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Nope, it's not a Twitter update (I must say I enjoy John Cleese's tweets the most. They are few and far between, but always get met giggling).

I am in love with Genevieve Motley's whimsical jewellery designs. She creates the most amazing pendants, rings and absolutely to-die-for earrings. (BTW: why are pretty earrings so hard to come by?)

These are some of my favourites from her Etsy shop.

Being Brazen is giving away a heart ring and necklace from Genevieve's collection, but hurry, the competition closes tomorrow. Go here now.

Good luck!

x a

*sigh*....double *sigh*

How utterly gorgeous are these?

Each and every piece hand made, using either goose or rooster feathers.

I am speechless.

(You see, this is why I love design - that feeling I get when I see something so original and creative. It's like nothing I've ever seen.)

Pluma Cubic by Heike Buchfelder. Available in South Africa from Pure Light.

Do I take a trip to Europe or buy one of these lovelies? Seriously, I'm leaning towards the standing lamp....

;) x a

Flashback

I'm sitting at my desk eating a large, sweet orange. (I realised I need the Vitamin C during winter, so have been eating at least one orange a day for the last 2 weeks)

As I bruised the skin and the citrus sprayed, the smell of this orange skin took me back to when I was probably around 6 or 7.
My dad knew a guy (no, not that kind of gangster guy) that had, amongst other things, an orange orchard in the Langkloof. Now if you've ever driven to PE via the Langkloof, you will know just how picturesque this area of our country is.

Every year, around June when the oranges were ripe and orange (colour) and round on the trees, we would take a day trip to the Langkloof and be able to pick oranges - as many as we liked. Actually, as many as fitted in the boot of the car! We would pick oranges, eat them as we go, fill up the boot and then head home with a very heavy car!

Mother dear would make marmalade - which I never tasted, I just didn't like the smell. And for the rest of the year we would have a gazillion bottles in all shapes and sizes of marmalade.

Good times. :)

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Thought for today

"We're never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy"

image via Michael Hitoshi

My kind of lounge seating

We all love swings, so why not have one in your home? I can imagine it's perfect for daydreaming and relaxing.

I also love the all white palette - soft pinks, creams, weathered timber: whimsical and beautiful!

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image via Anita Kaushal

My rediscovery of books

Yes, it had to be rediscovered. Something I'm sure must horrify some of you.

I used to read. Don't know why I stopped, but I did. I tried reading again a couple of years ago, but people would come to me with "Oh, this is the best book ever, it's so funny" and I wouldn't find it funny. Or I would not be able to get past the first chapter.

The whole experience taught me that I do not like being disappointed, more than most. I get really upset. And so I stopped reading books, because I could not bare to start reading a crap book.

Well, I got over that. I realised I just had to grab a book and start reading it. If it's bad, I don't need to finish it.

But then I realised I have one more problem: I don't like second hand books. And I particularly don't like Library books, they are all kinda sad? Borrowing books from friends is OK, because you know where they've been and they normally have been well maintained. But a Library book, ag, the stuff gets dropped in water, people with issues draw lines over swear words, stuff like that.

I'm happy to say that I've found the solution: I buy at least 1 new book every month. I'm much happier in Exclusive Books than I've ever been in a library.

Oh, and although I don't see myself as a superficial person (I'm not), I've realised I do judge a book by it's cover. Maybe it's the interior designer in me that always sees the potential of a book as a piece of the puzzle: it's going to lie on the coffee table or next to my bed or sit in the bookcase, so it needs to look like it belongs. You know?

Now that I'm reading again, I've had the *absolute* pleasure of reading 3 really good books recently. I'll share some more info with you soon, and hope to share many book reviews with you. I just finished my latest read last night, and can not wait to start Marita van der Vyver's new release.

What are you reading right now?

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Yes, Waka Waka people

It actually means " Do It".

But translations aside, last night's performance by Shakira and Freshly Ground at the closing ceremony of the World Cup was energetic and fun. The song has received major air play here in South Africa and has become the biggest selling single in the history of the event.

(I'll admit - I always sing along and every now try the dance moves)

Anyway, what I actually want to show you is Shakira's outfit, designed by Roberto Cavalli (who also designed her opening concert getup). Don't you love it? I think Roberto has captured a little essence of Africa in both outfits - with the latest one being extremely colourful and vibrant.

And just in case you missed it.... here's the video from last night.

Have fun! And let's keep the flag waving!

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We knew this day would come..

..but we chose not to think about it.

Now that the World Cup is over, everyone is asking "What now?". Hell, I don't know. For the past month all M and I have done in the evenings is plonk ourselves down in front of the TV (with heater and a bowl of popcorn) and watch the games. Even last week was like a bit of withdrawal with very few games being played and everyone waiting for the weekend's big match.

I've gotta say I'm still basking in the glow of a fantastic event - where South Africans quite rightly was able to say "Up yours" to all the pessimists and foreign media who didn't give us half a chance of hosting this event. Now investors are looking at the country in a new light, and it's about time I say.

Last night's closing ceremony was sure to give every South African goosebumps. (Um, I was not impressed with the opening ceremony and was a little apprehensive before last nights show kicked off - but I was stunned by everything that was going on in Soccer City last night)

The elephants (or 'Elafants' as Paris says) going to the watering hole was cute, the musical instruments being played by performers on the ground very clever, Shakira and Freshly Ground simply riveting (hell, that woman is built!) and everything was smoooooooth. Enough lighting and fireworks to show that we can, without being tacky. (I think the Beijing Olympics overdid the fireworks)

Oh, funny by the way - M calls it the "Burger Patty". I see the resemblance....

My Weekend project

This weekend it seems that Cape Town will be having some bad weather, which to me is a good thing. I am desperate for a weekend of cocoa, DVD's, duvets and sleep. But amongst all this nothing, I do have one little project: folding paper cranes. I started on Tuesday and have done a few. The more I fold, the better I become and the more I love the mass of paper cranes all over my apartment!

I'll share more of my little project next week, but in the mean time here is a 'how to', just in case :)

Have a happy happy weekend everyone!

Oh, and I am supporting the Netherlands in the final on Sunday, who are you supporting?

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Cool, not so cool

Cool: wearing high heels to work for a change

Not so cool: wearing stockings with my high heels and they get a run. (expensive) black stockings ruined.

Hope everyone is going to have a fabulous weekend, and support Ghana in the quarter finals! Go Africa!

(I have a feeling it's going to be a soccer weekend - not altogether a bad thing. We've only got 1 week left of Ayoba-ness, then the foreigners go home and we'll all be broke from too much partying with them. Enjoy it!)

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image vir flickr