home away from home

Our little family of four recently went to Cape Town for a holiday. Renting a house or apartment makes more sense to us now that we have babes as it means more space and our own kitchen. Beside, it's fun to feel like a local when you are travelling. We stayed in a lovely home in Greenpoint which we found through Airbnb. I loved the little creative details, cool art and quirky objets found throughout the place.

bare legs, bakeries and ice-cream

I haven't been very conscientious about keeping up to date with my photographs on B&D. I still have pics from last year I want to share. I console myself with the following thoughts:

a) somethings don't go out of date
b) I think my posts are better when I share what I feel like blogging today, and not what I "should" blog
c) there are no rules in my little land of B&D - to me that's half the fun of blogging

So, now that I am done with that little explanation, here are some snaps from a wonderful summer's day we spent in Kalk Bay when we were in CT in March. Kalk Bay holds a special place in my heart as I have wonderful memories of escaping there while I was studying at Stellenbosch, to indulge in a day of vintage store browsing, Cafe Olympia lunch, or a stroll in the harbour.

This time around we joined a bunch of friends for lunch at the cool, casual Live Bait Restaurant, just under the more formal Harbour House Restaurant but with an equally beautiful view across across the bay. After a long, lazy meal we strolled through town and finished off with coffees from Olympia Bakery, and (my favourite), yummy ice-creams from the Ice Cafe.

 

Loading Bay

I totally feel in love with Loading Bay in De Waterkant in CT. In fact I experienced breakfast, lunch and dinner (only on Thursdays) there and a few juices in between. Self described as a place for design, coffee, comfort food, luxury apparel & magazines - The decor is cool, the food is fresh and simple and the service friendly - just cause for my daily return. Unfortunately I did not sample the luxury apparel (out of price tag more than want!) but the connecting section is certainly worth a browse.

Clik here for address and opening times.

PS. I heard a rumour that they are opening up a Loading Bay in Jo'burg... Fingers crossed.

What the bump wore in Cape Town

At about 18.5 weeks my bump suddenly popped! It is exciting to finally look pregnant and not just feel pregnant. I love having a bump - a beautiful, round reminder of the two tiny miracles growing their hearts out inside me. Touching that bump (and I do touch it all the time), rubbing it, tapping it, holding it really feels like I am connecting with these little beings, reminding them I am here. And just feeling that bump (believe me, with 2 x 500g cublets inside I can feel it without touching it at all - imagine two heavy balls inside your tummy!) sends a glow down my spine.

My bump has certainly growth a whole lot since then, but here are a few snaps of the bump around and about the Cape.

Stars in Kalk Bay

LBD at a wedding in Greyton

Stripes for the Test Kitchen

Florals at Babylonstoren

White shirt and bright leggings in Sea Point

Bikini stripes on Clifton

Garden wonderland

When we were in the Cape, the husband and I (finally!) visited Babylonstoren. And it lived up to any expectation I had - a magical garden filled with varieties of fruits and veggies I had never heard of, multiple different gardens of glowing produce, and set up in such a way that we felt we were wondering through a secret garden, a stumbled-upon gem that made me want to get planting.

We didn't eat at the acclaimed Babel (it is closed on Mondays) but had a light lunch at the Glaskas which is located inside a greenhouse. The menu was simple, the food was scrumptious and I particularly liked the fresh juice choice - red, green or yellow. Any fresh fruit and vegs ripe for picking and corresponding with the colour is added to the juice.

I left Babylonstoren inspired - inspired by the simplicity of this well established location. Inspired by the way everything is grown in their expansive gardens that you are free to wonder through, and inspired by the creativity that comes through in every element of the experience.

 Map of the gardens

 Entrance to the gardens

 Babel, the main restaurant

Inside the Glaskas

Food served in these trays

 Menus

My red juice

 Bread all wrapped up

 Strawberries galore

 Cactus garden

 Delectable breads from the deli

 Of course the store was filled with many things you want to take home - including their beautiful recipe book, silk scarves, cow face bowls and glassware

Bread oven

 Fromagerie

Deli meats (how gorgeous are those tiles)

Hello Friday!

Hello L's and G's. And happy Friday to you. I started this morning bright and early with a talk on Robert Mnookin's book Bargaining with the Devil, When to Negotiate and When to Fight. Inspirational stuff  to start a weekend and I now have thoughts swimming around my head that I should rather be a peace negotiator than a business consultant (I am a diplomatic Libran after all...).

What are you getting up to this weekend. Summer has dropped in for an early visit visit in Johannesburg (I am not putting my boots + tights away just yet though) and I feel like the city's population is taking advantage. Sleeves are shorter, smiles are wider, faces are glossier and I can almost smell the braais that will surely begin before the sun goes down.

{via here}

Right now I am listening to this

For some weekend inspiration, here are the top 20 most listened to TED talks

I think a staring contest party would be hilarious

A classic powerhouse combo to kick some ass in the work world

Why everything should have a look. Hear hear.

The queen in rainbow colours (and now we know why it's called Royal Blue)

Love the colour saturation in this living room

And these pics of Lisbon in colours makes me want to book a holiday in Portugal!

Next time I am in Cape Town I am going here for pizza and here for chicken pie

xoxo