The Meeting Tree Market- Feb 2014

This week's blog post is about a little market I vended at this past weekend.The Meeting Tree Market says its the Upper Highway Area's "best kept secret", and I tend to agree.
It is an amazing little gem of a market, harking back to days gone by of the way craft markets used to be. Hand- crafted goodies on sale, artisan food and drinks to consume, a beautiful view, tables and benches to sit at and usually they have a really chilled jazz band called "5th Season Jazz Band" playing live. It is just the most chilled spot for a Sunday afternoon, and perfect for the family as kids can play there, dogs are welcome too. I just love the community vibe they have there and look forward to being involved more with the market!

But of course I cannot blog about the market without showing you some pics.

Of course I was there with Magpie Calls ;)

We were really worried about the Weather, and even though it was raining in Hillcrest and Kloof the rain stayed away from the market (unfortunately it did mean some people thought it had been cancelled (vendors and customers alike) so it wasn't quite as busy as it usually is. )

the above pics were taken just as the market was starting.

Even the dogs were blissed out by the chilled vibe;)

The next pics are from some of the vendors. I have tried to name the ones I could link to, but apologise if I get any wrong (please check bottom of blog post for contact info of the vendors).

THE cutest handmade bears by " Bears and Bears ". I am seriously looking for kids to buy them for... such personality in each one! MUCH better than build-a-bear.

Beautiful wooden toys and other items by "Pen Turnings"

Yummy condiments and cordials by "Kish Mish".

My lovely Neighbour "Honey Dog" makes pretty and quirky glass jewellery. Love the cute cake testers... would be great for kitchen teas.

"CJ's Deli" along with Carole had lovely olives, chicken burgers and fresh ice tea for sale. mmmmmm!

"Cupcake Mom" had loads of different flavoured cupcakes... I seriously need to try the beer batter one (it has bacon flakes!!!!), only saw it when I was editing pics. They look delicious, and from amount of people walking around with them they obviously taste delicious too! 

I love the Chainmaille Jewellery by John Scott. It's beautifully intricate and hardcore at the same time!

I can't remember who ran this store(so if you are reading this and know please let me know so I can credit) The cocktails looked so summery!

Pretty necklaces by "Imp Art".

Cute handmade dolls (which would be perfect for kids who take their dolls EVERYWHERE with them) by L'Ethix".

Deliciousness! Tarts and brownies from "Liquorice Gourmet".

Craft Beer was also available to buy. What a great place to drink it at!

Last but not least the wonderful "Rondavel Soaps" was there. Their soaps are amazing, they have the most interesting and awesome smelling combos.

Lovely hey?

Last year My Dance partner Benni and I did a little tribute to Madiba at the market.
here is our performance:

Well here is all the vendor info I hope you support them as well as Magpie Calls.

PEN TURNINGS: www.penturnings.co.za
KISH MISH: www.kishmish.co.za
IMP ART: 0833361407
BEARS AND BEARS: 0827779020
CJ'S DELI: 0824668676
HONEY DOG: www.honeydog.co.za
LIQUORICE GOURMET: kilfoil@vodamail.co.za
JOHN SCOTT: scottj@telkomsa.net
THE CUPCAKE MOM: www.cupcakemom.co.za
RONDAVEL SOAPS: www.facebook.com/rondavelsoaps

Please check the Meeting Tree Facebook page here for more vendors and to keep updated about the market and future plans!

Have a lovely week everyone!

love and shimmies

Sani Pass and Lesotho trip 2013

Hi All.

Today I do a photo essay on our bellydance trip into the Drakensberg Mountains, up Sani Pass and into Lesotho last year.

As hosts of Kristine Adams' Durban Leg of her SA portion of her world tour, Ioleen and I , together with our Durban Tribal Collective cohorts Benni and Sam, and fellow dancer from Joburg Heather, decided to show Kristine some of KZN and Lesotho.

Sani Pass is only a few hours away from where we stay, so we woke up really early to drive up and be ready for our tour which started at 9am.

I love the Berg and we had a great Guide Matthew...such a funny guy, slightly strange,but really informative and I give him kudos for putting up with 6 Bellydancers for a day.

Our Ride for the day- let me tell you Landy's are NOT the most comfy car to ride in up a bumpy , windy mountain pass  hehe.

All of us (including Ioleen just peeking on the edge) ready for our trip. L-R: Benni , Sam, Me, Kristine, Heather, Ioleen.

Here is some info on Sani Pass, so you can see what I mean by bumpy and windy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sani_Pass

The first part of the trip happens in The Drakensberg Mountains (Tolkien's original inspiration for the hobbit and Lord of The Rings scenery). It is one of my favourite places, so serene, beautiful and majestic.

 You can see the road we were driving up just peeking from between  the mountain.

 A viewsite on the way up.

Loving the girls trip and the sisterhood of dance :D

 As we got closer to the top the mist came rolling down... at the lesotho border it was thick.

We made it to the top of the Pass. That is pretty flippin high!

Part of the tour was going further into Lesotho into the Maluti Mountains. It was like being in another world... so stark, and barren compared to the greenery of The Berg on the other side. It was Beautiful. 

At one stage it felt like we were on the moon. (That's our vehicle in the distance).

 We visted a local Basotho lady in her home.

 She made THE most delicious beer bread (made from local maize beer), and we bought some for our journey home.

The kids came to say hi, all warmly and brightly dressed.

We then had one of THE most special experiences ever!

As part of her tour Kristine is documenting ATS™ around the world by taking videos of dancers in their local places. We decided this trip would be a great video op, and boy were we right! We saw some local muscians playing and decided we had to accompany them.

This we got on video and you can find it here
Makes me smile whenever I watch it.

 All the Muscians and kids watching the video of themselves.

Our wonderful collaborators- The Basotho people!

On the way back we saw this guy- a shepherd in a typical Basotho blanket.

 

  Our last stop on the way back down was at the Sani-Top Pub. The highest pub in Africa.

 Enjoying our beverages on a mountain.

 Since the last time I was there in 2011 the pub has allowed patrons to make their mark on the walls of the establishment. Here Kristine marks her Africa stop of her world tour!

 Me trying to find  a clear spot to make my mark!

Here we go... for prosperity!

We stayed overnight at the bottom of the pass at the Sani  Lodge Backpackers. A place I would recommend to anyone looking for reasonable accommodation for Sani. I have stayed there twice now and have been happy both times. It is well-run, comfortable and clean. www.sanilodge.co.za .

Was an amazing trip (and will blog more about our trip back home via the Buddhist retreat centre in Ixopo soon). I really loved bonding with everyone and our Durban Tribal Collective is such a special group to me. Was lovely to really get to know Heather from Joburg as well.. a kindred spirit in Dance. Kristine taught us so much on her trip and I look forward to seeing all the adventures she gets up to.

Thanks for joining me on our adventure up a mountain.

love and shimmies

Outfit Inspiration Jan 2014

I decided it was time to do another outfit inspiration post pairing some Magpie Calls pretties with some Polyvore sets. It's a fun way to see how they work together :D

1: OLD GLAM

Pairing a pair of MC earrings with a cute retro style dress and shoes in peachy pink with gold toned accent belt and watch. Pretty pink lips and a bold eye finish off the retro look.I think this would be perfect for a girly day out for high tea, or even for a picnic date. flirty and pretty , but with a hint of old-school glam.

2: DRESS CODE: SMART

A black and white feather fascinator clip is perfect for this ultra smart and sexy ensemble. A LBD with black lace is sexy but sophisticated, black accessories with a hint of shine are glamorous, and the fascinator will make this outfit perfect for a swanky wedding, a day at the races or smart cocktail party. A red lip and nail combo just adds that dramatic glam factor. 

3: URBAN BRIGHTS

 

Bright colourful stacking bracelets add zing to this fun outfit. Red skinny jeans , cute flats and bold earrings make this a stand out ensemble without being too much. It looks playful but not childish. This is grown-up and youthful at the same time. A great day outfit- for doing errands, meeting friends,  having lunch, going to movies etc.

4: EDGY ROCK

This is sophisticated rock. Leather, denim and gold bring some drama to the mix. A detachable MC denim collar with gold accents is paired with a leather peplum top, fitted jeans , some seriously sexy boots and stacked bracelets. A smokey eye finishes off the rock chic look. Perfect for a night out on the town, a party, club, or concert. You are sure to be mistaken for a rock star in this outfit!

5: RELAXED AND EARTHY

A rossette fabric flower headband in neutrals is paired with a casual look of neutral toned maxi skirt, tank top, shrug and comfy flats. a suede satchel makes this a practical look for day-to-day wear. A great chilled weekend look , it will keep you fashionable and comfortable whether you are shopping, fetching kids, going to the post-office or having coffee.


6: BRIGHT PASTEL FLORAL

 

A handmade fabric flower crown is paired with some bright pastels and florals for a fun, pretty and flirty look. A dusky pink dress with purple shoes and belt is matched with a bright floral bag and pendant necklace. Pretty pastel lips finish off the look. This is a great look for a bridal shower, or a girls day out.

7: WARM METALLICS

This one is for the slightly cooler days. A long assemblage pendant necklace by MC is mixed with a warmer neutral toned sweater , skinny jeans, statement boots and a tiger eye ring for a lovely cozy but glam look. Metallic nails give it the sophisticated touch. This would be a great work outfit, or if you got a boot with a more comfy heel it would be great for day-to-day use everywhere.


Hope you enjoyed playing "dress-up" with me. I am going to try and do this at least every 2 months. It really helps to visualise how my pretties can be worn and used in outfit choices, and plus it's just FUN! hehe

much love and shimmies

"Happy" 2014

http://itscharr.blogspot.com/2012/02/100-happy-things-3.html

Well hello there my readers.... welcome to 2014.
I decided to start the new year of posts off on a "Happy" note with some fun things to make you smile, and we even have a soundtrack to go with it.

By the end of this post you should have a smile on your face and a jig in your step.

ENJOY.

Ok so
step 1: play this song while you carry on reading...

Step 2: look at this cute pic of this puppy.... awwwwww.

http://larissamarks.com/2011/08/happy-things.html

Step 3: ok so sit and write a list of things that make you happy or smile... can be anything from chocolate, to the smell of rain, taking your bra off when you get home , kids laughing or simply a good cup of tea... just make a list... then put it somewhere you will see it, so when you are having down moments you can remember that life has happy moments all the time.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/211739619950581807/

Step 4: here is another cute pic.... you're welcome!

  

Step 5: Tell yourself that you are sexy,beautiful and amazing.  Then make the below face in the mirror. Go on... doooo eeeeeet!

http://confessionsofamaineteenager.blogspot.com/2012/05/monday-funniesupdate.html

Step 6 : if the song above has finished playing watch this video of a porcupine enjoying some pumpkin... you won't regret it!

Step 7: think of the people in your life who make you happy, and text/what's app/ bbm them right now! YES- NOW! bound to make your day better instantly.

http://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/MjAxMy1kMzhjOGJhMGEyZDY1N2Fh

Step 8: the last step.... now go out today knowing that life is grand, that you have things that make you smile, that there are people in your life that care and that you are wonderful.

http://happythings.tumblr.com/page/2

make it so.

Looking forward to a fab 2014 with you all, watch this space!

love and shimmies