27 March 2013
26 March 2013
Congrats Cowdains
23 March 2013, the day 2 very special people pledged their love to eachother and promised to look after eachother till the end of time.
What an incredible few days we had in the midlands topped off with a truely spectacular wedding on Saturday.
Carls looked like an absolute supermodel in her Francois designed wedding dress and Wayne looked rather dashing himself in his trendy new suite. The setting was perfect with the chapel overlooking a beautiful dam and the reception tent was absolutely breathtaking with Carla's exetremely talented and patient mother putting the whole thing together.
Everyone had such a fabulous day and I was honoured to be able to share in this very special time in my precious friends life.
Wishing you both many years of a happy marriage and may the love you felt for eachother on your Big Day continue to grow and deepen over the many years to come x
What an incredible few days we had in the midlands topped off with a truely spectacular wedding on Saturday.
Carls looked like an absolute supermodel in her Francois designed wedding dress and Wayne looked rather dashing himself in his trendy new suite. The setting was perfect with the chapel overlooking a beautiful dam and the reception tent was absolutely breathtaking with Carla's exetremely talented and patient mother putting the whole thing together.
Everyone had such a fabulous day and I was honoured to be able to share in this very special time in my precious friends life.
Wishing you both many years of a happy marriage and may the love you felt for eachother on your Big Day continue to grow and deepen over the many years to come x
Bianca Warren
Bianca Warren is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with amongst the fashionistas of South Africa. She is a beautiful, stylish fashion designer based in Umhlanga, Durban. She has recently opened up a stunning signature store and you will often bump into her at the funky markets Durban has to offer.
1 - When was Bianca Warren Designs started?
Two years ago
2 - When did you open the store?
I started with a tiny store a year ago and have recently expanded adding on a production line to it
3 - What other stores do you stock?
Lady and the Punk in Gateway, White Summer in Balitto, Festical in the south coast, and I have an agent in jhb
4 - What markets are you involved with?
Very involved with i heart market and wonder market
5 - What do you enjoy most about having your own business?
If you put in 100% you going to get that out, working for your self the harder you work in the long run you reap all the rewards. I wont lie its very hard and hands on but I can slowly see the light at the end of the tunnel.
6 - What is your most enjoyable part of what you do?
Personal attention with my cleints...
7 - 2013 trends to watch out for?
Winter - Camo, olive green, beige and leather, oversized jackets, leather
Maroon and navy going to be huge, my store is flooded with these colours
Roxstar Bikinis in the window of the store
Bianca is showcasing her collection at Fashion Week in the next few weeks so B we wish you all the best and may it be a fabulous success!
To find out more about Bianca Warren and her amazing designs visit her FB page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bianca-Warren-Designs/212752735424316?fref=ts or Blog http://www.biancawarren.blogspot.com/
20 March 2013
Carla's Hens Party - Ahoy Matey
So my precious friend Carla is getting married this Saturday and myself and her 2 other bridesmaids Julia and Jane, threw her a hens party last Saturday.
Carla gave us very strict instructions as to what we could and couldnt do and what she would and wouldnt wear so this made things rather stricky as we didnt want to disappoint.
Julia started the day off by taking Carls off for some pampering and they went and had blowdrys done. I then joined up with them after for some yummy lunch at Remos. After that it was home to relax abit before the festvities began.
Carls had requested that her hens party be classy so what better way than to set the tone for the evening than with a few cocktails at the beautiful 5 star Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga. Both moms joined us aswell as Jane who had just flown in from London.
We decided on a Sailor theme for the evening and then moved onto a yacht for champagne and canapes. All the guests dress Naughty-cal and we dressed Carls in a very racy Sailors outfit which she LOVED.
We had a few sexy sailorman who came onboard to play some games with Carls and they most certainly had us all entertained ;)
We all then got in the hired taxi, pumped the music in true taxi style and off we went to TigerTiger to party the night away.
At 3pm the ship had finally sailed and with a quick stop at Mc Ds, we called it a night.
Carla gave us very strict instructions as to what we could and couldnt do and what she would and wouldnt wear so this made things rather stricky as we didnt want to disappoint.
Julia started the day off by taking Carls off for some pampering and they went and had blowdrys done. I then joined up with them after for some yummy lunch at Remos. After that it was home to relax abit before the festvities began.
Carls had requested that her hens party be classy so what better way than to set the tone for the evening than with a few cocktails at the beautiful 5 star Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga. Both moms joined us aswell as Jane who had just flown in from London.
We decided on a Sailor theme for the evening and then moved onto a yacht for champagne and canapes. All the guests dress Naughty-cal and we dressed Carls in a very racy Sailors outfit which she LOVED.
We had a few sexy sailorman who came onboard to play some games with Carls and they most certainly had us all entertained ;)
We all then got in the hired taxi, pumped the music in true taxi style and off we went to TigerTiger to party the night away.
At 3pm the ship had finally sailed and with a quick stop at Mc Ds, we called it a night.
China - not for the faint hearted
So last week I travelled to China on a buying trip and my or my day I have a horrid time.
I normally love my overseas buying trips and look forward to them with great excitement. The same was for this trip until I landed in the horrid place. My trip started off very well. I was recently upgraded on Emirates Skywards plan to a Silver membership which meant that I was allowed an extra 12kg baggage allowance aswell as being able to board first with the Business and First Class passengers and having access to the Business Class lounge in Dubai airport. This made travelling MUCH easier and I enjoyed putting my feet up and catching a few more zzzs when I arrived in Dubai.
I seemed to have one unfortunate event after the other once I landed in China. Firstly I was stuck at the airport with no money and no way to get to my hotel. I hate travelling with cash on me so normally when I arrive in a new country, I draw money and off I go. Unfortunately things arent that easy in China. There was no ATM in anywhere in sight, I landed at 11pm so the banks inside the aiport were closed and worst of all NO-ONE speaks English so when I was asking them where the nearest ATM is, they stared at my blankly. After travelling 23hrs to get there, my patience was starting to run thin and all I wanted was a hot showered and my bed. Anyway I managed to find a taxi company that I could pay by card and luckily I had printed off my hotel details so I could show the taxi driver in Chinese and off we went.
I arrived at my hotel 30 minutes and was pleasantly surprised. The hotel was lovely and my room was very comfortable, modern and clean. I was starving and had heard very bad stories about the food in China so went for the safest option and ordered a cheese burger and chips. It wasnt that bad but for all I know I could have been eating a donkey patty and it would have tasted good as I was so tired.
I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and how green China was. It really was a beautiful city I was in and not the old, dirty city I was expecting. The roads are all immaculate and are all lined with beautiful big, green trees. A nice change from the concrete jungles im used too.
The next 2 days shopping went ok and I managed to find what I was looking for but not without having to really search. The chinese do not negotiate as much as Thai people do so that was difficult and it was also lugging my shopping around. I got wise to this on day 2 and found a lovely old man to walk around shopping with me, carrying all my goods. Vital find!
I then decided to take a trip down to Shenzhen which is 1.5hr train trip away. I spent 20 minutes trying to explain to the taxi driver where I wanted to go, the train station was then 30 minute drive away. After waiting in the ticketing queue for 15 mins the lady behind the counter asked me for my passport, I explained that I didnt want to leave the country, merely travel down to Shenzhen she rudely told me 'no passport, no ticket' and motioned for me to step aside. I asked around trying to find a local to buy me a train ticket to no avail as they couldnt understand what I was saying. I then had to catch a taxi 30 mins back to the hotel, collect my passport, spend 20 minutes explaining to the taxi driver to take me back to the train station and another 30 min journey back. I was furious to say the least.
The language barrier is a HUGE problem in China, especially the region I went to as its a very old city so its still very traditional in many ways and therefore no-one can speak English. Unless you show your taxi driver in Chinese were you want to go, you will spend an hour explaining and wont move an inch. I attempted to ask the staff at my hotel to assist me but this too proved difficult as they couldnt speak English very well either.
The food in China is not great by any means. Because its quite an old city they dont have many western restaurants besides Mc Donalds and Pizza Hut which I ate at for 10 out of the 12 meals whilst I was there. I was so sick of fast food by the time I left, I vowed never to eat Mc Ds for the next 3 months minimum. Funny how I found myself at the golden arches 3 days after arriving home but more on that later.
My best part of China were the children. That nation produces the cutest kids I have ever seen. I could have come home a mother of 10 if the parents had consented to me stealing there gorgeous kids its just a pity they dont grow up so attractive ha ha
Another thing I liked about China was the cheap massages although they werent as easy to come by as in Thailand.
Some strange things I saw:
All in all it was a success business trip but definitely not my most favourite place in the world and I most certainly wont be rushing back!
I normally love my overseas buying trips and look forward to them with great excitement. The same was for this trip until I landed in the horrid place. My trip started off very well. I was recently upgraded on Emirates Skywards plan to a Silver membership which meant that I was allowed an extra 12kg baggage allowance aswell as being able to board first with the Business and First Class passengers and having access to the Business Class lounge in Dubai airport. This made travelling MUCH easier and I enjoyed putting my feet up and catching a few more zzzs when I arrived in Dubai.
I seemed to have one unfortunate event after the other once I landed in China. Firstly I was stuck at the airport with no money and no way to get to my hotel. I hate travelling with cash on me so normally when I arrive in a new country, I draw money and off I go. Unfortunately things arent that easy in China. There was no ATM in anywhere in sight, I landed at 11pm so the banks inside the aiport were closed and worst of all NO-ONE speaks English so when I was asking them where the nearest ATM is, they stared at my blankly. After travelling 23hrs to get there, my patience was starting to run thin and all I wanted was a hot showered and my bed. Anyway I managed to find a taxi company that I could pay by card and luckily I had printed off my hotel details so I could show the taxi driver in Chinese and off we went.
I arrived at my hotel 30 minutes and was pleasantly surprised. The hotel was lovely and my room was very comfortable, modern and clean. I was starving and had heard very bad stories about the food in China so went for the safest option and ordered a cheese burger and chips. It wasnt that bad but for all I know I could have been eating a donkey patty and it would have tasted good as I was so tired.
I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and how green China was. It really was a beautiful city I was in and not the old, dirty city I was expecting. The roads are all immaculate and are all lined with beautiful big, green trees. A nice change from the concrete jungles im used too.
The next 2 days shopping went ok and I managed to find what I was looking for but not without having to really search. The chinese do not negotiate as much as Thai people do so that was difficult and it was also lugging my shopping around. I got wise to this on day 2 and found a lovely old man to walk around shopping with me, carrying all my goods. Vital find!
I then decided to take a trip down to Shenzhen which is 1.5hr train trip away. I spent 20 minutes trying to explain to the taxi driver where I wanted to go, the train station was then 30 minute drive away. After waiting in the ticketing queue for 15 mins the lady behind the counter asked me for my passport, I explained that I didnt want to leave the country, merely travel down to Shenzhen she rudely told me 'no passport, no ticket' and motioned for me to step aside. I asked around trying to find a local to buy me a train ticket to no avail as they couldnt understand what I was saying. I then had to catch a taxi 30 mins back to the hotel, collect my passport, spend 20 minutes explaining to the taxi driver to take me back to the train station and another 30 min journey back. I was furious to say the least.
The language barrier is a HUGE problem in China, especially the region I went to as its a very old city so its still very traditional in many ways and therefore no-one can speak English. Unless you show your taxi driver in Chinese were you want to go, you will spend an hour explaining and wont move an inch. I attempted to ask the staff at my hotel to assist me but this too proved difficult as they couldnt speak English very well either.
The food in China is not great by any means. Because its quite an old city they dont have many western restaurants besides Mc Donalds and Pizza Hut which I ate at for 10 out of the 12 meals whilst I was there. I was so sick of fast food by the time I left, I vowed never to eat Mc Ds for the next 3 months minimum. Funny how I found myself at the golden arches 3 days after arriving home but more on that later.
My best part of China were the children. That nation produces the cutest kids I have ever seen. I could have come home a mother of 10 if the parents had consented to me stealing there gorgeous kids its just a pity they dont grow up so attractive ha ha
Another thing I liked about China was the cheap massages although they werent as easy to come by as in Thailand.
Some strange things I saw:
All in all it was a success business trip but definitely not my most favourite place in the world and I most certainly wont be rushing back!
Wordless Wednesday
1 - Flew to Guangzhou, China (more to follow)
2 & 3 - Doreen's Easter Tea & Market morning
4 - My darling husband waiting with me at the airport
5 - Brookdale's healthy food
6 - Carla Hens Party (more to follow)
7 - The most precious little soul in the world
8 - Hair trial with the bride-to-be
06 March 2013
Gorgeous De Luxe - Florida Road
Over the next few weeks I will be featuring the Roxstar stockists on my blog so you can gain some insight into these awesome stores and what it is they have to offer.
First on the blog is Gorgeous De Luxe, Floriad Road.
Roxstar Jelly Sandals instore
I chatted with Julie about the store and up and coming trends and this is what she had to say:
First on the blog is Gorgeous De Luxe, Floriad Road.
Roxstar Bikini
When did you open the store?
This particular store has been open for 6 years in May, but I did own retail
stores before this, catering for a younger market
What inspired you to start the brand/store? I opened my first store, Gorgeous, in 2002, which was a
fun, edgy store, with the emphasis on throwaway fashion – that fun, high
fashion item that you had to have! We did incredibly well, with a very loyal
customer base, but as the years went on, the store needed to ‘grow up’ with its
customers – so the brand evolved and we changed the name from Gorgeous to Gorgeous
de Luxe – to show that we still stood for the same values that our customers had grown
accustomed to at Gorgeous, but now we were adding a luxury element, more
investment pieces, more exclusive brands.
What other brands/designers do you stock? At the moment, we have tried to create a mixture between
local brands & designers, and imported brands – on a local level, we stock
Leigh Schubert, Amber Jayne, Heart&Soul, Jo Reynolds, Gcouture,
Bloss&Co, Blu Mojo & Queen Magpie and imported – Fate, Sass, Slick,
Status, Mastik, Havaianas, Melissa’s, Miss Me to name a few. These brands are
constantly evolving as we like to keep up with current trends
What do you enjoy most about having your own business? I love having the freedom to take the business wherever
I want. Also, the flexibility suits me as I have small children. It can be
quite stressful having your own business, from a financial point of view, but
the upside is that I am only accountable to myself and my staff.
What is your most enjoyable part of what you do? Where do I start?! My Customers!! There are some super
stylish women in Durban, and I love the fact that although everyone thinks of
Durbs as the casual town, my ladies like to dress beautifully, and keep an eye
on trends, while not slavishly following fashion. Of course, having access to
beautiful clothing is a perk I couldn’t live without – I am definitely addicted
to clothes Unpacking new stock – it’s like Christmas! And finding that perfect
item for a customer – seeing them walk out the store feeling beautiful because
they know they are going to look their best
2013 trends to watch out for?
It’s the season for ‘hardware’ – studs, sequins & skulls! Lots of leather
and baroque detailing. And of course, eye popping colour in handbags!
Visit their Facebook page for more info - http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Gorgeous-De-Luxe/296952840333830
04 March 2013
My Week in Pics
1 -Kirsty's (Chad's cousin) 21st Birthday
2 - Flowers for my grandparents 53rd Wedding Anniversary
3 - Collected my Chinese Visa eeeek!
4 - Trying my hand at berry smoothies
5 - Drinks with the girlls at Tashas
6 -March - jammed packed calender
7 - New king size bed arrived - marshmallow delux
8 - Spending time with precious Jesse
9 - Roxstar bikinis at Essenwood Market
10 - Catching some rays at Breakers
11 - Afros Yoh Yoh Yoh chicken - delish
12 - new age recipe books - Martha Stewart cooking video
13 - Vida e Cafe for coffs with Bon
14 - Mila Moo cutie pie
15 - gorgeous walk on the beach
16 - baby Fry - its a boy!
01 March 2013
March already . . .
Happy 1st of March!
I cant quite comprehend the fact that we are now in the THIRD month of the year already, where is the time going?
Oh well its a very busy and exciting month coming up and the calender is jam packed so bring it on :)
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