Tandoor Indian Restaurant, Pietermaritzburg

Who doesn't love a good curry?! Here in Pietermaritzburg we are practicably neighbors to the home of all things curry related, {I'm talking about Durbs!} and so finding the perfect curry restaurant should be easy peasy...but alas i have been put off by the high prices and slow service in most of the other Indian restaurants in town.

 A little while ago when my lovely mom was visiting us newly weds, she treated us to a delish dish from Tandoor Indian Restaurant in town. Fresh garlic butter naans, creamy Korma's and basmati rice served hot and fresh left us with very full tummy's and plans to return as soon possible.

Situated in an old school Victorian classic home, the atmosphere lends itself to sharing not just good food, but good company and conversation.

Find them at:

319 Bulwer Street, Pietermaritzburg. Tel: 033 342 8853 or 083 263 0733 (Jaswant Singh).

Rosehurst Tea Garden {Pietermaritzburg}

Whenever my mom pops into Pietermaritzburg to visit me, we head down to Rosehurst for tea (and usually something yummy to nibble on too). It's such a tranquil place to sip tea, read a book, update your antique collection, or take a stroll through the perfectly manicured gardens...you will feel as though you've stepped into another world.

With so many rooms to browse, make sure your purse is at the ready. A bookshop, a chocolate menagerie, a china room full of gorgeous collectibles and a cafe bursting with yummy flavors...I never leave empty handed :)

My lovely mom!

239 Boom Street, Pietermaritzburg 033 394 1443

Rollin Vintage & Friends {Howick}

After a tiring Saturday morning spent stand up paddling with Ryan & Liesa, we headed on over to their shop Rollin Vintage & Friends to see how the shop has been coming along. And all I can say is wow! I first posted about their exciting new venture into realm of retail in May this year (click here to see where they started off) and I can only say that the shop is booming and looking absolutely fantastic! In their own words: "Rollin Vintage & Friends grew out of an appreciation for Proudly South African, hand crafted, recycled goods.

As our personal business Rollin Vintage grew, we wanted to expand our horizons and venture forth into the retail world. We bumped heads with consignment, mark ups, bad attitudes and service toward our product. One morning Ryan woke up with an idea that changed all of this for us.To start a shop where we could represent the crafter, selling their items at their prices and on their behalf, giving them the best service and value for money - Rollin Vintage & Friends was born.

We have sourced products which meet one or all of the following criteria - being hand crafted, proudly South African and Recycled. We want to promote crafters who are taking a chance on their skill and living their passion - doing what they love"
Here are a few snaps from the store, click here to see more!

{Stand Up Paddling} Midmar Dam

A few photo's of what we got up to this weekend with our newly engaged friends, Ryan & Liesa (whom you may recognize as the faces behind the awesome Rollin Vintage & Friends store in Howick).
We tried Stand Up Paddling, which is a whole lot harder than it looks, topped off with some hot coffee to help our tired bodies recover...and all this before 8 o'clock on a Saturday! And now it's time for a Sunday in bed :)

{CupCake Decorating}

What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon, than with lovely ladies, butter cream icing, and blank cupcakes...ready for a splash of colour! A few pic's of the cupcake decorating course I attended this weekend:

Thanks for a wonderful afternoon ladies!

Rollin Vintage {Open for Business}

A little while ago I did a post on Rollin Vintage's new store in Howick. Ryan and Liesa officially opened the doors to Rollin Vintage and Friends on Friday 1st June. Here is what's in store for you if you pop into their gorgeous shop in Howick:

Find then at :

Shop 10

Howick Falls Hotel Retail Space

Morling Street

Howick

Opening Hours

Monday - Sunday 09h00 to 16h00

Rollin Vintage {Shop} Launch!

This friday, 1st June 2012, Rollin Vintage will be launching their new premises in Howick, just outside Pietermaritzburg. Ryan and Liesa started Rollin Vintage at the beginning of this year, and have been an unstoppable force since then. I did a post on their pieces before, click here, when they were just starting up their business, and it has been amazing to see them grow. Their shop is just the beginning. Not only will they be showcasing their gorgeous antique cutlery jewelry, they will also be stocking a host of other South African handmade designs and crafts. If you are in the Pietermaritzburg area on Friday afternoon, why not pop by!

These are the *before the stock has arrived* photo's, just to give you a little glimpse of what's in store on Friday.

Ryan and Liesa!

How amazing is this Radio!? *Not for sale*

Ryan's pride and joy! He spent many hours lovingly crafting this counter...

I want!

Lots of natural light make the shop a very inviting place to be in winter...

One of their rings.

The 'Designer on Display' feature space

{From left to right} Me, Liesa, Shellen and Angela All four of us were studying our Postgrad Teaching Certificate at the University of Kwazulu Natal, but Liesa had other idea's, and left the course to follow her dream (inspiring woman!).

Liesa!

{Pietermaritzburg} 6 months on...

I have posted these photo's below before, but I loved them so much I felt the need to post them again! And, they kinda fit in with the title of this post.

6 months ago today I moved to the sleepy town (or so I thought) of Pietermaritzburg. I was only supposed to be here for 2 months, I had a job lined up with an awesome PR company in Jo'burg, I was to be their newest Social Media Manager. Here's what changed and what I've got up to in the last few months:

1. I got engaged!! So exciting! You can follow me and all my wedding plans here.

2. I registered with the University of Kwazulu Natal to do my Postgrad Certificate in Education...loving every second of it!

3. Started Buttercup Collectibles, which has it's own little piece of the action at the I Heart Market in Durban.

4. Moved into my own little flat (pictures to come soon! )

5. Started instructing spinning class at the new Virgin Gym here at Cascades.

6. Am in the process of getting pretty serious with my camera after these pictures (here's to future photography venture's!)

7. Have made some of the most lovely and special friends (most of whom I have met through the local  NCF Church).

8. Started a weekly photo-challenge with just myself and Farmboy, and which has grown to over 15 members (if you would like to join our team, just drop me a line at citygirlsearching{at}gmail{dot}com)

8. I have nearly finished exploring every single second hand/thrift/charity/antique store in the vicinity!

So there you have it, 6 months and counting. It sounds exhausting when I look back on my short time so far here in the Capital of KZN...but I'm oh so excited for the next 6 to come!

xxx

Our Engagement Photo-shoot...a *sneak peak*

A *big* thank you to our wonderfully talented friends Cameron & Sophie (of SophieSmithPhotography) who took our Engagement photo's yesterday. It was an afternoon filled with lots of love, smiles and the occasional bump on the head :)

Here are a few of the photographs, with the rest of them to follow soon!

Enjoy 

xxx

*Peels Honey* Midlands Meander

A few shots from a little drive Farmboy and I did through the Midlands. Who doesn't love a little bit of honey hey?! 

To get to the Peel's Honey shop take exit 99 from the N3 near Howick. Turn toward Underberg and then follow the signs.

Open 08h00-17h00 Daily

Closed Christmas Day

Telephone/Fax: 033 330 3762

E-mail: peelshoney@mweb.co.za

Holmes Brothers Delight...

Farmboy surprised me with this pretty hoodie a few weeks back, but it's been toooo hot here in Pietermaritzburg to take her out the cupboard. But with the weird weather thats been happening over the last few days, I thought it time to show her off.

I love the slightly edgy pattern, but being a CityGirl, it still incorporates my love the colour pink, but in a very different way :)

Farmboy found my prezzie at the awesome Pure in Maritzburg. She is part of the South African brand, Holmes Brothers, which was started by two brothers from the sunny shores of Durban, Kwazulu Natal. They had originally been  designing surfboards and then made the *obvious* leap into fashion. Click here to find out more about them and where you can get your paws on some of their other nice things,

 Now bring on those clouds and wind, I will be warm and toasty!

Market Buys...

A recent trip to the loveliness that is the I Heart Market  at the Moses Madiba Stadium in Durban left my purse a little lighter, but my smile tthhhhiiissssss much bigger...

My purchases:

I just <3 these gorgeous ceramic magnets made by the lovely Natasha of Love Inspired. Natasha hand makes gifts and other things of prettyness for weddings, special events and decor. Make sure to check out her site to stay up to date on new stock!

How adorable are these hairclips from Nadia at CupCakeCourture?? So lovely I just HAD to get two, these are the perfect stocking fillers for someone special. If you like what you see, get in touch with Nadia (click here) and you can place an order directly through her.

And these lovelies are just for me...Jen from Jen-Jen Designs dabbles in freelance art, design and photography and I am just so in <3 with my new pictures!

It's the last market for the year happening this Saturday...Get your bums down there for some last minute Christmas Shopping!

*Pure* Shopping Heaven....Pietemaritzburg

Whoever said there is nowhere to shop in Pietermaritzburg obviously missed out on Pure.

The store houses established and upcoming South African fashion designers, artists, up-cycled goodies and much, much more. You just have to take one peep in the door and you know you'll be staying for a while...so get those purses out ladies (and for the gents, there is just as much for you guys to check out!). 

But don't just take my word for it, go and see for yourself...

While taking these photo's, I spent some time chatting to Pure's owner, Chantal, who is just lovely! It's so inspiring meeting young people who are so positive about South Africa and the potential we have in out beautiful country. Chantal, I will be back for many more chat sessions :)

How gorgeous is this little ballerina tutu just for new borns?

Currently stocked: Amanda Laird Cherry, Colleen Eitzen, Suzaan Heyns, Holmes Brothers, Eb + Am, Silver Spoon, Cinimon, and Alternative Earth. 

Directions

Shop 4

Wetherly's Centre

120 Victoria Rd [Wetherley's Centre]

Pietermaritzburg

3201

Hours

Mon - Fri 8:30am-5pm

Sat 9am-2pm

Website

Pure Retail Store

I Heart Market...Christmas Shopping!

I Heart Market is happening 3 times this month...yipee! So if you missed it this past weekend, never fear, you have two more chances to get your Christmas Shopping on. Here are a few goodies I picked, as well as a few photo's from some of my favourite stalls:

This was our first stop...Wafel for some brekkie. I had stuffed my face with 3 bowls of Milo Cereal before I arrived at the market so I can't say for certain just how good these were, but all I could hear from Louise while munching was "mmmmm".

Jen was just so sweet, not minding me snapping away. Sometimes people get very sticky about me taking pictures of their work, which really grates me as I always make it very clear that I'm not stealing idea's when I take photo's. I love blogging, I love taking photographs, and I love it when people leave comments telling me how useful they find my blog, thats why I do what I do. For no other reason than that. Anyway,*enough grumbling * from me :)

Click here to see Jen's blog, and click here to see a catalogue of her work!

These pretty little things are from Natasha of LoveInspired. Natasha makes handmade gifts in a range of designs for weddings, special events and other home decor.  I had to stop myself from buying each and every magnet in collection! And how cute as these gift tags, I will be buying many more delights from her stall when I come again!

And as always, I love touring around Pippa and her beau (from TheThriftCollection) gorgeous caravan in search of treasures...

I Heart Market is on for the next two Saturdays leading up to Christmas (10th & 17th December) and is held at the Moses Mabhida Stadium from 9h00 - 14h00.

Pop into *Churchill House* Durban

If you're in the neighbourhood and feel like a rest stop, why not pop into Churchill House. The staff are wonderful, always smiling and serving an endless supply of 'Holy Wine' in the sweetest glasses...

The food is good (except the Health Bread as the portion is tiny) and my favourite thing to eat is the savoury muffins. Here is my new favourite, the brinjal and sun dried tomato 'potted' muffin:

And when you've stuffed your face, take a walk around the rest of the shop which is home to an amazing collection of antiques and collectibles...

Directions:

Corner of Churchill Road and Windmere (now Lilian Ngoyi)

NCF Church and the 1920's...

If you stay in Pietermaritzburg or are passing through and happen to be here on a Sunday, why not stop by for a warm welcome at NCF Church. Here are some pic's from our end of year function, going back in time to the roaring twenties...

*Milk Cafe* Ballito

Spending a weekend in Ballito is never complete without a stop to my favourite ice cream chop...Milk Cafe. With super friendly staff and really really yummy ice-cream, it's the perfect place to hang out this summer...

Directions

18 Compensation Drive Ballito 

032 946 2310

click here to visit their Facebook page

Homegrown goodness

These bad boys are all from Farmboy's very own veggie patch...

*Note: when/if eating greens from the garden, make sure to give everything a good wash first and to do a thorough *pest* search...we had to throw away a HuGe gem squash and baby pumpkin due to some nasty creatures.

A very proud Farmboy :)

Pair with some lemon and garlic cous-cous and a healthy side portion of spinach dessed in balsamic vinegar and you are a-for-away...enjoy!

 *those funny pink bits are actually ham....ya I know, sort of totally destroys the Veggie vibe but was yummy nonetheless :)

Markets to look forward to in Kwazulu Natal...

I Heart Market: Moses Madiba Stadium, Durban. Saturday 3rd, 10th, 17th December

Wonder Market: Chris Saunders Park, Umhalanga (opp. Gateway Shopping Centre). Sunday 18th December

Shongweni Farmers & Craft Market: Cnr Kassier & Alvestone Rd, Assegay. Every Saturday from 06h00 - 10h30.

Mozying around Maritzburg

What does one get up to away from the hustle and bustle of a big city like Joburg? Well, take pictures of course...and roam around second hand stores looking for treasures :)

This picture was taken a few days before being sunk 7 kilometers into the depths of the ocean...sad hey