Picture my weekend

Happy Monday all… I had a pretty packed weekend, which ended with an exhausted little boy fake crying while saying “I crying, I crying” hehehe, too much funny.  This is what we got up to this weekend:

My beautiful (sitcom funny) friend Lyndall had a birthday on Friday so we went out to celebrate 🙂 clockwise from left…  Lyndall and Marvin, Robyn and Ryan and Leigh and Rory… (These people could get you kicked out of a fancy venue for laughing too much)
Rob and I
Saturday morning we did our first of hopefully many, Saturday run/walks, with Aidan tagging along in his stroller
We stopped off at the park, Rob decided to show Aidan how to slide (sure, it was alllll just to teach him, surrrreee) 
Aidan and my good friend Jenine… Aidan calls her Nene and loses his mind every time she visits…
Rob and Ryan (pronounced Riaan) showing Aidan how other play ground equipment work…suuuurrrre
Jenine and Ryan are getting married next year…And the whole town echoes  . . .  ffffiiiiinnnaaallly 🙂
Aidan was adamant he could climb this, we all stood around him freaking out…. has no one told him he is only 20months old?
This is the face we got for not letting him get on with it by himself – his independence is starting to scare me, like when he went into kitchen and got himself a snack all by himself yesterday…Two provita and a squish.hmmmmm
Aidan put the star on our tree this weekend 🙂
This tree is kind of a mash up as our tree and décor seems to have just DISSAPEARED it’s crazy… so if the tinsel looks a little “different” that could be because it’s Halloween themed
Saturday afternoon we visited our friends the Bhanas… Aidan LOVES their dog Zachary, who he calls zacky.. As in Zacky leave me alone, while running after the dog.
With Gabby (an awesome fashion designer) think he is trying to get in good with her to secure future modeling gigs, hehehe 
Fun in the kitchen for a braai,  Sal (in black) doesn’t do anything in half measures, so the braai featured so many yummy before snacks we could hardly eat when food was done resulting in Sal threatening to revoke our snacking privileges in the future, hehe … also it’s hard to stick to a diet when a delicious cheese platter stares at you… just saying 🙂
We went to Spur after church yesterday and low and behold my parents and siblings walk in not to long after so it became an impromptu Sunday family lunch…. I got the make your own sundae for Aidan which at R18.90 is a bargain…he LOVED it, I lie , he loved the toppings, the ice-cream not so much (watch him give the ice-cream the evil eye)… his sundae ended up being jelly beans and sprinkles covered in chocolate sauce.
Working off the sugar… he runs into play room by himself…chanting, I play I play and proceeds to do all the “big kid” stuff… This child! my heart!
Then he comes back, after deciding that we are boring and sits all by himself at next booth….so there’s that, lol
Back home we did some water play, he was supposed to sit outside the basin and play but nooooooo we “get in mama”
The kid had a blast…. His blow up pool was stolen last year (who steals a kids blow up pool I ask you) so I think a replacement is in order
Ahhhh the little things in life

Hope everyone had an awesome weekend, I know I did, and I was once again reminded of how blessed we are to have so much love in our lives 🙂

Ranique and the nude bride

We are continuing our Face Friday: Make-Up series with Ranique 🙂 and some photo ready make-up tips:

 

A week ago I did make-up for a very special bride in Jeffrey’s Bay.
After a trial, my bride-to-be decided to go with the nude look, because she wanted her wedding photographs to reflect that of natural beauty.

Now today I will not be doing a tutorial but will rather give you some make-up tips to help you look your best when you are photographed:

1.  Use matte colours –
Although shimmer can look great when applied, if you are a little unsure about what to do, it’s always safe to go with matte colours. 
You see matte make-up won’t reflect light, making it easy to apply and blend  and also much easier to photograph.

2.  Fill in your brows –
Even if you don’t fill in your brows on a daily basis, fill them in for your pictures. 
Your eyes and face will look so much more complete if your brows are looking polished. 
This especially goes for blondes.  Blonde eyebrows will disappear in photographs.

3.  Go a shade or 2 darker with your foundation –
Ever notice how some people look a bit spooky in pictures?
That’s because due to exposure on a camera when working with flash photography, make-up will photograph 2 shades lighter.
Now for stage make-up, I usually apply foundation 2 shades darker then my normal/actual skin shade because the lights on stage has the same effect as the flash of a camera, so I’d recommend doing the same for make-up for photos.
I also recommend doing your blush, eyes and lip colour a little more vibrant than you normally would.

4.  Use powder –
Even if your make-up is applied perfectly, if you look shiny in your pictures it can ruin your whole look.  Once your makeup is complete, use a finishing or setting powder to make everything more matte. 
I recommend even taking some powder with you for touch up, especially if it’s a warm day.

5.  Wear false lashes –
If you want something more natural, buy the individual lashes and just put a few on the outer corners.
This i recommend only if your lashes are short… otherwise use your mascara to create volume and length for your lashes.

6.  Apply your make-up in natural light – When you put on your make-up, sit by a window or in a room with a lot of natural light. 
This will give you the best idea of what your make-up really looks like, and how it will look in the pictures.

7.  Wax –
Make-up does not adhere well to peach fuzz.  Whatever you normally wax on your face, wax it before your pictures. 
I suggest waxing at least 48 hours before your pictures to give enough time for any redness and swelling to go down.

8. Wear lip gloss-
When it comes to photos, lip gloss is a must. 
Especially if your lips are on the smaller side, wearing lip gloss really helps them look full and plump in pictures.

9.  Wear black mascara –
Some people think black is too harsh for their skin tone, but I promise that when it comes to pictures, black looks good on everyone. 
Wearing black mascara will bring out your eyes a lot more than brown will. 

Here pictured below is the beautiful Gillian with her bridal make-up in the nude!

Oh So Pretty things for Christmas

So I have this friend, Lana who I interviewed HERE she is awesome and we get along swimmingly even if we only see each other every time the moon collides with Jupiter and three wolves howl in unison (that often) She has started a business called Oh So Pretty, which features the cutest stationary and décor items and I thought her products would be perfect for my local Christmas gift series 🙂
 
Here is what she does followed by what she says:
 
 

 
 
 
 
Tell us a little about yourself?
I am a graphic designer in real life. The rest of the time I like to make things – often randomly experimenting with things I always wondered if they really can / would work.

Where does your business name come from?I am not sure, really. A friend listened me through a bunch of options until it finally popped. I always liked the word pretty. (Pronounced: pruh-dee)

How did it come about?
Actually I major in event stationery 🙂 I have a passion for theme parties and weddings! I recently got the opportunity to exhibit at the Pop Shoppe in PE, which kind of forced me to step out of my comfort zone. Although I have always loved traditional art mediums, I honestly enjoy making things other than just a flat surfaced painting or drawing. I also enjoy taking a break away from my computer, since I spend 3/4 of the time I am awake in front of it.
How do you decide on products?It is difficult to – for the first time in a very long time – make something you feel like making. I am used to listening to people who explains what they need and want and adapting that. So right now I just do whatever pops up in my mind.
Do you design yourself?Yes. A couple of the things at the Christmas in the Home expo are from my sisters though.
Where do you draw inspiration from?My sisters are a major source of inspiration. I also like browsing Pinterest taking tiny elements of, say five pictures, and mush them all together…and people. I am fascinated by different personality types.
 
How long does it take to finish one?If it is a set of something, the first one always take the longest. But as soon as you decide what works (and you master the art of tying a bow so the printed side shows the right way) it goes quicker. The designing of printed things take up quite a bit of time, but then it becomes someone else’s job to print and cut it, so it evens it out quite well.
What to you is a job well done?If it does not sell and I would not mind to keep it in my own house.
 
What are your dreams for your business?I would love to do only event stationery one day and have an online shop for all the things I make in between.

 

 

Where can people get hold of you?

I am quite big on social media (https://www.facebook.com/OhSoPrettyStationery) and have a website (which is still in progress) www.oh-so-pretty.co.za
I am also exhibiting at the Pop Shoppe in Main Road,Walmer.

White clay ornaments DIY

 

 
My mom is very crafty and I remember making loads of things with her when I was growing up. This included ornaments for our tree…I wanted to carry on this tradition and remembered these cool salt dough ones we used to make.

You made shapes like playdough and leave to air dry and then you could paint and make them your own…

My mom could just not remember the recipe we used to use so I took to the internet and found something even better. One of my favourite sites, the imaginationtree, had these interesting looking cornflour and baking soda ornaments. They are awesome and  come out  in this brilliant white which looks very classy in my opinion. It has a grown up feel without a grown up price. Even my mom agrees that they are a salt dough upgrade…

What you need:

1 cup bicarbonate of soda (baking soda, not to be confused with baking powder)

1/2 cup corn starch (corn flour)

3/4 warm water

 

How to

Mix dry ingredients in a pan and stir through warm water.

 Mix over a medium heat, stirring as it starts to bubble.

Continue to stir till it thickens and starts to resemble a soft play dough consistency, take it off the heat and leave it to cool for a few minutes.

Turn it out onto the counter and knead it for a couple of minutes to make it pliable.

It should look and feel like bright white play dough!

Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and a straw to cut out holes for hanging up

Decorate with whatever you like (I used a large patterned pendant to give a lacy effect on the hearts)

The stars were decorated with letter stamps

Aidan insisted on using his car cutter, so those two will be painted while I leave the rest white

Adding glitter will give a snowflakey effect 🙂

Renokin can give you a fuller head of hair. . .

 

It is no secret that God was not skimping when if came to giving me hair. I have tons of the stuff… Oh so much hair so much hair… I used to tease that it was a case of quantity over quality, hehe.
A healthy head of hair is a blessing though so I’m actually quite lucky.

Not everyone is that lucky though. Hair loss and thinning hair is a real problem that affects many so it’s pretty great when a product like this comes along…

RENOKIN HAIR RANGE FOR LUXURIOUS HAIR
 
Hair is an extension of skin and there exists many similarities between the management of hair and the management of skin. It is for this reason that Lamelle Research Laboratories has introduced a product range that encourages hair growth, stops hair loss and stimulates the skin’s ability to create new hair follicles.
On average, people shed 50 to 100 hairs per day and an average scalp has about 100 000 hairs. Gradual thinning is a normal process of ageing however, hair loss may lead to baldness when the rate of shedding exceeds the rate of re-growth, when new hair is thinner than the hair shed or when hair is shed in patches.
The Renokin Hair Revitalizing program contains three biomimetic peptides which inhibit hair loss, prevents stress induced hair cell death as well as activate the signal for hair growth. In addition, Renokin Hair Revitalizing program contains two vitamins which provides nutrition and enables increased blood flow to the scalp resulting on the formation of healthy hair. Lastly, Renokin Hair Revitalizing program contains five natural plant extracts which aid in preventing hair loss as well as strengthening the hair follicles, thereby providing a comprehensive hair revitalizing program.
The Renokin Hair Revitalizing program consists of:
    •       Renokin Hair Revitalizing Shampoo 150 ml
    •       Renokin Hair Revitalizing Conditioner 110 ml
    •       Hair Revitalizing Solution 60 ml
 
The benefits of Renokin Hair Revitalizing program
    •       Can be used in both men and women.
    •       Clinically proven active ingredients.
    •       Applicable to any type of hair loss.
    •       Innovative skin penetration technology of active ingredients into the scalp.
    •       Can be applied to coloured hair.
    •       Can be used as maintenance for healthy hair. New follicle development takes time to occur.
    •       To be used for 3 months before visible results are evident.
 
Using the Renokin treatment program
    •       Wet hair thoroughly, gently lather shampoo throughout hair and scalp – massaging scalp for 15 seconds.
    •       Leave on the hair for 30 seconds and then rinse out.
    •       After shampooing, apply conditioner to wet hair and massage gently.
    •       Rinse well.
    •       Apply the Renokin Revitalizing Solution.
 
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Shampoo: R182.66
Conditioner: R 182.66
Solution: R 623.56
 
For stockists and further information please go to http://lamelle.co.za/renokin/
 
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A broke Christmas-just what Santa ordered

I’m heading for a broke festive season, but for some reason, I’m not too stressed about it…
santa
As long as I can remember December has been a time of excess. Of new clothes, fully stocked snack cupboards and days out. And as I got older, my single days, it was also when I could pay off credit card debit (not all that good with money this girl)
This year not so much. We are not getting Christmas bonuses so that excess is but a dream. We have what we have. Our bills are paid, we have food in the fridge but that’s kinda IT.
There is no extra money for outings and weekends away and all round Christmas jollification.
I was down about it, because well parties are still happening whether you can afford them or not.
Christmas outings, gifts for everyone, this all costs money…
It costs even more now that the price of everything has gone up! How am I paying R1000 for a R500 basket of food! And we had a couple of cash knocks recently, like broken window, smashed tire and then upgrading our car (all those hidden costs) Also medical aid kinda ran out, but our being sick didn’t run out.
Don’t get me wrong I know we are blessed, that our ends meet, I just sometimes wish it was more of an embrace than this fist bump, head nod, that we have going. hehe
But you know what, in the current economic climate we are of the lucky ones “Another day in paradise” like the song says.
Especially since I know so many people who have been retrenched this holiday season. MANY. I also have a co-worker who lost her home to a house fire. She is so super awesome and this breaks my heart. Not to mention all the people I know who passed away recently. It is not the Merriest of Christmases people, but it reminds me just how blessed I am.
I mean after all I am typing this at my wifi enabled laptop, with DSTV in the background while my child eats what I think is his 3rd Squish for the night (are those things addictive?)  So we are blessed.
And this lack of money is making me tap into my creative resources…and making me honest  –  I have already told my friends, that I’m broke and that I’m only buying for kids this Christmas so they will have to wait for their birthdays 🙂
For some however…
I’ve made gifts:
This is vanilla latte sugar scrub hearts…
The diy will be on BLOGSHARECONNECT
with my other quick gifts on there 🙂

I also made a gingerbread scrub 🙂

and for us I made ornaments:
Homemade white clay ornaments
And instead of going to restaurants we are doing pot lucks and bring and braais and picnics in the free park. I have even convinced my friend who owns a beauty spa to give me beauty treatments in exchange for a family photoshoot (hehehe, win win)  Also next week when I’m on leave, I might not be traveling anywhere for the holiday…But we have a pretty outdoor courtyard where I can read under my favourite tree and Aidan can play to his heart content and I’m doing my own version of advent calendar with him, by doing something Christmassy every night till then…
you know what?
I HAVE NEVER FELT THIS BLESSED 🙂