Happy Friday!

"Everyone must dream. We dream to give ourselves hope.

To stop dreaming - well, that’s like saying you can never change your fate."

- Amy Tan

Have a lovely Friday and a dreamy weekend

*photo from Anthropologie catalog

Random happy notes...

Today is a happy day.... The weather in Cape Town is so stunning, I feel very loved, The Boyf' found out that his sister went into labour this morning (**update: she had a healthy boy), I am having my hair salon blowdried later and its Friday (finally) *smiles*

In other lovely news, yesterday the SA Blog Awards corrected an error and now this blog (and not my book blog as it had incorrectly stated) is in the Top 10 voting stage of the SA blog awards, in the "Best Personal blog" category (Thank you darling readers!). If you would like to vote,  just go over HERE and show my blog some love.
(note: apparently Each voter will be able to vote once every 24hrs, per unique email adddress if they so choose)

Tonight I am going to watch Salt with some friends, tomorrow is still rather unplanned (but I am hoping to play a little game of squash sometime during the day) and on Sunday I am going to a babyshower ('tis the season for babies, it seems). 
What are you all up to this weekend?

Shoe smitten

I have fallen in lust with Jimmy Choo Pheonix espadrille wedges.

I wish i could have a pair in every colour.

Silver earrings giveaway

Today I am happy to announce the start of a fabulous giveaway sponsored by South African, jewellery designer Jessica of  Thula Handmade Jewellery.

The winner will receive a pair of  these sterling silver earrings:

Description: Sterling silver earrings with 7mm round olive cubic zirconia's set in 2 wide claws each. These earrings are designed to look effortlessly elegant by following the shape of the ear, regardless of which way they are worn. There is a textured pattern emulating the curve of the earrings which creates a beautiful contrast between the stone, and polished silver on either side.

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Be a follower/subscriber of this blog, THEN please answer this question in the comments section: Right now, what is your favourite item in your jewellery box?

2. For an extra entry, you can become a follower of the Thula Jewellery Blog OR tweet about this giveaway (and please let me know that you did)

Notes:

* Anyone may enter this giveaway

*This giveaway will end on Wednesday, 16 September and the winner will be announced on Thursday, 17 September.

*winner is chosen randomly

Good luck , darlings

 - Thula Jewellery's Etsy store will be updated soon.

Leighton love

I absolutely adore Leighton Meester (aka Blair on Gossip Girl), So I just had to share these photos of her from Herbal Essences new ad campaign. I am loving her red lips in the first pic and her hair in the  picture with the purple background :)

And the winner is...

The winner of the fun flower jewellery giveaway is ..*drum roll*.. Chantal!  Congrats, lady. Please e-mail me soon.

My next giveaway will be starting later today :)

Morning ramblings and flashing

Hello September, I see you brought your sense of humour and forgot spring

So far my morning has been interesting... I woke up to a gloomy and drizzly day in Cape Town (not exactly Spring day weather), then my dear friend Betty Bake called me at some crazy hour (which is any time between 1:00am & 8:00am) to inform that my little book blog had made it into the personal blog catergory in the SA blog awards (which is totally rad, but very surprising). I am thinking the SA blog awards may have mixed up my blog addresses *winks*...

After that, I trotted around the apartment getting ready, packed a wonderful lunch (which included almonds, yogurt bar and  a container filled with awesome spaghetti that I made last night) and then suddently noticed how very late it was - So, I sprinted out the door and zoomed off in my car...

Half way to work I got a call from Pamella (aka the cleaning fairy), who told me that I left my lunch bag (and all its yummy contents) at the apartment...why oh why......

Then i arrive at work to find that a light in my office (that also happens to be super close to my desk) has gone mad and wont stop flashing......and its still flashing as I am typing this...

*flash..flash..flash*....Its like a disco in the passage. All I need now is someone's cellphone music to start playing so i can get the party started on the dance floor.

*flash flash flash* Seriously though, its soooo annoying. At least I am not an epileptic or i would had a fit by now. Someone is thankfully coming to fix it soon.

Somedays you really need a good sense of humour to make it through the day . *winks*

Happy September, darlings  - I hope this month is awesome :)

Black & white kitchen floors

I really want a black & white, checkered kitchen floor -  they are so awesome.

On my bucket list...

Today the lovely,  blogger Bobby (from Bobby's Blah Blog ) will be sharing a few things from her bucket list - Enjoy...

I have so many things I want to do or achieve in this very short life and would love to look back one day, when I'm older, and be able to treasure all the amazing things I was able to experience during my life. This list is not nearly everything I want to do before I "kick the bucket", these are just ten of the biggest dreams I've had for a very long time, but have not yet fulfilled....

1. Visit New York - I've always loved New York ever since I read The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot. I dreamed of living there with a fat, orange cat, just like Mia. I fell even deeper in love with New York since watching the entire Sex and The City box set.

2. Visit Cairo - I don't even remember when my obsession with Ancient Egypt started. I grew up wanting to be and Egyptologist. I plan to visit there as soon as possible.

3. Play in Real Snow - I've never done this. Hopefully I can scratch this one out in December when I got to England for Christmas. I plan to make a HUGE snowman and have a snowball fight with my family :)

4. Visit Disneyland - I'm a Disney Princess girl and a huge roller-coaster freak. Disneyland is two of my favourite things combined.

5. Be Legally Allowed to Drive - I'm embarrased about this one. I'm 22 and still don't have a driver's license. I failed my test because I never did a few tiny observations ;) Getting my license is my focus for next year.

6. Live in a Foreign Country For a While - I love South Africa, but would love to live somewhere a little more closer to the "world" where I can do a lot of travelling. I would love to explore Europe, China and America.

7. Meet Meg Cabot - I used to get lost for hours in the awesome worlds Meg created in her books. She never fails to make me laugh. She also is has a hilariously funny blog AND she seems like the type of person one wouldn't mind having as a best friend.

8. See Remaining Members of Queen Play Live - I know seeing them would not be the same as seeing them with Freddie Mercury, but I'm the biggest Queen fan and would still like to watch them.

9. Sing at a Karaoke - I'm pretty shy, so I would need lots of dutch courage in the form of a few, rather large, cocktails. I would just warn anyone reading this not to be around when I actually do this. If you are, then wear ear plugs.

10. Finish Learning How to Play 'Cello - I started learning a few years ago and advanced quickly but then focussed on my degree and had no time to carry on. My beautiful 'cello is just sititng in it's case and hasn't been touched for three years. I'm hoping to start lessons again next year.

Note: "On my bucket list..." is a new weekly series on my blog. Each week a lovely blogger will share a few things from their bucket list.

Bags by Built

Built is a New York based company that makes funky neoprene (aka wetsuit material) bags, totes, laptop sleeves and other cool, functional accessories.

I really dig their products and have had my Built "gourmet getaway" lunch tote for almost a year now. I would love to get a "market tote", as I think it would make a great little beach bag.

Buy Built bags locally online at Wellness Warehouse, or internationally HERE .

10 things I learnt this weekend

1. My shoe collection currently has a shortage of pretty, dress-up heels. I must get some soon (love the ones in the above pic, but have no idea who makes them)
2. If you need to buy alcohol and all the bottle stores in Cape Town are closed, you can go to Brewers & Union (on Bree Street) to buy takeaway beer and wine.
3. A whole bottle of wine makes me super talkative and very unaware of the time
4. I seem to be favouring meat-free dishes lately
5. Sometimes 1950's Jazz music can save the day
6. No matter how many times I watch A Walk to Remember I always cry at least once during the film (its just such a bittersweet, romantic story ) 
7.  I am definitely improving at squash
8. I'm warming to the idea of a personal number plate (cheesey, i know).
9.  Watching the film Vampires suck is a waste of time
10. This is so true: "I am a big believer that eventually everything comes back to you. You get back what you give out." - Nancy Reagan


What did you learn this weekend?

To do...

Photo by Sarah Le

Favourite Emmy award looks

The 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards happened yesterday in Los Angeles and there were just so many stunning dresses on the red carpet - but my favourite looks of the night were from these two ladies...

1. Claire Danes (left) in an ultra glamorous, Georgio Armani Prive gown (which was covered in swarovski crystals)  

2. Keri Russel (right), who looked super cute in a vintage Jean Louis Sherrer Haute Couture gown and Jimmy Choo heels.

You can visit HERE  to see more Emmy award fashion 

Happy Friday!

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens."- Kahlil Gibran

Have a wonderful, smile-filled weekend :)

* photo by Stephanie Rausser

Wall shoe rack

If you think your high heels are just a bit too pretty to be hidden away in a closet, then this is the shoe rack for you.  Just use some strips of moulding, paint and decorate with your fabulous footwear ;)

* found via apartment therapy

Health quest, chasing inspiration and happy thoughts

As I have mentioned before on my blog, I am currently on a quest to get healthy and fit ( looking good in a bikini this summer will just be a bonus). So far I have cut ALOT of sugar from diet, tried to fight the urge to buy fat-filled junk food and I have made an effort to choose better snack food (like nuts and fruit)
- Plus,  I have started to exercise alot more regulary  (I am proud to announce that I have been to gym 4 times since saturday). To help make exercise more fun, I have also started to play squash and even though I thought I would never regain normal use of my right arm(aka the racket holding arm) after my first two games, I am happy to report that I have stuck with it *winks*

The other thing I am trying to do in my life is actively seek out inspiration,  instead of waiting for inspiration to jump out and say surprise ('cause I so seldom make the time to try inspire myself these days). So, I am trying to do more things that I find will encourage inspiration and happy brain waves - I have been finding new music, reading alot more lovely books, watching all the films that catch my fancy,  I am planning trips away to places that will make me smile and I have been seeking out new things to see, eat, wear, learn, etc....

Maybe its the shifting of the seasons, the fact that time seems more precious ( it's speeding past at an alarming pace) or maybe its the natural progression of finally getting closer to where you are meant to be (kinda like fate)... who can say? but what I know for sure is that I feel like I have suddenly  found myself in a undeniably rad place and I feel like I can slowly start to re-visit so many disgarded dreams again....I am feeling energised and happy. Its really nice.

How are you at the moment? do tell...

Lovely & local

Here are just a few cute, local things I found online...

1.  Silver, Oval ring from Thula Jewellery

2. Trillado Tote Bag by The Wren

3. Floral, flow top by Miss Molly

4. Leather and fabric pumps at Beatnik Bazaar 

5. Fat robin brooch by Genevieve Motley

6. Tri-fold, flower silver earrings by Emma Anne (I just got a pair of these)

I heart Vera Wang

Vera Wang designs such beautiful, dreamy dresses (especially her wedding dresses). Right now the only Vera Wang thing I own is a bottle of perfume, but one day I hope to own a Vera Wang dress.

Photos taken by Carter Smith for Vera Wang, Fall/winter 2010/2011