French goes matte

First we had the classic French manicure, then came the two toned one, then the upside down french manicure and now we have the dual texture french.
Elle magazine posted a picture of this matte and shine french manicure on their blog a few weeks ago, I really like this modern take on the classic French manicure.

All you need is a base colour, I found the darker the colour the better, a high shine top coat and a matte finisher.
I love using the Essie top coats and for my try I used the Essie 'matte about you' matte finisher and the Essie '3-way glaze' as the shiny topcoat.
My base colour is OPI 'A-Taupe the space needle'.
Apply your base colour, let dry and follow with a coat of matte finisher. When dry coat the tips of your nails with the high shine top coat, et voila finished!

 

D Day has arrived, Dutch Donderdag is hier!

Sorry English readers from now on Thursdays are in Dutch, Dutch Donderdag has arrived.
(a little post in English can be found at the bottom of the page)


Vanaf nu is elke donderdag, D-Day ofwel Dutch Donderdag, één keer in de week een Nederlands berichtje. Elke donderdag een post over iets dat onwijs leuk is in Nederland, een tijdschrift, winkel, webshop, persoon etc etc. Makeup and Lifestyle op zijn Nederlands!

Om de D-day af te trappen een ode aan één van mijn favouriete bladen, de Flow.
Eén van de eerste dingen die ik doe als ik in Nederland aan kom is een boekhandel zoeken om tijdschriften in te slaan. Ik lees bijna al mijn buitenlandse tijdschriften op de Ipad maar de Flow die moet je toch echt zelf in je handen hebben.
Helmaal al om alle freebees die je er bij krijgt:  kaarten, inpak papier, schriftjes noem maar op en je krijgt het kado.
Toen Flow in 2008 in de schappen kwam was het een verfrissing van de tijdschrift wereld, ze gebruiken bijvoorbeeld verschillende papiersoorten in één editie iets wat niemand anders doet.
De Flow designs en layouts zijn anders dan anders en erg typerend voor het 'Me time' magazine, op elke pagina kan je wel een illustratie, oude foto of bijzonder lettertype vinden.
Ideaal voor de knutselaars onder ons, en als je het zonde vind om in je Flow te gaan knippen dan kan je als abonnee een extra editie bestellen (!)

Flow is, aldus de redactie, een blad dat je rust geeft in je leuke maar drukke bestaan. En dat doen ze zeker, Flow is mijn vaste metgezel als ik een kopje kofie ga drinken op het strand.
Mooie plaatjes kijken, leuke gedichtjes lezen, interesante artikelen doornemen, (web)winkeltjes ontdekken en heel veel nieuwe ideeen krijgen.

Neem ook eens een kijkje op de Flow website behalve een leuke blog hebben ze ook een download pagina vol met  kadootjes voor je laptop. Zo kan je bijvoorbeeld postpapier downloaden, of stickers of kleurplaten, genoeg keus!

Ontstressen met Hollandse nuchterheid, dat is Flow!

Hello English readers, curious what the post is about and your Dutch isnt up to sratch?

I'm writing about my favourite Dutch magazine Flow, an unique mag with articles about life, shopping, family and taking time for yourself. A 'me time' magazine with gorgeous illustrations, pull out cards, paper and more. Have a look on thier English webiste www.flowmagazine.com they also sell stunning stationary.

Up with the pixies

Treehouse hotel Sweden

For an upcoming trip of my sister to the UK I've been looking into unusual hotels and found some great gems. I especially liked the tree houses and lodge hotels.
Have a look here at my finds in England but also a look at my favourites around the globe.

Who knew you can go on safari in south east England? At Livingstone safari lodge you do just that, while sitting on the deck in front of your luxury twin bedded tent you can spot zebra's, wildebeests and giraffes. The Port Lympne wild animal park is home to the largest breeding herd of black rhinos outside Africa, as well as Siberian tigers, African elephants, Barbary lions and many other rare and endangered species. And all this in the Kent countryside with views across to France, confused anyone? Cant wait to check it out for myself!!

Weblink

Can you see yourself staying in a tree house? Wake up with the noice of little birdies chirping in your ear, Disney cartoon style?

Hearing the rustling of the leaves while chilling in your lodge? I surely can!

Castle cottage in England

 

My absolute favourite, The treehouse hotel in Sweden.

 I love the mirrored box just hanging between the trees like some surrealistic picture.

 (see picture above blog post)

Also adore this pod, have a look at the Tree house hotel site to see their UFO, birds nest and other cabins in between the trees.

 

And what about this tent in Chili, Elqui domos is a astronomy resort, go here for some serious star gazing.

A bit closer to home are the Feather Down farms, I've been to one a while ago for a photo shoot and would love to go back for a relaxing weekend.

Set all over the English countryside are luxurious tents, with proper beds, stoves and chairs.

Leave your computer and phones at home and really enjoy the fresh air, fire up the stove and boil some freshly collected eggs for breakfast. Go out for a stroll or simply sit back and relax, sounds like heaven!

Weblink here

As blue as a bird

I love tableware

I love blue tableware

and I really love mismatched blue tableware

The picture above is a kitchen shelf from a location house in Cape Town, as you can guess this house automatically became my favourite house in the world!( Must say the gardens and pool weren't bad either)
I'm not keen on a dining sets: plates, bowls, side plates all with the same design.
I like my tableware to be mismatched, to make sure it doesnt turn into a circus I keep all items in the same hues, in my case blue and white but any print is welcome!
Wherever I am I keep my eyes open for blue and white china. When I see something I like I purchase one maybe two plates, never more. If you start collecting now within a few years you will have an amazing tableware collection.
I found plates in charity shops, foreign vintage boutiques, garden centres, high street shops and in my all time tableware fav Anthroplogie. I could just live in that shop!

Don't you just love the bunny? Found him in Imagenius, a beautiful shop in South Africa

have a look on their site here

The glasses are a charity shop find, they cost a whopping 50p each!

You cant see from this picture but they have little animals etched on them.

My tip would be whenever you walk past a charity/second hand shop have a peak in the window, you never know what treasure you will find.

There are lots of beautiful plates to be found online have a look at my wish list from

Anthropologie

Zara home

en John Lewis



Tomato Tomato Tomato

Don't know what you want for diner tonight?

Fancy something warming and filling?

Have your veggie friends over for diner and don't know what to feed them?

Pappa Al Pomodoro is your answer!

This Tuscan tomato bread soup is delicious, very easy to make and a big pot goes a long way, yeay for left overs!

This recipe comes out of a Jamie Oliver cook book, different variations can be found on google.

What you need for a big pot that serves 4

500g ripe cherry tomatoes

3 cloves of garlic, finely sliced

Large bunch of basil, leaves picked, stalks finely chopped

Extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2x 400g tin plum tomatoes

500g/2 large handfuls of stale bread (cottage style loaf is nicest to use)

*Preheat the oven to 180C/ gas4.

*Prick the tomatoes, toss with 1 garlic clove and 1/4 of the basil leaves. Drizzle with oil, add salt and pepper, put in a roasting tray and cook in the oven for about 20 minutes.

*Heat a glug of olive oil in a large pot and add remaining garlic and basil stalks.

Stir, gently frying for a minute until softened.

*Add tinned tomatoes, then fill tin with water and add. Break the tomatoes up with a spoon, bring to boil and simmer for 15 minutes.

*Tear bread into tumb-sized pieces and add to pan. Mix well, season to taste.

*Tear in basil leaves, let the soup sit on low heat for 10 minutes.

*Pour the roasted tomatoes, with all the juices, basil, oil and sticky bits into the soup.

Give it a good stir, you want a porridgey texture, adjust with water if needed.

*Remove from heat, add 6-7tbsp olive oil. Divide up and serve and enjoy!

Looking forward to spring

Now the snow is melting and the shops are filling with new collections I'm starting to look forward to spring. Fresh flowers, bright green grass, sunshine, fluffy bunny's and ice cream, cant wait!
Almost all cosmetic companies have launched their spring collection and there are some great new product in store.
Have a look at my spring wish list for my pick off products I cant wait to purchase.

Future Faces

The New York fashion week is in full swing and giving us a sneak peak at next winter beauty trends.
Here a couple of my favourites to far.

I love the bronze eyeshadow on the Creatures of the Wind models.
The look is created by Nars and shows beautiful radiant skin.
A modern fashion elf!

The Rag&Bone girls sported a black liquid eyeliner with a strong defined eyebrow. They apparently used 3 different eyeliners to create this look. And I am loving the  hair!!

Jason Wu created the Warrior Woman. Tight pulled back long pony tails and emerald green eyeliner. Its Hollywood meets Asia.


Photo pooches

Back in my home town and back in the cold, forgot it was winter with all that Cape Town sunshine!! Back also behind my computer which means back to blog updates, yeay.

Last week was Chinese New Year and we are now in the year of the Dragon, even though I think we are in the year of the dog. Over the last weeks there have been so many cute doggies on my photo sets! Have a look at my pick of the cutest pooches.

Be back soon

Sorry for the lack of posts! Am still working abroad and am having some issues with my mobile blog program.
I will be back online soon!
X Hester