Monday Musings # 3

Its almost time for the school holidays (well actually a four day weekend but still awesome). Its made me think about how fast the term has gone and how much I've achieved. I'm sure I'm not alone in looking back and thinking, "I could have done more or done things better."

 This has inspired the direction of this weeks quotes that perk me up for the week a head.

http://designspiration.net/image/383901758773/#_a5y_p=719829

Often when I have stacks of work to do, I start daydreaming and that's when my flat gets cleaned from top to bottom. Which usually means I have to get up at 3am to complete what needed to be done in time for work on Monday morning. Basically my procrastination is preventing me from a) getting a good nights sleep and b) having time to follow my dreams.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/268667933992121973/

I think everyone should be less afraid of changing course in life. If something didn't go your way or someone isn't contributing to your life in a positive and joyful way then 'adjust your sails' and find a better course.

http://grumblinggrace.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/hesitations/

This should be tattooed on me. I'm terrified of not ticking off my bucket list and visiting every place I've seen in travel books. Right or wrong, I've always wanted a full passport more than I've wanted a permanent home.

http://momsbyheart.net/quote-of-the-day-54/

I think anyone who knows me will think this is a great prayer...to say daily. 

http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/post/2136855/2443802045/

Lupita Nyong'o is a beautiful woman with amazing talent but now that I've seen this quote I adore her even more. There is so much pressure (and expense) to fit into a western version of pretty that we forget its not what really matters. Beautiful in equals beautiful out.

http://sayingimages.com/theres-a-guy-out-there-whos-going-to-be-really-happy-that-you-didnt-get-back-together-with-your-ex/

Not sure what is in the water right now but I seem to have a lot of women pining for bad men around me. We've all had that one (or several) relationship that we should have walked away from but its tough and sometimes we keep going back. The above quote helps me think of the future. We all deserve decent loving relationships. Its all about having the courage to walk away from what we know and towards something better.

* all the links for the pictures are found below each picture*

Woman Wednesday

I know this isn't a real person but Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf is stunning. I love the twist on a preppy style and the fact that she always looks ladylike, despite what she gets up to.

Since it's Autumn (or Fall) here in South Africa, I'm showing all the colder weather trends that I adore from her.

Patterned stocking and lace dress

Long gloves and a patterned scarf peeking out of a jacket. Also like the way the shoes match her bag, I do the same thing.

Hair accessories! I love changing my hair but never seem to know what to do with it. Alice bands and hair clips solve that problem.

A cape and a beret together is quite sweet and chic. Not sure this will go down well at work though :)

Trench and a beret. Enough said!

Jewel colours always look better in colder weather.

Last word from Blair:

Decor Love

I think I'm just one of those people that needs constant change in my life. If I'm not planning a trip, planning a wardrobe for the next season or planning a move then I'll start rearranging my home to make it new and different. Sameness bores me to tears. This is probably why I love Pinterest so much. I can sit for hours browsing through people's boards mentally putting my dream home (for this year) together. Despite being in Cape Town for over 2 years, I still don't have my home together as I would really want it to be. So here are some of the images that I'm using to plan the decor for my home over this coming year :) Enjoy!

I really love anything to do with skulls, the ocean, animal print and insects. Someday I'm going to stumble upon the most beautiful old insect prints and frame them like above. 

I'm quite blessed to live in an old large flat and I have an area that would make the most perfect reading nook. It's not cut into the house like this but there is a sizable window that I can give a Hitchcock vibe.

Grey seems to be my go-to colour of choice lately and this image looks so perfectly cool, chic and comfortable. Everything that I want in my lounge area.

Although I have lots of space and all the mirrors would help visually enlarge a small room, I love the dramatic impact that this gives a room. I'd probably do the walls in a stormy blue grey and have lighter grey accents. Antique mirrors are currently being added to my shopping list.

I do NOT have a green finger. Part of the reason is that I keep forgetting to water my plants. Succulents are the perfect plant for me then. They add a bit of colour, fit in with my colour scheme and are completely low maintenance.

I have so many magazines and books lying around that I'm freakishly attached to. This solves my problem of not having enough chairs for guests and still holding onto my collection.

Lastly my work-space...currently I just work on my bed but this needs to stop. I'd like to have a open clean space like above. There is something about the desk above that makes me want to do some marking.

*all the images above are found on my Pinterest boards*

Women Wednesdays #2

If there was a wardrobe that I'd love to raid, it would be Charlotte Casiraghis!Full name is Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi, the second child of Caroline, Princess of Hanover and granddaughter of Grace Kelly (the ultimate Hitchcock Blonde). And royalty to boot as she is fifith in line to the throne of Monaco.

Very chic, very french and very old school movie star.What's not to love?

* all images are from pinterest*

Monday Musings

Felt a little under the weather yesterday so I am just ignoring the fact that its Tuesday and doing my Monday inspirations today instead.

This has to be my go-to-mantra this year. I am someone who is so easily distracted by shiny things (foreign shores, new adventures) that I forget that the present is actually quite nice and I can be happy here.

I doubt that I'll ever get to 'perfection' but the older I am, the less I care about perfection and the more I care about the journey.

I have such a huge amount of respect for Paulo Coelho and his novels. My favorite is Veronika Decides To Die, which sounds awful judging by the title but is very thought provoking and sad.

This year I turn 33 years of age and the fact that I'm single seems to confuse people. Even more confusing is the fact that I don't have any huge desire to get married. So I have the situation where everyone knows an 'amazing single guy who is dying to find a wife and I am perfect for him.' All lovely guys but so far no fireworks.

In reality...I really just want an ugly dog and adventures all over the world. So give me Park Avenue instead...or Barcelona or Paris or London or Rio De Janeiro (you get the picture).

I was recently asked if I had a leopard print catsuit to lend someone for a fancy dress party. I was shocked that someone thought I owned something as crazy as that. However, after telling some mates about it, they all seem to agree that if anyone would wear an outfit like that it would apparently be me. With red lips, of course.

So trying to embrace my idea of 'neutral'

*all images are from Pinterest*

Ballet buns

A few Sundays ago I was invited by a friend , Kerri, to visit Maynard to watch some ballet. Firstly I was so chuffed that she had asked me because I LOVE ballet. I am everything that a ballerina isn't and perhaps that is why I adore watching these graceful long limbed ladies float across the stage in pastel dresses.

So on a slightly cool Sunday night, I drew my shoulder length hair into a bun and put on my prettiest ballet pumps to go and appreciate some dancing. 

Kerri got together a lovely group of elegant ladies and despite a little threat of rain, had the most wonderful time. Personally I prefer classic pieces like Swan Lake but this evening I throughly enjoyed the piece on the Firebird. The costumes were loud and strange and the movements more free flowing but I was left inspired. I confess ignorance as to how old that particular ballet is. Must do some research on it.

Although we tried to sneak some pics of the show, they didn't come out very well. However I did take some pretty pictures before and after. 

Women Wednesdays #1

I think every female has that one female celeb that sums up what women should look like, sound like or behave like. Sometimes we admire one person for all the above and sometimes for one aspect.

My personal number one female icon is Marilyn Monroe. I know it's very cliched but I adore her.

She was undeniably feminine and girly. A little kooky and crazy, she embodied the 'dumb blonde' persona. Yet at times delivered some great lines about life and love that hit the nail on the head.

"When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them."

If I had free range over what I could wear each day without getting into trouble (work dress code), I'd probably mimic the style of Ms Monroe.

*I found these pictures on pinterest and tried to track them to a source but came up with 'this page no longer exists'*