boom

I haven't bombarded you with decor inspiration in quite a while, so here you go.

Images: Hilda Grahnat, Love made me do it, La Maison d'Anna G, and the rest I don't know, so if you do, please comment!

food by ferran

The husband and I have been invited to a screening of the El Bulli documentary (as part of the Durban International Film Festival) followed by dinner at fine dining restaurant Harvey's on Sunday. By our local video store. How cool is that?! Well, I guess we are pretty loyal customers. The chef at Harvey's will make the food shown in the doccie. Sjoe dude, hope you've been practicing! Just kidding. We've eaten there three times before and the food is really wow.

pity party

So I succeeded in killing my phone this morning. Sigh. If anyone has a spare Blackberry or iPhone lying around, I'd be ever so appreciative if you could send it my way. Did I mention I'm also sick? I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself at the moment. One of these A Merry Mishap bracelets sure would brighten my day.

I must just also mention a new place called Mooki Noodle Power where the husband and I ate earlier the week. Omg...the fish cakes covered in sesame seeds are so good. If you live in Durban, get yourself to Mooki ASAP. You won't be sorry.

Image: A Merry Mishap

men and their toys

This photo makes me laugh. It could totally be me and the husband's home. Carefully decorated room and then a flippen golf club (far left). There is always a golf club leaning against the wall in our lounge so that the husband can practice his swing. He's succeeded in making me allergic to golf in just 4 years. But at least I don't call it a golf stick anymore.

Image: La Maison d' Anna G

the boat that rocked

If I wasn't the most motion sick person ever, I think I would like living in a houseboat. This one, to be precise.

Image: Backyard Bill

super swap

I'm going to this on Saturday. Who's joining me? New old clothes, high tea, and the proceeds go to a NGO? All sounds good to me!

dreamy drawings

Although I love drawings and I love clothes, I don't usually love fashion illustrations. These ones by Kelly Smith for Australian brand Portmans are the exception.

Images: Kelly Smith

norway

It's always a bit difficult for me to resume blogging after events such as the twin attacks in Norway. It just feels wrong to post pictures of the pretty things I want. Superficial, meaningless, insensitive...

But, of course me not blogging won't in any way help the people of Norway. All we can do is pray or if that's not your thing, send positive vibes their way.

buy this. you might look as cool as me.

Me thinks J.Crew should use this model to model all their clothes. Want everything they put her in.

Images: J.Crew

too much coveting aint good for a girl

These are nice things. I like them, but I don't have to have them. I'm cool like that.

Magazine rack

Draper media console

Bye bye birdy pendant

Images: Scandinavian Design Centre, Urban Outfitters, Koskela

future home must-have

This may just be the perfect kitchen nook. The large windows, the sun filtering in, the view... Very nice.

Images: Hilda Grahnat

oh to have smaller hips

I'm all about tucking my shirts and tops in lately a la Emmanuelle Alt (Editor in Chief of Vogue Paris). Only problem is this seems to emphasise my child-bearing hips. Or am I just sensitive about them? Hmmm.

Image: Jak and Jil

bargain

I bought two wall plates like the ones below at an antique fair in a mall over the weekend. R50 each! I've seen ones on the Internet that sell for up to $100 each!

Bjorn Wiinblad designed this series for the Danish ceramics company Nymolle circa the 1970s. Featuring whimsical illustrations, the series depicts the twelve months of the year and tells the story of a young couple meeting, falling in love, courting, marrying, and the birth of their child. I have January and December.

hire me

I would flippen love to work for Chronicle Books in San Francisco. They publish the most inspiring books. These are just a few of their cookbooks I want.

Images: Chronicle Books

españa, por favor

If I had to choose one country to visit in Europe, it would be Spain. Not France, not Italy. Just look at the place. I know I will love it. Sigh.

Image: Love Spain

nice knobs

I have a chest of drawers that I wanna paint white. I also need to replace the knobs. I toyed with the idea of getting crystal ones, but decided that would be too glam for our room. These would be oh-so-perfect. The fox ones in particular.

Images: Kim Welling

set fire to the rain

Like just about everyone else in the world I am loving Adele's new album. Play this one at top volume.

once you've had wood, you can't go back

So I am kinda looking for a new apartment for the husband and I. And our two cats. And hopefully a new addition sometime in 2012. It must have the following: two bedrooms, a bathroom (always handy), a large lounge/dining room, and a largish kitchen. A balcony with a view of the ocean would be awesome, but I can live without it. Non-negotiable is wooden floors. So many of the ads I've seen say "Tiled throughout!" Why the exclamation mark, I ask you? Are tiles something to get excited about? They're cold, usually white or beige (ugh), and show dirt five seconds after you were on your knees washing them. Other exclamation words include granite, carpets, open plan living, and modern. Woop woop.

Anyway, I've seen a few nice apartments (with wooden floors), but I am yet to find one that allows cats. Seems people have a problem with felines. Cause they're so dirty, noisy, and violent, ya know.

Our current lease expires end of November, so my vague search will become a frantic, fullblown one in October.

Image: Closet Visit

glamourous grey

The monotone outfits, the make-up, the hair...what's not to love about the new Escada campaign?

Images: TFS

i'm in trouble

Oh no. There's now a Country Road/Trenery online shop on Woolies' website. Not good. My wallet has gone into hiding... But it doesn't hurt to just take a look, right?

cute 'n cool

I bought Wirebloom and Key Pete last week. Love how they are both functional and funky.

Images: Monkey Business

bloggirl no. 2

Angie is an art director from Johannesburg who likes pancakes and anything else with lots of sugar in it. She is married to Shane and wishes she had a cat. Her blog is also the first one I check every morning!

THE CLOTHES ON YOUR BACK

Describe your personal style:  Non-fussy and comfortable.
One thing in your wardrobe you can’t live without: My black skinny jeans.
Favourite designer: Coppelia
Favourite brand: Country Road
Signature staple: Pants, pants and more pants.
Favourite accessory: My engagement ring J
Last purchase: Navy chunky knit jersey

LIFE AS YOU KNOW IT

What inspires you:  Prettiness of every kind - photographs, people, music, art.
Must-haves: Anything made of chocolate.

Influences: There are so many – my friends, other people’s blogs, my Shane.
Favourite thing about your job: I get to be creative every day of my life and I can wear pyjamas to work, if I want. For real.
Hardest thing about your job: Being creative and on brief all the time.
Biggest indulgence: Chocolate
Guilty pleasures: Chocolate

FOR YOUR AMUSEMENT

Book you’re currently reading:  The Catcher in the Rye
Items you keep purchasing over and over: High-wasted and pleated trousers, I have enough, but I can’t help myself every time I see a nice pair. Hee
Favourite magazine: Frankie
CD on repeat: I listen to a mixture of music. I often make mix CDs that I listen to – The National, Tallest Man Alive, Tennis, Bon Iver, The Black Keys, Rod Stewart, Rambling Bones. The list can go on and on.

Bloggers you follow: Wow, there are so many cool blogs to mention: Button Candy, Hello Mr Fox, superduperthings.blogspot.com, Joy the baker, It’s That Nice.

Web sites you always check: I have a Goole reader that I visit it every day without fail. It has all my favourite sites and blogs that I like going to.

STOMPING GROUNDS

Favourite store: The Space
Favourite restaurant: Pimentos
Best place to hear music: Wolves (Angie co-owns this awesome coffee shop cum music venue)
Favourite domestic travel spot: Mozambique
Favourite international travel spot: Spain
Places you love to go in your city: I have a bunch of cool restaurants I like to frequent, Queen Street, Newlands and Parys for antiques, Cira Gallery, The Biscuit Mill, which is coming here. I predict that I will go there a lot.

Go-to shopping destination: Second-hand stores and Country Road.
Favourite online retail shop: Asos and Etsy (does that count as one store? Ha!)

oooooh pretty

So the husband and I are both back from our respective travels. It was so much fun to look and touch and try on the things he brought back for me from England last night. I wish I could take photos of them, but the awesome little camera I got for my birthday from my parents seems to be faulty (strange pink line across all the photos), so I have to take it back. But here are website images of the goodies I got.

Moomin fabric 

Marimekko bowl

Marimekko cup

Orla Kiely jar

Minnetonka moccasins (my birthday present from the husband)

 Zara pants (came with the belt)

Gap top

Also got some of my fave magazines and yummy sweet things. Thanks husband!

Images: Shannon, Lollipoppe, Heals, Minnetonka, Zara, Gap