Market Purchase *Pink Teapot*

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This weekend was the I Heart Market at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Buttercup Collectibles was there, with both Farmboy and myself manning the stall. Thanks to all of you that came on by to say hello and make a purchase. We are planning to be back next month, with lots more vintage collectibles in stock.

Here's a little something I just couldn't resist from Irene at the Lulu Shop. Isn't it just gorgeous?! I can't wait to have friends over for a little spot of tea!







*Sage* Ballito {Café}

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I had a very quick visit to Ballito a few weekends ago, to a) fetch my lovely Save the Dates for our Wedding from the oh-so-talented ladies at Ruby and the Swallow, and b) to have a coffee and catch up with one of my oldest school friend, Sandra. She suggested we head to Sage, just on the outskirts of Ballito for some good food and a vibey atmosphere.  Here are just a few snaps of our time spent drinking cappuccino's, wandering around the lovely premises, and eating the odd slice of cake...












Sage is so much more than just a cafe, complete with garden and lifestyle decor, kiddies play area, boutique clothing store and salon, you could easily find yourself spending your whole day there. And with lots and lots of goodies to keep the kids busy, Mom can relax with a good cup of coffee and have her nails done, all without moving an inch :)













1 Old Fort Road, Fox Hill, Salt Rock
sagecafe@telkomsa.net
Tel: +27 (0)32 525 8059


**website coming soon at www.sagecafe.co.za**

#PhotoOfTheWeek...Peering

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With the long weekend here in South Africa I am only posting our photo for this week now. Last week's theme was "peering", I love the varied submissions! 

Taken by: Megan

"Peering out the bushes while on the hunt"
Taken by: Roxy

"Peering out from under the cover"
Taken by: Sue
"Peering at fragments of a long lost friend"
Taken by: Rob

Our Wedding Mood Board...

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I've found a lot of my inspiration from Pinterest (you can follow my boards here) and thought I'd pop a few of them together to give you a little idea. I think a lot of people are quoting Pinterest as the source of their images, which isn't actually correct (I read a rather interesting blog post a little while ago which stated that whatever content is uploaded onto Pinterest becomes the property of Pinterest itself...a little scary really! So if you are uploading images that you have taken yourself, try and put a watermark on your photo's and attach a link back to your site! And if you are using images from Pinterest on your blog/facebook/twitter account, try and link it back to the oringinal artist, it's the polite thing to do!).

Anyway, here is a little mood board filled with prettiness and inspiration.
Enjoy!

xxx


Sources: 

Our Engagement Photo-shoot

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A little while ago I posted a sneak peak of our Engagement Shoot by our special friends Sophie and her husband Cameron. I met Sophie through Dale, while studying at Rhodes University. Sophie and Cam both live in Cape Twon, and Sophie (who is a Photo Journalist by trade) shoots weddings, engagements and a host of other things too. Click here to check out her blog.

These are the photographs of our engagement shoot from May 2012. It feels like this was a lifetime ago, as since then we have moved across the globe (for the second time) and are well and settled into life in South Korea. 

You can see all of our wedding related blog posts by clicking here.

{Pietermaritzburg} 6 months on...

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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





Celebrating my Engagement with a *Spot of Tea*

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My lovely friends organised my a little {surprise} tea party to celebrate my recent engagement. I say {surprise} in brackets, because I had to go an ruin the surprise by trying to control everything, as per usual (*Farmboy, I promise to curb my insatiable need to be in control of everything all the time, before we are married!) Most of these shots were taken by my very special friend, and wonderful bridesmaid, Kayleigh...thank you to each and every one of you ladies, it was perfect!

xxx





















The Weekend...some snaps

/ 76 Thomas St, Himeville 3256, South Africa/
A few snaps from a lovely drive through Underberg this weekend to see the Autumn leaves at Kenmo Lake, Hazeldene *Nursery/Wedding Venue/Pretty place for a picnic* in Himeville (Hazeldene belongs to a very generous couple, who planted these gorgeous tree's on their property, and allow the public to visit all throughout the year. They also have a nursery where you can buy yourself all sorts of tree's!)

Next weekend there is a picnic in Hazeldene Park, open to all to enjoy the gorgeous Autumn colours!










#PhotoOfTheWeek...Orange

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Last week's Photo Of the Week Challenge was the "Orange". I love the contrasting shades of orange from each submission! Well done everyone :)
When Farmboy and I first started this PhotoChallenge we hadn't expected such a great response from my readers (and of course family and friends). Now we have a team of over 15 team members, each contributing photo's when they can...it's awesome!
If you would like to be a part of the photo challenge, just drop me a line here or email me at citygirlsearching{at}gmail{dot}come.

I look forward to seeing everyones submissions next week!

xxx

Taken by: Megs

Taken by: Natalie

Taken by: Rob

Taken by: Sue
Taken by: Roxy
Taken by: Victoria

Clarins Everlasting Foundation {Review}

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It's been rather a long time since I've done a makeup review on the blog, I will blame that on getting engaged and starting my practical teaching this year for my Teaching Diploma (and of course general life that get's in the way of good blogging!). But here we are with a foundation review.
I've had this Clarins Everlasting Foundation for a while now. I use it in between other products (like my favourite Revlon Concealer and Yardley Powder which is my staple everyday base wear) but when I'm looking for that extra bit of coverage I haul it out. 

I have only given it a 3/5 for coverage, becasue I find my skin gets quite oily when I wear a heavier amount of the product. It does blend easily, but there's just something about it that doesn't make me go wow! Of course when you go to the counter and the lady there puts it on with all her fancy brushes, and fancy words it looks amazing. But when you get home and it's just you; foundation in one hand, brush in the other, it's a completely different story. And, to be honest, the only everlasting thing about this foundation is the actual product in the bottle. It has lasted me ages!

In terms of prettyness, I love the packaging. It's clean and simple (although a tad of the heavy side, being glass) but it does look nice on my shelf. Price, well at around R350 a pop, it doesnt come cheap. 
Overall, I give this foundation a 3/5. It's useful, but it doesn't really blow my hair back, and if you have even a slightly oilier skin, I would steer clear of this one.

Clyde & Candice {Engagement}

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A few weeks ago, on a sunny afternoon, two friends and their fiance's headed into the Pietermaritzburg Botanical Gardens for a wee spot of posing. Great fun was had by all, most especially the couple in question. Dear readers, I am pleased to introduce to you Clyde and Candice, who will be saying their *I do's* in January next year.

Enjoy

xxx































#PhotoOfTheWeek...Darkness

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This week we only have two entries for the Theme Darkness, well done to Megan and Rob for their submissions! I think they are fantastic! 
I am looking forward to seeing your photo's next week :)

Taken by: Megan

Taken by: Rob
Taken by: Roxy
(This is one of the posters Farmboy helped me make for my Varsity assignment! Not the best photo but it does at least give you a sense of what you might see when the sky turns to dark!)

Our *Save The Dates* {Ruby & the Swallow}

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Dear wonderful ladies behind the charming blog, Ruby & the Swallow!

You have made both Farmboy and myself so very happy with your design work for the Save the Dates for our wedding. We both cannot wait to see what you come up with for our invitations (and of course all the other goodies we have put you in charge of!).

If there is anyone out there looking for a lovely, personal, and oh-so-creative duo to design something special, click here to get in touch with Ruby & the Swallow. The girls made it so easy for us to get exactly what we wanted for our wedding, and every little detail has been thought of...including the actual packaging that safely stored our envelopes!

Thank you ladies, you really are just fab!






Pencils...

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So, what can I say when I find myself sharpening *all* my pencils at 9:35 on a thursday night...I know you want to say it. Nerd. That's right. I am a nerd. But, if it makes you happy...why the hell are you so ....ok I got a little carried away with Sheryl Crow there, but I'm sure you're picking up what I'm putting down, right? Let me leave it at that, and just post these few snaps...




And then I arranged them into the colours of the rainbow...sigh...it's been a long day teaching little kiddies who spend more of the lesson sharpening their pencils than listening to me.
#FoundationPhaseTeacherRantings


Our Wedding Tables...

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Most 'normal' people look into hiring trestle tables for their wedding, especially when they are planning on having 160 guests. But I guess you wouldn't really call me normal then. In oder to fit in with our *country style/vintage feel/farmy* wedding, we both really wanted to have genuine antique wooden tables. This was slightly ridiculous considering we would be needing 16 of them! So, Farmboy and his Dad decided to do the next best thing...make them!

My Handsome Farmboy...I'm so lucky!! :)




 



Glen & Jesse Addicott {Wedding}

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A few weekends ago I was privileged enough to be the 'unoffocial' photographer to our lovely friends Glen & Jesse as they said I Do at Straven Court in Baynesfield, Kwazulu Natal on Saturday 31st March.
Here are a few shots from their special day.

Enjoy!
xxx


























Our Wedding Venue...The *Before* Photo's

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*Sorry for this last post! Silly Ipad didn't actually post my pictures...So here you go!*

We are both thrilled to be having our venue on Farmboy's *working* dairy farm in the little town of Creighton,  Kwazulu Natal. Our ceremony will tale place in the Barn (complete with live Barn Owl who is wrecking havoc all over the walls!). Our reception will be in the shed, which is used as a calf nursery for the baby cows recently separated from their mommy's! 

Watch this space as we turn it into the venue of our dreams...

The Shed:








The Barn:






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

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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