SUPER BAAD-ASS HIGH TOP LOVING FOR EVERYONE!

After I posted about the Super Bad-ass Adidas hightops I bought the other day, 

 a lot of you folks sent bouquets of Twitter lovings followed by requests about where you could get your hands onto your own pair of Super badass hightop radness. Well, being the giving and wonderful blogger that am, I searched and scoured the interweb and compiled a little list of the raddest and most badass high tops currently circulating the Southern part of Africa. I am going to tell you now that I have not included Converse in the following list, not because I dont love them to bits but just because every one knows they are the bomb and everyone also knows where they are available, in what colour, size bla bla so I figured I would give you some other options... just in case you wanted to not look like the person standing next to you. 

1 and 2: Nike QS Blazer Hi Suede R795 (Astore)    3: Nike Air Force 1 Cream HiR1499 (Shelflife)    4: Nike Air Jordan Olympic Flight 9 R1699 (Shelflife)

1: Puma Hawthorne Mid Black R795 (Astore)   2: Puma Dassler Wellenbande R1495 (Astore; Stock Exchange, Durban)

GOT WOOD?

I am totally inlurve with these snazzy wooden sunnies! People are going wood bananas at the mo, after stumbling across insanely rad wooden watches the other day I suppose it was just a matter of time before this whole wood trend hit us slap in the eyeballs, or over the eyeballs rather! If you would like to get all green in the fashion dept, hit the I Heart Durban Market this weekend and purchase a pair of these babies - they will set you back a cool R375 but really, can't put a price tag on shade.

54 BOOKS TO READ BEFORE YOU DIE

I am something of a book worm, always have been and I hope that I will continue to be until my eyeballs get all frazzled, but that is what listeners library is for, so I'm not too worried.  The other day I lay in bed thinking about how many books I have read in my life, how many hours have been spent looking in on other peoples lives. . . sort of like a legal peeping tom:) It's freaking crazy! I started trying to make a list of them all, but there really were too many so I have decided to whittle it down to a round number of 54 books that I recommend you get your eyeballs all over. Please please feel free too add your own list in the comments section, I love nothing more than a good book recommendation so fire away.

The beautiful poster is courtesy of andrearosabella.

1. Winnie-the-Pooh – A.A. Milne 

2. Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame 

3. Where the Wild Things Are -  Maurice Sendak 

4. The story of Ferdinan - Robert Lawson 

5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl  

6. Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll

7. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen 

8. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
 
9. Atonement – Ian McEwan   

10. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte 

11. The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro 

12. The God of Small Things – Arundhati Roy  

13. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov 

14. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – Milan Kundera

15. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee 

16. Disgrace – J. M. Coetzee 

17. The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver

18. The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

19. Life of Pi – Yann Martel

20. Beatrice and Virgil - Yann Martel 

21. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown 

22. Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden

23. The Power of One – Bryce Courtenay 

24. Blood Sisters - Stephanie Keating, Barbara Keating 

25. A Durable Fire - Stephanie Keating, Barbara Keating 

26. In borrowed light - Stephanie Keating, Barbara Keating 

27. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis de Bernieres 

28. The Wedding Officer -  Anthony Capella 

29. Shantaram – Gregory David Roberts 

30. My Sister’s Keeper – Jodi Picoult 

31. The Harry Potter series – JK Rowling

32. The Millenium series - Stieg Larsson

33. The Spud series – John van de Ruit 

34. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time – Mark Haddon

35. Water for Elephants- Sara Gruen 

36. The help- kathryn stockett 

37. Born to run - Christopher McDougall 

38. The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupery 

39. Chocolat – Joanne Harris

40. The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency – Alexander McCall Smith 

41. Q and A – Vikas Swarup 

42. Little Women – Louisa May Alcott 

43. Lord of the Flies – William Golding 

44. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis 

45. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne

46. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini 

47. Bridget Jones’ Diary – Helen Fielding 

48. Kane and Abel – Jeffrey Archer 
 
49. Atlas Shrugged – Ayn Rand  

50. Scar Tissue - Anthony Kiedis   

51. How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale Jenna Jameson 
 
52. Open: An Autobiography - Andre Agassi


53. Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

54. Go Ask Alice - Anonymous 

MORE IN THE SEXY BEER CATEGORY

Just be quiet quickly, do you hear that? aaaaaaaaaah, yea those are angel voices. Go to Brewers and Union and get this sexy beer in your gullet, seriously, this beer will help you get chicks.

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE...

So lately I have been pounding a fair amount of pavement, the Knysna Half is finally upon us and I am as chuffed as all hell to get on down there and frolick my way through the forest with all the other smug endorphin chasers. When it comes to running I am pretty much completely and utterly beyond obsessed all the way addicted.  Some people dig yoga, others are into collecting weird stamps or funny shaped pebbles but I am all the way into running.  The cool thing about it is that all you really need is a pair of trainers and Bobs your uncle. But then again here at DC we are not into bare necessities (unless of course its the song, I am very much into Balu, I dig his swagger)  I mean come on, running is pretty fab and all but add some Foo fighters to the mix and suddenly you feel like someone is making a movie of your life and you are cruising down the road all hair blowing in the wind and you feel like the bees knees. The problem with this whole sound track fantasy thing is that the way in which you transport the Foo's from your iPod into your ear holes can either make or break it. Over the last year, I have run my way through a whole pay cheques worth of earphones, and I have finally rustled together my top three.

Opening the batting are your general In ear head phones, you know the ones, they literally are jammed into your ears making it sound like Taylor Hawkins Is rat a tat tatting on your ear drums. These guys are rad however my only worry is the fact that they are funneling all that sound straight into your head which can't be very good for those funny little hairs or that stirrup thingy. They are however really good for super cold days when the wind is whipping around your head and your ears are aching from the cold.

Next up are the Adidas PMX 680i Sports. These nifty earphones are designed specifically for sports nuts and I specifically enjoy the fact that they are both rain and sweat proof, something that has caused the death of many an ear phone in my house.  One set back however is the fact that they are not at all adjustable, so, for gals like me with small noggins the whole earphones staying on your head while you run thing can be quite irritating. 

I have decided to leave my absolute all time favorites till last. Ladies and gentlemen may I present to you, The Whip, made by Nixon and loved dearly by me every day. The Nixons are sleek and sexy, they come in a range of sweet colours from all black and sleek for ninja's to robot red or ultra violet for loud mouths like me. They are made from super light silicone and polyurethane making you feel like Mr Grohl is just trotting along side you singing sweet nothings into your ear. These bad boys are the bomb.

SOOTCOOKIE'S AND SPACE BUNNIES

Gosh, ages and ages ago I spotted one of these glorious little Martians catching some rays on a golden sand dune in the ElleDecor and decided then and there to clear a space on my shelf in anticipation for the day that one of these guys came to visit.
This morning I happened across the SOOTCOEKIE website and was completely stoked to discover that my future prized possession has siblings! Do you not love the way their ears lop quizzically to the side? I am going to have to start selling a few more Macaroons now that I am saving for the whole family, I certainly could not separate old Goldeyes from his possie, that would just be mean!

*side note for the bird- This is a blatant birthday/ anniversary/ just because you are the most wonderful girlfriend in the world and I love you so much I want to spoil you - hint. Write it down.

In other news, I am also coveting their gorge picnic range. Can you even imagine how cool you will look serving beautifully cooked beer battered hake and chips to your dinner party in their "take away" boxes?

BELLEVUE CAFE

 

Last Friday, the Bird's sister, Heidi (the cool kid in the chinos) and I went for a little brekkie at the very talked about Bellevue Cafe in Kloof. We had been chatting about going for ages but I always kind of put it off as I felt a certain pang of guilt for Cheating on the now deceased Vanille with which I had a pretty long standing love affair. Run by Chris Black of Aubergine fame I always knew it was going to be great, I just wish I had confirmed my suspicions sooner as it would appear I have missed out on a whak of buttery pastries, thoughtful specials and really really great food. 

The interrior of the cafe is really beautifully done, the same high ceilings still tower above you flooding the cafe in a warm light, the tables and furniture have been kept simple and stylish giving the room a very clean and calm ambiance, whilst the outside patio is filled with the sound of birds fussing and summer conversation.

Service was fantastic, our waiter was super attentive without being annoying, never once did I ask for my glass to be filled or a surface to be wiped and the guy seemed to know everything you could ever want to know about any ingredient or dish on the menu.

It is virtually impossible to go out for breakfast and get really good scrambled eggs anywhere, this really bugs me. My favorite breakfast (and often dinner) treat is scrambled eggs on Rye and it just so happens that Bellevue has just that on the menu so I decided to give it a bash. My eggs were creamy and delicious and the rye was lightly toasted so I didn't have to use a steak knife to cut through it. The portions were spot on and I was left feeling perfectly full. Other eats on the menu included sage and onion pork bangers with mustard mash, brown onion gravy and apple chutney and a prawn and baby marrow risotto with Parmesan and tomato chilli jam, the list goes on and on and I am going to keep going back until I have tried them all - after the wedding diet is over - of course!

Bellevue is definitely worth a visit.

THE OLD MAC DADDY

In between the mince pie baking, turkey basting, egg nog drinking scoff fest that is the Christmas season lies mine and the Bird's anniversary. In between all of the panicked cooking and wedding planning (The engaged one is set to become a missus in pretty much four weeks- eeeek) that is pretty much all that happens in my house hold these days. I wanted to whisk the Bird away for a glorious and romantic evening away from bbm, pastry brushes and the deranged shrieks of my mother to a quiet lace where we could chill out and do what ever we wanted with out being told what to do. So, sneaky woman that I am booked a night at the Old Mac Daddy trailer park, an outrageous Part wholesome caravan park, part designer farm lodge nestled between the apple orchards that comprise the Elgin valley.

 

The whole thing was a surprise- of course and the bird was surprised out of his socks! We were welcomed into our little trailer (The Kind Midas suite!) by a gorgeous bottle of Villera bubbly which we promptly drank while we gawked with open mouths at the Golden orb that was our trailer. The big idea around this place is that they got together a whole whak of air stream trailers (like the one Mcdreamy lived in for a while on Grey's) and they got some sa designers to think up their wildest trailer park fantasies and let them rip over these glorious trailers. What has resulted is a fantastic, hilarious and outrageously fun little holiday get away.

All in all we had the most wonderful time, the staff were crazy helpful and the little trailer was an absolute hoot. The one we stayed in was the most basic one they have (and the only trailer available) it comes with a very comfy bed, a shower and neat bathroom, a sink, stove and microwave- if you feel like getting your domestic on- and a pretty roomy fridge to store all your champers:) There are bigger trailers available and even a beautiful Villa (See piccie below) if you are keen to hit the road with afew mates (it sleeps 6 max).

This little get away comes highly recommended by DC - it is fun, affordable and a really romantic- the ideal anniversary, birthday, surprise awesome destination in Cape Town. Its also a pretty cool esacpe for the family with some rad hiking trails, dams to fish in and a general outdoorsy vibe. There are masses of distractions for the kiddies also allowing for some nookie time:) For more info check out their website.

DANIELA DOTAN - MACAROON GURU FROM HEAVEN

Piccies by the lovely Kamini Pather of Deelishuss

I recently met the Macaroon wunderkind Daniela Dotan. I blogged about Decadent Dani's a little while ago and announced to the world that she would be opening in Durbs in December. I got completely beside myself with excitement, jumped the gun as usual and then the worst happened. Some hoochy sex shop opened right by her potential spot so she has had a few delays while she looks for a new store. She ensures me that she has found a bigger better more fab one so I'm not completely heart broken. So opening will be more around Feb- just in time for your man to spoil you on Vday (there is that great timing thing again!).

Now I consider myself to be quite the Macaroon connoisseur and let me tell you these little darlings in the picture look very lady-like and petite. As usual pictures lie! Dani's macaroons are like the Eva Mendez of macaroons. They are sexy and girly but they come with big curves and and a much fuller figure than the usual dainty jobs you see else wear. I even close my eyes and go oooohhhmmm like that irritating girl in the Aero ad when I eat them- They are that good!

Dani landed in Durbs last week and I jumped at the opportunity to grab a cup of coffee with her and make friends because well she is a macaroon guru and I am a macaroon addict so naturally we are destined to be bff's so i thought i would speed up the process. Dani arrived clutching a beautiful box bursting with heavenly macaroons and instantly won me over. I am so excited for Dani to open her store here so that the girls of Durbs can be introduced to the heaven that is a macaroon hang over and the warmth that is Dani Dotan.

BE WARNED, DANIELA'S IS HITTING DURBS

So Daniela's is hitting Hilcrest (im still trying to determine the exact location) on the 1st of December. Durbanites will being set free of their macaoon-less shackles we have been burdened with for all these years and will be born into a world so glorious I cannot even put it into words. If you know what is good for you, you will go on a little diet now so by the time they open you will have a month of healthy eating in your name so you won't feel so bad when you end up in a macaroon coma on Daniela's foor. (like when the priest in the movie Chocolat broke into the shop went totally chocolate bananas and passed out in the shop window).  Woolies have brought out there advent calendars in perfect time (its like they knew) if you start opening the little chocolate filled windows today christmas will certainly come early. Ill leave you to browse their catalogue:)

Close your mouth!

ARGUS SHMARGUS

Find this poster at the LOVEshop 

My dad has been doing the Argus for as long as I can remember. My mom used to cart us kids down to a place under the Ladies Mile bridge where we used to clap and yell and be awfully proud of our dad for doing something so crazy and brave. This year I decided it was time to join the old guy and tackle the argus myself. I did a few spin classes, did some longer distance stuff and decided that if 12 year old kids can do it well then I sure as hell could. I actually laughed out loud at some points because of how hard it was! I couldn't believe I could have been so freaking naive! The wind was a little one of those bitchy girls you went to school with, incredibly mean at times, especially when you crawl up Chappies expecting to be rewarded with an adrenaline filled downhill from heaven and instead you are greeted with a nasty white squall in the face bullying you all the way to the bottom. There were many times along the route when I wished I was still under that bridge clutching a melted ice cream instead of trying to ignore the fire in my undercarriage. There were moments I wanted to cry because I wanted out so badly, but when I reached that finish line I was the proudest person in the universe. You would swear that I had actually won the tour de france at the way I was behaving, Boyfriend even bought me a bottle of Champers so It felt like the real deal. I swear I don't think Lance armstrong felt as good as I did (His start time conveniently coincided with the rising of the sun, the wind had not even gotten up yet by the time Malcolm and the boys had had a shower and their first celebratory beer!) I suppose what I am trying to say is that if you have the chance, get on your bike and start training now, because this race is something you want to get involved in. The argus is the most beautiful, rewarding, hard ass tour that will make you feel like you can conquer the world and If you have lived in Cape Town you kind of have to do it if you want to be legit. 

ARMANI PUNANI

The biggest bitch about moving to a new town is having to go through the arduous task of finding new people. Now when it comes to people like GP's and Dentists you can rarely go wrong because these people have had to spend all their wonder years shacked up with a textbook and a plastic organ taking notes and writing encyclopedias while all of us were our at caprice sewing our wild oats. You need some serious certification to get into those fields and open a practice so generally speaking, to find a new doctor/ dentist person is not too much of a mission. 

When it comes to other people like a beautician things can become a little harder because well people don't have to get a phd from brazil in order to buy a pot of wax and a neon sign. My first experience was at a chop shop Salon in Musgrave Centre, lets call it The Perfect 9. I naively thought I was safe because it is a well known franchise with loads of branches in and around Durban. The lady at the front desk seemed very sweet when I enquired about a treatment. She put down her sandwich and happily guided me to her lair back room where the the sequel to the saw trilogy beautifying was to take place. The details that follow are pretty blurry now as my brain blocked out my memory to protect me from the horror that followed. Flashbacks include a dirty little room with gross crumpled tissues stashed here and there and a dirty towel crumpled on the floor. The arm falling off the reclining chair and the therapist mumbling about finding time to get it fixed and then there was the one where the chick came at me with un-washed, un-gloved hands. GROSS. After this I vowed never to cheat on my Cape Town person ever again. 

I have now been in durban for 2 years and have decided its time to cut the apron strings and grow the hell up so I called my person and asked her to put me in touch with her person. I was pointed in the direction of The Durban Cosmetic Laser clinic . I had a very professional, stress free experience. The rooms were super pretty and clean and the therapist was nothing short of professional. When It came to paying I was surprised to find that it cost me R40  less than the perfect 9 (who don't even have laser-beams). 

The Durban Cosmetic Laser clinic is a few meters down from Vida on Innes Road. Click here for their contact details 

WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA

This weekend is going to be a complete and utter girl extravaganza! Activities include movies like the notebook and crafty things like markets, falaffel wraps and a highly anticipated I Heart Durban party! What has prompted this festival of extravagance you might ask? Boyfriend is away- working very hard so he can raise funds to buy me my dream kitchen (you would have seen it in the movie"its complicated")- and it is the first Saturday of the month! If, like me and you are plugged into the very pulse of Durban, you will know that it is time to plait your hair, dig out your strappy leather sandals include some kind of floral that was your mothers and is now your fav vintage it piece, because there is some serious craft marketing to be done. hooray.

DAY THINGS

 

 

 
The first of the awesomeness is happening at the `I Heart Market.' This is going to be a special one as they are celebrating their house warming! YAY! The Market has
moved out of the St Mary's hall and into the DLI Hall. You know that old colonial building slap bang in the middle of the Greyville Racecourse? That's the one!

The second bit of awesomeness is happening at The Litchi Orchard Market, you know that one I blogged about a while ago? Well Jem has put in a lot of hard work and in growing it into a great day out. This little market is soooooooo lovely and comes highly recommended by Durbs Central.

NIGHT THINGS

After what seems like an eternity the I Heart crew have gotten their sh*t together and organised another event for your and your glittery party shoes (It is almost like Christian himself knew this party was coming) to attend. I am willing to put my derriere on the line here and say that if you go to this party you will have the best night of your life, you will be like the dancing queen from Abba except you have to be 18 to go, not 17 like in the song.  The I Heart Durban Party is happening at The Origin, doors open at around 8:30 and entrance will cost you R40. The sterling line up includes the likes of The frock rockers, the legendary rift DJ Kevin L, Mr Doolittle (Do you think he will bring a lama with 2 heads?), Toine, Jelly and the regular I heart Dj'ers. So now you have all the information you need to have the best weekend ever. I have given you the tools my lovelies, now go make yourself a rad bananas experience. See you Monday x