Remote Shopping Spree!

So with the boyf in Israel this past month, I received one of those phone calls last night that most girls only dream of... The all-famous, toe-curling "what do you want me to buy for you?" phone call... *Sigh*

Needless to say, I think I may have taken it to a level far beyond what he expected - as in, he'd probably thought (in typical, naive male style) that I'd respond with a shortlist of 2 or 3 key items, along with strict instructions on colour, size, dimensions, etc. No such luck! In typical me-style I responded with a barrage of mood boards, images from Pinterest and screenshots from the H&M and Zara iPhone Apps... (Sorry about that, babe! But you opened Pandora's box). Not to mention strict instructions on what to select from sale rails for the summer 2012 season (just starting here in SA) and then from the upcoming winter season. Poor guy. The best bit of advice I have for him: find a friendly shop assistant about the same size as me, show her the pics, give her my sizes and let her do the shopping for you.

Some of the pics I sent to him:

I'm sure he gets the just... :) Just three more sleeps....

Xxx

Sour, with a hint of sweet...

That describes my day today. Well, so far it's only been sour but it can hopefully only get better. Mainly because I am finishing work early, going for an Yves Rocher facial and then for a home workout (using my kittens as weights. Just kidding, they're too heavy.) before settling in for the evening.

Am really keen to get to know the Yves Rocher range better - I love the eye cream so far, but I have been very concerned that the Cure Solution Anti-Fatigue cream is just far too rich for my skin. I think turning 30 made me panic and run for the richest, creamiest anti-aging formula I could lay my hands on! So this facial, by a trained Yves Rocher specialist, should help me get a better idea as to whether the range is even suited to my skin type. Looking very forward to trying the below serum... I'll keep you posted on the feedback.

Am on Day 2 of my new Super-Healthy Living Plan, custom-designed for me, by me. A few things I need to shed before summer arrives. A couple of kilograms, a bad habit or two, you know the drill. It's the practice round for our New Year's resolutions. More on this to follow.

A little side-note: this is the view from my boyfriend's balcony - he's staying at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. Am more than just a little bit jealous... Look at the beautiful building in the far right of the horizon!

King David Hotel, Jerusalem

A little hello...

It has been all too long since I last blogged but it's just so difficult to find the time to do anything when your day (and evening) job is film production and commercial season is in full swing. And unfortunately there's a vegetative state that all-too-frequently accompanies shoots. It's like a big, exhausted anti-climax. And then the next one starts and you have to muster up the enthusiasm to do it all again.

On a lighter note (and pun very much intended) I'm finally having some success with working off the weight I put on when I stopped smoking 5 months and 2 days ago. I have had some help though, I must admit. It's called an Upcoming Beach Holiday and let me tell you it is THE weight-loss secret! Had I known what an effect t would have on my weight I would have been going on beach holidays at least 3 or 4 times a year just to keep the kilos off! ;) Agh, I am being silly but my vanity really has motivated me so massively that I'm actually quite proud of myself. I've lost a few kilograms so far and only have about 5 or 6 more to go until I'm lighter than my pre-Stopping Smoking Weight. Hooray!

Mozambique, here I come...

Yoga still going strong. Not trying to get there every single day anymore (which never really was very realistic) and not putting so much pressure on myself makes it so much more enjoyable. I do still go about 3 times a week though, but I've now started coupling it with more gym-style training and plenty of cardio.

Anyhow, just popping in to say "Hi" and hopefully this is me climbing back onto the blogging bandwagon. I've missed it.

Yoga-Gaga!

I may have mentioned it before, but I recently started practising yoga. Bikram and Power yoga that is - and I've fallen completely in love! Don't get me wrong, I've never thought myself to be the type of girl who does yoga: I'm certainly not a hippie, I'm completely carnivorous and Zen-like tranquility has never held any appeal to me.

Ok, so it's a discovery that has most fortuitously coincided with my stopping smoking and a couple of other little life shifts (Saturn's Return anyone?) but I really can't emphasise what a life-changing experience this new practice has been to me. So much so that I have decided to spend some time in India next winter (that's the South African winter which runs from May to August) and stay at a yoga ashram. I'm going to have to do some serious saving for the first time in my life, but I think I can manage it. I'm on a serious mission to make it materialise!

In all my Googling research I've stumbled across some great articles, beautiful pictures and a few very inspirational blogs. Thanks to this very amusing article on the Nat Geo Traveller website, I've got my heart set on the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala.

Meditation on the banks of the Neyyar Dam. The wildlife sanctuary opposite means that the sounds of lions waking greets you with the sunrise.

I have to wonder if my own sense of beauty and taste may change after a month in India...

I also stumbled across this beautiful blog, Gipsy Girl's Guide, and the blogger reflects on her time spent at the same ashram.

Now I fear that you'll all be left with the impression of me as a yoga mat-toting, incense-burning, barefoot, health fanatic... And although I'd like to be able to tell you that you couldn't be further from the truth, I can't. Whereas I certainly don't fit perfectly into that description, I guess I can describe myself as a down-to-earth princess. My boyfriend would completely disagree. With the down-to-earth part. But hey...

Anyhow, seeing as I have now digressed completely from my point, let me tell you about a spa in Thailand that a producer that I work with highly recommends. Now when I say spa, one immediately sees $$$ (or in our case here in S.A - RRR) but this little gem is unbelievably inexpensive! I'm hoping that if I budget correctly, save enough money and stop shopping for stuff I really don't need then perhaps I can manage a stopover seeing as I will be in South-East Asia anyway...

Wow, my little heart is pumping custard just at the thought!! Have a look and a read about the detoxification process, spa treatments and other offerings here - Samui Spa Resorts.

Ok, well, that's it from me today... Will be dreaming and planning and plotting and not shopping!!! See you tomorrow...

Xxxx
The Girl Belle