Best of the catalogues

I love retail therapy. And I love buying things for my home. My teeny apartment that is now overflowing with 'stuff'.

Right now I'm on the lookout for a new sofa. I've kinda set my mind on a corner unit in dark grey, but because the dark grey is such a leap for me, I'm postponing the purchase every month! But I think this weekend will be the deadline. I've already painted the walls, got new curtains up, so really, no more excuses.

I always get a teeny bit giddy when retailers bring out new home ware catalogues. It gives me time to shop without the danger of actually having (or being seduced into) spending money.

My favourite chain stores for home ware are Woolies, @home and Mr Price. In the last say 5 years these stores really have upped the anty and actually sell good design. @home stocks design classic knock-offs at good prices (let's not start that debate) and Mr Price is great for bargain finds. Woolies just have the best towels at the nicest price (their bale packs) and always have great glasses and crockery.

Below are some of my faves from the current catalogues.

@home, ceramic flower votive holder R39 (love the purple and green combo!)

@home, in love with this pic with the grey purple wall, lots of white, timber floors. Gotta say the couch sucks. The cushions are from @home, felt cushions from R129. Oh, and the aluminium bokkie it R590 - I want!


It surprises me that @home have quite a good range of posters and artwork. I always expect chain stores to have the same old framed landscape in water colours. But @home have some darn good posters. I bought myself a green "Keep Calm and Carry On" (which by the way has quite a history - will tell you about it). And they really are not badly priced.

Woolies, R 25. A steal at that price.

Woolies, R599. Again, I want. The perfect secy desk lamp!

I feel like hitting the shops this weekend (hey, it was payday!) and buying that sofa. Will let you know how it turns out!

x a

How many shoes are 'enough'?

M keeps on asking me this question, or many like it. Like "How many bags do you really need?" He's answer is 2: a black one and a brown one. Huh?

And then whenever I go shoe shopping (and drag him behind me) I get "How many more shoes do you need?" Love, it's never been a question about need.

Well, I do believe I need the black leather boots I am wearing now. It's winter, I live in Cape Town and I hate getting wet around my ankles. But I suppose I didn't have to pay almost R1000 for these lovelies, but that is where 'want' steps in.

Remember those utterly gorgeous blue wedge lovelies I blogged about a while ago? Well, I thought they were not meant to be for me when I missioned into Woolies and they were all sold out. Not even the size 4's were left. (And I think I might have tried to squeeze my feet into them if there were)

But. Yes. Then I walked into the Waterfront branch yesterday on my mission to find black boots (why do all the stores have ugly boots? They are either full of fake fur, biker buckles and zips, or so damn high I would never live longer than 1 hour in them), I turned the corner and there they were. IN MY SIZE!!! Not on sale, as I had hoped for 5 seconds later after seeing them, but they were there. And they are beautiful and comfy (bonus!) and they have a little blue satin bow on the front and I just love them.

I feel a little guilty after buying 3 pairs of shoes yesterday (I found the perfect black leather boots, by blue lovelies and a cute pair of silver pumps), but my buying frenzy does not compare to this girl. Go read her note on how she stumbled upon this collection of vintage shoes at an estate sale. Every girl's dream!

x a

*sigh*

Look at these beautiful ceramic goodies available from Cecile & Boyd here in the Mother city. I've seen some of these also at The Space in Cavendish.

I'm sure I've made it known before that I love collections. Different types. Right now I am building on my 'white' collection, all manner of white ceramic goodies (all exceptionally pretty on their own). I've grouped them all together on my aunt's dark timber coffee table and love it!

My favourite on this table is most definitely the big protea head. I have a little obsession with proteas, so these lovelies are just the thing to add to my collection! (Bokkie, hint hint)

x a

Green Kitchens

The colour! Not necessarily eco-friendly, but that's also on the cards.

I'm helping both my future sister-in-laws with their respective homes, and I'm enjoying the fact both have very different styles. P is a little more colour daring, and during Mother's Day brunch this morning, which turned into lunch but it was good all round as now one was really watching the clock anyhow (expect maybe M, as he missioned into the kitchen not able to wait an longer and munched on toast and peanut butter) P asked me what I thought of green for the kitchen.

Well, I love it. I've always thought that the kitchen is one of the spaces in a home that one can get away with painting a brighter colour, especially when people are not to sure about painting a 'colour' in the living areas and tend to stick to neutrals. Here are some of my favourite green kitchens.

Now the only trick is to get the Dom out of the house for long enough to make the transformation. He's a little anti-change right now, but I can promise once it is done he will thank me!

x a

Image 2: Daisy Green Magazine

Image 4: Country Living

Cape Town is having a rainy day...

...so I'm heading off home to make a big pot of soup!

During winter, I normally make about 4 big pots of 'boere sop', you know the kind. Meat, carrots, potato, tomato, onion, beans, anything you can find in the cupboard really, plus the crucial '4-in-1 soup mix'. The pot lasts for days, and I always end up freezing an ice cream container or 2 for later on.

But tonight I feel like creamy hot steaming delicious butternut soup. I think everyone loves butternut soup, and everyone has their own recipe. I don't really have a recipe, as with most things I make in the kitchen it really is hit or miss! My butternut soup though always starts with a chopped onion, butternut and potato chunks. I chuck it all in the pot, add a little butter and let the veggies 'sweat' a little. Oh, and at this point I sometimes remember to add some curry powder, some cinnamon and a little ginger. And sometimes I forget.....

Then I add about 1,5 litres chicken or vegetable stock and let it all party in the pot until the butternut is soft and squishy. Then I get out the blender stick thingy and whizz it all smooth (I hate chunky soup). Oh, I scoop out most of the stock. Then after all the butternut, onion and potato is pureed, I add the stock back bit by bit so that I can control the thickness of the soup. If you want, now you can add cream, (yum - but not good if you're on a diet) or some low fat milk (my option).

An extra sprinkle of cinnamon is always good!

Tonight I might just try this recipe from Martha Stewart. She uses ginger, garlic, cloves and orange juice, an no potato. Either which way, I'll have soup!

Have a lovely rainy evening with lots of bowls of soup and fresh bread and cosy duvets and hot water bottles and lots of cuddles!

x a