Listen to: Boy & Bear

I am absolutely in love with Boy & Bear. They're a folk rock band from Sydney, Australia, and it's impossible not to fall in love with their catchy harmonies.

You can download there song 'Mexican Mavis' here. It's from their official website, so it's totally legit.

loving - maxi skirts

i love love love maxi skirts and cannot wait for winter to be over so i can start wearing them! they can potentially make you look like a pregnant woman, so it's important to style them just right.
here are some looks from lookbook.

and i'm loving this maxi skirt from asos

and this one from lauren conrad's new label 'paper crown'

loving - lilac nail polish.....but ombre nails?

lilac nail polish.

ever since i saw a friend of mine wearing it recently, i have been coveting some lilac nail polish. 

love it!

(click on images for source)

i'm not a hundred percent sure how i'm feeling about the whole ombre nails trend though.

mind you, i don't think lauren conrad makes many fashion faux pas, so i guess this look is a go. looks like waaay too much admin

underrated

i have always loved vanessa carlton's music. in an industry that is filled with little disney princesses who can hardly sing, vanessa is real and fresh and organic. you can't listen to her music without feeling it. although people seemed to forget about her after 'a thousand miles', she has continued to masterfully create incredible songs, and i envy her songwriting ability. her latest album "rabbits on a run" is inspired by richard adam's book "watership down", something i vaguely remember from my childhood memories. i find vanessa's mind fascinating and often spend time contemplating her lyrics, trying to get a small glimpse into how she thinks. nonetheless, listen to a new song of hers below and buy her music here.

tings an' times

Back in March (when i still had what vaguely resembled a social life) my friends and I went out to Tings an' Times in Hatfield. Tings is a restaurant with a very strong Bohemian/Rastafarian vibe, which at night turns into one of the most popular venues for local gigs. You will find all types of people lurking around, from the alternative group with their skinny jeans and headbands, to old bullies who don't yet realise they're not in Varsity anymore. The menu is in the form of a newspaper called 'The Ting Times' which has controversial articles and funny facts among the available dishes. The food is tasty, mainly Mediterranean-ish, and is often served with the shape of a marihuana leaf sprinkled in curry powder on top. The decor is very rustic, with wooden chairs and tables painted bright colours and odes to Bob Marley on the walls. There is always a live show on, from well-known bands such as aKING and Isochronous to random little gems. You can check out their website here.

TriBeca Coffee Shop

One of the best places to visit in Pretoria if you're wanting dinner, lunch or just a quick coffee, is Brooklyn Square. There is a wide variety of restaurants there, ranging from very chilled to chic to formal. I visited one of the coffee shops (TriBeca Coffee Shop) for a Sunday morning breakfast/study-break. TriBeca specializes in coffee, but also serves delicious food and in the evenings it is also a popular cocktail bar. It has a retro-feel to it, and is decorated with authentic photographs from the 60's.

Isabella's Cake and Food Shop

Today was one of my best friends 20th birthdays, and to celebrate we decided to visit Isabella's. Isabella's Cake and Food Shop is a charming cafe situated in Groenkloof, Pretoria. It may be relatively small and hard to find if you haven't been there before, but it really is a little gem. The decor is stunning and eclectic, with some old furniture mixed with newer pieces. They serve a delicious lunch which you can choose off of a harvest table, as well as a variety of freshly baked cakes. I had the chocolate mousse cake, which was absolutely heavenly. I would definitely recommend paying a visit to Isabella's!