Ladies high tea and a whole lot of love

High tea has got to be one of my favourite things of all time! I think it’s just a fancy way of declaring my love for cupcakes and a hot cuppa…but what a good excuse for pretty décor and a chance to be spoilt. My bestie’s church held a ladies high tea meeting a while ago, and spoilt we were! Before we indulged in all the cakey goodness, guest speaker Jaci Mun-Gavin spoke to us about God’s extravagant love. It was so interesting to hear about God’s love for us from a mother’s perspective, and as a mom of six (how did she still look so gorgeous!?), she’s definitely an expert on love! These are a few things that popped out at me during Jaci’s talk:

1.       God’s heart must be MAAASSSIVE!

When Jaci had her first child she thought, “How could I possibly love another child as much as I love this one?” and then she had her second, and instead of her love dividing, it was as if her heart grew in size enough to love each child with as much of that extravagant love that she had for her first. She likened it to God’s love for us; that His love isn’t divided between all of us, but rather his heart must be so massive that he has enough love to make each and every one of us feel absolutely special and complete.

2.       God wants all His kids at home.

She spoke about how when her and her family leave church, people joke and ask her if she’s sure she’s got all the kids. Of course she wouldn’t be happy to arrive home with 5 out of 6! And that’s how God feels about each one of us. Just because he has some of his kids in relationship with him, doesn’t mean that He’s not longing for the others. He says it over and over in Luke 15. He compares himself to a shepherd who has 100 sheep and loses one. He says in verse 3,

“Does he not leave the ninety nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

And then just in case we don’t quite get what he’s on about he gives us two more examples in the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the lost son. It’s clear that God wants all his kids with him.

3.       God waits for us like the groom waits for his bride.

Isaiah 62:5 says “as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” Can we even fathom that kind of love? We’ve all been at a wedding and watched the groom, so nervous as he awaits his bride. And when he sees her he’s beaming with a heart full of joy and excitement.  The entire room can see these two love eachother with their whole hearts, and that’s how God waits for each one of us, with joy, excitement and absolute adoration.

4.       We are changed when we realise the fullness of God’s love.  

Jaci put it so well that as women, we’re often quick to rebut a compliment from someone, or question whether the people in our lives really love us as much as they say they do. This kind of thinking and insecurity can absolutely affect the way we see God’s love for us. We may believe He has that kind of love for a leader in church, or someone smarter or more beautiful. But do we really know that God has that kind of extravagant love for us? I think it’s a process of continuously renewing the mind with God’s Word, reading and speaking about just how much he loves us, meditating on it over and over until it becomes part of our hearts and who we are. We must begin to define ourselves by God’s love.

There WILL BE change when we realise God’s love for us, because when we are filled with His unconditional love, we look at other people differently, we look at our life’s purpose differently, and we look at ourselves differently. My prayer for you and I is that we not only begin to see ourselves the way God sees us, but we begin to see others the way God sees them.

Durban’s first alternative pop up wedding fair

You didn’t need to be engaged to enjoy everything on offer at last week’s pop up wedding fair at The Upstairs on Florida Road… just a lover of all things pretty! The fair was such a success and we so enjoyed being part of this collection of Durban talent. I’m realising how much thought, work and passion goes into each and every stand, and really want to encourage everyone to support local talent. Buy from them, like them on facebook, send in a kind word, share with your friends…these are brave young people that have decided to chase their dreams and every bit of encouragement counts!

 

 

India diaries: Panjim and Old Goa

 

It’s funny how the smallest things while travelling make you feel like you’ve accomplished so much.  Thinking back to my first day in Tokyo, getting on the subway and arriving at the intended destination (about 2 minutes down the line) was enough to inspire a little victory dance. After being in Japan for a while those initial accomplishments became routine, and things weren’t as exciting anymore. Being in India has rekindled all those feelings. I swear you’ve never seen someone as happy as I was the day I braved the bus from Calangute to Panjim.

There aren’t really bus stops here in Goa, more a general stretch of road where the bus may or may not arrive. If you ask a local where to catch the bus they’ll point to a random spot on the main street and tell you to wave the bus down.  This is partly the reason I am so glad I started my India trip down South. Things are relaxed in Goa, and I feel like I’m gaining a little insight into how things work around here, without the threat of too many people taking advantage of my naivety. The people in Goa are kind and friendly and I’m really going to miss it when I head up north.

My successful bus ride definitely warranted a Panjim victory meal, so off I went to Hotel Vihar for their famous thali. I had no idea what a thali was when I ordered it. It was my first Indian meal, and despite a few potential masala tears, I absolutely loved it. Thali is the best way to try different curries and vegetables because you get several small dishes that come with rice and chapatti or naan. It was fulling, and it was cheap.

I really liked Panjim. It’s a small, walkable city, with a few sights and markets. I sought out what the Lonely Planet described as “a giant church on the top of a hill that looks like a fancy white wedding cake”. They weren’t kidding. After that I wondered around town and found the municipal market, bought some much needed fruit and veg and watched florists preparing marigolds, while an old Indian granny shouted at me for taking pictures and not spending any money. After that I caught a rickety ride on an autorickshaw and headed to the previous Portuguese colony of Old Goa, to check out the biggest church in Asia, and a couple of other buildings and ruins. Panjim and Old Goa can definitely both be done in one full day.

It was definitely a day of firsts for me. First successful bus ride, first meal in an Indian restaurant, first time catching an autorickshaw/tuk tuk. I can see how the firsts of travel and the after sense of joy, excitement and accomplishment could become addictive. I think I was hooked from that very first 2 minute subway ride in Tokyo and its consequential victory dance.

India Diaries: Day 1 – Goa first impressions

  1. Holy moly!
  2. Breathe
  3. Aaaand Go…

I survived my first day solo in India…I was afraid, I was awkward, I was triumphant. I insisted on saving some money and catching a bus from Dabolim Airport in Goa, waiting around 2 hours for sunrise and the first buses of the day, constantly hassled with taxi and motorbike offers. I left my sweet smile on that plane, and replaced it with a permanent stern shake of the head. If you know me at all, you’ll know I’m definitely not the stern type, so my face is exhausted. 6 weeks of this may leave me in need of some comedic relief and a botox appointment.

I took one look at the bus that was going to take me into town, and decided on a taxi. Relieved that I’d hung around until sunrise, I tried to soak in every bit of scenery that zipped by as the taxi driver raced, hooted, hooted some more, overtook on blind corners, drank his juice and spoke on the phone. The country before my eyes was like a South African informal settlement cross palm tree beach from Survivor cross Portuguese architectural jungle.

After arriving at a guest house at Calangute beach, I caught a few z’s and then headed for a walk through the main street and onto the beach. 3pm sun and I’m sunburnt. I could get used to this. I got lost on the way home because I forgot to look for some landmarks, but somehow found my way back in time for a swim in the guest house’s gorgeous pool and a cheesy garlic naan.

Calangute is definitely not the touristy paradise I expected, and because it’s not high season yet, the temporary beach huts and restaurant/bars that probably give this place more of a touristy scene are only starting to be put up.

I did however have an absolutely amazing eye-opening day, and I know for sure this is going to be an incredible adventure.

Day one lessons for solo female travel in India:

#1 Leave your sweet smile at home.

#2 A prepaid taxi from Dabolim airport to Calangute beach will cost you 900 rupees.

# 3 Don’t compromise on safety to save money.

#4 Don’t get in a taxi that has no seatbelts.

#5 Don’t stay in a mixed hostel dorm (I changed my booking to a single room).

#6 Don’t worry, be happy.

 

Japan diaries: Ladies’ High Tea and Fashion Party

A few weeks too late, but better late than never! These are some pics we snapped at the ladies’ high tea I held at the apartment a while back. All in the name of fashion, food and fun, it was a fabulous afternoon of chit chat, shopping, eating and drinking. Thanks to all the lovely ladies that came to support Trixie and Flo! I have two very important recipes to share with you: The best carrot cake, the best cream cheese icing recipes IN THE WORLD!
1 high tea

Japan diaries: Goodbye Spring

The longest day of the year has arrived, which means it’s the peak of summer season here in Japan! You wouldn’t think so considering grey skies dominate and beaches are yet to officially open. I always thought it amusing that even if it was a very hot day, 99% of Japanese people won’t go to the beach if it’s not officially beach season. I’ve been asked countless times if South Africa experiences four seasons, and thinking it a silly question I’d always say an astounding yes. After living here in Japan for nearly two years I think I view that question in an entirely different sense. It has allowed me to experience each season’s distinct foods, flora and festivals in all of their cultural pride.  It’s honestly a pride and distinction unlike anything I’ve ever experienced at home. The year is actually further divided into 24 “sekki” which are given names that translate into things like “summer solstice”, “small heat” and “large heat”. These pictures I snapped in April can act as a final goodbye to Japanese spring and a hello to the “large heat” that will soon grace us with its sweaty presence!

Japan diaries: Onomichi and Setoda

A set of pictures that remind me of some solo wanderings, times when I made the effort to notice my surroundings and see the beauty in the little things: views from above and views from below, sunsets and heavy skies, colours and textures, layers and landscapes. Wordsworth describes it best: 
“For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills
And dances with the daffodils.”
These photographs may not be of daffodils, but I can look at them and think back and smile at many a time when I stumbled upon beauty while “wandering lonely as a cloud”. 

 

Hiroshima Art Exhibition

There’s nothing like a good deadline in the form of an art exhibition to motivate and inspire! Hiroshima’s Charity Art Bonanza provided just that… an exhibition featuring work from 8 different artists, including painting, photography, fashion and embroidery. The event was an incredible success, raising just over 100 000 yen for “Brighter than Tomorrow”, a charity run by Estelle Hebert, which supports the victims of the March 11 disaster in the fishing town of Funakoshi in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Sarah, Harriet, Dave and Jackie did an amazing job organising, and thanks to everyone that popped in for support. I couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon in the city: chatting, sipping wine and appreciating unexpected talents.
Check out my portfolio to read more about the three dresses I exhibited as part of a range called “When I grow up”. In hopes of not sounding too pretentious, I did attach personal meaning to each garment, and hope it proves that fashion can also be a personally symbolic form of art. Let me know what you think of the range! xoxo