Sunny Sunday

...it's a beautiful shiney morning, but the nip in the air is biting.  It's 08:35 and I've been up since just before 7.  I came up to look at my inbox, since I did not get near the pc yesterday - all in all, alls quite on the web-front.

I peeped at Facebook, read a couple of my fave blogs then headed downstairs.  Put the coffee machine on, turned on the dishwasher, watered my plants, put on two loads of laundry (we have a big washer outside and a normal one in the kitchen), gave G-man coffee in bed, read a couple pages of my study stuff and thought I'd pop up here for a few more minutes.  I may go and put some pancake batter together (for USA readers, they're more like crepes as we'd call your pancakes crumpets or flapjacks) and surprise all the sleeping noddies in the house - the cat and I are only two up and about.

Yesterday the little people went to their Gran as it was their cousins birthday.  G-man and I headed out to Bedford Centre for a change of scenery.  We ate divine open sandwiches at Nino's and I must say their, cuppaccino was to die for.  I had a roast beef and sundried tomato sandwich, which was so divine that I did something rather unusual and ate the entire thing.  Graeme's was chicken and avo and the avo was super tempting.

We then did some meandering through the stores.  Da Rocha Interiors and Wetherleys have some items I'm lusting after in a serious way, but since our house is 'in limbo' and other things are too, it's not the time to commit to such purchases, but I do love looking all the same.  They also stock Yankee Candles at Da Rocha Interiors, which delighted me and I must remember that. 

I also finally found a red belt at Queenspark, but it was too big and I did not see another in the store and the saleslady who watched me whip it off the display did not bother to interact.  Then I found a red blazer at Foschini but they did not have my size.  G-man said he'd get me the blazer, if we find it in my size at another Foschini, as we had started looking in February for one and have only now managed to find what I'm after, or at least close to what I'm after.  He quite liked another shorter cut blazer in a brocade type material which has my interest peaked.

I saw stunning silver rings and earrings at a little store too - hmmm, could have me a few of those, amazing shoes, but I seriously can't bring myself to even consider buying a pair of heels that cost more than R500-.00  Old Khaki had amazing leather jackets and boots and since they're closing down, were having a knock out sale - but my bank account simply rolled it's eye and chuckled.

We got rotisserie chickens and rolls from Fournos Bakery which was yummy and we ate for dinner.  I think there is still quite a bit of chicken left which we can snack on today for lunch, so all I need to do is cook dinner. 

So now my fingers are frozen and I am still in my pj's - so I'm heading off for now to hang up my washing,shower, wash hair and paint my nails, hope your Sunday is fantastic.

Be warm, be fabulous, be stylish ... and a wee bit careful with that bank balance.

Surprise outing

Between G-man and my sister, they arranged for us to ride the steam train to Magaliesberg ... I haven't been on the the train in absolute years.  I love steam trains; my dad was a steam train driver; I feel peaceful when I'm on a steam train; the sound of the engine; the whistle ... hmmmm, takes me back to forever ago.

I miss my dad!



Daar ry die train, daar ry die train, die 'Magaliesburg' se train




Daars 'n train ... choo choo choo





The Gang

 

Hey hey - it's Friday

Wow - another week under the belt.  The days are truly flying.

I don't have anything planned for the weekend beyond dropping the children at their cousins birthday party and collection them again.  I do have a few items to take care of, but nothing so interesting it woud be considered blog worthy.  I do need to download my photos from yesterday as Liam and I were trying a bit of 'stop motion'.  It was fun - maybe I'll do some with he and his friend this evening.

I would like to download Gimp and maybe get some photos loaded on my memory stick and get them printed.  My little photo printer is printing a bit weird.  Think it needs a clean up and tune up as well, but I will take photos and drop them off anyway.

There's the usual house stuff to do as well but I hope to get all my laundry done this evening.

I need to carve out some time to play with my camera, take a walk and do a bit of studying - I really need to stop delaying.

So, any grand plans for yourself this weekend?

Tidbits on the web that I enjoyed this week

• EBEW featured maxi's this month - some really gorgeous looks were shared there
• Sal at Already Pretty did another awesome post following a readers request for tips to downplay a prominent tummy (which plagues moms and the over 40's)
• Fairlady (local SA magazine) has a great online look at Fashion knits - just in time with winter nipping at our heels here/also featured in the magazine.
• Found via Kim Gray - I think these Chandeliers are absolutely awesome
• My product feature of the week - Justine A-Firm Face and Neck Collagen Serum
• Swagger 360 always had something delish on his site - Leather had me dreaming.

Home Sweet Home

We're back safe and sound.  It was good, but I am suffering from a serious case of 'numb-bum' after 400kms+ daily on the bike.

We did a serious amount of riding this weekend, which of course is the point of the trip.  The sights are gorgeous, but there is just not enough time to stop to photograph all the beautiful scenery.  Mountains still take my breath away. 

We had breakfast in Clarens on Saturday morning, then got on the bikes and rode through Golden Gate National Park and made our way to Kestrell and then to anothe little town, trying our best to avoid roads with major works going on, but it seemed impossible.  We eventually made our way to Little Switzerland in the Drakensberg, but Graeme and I chose to ride on and made out way down into the valley.

We then met up with the group and rode to Bergville and made our way back to Clarens.  It was a long day in the saddle and I do believe I will never become a cowgirl.

Ons het lekker gekuir, dan was dit bed tyd ... and this morning we were in the saddles and headed home.  I wish there was more time for exploring though.

Visit here for photos of our trip.

Long weekend

I won't be around 'til Sunday afternoon some time, but may post while 'on the road'.  G-man and I are going off tomorrow morning on the 'steel stead' and heading to Clarens for the weekend with the ABSA bikers.  It's seems a select group that are invited and some are not invited back a second time - we were, however, this year we're going sans children and I'll be riding down with him. 

It's the first long trip we're doing since December 2009 and I'm a little wary as I'm not 'bike fit', but i'm looking forward to the solitude of the ride.  The silence.  I get to sit back and watch the scenery go by and ponder the wonders and whackiness of life. 

Once there, we usually do a few outrides, with breakfast/lunch on the road and braais (bbq) for dinner.  It's a beautiful place we're staying at and it's great to be out in the countryside.  We also pass through Golden Gate Highlands National Park, which is just amazingly beautiful and this time I hope we get a chance to stop and take some decent photos of the scenery and colours of the mountains.

Hope your weekend is fabulously stylish.

March 4 - Weekend and second post for the day



Working on the 'pose' - am I improving at all?



Necklace : Mr Price



Grey courts - Mr. Price

I just love the woven design and bow on these - but they squeezed my toes something awful.

Animal bangles : Mr. Price

If you visit here often, you may well believe and would be forgiven for thinking, that I only shop at Truworths and Edgars.  Truth be told, they are my 'go to' stores, but are not the only stores I go to and not the only stores I buy from, although they are the most regular.  I don't do 'boutiques' more than for browsing and international brands frighten the heck out of me with their prices, but I do like to browse for fun.  I like Foschini, Miladys and Woolies as well.  My other 'go to' store for 'cheap 'n nasties' is Mr. Price.  Now I'm not dissing them, they have some great items, but they're definitely not the quality of Edgars, Truworths and the like, and often their quality barely stands up against what you can buy at Ackermans, who I must say, at times have some seriously interesting and well priced items.   But, Mr. Price I certainly do visit and partly to do with their location in the mall.  Mr. Price I can go into and come out R600.00 later with at least 4 -6 items, which is exactly what happened yesterday. 

I  came out with the shoes, necklace and bangles above, which I wore today - as well as a tank-ish top, knitted little waist coat and two skirts for under R600.00.  If I'm buying something 'fashionable' then I tend to shop the cheaper stores, because I think of them more as a one, maybe two season item, but when I'm buying my basics, which I expect to last a few seasons/years, then I definitely go to the bigger stores and end to buy from the more expensive ranges.  Still, I think the shoes are super pretty and cute and the necklace and bangles will tarnish after another wear or two, but price per wear - not bad at all.

I had fun with this outfit today :-)

Hope your Friday was fab.

What's your 'smell'

I love perfume!  I don't wear a lot of different perfumes and seldomly try new ones.  About 4 years ago I tried Elizabeth Arden's Provocative Woman and the guy I met at the time said that when I wore my 'usual' one, I did not smell right.  Some that I'd put on my favourites list would be Obssession, Opium, Knowing, L'Instant de Guerlain.  I think the perfume someone is wearing when we meet them is the smell we'd usually associate with them.  My 'usual' perfume for about 20 years now has been Clinique Aromatics.  But about 6 months ago I was in Edgars and tried on Bvlgari Omnia ... oh boy, its so sultry and delicious that I bought it for myself.  At the time is cost double what it does now.  Yesterday I got my 'rewards' from Clicks and their latest promotions ... and I'm sure you guessed it, the Omnia was on special.  So this morning, Jazz and I headed to Clicks to pick it up ... what a pleasure - besides being less 25% I got an extra R71.00 off - just my kind of pick me up after the ooopsies of the past week.

Hope you've had something delicious come your way ... ciao bella.

January 21 - Fab Friday & January 22 - Saturday

I'm playing a little catch up - the weekend was real busy and I am only now downloading Friday's outfit. 

I'm thrilled to say that on Saturday I got a remote shutter release for my Nikon, but I have not taken my outfit photos with it as yet.  I did play around with it yesterday while getting made up for the day and I must admit, it was fun. 

Have you noticed that I wore my hair up the whole week?  I have noticed that I do that when I'm due for a cut ... guess what I need to book, a haircut and as usual I'm longing for a change but so unsure what I should do.  I like the ease of longer hair, busy bad days I can 'clip 'n go' as opposed to having to style it and let me say, I have hair that stands out like thatch is not styled ;-)

But, back to the business at hand ... the outfits

Friday saw me in my culottes from Truworths and a yellow t-shirt from Fashion Express, cardigan from Truworths and the sandals from a factory store down in Durban and am I ever sorry I did not buy two pairs of these, they are gorgeous sandals and all the ladies in my office are wild about them.  My necklace was one of my Christmas gifts from G-man and he bought it at Spillhaus.

(Really bad quality pic)

Saturday saw us heading out to the northern suburbs to get to the camera shop.  What an awesome businessman who runs the place.  Really helpful.  G-man had also said that there were some antique stores in the same street, so anticipating the possibility of walking, I wore my sneakers (we commonly refer to them as 'takkies' in South Africa).

My fave jeans from Kelso at Edgars, t-shirt by OBR at Truworths and my Adidas sneakers.  But more shockingly, I'm wearing my glasses, something I very seldomly allow myself to be photographed in. 

We did not find anything of interest in the antique store, but I did find second hand clothing store that I'm dying to revisit.  But, I would need lots more time than I had on Saturday.

January 15 - Weekend

At least it did not rain as was predicted, so we got out a little.

I started the day by taking Courteney for a much needed haircut and returned home to collect Graema and Jarod and we headed off to Queen Street, Kensington  featuring antique shops, restaurants, coffee shops.  We are in search of a display cabinet for Graeme's motorbike collection.  We did not find a cabine that asked to be taken home, but there were some intereting items and one store had the most gorgeous Persian rug and I loved their curtaining and I saw beautiful evening gown in the one store which if I knew had the cash for, would have indulged in trying it on.  I chose not to try it one, because if it had fitted me perfectly I would have been miserable for the rest of the weekend.

We meandered up the road and went to the German pub for lunch.  I did not take pictures of the schnitzels as I wanted to, because they fill the whole plate, just as they served it in the local pub in Germany.

My outfit :

I tried to get a decent picture of the sleeve of this top = it's so pretty and feminine but am really challenged by my baby camera some days.  I think it's time to get a remote release for my big baby.

I don't know what brand the shirt if off hand but my sister gave it to me about 4 years ago.

Jeans - Kelso

Sandals - ShoeCity

The 'radlers' were perfect and the schnitzles divine.

Hope you're having a fabulous weekend.

Engaged ...

My nephew Dean celebrated his engagement to Jolene ... we had a great evening.  The food was good, the company great ... and the reason for celebrating, although hotly debated within the family due to their ages, appropriate and sweet.

I think love has gotten a bad reputation.  Commitment an even worse one.

But, young love it is ... and who knows, maybe it lasts for them.

 Mein schatz and I.

 The loving couple, Dean and Jolene

 The two G's in the family, who coincidentally share the same birthday of 1 December ... my brother-in-law Gordon and Schatz.

My sister Lynn and her hubby Richard

My sister Noleen, who is married to Gordon - it's their son who got engaged.

Weekend catch-up

What a weekend we had!

Firstly, not being responsible for the kids, or keeping an eye watching time to fetch and collect was an absolute treat.  Since January, it's the first break we've had and so far, it's been fantastic.

Friday we went shopping at the Design Quarter - oh my goodness I could have spent thousands!!

Saturday I went round to my sister who is moving as shehad cleared out her wardrobe and came home with a bag of jackets, t-shirts, shirts and tops.  No cost addition to my wardrobe = just up my alley.  We helped her moved a bedroom suite in the afternoon and her townhouse is really nice.  Awesome awesome views from the patio.

Dinner Saturday with my sister Noleen and her hubby!  Wine, fish, great company and laughter always equals a fantastic time to me. 

Sunday we rode out to Magaliesburg - I think it's been my first ride on the bike this year.  Between not having a sitter and battling with back ache, it was awesome to get out, but I am so unfit for the bike, however, I managed and was not completely exhausted when we got back.

The weekend was just great - me, G-man, some family, awesome meals, new goodies for the house - just what I love ... and for additional spice, lots of loving too.  Hmmmmmmm ... perfect weekend.

Some catch up

Well, it was a busy busy weekend ... dinner out with my G-man and the little people at Callisto's Friday evening ... food was awesome but sadly, their tables are too small and the music was way too loud, even the kids were finding it uncomfortable.  Courts had a chicken schnitzel, Jazz had a prego roll, lamb had a Chicken burger and G-man and I had the seafood platter ... the fish was absolutely amazing!!

Saturday morning Courts and I headed to Pick 'n Pay to do the last of the dinner shopping and then we headed off to the flower market, with my vase in hand, the man and boys, and had 4 bunches of flowers arranged in the vase, then looked around the flora shop and got some pretty tea light candle holders.  Back home we went and I started cooking the lasagne for dinner.

My family arrived and we had such a good visit ... my gifts are stunning!!

Schatz rocked with what bought me - a very pretty diamond ring.

Noleen and Gordon bought me a stunning vase and gorgeous mirror which I'll use in my boudoir.

Norma gave me a pair of summer pj's and nickers.

Lynn - well her gift totally rocked ... she gave me a 'lucky box' ... inside was a gorgeous top and necklace ... a book, a key ring, my favourite Toffiffee Toffees, Spiced dutch biscuits and tea.  Just amazing - she is the most incredible gift buyer I know. 

Sunday Courts bought me lovely brown sandals for my birthday and then we headed to the nursery for Jarod to get his venus flytrap.  After that is was off to my sister for lunch to celebrate my nephews 18th birthday.

It was tense there to say the least because as usual there are problems in their marriage and it's really hard to be there ... especially when people are so downright rude toward each other.

But, the food was good and the kids had fun ... and now I'm a little older and more spoilt than I was a week ago :-)

Marvellous Monday

Marvellous because the weather is just stunning and the weekends weather was wonderful.  Sunshiney and warm and last night for the the first time in absolute months I did not sleep with socks on.

We had a wonderful busy Sunday.  The children's school has a 'Dads 'n Lads' group which organises events such as the camp out on the school grounds earlier this year that the boys and G-man joined in for and yesterday we took a trip up to the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre and then headed out to Northgate for the kids to ice skate.

Liam was not too happy and got mightily frustrated by the whole thing and started getting angry each time he fell.  Courteney could well be employed as as a fan to keep the ice cool with all the flipping and flailing of arms she had going on.  I sat and laughed myself silly watching the three of them, and only because I knew that had I dared to get out there myself, I'd have looked more idiotic.  G-man of course can skate - so he was up and down for ages and helping the kids.  We then headed to Panarotties for lunch before heading for home. 

Once home, I sat down on the couch to relax and watch a few episodes of How do I look and Extreme Makeover Home Edition as all the sitting around exhausted me while the family ice skated.  I don't think I moved off that couch until I headed off to bed at around 22:00.  Shrek the Third came on and Jarod snuggled up to me with the quilt which sent me off to dreamland and when I resurfaced, My Sisters Keeper was about to start.  I never even had dinner last night, but since it was a help yourself to what you can find type of event, I wasn't too phased.

It was a great day, the kids loved it and Courteney and Jarod are already making plans to go ice skating again ... just a pity that it's clear on the other side of town.

Woman's Day Bargain

Yesterday we celebrated Woman's Day here in South Africa, another of the many celebrations that reminds me of the unfair way in which my forefathers treated the African people in this amazing country I reside in.  Some of the events of the past really remind me of how the Nazi's treated the Jews and that is nothing to be proud of.  What infuriates me the most is when friends and family make the comment that 'they all look the same'.   African people do not all look the same, sound the same, think the same ... and really, we have such incredible talent in this country that truly needs to be celebrated.

But, aside from the holiday, yesterday my boys and I headed to the Glen to get Jarod some sandals as he goes off to camp tomorrow.  I browsed through Exact then headed to Shoe City.  While in Shoe City, I saw a gorgeous pair of grey peep toe shoes marked down to R89.  I don't have any grey shoes and decided to take them for myself.  Then I go the boys each a new pair of sneakers and the sandals for Jarod.  When at the counter, I remembered a gift card they had given us at the time of them opening the store, which was way back in September 2009.  I asked the saleslady if it was still valid, as I was sure it would have been void by now,  and when she swiped it, she told me that I'm really lucky as most of the people had only received R20 vouchers and mine was R100, which equates to me getting my indulgent pair of shoes for free.

I then headed to Fashion Express and bagged a Cerise Pink shift dress which I'd spotted on Saturday, a deep pink jersey and a long dreamy blue/grey summer dress - all at 50% off which left me feeling, well, left me with no guilt feelings at all.

Don't you just love it when you get shoes for free?

My pretty necklace made by gorgeous daughter Mis T.

More scrapbooking ... weekend

So firstly, when I got home on Friday, our phone line and ADSL were out and as at 06:45 this morning, they were still not working.  I also forgot the reference number at home, so I'm unable to hound them :-( however, that meant no internet facebooking, blogging or any such fun thing the W.H.O.L E. W.E.E.K.E.N.D!!!

Missy arrived home on Friday afternoon and when I collected her, her face, as usual of late, looked like a thunderstorm brewing.  I am at my wits ends ... honestly and truly.  I wonder in all honesty how much longer before the medication kicks in ... 3 weeks and counting and praying for patience.

Much of a muchness compared to most other weekends, with disappointing Friday night food at the Thaicipan, but divine Indian Pancakes at the Bryanston Organic Market ... Liam had a friend over, Jarod slept at my sister and we got a little time alone on Sunday as the kids were out to their Gran.

But the weekend seems to disappear so quickly and no matter how well you plan it, the hours seem like minutes!

I did finish off some pages that have been lying around for ages ... the Quading just needed the journaling done and the 'Just for fun' photos had been matted and I happened upon them in a folder that I'd taken out of a box I reused last weekend and when I saw them last night, I decided to just 'get it done' and I'm glad I did.  It may well turn into a double page layout in the future.

So it's Monday and we can look forward to a long weekend this weekend ... yippeee ... the possibility of more scrapbooking is lighting the end of the tunnel.

Ciao, 'til next time

Toy Run 2009

The kids as we arrived at MTN Expo Centre.

The boys with one of the Santa's

and 'mein schatz' ... I'm so proud of him and how much he gives of his time and energy to the Toy Run. 

You rock!!

Congrats to all involved on another safe ride and the awesome job you do touching so many lives.

Weekend is ending ...

I got this quote this week, and I like it ...

When we look into the long avenue of the future and see the good there is for each of us to do, we realise, after all, what a beautiful thing it is to work, and to live, and to be happy.

~Robert Louis Stevenson~

I think it's a duty to be happy and to work, whether in the home or outside and I must admit, working in the home is a whole lot harder and demanding! I miss being home with my children, but where I am in life right now, it's simply not an option.

We had another quiet and uneventful weekend - I was sick on Friday and went to see my dr who said that I had gastro and a throat infection starting - sigh - my ears are sore this evening! I also need to got and have my thyroid scanned and he took blood on Friday to test. Need to remember to call him on Tuesday for the results.

Otherwise, I'm doing fine.

Miss T has a horrid case of flu last week as well and stayed home for two days. She's doing much better now. Hopefully the lil one's won't get it.

Miss T wrote a biology test last week and said that she thought it hadn't gone well, it's no one of her favourite subjects - and she was thrilled, she scored 82%. I'm so very happy for her.

Anyways, that's about if for now, don't have much time, need to get the boys bathed and ready for bed ... have a fabulous week!

'Til next time

Already Monday?

The weekend whizzed by and I'm still wondering what happened between the hours on 00:00 on Saturday to 20:00 on Sunday. Unbelievable how quickly they go.

We had a FRIGHTFULLY quiet weekend. Except for dashing to the stores and bank on Saturday morning, we did nothing exciting - except for watching Open Season and Jersey Girl. Such cute movies. Open Season is already on the wish list.

Work was quiet and the day passed slowly. Been way to quiet the last two weeks.

Except for Miss T sniffling, everyone is doing well.

I really don't have much news - how sad.

Maybe next time I'll have something interesting to say

Ciao