It's the season to panic and freak out

No, no, Tea Tippler, dear - it's already here! *face palm.

This morning I finally had to make peace with the fact that it's no longer October and that I have some serious catching up to do in terms of holiday spirit. I have not bought a single gift, haven't given a single thought to what my "special dish" for the family dinner will be and apparently, from what I've been told, I volunteered to do the table decor. In fact, I'm so unprepared this year that I'm literally waiting for the Ghost of Christmas Past to jump out from behind a lamp post and shout, "Doom on you! Doom on you!"

So, today's post is really more for my benefit than yours - selfish, I know. Seeing as every single shop is a battlefield this time of year (angry shoppers demanding more minced pies, shop assistants crying in the fresh produce section, screaming toddlers slinging milk bottles against the baking shelf because there's no more Ultra Mel), I've decided to rely on my freaking awesome DIY skills (subtext: Pinterest, help!) Nobody sprained any brain muscles there, is what you're probably thinking. But hopefully all of you who find yourself in the same predicament as me will be able to draw a little inspiration from this mixing bowl of prettiness! Happy Holidays!

 

 

 For picture references, check out my Pinterest boards here.

Bruilof: Episode 13 - The Honeymoon

As I mentioned before, I scripted for an Afrikaans TV series called Bruilof. Here's the final insert on the honeymoon that was shot at the magnificent Tintswalo Lodge in Houtbay, South Africa.

Bruilof: Episode 12 - Flowers

As I mentioned before, I scripted for an Afrikaans TV series called Bruilof. Here's an insert on flowers and centre pieces by Flowers in the Foyer.

Bruilof: Episode 11 - The Menu

As I mentioned before, I scripted for an Afrikaans TV series called Bruilof. Here's an insert on the food and menu by Two Chefs.

Bruilof: Episode 10 - The Floor Plan

As I mentioned before, I scripted for an Afrikaans TV series called Bruilof. Here's an insert on the floor plan by Willem Jansen.

Bruilof: Episode 9 - Suits

As I mentioned before, I scripted for an Afrikaans TV series called Bruilof. Here's an insert on wedding suits by fashion designer Ruald Rheeder.

Bruilof: Episode 8 - Jewellery

As I mentioned before, I'm scripting for an Afrikaans TV series called Bruilof. Here's an insert on wedding jewellery by FreeRange Jewels.

Apostrophes have rights too

I don't consider myself to have OCD. I love the way a skew painting makes me feel like the whole world is tilted, I can't say I mind too much for nails scraping a black board and I don't particularly get my earlobes in a twist when Mr X rocks brown shoes with black pants. But if there's one thing that really steams my kidneys, it's wrong use of the apostrophe. I'd be lying if I said I haven't typed quite a few snide comments under Facebook statuses in my day, even though I've never had the heart to actually post it.

Now, Ghandi said: "Be the change you want to see in the world." Well, Mr Ghandi, I really want the world to use the apostrophe correctly, so this is me being the change...

Starting with baby steps:

it's vs its 

Now if you're reading this and feeling like...

 

...fear not, fair lady or fiery lad. Once you've grasped that first straw, you'll see it's really not such a scary concept. The first and most basic rule of thumb is (in the words of Shakespeare I think...? I stand corrected): "Dude, you can't just leave out letters and not replace it with something." If you're chucking out letters, the least you can do for those poor mutilated words is to chuck in an apostrophe. This means:

• it is = it is = it's
• it has = it has = it's

So, when you're (you are) writing a sentence and not sure whether to use its or it's, simply ask yourself: Will the sentence still make sense if I use "it is" or "it has" instead?

• If the answer is YES, use it's. 
• If the answer is NO, use its.

Of course, it gets a little more complex down the line - grammar has (it is...? nah) its fair share of mountains to climb, but for now it's (it is) really as simple as that.

No hard feelings...?

Glass half full

While skipping around cyber space this evening, I came across this awesome little web clipping on a site called Momtrepreneur (which I also blog for every now and again). With tomorrow being manic murderous monstrous freaking Monday again, I figured we could all do with a free positive thought. So print this out, slap it on your fridge, clip one off in the morning and, in the words of the great Mr Marley, don't worry be happy.

Simply Data web copy 2012

I recently wrote the copy for a website by Yorkhill Design, called Simply Data. Even though I burnt the midnight oil quite late on this project, I learned a lot a lot a lot about data in the process. Both these companies are amazing in their respective fields, so be sure to check them out.

Home Page

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On Tap blog posts

Just a couple of examples of the many many daily blog posts I wrote for On Tap while working at Tomcat... Click the titles to read more.

In the Pipeline at On Tap Bellville

On Tap Welcomes new German Brand

Online On Tap Convenience

Casual Fridays for a Serious Cause

Perdeberg Wines blog posts

Click the title of each picture to check out some examples of blog posts I wrote for Perdeberg Wines while employed at Tomcat.

Perdeberg proves their stripes

 

Perdeberg gets in the Zone

 

Perdeberg Merlot gets a High Five

 

Perdeberg at ELLE New Talent Awards

When in doubt, buy marshmallows

So tonight I'm playing hostess for our church group. For an after dinner treat, I decided to bake cupcakes from scratch. OK, that's a lie. Let's just say I had a little help from Snowflake. Nudge-nudge, wink-wink. Anyhoo, when it came to icing the "homemade" lovelies I encountered a slight hiccup: Making icing is such a mission! OK, that's a lie too. I'm actually forbidden by law to make icing from scratch for as long as my brother and I share a flat, putting him at risk of getting stuck with the dishes. That's when I remembered a little golden tip a friend of mine once let me in on at a braai: After the cupcakes come out the oven, place a marshmallow on top and put it back in for a couple of seconds. And that my dear friends, is exactly what I did...

(Excuse the poor quality pics. My camera is still at my... Oh no wait, that's a story for another time.)

Was it successful? Heck, who knows! We'll let the troops decide tonight.

Bruilof: Episode 7 - The Entourage

As I mentioned before, I scripted for an Afrikaans TV series called Bruilof. Here's an insert on the bridesmaids and grooms men by BonTon.

Project Home Office - Complete!

I recently did a blogpost for a client on interesting and creative home office ideas, and I must say - browsing through the pretty, magical and inspiring pictures on Pinterest was simply... depressing. Sitting on my stupid chair at my stupid desk with my stupid bookshelf and stupid pencil case, all I really wanted at that moment was a Pinterest office. And that's when a light bulb materialised above my head (for real). There and then I made the decision to put some effort into my own little home office and really make it a space that makes me WANT to put bum on seat and work, work, work. 

Like everything in my life, this is and will always remain a work in progress - after all, isn't there always something prettier out there? But here's where my little work nook is at right now...

 

 

• Rose pink backdrop: Woolies gift wrap on a polystyrene pin board.
• Wooden & and m cut-outs: Typo
• Table: Second-hand store
• Bookshelf and brown ottoman: Gumtree (for super cheap!)
• Tea cup: Gran's kitchen cupboard
• Metal case: Make-up case from Clicks
• Room divider: Secondhand frame covered with Mr Price table runners
• White frame, Black box frame and Mirror: Found in the garage - broken and chipped - fixed up and painted by myself. 
• Little brown suitcase: Present from my mom for my 5th birthday.

PS. Chuck your chair and buy a nice fat ottoman! Great for posture and deliciously comfy, trust me. Cheerio for now!

Call it a Catastrophe

I'm blogging about cats. I am blogging... about cats. Oh, the shame. How on earth did it come to this? Well, it's Sunday, I'm blue, and I miss my cat.

FYI: According to the Online Feline Humour Complaints Commision every blogger is allowed one cat blogpost during the course of their blogging career. Any blogger in violation of this code will be prosecuted and sentenced to a four day baked bean-and-cheese diet. True Story.

 

 

Hang tight, bloggums - it can only get better from here.

Trou Inspirasie: Celebrity Weddings

Now and again on Trou Inspirasie we do a feature on a celebrity wedding. Here are links to two articles I recently wrote:

Angelique + Ben-G { Clara, 7de Laan }

Hildegardt + Kuba { Bonita, 7de Laan }

Trou Inspirasie blogposts

I've been blogging for the Afrikaans wedding inspiration site Trou Inspirasie for almost a year now, and recently took on its English sister site Celebration as well. So I figured, it's about time I put together a little list of my personal favourite posts:

Span die Seile { Seevaart tema }

Die Bruid en die Braai

Onthou-die-Datum Kaartjies { Bewoording }

 

Eendbekkies { Oulike Ysbrekertjies }

 

Piekniek met Pizzaz

 

Orgidiee { Sag + Elegant }

 

Suid, Wes, Oos Bes {Chinese Tema }

Skoffel in die Skuur

 

Kiekie Kaskenades

 

Alice in Wonderland

 

Denim wou sy Dra

 

Bolletjieblom! { Craspedia Inspirasie }

 

Trouklokkies + Doudruppels