Monthly Archives: February 2015

MY MONTH ON INSTAGRAM | FEBRUARY 2015

28 February 2015

instagram, my month, february, mymonthoninstagram, photo, photography, trend, style, daily, experiences, beauty, moments, snow, winter, season, stylejuicer, kids, bed, london, breakfast, magnolia, kew gardens, smoothie, selfie, hashtag, 20beautifulwomenchallenge, 20 beautiful women challenge
 

Zoom… wow, how fast has February flown by!? Don’t be fooled by some of the sunny pictures, it was a pretty gloomy month – though we did at last get about 2 inches of snow which disappeared in all of five seconds. The kids loved it though they did comment how cold it was, duh!

The main event this month in Instagram world was the hashtag #20beautifulwomenchallenge to encourage self esteem and confidence in women. After being tagged by far too many to ignore I finally decided to take part and posted the dreaded selfie. How I cringed and didn’t dare to look at the likes and comments for ages… well, at least 2 hours which is ‘ages’ in IG world.

But I’m glad to report that my follower figures didn’t plummet and it was quite overwhelming and emotional to receive all the lovely supportive comments. By tagging 20 more women I realised that the vast majority have got the same fears and it is precisely for that reason that this campaign is necessary and so healthy especially on a social platform that is for the most part obsessed with beauty and documenting life in the best possible light.

We are all women and we are all beautiful, whatever age or colour, and if you haven’t taken part consider yourself tagged and I promise you it’s a liberating and empowering experience.

#20beautifulwomenchallenge

 

PHOTOGRAPHY | Annie Kruse Please don’t take my shots without my permission. Instead follow me on Instagram.

 
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A CALM AND PURE HOME IN CAPE TOWN

25 February 2015

calm, pure, home, cape town, south africa, est magazine, isuu, online magazine, make up artist, Algria Ferreira-Watling, monastery, zen, bare, walls, floors, white washed, interior design, styling, trend, style, decor, muted colour palette, less is more

After a week of far too much work and too little time to play I’m finally back to blogging and want to share this amazing home in Cape Town with you which I discovered via one of my favourite online magazines EST.

It’s the home of make-up artist Algria Ferreira-Watling who by her own admission comes from a poor background and never dreamt of living in a palace. She says she has never needed things but instead has always wanted to live in a little house with the peaceful feel of a monastery.

A truly admirable and humbling approach to decorating, interior design and styling and in fact to the rest of the world’s drive to consumerism. Her place feels very Zen like and utterly calm and pure with bare walls and floors in a muted earthy colour palette.

Looking at her place made me take a step back and remind myself that less is more. *Sigh* but I do so like some new shoes…

 

calm, pure, home, cape town, south africa, est magazine, isuu, online magazine, make up artist, Algria Ferreira-Watling, monastery, zen, bare, walls, floors, white washed, interior design, styling, trend, style, decor, muted colour palette, less is more

calm, pure, home, cape town, south africa, est magazine, isuu, online magazine, make up artist, Algria Ferreira-Watling, monastery, zen, bare, walls, floors, white washed, interior design, styling, trend, style, decor, muted colour palette, less is more

calm, pure, home, cape town, south africa, est magazine, isuu, online magazine, make up artist, Algria Ferreira-Watling, monastery, zen, bare, walls, floors, white washed, interior design, styling, trend, style, decor, muted colour palette, less is more

calm, pure, home, cape town, south africa, est magazine, isuu, online magazine, make up artist, Algria Ferreira-Watling, monastery, zen, bare, walls, floors, white washed, interior design, styling, trend, style, decor, muted colour palette, less is more

calm, pure, home, cape town, south africa, est magazine, isuu, online magazine, make up artist, Algria Ferreira-Watling, monastery, zen, bare, walls, floors, white washed, interior design, styling, trend, style, decor, muted colour palette, less is more

 
PHOTOGRAPHY | Greg Cox with thanks
 
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MOOD BOARD | GRID LOVE

23 February 2015

mood board, trend, styling, grid, grid love, grid addict, instagram, pinterest, fashion, interiors, home, decor, aura, bedlinen, grid blanket, grid sweater, h&m home

In case you’re not an Instagram addict / blog lover / design nerd and Pinterest fanatic like me you may be surprised to find that GRIDs are totally a thing at the moment.

From socks to frocks, teatowels to bedlinen they even made their way into our kids rooms (see Suzanne’s fabulous post last week). Mostly monochrome and often reversible I’m in love with this trend and have gathered a few of my favourites on the mood board above. Do you remember that grid teatowel I bought from H&M home a couple of weeks ago… fits right in. But if I may please can I also have:

01 | This beautiful blanket as winter seems to have returned with freezing temperatures.
02 | The polo neck sweater for reasons see above.
03 | And this AURA reversible bedlinen.

 
NOTE | All shots used on the mood board via my Pinterest boards
Grid blanket via Studio Oink with thanks
 
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MODERN RUSTIC | DANISH COTTAGE

16 February 2015

modern rustic, danish, denmark, cottage, kitchen, style, trend, interior design, styling, handmade, wooden, dining table, metal chairs, sheep skin, exposed beams, brick wall, muted, shades of grey, organic, curved, traditional display cabinet

Hello peeps! Did you all survive Valentines Day? Did you feel it? Yeah, me neither. Give me a modern rustic Danish cottage any day but on demand romance… nah, not enough spontaneity for me.

So, isn’t this place fabulous? Kitchens sell houses, right!? I would buy this one without even looking around the rest of the house. That heavy, handmade wooden dining table with organic curvy edges that still show the shape of the tree, those metal chairs with fluffy sheep skins, the muted shades of grey (no, haven’t seen the movie or read the books and don’t intend to) and exposed beams and brick wall – I’m all over that. Beautiful! And a perfect fit for the black clad cottage with it’s typical steep metal roof.

There are some more gems around the rest of the house like the curved wooden boards in the bathroom used as shelving and support for the sink. I also like the bull horns sitting on top of a traditional display cabinet and how cute is the dog sitting patiently underneath!?

Wishing you a great start to the week.

 

modern rustic, danish, denmark, cottage, kitchen, style, trend, interior design, styling, handmade, wooden, dining table, metal chairs, sheep skin, exposed beams, brick wall, muted, shades of grey, organic, curved, traditional display cabinet

modern rustic, danish, denmark, cottage, kitchen, style, trend, interior design, styling, handmade, wooden, dining table, metal chairs, sheep skin, exposed beams, brick wall, muted, shades of grey, organic, curved, traditional display cabinet

modern rustic, danish, denmark, cottage, kitchen, style, trend, interior design, styling, handmade, wooden, dining table, metal chairs, sheep skin, exposed beams, brick wall, muted, shades of grey, organic, curved, traditional display cabinet

modern rustic, danish, denmark, cottage, kitchen, style, trend, interior design, styling, handmade, wooden, dining table, metal chairs, sheep skin, exposed beams, brick wall, muted, shades of grey, organic, curved, traditional display cabinet

modern rustic, danish, denmark, cottage, kitchen, style, trend, interior design, styling, handmade, wooden, dining table, metal chairs, sheep skin, exposed beams, brick wall, muted, shades of grey, organic, curved, traditional display cabinet

modern rustic, danish, denmark, cottage, kitchen, style, trend, interior design, styling, handmade, wooden, dining table, metal chairs, sheep skin, exposed beams, brick wall, muted, shades of grey, organic, curved, traditional display cabinet

 
VIA | Femina
PHOTOGRAPHY | Mette Wotkjær with thanks
 
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MOOD BOARD | NUDE TREND

14 February 2015

mood board, nudes, pale pink, valentines day, couples, love, snuggle, fashion, style, trend, lingerie, neutrals, feminine colour, inspiration, instagram

What could be a better fit than NUDES on this special day for all loved up couples out there. Aw… you guys, so cute….

You may detect some cynicism in my tone but it’s not because I dislike Valentines Day per se. Though I do have a problem with the commercial aspect of it and the stupidly inflated prices for flowers in general and roses in particular. But I guess that’s market forces at play. Supply and demand… yadda yadda.

As I mentioned earlier this week I’m declaring my love of nudes today. You night have noticed my Instagram account turning somewhat nude and dare I say pink – shock horror!? Well, it’s more of a soft pink that I champion, aka nude. In fashion it’s wonderfully flattering with all skin tones from pale blondes to freckly gingers to dark skin and hair, nude looks good on everyone. It even gives women like me a little lift with my washed out complexion and hair. Plus it’s a wonderfully feminine colour and always makes me feel like a natural woman… Are you breaking out in song?

On my recent (all too brief) shopping trip to London’s Oxford Street I noticed a lot of nude tones around from sheer blouses to trousers and lingerie. I think it’s going to be a really strong nude trend this year and I love it as it looks good with all my favourite neutrals like white, grey and black and gives a hint of colour without shouting pink at you.

Now, go and put that iphone/pad down and snuggle up to your loved one for another round of oh lala or maybe just a good old snooze. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

 
NOTE | All via my Pinterest boards
 
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