Vintage post

I was going through some old posts of mine from my first blog (!) came across this draft post I wrote 5 years ago. January 2008 doesn't seem that far away but reading this makes it seem like a life time. I like the honesty I had then. And the expectations. There's a good dose of uncertainty. Maybe I haven't changed that much? It makes me wonder what I will think about myself as I am now, in 5 years time... 

 {via here}

hello goodbye

According to the Chinese, the year of the Golden Pig occurs only once every 600 years. One could say it's a significant year. 2007 was a significant year for me. I should have known because throughout 2006 I kept thinking it was 2007. It was a year of extremes: I cried my eyes out and laughed til I cried. I had some of the best days of my life, and the worst day. There was no specific changing event: no deaths or births, or moves to another country. But there were many moments that changed me or at least revealed something new. I danced with with more abandon, I visited new cities. I became more adventurous. I got very little sleep. I had my heart broken. I lost my best friend. I fell in love. Twice. I realised that not everything is possible but also learned that you are never given a wish without the power to realise it. I spent my first Christmas away from my family. I made friends I want to keep forever. I questioned myself. About many things. And didn't find as many answers but realised that's life. I don't know if I would say I grew up, but I got to know myself a bit better.

I have just finished studying. I'm looking for a job. I'm moving apartments. And I have no idea what is going to happen. A perfect way to start a new year. I just have to figure out what I want to wish for...

We all need a pep talk

 Have a good week awesome peeps. xoxo

On breakfast

In the week, I start my day off with a super healthy breakfast: raw muesli with a sprinkling of Miracles Plus Plus (yes, that is really what my mix of flax seed, sunflower seed, sesame seed and pumpkin seed is called - Rich in essential fatty acids. Bursting with life potential. Incredibly nutritious - how can you resist?), soaked in boiling water, and topped with bananas, peaches and blueberries. Quite delicious in fact.

However, one of my favourite breakfasts is so completely the opposite. So thank goodness  this breakfast can only be found on the other side of the world: French brioche, soaked in syrup  laden with bananas, walnuts and mascarpone cheese. And THAT is what I feel like this morning.

Have a lovely day readers xoxo

Guest post: Wedding pics

This is a bit of a long post but I couldn't choose which wedding pics from our photographers Travis and Maike, of We Love Pictures, to share with you... so here they are. 

Pretty packaging

Although I believe that goodness lies in the inside, good packaging makes the thing inside even better (kind of like how good looking food tastes better or a well dressed man kisses better).

A little hostess gift of pomegranate and lemon olive oil from Cheska from Melissas

 Exotic chocolate in fine flavours

 I picked this bar of soap up at a drug store in NY. I wish I had bought back a year's supply Dr Bronner's Magic Soap (completely natural and delicious)

South African wine

Five Hundred

Last night I had the pleasure of dining at Five Hundred, David Higgs's new restaurant at the Saxon. The six course tasting menu was a delightful dance of the tastes buds through the culinary equivalent of Alice's Wonderland with red cabbage marshmallows, crayfish sausage, oyster macaroons, foie gras and white chocolate, and meringue and ice-grapefruit on a stick all vying for your attention. We were regaled with stories of stolen wine bottles (two our of the three were returned) and the origins of the restaurant's name (the restaurant is in the old presidential suite, room number 500). We had a view of Jo'burg and the service was beyond, Mr Higgs himself introduced a few of the dishes and we were given fresh honeycomb in a little black box as a we left. My only criticism would be the black and white Chinese symbol carpet. But who's looking at the carpet when the plate in front of you is such a masterpiece.

From Casablanca to Pecs

NY Times recently wrote an article entitled The 46 Places to Go in 2013. So before planning your travels this year, forget the usual and take a look at these places (I went on a mini trip via day dream just reading about these places). Some of them are the usual suspects (bonjour Paris!), but some are places I would never have thought of (Mergui Islands anyone?). I quite a fancy a wild adventure into the Rupublic of Congo (less violent than it's neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo), or perhaps a week of leisure at a luxe surf spot in the Philippines or an eco lodge in Nicaragua. Houston is also on my list due to its culinary ambitions, as are Bhutan and Mongolia for their remoteness. Where are you going to go?

  Philippines

 Republic of Congo

 Sri Lanka

 Bhutan

 Mergui Islands

 Nicaragua