CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!

 Holy guacamole can you believe it, I won my first competition in 10 years- I kid you not! The lovely ladies at Treasures for Charity prompted me to buy a raffle ticket at last week's fab event. I paid my reubels, picked my lucky numbers and then told the nice lady that if she knew what was good for her, she would pull my name out of that hat and garsh darn it- she did! I am now the proud owner of a full body, aromatherapy massage courtesy of  Absolut Heaven- aren't you jealous:)

ON FOLLOWING DREAMS

'The Awesome World Foundation is a registered 501c3 charity, established in 2009 by Dallas Clayton in partnership with Awesome World llc. The foundation was formed in an effort to promote children's literacy by encouraging kids to dream and dream often. The foundation's goal is to donate one book for every copy of An Awesome Book sold by Awesome World llc. Books are delivered directly and distributed to schools, hospitals, libraries, camps and shelters both domestically and worldwide.'

This book should be tattooed onto the inside of every child's eyelids as they are popped out. It is the most inspiring wonderful and hilariously illustrated book in the history. I cannot urge you enough to go to this website and read through the whole story then go home and read it to your family, friends and anyone else who will listen. Click here to visit the website.

CLIFF DIVING FOR DUMMIES

download this snazzy postcard from here

Hello my lovelies and a very happy Monday to you.

Can you believe that we are headed into the last 30 days of the first half of the year?
I can't believe it has all gone so freaking fast – sherbs!

With the onset of the real-winter month, comes a flurry of new and exciting things from Durban Central. I have just freed myself of the old 9-5 shackles and am to embark on the adrenalin pumping but nonetheless terrifying adventure that is self-employment.

I have been breezing though my twenties with the whole “youth is on my side; I’ll conquer the world tomorrow” attitude. Recently however I woke up in one of those dead of night cold sweats to the ghastly realization that hit me like a tidal wave to the face. Holy Moley – I’m nearly 25.

The youngest recently helpfully pointed out that 25 is basically a quarter of the way through my life - and that’s only if I’m fortunate enough to live to 100! If family-tree research is to be relied upon, I’m due for either altzeimers or a high dose of senility or both in the final quarter. The clock is ticking. I will only have full brain function for about another 25 to 30 years. So I have decided to take the plunge, put on the gloves, grab the bulls by the horns and do something dangerous and exciting - like Bella on Twilight when she jumps off that crazy cliff but without the the fiery red-headed vampire lady lunging for my jugular.

GO GET YOUR SPANDEX ON

Yay the new Womens Health mag is out! I am so so stoked they have finally brought it to South Africa (I have been buying the american issue from CNA for the past while at a ridiculously high price ) I know this post is a bit late- the mag has been out for a few months now- but I really must just let you folk know what a rad bananas mag it is. They have plench healthy tips and tricks as well as an awesome tear out work out section- this month you get a free dvd as well - so you can get your Jane Fonda on in sanctuary of your own home! Go check out their website too, it is totally awesome and jam packed with weekly give-aways and competitions you can even download workouts for your ipod! There really is no excuse not to get off your bootay anymore!

WIN! WIN! WIN!

I am totally and utterly in love with these Leather Rings by Boe. 

Get out your blarney stone or rabbits foot or what ever it is that brings you luck and take it over to THE BRIGHT SIDE PROJECT where your dreams of owning one of these puppies- along with a whole stash bag full of other freakishly good looking goodies- could just be realised.

1.  Hermitage Home COUTURE wallpaper
2. Girl Of All Work Beautiful Thoughts Tablet and Velvet Fawn Journal
3. Desert Flower Necklace from Ayofemi
4. Hand Crocheted Butterflies from Oeuf
5. Leather Rings from By Boe
6. Blossom Creative Mixed Stationery

VIA LOOKBOOK.NU

SE-RI-YAAAAAAAAS

When this came across my desk recently, I actually thought I was being Punk'd. I could not fathom the possibility that This was actually the actual final- someone with 20/20 vision signed this off and approved it in the clear light of day whilst totally sober - flyer for The Vodacom Durban July 2010. This event is marketed as " a spectacular show of dazzling designs, some flamboyant, some seductive and others just outrageous." It's supposed to be a big, snazzy to-do, the snazzy to-do of the year- apparently- and this is the best they can do?  Call me a stuck-up design snob but jeez this invitation looks like something my granny's curtains would be scared of. FAIL.

BLOOMING GORGEOUS

I am completely and utterly awe struck by Eloise Corrdanch. Her paper flowers look like the things that grow in Martha's dreams can you cope. As you might have established by this point, the engaged one will have to become the married one at some stage. Which brings me to my next point-  have a look at these here pictures,

now- close your eyes and imagine a wedding based on paper flowers like these ones. My mind is not even big enough to cope with that degree of fantasy- can you even conceive the total kind of spectacular? I'm going to go and Investigate. If you have any idea where I can find some paper wedding inspiration please please comment below.

I WISH WE HAD ZARA IN OUR COUNTRY

Here is their May 2010 lookbook- sigh

IN THE IDEAL WORLD

In the ideal world where money is no object I order this outfit from Shopbop and rock the sh*t out of it. The end.

DON'T GO SPENDING IT ALL AT ONCE

Hooray its Friday! Here is half a unicorn courtesy of Marc Johns. I'll give you the other half next week- that way the magic will last longer. Have a super weekend lovelies.

WIN! WIN! WIN!

Being Brazen along with Kim Gray are doing a really lovely jewelry give-away go here to enter- good luck.

ADVENTURE SATURDAYS

This weekend while the rest of the country freezes, the Blonde and I are headed for the sleepy town of Greytown for a fab day of mountain biking out in the sunny  beautiful kzn country side. Every year Greytown plays host to an awesome MTB Festival that really is pretty rad. There is a distance to suite ever kind of leg so there really is no excuse. Grab your kid or your wife or your bugga and come join the blonde and I for a weekend of irritating Brady bunch style outdoorsy-ness.

The blonde and I are also taking applications for our exclusive MTB gang at the moment, there are only two of us in the pack. I was alone first in the pack and then the Blonde joined in later. We would like to eventually have a whole group of non professional MTBers who can go to all the events and do the easy races for fun and not feel guilty about not riding a Specialised or not having perfectly smooth legs. So If you want in on this 1 time only offer mail me on trickplane(at)gmail(dot)com and then we can all ride around the around the desert together in Las Vegas looking for strippers and cocaine. Or maybe we can just go to races together.

LET THAT WHICH IS UNSAID BE SAID

I am totally in-love with these cheeky little forms from The Bureau of Communication. They have started a hysterical little site where you can go when you need to communicate a problem, send an invitation to an event, or simply apologise for a transgression. They have created a cache of fill-out-the-blank notices that will make who ever is on the receiving end laugh so much that they will forgive and forget whatever ghastly thing it is that you or they have done in an instant. The forms are seriously easy to use all you have to do is go on over to the Bureau, fill out a form and they will post it for you - you can even add little air mail stamp:) So next time you want to confess your undying love for that guy in hr, don't be a dork and mumble some inaudible crap at him and ruin your chances, send him some official paper work- hr people love official paperwork and let your love bloom.

LOVE.LOVE.LOVE

I wish i was this badass.  

- marc johns illustration.

LOVING THIS VIBE

FROM HERE

DON'T BE SCARED

Kawarenushi

by

Audrey Kawasaki

I just wanted to let you guys all know that if you ever wanted to leave a comment I wouldn't be upset. Infact, I would be rather delighted to hear from you all, what you like, what you hate, things you would like to see featured on Durban Central. I really would love to make DC a scrumptious and exciting place that you can come to on a daily basis for inspiration, tips and happiness so please, don't be scared to come talk to me I don't bite, i promise.

MY FATHER THE HERO

Most kids with real life rock star dads don't really have it easy, what with all the drug binges and eye liner borrowing and rehab stuff, Lets be honest it cant be a walk in the park having a dad like Michael Jackson or that weird guy from Kiss who has the skanky tongue. That's why It is ideal to have a dad who fits into the hypothetical rock star category- kind of like my dad. What is a hypothetical rock-star you might ask? Well I would say that a dad who reads his favorite daughters blog and then goes to Australia on business and buttons down the only pair of size 39 Country Road allegra over the knee boots on the entire continent pretty much defines that there word. Yes kids your little eye balls read that correctly:) Daddy dearest made all the calls, pulled out all the stops and managed capture the last remaining pair of boots left in the wild. The engaged one came to visit on the weekend- she delivered these endangered beasts safely to the sanctuary my little home where they have safely been introduced to their new habitat and let me tell you, they are fitting in just fine. Did I mention that she also brought a beautiful little box of Cassis macaron's -please see here for the correct use of the word- which she flew all the way from Cape Town with? (It would appear that the rock-star gene is filtering down nicely). I will be posting a photo montage of me taming these naughty beasts in the very near future so keep your eyes peeled. In the mean time here is a taste of the sort of vibes I will be rocking for the unforeseeable future.

Blake Lively, Kate Moss, a model at Givenchy SS09 RTW, and Lindsay Lohan wearing over-the-knee boots.

SOME CHEESE WITH THAT WINE

As you all know I recently went to the beautiful sunny Thailand, soaked up some rays then I continued on to seriously compromise my credit rating in and around singapore. I came home with a bag packed full of ruffled sleeves, nauctical stripes and delicious bejeweled pumps that had me grinning like a pirate with a treasure map. 

No sooner had I done a complete fashion montage complete with music, a hairbrush mic and jealous friends when one half of my swagger was unpacked onto the floor of every Woolies nation wide Leaving the remaining half to the Mr P manequins. Is nothing sacred anymore? I understand that these brands strive to sate the savage appetites of us Topshop  starved fashionistas but what happened to the old days of say designing your own line, drawing inspriation from things you love and interpreting them your own way. I know I sound like a spoiled little brat and should be grateful that local stores are bringing us the very forefront of fashion items at very affordable prices but I am starting to feel like they are murdering a unicorn. Stores like Topshop , Zara and River Island are like full cream vanilla bean ice-cream, with a flake... and that scrummy caramel sauce stuff that you crack with your spoon. They are delicious, magical even and make you feel flipping fantastic but isn't it that naughty desperate craving for their scrumptious wares what makes them so special in the first place. It is not about the clothing, it's about the fantastic journey that goes with them. Its about knowing that you can only have a small taste because sooner or later that plane is going back home with you, your ashen credit card and your sticky, greedy little fingers strapped safely inside.

I often hear Vida latte clutching girls sobbing and sighing and using up all their eyelash wishes hoping in vein that one day these coveted stores will set up shop on our sunny shores but I hope they don't because then that feeling will be gone forever. That feeling of walking down the street knowing that girls everywhere are wishing they had your bag or swooning over your ruffly sleeves of nautical stripes or sparkly bedazzled pumps.

Am I being too dramatic here?

MARTHA YOU BLOODY FOX

As most of you will know I have an unhealthy obsession with Martha Stewart. Not only is she an absolute cracker in the kitchen but she generally has the ability to turn anything she touches into a home and gardeners porn. I read her blog daily and keep a constant eye open for anything MS related- this is not a hobby, it is a full blown obsession. I though I was in the loop with regards to her little cooks secrets, paint swatch colours and criminal behavior but the little gem I am about to reveal to your little eyeballs just confirms that not only is MS a home maker who has a beautiful vegetable garden, home, kitchen, macaroon recipe and general House wife super powers but she is also quite a fox. Here I present to you MS the Chanel Model- I believe it is the cherry on the top.

* The pictures and comments are courtesy of Tory Burch