Candy Coated

These nails made me think of sweets and candy and so are quite fitting for a build-up to Halloween (not that we really celebrate it in SA but I celebrate any and every occasion)

Stripes are really easy to do!

All you need is your base (stripes) colour, top colour and sticky tape.

First paint your nails with the colour that will be the stripes.

Once totally dry apply sticky tape in the pattern you’d like. My sticky tape was a bit thick so I tried to cut it thinner (note to self: find skinny tape. Cutting it is painful)

Then paint over the tape with your top colour.

Wait for this to dry completely before peeling off your tape.

As always, paint with a reliable top coat and you are ready to roll.

I sneakily did these at work so they were a little messy, as I had to paint layers between emails and phone calls (and typically, when your nails are wet there will be so much you have to do…)

sweets pics from here and here

Forever Flowers

I love coming home and seeing fresh flowers in my house. They just lift the spirit and make everything so bright and summery.
But flowers can be expensive and replacing them every few days is not really an option, but thankfully there are hints and tricks to making them last...

My mum has always said that half an aspirin in a vase helps restore drooping flowers and increases their longevity, and from my experience this really does help. Just be sure to change the water every few days.

I decided however to do a little research into this and see whether it is actually fact and what else helps. Turns out there are quite a few ways to make your blooms last...

Basically the trick is to inhibit bacteria growth in the vase and feed the flowers, so with that in mind, the below do tend to make sense.

1 - Aspirin.
This works. Trust me. I guess the Aspirin must stop formation of bacteria.

2 - Sugar and Vinegar.
According to Readers Digest, to make your blossoms last much longer than usual, dissolve 3 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons white vinegar per litre of warm water. This apparently works because the sugar nourishes the plants, while the vinegar inhibits bacterial growth.

3 - Bleach
3 drops of bleach and 1 teaspoon of sugar is said to help your lovely bouquet. I guess the bleach must have the same affect as the vinegar in the above tip?

4 - Copper penny
Drop a copper penny in the vase with a cube of sugar. Apparently the copper acts like a fungicide according to Squidoo. (Once again, I suppose, copper, vinegar and bleach all kill bacteria)

5 - Vodka
Because even flowers like to party every now and then?  Nope, if your kitchen and purse are bare and all you have are flowers and a bar, then vodka and water will do the same in making your blooms beautiful. Just be sure to change water every 2nd day.

Still Got the Hots for Dots

I know this summer we are pastel obsessed and our prints are all aztec or floral, but I must confess I have been having a small fling with polka dots too. There is just something so quirky and fun about spots. Big dots and small dots, they all make me inexplicably happy....

Madame Zingara

If you haven't been yet, and you are in Durban, then you HAVE to make a date with Madame Zingara, Theatre of Dreams.

When this circus rolls in to town, I feel like a 6 year old again. Madame Zingara is an extravaganza of incredible entertainers, from singers to contortionists, strong men to gymnasts, all performing feats that had me squealing with excitement and covering my eyes with nerves. 

Madame Zingara is an evening not to be missed!!

The incredible mirrored tent, and enormous chandelier

The super-glam mermaid

Ushers

Face painting...

Playing around in the dress up shop

The girlies and Mr C, the evenings host

Decor? We see props...

This car would have been awesome at the drive-in!

Dress - Inlovewithfashion, Shoes - Foschini, Clutch - Vintage, Belt - Mr Price

Postbox Blues

Scarf - Mr Price, Jacket- Mr Price, Bodysuit - Moth, Skirt - Mr Price

I bought this scarf with no plan how I was going to wear it, but just knew I had to have it. The texture, the colours, the design... it was just begging to belong to me.

Then quite conveniently, my bestie sent me a picture of her wearing a scarf on her head, with a suggestion that we must try this look. Well that was me sold.

An outfit inspired by my bestie, and the gorgeous 1950's rockabilly ladies.