Grahamstown Festival 2011!!

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Starting next thursday, June 30th is the annual National Arts Festival...yipee!

To see whats showing click here for the website and click here for the facebook group to stay up to date with whats going on! 

I'm going to be here in Grahamstown for at least the first few days, so look out for some pic's and other cool stuff when the Festival kicks off next week :)

Revlon's latest offerings...

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Revlon's new Colour Stay Aqua Mineral Make Up Foundation 

What it says on Revlon's website:
NEW Colorstay Aqua™ Mineral Makeup delivers a burst of hydrating coconut water and an instant cooling sensation upon application. The result: your skin looks luminous and its texture smoother. With a shine-free formula that’s made with water, not oil, this lightweight powder gives you a fresh, flawless finish that lasts all day.
Fragrance free and non-irritating.
Provides medium coverage in 8 beautiful shades, with SPF 13 protection.
Although it doesn't give that much coverage it feels wonderful on my skin. And what a cool brush hey?! It's lightweight and is perfect for when you need something quick and easy to apply when you're dashing out the door. Works like a charm if your after something lightweight that lasts all day...R150


Revlon Custom Eyes Eyeshadow 5 colour Palette in "Sweet Innocence" R145 (*+- a few rand if I remember correctly)...the swatch on my hand above are the colours in the palette from right to left :)

So there you go, just some of Revlon's latest that I thought I'd share with you :)

**Lemon Cordial**

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A great way to use up lemon's if you have a tree bursting with them, otherwise, an easy way to up your intake of Vitamin C this winter...


Ingredients 
12 lemons
30g Epsom Salts
30g Tartaric Acid
30g Citric Acid
1kg sugar (yikes! There really is no other way to sweeten it...but sweeten to your own taste buds)
3 litres boiling water

Step 1: Get yourself a lemon picker (or head out to your nearest fruit and veg store).



Step 2: Squeeze those little guys! If you have a food processor, then peel the rind of the lemons and zap them into the machine. If not, go the old fashion way and squeeze them by hand.


Step 3: Add the rest of the ingredients to the boiling water. Sift the lemon juice into the pot to get rid of those unsavoury bits...don't forget to keep stirring until all the sugar dissolves.




Step 4: Once all the sugar has dissolved (keep tasting it and adding more if you need to) then it's time to decant! Add some labels to your creation, and there you go. Great drunk with lemonade or soda water for an extra fizz..otherwise just plain water is yummy too :)

Make your own *HuMmUs*

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This is an easy peasy 5 minute recipe to make your own healthy Hummus for spreading on toast or as a dip :)



Ingredients
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped




Directions

Combine everything in a blender or food processor and voila!
If the mixture is too dry, add more yogurt to make it smooth and creamy.

*enjoy!*

*Pat on the Back* for SA Post!

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At the end of February this year, my boyfriend and I (the Farmboy to this Citygirl), touched back down on South African soil after spending a year living & teaching English in South Korea (click here for more info on that!). 


And now, a mere 4 months later, all 6 of our boxes which we shipped from Korea have arrived safely in SA. Shock Horror! We had heard awful stories of things going missing as well as huge amounts of duty needing to be paid after certain individuals had helped themselves to early Christmas presents. Well this certainly was not the case for us. We had both (ok, ok, mainly just me) accumulated so much stuff from our year overseas (I blame the stationary stores) that we needed to do something with the goodies which wouldn't fit into our suitcases. So we decided to ship some boxes, and  didn't expect any of them to arrive.

So...from both of us, a *HuGe* thank you to the South African Postal Service! 

Market on Main...Jo'burg

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Market On Main is the market for Johannesburg, made by Johannesburg. Open every Sunday at Arts on Main from 10am - 3pm. What a great place to meet new & interesting people, while stuffing your face with loads of yummy treats.



Directions:

Next door to The Bioscope at 286 Fox Street, Johannessburg 2094

click here for GoogleMaps
For more information, click here for their website.
More grown up than the I Heart Market in Durban, Market On Main has a slightly more modern, city-slicker atmosphere...and so it should being a Market by Joburg for Joburg. Definitely worth a visit (*just make sure to go hungry!).

Make Up: Good Quality...Nice Price

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Australian MakeUp brand Essence has been around in Clicks here in South Africa for a while now, but at first I was a bit hesitant to try any of the range.  After walking straight past numerous times, I decided to give it a try (*I must admit it might have had more to do with my balance of funds than anything else*). I was not disappointed!

First up...
'Essence Mosaic Powder'

"with different perfectly aligned colours each, these mosaic powders conjure-up either a gorgeous rosy complexion or a sun-kissed tanned look. you now have a choice of the mosaic powder in a natural fresh colour combination or as a gentle bronzing powder"





'Essence Colour & Shine' Eyeshadow


"sure to satisfy even the highest demands on eye make-up: the baked colour & shine eyeshadows contain an unusually high pearl pigmentation to make your eyes shine like the stars! thanks to the triple-colored marbling, the light colors are especially radiant while the darker shades have incredible depth. the silky powder texture makes application really easy and the colors are super vibrant! apply moist for even more intensive results"




The Mosaic powder works wonderfully as a very subtle bronzer with lots of shimmer, and it lasts all day. The eyeshadows are easy to blend and are highly pigmented, so they really show up well.


Above is my growing collection...the swatch on the right are the eye shadow colours. The colour & shine shadow was from their 'Bohemia' range in "Good Old Times" and the duo eyeshadow in "Girls Night Out".

And look at these cute 'styling cards' you can download from the website:

































Don'y let the young girly looking advertising put you off, with prices ranging from R30 - R80, you definitely get bang for your buck :)

Plus, Essence doe not test their products on animals (*yay*). Essence is stocked at most Clicks & Dischem Stores.

I ♥ market...Durban

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Last weekend I was lucky enough to be around the Durban area, just in time to attend the I ♥ Market at the Greyville Race Course...and what a treat! The market is held on the first Saturday of every month. Click here for their blog and here for their facebook group so you can stay up-to-date with all their news.

Here are just some of the wonderful stalls selling everything from cupcakes to fancy smancy dog bowls..


 "shopping with a conscience" All products here are either made by HIV positive ladies, small communities, individuals who deserve support or are made of Eco friendly materials.  What a wonderful cause ♥
**click here for their facebook group**

Ikhaya
 "a little shop in Durban where we manufacture most of our stock ourselves using re-cycled items" 
Eco-aware products, furniture & interiors
**click here for their Facebook group**



"products crafted and hand-assembled in Durban, South Africa using wood grown in managed local forests"

click here for their facebook group 
Sophia Basckin Design 
Gorgeous hand-made earrings, rings and necklaces. So nice in fact, the one pair I bought is just not enough! I will be making *many* more purchases from the lovely Sophia very soon!
Email her at sophiabasckin@gmail.com for more info ♥

BarkyBark
Don't your pets deserve to eat out of gourmet bowls too? Dog & Cat Bowl holders ♥
Email Calire at clairewager@gmail.com
**click here for their facebook group**

Madame Dija 
Fashion Designer. 
I spent ages going through each and every wonderful item at her stall. Everything unique and just so darn pretty...
email here at khadijabassa@gmail.com for more info ♥


I Love Bokkie
Kids spaces, furniture & lovelies

Florals, love & Lipstick...BiancaKim- Clothing is inspired by New Age culture, with a vintage feel...The promise we make to you is that you will feel like a million bucks, without breaking the bank, while staying up to date with the latest trends ♥
**click here for the facebook group**





Fun & fresh, the lovely Nadia not only sells cupcakes but also fabulous goodies like the fabulous corsages pictured below. You can even try your own hand at making on yourself ♥


Directions:
DLI Hall, 5 DLI avenue, Greyville, Durban, South Africa (DLI stands for Durban Light Infantry)

Drive down Marriott Rd and keep on going thru the traffic circle and down that road that goes through the racecourse and on the right hand side you will see a grand old building, that's the DLI!
And there is loads of parking around the back of the building, and grass and trees and a bowling green.


One of the nicest markets I've ever been to in a long time. It was a pleasure walking around and meeting some of the stall owners and finding out more about their goodies on sale. This is the place to be if you want to be surrounded by very chic, young individuals with loads of talent. And of course, it's the perfect way to spend a Saturday ♥♥

Taking in the Trash: *Deer Hunter* Greenside, Joburg

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Deer Hunter...the ultimate junk shop...see for yourself


Who wouldn't want an old school coca-cola sign in their room??


Cool, redefined

That handsome guy in the middle...meet Farmboy, the ♥ of my life :) Ok, ok, I'm getting sidetracked, where was I...oh ya, how about some of these...


 Or even better...this little guy


Every month, Deer Hunter holds a Junk sale where you can get your hands of any and all of the above, check out their facebook group (click here) for more details. 





Deer Hunter
135 Greenway Road, Greenside
Johannesburg, South Africa

**Old Biscuit Mill** Cape Town

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"Welcome to the Old Biscuit Mill. A vibrant, warm hearted little village in the heart of Woodstock where talented people come together to share, collaborate and well show off their heart-felt passion. The Mill is home to day and night markets, dynamic office space, a range of workshops and designer stores, delicious farm stalls, decadent cafes as well as an inspiring line-up of festivals and productions. Come and explore the Mill and meet some of South Africa’s most talented, innovative designers, artists, photographers, and connoisseurs of fine taste and décor".

Click here for their website, and here for their facebook group!



Mu & Me: Shop E102. Opening Hours  Mon to Fri 10 to 4 & Sat 9 to 3 click here for their website. 






Plush: Shop A103 9am-4.30pm Mon-Fri; 8am-2.30pm Sat. Click here for their facebook page



Exposure: Shop E101. Click here for their website.


Just a few of the treats in store at the Old Biscuit Mill...And don't forget to check out the NeighbourGoods Market held every Saturday at the Mill :)

Monkey Bay Backpackers, Ballito

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As of late, Ballito has been buzzing with activity. What with the opening of the King Shaka Airport and rumors of a Virgin Gym there is so much more than just sun, sea and surf. Ballito has become one of the biggest places for Matric Rave (those few weeks around Nov/Dec when every second person strolling around town is on the hunt for a good party after finishing their final exams).

But, for all the other months of the year there is still lots happening in this growing coastal town.

So what does one need when planning a trip? Accommodation of course...and that's where Monkey Bay Backpackers comes in!

Only a short stroll from the main beach and with plenty of space for you to bring your own tents too!




For booking and more information, click here

Neighbour Goods Market, Cape Town

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Cape Town’s original gourmet market, featuring over 100 specialty traders, fine-food purveyors, organic merchants, artisan goods, gourmet products, local farmers, seasonal items, plants & herbs, fresh produce, boutique wine estates, micro-breweries, and more!

Every Saturday from 9am to 2 pm at The Old Biscuit Mill:
373 - 375 Albert Road
Woodstock, Cape Town

For more information click here to visit their website! And the best news:

Must See...*Defending the Cave Man* Monte Casino, Jo'burg

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"Alan Committe stars in the all-time favourite "date comedy" that explores the reasons why okes don`t like to ask for directions and why girls need so much cupboard space. Directed by Tim Plewman from the original by Rex Garner". That about sums up this witty classic, although I would add that at times I found myself relating more to his definition of the male species than the female...but maybe thats just me :)

Tickets cost R150 and the show makes for a light hearted evening, while you hum and harr about what similarities you can pick up between you and the Cave Man...click here to book your tickets. Defending the Cave Man is also showing at 'Theatre on the Bay' in Cape Town, click here for more info.

Accommodation on the N1...*Kuilfontein Stable Cottages* Colesburg

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The 14 hour drive from Jo'burg to Cape Town, although very tiring, is extremely beautiful. 





But if you are looking for a half way stop point that serves mouth watering meals and crisp white linen, then Kuilfontein Stable Cottages are just for you.
Kuilfontein is a luxury Colesberg guest house offering bed and breakfast or dinner, bed & breakfast accommodation. The rooms are Their prices are definitely not for the faint hearted, but as is the case with most things in life, you really do get what you pay for here. Your hosts, Leigh and Penny Southey are friendly and charming, and will do their utmost to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.




For more information drop them a line at info@kuilfontein.co.za or check out their website by clicking here.



You won't be disappointed by either their hospitality or their Karoo lamb curry :)

Yummy *Bran Muffins*

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For something really yummy (and guilt free!) try these Bran Muffins:





Ingredients:
Makes 12 muffins

1/4 cup dark brown sugar (or honey)
1 1/2 cups oat bran (Snowflake "Digestive Bran" works well) 
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (Snowflake "Nutty Wheat" works well)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (or 4 egg whites)
1 1/2 cups chilled applesauce
5 tablespoons fat free vanilla yogurt (or vegetable oil)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 cup raisins (or anything else you would like to add)

Step 1: preheat oven to 205 degrees C. Line or spray muffin tins, including the top of the pan, with cooking spray.

Step 2: In a mixing bowl, add the brown sugar, oat bran, and cinnamon. Sift in the flour, baking powder, soda, salt & raisins.

Step 3: In a separate mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, chilled applesauce, yogurt, and vanilla. Add this wet mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix until everything is moistened. Use as few strokes as possible (lumps are okay). Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups, each 2/3 full. Let stand 10 minutes (important for softening the oat bran).



Step 4: Bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean..and enjoy!


Thanks to Versagrain for the recipe!

Renewing your *Drivers License* in SA

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Even the thought of having to renew my drivers was enough to give me a headache. I mean, you couldn't pay me enough to redo it (what with the hassle of having to make a booking, failing and having to fork out more money for another test date, the stress of having to do an incline start while not putting the car in gear, and of course all the money that went into lessons) let's just say I would rather do without a car than have to do the test again today, I'm sure you feel the same :)


So, when I was pulled over the other day for a routine check (I was not speeding however hard you find that to believe!) I was politely informed that my drivers would expire in the next few months. Ok, so I'll just head to a station and get it renewed, easy peasy right?? Wrong.


30 minutes standing in a queue of 20 people, with one person on duty while everyone is on tea break is not my idea of a nice day out. So, to make things easier for you, I've got all the info on what you need right here:

You will need:
  • green application form (you get this at the driving license centre...fill in parts A & D)
  • your current driving license
  • your ID book
  • photocopy of your current license (Someone at the centre made a copy for me. I'm not sure why you need this but take one just incase)
  • two black and white ID photographs (they seem to have a very snazzy new system in place and only require 1 photo, but take 2 as you never know!)
  • R220 (you can pay by cash or credit/debit card at most places, but have the cash on hand just in case)
Before your licence can be renewed, you will need to have your fingerprints taken and you will have to undergo an eye test. If your sight has deteriorated since your licence was issued, new restrictions may be attached to your licence. For example, you may be required to wear glasses when driving. Should you fail the eye test completely, your driving licence will not be renewed.


The eye test took me bout 30 seconds, and fingerprints about 1 minute. BUT I did go to a very small centre (I would definitely recommend in Jo'burg is Bedfordview, the service was 100 times better than Edenvale and I was in and out in 15 minutes...truth!)

I was then told it would take about 4 weeks for my new, renewed license to arrive. 

Driving License Testing Stations:
click here for Cape Town
click here for Johannesburg 
click here for a more comprehensive, all over South Africa directory of testing stations

Hope you find that helpful, and good luck :)

*Lomo*graphy!

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"It began with a fateful encounter in the early 1990s, when two students in Vienna, Austria, stumbled upon the Lomo Kompakt Automat – a small, enigmatic Russian camera. Mindlessly taking shots from the hip, and sometimes looking through the viewfinder, they were astounded with the mindblowing photos that it produced – the colours were vibrant, with deep saturation and vignettes that framed the shot – it was nothing like they had seen before! Upon returning home, friends wanted their own Lomo LC-A, igniting a new style of artistic experimental photography that we now know as Lomography!" Lomography


If you still have no idea what the title of this post means, check these out:





All of the above pictures were taken with this little guy...
I bought this for Farmboy in South Korea where these camera's are a whole lot cheaper than here in South Africa. BUT if you can afford to spend R600 on a new toy, you won't be disappointed! Click here for the Exposure online store where you can get your hands on everything Lomo. 
The actual Exposure store is located in Cape Town at the Old Biscuit Mill: 375 Albert Road, Woodstock.

Me Tarzan, you eat???

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For something a little different, why not try out this very strange but uber yummy way to roast lamb. It's called a Tarzan Roast, you'll see why :)
Thanks a whole bunch to Justin Bonello from CookedinAfrica for this recipe, we just added/took away one or two things here and there.
*sorry for any vegetarians or vegans out there!*
Ingredients:
about a 2 ½ kg fatty leg of lamb, with the shank intact – very important (which feeds +-10 people)
a sprig of rosemary
10-15 cloves of garlic, peeled and cut in half
3-4 bunches of spring onions
a handful of dried oregano
2 onions, sliced
the juice of 2 to 3 lemons
**optional: veggies to roast**

and
a baking tray
about half a metre of galvanised wire
2-3 metres of rope
a forked stick
a basting brush
a sharp knife
a small stool
a wheelbarrow
orange wood – any hard fruit wood will do, but do not use ordinary firewood
an accessible branch on a tree that is not too close to your house (we used a hook on the patio but it did leave lovely black marks on the roof)

Cooking Instructions:
1. Lay the leg of lamb on its side in the baking tray and, using a small sharp knife, cut slits 3-5 cm deep at a 45 degree angle all over the lamb. Force rosemary sprigs and garlic slivers into the slits, then force the spring onions in as well – the green leaves will jut out, a bit like a porcupine :)

2. Mix together the oregano, the onions and the juice from the lemons and pour this all over the leg of lamb. Leave to marinate while you make the fire.
The meat actually cooks by radiated heat and is gently smoked at the same time. I usually use orange or apple wood because of their aromatic properties and I make the fire in a wheelbarrow. This is useful because the cooking time is somewhere between 4 and 6 hours, and during that period of time Mother Nature could blow hot and cold and change her tune a number of times. But with a wheelbarrow you can adjust the position of the fire and take full advantage of the prevailing wind CookedInAfrica

First, slip the wire through the shank and twist it so there’s no chance of the meat falling into the fire. Attach the wire to the rope with a slipknot (we used a very large metal hook attached to some more wire...the possibilities to hang this thing are endless...get creative!)
3. Once the leg is attached to the wire and the rope you need to find a nice strong branch in a tall tree from which to hang your meat. (Be sure that it’s far enough away from your house and any dry tinder. You don’t want to end up chasing a runaway fire.) Balance the baking tray with the left over marinade on a stool and position this directly under the joint. Wheel the fire in next to the stool and place it so that the prevailing wind is blowing towards the lamb. You should be able to hold your hand between the fire and meat for just a few seconds without burning it. If it’s not hot enough chuck a couple of extra logs on the fire to really get the heat going.  
For the next 4 to 6 hours, you need to keep basting the lamb with marinade and the fatty juices that drip into the tray. Every 10 to 15 minutes turn the meat about 45 degrees and secure its position with the forked stick.
4. Get yourself comfy, with a good book and a glass of wine. (Don't forget some roast veggies:


Start preparing at about the 3-hour mark. Chop all the veggies into pieces about the same size so that they will all be ready at the same time. Use:


baby potatoes
beetroot 
parsnips
carrots
sprigs of rosemary
olive oil

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Blanch the various vegetable types separately in boiling salted water for 10 minutes. Place on a baking tray, add the rosemary and drizzle with olive oil. Slow roast for between 40 minutes and 1 hour, turning occasionally. Once they’re cooked, reduce the heat of the oven to its lowest setting to keep them warm.
While the roast is resting make a sauce by pouring all the drippings and scraps of lamb in the baking tray into a pan, mix a teaspoon of cornflour in a cup of milk and add this to the pan. Keep stirring on low heat for between 5 to 10 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken. To serve, place vegetables and slivers of roast lamb on a platter and drizzle the sauce over the meat).

5. And there you have it. Your very own Tarzan Roast. Now just get yourself  a nice group of people to share it with :)