MY 2018 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Can you believe it's almost Christmas again? In less than two weeks it's Christmas Eve and I could not be more excited. I remember writing my Christmas Guide for 2017 like it was yesterday! How does time fly so quickly? (You can read all about my 2017 gift guide here.) It feels like every year that I get older, the year goes by faster and faster. Anyway, enough with complaining about me getting older 😉 Let’s get to the exciting part! This year I’ve put together a rather comprehensive Christmas gift guide for both him and her. From luxury gifts to super affordable gifts, this list won’t leave you in doubt!

As many of you know, I love this time of year and so when it comes to my annual Christmas Gift Guide, I have the most fun gathering ideas for you and writing a special blog post that fulfils everyone’s wants and needs.

The Beauty Guru

The Technology Geek

The Best Boyfriend

The Girl Next Door

The Ultimate Fashion Babe

TC
xoxo

MY BIRTHDAY GIFT GUIDE

In celebration of my birthday, being a week from today ,on the 6th of November, I have put together the perfect gift guide for us ladies.

From my favourite perfumes to the latests handbags, I have set out my wishlist for this year's birthday bash!

Putting together a gift guide is not as easy as it looks. Although there are plenty of things I could have added to this list, I really wanted to shoacse a list of gifts that reflect my personality and aesthetic. When buying gifts for someone, I always think of buying soemthing that I would really like to have because I know that it will be far more valued than just getting something for the sake of filling a gift bag before ariving at the party. 

In saying so, keeping up with the latest trends is also something I keep in mind as a fashion blogger. The 4 major trends that showcased this past fashion month was animal print (mostly snake skin pirnt), florals, tie-dye and word power!

With my slight obsession of handbags, my gift guide mostly lists my favourite handbags, but hey, a girl can never have too many handbags right?!

Jimmy Choo - Ballet Pink Callie Bag

Dolce & Gabbana Majolica Printed Mini Dress

Coach Floral Eau De Parfum

Bvlgari

Jimmy Choo Cruise 19

Jimmy Choo - BING 100

Saint Laurent Leather Jacket

Gucci Skirt

TC

xoxo

NYFW | 2018

Can you believe we are already in September of 2018! How fast has this year flown? 

On a less daunting note, it's Fashion Month and as many of you may know, NYFW kick started fashion month this past week. Although I live on the other side of the world. I still got to enjoy the magic that New York Fashion Week hosts. Each show and presentation was beautifully curated and the inspiration that was created for spring/summer 2019 is nothing but exciting. There were however a few shows and presentations that stood out for me and so I put together a list of my favourites to recap the week.

My Favourite Shows at NYFW 2018:

Zimmerman 

Zimmerman never seems to disappoint. If you are a lover for pastel colours, boho vibes and 70s style then bring on spring/summer 2019 because this is going to be a major trend. The show was beautifully presented bringing back some of the most icon styles that millennials can finally experience ;)

Oscar De La Renta 

Oh, the elegance that Oscar De La Renta presents is always something worth mentioning. If you ever dreamed of being a princess (I still dream about one day becoming a princess) then Oscar De La Renta will make those dreams come true in his breath-taking gowns. Each dress was magical, elegant and beautifully designed. The classic Oscar De La Renta gold and black still made an appearance but I must say the gorgeous fluffy feather embellishments and fringes on many of the designs were my favourite from the show, as it gave a soft feminine flare which I absolutely live for.

Michael Kors

Michael Kors is always fun because he is always coming up with the most creative designs that can be worn on any occasion. Once again colourful hippie/boho vibes made an appearance at the Michael Kors show with fringed accessories and wide bell-bottomed legged pants with plenty of bold prints making me think that the "Oh So 70s" theme will definitely be present for spring/summer next year.

Mansur Gavriel 

Ever had high tea while watching a fashion show? Well at the Mansur Gavriel a beautifully presented high tea was served with elegant table decorations, flower arrangements flowing perfectly with the design of each garment and delicious Laduree Cakes. Once again pastel and neutral colours made an appearance and I can say with certainty that spring 2019 is going to see the best fashion yet (well at least in my eyes as I am a sucker for retro boho vibes and pastel colour schemes)

Marc Jacobs 

I felt like I was at the most elegant mad-hatters tea party at Marc Jacobs. Every outfit was so creative and futuristic while still maintaining a sense of elegance. Cotton candy colours were showcased making it fun and light hearted for any stylish occasion. Marc Jacobs is one of my favourite designers because every show is always a surprise! I just loved it!

Chanel

My favourite presentation of NYFW has to be the Chanel Haute Couture presentation. Being Chanel, it was nothing but elegant and each garment was so elegant. The attention to detail is always amazing to see in any Chanel garment. From the jackets to the skirts to the booties, I felt like I was in a scene from a Gossip Girl party in New York! The pretty sparkles, sequence and patterns was so elegantly placed yet so young and fun!

Keep posted for more posts on Fashion Month! Follw me on Instagram to keep updated!

TC

xoxo

RADISSON BLU SANDTON | STAYCATION

Finally I am back it again with a travel post! I know it has been a couple months since my last trip and although this trip was not very far from home it was most certainly still worth writing about.

This trip was a staycation in Sandton City, where I had the pleasure of vacationing over the weekend at the Radisson Blu Sandton which is situated in the heart of the city.

Checking into our Suite, we were warmly welcomed with a sweet treat of cake and champagne, rose petals scattered all over the suite and our bed beautifully decorated with towels shaped in swans. 

The hotel has a lot to offer for guests wanting to stay in the heart of the city. The Radisson Blu has a beautiful restaurant, called Vivace, on the 13th floor, a pool deck on the 8th floor and a fully equipped gym located on the 10th floor.

An additional benefit officed to all guests staying in suites or penthouses is that these guests are able to access the business class lounge which offers delicious snacks and beverages throughout the day. The view from the lounge overlooks amazing buildings and is perfectly located on the west side of the building, making it the perfect place to enjoy a sundowner, or two ;)

The Vivace Restaurant, offers all day dining with a fantastic buffet breakfast that has some scrumptious croissants and roasted coffee flavoured muffins. The dinner menu is suited for everyone, including the vegetarians offering a beautifully presented seared salmon dish as well as a tasty roast vegetable salad. As a self proclaimed foodie, the presentation and taste of the food at the Vivace Restaurant most certainly deserves recognition. 

Unfortunately, I stayed at the hotel during winter and during the coldest weekends of the season but the pool deck at the RadissonBlu is perfectly located on the 10th floor at the hotel and is in and amongst the biggest buildings in the city. This spot makes for a pretty cool location in Spring and Summer. Speaking of the perfect location, on the 31st of September the Radisson Blu Sandton will be launching "Friday Sunsets" with a live DJ at the pool deck which will make it the best place to kick start the weekend.

For more posts on my weekend at the Radisson Blu Sandton, follow me Instagram

TC

xoxo

AFRICAN EXTRACTS SKINCARE | PURIFYING RANGE

As many of you may know, skincare is one of my favourite topics to talk about. For the past month I have been testing out the renowned African Extracts Purifying Range. The range includes 11 products of which I tested 5 products. The Purifying 3-in-1 Wash includes both a scrub and a wash which I love because it really makes me skin feel super clean after a long day of wearing makeup. It also helps me not forget to exfoliate my skin, as I do tend to forget this important step when washing my face. The purifying toner was one of the best toner's I have tested in the beauty world. It immediately soothed my skin and left it feeling calm and collected. The next product has to be one of my favourite products from the range. The Purifying Dual-Action Moisturiser has both Baobab and Rooibos extracts that leave any tight and dry skin feeling soft and calm. The last 2 products go hand in hand for me. The Purifying Spot Control Wash deeply cleanses my pores keeping my skin clear from dirt and unwanted black heads. The Purifying Vanishing Cream really says it all as it reduces any unwanted shine and literally makes any problem areas on your skin vanish. After cleansing my skin I would apply a small about of the vanishing cream to give my skin a natural matte look. All in all if you're looking for an affordable skincare brand that really does tick all the boxes interns of oily and acne prone skin then I would suggest trying out the African Extracts Purifying Range. 

So after being super happy with the results that the African Extracts Purifying Range has showed me, I decided to run a fun competition where one of my readers would win a hamper filled with the Purifying Range! If you have not entered yet, head on over to the original post on my Instagram Page (@fashionfundi) to enter! Ps. this is not the only prize that you can win! Head on over to the African Extracts Website and "Play to Win" R10 000 and a dozen product prizes!

TC

xoxo

#PurifyYourSkin

#AfricanExtracts

#SkinLovesRooiBos

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THE PERFECT HOME OFFICE

Finally my little masterpiece is complete. 

As many of you may know, I have recently moved into my new home, which we built from the ground up. I am so grateful that my architect, who is also my dad, got to design this beautiful home. Despite moving into a newly built home without much furniture, I needed to find a place that I could continue working from. Each room in the house is uniquely designed to fit into my lifestyle and so it was important for me to include an office into my home, for my business. A home office can sometimes become a place that ends up being a storage room filled with unnecessary things that collect dust. I really wanted to create a space where I could creatively work and enjoy this environment.  Writers block is a real struggle and it is difficult to find inspiration when you work in a noisy coffee shop or public place.  

Starting with my home office was an exciting first project of the interior design part of the house. For me a good starting point was looking at ideas for office spaces on Pinterest, which most represent my personality. I searched colours, decorations, art and furniture that applied most to me and my interests.  

I think choosing a wall colour for any room is a difficult decision to make.  We had painted the entire exterior and most of the interior of the house with Plascon Premium, which looked fantastic across the house, so it was no-brainer for me that I would be using the same Premium Range to paint my office space.   Searching and comparing inspiring office spaces on Pinterest helped me choose the colours for this room, making the process that much easier. I chose Plascon Cashmere because of its plush matt finish and a wide variety of colours that I love so dearly. It became easier for me to choose the colours for the room because once I had decided on the type of aesthetic I was aiming to achieve, the Feathery Blue and Cognac Cream from Plascon Cashmere ended up choosing themselves.  The process of getting the ball rolling was most probably the most exciting part of this project. It was fun to be involved in all aspects of creating this room and making it the perfect place for me to get work done. It was important for me to be in a space where I enjoyed working so that creating articles, editing photos and collaborating with brands on exciting projects would be a constant innovating experience for me. This was what I wanted to achieve and oh my, did I achieve my dream office space.  

I love a room that is timeless yet modern, although something like this is not always easy to achieve. Some say you have to either be classic in the entire space or completely modern, but the room cannot be both. I, on the other hand, went against this mainstream rule and chose to combine the two, which I am so happy about. Rose gold, although a current favourite in all things fashion, beauty and lifestyle, may not be in for a very long time, but it is an element of interior that is aesthetically pleasing, and I love how it compliments many components in the room. I have many rose gold elements in my house and so to compliment this theme, I chose to incorporate small pieces of rose gold in my home office as well. Timeless and classic is, for me, an essential part of design. I do not mean “boring and unconventional”, but something that you will always look at and be happy with the outcome.  So, when I chose the colour of the walls, it was this idea that I had in mind. I think the colour Feathery Blue and Cognac Cream are soft and easy on the eye making it simple to change the interior design pieces if trends start to migrate away from my beloved rose gold addiction. With fashion, beauty and lifestyle being the main elements of my blog, I created my office in such a way that I could include key pieces to this theme. Every piece that is placed in the office was, of course, well thought out and represents my life and who I am. I honestly couldn’t have dreamt of a better working environment and I am so happy with it all. 

 

For more information on the Plascon Premium range and all that is offered by the brand, head on over to www.plascon.com

If you would like to see the behind the scenes of my office, follow me on Instagram and my InstaStories on “Lifestyle Highlights” for more. 

TC

xoxo

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#PANDORAXDISNEY

Who doesn't love Disney? It really doesn't matter what age you are or whether you have been to Disney World or not, there is always a little bit of Disney magic inside of you. Having visited Disney World on a few occasions, I have always loved that sense of being in this magical fairytale world, where dreams come true.

Speaking of dreams coming true, Pandora and Disney have recently come out with an amazing collection inspired by the famous Disney pair, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Yes you read that correctly! The Disney collection is the perfect addition to your Pandora jewelry. Each charm is hand crafted with sparkling embellishments and retro colours that perfectly depict Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. I absolutely love how Pandora has beautifully replicated Mickey’s iconic red and yellow outfit into their designs as it adds a touch of retro glam. Although a lot of this collection is inspired by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, there also gorgeous Disney Princess charms for the princess within you! I think the bright colours and animated feel that this collection has created is the perfect new addition to your own Pandora collection. You have to have a pop of colour in your jewlry collection and what better way to add that pop with the new Disney Collection by Pandora.  

#PANDORAXDisney

TC

xoxo 

THE PERFECT ISLAND RESORT | INTERCONTINENTAL KOH SAMUI

Being able to travel around the world is always one of my greatest pleasures. From trips to the blissful snowy alps to jetting off to big cities to have dinner on a rooftop, every trip is always one to remember with it's own unique experience. However I must admit, an island holiday for me has always been one of my favourite vacation destinations. It doesn't get better than being able to lay by the pool overlooking the ocean all while sipping on a deliciously ice cold Margarita, right? Although it sounds amazing, it's not always easy to find a destination resort that offers this so called "dream holiday" idea. 

On my recent trip to Thailand, we had the pleasure of staying a week at the Intercontinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort on the small island of Koh Samui. Having stayed at various Intercontinental hotels around the world, I must say that this resort has the most magnificent view that I have ever seen. The location of the resort is perfectly situated on the hillside between the National Park of Koh Samui and the shorelines of the Gulf of Thailand. 

Of course I can talk about the breathtaking view for hours as every restaurant, entrance and room at the resort has a beautiful view of the ocean and the forest making it the perfect location for Instagram photos!

When we arrived we were warmly welcomed by the general manager Chris and our own personal butler Aof, where we were given cool scented towels and traditional ice cold thai tea. Our two bedroom villa was beautifully designed with traditional Thai interior and  was a spacious space that made it comfortable for four adults to stay in. Every morning we had a delicious buffet breakfast at the Amber Restaurant which overlooked the ocean and smaller islands that surrounded Koh Samui. The breakfast is obviously a unique experience as most dishes are directed more at an Asian cuisine, however there is a continental/western breakfast that is also offered. 

Intercontinental has a unique benefit offered to Club members, where every afternoon we were offered a lavish afternoon High Tea at the Serene restaurant. The Air Bar offers Club members the ultimate spot for sundowners with delicious canapés and breathtaking sunsets that no photo actually accurately capture. 

The activities that the resort offers is endless, making it perfect for everyone at any age to be kept occupied with things to do. What I loved most about the activities is that it is all Thai related which really helped me learn more about the Thai culture. 

The Spa at the resort has been voted one the best Spas in the world and I can totally understand why. Of course the view from the spa is beautiful but the entire spa experience is unique to Thailand and wonderfully curated, using only Thai products. Both the spa and the villas offer the most amazing skincare product called Harnn, which I have fallen in love with. I honestly which we had this brand back home, but I suppose that is what makes it unique to Thailand. 

Not only does Thailand have the best weather, with a never ending summer, it also has the friendliest people I have ever met. Every person at the Intercontinental in Koh Samui went over and above of what was expected of them and I couldn't think of a better place to spend a beach holiday at!

For all my videos and photos of my week at Intercontinental Baan Taling Ngam Resort, head on over to my Instagram and click on my "Travel" highlights.

TC

xoxo