12 Days of Christmas - Day 7 {Gift of Kindness}

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Before we get too caught up in the frenzy of the silly season, I would like to ask you to spare a thought for those less fortunate than us.
While we are shopping for frivolous gifts and wasting money on extravagances such as chocolate - there are people (& animals) out there who are wondering where their next meal will come from.

Ever noticed the man on the street with the hopeless look in his eyes.
The children that sit on the curb net to their mom holding up a sign.
The dog who hesitantly wags his tail as you pass him by. Afraid to trust, but hopeful.
The cat that's digging or a scrap of food in the garbage bin.

Shave R20-R30 off each gift you buy this season (this could be as simple as not buying a card & handwriting or printing a notecard instead)
Before you know it, you could have R100 - R300 that could be used to buy a food hamper, or a toy or some bags of animal food for your local SPCA or animal shelter.

Finances are tight? Donate any clothing or toys - this will cost you nothing & help you clear the clutter!

To make it even easier, you can do an EFT into the bank account.
Here are some links for animal homes:

Vereeniging SPCA

Sandton SPCA

East London SPCA

Cape Town SPCA

Four Paws

Salvation Army

Don't like the options I have listed here? Visit Charity SA to find a charity of your choice


It's something small, but if 1 person made the effort, it would positively impact someone's (or animal's) life.

Knowing you made that difference, is a better feeling than any gift received will ever make you feel.

Think about it....

12 Days of Christmas - Day 6 {Table Decor}

If you are entertaining this season, you will want a table that not only looks elegant, but also did not take you hours to decorate. Let's be honest- we are not Bree from Desperate Housewives with endless hours at home making everything perfect.

The secret lies in choosing tasteful decoration that is simple & classic. Good taste is not cluttered. 

Good taste need not be expensive either. 

If entertaining indoors, try this clever upcycling idea for vases:

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Cover 3 aluminium tins of varying sizes in matching wallpaper and fill with bunches of flowers.

Try something different:

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Tip a wineglass upside down, fill with foil covered chocolate balls or tiny ball Christmas decorations & rest a candle on top - voila!

Our Christmas in the southern hemisphere is hot, enabling us to entertain outdoors- in the garden or next to the pool, it's all about keeping cool while having fun.

For a summertime table, lay down a gingham or bright coloured tablecloth. Collect a variety of empty glass bottles and remove all labels. (Mason Jars also work really nicely)

Keep bottles unadorned, but arrange a few together in a group and fill with a variety of flowers- think Daisies, Tulips, wildflowers or Gerberas - for a simple, but pretty effect.

Wrap your cutlery in a napkin,  keeping it together with a long trailing ribbon or twine for an informal feel. I used to add a sprig on rosemary or lavender from the garden for a wonderful scent.

For a personalised touch, add a name tag on the cutlery, around the stem of the glass or tied to the stalk of an apple, the possibilities are endless! Play around and have fun creating a table that your guests will enjoy.

Never under-estimate the power of your mind teamed with a printer. Alot of my decor on tables is printed:

Printed Monogrammed banner on bowl & printed sign to enhance the theme

What have you done for your Christmas/special event table decor? Share your ideas with us!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 5 {Nails}

Don't let your nails detract from all the effort you have put into making yourself fabulous this season.

The hands are often neglected yet they are one of the first things that people (men especially) notice when talking to us.

Change it up a bit! Steer away from the nude nails or classic French manicure & add some festive sparkle.

You could dress up your French manicure simply by adding a snowflake and a gem. 

Have a look at my Pinterest board over here for a tutorial on snowflake painting.

Add a ombré glitter effect to your solid base using this simple technique:

Pinterest Link

My favourite is the candy stripes. Not as difficult as you may think.

Pinterest Link

Cut some strips of varying thicknesses out of Sellotape and stick on your nail (already painted with a base colour, for example white)

Paint over in red. Peel tape off and finish with a topcoat when dry.

Something very important to consider when choosing 2 colours: polish must be a solid colour that completely masks the colour underneath, or else you end up with a terrible effect when completed.

See my nails Christmas 2013:

The green was not dark enough to mask the red underneath. Not a nice result at all!

If you're pressed for time/not creative/hate doing your nails- then go with something simple:

Paint your nails in your favourite colour (for a dramatic evening look, opt for something bold like red or purple) & paint an accent nail using a contrasting colour or texture. Glitter gives you instant "glam".

Glitter Glam

Zoya Pixie Dust in Solange (gold glitter) is a nice polish to try this season.

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Liquid Sand by OPI gives an edgier finish if you are against the girlie sparkle as it dries to a Matte finish.

OPI Liquid Sand

No matter what effect you decide upon, just be sure to finish with a (quick dry) top coat to ensure the polish remains chip-free for the duration of the party & wave your hands with pride!