The Selling of Books

WHEN I should have been looking for Christmas presents for my nearest and dearest, I was searching through tables (I kid you not, TABLES) of books on sale. You can imagine my utter joy when I found six incredible books before I dragged myself to the cashier before I did more credit damage. Please revel in my excitement with me...

THERE WAS the second and third books in the Lauren Conrad series, which were on my book wish list. Then there was the discovery of the books that changed my teenage-hood...Louise Rennison's books of Georgie Nicolson... Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging... You with me? So of course I had to buy two of the books, combinations of the first four. If you don't know that your boobs are actually nunga-nungas, you need to read these books asap. Then there was Wedding Babylon by Imogen Edward Jones and Last Night at Chateu Marmont by Lauren Weisberger (of Devil Wears Prada fame).

SO AS you can imagine I walked out of there a very happy bunny, with full arms and an empty wallet. My bookshelf is looking full and I'm feeling more like an adult by the day. Because adults spend money on books not shoes, right? .... Right?!?

I Accept the Challenge!

WHILST PERUSING the Internet (like I do), I came across a new blog, The Katalina Playroom. It's practically book porn! Another interesting find on the site was the 30 Day Book Challenge. I accepted before I even read it! As I have already posted something on books this evening, I shall leave you in suspense of my response to the challenge. And anyway, I think Blogspot might think my blog has been hacked seeing as I'm posting twice in 24 hours. So lemme get off this thing!

Book Wish List

I FEEL that one's book and music collections are never complete. Music and book stores are the only stores I can not walk out of empty-handed. So I try to avoid them at all costs, for the sake of my bank account. Until I start perusing online. Dam you Exclusive Books!

SO I compiled my book wish list (well, a minimized version) that I hope to begin ticking off soon:

1. Waiter Rant: Behind the Scenes of Eating Out by The Waiter.
I love the Babylon books by Imogen-Edward Jones that takes readers behind-the-scenes of industries and seeing as I was a waitress for four years (something's gotta pay the bills), I am convinced I'm going to find this book very amusing!

2. Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad.
Yes, I know you don't exactly think 'Award-winning writer' when you hear Lauren Conrad, but I did enjoy her first book in the series. It was an easy read and as a reality TV show addict I am interested to see what is revealed in these books, post The Hills fame.

3. Are you there Vodka? It's me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
If it's by Chelsea Handler, I'm going to love it! I'm currently reading her first book (again) and just dying to read her latest books. This book is next!

4. The Bro Code by Barney Stinson
If this book is anything like the show it originates from (How I met your Mother), I know I'm going to love it! I can't wait to read it; it's going to be legen .... wait for it ... dary!

5. The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert
I enjoyed Elizabeth's books on her own life (despite my initial apprehensions) so I'm quite interested to read one of her other books that is fictional.


















I LOVE the feeling of buying new books. To go home with your arms full of new literature your eyes have not gazed upon. Hopefully one day (sometime in the near future hopefully) I will have a book of my own on the shelves. For now, I shall just riddle the interweb with my thinking.




















*Images via We <3 It*

Igloo Village

SEEING THE Northern Lights has always been something I've wanted desperately to do. Ignoring the long flights and freezing cold weather, I can imagine it being one of the most beautiful things I will ever witness. So why not live there in these....

IT'S THE Igloo Village in Finland and each igloo has luxury beds and a toilet.



















AND THEN I saw the sheets...That's when I knew I had to visit this village. Animal print!

















YOU CAN even get married there. So I guess I better incorporate sleeves into my dress design (way, way in the future). Because for this view...I would do anything.
































Via MMM.

Ecards Always Know what to Say

THESE POSTCARDS are written about me. Well basically.















































































Via SomeEcards.

Lady Irritation

LADY GAGA was once a great entertainer. Now she is a human grater on my nerves. I enjoyed her when she looked like this...













BUT THEN she dressed in a dress made of meat. Then as a condom. Now as a man. Enough is enough woman (or man or whatever you want to be)! I might not take down Lady Gaga and all her mindless monsters, but at least I can have a rant about it.

Sailor-Love

I WAS feeling like dressing like this today...




















JUST OBVIOUSLY the female version. So I did this...

Time Lapse

MY BLOG is once again getting neglected. And these are all the things that have happened since I last blogged...
...The Teen Choice Awards - Rachel Bilson and Selene Gomez were the most rocking of the evening!
...I fell in love with Calvin & Hobbes shoes.
...Selena rocked AGAIN at the VMA's 2011. That girl's got great fashion style, and really bad boyfriend style.
...Lady Gaga is further down my Hate List after dressing like a man.

Evidence of Girl Porn

I AM addicted to Brian Atwood pumps. Addicted. It it not natural to be so obsessed with shoes (so they say) but they haven't seen these shoes. These beautiful shoes.

IF YOU know where they can be located in South Africa, tell me. I need to have a pair for my life to be complete.

Brilliance Nonetheless

W ALWAYS has the best magazine covers, often outrageous but brilliant nonetheless. And then there's always the controversial Kim Kardashian cover.

THE MAG does the most beautiful shoots...except for Tilda Swinton. Now that girl isn't exactly pretty and they've just made her look worse in her weird, weird cover piece. I'm not exaggerating, they made her look like a man.

BUT AS for Julia Roberts, January Jones and Mila Kunis they retained their absolute beauty. I already have a girl crush on Mila, and in the article she just seems like a great person to know.

I JUST love checking out what they've done lately, it's so inspiring. Now if only I could get the magazine in SA...for a decent price.

I am. An Intern.

MY RECENT quietness has been a result of making a temporary move to South Africa's Mother City. Cape Town.

MY DAD'S side of the family all live here so we have spent most our summers in Cape Town but not really in Cape Town. Summers aren't fun when you spend most of the time in traffic or waiting in lines so we avoid the hustle and bustle of the city and stick to the coastal outskirts. So I am now living on one of those outskirts and traveling into the city to be an intern.

I AM an intern at my favourite women's magazine and it has been great to see how the mag gets put together. In between lots of coffee-making and errands. I was gladly surprised to see the office was nowhere near to being a scene out of Devil Wears Prada. Thank Gucci for that!

IT'S GREAT begin here, even if it is the coldest time of the year. I did get to see the most beautiful place and it wasn't to do with Cape Town scenery. It is known as the Magazine Room and it's where the magazines go to retire. There are magazines from the floor to the ceiling. I could die a happy girl in a room like that! From happiness or a magazine avalanche, whatever comes first.

SO TO new beginnings and new experiences in our Mother City.

This Was My First

10 THINGS I did not know about weddings:

1. They are way, way more expensive than 21st's.
2. But just like 21st's, you will have to converse and socialize with people you barely know.
3. It is expected you bring a present to the Kitchen Tea (it is important you are aware that I had never attended a wedding before now. Never).
4. Wearing the sunglasses during the ceremony not only stops you from giving everyone the evil eye from glaring, but also masks your crying.
5. Sometimes there are two ministers for the ceremony.
6. You will stand awkwardly for the half the ceremony until someone tells the congregation to sit.
7. Someone taller will always stand in front of you to block you from seeing the couple's first kiss.
8. Someone you dislike will always be at your table at the reception.
9. Rustic weddings are no place for heels.
10. And most importantly, everyone will get so drunk they won't notice you are walking around with a whole bottle of Malibu under your arm.

Best. Shoes. Ever.

I KNOW I've been rudely quiet of late but life has been somewhat busy. And full of procrastination. But when I saw these shoes, these beautiful shoes, I knew I had to share them. Even though I can't own them, I can stare at them for hours on end. They are from Bebe and are about to be released. The things I would do for these shoes....

Your Majesty

I AM not ashamed to say it... I loved the Royal Wedding! I was excited about it and hell, I even left college early for it.

I HAD initially recorded it so I could skip through the boring bits but alas those boring bits were few and far in between. I watched a good two-and-a-half hours of it despite having assignments to do and work that evening to get ready for. I then proceeded to talk about it at any given opportunity for the next few days.

HERE ARE my highlights of the whole event:
1. Seeing how beautiful London is (the rain always put me off that place) and how into the wedding everyone was.
2. Realizing Kate Middleton had a good looking brother.
3. Noting she had just as stunning a sister as well. That family clearly got all the good genes!
4. Harry sneaking peeks down the aisle at Kate.
5. William struggling to get her ring on.

AND THE best part of that entire event was the, not one but, TWO kisses they shared on the balcony in front of all those fans. And of course the look of sheer happiness and love on their faces! *Swoon*

I AM attending my first EVER, yes I repeat ever, wedding next weekend. Do you think I'll have high expectations after watching the Royal Wedding? What did you think of the wedding?

I would give ANYTHING!

I AM obsessed with beautiful, big watches. And Toywatches are at the top of that list! They are so beautiful but as a student they are out of my reach right now. But I can dream! This one is my ultimate favorite of their collection right now:


I'M SURE you will all agree it's magnificent. What is on the top of your wish list right now?

Happy Men Day

DESPITE HAVING ignored my blog for the last month (tisk tisk I know) I have just popped in with an image to celebrate National Cleavage Day. I don't really support it because every day is like cleavage day for me (thus the downfall of big boobs. That and back pain). But I really loved this bikini so why not share.

South African-born, Candice Swanepoel, modeling Victoria's Secret Swim 2011 Summer of Love.

ENJOY THE cleavage-filled days ladies and, mostly, men!

Shopping List

WHAT I miss most about America is the shopping. Close behind that is Starbucks but mostly the shopping. If I ever needed a specific item, it could be found at the many reasonably priced stores. And it could be found that day. Here shopping needs to be done in advance because who knows how long it's going to take to find that specific item.

SO I tortured myself and looked at all the spring items that are being released right now over there. And this list is my absolute fave items I wish I could buy!

*going from the top, left to right*

1. I love fedoras and this one is rocking the two colours! Find it at American Eagle for $15.50.
2. House of Harlow ring, love the detail and the cut. $55 at shopthetrendboutique.com.
3. $69 Destiny wedges, great for day and night! Found at chineselaundry.com.
4. I love the colour in these $15 Design Spark Green and Gold Bangle Set, which can be bought at shopdesignspark.com.
5. I love big rings and the diamond square in the middle of this ring is stunning! And it's only $20 so I definitely would have headed to shopdesignspark.com to buy this Design Spark Zig Zag ring.
6. Really liking the grey and white together for this Candie's bag. Only $44 at kohls.com.
7. The shoe design on the sides of these sunnies absolutely rocks! And you can never go wrong with white sunglasses. These Jee Vice Jammy glasses will break the bank a little at $97.50 but if you willing to pay find them at jeevice.com.
8. Sparkling pumps are great for sprucing up a day outfit or wearing them on a night out when you giving your heels a break. The Spring Esparaza are $30 and can be found at JC Penny stores or at jcp.com

Eat, Pray, Loving It

I WAS a little weary to read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert when it first came out. I did want to but I was nervous I would want to ditch my man and go on a year-long adventure after doing so. I finally indulged myself.

I UNFORTUNATELY saw the movie before reading the book. It was a great movie but then I read the book and the movie had changed a few things and left out some parts I considered important. And your mind doesn't get to conjure up an image of what all the characters look like, you already know Elizabeth looks like Julia Robers. But I saw it on the flight to Brazil and it gave me this new outlook on traveling and I thought it was an appropriate movie to begin my trip with. Although my trip was only a month long and I wasn't struggling with my inner turmoil.

THE ITALY section did make me want to go study Italian and make my way over there ASAP! But I suppose the way Elizabeth writes so passionately about the place, who wouldn't want to go there? I even started warming up to meditation (not that I have actually tried it) but it's just so easy to feel her love for it. And of course there's Bali, a place that was always on my bucket list and now even more so.

JULIA ROBERTS was absolutely gorgeous in the movie and I think the role suited her perfectly! Julia even resembles Elizabeth, if only slightly. But Javier Bardem does not resemble Felipe at all! But I suppose they can't get it all perfect in the movie.

*real couple vs. movie couple*

UPON COMPLETING Eat, Pray, Love I have immediately begun on her follow-up book Committed. There is still so much to learn from Elizabeth Gilbert. Do yourself a favour and get these books now!

Loving Vera

*click image to enlarge*

What a Transformation

*What a change. Now and then.*

KELLY OSBOURNE was always a bit off when it came to fashion. Not surprising seeing as her parents are the eccentric Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. But she truly has blossomed into a beautiful lady.

KELLY IS now a presenter on E!'s fashion show, Fashion Police, with Joan Rivers. This shows you exactly how far she has come since her outlandish cartoon gear. And more recently Kelly was chosen as the new face of the line Material Girl, created by Madonna and her daughter Lourdes.

TAYLOR MOMSEN, the irritating Gossip Girl raccoon-star, was initially picked but described the line as 'similar to that of a high-class hooker.' Yeah because that won't get you fired.

KELLY WAS more than happy to represent her idol's line and is looking more fabulous than ever. So Taylor, you are the weakest link. Goodbye.

The New Gown

*To view this bigger, click on it*

That Hair, That Beautiful Hair

*To view this bigger just click on it*

My Belt Piece

*I had to write some articles for an internship application so I thought I would share them*

MALES VIEW them as another pesky thing to get off you. Females value them as the cherry on top of the cake, the item that ties the whole outfit together. The belt. Whether it’s holding up baggy pants or nipping in your waist, belts have got you covered in the best and worst times.

WE ALL have an image in our minds of the perfect belt; a belt that makes us feel like our outfit cost R1 million. And that moment when you finally find that belt that meets all your expectations...priceless. You see belts are an investment. For anyone who has ever spent many a shopping spree looking for “that belt that I can just picture” all to no avail, you will understand that once you’ve found it you need to pay whatever the price.

WHETHER YOU choose to wear it in your waist or on your hips, choose a style that suits you and accentuates your curves. If you want to show off your hourglass figure you’ve been working hard on use a thinner belt to show off your narrow waist. Choose a thicker belt to be worn on your hips when wanting to move attention away from your stomach area if you are self-conscious. Go for a simpler outfit when wearing an embellished belt so that can be your main center of attention.

LAST YEAR the belts were nearly the same size as our waists but this year it’s tending to be more on the narrower side. But don’t hurry to spring clean your belt collection just yet because it’s good to have a whole range of belts that you can choose from. The more the merrier not only applies to parties but also to your bag, your shoe and your belt collection!

It's Happened

THE TRAVEL bug has bitten. Again. And it's all because of Gossip Girl. That incredible scenery, the fashion, the pastries, the vespas. It's all so beautiful and I must go there right now!

THE BF gets to go in June which I find very unfair; he won't truly grasp the essence of Paris. What he must grab is a Louis Vuitton bag for me.

I AM left here, pondering when I can take some time off (again) and be able to afford another holiday. Soon I hope, very soon.

W is for Whatever

KIM KARDASHIAN has once again gone nude in front of a camera. This time for W Magazine and she was promised it would be a "tasteful" shoot.


BUT AFTER seeing these clear nipple shots, Kim was left raging as she was told she would be covered in the body paint and nothing would be seen. I know there is quite of bit of nudity in W's photoshoots but I thought she would have learnt by now to stop with the nudity. I don't particularly think the full body shots were necessary, the cover and the shot below it look great though. To see the article, click here.

DO YOU think it was necessary for Kim to be fully naked?

I'm Back

I HAVE finally returned to my lonely blog and dusted the cobwebs off my brain. I recently spent a month in Brazil and have returned very lazy and quite the procrastinator. Not a good way to approach my final year at college.

THE TRIP was great; I decided to go to Brazil to visit my Brazilian friend who I met in America and I had a bad case of the travel bug. The beaches are beautiful there, so blue! There weren't many waves on the beaches I had been to so I bought a strapless bikini. Read: useless to wear in even the calmest of waters. I wore it to a new beach which had the biggest waves I had seen for quite some time! I am quite glad to report I managed to keep the top on AND not drown so that was quite an accomplishment.




















I SAW some incredible sights and met some great people, many of whom were traveling all around South America. It takes a special kind of person to leave home and not know where you going apart from a few vague ideas. The Christ statue was mind-blowing and I had an incredible time exploring a new place and being a little out of my element for a while. But there is no place like home I tell you. No place.