March 2018 Favourites

I have nothing cutesie to say so let's jump in!:

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer:

This is an OG Beaty Guru favourite. We got most of their products and last year I saw a distrubutor sneak peeking it. No lies ES ESSPENSIVE at R220 for 11 grams BUT compared to Benefit Hoola mini of 4 grams at R215 and R400 and what for 8 grams full size it is a great price. 

It's a great neutral Bronzer That blends like a dream. They have launched 3 additional shades in the US and I am sure we will get them eventually as most of the Dischems are SOLD OUT. If you want it and see it, get yourself one because they go quickly.

DIY Colour booster Shampoo and Conditioner:

I while ago I coloured my hair pink again. I was scared of the fade because I had an events and a lot of social things happening. So I mixed up some of the colour (ReNew Perfect Colour in Pink Passion) with Shampoo and conditioner. A while ago I had issues with discoloured blond hair and toned it with the Sapphire Blue and conditioner.

Pick n Pay Real Clothing Track Suit:

Last winter I was looking for a nice Tracksuit and this year PnP is coming through for me. They come in Dark Grey, Light Grey, White, Black, Pink and Olive. Because of my hair colour (Pink doesn't really go with Olive and Pink on Pink is too Pink) I got a Black and Light Grey set. Tops and bottoms sold separate.

R50 Woolworths Stir Fry:

In my local Woolworths I found a bundle deal on egg noodles, julienne stir fry mix and Sweet and Sour sauce for R50. All I need to buy is what ever protein. Quick to make, healthy and delicious.

DIY Vitamin C Booster:

As per the previous post you can see I am having a Woolies moment. A few times I picked up an orange juice vitamin C booster. R16 for 100 ml started to get too bouj for me. I hacked it with Sir Juice, Nature's Choice Turmeric and Cayenne pepper. For 500ml I added 2 teaspoons of each. Though next time I will add less Cayenne because I'm not strong enough.

This it what I drink to shake the after lunch slump.

Candy Crush Saga:

Wow did you know your favourite Facebook procrastination game still is around? You know other than Farmville. (RIP Chocolate Milk Cows and your corn and tomato plants) I'm not hawking this app because not #spons. I have been enjoying it again. It doesn't consume my time as I always remember it doing. I'm at level 539. they designed some levels to be 'Super Hard' but I still enjoy it. I always remember some being 'Super Annoying'. Bonus points if you send invites to people who post that they don't want to be sent invites because they don't play games.

Used my creative SkIlLZz:

I found myself in different social settings this month. Usually as a social introvert it made me anxious. I dealt with it with my creative skills. Now I will not compete with Project Runway or audition for Master Chef or Bake Off but I can get by. It helps me manage with social interaction. THE WoRsT, rIgHt! Because I have things already (ingredients/ Pattern and fabric) I just add to use my skill to put it together. FREE.

Finally that's my things for Feb now go use your skillzzz!

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May 2017 Favourites

Middle of the year! Right now it's dry A.F. in North ZA and the South is in a storm

Via Vintage Lover

Here are my favourites for the last month of Autumn:

Essence Nail Polish:

Cheap and cheerful. I bought a few in the end of April and wore them through out May.(All can be bought online at Takealot.com. I bought mine at Dischem)

The Gel Nail polish in Crash the Party?!

The Gel Nail polish in Crash the Party?! is H💿L💿 and I don't think anybody realised that. It's nice as a sheer polish, a topper and also nice to add more layers of holo with a sponge (See Simply Naillogical)

Mega Last base coat

It so does what it says. It lasts for 4 to 5 days with out getting weird. I like to do the Base coat sandwich trick (base – polish – base – polish – top coat) that makes it last longer.

All That Shimmers in Make a Wish Topper:

This a milky Dual Chrome shimmer topper. When I don't feel like doing a big deal nail art, it's easy to add a topper for extra dimension to a flat coloured polish.

Quick Dry Top Coat:

This is super handy when you want to add a second coat of a coloured polish and don't have time for it to dry. I also use this as the everyday top coat to make polish last.

Beanies:

I recoloured my hair and because it's an unnatural colour, washing is restricted. Most weeks it looks awesome for days. Other times, not so much. With the fear of having a hair style mainly consisting of a mixture of dry shampoo and/or baby powder I like to disguise with a slouchy beanie.

H&M

MrP

DcatsG Studios

These are a trick thing to find because though I found them in-store there is none listed online.

Shopped in my closet:

I recently had a few occations I had to dress for. Because I have good basic pieces, instead of buying a whole outfit, I could piece one together. As a child, my mom thought me to have a few good pieces: A white t-shirt, a nice black knitted top (When I where it with a jean, flats and a slouchy beanie I feel French), pair of black pants, as well as plain black shoes. From these elements I had a few accessories to dress casual to a bit more formal without spending any money.

Humidifier:

This is one of the most expensive things I have bought the last few months but so worth it. I got mine here on Takealot.com but this specific one is available at Dischem and Baby Boom. I suggest to shop around. This has solved most of my congestion woes. This is the 4L and does not last during a whole night even on the lowest setting but what I do is to put it on and close the bedroom door 1 and a half to 2 hours before I go to bed and keeping the door ajar during the night.

Soaring free Superfoods Organic Hemp Seed Protein Powder:

I like Chia seeds. So when I was browsing in the health section of Fruit& Veg Food Lover's Market this item was cheaper than Chia. SO it naturally migrated into my trolley. I add this to smoothies and when ever I'm baking stuff that don't really have substance I add some of it. Like flapjacks (“Pancakes”) and even those premix bran muffins get a few spoons full. I like the idea of adding extra natural protein to anything.

I got mine in the health section of Fruit and Veg but it's also available at Faithful to Nature.

YouTube App Save Offline and Telkom Nitesurfer:

This is my app and free favourites in ONE. Now lately there have been a lot of videos I like to watch and these days I'd rather watch online content than what DStv thinks I must watch (Because all their ads look like all life is about is not missing your show and “family time”. Believe me, someone will die for deleting a show that was not watched yet.)

Now we have Night Surfer Data that we kept losing. (That is technically free) SO I started downloading stuff in the mornings. Because Telkom is sketchy A.F and don't state it outright the times anywhere on there site I had to cyber sleuth that the times are 00:00 to 07:00.

That means I've been binge watching Laura Lee and caught up with the Jeffree Star/ Nikkie Tutorials/ Too Faced/ #nounicornsintheamazon stories.

That is my things I've been liking in MAY and #unicornsareeverywhere

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April 2017 Favourites

The fourth month has passed so here is the good ish:

Silicone Make Up Applicator:

I am not calling it a sponge because it's not. I love this thing. The only advise I have is don't use too much BB/ CC/ Foundation because it will take forever to blend. I bought mine on Takealot. (Search Silicone Sponge *eye roll* in Health & Beauty)

Renew Perfect Colour in Passion Pink (NOT SO light pink)

That stuff is so bright.

After 5 washes it started to look almost like on the box. I got a super lot of compliments then EVEN from high end hair studio stylist to people who work the tills.

Saved fashion:

I washed and without thinking through a non-tumbledryable dress into the dryer and is was suddenly so short. After consulting the internet and several Pinterest pins, I put some hair conditioner in a bucket with warm water, then added the dress. It soaked for about an hour. I put it on spin cycle and hung it to dry. BOOM saved my dress.

Stepped away from posting on Social Media:

I didn't take a hard break but there is pressure as I like to always like to show the good side. Many people mistake that for my life EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. They think all I do is drink coffee, paint my nails and serve looks. (I had people in my real life mock me over my Insta feed. You do the awkward laugh but all I wanted to say in STFU) I was just free to do stuff and even have A LOT of make up free days.

Pioneer Woman's Coconut Curry Shrimp:

Or as we call they in ZA Prawns. I modified the recipe for Meatless Monday by using Fry's Battered Prawn Style Pieces instead of shrimp.

Here and here for Sriracha. I bought mine at Fruit and Veg Foodlover's Market in the Asian section (where you buy the sushi rice you never use :o)

Sleepo:

I use this app for relaxing before bed, colouring in and even when I need to concentrate. You can make your own mix of ocean, rain, city and the wide outdoors sounds. It also has 3 white noise sounds.

Freeze bread:

What the what?! Yes I started hoarding bread. Then it started to go bad so I started freezing it. I have an assortment of loafs, rolls and sandwich bread. For a full sandwich loaf, I just defrost over night and its fine. I toast it if I just want a few slices. For a full loaf of rolls, preheat your oven to 180ºC, then bake it for 8 minutes. As fresh as new.

That's my that!

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March 2017 Favourites

 

Hey! Here are my favourite things of the 3^rd month:

LA Girl Strobe Lite in 120 Watt:

This is their brightest, most sparkly one. I bought it just to test and I can't stop using it. It can be a mute splendour or you could add more and more to go full glazed doughnut. Yasss *in Jeffree Star Voice* 

Left: Applied once. Center: Like 3 coats Right: Phone photo

Garnier Ultimate Blends Bee Propolis Serum:

My hair has been screaming for hydration. So after I pat my hair dry I apply this. It cuts drying time of my hair in half and makes it more manageable.

Monochrome Fashion:

Because of my bright pink hair a.t.m. there is such a thing as too mush colour. When I had normal coloured hair, especially blonde, I'd wear pastels or jewel tones. Lately I've been loving grey with black accent pieces like a bag or a shoe.

Sunny Anderson's Dry Dredged Chicken wing Recipe:

On any day I LOVE Sunny Anderson. She is one of my KWEENS! She works hard, has an awesome dream car, has rescue cats and dogs and is an all round BAWSE on HER terms. She has a lot of 1-2-3 and nunya business recipes. This one is no exception.

Here is the recipe I like the dredge in. Instead of adding multiple spices I add some of those premix spices like chicken spice or BBQ spice. It's not the mess that happens when you make a coating with egg or buttermilk and you need bread crumbs.

For the real (wink wink) Buffalo wing experience, melt butter/ marge and add an equal part hot sauce. Tabasco is what I have. I also love this with the Chipolte Tabasco which is more spicy than hot. Toss the wings in that. Eat forever.

Follow Sunny on Instagram.

Fitbit:

Wow really Michellé? Only now.

Yes. I really started using the whole Fitbit and app to it's full this last month just as the Charge is starting to come apart (And is now off the market). I've been getting my active minutes up, as well as using the food log (though they don't have a South African Food Database I select the UK because it has more options for meals I cook at home).

Can't do the wearable fitness watch. Samsung Health is an app that counts steps as well as log similar data to Fitbit. The app is preloaded on most Samsungs also available in the Google App Store FREE!

Instagram:

No lies this app costs a lot of data but I cannot stop. I need the 'gram. I need to see a cat thatcosplays with food and The Dogist. I need to stalk Badkid Bebe and the Girl Gang. I need to watch Michelle Phan's stories. I need to see Nayeon serve new looks and dog stories (Stalker level: I know she foster failed a Staffordshire Bull Terrier Mix, Gooby Potato). I'm following 507 accounts on my personal. I have a problem. They have a new function to their bookmarks that you can make like Pinterest boards. Bookmark all mermaid hair.

Monday has become my New Year:

Imagine having 52 new starts to the year. Some only pushes reset once a year and most fail immediately. Imagine to be able to reset more than once. Monday has become my reset. If motivation fades by like Thursday there is a Monday to start again. Monday I make sure I drink enough water, work out a little and eat different with Meatless Monday.

Better late than never

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October 2016 Favourites

I missed out the past FEW months of favourites and posts. What eves HERE ARE my now Favourites k.

Wet'nWild Matt Top Coat:

I've used a few matt top coats and they all were a bit too shiny or have a satin finish. This is more of a true matt. Applies easy and dries fast. And a steal at R27.95 at Clicks

Hands-On B Blonde Silver Shampoo:

If there is one thing we all learned the last year with the grey/ platinum hair trends is that purple shampoo it your friend. My hair experiment started taking me to the lighter side of the hair scale. I buy mine from my hair stylist. If you are looking to buy, look for silver or purple shampoo.

PnP Mens Flannel shirt:

I am tired of women's clothes being marked up by 75 to a 100%. I started buying in the men's section. I like the 90's stuff coming through at the moment. White t-shirt is also from the men's section for R39.95. Flannel shirt was R180.

Fry's frozen vego meals:

Later next week I’ll have a cool post for you on a meatless Monday test.

Leveled up 2-minute noodles.

Here and here is where my inspiration came from. I was looking to do something with my Fry's Meat free prawns.

In coconut oils, lightly cook half a thumb of ginger (grated), two chopped garlic cloves and the white part of three spring onions (scallions). When it's soft add water and flavouring packets of 4 packs of noodles (I used prawn flavoured ones. When I couldn't find prawn I used seafood stock cubes I bought at a Portuguese speciality store). Then cook the noodles in that. When it's done, serve by adding the chopped up green of the onions, soft boiled egg and prawn styled crispy bites.

They can be bought everywhere where there is a freezer section but here is the link for PnP. There they go for R24.90. Way cheaper than real prawns.

Pokémon Go:

I didn't know the secret place South Africans downloaded their app when it was released. It came in on the Play Store early October. Now I know there are all the people who are too cool for this or who are already “over it” but this is my jam. My husband downloaded it so we play together. The gyms change frequently so there are still many active players in my area. I picked Bulbasaur. Now I have a whole Pinterest board full of Bulbasaurs. I'm legit because I have a Pikachu aswell.

Watching old DVDs.

I do this while ironing and folding laundry so I don't feel like I hate life. At the moment I'm watching Heidi. I got the double box set for my birthday/ Christmas forever ago. Josef the St. Bernard is my spirit animal.

That's that. Hope you are having a good November.

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Shopping list demystified

I am a pseudo adult. Aren't we all though? Adulting is hard, but thanks to technology some adult things have become easier. Like you can pay your bills off your cell phone and order basic stuff off the internet.

One thing that is the adultiest thing to do is grocery shopping. Real life grocery shopping that doesn't only consist of tube chips and candy. I've been an adulting amateur for a while but when I moved out a had to go pro because if I don't buy bread and milk, I have no bread and milk. Here is my monthly routine and tips:

Make an inventory of all the food you have in the freezer, fridge and pantry.

I have a few basics that I always have to make or add to a meal. Stuff like pasta, canned tomatoes, herbs and spices. It's time to start cooking and adding things to your 10 bags of macaroni. You're becoming one of those people, the ones in the Math problems. (I unpack my cupboard at least every 6 months. That way I can see what to replenish in my pantry staples. That sounds heavy but it's a different way to say 'see if I have enough canned tomatoes')

Now I know, for instance, I can skip the pasta isle and I have a instant soup problem.

Make a chart to plan meals

No lies. This seems so lame but trust me it will save you time and money. My food list is based on what my mom did when I was a child. Mondays it's pasta's. So Mac & Cheese, Alfredo and even those Knorr Pasta Mates can be used. 

Tuesday it's Chicken, pork or lamb.

Wednesdays we eat at the in laws. 

Fish Thursday and Steakhouse Friday. 

Saturday and Sunday I have a few basics because we're with my family one of the two days and we eat their food so I plan for half the days. I also have a 4 meals I like to call Spares. Like if we do eat a full meal for lunch there is options. It takes the guess work out of what to make for dinner.

Here is where I bring in my Pinterest boards because if there are any unusual ingredients I can pick them up. This is great also if you plan on following a different eating plan to know what foods you need to buy. Or if you decide to Meat-less Monday.

I used some of the food on my inventory list to fill in the blanks

Go through your weekly ads:

It's my favourite part of the newspaper. That and the cutey pre-shool kids doing cute things. Most people are like, I'll buy all my sh*t at the same store, idgaf. I'm one of those lucky people who lives close to all the big retailers thanks to all the new developments, so it's affordable for me to basically free my car down to Checkers/ Makro/ Pnp to get deal. Just make sure they are deals.

Like a nerd, I do math on product to the gram/ millilitre because it it says:

SALE!!!

doesn't always mean its a bargain. PnP had a “SALE!!! only 3 per customer!!!” on washing powder. I bought 3 of course. The next day I went to my friendly Spar and it was THE SAME PRICE with no limit per customer. I felt like a sucker.

If you don't get weekly circulars (For a few months I didn't score a newspaper) go to the store's website or visit Tiendeo or Guzzle

Make that list

I break down all the meals into Meat, Veg and Pantry. I have a laminated page on my fridge that I write on with dry erase pens as soon as any household/ food or pantry item is finished.

Not sure about household items? Here is my checklist:

Floor cleaner

Bathroom cleaner

Toilet cleaner

Kitchen Cleaner

Oven cleaner

Window cleaner

All purpose Cleaner

Dishwashing liqiud

Washing powder

Fabric softner

stain remover

I use a book because of recent events I don't want to walk with a device. But if you are a bit more trusting than me, the PnP app had a digital shopping list where you can pick of things on previous shopping you have done. Another great list app is Google's Keep. There you can break down your shopping in different sections with different colours. (Household/ Blue, Veg/ Green) and I love the satisfaction of ticking things off.

Go Shop

Remember your bags and not to hate humanity.

Bonus tips:

• Work in eat outs and events like birthdays or other get togethers. That way you know to buy or not to buy extra food. (or buy the food for the birthday or get together)

• Use store cards. You may not be saving millions but in a tight month a few extra hundred Rand mean you don't have to spend more
• I buy meat in bulk and package them into smaller portions and every two weeks I buy fresh veg and fruit.
• Every 6 months I try to empty the fridge and freezer. Bargain bulk buys aren't a bargain if you never eat it or toss in away because it got freezer burn.
• Write down as soon as something finishes. That way you don't need to go though your cupboards or pantry every en of the month and prevents buys of multiples. (I wish I'd listen to myself as I have a few unopened Mixed herb refills and that ton of Macaroni)
• Remember to take your list with you.
• Make multiple lists if you want to pick up other things form other retailers. (sometimes Clicks & Dischem have those 3 for 2 deals on toiletries or supplements then it's worth going past them. Also check Makro's R100 deals)

Breathe calmly and greet your teller.

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