Doing it for a cause

I am busy planning and organising the third annual charity ball to be held on 2 February 2013 and what fun I am having!

This year's event will be more than just another Formal Affair and I am hoping that the guests will be rocking it in some interesting masks for the Masquerade Ball!

For those of you that are in Jozie, here are the details, do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to attend the event...

For those that have already booked their tickets, here are some interesting ideas for the event:

Elegant in black; from here

Romantic in lace, from here

Colourful fiesta, from here

I am sooooo exited for the Charity ball! Perhaps I've lured some of you to attend the event with this post... Have a good Monday all xoxo

Where have I been?

After a loooooong delay and pause in my blog posts I am happy to report that I am back!

So what have I been up to you may ask. Well here is the short version:

I've been cooking:

We had a lovely "Greek" inspired August Kitchen Counter Club!

I've adopted a dog:

Meet Rosco, aka Mr. Wakkie

I've been exploring our "back yard":

A trip to Hartbeespoortdam

I've gotten up close and personal with the wildlife on the farm:

I've spent some much needed time with my family:

The past few weeks also included experiencing SNOW in Jozie, reading, writing, designing, planning, configuring, preparing and embracing my home again.

I think I can now honestly say that I am okay with the idea of staying in sunny South Africa for now.

Have a lovely weekend dear readers and I am looking forward to bringing you some inspirations and new creations next week.

A special thanks to my sister, Bianka, for some of these amazing shots!

DIY Thursday_ What's for dinner

I am hosting a dinner party this week and for those of you that know me you are aware that I take this quite seriously! (Serious with a smile that is). As it is officially winter here in Jo'burg I want to do a warm, hearty winter meal that will leave my guests asking for more... mmmm, where to begin!?

Today I am posting some yummy winter recipes for DIY Thursday - let the long winter nights in front of the fire and a glass of red wine begin!

Starter:

The ultimate winter started must be a soup or a broth; here are some YUMMY ideas:

This Turkish Red lentil soup looks absolutely delicious; from here:

Creamy Cannellini Bean Soup; from here:

Tomato Soup, from here:

Main:

When I think of winter dishes I think of stews, roasts and steamed dishes... Here are a few recipes that grabbed my attention (or tickled my taste buds) this morning:

Slow Cooker Korean Grass Fed Short Ribs; from here:

This classic Northern Chicken Curry looks yum! From here:

Something for the vegetarians out there; how good does this Slow Cooker Punjabi Eggplant with Potatoes look! From here:

 Typical winter dish a slow-cooker pot roast; from here:

No, I still don't know what I am cooking for my guests, but these are great inspirations...

Side dishes and deserts I will leave for another day. I will try to post my menu and photos of my meal next week! 

Have a happy Thursday and keep warm!!

Winter Inspirations

Winter is winking at us here in a chilly Jo'burg! And we are all pulling out coats, jackets, leggings and scarfs...

From here

Perhaps these 25 stunning scarf tutorials will come in handy? 

I hope you are keeping cosy and warm!

Weekend Reflections

What a weekend!! I had such an inspiring weekend and am I filled with awe, appreciation, gratitude and excitement for this time that we are living in!

The husband and I kicked of our weekend with a visit to South Africa's biggest Agricultural Trade Show - NAMPO on Friday. All this "stadsjapie", the afrikaans word for city-slicker, can say is WOW! The implements, product development and growth is amazing and I was stunned at what methods are being used to improve and grow our agricultural industry. After the show we went to visit the husband's uncle on his farm, Baltuspoort, just outside Viljoenskroon, a small Freestate town, and I was yet again left in awe in seeing and experiencing such a rich family and South African heritage that was unknown to me.

The highlight of my weekend however was a night out to Odd Cafe in Greenside. A group of us went for dinner and watched a live music performance by Stefan Dixon - a great South African musician from Cape Town. Be it the songs he sang, the street cafe environment, yummy food and wine, good company or a combination of it all - this night definitely ranks on my top list for the year!

Here is a song by Stefan, Lets build a world - I absolutely love it!

Have a great week dear readers and may you always find inspiration in the little things in life!

Architectural Inspirations

I have just started the very exciting journey of designing a new residential project. FUN!!!

I have been working on the project for almost 2 weeks now and it seems like yesterday the creative juices finally started to flow - as this project has a clear brief and design direction it is easy to know which path to take, but some visual inspiration can go a long way!

Here are some amazing houses for inspiration... drool!!

Luxurious and Contemporary Home Design with Internal Garden green inspiration.

From here

I love the clean lines and uncluttered planning of this Contemporary House by Dom Arquitectura in Menorca, Spain. I especially like the timber deck and the pool!

Both images from here

Some interior inspiration; I LOVE this mezzanine level / bridge with the expressed exposed timber detail!

From here

The combination of a white plasterboard and strip timber ceiling brings great dimension to an open plan room.

From here

There might be more of this type of post to follow in the coming weeks and months, but as I dig deeper into the design of the house the detail and topic of discussion will definitely change!

Have a good day dear readers!

Lets go for a stroll

Hello dear readers! 

So I am back in the land of the living and right back in the middle of the rush we call Jo'burg living and working! I must admit I miss the Cape and its wondrous beauty!!

Here are some pics of a few pretty things that I encountered during an afternoon stroll in beautiful Franshhoek during my visit to the Cape the past few days:

An amazing shop_ Masquerade: WOW!

The town with its old heritage and rich history remains breathtaking

Streets are lined  with trees and carefully curated shop window displays

It was a cloudy, windy day yet this town remains a beauty!

Have a good week dear readers.

Happy weekend

And then it was Friday - YAY!!

 

My, but has this week flown! What are you up to this weekend? I have yet another busy few days ahead of me and I am looking forward to spending some time with friends and family!

The highlight of the weekend will probably be watching Phantom of the Opera tomorrow night, the show has been getting great reviews so I am very excited!

My finds of the week include:

These amazing paintings by Marta Penter

Viewing Pablo Picasso's work through photos of light!

Taking the concept of a vertical garden much further - a great architectural project!

A healthy brownie that tastes amazing? Perhaps worth trying it out?

Quote of the week:

From here

 

I am wishing you a happy weekend dear readers!

xoxo

Charity Ball 2012

As mentioned previously I recently hosted a Valentines Ball in aid of a local children's home, the event was held at the beautiful Il Giardino Restaurant and Venue and it was an absoluty perfect.

Here are some snaps of the night.

  The beautiful venue was the perfect setting for a romantic night out.

 As the food and wine began to flow the evening picked up a good pace that saw us dancing and mingling well into the early hours of the morning.

A BIG thank you to everybody who made this night a great success!!

♥

Local Inspiration

Meet Ingrid E Uys, an independent artist and creative who lives and works in Jo'burg. She spends her days making the most beautiful paintings, teaching art, to invalids like me, looking after her muched loved pets and being husband Pieter's biggest fan. But it is on her art work that I would like to put the spotlight today.

I was introduced to Ingrid by another close friend and since I have now been painting in her studio on a weekly basis for the past 7 months I have gotten to know and appreciate this angel woman, with her love for all that is beautiful and good. I find her passion for art and life inspiring and like a breath of fresh air in this fast city life we are living.

Here are a few of my favorites:

I absolutely LOVE her birds range

I own this work

A beautiful collection of paintings using her wedding as inspiration

The studio where she teaches

To find out more about Ingrid please visit her blogs for the love of a blank canvas and one swallow does a painting make.