Love it how I was just getting into wind-down mode, oh the year is nearly over, I can get on with some creative projects I've been planning before the real Christmas chaos starts, and then wham, the work just hits. And keeps on coming... Not that I'm complaining, it's great to feel wanted, it's just that I now require a little mind shift to get through it all.
On a more fun note, me and my bubs put up the Christmas tree yesterday. Yes, I know it seems extremely early, but I am super excited to get into the Christmas spirit, so we put on the cheesy music (there's only one Boney-M track on the play list, so it's not too cheesy) and I did a bit of decorating while she played with the ribbon box, such fun.
It got me thinking back to when we used to decorate the Christmas tree at home as kids, and cover every spare corner of the house with tinsel to make it look 'festive'. It must have looked like such an eyesore to the adults, but we had a blast. Until the year I decided that we needed to start colour-coding, and tried to persuade my brother that you don't actually need to put every single decoration on the tree, and yes, that goes for the Snoopy ones from the mid-70s.
Another great Christmas decorating memory of mine is when we spent Christmas in France with my extended family four years ago, and drove around for hours looking for some mistletoe that was on a low enough branch and didn't involve endangering life and limb to pick. There were jokes about bras as sling shots, and if my me serves me correctly, we may have just settled for some holly from a low-lying bush.
I did promise I'd show my handiwork once I'd finished making my daughter's wooden blocks, and here they are. I don't think I'll start doing this professionally anytime soon, but I think she might enjoy playing with them, and it was also really enjoyable to make her very first Christmas prezzie myself!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
It's all downhill from here
It seems as if this year is seriously starting to pick up speed, as we rush downhill towards Christmas. Only five more weeks until we leave for the coast on holiday! And only five more weeks until Christmas! eeeeeek.
I'm really looking forward to it, and definitely need a break, I've been feeling a bit like a hamster on one of those wheel thingies lately. It's all wake up, tidy up, change nappies, get groceries, do the washing, work work work, make food, feed baby, change baby, fold laundry, make dinner, eat dinner, bed. And then wake up and do it all again tomorrow. So some time on the beach not being on a schedule is going to be lovely.
But before then we have arrangements to see friends for five weekends in a row. Don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to it, but I really don't know how 'bikini ready' I'm going to be at the end of all this drinking and eating and razzling.
p.s. for those of you feeling particularly ambitious and Chrismas-sy, have a look at this beautiful star wreath to make.
xx
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Sweltering in the city
Wow. It is about 28 degrees in Jo'burg right now, and it's 8.45pm. It has been so hot lately, it just feels like the air isn't moving and I have been sorely tempted to walk around the house in just a bikini. (Don't worry, I haven't done it. Yet.)
I am however really enjoying another benefit of summer, and that is bowls of gorgeous red and juicy cherries. So yum.
I must have started about four different projects in the last twelve hours, including making my first ever batch of apricot chutney, starting to make wooden blocks for my daughter's first Christmas prezzie, making photo albums for the grandparents and finishing off ten metres of green, white and pink bunting for the nursery. Which is yet to be hung.
In hindsight, I should probably finished one project before starting on the next, but focus isn't exactly my strong point. I'll let you know how they turn out.
xx
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
A few things from the weekend
Emergency knee surgery is not exactly how I had envisaged ending off 2011...
To give you a bit of the backstory on this, after just having moved to London in 2007, I managed to fall down an escalator (ok, to be totally truthful I fell up the escalator, but that is just too long a story) in H&M on Oxford street. The edge of the escalator stair went through my knee, and also my favorite pair of jeans, and I ended up bleeding all the way home in the tube.
We went to a wedding on Saturday evening, and spent a bit of time ripping it up on the dance floor, as you do. And then I sat down. And noticed that my knee was a rather unnatural pointy shape. Having never actually had my knee seen to (maybe not the smartest idea ever, but that NHS is too damn scary) it's probably been a long time coming.
So tomorrow I'm off for x-rays and to see some special knee man who is definitely not on the NHS. Here's hoping that his prognosis isn't that I will be spending my December holiday hobbling around on the beach on crutches, chasing after a baby who is just learning to crawl.
To give you a bit of the backstory on this, after just having moved to London in 2007, I managed to fall down an escalator (ok, to be totally truthful I fell up the escalator, but that is just too long a story) in H&M on Oxford street. The edge of the escalator stair went through my knee, and also my favorite pair of jeans, and I ended up bleeding all the way home in the tube.
We went to a wedding on Saturday evening, and spent a bit of time ripping it up on the dance floor, as you do. And then I sat down. And noticed that my knee was a rather unnatural pointy shape. Having never actually had my knee seen to (maybe not the smartest idea ever, but that NHS is too damn scary) it's probably been a long time coming.
So tomorrow I'm off for x-rays and to see some special knee man who is definitely not on the NHS. Here's hoping that his prognosis isn't that I will be spending my December holiday hobbling around on the beach on crutches, chasing after a baby who is just learning to crawl.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Christmas gift inspiration
Is that a collective groan I hear?
You know you can't escape it - the decorations and tinsel are already up in the shops, and soon we'll be getting bombarded with carols even when doing the grocery shopping...
I realised I was a little smug yesterday saying I had nearly finished all my Christmas shopping. So I thought I'd share a little gift inspiration with you.
Kamersvol Geskenke (literally, Rooms Full of Presents) is an amazing market that is being held for the second year in Irene, Pretoria after starting out in the Cape winelands. Think beautiful handmade gifts, fabrics, ceramics... It's a really lovely morning out and is being held from 29 November - 3 December with tickets from Computicket.
If anyone is looking for a gift for me this year, you are more than welcome to head over to Skinny LaMinx who makes beautiful fabrics and turns them into scatter cushions, tea towels, table runners and more, and get me anything, absolutely anything! (But especially one of these, please!)
I must admit that that I have done loads of gift shopping at Yuppiechef this year.
If you have a cheffy-type person in your life, I cannot recommend the Microplane Zester highly enough. It's indispensable for garlic, ginger and Parmesan cheese and once you have one in your kitchen you'll never go back.
A very cute site I came across recently, especially if you are buying for little-ies is The Crazy Aunt Company. They make hand stitches clothes for kiddies, and have some very sweet dresses and onesies, which are especially cute if you are looking to get a little something small for a little one overseas.
In Good Company started out as a party supply store, and now stock lots of lovely gifty things at their new shop in Parkhurst. Lovely stocking fillers too!
And last, but not least, if you are really stuck what to get someone...you can always get them one of these...
Yes, that is a BIG FAT hint.
Happy shopping!
xx
Picture:Tamarillo Ceramics at Kamersvol Geskenke
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
A few things from the weekend
I spent a good portion of the beginning of my weekend cleaning up our house, as after the painting work had been finished it looked as if a bomb had hit. The kitchen cupboards are complete, but it will be a while and a little bit more work until it starts looking like what I imagined.
In other news...
In other news...
- We went to the Currie Cup final on Saturday. Wow, what an incredible atmosphere! It was super exciting and I really enjoyed it, also helped that our team won, I suppose...
- I had a great girls lunch on Sunday afternoon. Lots of laughing and a little bit of wine. But wow, it really is surprising how much some girls are willing to divulge...I will say no more!
- I am nearly finished all my Christmas shopping! I can't believe it. I decided this year was going to be very small and very simple, as honestly, do you even remember what you were given last year from your extended family? That and the fact that we have approximately 21 people to buy prezzies for every year (and that's after getting them each a unique and thoughtful birthday present during the year). It's been surprisingly quick and easy and there are only a few little bits to get to complete all the gifts. And the best part of it all is that I haven't had to set foot in a mall once.
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