Jhb: Photo & Film Expo...

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Tomorrow and sunday are the last 2 days of the Photo & Film Expo at The Dome,  Northgate. 

"THE PHOTO & FILM EXPO in association with PiX Magazine is the largest PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPO on the continent, nowhere in Africa can you see all your favourite photographic brands under one roof..."

I was there today and picked up this little goodie:
So get your bum down there if you enjoy cool gadgets and are looking for tips and workshops on anything and everything photo-related... 



Tickets are R80 at the door. 
Time: 09:00 - 17:00
For more info, click here for the official website



Clover...*Way Better*

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Last wednesday I was invited to Clover's relaunch at the Alexander Theatre in Braamfontein, Joburg. After getting a little too excited at the fact that I had a press badge, farmboy and myself headed into the crowds to meet some new friends and find out what Clover had up their sleeves...


Meet Clover's CEO, Johann Vorster:

This smiley pic came from the awesome little usb each member of the press *i love the sound of that hehe* received after the event 

“We believe that our new Way Better philosophy, culture and approach will position Clover to interact even more meaningfully with all our stakeholders, all of whom have played a vital role in getting us to where we are today as an industry-leading company listed on the JSE,” Vorster.


And meet Clovers new logo:


So Clover is trying to be better, Way Better in fact. In doing so they are re-launching themselves with new packaging, a new TV advert, a slightly modified logo, all this while still keeping c"love"r at it's centre.



During the evening, we were treated to a three-act theatre enactment of the Way Better philosophy. The play  provided the platform for the new logo and television commercial soon to be launched.


The Milky Way was the theme for the evening, and no expense was spared when it came down to the finer details...like yummy canapés with the names Supernova, Twinkle Tarts and Black Hole. 

And to top it off, balloons were released at the end of the evening, with a note to say that Clover had donated R100 to the Reach for a Dream Foundation on behalf of everyone who had attended the function...nice hey :)



I now leave you with the awesomeness that is Clover's new TV ad...drum roll please...





Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby!

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  In case you haven't realised so far, I have a bit of an unhealthy obsession with all things makeup and beauty. With this in mind, I was super duper sad to come across the UK based company, GlossyBox. I say sad, because I found out they don't deliver to South Africa. I *WAS* sad until I found out we have our very own box of delights recently launched right here on SA soil...ladies, it is with the utmost pleasure that I introduce to you...RubyBox:



My October RubyBox contained the following:


Lancôme Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector 
A rubybox exclusive – after twelve years in development this serum combines breakthrough technology to visibly transform the appearance of wrinkles, enlarged pores and uneven skin tone – and you’re trying it first in South Africa. For best results, apply twice daily after cleansing and before moisturising.



L’Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil 

Another rubybox exclusive – hair oils are making waves so add lustre to yours with this nourishing blend of avocado oil and grape seed oil. Apply to damp hair before blow drying for added shine or afterwards for frizz-free polish. Fine hair? Rub one pump in your hands and over your lengths and ends. Thick or coarse hair? Use two pumps instead.


Decléor Hydra Floral Moisturising Mask 

Give your skin a hydrating boost with this fragrant cream mask. Suitable for all skin types, it’s packed with comforting neroli oil and leaves skin soothed, quenched and protected against environmental pollutants. Apply a thick layer to your cleansed face and neck once (or twice a week if your skin is dry). Leave for five to 10 minutes and tissue off.


 black│Up Matifying Base
The ultimate shine-buster; this 2-in-1 primer instantly soaks up excess oil and reduces the signs of visible pores. Plus it makes an excellent makeup base as it preps skin for makeup application and ensures it stays put until you decide to take it off. Apply the silky, non-oily gel after moisturising and before your chosen foundation or wear it alone to combat that mid-morning sheen.


For a monthly fee of R100, the postman delivers a box of goodies (valued at between R300 and R400) right to your door. A post to follow soon on the how/when/who of the whole process.


And the winner is...

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Having no bottle on hand to do a 'spin the bottle' draw, I found the closest thing...lipstick (and not just any old one, my favourite Catrice lippie!)



Just a little reminder as to the prize...




Well done Sally! Send me your details (address etc.) or we can arrange a pickup point sometime soon! As I am currently unemployed, I'm happy to travel :) xxx

Thanks to everyone that entered! When I started the giveaway, I had only 74 followers on this blog. Now, only a few weeks later I am up to 94...yippee 


Don't forget that I my 100th follower is also going to get a lovely set of BarryM nail polishes and Soap&Glory hand cream :)


Shopping for glass...

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Being Glass Week, I thought it high time I paid a visit to Consols very own shop here in Joburg. Filled to the brim with glass jars and bottles of all shapes and sizes, it's the perfect place to find just the right makeup brush holder/cookie jar/letter in a bottle thingy/anything your mind could possibly think of to do with glass :)

I grabbed my wonderful friend and fellow blogger Raf, and armed with a camera, went to take on the shimmering confines of an untamed room of glass. Here is what awaited us....















Shop opening times:
                                Monday to Friday from 9am – 4pm
  Saturdays from 9am – 1pm
     +27 (0) 11 603 2080

Glass: Wedding Idea's

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Day 2 of Glass Week is drawing to a close. But before it does, I want to leave you with these simple (*and cheap!) idea's for adding a touch of romance and old school glam to your big day.

Remember...
Glass is versatile
"Consistent in form and limitless in function, glass is as reliable as it is versatile.  All while maintaining its good looks and strength.  After its initial purpose, all you have to do is wash your glass bottles and jars to reuse and reinvent them over and over and over.  Choose to reinvent.  Choose glass"


Source: IcingOnTheCake

Source: BridalInspiration

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest


**Glass** Glorious **Glass**

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Next week is Choose Glass Week, and the lovely people behind Consol are doing their best to make people aware of all the fabulous reasons to choose glass. Everyday next week I'll be sharing another reason with you as to why you should choose glass. In the mean time, I'll leave you with a few idea's to get those creative juices flowing:

Image: DreamyWhite

Image: HomeKlondike


Image: CompletelyCoastal
Image: EatDrinkBeMarriedInCali


Image: DreamyWhite

The 16th September was Recycle Day here in South Africa, and if you didn't get the memo, it's never too late to start recycling! To find a glass bank in your area simply sms “GLASS” and the name of your suburb to 32310. SMS costs R1


 P.S. If you have any ideas on creative ways to use/re-use glass, drop me a line below :) xx


*Spring has Sprung*

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I wandered around the garden this afternoon, camera in one hand, a cup of tea in the other, and thought I'd share what made me smile...














Yes, this post was pretty random, but these flowers did make me smile today, I hope they do the same for you. If not, click here to enter  my giveaway to win some lovely things that will certainly make you :) xx


Market on Main...round 2!

/ Johannesburg, South Africa/
I have done a post on the wonder that is the Market on Main in Joburg's town centre, but after a recent visit and lots more photo's I thought I'd do another...why not hey :)

So as not to confuse anyone, ArtsOnMain is the building which houses MarketOnMain :)

Check out her blog (click here) for more stock of her lovely pieces

View of outside, what a pretty Spring Day in Jozi!


omnomnom...ChocolaJ :) 


The most delicious *homemade* marshmallows I have ever encountered!





Get yourself there every Sunday to stuff yourface with good food, mingle with cool looking people and get decked out in awesome  accessories!

Open from 10 am - 3 pm every Sunday. Check out their facebook group for more info.

Directions:
Corner of Fox Street and Main, Joburg.

From the M1 North click here
From OR Thambo International Airport click here
From Jan Smuts Avenue click here
From Houghton Drive click here


Soap&Glory and BarryM **GiveAway!**

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I am aiming at *hopefully* having 100 followers on this blog in the next few weeks...I am currently at 74. Pretty please can you help me get there :) 

I have some lovely things to giveaway to celebrate the occasion! Well, 2 lovely sets of lovely things to giveaway to be exact...These goodies are extra special as we you can't get your hands on these wonderful brands here in South Africa. Unless you have a magic carpet to take you to England, in which case, can I come with?? 


The first will go to a random lucky someone...all you have to do is comment on this post so I know who's who in the zoo (please also tell me what you'd like to see more of on my blog) 'follow' this blog and 'like' my page on facebook, easy right?

And the second prezzie will go to my 100th** follower!


**the only condition...winners have to reside in South Africa as shipping laws make it very difficult for me to send liquids overseas...so only South Africans will be eligible for this giveaway, but please don't let that stop you from checking out my blog! Lots more giveaways to be done in the future with non-liquidy prizes...yay!

Lucky Draw Winners will be announced on the 30th September 7th October *more time to enter ladies!!*. 
Good luck xx


Thrift/Antique Store wanderings...

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If you're on the lookout for something, dare I say it, *vintage*...head out to Queen Street in Kensington for some bargaining and treasure hunting. I am on the hunt for a working type writer...I don't suppose any of you know where I can pick one up for a reasonable price??


Ye Olde Collector 
Furniture - Art - Collectibles
154 Queen Street, Kensington
011 615 4987


Ye Olde Collector (yes, the same name as above!)
Collectibles - Porcelain - Jewelry - Art
156 Queen Street, Kensington
011 616 3578


**Pata Pata** Joburg's answer to AfroChic

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Located in the heart of Joburg's business district is this gem. Pop in for a late afternoon drink with friends, or stay for a bite to eat while you take in the sounds of local jazz bands. Next door is the Bioscope Independent Cinema if you fancy something a little more artsy, and on Sundays don't forget to check out the ultra cool Market On Main.






Hours:
Monday to Sunday 08:00 - 11:00pm

Directions:

Main Street Life, 286 Fox Street, Maboneng Precinct, Johannesburg

Woman's Day 10k run!

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This Woman's Day, TotalSports and Shape magazine teamed up to bring us a 5 & 10 k race in Jo'burg, Durban and Stellenbosch. For the past 5 weeks I have been following (well at least as best as I can) Shape's training schedule to get fit and ready to run 10k's. Now, I had a vague idea that the race was at the beginning of August, but this didn't quite register until a week before when I realised I would have to cut my 12 week program down to 5 weeks...eek! Just so you know, before I started with the program, the furthest I could run was to the kitchen to answer the phone and even then I felt like my heart was going to explode. I hated running and always felt so useless whenever I tried. But with the goal of having already registered for a race, the rest just happened :)

I didn't run the whole thing, I walked, a lot, but the point is I finished it and I was not the last person to cross the finish line either. What an exhilarating experience! And, not a bad way to get fighting fit and bikini ready for summer.


 If you are thinking about getting your run on but need a bit of motivation, click here to join hundreds of other women just like you, who, with a little help from Shape, could be the next Comrades winner! :)  Just sign up for their weekly newsletter which is sent to you every friday with the next weeks training schedule. The program is broken down into 3 days of training, with lots of idea's and tips on getting the most out of it. Plus, join their facebook and twitter profiles to connect with other women out there going through exactly the same thing :)


PS the SPAR Women's Challenge is happening on the 27th August at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, Jo'burg with entries open for both a 5k and a 10k race. Go on, your body will <3 you for it. Plus all finishers will receive a medal and a goodie bag...yay! Click here to enter.


**Decorex** JHB

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Guess who won double tickets to Decorex Jhb??? Little ol' me :) Thanks so much to LuckyPony (and of course Decorex for the win!)

The convention is happening from the 5th (today) to the 9th August at Gallagher Convention Centre. Tickets cost R70 and can be purchased at the door. Hope to see u there!
Source: LuckyPony



Ready, Aim, Fire!!

/ Creighton, South Africa/
This past weekend I headed down (or up or whichever one it is, I'm quite good with ye old geography and yet I am always being reprimanded for using the wrong term!) to Durban. Well actually to the Farm to spend some time with my Farmboy...sweet hey :) 

This is what people get up to on farms...









Brekkie in Melville...De La Creme

/ Melville, Johannesburg, South Africa/
Being a Jo'burg girl, I haven't done too much exploring of the Melville area. To remedy this, I spent some time wandering around and came across this little gem...



 Great service, lovely atmosphere and lots and lots of yummy yummy goodies to munch!

My mom and uncle Mike who is here out all the way from New Zealand to celebrate my mom's wedding :)
Yummy Egg's Benedict, and the tasty toasted croissant with bacon and avo...

Directions:

Cnr 4th Avenue & 7th Street, Melville


From the N1 (Western Bypass) take the Beyers Naudé turnoff and travel through Blackheath, Cresta and Risidale towards Melville. When you get to Melville, Beyers Naudé Drive becomes Main Road. Turn left into 4th Avenue from Main. Continue straight ahead for approximately 4m. They are situated on the corner by traffic lights on your right.

Opening Hours:
Monday - closed
Tuesday - Sunday: 07:00-23:00

*Tomorrow I will be posting a recent interview I did with a very interesting lady...stay tuned for that!* 


*Bill Craig* Men's Executive Outfitters...Melville

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With a wedding happening tomorrow (*eek! Mommy I am sooo happy for you and Rob!) all the men have had to get suited up. Here is a place that Rob has been going to for years, a place much more distinguished than it's neighbours on the slightly dodgey end of Melville, Johannesburg.

"Bill Craig has been in Melville since 1976. We cater for the middle to upper class Men’s clothing needs and we are a family based business with years of knowledge behind us.
All our customers are treated with respect and professionalism. We have our own in house tailor for alterations done on the premises. 
We stock everything from top class Suits and Jackets to Casual wear and shoes. The atmosphere and service in our store sets us apart from any shopping centre. 
Pop in for a cup of coffee and browse through our range of clothing. 

Open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm 
Saturdays from 8:30 to 1:00 pm 
Speak to Bill, Craig, Jethrow or Dawn"


Find them at 4 Main Road, Melville.

For more info on what's on offer, check out their website. 


*Win* 1 of 3 GHD's from StyleScoop...Yes Please!!

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So there I was, minding my own business, checking out some of my favourite blogs, you know how it goes, when suddenly...BAAM! I came across this...



Who wouldn't want to win a brand new limited edition, Iconic Eras ghd styler, besides the fact that they are worth R2280.00! 

All these stylers are from ghd’s Iconic Eras collection and come with a luxurious ghd Gold Classic Styler, two hair clips (these are awesome), a protector for the front of your ghd, plus a stylish heat resistant purse that doubles as a trendy clutch. Each set also includes a get-the-look book that will help you to create that Era’s style at home. Nice hey?


**So...to get your paws on the above, this is what you've got to do**

If you're a blogger... Do a write-up and then comment on StyleScoop’s post with the link of the blog post. Your blog title must have the words “StyleScoop” and “ghd”. Every new blog post you add will earn you an entry into the draw.

Not a blogger? Don't worry! Just Like StyleScoop’s facebook page between 15 July – 15 August 2011 and make friends with the lovelies! Comment on their posts, give your input and opinion. And do it in style ladies - all they want is to be your friends :)

For more info, click here to visit their site & don't forget to check them out on twitter...


**Good Luck**


#JoziBloggerMeetup

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Early on a recent wednesday evening, a group of 50 enquiring souls streamed into the wonder that is Wolves for a night of wine, socializing, prizes and a red velvet cupcake or two.  The reason I hear you ask? Well, three friends had an idea, an idea which would shake the very ground that Jo'burg stands upon. An idea to hold a get together for all those bloggers residing in the city of gold...

The goodies up for grabs! And of course the vino...
Then venue...Wolves Cafe, Ilovo. 

Playing around with fellow friend & blogger, Lou
 My dear friend Lou and I arrived at Wolves at a fashionably early 17:39 (bear in mind things were only kicking off at 18:00). We sat down awkwardly and ordered some tea, feeling very much like farts in a perfume factory. Luckily, Angie came over and with talk of a raffle & wine, we had made at least one new friend. At that was only the beginning...

The lovely Araffa and Lou on the left, and swopping blog url's...Sarah & Serena
Lou, Serena, Sarah and me...all smiles! And on the right, Michelle & Alma getting ready to win some prizes!
 What a delightful way to spend an evening, chatting away about life in Jo'burg, blogging in Jo'burg and everything in between.


As is the case with most events, one never get's a chance to meet *everyone*. But, to combat this little dilemma, here is a list of all those in attendance and their blog urls! Yay for Jo'burg bloggers! So go on, check them out and get commenting :)

A HuGe thank you to Angie, Nicci, Emma, Natasha & Jo for a stupendous evening! Here's to many more, and to many more amazing raffles (*let's get Mauritius on the cards this time!*)


* Tanya – tan32.wordpress.com
* Roz – jellybeanjourney.wordpress.com (email Roz at wrighttwinmommy@gmail.com for access as her’s is a private blog)
* Gina – gnatj.com
* Hayley – hayleymal.blogspot.com
* Carlette – nunuza.blogspot.com
* Paul – itsjustafantasybaby.blogspot.com (need the proper link asseblief)
* Emma – emmajanenation.com
* Michelle – smokethissxx.blogspot.com
* Lou – thetrialsofmisslola.tumblr.com (computer says no???)
* Natalie – cleomagazine.co.za
* Gareth – garethpon.tumblr.com
* Tamiya – tamiyat.co.za
* Faye – what.to.do.with.daylight.blogspot.com (Blogger does not like this?)
* Yusuf – untitledawearness.com (under construction)
* Megan – waitingformeg.blogspot.com (Second Floor Living)
* Stacey – storyscarves.org/blog
* Ricardo – (waiting for URL)
* Tamaryn – exmi.co.za
* Indianna – nicefind.blogspot.com