My new toy *Canon 50mm Lens*

/

I decided that it was time for me to treat myself to a new lens for my camera. I had heard such great things about this little baby that I thought I really needed to give it a bash for myself. A few moments filling in details on the Orms website, a chunk out of my bank account and 4 days later I became the proud new owner of a fixed focal length Canon lens!

The following are a few pic's I took today for a new project I'm working on (*watch this space!*). I don't claim to be a professional photographer at all, I'm just a happy snapper who really loves to snap (and who now has a lovely new lens to do said snapping with). 

I hope you like them.

xxx





A student once more...The *University of Kwazulu Natal*

/


As of last week monday, I am now officially a student again! Yippee! This time at the University of Kwazulu Natal. After teaching in South Korea, I realised that that is where my heart lies and I need to be true to that. Thats why i have decided to do a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) this year, with my focus being in Foundation Phase Education (those are the cute little ones, from Grade R to Grade 3) basically the very start of 'big' school.


I've just finished my first week of practical work where I was placed in a wonderful private boys school here in Pietermaritzburg and loved every second of it. The rest of the year will be taken up with lectures, and 2 sets of intense 4 & 7 week teaching practical sessions at different schools. I am so excited :)

So when things seem a little slow on the blogging side, you now know why...

But along with that there are going to be a few other exciting projects happening here so 
*Watch This Space*

xxx

Eucerin *DermatoCLEAN* {Review}

/

I have been wanting to try Eucerine's new line for some time. There was a time when I thought of Eucerin as only making body lotions for dry/eczema prone skin but it seems they have taken the leap along with other brands to expand their product range. I had been using Vichy's Purette Thermal Cleaning Solution and was on the lookout for something similar when it finished and I didn't have R198 to spend on a toner. I must say that I have been very impressed with this one. It cleanses all traces of makeup and dirt without drying out my skin while still leaving it feeling soft and clean. The whole idea behind the Dermato-Clean range is that they are mild and suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types. It also claims to have Nature-identical actives Gluco-Glycerol and Hyaluronic Acid, which are known for their ability to effectively maintain the ideal moisture levels in the skin...I'm not going to argue with those long words!

The only thing I'm not so keen on is the fragrance (or rather the lack of). But all I can say is that fragrances are smells put into products to make them more appealing, and anything that has less chemicals can only be better for your right? :)

At R110 it's cheaper than Vichy's Cleansing Water, and effectively does the same thing. I would definitely purchase it again.

Just a little note on my product reviews...all of the makeup and other products have been bought with my own (mostly *hard earned*) money, and I have not been approached to review them by companies. However, if, by some miraculous chance I am asked to review a product (*hint hint*) I will always let you know so that you get a 100% honest review out of me :)

#30DaysOfMe...Day 15

/
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
1. David Gray - Leaving


2. Bassheads - Anybody out there 


3. Five for Fighting - NYC Weather Report


4. John Mayer - My stupid mouth


5. Kings of Leon - Back down South


6. David DeGraw - I don't want to be


7. Black Eyed Peas - Love you long time


8. Kings of Leon - Pony Up


9. Foreigner - I want to know what love is


10. Rodrigues - I Wonder


*Click here for the full list of what's in these posts!*

*Hair Jewels* by Mr Price

/


Wandering around Mr Price one day, something shiny caught my eye. Being ever so found of all that glitters (I must most definitely have been a raven in a previous life!) I wandered on over to have a squizz. 5 minutes and R39.99 later and she is all mine!

Have you found any treasures lately??


*StickyGram* Instagram Photo's into Magnets

/
Having become addicted to the photo-editing app of awesomeness that is Instagram, I am so pleased to introduce to you my new fridge magnets...





Stickygram is a company based in the US that converts your chosen Instagram shots (9 pics per magnetic sheet), converts them into magnets and then ships them to your door for a total of $14.99 (incl. shipping!). Ladies and Gents, thats R128 for your own personalized magnets...how neat is that!

Olay *Day UV Fluid* {Review}

/

As you can see from the amount of reviews (or rather the lack of reviews compared to the fullness of my toiletry cupboard!) I do, I tend to hop, skip and jump through products like other ladies do with clothing. But for the last few months I have at least been trying to finish *most* of the product before I get distracted by the packaging and promises of unicorn skin on the label. The latest line I have been delving into is Olay. I have been loving the Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream for the past few weeks, and thought it time I introduce the Day UV Fluid (-+ R170).

My skin has been a bit under the weather for the past few months (having recently come off the Pill) and so I have been looking for a day cream that doesn't make me look like an oil slick by midday. This 'fluid' is light and almost fluffy, with a very pleasant yet subtle fragrance leaving my skin feeling refreshed and moisturised. I am supposed to be using it under my Vichy Capital Soleil Protective Fluid Sun Cream but I have yet to try it for fear of looking white washed. Even though this 'cream' has an SPF of 15 in it, it is advised to STILL wear a sun cream especially if you live in a sunny climate such as ours here in South Africa. What I also love about the bottle is that is just goes on and on, a little really does go a long way.

#30DaysOfMe...Day 14

/
Day 14- A picture of you and your family


This is a picture of me (far left) and my family taken at my Mom's wedding in July last year. I have got myself 2 beautiful new sisters and a wonderful step Dad :) And that handsome young man is my brother, my oh my, they grow up so fast!

This below is a photo of my Dad and my step Mom :)



*Click here for more info on what these posts are all about*

Corner Cafe, Durban

/
Looking for a place that offers good service, scrumptious food and a friendly local...then pop into Corner Cafe in Glenwood, Durban.  
After a hasty 'Help! Looking for fun places to visit in Durban' message on Twitter, the lovely Nadia from CupCakeCourture suggested I head to Corner Cafe for a fill up. She had also suggested Mooi & Wakaberry  which have since been plugged into 'Favourites' on my GPS! 

After a quick caffeine fix, I was bouncing off the walls while being given a delightful breakdown of other cool spots to check out in Durban by Corner Cafe's owner, Judd.  

Thanks for all the helpful info Judd, We will be back!


CornerCafe also boasts its own vintage store full to the brim with treasures that are "Resurrected and Recycled". 

Address
Corner of  Cromwell and Brand Roads
 Glenwood 
Durban

Phone 032 201 0219

Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday 07h00 - 17h00

Click here to visit Judd's blog, and click here for Corner Cafe's Facebook Group.


Olay *Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream* {Review}

/


This is what is promised on the box:
Total Effects fights 7 signs of aging (fine lines and wrinkles, rough texture, uneven skin tone, dullness, prominent pores, age spots, and dryness) by:
• Minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Reducing the appearance of dark circles
• Fighting dullness and replacing it with a healthy-looking radiance
• Reducing the appearance of puffiness
• Moisturizing to nourish dry skin and to help firm and lift its appearance
• Smoothing skin’s texture with gentle exfoliation
• Balancing colour and tone
I have really enjoyed using this eye cream over Nivea's Aqua Sensation Anti-Shadow Eye Cream and Clinique's All About Eyes. The delicate skin around my eyes is always left feeling soft and supply, and I love the slight radiance enhancing shimmer that leaves my eyes looking brighter. I have only been using it for 2 weeks now, and although I haven't noticed anything dramatic, I think it's because im focusing on the saying "prevention is better than cure". At R170 a pop it's cheaper than the Clinique, but in this day and age, R170 is still R170. 
Would I buy it again? For sure. And I use such a little every time that my pot is going to last me ages.

Get yours at your local Clicks and Dischem for +-R170

Prezzies from South Korea

/
A dear friend of mine is out from South Korea for her winter holidays and surprised me with a bubble wrapped care package full of sugar and spice and all things nice. This is probably one of the biggest things I miss from our time teaching English in South Korea ...the stationery (*and look, no hello kitty!).


First, a little grainy Instagram picture of Claire and me. We nattered away for the entire 4 hours that we were out for dinner with our men...needless to say they weren't very impressed :)







 And how adorable is the plastic bag they came in. Korea is leagues ahead of us in the stationery department!


Thank you Clairebear for all my goodies! xx

#PhotoOfTheWeek: Light

/
Farmboy and I have decided to focus our photography a bit more this year, and plan to choose a theme for each week. We won't be showing each other until the Sunday of that week arrives. There are no rules, edit as much or as little as we like and just have fun. This is our attempt, the theme chosen...Light:

Taken by: Roxy

Taken by: Dale


Write here, Write now...

/
Check it out now, funk soul brother, right about now, funk soul brother...Ok I got a little carried away there and now that song is stuck in my head (and now probably yours too!) but I was just so excited to show off my Christmas prezzie from Farmboy. I have been searching high and low for one of these baby's that actually works. I am proud to introduce to you, my very own, complete with old lady smell, Smith Corona Typewriter:



So many of my family members think I've lost the plot when i unwrapped this present. "Why on earth would a young, ipad loving techno savvy person want something as ancient as this" my dad asked me. And the answer, I just do. There ain't nothing like typing out a letter on a good old fashioned typewriter. Anyone else share my love for archaic writing machines?

TipTop *Creamy Orange*

/

And yet another Tip Top polish from my ever growing collection. This one is a delightful coral/orange/passion red colour that looks best on short nails, which mine are now thanks to my horrible fridge door which aims to snap each and every one of my nails *sniff sniff* At least my nails make me smile now that they are painted :)

This is Creamy Orange...
TipTop is exclusive to Clicks. Get yours for just R39.99.

Click here to for the Facebook group where you can share your latest nail wear.

Mooi, Durban

/
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}

/

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