Birthday Dress

It’s dangerous living so close to a great shopping mall, but what’s even more dangerous, is the cute little boutique called Wardrobe across the street.  I had my eye set on a certain dress with blue and red flowers since my first visit in the store.  When I tried it on, it was like it was sewn to fit me.  I had to have it!

Birthday Party

There’s just something magical about the local gardens that reminds me a little bit of Alice in Wonderland.  Naturally, I had to think of a great reason to have a picnic there, and my birthday turned out to be the best one.
With our floral dresses on, we headed down the street with a large thermos of homemade black iced tea.  I made two kinds of skewers: the first were mozzarella, cherry tomato, and basil with oil and balsamic vinegar.   The other, a mixed fruit with banana, nectarine, and mango.  Kate made cucumber sandwiches and Angharad baked vanilla cupcakes.
  
It was so nice to relax and enjoy the park (along with some very curious wildlife!

Clouds of Cape Town

There are clouds that light up at sunrise and sunset.  There are clouds that hover over the city and spill over the mountain.  There are clouds that hide lighthouses, and clouds that disguise deadly drops.  And then, there are shy clouds, hiding behind mountains, waiting to rise again.

You know your roommate is from the UK when…

she translates your shopping list! :)

If you’re confused about the whole English/Scottish/Irish/Welsh thing like I am, check out this video ‘The United Kingdom Explained’ (thanks for the link, Arden!)

Hope you had a great Valentine’s Day, and I’m looking forward to sharing some of my recent adventures around Cape Town later this week!  xo

Arderne Gardens

On my first trip into town, I asked my roommates what Arderne Gardens were, because there were cars parked up and down the street at the entrance for a wedding party.  None of them had actually ventured inside, and the thought of living near a park and not exploring it baffled me!  So, the next weekend, I persuaded them to take a detour while on our walk to town into the gardens.

I call it an Alice in Wonderland garden, because there are surprises around every corner.  The path first winds around a huge tree (a Moreton Bay Fig , the biggest tree in the Western Cape and one of the biggest trees in South Africa).  I feel like I’ve shrunk when I stand next to its giant roots.  Further up the path, the palm trees make you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation.  There are bushes of (what look like) hydrangea everywhere the eye can see.  Apparently six of the trees in the Arderne Gardens are officially recognized as “Champion Trees” meaning, they’re really old, and therefore, awesome.  This week, I joined the Friends of the Arderne Gardens.  I’m excited to work with them, not only in the garden, but to also be able to apply some of my knowledge and experience in the tourism and marketing fields anywhere they might need it.  It feels great to be working towards goal number 15 – invest in my local community – by helping them out.