The beauty of me time.

I'm the type of person that loves being surrounded by people or immersed in conversation with others, however, there always comes a time when I just need some quality me-time.

My favourite kind of me-time is the treat-myself kind. The usual kind of me-time consists of sitting in a coffee shop reading a book or magazine accompanied by my standard cappuccino. If I'm feeling in the proper treat-yo-self mood then I'll pamper myself with anything from a manicure, facial or even just going to get my hair and washed (personal fav because the idea of hair-washing is my least favourite time).

I always feel so refreshed and happy after these kinds of afternoons (or even days). 

Otherwise, a good afternoon read or catching up series is my standard go-to if I am too lazy to venture out into the wilderness (i.e. out of my room). 

And here are some books that are on my current reading (wish)list:

• Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
• Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel García Márquez
• A Short of History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson 
• The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
• Americanah - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• More books about royalty - I'm obsessed intrigued with this genre!  

A bit of here and there post nonetheless these delightful days are joyous and rejuvenating and with the upcoming public holidays more time to do these wonderful activities! What are some of your favourite me-time activities?

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Cape Town Diaries: Creamery Cafe

One of my favourite pastimes is trying new eating places - be it coffee shops or restaurants, food is my go-to social interaction.

Included in my array of favourites is the Creamery Cafe which has hands-down some of the most interesting and tantalising ice-cream flavours imaginable.

The standard choice is simply a single scoop of any of the new flavours (the coffee flavour is my fallback if none of the new creations are appetising enough). However, a must-try is the waffles which come with a scoop of ice cream and I recommend trying it with the toasted marshmallow!

For R32 for a single scoop, it’s well worth making a stop after dinner, before dinner, for dinner or any time of day or necessary social interaction!

Cape Town Diaries: Sunset Cruise

I thought I would try a new series of posts where I chronicle all my Cape Town adventures - I might even back-date some of these posts and post about last year's adventures.
For now, we will start with this year's chronicle: during O-week (Orientation Week, basically a two-week fun fest before varsity starts) I took one of the Sunset Cruises that depart from the V&A Waterfront. The cost of these yacht cruises is not as expensive as one would think ranging from R250-R350 per person for a 90 minute/2 hour cruise including complimentary bubbly and it takes you just beyond the harbour where you can see all the wonders of the Cape Town skyline (both building and mountain) painted in the pink rays of the setting sun. I highly recommend doing this cruise during summer when the wind is not as violent at night and its still fairly warm by the evening time and you can take in all the beauty without freezing your socks off.

Jewel of the Free State

On my last weekend of holiday at home, we decided to venture out of the province and visited a quaint corner of the country close to Clarens in the Free State. The holiday lodge was surrounded by mountains and tranquility and it was a weekend filled with putt-putt, quad-biking and wonderful little eating places - all the key ingredients to a weekend away in the Drakensberg.

For your reading pleasure

The magic of reading is once you find a really gripping book, hours can pass by without you even realising. I was lucky enough to read three such books this past month - Yes Please!, Catcher in the Rye and Mornings in Jenin. I don't usually read one genre of books (as this short booklist reveals), my main concern is that it's not a slow read. I thought I would provide my short review of these three books that kept me entertained over December (or rather for a few days at a time in short bursts).

Yes Please! by Amy Poehler

I am one of those people who are fascinated by the lives and stories of other people so this kind of book was right up my alley. It's a mixture of Amy's wisdom and life experiences all wrapped up in her humour. It's filled with so many take-home lessons such as the one below. 

And it's only made me regret not starting to watch Parks & Recreation sooner!

The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

This coming-of-age novel doesn't have much of a plot to it but again, the lessons one can learn from the main character, Holden Caulfield are truly valuable - as you can see I'm about both entertainment & learning!

Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa 

Never before have I cried buckets of tears after reading a book, I cried for the fictitious family in the novel, I cried for all the different kinds of losses in both this novel and reality, I cried for humanity. The story centres the Palestine-Israel conflict from its beginnings to the current day. It is a well-written book about such a large part of human history about which I had been ashamedly fairly ignorant. This single blog post does not quite do the mastery of this book justice. Below is one review of the book that encapsulates some my feelings towards this book: 

'In a note to readers, Susan Abulhawa writes, “I have always believed in the power of literature to reach the heart, stir the mind, and remind us all of our common humanity.  And I have always admired writers who chose storytelling as a way to tear down the barriers between peoples.  It is for this reason that I chose to write Mornings in Jenin.” Well, she has certainly accomplished the stirring of the heart, reminding us of our common humanity, and tearing down barriers in this novel. This book is a masterpiece.'  

Sunday Songs.

My previous two Sunday Songs posts (here & here) have been about French songs, so I thought I would try and keep up with that and post another French song for your listening pleasure. Quelqu'un m'a dit by Carla Bruni isn't actually a new song, it's been around for quite a while but I am quite obsessed with it's quaint, romantic melody and hum-along-tune.  (excuse the disjointed lyrics)

On me dit que nos vies ne valent pas grand-chose Elles passent en un instant comme fanent les roses On me dit que le temps qui glisse est un salaud Que de nos chagrins il s'en fait des manteaux Pourtant quelqu'un m'a dit... (refrain) Que tu m'aimais encore C'est quelqu'un qui m'a dit que tu m'aimais encore Serait-ce possible alors ? On me dit que le destin se moque bien de nous Qu'il ne nous donne rien et qu'il nous promet tout Paraît que le bonheur est à portée de main Alors on tend la main et on se retrouve fou Pourtant quelqu'un m'a dit... (refrain) Mais qui est-ce qui m'a dit que toujours tu m'aimais ? Je ne me souviens plus, c'était tard dans la nuit J'entends encore la voix, mais je ne vois plus les traits "Il vous aime, c'est secret, lui dites pas que je vous l'ai dit" Tu vois, quelqu'un m'a dit... Que tu m'aimais encore, me l'a-t-on vraiment dit... Que tu m'aimais encore, serait-ce possible alors ?

Someone told me that our lives aren't a big thing(*guess it means something important) They pass on the instant as discolour roses Someone told me that the time that pass is a bastard that is making topcoats from our grief However someone said to me... Refrain Who do you still love, This is someone that've told me that you still love me. Is it possible then? Someone told me that the destiny is scoffing at us dont't give us anything and that promise us everything Appear that the happiness is only for the reach hands Then they tighten the hand and find themselves crazy But someone have told me... Refrain But who can tell me that today you are loving me? I don't remember more it was late in the night, I'm still hearing the voice, but I don't see anymore the ?points? "He loves you, it's a secret, don't tell him that I tell you" You see, someone told me... Who do you still love, he really told me... Who do you still love, is it possible then?

Durban Street Food Festival

I did some adventuring today, venturing to the old Rivertown Beerhall to eat some yummy food at the Street Food Festival. Unfortunately, I didn't choose the right time to go as it wasn't as buzzing as it would have been in the evenings and not so cleverly went after lunch so there were plenty of burgers and full meals available to buy which I didn't have the appetite to savour.  Nonetheless, the music was festive and we ate some delicious deep-fried oreos and melt-in-your-mouth macaroons. The last day is tomorrow and it's going on tonight till late, as well.

summer wishlist

Although we are already full swing into the summer heat, it's never be too late to post a few items that I want for my closet this summer.

1. Hooded Poncho
A poncho is great to throw over whatever you're wearing in the evening if it gets slightly chilly, which is generally not the case here in Durban but is definitely a useful item for breezy Cape Town evenings. It's effortlessly chic & minimal which I love.

2. Halterneck Pleat Dress
I love love love this halter neck dress. The pleats make it so pretty and whimsical - perfect for twirling around. Paired with some wedges and statement earrings, it's my favourite kind of summer chic that can be worn either day or night.

3. White fringed dress
This dress is just one of those cute, casual dresses that can be worn on any kind of summer day. I love dresses like this that are not too tight as it's much more comfortable to wear as you're not pulling and tugging at it all day ensuring you're not exposed.

4. Denim dungarees
Whether you call them dungarees or overalls, this is a want that is at the absolute top of my list. Dungarees are the most versatile pieces of clothing that can essentially be worn all year around. For summer, my ideal would either be wearing a crop top or a printed tee underneath it.

5. Striped jumpsuit
Jumpsuits are another piece of summer clothing that are so fun & easy to wear because it can usually be worn by itself but you can always pair this jumpsuit with a statement bangle and some heels for a dressier look.

6. Slim White Jeans
I would normally not touch any pair of jeans in this heat but for some reason white jeans are so summery and appealing in this weather. For me, they're extremely dangerous as I know by the end of the day they will not be clean. Nevertheless, I am willing to risk it paired with a loosely fitted white shirt and a pop of colour in either my make-up or jewellery.

I realised that the colour scheme of my wishlist is very neutral but all these items I would definitely pair with some brighter colours so that it's not all a washout - bright and chic are two adjectives that can be synonymous right? 

Glitterati

I'm a firm believer in all things glittery and sparkly, especially in make-up or on nails. It's the easiest and most effective way to add some fun to your wardrobe. So to add some festive fun this month I went for this gold glitter nail polish which I absolutely love - I'm that person who gets distracted by their painted nails and this is my favourite distraction so far.

There are so many other ways to add glitter or sparkle to your wardrobe, especially in your make-up look. Byrdie posted a wonderful article on how to incorporate glitter into your make-up.  Below are some of my favourite looks from the article & from Pintrest that I'm waiting for an occasion to try out. Most of the glitter is in the eye make-up but sparkle can very easily be included in your wardrobe in the form of sequinned or embellished wonders. Glam never quite goes out of style. 

nails: Morgan Taylor Glitter and Gold
images: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

December in Durban

Having the whole summer holiday ahead of you in your hometown can seem dauntingly boring, however, I am determined to explore more of this city. I say determined because I know more often then not my sloth tendencies take over and hours of afternoons can pass by potato-ing on the couch. I like to think my saying this on the Internet will force me to be less sloth.

I digress, here's my list of things I'd like to do/explore/see this summer:


Promenade Bike Rides:
For as long as the revamped promenade has been around, I haven't cycled along it. This time it shall  happen. Bike rides can always be so whimsical.

Indoor ice-rink:
Hot weather calls for cool places and floating on ice always provides some entertainment.

Markets:
From the iHeart Market to the Shongweni's Farmer Market, Saturday mornings are made for markets and yummy food (if not for sleeping in)

Mini-Town:
Only because I like to feel tall once in a while and heels aren't always as fun.

Beaches:
Basically Durban at it's best - need I say more?

Exploring new & different dining and coffee spots:
Tea (& food in general) is always the best idea.

Beachfront amusement park:
Merry-go-rounds & fun rides never get old.

Yoga by the beach:
It just sounds very movie-like but will probably prove to be hot & sticky in this humidity.


Seeing the city in a different way:
As cliched as it sounds, seeing the city through the eyes of a tourist can be refreshing.

 So this is my mini-list of things I may or may not do this December. I plan to update the blog with all the adventures if the bustling holiday crowds don't test my patience.

For now,  here's some Mindy.

 

What are some of your fav summer activities? xo

mindy

relax & unwind

With this term being a particularly stressful term with a lot of studying coming up (or so I'd like to lead myself to believe), I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share some of my ways to relax and unwind amidst waves of stress and being buried under piles of books.

First things first, make yourself a steamy cup of tea - tea is literally like my safe place; it's like a hug in a cup.

Okay now that you've successfully made tea to your taste - some like it milky, some like it not quite black with two drops of milk - you can move onto my next step.

This next step for me involves either a) switching on the TV or b) in most cases my laptop and surfing the interwebbles.

My go-to interweb sites are firstly YouTube and catching up on all my subscriptions - there's generally a dailygrace or two to watch and a couple of vlogs there too along with the normal youtuber videos.

Secondly i open up facebook but if I'm not in the mood to be annoyed by the people I kinda met this one time. then i open up pintrest and play house and fashionista by repinning all these beautiful looking photos. But I tend not to open weheartit, it's hopelessly too soppy, self-piteous and teenage dream (most of the time anyway) for my liking.

Once I'm done catching up on these two important sites in between the sips of tea i move onto series. Series is another way to get lost for a couple hours - some prefer books, which I don't mind but series is my calling. 

Thankfully it's October which means a lot of the series that I watch are premiering this month - just in time to help me procrastinate studying for exams (jokes, mom).

What are your favourite ways to relax and de-stress? Have a great week! xo

Happy Friday!

It's the weekend at last, this week feels like it dragged fooo' sure. This week was mildly uneventful although yesterday was October 3rd and the Mean Girls world imploded and it was a very grand day quoting Mean Girls (not that I don't do that on a daily basis anyway - totes relatable, I mean "get in loser we're going shopping" who doesn't use that in everyday life??)

I digress. Looking forward to another chilled weekend and procrastinating hopefully getting myself organised for the upcoming exams and what not. I am also loving getting back in the blogging groove.

Have a suuuper fab weekend all. xx

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C'est une citation.

We all have those days where we would rather just hide under the duvet for the day and so this is just a little motivation quote for those days because sometimes you just got to fake it till you make it.

What do you think? xo

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I like them 80s movies.

So this year I've fallen in love with everything to do with old movies - especially 80s and 90s movies.

I love the naïveté of the characters and the simplicity of the times in the high school movies compared to teenhood today. It just really and truly makes me happy. Before you jump ahead - no I do not wish I was a teen in the 80s, truly. I'm pretty sure I was born in the right era because I can't imagine being a teen without internet. 

So I thought I'd just give you a list of my favourite golden oldies that I will never get tired of, it's not quite a top ten but it's close. 

1. The Breakfast Club

This movie is one of my all time favs and I will never get tired of - don't you wish that you could go to detention and come out with new friends and a boyfriend? 

2. 10 things I hate about you

Yes, yes it's not an 80s movie but it's still an oldie and a classic. I first watched this movie whilst on exchange and I recently rewatched it and loved it all over again - how can you not love her poem in the end and of course Heath Ledger? 

3. Dirty Dancing

One of the cutest love stories there is. If you didn't feel utter joy when they could do the lift in the end then there is a problem. 

4. Sixteen Candles

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others but it's still one of my favourite oldies. It follows the story of a girl on her sixteenth birthday where her family has forgotten about her birthday and even worse the boy she has a crush on doesn't know she exists - imagine how horrible that must be.

5. Footloose 

Now before you say that you've watched this one you better not be talking about the 21st century remake. The original version is much much better - surprise surprise. I find it more sincere and believable and it just suits the time better having it set in that decade (the 80s) rather then today. 

6. Dead Poets Society 

I forgot how sad and heartwarming this movie was until I rewatched it recently. The movie follows the lives of boarding school boys whose lives are changed by a new English teacher. It is such a well-written story about following your passion and not following convention and tradition for the sake of it.

7. Pretty in Pink
This is one of those really bad 80s movies you can't help but love and find entertaining. Another Molly Ringwald movie where Andie finds herself in a bit of a love triangle and she has to choose between a sweet rich boy and a childhood friend.

8. Some Kind of Wonderful
I found this movie to be very similar to Pretty in Pink but the gender roles are reversed where Keith asks out a popular girl unbeknown to him that his tomboy best friend has a huge crush on him. If I had to choose my favourite between Pretty in Pink and this one - Some Kind of Wonderful would get my vote because I found it cuter and my heart melted more at the end of this one than at the end of Pretty in Pink, that's a very good indication right?

That's my list - it's not a very long list but out of all the 80s movies I've watched so far, these are my fav. It's a lot of John Hughes and quite the Molly Ringwald overload. 

Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. What are your favourite golden oldies? xx

Images: the breakfast club, 10 things I hate about you, dirty dancing, sixteen candles, footloose, dead poets society, pretty in pink, some kind of wonderful