Healthy drink, healthy body!

I found this delicious recipe on Pinterest over the weekend. It came from a Russian blog, named SitnoSeckano, and they found it on some other health/fitness/nutrition site. Pity, they didn't link it up, because if they had one recipe this good, I would have hung around that health site for hours on end!

Apparently, coming from a health site, the ingredients in the drink have the properties of helping you to lose weight. We are all looking for that wonder drink right? I'm going to give this a try this week. Maybe it will also give me a bit of an immunity boost against this damn winter?

Interested in making it? Here's how:

You will need:

• 2 liter water
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced.
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger and
• 10 - 12 spearmint leaves.

Mix all the ingredients in a jug and leave in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. Enjoy the refreshing drink!

Quick & Easy!

Images: 1/2/3/4

Let's go walkies!

Flip and I have decided to brave the cold and go walking with our pups more often.

What a challenge this is!

When we first got our pups, I, along with a friend or a Flip, went walking with them quite a few times.

But then someone warned me that if they didn't have all their shots, they might get terrible illnesses from other dogs in the neighbourhood. I was terrified. 

What if they got Feline Aids?!

So, I fell out of routine and they forgot all about their manners on leashes.

The first time we went walking with Mila again, she kept on tugging at her leash, so hard that she was choking herself. I had to use some serious force to get her to stay. 

And Jethro went mad, as in 'I will get out of my damn leash, humans', if he couldn't walk next to his sissie.

Shame, he is sooo attached to Mila.

Eventually, they learned to calm down. They are still very excited when we go out and about, and being the friendly baby Mila is, she just wants to love everyone who comes her way, unfriendly dogs included. A little Pomeranian type dog got out of his yard and tried to eat her face! Well, I might be exaggerating a bit.

All in all, it's a fun way to get some excersise! For us and for them.

Happy and exhausted at home, us two!

**********

Sometimes I feel silly about posting about trivial things like 'walking my dog'. It feels silly to post about my everyday life and the things that wouldn't necessarily contribute to anyone's life, inspire them to do good, or change a mindset. But then I find quotes like this one.

It makes me think again, it's for me. It's for remembering.

One day, I know I will come back to this post and read about when my pups were small.

And I will cherish it.

It must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays

Last night I watched The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy for the first time.

Your gasps are audible. 

Yes, I know it is a crying shame.

I've been busy. 

But yesterday, as I was standing in the shower, just to relax after a long day,

 Flip starts screaming down the passage way that the movie is about to start in two minutes.

I kid you not, but he managed to heat last night's leftovers for dinner,

and pop the most delicious popcorn. 

All in two minutes. 

Yes he is amazing.

So was this scene/

But before I go off on a tangent, let's talk Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. I don't really know what to think about it. I hate it and I love it all at the same time.

The imagery.

The amazing, yet so confusing dialogue. The words.

The quirky characters.

The crazy situations.

The funny shapes the ship took everytime they traveled through space.

42.

Marvin the manically depressed superbrain.

I love this most!

But then the mockery of Christianity came along.

And I was undecided. 

Also, I'm a creationist, so seeing how earth was 'created' in the movie, also upset me.

But I have to give kudos to the genius behind the book Douglas Adams.

That a brain like that had to rot, for shame!

One last thing. Poor Whale!

Images: 1/2

All things that are sparkly, are Anjolee diamonds!

“The French are glad to die for love. They delight in fighting duels. But I prefer a man who lives and gives expensive jewels. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

I believe it was the eternal Miss Marylin Monroe who once upon a time declared her love for shiny little stones. Santine from Moulin Rouge shared the same sentiment while swinging a few feet above the ground in a bedazzled outfit.

Let’s face it, if there is one thing all of us girls want one day is that blinging piece of gorgeousness on our fourth finger on the left hand. Even you girls who are shaking their heads at the moment, and saying “nuh-uh, I am never getting married.” Believe me, when you meet the right guy, you sure as hell would want that diamond! 

In the meantime, I have been lured into diamond lust by the lovely ladies at Anjolee. These pieces are simply to die for. French men, get ready to duel!

To top it all off, I recently got a gorgeous diamond encrusted silver necklace from the love of my life for our second year anniversary (which you can check out here.) This has further fired up my covetousness (yeah, I googled that) for glittery, sparkly, shimmery and glistening rocks!

Anjolee has these sweet little bracelets. I am a less is more type of girl, and believe that a bunch of these bangle bracelets, stacked on your arm, would make any outfit look as if it came out of a haute couture French magazine. Best is, it is customisable!

For those girls, like me, who are sometimes a bit weary in buying accessories, and you want to add a key piece of jewellery to your wardrobe that can be worn anytime and anywhere, a tennis bracelet is your go to piece! Believe me, it goes with anything. My aforementioned bling that I got from my beau is worn almost every single day!

When you think your man is ready for some seriousness and about to the pop the question, or you are the serious one and ready to drop some heavy diamond dripping hints for that fourth-finger-on-the-left-hand ring, Anjolee has the perfect, and I mean you can pin this on Pinterest a thousand times perfect, engagement rings!

For the girls who have already passed this stage, they also sell the most beautiful weddings set! Check it out!

 ***************

Now for the good stuff! The great gals and pals at Anjolee has given the readers of Second Floor Living a 5% discount on any product that they order from the website. Use the code MP591 and you will be have the bling in your hands sooner than you can say, well, bling. xoxo

Images: 1/2/3/4

Date Night

Have you ever cried in a preview of a movie? I did. I have a weakness for animated movies from the Pixar/Disney stall and when I saw the preview for Brave, I wiped a tear or two. Yes, I know, it's bad.


But watching a preview could only mean one thing right? Yup. We went to the movies. Flip and I took a trip to the bioscope to watch Avengers. Not in 3D. Those cinemas were too far from home.

I thought it was a bit of a silly movie, more a boys type of do. I like watching girly girl stuff, sweet little chick flicks. I'm not saying that I didn't like the action-packed Avengers, I actually quite enjoyed it. And the funny thing is that I liked the serious parts the most. I thought the attempt at comedy was weak, and every time someone made a joke in the movie and the whole cinema burst out in laughter, I found myself rolling my eyes. 

Also, just to prove how much I normally avoid these type of movies, I have never watched any of the Avenger's predecessor movies. I might have seen clips here and there of Captain America, or Iron Man, that much is true. I live with a guy. The situation is unavoidable. 

I did find two things particularly staying, and I quote. Captain America said:

"There's only one God, ma'am, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that"

Striking, isn't it? To hear this in a Hollywood movie. 

It's my favourite quote int he whole movie!

And then the funniest quote?

Captain America gives everyone orders on what they must do to save the world. 

He turns to the Hulk and says:

"HULK! Smash"

Classic.

 I turned into a ghost. 

PS: Don't tell anyone this, but Flip and I both admitted to each other after the movie that we were farting the whole way through! HAHA! Luckily there weren't any people sitting close. But either the popcorn, or the popcorn spices makes us flatulent. 

PPS: Flip and I recently remembered that we have now been together two years and one month. Achievement unlocked.

Die Klipskuur

I don't normally write about weddings and things like that, because I am far from getting married. But last year, my mom and I had a cup of coffee at Seattle Coffee Company, and we were talking about the future.

There, a man overheard our conversation and told my mum and I that he was currently renovating his 1914 farm barn and was planning on opening a wedding venue there. I faintly remember him even giving me his business card, but have no idea where that is now.

Long story short, the other day, I saw a friend of mine on facebook talk about this venue. And I immediately phoned my mom to ask her if she can remember where the man in the coffee shop said his venue would be.

I am still not one hundred percent sure about this, but I think Die Klipskuur is now the venue that was only a brain baby last year!

All pics are from Klipskuur's facebook page

Dreaming of a White Office

If I had the luxury of being able to design my own office space in our open plan office and the luxury of an unlimited budget, I would probably go for the all white office feel!

I think the crisp lines, crisp colours and the 'unclutteredness' of it, gives you that edge when having to concentrate extra hard! And sometimes, when looking at a computer screen all day, as I so lucky enough to do, your eyes just need to rest. The plain and simple white or black wall would just give you that minute's rest, a breather space for your eyes.

I pinned a few inspired spaces on this Pinterest board of mine.

The best thing since Llama Llama Duck!

Just. Watch. IT!

I have a very talented friend called Liesl.

She is one of those triple threats you always hear about,

the ones who acts, sings, and dances.

Except Liesl's D isn't Dance.

It's Design and Drawing.

This lady is one of the most nicest, gorgeous, down-to-earth girls I have ever met.

And gosh, she is stunning!

She recently came back to South Africa, 

after studying at the Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts.

This clothing line, she says, has been inspired by the experiences she had while studying in Canada.

It's just stunning.

It's called Call a Cab & Take it Slow.

And this is her lookbook.

This is Liesl.

All pics taken by another talented friend of mine Henk at I'm The Carpenter.

I just call him Shmoo.

Life Lately: the lowdown

First off, I'm pretty sure I hate winter. 

I don't care much for the cold, because, and I thank the Lord for this everyday,

I have been blessed just enough to keep myself warm.

It's the damn flu that gets me down.

I have had it twice, read it, TWICE, this year.

I am so over it. 

That explains why I have also been missing in action.

But I retaliated and now I will post. With thanks to Instagram.
Hello loves!

The week began all smiles.

But then it got seriously cold. As you can see. Mila even cuddled her teddy!

But at least I'm greeted by this when I come home every evening!

On a sidenote, I just want to say RIP to Lennox.

He was taken away from his family two years ago because of some stupid law.

And today, after struggling for years to free him, his family had to hear that he will not be freed.

He was put to sleep.

(This is him actually sleeping and not the 'put to sleep' pic)

Things like this will make me become an anarchist! 

I'll bring snakes back to Ireland!!

Here's his story if you want to know more:

Save Lennox

RIP Sweet Baby Boy! 

Imminent cuteness overload

My aunt's Boston Terriers had pups the other day. Five of them. All male. Sweet little buggers.

I got to take a few pics of them when we visited her.

Prepare to say "Awwwh". 

A lot.

This one was literally radiating heat. Look at the heat rash I'm getting.

And just for final cuteness, I thought I'd show you my 14 kg (30 lb) lapdog.

Art I Adore

These are prints and objects that have caught my eye over the last few weeks.

Look. Indulge.

akimbo design

akimbo

cocoa & hearts

nina torr

cocoa & hearts

 WhiteFauxTaxidermy