Anthology Pop Up

Durbanites, if you haven't already been there, then take a swing past Windermere Centre to explore the gorgeous new pop up shop, Anthology.

Occupying the space of the previous Food Lovers Market you'll find a light, airy, spacious pop up shop selling a collection of carefully curated items, from gorgeous 'pre-loved' clothing to inspiring art and tasty macaroons. 

The vibe is relaxed yet sophisticated, the clothing old and new, the decor fresh and clean and the art is seriously cool. (I've got my eye on this flamingo piece that I'm just begging to bring home...)

The store will be open until January so be sure to swing past before it moves on.
  

Derryn Semple Photography

My good friend Derryn of Derryn Semple Photography asked The Boyfriend and I to pose for some pics.
I admit I thought I'd feel like a tosser posing on a beach, but we didn't pose. We frolicked and had fun and in the end happened to get some really cool pictures.

If you're getting hitched and looking for a wedding photographer, give Derryn a call. (Just to make it clear, Dane and I have not sneakily eloped. Mom, Dad - relax)

Derryn joked around with us and made us feel so comfortable with a camera in our faces (usually a very awkward situation for us non-models) that we really actually enjoyed it.

A few snaps from our hour on the beach...

We love Durban.

My Gorgeous.

Dane's turn behind the camera...

See more pics here.

Meet Derryn:

 

Find Derryn on facebook too.

Happiness is... being organised

How organised are you?

I can be the queen of organised or utterly forgetful, overwhelmed and lost. It all comes down to planning. When I plan I feel confident and everything just works. So I like to plan... I write lists and I  keep a calendar.

Keeping a calendar has been my social saviour. At the age I am, there are so many weddings, engagement parties, hens parties, baby showers and then also all the usual; birthdays, dinner dates, farewells, and everything in between. So I keep a calendar, stuck right up on my fridge, penned in with all our events, so that I see it daily and then so does The Boyfriend. (Don’t try tell me you didn’t know we had dinner with your parents tonight… It’s been on the fridge for two weeks now).

And now to add a touch of joyful happiness to my organising, Fathima, the  cat-loving, water-colouring illustrator behind the beautiful Happiness is blog, has started designing free printable monthly calendars. If you need some clarity in your life too, click here to visit her site and download these awesome calendars.

While you’re there be sure to look around at all her gorgeous illustrations and designs – you are going to love her style!

Here’s just a peek…

 

All images taken from Happiness is blog.

Thrills, Grilles and high speed Skills (My first Top Gear!)

Denim Shirt-  Mr Price, Shorts -Woolworths, Bag - Gifted, Sunnies - Lundun

 

This year for the second year in a row, TOP GEAR (as in the British TV show) came to our fun little city of Durban for their Top Gear Live Festival. A weekend dedicated to fast cars, terrifying stunts, gravity defying bikes and everything else car related (as in speakers the size of small cars, tightly packed into the back of big cars. I still don’t quite understand this. Your ears bleed if the sound goes louder than soft. Why?)

Just a few Ferraris

Last year I had no interest in going. This year I had no interest in going. Cars aren’t really my passion. I drive one so I can get around. That’s why I have a car. If public transport was reliable in Durban I might even consider it over driving…

But, even with my clear disinterest in cars, The Boyfriend and I got offered tickets to the festival. And boy was I glad we went. What an experience!

The thrill of the stunt men drifting high speed vehicles within less than an inch of each other, the sound and smell of a Formula 1 car racing around the track just metres in front of us, the excitement of a bungee jumping car (yes this is Top Gear, expect ‘silly’ stunts too) and the awe of multiple motorbikes all flying through the air, their riders flicking their legs above their heads, was enough to convert me. I had so much fun. 

 

Just you know, doing a quick can-can while flying through the air...

I even got so into the spirit of it all that I became a groupie and had Formula 1 racer Antonio Felix da Costa sign my chest! ( I didn’t have an autograph pad or anything and well, I’ve always wanted to be like, 'OMG sign my chest!' Inner rock star groupie wannabe in me sneaking out there.)

 

OMG! Sign my chest! heehee!

I think this could suit me...

Everything is just, well, BIGGER!

The Moses Mabhida Stadium

I am a changed woman. If Top Gear comes again there is no way I am skipping it. If not for the cars, for the thrills. The adrenalin pumping, heart racing excitement is just what I love!

 

I LOVED watching these guys. The one man isn't even touching his bike!

Yes, its a bungee jumping car!

 p.s. Yes, we are right in the middle of winter! This week is the winter solstice and we are still in shorts and slops! I love my city! It seldom gets cold!

 

Colour Festival

Every hour the DJ did a count down to a big toss where everybody threw their coloured powder into the sky.

This Saturday was the Colour Festival I posted about last month. It was a massive celebration of colour and quite possibly the messiest party I have ever been to. But what a fun time we had! This was an experience like no other!
As promised, a couple photos from the day...

La Maison

There's no place like home, and well, there's no pace like La Maison. 
Hidden in plain sight in Durban North, La Maison is the cutest and most welcoming little cafe, spa and scrapbooking shop. 

picture taken off  here

With indulgent pastries, great coffee and so many awesome bits and bobs to look at and buy, maybe try it out for your next girlies brunch if you're in the area... 

Fun table decor

picture taken off  here

picture taken off  here

Nothing like a spot of shopping after tea...

I do love ribbons...

Find La Maison at 9 Ennisdale Drive, Durban North.

Durban - I Love My City

I came across this fantastic video by Chris da Canha showing beautifully shot time lapses of Durban. I love my city and this just gives you a glimpse of some of her beauty...

Holidaying in my Hometown

 This year over the festive season Dane and I chose not to escape to a beachy paradise like we usually do, as we are off to Italy in a few weeks, so instead we took to holidaying at home. 

Durban is such a beautiful city and a massive tourist destination over December so we took advantage and played tourists!

One such adventure was hiring bikes and riding them along the beachfront... Exercise and fun!
 

Having just hired bikes at the Stadium - Dane being extreme?

Riding with friends on a sunny day... bliss.

The stadium where we rode from  is the little white mark on the far right after all the buildings...

 

Dane insisting that the bike must be in the picture...ha.

STS Sports at Moses Mabhida stadium hires bikes for R40 an hour so for R80 you can ride all the way to uShaka, maybe break for lunch and a ice cold beer, and then cruise back...

Such a great way to be outdoors and active!

Have you heard of Kinfolk Magazine?

 

  

Until very recently I had not, but when I got invited to a Kinfolk {Durban} inspired party a few of my friends were throwing I suddenly realised what I had been missing out on…

Kinfolk is “a growing community of artists with a shared interest in small gatherings. We recognize that there is something about a table shared by friends, not just a wedding or once-a-year holiday extravaganza, that anchors our relationships and energizes us”

For us, the Kinfolk dinner was a gathering of friends each bringing something to the table, from food to music to inspiring decor. We’ve seen the beautiful pics all over pinterest, so instead of just repinning, we recreated and held our own beautiful get together…

Our Durban Kinfolk dinner was held in the courtyard of the Bean Green Coffee Roastery  (Have you been? Mel has won multiple awards for her coffee, so do make it a priority a stop by there asap)

I was instructed to make a pie (my first time!) and it was a total success. Will post the recipe for my Cherry Berry Pie up asap so you can give it a try too! It was so delish (if I might say so myself…)

Derryn was there too capturing everything in photos. Derryn has a great way of capturing people in their natural beautiful selves (no freezing up and stiff smiles when she’s behind the lens).

All above pictures by Derryn Semple Photography. More pics of the evening here.

Charity Sarah also brought her video making skills and made an awesome little vid of the evening! Check it out below!