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Sunday, 27 December 2015

24 Days of Christmas {Photo Challenge}

Hey guys,

Christmas has passed too fast! I can not believe we are already down hill on our way to 2016. Wow. But before we hit the new year, lets end of Christmas on a high note.

I did a 24 days of Christmas Photo Challenge with my buddies. I always have a lot of fun and the interpretations are always interesting. 

I created an album on Facebook where you can have a look at my friends photo, but here is mine.
From left to right: 1. Your view today 2. Today's temperature 3. I'm listening too 4. Something you are reading 5. Christmas Tree 6. Red 7. Ornaments 8. Silver 9. Favourite Christmas Song
  From left to right: 10. Santa 11. Grateful 12. I shop here 13. Tree Topper 14. Green   15.  Reflection  16. Presents 17. What are you doing right now 18. Shopping
From left to right: 19. Candy Can 20. Christmas Display 21. Lights 22. Your Favourite Christmas Thing  23. Carols 24. Tradition

There is a lot of pictures with Christmas Tree's in it, but hey, nothing says Christmas quite like a Christmas tree. I am starting a new thing this year. The Christmas Tree will always go up on the 1st of December, but 2 days after Christmas it is going down. We need to change it up sometimes.

Did you do a kind of 24days before Christmas? Tell me about. Maybe I can try it next year.

Speak to you soon! It is almost time for a "Looking back on 2015"!

xoxo

Sunday, 20 December 2015

The Christmas Tag

In the spirit of Christmas I wanted to do a fun post. I loooove answering questions. When I was at school I lived for questionnaires. I am one those people who also answers "review" questionnaires. I can not help it.

So, lets do the Christmas Tag.

1. What is your favourite holiday movie? 
How the Grinch stole Christmas.I love this movie. It is just so sweet and fuzzy and has such a nice message. Little kid pure at heart. Awe, all teary eyed!

2. Have you ever had a white Christmas?
Unfortunately not. I am dreaming of one. Maybe end of 2017. Who knows.

3. Where do you usually spend your holiday?
Anywhere where my family is. It is used to be either in Gauteng or the Western Cape. This year it will be in Yzerfontein with my family.

4. What is your favourite Christmas song?
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas-Micheal Buble
5. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers?
I know only one- Rudolph. It is a shame! 

6. What holiday traditions are you looking forward to most this year?
Well, this question is a bit late. I always look forward to my tradition, I started 5yrs ago, to set up the Christmas Tree. I love doing it!  

7. Is your Christmas tree real or fake?
Fake-you don't get a real Christmas tree where I live. Never seen one before.

8. What is your all-time favourite holiday food/sweet treat?
Triffle pudding!

9. Be honest: do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts better?
This is a hard one. I like both, but receiving more. It makes me feel loved.

10. What is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? 
The year my parents paid my flight for me to come visit them. That was awesome!

11. What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season?
NEW YORK!!!

12. Are you a pro-present wrapper, or do you fail miserably? 
I am a pro. Love doing it.

13. Most memorable Holiday moment? 
When we were kids we used to sing carols on Christmas Eve. After that we usually opened presents. I will always remember those evenings. It brings everyone together and it just gave you such a wonderful feeling.

14. What made you realize the truth about Santa? 
I don't think there was a specific moment. You just kind of get it as you get older.

15. Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Do you stick to them? 
I used to and failed miserably, but this year I set goals and I achieved all of them. More on this later (post date 31/12/15)

16. What makes the holidays special for you?
Always my family and then the decorations and carols.

17. What is your favourite Christmas colour?
Red (and white).

18. Do you like to stay in your pj’s or dress up for Christmas?
Dress up. Then I just feel good and festive.

19. If you could only buy 1 person a present this year, who would it be?
I would rather then buy nothing for no one. This is torture. My sister.

20. Do you open presents on Christmas eve or Christmas morning?
We used to do it Christmas eve, but nowadays we do it on Christmas morning.

21. Have you ever built a ginger bread house? 
Unfortunately not. Do not know where to even start.

22. What do you like to do on Christmas break? 
Go to the beach. I spent 18 yrs every December at the beach. It is still my favourite thing to do. So when I get the chance and I don't work over Christmas you will find me at Yzerfontein.

23. Any Christmas wishes? 
Love, peace and healing for everyone. 

24. Favourite Christmas smell? 
This is going to sound weird, but camp fire. The smell of camp fires hanging in the air reminds me of December and Christmas. 

25. Favourite Christmas treat? 
Candy Canes!

26. Have you ever made a snowman?  
No :( It does not snow where I live, Maybe in 2017. ;)

27. What is at the top of your Christmas list?
I have to be honest. There is not 1 thing that stands out. I have a few. You can check out my list here 

28. What is most important to you about the holidays?
Tolerance and love. It is a time for people to re-connect and make things right that was broken. Re-connect and find yourself. Remembering that present that God gave this world.  

29. Name one thing you bought for someone as a Christmas present.
A book. 

30. Your Christmas wish to your readers.
Dear friend, I wish you a Merry Christmas. May you be surrounded by friends and family and feel loved and at peace. May this be a prosperous year and you be blessed with God's richest. Merry, merry Christmas to you and your family! Love, Elré. 

Speak to you soon
xoxo  

Sunday, 13 December 2015

Christmas Wish List

Hi there guys!
I just love this time of year. It is Christmas, the lights are switched on in Adderley street, Cape Town (which I still need to go see), carols are playing everywhere and it is a bustle as everyone is getting ready for the holiday.

Last week I did a post on my favourite stores, if you missed it check it out here. I saw a few items I would love for Christmas. I created my ultimate Christmas-Wish-List for 2015.

Woolworths has the cutest decoration in store now and they are always the most prettiest store to visit over Christmas. These gifts range between R50-250 and is lovely for a stocking stopper.
Christmas Standing Reindeer

Santa Reindeer Mug

Tree Snow Globe
The Body Shop has an advent calendar each year and I would love to have one sometime. They are not available in South Africa, but if I remembered earlier how much I want one I could have ordered. Yah-with everything happening, I kinda forgot. They are available in the UK and USA and you can order them from E-Bay and Amazon. 24 days filled with beauty. Maybe next year.
The Body Shop Advent Calendar
Yankee Candle also have an advent calendar, but Cape Town has not yet been blessed with their own store and you do not get them in South Africa. Maybe I should write them and ask really nicely if they will send us a few next year and give Cape Town a store. I need them in my life! Please Yankee Candle! They are available in the UK and USA and you can order them from E-Bay and Amazon. 24 days of a really nice smelling home.
Yankee Candle Advent Calendar
Look, I fell in love with Typo the first time I entered their store, but after the last time I am besotted. They have the coolest ear phones and back packs. Man, I really want these! Please Mr Santa, I will be good next year! Prices range between R290-450.
Gypsy Back Pack

Tune it Out Headphones
I have been drinking a lot of tea lately especially from The Tea Merchant. I need a pot though and a strainer to take to work (preferably one that won't break). Well, found it! (R200-270)
QDO Birdie Can family

Tea Infuser Large
Last, but not least you can pick or choose if it should be Bargain Books or Exclusive Books, but I need the second book, Scarlet by Marissa Meyer from the Lunar Chronicles. I accidentally bought the third book. Bummer, I was looking forward to continuing the read. We will see if it happens to end up under my Christmas Tree.
Scarlet_Marissa Meyer
What is on your Christmas Wish List? Tell me all about it.

Speak to you soon!
xoxo

Sunday, 6 December 2015

My Favourite Stores {Birthday Money Haul}

Hi there!
I am sitting on the couch with the sliding door wide open, we had a scorcher of a weekend and this cool air is most welcome. I went shopping last weekend with my birthday money. I had a blast in Canal Walk. 

The thing you need to remember when visiting Canal Walk is, go with a plan of action. That mall is way to big to just take a stroll and with that it is Christmas time as well. Don't know what I am talking bout, visit the Canal Walk website*.

Armed with a list of my favorite shops and what I want from each, I set out Saturday afternoon. 

If you are new to my blog, let me quickly brief you on my favourite shops.
♥The Body Shop - I die for their shower gel.
♥Lush! - Against animal testing and all natural.
♥Cotton On - Absolutely my style guru.
♥Typo - Any stationary addicts dream!
♥Woolworths - A classic. They never grow old.
♥Exclusive Books - Bookworm at heart.
♥The Tea Merchant (Tygervalley) - You have to try their tea.

I did visit some shops at other destinations and have included a few extras I picked up.

The Body Shop. I splashed on some shower gel and a scrub. The Fiji Green Tea and the Satsuma smells like summer. I have come to love summer. I am looking forward to that warm summer night shower!
Lush! I love their products. It is handmade with no harmful chemicals, all natural which makes using it just so much cooler. I was super happy when they opened in South Africa. I wanted shampoo and then the sales lady told me about this little round bar of shampoo. I am very skeptical, but I am all for trying something new. So off I set with my bar of shampoo. It is the Montalbano*.  I bought the cute little tin to keep it safe. I bought perfume as well. Hugo Boss does not need any introduction. We all know it smells divine! 
Cotton On. If you don't know by this time how much I love this shop, you must be new to my party. I love them. Plain and simple. Their clothes is cotton and comfortable and this just makes me happy. I invested in a black tank top (I have two of these already and they are so comfy). I decided to try out their sandals as I only have the flip flops. Tan is so in this summer. I am down with the fashion. hahaha!  They have this great 5 for R300 on their panties as well. Picked up a few stylish ones here you know. ;P I also got the blue cammy from Truworths with lovely detail on the back.
  
 
Typo. This really is a stationary addicted child's dream shop. There is nothing in there you really need. There is only stuff you really need to have. I wish I had a budget each month for this shop alone. I did not think twice about where I was going to buy my diary for next year. Cute, glitter and compact. I found "the one" and I saw this really cool mug which turns to a different color when you pour hot water in it, had to need it. I mean with a catchy "Show us your kitties"-why not?
Woolworths. I was super overwhelmed when I was in Woolworths, Canal Walk. It is a mall on its own. Here I needed a few items. I was looking for new towels and slippers. I had some money left from the vouchers so I bought some t-shirt bra's as well. I do not buy my bra's anywhere else. Always an investment!
 Exclusive Books. Need I say more. You know when you see someone reading and you are like "point-one of us-one of us". I love reading. With my vivid, wild imagination it is a feast. I have been looking for Four by Veronica Roth in paper back and found it at last. Don't get me wrong, I love a hard back, it is just expensive. I enjoyed Gone Girl immensely so I am going to read Dark Place by Gillian Flynn and then I am busy with The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. Whooo bring on the weekend so I can read!

I also stopped at Cum Books and bought the Gospel Skouspel CD of 2015 and a big calendar for my door. I have a thing for calendars and diaries!
 
The Tea Merchant. I started to love tea last year. Not the normal tea, flavoured tea. What better place to stock up on some summer flavour teas. They also have this really cool feature now where you can refill your tin for R120 instead of paying R145 for a new one. It is a bargain as 50g is R60 and the tin hold 100g. They also have the coolest gadgets and tea pots. I will add it to my Christmas list.
Last, but not least I popped into Truworths, and did some online shopping at Zando to add some printed t-shirts and more sandals to my wardrobe. I am very privileged at my job to wear whatever I want to. I can even do the shorts thing. It is so comfy! No suites. Heaven! The white elephant top has detail on the back (picture above).
It was an absolute feast not thinking twice about buying something I want, and not necessarily need. You have to spoil yourself and this was cost free to me.

It is Christmas time and my heart is singing. I am doing a 24days of Christmas Photo challenge, which will be posted on Christmas day. I am also looking forward going to the beach and spending some time with my family.

Have you spent some money these last few weeks and how is the Christmas shopping going?Tell me in the comments below.

Speak to you soon!
xoxo

Monday, 30 November 2015

Exploring the greater Cape Town (incl. Stellenbosch)

Hi there!
Welcome and thank you for stopping by.

If you have never read my blog before, allow me to introduce myself quickly. I am Elré, this is my blog. Go check out this page and this one for more juicy info.

Last week, on the 21st of November, I hit the big 3oh! I am super excited. It is a new decade and I can not wait to see what the next 10 years have in store. My friend came to visit me from Potchefstroom. She has not been to Cape Town a lot before and there was some place she wanted to see. She sent me a to-see-list and we hit the streets that weekend. I saw my surroundings through different eyes and we had a lot of fun!

On a wet, grey, cold Saturday morning we hit the road for Stellenbosch. First stop was Stellenbrau, a beer brewery. Now, I do not drink beer. Just so you know. Knowing that, I am game for trying out new things. I thoroughly enjoyed the brewery tour and our guide, Louis, was entertaining and made it very interesting. It is R70pp which is quite inexpensive and value for money. You get a tor, tasting and a glass of beer. The tasting went well for me I'd say. My face came to know a few new muscles as my face was contorted into shapes I did not know exist. But, I finished my glass and with a spinning head hit the road for Spier.
If you would like to find out more about the brewery, visit Stellenbrau's website*

Drinking beer makes you hungry, but before we stopped for lunch we headed out to Spier just outside of Stellenbosch. What a beautiful experience. I have been here before, but not really as "tourist" and really doing some of the activities available. You can taste some chocolate and wine pairings, or just wine. You can have a picnic which is pre packed and ordered online. They have markets over the weekend and the the Eagle Encounters*. 

I heard of this the first time a few months ago. I was super excited to try this out. I have a thing for birds and why not? It's my birthday treat to myself. Now, your entry fee is R75 and this includes the "fly" shows during the day and owl interacting. To have a private interaction with the eagle cost you extra (about R50). I just had too.

I had a blast. The owls is just so freaking cute and if you play them some music they actually dance!I should have made a video.
 
 
After we spent some time here we headed down to the Eight to Go Deli to buy us some lunch. Man oh man! The food is great! And it is value for money. It is big sarmies filled with goodness and the treats is divine. They have the sweetest toffees, chocolate brownies and coffee. Hmm I want to go back again! Just for the fooood! 

It is lovely under the trees, next to the river. There is wide open space where the kids can run free and families have a picnic on a blanket in the shade.

There is beautiful spots where you can take pictures and if you are no into the whole picnic thing you can go to the Eight Restaurant just next to the deli or The Hoghouse.
Pssst-they also have a spa and an hotel should you enjoy that wine tasting to much and want to make an overnight out of it ;) hehe. Check out the Spier website* for more in detail info. 

We were paste after our day in Stellenbosch. So we ended with a braai and Sunday morning was our oyster.

First up was Kirstenbosch. As they say-The most beautiful garden in Africa. They are quite right I'd say. They recently added a new attraction called The Boomslang Walk Way which is above the trees and it is a beautiful site from the walkway. It also moves a bit which is suppose to give you that "sailing" feeling which just totally freaked me out. But none the less it was beautiful! 

There is plenty of photo opportunists, lounging on the grass, 10's of walk routes and you can even climb Table Mountain from Kirstenbosch. For a cup of tea you can visit The Tea Room and if you want something more substantial for brunch or proper lunch there is a Moyo restaurant as well. You will also have heard that they have Summer concerts this time of year and it is spectacular! 

I huffed and puffed quite a bit, but please don't tell anybody. I am planning on getting fit so that I can go climb Skeleton Gorge next time!

For more info on The Most Beautiful Garden in Africa-check out the website*.
We ended our weekend in Bo-Kaap in Cape Town. It is one of the oldest residential areas in Cape town and a historical part of the city. This area is protected and no alterations is allowed in this area. I love going here. The pretty color houses gives it a smartie box feel with a little playfulness in it. The people are friendly and it is different.  There are guided walking tours offered which will tell you the rich history linked to this area. 
We only visited a very small part of it, to find out what this area has to offer, visit the Bo-Kaap website here*.

This was one of the best weekends I had. It was lovely exploring my city and showing my friend around. We have so much more to see and can not wait!

Next time we will climb Lion's Head! Add that to my bucket list mr!

Do you explore your city? Let me know in the comments below.

Speak to you soon!
xoxo

*links not affiliated