Ok so I've been out of Splendora action for a while but I'm back brimming with inspiring tales of wasted moments sitting at the desk.  After a series of personal debate I've decided to give up this increasingly demanding job in search of my 'happy place'.  I've no idea where exactly this gravel road will take me but I'm sure a lifestyle choice over financial gains, wins hands down every time.

For any other girlies in the London region discussing our existence on 'this mortal coil' etc. take a look at The Mangrove - a peaceful country home that run retreats every other weekend helping individuals with life coaching skills.  You'll leave feeling like you've been hand picked off that bumpy road and placed on a smooth sunlit highway travelling at 120mph with the warm breeze in your shiny locks.

The other hot link is Skyros Holidays - a company that have been around for over 30 years.  They fly you off to a gorgeous island in the Med or the white powdery beaches of Thailand for a 'life reshape'.  You'll come away sunkissed and re-energised after your life changing experience.

Thinking back to last years winter I can remember feeling desperately cold with chapped lips, dry dull skin, and fragile brittle
hair.  It’s never my most attractive time of year, but this time round I’m feeling excited about the new cold front. I’m dragging out all of my knitted jumpers, soft leather gloves and
warm coats in an effort to see the ice as an opportunity for cashmere
couture.  I'm now making this my most beautiful time of year... with a little help from the lotions & potions department.  

This wave of fir tree air also gives me nostalgic memories of Christmas, my favourite holiday!  Bring on the roasted chestnuts and open fires, I'm ready.

One of the wonderful things about London is the super fast
Eurostar that connects you to France, Brussels etc. within the space of a
couple of hours.  So within the time
it takes me to do my gym session or bake a few pies I can get myself from
Waterloo Station to Lille Europe Station… and we did just that on Friday
morning.  My expectations weren’t
high as I’d heard from a few randoms that Lille is more of an industrial
capital of France, a bit like Birmingham in England, and if you’ve been there
you’ll know it’s nothing to postcard home about!  Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised - the weather warmed up,
the locals very friendly and full of smiles and the food utterly sublime.  We spent all weekend wandering cobbled ancient streets fuelled with history, bistros and patisseries.  There are too many gorgeous shops to swallow
your euros and even more chocolatiers and cake stores to pad your belly.  We settled for a long lazy lunch on
Sunday at an outdoor bistro just before hopping on board to take a speedy exit
back to London.

After working up a 'glow' trekking through TopShop I headed down towards Piccadilly dodging human traffic like a pro.  Stopped into the APPLE store for a nosy browse and play on the newest and latest gadgets, then headed straight into Samsonite on Regents Street.  I've got a strange obsession with gorgeous luggage but my style usually lights up with beautifully crafted pieces from Chanel, Gucci and Prada, lots of linen and leather - today however I was cooing over a cute liddle black number by McQueen.  It's light as a feather, rolls along super smooth and the case is carved into the shape of a human rib cage - sounds strange but really is cute in a futuristic kind of way.  This fossil wheelie comes in at a bargain price of £420!  After my luggage viewing I slipped into Godiva for a perfectly made dark chocolate decadent shake - indulgence at it's best and great for the 'glow'!  

Weekends come and go so very fast that it's no wonder people are trying the cheeky tactics of getting a head start by leaving the office early on a Friday.  I for one am more than pro this idea - what's a few extra hours of playtime at the end of the day - no punn intended! Sadly however, Reuters is reporting that the United Kingdom are apparently losing an estimated £50 million a year with employees faking illness or planning 'meetings' out of the office on a Friday afternoon and the motoring association is even reporting that home-time rush hour on a Friday now begins at 12noon.  I also know that in South Africa it's common knowledge that Fridays are a short day in the office with most firms closing down at 3pm LATEST!  I feel that the last day of every week should become a standard short day all over the world. Lets take back some of our life with a liddle extra park action, sundowners, long lunches and suntan sessions.

So I've decided that my usual Dr Hauschka and Clarins isn't quite doing the trick any longer.  My 30 year old skin is needing something a little stronger, something to iron out the newly formed aggravation lines.  If anyone can suggest a wonderful tonic, potion or plain old moisturiser that they truly believe in, please drop me a line.  After all if there really is something out there to minus the polluted years from our grainy complexions, why not share!

When you've got a bit of time on your hands I think it's only right to pay a little attention to the self!  I've whipped up a gorgeous body scrub of sugar, honey and almond essence, it smells like pudding and tastes like cookie dough and I've emerged from the grainy tub silky soft and glowing.  R & R for the flesh.

After living in the beautiful culturally drenched city of London for 12 years I decided to revert back to the same excited, surprised, holiday vibe of when I first arrived here from my small little humid beach town of Durban, South Africa.  We headed off to London in the morning for brunch at Libertys store, and what a shop by the way!  I could literally spend all winter in the cosy filigree'd walls lined row after row with international specialist flair and style.Once released from the Liberty's gush we toured around station after street and ended up in London Bridge.  Cobbled streets as old as four of my own generations, sparkly waters of the river thames and the dramatic shadow of the tower makes for quite an impressive scene.  A 30 minute boat trip from the Tower takes you straight to the London Eye where yet another inspiring view awaits you, and after that I suggest you hit The Gourmet Pizza Co. based right on the river thames where you can watch the world go by whilst you're gently cuddled with wine and a warm sunny glow.

I decided that my pale white bedroom needed a summer facelift so I hopped on the district line and headed for Sloane Square.  With all the major sales on it's the perfect time to shop for a few essential cushions, candle sticks, lamps etc.  I hit The White Company located next to The General Trading Comany and splurged on a pair of pure linen scatter cushions in navy and white, a navy and white throw in classic beach stripe and a plain white cushion with navy piping and simple monogrammed design in matching white thread.  Altogether these few key pieces have brought a relaxed, summer sea vibe to the boudiour.  I've even got my creative juices going and I'm putting together a little wreath for above the bed - lots of white washed twigs, shells, starfish and sun bleached wooden vines.

There are busy days, over worked, over stressed and over dressed!  Today is not one of those days.  I'm sitting in my softly lit living room, the scent of sweet vanilla and rose piercing the warm sticky rays of sunshine filtering in.  Home alone and loving it, with a glass of chardonnay in one hand, the Sky remote in the other and a face full of black glue.  It's not often one gets to sit in comfort whilst looking like a bush man but tonight I've taken full advantage of the fact that I'm all alone, and plastered myself in the wonderfully thick dark potion that is St Tropez tanning gunk.  I may look like an overbaked bunny now but tomorrow I'll awake with a stunning glow, ready for Sunday morning breakfast at Carluccio's.