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How beautiful did Kate Middleton look in her Alexander McQueen dress designed by Sarah Burton? Very classic. Very Grace Kelly. And do you know she did her own make-up? Smart girl. Seems like she knows exactly what she wants.

She seems really sweet and dare I say down-to-earth. Good choice, William!

Images: Daily Mail

perfection

This is one of my favourite images ever.

Image: Sorry, can't remember. If you know, please comment!

the cool kid

If I had to go into work every day (as opposed to stumbling half-asleep the few metres from my bed to desk every morning), I would so pack my sandwiches in a Blafre lunchbox.

Yes, I know it is meant for kids, but when did that ever stop me?

Image: Lunchbox World

nice and simple

This little place would do just fine for me, the husband, and the crazies (aka our cats). I like the simplicity of it.

Image: Cup of Jo

do it. do it now.

Rock that horse makes these amazing posters. You can order them, frame them, and hang them in your home. I think you should.

Images: Rock that horse

to stay blonde or not to stay blonde. that is the question, dear readers.

So I'm heading home for a visit next Wednesday. Ah home - my mom's home cooking, catching up with friends, cooler weather. And going to the hairdresser. Yup, you read right. I go home for my hair. Though I've lived in this darn city for close on 4 years, I have yet to find a hairdresser I trust to highlight my hair. I tried a few in the beginning, but let's just say that yellow hair doesn't really suit my colouring. So, about every two months, I go to my trusty hairdresser, Melani, at Maison Costa. She's really good and knows that she has to leave my foils in for ages so that my naturally reddish hair (see painting by Renoir above) goes platinum.

Thing is, I sometimes get a bit bored with the blonde. So, here I am once again considering other colours. Here are a few I'm liking:

Maybe brown with highlights a la actress Minka Kelly? (Please just ignore the fact that she looks like a porn star...)

How would one describe model Natalia Vodianova's hair colour? Light brown?

Or should I just stay blonde? I do like it. It makes me feel all sweet and innocent ;)

Images: Glamour, Natalia Web, Renoir Gallery

amber, banksy and pie

So my Easter weekend wasn't too exciting. My dog, Amber (she's 15 years old), had to stay at the vet with a drip in her paw last night, so I spent most of my time worrying and praying. I did, however, eat a super yummy meal and watched an arty documentary. The meal was tuna and pea pie and creamed sweetcorn at the Woolies Cafe and the doccie was Exit through the gift shop. The former has me obsessing about how I can recreate its deliciousness at home and the latter was pretty thought provoking, though I wish there had been more of Banksy in it. He seems like a really cool guy.

Image: Banksy

parfum

The husband is going to get me this Balenciaga perfume when he goes overseas in July. Thank you husband!

A Chypre Violet with the green, fresh signature of the flower and its leaves blended into a precious harmony of pure woods.

And isn't the bottle beautiful?

Image: Balenciaga

top me up

There are several things I always find myself ogling and/or buying - tops, chairs, ceramic objects, and glasses. Given that the husband and I live in a one bedroom flat and we already have seven different types of chairs scattered around the place, I'll have to wait till we move into a bigger place before I can buy any more. Ditto the glasses. Our kitchen cupboards...well, they kinda can't close anymore. Ceramic goodies - hmmm...I still have some space left in my display cabinet. But tops? A girl can never have enough tops. No siree. I just make sure that I have a few in the dirty clothes basket and several drying on the washing line, so that there's enough space in my cupboard for the rest. It's a juggling act, but one I'm happy to do.

Anyhoo. I wouldn't mind the following cooler weather tops/sweaters:

Commes Des Garcon

  

Anthropologie 

 

Anthropologie

ModCloth

Yup, I want a New York Yankees baseball tee.

Images: La Garconne, Anthropologie, ModCloth, Victoria's Secret

the long weekend

Note to self: Do not venture into Country Road section in Woolies when broke. Will only lead to a sulk. I really, really wanted to buy this top. Such soft fabric and I can never resist a good checked shirt. It looked great with the pale grey cords I also tried on. Oh well.

 Oh a happier note: Happy Easter to all my Christian readers!

Image: Country Road

who have you become?

This has been on quite a few blogs already but I just had to repost it because I love it. It's a campaign for the bookstore Mint Vinetu called Become someone else. The idea behind it is that when one reads a book, one lives it and starts identifying with the main character. So true. Good job Lithuanian ad agency people!

Images: Love

things i need. ok, want. part 3

Hi there friends and family! Do you know my birthday is only 70 days away? Yes, I can't believe it's that close either! Better get cracking on my presents! Sorry, what's that? You don't know what to get me? Don't worry! I've made a wish list to make it easier for you. No, no, it's my pleasure!

Pigeon light from Smallable

Skirt from Spence

 Embroidered hoop from Lauren Fowler

Leica camera from SA Camera

Low back settee from Liam Mooney

Hmmm. On second thought... All I want for my birthday is a huge slice of red velvet cake and the company of my loved ones. Cheddar cheesy, but true!

life goes by on a talihina sky

Oh my. I am so looking forward to seeing Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon. Also can't wait to finally watch the band. Live. In SA. In October. Sigh.

comments

It seems that there was some weird setting on my blog that made it almost impossible for people to comment, but never fear, I have fixed it and you can now comment to your heart's content! I love reading comments, so please write, write, write and let me know what you think about my posts and if you want to see more fashion, decor, or personal stuff. Thanks! x

come on over crew

I probably shouldn't wish for a J.Crew in South Africa. That would be like wishing to be declared bankrupt. But that doesn't mean I can't dream of all the things I would buy if we did have one.

Images: J.Crew

wild thang

One of my dream items of clothing is a pair of leather pants. Yeah, baby! Here are a few I found on Asos (just ignore the tranny shoes).

Which one do you like the most? I may need to lose 5kg to look good in any of them, but that's a whole other post...

Images: Asos

all gone to look for america

* This is a map of America from a Californian's perspective. Since California equals Hollywood and Hollywood equals movies and movies equal what the world knows about America, it's my perspective of America too.

Alright, so I know one gets Francophiles and Anglophiles, but what does one call someone who is obsessed with the US of A? Anyone know? Well, whatever. I've never been there, but am totally planning on travelling through that big ol' place one day. A roadtrip would be ideal, but I've read about how one can take a train trip through several states for relatively cheap. So that may be what I end up doing.

Some of the places I would like to visit:
Maine - supposedly lots of the houses there have widow's walks? they sound awesome. and for the lobster rolls.
New York - to visit all the museums, galleries, parks and to shop, shop, shop. and people watch.
Boston - more bookstores per capita that almost anywhere else in the world? yes, please.
South Carolina - to see the trees in fall.
All the places on Diners, Drive-in and Dives - have you seen this show? jeepers ... everything looks so fattening and delicious.
And a bunch of other states like Texas and Tennessee

...and things I'd like to try:
pies of every variety - apple, cherry, key lime, pumpkin, blueberry, peach, chocolate.
a taco from Taco Bell
a bagel from a vendor in NYC
a picnic in Central Park

There are loads of other things I'm probably forgetting, but I hope this post is enough to make some person who works for an airline take pity on me and send me a return ticket to America. My address is...

Image: Koalogy via Life according to Celia

tasty decor

I'm planning a few posts for today (if work doesn't get in the way of my blogging). First up: some decorliciousness.

Remember how I kinda still like wall tattoos? Well, I've decided on this one from UbaNice.

Great loft-style apartment.

My home office space is so going to look like this one day when I'm all grown-up.

It's also going to have these shelves in it.

Images: UbaNice, La Maison d'Anna G, Emmas Designblogg, Love made me do it

my dream bathden (bathroom + garden)

My granny used to live in a house in Upington that had plants growing up the outside walls and into her room and toilet. I liked it. That's why I want my bathroom to look like this one day:

Image: Sorry, can't remember. Please comment if you know!

mad movie

Talking 'bout Kirsten Dunst... She has a new movie coming out this year called Melancholia. It's written and directed by Lars von Trier, so you just know it's gonna be weird beyond. Here's the trailer:

outsider fashion

I'd forgotten how much I like Band of Outsiders until I stumbled across its Spring 2011 collection. Here are some of my favourite looks:

Kirsten Dunst also modelled one of its collections a year or three back.

Images: Style