What to buy for Christmas Part 2: Last minute gifts for girls...courtesy of Foschini

Well, well, well! Look who came to my rescue. Foschini's!

Lately the have started to stock quite interesting things, such as the little bird cage in the picture below. I also saw this little fox on Lucky Pony today, which I think would make a perfect gift for the friend with a bit of a quirky taste! Sweet isn't? It's also from Foschini's. Loving all the eccentricities!

What to buy for Christmas Part 1: Gifts for guys

Still haven't decided what you are going to buy for that special man in your life? Take a look at these presents.

Is he always running late? Get him a nice leathery watch. Mens Barrelcuf Cornograph watch, R299 from Woolworths.

Find out what his favourite fragrance is, or just take a whiff of his everyday deodorant and find a fragrance similar to it. Classic go-to smell: Jean Paul Gaultier pour homme Le Male about R700

Looking to splurge? Johnny Walker Blue Label is sure to put a smile on his face. From R1 600 (all liquor stores)

Sure, it's going to make your house smell like biltong for a while, but you'll both love it! Mellerware Biltong King biltong maker, R300 from Game or Pick and Pay

Is your man a real handy-about-the-house? A leatherman is perfect! From R1 500 (any outdoors shop)

Maybe he can't cook? Here's some pointers: Jamie Oliver's 30 minute meals from Yuppiechef

Does he smell his wine before he takes a sip? Then he will love this Corkscrew and Stopper set, also from Yuppiechef

You can never go wrong with a nice sturdy leather wallet. R400 - R600 from Jeep Accesories.

My two cents on Breaking Dawn

This post is way overdue, but I have been a bit busy. I also just wrote this whole post and then the computer busted out. SO I'm going to write the quicker version.

Wow! What a terrific movie! It was really worth the long wait. No, I am not a Twihard, I haven't even read the books. However, my friends who read it, was quite dissapointed with the differences between the two.

I thought it was awesome! And gruesome! There were scenes that had me near vomiting, scenes that made me yell out loud with the rest of the movie goers and scenes that really had me rolling my eyes. At one stage I was so queasy that I grabbed my popcorn box closer in case I couldn't hold it in anymore.

But I would definitely recommend it! Even if you haven't seen the first movies in the series/saga. Yes, there will be a few gaps as to who fits in where and yes, you will miss the 'inside' jokes, but it still provides great entertainment value.

I am going for seconds some time. A friend of mine could not make the first screening and I promised her that I would be her date. She watched it with her other friends in the meantime, but a promise is a promise! Besides, I think I missed quite a few things the first time, a result of running commentary between my friends and I through out the film.

(I still think Edward is hot as heck! Screw all you haters!)

PS - I made some changes to my bucket list, had a few things to tick off, a cousin told me so. Go check it out!

PPS - Also, feel free to go and like my facebook page - you'll find it here.

PPSS - Posts that are still coming up include my birthday celebrations post and a whole lotta stuff about Christmas. Coming soon to a Second Floor Living blog near you.

Thoughts on turning 24!

Yesterday, the third of December, I turned twenty four. How does it feel to be 24? A question I was often asked when I answered the phone from a well-wisher. Well, I should have answered, it feels old.

I have always had a problem with aging. Never with throwing a party or having a birthday, always just the fact that I had to do maths and add another number to my ever increasing abacus of life. All in favour of actually declining in health, height, brain strength and all other things that you have when you are young, say I! 

Thought so. Not a lot of I's in the crowd, now was there? If I could choose an age to be for the rest of my life, it would probably be this age, but with a few tweaks. I'm allowed to make tweaks right? 

Firstly, I would be 24, with the body I had at 21, the boyfriend (and love of my life) I currently have, the stamina to stay up, watch crap on tv and go out until 6 in the morning as I had at varsity (I think I burned out back then), the skin and no-care attitude I had at school and the innocence, playfulness, excitation and faith of a little child. Wouldn't it be great if you could alter your life like that?

In some instances it is possible....well most of it is. It just means hard work, patience, resistance and faith. 

I am grateful to have the years I have had. I am grateful for my wonderful friends and I am grateful for the life I have. Here's hoping I have many more! 

I got some great presents from my friends...Check it out!

  

The owl is from my dear friend Eleanor. I freaking love owls.

The handbag is from my Flip!

And the candle from Jenna and Eleanor respectively.

Next up, I got vouchers and this awesome chalkboard, which will look awesome in my new kitchen, from Tracy and Idele! Lovely!

This interesting 'chips and dip' holder was a present from my dear brother and his wife Angelique. 

Quite fitting, the newspaper theme, seeing as I'm a journalist, huh?

And the lovely roses are from dear Jenna!

Thanks to everyone who wished me well, who phoned, smsed, facebooked, tweeted, emailed, joined in the fun and sent smoke signals! I enjoyed my birthday thoroughly and I cherish each and every present!