Fashion favourites: SAG Awards

My top choices for the best dressed celebs at this year's Screen Actors Guild Awards are Emma Stone and Kaley Cuoco. I am so smitten with both of their dresses. 

Left: Emma Stone's looked adorable in 50's-inspired dress. Her dress, clutch and pretty heels are all by Alexander McQueen.

Right:  Kaley Cuoco, from The Big Bang Theory,  looked like a princess in an aquamarine Romona Keveza gown and a braided updo (so pretty!).

To see more fashion from the event trot over HERE. What was your favourite outfit?   

On my bucket list... by Thaya

Thaya is a a mom, store owner, small village dweller and the blogger behind Beatnik Bazaar . Today she will be sharing a few things from her bucket list - Enjoy...

1. See Iceland from a Hot Air Balloon
2. Watch Mikhail Baryshnikov dance to the sounds of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in Central Park
3. Tour with Led Zeppelin (if they were still touring)
4. Spend time in the desert with a Native American Shaman
5. Write an epic screenplay with Charlie Kaufman and work with director, Wes Anderson, on the film
6. Fall in love in Paris
7. Dive the most exquisite tropical reefs in the world
8. See Kate Bush and Tom Waits live in concert
9. Go on a cycling gastronomic pilgrimage through Europe
10. Live simply for a year in a temple, deep within the mountains of Japan

Note: "On my bucket list..." is my current guest blogger series. Most weeks a lovely blogger will share things from their bucket list. to read other bucket lists, go HERE

Pretty in blush

Loving these blush coloured pretties from Nina Ricci's pre-fall  2012 collection. 

To see more from the collection you can trot over here 

Film love: Wes Anderson

I am a fan of Wes Anderson films. There's just something about his quirky characters and borderline ridiculous storylines that I just adore. So far, my favourite films of his are: The Life Aquatic, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Darjeeling Limited (which is almost all his films actually).

His next film, Moonrise Kingdom, is due out a bit later this year and looks like it's going to be awesome - check out the trailer below:

    

Do you like Wes Anderson's films?

10 things I learnt this weekend

 

1. Woolworths is selling these cute satchel bags at the moment
2. Hardly anything annoys me as much as an insect buzzing near my ear.
3. My new Samsung Galaxy tablet is so handy and fits perfectly into my favourite, small handbag (I got the 8.9 inch one and I love it!)
4. Once Upon a Time is a really cool, fairytale- inspired TV series
5. I'm very addicted to fruit flavoured Lindt chocolate slabs.
6. Heidi Klum and Seal are getting divorced :( - Latest story about it here
7. Even after 2 months, The Brazilian Blowout treatment I had is helping me to have hair that's a lot more manageable and fuss-free.
8. I do not deal with super hot weather very well
9. Having midnight snacks with friends is a lovely way to end an evening.
10. Clémence Poésy's photoshoot for the February 2012 issue of Glamour UK is so pretty (above photo from the shoot, taken by David Oldham ) - See all the photos here

What have you leant recently?

Happy Weekend!

“ Now and then it’s good to pause in our 

pursuit of happiness and just be happy." 

-   Guillaume Apollinaire

Hope you all have a gloriously happy weekend

My top 5: albums (right now)

Deciding which  five albums I like the most was rather challenging, as I am always dicovering great new music and I have so many trusty ol' favourites. So, while there is a strong possibility that in the next month or two I may be ranking a few other albums higher than some of these, right now these are my top 5 albums...  

1. Ceremonials  - Florence + The Machine: This ridiculously good album is by my favourite band. I have listened to it so much in the last two months and I am still not even slightly bored of it. The only issue I have with it is that it is not longer.

2. Young the Giant - Young The Giant: I recently discovered this indie rock band and so far I am really enjoying their music. You can listen to one of their songs over here

3. Barton Hollow  - The Civil Wars: This American folk / alternative country band is really good. This album is their first and was released in 2011. They also recently recorded a song for The Hunger Games film soundtrack with Taylor Swift called 'Safe & Sound'  (you can listen to it here)

4. Torches  - Foster The People: This has definitely been one of my top albums, since I first heard the band's single 'pumped up kicks' over a year or so ago. This album is full of awesome.

5. Making Mirrors - Goyte: This Belgian-Australian singer and songwriter, who goes by the stage name Goyte, has a really unique sound. He has actually been around for a while, but I only stumbled upon his music a few months ago when I saw this music video (which also features singer Kimbra)

What's your favourite album/s at the moment?    

Fashion favourites: Golden Globes

My top choices for the best dressed celebs at this year's Golden Globe Awards are definitely Michelle Williams and Nicole Ritchie. Both looked stunning and wore dresses that really suited them .

Left: Michelle Williams, who took home a Golden Globe for her role in My Week With Marilyn,  wore a velvet Jason Wu dress with a Fred Leighton headband & clutch.
Right: Nicole Ritchie wore a  beaded Julien MacDonald gown and accessorised it with House of Harlow clutch.  

What was your favourite outfit of the night?

Easy peasy apple turnovers

I don't know about you, but I love a good apple pastry or pie. There is just something about sweet apples wrapped in a fresh baked pastry that I find so comforting.

Even though I have been trying to watch my diet (especially after the festive feasting) and cut out as much gluten as I can, over the weekend I had such a craving for an apple pastry that I decided to make a few. They came out rather well for my first try, so I thought I'd share the super simple recipe that I used...

What you will need:

•  1 can of unsweetened pie apples OR 2-3 medium apples, peeled & chopped (I ended up using canned apples this time and they worked out really well)
•  1 teaspoon cinnamon (add a bit more if you like your apples more spiced)
•  1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 
•  2  tablespoons brown sugar (or more if you like it sweeter)
•  1 roll of frozen puff pastry, thawed ( I used Today brand puff pastry)  
•  a little butter
•  a tiny bit of milk
•  1 egg
•  icing sugar
• If you are using canned apples:  2-3 tablespoons water OR if you are using real apples: 1 teaspoon of corn starch dissolved in 3 tablespoons water (to thicken apple filling if you want or need to) 

What to do:

1. Sauté the apples with a blob of butter for a few minutes on a medium-high heat. Then add sugar, cinnamon,  nutmeg, water (or corn starch) and sauté for a bit longer
2. Preheat oven to 200 C (400F)
3. Unroll the thawed puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface and cut into squares.
4. After the apple filling has cooled, spoon a little filling into the center of each square. Then fold the edges over  to either make triangles or rectangle shapes and seal all open edges by pushing down firmly.
5. Place the turnovers on a baking paper lined baking sheet.
6. Mix an egg and a little milk together in a bowl and lightly brush the mixture over the top of each turnover.
7.  Now bake turnovers for about 20 minutes or until puffed up and  golden brown.
8. Make a thick icing paste (aka glacé icing) using water/milk, butter and icing sugar.
9. Once apple turnovers have cooled, ice each turnover and allow icing to harden.
10. Eat and enjoy as soon as possible, preferably with a cappuccino or a cup of tea :)

This recipe makes: 6 well sized apple turnovers Total time: About 45 minutes 
A note: All the above photos are of my apple turnovers (taken by The Boyf & I )

Daisy necklace giveaway

Today I am happy to announce the start of my first blog giveaway for the year. This lovely giveaway is sponsored by South African jewellery designer, Emma from emma anne jewellery .

The winner will receive a silver, daisy necklace (like the one below) , plus will get to choose one of the following stones to go in it: yellow quartz, blue topaz, pink amethyst, silver topaz or blue chalcedony.
-

A bit more info: The silver daisy pendant is from emma anne's  2012 'Daisy Mae' Summer Collection. Emma had this to say about her latest collection: "This Collection is comprised of various daisy motifs in silver, yellow gold and rose gold. The pieces each include beautifully rose cut semi precious stones in a soft pastel colour palette.... The pieces in this collection are very fresh and feminine with a delicate playful feel about them."   

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Trot over HERE and tell me, below, which emma anne item you like best.

2. For an extra entry you can either: "Like" the  emma anne facebook page and leave a comment on the wall mentioning this competition  OR  tweet about this giveaway and include @beingbrazen & @emmaannedesign in your tweet.

Giveaway notes: *Anyone may enter this giveaway * the winner will be chosen randomly * This giveaway will end on Tuesday, 24 January and the winner will be announced by Wednesday, 25 January. Good luck, darlings. 

 - - GIVEAWAY CLOSED - Winner: @Kathcakes  - -

A fabulous, bold home

I stumbled across this fabulous home via Desire to Inspire and I just love it. The unique and colourful decor is quirky, yet still classy. To see all the photos and read more about this London home, trot over HERE

It's for you...

Happy New Year, Darlings! I really hope that your year ahead is filled with happiness and love. Last year was a fleeting and rather unmemorable year for me, so I am hoping that 2012 is the total opposite of that. Anyway, since it's a brand new year I thought it would be a great time for a little "it's for you" catch-up session..

How it always works: I will answer the below random questions - then you answer the questions as a comment. Why? cause sharing is caring *winks*:

1. For me, 2011 was the year of... realisations
2. I spent my New years Eve... at Kirtsenbosch Gardens, picnicing  on the grass and listening to local bands, until the clock struck midnight.

3. This year my 4 biggest goals are... to get healthier & fitter, keep my life clear of clutter, work harder on my blogging and have at least one grand adventure. 

4. Do you believe that the world will end in 2012? Nope

5. What have you been reading over your Dec/Jan holiday? I read 'The Hunger Games' Trilogy and I'm almost finished 'The Night Circus'

6. What's the best item you got or bought last year? My laptop from The Boyf

7. If you could only buy one luxury item this year, what would it be? A Beach House or a holiday to Paris (a girl can dream, can't she? )

8. I hope this new year is... filled with unexpected surprises and good friends

Honor pre-fall 2012

I am really loving designer Giovanna Randall's first pre-fall collection for Honor. 

The above four outfits are just a few of my favourites. To see the rest of the collection, trot over here

Darlings, I am currently on holiday for a few weeks and am so glad to have the time to give my brain (and my computer) some much needed down time. I may be a bit quiet during my time off, but I will definitely be back to regular blogging and tweeting soon.

Hope you all have a wonderful festive season, filled with laughter and relaxation. Happy holidays!

Guest posted on lanalou style

Image from lanalou style

Recently I contributed to lanalou style's gift guide series by sharing a few fablous, local things that I would love to find under my Christmas tree. 

Trot over HERE to see the full post and find out where all the items are from.