So the journey started with the delivery of this Futurelife BEAUTIFOOD Value Pack – it comes with 14 sachets in two different flavours, Caramel Latte and Vanilla plus a beaut shaker – not sure what it is about this shaker but it feels so luxurious with its rose gold lid, i loved it.

Why i’ve been impressed 

• I am not a fan of breakfast – i am never hungry in the mornings and rarely eat before 10am. This often means though that i can make unhealthy choices since i may be out and about and because of my Ileostomy i also can’t have the likes of fresh fruit or cereal anyway so if anything I would head for a piece of toast or a carb laden bagel. A whizzed up Beautifood with warm water (best done using a blender) is the PERFECT solution if breakfast isn’t your thing and you want to make healthy, sustaining choices that are high in vitamins.

• The other reason i was super excited to undergo the 28-day challenge is because of the collagen levels found in each sachet. Now collagen has become one of the superfoods of our times and i’m so glad it has – i am a big proponent of bone broth for gut heath and had already been adding collagen to smoothies or warm drinks for about a year but really inconsistently. BEAUTIFOOD already contains high levels of collagen (5g per shake or bar) which was brilliant news for me – but it also contains high levels of Vitamin A (that’s also the active ingredient in retinol which i apply topically so it promises cellular renewal) as well as 16 other vitamins and minerals. I battle with nutrient absorption so as much as Futurelife Beautifood promises skin health – i was keen to get cracking for the nutrient promises too.

• Aside from gut health, collagen has been linked to improve skin appearance and overall integrity. We all hear skin therapists bang on about us having less collagen levels when we’re older – i’m 46 now and i have noticed a radical increase in dehydration and wrinkles (thanks time and children) and the big thing about BEAUTIFOOD is that it promises wrinkle reduction in 28 days – i’m happy to report that i really do believe it’s helped my skin hugely. It feels so much plumper, is reacting better to products and there is without a doubt a glow i hadn’t seen before (i’ve got pix on my stories).

Skin Improvement  & Weight Maintenance

The prep is super easy – i either whizz it up with warm water on cold days or make a freezerchino with crushed ice with it on warmer days. Some of you who joined me on the 28-Day Challenge mentioned adding banana to your vanilla shake which sounds delicious and so nutritious and sustaining. That’s something i really found with these shakes – they really do sustain you – if i had one at around 9.30/10am i honestly did not think about food before 2pm. It’s a really good way to try and curb those lockdown high-carb habits and to try and get yourself off the carb train. Many of you asked about the sugar levels…so here’s the lowdown

Futurelife Beautifood contains 3g of sugar per serving, 12g of carbohydrate and 13g of protein. Nutritionists suggest if you’re trying to lose weight that you should consume your carbs in the morning and leave them for the rest of the day. So that’s what i’ve been doing. I was on a really good exercise train before i started the challenge but i haven’t done a thing for a whole month – so i haven’t lost any of my Corona rolls but i gained nothing either. Now for the next month i’m excited to see what happens when i get back to my walking missions.

Flavour feels & healthy habits

If you grew up in the eighties like me you’ll know that ‘diet’ shakes were a thing and they tasted freaking disgusting. they were also loaded with sugar and who knows what other rubbish and e-numbers. The Futurelife Beautifood shakes feel like they have turned the whole notion of meal supplementation on its head – they taste DELICIOUS! Over the past few years i’ve done a bit of a deep dive into the shake world – as a Crohns sufferer, you sometimes spend months not able to eat actual food and i have spent thousands on protein based supplement shakes (there are actual shakes developed purely for Inflammatory Bowel Disease sufferers and you would be shocked at the levels of glucose in them) – also all of them tasted disgusting. This would have been a game changer of me during those times. I’m going to be very involved in patient advocacy for IBD in the coming months and this is definitely a product i recommend – i even told my specialist about it yesterday at an appointment.

I don’t drink coffee but the Caramel Latté ended up being my favourite – it has a really malty flavour and is so soothing and filling. Honestly, if you struggle to think about food in the morning but are conscious of making healthy choices (that make your skin look better) then this is a great bet.

My Futurelife BEAUTIFOOD future

As you can hear, i’m totally sold on the Futurelife BEAUTIFOOD concept and although it was a 28-day challenge i’ve already bought stocks so that it’s a part of my everyday. I love the overall health and nutritional benefits i’m getting and i LOVE the skin benefits too.

A starter pack of two boxes of shakes in 2 flavours and a shaker costs R549,99 (available at Dischem) while the boxes on their own (for 7 sachets) are R149,95 each.

So, with that in mind, here are some more tips and tricks that can help tweak your water usage in and around your home – if you haven’t read my first post, click here 

6. BATH TIME TIP 

So the little girls are the only ones in the house who bath (back in water restrictions we were bathing them in oversized buckets) but this little madam also needs a clean every week or so and rather than run a whole new bath for her – we just pop her into the girls’ used bath water for a wash. As you can see she’s not a huge fan of our cunning plan.

7. SHOWER POWER 

We shower outside come rain or shine and our outdoor shower is literally lined with a bunch of buckets which we use for watering our masses of indoor plants. I also use the shower as a plant hospital for the plants i’ve managed to kill. Oh, another way i’ve managed to shorten my shower time is to end my session with 20 seconds of cold only water – wow, that’s enough reason to turn off the tap but it feels amazing!

8. PRO PRODUCT PURCHASES 

I shared these two products on my Instagram yesterday (you’ll see i’m sharing loads of other tips there too) and so many of you responded – the one is a clothes ‘extender’, a dry wash spray which is PERFECT for jeans so you don’t have to chuck them in the wash after every wear. The other winner off-the-shelf product is Dry Shampoo – a great time saver but a water saver too.

9.SMART CAR CLEANING

We all grew up with the notion that to clean a car you need to have the hose pipe providing an endless stream of water and that couldn’t be less wasteful! The average small car uses 25 litres of water to clean it while a large car uses around 40 litres – what better motivation to put buckets out to harvest water from the next rains?!

10. REUSE WHERE YOU CAN 

Once you are in the habit of reusing water, it really becomes apparent how much we waste. Keep a jug by the side of the sink when you’re running water for dishes or cleaning veggies – and use it to fill ups the kettle or the dogs bowl. And if you’re a plant lover like me – collect every drop of water you can for indoor plants – i try to mostly have succulents but i DO have bamboo palms and they’re super thirsty, so knowing i’m using recycled water makes me feel so much better.

Guys, Nedbank who have been the sponsors of this series have sponsored a giveaway for one lucky reader – you’ll need to enter over on my Instagram or Facebook – and you’ll need to download the Nedbank Water Savings Guide to enter – because the clue is in there. The guide has so many amazing tips and tricks and reminders for all of us on how to save water wisely.

Keep an eye on my Insta and the I Want That Facebook page – it will be up later today.

This series is a result of a collaboration I’m doing with Nedbank – I’ve actually been a client of theirs my whole life (my Dad worked there for decades) so I’ve always known about their environmental endeavours and commitments to the arts way before they were something other brands aligned themselves with. So I was only too happy to get involved in their water savings programme that highlights the very real realities of where we are standing with water resources and how we can all help to continue to harness these – lord knows we can’t afford to go into a drought and water restrictions like we did just 18 months ago! I used the NedbankWater Savings Guide to give ourselves a bit of an audit – it has some real wake up call info in it!

With that in mind, I’ve written up some ways to spark your minds back into water savings mode because as we know water is a finite resource and if we don’t invest in saving it now we’re going to run into issues later.

1.EVERY DROP COUNTS  

I always try and keep a jug or jar next to our prep bowl in the kichen so that I can catch any cold water before it heats up and use it for plants and herbs growing on the window sill (or for filling Lola’s water bowl). I also use the jug to scoop out water from the sink once its been used to clean veggies and water other plants too.

2. SUCCULENT SENSE

So you’ll know from my Insta that I am obsessed with plants and have a room dedicated to them at home. I do occasionally buy seasonally flowering plants but I try and stick to mostly succulents since they are use so much less water. We also have some delicious monsters in our plant room and for those I collect water from buckets that I’ve filled in the shower.

3.ROOIBOS IS RAD

One of the best ways to reduce water evaporation and moisture loss in your garden is by mulching and for my smaller indoor plants the same applies. I like to collect our rooibos tea bags and then I open them up and scatter on the soil in my plants – it’s full of plant friendly flavinoids but it’s also a fantastic mini mulch for indoor plants. Check out the Nedbank Water Savings Guide here for more ideas.

4.TAP INTO SAVING WATER 

When you read that turning off the tap when you brush your teeth can save up to 4 litres per person per DAY, I’m always shocked, that’s more water than I’ll ever drink in a day! It’s mindboggling to think how we ever lived in a world where we left a tap flowing while brushing teeth. Again, if I’m wanting hot water to wash my face, I’ll let the water collect in a bowl that I keep for Mr Cat who is always thirsty. If you’re wanting to get the message across to your family – this is an amazing resource for the most gorgeous posters

5.DOUBLE DUTY COOKING

I’m all about saving time and hassle when I’m cooking and steaming does exactly that. What I also love about using steamers (love the bamboo ones you can get at any Chinese supermarket) is that you can cook three things over ONE pot of water – rice at the bottom plus veggies on layers two or three.

That’s a wrap on today’s line up of water savings we’re making at home – keep an eye on my social and share how YOU save water at home, and don’t forget that every litre you save makes a difference to your water bill too!

We’re tucked up under the mountain and so it’s important to me that come 4.30pm i start creating a sense of comfort at home. The fire will be blazing and we tend to start congregating in the lounge. Something i’ve been aware of in winter is that we’re sorely lacking on the lamps and standing lights front. A standing lamp beside and slightly behind a focal chair can create such an inviting picture while a lamp on a side table can create a beautiful pool of light. I spotted these on Superbalist– they’re all below R1599 which i think is a great place and they each tap into a look that is so now – the Bolu on the left epitomises rough luxe with its cement and metallic finish, the Bjorn floor lamp ticks the industrial chic look and the Woven table lamp is all about the natural fibres trend that’s going on right now. PS. Superbalist has a MASSIVE sale on at the moment. Explore more of their lamps and lights offerings which are are well worth looking at.

CANDLES FOR AFRICA 

There was a time when every interiors magazine would have someone quoted as saying ‘when i get home i always light a candle’ and it felt a little eye rolly – but now i’m definitely one of those people. I light a candle in our workspace every morning and a few on our mantelpiece too – i love the ambience they create and i also LOVE the layers of scents they bring to a home. I use the L’Othantique diffusers (Currently obsessed with the St Antoine) and of course i love a Jo Malone candle too. This orange blossom Babylonstoren candle is on my wishlist and i’ve also just discovered these Wick wax melts – SA doesn’t seem to have many wax melts and these come highly regarded (plus they’re on sale at Yuppiechef which is more of a bonus) they’re definitely on my lust list.

As someone who has NEVER been able to commit to a coffee table, a side table (or better yet a set of side tables) does the trick for me. They’re an ideal choice for creating an eye catching vignette and obviously they’re a good place to perch a cup of tea or glass of wine. If you have guests you can pop a smallie next to where they’re sitting – to me they just feel so much more practical than a coffee table (also i know my kids, they’ll use a coffee table as a trampoline the second i’m not looking). Both of these tap into the metallics trend (with some marble thrown in for good measure) and i’d struggle to choose. These are both Coricraft finds (they have the most amazing range of great quality contemporary small furniture items as well as their trademark couches these days). The Chinnu Lamp Table on the left has such a timeless appeal while the Porter could bring just the right does of elegance to your space.

If you’ve been watching my Instagram lives and IGTV’s you’ll know that i’m on a bit of a colour change up (in our bedroom specifically) but i have NOT been keen to do a massive (expensive) overhaul. So for our bedroom i made the change using cushions and some pillowslips (and a throw). We went from a monochromatic grey, white and black story to one that is awash with sea greens and more jewel green tones and i LOVE it! It’s so easy to the same with your sofa’s too – swopping in new cushion covers and packing away current ones for another season or mood. The secret if you’re going to go for a couple of cheap and cheerful? Try and use a really quality feather filler – it creates such a sense of easy luxe living. This round velvet cushion is from MRP  – i love it and the one on the right is from one of my favourite retailers of cushions – Skinny la Minx – they sell cushion families which is so clever – a bunch of cushions in different fabrics and sizes that work so well together in a scenario.

I’ve become as obsessed with blanks and throws as i am about candles. And boy do we have incredible choices out there. But these beauties are on my current list list. They are both from Mungo – who are such an ethical, committed and design conscious local company – i admire them enormously – and of course i love their aesthetic. The Vrou Throw on the left is high high up on my current lust list – i think it’s a lifetime buy (i would definitely put it on a wedding list and it’s a great group friends buy for a special birthday) and the Juno on the right is equally special. I actually have one in mustard and it’s gorgeous – it’s really weighty, super warm and it just looks so great – be it on a sofa or a bed. I love ours and it makes me incredibly happy (and yes i’d love another one). PS. They gave a site wide 20% off sale at the moment – if its a special occasion coming up, tell your friends to have a look and to get together to get you a gift that will last a lifetime.

So there you have it my lovelies, a little round up of things that are helping me to make cosy at home. Stay safe and keep an eye on my Insta and Facebook for what’s happening in my daily life!

This bustling clothing emporium on Franschhoek’s main drag is super busy – and with good reason. Owner Georgia Eccles (Patricia from Peacock Blue next door’s daughter) has kitted out her store with a kaleidoscope of colourful, infinitely wearable essentials that embrace the current fashion mood of eclectic style with pops of pattern and colour. Aside from stocking her own and other local designer’s collections, Georgia scours the globe for exclusive capsule offerings of women’s fashions that let you shop beyond the seasons – so you can find a showstopping maxi dress to turn heads at a wedding next weekend, a gorgeous printed tunic in Indian cotton to throw over a cozzie, their own label and imported cashmere ponchos and jumpers and a host of dresses, printed pants, and blouses in between. And don’t forget the accessories like scarves and seasonal accessories too. The Shop Beyond the Seasons thing is Georgia’s mantra – her switched on staff will help you to layer up your summer look so that it’s relevant for winter and she’s on hand to give you ideas on how to take that party frock to school drop off and back. it’s no wonder I heard so many different languages being spoken in store and noticed there were plenty of locals shopping too – Indian Summer is a perennially popular must do. 50 Huguenot Rd, Franschhoek, 021 876 2992

MASQUERADE 

Masquerade was my last stop on my #franschhoek shops mission and i’m so glad i saved it to the end. Whenever i go to Franschhoek i always try to factor in a visit here – it is pure food for the soul and candy for your eyes! Owner Marti Foster is a force of nature – she started this iconic store twenty years ago and still she manages to develop and produce relevant lust haves we all want to have and to hold. Masquerade embraces honest country mores – with the most romantic and quirky flair. So you’ll find piles and piles of table and bed linens in 100% pure linen, beautiful silverware that turn breakfast into a banquet, you can follow your nose to the incredible selections of Masquerade’s own label candles and room fragrances and be sure to stock up on the handmade Marseilles soaps which they’ve been importing themselves for years. Marti walked me through some of the candle fragrances in her signature candle collection – a sensory adventure around the globe with Seville Orange, Medici Rose and Franschhoek Lavender featuring. The entire experience is super sensory – candles, bath salts, home fragrances, diffusers and face and body products for days. There is a gift for every person in your family – from cheeky stationery to quirky doormats, edgy skulls and ceramics and bar gear for the man-about-town. Can you tell i could have walked away with everything in the shop? If you haven’t been to Masquerade, it honestly is a Franschhoek must do. And if you need a fix now, be sure to visit them online.  1 Kruger Street, Corner of Kruger and Huguenot, Franschhoek, 021 876 3944

So there it is my lovelies! Be sure to make time for shopping in Franschhoek next time you’re out that way – there are so many amazing spots to get your retail fix!

If you follow me on Instagram, where you’ll see my day-to-day life, the places i see and the things that inspire me, you will have seen i recently headed to Franschhoek for the day. I went as a guest of Franschhoek Tourism who invited me to come and experience some of their key retailers – and i’m so glad i did! I discovered some new spots and revisited some favourites i haven’t been to in absolute ages. The entire experience reminded me why Franschhoek is such a brilliant destination – for restaurants of course, but also for seriously rewarding shopping! Take a look…

EBONY/CURATED

Ebony/Curated is a Franschhoek style stalwart – and on stepping into the expansive two-storeyed, dressed-to-thrill in charcoal space, it’s easy to see why. They’ve been in the business for 13 years and yet Ebony continues to grow in popularity – all thanks to the eagle eyes and careful curation of owners Dewald Prinsloo, Leonard de Villiers and Marc Stanes, whose knowledge of and passion for South African contemporary art, furniture and collectables is nothing short of inspiring. It’s the kind of emporium where you might linger over an eye-catching artwork or handmade chair you just know will look fabulous in your own space, where you’ll drool over handcrafted ceramics and gorgeously glazed vessels by local talents and where African crafts are elevated into the coolest collectables. If there is one place to visit when you visit one of the most charming villages in the Cape, make sure it’s Ebony – and since you’re likely in town for some R&R – be sure to visit their nearby gallery Ebony Curated that features a procession of South African contemporary artists you need to know. 32 Huguenot Road, Franschhoek. 021 876 4477 

DESRAY 

You know when you’re on holiday and you just need to buy something fabulous to wear to enhance your equally fabulous holiday mood? Well, Desray is the kind of fashion retailer that will give you all the holiday feels – long after the vacay has ended! I’m a fan of the brand already but there was something special about walking into the bricks-and-mortar Franschhoek store – it’s so well merchandised and all that white light showed off the seasonal styles beautifully. GM Kate Fishlock is really really good at what she does – she imbues confidence in her clients and makes sure they leave with something that really really works for them. I saw so much i loved at Desray – an African toile print fit and flare dress that i fell in love with immediately, the most gorgeous tunics in eye-catching prints and patterns (Desray isn’t known as the queen of print and pattern for nothing) and a plethora of plain and printed wrap and button through shirt dresses which would do so well for lunch with friends but also for a meeting at work – click here to see some of them online. Shop 7,The Village Square, 48 Huguenot Rd, Franschhoek, 021 448 2887

THE DIAMOND WORKS 

There’s no denying that Franschhoek is one of the most romantic destinations in the Western Cape and nothing puts people in the mood for diamonds and precious jewellery than love, right? The Diamond Works is the Franschhoek representative of the flagship headquarters in Cape Town and i was invited to enjoy a Sparkling Experience, where i was offered a glass of local bubbly on arrival and given a lowdown on how diamonds are produced, why Tanzanite is such a valuable investment and what stones and jewellery designs are hitting style high spots lately (spoiler: i’m THRILLED to say tennis bracelets are back in fashion!) The staff were so warm and engaging and it was so interesting to learn that Tanzanite is increasing 25% year on year in value – and that black diamonds are a major trend to follow, right now. I must admit, i would love love love a black diamond tennis bracelet or a mini stud to go in my second or third ear piercings. Also – it’s good to know that they have really good special prices on some of their precious stone jewellery. Shop 1, 56 Huguenot Rd, Franschhoek, 021 876 3318

Hope you enjoyed this little roundup – stay tuned for round 2 coming up in a day or two’s time.

V xx

Guys, I’ve been in wanting to share this amazing find with you for a while! About a month ago I started a trial with a Cocomat Side Sleeper pillow and I am SO happy with the results. Cocomat is a Greek (now global) brand that has made itself known worldwide thanks to their 100% all-natural mattress and pillow designs and constructions that harness ancient traditions and craftsmanship with modern demands for natural lifestyle products. Their mattresses and pillows consist of natural, biodegradable fibers and fillers including the likes of latex rubber, down feathers, wool, seaweed, lavender and coconut fibre. 

The pillow I’ve been using is called the SITHON IV and it’s specifically developed for people like me who like to sleep on their sides. I’ve been battling with neck pain for a few months now and I had a feeling it was from my rubbish pillows but once I moved to the Cocomat Sithon IV pillow I can confirm it’s a game changer!! I literally had relief from my constant neck ‘cricks’ that have been plaguing me within two days.

There are 12 customisable pillow options to choose from in the Cocomat range – and each is designed to take in your unique pillow preference. You can also have the options of lavender or eucalyptus infusions to aid your sleep (I have an amazing little lavender sachet which i slip inside the pillow on those nights when i need a good sleep). I like quite a hard and sturdy pillow – especially so that my head doesn’t flop around and give me that crick – and the Sithon IV is the perfect solution for this. It has two compartments so you can move the fillings around yourself according to your preferences 

I visited the Cocomat store in Cape Town to see what the brand is all about and it was such a wonderful experience! Beautifully dressed in light, natural wood and merchandised with bed displays that showcase the different Cocomat sleep options as well as organic linens, towels and scents designed to help create a sleep sanctuary you’ll never want to leave.

The mattresses were developed as an antidote to the sleep products out there in the market place – the ones made of manmade fibres and laden with chemicals that seep into our bodies as we sleep. Cocomat products are also Orthosomatic – a system that works on the premise that given the right materials and construction, our bodies will naturally find the most comfortable and healthiest sleep position for itself.

Cocomat mattresses and pillows are making their way into both homes and hotels – thanks to their collaborating with top hotels and guest apartment concepts around the world that are consciously wanting to offer their guests a more holistic experience on every level. In Cape Town they’ve collaborated with a hotel called Atholl Place in Camps Bay – the idea that there is a luxe seaside escape promising a virtually perfect night’s sleep ticks all the boxes for me! 

If sleep is increasingly becoming a major concern and priority for you, i really recommend you pay Cocomat a visit – it’s such an inspiring space and such an eye opener as to how essential it is to sleep on quality products if what you want is quality sleep.

Given my currently ailing bank balance (and a very real need for summer sandals and a want for some soothing face products) when i was asked if i’d like to trial PayJustNow, i was intrigued! I had already seen the PayJustNow icon on the Sweetpeas site when i was browsing the other day, so i was already aware of their existence, i just didn’t know just how convenient they are making online shopping, plus i had no idea about other retailers who were on the PayJustNow train!

The premise behind PayJustNow is the opposite of a laybuy – you get three months INTEREST FREE to pay for your purchase plus you get the items upfront and pay for them in three instalments. One that comes off at the time of purchase and the following 2 in the next 2 months, that’s it!

Here’s how it works step-by-step: 

• Once you’ve registered they’ll give you an initial spending limit – mine was R2500

• For your first purchase, you have to pay for the entire purchase at one store only upfront OR you can wait for that first purchase to be paid off (early Feb for those shopping now), That way you are recognised as a user who is good for the 3 month paying off period.

• Thereafter you are good to go at multiple stores and you will only be charged 1/3 of your total price at purchase, and you’ll have 2 payments taken off your account in the next two months (the 1st of each month)

• Once its established you’re a timeous payer, then your purchasing limit will be increased. Boom!

They have some really cool retailers loaded onto their shopping mall already – Desray Clothing is one, Sweetpeas is another, Hey Gorgeous, Breazies (really cool board shorts brand) and Malawi Cane who have just launched the most beautiful brass trimmed Malawi chairs and couches. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on their Insta feed as i see there are new retailers being loaded daily – and if you’re browsing a local site and see the PayJustNow icon, then you know you can get an item you like and split your payment over three months – bonus!

As someone who is always scouring the net looking for cool products that i can’t necessarily afford but which make say ‘I Want That Now’, PayJustNow is a great way to get what i want without blowing my monthly budget.

Now since i’m a first time user, i chose to pay my first initial purchase off in full so that i can do some Christmas shopping over the weekend.

So, to get the ball rolling, i bought the Hello Gorgeous Aloe, Green Tea & Honey mask which i have wanted to try for ages and their Apricot & Walnut Face Scrub since i was told the other day i should be using a scrub twice a week and i definitely haven’t been doing that! I also bought the Argan & Avo Replenishing Serum as a Xmas Gift.

Next on my list is a pair of Sweetpeas Cali’s. I’ve had a pair of Sweetpeas sandals on my wishlist for months and months – i even stopped a mum at school the other day and asked if i could try hers on! They cost R699, so divided over 3 months, thats R233 a month! I made the end of year cutoff for orders thank goodness so when they arrive i’ll show them off on my Insta!

If you’re an online retailer, PayJustNow is also a great way to grow your database of customers and keep the cash flow in your business consistent. I can think of quite a few retailers i would head to for bigger ticket items i have my eye on but which i can’t necessarily afford off the bat.

So there you have it – if you also have the ‘I Want That’ disease like me – PayJustNow is a great solution for savvy shopping, and i definitely recommend it.

They took all of five minutes to prep and the fruity Rooibos gives them such a malty taste…oh, and they’d be equally good for brunch at your desk or to grab-and-go for breakfast on the beach…

I love that my girls are getting a massive dose of vitamins from the fruit and nuts, all-important anti oxidants and flavinoids from the rooibos (and all of that fruity flavour too) plus the fibre fills them up!

You’ll need:

• Jars

• 500g raw rolled oats

• 250 ml Laager Tea4Kids in your favourite flavour

• 250 ml milk (i used almond)

• 4 tbsp chia seeds

• Generous handfuls chopped nuts and fruit  – i prefer to add fresh once the last are ready otherwise they can go soggy

Method

Mix together all the ingredients and pop into a jar then leave overnight – it’s that easy.

This makes enough for 5 x 500ml jars filled 3/4 of the way full or 7 smaller jars

Consume within 3 days

It was really really important to me especially, that our bedroom was a restful and comfortable haven and The Captain really wanted to make sure the bedroom zone of the house is super safe – a lock down zone at night, if you will. Which is why we knew we wanted Taylor Blinds Shutterguard (R) Aluminium Security Shutters from the get go. Our bedroom has a huge bay window which we knew would look weird with curtains (we tried for a while but you literally lose half the room) and we wanted to be able to have the view as much as possible – we knew that louvre shutters would allow us to let in the view while still maintaining privacy (while half open) and then of course we can slide the shutters right out of the way so we make the most of that picture window.

OK, so here is the before of the bedroom window situation…

We knew we had a great window to work with and it was important that we were able to access the view as much as possible

This is how we lived for 3 months while we worked on other elements of the house – it was NOT cool!

And here is what we ended up with thank to Taylor Blinds…

Can you see how the shutters fit perfectly into the recess if the bay window? The measurement team from Taylor came round two weeks before they installed to tackle this particular window. I didn’t want a sliding rail on the floor so they came up with an overhead sliding system which really works. This is very much part of their service – each window or door project is treated as a separate entity.

This is what they look like on any given day when we’re lounging in bed – a half open situation where we can let in the view and light but still have some privacy (the bottom and the top halves of the shutters louvre independently)

This is how we slide them out of the way to let the picture window take centre stage again. All we need to do is then fold them against the side panel windows. I am so happy that we opted for these Shutterguard shutters. They lock shut completely at night which meant we didn’t have to go for a sliding security gate (my worst).

We also installed shutters into the bay window in Charley and Ava’s room – i love that result too. I’ll share in an upcoming post. As always – keep an eye on my Insta for other renovation updates – it’s all stored in my #iwantthatreno showreels

This is my second project undertaken with Taylor Blinds & Shutters and i cannot recommend them enough! Their team will go to the ends of the earth to make sure you end up with a product you’re happy with – be it blinds or shutters. The Captain is an engineer so you can imagine how pedantic he is about things working perfectly and Marius and his team from Taylor Blinds workshopped our specific requests so well – we’re thrilled!

This was a sponsored post.

Like cushions, I think blankets and throws really are such a great way to add a design detail to a couch or bed and that all important extra layer of loveliness – I also think you’ll love the seriously on trend colour ways and patterning Love Jacaranda have going on. Also – and this is really relevant to us at the moment, our house is freaking cold and although our garden is blooming – we’re not feeling warmed up by the change in seasons!

This is the Bella Vita Nugget in Gold 

Bella Vita Sultan

Bella Vita Bauhaus Abstract Throw 

Oh, what would say if i told you all of these blankets cost less than R600?!!

My other amazing discovery on the Love Jacaranda site is that they are suppliers of traditional wool Basotho blankets – they are utterly beautiful and so warm and lovely and gorgeous…can you tell i love them? I think they are the most gorgeous gifts and a really special addition to any home. The Captain and i camped around Lesotho years ago and it’s been a regret of mine for ages that we didn’t buy a blanket from one of the local trading stores as a keepsake.

This is the Victoria England – i had to get it obvs, given the name

I absolutely love the history behind the Basotho  tradition of wool blanket wearing…

In 1897 Queen Victoria visited the then Basutoland during her Jubilee year. She gave King Lerotholi Letsie a blanket as a gift. He draped the blanket, poncho-style, over his shoulders and so began the blanket wearing tradition. The blanket was named Victoria England. The Basotho people had a great love and respect for Queen Victoria and the Victoria England blanket has become a sought after status symbol.

If you’re looking for a standout something to make a visual difference in your space – a Basotho blanket may just be what you’re looking for.

I’m mad about this Seanamarena Chromatic Blanket

Each and every Basotho blanket on the Love Jacaranda site has a unique patterning and story behind it – it feels like such a privilege to own a piece of African heritage.

Like what you see? Use my code to bag yourself a 15% discount – simply enter IWANTTHAT on checkout and you’re good to go! The offer is valid until 30 September. Click here to browse and shop.

Have a happy Heritage Day lovelies!