Thursday 18 April 2013

Friday 15 March 2013

My friend Des


Des is a talented hairdresser. We met at a wedding where she was doing hair and I was doing the makeup. We hit it off immediately and soon became friends! Des is a hair genius! Never have I seen a hairdresser do bridal hair like Des! I was fortunate enough to do her makeup for her wedding. Des was super chilled on the big day and was an absolute pleasure! I enjoyed every moment, we did cool smokey tones that suited Desire’s dark hair and striking blue eyes!


 
 
 

 
Des has since moved Jersey, a small island dotted in the English Channel. She has also welcomed her first child.

Enjoy your weekend!
 

 
 

Friday 1 March 2013

Home made Body Scrub

 
 
 
 
For years now I have been making my very own body scrub! I have also made it for clients in the past. As you know I do spray tanning, before you have a spray tan one must exfoliate all dead skin cells. I also recommend that you exfoliate at least twice per week! The benefits? Well just imagine having a smooth derriere which isn’t the cause from your 1000 lunge daily workout! When you exfoliate, you also stimulate lymph drainage which will help improve water retention and cellulite. While scrubbing regularly, you remove dead skins cells. This process will improve desquamation and result in lighter and a brighter skin complexion. Lastley your skin will be able to absorb the goodness that you apply daily. Hello gorgoues skin! So lets pop down to your local health shop!
Shopping List:
1.       Bag of Organic Sea Salt
2.       500ml Cold Pressed Grapeseed Oil (you can dilute it with another carrier oil eg Almond Oil if you’re super dry)
3.       Small bottle Rosehip aka LiGOLD
4.       Essential Oils of your choice! I use Lemon (Great for lightening and brightening the skin), Juniper (improves circulation and lymph drainage), Cypress (diuretic), Rose for the scent.
5.       Glass Jar, I always get the Consol jars and you can decide on the size.

Start with sterilizing your jar. Fill your jar so that it is half full with your salt. Pour in the grapeseed oil so that you cover the salt. Add a few drops of each essential oil into the mix. Give the lot a stir and then add more salt and then more grapeseed, mix. I find filling the jar with salt and then adding the oil can be difficult to mix especially if the salt is very fine. Doing it this way in stages will actually be quicker! I recommend a 500ml jar as you won’t get enough of this scrub! One last note, always scrub at night and wear sunblock if your in the sun the following day. If you are preggies, rather make a scrub with just the grapeseed oil and salt. Leave the essential oils out as they are potent! Happy scrubbing!



Monday 28 January 2013

A trip to Cape Town



 
Through a lovely group of friends, I met Roz. Well, when I say friends I mean brides. I was fortunate to do makeup for Jessica back in 2011. I then did Cathy’s makeup (Jessica’s sister-in-law) the following August. As well as Carryn’s bridal makeup, Cathy’s best friends. Amongst all the bridesmaids, friends, weddings and makeup. This is how Roz came to meet and ask me to do her makeup. Her wedding is in March this year, in Simons Town. Man, what an awesome location for a wedding!

Roz stays in Simons Town and unlike all my Jozi based brides we have been corresponding via ‘Whatsapp’ and email. Luckily for us considering our busy schedules, our planning has been good fun. Though I thought to myself, “How can I get to know Roz?” So I asked her for a story. Not just any story but the story of how she and Calvin met. Better yet, I am going to share their story with you! I know we all love a good love story!

 
 As a newly qualified Occupational Therapist, I relocated from Johannesburg to Cape Town in 2008. Starting a new circle of friends in a new city is somewhat challenging but I was blessed to have found work with a close-knit company. Little did I know that amongst my colleagues was a match-maker!
The friendships bloomed over glasses of champers, giggles and Friday work lunches overlooking the beautiful mountain ranges and vineyards as it is seemingly done in Cape Town! Colleagues soon became confidantes. In amongst the girlie chats, Mignon would often mention Calvin, her friend and farrier who stabled his horses at the same stable yard as she stabled hers. Mignon was convinced that Calvin and I would be a perfect match.
Calvin is a born and bred Capetonian. He grew up on the Southern Peninsula and has dedicated most of his life, including his career, to horses. He has two of his own horses stabled at the beautiful Glencairn Stables at the foot of the mountains. I can truly say we grew up worlds apart!
After much chatting and coaxing, Mignon arranged a picnic at the stables so that Calvin and I could meet. In the meantime, we had endless chats on BBM (the joys of modern technologyJ). We were both somewhat apprehensive of a blind date so to speak and we decided to meet for dinner beforehand in attempt to relieve any unnecessary awkwardness.
Looking back on our “first date”, it was anything but awkward!! Calvin and I simply continued all our chats in person and have never looked back! We soon became an official item and after 18 months of dating, he proposed on New Year’s Eve 2011/2012 © It has been a fairy tale romance… I can literally say I found my prince on horseback!

An Adventurous Rose

 

Lauren was a Batey and then she became a Rose! A rose is the perfect description for Lauren, she has a natural beauty and a loving nature. And one cannot help but love her new surname, Lauren Rose! Lauren and I managed to book her wedding via email as Lauren was living in the UK prior to her wedding. When I was finally able to meet her and her family, I was welcomed with warmth and I enjoyed every moment doing the makeup and spray tans!

 
Her wedding was held at Askari Lodge and was absolutely breath taking. Her ceremony was in the forest and I really loved how the soft pink bridesmaid’s dresses complemented the green surroundings.
 
 
 

I would never have thought to have an elephant in my photos! (If you happen to have one around!)One can only admire how beautiful our country is! Well, I leave you on this beautiful sunny Sunday. I believe Lauren and her hubbie have been in the exciting and colourful Thailand. Then they are off to start another adventure in Australia. Super cool!! Until next time..



Thursday 6 December 2012

My Sister's Hen Party

 

On the 27th October this year my mom and myself hosted my Sisters Hen Party! It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and we had a week of rain and chill so we were very fortunate for the weather. However it did rain in the early evening. Though what I say, “Rather rain for the hen party and sunshine for the Wedding Day!” A bargain we had to make. Now I must tell you, it felt like I was hosting “The Party” of the year. I must have started saving in January for the event as I only wanted the best for my sister’s Hen Party. I even went as far as hiring a photographer for the event so that my mom and I would not have to run around taking pictures. Instead we were able to entertain and enjoy ourselves. I highly recommend hiring a photographer. I was fortunate enough it get Linzelle, who had shot my makeup workshop in July. She had captured moments that I would not have been able to. She had also taken beautiful pictures of the food, decorations and of our guests.







 
I must thank my mom for the extra special touches she had done. She had made flags to hang in the garden and she had used quality quilting fabric with backing to improve the quality. I had searched The Pretty Blog for the free printables. I found flags for our carrot cake, labels for the treats and cards of “advice” for each quest to fill in for Chani to keep. We served Tranquil Blush from Pierre Jordan and Ginger Beers from Woolies. Maccaroons, layers of cheese, figs and fresh breads. We did a mosaic “welcome” for my Sister’s home as the activity, which all the ladies enjoyed doing!My mom played such an important role, she sure is amazing!



















 
 





 
On the 8th Dec, this Saturday my sister will marry her soulmate John. I am sure we are all going to have a beautiful day. I have quite a weekend ahead of me. I am so excited to share t.such an amazing day with my family! I will keep you posted!
 
 

Thursday 1 November 2012

The Zahir


 
According to the writer Jorge Luis Borges, the idea of the Zahir comes from the Islamic tradition and is thought to have arisen at some point in the eighteenth century. Zahir, in Arabic means visible, present, incapable of going unnoticed. It is someone or something which, once we have come into contact with them or it, gradually occupies our every thought. Until we can think of nothing else. This can be considered either a state of holiness or of madness. 
 
 
Paulo Coelho is one of my favourite writers. When he writes or speaks, he is able to create a world that I am absolutely fascinated by. A world of love, adventure, mystery and sacrifice. When I started my blog post of Denise, I looked at the first picture of her. She has an amazing beauty however there is something mysterious about Denise.. I immediately thought of The Zahir, by Paulo Coelho.  


 
I can imagine that we all have our own Zahir, hopefully one that will always point us in the right direction.. Anyway, keep warm on this chilly Thursday morning. Time to start looking forward to December holidays.