Wednesday 12 mid-day Lynette Vermaas office is packed with four students and as the busy women walks into her office with the most welcoming voice I have ever heard. “I am so busy with twenty things at once. This week is just crazy for me, with the Addicted to life fun day fun walk.” explained Lynette as I walked into her office. The four girls purchased the tickets to the exciting Addicted to life fun day fun walk event with shock on how Lynette could spell one of their names “Koketso” without any assistance, she laughed with sincere laughter. The brunette haired lady with extremely gorgeous honey glow skin came and joined me at her round table which had striking dry flowers and bright inviting orange cushions on all four chairs around the table. With two pink and white teddy bears (which she uses for hypnotherapy) and a pleasant sweet flower aroma one could not help but be more relaxed in Lynette’s office. This may be why many students around campus, in stress dash to office 352 for some advise and a shoulder to cry on. The Zeerust born lady studied towards her Bachelors of Arts in Social Sciences during 1987 till 1990 at the Rand Afrikaans University now known as University of Johannesburg. She continued with her Masters of Arts in Clinical Social Work in 1993 till 1995. “I was in first year at UJ my then boyfriend was doing his second year. We dated for four years and decided to get married”, said Lynette with a big smile on her face while going down memory lane. “He had one of the craziest proposal but I think it was just the sweetest ever, he gave me a box of chocolates but in one of them was quite hard when I opened it, I found the ring.” , explained Lynette. They couple had already decided to get married before the proposal; the two soon after tied the knot at what Lynette called a student wedding. Twenty one years later the university lovers have been blessed with a teenage daughter. The proud mother of one explained that she was not planning on having another child, “I have a very busy schedule and my daughter is already fourteen (14) years old”, added Lynette. During her 19 years t experience in Clinical Social Worker Lynette has truly been around, she began her career at Telkom South Africa in 1990 where she held the position of Industrial Social Work Assistant, in 1991 she moved to the Department of Health and Welfare where she worked as a social worker. “I saw some of the most painful things ever, from young children that have been abused and violated. Taking the kids away from their homes and seeing that they don’t understand what is going on. I learned a lot from working there”, said the brave Lynette. After six months of working at the Department of Health and Welfare the young ambitious lady was offered a position at Rand Aid Association: Wedge Gardens Rehabilitation Centre where she worked as a senior therapist. For seven years while she was there she did individual and Group Therapy, Marital and Family Therapy. When her husband was transferred to Pretoria from Johannesburg, Lynette was lucky enough to get a job at the Stabilis Treatment Centre for Alcohol and Drug Dependency where she held the same title of senior therapist. In 2004 she moved to the Tshwane University of Technology where she has been doing wonders. She specialises in education and Training for both students and staff in drug Interdiction; rape protocol; pregnancy and abortion; mentor training; trauma; personal Safety and eating disorders. “Over the past two weeks four pregnant students have came to see me, they were all not willing to keep the babies and were not even aware of the after effects.”, she said. She mentioned that it was a great disappointment with all the available resources and information out there that students still get themselves in such situations. As part of her Doctoral studies in Social Sciences at UNISA, she titled her research “Tertiary students’ experiences and needs related to unplanned pregnancies and TOP’s: A guidance programme from a social work perspective” which is nothing new to this talented women. In 2008 Lynette established a co-operative agreement between TUT and the University of Pretoria where she managed and supervised social workers internships. The first group’s research topic was “The Perceptions of female students at TUT regarding unplanned pregnancy” the second group, in 2009 did not go far off and based their research on “Challenges pregnant students experience at the Tshwane University of Technology”. In the Witwatersrand student newsletter it was mentioned that student pregnancies at tertiary institutions worldwide are increasing every year despite the assumption that students have sufficient knowledge of the risks of unprotected sex and showed concern on the statistic rise in abortions although it’s legal. Lynette delivered a paper Dealing with unplanned pregnancies and abortions amongst tertiary students at the 6th African Conference on Psychotherapy in Uganda which she describes as one of her highlights of her life. She smile with pride and said she went there alone which was a daunting yet exciting experience for her. The easy going women received a TUT Academic and Research Excellence Award for teaching, Learning and Technology and Student Development and Support Practitioner of the Year 2007. This phenomenal women who grow up at the coast describes herself as loyal, caring and hard working and says her main focus at this point is getting completing her D. Phil with UNISA and with the little spare time she has she makes the most out it with spending time with her family and reading books.

Pretoria blazer Street Style crazy

Blazers are so hot. Mbali Makhanya sure pulled off her blazer look. Its black with gold buttons, this blazer gets my LKE Button. She paired it with a vintage brown boot which is just eye candy to a fashion babe.

A guy with total style. He rocked his vintage blazer, he is really looking warm and stylish.

Fashion Grace

The new weekly fashion magazine hit our stores a month or two back, Grazia The magazine is originally from Italy hence the Italian name Grazia which means grace in English. The magazine publishes in over thirteen counties worldwide including countries like Japan and The Netherlands. I took to the streets to see what my fashion babes think of the magazine.

Mosima Rafapa 21 years old Student I am truly enjoying the magazine. They showcase fashion that is still available in stores and it’s affordable.

Tanya Santos 23 Law Student I’m a student with a hectic life so don’t have time to read a magazine in a week. By the time the next issue comes out I have only read a few articles.

LIKE LIKE LIKE ........

Ipeleng Mostogi

Office style

Skirt crazy

These ladies get my Like button they are totally rocking the skirts and making them look oh so fab. Proving one does not need to be half dressed or half naked to be sexy or look good. During winter one can add a leather jacket or nice cardgan with da skirt and be fashionable and more importantly warm.

What do you think about this fabulous trend? I’m totally GAGA over it.

I’m loving long skirts no I’m lying I’m GAGA over long skirts. One can rock them in winter and summer gosh you can rock any colour that tickles your fancy from your bright green and orange to your more nude colours. If it’s a high rise skirt one can throw on a simple vest, a nice chunky necklace and a thing belt.

When ELLE magazine took to the streets of Cape Town and Jo’burg they spotted some crazy street style fashion. Yet these ladies caught my eye. Thithi Nteta rocked her black skirt with a jean shirt, a flat pump and and nice shades. Whereas Zama Dude spiced her skirt up with sexy and African look. YOU GIRLS GET MY LIKE BUTTON!!!!!!!

Just saw this picture while going thought the Seventeen online publication. Naso Ngxenge looks great. The floral skirt with the leather jacket go great together, the skirt is soft and feminine and the leather jacket creates a punk star look. This look gets my Like button for sure.

Rocking shorts in winter

Plus size not just the right size

“Going shopping was always painful because there were never fashionable clothes in my size, the shop assistants would not even take the time to help me” said Ouma Tema while fidgeting with her hot pink coloured long nails. The size 44 women is redefining the average South Africana’s idea of beauty with her new fashion line Plus Fab- Not just the right size. “Full-figured women also want to look stylish and fabulous and do not want to be dressed in any old thing just because it fits them. This is when the idea of making my own clothes came from. The demand was high, and PlusFab was born,” she explained.Like many other women who are image-conscious, Ouma has tried most of the recommended diets, but they never worked for her. “I have tried soups and shakes – gosh, you name them, I have tried them all. Now I have accepted my body and come to terms with the fact that I will never be slim,” she said with a calm voice looking down at the table. Ouma says women of her size have many health risks and complications. “I walk most of the time and eat healthy food. I don’t do it to lose weight, but to stay healthy. A good friend once said if you love your body, you will not do anything to harm it” she added. South Africa’s top-notch and well respected poet, Lebo Mashile, who is also a good friend of the “diva”, as she is popularly known, has been seen on magazine covers and countless events showing off PlusFab designs. Member of Parliament, Thandile Sunduza, wore one of Ouma’s creations to the recent State of the Nation Address. “I am now working with singer Winnie Khumalo, whom I will be dressing too,” Ouma said. In 2002, the fabulous and outspoken Ouma from Phalaborwa, Limpopo, came to the big city, Pretoria, with the intention to study drama at Tshwane University of Technology to study performing arts. “I was one of those students who did not apply on time; consequently I ended up doing Public Management,” she said. This vivacious lady who comes from a family of four describes her childhood as a happy one. “My mother worked at Ellerines furniture shop. She tried her best as a single parent to give us what we needed at that time,” she said. After primary school, Ouma went to Mokomene High School in Ga-Ramokgopa, where she was a boarder. She said she was an introverted kid and felt out of place because she was bigger than other kids at school, but still participated in almost everything. “Being at boarding school really taught me a lot about responsibility and how to handle freedom away from home,” said Ouma while sipping on a strawberry milkshake. ‘I have stretch marks, so what? She said with a huge smile on her face and a loud voice when asked about her future plans. “This is the Stretch Shirt Campaign I’m launching in partnership with the Saartjie Baartman Centre in Cape Town” she said while looking around making sure people around could hear her. “The messages on the dress shirts will be: I have stretch marks, so what?” She says that will remind people of what Baartman went through, all because of her body structure.