Author: s.a.b

Kids Parties

Little Madame’s Mermaid Party

by s.a.b1 Comment on Little Madame’s Mermaid Party

Though she was a Spring baby when she was born in Europe, our little girl’s birthday falls into the very end of Summer here in South Africa, but usually we are able to host the party outside in the patio and most children tend to end up in the swimming pool anyway… Last year, we hosted a Mermaid birthday for her, and it was one of the most fun parties I organised for my children, it was hard work but I felt I could really be quite creative with the decorations and entertainment ideas.

I started off by stocking on fabrics from one of my favourite stores in Johannesburg, Chamdor: I wanted to create a girlie underwater scene, with shimmery tulle and coral sequin details, and then found a gorgeous netting that looked fun to add interest to the tables. Then I moved on to Party Spot to find some basics. I bought some round paper lantern that got turned into floating jelly fish with the help of some ribbons, shower roses and my faithful glue gun. That’s also where I found the pretty plain vanilla lilac paper cups that also got glammed up with some netting left over from the shower roses and some glitter glue. I dug out the little treasure chest we had for Little Monsieur’s Pirate birthday a few years ago, and filled it with seashells, pearl strings, and jewels.

The sweets table was lovely and easy to put together, with a beautiful cake from Carmella’s On The Square, little shark jelly fish, rock candy, all colour coordinated… Always mindful of having healthy options, I added little seaweed looking strings of green grapes, small buckets of raspberries that reminded me of little sea anemonies. Carmella also made some sea-shell macaroons which were just darling. We had small balloons into mesh made to look like buoys, and a super cute seahorse guarding the sweets (he clearly wasn’t scary enough as the little ones had devoured a big chunk of the sweets before long).

The children button stools and tretle tables were hired from Kiddies Theme Parties, and the little seashell plates and napkins from Meri Meri. We had chinese takeaway boxes decorated with mesh, more glitter and seashells as favour boxes.

For activities we had a big sandpit with little buckets for the children to make castles (our neighbours had had a Builders party for their youngest just a few weeks prior and we were able to recycle the sand and buckets), a few trays with pearls for mermaid necklace making, and some with seashells for painting with glitter glue. We also had face painting with the wonderful Monique from Never Grow Up, she does beautiful face paints and kept the little ones entertained before the candle blowing.

I loved putting this super girlie theme together, and looking back to it I can’t wait for the lockdown restrictions to ease so we can get on with the plan I had for this year’s party and have all of Little Madame’s friends join us for a fun afternoon.

With love, S.

Africa, Johannesburg

Four family-friendly hikes around Johannesburg

by s.a.b1 Comment on Four family-friendly hikes around Johannesburg

Years ago, if you’d told me I would live in a country of super outdoorsy people, and I myself would regularly partake in the fun activity that is hiking, I would have scoffed at you and asked “Have we met?”… And yet here I am, a proudly adopted South African, and one who apparently goes hiking now, so much so that I ordered the fugliest shoes ever for our next outing (no apparently they don’t make pretty hiking shoes, only ugly ones, but they are khaki, at least)… Evidently the CoVid-19 lockdown and its travel restrictions have helped encourage me on this new, somewhat unnatural, path (see what I did there?): for the past 120 days we’ve been on various levels of lockdown and the last 45 days have allowed us to go outdoors, but only within our province of residence, and when you live in the smallest province in the country, that is more notable for its big cities and its oh-so passé wedding belt filled with pseudo boho barns, there is little to do besides research hiking grounds and trails that are family friendly to occupy most of your week-ends.

Best for scenery: Mountain Sanctuary

Ok, technically this is just outside of Gauteng, in the North West, but so close it almost counts as being in the same province.. Plus Mountain Sanctuary is truly one of the most beautiful hiking grounds in the region. This is a place we discovered with our ex-neighbours, back when we were free to travel and the children in our cluster were the closest of friends, free to mix and play together pretty much from dawn to dusk. Our friends have moved to Cape Town, our children miss sharing their twin houses with their best friends, and I miss the banter and fun we all had, everyday.

Coming to Mountain Sanctuary you’ll find beautiful trails (evidently) but also some gorgeous natural pools that the kids love jumping into, no matter the season. Following the natural pools is relatively easy along a kids-friendly trail, and you can make as many breaks as the little ones need, to swim or to snack. There is something for everyone here, from very short hikes to full-day ones, and this is a place that strives to offer freedom to its visitors rather than restricted trails.

You can book for day hikes, or stay overnight as well, and booking is essential these days as the number of visitors is restricted.

Best for variety of trails: Rustig

Rustig is a family-farm in the Magaliesburg, specialising in cattle and game, but it also offers small cottages and basic tented accommodation for overnight stays and a variety of trails around the Magaliesburg mountains. A big plus for me is the scenery and woods that cover most of the bottom section of the trails, and which the kids enjoyed thouroughly.

For some reason the reception staff insist on making any family with smaller children stick to the 3km trail… In my opinion that is a pretty useless recommendation, first because we ended up walking it within less than an hour, and then we scrambled to hook up to the second trail the wrong way up and that’s when we got a little confused, even though the trails are very well signed with very visible coloured markers every few meters (unless you’re seeing them from the back: having completed the baby trail in no time, we took the red trail up from the end, and ended up missing a turn and hiking up part of the blue one as well before we came back down to the red markers… all in a well-walked day then). So if you go, and the full of good intentions lady at reception tells you “we don’t allow small children on the 5km trail”, but you know your kids have done 15km before without any problems, just ignore her and take the red one at the turn…

If you do go with bigger kids, then by all means try one of the longer trails that goes all the way to the top of the rocky mountain, the sight is absolutely stunning, but some of the paths are quite close to the drop and lack a proper barrier, and that feels a little risky for this mama. Be mindful the trails are full of loose stones, and going down sometimes feels a little tricky but slowly gets the job done.

We went on a Sunday, it was minimally crowded, the entrance was very well organised with the number of visitors limited and booking essential, and we had a lovely picnic on the side of the trail, overlooking the vlei underneath the farm, and whilst it was one of the coldest days this winter the view and light was truly beautiful.

Best for an easy long trail: Cradlemoon

Another hike we did recently is the one at Cradlemoon. This is extremely convenient for Johannesburg dwellers, as it is literally just outside of the city. We came here with a family of friends and what a wonderful time the kids all had, after weeks of physical distancing from any other children their age, watching them happily catch up and happily chattering through the walk felt like utter bliss.

Cradlemoon is a lodge as well, with a beautiful river and lake and game you can pretty much walk by (we saw the zebras and the giraffes and pretty much walked into the hippos at some point, but they also have rhinos etc.) and there are a couple of trails to choose from, marked by ease. The one we did ended up quite long, over 10km, but overall flattish and easy to walk, so it was easy to have the kids walk together in the middle between the dads and the moms, giving us all plenty of opportunity to catch up on life in lockdown…

The week-ends get incredibly crowded during the week-end, a consequence of Cradlemoon’s convenience, and the restaurant operates a take-away that looks like a fish feeding frenzy at lunch, so we opted out and instead went home to some takeaway from one of our favourite fish eateries.

Best for climbers: Hennops

Like I said Rustig has beautiful rocky mountains but climbing up requires negotiating trails full of rolling rocks… I love climbing as I enjoy the feeling in my legs from pushing up and then the beautiful view from the top, but as an ex-dancer I don’t have the most solid of ankles and I prefer smoother grounds, and for this reason I really enjoyed Hennops, one of the first hikes we did when we moved to South Africa.

There are four distance trails, we opted for the 5km one, starting by crossing the suspension bridge over the little stream, then climbing through the prettiest highveld woods, where we met a few zonkeys (first time I ever saw any) before moving up through lower bush. That’s my only complaint about Hennops: most of the hike is up on top of the hill, meaning there is very little shadow, and although we stocked up on SPF and water it still feels a little much, so I would recommend getting here early to avoid the midday sun, even during winter.

There you have it, dear locked down friends, some ideas of hikes that are super easy and convenient for those of us with little ones. I hope you’ll share your own ideas in the comments. Happy level 3… I guess…

With love, S.

Outfits

Wintry tones and cozy knits

by s.a.bLeave a Comment on Wintry tones and cozy knits

How is everyone keeping with lockdown day… what is it now? 93? It’s been a while since my last outfit post… mainly because I’ve not been bothered much with putting together any interesting outfits but also because I’ve been working like a maniac and there has been little time to post. In the meanwhile, Winter has most definitely arrived here in South Africa, and if yesterday is anything to go by, it’s going to be a cold and miserable one… Most days are spent at my home office desk, sitting through various video meetings and progressively getting more frozen, so I’m mighty glad I never acted upon my idea to just leave all my warm knits in Europe…

I’ve been wearing a variation of today’s outfit most days in the last week, although I rarely put on shoes, it’s mainly slippers and Birkenstocks at the moment… And who can blame me, when there’s nowhere else to go but my home office? It’s usually a cashmere knit as a top, jeans (how skinny or loose depends on how tired I feel in the morning, as well as whether I had a little bit or a lot of bread the day before…), and slippers… So when I put together today’s outfit it seemed a little more photo worthy than normal, and here we are.

The top here is not a top by the way, it’s a cashmere mix dress by McQ, and I’ve had it for more than five years… Remember what you read about designer pieces being investment pieces etc.? All true. I wear this dress every single Winter: it’s super warm, with a tiered detail, and usually falls to just above my knees. Here I lifted up the bottom part, hooked it up with three little safety pins that hide in the folds, and there you have it, fun sweater look with a dropped waist detail.

I added some black skinnies with a lot of stretch (what would lockdown life been if someone hadn’t invented elastane, I wonder?) and that made my outfit. Then I remembered I hadn’t taken my Hermès Kelly 32 out for a little tour of the house in a bit, so I brought her out: funny how she still has a twilly on, usually I don’t bother with twillies around handles, except if it’s the height of Summer and I’m going for long day of meetings, they avoid any moisture from my hands to transfer onto the leather.

I added a cashmere and silk shawl: this one is another one that I got from the men’s side at H, some seasons I don’t like any of the designs they have on the women’s side, so I cross over… and I share it with Hubby Dearest. Not only does it have a gorgeous grey blue colourway, but the design has loads of stars and sketch-like drawings, which I love.

Ok. Before I go, I need to leave you with a word on these boots. Chanel has been making a version of these in the last couple of years, but each time I’ve tried the leather version it felt horribly stiff and gave me visions of painful afternoons ahead, and let me not tell you how much I hate the version with the patent tips… but this pair, in the softest possible suede, in a go with everything grey, was just perfect, and it was waiting for me at the Heathrow shop on one of my stop-overs, with the nice duty-free discount as well. I am obsessed with them. By the way, anyone else missing jet-shopping at the moment? I know I do…

With love, S.

Paris

Paris: Souvenirs worth bringing back

by s.a.bLeave a Comment on Paris: Souvenirs worth bringing back

I lived in Paris for a few years as a student and then kept coming back regularly whilst working in London… it’s definitely my favourite city in the world. I have so many memories and favourite places in Paris. I remember, before becoming parents, Hubby Dearest and I would often go there for a week-end away from London and I always made a point of bringing back some of my favourite French goodies, from silk scarves to tea perfumed jelly, and delicate eau de toilette…

I have a few must areas: Saint-Germain, Passy, Le Marais, and Rue Saint-Honoré are top of my list, and if I can avoid it I never step anywhere near the Champs-Elysées, which is merely a tourist trap in my book. With children, our Parisian escapades became a little more rare and more focused around activities that our munchkins enjoy (the playgrounds at the Luxembourg, the Louvre etc), and now that we live on the other side of the world we don’t get to visit as frequently… but when we do, I always manage to visit my favourite boutiques around all the lovely neighbourhoods. Take it from me, when visiting Paris, forget about the souvenirs Made in China, and bring back some of these instead…

French teas and delicacies

I know when people think Paris delicacies they automatically think Ladurée macarons but I find macarons a little too sweet to really enjoy themand they don’t age well, so you need to eat them within days of purchasing them… I prefer more durable souvenirs, especially if I am bringing them back to South Africa, however I do love Ladurée for hostess gifts and the packaging is so pretty.

What I always bring back, without fail, is tea from Mariage Frères, a French gourmet merchant, founded in Paris over 150 years ago. They have a few boutiques and tea rooms across Paris, but my favourite is the one in the Marais, it looks like a tea merchant’s house from the olden days… I love coming for brunch on a Sunday: you can only reserve for the first service, and the queue starts building fast from 1pm onwards, especially as there is no limitation in how long you get to sit, this isn’t like the places in London or New York where the host tells you you need to gobble your food in one hour to free it up for the next patrons… Here you get to eat at your pace and enjoy yourself. If there is time, I like to book for family brunch, the menu is filled with delicate dishes all thought out around tea, and they have the most delicious desserts, including the famous Coup de Soleil, a tart of summer berries topped with a creme brulee layer. Service is one of the best in the French city.

I then wander the shop floor before leaving, and make a little stock of all my favourites. Usually it goes like this: 100g of Russian Breakfast tea (great citrusy breakfast blend that also yummiest iced tea with a few slices of lemon and some agave nectar thrown in), 100g of Rose Himalaya tea (such a delicate darjeeling, my choice for cold afternoons), a couple of tea “chaussettes” (super soft cotton filters to infuse tea) and some muslin filters to use in the office, a tin or two of matcha powder, one jar of iced tea from the new collection (tea blends that work especially well for a cold brew and come in gorgeous glass jars, I love Panama) and finally, a jar of tea jelly, which is my favourite thing to spread on toasted challah. I know it’s odd to reference a French brand for tea, but the blends here are super delicate and the shopping experience is wonderful. I do shop for tea in London as well, but most places have lost the luxury feel for it these days.

I sometimes let myself be tempted by the beautiful tea-ware that comes in the most beautiful porcelain and glass (I have my eye on the Rumba glass teapot… maybe on my next visit), although I have to think about luggage allowance these days, so I try to not get carried away!

Artisan perfumes and my favourite candles

I know there are hundreds of new perfume launches each year, and yet I find most of them dish out the same type of boring scents: on the one side, heavy perfumes loaded with oud or patchouli, strong enough to give you a migraine before you’re out of Sephora, and on the other, chemical versions of someone’s memory of the beach (most of them remind me of the sea breeze option of bathroom cleansing gels…). I prefer classic artisan houses, and two of my favourites are Paris based. Firstly, L’Artisan Parfumeurto stock up on their Mûre et Musc Extrême perfume, a powdery and fruity mix that reminds me of the very first perfume my mother bought me when I was a teenager. The brand has a range of perfumes based on natural scents, and I love exploring the new collection each time I visit their shops, usually in the Marais or in Saint-Germain. If I’m on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré (and the odds are I will be at some point…) I do a little detour by  Annick Goutal, where I come to stock up on Petite Chérie, a fruity floral which makes me smile every single time I spray it, and the old-style bottles look absolutely gorgeous, I love to have a few standing next to each other (the new ones, not so much, but now I mainly buy the refills, which are also lighter to carry in luggage).

No trip to Paris would be complete without a stop by Diptyque to purchase a couple of über chic candles, which look beautiful but most importantly smell amazing: scents are carefully composed, with bouquets inspired by nature, childhood memories or travel impressions. My favourites? Baies, Genevrier, and Feu de Bois, but I have many more that I am slightly obsessed with, usually from their classic collection, I rarely find one from the special collections that I really love. Remember, once you’ve burned out the candle you should clean out the glass to make a beautiful pot for beauty brushes, pencils, or flowers. I do it with every single candle, from the tiny ones to the giant ones.

French luxe

Being in Paris means I get to enjoy a few visits to my favourite luxe houses, starting, of course, with Hermès. I enjoy the flagship at 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, but seeing as it’s part of the tourist circuit somewhat, I now prefer to shop in the Saint-Germain boutique or the George V one, which will always have a special place in my heart as it’s where I bought my very first Hermès bag. I come here because I love the intricate windows filled with one-off pieces (though they are not quite the same since Leila Menchari’s passing), and I love everything, from the bags to the tableware. I have dreamt many times of moving in permanently, or at least being allowed to stay overnight… I follow the seasonal collections, and arrive prepared with a wishlist, usually a GM shawl, maybe a small wallet, or a couple of cups.

For other brands, I tend to shop the duty free boutiques at the airports: Heathrow and Roissy are fantastic for Dior and Chanel in general, although some other brands are best found in town…

Everything under one beautiful roof

If I’m only in Paris for one day or less, I head straight to Le Bon Marché, my favourite department store in the city, which was founded in 1852 and holds the title of the oldest and longest-running department store in the world. This is my favourite one-stop shop, where I can find everything from books to lingerie, all under one gorgeous roof. I love coming here for a quick visit, I know I will find most of my favourite brands, both on the exclusive luxury front but also the new and emerging brands. Compared to Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché is more manageable in size and conducive to slower paced “promenades”, and its location is an added bonus: Saint-Germain is a much more pleasant neighbourhood than Les Grands Magasins of Boulevard Haussmann. The layout is simple, filled with light, and the store often hosts temporary exhibitions and partnerhips, making each visit a special one.

Right now it’s not possible for me to visit my favourite city… but I hope to be able to go soon, and to be sure I’ll visit all my favourite shops and restaurants (there’s an idea for a future post!) when I do.

With love, S.

Style Notes

Pre-loved fashion goes around and comes around

by s.a.b1 Comment on Pre-loved fashion goes around and comes around

I want to let you in on a little secret: I don’t buy all my clothes and accessories brand new, and I sell all the pieces I tire of via either my closet’s Insta account or through a consignment service… Slow, recyclable style is not only the price-savvy thing to do, it’s also better for the planet. When we buy second hand we are supporting the retail industry and keeping good quality clothing from being tossed into the trash and ending up in a land-fill.

I love recycling fashion, both as a buyer and as a seller: I think the idea of giving a piece you don’t use anymore a new home through reselling is fantastic (it frees up space in the closet for new goodies but also helps recoup a portion of the original price, which in some cases is very high), as is the concept of being able to get your hands on an almost new Chanel bag for a heavily discounted price compared to the boutique… What makes me so keen on this is of course the sustainability aspect of it, but also the economics: most designer brands increase their prices annually, and yet some pieces are classics, so if you’ve been wanting an iconic Mac by Burberry’s, you’re better off checking out resellers, especially because some fashionistas barely use their things and you can find some piece in like new condition everywhere (I may or may not have been known to sell some pieces with their tag still on…)

For clothes and accessories, I like consignment and resale shops, both brick and mortar and online, rather than thrift stores (that said, thrift stores are amazing for home accessories, crockery and the likes as well as popular everyday fashion brands like JCrew, Zara etc…), because you will find collections that are more curated, and better quality items, and there is often a verification process involved on the condition and authenticity, which is very reassuring. Evidently this means as a shopper you see higher prices, but would you rather pay a little more or get a rotten replica when you thought you were getting a Birkin for a bargain? One thing for sure: I will never buy a pre-loved designer item on Ebay, it’s filled with fakes and fraudsters.

How to buy pre-loved fashion

The first thing is to research the ballpark resale price, by looking up what the original selling price is, and then determining how much lower second hand pieces go for by researching the price for similar items… There is a host of websites where you can do this, and then you can use this information to decide if you should make an offer or just jump on the asking price. Remember, if you’re looking at a unicorn item, something that is a grail for most people, don’t expect a stupidly low offer to be accepted, plus it’s very rude in the resale market to make super low offers. Similarly, if you’re looking at a LV Speedy, the odds are there are loads in the second-hand market, so negotiate away…

It’s also important to manage your expectations. A lot of pre-loved clothes can be almost brand-new, as they might be worn only once or twice, and a lot of sellers are very strict about the condition they state on their sales, that said, the term pre-loved means the item has been used previously, or at least it’s lived in someone’s closet for a while, so expect some imperfections. And that is why you’re not paying retail price…

Not everything pre-loved is vintage… Vintage is something that is at least 25 years old in my book. Some vintage items are extremely valuable, like a dress from the 1930s or a first edition of a designer item, but some is just someone’s old slightly smelly stuff. I never buy vintage online, the condition is too difficult to assess, except if it’s jewellery.

Authenticity is a big deal when buying second hand items, so make sure you have done a good degree of research on the piece you’re buying (it’s easy to spot a fake label, but some super-fakes are really difficult to distinguish, so it helps to know small details like some classic bag shapes evolve slightly over the years, one flap versus two, the craftsmen markings change, and some colours are from very specific seasons etc). If you’re unsure, ask for more pictures, and if you still don’t know, then it’s best to sit it out. It helps to shop from reputable sellers, I never buy expensive pieces except from sellers I trust or through shops where the authentication of the item is part of the process.

If you’re looking for something specific it’s good to know some sellers who regularly trade in the type of piece you’re after and to regularly follow (ahem stalk…) them. Amongst a few others, I love Julia Rose Boston and Coco Approved for Chanel bags, Yoogi’s Closet for Hermès bags and others, and Luxury-Scarves is the place to go if you’re hunting for a special scarf. I recently discovered Kern-1, which specialises in Chanel jackets that get beautifully conditioned and packaged before being sent to their new owner, and can’t wait until my grail comes up there so I can order it… For everything in between, I like buying on Vestiaire Collective although I’ve never sold through them, I hear they charge a hefty fee. In Johannesburg, I can’t recommend SnobSwop enough, Barb knows her fashion stuff and is an amazing business person and she seems to be the recipient of many local fashionistas’ closet overflows.

How to sell your no longer loved goodies

Research is key for sellers as well, who should know not to list something at a certain price if someone else has the same item for sale at half the price… Pricing an item right is key if you want to sell it. There are a few items that will retain their value, but I can count them on the fingers of one hand, and they don’t include Marc Jacobs totes or dad sneakers (see, you shouldn’t have bought them in the first place), and everything else needs to sell at a significant discount, especially if the condition is not great.

Know whether your item will be in demand by following trends and resale websites, then pick your sale channel. I usually prefer to start on my Instagram account for my closet (it’s here, if you’re curious) because I have a good following since the massive closet purge I did before leaving London… that was a major clean-up where I let go of a lot of the expensive pieces I used as an investment banker and that I wouldn’t need in my new life in South Africa. I also love to take things to Barb at SnobSwop to sell directly in her shop.

Taking good clear pictures and in your description be extremely clear and honest about the condition of the item, in particular of the signs of use is key. I can’t stress this enough. You will get upset customers and people will return items if you don’t disclose everything. In fact some people will even try to blame you for damage that happens after the item it’s been in their hand so retain the pictures until after you’ve sent the pieces (yes, I am speaking from experience, I was happy to still have the photos…) Once an item is sold make sure you ship it asap and if you can’t, tell your buyer when to expect the item; I always use tracked shipments, again, noone wants things to go sour because “the package went missing”.

Accept that some pieces are not worth the effort of trying to resale, and they are better suited for charity: in South Africa poverty is rampant, and people will gladly accept pre-owned clothing, so I don’t even think twice when considering the clothes my children have outgrown or everyday high street clothes I don’t use anymore, they go to a creche we support in a local township, or to our housekeeper, who then distributes on to people she knows.

There you have it, my guide to pre-loved fashion… For sure you don’t get the same type of luxurious experience as through the retail, the packaging may not be as beautiful (although some resellers go the extra mile) but you’ll make friends, get to know your sellers and your buyers, and give a new life to pieces that will make you happy for a few years or a lifetime…

With love, S.

Outfits, Uncategorized

Working from home day 72 (I think)

by s.a.bLeave a Comment on Working from home day 72 (I think)

Working from home is apparently going to be my new normal for a while still… Why else would my office management colleagues have recommended I order a bigger screen for my desk and made it possible for those interested to pick up their office chairs? I love my home office chair, it’s so beautiful, grey felt over light wood legs with a 1960s feel, there is not a chance I decide to bring the monstrosity that I have at work here… Still, I did get the bigger screen and even a proper keyboard. So now my home office is a little less pretty, but a lot more functional.

However, I am slowly relenting in the outfit stakes… Don’t let these photos fool you, this outfit feels almost as comfortable as if I’d stayed in my workout leggings and sweatshirt. And I think I am slowly finding my happy medium when it comes to dressing to work from home. And it seems a lot of it relies on long-line cardis.

I have decided long-line cardis are going to be my isolation staple, especially now that we are moving firmly into Winter here in Johannesburg. It’s basically like wearing a dressing gown, isn’t it? This one is in the softest traceable merino, and it’s from Country Road at Woolworths (I am not a snob when it comes to basics like this and I see Woolies as the SA equivalent to M&S), I love the paired-down chic look of it and the versatility. Sizing is quite generous, I’m wearing a small.

But the real ace in today’s outfit has got to be the jeans: we all love a flared cut, especially if you’re short and somewhat curvy like me… these jeans are the only thing that is going to make my legs look long-ish in real life (for everything else there are filters, thankfully), and of course the super dark wash does help. And what’s amazing? For some reason I managed to find the one model that has a high waist, all mamas out there will know why this is fantastic, and has just as much stretch as a pair of leggings, so everything stays nicely smoothed in. So they really are leggings disguised as jeans. They’re from Sissy Boy.

I did add my latest pair of Céline sandals for the picture, the Manon wedges (please excuse the lack of pedicure, lockdown oblige)… again it helps with the overall impression of length, although now I’m looking at the images I’m not entirely sure the light tan goes too well with the rest of the outfit. Too late now. And in any case that was just for the photo, if you want to know what footwear I’m really wearing, head out to my Insta stories and have a laugh.

With love, S.

Africa

Ostriches and blue lagoons in Churchhaven

by s.a.b3 Comments on Ostriches and blue lagoons in Churchhaven

One of the most beautiful places to visit in South Africa is the West Coast National Park, which lies just an hour drive away from Cape Town Airport yet features some pretty amazing scenery and incredible wildlife, not to mention the lagoon where I have finally been able to find water warm enough for me to swim in… By warm I mean not as cold as the rest of the region, but it’s still pretty chilly.

We rented a fisherman’s house in the off-grid village of Churchhaven, which is located inside the the West Coast National Park, right outside the Postberg Flower Reserve. The village was once the home of whalers and fishermen, and has gorgeous white-washed houses, which have now been refurbished as holiday homes. We rented Whaler’s Way through Perfect Hideaways. This is the perfect place for off-grid relaxation and some peace and quiet, especially if you come outside of the most popular times (usually August to October when the flowers are blooming and during the December holiday month). We came in February, it was blissfully deserted.

The West Coast National Park features a flower reserve which is incredible during Spring, but it also houses over 250 bird species including flamingos, ostriches, etc. Funny story: on one of the nights, I woke up convinced someone was roaming on the gravel right outside of the house, it was in fact a couple of curious ostriches. Flamingos would walk in the lagoon in front of the house most afternoons. On the sea-side, we could spot many marine birds, as well as sea lions. In the Postberg section of the park we saw some kudu, mountain zebras, and of course springboks… If you come during September and October, you may be lucky and spot a whale or two, and some dolphins.

There are many hiking trails in the park itself but our favourite outing was KraalBaai just five minutes from Churchhaven, it has the most transparent water and whitest sand I’ve seen in South Africa, and yes as I mentioned, warmish temperature, good for swimming! The water is shallow and super safe for the children. We really enjoyed watching time go by and reading on the terrace of the house, looking over the lagoon and seeing the light change as birds came and went… We did try to walk over to see the flamingos up close a few times but they are very skittish animals, they don’t like company much.

A few great outings just a short drive away are Yzerfontein (surfer’s paradise), Paternoster (a bit like a Greek village if it weren’t for the super long bay and the waves) and Langebaan. We spent a delicious afternoon there at Die Strandloper, a seafood boma restaurant by the beach, where you come with your own wine and then lazily graze through the most amazing seafood dishes (ten in total), all cooked on open coal fires on the beach, as your children make sand castles by the tables, and someone plays reggae tunes on a guitar. We were so spoiled we were sent away by the hostess with a loaf of their fabulous freshly baked bread to enjoy with breakfast the next day. I cannot recommend the place enough.

My advice, come to Churchhaven for the quiet off-grid life right by the edge of the water, the unspoilt surroundings deep in a natural reserve, don’t expect a nightlife (bring some good books), and expect to just chill, cook, eat delicious seafood. Remember you can find this trip in my Instagram highlights, it’s under Churchhaven. We combined this with a three-day stay in Cape Town, for the perfect balance. But that’s for another post…

With love, S.

Food, Uncategorized

My Challah-Babka hybrid

by s.a.b2 Comments on My Challah-Babka hybrid

The babka of my dreams lives in one of my favourite New York neighbourhoods, and is made by Russ & Daughters, where it makes for the most indulgent breakfast or coffee accompaniment. If you’re lucky to live in the US, you can order online from them, they have the most delicious lox and so many other deli specialties I am addicted to. If not, you can do like me and bake your own homemade version.

Not quite as sweet as a cake but definitely leaning towards dessert, babka is a sweet buttery yeast bread, usually with swirls of chocolate or cinnamon running through. Those swirls pull apart into the most irresistible layers, so rolling and braiding your babka is quite key. Also, like all enriched doughs, making babka is time-consuming, mostly inactive time, waiting for the dough to rise, but patience is a big thing here. Good news, we all have a little extra time these days.

Disclaimer: my recipe is not a real babka one, because it has no eggs (hence it doesn’t raise as much), less butter and less sugar than the original recipe. My dough is almost that of a challah, although it does have milk and butter, so I call this is a hybrid… I do this for two reasons: the original babka recipe creates a dough that is very soft and I find it difficult to roll and braid, and my version is a little “healthier” (in the sweet bread category, this is not spinach soup clearly), so you can have some every fortnight without fearing a heart attack.

I always start by activating the instant yeast, by mixing it with the milk at room temperature and the sugar. I then add the flour, salt and butter and make a dough. If you like a little vanilla in your dough this is the time to add it; I find orange blossom doesn’t work well with chocolate (it does work in plain challah though… oh so well…) but orange zest does. If you have a stand mixer with a dough attachment or a Thermomix, it’s easier, otherwise using a hand whisk and your hands is also fine.

Now you wait. Your dough needs to rest at least an hour; I usually leave it in a bowl covered with a slightly wet cloth, in a dark and warm place. If you’re making your babka ahead, you can also put the bowl in the fridge and bring it out the next morning when you’re ready to work it. This recipe will make one large babka, or two smaller ones (just divide the dough after the first proof and repeat each step twice… maybe trying different flavours).

Roll out the dough onto a floured surface, making a rough rectangle, then spread the chocolate paste (we all know which one tastes amazing on this… don’t make me spell it, it’s the one that’s really loaded with palm oil, I haven’t been able to find good enough alternatives in South Africa but in London I used to get some really delicious palm oil free ones from Whole Foods, oh well, sorry…) to the edges of your sheet, and sprinkle with the nuts, and for extra deliciousness you can add some chocolate chunks in the middle, but remember the more stuff you add the harder rolling this baby will be. If you’re making a cinnamon babka then you make a spreadable paste with butter, sugar and cinnamon.

You then roll your dough: try to do it by rolling the short side over, so that you get more swirls into your babka. Once rolled, use a sharp knife to cut your roll down the middle to expose the chocolate and dough layers. You now have two long half rolls, which you cross at the middle before recrossing on both sides until you have a braid-like shape.

Transfer into a buttered loaf tin and, you guessed it, let it rest again. An hour to an hour and a half is perfect. Place into a warm oven and bake at 180°C for about 45 minutes. Test for done-ness (is that a word?) by poking with a skewer and checking if it comes out clean and dry. Or use a thermometer and see that the inside of your babka is at about 100°C.  Bring the loaf out and leave it to cool in its tin over a cooling rack.

Ok, if you want to go really out out you make a syrup during the bake by mixing equal parts of sugar and water, and you can pour it over the cooling babka (make some little holes in it with a little pick). It makes for a super soft and sweet bread, but I prefer it a little dryer so I usually just egg-wash the babka before baking… Like I said, I don’t have the sweetest tooth… Happiness is when you cut the babka into slices and discover all the swirls and folds you worked into your bread. I like it with strong coffee for breakfast… but also as an afternoon treat, anytime really. This is the perfect recipe for people who aren’t into the heavy butter in things like pain au chocolat (I really can’t take the crumbly buttery texture of croissanterie) but love the mix of bread and chocolate. Let me know if you try it…

With love, S.

beauty

My Ombré Powdered Brows

by s.a.bLeave a Comment on My Ombré Powdered Brows

During this lockdown, many of us bemoan the lack of access to our usual grooming fairies; yes, I am aware that’s the few of us who don’t have bigger worries like where the next meal is going to come from or how to pay next month’s rent, and missing one’s hairdresser and beautician appointments is a first-world problem, I do have some sense of perspective… Still, looking like yourself and not your cousin the bedraggled werewolf from Transylvania goes a long way in making one feel good, and these days, when we’re not sure if we’ll have wine to deal with tantrum number fifteen of the week on Friday (South Africa’s lockdown comes with restriction on what you can purchase, alcohol is not on the list…), anything that makes you feel better about this surreal new life should count for something…

Anyways, back on topic: I do miss my hairdresser and my nail artist, and I so need a facial, but there is one thing I am mighty chuffed I got done a few months ago: getting my brows shaded, which basically means tattooed, only a little softer and more modern. Before anyone scrunches their nose imagining 1990s-like arches drawn harshly in the wrong colour, I’ll post this here, because a picture is worth a thousand words… and then we’ll go back to what ombré brows are (little disclaimer: these pictures are from lockdown week 10, so it’s been a good three months since my last threading appointment, my brows look a little bushier than normal).

Ombré powdered brows have nothing in common with the harsh permanent make-up of before, in fact it is the is the newest brow shading technique: the amount of shading is 100% customizable (and buildable, so you can start small) and you can get as much or as little colour as you like, and your brows go from light towards the bridge to dark around the arch. This method creates pixelated dots with with no harsh strokes or outline. It is not the same as microblading which uses strokes on the arch to look like actual hair, creating a look that is, in my view, a little harsh and artificial.

I got mine done by Leandri at Mirror Mirror Studio in Sandton, and came in for a consultation and appointment one morning last August. The consultation is done the same day of the treatment so make sure to go in with photos of what you want and what you don’t like. Leandri is the sweetest girl ever, and she first got to explaining the process as she applied numbing cream onto my brows. As the cream was doing its work, she explained at length the aftercare and what to expect on each day to ensure the best results.

After about 30 minutes, she drew my brows precisely and that took another 30 minutes, something I was incredibly impressed with: Leandri is an artist who doesn’t cut corners, she wanted me to be totally happy with what the end result would look like. Then we went on to find the perfect pigment shade: I wanted something to match my natural hair, which is a dark ashy blonde, so she mixed a couple of colours until we found the right match.

I laid back down whilst Leandri started filling my brows in, something that took about 45 minutes per eyebrow. There is some minimal pain especially towards the end when the numbing cream effects start to wear off, but it’s bearable. The results are immediate, but, in order for the brows to stay in optimal shape, there is a huge aftercare list of instructions that you’re supposed to follow, and that is 50% of the process…

You’ll get out of the appointment with slightly sore brow bone, and you need to avoid getting your eyebrows wet for the first few days, instead you must clean them from day 2 with soap foam very gently and pat them dry with a clean tissue immediately to avoid messing up the pigment… You have to apply a Vitamin A cream over the brows daily to ensure they stay moisturized and try to avoid harsh scabbing (the scabs might take away the pigment, which is why everyone always needs a follow-up appointment, at about week 6 or 8). At about day 7-10, you can resume your usual skincare routine, but avoid harsh exfoliants, and of course no sun exposure and no facials etc. until your brows are healed. There’s a whole host of other things to avoid for the first few days, it’s quite the commitment… but whatever you do don’t apply make-up, rub, pick or scratch on the area, that will mess up your brow shape.

Besides the after care, the look of my brows was another thing I was a little put off by during the first few days: day 1 they looked fine, if a little dark, day 2 and 3 I had two hairy caterpillars across my face, they started scabbing lightly from day 4 (this is the itchy part, still, don’t scratch!) and when the scab started to peel off my brows looked a little light and a little patchy. At two weeks I had perfectly shaped and shaded eyebrows, with just a couple of spots where the scab had taken the pigment away and we needed to refill. Remember both brows won’t necessarily heal the same way, so one might need more of a touch-up than the other.

I went for my touch-up appointment at week 6, and Leandri patched up the little areas where I wanted a little more shadow, and a few more dots where I wanted them a little more defined. The aftercare following this appointment is the same as for the first one, so be patient. My brows are now more defined so need no make-up at all, it’s all very low maintenance after the brows are settled and I really recommend getting this done to anyone who likes a shaped brow look, although I still go for a monthly shaping appointment at my local brow bar, because the hairs still grow…

With love, S.

Food, Uncategorized

Five starter smoothie recipes

by s.a.bLeave a Comment on Five starter smoothie recipes

Smoothies are my favourite on the go breakfast, it’s easy to pack them with nutrients and vitamins and you can take your smoothie cup pretty much anywhere in the morning. I have been using a Nutribullet for many years now, because I couldn’t get the right consistency from my traditional blender, which also didn’t like nuts much (that blender ended up at our local charity shop quite quickly after the arrival of the Nutribullet). Wonderful, but I still get a few messages on Insta and from my friends asking what does one do with these juice gizmos, and how to get the same tasty smoothies as the ones you get from juice bars? So I thought it would be worth a post.

Before we go on, just a little reminder: I am no chef, dietician or clean food guru (whatever clean food is), and I claim zero expertise in nutrition; I just love eating tasty, fresh, and mostly healthy food and most days of the week my breakfast consists of coffee and a smoothie of whatever I find between my fridge and my freezer. If you are a smoothie beginner, I would suggest starting with recipes that taste nice to ease you into it: there is no point starting a smoothie routine with something that tastes and looks like green pond water, as it will take all your motivation away. Most of my smoothies include at least one fruit to ensure a bit of sweetness, but on the other hand they always have one green leafy veg (usually spinach and kale when I can find baby kale leaves here) because that’s incredibly good for me.

To get you going, you will need to do a little bit of shopping: fresh and frozen fruit and veg (I love frozen bags because it means I can stock up, and sometimes I make my own frozen bags of anything, from bananas to raw spinach, and remember, organic is best…), a couple of good yoghurt pots (no good Greek yoghurt here in South Africa, sadly, but I did find a protein yoghurt by Danone that I like), a couple of unsweetened non-dairy milks, chia seeds and nuts, all of which can be found in most supermarkets these days. If you want, you can also visit your nearest health shop or order online some more esoteric ingredients such as spirulina powder, bee pollen, acai berry powder, cocoa nibs etc. and finally, I add protein powder to all my smoothies, at the suggestion of all the trainers I’ve worked with, but that’s not a must… Here are my five starter choices (PS – some taste like desserts, so are perfect as snacks as well)…

I picked my top five starter smoothies because they taste nice, they are great as a breakfast (these smoothies are full of nutrients, fats and carbs so don’t go thinking this is something to eat with your toast, the breakfast is in the glass…) and are a good intro to the whole smoothie fiesta. I hope you enjoy them!

With love, S.