Goodbye for now

I love the colours of vintage suitcases...

I'm off to the Wedding in George Weekend! (soon to become a post) so no Fashion Forward Friday this week. But I leave you with a quote:

"Promise me you'll never forget me because if I thought you would I'd never leave."  ~A.A. Milne

xoxo

PS. Eeek I love a wedding away! 

1 comment goodbye, quote, travel

Tec Fashion

Outside, a lovely turn-of-the-century locket.

Inside, a USB... wowza.

I'm a girl who likes fashion and technology.  I know I don't get me either. I just love this locket! it contains a flash drive. Fashion meets technology... that's my kind of necklace.

"Instead of carrying one photograph, you can carry all of your most important photos and files." 

- Emily Rothschild

Her website is full of fun and quirky stuff. Go take a look. {here}

xoxo

PS. Outside a locket, inside a little bit of flash.

Leave a Comment fashion, Technology

Weekend Learnings

A busy weekend full of little bits and pieces and a thunderstorm.

This weekend was rather eventful but too still short.

• Sister turned 21, happy birthday little sister.
• Leaving work on a Friday just 30 minutes before 5 makes the weekend feel a little longer.
• I have a new hair salon. Its small and fantastically petite! It is in Parkhurst... Just another reason I want to move there.
• I love napping with the sound of Jozi thunderstorms rolling in, only to wake up to the hailing Monkey’s Wedding - simple bliss in life!
• I have already started doing my Christmas shopping, that way I have more money for my holiday. And wrapping gifts is right up there with blowing bubbles... I love it.
• The Patisserie in Illovo has lovely different flavoured Macaroons, I tried, Chocolate Hazelnut, Passionfruit and Turkish Delight...over priced and a little gummy but very yummy!
• Cleaning up the day after the party is the worst thing in the world especially being a non-smoker picking up disgusting stompies (cigarette butts) from those disrespectful smokers who don’t use ashtrays, eww!

Xoxo

PS. Next weekend Cocobutton will be in George for a wedding. Exciting Weekend Learning’s next Monday :)

Leave a Comment Johannesburg, Macaroons, weekend

Fashion Forward Friday

"And the sister of the birthday girl wore this."

This weekend is Little Sisters 21st- bless. Her being the quintessential little fashion princess, her theme is Black Shimmer. Told you, a fabulous little sister. So the obvious cut of cloth would be a LBD.

A little black dress is an evening or cocktail dress, cut simply and often quite short. Fashion historians describe the origins of the little black dress to the 1920s designs of Coco Chanel (of course!) to be long-lasting, versatile, affordable, accessible to the widest market possible and in a neutral colour. It is often simply referred to as the "LBD”.

The LBD is considered essential to a complete wardrobe by many women and fashion observers, who believe it a rule of fashion that every woman should own a simple, elegant black dress that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

So this is what I am wearing. Slinky one shoulder LBD, black chandelier earrings, killer sexy heels, a shimmery mirror bangle, smoky dramatic eyes and red lip for for an accent of colour. I haven't decided on the hair but I'm thinking old Hollywood romantic.

1. Dress, Phenomenon at YDE, R300.
2. Earring, Cameroon, R140.
3. Bangle, Accessorize, R80.
4. Shoes, Rage, R265 (how beautiful.... Oooow).

Total cost: R785... Not bad!

Xoxo

PS. A simple clutch will go perfectly. I do not need a bag with this outfit as the party is at my home, prr.

Leave a Comment Coco Chanel, fashion, friday, outfit, Shopping list

Eat, Pray, Love.

A book to love.

Like most women I loved... correction, love the book. Most women are told to read it when they are going through something. A breakup perhaps or a failed job or even just a rut in their lives. I know whenever I’m having a bad patch I think back to Eat, Pray, Love and try to remember how Liz got through it. Obviously you cannot jet off to India! But finding a great Italian place like Bella (see here for review) or having a local Yoga session with my local guru can substitute.

A 32 year old Elizabeth Gilbert had a home, a husband, and a successful career as a writer. However, she was trapped in her marriage and often spent the night crying on her bathroom floor begging for God to show her the way. After the divorce she decides to take the year off to travel to find her balance.

She spent four months in Italy discovering pleasure in food (Eat). She spent four months in India, finding her spirituality (Pray). She ended the year in Bali, Indonesia, looking for "balance" of the two and found love in the form of a dashing older Brazilian (Love).

After a lot of bad reviews and the “its too long” comment I finally made it to the big screen. I must admit I went in there with the ‘Lets just get this over with’ attitude. I actually thought it was lovely. Even though I’m not a huge fan of Julia Roberts fat fake top lip (no I’m not jealous I just loved her natural!), I found the movie calming and inspiring.

My favourite part of the book was also the Italy bit. I looved how she went from restaurant to restaurant displaying her view into words and laid them down in her book so I could swim in those little black Italian sentences. Every meal, every cobblestone, every shred of old roman wallpaper was clarified into luxurious plush Italian romance. Hell, I want to go to Italy! But in the film it was a little thin to say the least. (Thin and Italy... Don’t mix)

As always with books-turned-films they left out a lot of intricate details which I believe could have added a splash more charm to the film. I struggled to connect with the characters as deeply as I did with the book characters. Oh well. It was pretty. I still loved the book and the movie will be great for a little rainy day snuggle.

Xoxo

PS. "L'amor che move il sole e l'altre stelle. The love that moves the sun and the other stars."
 —  Elizabeth Gilbert *sigh

Italy, I want more.

Leave a Comment Book, Book Review, movies

Maxi me

Maxi with a hood, fantastic!

I often get upset when I hear the ‘Less is more’ cliché spluttered into any conversation. When it comes to the Maxi dress its completely opposite.  If you do not know, A maxi dress is a floor or ankle length dress. Maxi dresses are formfitting at the top and loose flowing at the bottom, cut to flow over the body. They’re incredibly flattering and  enhance the assets you love and hide the bits you don’t like as much! I prefer Maxi’s with lots of colour and patterning. I’m rather short (a tiny 5 foot 3) and the patterning dresses always look better on my little frame. They elongate and stretch me out. Nice.

Maybe less is more in the fact that it is basically a one piece and I’m sure that the plain one colour maxi’s are also fab but what is the point of wearing a simple shaped dress if there is not anything eye catching about it. The one I’m wearing as I write this is stunning. I got it at YDE (shocking I know) but the fabric is really cool and flowing. Being almost summer in Johannesburg it is imperative to keep yourself cool. Last week we had highs of 33 C and wearing my bikini to the office is not really an option.

Maxi dresses are also very easy to dress up or down. They’re great with gladiator sandals, gypsy earrings and bangles galore. I am the proud owner of four which is not a lot considering I’m dress obsessed.

Get yourself a Maxi, you’ll feel like a goddess!

Xoxo

PS. You are show stopping in a Maxi.

Anyone can wear a Maxi!

Leave a Comment dress, fashion

Weekend Learnings

A delicious weekend

Weekends go so quickly these days that it feels like one blink and its already gone. This is what I learned:   

• I like mushrooms on toast. 
• Friday nights in are better with chocolate cupcakes. 
• My new favourite drink is simple lime and soda. Mmm. Its bar name is Lime Fizz. 
• Every 69 seconds a woman dies of breast cancer. Scary! Go to www.69-seconds.org to help.  
• I can finally say: Telkom’s new mobile network is called 8•ta! Which means ‘hello’. And I love it because I helped create it. 
• The boyfriend leaves me with lots of things to watch on my laptop to keep me busy so I do not miss him too much. Sneaky love!

 Xoxo

PS. Puppy was 4 months on Saturday, cute!

Leave a Comment 8•ta, Breast Cancer, cupcake, Louis, weekend

Fashion Forward Friday

Lace, i love it.

Lace, it speaks for itself.

“The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you!”

 - Coco Chanel 

Have a lovely weekend!

xoxo

PS. Lace lovely

Leave a Comment Coco Chanel, fashion, friday, quote

Weekend Learnings

A bright and colourful weekend.

Another lovely weekend with the people I love. I must apologize for this late weekend learning's. It is late because yesterday when I went to fetch my folks from the Gautrain my car broke down. I was... (note past tense) a proud member of the AA. However when the AA takes 4 hours to fetch you, there is a strong chance you cannot update your bloggie on time. Another reason I’m upset is because when you have 4 hours to sit and think in 33°C boiling weather there is a strong chance one will get angry. And when one gets angry one has many terrible thoughts and one realizes that furious terrible thoughts can not always be kept in the ‘mind closet’. AA, look what you have made me do! You have made me ramble on about nothing... So here are my weekend learning's:

• Girls love the 80’s.
• Party-packs are still a hit even at 25 years old.
• As much as I love red lipstick I still cannot pull it off.
• I prefer drinking Coca-Cola out of a glass bottle to a can.
• Pink lemonade gets its rosy complexion from cranberry juice.
• Whenever the boyfriend is in town I have a fantastic weekend.
• I need to get some rubbery, green, funny shoes for the garden, perhaps gumboots.
• Watching Sunday night Idols with a braai (barbecue) in the background and a G&T in hand is a trend I wish was permanent.
• I braaiied (barbequed) 24 burger patties (half beef half chicken) alone and didn’t burn one! Sister’s can do it alone. Well at least I can.

Xoxo

PS. Too short but always swee

Leave a Comment 80's, girls, Johannesburg, weekend

Fashion Forward Friday

Hmm, why do 80's people always look so wasted?

Today’s Fashion Forward Friday is a little manic. Welcome to the Jungle! Fashion Forward 80’s! This post does have a a mission behind the madness. This weekend I’m throwing a girls only 80’s party. Yes was born in the 80’s, however, I was too young to really experience the real meat of the era.

So I’ve been doing a lot of research and the 80’s seems to be predominately ruled by the following:

• Big Hair
• VHS
• Cheesy music
• Pac Man
• Those sunglasses that are sadly popular again.. Wayfarers...
• legwarmers,
• Big make up
• Bright colours and others.

I think it was quite a confusing time for all those 80’s kids. I mean all the hairspray and different coloured shoelaces alone would make me do the Egyptian!

Here is a little:

How To get dropped in the 80’s:

Difficulty:   

•  Average

You will need:

• Red lipstick
• Blue eyeliner
• Hair spray (lots)
• Bright coloured top/dress with face print on it
• Legwarmers
• One glove
• Braces (the suspenders not on your teeth)
• Bright coloured accessories to clash with your outfit (why did you do this 80’s kids, WHY!)
• 99 Red Balloons
• And last but not least some random stuff to attach to your belt... Or whatever you might have that can have stuff attached to it... *?

 Instructions:

• Put it all on.

Pictures to follow on Manic Monday... I still think the best thing to come out of the 80’s was Blondie, she’s epic!

Xoxo

PS. Heart of glass

Blondie, soo fab! My inspiration for the party.

Leave a Comment 80's, fashion, friday, how to

Wishing for... my office

Found here. Search 'office'.

I moved desks recently. It was and still is quite uncomfortable. I’m one of those sad cases, one of the ones who need their little happy space to create and manipulate wonderful magic into design. Anyway, it got me thinking a lot about what my desk at home should look like. Or at least what id wish it to look like.

A desk is only really one part of the package. The entirely of the working environment makes the office. The colour, feeling, environment, it all enhances the emotion and creative which goes into your work.

Some of the looks I like are rather simple. I love natural, light colours. I also like area’s that can inspire me. Of course being a creative this is highly important. I also love clean and unobtrusive design. An area that wont absorb my inspiration but rather encourage it.

The most important thing is a window. Windows are important to me for numerous reasons.  I like.... love light! I love seeing the world grow around me, I love seeing natures little animals scurry and play while I work. I love to see green and growth, the weather and a changing picture.

The last few things I would like in my office would include a pin board for little bits and bobs, a fish bowl with a fish names Edith (yes after the singer- my favourite) and perhaps a little fridge to keep milk in for my tea and homemade biscuits. Yes. 

What inspires you? What makes your working environment yours?

Xoxo

PS. Please do not take move my pens...

Leave a Comment creative, design, interior, Office, Wish

Fox #5

Found this cuteness here

I stumbled upon this little Firefox cartoon. Super cute!

xoxo

PS. Clear those cookies!

Leave a Comment cartoon, fox, funny

Hello Hula!

Hmmm... see, all in the hips!

So out of sheer chance, I was standing in the checkout cue and like a giant halo, I saw her. My new Hula Hoop.

I have not hula hooped since... well school probably. On Saturday I spent about an hour testing it out. Trying to count how many ‘hip swings’ I could do before I lost it and the hoop fell to my ankles and I gave up. Or at least I got too hot. *Note: Hooping in 32 degrees is a bad idea.

Anyway! When I awoke on Sunday morning I felt stiff. My stomach muscles were ouch and so was my back and a couple more areas that do not need to be listed. I realised it was the glorious hoop! So I’ve been doing some research and it is actually very good for you. Not only is it loads of fun, it also strengthens your core and has loads of other benefits! yes here are some points:

Physical Benefits:

• Build core strength
• Tone your entire body
• Gain an intense cardiovascular workout
• Enjoy low impact physical activity
• Increase energy
• Develop balance and co-ordination
• Increase flexibility
• Lose weight after pregnancy, or at any other time

Mental/Emotional Benefits:

• Clear and quiet your mind
• Reduce stress
• Improve self confidence
• Generate joy and laughter (expect a lot)
• Improve your mood
• Open up creative self expression

If you do not know, A hula hoop is a toy hoop that is twirled around the waist, limbs or neck... Come now! There are also plenty of records for hooping. Recently in April 2010, 70 hoopers on Team Hooprama hula hooped the Music City Half-Marathon (13.1 miles) to raise awareness and funds for Hooping for Hope. Nice.

Also there is a little subculture called Hooping where artistic movement and dancing with hoops is done. I even found a workout guide called Hoopnotic Hoopdance... A-bla-bler tongue twisting!

So I’m going to try Hoop everyday and see how it goes. Do you know how to hula? 

How to Hula:

Difficulty: 

• Moderately Easy

Things You'll Need:  

• Hula Hoop 
• A large area *out of the way of breakables
• A sense of humor

Instructions:

•  Put hula hoop on floor.
• Step into it (with both feet).
• Bring it up to just below your waist.
• Hold it with both hands and pull it forward so that it's resting against your back.
• With both hands, fling the hoop to the left so that its inner edge rolls in a circle around your body. Do this a few times so that you get the feel of it.
• Leave the hula hoop on the ground for a few minutes and practice your hip movements: (this is when if you’re like me you’ll be laughing so much because you KNOW you look like a spaz!) Leaving your feet firmly planted about shoulder width apart, circle your pelvis (yes, just like Elvis!): left, back, right, forward. Do this a few times till you get the feel of it.
• Put the movements together: As you fling the hoop to the left, bring your hips left to meet the hoop and then rotate them back and to the right and forward so that your hips are following the rotation of the hoop.
• Keep the hoop going around your hips as long as you can. When it falls to the ground (as it inevitably will!) pick it up and try again.

Tip: try it alone the first time... Trust me... People will laugh!

Xoxo

PS. Swing it ladies!

3 comments exercise, funny, how to, Hula Hoop, Summer, trend

Weekend Learnings

I made that bread... and that red juice... nom!

This was the first weekend in a long time I didn’t have to work. It was the best weekend I’ve had in a long time!

Things this weekend taught me:

• The Taste of Joburg is simply wonderful! If you didn’t go your tum missed out.
• A trend in my life is comfort. I think I will be staying put on this point for a while.
• Juicers have moved up into my top three kitchen appliances! I am currently obsessed.
• My Exclusives Books Loyalty Card can be swiped for anything, even nonbook purchases.
• Staying in on a Friday night is even better when making bread and sipping on white wine.
• Puppy graduation is so cute! Louis graduated with full colours from pup school! *Proud mummy!
• Asia City is a really awesome place to practice your haggling skills. I got a 40% discount with a little persuasion.
• A new fun way to exercise is hula hooping. I bought one on Saturday. I still have the skill. I love it! Its all in the hips baby!

 
xoxo

PS. You are beautiful!

Leave a Comment Hula Hoop, Juicer, Louis, puppy, weekend

Fashion Forward Friday

Faded denim, vintage belt.

Pastel vintage, bow.

Casual puff.

The mini cold spell has gone and now its time to put on these summer shorts.
Shorts are a bifurcated (the splitting of a main body into two parts) garment worn by both men and women. Bla Bla, I love them! They are super comfortable and easy to wear. They are called "shorts" because they are a shortened version of trousers (if you really didn’t know).

I’m loving faded blue denim with a vintage brow belt. Pastel Vintage with bows or flower details and puffy casuals but all short and sexy!

Xoxo

PS. Don’t be scared to show ‘em some legs!

Leave a Comment fashion, friday

Past September

Happy Birthday Bear

September was a month of a million birthdays and one special one! 

It was the beginning of Spring and a 17 post Cocobutton month.

• Petals and Popsicle's was the first spring inspiration.
• Fashion Forward Fridays included Flowered Shoes, white inspiration, and stripes.
• I lost the plot a little and wrote about moustaches.
• I got in only three Weekend Learnings due to a crazy work deadline. *slap hand with ruler!
• Again i wrote about shoes, photography, handbags and artists. 
• Art & Copy was the best documentary I've seen in ages!
• I also went to a fabulous place called Bean There and found cool stuff here, here and here.

It was a good month!

xoxo

PS. OW and i started a garden!

Leave a Comment fashion, month review, photography, shoes, weekend