My (unintentionally blue) Friday High Five

Word. Here are the things I've been enjoying this week:

1. Florence and the Machine - I love lead singer Florence Welch's voice, and have had their recent single 'Dog Days' on the brain since Tuesday.

Here's their video of 'You've Got the Love' - a cover of an old favourite by Candi Staton. It makes me feel like an angsty 15-year-old again.




2. The huge vuvuzela that's been constructed by Hyundai on an unfinished bridge near the N2 in Cape Town. A cool publicity idea.



Thanks to Between10and5 for this pic.


3. Blueberry or raspberry and white chocolate muffins - pure decadence, 100% balanced out by the healthy antioxidants from the berries of course. I love the gorgeous autumnal look of these muffins.



Here's a recipe for you.


4. Mini dresses in dramatic colours - how's this teal one that Blake Lively wore recently?



(Via StyleScoop.)


5. Stormers vs Bulls in the Super 14 Final... at Orlando stadium. I think it's brilliant, and a timeous nation-builder so close to the World Cup. This photo from last weekend's game made me smile.




Here we go Stormers.

HoneyChild

Running better

Checking in with a short and sweet update today. I'm feeling my vibe right now. I think I always feel good during my birthday season - late May to late June - yes, I'm a Gemini (and a fairly typical one at that). Things are working out nicely on all fronts - health, work, relationships, money. I'm sense I'm operating on a much higher level than I was three months ago, and I'm proud of myself because I have made a concerted effort to raise my game and get my shit together. I'm running my life better, having been stagnant for a while.

Lots of excitement in the pipeline socially and hopefully a good new career opportunity.

I'm listening to Florence and the Machine's 'Dog Days are Over'.

HoneyChild

Friday High Five

I'm digging the following this week:

1. Kevin Costner and his oil cleanup technology: I have to give this guy a virtual high five for his multi-million dollar investment - some form of centrifugal oil separator technology that may just help save BP's ass.




Read the full story here: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-hollywood-20100521,0,2351299.story


2. The One&Only Red nail polish by Bastien Gonzalez: this perfect, classic red suits any skin tone and looks amazing on short, square nails.



It's available from One&Only Cape Town.


3. Toasted sandwiches: a comforting, decadent winter staple, preferably incorporating white bread and lots of cheese.




4. The Diski dance: the best part of World Cup fever, if you ask me.





John Smit for Supersport - wahahaha. Love this.


5. La Cuccina: a Hout Bay institution, and a great venue for a lazy Saturday brunch. I usually order the Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon.




View the full menu here: http://www.lacuccina.co.za/HOME.html


Wishing you a brilliant weekend.

HoneyChild

Baby steps

My husband has babies on his mind. Our conversation is increasingly infiltrated by references to our future kids. His favourite question at the moment is, 'when did you say we could start?'. And as exciting as that is, it's also bloody scary.

I want children, of course. I want them very much, and I find I'm being drawn to young kids and babies in my daily life. But I'm ten years younger than R and I'm definitely not ready for offspring yet. I'm nervous at the thought of my body changing radically, my lifestyle turning on its head, my career being put on hold, my priorities shifting dramatically. It's a big step that I know I need to be more comfortable with than I feel now. I've accepted that we'll have to compromise a little around timing - he can't wait for another 3-5 years, which would be ideal for me.

R is understanding of and sensitive to my concerns around this. He's not putting unbearable pressure on me, but I am aware of the subtle and constant yearning in him. I've been told that one is never totally ready to have kids - they usually arrive a little bit too soon! And the irony is that often when older couples are 200% ready and desperate for children, they struggle to have them. I know I'm lucky to have a financially secure husband who is amped for offspring, and that I have the opportunity to be a young, and perhaps more resilient and energetic mother than I might be in five years' time.

But how do I get over the nerves?

HoneyChild

Friday High Five

Winter is all about hot meals, hot baths and reading next to the fire. (I tell myself these things to keep myself from crawling into bed and staying there until October.) This week I'm loving...

1. Wingback chairs - we've just bought a new cream one for our living room. The design is so comfortable for reading.


This is the Monster Skin chair by Joshua Ben Longo.


2. Shows at the Fugard - I watched London Road last week and R saw Arno Carstens playing there on Wednesday. Both great shows, and the atmosphere in the theatre is intimate and cosy.




3. Woolworths Moroccan chicken and chickpea soup - this is the best store-bought soup (and canned, nogal) I've ever tasted. It's full of delicious slow-cooked chicken with a tomato base and hints of apricot.


4. Badedas - the most luxurious and soothing bubble bath in creation, surely?



5. Cola Tonic and Lemonade - yes, it's old school. But it's also delicious and proudly South African.



There's even a Facebook group devoted to it- thanks for the picture.

Enjoy the weekend.


HoneyChild

Telling stories

I had lunch yesterday with someone who encouraged me to submit a short story for the SA PEN competition. And I think I’m going to do it. I’ve mentioned before that I loved creative writing when I was younger, but my work now requires me to write very differently. This blog has allowed me to start expressing myself more honestly, but I still miss writing stories. I think I’m ready to give it a bash again.

Now…the decision about what to write. The story has to be 3000-5000 words. I wonder if I’ll get to 1500! I feel excited about the challenge, and look forward to starting the creative process. I think I’ll write about a single day in the life of someone. A day when something important happens.

Any comments or ideas?

HoneyChild

Juggling act

This weekend I was reminded that I am good at multitasking. I juggled studying for tomorrow's exam with a work trip to Durban, a huge friend crisis, a dinner party for seven, three in-laws staying with us, a Mother's Day lunch out in Noordhoek, Stormers rugby, World Cup cricket and trying to get all the laundry dry in the pouring rain. I managed to do all of it pretty well - I have come to understand that doing things 80% perfectly 80% of the time is usually good enough.

Feeling good about myself, and interestingly, more productive having detoxed for a week now. Could do with cutting out some of the comfort food which I seem to be magnetised to in this weather, particularly with exams looming. But that can happen next week, when the study madness is over.





HoneyChild

(Early) Friday High Five

I'll be in Durban for work tomorrow (hope it's a little sunnier in KZN) - so here is this week's high five list, just a little early.

1. The Hot Rock n' Roll from Willoughby's - this spicy tuna and avo sushi roll is unbelievable.


Check out the full menu: www.willoughbyandco.co.za


2. Duane Vermeulen - the Stormers' new MVP?


3. The 2OceansVibe radio show on Friday mornings - very entertaining.


Tune in tomorrow at 8:00am: http://www.2oceansviberadio.com/listen-live-now/


4. Cashmere sweaters - I've got a beautiful new super soft cream one for winter.


This one's from www.luvcharlie.com


5. Caveau at the Mill in Newlands - nice and cosy on chilly nights, with great wine and delicious tapas-style starters.


You'll need to book a table on rugby days - www.caveau.co.za


Have a great weekend.

HoneyChild

Taking stock

I really messed up on Saturday and I feel awful about it. I went to a wedding and got very under the weather. One shooter turned into several and the next thing I knew it was all overs. R had to take me home early and miss out on the whole party - it was his friend getting married, and he was still cross about it last night. This has happened way too often in recent months and I was reminded again that I have to take it easy on the booze. I actually have to lay off it entirely for a while. I'm just not reacting well to it, and it's having a seriously negative effect on my relationship. It's not that I'm addicted to it, I just love having a good time but my body isn't handling alcohol like it did when I was younger. It's not ok to get so out of control anymore. I'm married.

So here we go. Cold turkey til my birthday next month ladies and gents. This should be interesting.

HoneyChild