Hello there, I've missed you

Hello lovely readers - if there are any of you still here. Sorry for the silence. I can't believe I have been away from here for almost two months! I have missed it and will now attempt to play catch up with my weekly portrait posts. (You know how the longer you leave something, the harder it is... Yip, that's where I am right now so I need to just jump in).

I blame it (mostly) on the fact that I have been working on Rock-a-Baby, a fair from moms and babes which took place in Braamfontein at the end of September. Putting this fair together was a full time job, done so with babes on hips and during nap times and night times and basically any free time I could find. I'm pleased to say the fair was a success (people actually came and bought stuff!) and was worth all the effort we put in to it. Here are some pics of the day, taken by Lauren Kim Photography. Follow us on Facebook for more photos and updates.

the most sparkling prints of all time

Are you looking for a fab print? Go NO WHERE else but here. 

guest post: this way for an adventure

Isn't this the loveliest print? 

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guest post: my fave children's books

I think books are the loveliest present for children. I love reading Honor stories and hope the twins will enjoy my voice too, without sounding modest I know they will! Here are some of my favourite books to read (and buy and collect) to children.

1. Any Beatrix Potter books. I went through I serious Beatrix Potter stage when I was little and love the stories of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck and Mrs Tiggy-Wiggle.

2. Beware of the Bull by Dick King Smith. Unfortunately this book is out of print now but I did manage to find a second hand version on eBay a couple years ago. This is the first book I learnt to 'read' but I actually just knew it by heart. I think I still know most of it.

3. Usborne's Illustrated Shakespeare. Because you are never too young for Shakepeare! I have alreayd bought a copy of this for the twins.

4. Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, because how can one not love a story about a chocolate factory.

5. And while we are on Roald Dahl - I think it is compulsory for one's aunt to read your Revolting Rhymes.

6. The Magic Far Away Tree by Enid Blyton. Come on, is this not one of the best children's books ever? Moon Face and the endless tree? The washing lady and the different land, the saucepan man and the fairy? I almost don't want to wait until my pieces are old enough I want to read it again now, for myself.

7. Are you My mother by P.D. Eastman. This is such a blast from the past for me, and when I look at it now the feeling of anxiety that the bird will not find his mother comes flooding back. Anxiety aside, I love this book.

8. We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. The sounds illustrated in this book are so lovely to read like slooshing through mud and crunching through leaves.

9. Five Minutes Peace by Jill Murphy. I remember reading this story everytime we went to our grandparents. I love that that whole family piles into the bath!

Which are your favourites? I would love to hear!

Ps. I always write messages and the date in the books I give the babes. I hope that they will keep the books forever and one day (when they are all grown up) they'll read the messages and think of how much I have always loved them. 

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.

I say IKEA

It is always a sad day when you have to leave behind your beloved IKEA furniture. Furniture grows on you. It's part of your nest. In London I left behind a toolbox (which I passed on to a beloved Londoner) and a bookshelf that I roped an old-friend-from-way-back into carrying from the IKEA store to my apartment on the tube in peak traffic. Luckily I managed to fit a vintage looking (although mass produced) bowl and a blue frame into my bags as I set off to America. And then, a couple of years later I had to say goodbye to a bed, large bookshelf, dining table (whose assembly caused that belly-aching laugh) and many other odds and ends as there was no way their value could justify the shipping cost back to South Africa.

So you can imagine my delight when I found out that there is a way to get IKEA to South Africa without the exorbitant shipping costs that has prevented the idea thus far. Nevada furniture imports IKEA furniture to South Africa. They put orders in once a month and shipping costs are shared. It is a pretty easy system to submit your order.

I did some rough estimates on costing and it works out at about double the price of the item in IKEA. However, it still works out as a great deal for cool furniture.

 {All images from IKEA}

Kiss My Face

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Last week Cup of Jo did a post on natural sunscreens, emphasising the dangers of regular sunscreens. Being a fair skinned lass living under the hot African sun, I wear sunscreen every single day, come rain or shine, so this really hit home. Joanna recommended Josie Maran's sun protection lotion which is available at Sephora but unfortunately neither Sephora, nor Josie Maran, ship to South Africa.

On the look out for an option available to me here, I came across Kiss my Face at my local health shop, HealthWorks. This lotion rubs in nicely (you do not feel like you are wearing white some natural remedy on your face) and comes in SPF 30 and SPF 50 (perfect for those beach vacations). 

So for all of you who have similar concerns but still don't want to get sun damage, give it a try!

Guest Post: Shopping List

In ± 8 months I will be in a new home! So on top of engagement, wedding and honeymoon plans I am, at the back of my mind, creating a little shopping list for my house-to-be.

'Please don't leave' door mat

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Piles and piles of blankets, some of which will have to be polka dot.

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A built in floor-to-ceiling bookshelf, of course!

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Plates for the wall. Well actually I have lovely ones, I just need to convince the husband-to-be that plates on the wall are a good idea... at least I have 8 or so months.

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Some fab lights

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Frozen yoghurt cool

Yoli Frozen Yogurt in Berlin is just plain cool. I would want to try all their flavours if I ever found myself in this city.

{via Black*Eiffel}

Dear Rae

When we were in Cape Town a few weeks ago, we were strolling along Albert Road in Woodstock and came across Dear Rae. A little gem of a jewelry shop, it is filled with all things dainty that you will want to make your own.

I bought this heart ring and have not taken it off since.

Shop it

Keeping in the theme of Christmas shopping, her are some pics I took in stores in New York. (Please note, these are certainly not the prettiest stores in the city that is known for it's beautiful boutiques, they are just snap shots of things I felt like taking pictures of.)

The shelf may not be pretty but the T's are cool in this store in the West Village

Chaos in the famous 5th Avenue Apple Store on a Friday afternoon

Inside the Taschen shop in Soho

Sign outside the Goldman Project Space in Soho

Nike concept store at 21 Mercer

Tourist stuff on the street in lower Manhattan

The Selection

My sister has just launched an online store, The Selection. It is a wonderful place to find gifts for Christmas, kitchen teas, birthday cards, party decorations (hello chalk bunting!), ribbon, twine, things for the babies and things for your home.

Here is a peek at just a few of her items but take a look at the website and spoil yourself with a little something ;)

Also see The Selection on Etsy