what the twins wore

Blue and red stockings from our cousin

what the twins wore

Polka dot cardigans from Gap with navy leggings from Country Road at Woolworths

what the twins wore

Perfect for a grey day - cloud Ts from Cotton On

what the twins wore

Stripes-on-stripes, short sleeve onesies from America Apparel

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from these three little bunnies.

15/52

 A portrait of my babes once a week in 2014 (37 weeks)

This week marks 37 weeks in, 37 weeks out. It amazes me that you've been out in the world for as long as you were inside me. That in a mere 37 weeks you went from nothing to babies, and then from newborns to these beautiful, spirited, roly, squishy eight month old beings that you are now.  I've watched you changed so much; your wet seal-like hair become heads of fluff, your wrinkly hands full out into chubby fingers with dimples for knuckles that reach and touch and discover anything in your path, your faces transform from forest-like creatures to real babies with round cheeks and neck rolls and the softest skin that I run my lips over any chance I get, your legs grow long and your pinkness becomes a beautiful golden colour, toothy grins emerge along with cheeky senses of humour, tiny bodies burst into movement of kicks and rolls and now crawling and pulling yourself. Instinct is making way for consideration in your relationship with each other as you still fall asleep at night with legs entwined and toes touching but I hear constant negotiation, giggles and chatter between the two of you throughout the day. And I am catching glimpses of who you are becoming - Anna your earnestness, your giant heart, an understanding beyond your years and a wonderment of those you love; Florence your delight in your own world of dogs, brass door handles, giant pink balloons and rose petals. Delicateness and complete dependence gives away to strong wills, distinct preferences and deliberate movements - a palm that is laced on my arm, or an arm wrapped around my neck. How is it that I've only known you for 37 weeks? I wonder how I ever lived without you.

wedding greenery that makes my heart beat faster

I love a wedding. And I love greenery. So put them together and boom I am a happy happy girl. I think the use of greenery in this wedding is just magical - don't you?

happy weekend

Happy weekend lovely readers. What are your plans for the weekend? Here in Johannesburg it is well and truly autumn... I love it! The leaves are changing from bright green to glorious bronze and in the mornings there is a crispness to the air that brightens the eyes. In the evenings I love the smell of wood burning fires in my suburb, for me that scent is the definite sign that winter is on it's way. 

{source}

Some fun links from around the web:

Michelle Williams is back as the face of Louis Vuitton and I think she never looked better. 

Breakfast inspiration for tomorrow - how lucky is my husband? 

The most fantastic 'how to' lessons. Like 'how to be alone', 'how to ask for feedback' and 'how to remember names'. 

A great DIY for kids.

Another how to: How to be happier right now.

I bought this flamingo pic for our living room... cannot wait for it to arrive. #comeuppostoffice   

The perfect winter pony. 

stationery love

I have a serious crush on Garance Dore, get her to design some stationery and I am basically sent off the edge.

Fall in love with the entire collection here. 

my beauty loves

It's been a whole year since I chatted about my favourite beauty products! Seriously, where did all the time go? Do you have some of those products that you don't know how you ever lived without? These are some of mine as we move from summer to winter...

1. Dermalogica's Skin Prep Scrub, for making my skin deliciously smooth.

2. Dior Addict gloss. I am all about easy lips at the moment. My fave colour is number 684 - a subtle pink that makes my lips look perfectly kissable, even if I say so myself.

3. Davines shampoo and conditioner. I love Davines sustainable philosophy.

4. Smashbox Photo Finish foundation primer. This does wonders underneath your foundation and I can feel the difference the whole day.

5. Clarins Delicious Self Tanning Cream. Do you use self tan? I am vowing to use it on my legs all winter long!

6. Essie nail polish in Ballet Slippers. I love the look of perfectly manicured nails but in a neautral, soft colour. Ballet Slippers is spot on!

7. Estee Laude's Pure Colour Blush in Brazen Bronze. I picked this compact up at a beauty sale and now I am obsessed. I love that the colour isn't too pink and perfectly defines my cheek bones.

8. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick. I am a huge Eight Hour Cream (the original) and use it for everything but I am pretty sold on this lip stick too... it makes your lips super smooth.

9. Bobbi Brown eye shadows... so easy, so quick! 

14/52

 A portrait of my babes once a week in 2014 (36 weeks) - picture taken at our annual Easter party

My beautiful baby girls, you make my heart glow.

the perfect autumn outfit

hello leaves turning colour, the cold nip in the air, hello cardigans, an extra blanket and hot tea after dinner. New season means new style, I think this is the perfect autumn look.

{source}

what the twins wore

Smocked rompers at our annual Easter party - made by Kimmy

An evolving view of animals

I find these portraits of animals so moving - it is worth viewing the full slideshow here. 

"Most of Mr. Flach’s intimate portraits of animals are intended to be a bit jarring in their simplicity — concentrating on the subtle details that impart a humanistic feel. He wants his images to engage people in debates about who we are and our relationships to animals, with the belief that “how we treat animals is often dependent on how they display characteristics we think are human.”

An ode to summer

My baby days. My favourite days. Endless summer days that are so fleeting. It's mid February and the air is still thick and warm in the late afternoons. We go for walk with Chessie this evening, with you babes wrapped tightly against our bodies. You dozed off to the rhythm of our feet on the pavement, the constant buzz of traffic making its way home. Another world. Another life. We walked a few blocks of our tree-lined neighborhood. Leaves still heavy with the greenness of summer. We passed ramshackled houses in need of attention with overgrown front gardens and dusty cars on crumbling driveways. Burglar bars cutting through picture perfect scenes of suburban bliss. Neat pavements and high walls. Other walkers with dogs in tow. Runners and domestic workers gathering on street corners, waiting to make their way home. Ripe smells in the air. Four chubby legs swinging back and forth. Four little palms pressed around the side of chests. The warm wetness of body heat as our breathing echoes yours. Passersby smiling at us as they notice two babies. Two babies! Oh my heart will never take this fact lightly.

13/52

A portrait of my babes once a week in 2014 (35 weeks) - Florence Willow (top) and Anna Clementine (bottom)

It the first day of April and the seasons are changing from summer to autumn. The sky turned to night earlier as we lay in the water and watched the colours change through the mottled glass of the bathroom window. The air is getting nippier, the mornings' sunlight has adjusted its path into our home, and the canopy of green lining our neighborhood is transforming into reds and oranges and dull browns. These changes parallel your changes as you enter a new season too. A season of new found mobility and the blossoming of your personalities. I take each indication of these beings that are emerging with wonder, curiosity and delight - be it in the form of a cause for laughter, a taste preference, the discovery of your own shadows or the way in which you awake from an afternoon nap. My favourite moments this week have been watching you two interact; hearing bursts of laughter as you react to each others antics. There couldn't be a sweeter sound in all the world.