High waisted chino's...

Am loving, loving, loving high waisted chinos... 

Pity the one's from H&M wouldn't fit over my MA-HOO-SSIVE calf muscles; but the Gap one's did :-)

Cool hunting in a Heatwave...

So, it turns out that there is a *cough* heatwave in the UK this week. Dire warnings are being issued as the heat soars to 33 degrees!!! Wooo-ooo....
My top 3 ways to keep cool:
1. Drink Pimms!

My favourite recipe:

• Fill a jug with ice, chopped seasonal fruit and sh*t (strawberries, cucumber, orange slices, mint)
• Add 1 part Pimms, 1 part Ginger Ale, 1 part Lemonade, 1 part Soda
• Serves one thirsty cool-hunter!

2. Drink Gin and Tonic With a Twist!

MMmmmm.... yum!

• Freeze a pack of strawberries overnight
• Add 4 to a glass with some ice cubes
• 1 tot of gin *cough* (or more...)
• 250mls tonic water

3. Go to Camps Bay beach and swim... 

Indeed...


Kisses,
xxx

Floral flurry!

Pity there isn't the summer weather to match these gorgeous shoes and bags! I am LOVING the floral prints available at some of the high street stores and designer labels this summer. While we're typically used to prints for clothing - I love the floral accessories this summer. In terms of shoes; I think wedges are ideal - as they give height but don't sink into summer lawns like stiletto's would. Everyone from Aldo to New Look has a version this summer... 

...and I am obsessed with floral clutch bags. OBSESSED! *cough* so if anyone is wondering what an ideal gift would be for a girl about to turn 30... Look no further than the above! heh heh...

It was love at first sight...

I am LOVING Joy! It is a clothing, accessories and lifestyle store for men and women. They have a Emerald Green maxi dress that is causing me great distress as I WANT IT! It's not on the website yet (www.joythestore.com) but after seeing it in store and in the latest schleb magazine; I cannot contain my desire for it!!!

But - one must be practical about these things. One cannot wear or own all the dresses in the world. 










Did I mention it was super-long and looked gorgeous on me? Hmmmm... I only have to not eat for 8 days to be able justify it in my budget *cough* Totally do-able...

Ginger update...

Awwww... My parents little puppy is growing up! She is too, too cute! 

She has a very naughty habit of playing in the herb pots... Looks like she destroyed the latest basil crop! 
I wonder if she will remember me when I come and visit in December. Hmmm... 

This made me miss home...

Somehow - this ad tugged at my teeny, tiny heartstrings. I felt a great pang of longing to return to Cape Town after seeing this... 

It's an ad for 36Boutiques - an online boutique that holds 36 hour sales for ZAR designer goods. Well worth signing up for (it's free - so it can be like online window shopping... *cough*). The ad basically features super-cool poets, stylists, photographers from Cape Town. 
While clicking on all the featured people on the ad http://36boutiques.glasshouse.co.za/ - I was struck by how AWESOME everyone was and thought of all the Capetonians I know that should be featured! <--- you know who you are ;-)
BUT - one of the featured chaps made a big impression on me! Loving Dave Cope's blog "The Foodie" http://thefoodie.co.za/who-is-the-foodie/. Anyone with that amount of appreciation for pork products deserves a triple thumbs up (why, oh why; was I only designed with two...)
Hmmmm...
x

Drunken Monkey

Super cool evening out in London Town!
At first, it appeared to be a chapter in a new version of "Lemony Snicket's - A Series of Unfortunate Events". 
Firstly; I arrived early at the restaurant I was due to meet friends for dinner at. I recall the term is "fashionably late" and not "fashionably early". FAIL!
Secondly; the fire alarm sounded and I was ushered out into the rain (Welcome to summer in the UK, Mananana...)
BUT - happiness scored a goal as a fire engine, packed full of Bruce Willis circa "Die Hard 1" look-a-likes, arrived to put out the fire!!! Ahhhhhh... Magic. 
The restaurant in question was

Fabulous place between Liverpool St station and Old St station near Brick Lane. Tears well up in my eyes as I recall that the fire alarm was during happy hour - as "The Drunken Monkey" has a gorgeous selection of cocktails during this time. :-( <---------------- super sad face. 
Luckily, the restaurant reopened - and I was able to sample the beverages and nosh on offer. Fabulous prices, great atmosphere, much fun had by Mandy!
Hope ya'll are having a great weekend!
Kisses, 
xxx

Result!

I would like to announce the completion of the "Emerald Snood" project. 

Can I get a "Whoop, whoop!"?

Hmmmm...

Greenpeace have launched a campaign against Mattel's packaging - lots of posters all over the place. Makes one (me) ponder...
Are their posters made of recycled paper? What will happen to them once the campaign is over? Hmmm...

My suspicions of all things "good deed's and charity" have been piqued recently. 
Fact: If you are a charity in the UK - you only have to give 5% of the proceeds to the charity* Some don't - and do some amazing work for the communities they support. Others... well! There are people on many of London's streets canvassing for funds. "Wow!" one may exclaim! "That tree hugger is really dedicated! If he is willing to volunteer his time to raise money for charity, maybe I should donate something". 
But on closer inspection, it turns out that these chaps are being paid up to GBP7 an hour to approach strangers for a chat and a vague appeal to support the rainforest/child/ocean etc. That's around ZAR70, which could feed an African family for a week**
Annoying. Therefore - give directly where you can. Otherwise the "save the poor starving/cute children and/or whales" foundation you think you're supporting; will actually just be supporting gluttonous "charity workers" living large off your generous donations! 


xxx


*ish
**ish again... Both this figure and the aforementioned are based on hearsay. 

Project Status

1. Clutch bag - nearly finished
2. Pencil skirt - just started
3. Fit and Healthy Body - abandoned


As the above projects require the use of a sewing machine and/or self control; they are put on the back burner until I acquire at least one of the aforementioned. 
However; I have an interim project. While browsing in the local charity shop yesterday - I came across similar wool to my Cape-Town-Emerald-Snood-Project, and so - the Emerald Snood Project is back on!

Will hope to finish this one... I need a sense of accomplishment that I am not getting from finishing a bottle of wine, or eating the last Rolo...
xxx

Home made pasta = cool!

Having time on one's hands is key to trying new things, I have decided! Motivated by sheer boredom - I made pasta from scratch the other day. It's actually easier than I thought it would be... 
Ingredients: 1 egg, 1 cup flour, 2 tablespoons water
Method to the madness: Mix ingredients in a bowl, until you get something resembling this dough ball

Knead it for 4 minutes... By knead (for those of you who don't speak chef-talk), I mean mush around in your hands, squeezing and pushing like you were massaging someone rather aggressively.
Then - roll out on a flour covered surface so it doesn't stick to everything. I didn't have a rolling pin, so I used one of my brother's beer glasses. I don't have a pasta machine either, so after rolling; I cut the pasta into strips and hung said strips on a knife balanced between two glasses. While cutting the strips, I stretched them a little before putting them on the horizontally balanced knife. They looked like fat worms. 
Once done (all cut up and sh*t) - add to boiling water for 6-10 minutes (or until al dente which means soft enough to eat as far as I am concerned)
Serves 2 (or one lonely person with nothing better to do than scoff a large bowl of pasta)

Mine kinda looked like the above. I just drenched my pasta in basil pesto, dry chilli flakes and a dash of truffle oil... and then ate it all. Every single, last, worm-like strand. 
Man - I really need to start doing more with my life than cooking and eating. 


Hrrrummmph