Bottoms Up!

Jack, Johnny and our generous four cousins - a fun night out with our favourite men who deinitely advocate eating before a binge drinking session on a night out on the town. The problem begins when we eat too less, or too much before downing one too many tequilas. Alcohol can really mess up your diet programme, as most drinks are loaded with empty kilojoules - goodbye pride and hello larger waist-line! 

Kilojoule-wise, the best mixers are water, soda water or lime cordial, so aim to stay away from fizzy drinks, which can contain the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar. Grenadine, juices and sugary syrups are a no-no!

• glass of red wine (448 kilojoules) = 1 piece of brie cheese (459 kj) 
• strawberry daquiri (670 kj) = 2 servings of mash & gravy from KFC (658 kj)
• glass of champagne (473 kj) = 1 tablespoon of peanut butter (492 kj)
• beer (563 kj) = 3 McDonald's chicken nuggets (578 kj)
• Smirnoff Spin (747 kj) = a large slice of Club Pizza from Debonairs (808 kj)  

Waking up with a sore head, dry mouth and a loss of pride (think: beer goggles) is usually the result of eating too little before downing a few shooters at the bar. You wake up swearing that you will never look at a vodka and lime again, but nevertheless you find yourself standing at the bar the next Friday.

Think Lil' Jon's Shots - yes, this song speaks to any drunk soul who's willing to sacrifice their liver for a night of binge drinking. Avoding a hangover is pretty easy if you eat the RIGHT food about an hour before drinking - lining your stomach is a MUST! 

You want to try to eat specific food that will slow down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream, leading to a little more shuffling, and a little less bonding time with the toilet bowl. Avoid hot, spicy food as this is absorbed faster and could get you tipsy far too quickly! 

• Try carbohydrate rich food, which serves as a buffer before going on a drinking spree. My favourites are oats, toasted low-G.I brown bread or cereal. 
• Eat food high in vitamin B, as this is heavily depleted when the body processes alcohol. Basically if these levels are too low before a night of fist pumping and tequila, the body cannot break down alcohol fast enough. So aim to eat vitamin B rich foods, such as lean meat, fish and green vegetables.
• Eating food that has a small amount of fat in it is recommended, as this slows down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. Choose foods such as fish, nuts, avocado and hummus on low-G.I bread. 

I really do not recommend eating anything with feta or spinach. Bad incident. Really bad. If I could actually remember the events of the said incident then I would happily share it. Sadly, I do not.  


Bottoms Up - Eating is really NOT cheating!

Fashion Forward..Grad Style!

2011..almost over. Graduation - BRING IT ON! It really is weird to picture myself and several others, as being potentially ready to run wild in the big-bad-world. I feel as though it was just yesterday that I was watching cartooned dogs talk, while attempting to solve murder mysteries. Oh wait, that was yesterday (trust Scooby Doo on Boomerang to bring out my inner kid).

The point is that being a kid is fun. It comes with all sorts of perks, such as not looking shame-faced when you "ooh" and "ahh" while you run amok in Sweets from Heaven, or order a Happy Meal simply because the toy looks like potential late night fun. Try setting your PVR for the Zac Efron marathon when you're in your dreaded 30's! Yupp, does not really sound appropriate right? 

I had contemplated wearing black to graduation, as a sort of commemorative goodbye to my childhood. But, I then realised that embracing my inner kid in my 20s is ME. I will never stop "ooh'ing" over the latest novelty at Reggies, or press pause when Justin Bieber graces the screen (Bieber Fever YES PLEASE). SO, instead I chose a bright emerald green dress, something that said "I am ready to take on the world, so do not mess with my swag. Thank you. Sincerely, Girl-With-Degree". 

Graduation does not have to be a tedious and serious affair, complete with Gaudeamus Igitur ringing in the background. Dress to impress with a touch of "I am young, carefree and still think that Rascals need to be brought back". In my words, imagine that Michelle Obama and Lady Gaga went on a date, and had a baby (yes, the dreaded Gaga spawn would be your grad gear). So keep it cool, sparkly and HAVE FUN. You have earned that piece of paper! 

P.S. Sequins, numerous zips, jeans, leather and fur do not seem like good ideas. Just saying. 

13 Inches?! SERIOUSLY.

Vogue Italia recently paid tribute to Ethel Granger, in it's Sepetember 2011 issue. "Who is Ethel Granger?" you might ask. Ethel is a woman known for having the smallest waist on record - 13 inches to be precise! This had me gasping for air, as one cannot imagine how this is even humanly possible.
Ethel lived, breathed and slept CORSETS.

Designed to synch in the waist, and fake a streamlined silhouette, Ethel became obsessed with donning this no-I-am-not-sure-if-I-can-breathe garment, at the insistence of her husband William Granger.


The "real" Ethel Granger

He was once caught saying that “if she can outshine other members of her sex in some way, this is a victory worth any amount of suffering”. At this point, I hope that most of you reach for an axe/ baseball bat/ large object with the hopes of doing bad, bad things to any man who forces you to change the way you look in the name of love or beauty.

The editorial was shot by Steven Meisel, and featured covergirl Stella Tennant in corsets and garments put together by Karl Templer. The spread is governed by the notion of "the discipline of fashion" and really highlights the lengths that women go to achieve physical perfection.

Fashion is pain. Yes, I know. But, gasping for air while trying to sip some vino does not sound very tempting. a smaller waist - sure. Hell, yes please! But striving to shrink part of your physicality sounds rather crippling to me. Either way, kudos to Ethel for inspiring fashionistas with her hyper-feminine form.

Kim K - Yes, I Do!

Kim Kardashian. A name synonymous with glamour, decadence, curves and the aspirations of a true fashionista. There are not many who can sustain longevity in Hollywood after a sex tape, a failed marriage and a Playboy magazine nude shoot. Yet, Kim K manages to do it with style, vibrance and eyes that seem to have been born smokey!

Make the most of your curves we say! We celebrate her love handles, her large posterior and the fact that she makes us feel better when we gobble down an extra cupcake after dinner. In preparation for her wedding, Kim admitted to dieting herself crazy and attending fitness classes at "Barry's Bootcamp", working out up to 5 times a week. This might seem rather hard for someone who admits to craving sugar up to 6 times a day! Kim’s food cravings?? Deep-fried Oreos (insert gag face).  

Old diet:
Breakfast: Starbucks tall white chocolate mocha with whipped cream. Lunch: Salad with cranberries and candied walnuts. Chocolate chip cookie and a diet Coke. Snack: Cupcake. Dinner: Pasta with vegetables and chicken. Cookies and ice cream for desert. Total Calories: 2,263.

New diet:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with bananas.
 Lunch: Salad with grilled chicken. Pinkberry [nonfat yogurt] with fruit and granola. Snack: Carrots and low-cal ranch dressing. Dinner: Fish, vegetables and green tea before bed. Total Calories: 1,438.


I think she looked absolutely amazing at her wedding. You can never go wrong in a Vera Wang gown, and $10 million worth of Lorraine Schwartz jewels. She wore a stunning diamond encrusted headpiece, and 3 different dresses throughout the night. The headpiece was very ON trend, as Eastern inspired garments have been hitting the runway this season.

If Kim K has taught us anything (besides the fact that a video camera + the  bedroom = DISASTER), it is that you should celebrate your body. Embrace that extra jiggle. Dress for YOUR type. After several failed relationships, Kim K had her very own Cinderella moment on her wedding day. Despite my efforts to get all mushy, I am going to join the dark side and say: When you least expect it, destiny intervenes. Looking for happiness is a recipe for a meltdown. Really. Let things happen, and see where the ride takes you =)

XXX
M

Date Etiquette

I think that most of us have been on our fair share of truly awful, let's-escape-through-the-bathroom-window dates. These are my personal tips for those inexperienced daters out there.

MUST KNOWS:

1. Do not overshare - no one really wants to know about your pet rat that died when you were two, or about your battle with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Save these details for later. Please.

2. Garlic, onions, lobster, spaghetti and spinach - all foods that we love right? Be warned, these tantalizing treats are inclined to spill, leak or give off a slightly foul odour. This might actually come in handy if the date is going downhill, as you could always scare him away with your garlic breath.

3. Avoid talking about ex's during the first few dates. Okay, sure I would not judge you if you casually mentioned that your last relationship lasted 3 months. However, telling me that you dumped her because of her excessive facial hair might send off warning bells in my head. Talking about an ex can sometimes come off as obsessive, and I might start to assume that you are still hung up on sexy-Sarah/ Dave-the-hottie/ He-who-must-not-be-named.
  

4. Try not to get completely sloshed on a first date. A glass of vino is absolute perfection in a sit-down, intimate atmosphere, but one tequila too many can often lower your inhibitions. Picture mindless chatter, a little drool and an urge to show him how well you can do the Macarena. Erm, no thanks.


5. No one likes a complainer. It drains you of your energy, and forces you to question why you aren't sitting at home watching Grey's Anatomy. You want to appear cool and collected - not highly strung and offensive. If you had a bad day at work, simply say that you had a long, tiring day. Try not to launch into a monologue about your wretched co-worker who hogged the photocopy machine for an hour. There are bigger issues in the world - starving kids in Africa, saving the whales, Lindsay Lohan etc.

6. Paying the bill - this can prove all too tricky for most. Every girl wants to embrace her inner feminist and shove some money at the waiter. I honestly believe in going Dutch on most dates, except for first dates! offer to split the bill, and agree to be wined and dined if he insists on paying. Most guys enjoy beating on their pre-historic, manly chests on date #1. Chivalry is cool. And so are knights-in-shining-armour. Just go with it.

Perfect Date Wear!

Mustard yellow does not suit everyone, but if you can pull it off - go for it!
"Cool? Yes, I know I am."
This ensemble is perfect for a night at the movies, or a late night ice-cream date.

Acessorise YES PLEASE
A ruffled top paired with skinny jeans & heels?
Pretty damn cute for supper at an intimate restaurant, or cocktails at a bar. Throw over a fitted trenchcoat and a scarf for those chilly nights.



The bare essentials will never let you down.
A v-neck jersey or cardigan are part of the staple manly diet.

A nautical fitted dress paired with killer heels, and a blazer is HOT!
Perfect for a date at a club, restaurant or just about anywhere (except bowling - heels? Right.).

Bye Bye Winter, Hello Spring!

A change of season can be all too confusing for your wardrobe, especially when you're going from dreary Winter to chilled out Spring. Make this daunting period a relaxed, budget friendly one by making subtle changes in your day-to-day ensembles. Simple styling and bright colours inspired by the Middle East.

This season expect bright shades of fushia, burnt orange and electric blues. Stay away from wearing a single colour all at once -you do not want to be mistaken for a tanned out Snookie.


The fun part about this season's colours is that you can actually play around with them. Inspire. Dress for your mood. Keep it simple.


Colour blocking is hot hot hot this season - pair a bright honeysuckle mini with a beeswax ruffled top.

This keeps the ensemble in the "I am cool, confident and composed" realm, and stops it from moving into the "I am a confused fruit salad' sphere. Ruffles are very IN at the moment.

Since it is almost Spring, I suggest whipping out the florals. Nothing seems fresher or crisper than a floral inspired dress.    

To keep this trendy, try a floral jumpsuit. Jumpsuits are very IN this season - perfect for those "it's not hot, and not cold" days. Accesorise it with a waist belt, to keep the silhouette loose, but still moderately fitted.

Exotic colours inspired by the mystery of the Middle East are very HOT right now. Fashionistas all over are experimenting with paisley Maxi dresses that seem to float with ease, and off-the-shoulder tops. Compliment your daily wear with an Obi belt, which is an easy way to ease into the next season's trends without breaking the bank. 

Love in this Club?



Barney from How I Met Your Mother practicing
 his smooth one liners

 I LOVE going out. From getting dressed over pre-drinks, a little t-shirt time and right up until “the cabs are here”. Girls and guys alike put so much effort into carving out a somewhat appealing exterior before they hit the town, preparing themselves for the nerve racking mating game that ensues.

But, can you really expect to find a potential lover on the dance floor? Covered in sweat, a drink in hand and a few cringe-worthy dance moves – yes, so damn attractive right? Life is way too intensely chaotic to have the time and effort to go out, and meet a member of the opposite sex anywhere else. So, you might as well kill two birds with one stone, or in this case – seductively kill two guys with one look. Dating is way too confusing. Terrifying. Intimidating. Plus, I’m not too sure if student budgets really advocate wining and dining these days. Red roses? Hmmm...yes, I think I might have heard of them.



Romeo & Juliet - love at first sight?

Personally, I think the probability of meeting an attractive, sane guy, without any stalker tendencies in a club is pretty low. Let’s face it, most people launch into one-track minds once the tequila sets in, so do not expect to be romanced between a few fist pumps. Pick-up lines in a club were created for a reason. To break the ice, set the tone and ultimately to “pick up” a girl, and more often than not, this does not include an anniversary date. If he asks for your number, sure give it! But do not expect him to call the next day, or the day after - he might just be practicing his game on you. Excuse me for sounding cynical.

I would rather save the “let’s spend Friday night curled up watching The Notebook” thoughts for a guy who is actually worth the headspace. Watch out for the smooth one liners that he may try to pull out - “Baby, did you just fart? Because you blew me away”, or my personal favourite “Is your father a terrorist? Because baby you’re the bomb”. Seriously. Save yourself some pride.

Enjoy the night. Dance a little. Grab a cocktail. Shake that noodle. Turn a few heads. Just leave with your heart and head intact.

Farewell Miss Winehouse

There is something very eery about being 27, talented and slightly disturbed these days. Amy Winehouse? Kurt Cobain? Jimi Hendrix? It's almost as if you have to die for your talent - an exchange made simply by being born different.

I decided to have my very own “in aide of Amy Winehouse” shindig in my room last night. With a fashionable spoon acting as a mic, I stumbled through “Rehab”, to my personal favourite “Tears dry on their Own”. It’s weird how today’s society really only acquires any sense of togetherness when somebody passes on. I’m convinced that most of those who have sat mourning the Rehab soul singer’s death, tweeting consistently about how depressed they are, are really masking their own guilt. It’s only when a troubled soul is gone do people suddenly appreciate their greatness, and attempt to understand their discord.

Amy was troubled. Lost. Scared of her own talent. Scared of her own greatness. Born different. Her music speaks for itself, I challenge anyone to listen to “Valerie”, and to tell me that she’s just another useless, drugged up wannabe singer.

Goodbye dear Winehouse. May your beehive live on!

“I cheated myself, like I knew I would. I told you I was trouble, you know I’m no good.”

                   -Amy Winehouse (You Know I’m no Good)

Student Friendly Please

It’s funny watching students attempting to pay the bill in a restaurant. Being a UCT undergraduate myself, I identify completely when they gather any loose change together to tip the waiter, or look sheepish when they realise that they paid R72 for a portion of pasta. You know that you’re going to have to live on 2min noodles after that big spend.

Plus, student life can be draining on your pocket. Factor in late nights sipping cocktails, new clothes to bear the cold in the Cape, and you have a very sad looking bank account at the end of the month. So I’ve put together a list of my favourite budget friendly spots in Cape Town =)

Coco Wah Wah Fridays! R35 pasta after 7pm, at the Rondebosch one. Sushi lovers in Claremont have a really good deal. Food Lovers Market has half price sushi after 5pm, or head to Salushi during the day for the same deal.

The Eastern Food Bazaar in town has tasty Indian, Chinese or middle Eastern cuisine at really cheap prices. Plus, the portions are huge!

Bon Bon and Bean Cafe, in St. Peter’s Square has the BEST chocolate cake for something like R10. This stuff is addictive so I suggest you go with a big appetite for a deadly chocolate affair. I cannot say that you will leave guilt free though =)

Happy Hours – love them! Especially since some places have become so cheap that you can start calling it “happy days”.

Trenchtown in Observatory has R17 cocktails everyday between 5pm and 6pm, or you could pop around the corner to The Florentine. This gets you cocktails all night for R17!

Babbo in Claremont has a really good deal. Two-for-one pizza and cocktails between 5pm and 7pm. HA! So, who said eating was cheating?

XXX

Kickstart your body!

I feel as though today's society has been flooded with new techniques and scams on how to "beat that bulge" OR "lose those 5kgs in 3 days". The truth is: that will never happen. Yes. That's the cold harsh truth. if you want to successfully lose weight, and sustain the loss, than you really have to take it a step at a time.
I lost about 20kgs in the last 18 months. How? Sweat. Lower your kilojoules. Take that extra staircase & forgo that pizza. It's really quite amusing to me when people see me after a long time, and stare for a moment or two because they cannot believe that it really is me. I RELISH those moments. It makes that extra gym session all the more worthed!

I have compiled a list of some of my favourite weight loss strategies on how to kickstart your metabolism, and get your body ready for YOU. Trust me, you can lose all the pounds you want, but if you aren't doing it for you, than you will never really be happy. Jeez. I feel like I Dr. Phil right now. Oh, and remember, hips are cool. They add shape, cushion you against all those douche bags out there. Meat on bones - YES PLEASE! So try not to take the dieting game too far, and stop when you are your very own personal perfect! XXX


1) Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with hot water in the morning. This is my absolute favourite, because it's dirt cheap and works wonders. Lowers the GI of almost every food you have after, suppresses the apetite, helps with calcium absorption, detoxifier for the liver..The list goes on! If you can get past the foul smell of it, the try it. I like the P&P one, which costs about R11.


2) Cayenne Pepper! A pinch in hot water in the morning really kickstarts that metabolism.


3) Green tea. I sip it throughout the day, and find that it really makes a difference. Instead of going all toxic with cold drinks or juice, I go green! It apparently speeds up the metabolism by 7%, helps with the breakdown of fats, blah blah..Try the freshpak one, which is about R20 for 80 teabags.

4) Spice it up! Chilli please..I try to have a chilli with my meals, for the love of it AND because it speeds up your metabolism by 30% up to four hours after ingesting them. Love my Indian blood =) Cinnamon is also good, so I try sprinkling it in my cereal in the mornings. It's a good substitute for sugar.

5) I have half a grapefruit every morning, as a kind of wake-me-up routine. It lowers your blood glucose level, thus preventing those sugar spikes & thus preventing fat storage. Easy peasy right? Plus, it's mostly water content so it fills you up really quickly.

Grrr..Unleash your inner animal

The runways of Paris & New York have been invaded by the deadliest creatures alive. And no, I'm not talking about those skinny size 0 models. Prints have been trending for the last season, and seem set to continue for Spring/Summer.


I get teased constantly by my family for my love of leopard and zebra prints. Animal prints have long been associated with cheesy Western flicks, and women who drink too much (subsequently followed by selling their assets on the nearest street corner). But WHO CARES?? Ditch the haters, because prints have been given a makeover with many designers incorporating subtle tones within their entire collections.

Revamp your wardrobe with a leopard print cardigan, or zebra pumps. Unleash your inner feline. Embrace your wild side. The only no-no is NEVER pair two different prints within the same outfit. Its like mixing vodka with brandy - you love each, but they can never ever mingle! I like pairing a leopard print blouse with a high-waisted black skirt, complete with pumps.


Prints do not have to be restricted to boring tones of black and brown. This season, look out for leopard prints that have been infused with shades of blue or turqoise, or cheetah prints on laidback pastels. Changing it up gives this trend a fresh look, while still making a statement. Prints are about making a statement, without saying a word. Sexy. Feminine. Power. It's yours.

Come over to the dark side..we have macaroons!

I have never met a soul who did not fall in love with this French delicacy. Macaroons. Please give me more! Imagine a soft creamy centre surrounded by a crispy almond and sugar covering. Macaroons have gained immense popularity from programmes such as Gossip Girl, who use these little bites of heaven as some sort of prop. I often imagine myself sitting at a lah-dee-dah sidewalk cafe in Paris tucking into a box of macaroons, when in actual fact I'm seated on my bed in the middle of Observatory, ripping the box apart in pure greed.

If you're looking for a non-regrettable sugar rush, try the macaroons at Cassis in Claremont. They're absolutely divine and available in an array of flavours, such as pistachio, chocolate, lemon and vanilla. My personal favourite are the coffee ones! The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock also has some devilish macaroons, but sadly it's only open on a Saturday. I do prefer the ones from Cassis, as they have a softer texture and are rather pretty to look at. A dainty afternoon sugary treat that I highly reccommend.

Favourite CTFW 2011 Pics!

These are just a taste of the latest fashion trends from SA Spring/Summer 2011/2012.
Inspired by all these things South African, and more specifically the majestic city of Cape Town, these designs speak for themselves. SIMPLISTIC YET STYLISTIC. =)