A Tribute To Femininity

Let's face it, life would be relatively easy and hassle-free if I had been born a male.
Oh the joy of stumbling out of bed, and with eyes still closed, throwing on whatever pair of jeans my hand happened to find first in my messy closet.
How wonderfully joyous it must be to not have to wash my hair every second day and then go through the tedious procedure of blow-drying and straightening it on days when I'd prefer it not to look like bird's nest.
Imagine being able to let fast food supplement my 3 meals each day with the calories never accumulating ,and then being able to get ripped abs and killer biceps from just a week's worth of time in the gym.
Oh the joy!
With this being said however, I would never trade life as a girl for anything, especially not life as a male.
I could never dream of giving up sleepovers jam-packed with girly 'deep and meaningful' conversations and more fits of hysterical giggling than you could count on one hand.
I love the sight of my bedroom looking like the aftermath of a tornado when friends and I get ready together for a night out on the town. There are stilettos strewn across the floor, make-up and nail polish cover every available surface and the smell of hairspray lingers thickly in the air like a cloud. Things become dangerous when having to navigate your way from one end of the room to another through a maze of clothes and underwear whilst trying to make it to the other side having escaped third degree burns from the GHD that somebody forgot to unplug.
It would be blasphemy to have to ever think of giving up summer dresses and tea parties or pedicures and facials for a life of sweaty armpits and greasy hair. Ugh.
The photos below are ones that I think just ooze femininity, and I thought they seemed very fitting to the title of this pretty pointless post.

Music Monday

These are the tracks that are gracing this week's Music Monday playlist with their presence:

1. The Meadow - Alexandra Desplat
2. World Spins Madly On - The Weepies
3. Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
4. The Sweetest Thing - U2
5. Pretty Baby - Vanessa Carlton
6. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
7. Nothing Compares To You - Sinead OConnor
8. Please, Please , Please Let Me Get What I Want - She & Him
9. Such Great Heights - The Postal Service
10. Here Comes Your Man - The Pixies

(Click on image for source)

 

Every experience of beauty points to eternity

- Hans Urs Von Balthasar

Summertime

Summer has hit Durban like a slap in the face.
These are a few things synonymous with summer in South Africa:

•Early sun rises

 •Late sun sets


•The smell of gasoline in the summer heat


•Christmas… Need I say more?


•That feeling of the first summer sunburn


•The warm ocean


•Being woken up by the sun shining through the blinds


•Eating watermelon with the juice dripping down my face


•Late afternoon thunderstorms


•Holidays and Getaways


•Careless hours lying in a hammock


•Endless days on the beach


•Bonfires


•Vaalies invade by the thousands


•New years festivities


•Suffocating humidity


•Surfing for hours in bikinis and boardies


•Exploring the coastline


•The contrast between white and brown made by tan lines


•Floating around the pool on a lilo


•Sipping ice cold drinks


•Escaping to a rare patch of shade when the sunshine gets overwhelming


•Sunhats and Sunnies are out in full force


•Battling to find a free spot of sand on an overcrowded beach


•The smell of sunblock and its oily feeling on my skin


•Having to sprint across the beach due to the hot sand


•Small waves that are only fun on a longboard


•Braais around the pool


•The smell of the rain on the hot tarmac


•Summer lovin’


• 'I love Durban' Hats become a popular sight


•Living in a pair of slops and a summer dress


•Sunbleached and salty hair


•Feeling like you’re about to evaporate in the heat


•Seeing everyone’s red faces after a scorcher of a day


•Beach parties and celebrations


•Feasting on whatever food I love


•No cares, no stress just a season without worry


•Strapping boards on the roof to find a new spot


•Putting the airconditioner to very good use


•Shopping, spending and a whole lot of splurging


•All the best fruits come into season


•Dancing the night away and surviving on very little sleep


•Jocks playing beach rugby


•None of that annoying thing they call ‘school’


•Driving with the windows down

(Images: We Heart it)

Oh For The Love of Lace!

A friend of mine who I follow on Twitter, happened to share a link to The Pretty Blog and a post they did on 'Lovely Lace.'
I almost had heart palpitations when I saw these images, being the fan of lace that I am.
Sharing these on my blog wasn't even an option. So here they are, the images taken by photographer Johan Wilke that appeared in the November issue of the Rooi Rose Magazine. Enjoy as i have.

Working is the new Unemplyed

I seem to have greatly contradicted myself when I vowed to never get a job over the festive season, however I have surprised myself in more ways than one this year, so why stop now?
I have just been employed as retail store assistant at a design and decor shop called 'Origins' at Lifestyle Centre in Ballito.
The shop is absolutely stunning and is just overflowing with the most exquisite products that range from furniture and home decor items to jewellery and gifts. Majority of the items sold in the shop are sourced from local suppliers and can be branded as 'Proudly South African.' I would describe the feel of the store as 'ethinic meets glamour' as their is an intricate blend of African style and contemporary chic. Each piece sold has a specific 'Origin' or story to tell as most are either hand made by local people, artists or manufacturers.
As I learn the ropes in the store, I also look forward to discovering the story behind each uniquely crafted item and how it came into being, and this is what the store tries to capture with each of it's products.
Although today was just my first day, I can already say in all confidence that this is the most creatively stimulating job I have ever been involved in, and I simply love being in a gorgeously decorated environment working with luxury decor items, all of which I wish I could own. This job is so up my alley as I can be involved with organising and decorating the store as well as meeting clients and possibly even suppliers too.
There is such an abundance of inspiration at the shop, and hopefully this job experience will give me a better indication as to whether I'd like to get involved in this industry on a more permanent and serious basis. So for now, I am just testing the waters and soaking in all the creativity like a sponge.

What kind of a blogger would I be if I didn't share some visual appetisers with you? So here are a few of the items on sale in the store, all from the Origins website, click here to visit the full page.

Come visit Origins at Lifestyle Centre next time you're in Ballito and feel like making adding to your home's prettiness.

I Heart Market

Durban's very own I Heart Market was started in December 2008 by Anna and Saki who attempted to provide a platform on which to showcase some of our local talent and creative masterminds.
Over the months, this delightful gathering of gorgeous stalls has grown into a 'must-attend' event on Durban's social calendar for anyone from avid thrifters to children alike.
I Heart Market boasts an array of stands that vary from jewellery to stationery and from vintage pieces to tasty home-made delights, and there really is something for every age.
One thing that I personally love about this market is that almost everything sold, is locally made by creative Durbanite entrepreneurs and I love seeing their ideas materialise into their very own creations that are vastly different to most product sold in 'mainstream' stores. I am a fan of anything that is unique and handmade because hey, who wants to blend in with the crowd anyway?

I Heart Market is fresh, fun and full of little lovelies.

This December, instead of only being held on the first Saturday of the month as per usual, the market will run over three Saturdays (the 4th, 11th and 18th of December), a Christmas shopper's delight.

So get out your diary, mark the dates, and get involved in this month's I Heart Market action at the DLI Hall, Greyville starting at 8.30am.

I've decided to give you a sneak preview of a few of my favourite stalls that frequent the market and do a little feature on each. Enjoy.

Cupcake Couture
In the words of the owner of Cupcake Couture, Nadia Jonker, "I bake now and again, but what I really do is create one of a kind accessories using vintage buttons and sewing bits and bobs."
This pretty much sums up the business that is responsible for creating the most adorable vintage inspired accessories that any girl would just die to own. Each piece is beautifully hand-made and you can view more product on the blog by clicking here or contact Nadia by clicking here.
Be sure to find the Cupcake Couture stand next time you visit I Heart Market.

(Images: Cupcake Couture Blog)

Genevieve Motley

The talented Durban jewellery designer, Genevieve Motley also showcases her creations at I Heart Market and her stall is definitely one of my favourites. Her pieces are mostly made out of wood that is shaped and engraved to resemble animals amongst other shapes and designs. Her collection consists of a range of brooches, earrings, key rings, necklaces, rings and stud earrings.

The last time I visited I Heart Market I came home with a wooden heart-shaped necklace engraved with a sparrow that I always receive compliments on whenever I wear it.

Visit Genevieve's website here for a better look at her range

Sophia Basckin

Sophia Basckin makes the most divine jewellery and accessories from material covered buttons of all shapes and sizes. I personally am going through a major 'floral fetish' at the moment, so when I saw her creations I simply had to walk away with something from her stall, which ended up being a pair of floral studded earrings that I literally wear for death, they are stunning.

Needless to say, Sophia's items are amongst my favourites that appear at I Heart Market, so head down and have a look or you can contact her direct by clicking here

 

See you at I Heart Market this Saturday