Let's accept all colors of the rainbow #40

"Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination".



How is South Africa dealing with the Apartheid issues being illegal now since 1994?

Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced by the National Party governments of South Africa between 1948 and 1994, under which the rights of the majority non-white inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and white supremacy and Afrikaner minority rule was maintained.

How have South Africans after the end of apartheid been able to share space? You know that the laws that defined Apartheid in terms of geographical separation no longer exist. Now people are free to go anywhere, to live anywhere, where they can afford to live, so the space restrictions are no longer in place, but the historical reality of Apartheid in South Africa continues. You find that residence is still highly segregated and Africans don’t go into certain areas out of habit not to go into those areas.

The black and white issues are still deeply grounded in this country. This is not to say that nothing has changed. Quite a bit has changed, but a whole lot more needs to be changed. However, for the ordinary African life is still very much segregated, townships are still there and the white areas are still white areas.

For me, this is not always that easy. I have never lived in a country that cared that much about a skin color, it never really mattered that much what skin tone you had. But here in South Africa almost 20 years after the Apartheid it is still a huge struggle.

When I walk with my friends (my friends are from all cultures and backgrounds) on the street or we go out for lunch, many times we are being asked: "How come you are friends? What is your connection?? Because they are surprised to see that we are a group of friends with different skin tones, and obviously come from different cultures. This doesn't happen only once in a while... NO it happens frequently that we are asked these questions? The local people still don't mix! So they find it interesting to see how we can have so much fun and hang out together while having white, black, brown, yellow skin tones!

What baffles me the most is that they still find this weird, in this day and age!!

Shame on them! But then again.... they grew up with Apartheid and I guess it is not out of your system just after one generation!

I hope for South Africa that this Rainbow nation excepts all colors of the rainbow as equal rather sooner than later!! Because now I don't see it yet!!


source here.

How are people dealing with racism in your country? I know it is not political correct... but how is it for REAL??
Do you still hear derogative comments from people around you? And what do you do about it? Do you confront people about their racism? Or let it just go??

I wonder if standing up more for this subject matter would help or not??
Mireille xx

Reading is cool #39

I am busy today with my cooking classes, so not much time for blogging....

So here a picture of the girls with their all time favorite hobby... READING!

You will see them with a book in their hands at ALL times!!

No kidding.... at all times!



And it started early, way before they could read, they would love to PRETEND, or just look at the pictures... then later they would remember the story because I had read it many times to them and they would just 'read' out of their heads... so cute!!

I am glad that reading is still a favorite hobby of my girls.

BTW... Ila, do you remember these PJ's?? You made them! They loved to wear those :-)

Enjoy your Wonderful Wednesday!

I am cooking Asian Appetizers today for 9 ladies :-)
More about that later....
M xx

Living in Dainfern #38

I was researching about Dainfern, the secured estate I am living in and found this article in the Mail & Guardian online. I found the article interesting, even a bit sceptical... almost with an undertone of jealousy, like most reporters do when they write about Dainfern.



I agree that it is a kind of bubble we live in, but do I want my children to live in the real world with a chance of being hurt, killed, or even raped?

NO!

So YES, we decided to live in this secured estate that not everybody can afford. But don't we all want to live in a safe place, wherever you are? And if that means that you need to move to a secured estate with gates to enter and electric fences around and on top of the walls.... like a prison almost, YES then I will make that choice.

This is the choice we had to make in order to come to South Africa and live here safe with our children. I lived in 5 other countries before, and I never lived in a secured estate in those countries. I didn't need to, it was safe to live in a normal street in a normal house. Open for everybody to enter, but nobody did unless you were invited.

Here in South Africa that is not the case! If you would live in a single house in a normal street the chances that visitors come un-invited is very high. So people secure their 'normal' house with a wall and a gate around it. They put bars in front of their windows to make sure nobody can climb through it. So the situation is also not 'normal' anymore.

If you live within the secured walls of an estate like Dainfern, at least you don't need bars in front of your windows, you don't need a wall around your house, the wall is around the outer perimeter, but hidden by trees so I don't see them and don't feel like I am living in a prison. Although the reporter in this article below writes that she feels Dainfern is like a prison....

Each their own choice, but I like it that my children can walk freely out of my house and to the Pavilion where more kids are playing at the soccer field, or swimming in the community pool and meeting their friends from school without being scared that somebody will hijack, hurt or rape them. Because we live in a secured estate and we can walk around wherever we want.

I probably would not have chosen to live like this if it wasn't necessary, but in this country it is!! So do we have a choice?? Not really!! And when we move to a safer country we probably won't go to a secured estate, because like everything else it has advantages, but also disadvantages. But for us, expats with kids going to the American International school with a school bus system this is the best option we have. And I am glad to be part of this community that they give all those negative names for, mostly because they can't be part of it, are jealous, or don't know really what's going on here and just have some info from hearsay... isn't that how it mostly goes?? Gossip spreads fast, but a lot of time it is info they just have from 3rd parties but never direct from the people that live inside....

Read full article here.


For us this is a safe haven, and that is all what counts when I make a decision of where to live in whatever country I move to.

What is your prime decision making point of where to live in your country? Is it the safety issue or the school district, or being inside the city centre, or just outside in the country side?? Do you have to make a choice of safety as your FIRST choice??

It probably all depends in which country you live! So don't judge because we live in a place you would not choose to live in your country, but make up your opinion after a bit of research and see if you still would make that same decision....

Just my 2 cents on living where we do!

Enjoy this Terrific Tuesday!!
Mireille xx

Dancing in the rain #37

Yesterday it rained so hard.. so hard, it was unbelievable!!

After 15 minutes of pouring down we had more water inside the house than in Holland would rain in a day! And it rains a lot there!

In no time the whole garden was flooded and you could hardly see the difference between the pool and the grass.

Not only was it raining but thunder and lightning as well, and I am pretty sure that this time we didn't get hit by lightning but our neighbors got hit, it was such a hard BOOOOM!



Inside the girls were trying to keep the water at bay but it came down so hard and the wind blew so fast into the direction of the house that it just came under the doors. Not enough towels to keep it dry!



Then when at least the thunder and lightning was over but still raining the girls wanted to go outside and dance and play in the rain. I had no objection, as long as I could stay in :-)



At first a bit cold, but after just a few seconds they were having a blast! Look how high the water is, the garden is flooded! And the umbrella was knocked down by the strong winds.



JJ wanted to do a cartwheel in the water...



While Jezz is just running around and laying on the grass just enjoying the water, only children can have so much fun in the rain!! They even jumped into the pool with their clothes on... the thrill they got from that, it was just so fun to watch them having a blast!



They asked me to call their friends so they could join the fun, but I don't think those moms would have appreciated my invitation... LOL! They probably would think what kind of eccentric family we are... So they enjoyed the splashing and running around in the rain just the 2 of them.

When I look now into my garden, you have no clue that it rained so much yesterday. The sun is shining again, everything is dried up.... just another normal summer day!

Have a Marvellous Monday!
Mireille xx

Changes... #36

Jasmine and Juliet are almost 10, and I really noticed a big change in their attitude and behaviour since they are 9. There has been a shift in their independence from me. Till the age of 8 they would ask me everything, and now they are starting to figure things out on their own. Don't ask me for permission all the time for every little thing.

They are starting to really pay more attention to their clothes and hair, give me that look... that I don't know everything, they know it better, rolling their eyes, talking back now and then. And becoming a recluse... they are spending so much time in their rooms these days, I live with them, but I hardly see them anymore!!

I feel a bit sad about that!!

Like in this picture below, I could do their hair, and clothes and they loved it. This was in 2005, so the girls were 3.... How totally cute where these 2 little monkeys!! I just love these precious little faces!!



I know they are 9 now and it is a huge difference, but I miss that period that I could dress them and they would come to me for everything. I was their saviour, their everything.

Now, I am becoming less and less important. What their friends say is the truth and nothing but the truth... I don't know suddenly as much anymore... at least in their eyes.

And they are not even teenagers yet!! They are NINE!! How come this sudden changes... this momma doesn't like it that much at all!!

I want to keep my babies, a little longer babies, but NO they are growing up. And in a way I like many things of this phase as well, but it is not all fun anymore... cutesy stage is over!!

Now the time has come for the drama's, the slamming doors, the rolling eyes, the silent treatments...

I need to adjust....

Give me some time....

Give me some tips!....

Because 2 at the same time = not easy!!



Where has the time gone, of these innocent times?? GONE FOREVER BEFORE YOU KNOW IT!!

Are you going through the same?? Share your thoughts or feelings, I would love to hear how you deal with this!
Enjoy your Sunday!
Mireille xx

LemonGrass & Lavender #35

Last Wednesday I had my first cooking class called LemonGrass & Lavender at my house.

I will teach my fellow friends some Asian fusion cooking by showing them and then we will eat it for lunch. Most of them wanted to try to cook the dishes for dinner that same evening, so a good sign that they liked it :-)

On the menu was a homemade drink with LemonGrass, Lavender & Orange, a Carrot Som Tam (normally in Thailand you would eat this with green papaya, but since it is hard to find I substituted the green papaya for carrots, but the rest was all the same) and a Vietnamese Ginger Fish or Ginger Chicken dish. I made both, so we could taste the difference. For desert I made a Spiced Mango with Tapioca pearls.





It was a fun morning! And a new experience for me to teach cooking, although I do it more often with my cooking groups, but then I don't get paid for it, since we all give one lesson. Now I am the only one who gives the lessons.

I am looking forward to more classes! Look me up at FB under LemonGrass & Lavender if you like to come you have to sign up on the weekly events.

Next week I will have Asian Appetizers on the menu!

Mireille xx

On this day... #34

Nine years ago....


Can you see who is JJ and who is Jezz??

The girls were 9 months old, and I was living alone with the girls in this cute little house in a Thai village called Huay Yai in Chonburi. It had this beautiful lush garden, 2 bed/bath. We had moved out of our house on the golf course when Dirk's job finished in Thailand. He was already transfered to the USA for his new job. But the adoption paperwork was not done yet, so I moved to a furnished little house just around the corner of our house on Phoenix Golf course. It took us in total 13 months to adopt Jasmine and Juliet. 11 of those months Dirk was in the USA and coming over about every 2 months to get the paperwork done.

The girls and me had a quite time, just the 3 of us in that little house, I really enjoyed the peacefulness that surrounded me there. We did all sorts of things, the 3 of us. We discovered the surroundings, they learned to 'swim' in the pool we had. Smelled all the different flowers in our lovely garden, and walked around the neighborhood. Lot's of times I went shopping with them in the local mall and did our groceries in the supermarket. I took them everywhere!

Not easy with twins that young, but I wanted them to experience it all.

From that little house we lived in we had a view on Buddha Mountain. This was an area that the American army used as a practice area and they blew up one side of the mountain. So when they left they didn't want to leave the mountain half blown up, so they engraved with real gold a Buddha as a token of appreciation for the usage of this area. Now they build a winery around it, but that wasn't there when we used to live in Huay Yai.



It was a good time for me, not easy because the paperwork didn't really go as fast as we liked but the time I spend with the girls was great. I really felt happy to be a mother, and the sleepless nights I had didn't bother me at all. They only slept through the night ONE week before they turned 1. So at this point they woke up many many times a night.

At first I was sleeping in the other bedroom, but after a month or so I turned the Queen bed into a huge crib and we all 3 slept in there for the rest of the 10 months. I slept on my side of the bed and the girls would be sleeping on the other half with their feet pointing to me. Now when they woke up, I could just comfort them without having to go out of my bed, and it made my falling back to sleep a lot easier....

Now 9 years later and the girls still sleep in one bed, but at least mommy moved out... a long time ago ;-)

Enjoy your day,
Mireille xx

A thing or two about twins... #33

I bought the National Geographic today because the cover looked like this, and of course I was intrigued about what the article would say about twins. I mean I have read a lot about twins, but still they discover new things while researching all the time.



The following excerpt comes from the January issue of National Geographic:

They have the same piercing eyes. The same color hair. One may be shy, while the other loves meeting new people. Discovering why identical twins differ—despite having the same DNA—could reveal a great deal about all of us.

…twin studies have helped lead scientists to a radical, almost heretical new conclusion: that nature and nurture are not the only elemental forces at work. According to a recent field called epigenetics, there is a third factor also in play, one that in some cases serves as a bridge between the environment and our genes, and in others operates on its own to shape who we are.

Interesting!

Did you know that every summer, on the first weekend in August, thousands of twins converge on Twinsburg, Ohio, a small town southeast of Cleveland named by identical twin brothers nearly two centuries ago.

They come, two by two, for the Twins Days Festival, a three-day marathon of picnics, talent shows, and look-alike contests that has grown into one of the world's largest gatherings of twins.

I want to go there ONE DAY, see how Jasmine and Juliet would like that to meet so many other twins?

It stays a fascinating subject... TWINS, and I am blessed to be a mother of such gorgeous twins :-)



Juliet on the left, and Jasmine on the right. I find the older they get the more they start looking different... as you can see clearly on this picture. Although at some pictures they really look alike... so it all depends.

Enjoy your Thursday! Here it is a sunny and hot day, how is the temperature at your destination?
Mireille xx

4th Blog Anniversary #32

What I forgot to mention was that yesterday was not only my Bday but I had my 4th Blog Anniversary as well!

WHOOHOO!!



Wow, I can't believe that I am writing on a regular basis now for the last 4 years, time has flown by! I have written 705 blog posts in 4 years. That is on average: 176 per year, almost every other day a new post.

I am grateful for YOU, all my readers, that you have stuck it out all that time! Kept me following and giving me comments, this is what keeps me going!! Knowing that there are readers out there that enjoy my ramblings about our lives in South Africa.

How fun it is to meet so many friends all over the world!

Blogging is a great thing, a cool thing, it's hip and happening, even after 4 years. Actually even more so!! Did you know that there is an estimation that 1 out of 6 people in the world have a personal blog.... and then there are still people READING my blog, that blows my mind!! I have about 100.000 page views a year, which means 8.300 a month, which equals 275 a day.

WHO ARE YOU ALL?? Most of you NEVER comment... PLEASE do so MORE!! You know me so well, introduce yourself, so I can get to know you too!!

Some of you have been following me for the last 4 years, seeing JJ and Jezz grow up from 6 to almost 10 years of age. And I have been doing the same with your blogs. But I like to know more of you!!

I really appreciate this long distant friendship between a few of you, and even meeting some of you this last year was truly amazing. It makes the connection so much deeper. And I know we will be in each others lives for years to come!!

I was talking last year already to change up the blog a bit, well... this year I will add a few more things. Keep this space on your bookmarks :-) and visit me often, I am not going anywhere!!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!! Oh and by the way... today is my FIRST cooking class. I am teaching 10 ladies how to make Vietnamese ginger chicken and fish, Carrot Som Tam, a super delicious drink and dessert as well with my favorite ingredients Lemongrass and Lavender. Since this is the name of my cooking classes!



More about that later!
Ciao, Mireille xx

Happy Birthday to me! #31

Again a year has flown by and it is time for my Birthday again. 45 years I am today... (deep swallow ;-)



A beautiful bracelet I got from my friends with glass from Ghana, Ebony, Brass & Bone from Kenya and Brass and Bronze from Mali. A true African memory to keep forever!! Accompanied by a handmade card.

I am not so sure if I am happy or not about it... well, as long as you can celebrate your birthday it means you are alive to celebrate it... so that is GOOD!

But the fact that your body gets older... well, I am not so happy about that part.

So mixed feelings here, I can tell you that I was WAY more excited about my birthday when I was still in the single and early double digits :-)

But at least everybody around me is also aging, and I am not the only one ;-)

Last weekend we already celebrated with a few friends my Bday and went out to a cool restaurant named Orient in Melrose Arch. We had a great evening, hired a taxi van and spent a fun evening with 5 couples. These happenings are fun and this morning I got spoiled by Dirk and the girls, and there is even more to come. So celebrations enough... that's not it..

BUT... and I might be in a bit of a contemplating mood but Bdays don't make me that happy anymore even with all the celebrations going on. I am starting to understand why older people feel that way and don't want the fuss or gifts for their Bday.

I am starting to feel that way too. It is just another day... only it remembers me on numerous occasions during that day via the FB and email messages that I am getting older.



Dirk always surprises me with a huge bouquet of flowers :-)



I got some tickets to the Phantom of the Opera from the girls, which includes tickets for them as well :-) and this cookbook, the BIBLE of South East Asian food. This is the BEST book you can have if you are interested in Asian food, which I am :-) No pictures, just the BEST and most AUTHENTIC recipes you can find!! ME = HAPPY!!

Even more on my Bday I have to think about the rest of my life and what is still coming. And I hope lot of fun things, exciting stuff to experience, lots of traveling still ahead of me, all the good things that are awaiting me which is fun and exhilarating but then I need to make some changes. (I am telling myself!)

I am not taking care well of my body, I need to loose weight, I need to exercise more frequently, since now I do it on and off, and more off than on. So my good intentions for this year is changing my body, mind and soul to a healthier version of me, so I can enjoy all the exciting stuff that I still want to do for the next 45 years... at least, since I am planning to become really old! LOL

So I am telling you this, to make myself accountable. To keep myself on track. Not only did I make a resolution to blog each day of this year (which so far I have done), I am also going to transform my body.

Well... there I have said it out loud, so NOW I have to do it. Not only needs my body on the outside a change I need to take care of the insides too! That is another thing I am going to work on. I need to address my problems I have with my endometriosis, my hormone levels that are out of whack..

so 2012 will be a year full of body and soul renovation!!

Watch this space and keep yourself updated on my progress... and above all... wish me luck!!

Mireille xx

Neighbourgoods Market #30

Two weekends in a row I went to the Neighbourgoods Market here in Braamfontein, downtown Johannesburg. It is just amazing!!





Local farmers or little shops with specialty artisan goods are showcasing and selling their yummy foods and drinks. You think about fresh made fruit juices, to home made cupcakes, to spreads, chutneys, organic meat products, home made beers, raw food, Thai food, pancakes & pastries of all kinds, huge pans of paella made in front of you. Balkan Burgers, delicious pizza's, champagne with oysters, instantly made margaritas.... all this in one market!









So first you walk around, get your mouth watering by seeing all these yummy foods and drinks, then pick one and order, and go upstairs to enjoy!

People are sitting on long tables, or standing on the side with a neat little side table, enjoy your order and hang out with the local hip crowd!!



They even have a kiddo section to keep the toddlers busy with coloring and playing. You have to keep an eye on them yourselves though.



Such a fun way to spend your Saturday... because it is only open 1 day a week!!

Go and see for yourself, so fun, so hip, so cool, so yummilicious!!

I can't wait for another Saturday :-)
Mireille xx

Sisters through thick & thin #29

I have put these pictures on FB already, so some of you have seen these, but not everybody who reads my blog is my FB friend... so here again.



I was looking through my pictures of India, the trip I made last year with Jasmine and Juliet and saw so many nice images. That trip was just amazing! They don't call it Incredible India for nothing!!



I really want to go back and explore more of India, I mean I have only seen Mumbai and Delhi... there is SO MUCH MORE!!

Then when I was looking through the pictures I noticed that Jasmine and Juliet often grab each others hand or touch each other in one way or the other. So good to see that close bond between the 2, hopefully that stays like that forever!




I know that siblings not always have a strong bond, like me and my brothers, there is not much bond going on. As a kid yes we played a lot together, but now as adults we hardly talk or hang out. Well... that part is also harder because I don't live in the Netherlands, but even if I would I probably would not hang out with them. We are just so different!




So I am hoping that JJ & Jezz will be always best friends and keep that strong bond. Probably it will... because I haven't read many stories of twins that are not good together, but you never know.

For now... let's enjoy these smiles, giggles, holding hands and having fun together...



And hopefully they don't want to kill each other in a few years, or not hang out with each other as much anymore. Because now these girls are joined at the hip. Which this momma likes :-).... a lot!!



BTW If you like to know how I got the effect on these pictures... I first turned them into Black & White and then went to PICNIC a free photo editing program from PICASA and added the 1960 tool to it, and it turns the pictures in this lovely pink hue and makes the corners round, just with one click of a button!

Nice or not??

Enjoy your Sunday!
Mireille xx

Markets, what's not to love? #28

Last year I started to write a blog post about all the local markets, it took me a long time to get this post together. Researching and writing the text, and linking it so everybody could see more details and addressses and then just before I wanted to post it.... my connection was gone and I lost the post without saving it!!

I was MAD!! And didn't feel like doing the whole thing again.... and then just know I stumbled upon a link to the best country markets of South Africa. So now I just copy and paste and we all can enjoy the info!



You are welcome!! I know I am nice :-)

Going to a market is a nice way of starting your weekend, finding those homemade goodies, organic spreads, warm and fresh baked breads, what's not to love??

So here's my list, I got them from a link from the Eat In website, see here. I only print the local markets from Joburg and Pretoria, but on the website you will find even more markets from the rest of the country.

Johannesburg

Blubird Whole Food Market
This Sandton market has many delicious international options, including Polish, Lebanese, Indian, Swiss, Turkish and Italian delicacies.

Bryanston Organic and Natural Market
At Joburg’s first outdoor organic market you’ll find organically-produced fruit and vegetable stalls stand alongside clothes made from natural fibres, locally roasted coffee, naturally fermented breads, sauces and preserves, baked goods, raw chocolate, sauces and ice creams.

The Farmers’ Market at Bamboo
This vibrant rooftop market stocks succulent vegetables and free range eggs, piles of olives, handmade cheeses, sausages, raw honey, biltong, bread, coffee and vegetables. It will inspire your home cooking.

Jozi Food Market
A relaxed, casual outdoor market in the midst of Joburg’s hustle and bustle. Pick up everything from organic veggies and potted herbs to gluten-free cakes, fresh granola and Green Bean coffees.

Market on Main
This city-slicker market is the place for Ethiopian coffee, organic veggies, scrumptious cup cakes and grow-your-own gourmet mushroom kits.

Neighbourgoods Market
Sister to Cape Town’s Neighbourhood Goods Market, this Sunday market is a great place to pick up seasonal fruit and veggies from the Free State, delicious mini Mediterranean quiches, meat from Braeside butchery in Parkhurst and beers from Darling Brewery.

Rosebank Rooftop Market
A hectic, colourful flea market in the rooftop car park at Rosebank shopping mall with around 600 stalls with clothing, arts and crafts, carvings and jewellery.



Pretoria

The Green Market
This open-air market offers organic vegetables, free-range eggs and vegan treats. Pick up a solar oven, a wormery or some vintage kitchenware.

Hazel Food Market
Fashionista foodies frequent this market for fabulous artisan breads, herb-laden pâtés, organic vegetables, Mediterranean-style pickles, cherry nougat and even sexy gingerbread ladies in iced purple bikinis.

Irene Village Market
Situated in the grounds of the Smuts House Museum, pick up mocca pavlovas, homemade nougat, gluten-free cakes, Karoo lamb, artisan breads and organic cheeses.

Pretoria Boeremark
Here you’ll find many farmers selling their organically grown products or the finest meat directly to shoppers. Discover the finest artisan cheese, best boerewors, traditional fare like melkkos or crackling as well as a selection of Italian breads.

And here are some links to Organic Food producers that deliver to your house, not bad huh?? Found link here.

GAUTENG
Foxglove Herbs & Delicacies
Sue Vingerhoets • www.foxglove.co.za
herbs@foxglove.co.za • 011 466 9977
0866 888 500
Suppliers of organic boxes from their shop with a weekly list of available products emailed to clients for them to choose from.

Organic Emporium
Deborah Logan • www.organicemporium.co.za
ivette@organicemporium.co.za • 011 704 0786
011 704 5475 • 083 225 0861
A large variety of organic produce (including fish, vegies and cleaning materials) delivered to your doorstep in Johannesburg's northern suburbs.

Wensleydale Farms
Tim, Sue or Crispin Jackson • www.wensleydale.co.za
sue@wensleydale.co.za • 012 650 0064
086 511 44 71 • 082 410 3479
They grow and distribute certified organic fruit and vegetables. They also have a vegetable box scheme where they deliver fresh organic produce direct to the public.

So now you dont' need to be bored again during the weekends... or complain that you can't get some good organic veggies or meat around here!

Enjoy!

Mireille

The Best of the Best in Joburg #27

Top things to do in the City of Gold…

I was reading the House & Leisure magazine and found this best of the best list, and like to share with my local friends here. I hope you enjoy!! BTW I noticed that the list in the magazine is a bit longer, so buy the magazine if you want the complete list. I blog this on Friday, so you can go and pick a few for the upcoming weekend :-)

Nice or not??



Best for Modernist Furniture It’s a tie between Modernist in Parkhurst, modernist.biz and Decade (011-482-3059) at 44 Stanley. The former opened earlier last year, adding a shot of Fifties elegance to Fourth Ave with its mahogany display wall and the simple designs and clean lines of its jaw-dropping furniture selection. The latter is similarly impressive, though with a more eclectic mix of retro pieces.

Best Designer Furniture For elegant and timeless pieces look no further than Mezzanine in Greenside. It’s all comfort-meets-style here, from their own bespoke designs to their immaculately sourced collections. They’ll customise pieces to your exact needs, and offer a full decor service. 011-888-3986, mezzanineinteriors.co.za.


Best Indie Movies The Bioscope at Arts on Main is a gem for cinema-philes. Covering special-interest genres and local and international independent films, this little theatre (a classic old-school bioscope!) makes for a captivating nostalgia-tinged experience. 073-284-1372, thebioscope.co.za.

Best for Vintage Browsing The inner city Market on Main feels like a cross between a thrift store and a boutique, with stalls brimming with wares by talented young designers standing alongside those selling vintage dresses and retro bags. It’s a browser’s delight and often the go-to place to spot (and set) new fashion trends. marketonmain.co.za.

Best Arty Day Out A 15-hectare sculpture park in the Cradle of Humankind, Nirox is an inspirational spot for jaded Joburgers in need of a shot of aesthetic upliftment. Every few months the Nirox Foundation hosts a new exhibition and the streams, grassy mounds and woods are transformed into an outdoor gallery – a wonderland studded with artworks. niroxarts.com.

Best Live Music All the best rock bands play at Tanz Café in Fourways. Its warehouse ambience adds an air of rock ’n roll grittiness, while you’re guaranteed to find one of SA’s hottest local artists or the occasional high-profile international starter on the stage. Great for a loud night out or good laugh during their comedy nights. 011-658-0277, tanzcafe.co.za.

Best Gourmet Burger Dukes in Greenside serves classic burgers with a seemingly endless number of elegant spins. Try the Big Bird, an ostrich patty covered in red-wine and chocolate sauce, and topped with butternut and fresh rosemary. 011-486-0824

Best Hipster Coffee Stop You can feel the youthful, creative urban energy at Post, on the prime spot on the corner of 70 Juta Street, Braamfontein. Pop in for a fine coffee or homemade lemonade – they also serve simple but delicious breakfast and lunch dishes – and kick back while listening to a cool selection of vintage vinyl. 072-248-2078, post-bl.tumblr.com.

Best Gourmet Portions When your hunger for flavour outstrips your appetite, there’s only one place to go: Cube Taste Kitchen in Parkhurst for the bite-sized portions. This concept kitchen is all about flavour, texture, taste, aesthetic appeal and innovation. 082-422-8158

Best Traditional Shave A real institution, Roma-Paris has been going for about 45 years – originally in Braamfontein and now in Parkhurst. For a special occasion, a shave with a cutthroat razor by a real Italian barber, while sipping a drink and puffing on a cigar, will transport you to a different age. 011-880-8311, bottegacafe.co.za.

Best Vinyl Shop Deerhunter in Greenside is like taking a journey though a time machine. It’s the go-to spot for vintage collectibles such as toys, old school magazines and a great range of vinyl records you’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. 082-496-9253, deerhunterjunkshop.blogspot.com.

Best Second-Hand Books Bookdealers in Rosebank is the real deal. With a fantastic range of special interest sections and constantly updated stock, there’s always something new to ferret out from its bursting shelves. Look out for the special sales, where you’ll strike some amazing finds. 011-442-4089, bookdealers.co.za.

Best Flowers Dunkeld Fruit and Flowers has been around for 30 years, with its courtyard of freshly cut flowers the destination for beautiful blooms (not to mention the herbs and veggies in the shop behind). A tip from the top: the big delivery arrives on Tuesdays. 011-341-0343

Best Cape Cuisine in Joburg District Six Eatery is compact and oozes Kaapstad flavor and culture. The decor adds a nostalgic ingredient to the space, while the menu features traditional dishes like snoek and potatoes served with tomato gravy. 011-486-7226


Best DVD Hire The starting point for some of Jozi’s best nights in, Craighall’s Video Spot has a seemingly endless stash of DVDs. Somehow, it seems that the film you can’t find anywhere else is lurking on the shelves somewhere here. There’s an excellent selection of old and new movies, and some special interest categories too. 011-447-1401, videospot.co.za.

Best for Local Fashion Sassy Jozi fashion blogger Milisuthando Bongela (aka MissMilli) joined forces with Cape Town designer Doreen Southwood to open a branch of clothing emporium Mememe in Parkhurst earlier this year. It stocks an unbeatable selection clothes and accessories by local designers. 011-447-1497, mememe.co.za.

Best Nail Bar Both Polish Nail Spa (011-447-7952, polishnailspa.co.za) in Parkwood and Toast & Co (011-325-5184, toastandco.co.za) in Craighall get our nod of approval, offering superb manis and pedis, and allowing for a post-pampering spot of shopping to boot.

Best Paint Shop Barney’s in Emmarentia combines real expertise and excellent advice in a sophisticated shop, but with the down-home atmosphere of a local hardware store. Always friendly, efficient and ready with an answer, it’s the best DIY destination when you need to colour your home beautiful. barneyspaint.com, 011-646-9012.

Best for Unusual Ingredients When your shopping list is ambitious, there’s a very good chance you’ll find that elusive item at Thrupps in Illovo. The grand dame of groceries, its shelves are home to rare and difficult-to-find ingredients so authentic there’s a notice above the game birds warning that they may contain buckshot! 011-268-0298, thrupps.co.za.

Best Joburg Inspired Design Batch.co.za has a great selection of young SA designers work, and one of our favourite designs was informed by the city’s skyline. Fanie van Zyl’s Joburg-inspired bookends add an air of urban chic wherever they find a home. batch.co.za.

Best Steakhouse Thundergun in Northcliff has been in business for over 40 years, so its authenticity is beyond question. It’s the real deal – a proper steakhouse with memories of an era when we knew what a steakhouse should be like. Don’t mess around – just order the steak! 011-678-7224, thundergun.co.za.

Best Seafood Deli This seafood supplier is one of Joburg’s best-kept secrets – or at least a firm favourite for those in the know. Count yourself among them. Servicing the city’s restaurants might be its main concern, but you can head there for the freshest fish in town, and all the extras like calamari cleaning and oyster shucking. 011-997-0500, lamarinafoods.co.za.



Best One-Stop Decor Shopping The Design Quarter has all the big flagship stores under one roof. There’s Coricraft, Boardmans, @home, Bakos Brothers, the Plascon Showroom, and much more. And there’s always somewhere to stop and grab a coffee or a bite to eat, when your hunger for decor becomes a hunger for lunch. 011-467-5152, designquarter.co.za.

Best Mountain Biking Northern Farm Nature Reserve, also known as Diepsloot Farm, is a hidden haven for mountain bikers. It’s a beautiful natural setting with grasslands, woodlands and dams. No worries for beginner mountain bikers as there’s a path carved out just for you, leaving the advanced riders with two other adrenaline-inducing trails. northernfarm.co.za.

Best Chinese Supermarket Set up on Commissioner Street by one of the first generations of Chinese immigrants to South Africa, ‘China Town’ boasts Sui Hing Hong (011-833-7704), a gift emporium stacked with imported Chinese groceries, utensils and more, and The Swallows Inn (011-833-2946), Joburg’s oldest surviving Chinese restaurant.

Best Seafood Pasta Bistro Vine in Parkhurst is known for its café-style setting and tables that spill out onto the pavement. Less well known is that it serves the city’s most delicious seafood pasta: fresh shelled prawns, mussels and calamari simmered in a white wine, cream and thyme sauce, fresh Italian parsley and parmesan. Not convinced? Try a tasting dish for just R20. 011-327-4558

Best Gallery Shop It’s hard to come away empty handed once you’ve popped your head into the gift shop at the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) on your way out from an exhibition. Enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff and an unbeatable selection of art books. 011-720-0543, joburg.org.za.

Best for Getting in Touch with your Roots Pop into the Origins Centre to check out the rock art collection and gain some perspective and insight into the history of modern humankind. In just two hours you can go back 80 000 years. 011-717-4700, origins.org.za.

Best Indigenous Nursery Random Harvest in Muldersdrift is the first stop for local gardening fundis in search of the best selection of water-wise indigenous plants. Expert and helpful staff make the experience all the more gratifying. 082-553-0598, randomharvestnursery.co.za.

Best Elderberry Granita Life at Hyde Park Shopping is a real asset to mall life – it even allows you to forget you’re in the middle of one. It’s the best spot for before- or after-movie meals, snacks and drinks. Speaking of which, the experience wouldn’t be complete without their flagship drink – the elderberry granita. It’s a mix of lime and berries garnished with mint. Just try one. 011-325-4350/5371

Best Inner City Park With a new set of cast-iron impala, the revamped Oppenheimer Park is a bite-sized oasis in the middle of the bustling CBD. Grab a few moments of restorative solitude on one of the word-sculpture benches or work off some stress on the basketball court. joburg.org.

Best Hotel Restaurant Chef David Higgs, formerly of Stellenbosch’s award-winning Rust en Vrede restaurant, moved to Sandton in 2011 and has fast made the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel All Day Restaurant a culinary destination, where discerning palates go to celebrate special occasions. 011-286-1000, radissonblu.com.

Best Casual Lunch For lazy weekend afternoon stroll, or a quick lunch break during the week, Salvation Café never lets you down. Take a seat under the trees in the courtyard at 44 Stanley, and know that you’re about to enjoy some of the best dining Joburg has to offer. It’s that simple. 011-482-7795, salvationcafe.co.za.

Best Luxury Guy’s Stuff The little boutique Croft and Co in Parkview offers the ultimate in masculine sophistication in a shop that’ll make you feel like you’ve just stepped off a street in London. For high-end men’s (and ladies’) accessories, it is final proof that masculinity can be a refined and elegant thing. Anything from the most luxurious shaving accessories to undercover umbrellas and ‘high-end guy’ overnight bags… you’ll never be short on gift ideas again. 011-646-3634

Best Tapas This little gem on the corner of Corlett Drive and Oxford in Illovo puts a spin on traditional tapas – serving the local Venetian variation, chicetti. There’s also a full menu with delicious meals from rabbit to spagetti and meatballs, which has kept it buzzing since it opened earlier this year. But what better way to enjoy a summer night than a selection of tapas? 011-025-5225



Best Men’s Shirts For shirts that fit better, look better and are made better than anywhere else, bluecollarwhitecollar on Fourth Street in Parkhurst is your destination. They’re locally designed and made, and come in an exhilarating variety of fabrics and prints. But the real joy is in the details. Dress them up or down, it doesn’t matter, each shirt is an artwork. 011-024-1380, bluecollarwhitecollar.co.za. (PS: they moved, so call them first to get their new address!)

Best Boutique Hotel A relaxing retreat and an urban hideout, The Winston Hotel is the epitome of luxury and style. It melds colonial and contemporary decor with ease and the restaurant’s local and international cuisine is perfect for both business lunches and guests. 011-268-3140/1, thewinstonhotel.co.za.

Best for Coffee Beans One of the most intimate shops on the main Parkhurst drag is 4th Avenue Coffee Roasters in the Cobbles, corner 11th and 4th. They import their beans from over 10 countries and roast them themselves. 082-378-2109

Best Smart Restaurant DW 11-13 is Joburg’s favourite contemporary, smart restaurant. The food is simply outstanding – when M&G editor-in-chief Nic Dawes said (amid much controversy) that the best Joburg restaurants all look out onto parking lots, we’re almost certain he had DW 11-13 in mind. Look no further for a special occasion. 011-341-0663 or 011-325-2843, dw11-13.co.za.

Best Vintage Clothing An institution, Reminiscene is a wonderland of pre-70s clothing jewellery, accessories, shoes and more. Victorian, Edwardian, 1920s jewellery, dresses from the 50s and 60s. There’s a magnificent past to discover. 011-726-7905

Text: Graham Wood, Tiisetso Noxolo
This original article was featured in the January/ February 2012 issue of House and Leisure…

Well, I hope I did you locals a favor by posting this blog post.

Enjoy your weekend! I know I will with so many new inspirations and funky spots to visit :-)

Mireille

Job Day at AISJ #26

Yesterday the girls had Job Day at school.

So they had to dress up as a professional.

Juliet decided she wanted to be a Chef. My friend Candice had a chef's hat and glove for me from the Ratatouille movie, and I had a white apron, so her outfit was easy.

Jasmine wanted to be a professional Ballerina. When she saw that I made a black tutu for her the day before she decided she wanted to be just like the Black Swan, with make up, wings and the whole shebang. Well... she could do the black outfit, wings, but NOT the make up I told her... too much work at 6am!!

See here some pictures of the girls acting out in their profession :-)









So much fun these projects they do at school! I wonder how the rest was dressed up?? Maybe the teacher can send me a picture and I add it to the blog later.

BTW: if you like to make a tutu skirt yourself, it is a real easy project. Here is a tutorial for your own DIY no sewing tutu skirt.

Cut out strips of tule (height 80cm/ 30 inch and width 8cm / 3 inch) and measure an elastic band for the waist of your child. Don't make it too tight, since it will be tighter when the strips of tule are folded around it. Then just tie the strips around the elastic band by folding it double and looping it around the elastic band. No sewing needed, project done in about 45 minutes. You need about 50-75 strips. Depends how wide the waistband is... slide them close to each other, so you don't see the elastic band anymore.



Have a terrific Thursday y'all!
Mireille xx

Hip Hop classes at school #25

At AISJ, the International American school the girls attend started with Hip Hop classes as an afternoon activity.

So I decided to sign the girls up... they did not really agree with me. But these girls are super lazy sometimes and don't want to do anything after school. They rather come home and read their books.... the only thing they want to do is reading.

So as a good mother I want them to be all-round and let them try different things in life. After trying and they still don't like it... OK then they can finish the classes and not sign up again for a next semester. But once signed up... they have to finish! That is the deal!!

So very reluctant they went to the first class last Friday... and I was a bit anxious to see how they liked it or not.

When I saw their big smiles on their faces when they came back home... I knew I did the right thing!

'Mom, Hip Hop class is AWESOME!! and the music is totally COOL!!' ...is what they told me!!

Me happy.... the girls happy!! Sometimes life can be so good :-)

They wanted to show me what they learned in this first class, some pics below. And also they told me what the best thing is to wear on Fridays from now on....

Some moves the girls learned after just one class.



'And this is how you end' ...they told me :-)

NO skirts, (Jasmine was wearing one) but short pants with a legging (this was JJ's outfit and perfect) or long pants, because you swirl on the floor and if you have a skirt or short pants it will hurt your skin. "And if you jump too high everybody can see what is under your skirt Mom"... even though she was wearing a legging underneath.

OK ~ no problem, we can do that :-)

So Fridays is Hip Hop Day for the girls from now on!! I am glad that they do something besides the Pilates class on Wednesdays, because these girls turn into a recluse if I let them. They simply have enough company between the two of them, they really don't need much interaction with other people.... but this mommy will not let that happen!!

How are your kids? Social butterflies or rather a bit a loner??

Enjoy your day,
Mireille