Weekend Learning's

Happy Monday sweet potatoes! So it is two quick weeks till this working year is over for old Coco. I cannot wait. Not only has this year flow by, but I think my followers will be in for a big shock next year. But that is for a later post. This one is about this last, and lovely weekend. This is what I learned,

• Friday was our annual Santa Drop off at our Interbrand Creche. I love doing it. We collect important daily items for the little ones and wrap them in a shoe box. When I am there I am so happy and engulfed in love. But when I leave my heart is broken. There is so little generosity in this world… what will you be doing for the less fortunate this Christmas? 
• “Generosity” n. The quality of being kind and generous - showing a readiness to give more of something than is strictly necessary or expected. (I usually place rare words on my blogs. I believe the act of being “generous” is scarce.)
• “What is done in love, is done well." - Vincent Van Gogh. 
• Now those of us who live in Joburg know The Patisserie in Illovo. There is a certain Banana Bread item on the breakfast menu that is just to die for. You have to go give it a go. Served with sour cream and hot berry and fruit compote, it is to die for. The Patisserie was also just voted Best Coffee Shop in South Africa for the second time in a row, now that’s got to tell you something. 
• "Il y a des fleurs partout pour qui veut bien les voir.” - Henri Matisse. (There are flowers everywhere to those who really want to see them).
• I love summer. No wait, I love summer in Africa. I love how hot it is one day, so hot you hear those crickets and the heat rises off everything and makes a mirage of heat waves. Then the next day its pouring and storming with rain and the wind is so strong it blows me away… its pretty magical and exciting. 
• “Don’t kiss me if you’re afraid of thunder. My life is a storm.” - Anita Krizzan
• Sometimes a girl needs a little sunshine in her life. In my case, that comes in beautiful yellow roses. When you bye roses still in bud, waking up daily to their scent and watching them bloom… Really, nature brings me pure happiness! 
• Have a lovely first week of the last month of 2014 you lovely peeps! Make it count! "Celebrate the people around you. Every breath is a big deal.” - Kid President. 

Xoxo

PS. “We live on a blue planet that circles around a ball of fire next to a moon that moves the sea, and you don’t believe in miracles?”

How lovely, thank you Dior. 

Leave a Comment Anita Krizzan, Dior, Henri Matisse, Illovo, Interbrand Sampson, Johannesburg, Kid President, Rare word meaning, roses, The Patisserie, Vincent Van Gogh, weekend

Weekend Learning's

Hot. It was hot this weekend! And I loved it. Johannesburg often skips spring and burst into flames with summer. It was 30 degrees on Sunday. And I know it is summer when I sit in the shade in the park with my guy and get a little pink on my shoulders. I don't burn, this is my skin blushing me into knowing she's been kissed for the first time this summer, devilish! This is what else I learned;

• I hate knowing this is the last weekend of my September learning's which will have the memory of my boyfriend in them… especially since it's our anni month. Hurry home darling, October, come quickly please.
• "Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful." - Hazrat Inayat Khan. 
• Yom Kippur also known as Day of Atonement, it is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Although I don't yet fully understand this day, I highly respect my strong boyfriend and his family for doing this fast! 25 hours of no sustenance, impressive and humbling. Maybe next year when I know more, I can try do it too.
• "No one has ever made himself great by showing how small someone else is." - Irvin Himmel
• The Fishermans Deli in Dunkeld is still the best place in Jozi to get both fresh and frozen vissies. The crowds prove this.
• On that note, my boyfriend, yes- MY boyfriend, is an amazing Salmon chef. Next time, I am going to insist on double! Delicious… the chef... and the salmon… *wink!
• "You don't have to be born beautiful to be wildly attractive." - Diana Vreeland
• I am a memory keeper. I often know, to the day, what happened a year ago. This is a personal human trait I cherish. This particular weekend a year ago was the beginning of the rest of my life, the happiest weekend. Fate has a funny way of working out for the best.  
• "There will be dozens of people who will take your breath away but the one who reminds you to breathe is the one your should keep." - Unknown 
• Fika (v.) drinking coffee along with eating something sweet. I do this a lot… I fika?
• “We’re not the same person we were a year ago, a month ago, or a week ago. We’re constantly changing. Experiences don’t stop. That’s life” - Unknown 

Keep busy and pretty out there my little moon drops! Thanks for reading!

Xoxo

PS. People with good intentions make promises, but people with good character keep them. 

Leave a Comment boyfriend, Diana Vreeland, Fika, Fishermans Deli, Hazrat Inayat Khan, Irvin Himmel, Jewish, Johannesburg, love, quote, Rare word meaning, spring, weekend, Yom Kippur

Weekend Learning's

Dancing, more sparkles and lanterns of light. Heavenly moments for Coco.

First weekend of December and Joburg doesn't seem to be able to get a good weather break. All week long we have perfect impeccable weather and then the weekend comes and she is grey and pillow pushing. This is not helping in my party favours. I am hoping it will be a little better this weekend. This is what I learned;

• "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." Anne Frank.
• My boyfriend is very 'gift intuitive'. He sees what I need and then goes out and gets it for me, a very rare and special quality in an individual, less so in a man and a boyfriend. These are a few of my favourite things…
• I went to Orlando Disney a long time ago. One of the things I remember was the out of this world food. The mouse shaped deserts for Mickey and Minnie. The weird drinks for the different movies etc. Well I found a website where you can copy and duplicate these recipes! Try Magical Recipes for some normal and some crazy fun stuff.
• It is so heart wrenching when you find out that old 'friends' are making fun of your past sufferings on a regular basis… On that note I found a quote; "Do not let the behaviors of others destroy your inner peace." Dalai Lama.
• Having my Christmas party with the best quality people including my sister could not have been better. Christmas is a time for giving and family, these people might not share my blood but I consider them part of my family tree. Best Christmas ever!
• I am slowly but surly becoming a bit of an organizational freak with moving into my cottage. Especially when I find fantastic sites like I Heart Organizing. There are lots of great downloads and cool tips and ways to help you keep your space clean and Type A Personality… that would be Coco!
• And then there will come a time, you'll see with no more tears. And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.

I am so happy and so content with my life that this quote sums up my weekend; I now live for the moments I can't put into words… this is going to be a teeny bit of a problem being a blogger and all… but my what a life… hope you have moments like these star lights!

Xoxo

PS. My fingers catch sparkles at the thought of them touching you…

The vow, because it is love.

Leave a Comment Anne Frank, boyfriend, Christmas, Coco's Cottage, Dalai Lama, I Heart Organizing, Johannesburg, Life Quote, love, Magical Recipes, Mickey and Minnie, Orlando Disney, Type A Personality, weekend

Weekend Learning's

Wishes, I need no more.

When you are a designer, there is this thing we call "silly season". It is when all the clients go MAD. It is when everyone suddenly realizes their year end is coming, being their financial year end, and they all suddenly say,

"Hey team, we haven't spent a lot of budget on marketing, lets do it!!"

And so they do. Not thinking that they all think the same thing, there is a flood of briefs. And with that flood of briefs comes a flood of stress and over worked designers and packed up productions and, lets not forget, printers go on leave the same time as builders so… the first of December is cut off for them so they tell everyone to 'go F a donkey' when we ask for quick jobs. This is just on my daily eleven hour work job.

On the home front we've had two deaths in the family, a car rear-ended me giving me and two of my fellow stressed designers whiplash (yay, more admin) AND my parents went away leaving me to man the house which, I must add, is NOT easy. And with all the stress my body is literally catching every possible thing it can to try and make me slow down, and a dear friend has found himself in a rather terrible situation which has left me feeling withered and bewildered… alas I still mentally believe strongly in the philosophy of "I'll sleep when I'm dead" so strongly that sleeping has also taken a back foot or rather, standing foot…

It is not all doom and gloom in Coco's life though. In fact… with all the rushing and tumbling I am still happier than I have ever been. We recently acquired the newest member of the family and second furry Pekingese, tiny pup Basil. (green eyes hence the name, I like Baz…) also the weather in this divine city (JOZI!!) I live in could not be more perfect. My mother is selling art like hot cakes see {here}, I have the best quality friends I could ever dream of. My family is stronger than ever and my heart if fuller than ever with all the love. And while I experience it all through thick and thin my hand is always held tight with caring by a love so perfect… words cannot suffice.

So that my loyal followers is why I *almost missed two Weekend Learning's. Forgive me please?

This is what I learned;

• I am blessed.
• "I'd rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not done." - Lucille Ball
• Linkin Park were one of the most epic concerts I have ever been to. It is amazing the emotion attached to music. I think they helped me through a lot of silly teenage problems while I was young and did not have the support system I have today, thanks guys.
• Bumble bees do a warm-up exercise before they take off… THIS is too cute… the mental image! Meeeep!
• Sometimes I would honestly rather watch someone else watch TV than watch the show… yes he is that gorgeous, *wink!
• Your skin is not paper, don't cut it. Your face is not a mask, don't cover it. Your size is not a book, don't judge it.
• "Psithurism" (n.) the sound of the wind through the trees. I could lie on your chest and listen to this forever.
• The other day I found a dandelion and wanted to make a wish… I realized everything I normally wished for I already had so I made a wish for someone else. I think I will be doing this a lot from now on.
• There is nothing more precious than the love of a puppy and the simple joy of caring for the sweet little angel. Precious!
• Wakaberry is mmmm yum yum yummmmmm deliciously icey and tasty mmmm. More please!
• "Surround yourself ONLY with people who are going to lift you higher." - Oprah Winfrey
• I've fallen hard, for a woman. Well for a woman's music. Lana Del Rey and her damn sultry lyrics about James Dean and hot sad summers… sigh how I love her, la-la la la laa laaa-la laaa la! Make me some Cherry Pie baby...
• I've seen a lot of lovely things, but you are about the loveliest thing I have ever seen.

Ill try my best not to leave you all for too long again my Panamanian lilies, blossom brightly, speak soon.

Xoxo

PS.  Its you its you its all for you everything I do… Lana.

...finally.

 

Leave a Comment Basil, Baz, dandelion, James Dean, Johannesburg, Lana Del Rey, Linkin Park, Lucille Ball, Oprah Winfrey, Pekingese, Psithurism, puppy, Sharon Sampson Studio, Wakaberry, weekend, whiplash

Weekend Learning's

Refection when you're alone only makes you love harder x

When the person you want to spend the whole weekend with goes away the weekend becomes a little off colour. Yes it is still nice but… that’s exactly it, I used the word "nice" to describe my weekend. Sacrilege! But it just cannot be helped when I spent the majority of the weekend looking over my shoulder wondering where my missing boyfriend was. He went on a little holiday for you cynical folk who like to think there is something a miss. But I still experienced things and they were a little different to what I would have learned if he had been here I guess. Here are some of those learnings;

• "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." - Winnie the Pooh.
• Getting a facial on a Thursday is actually a great idea, having a perfect complexion and newly shaped brows for the weekend was a lovely feeling.
• Having dinner with my wonderful old friend at the Eatery JHB (FAVOURITE!) Friday night was super delicious. Their minimal seasonal menu is to die for! Only 3 things for starters, main and pud means 9 perfectly constructed meals you just can't go wrong with. And the juiciest catch up ever… the food darling! Seconds please!
• I haven't baked in so long I thought the Martha Stewart in me might be slowly dying. I'm proud to report she's alive and cooking! Well she baked vanilla and bitter chocolate chip cookies with toasted almonds and they were ravaged in 24 hours. I didn't even get to take a picture for Coco! They must have been good!
• "Women don't like questions." Angelina Jolie - The Tourist. This is so true, do not ask me a question, tell me.
• Pedi's with my bestie is the perfect way to keep busy on a Saturday. Especially when the pedicurist says every song is 'her song' and indulges in anointing us not only with her gracious opinion but angelic, rather soprano voice renditions of Usher and Lil Wayne to name a few. Entertaining.
• I am totally loving the aztec pattern trend. Structured and mathematical it comes in many shapes and creative colours, heavenly!
• Zoo Lake Bowls Club still has the cheapest drinks in Joburg. It shocks me when you hand over a hundred and get back over sixty rand for a multiple drinks order… "Are you sure you ask?"
• Sunday with the family in the sun, perfect weather, lunch and day. The perfect end to the weekend. Family is so important. I feel great sorrow for those who think otherwise.

Have an amazing week my mermaids, and yes you probably are one, here are some signs you might actually be a mermaid… you drink like a fish, you play in the storm, you swim with the sharks, you live so deep life takes your breath away… told you you were.

xoxo

PS. A tiger doesn't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.

Two hearts, back together, happiness, happiest!

Leave a Comment Angelina Jolie, Aztec, bowls club, boyfriend, cookies, Eatery JHB, family, Johannesburg, Lil Wayne, martha stewart, mermaid, The Tourist, Usher, weekend, Winnie the Pooh

Weekend Learning's

Coco, she is fierce.

I spent the weekend in Cape Town with one of my best and oldest friends. We ran around with a "go go go" attitude and as I normally do, this time 'we' made that city our bitch. This is what I learned.

• It's hysterical when jealous Joburg people tell you how crap the weather is going to be and then you have perfect sunny days all weekend long, take that.
• Staying at the Protea Fire and Ice is epic. Whats better than having a milkshake in their random bar? (which I have done many times before) having a milkshake and then retiring to your pimping room, sweet!
• Darling, I would slap you but that would be animal abuse.
• I am loving the blonde braid trend. I know it would look stunning on any hair colour but the blondes seem to be sporting it wherever I look. Definitely going to try this out for Spring.
• The Pot Luck Club is everything it is made out to be. Unbelievable, delicious, divine and delectable. I would fly down to Cape Town every Friday just to eat there. Orgasmic!
• "We are the silver lining in any and every dark cloud we could ever find. There is no need to go looking for the light when you bring it with you." Tyler Knott Gregson.
• I can finally listen to Bon Iver without feeling the tears in my eyes and the pang of pain in my heart. It is amazing how one night listening to harmonious music that you adore with the person you love can totally distort and ruin the melodies. Remind Coco to never share her romantic stuff with people who never wanted to love her back in the first place? Mistake…
• Building my little cottage has made me look out for the beauty id strange and unique décor, I am white loving pottery with sculls and old fading books. Must be the creamy macabre blonde I am my baby.
• The Slug and Lettuce in Cape Town is so… feminine compared to the one in Jozi, come on Cape Town teapots in a pub? Odd.
• I get home sick whenever I go away. It does not matter how amazing the holiday is, and it was amazing! It is simply because I miss the loves I leave at home. The amazing friends I have built these deep relationships with… one weekend without them and I miss them, and they miss me too.
• Essie's hot pink in Watermelon is just deliciously spicy! Its warm enough to keep you going on the cool evenings in Jozi yet still fresh enough to say hello everyday to warm spring fling which is evidently here! Yay ladies!

Have a gorgeous week petals! Spring is here, put those boots away and show your gorgeous stems!

Xoxo

PS. We are all just walking each other home… I cannot wait for you to take my hand and walk me home.

And so do I.

Leave a Comment Bon Iver, Cape Town, Essie, Johannesburg, Protea Hotel Fire and Ice, The Pot Luck Club, The Slug and Lettuce, Tyler Knott Gregson, weekend

Weekend Learning's

I have been introduced and have accepted, the 'Three Phases of Truth'.
"Truth passes: First it is ridiculed. Second it is fiercely and violently opposed.
Third, it becomes self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
Images of women found {here}

It was difficult to write this weekends learning's. No, don't get me wrong I have lots to say, I am Coco after all *wink! But when you realize that a lot of the points on your learning's are read by people who read too deeply into every point and they believe that every point is about them (when it's not), you have to begin to filter what you write up and realize that Coco won't be writing about those who sting her anymore because this gorgeous little blog is about happiness not abuse. This is what I learned;

• I am falling more and more in love with my job. Maybe its the people, the fact that I'm getting so good at what I do it is becoming art, or just the amazing wonders we're producing, I don't want to go home on a Friday because it means two days away from the office… I'm turning into my father the Brand Guru… how wonderful ^_^ !!
• That awkward moment when you realize that your virus not only attacked your stomach but also your brain. A tiny pang of relief that it is gone but still... When you're a strong woman and you look back and see how ridiculous you've been... Lost. My. Mind. Only a quarter of me was ever wanted in the first place on a good day right? That's exactly what you got.
• Going with little sister to get a tattoo was so much fun… this is the end of my untouched skin for sure. Whats a designer without ink?
• Friends are angels who lift our feet when our own wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
• Im loving "No Church in there Wild" by Kanye West featuring Jay-Z and co. The lyrics are amazing! I especially love the quote "I asked God to please remove my enemies, I was surprised when I lost people that were friends of mine." Rings so true, think I did the same, thank God he helped me out.
• That is just the nature of the beast my friends.
• To 'peck' is to kiss lightly, it also means to bother persistently with trivial complaints. Apparently I have "novel worthy lips"... This was a very good compliment… you could have stopped there, *wink.
• Livin Room is this amazing new spot I got taken to in Jozi city… I have decided I am going to frequent it with my gang and nestle comfortably in-between the succulents, orange overhangs and cool, dirrrty chic culture and watch the sunset over my gorgeous city every Sunday. Lucky me.
• The quote of the weekend was said by my dearest friend who cannot be named (for obvious reasons) but it must be recited; "I'm not going to invite *Ben tomorrow just incase I fall inlove with *Rob tonight…" hysterries!
• Some people say the best things; "I think you should also get a new pair of red shoes. And we should teach them to dance." This was actually said to me! I did not find this on the net… a million points to you!
• "Never love anybody who treats you like you're ordinary." - Oscar Wilde

Next time you read my weekend learning's I'll be 27… Have a beautiful week my starfish!

Xoxo

PS. The couples that are "meant to be" are the ones who go through everything that is meant to tear them apart and come out even stronger than they were before. 

Leave a Comment Jay-Z, Jeremy Sampson, Johannesburg, Kanye West, Livin Room, Oscar Wilde, weekend

Weekend Learning's

The beautiful colours of autumn at the moment.

Loving these wintery weekends in Johannesburg. Not loving the cold so much. I must admit I like to be in bed the second the sun goes down. Its a lot warmer under the covers than out in the cold. This is what I learned this weekend;

• Great Dane is still one of my favourite places to go in town. Now that I've got some more souls to like it, I can go there more often, win!
• I'm so happy that I'm happy in my own skin. All these women addicted to diets and being thin, eat a pie for gods sake, life is too damn short not to eat cake… and lots of it.
• Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can't change.
• I am totally addicted to Instagram. It is such fun. The fact that Coco can also follow her favourite bloggers is actually the real reason I love it, a real little window into the world of people I admire and appreciate.
• Always wear your invisible crown. No matter how many crooks try to knock it off, and trust me there are many Princesses.
• Just because it feels good, doesn't make it right.
• Bottega is still the best place to sit and feel the sun set on an autumn afternoon on the Parkhurst strip.
• Going to a church service after a (very) long time is an interesting experience. After all the church masses I went to, I still can sing all the songs and I know all the rituals. Do not ever for one second tell me I picked the wrong road of religion when I practiced so hard to love the one I was on.
• I like to drive, it clears my head and encourages me to practice my singing. Its not great but the highway seems to like it.
• "When a sense of dissatisfaction persists, that means it was placed there by God for one reason only: you need to change everything and move forward." - ALEPH
• Its hard but necessary to accept that the life you once knew is gone. But do not fret, the future is brighter than any shadow of the past you once left behind.
• One of Coco's favourite readers, Jess_Star19, summed up the rest of this week perfectly for me; "Hate to wish a single day away But I really can't wait till pay day!" Enjoy the week possums, get out there and dig, er… for um… turnips, What we see depends mainly on what we look for…

Xoxo

PS. Never ignore a person who loves you and cares for you…. one day you may realize you've lost the moon while counting the stars...

Someone will write me a poem one day... I hope.

Leave a Comment Aleph, Bottega, Instagram, Johannesburg, Parkhurst, The Great Dane, weekend

Weekend Learning's

Sun beam baby...

A great warm weekend in Jozi compared to my freezing last weekend in Cape Town. Winter seems to have gone on hiatus for a bit and left us with 25+ temperatures. Coco isn't complaining… this is what I learned.

• LA Vi might be a Cape Town based band but hell do they sound great live and in Jozi, wow.
• All the stars in space out number every sound and word produced by every human that has ever lived… that’s a lot of star gazing right there.
• The Wood's will always be one of my favourite spots in town. Its just so great and intimate. Townie vibes.
• Jack the Ripper and Winnie the Pooh have the same middle name… Coincidence? I think not… *this made Coco giggle.
• Chateau Gateaux in Illovo has the kind of little cakey morsels you'd imagine in a french boutique patisserie, just divine. Go now!
• Just remember that when nobody else was there for you, I was, and when nobody else gave a damn, I did.
• Going to the engagement party of one of my oldest friends (20 years!!) was a real eye opener. Those who truly know my soul don't care what I look like on the outside or how much I've grown. Thanks for reminding me of this! We still connect, happy love!
• Art still moves me. I went to the JAG (Johannesburg Art Gallery) for the Artist Proof Studio's 21 Years of Art. Some of their stuff almost brought me to tears.
• Seriously go check out Bevan De Wet's work. Clean and precise its some of the most beautiful creative I've laid my eyes on. Watch this name, he's going to be a star!
• On that note, the JAG also houses a lot of SA's world famous artists. The Penny Siopis (she's by far one of my favourite artists) did actually roll a tear down my blushing, art loving cheek. Amazing.
• I am totally content with spending my time eating sushi with my sister in the sun and telling each other stories of our weekends. Even though we were with each other for almost every moment. Best times. Love.
• The Rock actually created the word "smackdown" in 1997. Haha! Hysterical and useless info.
• "You've changed" ...No, actually I think the proper term is "I've stopped trying to please you."

Be inspired, go to a gallery, create something, be warmed by the sun with a loved one. Have a lovely week sparkly smiles.

xoxo

PS. I have Heliophilia, (n) desire to stay in the sun, love of sunlight… like a sunflower, I always want my face in the sunlight.

Need I say more? Other than I love this because it is true in my life.

Leave a Comment Artist Proof Studio, artist review, Bevan De Wet, Chateau Gateaux, Heliophilia, JAG, Johannesburg, Johannesburg Art Gallery, LA VI, Life Quote, Penny Siopis, sun, sunlight, The Rock, The Woods, weekend

Weekend Learning's

Sliding to the beat of the city we live it, urban love.

A weekend as wonderful as this one calls for celebration, or just a Monday weekend learning’s, that’s celebration enough right? This is what I learned;

• The tappas at Buddah Ta are best shared over silly conversation, “Haha nom, haha, whats that dip... Wow garlic, who did what to WHO? Calamari... Haha!”
• I follow my heart, weather its down the right road or the wrong road, I always follow my heart.
• Facebook is blue because Mark Zuckerberg is red-green colour-blind.
• You know you have unique taste in music when you go from one club in heels and a cocktail dress only to change into your sneakers and T shirt for the next destination.
• The best things in life, are not things.
• I’m obsessing over Anthony Neil Dart, Johannesburg based Graphic Designer. I stumbled across his stuff and just. can’t. stop...
• Winning stuff is super exciting, especially when its to Brickfields and it had something to do with Dubstep and having a seizer, weird and bizarre lovin!
• I don't like blue flavour. Blue slushy, sies.
• Trust the struggle, its a lesson someone bigger is trying to teach you. Mine is finally over. Happy much?
• Jozi Town is just wonderful, I don’t really enjoy going out anywhere else anymore. Town, swallow me up please! So glad I’ve found a little town fairy to come with me!
• Knowing what you want is the best, clearest feeling in the world.
• The rumbling sound your stomach makes when you are hungry is called "borborygmus." LOVE! Sshhh
• Sometimes people seem mean because they don’t realise that your mean-o-meter is a lot more sensitive than theirs... Mine is like old break pads... worn.

Have a gorgeous week feathers, I think its going to be a goodie... Loving life!

Xoxo

PS. By the way... I’m wearing the smile you gave me.

*like

 

Leave a Comment Anthony Neil Dart, Brickfields, Buddah Ta, dubstep, Facebook, Johannesburg, Mark Zuckerberg, weekend