Bon jour Friday

So we are hosting a dinner party tonight and no matter who the guests are, I always seem to get into the whirl of frenzied last-minute-planning-rush-back-to-the-apartment-nerves. It is not as if there are a lot of people coming. Just six. And although they are pretty special peeps, they are also good friends, and would not blink if I resorted to take-away curries from the Indian place on our street (which I have done before). Luckily, one of the guests and chef-wizard T, is stepping in to help. She even brainstormed starters (amazeballs!). Another lucky is that I am ordering in some snacks from one of my fave local chefs (T - don't laugh - a girl's got to do what a girl's got do!). But we will also be making home-cooked roast chickens and an array of beautiful salads (this one always goes down well). 

{via here}

Have a gorgeous weekend readlets. 

xoxo

city of stars

Autumn sail on a steel grey Hudson. Cheese from Eataly and bubbles onboard. Wrapped up in woolens and a borrowed blanket. Lady Liberty herself raising her flame. Celebrating 30 as the sun sets and the city becomes a low lying sky of stars.

Guest Post: Wrapping inspiration

Sigh, if only all my Christmas gifts looked this good.

{source}

Work it girls

{via here}

On marriage

{Human and Cheska's first dance}

To my darling little sister, as a newly wed, I posted this one for you...

Paul Newman's letter to his wife on their wedding day:

“Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created.

In the Art of Marriage, the little things are the big things.

It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say ‘I love you’ at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry.

It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon; it should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have the wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding rooms for things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner."

How beautiful!

hello weekend!

{via here}

Ah Friday at last. Crazy hectic week that felt both long and short. Those in Joburg have too many wonderful, creative things to get up to these next few days. Yes, we are goign to be busy busy busy indluging in teh best design, food and craft this city has to offer. And here's why ---

*Food Wine Design - love this event and a great place to do your christmas shopping

*Neighborgoods Market - our family from Australia is in town and we want to show them one of our fave ways to spend a Saturday morning

*Karmers Vol Geskenke - the loveliest collection of one-of-a-kind, local, hand made goods (heart!) opens on Sunday. And my sister's store, The Selection, is taking part (yay!).

Hope to see you there little butterflies*

xoxo

thank-you

Today is Thanksgiving in America so to all my American readers (hi!) Happy Thanksgiving! This is one of my favourite holidays as it is all about family, food, and reflecting on all that you are thankful for. While we don't recognise it here in South Africa, I like to unofficially celebrate it on Bury & Discover (see Thanksgiving 2010 and 2011), because, like most of you reading this, I feel pretty blessed when I know there are poeple out there who are fighting big struggles, who are hungry and lonely.

The twinkle in my niece's eye.

Looming thunderstorms on sweltering days.

Full moons.

Fresh veggies picked from our garden.

Reading a book that you can't put down.

My crazy, wonderful sisters and my parents (always!).

Thinking I finished my stash of peanut butter Lindt balls and then finding one last one.

Long, newsy emails from my gran that make me laugh out aloud.

The rambunctious city of Jo'burg that keeps me on my toes.

My lovely loveliest friends.

Those magical moments of unexpected inspiration.

A weekend with no plans, and those busy ones filled up with people that that add to life.

My husband and fellow adventurer.

Learning something. Making something.

A pair of pants that fits you perfectly.

What are you thankful for today?

Cloud City

We arrived in NY to a perfect fall day. After a welcome back breakfast (this was me welcoming myself back to the city with a bloody mary and artichoke dip from Freemans), we made our way to the rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum. This is the perfect spot to visit on a late afternoon as you can watch the a golden glow embrace the city as the sun begins to dip down behind the Western cityscape.

There is usually some cool exhibition on the rooftop and this time it was Tomás Saraceno's Cloud City - a constellation of large, interconnected modules constructed with transparent and reflective materials.

We also saw this guy sketching the cityscape. I wish I could have had this drawing but I was too shy to even ask.

soupçon

{via here}

Soupçon, pronounced susɒn, is a very small amount; a hint; a trace. What a delightful word - I am going to use this one today. So much more descriptive than an ounce, or a smidgen, or a little bit.

A soupçon of a smile (on that stranger's face)

Vailla ice-cream drizzled with a soupçon of olive oil (ooh lala)

A  soupçon of magic (in Jacaranda strewn streets)

Yes. It's a good one. Give it a try.

Monday's to do list

Hello lovely readers. How are you on this fine morning? By this time of year one expects things to be slowing down and finishing up but in fact the opposite seems to be true to me, as we speed head-first int to the last few weeks of the year.

So here is a little list I found, of things to remember this week. May it be a good one for you.

Sandy and the Carousel

We walked along the waterfront to Jane's Carousel, the glass-enclosed merry-go-round near the Brooklyn Bridge, on the Sunday we were in NY - it is quite magical, sitting on the water's edge with golden light streaming over the horses in the late afternoon sun. The carousel survived the storm and I find the image just as magical but eerily so - like a forgotten childhood abandoned in the midst of the night...

found

I came across these match boxes on the streets of India. A gun and a pistol. Little treasure troves of untold stories. Bright jewels that catch your eye on filthy streets of grime and sadness.

On Movember

I love a good moustache. My father has always had one and it invokes his Latvian roots, along with his shock of white hair and bear-like nature. The waiters at one of my favourite restaurants in NY, Freemans, don their tache's like woodcutters an axe - they swagger up to your table and I always half expect them to whip out a bit of wax for the ends before taking my order. Moustaches are dapper, dashing, daring... They don't just happen. They are a decision  A declaration. In fact, I still believe there is a Secret Moustache club, known only to those with fantastic facial hair. It comes with a secret password, a subtle nod of acknowledgment when two members should meet in their everyday lives.

It may seem strange then to you that I abhor a moustache on the husband. It just looks bad on him. Simple as that. And thus, although I support the cause, I ban him from growing a tache for Movember.

{via here}

Check out some 'tache swag here

And some mustachioed legends here

The human-ness of birds

In general, we underestimate the intelligence and emotions of animals. I recently read that hyenas have the intelligence of primates - they can count and solve problems. This snippet of information kind of breaks my heart. I love these portraits of wild cockatoos by Leila Jeffreys because of how human they look. One or two of them even remind me of people I know.

Stolen kisses and a blushing bride

They did it! Human and Cheska got married. They said I do in a tiny church in the small town of Malelane. We celebrated the night away with family and friends on my uncle's farm - the tables adorned with gold animals, more flowers than you can imagine and a sea of glittering candles. The bride looked so beautiful. Gosh. My little sister is married! It is true that the only day as exciting as your own wedding is your sister's wedding. We were so proud or her. Of both of them.

As with all great love stories, there are many stories to tell. Like the unseasonal storm that shook the banks of the Kruger Park two days before the big day. Or that there was no electricity on the wedding day (think about how a bride gets her hair done with no electricity. How food is cooked and bands are plugged it. Not to mention the fairy lights...). But it magically reappeared just before the guests arrived. I don't have many pics yet but here is one snapped by a friend on a phone. The first picture of Mr and Mrs Stark. Look at that dress (well done mom)!

Stay tuned for more.

PS. I am back at work now and suffering serious post-wedding-Monday blues.

xoxo

The count down...

Cheska and Human's wedding is three nights away. Which, is like, as quick as you say, "On your marks, get set, go" or "Ohh la la" or "Oh MY WORD!" In drips and drabs people are heading down to our uncle's farm, where the wedding is taking place. I can honestly say, it is one of the most beautiful places on earth - situated on the banks of the Crocodile River and overlooking the endless expanse of the Kruger Park. Bridey, Mother-of-the-bride, and half the bridesmaid contingent are already there. As are the aunts and uncles and cousins and gran. The other sister and I head off tomorrow, with the flower girl in tow.

The thing I love about an away wedding is the days leading up to the BIG day are almost as much fun as you set up, family gets together, and finally, all those plans and images and dreams you had in your head start to magically transform into reality. The husband and I got married at the same place so it is starting to bring back so many wonderful memories...

Here are some pics from the few days before our wedding.

PS. Look who I spotted - the bride- and groom-to-be practicing their dance moves!