lauren leigh is back after 3 years of "being busy"

My last blog post was in May 2013. What? 3 years ago? That cannot be possible - what have I been doing?

Well alot has changed since my last blog post ( 3 years ago) and I decided I have been "too busy" to do something I love - blogging and sharing my thoughts on a social platform.

There are plenty people who discouraged me to start this again. They even joked and said : " who are you writing for? The 3 people who follow you?"
No, I am writing for me. And if any of you lovely people would like to follow me then that is just the cherry on top.

So sit back, enjoy the next few posts to follow and get your friends to jump on board.

Chat soon,

laurenleigh xoxo

Mid week break of food, fun and sea

With the start of May beginning with a public holiday I decided we had to get away. So I found a quiet little cottage in Sheffield beach.

Hearing the sea when I fall asleep and wake up is probably one of my favourite things.

Today was a day for food!!! It started off with egg and bacon rolls in bed cooked by the boyfriend and then a stroll on the beach.

We then decided to go food exploring.  A seafood lunch ended off with coffee and cheesecake and a drink at one of the local pubs.

The galley in ballito serves a variety of food whilst you stare into the distant ocean. We had a seafood platter and beers.

Waterberry in ballito is still one of my favourite. Coffee and nougat cheesecake followed by a walk in the forest was a great end to our day.

And last but not least we had to stop at a local umhlali pub called the duck for a beer and there famous peanut butter and bacon sarmie bar snacks.

So dinner....sjoe im all full up!

Lauren Leigh cc

Don't you just love technology?

I have just started using a touch screen phone. I decided to go for the samsung s3 mini. Now don't get me wrong I would have loved to get the big s3 (or even now the s4) but I wanted to take baby steps....ease my way into this new way of finger tapping and dragging across the screen.
With this smart phone comes a world of apps.
As im sure most of you have noticed I have been very slack with blogging as im just to sit down and blog.

Today I downloaded the Blogger app on my phone and im writing this now as I wait in a shopping queue....how cool?

So hopefully this will allow me to chat to all of you more often....fabulous!!

Lauren Leigh cc

I am back...

After a whirlwind last 6 months and the exciting adventure of me starting work at dermalogica, I am back on my blog. There is so much to share but I wont do it all in one blog post...or we may be here for awhile.

I think sitting in the social media class this morning has given me the creative push that I needed.

So watch this space...more to follow.

Have a fabulous tuesday!

LaurenLeigh cc

The start of a new chapter...Dermalogica

For those of you that do not know...today marks my first day at Dermalogica KZN as a training specialist.
This is something I have hoped for and longed for for nearly 6 years and those of you who know me will know that this is something that will hopefully make me a very happy lady.

By now I am sure I am absorbing all of the knowledge I can from Jam ( the senior educator) and I will write a follow up as soon as I can!

Hope you all having an exciting Monday!

LaurenLeigh cc

No peanuts in my peanut butter

Everyday I am hearing of more and more people who have allergies, especially nut allergies.
And even more so, peanut allergies.
I happen to be one of those unlucky people who have a peanut allergy. And my one weakness happens to be...peanut butter!!

My wonderful friend did some searching through her recipe books and found this AMAZING recipe for sunflower seed "peanut butter".
She lives on it and you can choose how crunchy you want to make it by how much you blend the sunflower seeds.

Try it out and let me know how you enjoy it. We have it on toast, in smoothies to make our own peanut butter bomb smoothies and even on blocks of chocolate!

Recipe

375g sunflower seeds
sunflower oil
himalayan rock salt (to taste)
1-4 teaspoons honey ( to taste)

1) Bake sunflower seeds on a tray at 180 degrees celcius
2) You can grill them too. Ensure you watch them carefully. The longer they in the oven, the quicker the burn
3) Roast until golden brown and allow to cool
4) Place seeds in a blender a cup at a time and blender until a powder ( there can be a few chunky seeds)
5) While the blender is running slowly add sunflower oil until a paste starts to form
6) Add enough oil to suite what kind of spread-ability you would like
7) Add salt and honey to taste and mix
8) Makes enough for 2 nutella size jars and store in airtight jar in cool place

LaurenLeigh cc

Here Comes the Sun...dermalogica

On Tuesday I attended the launch ( or rather the re-launch) for the new improved daylight defense system from dermalogica.

For those of you that do not know...this will be my new office from 03 September. I am joining the dermalogica KZN tribe to be an educator.
This is a dream come true for me and I am sure it will live up to all my expectations.

Picture from the dermalogica website

The launch was informative, interesting and full of awesome facts, new product technology and in true dermalogica style - a product for each of us to take home.
I managed to get the super sensitive shield SPF 30 and I am in LOVE with the product ( what else can you expect?) after just one application.

Something that really hit home for me and I want to share with you; is the clip that was played to us before the talks began.
Being someone who is fair skinned, ginger haired and skin cancer prone; this clip really made me think and become more aware and I want to share it with as many people as possible!

Please can I ask you to do the same? Tweet it, facebook it, blog it and share it.
You may think now that it won't happen to you...but what if it happens to one of your loved ones?

Look out for information on the new improved daylight defense system by dermalogica here
Information should be coming onto the website in the next month or so so keep checking the website.

Please also have a look here for more information on the "dear 16 year old me" campaign.

Wear sunscreen. Everyday.

LaurenLeigh cc

Andre Rieu live in concert

Picture courtesy of the official Andre Rieu website

Last night we were lucky enough to recieve complimentary tickets to Andre Rieu at the ICC in Durban ( and 8 rows from the front...eeek!)
This was very last minute but as tired as we were; we HAD to go.

Just this last weekend we went up to Lesotho for the boyfriends birthday and on our 4x4 tour, we shared the vehicle with a dutch couple who told us that Andre Rieu was the best Dutch export they had.
So after hearing this and then being offered tickets, how could we refuse?

He was entertaining, had the audience spellbound and took classical music and opera to a completely new level.
Performing with the Sowetan Gospel Choir and a full orchestra, Andre played for a good 2.5 hours and had the crowds begging for more.

I think it is so important to open our eyes to other experiences and elightenments. Try new things, experiment and live a little bit out of your comfort zone.

This show is recommended to all ages and my favourite part of the show was probably when he played the waltz ( sorry I can't remember the name) and all the elderly folk got up and danced together. I hope I can still be doing this kind of thing when I am that age.

Live a little!
What have you done recently out of your comfort zone?

LaurenLeigh cc

Angora hats from mom

My parents recently went on a little holiday down the coast and I was lucky enough to get a gift out of the trip.

Now I am sure most of you reading this are thinking what could you possibly get as a gift from the coast? A shell? A bikini? Or maybe even a bottle of sea water with sand at the bottom?

Nope, my mother dear got me a rather expensive and fabulous mottle grey soft angora beret.
Soft and luxurious to the touch and exquisite grey colours and shades compliment my fair skin rather nicely.

Silly me thought angora was a usual sheep or goat but this hat is from the Angora rabbit!
For a split second animal cruelty thoughts ran through my mind and I suddenly took it off my head...yikes!
But the reason these angora rabbit products are so unique is because they are gently hand pulled from the rabbit while he is still alive and it is the extra or shedding hairs that are used.
So I then did not feel too bad as he was going to lose the hairs anyway.

Interesting facts on my angora hat:

1) it needs to be stored in a ziploc bag in the freezer - fish moths LOVE these garments of clothing and will munch through one in a few days!

2) the more you wear the hat, the fluffier it gets and more valuable

3) no animals are harmed AT ALL in the making of this hat

4) it is surprisingly very warm ( I wore mine today with a pair of jeans, grape long sleeve tee and royal blue cardi...very complementary to the grey)

And I like the fact that this garment is 100% organic and natural...in a way I guess.

LaurenLeigh cc

Fifty Shades trilogy

I am sure there are many of you who have heard, read about, seen or know someone who is raving about the Fifty Shades Trilogy by author EL James.

When the books first came out and were launched I decided I was going to stay away from them as I do not usually like to do things because the media recommends it or other people "hype" over something.

But when a friend of mine lent me the first book to try and encourage me to start reading again...I finished the first book in two days! Yip 510 odd pages in two evenings.
Now for me this is an all time record. My boyfriend and I have been dating for 2 years and the only thing he has seen me read is Facebook and Twitter.

Now I wasn't enthralled in the books because of the "mommy porn" as the media has called it or the sex scenes ( I actually found those pretty boring and repetitive) but the way EL James writes her books. She somehow manages to capture you ( the reader) into the book and it feels as if you are living the story. Now, for me, that is something extraordinary as alot of authors do not possess this kind of writing skill.

I am going to admit though that by the third book some of the scenes or paragraphs are a bit cheesy and repetitive but it is light reading that captures your imagination and fantasy...that is important for a women to keep alive!

I am looking forward to reading more of her books.

Do yourself a favour and give the books a chance and make your own decisions on the books.

LaurenLeigh cc

Chicken Curry Sundays

today has probably been one of the best Sundays I have had in a long time.

It started off with breakfast in bed followed by a walk on the beach and a cuddle with a blanket on the sand while we watched the paddlers. Then an aromatic coffee and MASSIVE slice of baked cheescake at Cafe Jiran ( they have an awesome coffee and cake special) and now we are listening to Frank Sinatra and cooking chicken curry for a couple of hours.

It is days like this that you realise things are pretty good and everything has been done your way!
Gratefulness is a humble emotion.

Hope you have all had a good weekend xx

P.s. give me a shout if any of you need a really good chicken curry recipe

LaurenLeigh cc

Kelsey Rose Hair Design

Picture taken by Debbie Jean Malton Pictures

I think I must be THE worst client for a hairdresser. Well, I used to be.
I would go and have my hair cut or coloured or "trimmed", leave the salon, get home and then burst into tears because I hated what the hairdresser had done to my hair.
I would then return the next day and ask them to fix it.
This happened every time I went to my hairdresser that eventually I started trying different hairdressers out.

Luckily for me, my cousin Kelsey decided to become a hairdresser. With her humble, patient and professional personality she has now made me putty in her hands and somehow I trust her COMPLETELY with my hair.

Kelsey has been cutting my hair for well over two years now and she has been working from her own home studio for about the same time; Kelsey Rose Hair Design ( please click on her page to like her facebook page).

Somehow Kelsey has held her tongue when I complained like a 3 year old, convinced me to stop dyeing my hair blonde ( I am a natural strawberry blonde / auburn) and cut my hair into a short pixie style. She is the ONLY hairdresser I have ever allowed full control to and it has nothing to do with the fact that we family.

From cuts, blow waves, trims, upstyles, cutting childrens hair from young, wedding hair and hair for the Durban July Fashion shows; Kelsey is someone I can recommend with ease and I know that person will be one happy customer.

Please contact Kelsey on her facebook page Kelsey Rose Hair Design or give her a call on 0848451323.

LaurenLeigh cc

ELLE Female Factor

A few weeks ago I was chosen as the lucky ELLE reader to be part of Durban's leg of Female Factor Discussion.
I was over the moon, scared, nervous, anxious and proud to have be chosen.
Questions fluttered through my head like what should I wear? What if I cannot contribute to the conversation? What if I am out of my league?
But after the discussion I realised that those questions are exactly why 30% of women do not follow their dreams or pursue their thoughts. The "what if/" question.

Female Factor is all about women and everything women related. ELLE has some great articles and you should go and have a look here to read more.

The discussion for the Durban leg of FF was the last leg as Cape Town and JHB had already had their conversations. At first the conversation started off slowly with born leaders starting the discussion and it was slightly daunting with a videographer shooting the entire discussion.
Discussion topics ranged from owning or starting your own business and entrepreneurship, the "work - life" balance, mentor-ship and women as we are today and how we were back then.

Ladies present in the discussion were Tarryn Gill ( Perfect Score - and thank you Tarryn for a wonderful opportunity and smoothly organised event), Jackie Burger ( editor of ELLE magazine), Jenna McArthur ( ELLE magazie), Annelize Visser ( ELLE magazine), Unilever and Beirsdorf marketing managers, a women of the year and McCarthy CSI manager, a performer, young entrepreneurs, owner of Ice Model Management and an attorney amongst many more. These ladies may have been "labelled" by their titles or job descriptions or what they do for a living but in the end they are all women, mothers, wives or partners, care givers nurturers and dream followers.

I was blown away and in awe of ALL of these women and they made me realise that I too have the "fight" in me to dream and follow my goals and one day achieve EXACTLY what I want.
With 85% of brand decisions being made by females in the work place, we have a very important role within society and the economy but we are not using it to our full potential.

Statements that stood out for me on the day were:
" How do you define success?"
" Why is it only a dream and not a reality?"
" Put the fish on the table"
" Let us be visible!"

I could keep on writing on this topic for ages but if I do that I will end up eating the entire Lindt mousse chocolate slab from the ELLE gift bag. Thank you for spoiling me ELLE with the opportunity to take part in this discussion and for the gorgeous gift bag.

So as a women with a DREAM...what are you waiting for?

LaurenLeigh cc

P.S. I stumbled across a picture of myself on the ELLE website today ( mixed emotion moment) and that picture was taken at the ELLE Female Factor Discussions morning. So my outfit choice was a good one. Always trust your gut and go with it!

And the #30daydetoxchallenge comes to an end

Monday was my last day of the Lisa Raleigh 30 day detox challenge. For those of you who have been following my progress, hearing me complain or simply not understanding why I am doing this or have done it; you can all take a deep breathe and relax...as I have decided to continue with the detox challenge as best as I can as a way of life.

Its not about trying to lose weight or look good or even compare stories with other girls who are dieting ( and doing it the VERY wrong way). It is simply about living healthy, feeling AMAZING, appreciating food, experimenting with food and looking after your insides.
And at the end of the day, if your inside body is healthy then your outside body will reflect those results.

By completing this detox, it has shown me really how bad certain foods can be for you. Obviously you cannot live this strictly forever as there will be the occasion where you have to "cheat" due to circumstances that are unforeseen; but then cheat! If its one meal or one day or even one weekend; the trick is to go back to your old/ new habits of healthy eating as soon as you can.

Pro's of the detox so far:
* strong nails
* better focus or concentration
* look forward to meal times and cooking
* my insides are happy with me ( I usually suffer with : Everything I eat, my stomach HATES)
* bowel movements have increased drastically ( this is a celebration in my house)
* my skin looks and feels amazing ( my skin therapist even noticed)
* added bonus - I lost 3.5 Kgs without any form of exercise ( try to exercise on this detox - I just didn't have time or was too lazy)
* and many many more

Con's of the detox so far:
* it is quite a lot of preparation
* grocery bill has doubled as its alot more fresh ingredients
* I feel like I have a hangover if I eat sugar, wheat, dairy or meat now ( good thing to avoid them now then)
* difficult when dining with friends or at a restaurant but its about changing your mindset and making the right choices now

Try it today and see the difference. Who knows? Maybe it will be the best thing you do in 2012.
Good Luck!

LaurenLeigh cc

Beauty Banter: Rubybox

The murmur on facebook and twitter seems to be something called rubybox.
After some investigation online, I discovered exactly what all the hype is about.
A small box that arrives at your door ( be it work or home) on a monthly basis if you so choose with 4- 5 sample size and /or real sized products for you to try and test out. All for only R100 per box!

This seemed to good to be true! So I decided to give rubybox a try in June and this is my experience:

* Amazingly easy to use website and very informative
* Great customer service in that Fastway sent me an email to let me know that my rubybox had been dispatched and when to expect it.
* My rubybox arrived with the following goodies inside: R50 gift voucher for Runway, 1.2ml Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria sample, Prevage Hydrating fluid (5ml), Piz Buin In Sun Sun Lipstick SPF20 and a Maybelline Master precise Liquid Eyeliner.

A bit more information on the products:

The Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria is a fruity floral mix with the perfect combination of subtly and bursts of energy both at the same time.

Prevage Hydrating Fluid has arrived at the perfect time - the start of winter. Full of ingredients to hydrate, smooth and full the skin with antioxidants, this Prevage skincare product is a luxury fluid applied onto the skin after cleansing.

Piz Buin Sun Lipstick is in fact a sun protection lip balm to soothe and protect the lips from damaging UV rays. With aloe vera to soothe and the gentle smell of vanilla to taste great, Piz buin offers an all in one product.

Maybelline Master precise liquid eyeliner is my favourite treat in the whole box. I am not going to lie to you, I am a MAC girl through and through but this eyeliner is phenomenal. It looks like a felt tip pen and has a "nib" that is only 0.4mm in thickness! Ultra sleek and easy to you makes it my best friend especially when I am rushing in the morning but still want to look glam!

Give rubybox a try. Look at there website here for more information.

LaurenLeigh cc

South Africa vs England Rugby

Today at 5pm will mark one of the biggest games in Durban for 2012 - South Africa Springboks vs England.

And due to our spoil at Christmas time last year; we have season tickets to go and watch. Excitement!!!!!

The atmosphere, crowd, support and commitment to our Bokke will be there is full force...especially if it is raining and everyone stays put!

So here is to holding thumbs we kick some serious English butt, no rain and a festive night out and about Durban.

Hope you all have fun!

LaurenLeigh cc

Vintage Mondays with Marie Claire and Bonnie and Clyde

A few weeks back I tweeted a picture of myself in a coral sheer pleated skirt with white polka dots teamed with a white vest to Marie Claire magazine for their #VintageMondays hashtag competition and I was lucky enough to win a R250 gift voucher from Bonnie and Clyde in Glenwood.

Situated behind Corner Cafe coffee shop in Glenwood, Bonnie and Clyde boasts both old, new and vintage collections of outerwear, accessories, shoes, handbags and coats.

Last week I went in to go and see what I could get with my voucher and I stumbled across these gorgeous, crazy and loud silver metallic court shoes. And I fell in love with them.

And how retro is the bag I left the shop with? We have used it twice on picnics to carry our blankets and cushions. Attention to detail and being able to use the bag afterwards - awesome for me as a customer.

So if you are in the mood for some vintage shopping then please go and have a look at Bonnie and Clyde. And the coffee at Corner Cafe is to die for!

LaurenLeigh cc

DSOC: comedy night at The Keg

Tonight I will be attending the DSOC event at The Keg and Trout in Hillcrest. I got four tickets ( thanks DSOC) and free bottle of vino so it will be a great way to end my last exam for this semester and catch up with old friends.

Nothing better than a good laugh, good company and supporting local awesome talent.

I will let you know the outcome on the weekend.

LaurenLeigh cc

The Liquid eating Plan

So as most of you know, I have been on the Lisa Raleigh 30 Day detox. I am now on Step 3 which is the liquid only diet.
This can consist of juices ( the freshly juiced kind not the box kind), smoothies and soups.
The liquid part has actually been a lot easier than I thought it would be but I HAVE to eat every 2 hours or I turn into the HULK...literally.

I have noticed that I have had most of my headaches on this part of the diet but my bowel movement ( sorry for the overshare) has got much better and I feel like a human being again!
Another plus is that my nails are long and strong which I can only gather is from the healthy eating and lack of "bad" foods.
Dehydrated skin has also depleted my moisturizer but I am putting that down to a combination of change of season and the detox.

The best part of this all...I get to use my juicer and smoothie maker. Absolute gems.
And you can out ANYTHING into your juice and smoothies...as long as its healthy and on the list.

LaurenLeigh cc

Thank you Lady Luck

These last few weeks have been a good few weeks for me. Lady luck has been a VERY good friend of mine.

Yesterday, I found out that I have been chosen as the one lucky elle reader to attended the Female Factor discussion forum happening in Durban on Thursday.
I am so over the moon I could hardly go to bed last night!

I will obviously let you all know how it goes as soon as I get home from an amazing afternoon filled with knowledgeable women, inspiration and ideas.

LaurenLeigh cc