Tuesday, 19 March 2013

Luxury with Cape Town Diamond Museum!

Last Friday the Cape Town Diamond Museum treated a few bloggers, including myself to a day of luxury. It was a day of sightseeing and decadence! The Cape Town Diamond Museum located at the Clock Tower at the V&A Waterfront. The only one of its kind in the Mother City!

Drinks and lunch by Jason Bakery

First stop:  Truth Coffee Cult where we had a session with David Donde! A man who is passionate about coffee! Beyond their top class cuppa, the décor of this place is a factory for the imaginative. We were treated to a coffee tasting. Something this Mishtery has never tried but highly recommends! This is the Truth, no sugar required! This amazing coffee haven is located at Prestwich Memorial on the corner of Buitengracht Street and Somerset Road.

Careful, crossing the road!



I love the interior!


Blogger and talented photographer: Guy with Camera
First you break it! Then you smell it! Then you slurp it!

Using the bikes as decor! Clever! I want an Ubuntu bike!

Second stop: The Lindt Chocolate Studio where we had the pleasure of meeting Dimo Simatos. Dimo is a Lindt Chocolatier, who is regarded as one of the finest pastry chefs in South Africa. The Lindt Chocolate Studio is located at Cape Quarter, 72 Waterkant Street, de Waterkant.

Here lives chocolate!
Chef Dimo Simatos
I am as puzzled as you are.

Third stop: Champers on arrival, fire and scintelation with diamonds and sushi by Sevruga. Fantastic. A heartfelt thank you to Mr Yair Shimansky for this experience!  



Pongracz upon arrival!



Where the magic happens.

About 500 carat Tanzanite... If I am not mistaken.

I guess, you'd say... What can make me feel this way? A MyGirl diamond with 47 facests. :-)

My Two-point-something ring for a couple of seconds! Ah, to be able to afford this ring!




Lunch from Jason Bakery:





Sparkling wine supplied by Pongracz:





Sushi from Sevruga:




City Sightseeing Bus:




Truth Coffee Cult:





Lindt Chocolate Studio:




Cape Town Diamond Museum:







































Friday, 8 March 2013

Mishtery Designs for rising Hiphop star!

Last year an exceptional hiphop artist briefed me to design his album art. What an honour! This conscious artist's love for the human race, its struggles, triumphs and life lessons are brought to life and packaged as Legkaart: Die Kruis & die Kroon. This debut album contains songs written to inspire and to affect the human fibre in such a way that you have no choice but to roll up your sleeves and make a difference.

This is arguably, Kaapse Afrikaans at it's absolute best. Lutron surpassed estimated sales and has been placed at number one on the Hiphop charts on GoodhopeFM for his single, Kalsium for a number of weeks.

His album is available at African Music Store in Long Street, Cape Town. For the real hiphop heads this album delivers every time you press play! Follow Chase Lutron on Twitter: @ChaseLutron
 


Photography by Mishtery
Photography by Mishtery

Photography by Mishtery

Mishtery Designs

This project contains a great combination of positive spirit and great writing skills. I really value Chase Lutron's attitude and attention to detail in his lyrics. Hip hop needs this kind of energy, right now. ~ Shaheen of Prophets of the City
 ___


“Ek het Chase Lutron se album Legkaart vir 2 weke op rotation gehou om verseker te maak dat ek niks gemis het ie. Sy rymklets skills, diep lyrical content en flow maak hom een van'ie beste Afrikaanse MCs. These days is it difficult om daai combination te kry, especially die diep content en 'n MC wattie bang is om sy hart oppie CD te expose nie. Thanks bra, ek is 'n fan. My favourite tracks are "Vlugsout", "Sit it Da", "2 Gesig", "Veg vir die lug", "7580%","Legkaart", "Kalsium", ... YOR! kwaai album my bru” ~ Emile Jansen of Black Noise
___

Legkaart -Kruis en die Kroon Album by Chase Lutron is a generous 21 track offering with production duties shared by seven producers.

The album carries a clear message of hope without sounding preachy or sacrificing listenability yet its hallmark is how it aligns with the values behind the activity of Project Break Free – a youth outreach program of which Chase is a member.

As difficult as it is to pick a favourite track, there’s brilliance in the anthemic REEN, the radio friendly KALSIUM and HOU MOED. This is Hip Hop you can enjoy with your kids around. A must buy.

 Scott Williams ~ Nar8iv (Blogger), photographer, artist





Thursday, 28 February 2013

It's a Mish-take!



Hello my friends! I am finally breaking the silence! It has been a while since I have done a post. It’s largely, due to too much work and too little time. I have missed blogging!

Image source

 

A Mish-take

Image source

In a nutshell, work has been keeping me so busy, that I could not blog. A couple of days ago I left the office, something too nine the evening, to join my other half and friend in Long Street for a quick pizza... I know, not very healthy... Anyway, I reached an exaggerated low point when I stretched out my leg out in front of me as I was walking up an incline and then I heard it... The violent rip of my favourite and only pair of jeggings. It really tore me up inside. What little strength I had left to keep my head up, just evaporated and all that was left to be seen was the gaping whole exposing my pale inner thigh! It was a perfect end to a series of unfortunate events.

The highlights of the time that I was MIA:
Image source

A friend of mine passed away suddenly, after a very short sickbed. It reminded me just how fragile life is and how age isn’t a prerequisite for an end to a life. My friend, Louis was a special man and I will always cherish the memories that I have of him.

I had a hellish promotion to do at work that I basically ended up managing… At least it is over now. Thank goodness!

A potentially exciting break lay waiting in the near future. At this point I can’t tell you anything because there isn’t much to say.


I have been too busy and lazy to stick to any healthy habits or exercise!

Image source
I discovered New Girl! I am insanely crazy about this show and Schmidt is my absolute favourite character! You have to watch it. Seriously, a little comedy... and some P-mint tea... You will love it! 

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

BodyLove: Increase your exercise with these 3 activities!

Why is it so difficult to stay committed to an exercise routine?
I asked myself this question every time I chicken out of a much needed session. I mean it is the best thing you can do for your body and not to mention that it boosts your well being but the lazy or busy factor seems to get the best of me at times.

I had to devise a plan to sneak a fitness session in without thinking of it as the dreaded Ex-words! Extremely sweaty! Extra reps! Exhaustion! Exercise! Oi! Wie het lus daarvoor na ‘n lang dag se werk? The thought of running, doing push-ups, sit-ups and all that jazz did not appeal to my uninspired senses.

So I thought about it and figured that I need to trick myself into increasing physical activity in my life.
Again, just like the concept of BodyLove, there is nothing new about this fitness tip or trickery as I call it. Exercising should be fun. At the end of last month a few friends and I went on a hike... Fresh air, scenic views, fun, chats, laughter and guess what… I didn’t even notice that I was exercising for two hours! How wonderful?! It was a fantastic activity! So another Ex-word dawned on me…Excitement!

I realised that when my vigour for working out takes a dips, I need company to spark enthusiasm again or simply something unusual and or/fun. So after some research on alternative ways to keep active, these 3 activities took centre stage in the production called: Getting Your Active On, The Sneaky Way. I hope you find these activities as fun and effective.

Here are 3 activities to bust boring routines!

Instead of Step Aerobics try Hula Hooping because it burns between 420–600 calories. This is so much fun because this exercise burns roughly the same amount of calories as bootcamp or aerobics. It helps improve flexibility and is killer for toning your arms,  abs, back, and legs. Hula hoops are so cheap, you really need to get into the hip swing of things! :)



Instead of stationery bicycle at the gym, try casual cycling for an hour with friends or as in my case… I will be joining the Midnight Mass in Cape Town! Ubuntu Bikes will be giving me this stylish bike to ride. I will do a post on these beauties! Who said that you can't burn calories without any style? Oh, you will burn about 236-354 calories.


Instead of walking for fitness, try hiking with friends for an hour with a back pack. It will burn roughly 500 calories and it the weight of the backpack equals weight trainging which is great for your bones and muscles. 


Monday, 18 February 2013

BodyLove: Black Friday

As a woman, I find myself on the road and alone at home on occasion. In my ignorance it never bothered me very much. I have always been aware of the fact that rape is a crime that happens more than it should. As you know… It never really hits home until it happens to you. It didn't happen to me but ever since KFM’s campaign to raise awareness about the staggering rate at which rape occurs… I have been feeling scared for myself, women and children and men. 

On Friday people of South Africa united against this heinous crime and turned the day black. We wore black to signify that we have had enough of violence and in particular, this kind of violence.

A rape occurs every four minutes in South Africa. An average song is about 4 minutes long. This means that after every song that plays on your radio, another person falls victim to rape. The ping or beep that interrupted Primedia radio stations such as KFM, signified rape occurrence. A simple sound that struck a note of fear and horror in our hearts.

Let’s stand together and keep spreading awareness about this very serious crime. Nobody alive deserves to be raped.

We should be safe in our beautiful land! We should not live in fear and wonder if we will be next to fall prey to this crime. It is hateful, hurtful. It is a power crime. To the victims out there, you are more than a victims. You are survivors. You are a conquerors. Stop a rape from happening by reporting it to the authorities. Let’s take back the power and report these crimes.

Thank you to the readers of my blog for sending your pictures to show your support. Let this campaign live beyond the Friday!

Stop Rape Now!

BodyLove

PriceCheck

Blogger: Ashleigh Davids Ashleigh Davids blog

Jamie Leewendaal, Media24

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Universiteit Stellenbosch University

Sapphire Press team




Amalia Abrahams, Orbit

Alicia Pietersen, NB Publishers

Raylene Harvey, Hapicup blog

Geraldine Young, NB Publishers & TarrynJo from Titbits from TarrynJo

Hiphop artist, Chase Lutron






















Friday, 8 February 2013

Friday Food Fest is back

This week has been the most productive and stressful. To me Friday only announces itself with a seafood dish! I have to tell you... I am a seafood addict and will give up a chop or chicken on any day of the week for a something fishy! 

So this led to my choice of recipe to post this week! I have always wanted to go to Zanzibar and in time, I will get there but until then I am living vicariously through the experiences of Lungile. One of the youngest competitors in the first season of MasterChef South Africa. Lungile now works for Drum Magazine as Junior Food Editor! 

On this note, I say... Have a peaceful weekend!

Enjoy!


Squid in Zanzibar spices
Serves 8
Recipe taken out of MasterChef Cookbook

Ingredients
14–16 baby squid
1 ml sea salt
pinch of ground pepper
30 ml olive oil
10 ml turmeric
10 ml ground coriander
10 ml ground cumin
juice of 3–4 limes
3–5 cm piece fresh ginger,
peeled and grated
40 ml sunflower oil
Method
1 Clean the squid by removing the beak and the ink sack and cartilage. Rinse under running water. Pull off the tentacles and the head. Remove the side wings and outer skin. Rinse the squid again.
2 Slice open the squid on the one side and flatten them out. Slice into long strips as wide as you desire.
3 Mix all the remaining ingredients, except the oil, in a bowl and allow the squid to marinate in this mixture for atleast 30 minutes.
4 Heat a little of the oil in a large frying pan over high heat and stir-fry the squid in batches. Add more oil as needed. Do not overcook the squid as it will become rubbery!
5 Serve with crunchy coleslaw.


Serves 10–12
Crunchy Coleslaw

1 head cabbage, shredded
4 small heads red
cabbage, shredded
4–6 carrots, peeled andgrated
125–250 ml mayonnaise
1 ml salt
1 ml pepper
juice of 1–2 limes

Method
1 Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate until cold.
2 Serve with the squid.

Thursday, 7 February 2013

Mishtery gets soppy!



The month of love has special meaning to the Mishtery. It is a time of reflection and a moment to stop and have a look back on the path behind her... This winding road lay scattered with beautiful memories and some growing pains as relationships have…Today is the 3rd year I celebrate love with my partner.
 

I Lovelee. My hart se punt!  


 



  

  



We are still love birds! :)



About Me

My photo
I’m dash of photography, a pinch of book nerd, a hint of hiphop, 1 amateur chef, a generous helping of design and a health nut! Mix well and you get a Mishtery!