Indulgence: Addressing the Issue

in·dul·gence

inˈdəljəns/

noun

1. 1.

   the action or fact of indulging.

   "indulgence in self-pity"

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The other day I found myself scouring the internet to entertain myself through these cold, winter-y days. I even spent a great deal of time on E! Online catching up on what feels like years of Celeb Gossip. Weddings to breakups and that Avril Lavigne music video that everyone was going on about.

Then I found all these pretty dresses and just had to share them with you. While they are wildly over priced through the American Dollar and the dying economy of South Africa, they are still nice to look at and fantasise about wearing. Maybe we can get some of our awesome South African designers to start making things like this and not those horrible tube dresses that everyone seems to wear. 

The first dress is really flattering without having to be too revealing. I really appreciate the detailing in the lace print (which is real lace, not just lino screening) and the beautiful detail in the cuffs of the sleeves.

The second I actually found under the Prom Dress section, which isn't anything like you see in those movies any more. This was the best of the lot, and with the right red lipstick you'll definitely be a knock out on the dance floor. I also really love the chunky clutch bag, I think it adds a little edge to the dress which is quite flow-y, albeit a slightly odd shape.

The next two dresses are more casual. The mint green dress has really ice detailing on the shoulders. Its really nice for summer, but hey, that's what we get living in the Southern Hemisphere - all the fashion seasons are all mixed up. 

The Boho Chic dress is my absolute favourite. I like the delicate details in the fabric, the long sleeves and the delicate neckline.

The last dress is absolutely fabulous. Look at how it flows. I think if I ever wore that dress I wouldn't stop jumping around because I'd feel like a really fabulous and stylish Flower Fairy.

So, if I was a famous movie star, that's how I would dress for sure - even on the Red Carpet. Whaaaaaaaat?! Like a G

&Kathrynwhat

Spookasem: The best thing ever.

No, no Im not talking about the Candy Floss, although I do love it. I'm talking about all the things I need in my life right now from this amazing Cape Town based Shop. (I'm almost starting to believe that Cape Town is on the scale of Moderate to Average... but I could be wrong.)
They're busy working on their online store at the moment, so unless you live in Cape Town and can pop by The Woodstock Exchange any time soon, it might be a little harder to get your grubby hands on these delicious designs.

Or you could order them from here (http://www.utique.co.za/seller/spookasem/)

You can keep up to date with them on Facebook, until their website is up and running then I'm sure we can all live inside the internet looking at these delicious things. Damn.
All right, enough babbling from me, take a look!

I particularly love the little illustrations and the cute story behind them. I think this brand can go along way and boy do I want one of those cute Ghostie Tote Bags!
&Kathrynwhat

Market Madness: Kamers 2014

As you probably know, I have a little bit of a Craft Market Crazy streak around December when all the Creepy Crafters Crawl out of their hiding places in time for the Christmas Craze. Well, Kamers Vol Geskenke, has just added a new Market to their bill, one that's happening right now! To keep all of us Jo'burgers sane over these long weekends for the next month, Kamers has introduced a Market over the Easter Weekend. It's still going to be on until Monday, so you have plenty of time to get your goodies.

Click HERE for some more of my Market Adventures.

This is my delightful new pillow from a lovely little Cape Town based Online Shop called ZANA. 

Their stuff is supper fresh and has a really good texture. 

I'm a sucker for good textured things. 

You can order Online or check them out at the Biscuit Mill.

Added a new ring to my ever so slightly growing collection! This one is super cool. Its paper thin, made out of copper and sterling silver. You can check out more from Liesbet Van Cappellens' Jewelry Collection on her website: http://www.lvcjewelry.com/

This, however, was the best. this chocolate is the most delicious chocolate you'll ever taste in your life and it hail from good old Pretoria. They have 6 exciting flavours and the best chocolate package design you could ask for. Check them out on Facebook to get your hand on some! 

Ah! A good day indeed!
&Kathrynwhat

Closer to Home (Grown)

Well, more like Mexico to be honest, but they look like what I see out my back yard which is kinda cool. Save the Rhinos, Yo. They're important but also scary...
These illustrations by Ricardo Solis remind me of the whimsy of childhood and that story about the miniature people that tied down Jack Black in the terrible 'modern' remake? You know the one I'm talking about right?
Check 'em out:

Click to enlarge (it's better that way)

Petty legit.
&Kathrynwhat

Don't believe everything the internet tells you, unless it's me, then you can.

The other day, during my usual Blog Stalk, I read a really nice review of the Chinese place that just opened down the road form me, and being an enormous fan of Chow Fan, I thought I'd check it out on my way home.

The small shop was dark and the counter was cluttered with a mixture of chopstick, straws and pot plants, there was an awkward early family dinner that looked like it consisted of a Step Dad trying his hardest to win over the kids. The waitress gingerly took our order, the crumpled menu looked over used and slightly confusing,. She scribbled a few notes and went through th edoor at the back of the shop while the awkward step dad asked for a little more soy sauce and the little girl cringed her face at the taste. I sat near the door, waiting patiently for the food to arrive. The table was neatly set up, the green chopsticks standing out in stark contrast from the dark wood table. Mismatched chairs scraped against the floor as the sun slowly set over the chilly winters day, the parking lot slowly being plunged into the darkness of the night. One by one the street lamps lit up the sky.

Look, it was all right, not the best and not the worst - I've had some pretty dodge Chinese Food in my life time, and that's in four different cities spread across two continents and multiple restaurants, but I gotta say, I wasn't all that impressed.
My Spling Lols were burnt and there was hardly any Chicken in my Chow Fan. Now, it might have been a bad day and maybe I'll have to go back and have a second try of this place but it was super disappointing at the time, especially since I really, really wanted some delicious dinner times.

Then I found these
Ramen Overload: Source

Mmm. Looks so goood.
&Kathrynwhat

Illustration and Style with James Gilleard

There are so many amazing Illustrators out there that I literally cannot consume their work fast enough.
This is James Gilleards work, that he did for a Software company a little while ago. I really like his style of illustration and his use of colour and caricaturisation as well as how flippin' cool the little characters look I just wanna squish them and maybe have little bobble heads on my desk to look at sometimes cause they look like they would understand all your inner turmoil. (What a long sentence, I apologise...)
Here are some of his works, but you can see more at his Behance page here.

Flip flippin' flip flip. Cool.

&Kathrynwhat

What Emile Tells Us: A fleeting insight.

Most of his lectures are incoherent ramblings and him shouting at people to stop using their laptops and people falling asleep next to you in the Auditorium and so many Music Videos, but every now and then he'll say something cool an interesting and maybe funny if you're tired enough to find anyhting funny.

Today he shouted at us about Dieter Rams and told us we were all uncultured little chilren and then proceeded to tell everyone what was wrong with their designs and grumble about needing coffee and a cigarette.

Besides all that though, he's pretty cool. 

So I did a bit of a Google and found a bunch of nice things on the internet about this Dieter Rams person and as it turns out his stuff is pretty legit and will make shaving, listening to some fancy records and also waking up or running late way more designed and smooth looking.

Here are some of my favourites.

In light of today beign the last day of class for a while I thought I would share some of Emile's inspiration that he's been trying to impart on us for a while now...

&Kathrynwhat