Meet Miss Milly & a {Giveaway}

Today I am really happy to introduce you all to a lovely lady, business owner and new blogger; Theresa from MissMilly.

Theresa is from South Africa (yay for local talent) and is the brains behind her creative craft business called Miss Milly. 

Miss Milly is about
birds and the beauty of vintage
craft and being happy
washi tape and wood
hearts and handmade
pastel and pretty
owls and foxes

It's all about {pink} ice cream!
And above all God.

For prices you can visit her Facebook page (click here) which has all her current stock. And to contact Theresa directly you can pop her an email on missmillysa{at}gmail{dot}com.

You can visit MissMilly at the following places:

Blog

Facebook & Store

Pinterest

CityGirlSearching & MissMilly Be Your Own Valentine Giveaway

To introduce you all to her products, MissMilly is giving away some beautiful hand crafted washi taped goodies; a pretty heart brooch, matching earrings and a matching bobby pin. All you have to do is use the fancy Punchtab giveaway thingymagiggy below. You can enter in a variety of different ways (a few of the mandatory but most of them are extra's) and each way earns you another entry {please let me know if you have any problems, I know the entry system has given people hassles in the past when using Internet Explorer. If you are having issues, try refreshing your browser, or if you are able to, try visiting my blog again using Google Chrome}.

*Giveaway ends on Friday 31st January at 11pm (South African time).

*This giveaway is only open to South African readers.

Good Luck!

x

How to make almond flour

Post holidays are the perfect time to get cracking on some slightly healthier cooking {and baking too!}. Almonds seems to be the the latest health food trend, with all sorts of recipes popping up from almond milk to almond flour. I came across a delicious looking recipe for pumpkin and chocolate chip cookies, which calls for almond flour in place of regular wheat flour. Being in South Korea, it is often a struggle to find ingredients for most recipes, so I went looking on trusty google for a recipe for almond flour. And it couldn't be easier!

All you need is a blender or food processor and blanched almonds (click here for a recipe to blanch your own!).

One cup of flour is equivalent to about 1 cup of almonds.

Simply pop the almonds into the blender and chop away. Make sure not to blend for too long, rather use the pulse function if you can, as you don't want to release the almond oil and be left with a sticky clump. 

Super easy to do. No more excuses about the lack of almond flour in the stores. Now you can make your own, and even sprinkle it over your breakfast of cooked oats as an alternative to whole or sliced almonds...yum!

Happy Baking.

x

15 easy marketing ideas for bloggers + FREE checklist!

Today I want to share with you 15 easy ways for you to get your blog out there. Some of them may seem obvious, and others not so much. I have been doing these things for a while now, and I have really noticed an increase in my readership here on my little corner of the web.

Blogging should be about sharing your passions with others, it shouldn't be something you have to force yourself to do. If you don't enjoy blogging, change what you're blogging about. Post a survey to your readers and ask them what they would like to see on your blog, so you can get some more inspiration for content. I have a constant internal battle with this though.

Sometimes the number of likes I get fuels my passion for blogging, and I feel drawn to post what is currently trending. But most of the time, I know that this blog is me, it is about me and what I like. It may be a small niche (searching for the  pretty-ness in everything is not everyone's cup of tea) but if I stick to blogging about what I like and what I find interesting as opposed to what I hope other people will like, then that's real.

And that makes me happy.

15 Easy Networking Tips for Bloggers

1. Network. Network. Network. In other words, use the social media accounts you have to actively engage with your followers.

2. Reply to every comment on your blog/Facebook/Instagram feed. 

3. Comment on other blogs, often! This seems obvious, but it really does help to get your blog noticed. When I see a reader has commented a couple of times on my blog, I am more likely to search out her blog (if they are a blogger) or spend some time finding them on twitter/Instagram and sharing some love on their accounts.

4. Email bloggers whom you admire, tell them that you like their blog. Be real. Don't just write something like 'Hey. Love your blog. Here is mine...etc'. Be honest with what you like about them, then just leave a simple link to your blog at the end of your email. There is nothing nicer than getting a email from a happy reader who wants to share her love for your work.

5. Start a Facebook page and use it for your blog rather than your personal Facebook page. I could tell from the decrease in engagement I got from my posts on Facebook after the first few weeks of spamming my friends and family with my blog posts on my personal page. 

6. You don't have to be a wizz at every social media platform. Rather choose one that you can commit to as opposed to having four accounts with little to no activity. Choose a platform that you genuinely enjoy using. Social media is fun, it shouldn't be a chore, and you shouldn't dread your time spent on it (on the other side of the coin, make sure to schedule in 'breaks' from the screen to ensure a healthy balance between real life and the online world).

7. You don't have to blog every day. This is tiring and you lead to you producing mediocre content rather than interesting and engaging material. But try to post at least 2 to 3 times a week to keep your content fresh.

8. Email other bloggers and ask about doing a guest post on their blog. This gives them new content and you get a chance to reach new readers. The worst they can do is not reply. At least you've put yourself out there and most likely they will at least click through to your blog and you might gain a new reader.

9. Ask questions at the end of your blog/Facebook posts. People are more inclined to respond to a question and comment, you are inviting them to actually do something as opposed to them passively taking in your content and moving on to the next post.

10. Use Facebook for short, catchy posts like quotes and photographs. People are visual, and drawn to interesting graphics and images as opposed to long lines of text. When you do use text, break it up into easy to digest chunks (the same goes for your blog posts). With Pinterest, people are being exposed to so much great content all the time, us bloggers have to work harder to make our blogs appealing to people. Why would someone go you your blog for recipes when they can go onto Pinterest and have thousands of red velvet cake recipes at their fingertips in seconds. No matter how many hours you spent prepping that post, you need to work on being different. What can you offer your readers that Pinterest can't? You might have a great sense of humour when you write your recipes, something that they can't find on Pinterest..put those thinking caps on!

11. Carry business cards with you...everywhere. You don't have to have a massive following to be allowed to have a business card. It makes you look professional, and you can quickly whip one out to give new friends you meet (people qill quickly forget your web address, even if you think it's the easiest name to remember).

12. Find other bloggers in your area and connect with them on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram. This means following all of their accounts and not expecting them to do the same (don't announce to the world that you've followed someone in the hopes that they return the favour). Follow them because you genuinely want to read about what they are up to, then engage with them in an honest and real way and they will in all likely hood follow you back.

13. Meet up with other bloggers. Don't be scared off by the fact that they might have 893 likes on Facebook and you have 12. We all start somewhere. I have met a lot of new friends this way (and I'm sure a few of them thought I was some crazy stalker when I first got in touch with them lol). But gently does it. You should be getting to know them through their blog and twitter accounts first before ambushing them into a coffee date.

14. Take your own photographs. Always. And when you can't find the right photograph, make sure you properly credit the rightful owner or email them for permission first. Rather have a blog post delayed while you get permission for using an image than get into legal trouble like this blogger. Oh, and Pinterest, just like Google, is not a source (read this great post on sourcing images from Pinterest). 

15. Have patience. You should be blogging because you like blogging. Not because you want to become famous. Although that's nice too.

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Want a handy, printable checklist of all the tips mentioned in this post? All my blogging resources are waiting for you inside the CGScreative Resource Library which you can get free access to by clicking the image below: 

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Happy Blogging friends!

x

Turkey {a recap}

For our honeymoon in 2012, Farmboy and I headed Greece to spend our first few days as a married couple. It was a wonderful holiday. We had a 6 hour layover in Turkey, and being the we-must-make-the-most-of-every-second-we-are-in-another-country kind of people that we are, instead of making a beeline for the only cafe open at 5am, we headed out the doors of the airport to explore Turkey.

Thank goodness South Africans don't need a visa as we had done no research on Turkey and this was our first time leaving the airport during a layover. In other words,  we really had no idea if we would be allowed back in time to make our connecting flight to Athens. But, being adventurers at heart, we made it back in one piece and had an incredible few early morning hours exploring Istanbul.

What was saw in those few hours was really beautiful and we wished we had had a few days to really explore the country. As much beauty as there was, there were rather too many eyes looking me up and down and making me feel uncomfortable, even at 6 in the morning. I didn't know this before, but Turkey is an Islamic country, and so even though I was dressed rather conservatively, my head was exposed thereby drawing rather a lot of unwanted attention. If you, like me, don't feel comfortable with so much deliberate staring, then pack a light scarf to wrap around your head. I didn't take any offense to the looks, it is a cultural element of the country, we deal with cultural differences a lot in South Korea too, and you learn pretty quickly that people aren't being judgmental or rude, as humans we show interest in the unknown and the different. We become like little children who can't help themselves but stare and try our best to work out why people are doing something different to what we do.

I hope you enjoy the photographs. If you have any recommendations on places to go in Turkey, please drop me a comment below. Farmboy and I really want to head back there in the future.

How to Vote for South Africans living Abroad (especially those in South Korea)

{Source: Raeesasolwa on Instagram}

As Farmboy and I will be here in South Korea during the next South African elections, we will have to do a little more homework when it comes to voting. It is now possible for South Africans living abroad to vote {yay!} so here is some more information on it for those of you who would like to vote but will be out of the country. Thanks to SAPeople for the information below:

• How do I register abroad?

In order to vote in the elections you must be registered.

If you are already registered on South Africa’s National Voters’ Roll you DO NOT have to re-register. (Check your registration status online at www.elections.org.za)

If you are not already registered

• You will need to register at your nearest South African Embassy, High Commission or Consulate-General (See http://www.dirco.gov.za/foreign/sa_abroad/index.htm for a list and see below for South Africans living in South Korea
• Bring both a valid green bar-coded South African ID book, smart-card ID or temporary identity certificate AND your valid South African passport 

• When should I register?

You can register until 7 February 2014 during office hours of your local South African Embassy, High Commission or Consulate-General.  For office hours please contact your relevant Embassy, High Commission or Consulate-General. You will not be able to register after 7 February 2014.

Provision has also been made for two special registration weekends, on 18 and 19 January and 25 and 26 January 2014, to accommodate those South Africans living abroad who are unable to register at their nearest South African foreign mission during normal working hours.

• Registering to Vote abroad in SOUTH KOREA:

Registration services for South African citizens who are eligible to vote and are not currently registered, will be rendered at the South African Embassy Seoul, situated at 104 Dokseodang-ro, Yongsan-gu Seoul.

Working hours for the registration services are as follows:

Monday - Thursday 09h00-12h00 & 13:30-16h00

Friday 09h00-12h30 & 13h30-15h00

Weekends 18 & 19, 25 & 26 January 09h00-16h00

Please note: Only a green bar-coded ID, a valid Temporary Identification Certificate or a Smart Card are accepted for registration purposes.  No other document will be accepted.

*If you do not have your ID book here in Korea you will need to work on getting it posted here before the registration date is over. This has been done with success by many South Africans here in Korea. Send it via fast mail but do not write ID Book on the envelope. Just write 'gift' to be safe (we all know how the South African postal service is, unfortunately).  If it doesn't end up arriving and gets 'lost' somehow, you can apply for a new one when you get back to South Africa with your passport. It is definitely worth taking the risk to get as many people to vote as we can...your vote can make a difference.

Source: AllPosters

• How do I apply to vote abroad?

Once you have registered (either in South Africa or abroad) you must then complete an online VEC10 form available on www.elections.org.za. This form notifies the IEC of your intention to vote abroad and indicates at which Embassy, High Commission or Consulate-General you will vote.

The form will only be available once the election date has been proclaimed and must be completed within 15 days from the proclamation date. (The President will only announce the election date after 9 February.) Voters will receive confirmation of receipt of the VEC10 form and approval to vote abroad via SMS or email.

• How do I vote abroad?

The receipt that informs you whether you qualify to vote (which you will receive only following the submission of your online VEC10 form) will indicate the South African Embassy, High Commission or Consulate-General where voting will take place and the date on which voting will take place (usually a week before the election day in South Africa).

You must take your valid green, bar-coded South African ID book, smart-card ID or temporary identity certificate AND your valid South African passport with you to the diplomatic mission to vote.

For voting times, please check the website of the relevant Embassy, High Commission or Consulate-General.

• Can I vote before I leave South Africa?

If you are going to be abroad on Election Day and would like to vote in South Africa before Election Day, you may be able to apply for a special vote at your local IEC office. To read more about special votes visit www.elections.org.za and/or to find your nearest IEC office.

• More Info

Click here for more detailed info on voting abroad.

You can find the Electoral Commission (IEC) at:

• www.elections.org.za
• Facebook: IECSouthAfrica
• Twitter: @IECSouthAfrica

Source: LaurenKim Photography

Cambodia Through Photographs

When Farmboy and I were living in South Korea back in 2010, we headed over to Cambodia for the first of our holidays.

Here are a few photographs from our travels through an incredible country full history. They were mostly taken by Farmboy, I learned everything I know about photography from him.

We spent time in Siem Riep so we could see the Angkor Wat temples and ruins, took an over night bus to the coastal town of Sihnoukville and from there, a boat took us to paradise (aka Lazy Beach).

You can read a full in-depth post on the how's and the what's over here on our old travel blog. 

We were a little younger in these photographs, and we have learnt since learnt a little more about traveling and what to pack (most importantly a first aid kit for the bumps and scratches and tummy aches you will inevitably endure). 

If you have any questions about our trip, please feel free to pop me an email here.

x

Tea for One

South Africans tend to think of themselves as avid tea drinkers (along with the Brits). I take after my mom and simply cannot function without at least 3 to 4 cups of tea a day. For most, it's coffee, but for me, I much prefer a steaming cup of sweet tea (oh, and it's not real tea unless its 5 Roses!).

When we say tea, most of the time South Africans are referring to black tea, or English Breakfast/Ceylon tea. I drink my tea with milk and sugar, without which it just simply isn't tea.

But since moving to Korea and being invited to friends houses and offered something to drink, I have learnt to always enquire about the kind of tea on offer. There are hundreds of different kinds of tea here in Korea (green tea, brown tea, root tea, ginger tea...the list goes on) and I just can't adjust my taste buds and always turn my nose up unless its 'black tea'.

That is until my American friends Cassandra introduced me to a special blend she loves from the States. She has a whole cupboard full of tea here in Korea, and I have been very hesitant to taste of any of them, but I finally said yes to her offer and I am thrilled i did! And then I proceeded to drink about 4 cups of it. The blend I tried is called 'Evening in Missoula' and consists of chamomile, rosehip, raspberry leaf, papaya leaf, peppermint, spearmint, blackberry leaf, vanilla, passion flower, red clover, star anise, wild cherry bark, lemon peel, wintergreen, and lavender.

Heaven in a cup. Now to get my hands on some of it here....

What tea do you like to drink?

Are you a Chai tea fan? I have heard that Chai lattes are pretty yummy too!

Life After the Dress {Episode 5} Sophie Smith

Todays interview is with one of our closest friends from University, a very talented photographer and adventure seeker; Sophie. Sophie was the first person we wanted to have capture our engagement in 2012, and she did a fabulous job of it (click here to see the wonderful photographs).

Sophie and her husband Cam are a dynamic couple with a massive heart for adventure and people, and we are so happy to call them our friends.

Q1: Please introduce yourself (age, of both yourself and your husband, where do you live, what do you do & how long have you been married for?)

My name is Sophie Smith and I have been married to my wonderful husband Cameron for almost 3 years and a half years. I am 26 and Cam is 28, and we are just starting out a new season in our lives in Cape Town. I am trained as a photojournalist, a teacher, and most recently, an outdoor adventure leader in the Canadian Rockies. But now we are back to real life in South Africa - I am working for a great online tourism company called Go2Africa as a photographer and image editor and Cam is the manager of a camp facility on the Table Mountain National Park near Llundudno. I am also doing wedding and couple photography and am hoping to expand the business over the next few years . You can see more of my work here>> SophieSmithPhotography

Q2: Which Disney character do you feel sums you up to a ‘T’?

Nala, from the Lion King

Q3: How did you and your hubby meet?

We met at the rock climbing wall at Rhodes University and became friends through Dale (Roxy’s hubby). We were friends for a number of years before we started dating… Well, Cam wanted to be more than friends for a number of years before I finally woke up and realized that, in the words of my dad; “He’s a good man and he’s not going to wait around for you forever”.

Q4: Was your wedding everything you hoped it would be? Would you go back and change anything? Do you have any advice for brides-to-be?

My wedding was wonderful but certainly not what I had imagined it would be when I was growing up. Cam and I kept it very local in Grahamstown and did not want to spend a huge amount of money on our wedding because it was just one day, and we wanted the emphasis to be on our marriage, not on our wedding. An example of this was getting my dress made but then selling it back to the boutique for rentals so I only paid half price. We also got friends and family involved in décor and set-up which was cheaper and way more fun. In retrospect I would have liked to pay a little more attention to some of the details but the people, the weather, and the whole day were wonderful.

There are two pieces of advice that I found useful when preparing for my wedding day. The first was not to stress about how things turned out because only you will know how it was meant to be. The second was to take in every detail and enjoy every moment of the day, don’t wish for the next part of the day, just enjoy every moment because it is over so soon. I took this advice to heart, especially when I was walking down the aisle.

Q5: Has ‘life after the dress’ been as you imagined it would be?

I didn’t find married life a huge challenge or transition, perhaps because Cam and I spent so much time together when we were dating. I think I went into marriage with some unrealistic expectations though and have learnt that, in the words of William Shakespeare, “Expectation is the root of all heartbreak”.

It has been amazing to have a friend and a partner to adventure through life with. We have not, and still do not, know what the future holds but it is great to know that we have God and each other and that is enough.

Q6: What have you learnt about yourself since being married?

I have learnt that I like to get my own way and normally can’t see how I could possibly be wrong. I’m normally late. I leave the cupboard doors open. I talk too much and don’t listen enough.

Q7: If you could describe your marriage in 3 words, what would they be?

Adventure, compromise, team

Q8: Do you have any pearls of wisdom you would like to share with my readers about being married? Perhaps something some wise person once told you, or something you’ve learnt the hard way?

I don’t believe in finding “the one”, because one day you may find “another one”. Marriage is a choice – a choice to love, a choice to forgive, a choice to stay together no matter what. 

As I mentioned earlier, expectations can set you up for disappointment and frustration, especially when they are not communicated properly. Believe it or not, your husband can’t read your mind and know what you want or are hoping for.

Growing up, we watch Disney movies where Prince Charming sweeps the lovely heroine off her feet.  While I love Disney movies, good old Prince Charming messed things up for me a bit. You see, they taught me that the Princess is only happy when she finds her Prince. But in marriage, you have to be whole and secure and happy in yourself before you get married. The other thing I learnt from Disney movies, or came to expect, is that my husband would be perfect and exciting everyday - which he isn’t, and that’s ok, because neither am I. It really helped when I realized that I was very far from a perfect princess and that it was unrealistic and unhelpful to expect Cam to be the perfect husband. In fact I think I like him better for his imperfections (A lot of these ideas are from a great book I read called Before you get Engaged by David Gudgel).

You can find Sophie at the following places:

Website

Instagram

In this series I am interviewing real woman and asking them questions about their lives after their wedding day. I am asking them real questions about their marriages, and of course having them give me and you some pearls of wisdom that they might like to share. If you would like to read more about this series, or if you would like to be featured here on the blog, click here or you can drop me an email here or leave me a comment below.

x

How to Blanch Almonds

Today I am trying my hand at making almond flour {recipe to come soon} and it is recommended that you use blanched almonds instead of raw almonds to achieve a smoother texture when baking. Blanching almonds is really easy, and far cheaper than buying them in the shops. A lot of baking recipes call for blanched almonds, so save yourself a few pennies by doing them yourself...

You will need:

-almonds

-boiling water

-collander/strainer

All in all this is going to take you a one whole minute (yup! one minute!) to do!

Simply place your almonds in the boiling water (I was making 2 cups of almond flour and so had rather a lot of almonds, so I did mine in two batches, using the same water for the second batch). Place the almonds in the boiling water for 60 seconds only - any longer and your almonds will start to soften.

Drain the almonds immediately and place onto paper towel to cool. Then the fun part. Peel the skins off, one at a time (or two at a time once you get the hang of it!) the skins will simply 'pop off' leaving you with perfect, cream white almonds to use in your baking. You can discard the skins, or roast them in the oven with your favourite spices (we have only used salt and vinegar so far) to make delicious, virtually fat free, crispy snacks....yum!

FREE SHIPPING in my store until the end of January!

A sample of some of the items that go into each pretty package...

To start the new year off with a bang, and to help you get organised and ready for all those dates and lists of things to do that come with the start of any new year, I am offering free shipping on packages until the end of January.

Each pretty package of boutique stationery is carefully put together by me...each item hand picked and unique. You won't know the exact items in your package, and that what makes it so special. You simply choose your colour palette, and I do the rest...ensuring what the post man brings you is a delightful surprise. Each packages contains at least: 

• a lovely letter set
• a  notebook
• a weekly scheduler
• a set of envelopes
• a pen & pencil
• two rolls of washi tape
• as  well as a few other pretty surprises unique to each customer.

I am also sending out a gorgeous 2014 diary for the next 3 customers so get your orders in fast!

Each package is $30, with no hidden extra costs (unless paying by PayPal in which there is a $2 service fee) and is sent off to you once payment has been confirmed. You will receive your pretty package in 2 - 3 weeks depending on where in the world you are.

To order, simply choose your colour palette (blush, peach or mint) and fill in the order form by clicking here: ORDER

I will send you an invoice with my banking details. I will send off your package within 2 weeks of receiving payment

One of the diaries that will be going into the next 3 customer orders...

Happy Shopping!

x

Hello from Vietnam

This is my first post of 2014! I hope you all have had a great start to the new year. That goals and dreams and resolutions have been set and that you are ready to make this year your best yet.

This post comes from Sapa, a small town in Northern Vietnam surrounded by cascading rice field terraces and 6 different tribes of indigenous people.

​It's early morning here and Farmboy has just lit a fire in our room. We are watching the mist roll in while waiting for our aching muscles to wake up. We went hiking around the local villages yesterday and boy oh boy I did no realize just how unfit I am (New Years resolution number 1). 

We take the overnight train to Hanoi this evening and then head to what we hope to be sun, sea and sand in a town further down south. 

If we can we are going to rent a scooter and go exploring, drink more local coffee (which is sweetened with condense milk) and possible have a massage or two ($8 for an hour full body...who can resist!).

Have a wonderful week everyone. Coming up when we land back in snowy South Korea will be lots of great photographs (mostly taken by hubby) and ​a giveaway or two to get the new year off to an even better start.

My store will also be back in full swing with diaries and calendars to help you get your year organized in a prettier way.

One of the diaries I will be stocking when I get back next week (also comes in pink, blue and yellow). 

xxx

See you in the New Year!

Source

Dear CGS readers,

It's been an interesting year...if you'd like to catch up what's been happening these last 12 months, here are a few highlights:

-Celebrated 1 year of marriage...for which Farmboy made this video (I love this man to bits!)

-Returned to South Korea to teach English

-Spent our summer holidays traveling around Malaysia

-Photographed some gorgeous people, namely Caitlyn and Laura and I did a traditional Korean wedding shoot for Minhee & James

-Had some stressful situations involving a laptop

-Took part in a Creative Business Series aimed at inspiring other creatives to follow their dream and launch their own businesses

-Started a new series interviewing married women on their lives after their Wedding Days...for some matrimonial inspiration have a squizz at my Life After the Dress series

-Featured in 2 online magazines for photography (Photographers in Korea & Consol Glass Ebook Christmas Chapter) and 2 real print magazines (Wedding Inspirations and Grazia)

Last but not least I built, designed and launched this newly branded website and my online stationery store selling hand picked, boutique stationery in the form of pretty packages. Click here to start shopping <3

2013 you were good to me, but I am very much looking forward to the adventures that lie await in the new year.

Thank you to each and everyone of your lovely comments here on the blog, and on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

I'm looking forward to bringing you lots more pretty-ness next year.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and a wonderful festive season with your family and loved ones.

As of tomorrow, Farmboy and I will be soaking up some sun in Vietnam, and so the blog will be back to normal by the middle of January. I will continue to post bits and pieces on Instagram if you'd like to follow along.

Happy holidays everyone!

With Love,

Roxy

x

CGS Pretty Stationery {Flash Sale}

Dear readers!

Today is the last day of my three day flash sale on pretty stationery in my store.

To place your order simply email me with your colour palette choice (mint, peach, or blush) and I will send you an invoice to make payment.

Each pretty package includes:

-a 2014 calendar

-roll of washi tape

-a notebook

-a pen or pencil

-lace paper doilies

All for $11 (excl. shipping of $4.50).

I am working on a $1 to R10 exchange rate for my South African customers, so in total the package, including shipping will be R155.

Hurry while stocks last <3

I look forward to creating your pretty package.

x

Who is St Nicholas anyway?

At this very special time of the year it's easy to get caught up in all the present giving and tree decorating that Christmas time brings, that we can lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas. For Christians, we are celebrating the birth of baby Jesus, bringing love and hope to all mankind. So then where does the big bearded, reindeer driving, present giving man come from then? Farmboy and I have been chatting about Christmas and God lately, and I have been wondering about how God must feel to have the birth of his son so misplaced by stories and songs and an immense amount of money spent on the very worldly idea of Christmas and Santa Claus.

I learnt something new today from a family in America on a great Christian website, On Faith. As with a lot of Christian websites, there are a few things I don't wholly agree with, but this blog post, written by Mark Driscoll, father of five, made me think.

I wanted to share it with you today. 

Even with keeping the below in mind, Farmboy and I still have a Christmas Tree up, and we also get caught up in the gift giving and receiving that is Christmas. We don't claim to be perfect Christians living a perfect Christian life. But it's important to stop and think about what the real message is behind Christmas. It's not just a day to get a whole bunch of new and expensive toys from a wish list; it's a time for family and friends to come together and to share in the joy and love of Christmas.

"The larger-than-life myths surrounding Santa Claus actually emanate from the very real person of Saint Nicholas. It is difficult to know the exact details of his life with certainty, as the ancient records are sparse, but the various pieces can be put together as a mosaic of his life.

Nicholas was born in the third century in Patara, a village in what is now Turkey. He was born into an affluent family, but his parents died tragically when he was quite young. His parents had raised him to be a devout Christian, which led him to spend his great inheritance on helping the poor, especially children. He was known to frequently give gifts to children, sometimes even hanging socks filled with treats and presents.

Perhaps his most famous act of kindness was helping three sisters. Because their family was too poor to pay for their wedding dowry, three young Christian women were facing a life of prostitution until Nicholas paid their dowry, thereby saving them from a horrible life of sexual slavery.

Nicholas grew to be a well-loved Christian leader and was eventually voted the Bishop of Myra, a port city that the apostle Paul had previously visited (Acts 27:5-6). Nicholas reportedly also traveled to the legendary Council of Nicaea, where he helped defend the deity of Jesus Christ in A.D. 325.

Following his death on December 6, 343, he was canonized as a saint. The anniversary of his death became the St. Nicholas holiday when gifts were given in his memory. He remained a very popular saint among Catholic and Orthodox Christians, with some two thousand churches named after him. The holiday in his honor eventually merged with Christmas, since they were celebrated within weeks of one another.

During the Reformation, however, Nicholas fell out of favor with Protestants, who did not approve of canonizing certain people as saints and venerating them with holidays. His holiday was not celebrated in any Protestant country except Holland, where his legend as Sinterklass lived on. In Germany, Martin Luther replaced him with the Christ child as the object of holiday celebration, or, in German, Christkindl. Over time, the celebration of the Christ child was simply pronounced Kris Kringle and oddly became just another name for Santa Claus.

The legends about Santa Claus are most likely a compilation of other folklore. For example, there was a myth in Nicholas’ day that a demon was entering people’s homes to terrorize children and that Nicholas cast it out of a home. This myth may explain why it was eventually believed that he came down people’s chimneys.

Also, there was a Siberian myth (near the North Pole) that a holy man, or shaman, entered people’s homes through their chimneys to leave them mushrooms as gifts. According to the legend, he would hang them in front of the fire to dry. Reindeer would reportedly eat them and become intoxicated. This may have started the myth that the reindeer could fly, as it was believed that the shaman could also fly. This myth may have merged with the Santa Claus myth, and if so, explains him traveling from the North Pole to slide down chimneys and leave presents on fireplace mantles before flying away with reindeer.

These stories of Santa Claus were first brought to America by Dutch immigrants. In the early twentieth century, stores began having Santa Claus present for children during the Christmas season. Children also began sending letters to the North Pole as the legends surrounding an otherwise simple Christian man grew.

In sum, Saint Nick was a wonderful man who loved and served Jesus faithfully. So, we gladly include him in our Christmas traditions to remind us of what it looks like for someone to live a life of devotion to Jesus as God. Our kids thank us for being both honest and fun, which we think is what Jesus wants." Mark Driscoll

Wishing all of my readers a very happy and love filled Christmas. May it be jam packed with family and friends, laughter and good memories. 

x

Homemade Natural Facial Cleansers

I recently stumbled upon the beautiful Free People blog which is filled with beautiful photography, beauty tutorials, fashion inspiration and so much more.

The blog is run by four creative young women who aim to inspire their readers to 'embark on creative, fun, enlightened and fashionable adventures each day'.

This post if all about their natural homemade facial cleansers. Dump the chemicals and raid your pantry and fridge your skin will thank you for it.

{Each of the photographs and graphics in this post are credited to Free People

First up is a cleanser for DRY SKIN.

This is the first one I am going to try as the hard water and cold weather has wreaked havoc on my skin. If only honey didn't cost an arm and a leg in Korea...

'The base for this cleanser is plain yogurt, which, apart from its natural cleansing properties, is full of protein to soften your skin. It’s also a bit acidic, so it acts as an exfoliator, removing unwanted dead cells from the surface of your skin. Honey acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into your skin and keeping it there, as olive oil adds further moisture. Apples give your skin vitamins A, B, and C, as well as a dose of antioxidants to keep you looking fresh'.

Next up is a cleaner for NORMAL SKIN:

Oh I wish my skin was back to its normal-ness. I have't had norma,l or combination skin as it's sometimes referred to, since I've been here in South Korea.

My skin fluctuates between oil slick and parched, depending on the snow or the humidity.

'For those whose skin tends to be somewhere in between dry and oily, this cleanser is for you. The yogurt and cucumber nourish and clear your skin without drying it, while the mint adds a pleasant soothing experience'.
 

Last of all we have a cleanser designed for OILY SKIN.

I have been told on numerous occasions that oily skin ages a lot slower, and as such will lead to fewer wrinkles with age. I'll get back to you on that in 15 years time.

'For those whose skin tends to be on the oily side, let lemon and oatmeal be your new friends. Lemon acts as an astringent as well as a disinfectant, killing any bacteria that may otherwise cause breakouts, while oatmeal exfoliates the skin, absorbing excess oils in the process. Honey will restore moisture into your skin, balancing out any dryness that could have been caused by the lemon'.

Have you ever tried to make your own cleansers or masks? A fellow South African bloggers, Luzanne of Pink Peonies, blogs about wonderful homemade face masks she creates for different skin types. Pop on over to her blog for more DIY beauty recipes.

Happy Weekend!

We're in for more snow this weekend...here's a little glimpse into the snow we've had over the past couple of weeks. Some of these were taken on my walk home from school last week, and the last one was taken by Farmboy out and about in Jinan one weekend.

This weekend I plan on getting crafty with some last minute Christmas decorations, and I am off in search of a pan to bake my granny's special Apple Crumble...here's to hoping I can find something suitable in my little town.

Have a lovely weekend! 

x

Do you have any exciting plans on this the last weekend before Christmas?

x

How to create beautiful collages in minutes

Creating collages used to be something I dreaded doing. It takes hours of painstaking research to find the exact photograph of a number of different items, source them properly and then to find them all with a white or even better yet, a transparent background is just horrid work. In the blogging world there are collages, and then there are collages. You know the ones I'm talking about, those beautiful, seamless compilations you find on the top fashion and beauty blogs, and then you get the first few I ever made. Chalk and cheese really.

Well I am going to let you in on my secret to creating beautiful collages like this one, using a free site called Polyvore...

Creating collages using Polyvore

The above collage was created using the very easy to follow (and did I mention free) website Polyvore.

Polyvore works a little like Pinterest in that you are able to create your own online pinboard of images. There are a number of different categories, and from these you can make stunning and professional collages for your blog. Why not make your own gift guides for Christmas? Or how about creating your own wish list to help your friends and family in picking out the perfect gift for you? 

The site is designed to share clickable links to the prices of the items in your creations on the usual social media platforms, so you know the price and where the closest stockist is to you. But as I only want to use the image as a graphic, I simply screenshot the collage and go about inserting it that way.

Here are a few more collages I've created using Polyvore.

I'd love to see yours creations too. Simply upload them to my Facebook Page so I can have a look!

Good luck and happy creating!

x

Easy DIY Christmas Tree

With just over a week to go till Christmas, you might still be in search of the perfect tree. Or perhaps, like us, you live in South Korea with little to no room, in which case this DIY in perfect for you. It's quick and easy, uses only a few items and will add a little more festive cheer to your home.

Super essential is a handsome man to do your measuring when you get distracted by needing to document the whole process to blog about later...

New in the Store!

I've been putting together my first few orders, and wanted to share with you a few new goodies which will be going into the pretty packages. I only stock one or two of each item, so you know what you purchase is truly unique.

The idea behind my store is that each and every package put together is exclusive and special, and never the same as the one before. You won't know exactly what you're going to get, and that's what makes it so much fun. We all love receiving parcels in the mail, and this time, although you may not be 100% certain of the contents, you know it will be full of pretty-ness. Simply choose your colour scheme; Mint, Peach or Blush (currently these are the 3 palettes, but I will be adding to these in the near future!).

Or better yet, get in contact with me to customize your own pretty package.

Happy shopping!

My shop is live!

And we are a go!

Welcome to me new website and most importantly, welcome to my new online store!

I hope you find the site easy to use. If you have any questions about anything, please drop me an email using the contact form above, or directly here.

As a little thank you, the first 5 customers to my store will each receive a beautiful 2014 Calendar in their package as a little extra gift. 

Currently I am only accepting payment via Electronic Transfer into a South African bank account, but soon will be offering payment through PayPal for your convenience.

Happy shopping everyone!

Have a lovely weekend!