I decided to take a few extra days leave, and I ended my year of corporate work yesterday.  Corporate work only, because I’ve got so much editing to finish before I can really relax… and in fact I’m hoping I do get to finish it before the next shoots start next year and I do get a break.

So my idea for my blog post was to show you photos from my day… but alas… that’s not to be.  I’m reviewing a Sony camera and after using it, I realised I didn’t get a cable to connect to the Mac… and I don’t have a SD card reader.  And now I’m just freaking annoyed.  I went and bought a SD card reader tonight while Christmas shopping, and the bloody thing doesn’t work… so no photos I’m afraid.

Anyhoo, what a busy busy day!

Took the dogs to Walkhaven, and Connor, like normal forgot to take shoes (and I only realised too late), so he spent most of the time waiting for us at the car because there were too many thorns and rocks on the ground.  I have SUCH problems getting him to wear shoes!! He’s only got one pair of flip flops again… heaven only knows what happened to the other 2 pairs… it’s not like he wears them!

Then we went home for a quick swim before heading off to the shops.  I only wanted to get boxes for my photography, because my stock is too low and my custom boxes are only arriving in Feb… but the shop seems to have closed for Xmas (I found a new packaging place that I wanted to try).

Then we dashed home again to have a spot of lunch before the kids’ friends arrived for the afternoon.

And while they played and swam and played again, I edited… and finished another shoot

And after supper, I went shopping again.  That’s right, I started my Xmas shopping at 7pm.  That’s how I roll every year.  Thankfully one of the shopping centres still opens that late!! I was so surprised when planning my shopping this year, that Sandton City’s idea of Christmas trading hours is until 7pm… and Cresta until 8pm! Madness! Anyway, Clearwater got all my business then.

So I’m done… all presents bought and just need to be wrapped… and tomorrow I can relax… and edit some more.  And try get the photos off this stupid SD card.  So far, I’m not enjoying this camera… not just the hassle getting the photos off, but I don’t really like the way it works (it’s almost their top of range DSLR, the A77)

Ooh I do have a photo… one from Walkhaven that I took with my iPhone using Path –  and that’s my new latest favourite app btw!!  How awesome is that grass… next time I go, I’m taking a proper camera.

All the Girlguides bloggers were invited to the iStore last night for a shindig with Core Group.

Was so very awesome and entailed lots of chocolatey goodness and champagne. In between loads of chats and giggles we got our faces mapped by Dermalogica and we got to know the Core PR peeps a bit better.

Oh and then there was a fun handstand competition on the lawns outside… Sans cameras of course because most of the girls were wearing skirts and dresses. Was quite impressive actually

Anyhoo, the Dermalogica thing was good and I think I’m going to try out the range… now that the shock of having my face mapping has waned. Hearing about “deep lines” and “dehydration” is not pleasant and brought home the fact that I’m not getting younger

Ooh and we got to take home some goodies too. The boys were thrilled with their Pokemon playing cards and Mario bros stickers. And I really like my docking station for my iPhone and iPod

It was an awesome evening

One of the many things I did yesterday, was pop in at the Tranquil Body Treats Christmas launch at Lifestyle Garden Centre.  I just love her stuff.  My favourite is the chocolate range of bath things, especially the bath milkshake!!

Yesterday however, I stocked up on a few kiddies things.  I love that she doesn’t use Sodium Laurel Sulphate in her products, so I can safely buy the bubblegum flavoured bubblebath for Bradley.  It’s the only bubblebath that he can use.  And I see they now have a sulphur free shampoo for kids that I need to try on him too.

I also bought a hand mousse.  I’ve been really struggling with dry hands, and not a word of a lie… I used it a few times yesterday afternoon and again this morning, and I swear my hands are already softer!

So, if you get Xmas gifts from me… expect a few items from the range

So, thought I’d update you on the latest about my boudoir shoot after the umpteen beautiful comments that I got on my last blog post, as well as the umpteen tweets about the location etc.

I got a DM last night from the photog, saying that the location we were going to use, is no longer available.  So now there are only 2 options… rent a hotel room or use my bedroom.  At this point I’m going with option B, because:

• I looked at a few hotels on the interweb today, and none of their rooms jumped out at me.  They were either too OTT or too small or downright boring… apart from the villa suites at the Fairlawns hotel… holy moly that looks nice!
• The last time I did a boudoir shoot in a hotel we actually got the room for free, but I doubt I’ll get that right again, and although the room was great it wasn’t the most private of spaces, which I’m not too keen on.
•  I don’t actually have time to waste looking for a room and getting a good price.
• My bedroom needs to be redecorated anyway… Lance painted a few weeks ago and nothing matches anymore… so this is an excellent excuse.

As for my outfits, that shopping is going pretty well.  I popped into La Senza this afternoon, and bought a little hot pink body number with suspender straps very similar to the one in the image  LOL this is going to be fun

So, in a nutshell, after my little shopping spree to find the rest of my bedroom stuff, I think I’m set for this Exciting times!!

One of the items on my bucket list is having a facial and massage every month.  Now, I’m not too sure when I’d mark that one as done, because I’m actually not sure it’s big enough to warrant being on my list.  It’s there though, because pre-kids I used to go to a salon or day every single month for a facial or pedicure or massage and I do miss that me-time.

But anyway, I walked to the RMB building in Sandton last week for a meeting, and realised that there was a spa at the bottom… I didn’t even know it was there… and decided to book a facial.  It’s the Professional Touch Day Spa… and they use Sans Soucis products

And I went today for my facial lunch hour, and I’m definitely going to book more.  I had their fire extinguisher facial which is specially for sensitive skins, and OMW my face feels like a million bucks right now.  Instead of normal exfoliating beads, she used an enzyme peel… and then an aloe vera mask.

The best part though, wasn’t actually the facial, but the experience.  I haven’t been for a facial in many months, and within 5 minutes I could just feel myself relaxing.  I didn’t realise just how very stressed my whole body is.  It’s been an insane time, and not only am I hectically busy on weekends, but work is just exceedingly stressful and has been for the last 4 months… and I can’t see the end in sight.

It was actually fantastic using my lunch hour for something that rejuvenated my body properly.

It’s well worth it, so if you work in the Investec or RMB or Nedbank buildings in Sandton, do yourself a favour, and book an hour out of your diary over your lunchtime (which you’re full entitled to even though corporate culture may dictate otherwise), and walk to the Professional Touch Day Spa in 2 Merchant Place… and take a proper break from the stress (just remember to take some more makeup )

I think I’m going to book a pedicure next… or maybe a massage…

Disclaimer:  I was not enticed or asked to blog about the spa and was no remunerated in any way, shape or form.

When I got a Whatsapp message from Mandy last night telling me about her pop-up shop that’s opening in Bryanston for a limited number of days this week, I knew I had to share the news

I think I’m going to pop past during lunch! See you there!

I know… 2 posts in one day… virtually unheard of, but I’m so excited about this one.

You know I posted photos from our trip to Market on Main yesterday (on my photoblog)?  Well, check out what I saw in my Twitter stream just now…

There’s not much information on the Neighbourgoods Market website yet, but I’m sure they’ll update it soon.  If you can’t read the small font… the market will be opening on 10 September at 73 Juta Street in Braamfontein.

Now there’s a cool market for Saturdays as well as Sundays!! I just love the rejuvenation happening in Jozi!

It was my last day of leave today, and I left the boys in Lance’s care (he’s on leave for the whole week ), and met up with my mom (you have to visit her blog if you haven’t already) for a coffee date at Vovo Telo in Parkhurst.  It’s a bakery/cafe that’s recently opened it’s latest branch on 4th Ave.

First I need to say that I wish I could meet her for coffee more often.  When I was on maternity leave with both boys, I would meet her regularly for coffee in the mornings, and I miss it. She also likes browsing shops as much as I do, especially interesting little decor and clothing shops so it’s always nice to wander around with her.

And such awesome coffee too!! I just loved the decor and the way that they kept the pressed ceilings in the building.  As for the food, I’m going to have to go back there for a lunch because I loved the sound of the lamb burger as well as the black forest ham and strawberry pizza!  I’d already had breakfast, so opted for the pain au choc… which is the rolled pastry with chocolate and covered with toasted almonds in the photo above.  It was stunning because it wasn’t too sweet.

I simply love wandering around Parkhurst, so after the coffee we went window shopping… and I was so very tempted to buy a dress… in fact, I think I’m going to have to go back there… maybe on the way home from work one evening.

Hmm… I just love shopping!

(The photos… I only used my iPhone and the first one is edited using Instagram, and the others edited with Camera+ )

We’re on day 3 of our holiday in Ballito.

I still haven’t swum in the sea… and I’m normally in the sea before the kids.  It’s just too cold and far too windy.

I have started getting a tan though… not that I’ve tried but I’m convinced it mostly wind burn and not sun burn.  Not that that’s saying much though because I’m whiter than white and actually reflecting the sun

I’m sure we’ve never had such awful weather on holiday.  Just hoping the weather reports for the next week are wrong, and the wind starts dying down a bit and we can actually enjoy our time on the beach.

Not that it’s stopping us of course… with 2 kids it’s either go to the beach  or go looney in the flat. So they’re swimming and jumping in the waves, and playing bat and ball, and fishing with nets (and I caught a crab and a fish in the rock pools with those little fishing nets yesterday… go me), and clambering over rocks… they’re having fun.

However, the wind is cold. And I didn’t pack for winter… so tomorrow I’m going on the hunt for more warm clothes… at the end of winter… it’s a fruitless exercise but if I don’t do it, we’re all going to get seriously ill.

I bought myself a Kindle with the idea that I would have time to read a lot this holiday.  It arrived on Friday just in time for my holiday. We arrived in Ballito today…  and I have yet to use the Kindle.

And the reason… because Bradley discovered that it’s got a dictionary built into it.  I showed him the dictionary, and he spent a few hours reading a book about animals and running upstairs to look up words that he wasn’t sure about.  And then I bought him a Famous Five book by mistake (seriously it was by mistake, I got a sample to see if he would read the book on the device, and then pressed “buy” by mistake).

And guess what he did for most of the journey down to KZN?  Read his book on MY Kindle.  And in fact, after there was a tussle around Pietermaritzburg, I quickly bought a story about a dragon for Connor too, and the book read to him using the “text to speech” function (thankfully he’s not that enamoured by it yet)

***sigh*** so now I’ve, in essence, lost both my favourite toys… my iPhone gets nabbed by Connor to play Talking Gina and Angry Birds as soon as he sees a gap… and now Bradley is reading books on my Kindle.

I supposed I should really get him one.  Now that’s one device I really have no qualms buying the kids! Something to encourage reading.