Pascal - Paper Skies

This is the PERFECT song to start the weekend. Oh... and its South African ;)

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Ready for the Weekend!

We live in a beautiful country and I am not sure if there is anyone out there who is more 'proudly South African' than I am (although... us South Africans are known to be pretty patriotic...) so when I saw this really epic music video I knew I had to share it.

Besides the really cute story, good music, occasional pun (look out for the trunk in a trunk) and great cinematography (is that what they call it... even for a music video?) a lot of the video is shot in SA! Yay for us :D enjoy the weekend!

Hooray for Friday

I am a big fan of Fridays. They mark the end of a usually very long and busy week and the start of a (hopefully) relaxed and fun weekend with all the people I love. I found this short and sweet Ode to Friday here and wanted to share it :)

Oh, Friday, Glorious Friday
If I may
I’d like to say,
Come sooner next time, m’kay?

That is it! Short and sweet - just like the weekend :( unfortunately. But for now we can be happy it is Friday! Woohoo!

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Pretty Hair

Who doesn't love a pretty bun, a plaited/braided do or lots of wispy curls pinned up into a swirl (is that even a word)?

A Cup of Jo has the best DIY hair tutorials. Here are some of my favourites:

Pretzel Braid
Gibson Roll (totally thinking about rocking this style at V's wedding (yes- V is getting married!) on Sunday)
Chestnut Bun
Braided Crown (and add a little something extra with some fabric)
Braided Top Bun
Three Twisted Buns
Side Chignon (she has the best hair colour!)

Gibson Roll

Chestnut Bun

Braided Crown (with fabric)

Three Twisted Buns

Side Chignon

Need more inspiration? Check this out.

Brilliant Idea

Run out of places to put your pretty jewelery? Need space to display a few quirky odds and ends? Or just have on old (and awesome) tennis racquet lying around? Why not hang it up and put it to good use like Maike (of love made me do it and we love pictures).

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Our Wedding Story - Find Me a Venue!

So we're engaged and loving it ... but we are starting to feel very stressed and a tad bit desperate... all I want to do is start planning our wedding (it still feels so weird to say/write that) and enjoy designing our invites, DIY-ing our decor and then get serious about finalising our budget (maybe not quite in that order)... but that is virtually impossible with no venue :(

Is a big venue with lots of space, green grass, loads of trees (a forest even), a big dam and a barn/ shed (how awesome would a reception in an old cowshed be) too much to ask for? Apparently it is :(

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So far no luck, but I am glad to still have a few months of planning ahead of me. I have found that having lots of awesome venue-searching friends and family and a lot of help from blogs (Cap Classique, the Pretty Blog) and other amazing wedding-fundis (Lauren, Nadia and Gaby) can really help ease the stress of trying to find a venue.

I now also have a VERY loooong list of venues in the Western Cape... so if you are planning your wedding and need help finding your dream venue, feel free to give me a shout (leave a comment or send me an email) and I will try and help. 

And if you know of any venues that might fit in with the mood/style I am going for (and they are based in the Western Cape) please let me know.

Mystery Weekend Mix # 1

Some music for the weekend... (I haven't figured out how to install a playlist app just yet, so am just linking to the videos for now. I will tech-up soon ... hopefully).

1 One
2 Two
3 Three
4 Four
5 Five
6 Six
7 Seven
8 Eight
9 Nine
10 Ten
11 Eleven
12 Twelve
13 Thirteen
14 Fourteen
15 Fifteen

*disclaimer- please excuse some of the cheesy videos included via the links. 

Bow ties

I am so obsessed with bow ties right now and think there is something so awesome about a groom rocking a colourful bow tie.

Too old fashioned? Or retro enough to be super cool?

Cool pic found here on this very awesome site!

Not sure how to tie a bow-tie -  check this out:

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And guys- if you want to make your own matching cufflinks, the Pretty Blog has a wonderful DIY tutorial for you. 

Note to brides-to-be: The Pretty Blog is full of amazing wedding stuff ... contacts for service providers, inspiring real-weddings and loads of DIY projects- you MUST, must check it out :)

How to be Happy

For a free printable of this awesome poster click here.

Got Cravings?

There is something about salty and sweet mixed together that makes my mouth water! 

Take a cake, fill it with salted caramel, slather it with buttercream, frost it with dark fudge icing and sprinkle it with Fleur de Sel (a gourmet, hand-selected salt) and you have a winning combination ... sounds deadly decadent and completely heavenly!

Deadly and delicious! Recipe here.

Something Worth Blogging About

Well ... I have VERY exciting news!

After 815 days together (who's counting right?) my amazing (and sneaky!) boyfriend surprised me by getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him.

After a long pause (we have to keep them on their feet right?) I burst into (happy) tears and said YES! (Full engagement story and ring pics to follow).

WE ARE GETTING MARRIED! WOOHOO!

I am hoping to post a weekly update on the wedding plans (for those who are interested) and resume some regular (at least once a week) blogging for my own sanity (because there is more to life than planning a wedding right?... right?)

Ok- just wanted to quickly share that news after my very extended absence.

Tretchikoff in Town

An exhibition of works by talented and controvertsial South African artist, Vladimir Tretchikoff is opening tomorrow (Thursday, 26 May 2011) at the Iziko Museum (South African National Gallery). The exhibition is open to the public and will run until the 25 September 2011.

Entry into the gallery is free for visitors younger than 18 years, R 10 for students and pensioners and R 20 for adults. The gallery is open daily from 10:00 - 17:00 (read more here).

I am so excited to visit this exhibition. His works are eerie, but at the same time completely captivating and beautiful. They are colourful, exotic, but also melancholic. That is what true art is all about isn't it? It isn't just something interesting or beautiful to look at- it completely draws you in, causing you to walk away feeling a little different than you had before.

I'm excited!

Neck and Neck, Vladimir Tretchikoff (source)

Buy a print here.

Dying Swan, Vladimir Tretchikoff (source)

A year's repression finds release in one man's joyful song, Vladimir Tretchikoff  (source)

Wall feature- Lady from Orient, Vladimir Tretchikoff (source)

I Dream of Tutus

I have been doing ballet for 4 months now and am loving it. I am not sure whether I have made any progress (I can't do the splits, put my leg high in the air and I have terrible turn-out), but it is a great workout and just so beautiful. 

We have a wonderful ballet teacher who teaches the Vaganova method. She is patient, firm (whilst, still being gentle) and offers us lots of praise to keep us motivated. I would really recommend ballet as a workout for anyone wanting to increase their core strength, improve their balance or just to burn calories.

Classical ballet is so beautiful, but I would love to see more modern ballet performances (by modern I mean classical ballet moves adapted and choreographed to work with more modern music) - does anyone know of any ballets that use more contemporary music? 

Something similar to the last dance scene in Centre Stage (hardcore ballet-enthusiasts please don't judge me!)

I'm in love... and yes... I do dream of tutus.

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DIY tutorial here

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(Oh- and I haven't forgotten about the promised giveaway ...  I have just been a bit slow getting things done -  I blame all the public holidays)

Parkour

Parkour aka freerunning (which differs slightly) aka l'art du déplacement is a sport which draws on the skills of speed, efficiency and spatial awareness. It is difficult to explain...

Tempest Freerunning Academy from The Cool Hunter on Vimeo.

Its like a mix of gymnastics, circus-like performance skill and crazy obstacle-course manoeuvres.

Find it fascinating and want to try it out? If you live in South Africa you can join the Parkour South Africa mailing list to find out about public parkour jams happening all across SA.

Who knows... in the next 5 years maybe we won't be sending our kids to ballet and soccer practice... we might be sending them off to parkour school...

(For music lovers -  the track from the video is Ellie Goulding - Lights (Bassnectar Remix)

This made me laugh

Do you remember this song?

Cheesy love ballad... full of desperation and longing... enough to make you really depressed - well not if you stumble across a poster like this -

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Happy Friday

Hope you had a happy week and that you have a relaxing weekend. Here are some pretty things to enjoy:

The most beautiful summer dress

DIY bracelet

That's one happy sheep :)

A beautiful way to document a pregnancy

Who wouldn't want to go here on holiday?

Weekend Links

Just stopping by to say a quick hello and share some funny/pretty/fun/delicious things from around the internet:

What will you fill your home with?

A ring for her and a ring for him (and one for any guy who has trouble remembering those important dates)

Ever wanted to live inside a romance novel?

A sign to sing about
Earl Grey Cupcakes
I am a cat lover... and this picture is made of happiness (source)
I WANT, WANT, WANT this dress!
I have recently discovered the Gordon Ramsay Cook With Me application for iPad (Thanks V and M) and can't wait for winter to arrive so I can make these
Perfect, pretty pink picnic
Funny bunny 
Are you a fan of the Beastie Boys? No...? What about Will Ferrel, Jack Black, Ted Danson, Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly or Seth Rogan?

One of my favourite posters/ prints. So inspirational. Typography = <3

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Ballerina in the City

I came across the Ballerina Project on Pinterest recently and was blown away by how beautiful these images are.

It might be because I am a bit ballet-obsessed at the moment or because I dream of flying away to New York (all the images are taken in and around NYC). The photography is fantastic and the contrast between graceful (and ethereal) beauty and the "harsh" city surrounds give the images a surreal feel.

A bit more about the Ballerina Project:

The Ballerina Project grew from the idea of New York City as a magnet for creativity; each photograph is a collaborative work of dance, fashion design and photography played out against the city's landscape.

You can find them on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. They also have a blog.

Shoes Day

I am obsessed with shoes. All kinds of shoes. I'm more likely to be wearing flat, practical, pretty shoes... but every now and then...

Can you spot the gorgeous but possibly not-so-comfortable shoes?

And yes... yes I am a Woolworths fan!

Now for some more wearable shoes...

 

Safari meets metallic

Picnic pumps

Pink, bows, flowers... So girly.... love it!

So what's your obsession?

Sunset picnic

Sunset, picnic, flowers, fog, poetry, stunning views...

 

Hope you had a happy Monday!

Thou Shalt Not Skip Breakfast

I am ashamed. I regularly skip breakfast. I know I shouldn't- but its a time thing (excuses, excuses... I know...) Breakfast (when it does actually happen for me) usually consists of a hot cup of tea (which ends up being really cold by the time I get around to drinking it), and if I have time... a breakfast bar or a slice of toast. Boring- I know.

365 days of breakfast is absolutely delicious! If you like food (like I do) or need some breakfast inspiration (like I do) or if you just love looking at pretty pictures (like I do) then this site is for you. Have a look and enjoy.

*Disclaimer- do not visit this site when hungry- your stomach will not be happy with you!