Music Monday!

 

Happy Monday!

Hope you have an lovely New Years Eve and a spectacular 2013!

 

Sunday Verses

....cause every now and again one needs healing!

5 Favorites on Friday: Most memorable moments of 2012

 If I had to choose one word to describe 2012, it would have to be "change". Not only did I change cities, apartments and schools this year but I also ended a 3 year relationship and started studying photography. I would lie if I said it wasn't hard at times but there is this famous saying that goes "change is as good as a holiday" and it's so very true. In the end, all this change brought with only amazing adventures and experiences and these are 5 of my favorites:

 

When Roxette announced their visit to South Africa earlier this year, I could hardly contain my excitement! I've been a die-hard fan since the age of 12 (you can read the blog post  here) and I was not going to miss this concert for anything. Lucky for me, we were quite a group of girls who loved Roxette so we made a girls night of it sang our little hearts out to our favorite 80's songs! For days afterwards, "Listen to Your Heart" was stuck in my head but then I noticed a peculiar thing... for some reason I had an abnormal amounts of visitor traffic centred around this blog post. At first I ignored it but when it started getting real crazy, I followed the  traffic source. What a surprise when I realised Roxette linked my blog review to their official web page. Such an honour!!!Thanks Roxette , you rock!!

It was only when I hit my mid 20's that I realised I was moving into adult territory. Suddenly eye creme became part of my daily beauty routine, "pension fund" appeared on paycheck deductions and I received invitations to friends weddings. Wedding fever hit hard and this year alone, I attended 8 weddings. Not that I complain at all - I love weddings!!! The wedding that stands out the most though, is that of my best friend. We've been friends for more that 15 years so it was an immense honour to be one of her bridesmaids. This was the girl that I grew up with, who played dolls with me as a kid and knew all the Back Street Boys lyrics; who tore out Leonardo Di Caprio pictures from her mother's Huisgenoot so that I could paste them in my scrapbook and swapped sandwiches during break; who waited for me at the gate on the first day of high school and was there to celebrated the last; who laughed and cried over hundred pots of a tea and chased up the phone bill. And after half a lifetime it was one of the most remarkable experiences to see this Miss finding her Prince Charming and becoming a Mrs.

 

When Groupon launched a special deal on boat cruises earlier this year, some girlfriends and I decided it was the perfect opportunity to have a girls weekend. So on the last weekend of January  we packed our swimsuits and sailed away in the Cape sunset on a cruise to ...nowhere. For three glorious days we floated around, sipping Pina Colades while bathing in the sun, eating more than we should and laughing till our bellies ached.



 
Somewhere, in the middle of nowhere, high above sea level, there is a little town called Sutherland. Renowned for it's stargazing and home to the biggest telescope in Africa, this tiny town is little more than a dust road, a few teeny shops and a handful of Victorian houses. With no malls, bad Internet reception and cold as can be, the one thing that Sutherland does not lack, is charm. So it was not completely incomprehensible when I lost my heart on this old school beauty. On both visits (see here and  here)to this pretty town, time passed at a slower pace as we baked our own bread, listened to the only radio station of the area, played board games till late at night and took leisurely walks at noon.

 

It is only right that a Francofile goes to France so after a long distance love affair with this beautiful country that lasted well over 10 years, I saved up, sucked it up and finally went to meet my object of affection. Pretty France did not disappoint and for two wonderful weeks I got to know this beaut a little better. Chocolate crepes, coffee and croissants, amazing art and the most intricate argitecture, breathtaking Provence, French simplicity, art, architecture and wine that blows your mind - what's not to love? I came back dirt poor and 3kgs heavier but even more madly in love with beautiful Paree, amazing Avignon and chocolate croissants.

Would love to hear about your favorite moments of 2012 so leave a link in the comment box and I will be sure to check it out!

Current Obsession: Ombre

It took me a while to warm up to the Ombre craze that seems to have taken over the world...

....but now I love it!

All pics from here.

When it comes to oysters.....

 

...there is no messing about!

Bookworms?

Yup, thats us!

A weekend in Pictures # 23

 

 

 

In South Africa, December and seaside vacations goes hand in hand. This past weekends we left the city behind us to spend 10 glorious days in the family favorite, Paternoster. I've taught in the Westcoast last year and it crawled deep into my heart so it's wonderful to be back - this time to relax, read, nap and over indulging in Christmassy treats.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Happy Monday!!!

I was toying with the idea of playing a carol since it's Christmas and all...but I like this song just way more right now!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas....

Unfortunately, for those of us living in the Southern hemisphere, a dream is exactly what a "white Christmas" will remain to be. Snow is not about to happen in the middle of a South African summer and instead of turkey and eggnog, we are settling for barbeque's and cocktails on the beach. Except for Santa suits being completely impractical there is, however, not too much to complain about, I'd say.

But that does not mean that you cannot whiten your Christmas. And with a little DIY skills, this is exactly what I did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two days before Christmas!! Hurray!

Sunday Verses

Note to self: Some food for thought!

Image from Pinterest

One day, Someday...

....I hope I will be brave enough...

to ombre my hair.

Saturday mornings,

....are a slow affair here at my little abode. It includes late morning snoozes, strong coffee and who knows, perhaps brunch at a pretty place.

 

Hope you have a lovely Saturday!



A sad "before" and "after".

 

Oh, how I wish they'd last forever!

 

When life happens, it looks like this #1

 

All photos taken by me on Instagram .

Five favorites on a Friday: Christmas wish list

With Christmas just around the corner, it's about time that I inform Santa and his little helpers why I was a good girl this year.

1. Always a favorite, I will never say no thank you to my signature scent.

2. I completely fell in love with these rings from the first moment I saw them. This shop is just darling. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if Santa only shopped here for my Christmas gifts.

3. There is no better way to start the year than with a brand new, clean-paged diary. If the diary is a  Moleskin is  just so much better. I am especially excited about the different colour options in the  2013 collection and I have my sights set on a pink one. I do have a soft spot for good quality stationary and Moleskin is as good as it gets as far as I am concerned.

4. Ooh Santa, if you have a few Rands to spare, I wouldn't mind one these! Cornflower blue please!

5.  Some coral skinnies from Shopbob would also be nice.

What is on your Christmas wish list this year?
 

Lately,

I've been planning... nothing but fun things. It's summer vacation which means time for pool parties, late night dinner with friends and afternoon naps.
I've been eating... less carbs. It seems to work. Oh, and peaches by the dozens.
I've been dreaming about....  furthering my studies. Don't know how wonderfully practical it would be being a full time teacher and all, but lets see what 2013 has in store.
I've been splurging on.... Christmas gifts.
I've been reading... or rather devouring, a few books. My summer vacation reading list is a long one - A biography of Lee Miller, "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte, "Memoirs of a Geisha", "The Great Gatsby", "The Hobbit", "War and Peace" by Tolstoy and "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath. "The Bell Jar" completely blew me away and it might just be a new favorite. What are you reading right now?
I've been wearing.... maxi skirts.
I've discovered.... that boy kittens are way naughtier than their female counterparts, that Photoshop is not as easy as I thought it would be and life's obstacles always has a lesson to learn.
I've been struggling with.... sadness. Soon my best friend will leave on a jet plane perhaps never to return again. That breaks my heart.
I've been happy about... an upcoming seaside vacation. Sea, sand and sunshine, some crayfish and surrounded by the people I hold dearest makes me really happy.
I've been indulging in ..... late dinners  with old friends on balconies overlooking the city,  Tokara Sauvignon Blanc and reading marathons.
I've been creative...  with DIY Christmas decorations.
I've loved.... summertime which has finally arrived.

What have you been up to lately?
Picture: Instagram

The last of France

 

My last days in France was spend in Nice. It was wonderful. There is just something about pebble beaches, Nicoise salads, old city and amazing quality of light that inspired both Matisse and me.

Vintage market beauties * tea time with Matali Crasset * hues of blue * Salad Nicoise * pretty pink construction work * June and I in awe of pebble beaches * the cutest name for a florist * what a beaut * French Riviera charm.