Fabulous Find!

I have been without inspiration for the last few days and I was scared that, should I dare blog, it would be about soccer. I am surrounded by a sea of yellow Bafana Bafana supporter's gear and the overpowering sound of the vuvuzela's. Even though it's a breathtaking vibe we've got going here in South Africa, I'd like to escape the whole soccer madness for a bit. And today will be the day.

In an attempt to distract myself, I searched Google for useful things encouragement to get over my writer's block. I somehow came across cupcakes and, after a persuasive craving and a long drool, decided that this will be my Fabulous Find! I've always been very fond of cupcakes, not only for its delicious taste, but for its versatility. There is so much you can do with this beautiful piece of fodder and the variety of recipes is endless. I've baked coconut, choc-chip, strawberry, vanilla, blueberry and fudge cupcakes in the past, but the best part is how you can play around with the decorations. Sugar paste isn't everyone's friend - hell, I don't always have the patience for tiny detail - but if you can master it, you can make some darn good cupcakes! I've seen ones that are too good to eat. Ones that you want to frame instead!

I don't know how the baker did it, but this is the most delectable and lip-smacking picture of a cupcake I've seen in a long time. And I've seen 'em all!

This cupcake-talking is really putting me in some strange baking mood. Wait. The dishes and cleaning that comes with gastronomy had just put me off. Sigh.

Jem

Peek into my life - Part 1

So my slogan on my blog promises to give you a peek into my life, yet I haven't given you much carte blanche thus far. I've been told that 'blogging is supposed to be about your life, something personal', but to me blogging is just a way to keep me from talking to myself. I'm really just your average girl who wishes she could make it big somehow, someday. I'm someone who is still on the road of discovering my talents and my true self. There are days when I want to be famous and live the high life, but also days when I'm determined to climb the corporate ladder and make my mark in the corporate world instead. But there are also days when I'm completely demotivated and just live for the next weekend or pay check. I'm sometimes hard to understand or to make myself clear, because I don't do 'tact', I hate gray areas and I'm the most straight-forward and outspoken person I know. I'm more blunt than Larry King and Simon Cowell put together. That's why my friends love me, because I'll tell them when they look fat in that jean, when they should've worn less make-up or when it's time for an eyebrow pluck! There's a fine line between honesty and being a bitch, and I know never to overstep. I love writing, because it's one of the few times where I have to think before I speak. I proofread it a thousand times and edit over and over before I post my blogs. I also love writing, because I don't need to face anyone. If I have to say sorry, moan about something, ask for something or need advice, I'll send you an e-mail. Ask my friends. I also consider myself a closet-comedian. I love being the life of the party, the one who the limelight is on and the one making you fall off your chair laughing.

Underneath the sexy-but-tough illusion I often create, hides a sensitive sole. I have a really big heart and I dote on my family - they are small, but they are my everything! My best friends are like the older sisters I never had; I love them. I have a boyfriend who I consider to be the love of my life and I know the 'big bling' will come in time. I'm the one who cries when I see a hungry or abused animal or when I see an elderly person suffering. When I cry, I'll do it alone when no one is watching, because I don't like expressing my emotions. I don't have a psychological problem; I just don't like being a retard in front of people. Besides that, I'm ugly when I cry! I pull my mouth, my face goes red and tears even stream out of my nose. That's how I do it. Properly.

I'm also not the type of girl who has a list of hobbies, because doing the same thing over and over will bore me to death. I love painting, scrapbooking, knitting (at times), cooking (these days), reading, writing, crafts, arranging parties and even taking photos (loves it), but these are things I do when I have some spare time. My time are spent at work, working at home, spent with my family and friends, with my bunnies, sleeping, practising the art of cooking and social networking. And somewhere in between I have time to enter competitions. Totally hooked on it! I love to party (especially if it has a dress-up theme) and socialise, meeting new people, trying new drinks, karaoke and I'm the queen of the dancefloor. If it weren't for hangovers, I would spend my days drinking champagne and coffee-tequila.

I hope I painted a clearer picture of myself and my life. Useless information to you, 'blogging' to others.

Jemma

(Pictures: writer's own)

Winter Wonderland

Winter is officially in Cape Town. Ok, it has been winter for the past month or so, but I say 'officially' because I don't remember the last time I wanted to be outside or even near a window for that matter. Nor do I remember the last time I saw the sun, had a dry nose, wore just one layer of clothing, walked around bare feet, had frizzy-free hair or when sleep wasn't the most important thing. I must admit, winter is great for movie-marathons, taking long baths, lots of eating and even a good excuse to skip gym. Oh and of course, winter is when I get to celebrate my birthday!

Even though summer reminds me of a December holiday at the beach, nothing gives you a natural high like sitting by a fireplace, wrapped in a blanket, and watching the rain pour down outside. And there's nothing like visiting my grandma in Ceres and seeing the white mountain tops from up close. To me, winter represents peace and beauty, nature at its best.

Which is your favourite season?

Image found here

J

Fabulous Find!

It hasn't even been 3 days, yet, I've come across another Fabulous Find!

Thanks to another sexy blogger, Cape Town Girl I have won myself some NoMU spices. I'm not big on cooking, nor do I really care what spices I use, but the NoMU spices have taken cooking to a whole different level! As in, changed the way I feel about it. Forever.

The founder of NoMU, Tracy Foulkes, was a vegetarian and wanted to start a very unique delicatessen here in Cape Town. Because no meat would be featured in her range, that meant 'no cow', and when there's no cow, there's 'no moo'. Get it? The spelling changed to NoMU which is so much cooler fitting for the twenty-first century.

The NoMU range is organic, proudly South African and delicious! I've cooked with the Tomato & Herb Stir and it was so good that the boyfriend wanted seconds - but I beat him to it. It's really easy to make: Just add water and olive oil to the NoMU spices and voila, instant pesto! It kinda made me feel like I made it from scratch, which just made me look so impressive in the kitchen! You can then add that pesto to a pasta, stir fry or use as a dipper or spread. There are no rules, so you get to play around and experiment with your dishes. Believe me, you cannot mess it up! NoMU brings out all the flavours in your food instead of overpowering it.

Don't hold back if you're going to buy it, because there is a HUGE range to choose from - anything from dips, to vanilla, to stock, to hot chocolate. It can be ordered online and it is a bit pricier than your average spice, but NoMU simply cannot be compared to anything else out there. You have to try it.

All this food-talking is making me hungry! Mmm!

I wonder which one I'll cook with tonight...

J

Giveaway on Kim Gray's website

Ah, competitions! My life would be boring without it.

One of my favourite bloggers-slash-stylist is Kim Gray and one of the reasons I love her so much, is her cool giveaways! This time she's running a competition to win these limited edition D&G aviators, which were espesially designed for the SWC. While everybody else is blowing their Vuvuzelas, I'll watch upon thy wearing these fab shades.

I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I've got my SA mirror socks to show my support for my country. I just find it so amazing spectacular when I see all the cars driving around with their mirror socks and wavin' flags - from the taxi's to the BMW's. What a proud moment it will be when the foreign visitors come and see this too.

Back to the competition. Thank you Kim Gray for this wonderful giveaway and thank you to the experts at Dolce & Gabbana for bringing fashion to soccer.

*crossing fingers and toes*
Jemma

Image and comp found here

Fabulous Find!

Every blog I've ever come across has had some uniqueness to it, things like a joke of the day, new things they've learnt, current addictions (ala Being Brazen) or fashion spreads (ala Kim Gray). That's why I decided my blog should have something different, something cool, something that's not restricted to one topic. Behold, the Fabulous Find! Ever so often I'll blog about something I found either online, in the shops, in the streets, in the clubs, a new discovery, a person, wonderful food, art... anything, anywhere. A 'find' that's worthy of stopping traffic.

My first attempt at a fabulous find are these Jimmy Choo's. Speechless.

If you're willing (or stupid enough) to spend thousands on shoes, these babies can be yours. Me? Blogging about Jimmy Choo's is about the closest I'll get to owning a pair. The price ranges from anything between R15 000 up to R30 000 and I'm sure there are pricier ones if you look hard enough. I'm a shoe-addict and most of my fabulous finds will probably be about shoes which I will never be able to afford in this lifetime (or the next one).

Ok, pricetags aside, what do you think? Aren't they just, uhm, well, there are no words, really.

You can close your mouth now.

Win on Being Brazen's Blog

Say the words 'competition', 'win' or 'giveaway', and you've got my attention! Getting things I didn't expect, like a prize, makes me feel like it's my birthday (minus the ageing part). Bonus!

Thanks to the lovely Being Brazen, who so often grabs my attention with her amazing blog and comps, I get to enter another one of her fab giveaways!

I'm a complete softie when there are freebies involved and, even though I don't always get to win, I still enter! Which is exactly what I did on her blog.

This time she's giving away a pair of semi-hooped earings featuring cute little leaves, which are made of silver plated matte 18K gold finish. Nice one girl!

Once again, holding thumbs, tightly.

Go on and enter - you know you want to.
Image and comp found here

Jem(stone)