From Me To You - Severely Vintage

Some lovely pics of vintage treasures in Severely Vintage by photographer Jamie Beck - see more and other lovely stuff on her beautiful blog From Me To You.

Fridge decor

Our fridge has finally given up the ghost.  It is nearly 18 years old and to be honest, it has been threatening to go for about two years now, but we lovingly coax it back into life for a little longer every time... I think the constant opening and shutting over the last few days during the heat wave was the final straw.  Tomorrow our new fridge will be delivered and this old 'friend' will be taken away so I have been removing all the magnets, art, notices, photographs, take-out menus and other stuff that was randomly stuck all over it.
Now I'm sorry that I didn't take a photo of it before I removed everything, because honestly its amazing what was on there!  Photographs that date back a good few years, pictures my girls drew when they were in nursery school - they are 13 and 15 now (!), take away menu's from places that I haven't even heard of, much less ordered food from, various magnets and postcards - I think that's where most postcards end up.  Fortunately I have never succumbed to fridge poetry.

Like most, I have lusted after a SMEG fridge since I left home, but apart from the prohibitive price tag, I wouldn't know what colour to get - love them all! 

Just beautiful

I haven't been doing much blog browsing recently, but I just came across these beautiful pics on the brilliant blog Dustjacket Attic.  They are from an editorial for Marie Claire Australia Feb 2011 edition by photographer Friedemann Hauss and styled by Jana Pokorny - featuring model Iys Inger.  These are just a few - pop over the Dustjacket Attic to see more (and some other lovely stuff).

Have a wonderful weekend :) x

Its hot in the city...

As all you locals are well aware, we are experiencing a heat wave in Cape Town and it is impossible to look cool and elegant out there - well for me anyway!  This weather calls for loose fitting clothing, staying close to water in the shade of a tree and a jug of home made lemonade.

Here are some pics by photographer Liz Ham that make feel cooler just looking at them....

A great read!

I love reading and always have a few magazines and books next to my bed - I can't get to sleep before reading something.  In the past I have even forced myself to finish books I am not enjoying but I have decided lifes too short for that nonsense and there are too many good reads to struggle through the bad ones.

A friend in the UK recommended 'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett.  Its brilliant.  If you read and enjoyed the Secret Life of Bees, then this is a must.  I haven't finished reading it yet, but I am literally gagging to get back to it!

A short synopsis: Set in deep South Mississippi in 1962, the book is written in the first person by the three main characters - Skeeter Phelan is a young white woman of privilege who enjoys the company of her fellow Junior Leaguers but sometimes finds their ways at odds with her own principles.

Minny, Aibileen, and Yule May are maids employed by Skeeter's friends. Each woman cooks, cleans, and cares for her boss's children, suffering slights and insults silently and sharing household secrets only among themselves.  Skeeter longs to be a journalist and contacts a New York book editor with an idea. Soon she's conducting clandestine meetings with "the help" to capture their stories for publication. It is a bold and reckless plan, one that endangers not only the positions but the lives of the very women whose stories she transcribes - as well as her own.

I can't believe this is Kathryn Stockett's first novel.  The Help is a charming and thoughtful story and especially pertinent for me as a South African. 

Back to work and view through my lens

With my holiday coming to an end far too quickly, we spent the last couple of days really taking things easy.  We did however do a few 'tourist in our own town' things that included take-out on Signal Hill last night while watching the sunset - it was gorgeous.

So, I am back behind my desk but intend to work half-days in the office this week, and afternoons from home - a nice way to ease back into things.

Hello 2011 ! ♥

Happy New Year!  

After seeing in the New Year with very special friends and family and more good food, we have woken to a gorgeous, soft, rainy morning in the fairest Cape - perfect.  We're off to have lunch with friends at their new home in Kalk Bay - this time last year we were sitting in the emergency room at Hermanus Medi Clinic, and later wheeling Emma into surgery, so I am already thrilled with the way 2011 has started by comparison!

I wish for everyone a wonderful, auspicious, exciting and above all happy year.  Thank you to my followers and a special mention to Lana of the enviably brilliant blog Lanalou - you particularly have inspired me to keep blogging on in to 2011 - thank you!

May we all have days like this.....  pic by photographer Danil Golovkin

Lovely Photography

Gorgeous pics of model Sasha Pivovarova by Mikael Jansson for French Vogue.

Click on Pics for source

Lazy days

I am just loving the holidays!  Usually we are away this time of year but partly due to the fact that we are hoping for a European holiday in 2011, we decided to stay home.  I have to admit, it is fabulous!  Being at home, there is no pressure to be doing something everyday - we are all so chilled and doing our own thing and SO lazy!  Although we did have an absolutely amazing Christmas in Koringberg - hellish hot, but super fun.  It goes without saying that we stuffed oursleves silly - we are a family of foodies after all and Christmas is a wonderful excuse for overindulgence.

We have watched the entire series of River Cottage and have become Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall addicts thanks to lovely DVD box set sent over to me by my wonderful Polish/English friend Jola.  It has made us appreciate our hens even more, but just as well it is not legal to keep a cow in a residential area or we might have been off to the cattle auction!

I hope you are all having a wonderful, restful time - or on the other hand, some fantastic parties! Here are a few pics from Koringberg.

May you have a very Merry Christmas

I can't see myself getting much of a gap to blog before Christmas, so I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a joyous Christmas and for those not celebrating it, a wonderful holiday weekend.  May it be filled with good company, good cheer and good food.  xxxxx

Nearly Christmas....

I woke up with a bit of a shock this morning when I realised that is is only 3 days till Christmas!  Well, actually only 2 in my family as we have a huge get-together feast and present swapping tradition on Christmas Eve.  We will all be at my sisters house in Koringberg - up the West Coast - for the whole weekend and I know it is going to fun, fun, fun!
I took a few minutes to make a "wishlist" collage on Polyvore.....  there is only one thing there that I stand the remotest chance of getting - but nothing wrong with wishing... ;)

Wishlist by Lisamariedt featuring a mulberry handbag

Polyvore !

I have discovered Polyvore through Kristyna's lovely blog The Owl Diary - needless to say, it could become a new obsession!

Feeling nautical by Lisamariedt featuring blue sunglasses

Vogue Star Signs

Emma was given the December UK Vogue by a friend as a Christmas/belated birthday present.  It is the most gorgeous issue all around the theme of stars - wow!  Here are some images of a photo shoot by photographer Tim Gutt and stylist Kate Phelan based on Zodiac signs - I can't decide which are my faves, I love them all!

4 Simple Goals update....

Encouraged by Elsie of A Beautiful Mess, in August this year I promised myself that I would complete 4 simple goals by the end of 2010.  I am proud to say that I have achieved all of those goals and I am planning to do the same in 2011!   
The first was to become a blood donor and this morning I donated blood for the 3rd time.  Like most people, I am pretty squeamish when it comes to needles, so I am quite proud of myself.  Not only have I completed one of those goals, but I am giving something of myself – it feels good.   
The 2nd goal was to paint Sarah’s wardrobe – it turned out so well too – she loves it.   
My 3rd goal was to drink more water!  Sounds simple enough, but I am a bit of a camel – I tend not to drink enough during the day.  I now fill a glass of water when I get to work every morning and top it up every time it nears half way.  That way I am not conscious of exactly how much I am drinking and not feeling pressurized to drink the prescribed ‘8 glasses a day’.  I also add a couple of slices of cucumber and some mint – its quite delicious! 
My final goal is to give thanks – every single day.

Cool gift idea, great packaging

Knock Knock