Best in blogging :

Guest blogging for Bloesem.

Best day:

19th January – our wedding day.

Best eating experience:

Night Market, Luang Prubang, Laos

Best gifts from suppliers:

Swarovski earrings, Zenabu, India Hicks Body Polish, Crabtree and Evelyn

Best International fashion trends:

Tribal Africa and Safari

Best in personal shoots:

Cavendish Square Gift Guide

Best international bargain:

Raw Silk clutch bags, R70 each, Cambodia

Best local bargain:

Silver gladiator sandals, Ackermans, R30

Best PR:

Old Khaki gave a thorough and personal trends review for summer earlier this yr. It was beautifully presented.  Not only were we treated to a Poetry Candle and Old khaki Gift vouches, but they treated me to more vouchers when their driver was late in collecting merchandise form me. Personal attention at it’s best!

Best experience:

Temples of Ankor Wat, Cambodia

Feeding of the Monks, Luang Prubang, Laos

Best daily read:

The Daily Candy

Best local retail store:

Woolworths , From beautiful organic foods to gorgeous kitchen equipment and a fab selecton of shoes and accessories, I have to put my blinkers on when I walk through a Woolies.

Best home decor blog:

Style files

Best do-gooders:

Babazeka, the socially aware online store.

Best beauty:

If not for the great product, then it’s packaging. Benefit cosmetics.

Best in chairs:

Id Solutions

Best in wedding memoirs:

Plastic chicken, part of Afropolitan wedding theme and heart tin invites.

Best smalls decor store:

L’ Orangerie

Best S.A entrepeneur:

Heather Moore for Skinny laminx

Best handbag:

Jo Borkett

Best successful S.A. crafters:

Mongoose, their bags and cushions can be found in stores such as Big Blue and Babazeka.

Best live concert:

I have always hummed to Louise Carver’s tunes on the radio, but I was an instant fan watching her live at Kirstenbosch Silver Tree Restaurant. A wonderful evening with soup and wine for R100. I am sad I missed the Sushi and bubbles evening, plus Louise launched her new jewelry range.

Best S.A. fashion design:

Lunar, for it’s timeless design.

Best accessory:

And it’s been given the most compliments. Once again, Babazeka!

Best shoes work:

Grey Converse high-tops

Best shoes play:

Charles and Keith, bought at Singapore, Changi Airport.

Best novels read:

“The Kite Runner” and “A thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini . Now I hate to admit I am not an avid reader, but these two books I couldn’t put down.

Best easy recipe:

This recipe was given to me by my sister in law. It’s Nigella’s Margarita ice cream. This is a good one if you’re throwing a New Years Eve party and it’s just super easy!

Ingredients
125ml/4fl oz lime juice
2 tbsp tequila
3 tbsp orange liqueur or triple sec
150g/5½oz icing sugar
500ml/17fl oz double cream

Method
1. Pour the lime juice, tequila and orange liqueur or triple sec into a bowl and stir in the icing sugar until it dissolves.
2. Add the cream and whisk until the mixture is thick and smooth, but not stiff.
3. Spoon into an airtight container and place into the freezer to freeze overnight. This ice cream doesn’t need to be taken out to soften before serving, as it won’t freeze too hard and melts quickly.

Best browsing:

Peonies and Polaroids

Lobster and Swan

Pia Jane Bijkerk

Best coffee on the run:

Vida E Cafe coffee

Best local beauty:

Moya hand and heel therapy is a silky delight. The fynbos fragrances take you straight into a luxury bush experience. For a real treat, try the Moya Crystal Massage. Your skin is left glowing and silky and you are most definitely relaxed from the massage and fragrances.

Best inspiration:

BEST IN – What’s hot right now!

I am loving Crabtree and Evelyn Botanical Mango and Grapefruit Boday butter, if not for the texture, the amazingly sharp and fresh citrus fragrance, you just want to eat it.

I am loving Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love” , if you’re not a traveler you will be after this book, her description of sumptuous calorie loaded Italian food is mouth watering. An insight on life, love, spirituality and eating, with a sense of humour!

I am loving, well the T shirt says it all , by Urban Outfitters

MAY 2009 BRING YOU GREAT THINGS! HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ring, Accessorize, Fossil Watch, S Keren Watch group 27 21 418 0048, also available at Fossil Stores.

Seasonal “Hearth”candle, with sent of a crackling fire, wood and spices, Crabtree&Evelyn, gold Kartel Bourgie lamp, Twiice International

India Hicks Christmas set, Crabtree&Evelyn, Pearl heart Christmas decoration, Weylandts

Striped bikini, Truworths, vest tops, Woolworths

Eames House Bird, Twiice International, Ring, Accessorize

Mohair throws, Weylandts, Jug and flowers, Woolworths

Lip gloss, Woolworth.Necklace, Babazeka Designs.

Voayer bag and Vivienne Westwood pumps both Habits.

Jean Paul Gaultier Fragrance, and Maybeline Great Lash Mascara, both Edgars.

Apple Ipod Nana 8Gb, Kalahari.net, Scatter cushion, Weylandts

Philipa Green Cuff, Africa Nova,Shift dress, Jo Borkett

Ceramic sculpture, Africa Nova, Wooden Hearts, Aliet

Cushions, Aleit,Trio Ring, Zenabu

I love these Christmas Stockings, found on Design Sponge by John Robshaw. Here are a few gift ideas to fill your stockings.

Jamie Oliver Acacia Serving board, Rabbit salt grinder, Yuppie Chef, Napkins, Skinny laminx.

Protea cushion covers, Babazeka. Salad Bowls, Lim. Antique linen, Homes and Antiques.

A bottle of Pierre Jourdaan. Montana Swarovski Crystal pendant necklace from Zenabu.

House and Leisure subscription. Converse tackies.

Mac jeweled holiday gift sets. Louise Carver’s latest album, “Saved by the Moonlight”. Listen here.

Proteas, R40 for a bunch of 5 at Fruit and Veg City, Plastic tumblers, perfect for Kirstenbosch concerts and beach picnics, Woolworths.

Phillip Starke, Louis Ghost Chairs

Message rings, Ida Elsje, Glass Chest, Farriers.

Sony Cybershot.

Tom Ford sunglasses, Adamandeve. Skin glowing Amber Body Butter, Body Shop, Gloss appeal, Clarins.Madonna Dress, Desray.

Shirt Dress, Chica Loca, leather brief cases, Missibaba.

Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert. Stripe and floral big town bag, The Wren.

Dr Hauschka Sunscreen, Available at Faithful to Nature. Wedges, Zoom.

Rouge Day Spa, Moya Crystal massage, gives your skin a wonderful glow.

Limited Last Minute Festive Package

Limited Last Minute Festive Package R 1375 per person sharing Package includes: 1 Night’s accommodation 1 Game drive per day Breakfast Dinner Conservation fee Valid until 31 January 2009 Terms & Conditions Apply

Click here for more details.

And when all else fails, just give the world. R20 Chinese store.

Yay, look what I just ordered from Zenabu for the wedding I am going to next weekend. I am such a women, I have the dress, but am still undecided on the accessories so I have 2 colours to play with here. I am adding some bling to the afropolitan dress code, mixing it up with wood and African beaded bangles. Oh it’s fun to be a women!

See more jewelry here.

I was shooting some Zenabu Jewelry for www.adamandeve.co.za last week and thought I’d share a few of my favourite pieces. I love these swarovski crystal pieces. Justine was even kind enough to let me keep a pair of earrings! I feel super glam in them. I have been very humbled by my gifts this week! Thanks Justine!

 

You can buy Zenabu Jewels from the Zenabu Shop online and adam and eve .