SIT BACK, RELAX AND LET KIM GRAY SPOIL YOU

 

When it comes to things like Christmas, and Birthdays, I like to get over excited. I like to decorate any and every available surface, do the countdown and generally get all the way into the vibe. 

Another gal who is not scared to get her party on is Kim Gray. I swear, every year, I get more excited about Kim Gray's birthday than she does. Not only does she start the count down a month before (some thing that is very important when it comes to birthdays) but she has actually turned the day completely on its head and is giving gifts away rather than receiving them (I don't think im ready for this step yet!)  

Now, I feel that using the words Gifts is not exactly correct because if you take a little gander around, you will see that Kim is spoiling us readers bloody rotten. These babies are TREASURES that have been on pretty much any and every Birthday, Anniversary, Christmas and Wish list that has ever been written by a sane person, EVER. You have approx 30 days left to get your tush over to her fab blog and get entering alternatively you could ignore this last sentence so there is more chance for me:) Good luck y'all!

 

I WROTE A LETTER TO MY LOVE...

On my list of favorite things in the world, paper cut outs and bunting rank pretty high up there - a few rungs down from macaroons, high heels and fantasy shopping sprees on YuppieChef - I got their latest newsletter today and lets just say that Dani and I are going to have to sell millions quite a few more macaroons, asap - anyway, deviating from my point of bunting and Paper cutouts. Today I stumbled upon Maria Ikonomopoulou's photographs and was immediately pissed that I had not come up with this idea myself. How is it possible that I never thought to marry these two glorious crafties. One day, I might cut out a little love letter to the Bird, I can't imagine trying to fit the bugger into an envelope though.

10 THINGS WITH CAPE TOWN GIRL

BLOG: www.capetowngirl.co.za  TWITTER: @capetown_girl

Being able to introduce CapeTownGirl to you guys is pretty much a big deal to me. It is also a little difficult as It would seem that I have her propped up on something resembling a bloggers pedastil and am now shrouded in a big cloud of nerves because I know she will be reading this and I want her intro to be really really rad. Her blog, CapeTownGirl- Tales of the pretty, is like a buffet of cool stuff all wizzing about in different directions. I often leave her page, feeling like I just climbed out of the grown up version of Mary Poppins handbag- the chick pretty much has it all covered from naked photo shoots on public beaches, to lunch dates with The Kardashians. She is pretty much living the life you are sitting at your desk dreaming about, but what is nice about this sassy lady is that she is willing to share it all with you, I hope you enjoy the read kids:)


1. Describe yourself in 10 words. . . I live under a rock. It is called Table Mountain.

2. What are the 10 essentials that every girl should have in her wardrobe? 10 items of clothing that suit your body and taste, and nobody else’s. I personally can’t have enough well-cut dresses – one-shoulder dresses (especially), maxi dresses, ¾ dresses  and short dresses. And then well-cut skinny jeans that have some kind of unique attention to detail are another staple.  Pepe Jeans keep me well stocked in both dresses and jeans!

Two of my favourites - a navy blue one-shoulder I wore to last year's The Vibe party
 and an orange print maxidress from Pepe Jeans which I wore to last year's SA Blog Awards.
And a pair of tie-dyed skinnies I wore all through summer, also Pepe.

3. Never in a million years did I think that ........ I’d pose naked in a mainstream woman’s magazine. Never! I am a huge animal lover though, so this was an ideal chance for me to get involved in helping a charity that I really care about, the NSPCA.

4. Which blog post are you most proud of?   Probably the Kate Middleton post. But I do have a soft spot for Tilikum the Whale and Panjo the Tiger. And I feel my open letter to those who use the 24-hour Engen in Gardens to be quite an important post, too. You’d understand if you lived here.

5.  Rumor has it you are an ex-Durbanite, care to elaborate?   It’s true, I grew up in Durbs, but moved to Cape Town to attend high school. I was a typical Durban kid, always outside, usually swimming. I still love Durban and I miss the thunder storms. The misty Natal midlands is a favourite holiday retreat destination. I’m definitely going to own a house there one day. With horses.

Pic: My brother and I in the pool as kids at our house in Natal.

 6. The bachelor you were seen canoodling with in the back of this months Marie Claire is coming for dinner, what are you cooking?   Hmm. That’s a tough one because he’s such a great cook, definitely better than me. I might attempt a meaty dish using NoMu’s one-for-all rub. It makes everything taste good!

7. What did you and Kim Gray chat about when you were standing next to each other in the nik?  About the novelty of being naked on a beach with strangers at 6am! We also spent a lot of time talking to the doggy as she just wanted to go to Mark (the photographer) the whole time.

8. What is the most surprising thing you keep in your handbag?  Hmm. Surprising? Let’s see… perfume, makeup, various Apple chargers, shades, macarons, moleskine, 8-hour cream, sunblock, tazer, … none of this is terribly surprising, is it? Although I get a surprise whenever I find a Vida Lindt chocolate in there. I’m always amazed I haven’t eaten it by now!

9. Every time I pop over to your fab blog, you are sporting a new pair of uber rad shades, how many pairs do you actually own?  Hmm. I haven’t counted them, but I do love them! I’ve always been a shades aficionado. To me, a look is incomplete unless you have the perfect pair of shades – it defines the style you’re going for. Sunglass Hut have incredible variety though. Just when I think I couldn’t possibly get a pair I didn’t already have, they get in a whole new range to covet and lust after.

1. These D&G Cat's Eyes are also favourites of mine  2. I'm loving these tortoiseshell Bulgari's at the moment  3. My batwing Wayfarers are a classic, I always have them in my bag  4. And these Tiffany shades are my winter favourites - they're very big and black and Audrey Hepburn

5. I adore these pearlescent blue Bulgari's I wore to the Queen's Plate, pictured here
with PopYaCollar's Sam Walker

(Do you see what I mean, this girl has like a bajillion pairs of shades!)

10. What is the coolest thing that has happened to you since starting CapeTownGirl?
Without doubt the best thing to come out of Cape Town Girl would be the amazing people I meet, some of them famous, some of them not. I’ve met people who have totally changed my life as a result of it, and I’ll always be grateful for that.

Highlights include meeting and chatting to Kim & Khloe Kardashian about blogging, has to be a highlight – it’s not every day you get to meet popculture entrepreneurs of that scale and chat to them about how they do what they do.
Experiences such as flying to the secret MTN iPhone 4 launch, and posing naked in Marie Claire to help the SPCA, have also been great things to be involved in. Being photographed by Andrew Brauteseth alongside Helen Zille for his Portrait of a Nation shoot was amazing.

I’ve also learnt to play the stock market with Global Trader - it's awesome to learn new skills. Let me stop – I could go on for days...

DECADENT DANI AT THE I HEART MARKET

SO my lovelies, the rumor mill is spitting out a little bit of truth this week... yes... your little Macaroon shaped dreams will finally be realised this Saturday the 5 March at the DLI hall. Unfortunately for you, Dani is having to Jet set off to rescue a Cape Town bride's big wedding cake dreams so she won't be able to meet you all, however, I will be there manning our little macaroon station so pop by and come introduce yourself, I have been talking at you all for over a year now and it would be really great to see all your pretty faces!

THANK THE POPE IT IS FINALLY FRIDAY!

Hope its a stellar one:) Pic Via LITTLE DOODLES

WEDDING CAKES, NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED!

My heart was beating out of my chest, I literally thought I was going to die of a freaking anxiety attack in the Molenvleit cold room. The engaged one lay peacefully soaking up the morning sunshine, blissfully unaware, while she waited for her curls to set. The Swiss Meringue Buttercream was now slowly splitting and turning to oily mush in my newly manicured hands. SHIT. The fact that my curls were now being set in vanilla mousse was beside the point!

The 5 tier madame stood, smugly, on top of the pile of Champagne boxes (The Cake Boss would be horrified) and waited, impatiently, for the richness of the once satin icing to be draped over her buxom body. I had every intention of arriving on the big day,sandwiching the glorious chiffon layers together, adorning this little bridezilla in her velvet soft gown, tucking her lacy flowers behind her ear and sending her off with a slap on her vanilla flavoured bottom. I actually had a little laugh looking back at my naivete.

I never planned on it being about a thousand degrees in the shade, something that the most temperamental icing on earth Swiss Meringue Buttercream absolutely hates! My final hour saw me crouched over in the Molenvliet cold room, icicles forming on my flared nostrils, frantically wielding my little spatula at anyone who dared open the door and upset the temperature of my operation. Hands shaking from fear that maybe I had bitten off more than I could chew, I could almost picture the Married one's face as her cake, was wheeled in starkers- I decided that this would not be an option.  Like a bride possessed, I whipped that the most temperamental icing on earth Swiss Meringue Buttercream until every one of my new pilates muscles (thanks Max) was on fire and my icing had returned to its former, dreamy glory! By now my curls were hanging somewhere around my ankles! Slowly but surely my frantic mother and  I draped  that rich little cow into her lacy gown,  gasping as we finally took a step back, stunned by the beauty that was my home made creation.

THE DAY AFTER VALENTINES DAY

So many people spend the whole of January storing up all their mushy cooties, hatching sneaky plans to knock their 'person' off their feet, I literally heard of a company who will send a man in an orangutan suit to sing your lady a love song- but more on that later! and generally panicking about making their loved ones feel like loved enough ones. Although I absolutely love Valentines day (not as much as I love Christmas) and will find any excuse to wear red and bat the old eyelids, I think that springing little surprises on the Bird on normal days is a little more fun (also he doesn't expect it there for the reward is usually much much more flavourable favorable:) 

This brings me to these marvelous little his and hers doo-dahs from Amy Moss of Eat.Drink.Chic (one of my all time favorite blogs). If you click right over here you can download these little babies, print them out, use them wisely and receive your reward with open arms. If you think roses on Valentines Day brought you a good return, just wait until you take your 'little love nugget' a cup of coffee all wrapped in Love on a random day- sometimes I feel like I spoon feed you guys!

WEDDING FEVER

Oh my lord, so it is officially wedding weekend! I cannot believe that my big sister is going to be waltzing down the isle tomorrow- very very surreal indeed. All the wedding stuffs are being done, cake is being made (by moi- literally having sleepless nights over this 5 tier vanilla monster that is haunting my dreams!) and everyone is sufficiently panic stricken and generally, "just too stressed to talk right now!" the favorite choice of words from mom. 

I can't wait to share all the finer details with all of you and show you why I have been so quiet on the blog front lately. I promise you what I have lacked in the blogging department over the last month, I will make up to you in beautiful wedding extravaganza blog posts. All you soon to be brides hold your breath, you are soon to be inspired!

10 THINGS WITH NICOLA ASHE

This weeks 10 things are with a girl who can only be described as bodacious! Nicola ashe of AskASHE is something of a firecracker with a nose like a bloodhound for a party. Her blog is packed full of all any number of quirky things which is what makes visiting her lovely blog on a daily basis all the more exciting.

1. describe yourself in 10 words ... raucous, naughty, bossy, organised, networker to the extreme, honest to a fault, voluptuous, creative, resourceful, ambitious

2. In real life, I am a single workaholic but I eventually want to be a domestic goddess

3. the weirdest thing I ever woke up wearing was false eyelashes – I had been too tipsy to take them off (AVOID this at all costs!)

4.  at this  moment the content of my handbag is comprised of ... makeup bag, notebooks, hand wipes, keys, blackberry, wallet, camera, date book, oh and a wide array of hair elastics in various degrees of stretchiness

5.  10 things I currently long for.... My own home with almost everything white, a white kitchenaid mixer, a weylandts expense account, a smitten boyfriend, a Victoria's Secret model's booty, an original Rob Ryan lasercut artwork, a rad vintage bicycle, a tattoo but I'm too scared, uncapped ADSL at home, a Jimmy Choo handbag (dream on!)

6.  If I was a boy I would be a rock god!

7.  I secretly luuuuuuurve The Bachelor/Bachelorette but have been to embarrassed to admit it (up until now that is)

8.  If my house was on fire the first thing I would grab is my jewellery from my grandparents

9.  Tequila or patron? (mixing them together is not an option) Coffee Patron - the devil's elixir, but we've partied together too many times for me to abandon him now

10. If I was stuck on an island where people could only eat 1 thing for the rest of their lives, I would eat Wow, only 1 thing? Ok I choose a filletwithcreamedspinachandlemonmeringue!

MACAROON VIRGINS PAY ATTENTION

 

I'm so so excited, I have been itching to chat to you guys about this project for weeks but wanted to wait until everything was organised, doors were open and Macaroons were flying out the door before I let the big, luxurious cat out of the bag. The rumors are true, yes, Decadent Dani has opened in Durban (cue hysterical excitement) and yes, big news, I am official a part of the team!

Dani and I have teamed up to open one of her glorious stores in Heritage Market in Hillcrest (opposite Franki Bananas) so the people of Durban will no longer be suffering through a Macaroonless existence. I'm so stoked to be apart of something as big and historical as this, I feel like one of those laser eye surgeons who give people their sight back. 

We have decided that in honor of our news, we are going to bring you a fab competition, where you could win yourself a big 'ol stash of Macaroons. All you have to do to enter is hit up our Facebook Fan Page, and wow us with your poetic prowess. Its pretty much as simple as that! For extra entries you can reblog or tweet our competition and post the link in the comment box below.

10 THINGS WITH: LAUREN OF GLOSSARYZINE

SO, one of my new years resolutions this year was to get to know more local bloggers.
I have decided to do a fun, weekly, 10 things series, every week asking 10 things about different local bloggers, that way we can all get to know each other! I decided to pull out the big guns to get things started. Lauren of Glossaryzine fame is a blogger that I have admired for so long, her blog never ceases to make me giggle- just go and have a look at her photo shoot of the Bulldog in the Bow tie- can you cope! This girl is seriously talented and definitely someone to keep your eyeballs on. I do, everyday (I look at her blog everyday, I don't actually hunt her down to look at her in real life) 

1. Describe yourself in 10 words... Awkward Adrian Mole fan with a penchant for sponge cake.

2. if money were no object i would... Scoop up my school friends from around the world and fly us to New York for a weekend of shopping!
3. The last thing I bought was...a Kodak Instamatics camera for 15 bucks!
4. I cannot live without...music and love.
5. When I was 10 I had a poster of McGyver on my wall!
6. When I have writers block I ...make a cup of tea and read a book or watch some telly.
7. My favorite thing to do on a sunny Saturday afternoon is a spot of market shopping or lazing with a funny book.
8. The cringiest thing I ever wore was  - wow, so many corkers come to mind -
long, hippie skirts to nightclubs, cycling shorts to a Bon Jovie Concert, a Mario Bros
getup that I landed up wearing to a wedding by mistake!
9. My favorite guilty pleasure is South Park!
10. In 10 years time I hope to be happy and healthy with a few more travels under my belt.

HOUSE PORN

So the reason I have been virtually dead to the digital world for the last 10 days is because the Bird and I moved flats and have been feverishly unpacking, rearranging, hanging pictures and doing all that jazz associated with the hell that is moving house! Anyway, the good news is that the basics are in, my internet is up- hooray - and now we get to spend the next few weeks making this pretty little flat ours, This is the vibe I am currently loving, now to try and reproduce it! Here goes...

 
PICS VIA HAUS MAUS AND DECOR8