BRB

I'm off on my merry little way to London town today-YAY!! so won't be posting for a day or two while I'm six-thousand metres above the sea... but to keep you entertained while I'm gone - you can read about all my previous flying encounters - including the one where I flew to the blog awards, the one with the in-flight entertainment, the one where I got lost in the airport and the one where i made a new "friend"  (that last one's a must-read, i promise). 

Will B.R.B 

:)

Paperie.

it's a normal thing,

but i do read a whole ream of paper-related blogs -
Oh so beautiful paper // Love versus Design // Smitten on Paper // hello lucky // the sweetest occasion // lovely stationery // mint yeah, told you.

Due to the obsession/love for paper - (and that I have a degree in design) I've decided to design and make all our wedding stationery. I have done a few test runs of the Save The Dates which have been whole-heartedly approved by my fiance-man. The following is a transcript of a conversation between The Warr and I regarding the Save the Dates which took place recently.

Che: I'm going to start packing for London soon!! I should probably go and buy the paper that we need to make the Save the Dates.
The Warr: Are you going to bring all the paper that you need to make the Save The Dates with you all the way from South Africa to London?
Che: Oh, you're right. I should probably get the paper for the invitations too!
TW: We could probably get the paper here.
Che: No, what if we can't find the right colour. It will be a disaster.
TW: I'm pretty sure if you can find the right paper in Hilton (and it's one paper-store), we can find it in the greater London, England area - for sure.
C: I don't want to take any chances.
TW: It's going to be really heavy
C: It's paper.
TW: I know but think about how much you want to get and how many different colours you want and I know you're going to want to get thicker than printer paper. It's going to get all messed up in your bag anyway.
C: excuse me. paper goes in HAND-LUGGAGE, what are you thinking?
TW: Sorry, I wasn't thinking - maybe just go to the paper-shop and see how heavy 400 sheets of card-stock paper is altogether and then let me know if you still want to bring it.
C: I want to bring it.
TW: You haven't checked!
C: How do you know?!
TW: You didn't leave the phone.
C: It's in my minds-eye. Don't MESS with my minds-eye.
TW: I'm not messing with your minds-eye. I'm just saying, we can probably get the paper in London.
C: I think it's best if I get it here. Just to be certain. Besides - we have a guillotine at home. I can cut everything to the right size.
TW: We have guillotines in London, you know.
C: Are you threatening me?
TW: No - I would never threaten you and your minds eye! I promise if you leave the paper and buy it here - I will search every single weekend in every single paper store until you find exactly the thing you are looking for, I want to help you.
C: Do you promise?
TW: Yes. I promise.
C: And if we don't find it?
TW: And if we don't find it, I will fly you back to South Africa so that you can buy the paper there.
(no he didn't say that, but I'm adding it in.)
C: Ok. sigh. I will buy the paper in London.

But maybe I will bring a few samples. 

You know, just in case.

7 things Sunday

7 things from the week -

1. Walking around looking at prize-winning pigs and rabbits is a surprisingly fulfilling way to spend a Saturday.
2. Sometimes it's better to stalk people on facebook rather than open up a newspaper and see all the horrid things that are going on.
3. Scanning-documents should be a full-time job.
4. If you would like to incite the whole universe, it's simple, just draw a naked presidential picture.
5. Limiting your mindless-internet time is probably a wise thing to do. 
6. If you leave everything to the last minute, you will never need to go bungee-jumping - you can get all your adrenal thrills by waiting to see if you will accomplish everything on time.
7. Wise-man-say: If you cook too much food, you will eat same meal for whole week.

In other news, it's my mom's birthday today - we're going out for breakkie and then tea with the whole fam later. 

londres.

for four months - YAY ME!! Since I couldn't get a working visa (yeah, i didn't try too hard) I will be taking on the responsibilities of full-time-fiance-and-wedding-planner, professional-market-browser, shopper and quality-control-sampler-of-all-London-coffee-houses. Life is so tough. Other than those very taxing jobs I've signed myself up for - there are a few other things that I'm looking forward to - 

The weekend of my arrival, London is throwing a huge party in my honour, which means, of course - that I will be able to celebrate on the Thames with my good ol' pal, the Queen.
I'm thinking... big floats, Union Jacks, fireworks and lots of marching soldiers in those woolly hat things. Just the way I like it.

Next on the list - International Magazines. You know the glossy kinds I'm talking about - Vogue... Harpers Bazaar... Hello....

and even better - UK bridal mags - Brides (which is under the same publication house as Vogue and Glamour), You and Your Wedding and Wedding Magazine for a start... I take my new jobs very seriously (See above).



Awesome shops. Awesome shopping - 

yes.

Yes.

And Yes.

I'm pretty sure my coffee shop sampling job (quality-control) is going to pay very well and I will be able to afford a weekly shopping spree. Good thing my Fiance-Face works near this street and I will be forced to spend lots of time hanging around between Burberry, DonnaKaran, D&G, Christian Dior, Longchamp and Armani.  

Also on the agenda - visiting some quirky London Bars in the Soho district -
I snapped this pic the last time I was in London - from Zebrano Bar on Carnaby Street.
Also I'm looking forward to ALL the streets and gardens and squares. Oxford, Picadilly, Knightsbridge, Regent Street, Waterloo, Portabello Road, Covent Gardens, Downing Street, Trafalgar square....


Now, even if we aren't able to sneak into, buy some tickets - we make our own Olympics. What? You've never heard of Olympic-drinking-leap-frog? It's a thing,

look at me in my green and gold.

Because who doesn't love Wimbledon season?! 

No-one.

Hyde park, Kensington Gardens, Wimbledon commons -

Fancy-fiance has even bought a killer picnic set (with real wine glasses) in anticipation of my arrival. ten points.

Camden Markets -

I love Camden. It's got good food, cozy pubs, awesome markets, good breakfast nooks, quirky bits-n-bobs and loads of punks. We like.

Lastly.....

Hey London, see you Wednesday

x

Josh Cochran

Some of the works of Josh Cochran - a Brooklyn based illustrator who grew up in both the USA and Taiwan. His artwork has been commissioned by a variety of clients including Kiehls, Harper Collins, TIME magazine and MTV. You can read about his daily life on his blog or buy some of his prints and ephemera from his online store. 

How To

Since getting engaged, (VIVA!) I have realised that there is a fair bit to be learned in the realm of "wedding planning" - there is organising, planning, preparing, purchasing, ordering, creativity, expense and dilemma - and that's talking about the fiance before he's even asked.

As a handy wedding-guide, for those who decide to undertake this massive wonderful process, I've decided to start compiling a compendium of Wedding tips and How To's.

I have previously blogged -
How to ask a Maid of Honour
How to deal with the difficulties of intercontinental wedding planning
How to plan your wedding budget
How to make a moodboard

And you already know...
How to propose like a BOSS - Part One ,  Part Two and Part Three

Today's edition will be focused on the dilemma of Facebook profile pictures. Facebook profile pictures are the cats pyjamas- all cosy and fuzzy and what-not. If someone on your Facebook feed suddenly changes their profile picture to one that includes you in it, let's be honest, you suddenly get a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Like they have chosen to recognise you and your awesomeness as worthy of their Facebook Face. It's like a little honorary gesture of "hey you're so cool, i want your face next to my face next to all the other faces" The fewer the number of people in the profile picture - the greater the warm-fuzzies. It's basic math.

Of course, when you get engaged all you want to do is whack up a picture of you and your dearest so that you can give them the warm-fuzzies in return for the warm-fuzzies they gave you when they proposed. (These fuzzies are getting complicated. geez.)

Now let's say for instance, you had the most awesome weekend with the most killer crowd of people in the world. You would like to honour these people for their awesomeness by elating them to your Profile Pic. BUT! Alas. your love did not join you on this epic weekend trip to the beach with all the mates because he was slogging away in a very stressful office in miserable raining-cold London. (yeah, i see how this looks).

So now you sit with the dilemma - awesome pic of all the most awesome mates in the world sans newly fianced-beau:

RIGHT into the photo, right next to you, like your average household creep.

DONE.

(ps warren isn't actually that yellow.
it just totally made the photo better.)

Cooking for the in-laws

On Sunday, I invited the future in-laws around for lunch. Little Miss Cooking-Catastrophe decided to cook for the in-laws. That is bravery right there, folks. The lovely Warra's mom had bought me an awesome cookbook the last time I went to stay with them (subtle hint if I do say so myself)  -


One, Two, Three On the Table - Bernice van der Merwe.

It's super handy book because the meals are all categorised into how long they take to prepare. (Even although the "ten-minute" meals really take me closer to two hours. But I think that's me, not the book.) I decided to make the Mediterranean Chicken Dish - which turned out to be rather yum. (high-five self) I decided to make one of my mom's delicious puds for dessert - We call it Star pudding. But it's probably got a bajillion-other names...



The Recipe is really simple and trust me - if I can do it, YOU can do it.

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
2 beaten eggs
1 cup apricot jam
1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 of a teaspoon bicarb mixed with -
1 cup of milk

Rub butter into flour, then stir all the ingredients in. Bake at 180' until golden brown (about 20 mins)

Sauce:
2 cups cream (I used one)
1 cup sugar
2 beaten eggs 

Beat together and wait until pudding is cooled before pouring it over. Bake for 10-15 mins at 180' until it goes golden-brown on top.
Serve with cream and/or ice-cream.
yum.

You can also check out The Vegan Stoner for amazing Vegan recipes that are quick and easy to prepare and each recipe is posted with a simple cartoon list of ingredients and method - cute and tasty.

wedding pranks

So I got home the other day and on my bed was a lovely gift-bag waiting for me with a card from my mom and dad - 

"Dear Che,

We know this is something that you are desperately wanting and we saw this and thought we would save you many highly-stressful hours of searching for the PERFECT one, if we just snagged this one for you.

Happy wedding Planning!

Mom and Dad" 

plastic husband and wife cake-topper.

 

Yes people, they are on a swing.

Let's get a close up of the happy pair -

 

such LOVE in their little plastic eyes.

my wedding dreams are COMPLETE - just what I always wanted!

"thanks" mumsy.

From one of the mom's fabulous friends - 

 

"Dear Che

I have found these beautiful vases which I thought would look lovely on your wedding tables. If I buy them in bulk, I can get them at a discount for cheap!!
Lots of love
Lee" 

hahaha

;)

quick card

To make this quick birthday card you will need:

•  brown paper bag
• creamy-pink coloured paint swatch
•  white feather
• gift tag
• doily
• washi tape
• glue.

Directions: Stick it all together.

ha.

the end.