Bakubang Pilansberg

Mom recently won an incentive at work - a trip for 4 to Bakubang in the Pilansberg.

Off Tee and I headed with mom and her friend for a girl's weekend away.

It was sorely needed for all of us and to be out amongst nature and enjoying the peacefulness that ensues when you are out of the city is a soothing balm for the soul.

We were so lucky to find ourselves rather close to a lone Elephant on 2 occasions (We suspect it may be an old bull who had been pushed out from his herd)

With my big fancy camera, I discovered that one definitely needs a zoom lens when animal spotting. With no digital zoom to speak of, I really had the worst photos when animals were in the distance drinking and playing in the water.

Mom & I - Self Portrait holding heavy camera!

This Bird thought he was a model, striking poses for ages!

"You're in my way"

Why did the zebra cross the road?

"This is my best side"

Peek-A-Boo!

Just another day in Paradise

Twinkle Twinkle little Star

Goodbye February!
Yet another month has flown by!

I began planning my friend's March Baby Shower in December and I think people thought I was crazy & over-eager.
With the start I have had to the year - I am in need of a holiday to prevent me from burning out (yes we are only 2 months in!)

I decided on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as the theme and the colours are blue and lime green. (Yellow seemed too obvious) I am working on a tight budget so I have had to be inventive and use clever decor to make it look like I spent alot of money - but didn't.

The favours have been made thanks to my Mom helping me out - aren't they delightful?

My friend is making cupcakes with "Stardust" (Crunchie crumbled on top) and star shaped cookies.

I have the cutest ideas to print little labels to go around the glasses for when guests arrive.

I am making little streamers to hang behind our Mommy to Be - ribbon with little stars threaded onto them.

I made the invite online and I am using a website called PurpleTrail.com. They make it so easy to send reminders and keep track of the guests who have RSVPed. (It will even let you print out the guestlist at the end)

I have a poll for the guests to complete - What gift are you buying? 

This way, you can get an idea of what others will bring so that you don't all bring the same thing.

ie: Clothing: Newborn - 1 year, 1 - 2 years, 2 -3 years. Toiletries. Toys etc 

Super Easy and needed seeing as I am seriously juggling a lot at work.

What cute Baby showers have you been to recently and what made them so unique?

Twenty Wishes - Progress Report

At the end of December I jumped on the Blog band wagon and made a list of Twenty Wishes I would like to achieve along with taking my life back.

Here is my progress report so far:

1. Fall in Love - Still waiting on this to happen
2. Buy a nice fitting blazer - Have not looked yet
3. Buy a cool pair of Converse DONE! and I am loving them. Ok they are Levis, but its the look I liked and I wear them so much!
4. Go overseas I am going to Japan in April for work and working on my holiday in September to visit Zurich and Croatia. Exchange rates pushing air tickets up, but I am hoping they will reduce a bit
5. Read a great book - The Perks of Being a Wallflower perhaps
6. Watch a classic movie - I have never watched Mary Poppins, Sound of Music etc
7. Cook/bake more
8. Do another wine tasting trip in the Cape
9. Drink more water
10. Go to a live concert - if it was One Direction, my life would be made
11. Get my weight below 70kg - then lose a further 5kgs
12. Work towards a better toned stomach
13. Get rid of the people in my life who drain me I am getting along on this one very well
14. Buy a dining room table  DONE! Now I need chairs....
15. Go on a photography course
16. Have a wall full of frames with my photographs from all my trips etc 
17. Work less - Not getting this one right, but trying
18. Be a happier person - If I can get the above right, I will be happier
19. Do something totally spontaneous
20. Manage my budget more diligently - being a homeowner means I need to be alot more careful

Join us and let us know what your wishes are for this year


 

The Dining Room Dilemma

I have always dreamt about the day I would have my own dining room.
For somebody who hates cooking; I love to entertain.
I like making the table pretty and adding a cute little favour by the person's plate. I love adding atmosphere with carefully placed candles and soft music.

Decor for my dining room was all picked out (in my head) - Dramatic & Modern: -
Simple, black table with clean lines - Richly upholstered chairs in an opulent material such as velvet or a heavily patterned material.
Dark purple curtains and wrought iron candle sticks.

Until I walked past a store and fell in love with a wooden table made of exquisite Emboia wood. I bought it on the spot. (So much for my black, clean-lined table)

My entire design scheme is out the window and now I have to decide on what I want. I am a Gemini and for this very reason, I find that I always like 2 totally different designs.
My dilemma comes in finding the right dining room chairs on a budget. (Who knew it was so darn difficult to find the right chair)
I wish I were able to buy a chair a month, but the problem is, 6 months done the line, they might not have stock and then I will be stuck!
And I would really love to have a house warming party in my new place and have somewhere for the guests to sit!

I love the patterned high-back chair for a more romantic, formal look, and I like the lower chair for a slightly more contemporary style. (My lounge is contemporary & I might like to have a contrast and not the same design style throughout my house)
The upholstered look of chairs and I have Scotchguard at the ready to treat the chairs as soon as I get them.
I realise that wooden chairs are so much easier to clean, but I really do not find them comfortable and a cushion on top slips and slides.

Options:

4 of these...

... and 2 of these?

6 of these?

6 of these?