesecakes out of the silicone cups
then transfer to the fridge (or freeze again*). Refrigerate for 3-4 hours or
overnight.

On Our Bookshelf
What we're reading
Lincoln Lawyer
Michael Connelly
Let the record show I read the book BEFORE I watched the
Netflix series!
Lincoln Lawyer is 2005 book, and tells the story of Mickey
Haller. An attorney in Las Angeles who works out of his
Lincoln - hence the name Lincoln Lawyer.
It is a legal drama, the kind that I absolutely love. It is clever
and witty and all those delicious things a book ought to be.
I have not yet read all the books written in this series, but I definitely intend to!.
Mickey is on the lookout for high paying clients, and that usually comes with high
drama and lots of twists. It's a yes from me and I will eventually get to all in the series.
The McKinsey Way
Ethan M. Rasiel
This is on my list of professional development books to
read. I have not yet finished this book, but I am so
impressed with the level on insight provided into the
Management Consulting industry.
McKinsey has always been considered one of the pioneers
of this industry and having a book written by ex-McKinsey is
a delight.
B U I L D I D E A S | 2 6

What my Kids are Reading....
Not sure if this is an occurrence in every home, but if I can't
find my kids, the most likely probability is that they're stuck in
a book! Two of my kids are avid readers and one needs to be
coaxed. Here's what they're reading and enjoying...
The Naughtiest Girl
Enid Blyton
We are back to Enid Blyton books this month it seems. My
youngest has read a few of the Naughtiest Girl books and
just recently found a few more tucked away in her school
library. Enid Blyton is always a hit with the young crowd.
This book is particularly entertaining because the
protagonist has decided she will do everything she can to
be the naughtiest girl in school!
Code Name Bananas
David Walliams
David Walliams is one of the bestselling children's book
authors globally. He has a witty and fun style of writing. My
daughter lapped this book up in no time (despite it's rather
intimidating page quantity!)
Set in World War II, this book follows the adventures of a
little boy and his friend Gertrude (the Gorilla). It is a hoot,
recommended for kids 8-13 years
Hardy Boys
Franklin W. Dixon
Still keeping with the retro theme from last month, my
eldest daughter discovered a few Hardy Boys books and is
loving the amateur sleuth series.
She says it is a little more fast-paced than Nancy Drew and
the banter between bog brother Frank and Joe is possibly
what makes it funnier too.
B U I L D I D E A S | 2 7

R E A D Y - T O - B A K E
C O O K I E D O U G H
J U S T
1
2
M
I N U T E S
I N
E AT
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T O
R E A D Y
S H O P O N L I N E
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w w w . c a r r i n g t o n c o o k i e s . c o . z a i n f o @ c a r r i n g t o n c o o k i e s . c o . z a
@ c a r r i n g t o n _ c o o k i e s 0 6 0 5 0 5 2 0 2 9 / 0 8 2 7 0 3 7 0 3 6

Do You Want to Join
the BUILD Network?
Who?
If you are a small (really small) business, not formally
registered, running a business from home, and you are looking
to grow your business/brand but have no idea how to get
started and what tools you need - this is for you.
How?
Our first cohort of women-owned businesses is ready to go. If
you are keen to join the next one which starts in May 2023,
drop us a mail and we will forward an application and
informational guide. It's that simple.
What?
As a social enterprise BUILD is offering its business consulting
services to small women-owned businesses at no cost. As part
of a 4 month programme you get free consulting sessions,
design packages and access to workshops.
Join the Network that's changing the world!
B U I L D I D E A S | 2 9

Who?
Do You Want to
Support the BUILD
Network?
Any sized business or organisation that would like to invest its
Enterprise Development funding or any other funding towards
the development of these small businesses that are part of our
network.
How?
Enterprise Development Funds: If you have funds ring-fenced
for this purpose they can be used at BUILD for full ED
Recognition
Sponsorship: You can sponsor towards the programmes in
whichever capacity you choose.
Advertising: Advertise with us. Revenue goes towards the
business development of the BUILD Network members
Paid Services
If you are small business that just needs some business
consulting but does not want to be part of the 4 month
programme, we can help you for a nominal fee. Contact us for
more information.
B U I L D I D E A S | 3 0

J O I N
S U P P O R T
A D V E R T I S E
C O N T A C T
www.build.org.za
hello@build.org.za
@build_org
BUILD.org
B U I L D I D E A S | 3 1