this is what’s been happening offline lately! if you follow me on twitter and instagram you’ll probably be up to speed.
i moved out of my old home…
…into a wonderful new home!
luckily for me there is a plant shop right across the road from said new home
i’ve been making new friends. actually, not with the fearsome little guy on the left – even though i desperately wanted to. but i did make friends with a neighbourhood cat, who i might lure inside someday and never let go.
i received some amazing things in the post!
left: clutch by Lee Coren. right: zebra print cardigan from Cardigan NY
left: amaaaaazing ring from Julie Cohn. right: incredibly handy foldable laptop stand from Kraftisan.
even though i complain about the heat, summer in Cape Town is damn impressive.
been enjoying rooftop movies (left) and always appreciating old school cars (and cottages):
summer = tons and tons of granadillas:
i started the Whole30…
…and lasted just over a week (pathetic)
i visited Jess & Luke at their pop-up restaurant at Pier Rabe in Stellenbosch. that’s a fig and custard danish with lavender and honeycomb ice-cream. there was actual honeycomb inside.
Pier Rabe is a very dangerous place.
they do wonderful displays to entice you to part with your cash.
always appreciating the glory that is the pooches.
and, the best for last. i received the most beautiful thing i have ever owned from the greatest man i’ve ever known.
here’s the story behind the ring.
last year Anton approached Karin from Dear Rae to design (the world’s most beautiful) engagement ring. they set out to find a rose cut diamond, an antique cut that has less facets than a modern brilliant cut diamond. after weeks and weeks of searching they were still coming up empty handed. rose cut diamonds are rare to find because diamond merchants hunt them down and re-cut them into brilliant diamonds so that they’re worth more on the diamond market.
so when we got engaged Anton proposed to me with a beaded ring his grandmother, who used to be a jeweller, made from Xhosa beads that they bought from the ladies on the beach in the Transkei (a common sight if you’ve ever been to that part of the country). he told me that my real ring was coming, but i was so deliriously happy that i didn’t care – and just knew that he probably had some amazing plan up his sleeve.
meanwhile back in Cape Town, Karin was scouring through the Long Street Antique Arcade when she came upon an antique ring that had an old mine cut diamond in it. a predecessor to the modern brilliant cut diamonds, these were usually shaped and cut by hand making the facets quite large and the shape uniquely asymmetrical.
it is set in a matte gold band, and Anton gave it to me on Valentines day by the sea where we had our first ever date. aaw, shucks. it’s the most amazing thing i have ever worn and will ever call my own. the story behind it makes the ring a thousand times more precious than it already is, something i hope to pass on to some lucky grandkid someday.
33 Comments
Lovely snaps! I’ve been doing Whole30 on and off during my pregnancy, its difficult! The carbs come calling :)
Wow – what a wonderfully positive update! And a romantic story to end it with. So nice. Thanks for sharing!
J
p.s. The beach…looks amazing! (Still dealing with snow where I live!)
Beautiful story and beautiful ring!!
Lovely place!
http://www.justreptilia.com
xx
i never get tired of hearing this story. Can’t wait to see that beauty in real life, at the wedding! *happy dance of excitement and joy* (in the middle of the OFFICE).
ooh how lovely! The ring looks beautiful. Congrats on your engagement (again)!
hah, i loved this post. especially the part about the diet :) you made good use of instagram to catch the little moments…isn’t that what instagram is for?
I love this post, and not just because my clutch is in it ;)
Congrats on all the new beginnings, so exciting!
<3
Congratulations!! Lovely! I enjoy very much your blog and taste. Now I wish you the best of lucks with your man. A big hug from Canary Islands, Spain.
The ring really is pretty much the greatest thing to ever grace a finger. I imagine that your other non-ring-fingers are jealous.
It is so nice to see pictures of your surrounding!! Cape Town seems to be such a special place, with all kind of landscapes.. beautiful!! I wish it was summer here in Sweden!
Congratulations, the ring is beautiful!!
That ring is bloody effing gorgeous! Good going both with the ring and the man ;)
Gorgeous photos, as always. And congrats, again!
Congratulations!What a beautiful ring! I don’t like modern diamonds either so my boy just bought me a Victorian ring for our 10 year anniversary http://instagram.com/p/VPa6AlrbBe/ . Your new home looks so beautiful, I’d love to visit Cape Town someday. x
Oh, how instagram just always captures our little things in life to its best :)…
big congrats ! and your engagement ring is so precious ! ; )
love the updates of your life. your ring is impossibly beautiful!
Congratulations, Very interesting and lovely pics.
This is such a gorgeous post. Congratulations on the move, the lovely ring and making new friends!
Beautiful ring!!! x
Congratulations! Ring is so beautiful and delicate.
Your new home looks great too.
http://sabaaphotography.blogspot.com/
Loved this post! So fresh and puts a smile on my face on this dull London stray weather day! Love your ring, beautiful! And all the better with a heartfelt story! What a catch u got!!
lovely pics!
Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
I hope it’s not an irritating too-late-now comment, but jewels by Erica grace (webstore, google) specialise in antique diamonds and keep quite a few rose cuts in stock… Maybe some earrings to wear at the wedding? ;)
LOVE THE WARM SHADES OF THESE PICTURES…
Your lately is lovely… That ring, wow! Married life is pretty amazing. My honey and I will be celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary May 26th.
Love all the posts and congratulations again! The ring is so gorgeous and I love to read about its story :)
Love the shot of the ferocious dog at no. 89.
Superb photos! And what a gorgeous ring ;)
That is the most beautiful engagement ring I have ever seen! Congratulations :)
c o n g r a t s ! your happiness is just spilling all over the blog :D can’t wait to see how you plan for the big day!
Congratulations! So funny, I just heard of the Whole 30 today for the first time, and here it is referenced again. I’m not sure I could last a week. Beautiful ring, and I have to say as a granddaughter who currently wears her grandmother’s ring as my own engagement/wedding ring, I am sure it will be much appreciated someday :)
Gorgeous, gorgeous! Congrats again. And thanks for the tip on Pierre Rabe. Will have to make a pilgrimage to Stellies. x
The ring is breathtakingly beautiful! Although I loved my engagement ring (been married 3 years now, haven’t worn it in a while), this is *the* most perfect ring. Ever. You are one lucky lady. All the best to you!