{NEW CARTOON!} 5 Reasons you should be drinking more red wine (and 6 Reasons why you should be reading Midlands Musings)

(that is the longest blog post title I have ever written, ever.)

This is the very first month I have opened indieBerries up to sponsorship (click here if you're interested!) Keri of Midlands Musings took my first "Main Sponsor" spot - which includes a solo cartoon post. I've had such fun making it! So without further delay -

5 Reasons you should drink MORE RED WINE 

and SIX reasons you should be reading Midlands Musings.

First:

If you were smart and you knew what was good for you, 

you wouldn't even need 4 other reasons. 

But whatever, a promise is a promise.

I can personally vouch for this:

"...and then if the peace corp were to just... and then Barack could just... and then I think that the North Korean arms deals... and then the atomic nuclear fusion gun laws... and then the mass production of Chinese empire... and... didn't that guy with the atomic thingy... and then..."


Bottom line: Wine makes you smarter.

You will solve all the world's problems and single handedly obliterate world hunger and inflation rates. You may also generate the secret recipe to world peace and have the greatest epiphanies for a brand new novel. You may or may not also conceptualise a genius new invention.
You go, you bright spark you.



*carbonic maceration - what? You didn't know what that is? Shame on you! You have not been drinking enough red wine. Get on it.

  
Second Bottom Line: Red Wine makes you smart, witty AND hilarious.

You've heard it before, the antioxidants and what-nots.

seems legit.

unconventional WINE-WIN! #128

Now if you were smart (and had obviously been drinking your red wine) you may already have known these five little facts as to why you should be drinking ALL the red wine. But...


NUMBER 1:

I have already established (above) that red wine makes a person more intelligent, witty and hilarious (PLUS an increased vocabulary-bravo!) THEREFORE:

Red wine = (person + intelligence + genius wit + humour)

But Keri LOVES red wine!

THEREFORE:

Keri = Red Wine

BUT!

Red wine = (person + intelligence + genius wit + humour)

THEREFORE:

KERI = PERSON + INTELLIGENCE + GENIUS WIT + HUMOUR.

That's freakin' SCIENCE.

and one must never argue with SCIENCE.

NUMBER 2:

I am fortunate enough to know Keri in the real-life world. And I can honestly vouch for her character as one of the most genuine and caring humans I've ever had the privilege of knowing. Right before my wedding day - she sent over the most beautiful wedding gift to me - a box of letters from each of my family and friends. I sobbed at how thoughtful and touching this gift was that she had taken the all the time and effort to organise it for me. (And let me add - we only really met/became "friends" a couple of odd months before our weddings - And we instantly hit it off. She's just that type of gal.

She is currently nursing a baby cow by bottle feeding it. 

I know.

NUMBER 3:



Midlands Musings is like a lucky dip goodie-bag. You never quite know what you're going to get and (apart from the amazing writing- that will leave you feeling like you want to write some epic poetry) this lucky-dip-ness is a large part of Midlands Musings' epic charm. Lots of Keri's posts are introspective - that leave you thinking about your own life others are real food for thought kind of stuff. If it's actual food you're after - there's plenty of that too - her husband's a chef and she's got a stash of foodie-friends.


NUMBER 4:




Some of Keri's most meaty posts include the "one about getting naked". And the one about "honesty and blogging" - you should read them. And Keri also happens to love a good ocean dousing. (One Times Bonus point)

NUMBER 5:
Apart from being a great blog - with posts that make you want to whack on your yoga pants, streak topless down a mountain and go bungee-jumping off a bridge. You should follow Midlands Musings because that will lead you to Keri's Twitter account.

and let me tell you - 

Keri is freaking hilarious in 140 characters or less.

#justsayin

NUMBER 6:

Yep. A whole pack of little GINGER-FLAME-HEADS if you will.

I'm serious you guys.

She is going to need all the love and support she can get.

So go read her blog and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

If not for me, or her - 

do it for the ginger babies.

Thanks for sponsoring indieBerries Kez - you are awesome! xo

The end.

scrapbook inspiration

I definitely wouldn't call myself a "scrapbooker" in the sense of making well laid out scrapbook pages to fill a scrapbook album, but I am into pretty things and I am HUGE fan of gorgeous gift-wrapping. So when I found myself on the Crate Paper blog the other day, I couldn't help but think what awesome gift tags and gift-wrapping ideas you can get from scrapbooking. I love all the layers in these pictures and all the bakers twine used in the cut-outs. The bonus of using scrapbook papers in gift-wrapping is that everything is usually co-ordinating or fits together in some way.
 

I think this is my favourite of these pics - I love the black and white polaroid and the stitching with the tissue paper sewn into the mix. This design was created by Rahel Menig.
Above: I love this cute co-ordinating set - esp the pseudo washi tape behind the bird. haha. And below - don't you think this colour combo is awesome? (would be good for more manly gifts lol).
All these images are off the Crate Paper Blog. The blog is a spin-off from the online Crate Paper store which sells scrapbook pages and different kinds of embellishments. You can visit the store here.

jessica hitched

Jessica Hische is a letterer, illustrator and designer. She is well-known for her Daily Drop Cap Project as well as her "Should I work for Free?" Flowchart. Below are some of her recent drop cap Pics -  

 

Jessica is marrying her long-time love Russ and their wedding invitation takes the form of a website telling their life story with a passworded RSVP for guests. And since I'm all into wedding things these days, thought I would share it with you. The website shows the development of their relationship right from the napkin Jessica sent to him -  

and the paper he sent back - 

right through to their matching colour wheel tattoos - 

Go check out their love story/invite here

Pharside and Prime Circle

I first met Marky Warren - Phather of The Pharside  back in 2010 when we were both awesome enough crazy enough to fly back to South Africa to attend the 2010 South African Blog awards which were held at The One and Only in Cape Town. Luckily the trip back home was worth it for us and we nabbed some blog-awards. (high-five). Marky blogs from London and The Pharside provides a good dose of home (sports results, general going-ons, and up-coming events in London Town) for all the Saffers living the dream in The Big Smoke. I was actually reading The Pharside back when I was still living in Korea and saw Marky blogging about some delicious Boerewors Rolls in Wimbledon. I passed on the information to The Warr - and he and his housemates have been uber grateful ever since...

Anyway - when Mr Pharside heard that I had made it safe and sound to London - he offered The Warr and I some comp tickets to see Prime Circle last Sunday at The Walkabout in Shepherd's Bush.

They were awesome and seeing them live again brought back many memories of my University-days when they toured down to Grahamstown. (think: mosh-pitting-groupies.) At the end of the show - they came down to mix with the crowd. I definitely high-fived the guitarist.

Huge thanks to Marky Warren and The Pharside. You can follow The Pharside on Facebook or Marky on Twitter to keep up with Saffer news, random-awesome funnies and loads of up-coming events - (ie: Barry Hilton in London in July - and you can win tickets HERE.)