Get Ready Monsters

Gaga is coming to South Africa! My gays and I are about to go cray!

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

Image from here.

Hello Lover

So love at first sight...something I've always believed in. Whether it's a pair of shoes, a cupcake, a fat Asian baby or some dark-haired, blue-eyed boy I fall and I fall hard.

Last week I was doing my thang at the Press Room Summer Preview, you know chatting with the girls, lusting after the shoes the fashion editors were wearing, drinking some champers when it happened. I turned my head and I knew it was real. The heavens opened, birds chirped and violins played.

There proudly displayed was my new obsession: the Dolce and Gabbana Gold Edition sunglasses.

The collection comprises of prescription and sunglasses with an 18 carat gold-plated frame. I was particularly  enamoured with the sunglasses as you can see below.

But as all love affairs, it had to end sometime. For me, it was around the time I heard the price of these sunnies R6490. Sorry but homie don't play that.

Alas, it was good while it lasted.

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

Why I Blog...

I recently read a blog post that has been causing a whole bunch of furor about bloggers charging. I agreed with the bit about bloggers getting paid if they are called on to promote or advertise a product or brand. Writing isn’t that easy, y’all. It takes work to make a press release sound faboosh. I also feel it’s up to those bloggers who want to make money off their blogs. Some of us are doing it for different reasons. And I think that’s where the post can be misconstrued. It was clearly written for those who need to pay them bills.

I’m not gonna lie if I was offered moolah to advertise a product I’d do it. Those heels are not gonna pay for themselves. I would disclose it though. At the same time, as a baby blogger compared to the really fabulous ones out there, I have also done my fair share of free posts. I feel that it’s all part of paying my dues, getting some exposure and all that nonsense. Also I have a hard time saying no.

Now well I believe in getting paid to blog I also believe that for some stuff you don’t need to get paid to write a gushing post. I have received stuff to review, been invited to launches and got goodie bags. And honestly it was AH-MAZING! And that’s probably why I write about them. They give me the same happy feeling in my stomach I usually get from cupcakes. If it didn’t it probably wouldn’t appear on the blog. Which is probably why some PR peeps don’t like me.

Now all that stuff is lovely but that’s not the only reason I blog. Since 2009 I have documented many personal things including my love for magic knickers and food. A lot of food. I’ve put my work and colleague frustration online. I’ve managed to secure a fashion column from my blog. I openly declared my girl crush on Robyn Cooke and I know she feels the same way. I’ve started a list of Dos and Don’ts my Future Boyfriend *will* adhere to. I've got to hang out with Bryan Boy (one of my favourite things in the world). I've been invited to celebrate Singleton Awareness Day (aka stupid Valentine's Day). I got to paint my name in the Poetry store window. Managed to turn a Coffee Club meeting into a fabulous event that got out-of-this coverage over here, here, here, here, here, and here.





And that's why I blog :)

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

And The Winner Is...

Firstly thank you to everyone that entered my competition with Champagne Taittinger SA. My inbox was flooded with peeps all dying for some fancy champers.

Now in all honesty, ever since this competition started I have been trying to find ways of keeping this prize to myself. They included creating a fake blogger profile, getting my friends and family to enter with promises of going halfsies or just running away with the prize and never blogging again ;)

Alas my Catholic guilt got the better of me and it was with a heavy heart I put all the entries into a spreadsheet and with the help of Random.org the following person will be popping bottles in the ice like a blizzard...

Karisa from My Love Affair with Cape Town

Snaps for you! I'll be sending you a mail shortly. And shout if you need a drinking buddy.

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

Keep Calm and Have A Cupcake

Ever have one of those weeks where everyone's work is urgent, everything is important and all things need to be completed NOW. Also add in some mean girls, people with too much power and men with bad moods (and we're the ones with PMS) and you'll have my week. And it's only Wednesday.

To look on the brighter side, I am possession of a new dress from I Love Leroy which I'll wear to a fabulous event sponsored by Taittinger (don't forget to enter my competition) tomorrow along with some of you fab Cape Town bloggers. Also I will be making cupcakes. I have found baking calms me down. I think I let out all my frustration via kneading or vigorous stirring.

To put me in the mood, I googled cupcakes. And now I'm in my happy place.

How's your week been?

Always guaranteed to make you smile.

Glitter + cupcakes = Angel's work in my eyes.

Red Velvet, big favourite. Never attempted them myself though.

Snickers cupcakes, hello thighs how you've grown!

Giant cupcake, Jesus take the wheel.

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

Win With Champagne Taittinger SA

Picture the scene…you’re on the French Riveria. You’re basking in the sunlight while a gentle breeze makes your silk Hermés scarf flutter. You’ve kicked off your Louboutins and motion for a nearby waiter to bring you a glass of something chilled. You grip your Waterford crystal and take a glass of vintage Taittinger and then the party really begins.

Skinny Bitches is very excited to announce the start of a fabulous competition. If that’s the lifestyle you’re after, then look no further. Okay, we can’t really promise you the whole paradise shebang but we can give away one ah-mazing hamper that can definitely change a few things.

This can all be yours, mmmm!

Champagne Taittinger South Africa is giving one Skinny Bitches – In The Making reader a chance to win the following
*One bottle of Taittinger (the preferred brand of Grace Kelly, Truman Capote, James Bond and the Baftas and Tony Awards)
*One Taittinger Ice Bucket to make the rest of your champers feel inferior
*Two Taittinger flutes to live the high life when your bottle’s finished
*One Taittinger stopper to keep the fizzle even if the party’s fizzed out

And to win all of this you ask? All you have to do is send a mail to skinnybsinthemaking@gmail.com with your name, contact number and address. For extra entries you can follow the peeps on Twitter (go on, they’ve just signed up and need fans) and like their Facebook page. Just drop that in the mail.

This could be you next week, if you were slightly less-elegant and a dude!

The competition will run until Thursday, 24 May 2012. The winner and my new bestie (you’ll need to share that champers with someone) will be announced next Friday. Best of all? Anyone from South Africa can enter.

Good luck bitches!Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

Current Obsessions

Smash

This has been labeled like a grownup Glee. I feel it’s not that grownup but it’s like how Glee used to be. Before the ridiculous plots and lame Ricky Martin episode. It’s based on the creation of a Marilyn Monroe musical. It’s got Grace from Will & Grace not being very nice, catchy songs, bitchy back-up dancers and Jack Davenport. I just got the soundtrack as well and it’s amazing. Have been playing it non-stop. It can definitely brighten up a day.

One Direction

It started with one song and now I’m playing the CD all day. It’s catchy and cute and totally reminds me of when I was boyband-obsessed a couple of years ago. The music is the perfect way to brighten up a droll day. And also they’re very nice to look at. Particulalry Zayn. Knowing he was born in 1994 does make me feel a little bad perving over him though.

Game of Thrones

Obvs I love the series but right now I am obsessed with the books. I’ve just started the first one and it’s really good. I was worried it wouldn’t be as entertaining since I knew how it ended (have still not forgiven Joffrey for killing Ned btw) but it’s very addictive. If I normally love a book I read it straight from start to finish in one setting, barely pausing for meals. But with this one I’m trying to take it a bit slow. Especially since I haven’t bought the second book yet.

Homeland

Okay, first up, if you have seen this show and were one of those peeps who didn’t tell me about it we cannot be besties. It is so unbelievably good. I like Claire Danes as the ever-so-crazy CIA agent. She can curse like it’s no one’s business. Also it stars Mandy Patinkin who I have always loved first as Iago in Princess Bride.

Glitter Shoes

Ever since Miu Miu came out with their glitter booties, they are all I can think about. 36Boutiques have a fabulous selection of glitter heels. And my absolute favourite pair are the ones above from G.Couture. I heart them but still in two minds about whether I can pull them off. Le sigh.

  

Ex-Oh!

Images from here and here. 

Letters To My Children

I've always like the idea of passing down collective wisom and advice that you've been given or experienced to someone else. Obviously when it's done right it can be a great help. When it's unsolicited you run the risk of being labelled a nosy bitch who should keep her opinions to herself.

Under the moniker "Letters to My Children" you can rant and rant about all the stuff you learned and know and pass it onto your kids without sounding like a know-it-all. Which is something I really like. Under the guise of preparing your offspring for this world you can say what you want and no one can excuse you of being selfish. Which is awesome.

Now I don't have any kids and until Future Boyfriend comes along, those cute Asian babies we'll adopt are still a dream away. That however hasn't stopped me from preparing my Future Babies. Obviously I want them to stand up for their beliefs and be true to themselves and all that nonsense *but* more importantly I want to guide them through the little stuff.

So hear are my letters to my children...

...No one likes a smug bitch or a douche. Don't be either.

...Never be the car who has slowed down to look at an accident. It's common and it slows down traffic.

...Always be nice to people who serve you food. Just think of all the bad stuff they can do if you're not.

...Never save clothes, shoes or perfume for a special occasion. Make every occasion special. You'll regret never wearing all the pretty things.

...Learn to enjoy your own company. Seriously, sometimes all you need is a big bowl of pasta, fat pants and your favourite by yourself.

...Learn the words to the Beatles song. This will help on drunken nights out, pub quizzes and also it's some of the best music ever created.

...Go to the movies by yourself. On a weekday morning. Stretch out in the comfort of an empty cinema and chew your popcorn as loudly as you want.

...Girls, flats are for quitters ;)

...Never trust a guy/girl who wants to make a sex tape. And if you're the one who suggested it, we need to talk.

...Be nice to people even if you don't like them. It's not two-faced, it's being a bigger person.

...Learn to bake something particularly awesome. Like cupcakes or cheesecake or pecan pie. This is more for me in my old age and laziness than for your better self.

...Don't be afraid to dance. You may not have my skills on the dancefloor but that shouldn't stop you. And by skills I mean I can do the Footloose dance and the routine for Oops! I Did It Again.

...Do more things. Like bowling. I hated it when I was 10. I tried it again at 25. I didn't get better, I may have gotten worse but now I have an unflattering picture of me doing it. Memories.

...Make wishes at 11:11. Not sure why that time but just do it!

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!

Bread, Milk and Honey

 Finding new and fabulous and open at 7am coffee clubs in the city is proving tough work. We had originally planned on visiting The Field Office but despite advertising their opening time as 7 they were still closed when we went for our lattes. After a snooty reply on Twitter about their being closed, we decided we'd much rather spend our money where it was welcomed...

...Bread, Milk and Honey. And I'm really glad we did. The coffee was good, the muffins were tasty and cheap and the baristas were friendly and even asked how much sugar, sweetner we'd like in our coffees. This is a major brand-plus for a coffee shop. It makes so much difference when getting a coffee-on-the-go.

We parked ourselves at one of the tables outside and enjoyed the coffee. Inside there are many more tables but it's so much more enjoyable people-watching outside. If you're hungry, they have loads of pastries and things that can make your stomach smile but your thighs huge. You know, the best things in life. I've also heard about a great lunch buffet but will have to go back to try it out.

 If you're in the area, definitely drop by.

Bread, Milk and Honey
10 Spin Street
021 461 8425

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh! 

Oooh La La

Last week I was very lucky to attend the media launch of some fabulous underwear brands courtesy of Brand Identity. So along with some other blogger peeps and magazine ladies (who are all so well-dressed you feel like even your best threads are potato sacks next to them) I headed to Wembley Square to see the new collections from After Eden, Elle Macpherson and Maidenform.

We were treated to some snacks and drinks and a showcase where all the new collections were shown on girls whose bodies are to die for. A show and some motivation to go back onto diet ;)

There are some very, very seksi things coming from Elle Macpherson's collection. Future Boyfriend, I'm going to need you to step in right about now with your family money 'cause these are beautiful but would destroy my savings.

 After Eden is a great brand and is actually in my budget. When you're blessed with a little more something something on top, you know not just any old bra will do your 'girls' justice. They are the business. And something to look forward to, they'll be launching their swimwear collection. They also have a loungewear and travel collection. They explained it as the comfortable alternative clothes that you'd change into when walking the dog, travelling long-distance or popping out to the shops. Basically they're fancy fat pants. And they're very pretty.

 Then there was the Maidenform stuff. Now as you'll know as a reader to this blog, I am a big fan of magic knickers or shapewear. I probably wear mine about 3 times a week.The only thing I don't love about them is that they are not the prettiest of things. They always come in granny beige and although they work wonders, they are the *last* thing you want to be wearing if there is any chance of sexy time. That is, until you've converted to Maidenform. These shapewear items are the stuff body sculpting dreams are made of. And they're so pretty!

After the showcase we were allowed to look through the collections and walked away with a fab underwear set from After Eden.

 Thanks to the lovely ladies at Brand Identity for the invite, the insights and the seksi knickers.

Ex-Oh! Ex-Oh!