Mooi, Durban

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A recent trip to Durban to drop off Farmboy's work vehicle led to some exciting finds in this lovely coastal city. Wackaberry was a super duper way to get our taste buds going, while Mooi was a treat for all our other senses. Such pretty things to look at and buy, Farmboy had to literally drag me out the shop while threatening to never go shopping with me again! 

Stocking everything from local handmade prettyness to thrifted goodies, and just about everything in between you won't be leaving empty handed. And it was the friendly Lauren (half of the genius behind Mooi) who told me about the Wonder Market in Umhalanga. Smart lady :)

If you've only got one day in Durbs, make sure that Mooi is at the top of your to-do list...

Address:
100 Bulwer Road
Glenwood
Durban

031 201 8274

Click here to visit their blog and here to get in contact with Lauren and Fiona

Clinique *All About Eyes* {Review}

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I first started using eye creams when I got this little guy in a free gift from Clinique. I am 23 years old, and from what I have gathered about eye creams and the why's and who's, it seems to be recommended that one uses it from about the age of 25. At first it just sat on my shelf until I stumbled upon a forum somewhere that spoke about the different eye creams being for different skin types/ages/ethnic backgrounds and it all just got a bit complicated. 

I came across Nivea's Aqua Sensation Anti-Shadow eye cream, and having not ever noticed shadows before, I suddenly started seeing them. On the back of the box it says for those in their early twenties who need more 'shadow control than lift' so I thought I'd give it a bash. I didn't notice any changes after about 1 month of use, apart from my eyes always feeling very refreshed and 'clean'. Feeling snobbish I took out the clinique sample and got creaming. I must say, as much as I want to rave about this product, it didn't really do anything. I'd like to think this is because I dont have anything for it to work on, but I'm not sure. I did like the texture (and of course the colour too!). My sample lasted a good 5 months of everyday use. I wouldn't go out and buy it for myself, but if I got another sample I would definitely give it another go.

Get it at your nearest Clinique Stockist (Edgars, Red Square, some Dischems, Foshini) for somewhere around the R220 mark

*A proper cup of coffee from a proper coffee pot* and a Mobler goodie

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A little while ago I did a post on these cute espresso cups I found at @Home for R39.99. Well, I found another set at the @Home here in Ballito for R25! It was the last set in stock, hence the lovely price tag.

 Farmboy bought himself a percolator (that funny looking silver thing on the stove which when boiled sends jets of steam through ground coffee beans and creates espresso like coffee). The other funny looking gadget with the white lid is a handheld coffee grinder I found at a local Hospice shop and was one of Farmboy's Christmas prezzies.
Although the first batch of coffee turned out a bit too strong for my liking, the next cup was just right! Nothing like a proper cup of coffee from a proper coffee pot!

*these were taken with Instagram*



I found the perfect breadboard (in the first pic) at Market on Main in Joburg. It's handmade by a friendly chap called Markus who makes all kinds of weird and wonderful things. His brand is called Möbler (click here for the website and click here to join him on Facebook) and he also does commission work. Here are a few shots of what he makes:


Wakaberry, Durban

/ Florida Rd, Durban 4001, South Africa/
Having found this yummy pit stop on a recent tour of Durban, I can't wrap my head around the fact that they aren't on every street corner!

It's all so easy...grab a cup, choose a flavour, add a gazillion topics, pay, and you're A for Away.
 And because it's all frozen yogurt as opposed to ice cream, it's pretty guilt free! Well, that is until you top yourself up with ever sour worm, flake and turkish delight under the sun.




Location:
217 Florida Road
Morningside
Durban

and

Shop 3
41 Mackeurtan Avenue
Durban North

and coming soon to Hillcrest and Ballito!!!

Opening Hours:
Mon - Thu:10:00 am-9:00 pm
Fri - Sat:10:00 am-11:00 pm
Sun:10:00 am-9:00 pm

Happy snacking! 


*Barn Swallows* Mount Moreland, KZN

/ Mt Moreland Agricultural, Mt Moreland, South Africa/

A few off ramps up from Ballito (back towards Durban on the N2) is a wonderful place to watch the over 3 million barn swallows settle down for the evening. The reedbed roost site the Barn Swallows have chosen is a wetland, locally known as the Lake Victoria Wetland, it is covered with indigenous Phragmitiesreeds. The Barn Swallows at Mount Moreland and their roosting habitat are now recognized as a world famous Barn Swallow site and IBA (International Birding Area). Now doesn't that sound impressive. 
Not sure where the swallows were yesterday, because we were only graced with the presence of a few stragglers. So no pictures of a blackened sky, but instead a few cheesey pic's. Enjoy!


Our friends Carmen & Abrie joined us for the weekend, as well as Farmboy looking handsome.
A very sweet little begger, with the most incredible eyes.



For more info click here.


*Frankie*licious

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I recently got my paws on a coveted copy of one of the most beautiful magazines I have ever flicked through, Frankie. Hailing from Australia, the magazine is aimed at "women (and men) looking for a magazine that’s as smart, funny, sarcastic, friendly, cute, rude, arty, curious and caring as they are. We cover design, art, photography, fashion, travel, music, craft, interiors and real-life stories – we aim to surprise and delight readers with every turn of our beautifully matte pages, and have a good old laugh while doing so".

At R145 a pop, they don't come cheap. But considering the magazine comes out every two months, that works out to -+R70 an issue which isn't too bad.


 Every issue comes with the corresponding tear-out calendar...


South African Stockists:

Nadia @CupCakeCouture (Durban)
Wolves Cafe, Illovo, Joburg (contact Angie @LuckyPony)

**I am still working on my broken comment form, sorry for the hassle! If you would like to comment/say something please join me on twitter or facebook!** Disqus is back on track!!

Comments gone poof!

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I have just noticed that Disqus seems to have removed itself from my blog since I changed my template a few days ago.  If you have been wanting to comment but haven not been able to find the form...thats why. I am working on this asap! 
If perhaps this has happened to you in the past and know how to fix the problem, please drop me a line :) 

In the mean time, I hope you all have some wonderful plans to bring about the New Year. 
Will see you all again next year (*how many times have you heard that today hey?*) 
xxx

Source: WeHeartIt

A sneak peak of Christmas

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Having been a very spoilt girl and received an iPad for Christmas, I couldn't resist posting a few Instagram pic's of Christmas time...and of course giving the Blogger app a spin. Please excuse the layout if it looks a little funny or if anything else looks a bit rookie, I'm still learning to work this baby out :)

Here goes nothing!

**Award **Time...

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Nali (one of the lovliest bloggers I've met *through Cyberspace* so far) @It's the {little} things recently awarded CityGirlSearching with the Liebling award! Yipee!! And it's a wonderful way to share other fabulous blogs with my readers....




The Liebster Blog award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Liebster is a German word meaning dear, sweet, kind, nice, good, beloved, lovely, kindly, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.

Here are the rules:

  • 1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
  • 2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog
  • 3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
  • 4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love, too!
To the following ladies, keep up the wonderful work!


Bobby @ Bobbylicious
Megan @ ChinaDollIllustrations
Jessica-Lee @ Diary-of-a-DayDreamer
Idonette @ D'vineLiving (I don't really know how many followers she has as she isn't on blogger, but I adore her blog!)
Meg @ MeggieFaye


Happy blogging!


Wonder Market and then some

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On Sunday Farmboy and I (and my mom's fluffy poodle Xena) took a trip to the new Wonder Market at the Chris Saunders Park in Umhalanga (right opposite Gateway). A nice chance from the I Heart Market which happens on the first Saturday of ever month, the Wonder Market takes place on the freshly cut grass and manicured garden that make up the Chris Saunders Park in Umhalanga. With stalls offering wholesome and healthy delights as well as all sorts of pretty things, there is something for everyone. 
 Following on the success of the launch of the Wonder Market, this last Sunday was only it's second appearance. I'm sure there will be many more in the coming year. Click here for the facebook group so you can get all the nitty gritty.
Picked up this lovely poster at the market, from the ladies at FreshlyFound:


After the market it was down to a spot of shopping at Gateway. Or rather, I should say, I spot of run-into-store-grab-last-minute-present-run-back-out but we managed to pick up these old photographs at the Antique Fair happening at the one end of the mall...

Not sure what we are going to do with them yet, any ideas???

Maybelline Volum' Express

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My Maybelline's Colossal Volum' Express Mascara (click here for the review) has finally given up the go and run out on me. As I was about to buy it again (I have loved using it so much that even my usual "i must constantly try new products" mentality has put me off this one). But then, I got distracted by the bright packaging of Maybellines latest mascara, the "One by One" and thought I would give it a bash. And....well it's just as good, if not better than the "Colossal". It gives lost of va-va-voom, and doesn't clump. The only difference being that the "One by One" has plastic bristles, and the "Colossal" has more natural 'fibre' type brush. 


 I usually prefer more natural brushes and have shied away from plastic ones, but I must say that with the plastic brush it does seem to coat each and every lash, one by one.

Overall I'm happy that I bought the "One by One", even if all its done is give my makeup bag some extra colour :)

Find it Clicks and Dischem for R110.

TipTop *Sherbet Angel*

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I have been loving this range of nail polish from Clicks since I spotted them a few months ago. They paint beautifully, don't bubble and are pretty good when it comes to being chip proof. I hadn't given them a second glance the first time my eyes brushed past them, as the snob in me thought that paying anything less than R80 for a nail polish = waste of time. But surprise surprise, these little guys have left me amazed. If you apply (like Rimmel's Stronger Double Duty), as well as (like Sally Hansen's Insta' Dry), you could get about a weeks wear.

What I also love about Tip Top is the huge range of colours, from neon pinks, to powder blues, and every shade in between. They have also recently launched a range called "You Crack Me Up" which gives a (you guessed it!) a cracked effect when applied...fun for summer :)

*I am wearing Sherbet Angel*
Tip Top is exclusive to Clicks stores, and at a price of R39.99 you really cant go wrong. 

Happy painting!

Holmes Brothers Delight...

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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...

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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!


Disney Characters...in Real Life

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Browsing through one of my favourite blogs (Bobbylicious) led me to a new found favourite (KathCake) who recently did a post on Realistic Disney Characters. I could not keep these to myself and wanted to share the loveliness manliness that is Jirka (pronounced Yirka not Jeer-ka for those who weren't sure) a Finnish design enthusiast currently studying graphic design at the Arts University College at Bournemouth. 
What do you think?

Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dam
Belle from Beauty and the Beast
Princess Jasmine from Alladin

Meg from Hercules
My favourite...

Pocahontas
Aurora from Sleeping Beauty