Getting creative with an old cupboard

Ideas, a fabulously local mag for creative crafters, recently posted a series of cupboard make-overs. The remarkable thing was the versatility – a single old cupboard, so many looks. Just shows what necessity and craftiness can do for a room.

Click on the images and find out how you too can get the look.

World of Dogs & Cats heads back to Durban

South Africa’s most exciting pet event, The World of Dogs and Cats Pet Exhibition takes place at the Durban Exhibition Centre from 22-24 February.

The exciting family event which was first held in Durban in 1996 includes arena events showcasing various dog breeds in a Best of Breed competition as well as in obedience, agility, dog jumping, carting and fly ball. There is a nail-biting  60- Weaving Pole Challenge for dogs as well as a Celebrity Challenge which sees local celebs trying their hand at taking dogs around an agility course. A  Hall of Cats  with many different breed of felines is sure to enthrall cat-lovers.

Plus there is a whole lot of live pet action with a spectacular Pet Fashion Show, dog breed parades,  dancing with dogs displays,  the popular canine survivor competition and pony rides for children.

Both Dog and Cat Breeders will be on hand to provide helpful information on owning a particular breed. For those in need of a pet with a difference there are  birds, fish, pet rats, spiders, frogs, snakes, iguanas and all sorts of other interesting creepy companions.

Pet food manufacturers, pet healthcare companies, pet product and accessory suppliers, trainers, animal welfare organisations, dog and cat clubs and many more will be offering information and advice on owning a pet.

The World of Dogs and Cats and Pet Exhibition provides an avenue to learn more about different dogs, cats, reptiles and other fascinating creatures and the joys as well as the responsibilities of being a pet-owner.

 Tickets available at the door at the Durban Exhibition Centre or at Computicket. For more information go to www.dogscats.co.za or email dogscats@iafrica.com.*

*Taken from the World of Dogs & Cats and Pet Exhibition press release.

The J&B Met: where sport & fashion meet

 The J&B Met is described as "the pinnacle of competition, the height of sophistication and glamour." And aptly so. An event unlike any other, filled with vibrant people, hot-blooded stallions and outstanding fashions, it is an extravaganza in every sense of the word.

Every year is marked by a particular theme, which is what the fashion savy amongst you will be aching to know. Well, in this its 35th year, organisers have decided that we should all be Made To Fly. Their hope is that the theme will be embraced "with the same passion as seen through the years (with participants) dressing in the most groundbreaking outfits to accentuate their fly personalities." 

However you partake in this event, whether on the catwalks, in the pavilions or on the couch, we know you're sure to enjoy this one-of-a-kind horse racing spectacular.  

When: 02 February 2013

Where: Kenilworth Racecourse, Cape Town

The Perfect Matching Scarf fits every outfit!

Ideal for designers, fashionistas and colour enthusiasts, the Perfect Matching Scarf is the solution to your fashion woes. No more hunting for the ultimate match for your wardrobe colour scheme, not when these scarves promise to fit every outfit. 

Only 20 scarves were knitted for each colour scheme, so if your looking for quirky exclusivity you've found it. Discover more about these funky little neck warmers here: www.perfectmatchingscarf.com

Magoebaskloof Berry Festival: 9 & 10 February

Tickle your taste buds at the famous Berry Festival on the weekend of the 9th and 10th of February 2013. An annual celebration of all things berry, this delicious event will once again be hosted by the village of Haenertsburg and the Magoebaskloof.

Indulge your senses when you pick you own berries at one of the participating farms. Eat your fill of the most delicious fresh raspberries, blueberries and cherry quavas as you wander through the working farms in the area. Punnets of these berries and some locally grown strwaberries will also be available for you to purchase and take home.

Not a berry fanatic? Then, why not take a trip to an Organic Cheese Dairy Farm for a cheese tour, or visit the Haenertsburg Harvest Market? Here you’ll find a variety of fresh farm produce, a selection of home-made berry jams, pickles and preserves, organic cheeses, home-made cakes, plants, second-hand books, arts and crafts and many other unique items.

And don’t forget to take a trip to the local pub!

When? 09 – 10 February 2013 | Participating farms will be open from 09h00 to 16h00

Where? The village of Haenertsburg and the Magoebaskloof

How much? R 30 per adult | R 20 children U15 | FREE children U5

For more info visit: berryfestival.co.za

Sugar-free Cheesecake? Yes, please!

For those who made a diet one of their New Years' resolutions...

Serves: 8

Prep time: 40 minutes, plus refrigeration time

Baking time: 10 minutes

Oven temp: 200^oC

You’ll need:

Base

• 100ml cake flour

• 2,5ml baking powder

• 40ml sugar substitute suitable for baking (such as Sugalite or xylitol)

• 50ml butter

• 1 large egg

• 30ml gelatine

• 4 large eggs, separated

• 300ml sugar substitute

• 500g fat-free smooth cottage cheese

• 5ml vanilla essence

• 15ml lemon juice

Topping

• 15ml gelatine

• 100ml reduced-sugar diabetic-friendly jam

• fresh fruit slices, to decorate

Instructions:

Base: Mix the flour, baking powder and sugar substitute together. Rub in the butter. Beat the egg and stir into the mixture. Spoon into a greased 18cm spring-form tin and spread out evenly. Bake in a preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.

Filling: Pour 100ml water over the gelatine. Set aside to hydrate. Heat until melted then set aside to cool. Beat the egg yolks and the sugar substitute together until light. Fold in the cottage cheese, vanilla essence and lemon juice. Add a little of this mixture to the gelatine mixture and stir. Add to the remaining cottage cheese mixture. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold them into the mixture. Pour into the base and leave to set in the fridge overnight.

Topping: Pour 40ml water over the gelatine and leave to hydrate. Heat until melted. Warm the jam and then stir in the gelatine. Leave to cool, then spoon over the cheesecake and leave to set. Decorate with fresh fruit.

*Just another delicious recipe from Ideas! You can find more here: ideasmag.co.za

Wine & dine at the Stellenbosch Wine Festival

The Stellenbosch Wine Festival, the flagship event of South Africa’s iconic wine region, stomps its way into a new era this January.

The expanded 10-day programme is designed to showcase in a bigger, better and bolder fashion the delightfully diverse town of Stellenbosch.

The new-look Stellenbosch Wine Festival, presented by Pick n Pay, delivers a full flight of wine experiences for both casual fans and connoisseurs, including a ten-day promotion at many of the area’s award-winning restaurants, special cultivar evenings and wine farm tours.

Throughout the week, wine lovers will be able to tailor-make their own festival experience by dining in town and or at estate restaurants offering special food and wine pairing menus as part of the festival’s “Wine & Dine” sensation or by visiting a myriad of farms offering unique tours and tasting programmes.

A festival highlight will be the Blessing of the Harvest and the Harvest Parade on Saturday, 26 January, as celebrants from Stellenbosch member farms march through the streets on a flotilla of tractors. For those more adventurous festival goers, various sporting events will give enthusiasts a colourful taste of the Stellenbosch lifestyle.

It all culminates in a three-day Wine Expo, which will be located in the heart of the vibrant town, and feature interactive stands and tasting programmes from over 130 wine and gourmet food producers.

The Wine Expo is set to take place from 1 to 3 February on Die Braak and will take full advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings with rustic tables, green decor and free-flowing Bedouin tents. A central stage will play host to Sunset Sounds Concerts to keep festival goers entertained as they enjoy the fabulous vintages on offer.*

Festival events:

• Wine Expo ( 1 – 3 Feb)
• Lifestyle Experience Evening presented by Pick n Pay (Wed 30 Jan)
• Grape Golf Challenge
• American Express Wine & Dine
• American Express Winery Experiences
• Pick n Pay Women’s Walk
• The Stellenbosch Wine Festival at Die Braak

When?  25 January 2013 to 03 February 2013

Where?  Festival Square at Die Braak

How much?

The Stellenbosch Wine Festival Wine Expo = R150 includes glass & free wine tasting & park & ride shuttle ticket

Stellenbosch Wine Festival Lifestyle Experience = R250 includes glass, free wine tasting & free food tastings

Click here to book your tickets now!

Or for more info visit the festival online: www.stellenboschwinefestival.co.za

*Taken from the Pick n Pay press release regarding the event (available here).

Blooming rainbows & multicoloured roses...

No, they're not photoshopped! They're 100% real and easy to create.

 Believe it or not, because the method utilises the flower's natural ability to draw water up via the stem, all you need to achieve this look is a selection of white roses and some water and food colouring. The method can also be applied to other flowers, especially white chrysanthemum and carnations!

Want to learn more about the oh-so-simple technique? Then visit Design Bloom and watch the provided tutorial. Click here to jump straight to the video tutorial. 

Cape Town Holi One Colour Festival - 02 March 2013

Be a part of the exhilarating experience, vibrant energy and mischievous behaviour when the Holi One Colour Festival comes to Cape Town.

For early bird tickets visit any Gypsy stores throughout the Cape Peninsula or

 Take&Bake, 16 Main Road, SeaPoint. 

You can also book your tickets online via www.webtickets.co.za.

Please note that powder will also be sold separately at the event.

Pantone Colour of the Year 2013: Emerald 17-5641

Pantone, the global authority on colour and provider of professional colour standards to design industries, has announced that PANTONE® 17-5641 Emerald, a lively, radiant, lush green, is the Colour of the Year for 2013.

The Colour of the Year selection is a very thoughtful process. To arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for colour influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, travelling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact colour, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.

This year's pick, Emerald, is a vivid, verdant green, that enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight, as well as promoting balance and harmony. 

Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the colour of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. It’s also the colour of growth, renewal and prosperity – no other colour conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.

“Green is the most abundant hue in nature – the human eye sees more green than any other colour in the spectrum,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors.”

Emerald for Fashion

The prevalence of green has been steadily rising for several seasons, especially in the fashion and couture markets, and even on the red carpet. Appropriate for every occasion, Emerald’s classic elegance makes for striking and irresistible women’s formal and everyday wear as well as accessories. Emerald also makes a strong statement in men’s sportswear, knitwear and ties. Balanced yet sophisticated, Emerald enlivens all colours in the spectrum and will continue to make a statement beyond spring and summer into fall and winter.

Emerald for Beauty

Equally harmonious on the cosmetic colour wheel, Emerald dramatizes all eye colours as it beautifully enhances green eyes, is compatible to blue eyes, emphasizes the green undertone in hazel eyes and intensifies brown eyes to make them appear deeper. Emerald is also a perfect complement to peaches, pinks, roses, ruby reds and aubergines – offering a variety of lipstick and blush options. For those who want to sparkle and stand out, Emerald is the perfect punctuation point in nail colour because of its complementary nature.

Emerald for Interiors

Enhance your sense of well-being at home by rejuvenating the interior with Emerald paint, accents and accessories. This jewel-like hue will create a luxurious feel in an entryway, powder room, dining room or study, and bring life to a living room as an accent wall. Add a splash of colour to the kitchen and dining room areas with Emerald dinnerware, stem-ware and appliances.

*Adapted from the "Pantone Reveals Color of the Year for 2013" Press Release available here.

Cape Town Tattoo Expo 2013

Now going in its fifth year, the Cape Town Tattoo Expo has evolved into the most important lifestyle festival of its kind on the African continent. And, with a greater range of top international tattoo artists attending, a very ambitious art events schedule and our biggest and best concert schedule to date, this year's Cape Town Tattoo Expo promises to be the best one yet!

Visit the expo website often to find out more about new attending artists, pre-convention events, concert line-ups, competitions, and more.

Easy & trendy - the DIY scarf watch

This is a quick, snazzy tutorial from 'a pair and a spare', a clever do-it-yourself fashion blog from Geneva Vanderzeil. (FYI: If you love this tutorial then you gonna want her book DYI Fashionista. Click here to find it online)

You need:

A watch with a removable strap
A slim silk scarf

Instructions:

Take the arm straps off your watch. Try using a needle to push the pins out and then remove the arms.

Take the pins out of the straps.

Put the pins back into their sockets of the watch.

Thread your scarf through the pins so that it forms the straps of the watch.

Pull the scarf through so that the lengths of fabric are even on each side of the watch.  

Finally, wrap the scarf around your arm - you can tie the scarf in a big bow or a small knot to secure.

More white dresses & tiaras at the Camelot Bridal Fair

Here comes the Bridal Expo...

Click here to visit the Bridal Expo website. 

DIY concrete stepping stones

The start of a new year is always marked with resolutions, renewals and reinventions. If you’re thinking of taking this philosophy into the garden then we recommend you keep reading. Below you’ll find an incredibly easy tutorial about creating concrete stepping stones from the peeps at Home Dzine.

You'll need:

A large leaf from any plant that has large veined leaves.
Quick set cement
Large cardboard tube or cake ring
Spray 'n Cook

Note: Whatever you use as a mould for the stepping stone should fit nicely over the leaf. You want to show as much of the veins on the back of the leaf as possible. The more veins your leaf has, the more detailed the stepping stone will be.

Instructions:

Spray the inside of the mould with Cook 'n Spray to make it easier to remove once the cement has set. Place the leaf on a flat, level surface and position the mould on top of this.

Mix up the cement and pour into the mould. The cement doesn't need to be any thicker than about 4cm, any thicker and the cement may not set properly. Leave to cure for the recommended time and then carefully remove the mould to reveal your detailed stepping stone. Now you are ready to make the next one.

Madame Zingara back in Cape Town!

Madame Zingara's unique dinner cirque spectacular will be back in The Mother City for a limited time only. Click here to visit the Theatre of Dreams online and book you tickets today!

The DIY Curly Fork Bracelet

We think you'll agree with us that this is a fab birthday gift for a foodie, or fashionista, or even to keep for yourself. The best thing is that they are gifts of the do-it-yourself variety, so they won't cost you an arm or a leg!

Click here and find yourself on Stacie Grissom's blog, where stars are used for streetlights and DIY is the name of the game. Apart from a great video tutorial on how to create your own curly forks, you'll also find a link to her Esty Shop. Here you'll be able to buy these bracelets and other gorgeous goodies. Enjoy!

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012

The Iziko South African Museum, in partnership with NHU Africa, is once again hosting this world-class photographic exhibition that offers you an extraordinary insight into the beauty, drama and diversity of the natural world.

Visit the Iziko website for more details. 

Wishing you a peaceful & prosperous New Year