{Blogger Chit Chat} with Caley, Claudz & Chantelle - Part 2

If you missed last week, click for Part One

Question 1:

Do you believe in Sex before marriage, and explain your answer?

Caley:

Sex before marriage is a difficult one for me – I don’t believe in sleeping around or with anyone that you do not love or plan to marry but some couples may be together for years before getting engaged and I don’t know if the expectation of the first night on your wedding night is a good one. 

Claudz:

I do and I don’t. Sometimes I think sex is just sex and it’s a basic instinct and why not get it out of your system when you feel the urge. But then I think that sex is only for those who within marriage – a way for couples to connect and express their love. To give an answer thought – yes, I believe in sex before marriage but not outside of a safe and secure space (if your one night stand is “safe” then you’re ok). Always be sure that it’s what you want to do and understand that there are always consequences. 

Chantelle:

People are no longer getting married all the time, rather choosing to live together instead. When they are getting married, they are doing it later in life, sometimes to save the money for the wedding, other times not rushing into something. To expect these people to not have sex before marriage is unrealistic. 

Perhaps sex before marriage isn't the main issue, I think we should be worried about the emotional maturity of the people having sex. 

{Blogger Chit Chat} with Caley, Claudz & Chantelle - Part 1

You may remember last month, Claudz & I started a Blogger Chit Chat to get to know more about each other and for our lovely readers to know more about us too.

We have now added a 3rd guest in the mix - please welcome Caley Jade Rosenberg from Ellie Love

Caley is a beautiful, bubbly 29 year old stay-at-home mom of 2 little girls, hailing from Durban, South Africa.

Her blog is a beautiful testament to her love for her husband MC and her little angels as well as everything in between. If you are looking for a great Lifestyle Blog - look no further than Ellie Love.

I also love reading her monthly goals at the end of every month - did Caley manage to get them all done or not?

Follow us each week this during the month of March as you discover more about us all. Hope you enjoy!

How funny that this month's guest post is the 3 C's?

Question 1:

Your biggest achievement and biggest regret in life.

Caley:

My biggest achievement in life would be passing both my degrees and my two pregnancies and births. 

My biggest regret in life is not going to “away” university – one that was not in my city, away from familiarity and involved living in res or on my own.

Claudz:

My biggest achievement is keeping the cat, dog and husband alive…..mostly. On a serious note, so many grown up things - owning our own home that we saved up to buy, living on my own in foreign countries and being the person someone wants to love and be with.

My biggest regret is not having spent more quality time with people who mattered to me. I wasn’t close to my maternal grandparents and could have made more of an effort to understand them before they passed away.

Chantelle:

My biggest achievement is buying my 1st home. Standing outside my house with my parents - who worked so hard & made sacrifices to ensure I had the best education they could afford - was a very proud moment for me. I didn't let them down!

Regret: Before breaking up with a boyfriend I told him the truth about not loving him for a while & that I had kissed someone else while we were together. I wish I had kept it to myself, we were breaking up anyway so there was no need to hurt him any more.

{Blogger Chit Chat} With Claudz & Chantelle - Part Three

With Claudz & Chantelle

And now for the final installment of our little Chit Chat, hope you have enjoyed this series.

To catch up click here:

Part One

Part Two 

{Blogger Chit Chat} With Claudz & Chantelle - Part Two

With Claudz & Chantelle

Last week Claudz & I kicked off our #BloggerChitChat Series. 

Read Part One here

We ask each other questions to find out lesser known facts about each other.

We have had games nights and dinners and many glasses of wine together, but it is always the deeper, more serious questions we never ask each other.

For instance, I know that Claudine is great at making quick decisions when faced with a kitchen ingredient dilemma (What to do when J buys Phyllo pastry instead of the puff pastry we needed for our pin wheels)

She has this wonderful knack with making her house feel like a cosy home & is a fun hostess.

Read more about her below and make sure you follow her on social media for all things cat (Thomas), dog (Max) & food.

{Blogger Chit Chat} With Claudz & Chantelle - Part One

With Claudz & Chantelle

Claudz & I have been talking about doing this Blogger Chit Chat for over a year. But what happens when you give 2 busy multitasking Geminis something to do... it gets thought about, but never quite done.

Claudz and I met through blogging and went from being online friends, to friends in real life.

Find out more about her by visiting her blogs here:

12 Days of Christmas - Day 4 {Drinks}

Eat, Drink & Be Merry!

A delicious drink can go a long way in helping you remain merry.

Bubbly Claudz shares her favourite Christmas drink recipe with us (it has one of my favourite ingredients in it, so I will definitely be making this one!)

Bottoms Up!

It's the silly season and one of the things I love most is the excuse to indulge....a lot! I love a good cocktail and I love custard. That's why this Iced Eggnog suits me perfectly. The creamy booziness just sets the holiday tone. And because we live in sunny South Africa, having it cold is even better. 

Make a batch before your Christmas party (it can stand happily for 24 hours) or whip it up last minute - the choice is yours. I've added Amarula to give it that uniquely South African flavour but this is optional. 

This recipe services 4-6 people but I recommend doubling up if you're expecting a crowd. It is rich so don't make too much (is there such a thing?)

Iced Eggnog with Amarula

200ml sugar
200ml water
3 cinnamon quills (or 2 tsps. of ground cinnamon
3 eggs
250ml pouring cream
250ml milk
150ml brandy
150ml rum
150ml Amarula
cinnamon for dusting (you can also use nutmeg)
ice cubes

Make a sugar syrup by combining the sugar, water and cinnamon quills in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently until the sugar melt then allow to simmer for 1 minute and remove from the heat. Allow to cool and remove the cinnamon quills (if you used ground cinnamon make sure you give it a good stir).
Using a hand blender (or your muscle power), whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, brandy, rum, Amarula and the sugar syrup.
Add ice to your preferred cocktail glasses and pour the eggnog mix.
Serve with a dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg.
If you're not going to serve immediately, refrigerate the eggnog until required.

Happy holidays!

(PS - this Eggnog is only for those over 18 and it's not recommended that you drive if you're planning on having a few!)
Tell us what you like to drink over the Festive season & if you do make this eggnog, take a photo and tag us on Twitter or Instagram.

Please show Claudz some Social Media Love:

Food: Tables & Thyme | Personal: Purple Lips & Perfect Smiles

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{Sunshine Award}

The lovely & bubbly Mel over at Mel's Corner  recently nominated me for a Sunshine Award - thanks for thinking of me Mel!

So what does that mean? 
It means I get to tell you more about myself (seems to be all I talk about these days - ha!)

Rules of the Sunshine Award:
1) Display the award on your ever deserving blog
2) Say "thank you" to the wonderful person to have nominated you
3) Give us 10 interesting things about yourself
4) Nominate some of your favorite blogs
5) Link to those blogs in your post and let them know that you've nominated them!

10 Interesting things about me...

1. I have green eyes - my dad has blue eyes and my mom has brown eyes
2. I have the exact same birthmark on my back that my grandfather had - it almost looks like an acid spill - but most times you cannot see it because I am naturally pale
3. I think about travelling - ALL the time
4. I am very talkative, but I am also very shy sometimes
5. My younger brother is married with a child & it honestly does not bother me
6. I hate exercise, but I am loving Pilates more than I ever thought I would 
7. My cousins used to be Andre Agassi's neighbours in Malibu
8. I was on the radio asking Jhb whether I should hook up with an older or a younger guy - Jhb voted for the younger guy - so I did! 
9. I almost lost my thumb when I was little - I was run over by a car
10. I almost died when my appendix burst in 2008 - I didn't know I had a major infection because I had felt no pain until it was almost too late

My favourite blogs (I don't read or blog very much anymore, but there are a few I religiously read the moment I have time)

1. The Cow Jumped over the Moon
2. Purple Lips & Perfect Smiles 
3. Vanilla Blonde

Thanks again for this Mel!