Monday Music

I always liked Foster The People … but now I like them even more. Lots of cuteness going on in this video

Hey peeps

So it’s Wednesday already … and I don’t even remember what happened on Monday. These days are just whizzing by and it’s starting to really scare me. Just the other day it was 468 days until D-Day. Now it’s only 17! Excuse my language but HOLLY SHIT BALLS! 

But enough about me … time for another great ad

The REAL Christmas Wish List

Oh Oxfam, how pretty is your latest Christmas campaign. 


But more importantly, how true!  
We always tend to forget the real reason behind Christmas, and the spirit of it all is lost in the bustling corridors of the big malls and expensive stores. I think this year I'm going to do something really good with my winnings (read: money I get for working my ass off for someone else all year long) I'm going to help plant a miracle tree, or buy a goat. I can't decide. You should do the same here. Yes, I'm pushy but it's Christmas!

I might be a bit slow on the uptake but I’ve only just seen this Nandos ad now, and I cannot help but share it.

And when I eventually get my super cool crafting door slash table thingy, I’m going to pair it off with this incredibly nifty chest of wafer thin drawers. Found here

I’ve been looking for a crafty workbench for no jokes, at least 3 years now. I’m always threatening to redo the craft corner (aka: the study) but I can only get started once I’ve found the perfect table.

Initially I wanted a technical drawing type table like we used to get in school; you know the ones that slant upwards at an angle and which make it easier to draw on. But then I thought maybe a long old school, school desk would be fun, and I could spread my mess the whole length of it. But then I saw this … and now nothing else will ever do!

The Goodie Monster

I love this.

Two friends wanted to improve the way they snacked during the day. They wanted healthier food that was accessible, and heck, why not make it fun too. Enter The Goodie Monster.

Check it out here

...

This kinda gives new meaning to the phrase: Green Living

image from here

It's Time ...

Oh lordy, I just lurv Christmas.

But then again, other than Scrooge McDuck … who doesn’t?!

It’s family tradition to get our Christmas Tree on the last weekend in November. Which means THIS weekend people. Can I get a Boney M drum roll please! I’m so excited I could down a litre of eggnog. Except I’m allergic to nog. The folk up at the Everton Tree Farm know us by name. “That annoying family who always comes a week before we open and demands our biggest tree.” Since moving out of home 5 years ago though, we’re now “that annoying family who always comes a week before we open and demands our biggest tree, and two slightly smaller ones.”

Oh well … it must be done. And it must be done this weekend.

Last year I got an advent calendar just to count down the 30 days before I got our tree. The fee-arn-say was slightly concerned about my mental stability, but after that one lunch at my moms place in August where he overheard her singing ‘Oh Christmas Tree’ in the garden - he knew it was genetic.

Things To Do Before Christmas

• Get a tree
• Decorate it in happiness and glitter and stuff
• Clear out a corner in the flat for aforementioned tree
• Take pictures or the family tree scrapbook
• Oh … get married 

Ecstatic Happy Sigh J

Friday Browsing

I find Fridays are usually my best blog browsing days as things wind down in time for the weekend. Well, things never wind down actually, I just stop working at about 2 o’clock. It’s not me. It’s my brain. It just switches off. Really!

And when I’m looking for something pretty, inspiring, and just plain desingery-cool, I head over to Design Sponge. There’s always some sweet treats on there. And today's finds seem to be a little house-inspired.

Christmas comes at a bit of an inappropriate time for us this year. Not to be completely selfish or anything, but D-Day comes first … literally … and I’m not sure where or when I’m gonna get the time to deck the merry halls with itchy shards of tinsel and get gifts and things for all of our 40+ family members . 


 It also means we’re going to have to postpone the annual Christmas Party. Not cool. But what IS cool, is that I’ll be forced to buy all my goodies online this year.

Found a sweet little site this morning which is a mini version of In Good Company, and it’s really well priced too. How cute are these ceramic containers that resemble tin?  Check out The Selection here

It's Tuesday already?

Hello peeps

Happy Tuesday. 

Feels like Monday to me. But that’s only because I had a severe case of fowl mouthed tooth ache yesterday and booked myself off work. But we won’t go into the gory details. After a mouthful of shiny injections and R900 later, I’m back at work with the Monday Blues. Ha … I’ll never win will I?

But my friend Robyn from Just a Little Tea Cup brightened up my inbox this morning when she put me onto this cool site. And while I do love a t-shirt ... I love a funny one more! I’ve picked a few of my favourites here. Enjoy

Ah November ... the month of siffy upper lips and itchy kisses.

But what's not to love about a bunch of guys showing their support for a good cause. The fee-arn-say grows a total of 4 hairs for the entire month but chops them off as soon as he thinks they start going ginger "in the sun". 

Check out the official website here.

Forget Blue Monday

How about some pretty yellow stuff to cheer you up

images sourced from: here, here & here 

I’ve been totally obsessed with this Virgin Records marketing tool … so much so that I’ve got money riding on it with a  friend. There are apparently 70 or so famous bands hidden in this picture. We’re neck and neck on about 50 at the moment, with the one condition being absolutely NO google assistance.  Can you do any better?

It’s official … The new Coldplay music video is WICKED COOL and I totally love love love it!

I can't find it on youtube but you can watch the official video here on the official site, and get officially excited!

Alfredo – The Bootylicious Of The Pasta World!

It taste delightful, leaves you feeling totally fulfilled, a little squishy round the edges and … if prepared with the right ingredients, has you burping up garlic all week. Fabulous.

Someone mentioned a great Alfredo they tried over the weekend and I haven’t been able to get the thought out of my head. So yesterday I trawled the WWW looking for a quick and easy alfredo recipe that would score me points with the fee-arn-say, who "like, totally schmaaks an alfredo bru”. It took all of 3 minutes, as my first stop was the delicious whatkatieate blog. I scrolled about 7cms down the screen and spotted a home-made pasta recipe on the side panel …

Now I’m not one who generally likes to follow recipes because

a) I never have the right ingredients

b) I don’t like being told what to do, and

c) I can claim it as my own recipe if it turns out above average.

And boy was this one above average. 

- I swopped spring onions for Leeks

- I put 1 tsp of white pepper (not my greatest deviance)

- I used vegetable stock instead of chicken stock (cos I ran out)

Nom nom … took a pic of my masterpiece (am I proud or what) but because my BlackBerry is so awesome, it doesn’t look as amazing as it was in the real world, so I'm not even going to bother. But here's what it's to looks like when a real camera takes the pic, plus the easy to follow recipe. Don't be scared to add in mushrooms or cashews. 

B H L D N The Beauty

Twice a month I get all giddy with excitement when I get the latest newsletter from B H L D N. First introduced to me by my bestest who discovered the most incredible pair of shoes on their site … B H L D N has absolutely to die for décor, dresses, shoes and accessories – not to mention the shit-hottest bunch of stylist working on their team. I mean just look at these beautiful table designs:

But I guess, like with most things that are out-of-this-world awesome, they come with an out-of-my-wedding-budget price tag. Bummer.

Coldplay you make my heart go giddy-up

I’ve been thinking all weekend about how to write this post.

But I don’t know how.

I don’t know how to explain what I felt when I first saw Chris Martin on stage. This dude that I‘ve been so into since I first saw him crying along a rainy beach singing about being Yellow. This dude with the beautiful gap between his teeth, and the red AIDS ribbon sewn into his shoe; this dude who made me cry uncontrollably for an hour and a half as he ran, sprang and bounced around the stage singing songs that bring back all kinds of memories and make me feel all warm and bubbly on the inside! (mind you … that could also have been the puke flavoured brutal fruit I was sipping on?)

Shit man …

I have this feeling in my tummy that feels a little something like ‘longing’. It’s like I’ve just had the best night of my entire life … and the realisation that it’s over is not a very nice one! I feel homesick. But I also feel amazing – like I’ve just witnessed an incredible act of awesomeness and I’ll never be the same again.

Mumsie called the next morning to ask how the show was. I promptly confessed to it being the best night of my life. “That’s great kiddo” she replied … “but I’m afraid the best night of your life is still to come”

So thank you Coldplay for being so epic.

But it’s time to move on, and get back to wedding plans!

But one more song before I do ....

New album comes out on the 24^th of this month.

I’ve already ordered mine online!

Good Job Steve!