Once Loved Sale

Culture concepts has begun.

* Ideas *Styling * Sourcing

I will be selling once loved goodies for friends and family via the blog and facebook.
Part of my service is to come in and clean up your house or wardrobe. Not clean as in spring clean and dust but clean as in revamp and toss out ( give to me) goodies you don't use, won't use or haven't used in a long time.

If anything catches your eye this is how it works:

* On facebook, the first person to comment on the photo gets the item. Or the person with the highest bid
* On the blog, pls email me ( laurenleigh.gibson@gmail.com) and I will get back to you as soon as possible with payment details
* Postage will be added on ( R30 depending on the area) and this comes with a tracking number.
* If you stay in Durban I will gladly drop it off or meet you somewhere to collect.

The first lot of goodies are up...Happy shopping!

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Culture concepts on Facebook!!!

Culture Concepts now has it's very own facebook page. Please go and Like the page here and show me some support.

From this page I will be posting ideas, fun news for Culture Concepts and goodies that go on sale and eventually I will be running giveaways and competitions off the blog and the facebook page so please get to Liking that button.

To start with, I have got my first project on the go...it is to help my good friend Simone clear out her clutter ( or once loved goodies) that she doesn't want, need or cannot fit into her new home.

Pls go and view the facebook page here to see what we have started sorting or look on my Once Loved page here for a quick reference.

You can follow Simone on ScrambledNotes. She has some awesome pics and ramblings going on.

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Durban and it's hidden musical treasures

I know I have been in hiding for a few days but as everyone says lately: "life has been so manic".

On Monday, Ryan and I decided to join some friends at the Collective art gallery in Windermere Road to listen to some bands. I wasn't actually sure what the evening had in store but when we got there I discovered it was the Battle of the Acoustics 2011.

The acoustic sets were really good but one solo artist who really stood out for me was Amy White. I watched her set up on her own, sound check on her own and test her guitar and keyboard, on her own. and yes she is that talented...guitar and keyboard.

With a voice similar to Adele, Evanescence and her own twist, Amy gave me goosebumps and a chill up my spine. She feels her music, believes in it and has a great natural stage presence.
She has no worries about what people think of her. She is there to have fun, sing her music and entertain her followers.

Amy White also belongs to a band called Kings and Queen ( which I still have to listen to) and you can check them out here or simply look for Amy on Facebook under Amy White.

Do yourself a favour and go to one of her gigs...it is amazing this kind of talent is in Durban and the sad thing is that only a few people know about her.
So spread the word...and the love.

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News for Culture concepts

Picture courtesy of this website

I have decided to take the plunge head first and get Culture Concepts off the ground. This means a huge revamp for me, the blog and a need for loyal followers and lots of them.

As well as the help from friends and the boyfriend as I am not 100% clued up on photoshop yet.

I will keep you posted but for now, all I can say is that there is a big change to come....

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Tea Please!

Ryan's mom very kindly lent us half her furniture when she moved in with a friend of hers until she found a little home she could call her own. Luckily for her, this has come sooner than we all anticipated, so unluckily for us; we have to find new things for our little home.
I am actually quite happy about this though as now I have a reason to shop...excitement fills my heart when I think of that.

So instead of supporting the consumer trends and running to the mall, swiping my credit card or account card and joining the rest of the credit junkies, I decided to thrift our things online.

I came across a wonderful little website called Mint. An online shop for "retired goods" or second hand awesome vintage goods. Kirsty runs the Mint shop from durban and she is very accommodating and a lovely person to chat to.
Look at her shop online or visit her stand at the I heart markets on the first saturday of every month.

My only purchase for now was this retro red kettle but I am very eager to buy more goodies soon.

Down side of the retro red kettle: you have to switch it off at the wall to stop the boiling which may be a problem to remember in the early morning and I doubt it will last forever.

Upside to the retro red kettle: it looks fabulous in the kitchen and if it doesnt last forever then it will become my utensil holder for my wooden spoons and spatulas.

LaurenLeigh cc

Vanity Case...number three!

I am a sucker for vanity cases. I have had this weird obsession since I was a child. I begged and pleaded my mother to give me her vanity case when I was child and I only ever got the same response: " lauren, this is something I got on my wedding night and I am bound to use it sometime again soon." She never did and never will as now, it sits pertly on my dresser filled with make up and other girly goods.

I have since acquired two other vanity cases. One gorgeous tan coloured, slightly smaller vanity case that I use on weekend trips away as its the size of an average toiletry bag ( I got this one from the Kloof SPCA believe it or not) and the other I got yesterday from a fellow blogger in Durban; Glossary.

It is about the same size as mother's cream vanity case except a dull navy colour and will be used for things like my hairdryer, GHD and hairbrush.

Thanks Lauren from Glossary for this awesome find. Read her scribbles here and watch her updates for when she occasionally posts items to her blog shop.
She is a really witty blogger and a great read so add Glossary to your collection if you have not already.

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Ding Dong the post man is here

I am so excited as this week I have two fabulously wonderful gits arriving in the post. And I do love them presents.
The first one I am getting is from Kirsty at The Mint Shop. She has wonderful "retired" goods that she sells both online and at the i heart market once a month. From her, I am getting a beautiful red vintage kettle. Wait and see what it looks like or visit her website here to do some shopping.

The second is from Janece at Vintage Lover. She is based in Cape Town and finds the most adorable, well pried vintage goodies to adorn your bodies with. wait and see what I have managed to get from her....
or go visit her cool blog here

will post my pics when the post man delivers

LaurenLeigh cc

One of Umhlanga's best kept secrets...Indian Summer

Last night we were meant to meet friends for dinner but plans unravelled and it ended up just being Darby and Joan.

We decided to go for dinner anyway and after searching Google for over an hour I started asking mates where they would recommend.
A work colleague suggested Indian Summer in Sunningdale Centre, Umhlanga.

An aromatic, chilled, relaxed but very authentic Indian restaurant. Although the decor, atmosphere and view isn't one of the best in Umhlanga; the food was out of this world and I think I may have found one of my new favourite exotic places to eat.

It felt like we were sitting in India; eating with our hands and experiencing flavours that none of our senses had experienced before.

Unfortunately, there is no website for Indian Summer but I found all of my info from The Ridge Online ( http://theridgeonline.co.za/indian-summer-restaurant-glenashley/) . They offer take away and a sit down meal but make sure to book.

Give it a try.

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Grow a Mo...support a Bro

I posted my second blog for The Bedroom today.
It was a cute, sexy, fun play on Movember and how us woman can use this "horrible" month to our advantage.

Go read the blog here: http://blog.thebedroom.co.za/

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JHB Adventures

I know I have been away for awhile but this weekend I will be posting bits of my JHB trip.

Stay tuned.....

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