Sustainable Fashion Done Perfectly – Locally.

There’s nothing quite like stumbling upon new brands and then finding out that they are local. There’s a little happy dance that begins stirring inside of me. And this is EXACTLY what happened when I heard about Beagle & Basset – a new Cape Town based eco-conscious company.

I first heard about them about a month ago, and fell in love with not only their napkins, dresses and hair scrunchies – but also what they stand for, and how they go about creating their products. In short, they’re literally saving our beautiful planet one napkin and hair scrunchie at a time!

How? Well they are passionate about the ancient practice of natural dyeing achieved with plant matter, harvested right here, in South Africa. Basically, they collect discarded raw materials – like fynbos, blue gum bark and avocado stones – and give them new life when they extract their pigment and use it to dye raw textiles.

How crazy is it to think of the journey that your napkins, hair scrunchie or garment has been on before reaching you?

I truly do believe in sustainable fashion – and although it seems to be a slow process as things change within our country – it’s brands like Beagle & Basset that make this possible for us to change the way we live and shop.

I was blown away when I first unpacked the beautiful Leuca Dress pictured here. Apart from its obvious beauty – the label and little linen swatches attached are just such a perfect representation of why you should support small, local businesses. Genna has paid such attention to detail, and has really created that love that every consumer should feel when spending their hard earned money on purchasing something new. The website is also a minimalists dream.

This dress is flawless. It’s also available in FIVE different colours (Cederberg – Yellow, Lowveld – Pink, Overberg – Olive, Swartberg – Aubergine and White). Because the dress is dyed, please note that it could take up to 3 weeks for delivery. However, the white is available immediately.

I feel as if I have so much more to say, however, I feel that deep down inside, you understand and believe in the value of supporting businesses as wonderful as Beagle & Basset. This was a totally heartfelt post, and I hadn’t promised them or anybody else a blogpost or feature on it. I just felt in my heart that I wanted to share it with my readers, so that they too, could hear about a brand that I was so excited to learn about. I’m sure you can see why!

Visit my account for more photos from this shoot!

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Follow Beagle & Basset on Instagram to keep up with their beautiful creations as they grow and blossom. Thank you Radiefa from Radz Photography for capturing this so beautifully and Kristin Swan for hair and makeup. Spirit Jewellery – always a pleasure to wear your beautiful pieces.

Bridal Boxes – Typo South Africa.

I often try to put myself back in my mind before I got engaged. As I plan our dream wedding, I like to remind myself of the thoughts, dreams and expectations I had of what it would be like when we eventually did walk this journey.

And here we are, I can definitely say that there are many things that I never imaged would have been the way that they are – but the one thing that has caught me off guard the most, is just how wonderful my bridal party are, and although I knew that they’d be amazing – I never knew how much I’d actually need them!

I always thought that your bridal party would be there to create memories, and just to create that fun, carefree journey during the lead up to the wedding – but, over the past few months, I have spent uncountable hours until all hours of the morning asking questions, getting inspiration, asking their thoughts, ring shopping, shoe shopping, decor comparing. I’m sure I’ve driven them all insane at some point with just needing them as much as I do.

This being said, I wanted to spend a weekend away with the three of them so that we could bond, have some fun, chat about wedding details in person. But, more than that – I wanted to surprise them for a change, and to let them know just how special they are to me. So we drove up to Riebeeck-Kasteel to spend the weekend at Shiraz Estate Guest House (which I’ll write about in a new blog post).

 

I was so excited to work with Typo South Africa on creating quirky and fun bridal boxes for the girls. What I love about Typo is that I was able to use the same items, but because they have so many different options of the same thing (i.e. notebook, mug, keyring, etc.) I was able to personalize it for each of them. They’re each so different to one another, which is why we all get along so well – but it was important to me to make them feel that I had taken each of their personalities and things that they love into consideration.

The other great thing about Typo is that more often than not, you’re bound to find specials (3 for 2, discounts when purchasing a certain quantity) which really makes it an ideal store to shop at when putting together gifts for a group of people.

 

There was loads of laughter as they explored their boxes and I loved explaining why I had chosen specific things for each of them.

I sort of got lost inside of Typo as I picked out the gifts for their boxes because I was just loving being in my own world imagining what the end result would look like. They were classy, but fun. Quirky and colourful. I hope that their gifts made them realize just how loved they are by me.

 

No need to say more – but I had so much creating these special gifts for my girls – and they were SUCH a hit!!! You’ll still be able to shop them at Typo stores around South Africa..

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Visit my Instagram account to keep up with all of the wedding planning. I’d also love for you to subscribe.
All professional images by Tabita Mee from Grand Little Adventure | Dress by Me&B | Jewellery: Spirit Jewellery

Magic On Our Doorstep – The Tree House At Boschendal.

I’ve always considered Cape Town to be a reasonably child friendly city in terms of things for families to do. The city really has a variety of options, especially for tourists who visit Cape Town for a few days or a couple weeks.

However, being a local, although we have our few favourite places that we always revisit, as well as being spoilt by natural beauty – beaches, mountains, rivers and dams, we are always on the lookout for new places to explore.

We were thrilled to hear about the official opening of The Tree House. With Stellenbosch only being about a 40 minute drive from our doorstep, it’s a gem that we are happy to make a day trip for!

If you are based in Cape Town, you’re probably already familiar with the beautiful Boschendal. Home to a handful of divine restaurants and breath-taking accommodation. One can also put out a picnic blanket on their never ending lush grass and buy a picnic basket – perfect for families or a romantic day out.

You can imagine my excitement to hear that Boschendal is now promoting kids being connected with nature. Something that childhood really lacks in this generation. Kids are spending beautiful days in front of the TV. Instead of puddle jumping or catching raindrops in their mouths, they have their heads down staring at an iPad.

Is there anything more magical than having your kids adventuring around a truly authentic farm and forest while you can sit back and relax, cup of coffee in hand? I love anything that encourages education through play – and this is, without a doubt, exactly that!

The Tree House at Boschendal is suitable for children aged 4-14 years old. They’ll never run out of things to explore! Naturally, they will be learning about the importance of sustainability. There are also supervised programmes at The Tree House activity centre. If you are a guest staying in Boschendal accommodation or are dining at The Werf Restaurant, then these supervised programmes are complimentary for your children. However, the Playground area is unsupervised, therefore, parents should accompany their children.

There is something truly authentic and beautiful about a playground that has been designed and created with wood. All of the woodwork for The Tree House and Playground was fully crafted on the farm, and the model farm was designed at the same time showcasing the benefits of cycle grazing.

The model farm is three and a half hectares of land that has been divided into 7 blocks where animals including Black Angus cattle, hens and Duroc forest pics are rotated to regenerate soil quality. Your kids will be given the opportunity to harvest their own eggs as well as learn the importance of understanding where their food comes from, sustainability, and what it means to have healthy soil. Something most kids are really unaware of in this generation.

A daily programme runs 7 days a week at The Tree House and parents can leave their children fully supervised and busy with an outstanding team of trained and seasoned Tree House leaders. The Tree House team compiles a weekly calendar, and the various activities during the day might include farm foraging, gardening, natural arts, baking, nature walks and exploration, upcycling, outdoor fire cooking, painting – and horse riding/mountain biking at an additional charge. These are all things that many of us, as parents, don’t have the time to teach them or are not educated in ourselves.

If that isn’t enough, there is also a natural science library and a movie room with natural history films called Hide Out. The natural arts activities teach children about climate change. Children can design their own hanging planters, bird feeders and alternative toys using single-use plastics. This will be a great reminder about all that they learnt when they look at it hanging in their garden. They also visit the recycle centre and brainstorm about what can be made from rubbish. “I believe we can make a much-needed change in our world by reconnecting kids to the magic of nature. At The Tree House we spark questions like – where does my food come from? How can I turn this trash into something beautiful and functional? We’re enhancing young creative minds through environmental awareness. We also want them to have fun and to give parents a little break too!” says Tracey van Wijk, The Tree House Manager and conceptual thinker behind the centre.

If you’d like to visit The Tree House, bookings should be made at least 24 hours in advance, and the schedule for Daily Activities can be downloaded HERE.

Keep an eye out for the Holiday Programmes that will be running during the June and July holidays at The Tree House. Parents can book their children for a 5-day programme where they will learn about the farm and gain life skills for young adventurers. Accommodation is not included, but will be available at a 25% discount on advertised rates.

We sadly could not attend the launch of The Tree House, but cannot wait to visit so that we can explore this beautiful and educational Tree House for ourselves. It is something truly unique and something that Cape Town needed more than anything!

I am excited to see how children and families change their perspective on our beautiful world, how we look after our bodies, our animals and nature in general. I don’t think anybody will be able to leave The Tree House without having their perspective changed or deepened. Take advantage of being blessed with beautiful places like this right on our doorstep. And let me know if you visit and what you think of The Tree House at Boschendal!

Read more about The Tree House at Boschendal.
*Images and information supplied by Sand Travel PR .

A Tropical Getaway Right On Our Doorstep – Banksia Boutique Hotel.

Earlier this year, Lauren and myself packed our bags and drove just 25 minutes from home to the beautiful Banksia Boutique Hotel. Located in Cape Town’s historic Rosebank, Banksia has the ability to make you feel as if you’ve jetted off to a luxury villa located on a lush, tropical island.

Banksia Boutique is an elegant eight room boutique hotel housed in a grand 19^th century Victorian-styled home. Part of the beauty and uniqueness of Banksia is seen in each suite as you take note of just how many features they have managed to save from the many years ago when the house was built.

As you pull into the driveway on arrival, you’ll find yourself blown away by the beautiful building standing before you. The breathtaking, grand entrance to this exquisite 19th century Victorian boutique hotel sets the stage. From the topiary lined entrance, perfectly manicured garden to the beautifully tiled entrance and woodwork- nothing has gone unnoticed, and no stone left unturned when it comes to preserving the property’s history.

We were greeted by Joy, one of the friendliest women we’ve met whilst doing a travel review, and she kindly took us around the entire hotel and gave us a breakdown of each room. Beyond the exceptional staff, there is so much love that has been put into restoring the old world charm and glamour to this incredible home turned hotel. We were shown all 8 well appointed bedrooms, each en suite, are comfortable, neutral and spacious with everything you need to have a luxurious stay. The linen is crisp and of the best quality. You are treated to the luxurious range of Charlotte Rhys bath and body products in your rooms, complimented by freshly picked blooms from the garden and fluffy bathrobes, perfect for relaxing in your room, cup of tea or glass of bubbles in hand.

 

The owner, Shelley Kingston, has made sure that all of the details of the architecture have been maintained from what it was when it was first built, and has done such a beautiful job.

I struggle to find the words to describe our experience, to be honest. We were given our own rooms, right next door to each other on the balcony, which meant that we were really secluded, and could sit facing the pool area from above. We felt as if we were in Bali in a private villa, and would enjoy our morning coffee or dinner from above.

The large glass conservatory houses a beautiful pool as well as Jacuzzi. Adorned with tropical plants and palms, it creates an old world and colonial look and feel.

Teak sun loungers surround the pool and are perfect for long lazy days spent relaxing. Just perfect after a spa treatment (right on the premises) or a slow, continental breakfast.

Before bed, we climbed into the Jacuzzi, which I’m sure most of us can appreciate – and the hospitality just showed when we came downstairs – they had turned the lights off, and lit some candles to make it peaceful and private.

We never once felt that it was too busy, and rarely even saw any other guests, apart from at breakfast or on the Sunday morning when a couple was using the communal pool area.

There wasn’t a moment where we weren’t in awe of how beautiful everything surrounding us was – when just sitting on our balcony and looking down at the same pool area we’d been looking at since the moment we arrived. Or even just sitting out front, enjoying the beautiful gardens.

On the Saturday, we were invited to visit the Spa which is located at Banksia. We walked over and were greeted by the lovely, gentle Stefanie. Don’t let her sweet voice fool you – she’s got a firm handshake and means business when you ask for a medium pressure massage!

She suggested the Rasul Treatment, which was something that neither Lauren or myself had done before. You use an exfoliator and mud mask on your entire body. You climb into the steam room, and the room fills with steam and then ends with a rain. I certainly felt the benefit of this treatment, however, it was definitely an experience, and I wouldn’t recommend it for someone who is claustrophobic. Our skin felt so fresh and soft and smelt divine after this.

We then had a 30 minute back, neck and shoulder massage which was everything we needed and more. Stefanie is the only therapist in the spa, but less is certainly more in this case. The pressure was perfect, she knows when a client just wants silence and doesn’t force sales in your face. 10/10!

Another lovely thing about the spa is that you don’t need to be a guest of the hotel to book a treatment. And when you book a treatment, you’re able to make use of the pool area.

We were absolutely spoilt by choice at breakfast each morning, as it is B&B. Not only do you get to choose from a buffet of fruit, freshly baked muffins, yoghurt, cereals and croissants with cold meats and cheeses – but you can also order from their menu for egg and bacon, salmon and French toast! You’ll also get fresh fruit juice and your choice of hot drinks. It was flawless!

The hospitality of Banksia is something I’ll never be able to speak more highly of. We met Joy and Tarryn who both treated us like queens. Not just because we were reviewing the hotel, but because they are both so good at their job. They are genuinely lovely women who care about their guests and just want them to have an amazing, memorable stay.

Our rooms were always cleared, beds made, duvet turned down before bed. Our snacks, fridge, etc, was restocked before we even had a chance to request for anything to be replaced.

As busy moms, this little escape was everything we needed, and more. It felt so great to climb into our car and drive down the road to this little slice of heaven. Sometimes it’s the places that are right on our doorstep that are the gems.

I’ll return in a heartbeat to get that feeling of having travelled abroad to a tropical island. If you’re Cape Town based – don’t let that put you off! Sometimes a little holiday close by is all you need. It’s the perfect anniversary spot or even a great place to escape to with a friend. Banksia is super close to some incredible spots in Cape Town. You’re spoilt for choice with coffee shops, restaurants and things to do. It makes a perfect place for foreigners too! You have many of Cape Town’s attractions right on your doorstep!

From the front patio, conservatory or the formal lounge- there is always somewhere other than your suite to catch up on some reading (or even work as there is Wi-Fi). Rosebank is a leafy and peaceful suburb, close enough to town or bustling restaurants, but Banksia is secluded enough to feel like you are somewhere far away.

We found that Banksia Boutique Hotel is really affordable, and the spa treatments are also really well priced. Don’t just go for one night though – you won’t want to leave! So definitely make a weekend or good couple of nights of it. You can thank me later.

My first reaction to Banksia was: “I can’t believe this is in Cape Town”. And I feel that that sentence in its own should be powerful enough.

You can make a reservation here, or simply follow their Instagram account to keep dreaming!

Thank you for having us! We will certainly be back soon!

Photography: Shante Hutton Photography
Hair & Makeup: Makeup By Mish
Wardrobe: My Scattered Heart & AP Jones
Jewellery: Spirit Jewellery

Words: Lisa Harrison & Lauren McCreath Interiors

Girls Weekend Away In Paradise: La Bella Vita Studios.

I think it is safe to say that all girls need a weekend away here and there. A few nights away from the kids and hubby makes a good opportunity to unwind and to go back home with a clear mind and ready to take on a new week.

Lauren and myself were invited to visit the beautiful La Bella Vita Studios out in Paarl. Now let me just begin by saying that the Winelands have never really pulled me in – I am not a huge wine drinker, and we normally head out to the seaside for family holidays.

But, this time around the Winelands caught me off guard. I think because we were staying at such a beautiful place – it set the scene and the mood. Also, being newly engaged, it was an opportunity to dream a little.

We drove up on the Friday afternoon, just a short drive from home – and checked in at the Studios. We were really lucky to be given a little tour of the 8 studios (as well as the two new studios that will launch THIS month), because it really showed us the full vision of the owners, as well as the talent of the interior designer, Elsje Schonken. So much love has been poured into each studio – but I am going to leave the interior talk to Lauren from Lauren McCreath Interiors who will cover it from every angle. What I would like to mention though, is that each suite has a huge bathroom with a shower and bath, a small kitchen which is well equipped with beautiful crockery and cutlery, as well as a fridge and microwave AND Nespresso machine – so you can bring your own food (there is no oven or stove though, so as long as it is food that can be heated/cooked in the microwave), as well as a fire place, TV, lounge area and balcony. So it is fully equipped, and we didn’t once feel that it was lacking anything.

You never tire of looking around the studio – each corner of the room is filled with high end finishes. The coffee table is neatly stacked with interesting books which are all relevant to the room. Nothing has been spared in terms of style. There is more than enough WiFi, and everything has been so thoughtfully done and considered which all adds to the overall experience.

I always get excited for a girls weekend – I know I can just let my hair down and relax. La Bella Vita Studios allows you to do EXACTLY that. It was quiet, and we were surrounded by beautiful mountains and nature. We’d wake up each morning and go out to our private balcony, and just sit and drink coffee while watching the ducks and birds on the pond in front of us. We honestly could have spent all three days just sitting in our studio or outside on the deck.

On arrival, we were gifted with a basket of delicious bread from Babylonstoren (literally a 5 minute drive away), some butter, jam, honey, cheeses, strawberries and wine. All fresh and divine. This allowed us to just totally chill on the first night with soup and bread, and we didn’t have to go anywhere.

 

I truly believe that hospitality is shown in the little details – in this case, the basket of treats, as well as the beautiful tray of bath salts, bath bombs and scents that they use in the studio (each studio gets a different scent).

We had a divine bath that night (they have their own water supply), and each climbed into our own bed, which was literally MAGICAL. I haven’t experienced such comfort in a bed! There’s nothing like bundling up between beautiful linen sheets and sinking into plush feather pillows after a long day of adventuring. We watched some TV, laughed and chatted and fell asleep quite contently.

The next morning we woke up, and had a slow start to the morning before heading out into the Winelands. Breakfast and some exploring at Babylonstoren, then off to a few other beautiful spots before heading to Blaauwklippen for a glass of wine, and then to Boschendal to finish off our day of adventures with a late lunch.

We headed back to the Studios, and it honestly felt like getting home after a long and busy day. That says a lot about a place. We finished off the day with a glass of wine and a bike ride around the estate. This was the most fun we had had in awhile!!! So much laughter.

 

On the Sunday, we decided that we would spend our last day just relaxing and hanging out at ‘home’, because we just wanted to absorb what was around us. It was also incredibly hot, and neither of us had thought to bring our costumes, not realizing that there is a gorgeous pool. We then booked a spa treatment at Sante Wellness Retreat and Spa which is right next door to the Studios, within walking distance, and in the same Estate. I found that this was perfect for a girls weekend, and was also a highlight of where La Bella Vita Studios is located. Note that there is also a restaurant based inside of the Spa, so you don’t even need to leave the Estate when staying at the Studios. My facial was amazing, and Lauren had a full body massage which she also raved about. There are also uncountable amazing places just a stone throw away which are begging to be explored. Mark my words, you won’t ever feel bored!

My mind keeps switching over to the beautiful interior and décor of each studio, but I know that Lauren will be covering all of that in the next article. But, I do need to say that it is refreshing to stay at a place that has put so much thought into creating each studio unique and totally different to the next. One studio may not be your ‘vibe’, however, one of them will be. I have about three others on my list for when I return, one of them being their brand new studio, which is breathtaking, and may even be my new favourite.

I love that each studio has a ‘theme’, the one we stayed in being the Mare Studio. Each theme represents a charity or cause that they support – so when you stay, 3.5% of their annual profit from each studio goes to that specific cause. This is really something amazing, and you don’t get many places that do something as selfless as that.

La Bella Vita Studios isn’t just a weekend away. It is staying in luxury, rebooting, and an experience. A perfect spot for a girls weekend, your honeymoon, or even the spot to stay the night before your wedding with your girls, as it makes for beautiful photos for getting ready. But mostly, it was the ideal place to escape to for me to chatter away to one of my best friends as a newly engaged woman about all of my dreams and visions for planning my wedding day.

 

I hope to be back soon with my maid of honour too for even more fun. This is one of those places that will never be forgotten. And I am excited to return to stay in one of the other Studios for a different experience! A few key words to describe La Bella Vita Studios in closing would be: Upmarket, contemporary, comfortable, and luxurious. It was such a treat being surrounded by the simple beauty that nature offers, and we were so sad to leave that we even stayed one extra night.

Thank you for having us! Your hospitality was refreshing and your Studios magical! Keep an eye out for the interior review by Lauren McCreath next week.

Do yourself a favour and head over to their beautiful social media accounts that are bursting with gorgeous photographs of their studios and also have loads more information on each Studio:

Instagram | Website | Facebook

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*Please note that the majority of these images were used from the La Bella Vita Studios website shot by Sheldon Moultrie Photography.

I decided to use their images because mine just didn’t do the beauty of La Bella Vita Studios justice!