Having a day off & raging over snow

Today is Women's Day, which means that we get to lounge around at home and stay out of the cold. Speaking of cold, we had a snowday on Tuesday and I got a chance to play around in it.

Like I mentioned in my last post, it's extremely scarce, as in it has only snowed 22 days in Johannesburg in the last 108 years.

I have no idea why I am pulling this funny face. Oi vey.

Remember this pictures I shared in my owning the city post?

My work's resident photographer snapped the same park on the snowy day.

Winter wonderland isn't it?

The first image via Pinterest

Forget Me Knot giveaway

::: Johannesburg is having a snow day today! This is quite exciting, as snow in Gauteng is more scarce than a chicken with teeth. I'm hoping it continues so we can play in the snow tonight and build snowmen! :::

Reduce, reuse, recycle. This concept is not new, but recently it has taken over the country, shaping the way we shop, the way we throw things away, and the way we create.

Tanielle Bell, from ForgetmeKnot in Cape Town has used this as her mantra, creating new and amazing things from cast-off products. She can take a simple plastic bag and change it into bowls and coasters! Now, that is talent!

1/2/3/4/5

She took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to give us a little more insight into her creations.

Tanielle, why did you start this business?

I started Forgetmeknot because I kept on getting asked "Why don't you sell your creations?"

So I left my job, became a freelance magazine designer and pursued my passion.

I also had an opportunity to train a group of women. But after a few years I realized that was the wrong direction for me, so went solo. Never looked back. 

You are truly inspiring, to give up your safezone and pursue your dreams.
Where do you get your inspiration from?

I am forever looking on Pinterest, blogs and creative websites. 

I love DIY tutorials, and often find it will inspire me to create something new.

Mostly my inspiration is sparked when I have something (e.g a glass jar) and I want to reuse/utilize it instead of throwing it away, then I will go research what other people have done and experimented with. 

And so you are also reducing your footprint on mother nature. What are you planning to do next?

My next projects I am itching to get stared are Polaroid coasters, cluster wood off-cuts formed into a heart and an image transferred onto that, and I am collaborating with Marzipan Jewelry on an exciting new crochet necklace collar.

Never a dull moment!

****this comeptition is now closed****

It gets even better! Sweet Tanielle has offered Second Floor Living readers the chance to win some of her amazing handmade creations!

By entering, you could walk away with these awesome goodies:

1 x YAY Scrabble-inspired coasters [with red felt underneath]

2 x key chain animals [made from recycled plastic]

2 x bunny badges/brooches [made from recycled plastic, scrap ribbons and buttons]

To enter just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.
Give some love to Tanielle in the comments if you like.

MANDATORY: You must be a follower of SFL to qualify.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

On the east coast!

I took a little trip to Durban not too long ago for work. We flew in quite early so we had a few hours to kill.

So we trekked down to the Oyster Box in Umhlanga [which means 'place of reeds' in Zulu] for some coffee. 

You know, to get that wake up shake up.

I did say it was early.

I had my favourite drink in the entire world. A spicy chai latte. I live for these.

I made my mom try it once. Let's just say the love for chai lattes isn't genetic.

This was our view, the famous lighthouse in Umhlanga. This spectacular beacon was built in 1954. I love how the Oyster box has taken the whimsical colours of the lighthouse and interpreted into their outside decor. It's such a happy sight.

A not so happy sight was the hotel's resident cat. On this particular day, Manchester United [the football team], which was visiting the country, was leaving the hotel. This fatcat was wearing a Man U jersey, but it sure as hell didn't look happy about it.

The concierge even warned us not to touch it, as it might go into a fit.

Talk about a tantrum!

 Angry kitty, 

devilish kitty,

huge ball of fur.

Mad kitty,

fat kitty,

purr purr purr.

More of my Durban trip to come soon.

*****
I also featured on The Failtehouse on Friday!
Go check it out!

Celebrate good times!

It feels like I have taken a years break from blogging, because I didn't do anything internet related this weekend. I worked in the garden, bought a few flowers and just had a great relaxing time. Thus, this post might seem a few days late.

We celebrated the opening of the Olympics at the Keg & Crow. Told you I loved this place.

It's like our MacLaren's Pub from How I met your mother. 

And Lily, Marshal, Ted, Barney & Robyn has nothing on us. Nothing!

We also had our own olympics at our table.

These two won gold for the fiercest faces.

Flip and I took first prize for not being able to keep a straight normal face in a pic.

Nico here finished dead last in the chili eating competition. 

He was the only one who competed.

Yeah.

We also had Springbokkies to honour our countries green and gold. Everyone at the pub cheered when the rings were in the air, and there were a few tears, mostly mine. People also cheered everytime an African country would appear. It was stunning!

To quote Nico: "The best thing about events like this is that it unites everyone. Every body just fucking loves each other."