I'm a fan of...Hello Pretty

How amazing is this new online store I follow on Twitter? Hello Pretty

I found them on Twitter through another person I am following and had a look at their website only to be amazed at the stock and different designers they have selling all sorts of different buys for you or for your home.

Proudly South African, easy to use website and oh so pretty things to buy at reasonable prices.
You can either buy or sell of their website and the details on how to do so are as clear as black and white.

So, what are you waiting for? Go shopping! and pssst...your boss will never known because its all online!

LaurenLeigh cc

I'm a fan of...Becoming You Blog

Yesterday on my very chilled Sunday I decided it was time to have a look at some of the blogs  I follow and see if there are any exciting giveaways. For those of you who have been following my blog, you will know I am somewhat of a competition junkie and recently hit a winning streak. But shhhhh...don't tell anyone!

I was VERY excited when I stumbled across Becoming You blog and found the ultimate giveaway....The Winter Warmer Giveaway.
R6500 worth of prizes to be won! Have a peek below on what is up for grabs ( this is copied straight from her blog - thank you):

A Blu ray Hamper worth R2000 from Disney
Shearling lined leather boots worth R1649 from Green Cross
A chocolate hamper worth R500 from Madecasse
A jewellery hamper worth R500 from Sass Diva
4 personalised place mats worth R460 from Love Letters
A pair of silk pyjamas worth R400 from Anna-Louise Sleepwear
A Full Body Massage worth R390 from Gingerlily
A R250 gift voucher Smitten home & life
An electric aromatherapy oil burner & 1 essential oil (orange or eucalyptus) worth R250 from Aseyah R
A Vinyl Wall Sticker “Love & Cook with wild abandon” worth R250 from Pink ‘n Posh
A copy of The Reunion by Joanne Fedler worth R180
A 6 month magazine subscription to O, The Oprah Magazine worth R130
A Solar Jar worth R120 from Consol Glass
12 unfilled Party Packs of your choice worth R120 from Party Things

What on earth are you waiting for? Go follow the blog and enter.
But we all know there can only be one winner...and we all know who that is going to be?

Happy Monday!!!

LaurenLeigh cc

me and my spare time

After a good 4 hours of studying, cooking dinner, bathing and trying to sync diary dates with the boyfriend, I am eventually sitting down to my laptop to blog and scroll through some of my favourite blogs ( most of them proudly Durban bloggers).

Here are a few I am looking at tonight and I am hoping to blog about them soon:

Miss Molly Fashions
Hey Cherry
The Thrift Collection
Cupcake Couture
Being Brazen
Blog Milk

Have a look at some of them...maybe it will inspire you to do something different?

LaurenLeigh cc

And the Winner is....

The February giveaway has eventually come to an end and I am excited to announce the winner. The names were all randomly tossed in a hat and the boyfriend drew a name...

Well done to Kim Longhurst.

Kim is also the talented blogger behind thepaintedblackbird which is a blog dedicated to, well, anything really that is creative, collective, vintage, amazing and awesome according to Kim. Have a look at her blog and be inspired.

I will email you shortly Kim so I can drop off your prize.

LaurenLeigh cc

Live Comedy at The Upstairs

What are you doing on the evening of 2nd February?Durban live comedy at its best - Glen Bo and Dusty Rich return from their cruise liner tour and share their adventures.
It is at the Upstairs which is an awesome new venue above Spiga in Florida Road.

Pic courtesy of DurbanIsYours

I found it on Durban Is Yours website which is my "go to guide" for cool things happening in and around Durban. Have a look here for more details on the comedy evening.
With Durban being a smaller city than JHB and CT, it is a bit more difficult to find things to do besides dinners out, the odd live band and pubs or clubs.
The people at Durban Is Yours have found a way to keep us corporate folk in touch with what is happening in music, arts, comedy, festivals and nightlife.

I use this website when I am looking for something different and unique to do in Durban, find something that may be up and coming and hasn't been advertised (they always have there fingers on the button and know most things first) or to learn more about the really radical people/ artists we have in our own city and country. They have featured articles and interviews as well as reviews and a gig guide...what more could you ask for? have a peek here
LaurenLeigh cc

Dorothy says: "There is no place like home"

Well Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz had red beautiful shiny shoes. Mine are not red. Or shiny but they beautiful all the same.

Again, I found another really Cool Concept. A second hand or vintage website called Closet Space.
They sell vintage or second hand clothing online but they work on an auction process.
So you bid a price and can either win the item or out bid someone else to claim the item as your own.

My little "Dorothy" Shoes are from Zoom. Tan and denim leather and in brilliant condition - practically brand new.
They arrived in the post after I paid for them ( only R120 including postage!!) and I love them.
I must admit though, they are definitely walk in and sit down shoes but there is nothing wrong with having a pair of those in your closet.

Have a look at Closet Space here.

LaurenLeigh cc

Vintage Love..or rather Vintage Lover

I stumbled across Janece from Vintage Lover's facebook page. I honestly do not remember how it happened or when but what I can tell you is now I am a TOTAL addict.

Vintage Lover is run by Janece Frick. She, as are many young trendsters nowadays including myself, have a love for vintage fashion.

She collects, finds, sources and buys vintage clothing, handbags and the odd accessories to retail them to her loyal fans via the Vintage Lover facebook page. And she has loads of loyal fans!

She works on a comment first and it is yours basis and has exceptional customer service.

And she lets you know when she will be posting new items on the page in advance.

This is my first parcel I recieved from Vintage Lover. Janece personally sourced me a pleated coral skirt. I didnt buy it off facebook. She went out of her way to find one for me.

I then found the most incredible little clutch bag and my parcel got packaged and sent via the SAPO.

I got an email with a tracking number, collected my parcel and what I got was a beautiful little present with a vintage postcard with a personalised note on the back and naartjie fizzer...one thing to look forward to with Vintage Lover's parcels.

Since this parcel I have recieved two others and I am looking forward to another one arriving next week so I will keep you posted.

Janece and her vintage love allows for a very affordable revamp of the closet, exciting present parcel arriving in the post and the BEST customer service I have got in a very long time.

Go and have a look see here and support a fellow fashion lover.

LaurenLeigh cc

Blog review - The bedroom

My blog review for this week is The Bedroom.

                                    Pic courtesy of The Bedroom

Yes, I do have an unfair advantage as I do work at The Bedroom in Umhlanga on a part time basis and blog for them once a week or so but I really do think this kind of blog is important and fundamental to any relationship.

This blog is in fact a sharing of stories, an information guide to woman and men who are too embarrassed to ask the questions other ask, reviews on products or toys and a platform for people to read blogs of a wide range of topic choice from different types of bloggers.

Due to the fact that there are different bloggers, readers can follow the blog or particular bloggers as each of them have their own unique style and stories. Some funny, some serious and some informative.

The knowledge I have gained from working here and reading the blog is priceless and I think the learning will never stop for me now. My appetite has been teased and this blog is one I look forward to reading ( and writing for) on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Well done to the girls at The Bedroom.

LaurenLeigh cc

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.

LaurenLeigh cc

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

Closet Space...start your bidding!

Today is auction day!!
I found this very clever website called Closet Space where you can bid for good quality second hand clothes online.
I really am so pleased and amazed at how people are trying to re-invent, recycle and revamp their wardrobes the eco- friendly and cheaper alternative. I am a firm believer in that and I hope the rest of South Africa will catch onto the idea soon.

Closet Space has auctions on a regular basis and each auction lasts for about a week.
There is a classy, small selection of clothes to choose from and it makes your bidding experience feel very unique, specialised and private.
Its simple really, click here and visit there website, register or log in and they will email you the morning of the next auction. I got my first email this morning and I think its brilliant customer service. I was very impressed.
The rest of the information is on the website.

I am yet to order my first Closet Space parcel of second hand shopping joy but I am hoping that I will get something out of todays auction...it started an hour ago so best you get bidding.

I really like this concept...SOLD!!!! To the lady in the vintage navy jacket.

Laurenleigh cc