bakerella is the best

I'm sure I've blogged about Bakerella and her amazing, cute and scrumptious treats before, but I just have to again. Everything this lovely lady makes is picture perfect and looks so good to eat. Like the above cookies. Aren't they precious? Go check out her website NOW!

up the cableway

After 2 years and 10 months of living in Cape Town I finally took Rudi up Table Mountain. I've never been up in the winter, but I'll definitely do it again. Saturday was a beautiful day, not a breathe of wind and really warm. There were also a lot less people up there than in summer, so no queues. We walked along the paths, sat and listened to the silence and then went for hot chocolate and a muffin in the restaurant. I think it's something we should do every year.

my new website... finally

After an awfully long time, my new website is finally up and running. Thanks for my wonderful hubby for doing such a great job. Your work is amazing xxx

Go check it out now www.sugarandspicegraphicdesign.com

Rudi's 30th

{the food}

Lots of chocolate cake was the order of the day, with cream cheese frosting and chocolate moose filling. I've been dying to try the whole cake in a consol jar thing and it worked quite well. I also attempted my first batch of lasagne (with lots of help from some good friends and panic stricken phone calls when the white sauce was too runny). The key to good lasagne is Samara's amazing bolognese sauce that cooks for about 4 hours. So worth the trouble.

{the present}

Everyone pitched in to get Rudi a really stunning acoustic guitar. He was over the moon and hasn't been able to put it down. I also got him a custom engraved plectrum from Thula jewellery and it's stunning

{the birthday boy}

He was very brave and gave the friends a good rendition of Nothing Else Matters. Here he is playing for my mom and dad. He makes my knees go weak when he picks up that guitar. Nothing hotter than a man that can play an instrument.

{the venue}

Friday was the big birthday dinner with all our friends, but his birthday was on a Tuesday and I couldn't do nothing for that evening, so off we went to The 5 Flies restaurant. It was absolutely superb! The restaurant is in one of the old buildings in Keerom street and they have done an amazing job converting the space into a cozy and romantic space. We had Char-grilled rib eye steak on potato puree, buttered spinach and wild mushrooms with blue cheese rarebit and sweet thyme jus. The food was to die for! I can't wait to go back.

my future bike

A Ducati Monster

winter is made for dogs

 At least our dogs, who get to snuggle up whenever they want.

diy jewellery

Just a few diy jewellery pieces I've made lately. I'm really enjoying trying something new. At the top we have super simple button necklaces. I saw something similar in a shop and had to have it, but then saw the price and decided I could probably make it myself. Then I found the perfect and... Voila. The rest are all made from polymer clay and are also really simple to make. Need to find time to create a few more pieces.

bread & butter

{really good hot chocolate}

    

{some of the best carrot cake I've tasted}

 My new favourite coffee shop. And it's just down the road. bonus :)

the new hair

So the pixie cut won. And I'm super happy I took the plunge. I'm loving how easy it is to wash and style and I think it suits me quite well. If you're thinking of chopping your hair off too I say go for it!

free lens photography

I discovered free lens photography on Elsie Larson's Blog A Beautiful Mess and just had to try it. What beautiful and unusual effects you get and it's actually not too difficult. I definitely need much more practice, but I don't think my first attempts came out too badly.

(you can read more about this technique on Elsie's blog or just google it).