Haven’t been to Beluga in ages but had such a great night there the other night. Glad to see their half-price sushi special still going strong!
Harry talks to Cosmo about his ideal woman. “Life is not one long porno movie” is probably the best quote out of this. Enjoy.
LA and PG (below left) are gonna be on it, filmed on their Zanzibar holiday. Pictured here with LA’s godchild, Cublietti. Should be good – as we know LA is great on camera :) check out this old videoblog (memories…. light the corners of my mind)
After a surprise birthday dinner at Aubergine on Friday, JW & KW had their party at AndUnion on Monday night. Happiness for all who like Weiss beer and the famous andunion prego roll (ie me). Went on a photo frenzy with hipstamatic but (here’s a learning) not all the pics came out. Despite that we had a great time. As for Aubergine… give it a try! I recommend the risotto starter and the osso bucco.
Lexi and Schuyler
Brett, James, Doc & Dev
Birthday princess and birthday king at Aubergine – just doing a little role swapping
Think the crown’s a good look on me
Kate & Schuy
First PD moved to London. Now LA is moving to Japan on Sunday. What is a CTG to do but get dressed in black, don some shades (LA wears Prada, CTG wears Bulgari, both Sunglass Hut) and take some morose pictures and then apply an Italiano filter to them. We’re in mourning here. Not sure what we’re going to do now that we’re all apart! (Probs lots of ’skype sessions’ via our iPhones.)
Sad times here at CTG HQ. Miss you PD. Miss you LA.
Had such a great birthday brunch. We went to Tasha’s in Constantia – Schuy managed to get us a reservation even though they don’t take reservations (cos he is amazing). Needless to say it was awesome. If you have not been there, well fear not – they have a huge, delicious menu that you can probably spend a couple of years working your way through. Had my Dr PawPaw fix and nommed our way through the beautiful CTG macaron cake Daniela’s made for me.
James, CTG & Renee – bearer of beautiful white ball vase
Bash & LA
Marc & Harry – Harry brought the bubbly, of course, being CTG’s official wine guy
Tatum and Emma – bearing delicious Cape Malay Recipe Book and Calvin Klein perfume (thanks MEJ!)
Miss Fran & Sir Marc – bearers of gorgeous scarf and snuggle socks
birthday roses from Bash & LA
Kate & Schuy – bearers of beautiful silver earrings – thank you guys!
Had such a good brunch. They’re the way to go for birthdays. You can be outside in the sunshine AND drink champagne. Thank you all for coming. More on the birthday weekend in a bit…
I was fortunate enough to get an interview with Paige Nick, SA’s preeminent chick lit writer and author of A Million Miles From Normal and her latest book, This Way Up (both Penguin). She also writes a blog called A Million Miles from Normal. 2 of you could also win a copy of each book – see below.
Firstly, I just want to say I thoroughly enjoyed A Million Miles from Normal. It made me laugh a lot. And I’m hearing a lot of good things about your new book, This Way Up. How would you say it’s different from your last novel?
Hopefully this one will make you laugh too, but I think it’s different in a lot of ways. A Million Miles from Normal was a very linear story about one girl, Rachel Marcus, and her disaster of a life. Whilst This Way Up has more characters and a couple of storylines running alongside each other at the same time.
Which was harder to write? Presumably it gets easier the second time around?
I don’t know that it necessarily gets easier. But it definitely gets differenter. I had a lot more time to write and craft A Million Miles from Normal because I didn’t have a publisher when I wrote it, so nobody was waiting for it. I also think there’s some kind of ignorant bliss when you’re writing your first book, because you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing, so there are no rules, or at least none that you know of. When I compare the two, the editing process on This Way Up was way trickier and more time consuming, because it’s a more complicated book. I don’t want to jinx anything, but I have a funny feeling that book number three is actually going to be the hardest.
Who’s your favourite character in This Way Up, and why?
I think Poppy and Buck are my favourite characters (sorry, I know that’s cheating – you only asked for one, but they kind of come as a pair.)They spend the entire book travelling the world, so they give me itchy feet. They make me want to pack up and hitchhike across America, or train across Europe or something.
Have you always wanted to write?
Yes, absolutely. Being an advertising copywriter has always been a passion of mine and has helped pay the rent over the years. I also always wanted to write a book, but for the longest time I really didn’t believe I could. I just felt like I didn’t know where to start.
Who are the writers who’ve inspired you?
All writers inspire me. And more than that, they completely fascinate me. I’m really interested in the different processes that writers have. At the moment I have a huge author crush on Jim Crace – author of astonishing books like Being Dead, and The Gift of Stones.
I happen to know you’re a very versatile writer who is very well read, so i reckon you could write just about any genre. What do you enjoy about writing chick lit?
Now this is an interesting question. I think there are a couple of reasons I write what I write. The first is that it’s not particularly serious or heavy and that attracts me. I love books that take me away and make me laugh.
And as much as it’s a cliché, I also believe that you have to write what you know. I guess there are so many hours involved in writing and editing a book, that you’d better make sure you write about something that interests you.
Before A Million Miles from Normal I spent about six years trying unsuccessfully to write a very serious book, but I couldn’t get past the third chapter. I think it just wasn’t what I was meant to write. As soon as I changed my genre things seemed to fall into place much more naturally.
Do you have any advice for other writers looking to write books in this genre?
I think my advice is the same for writers wanting to write in any genre. Just write. I know it seems incredibly boring, but it’s the only thing that works.
Do you think This Way Up would make a good movie? Any plans to sell the script?
I haven’t thought so much about This Way Up as a movie. I guess I’ve been too busy trying to get it polished as a book over the last year. But lots of people have told me that they thought A Million Miles from Normal, my first book, might make a good ‘chick-flick’.
Do you have any writing rituals? I have to have a Vida Latte by my side and my iPod in its dock on ‘CTG’s writing playlist’ when I write. What do you have to have to get going?
I need silence to really get into a good writing zone. And a cup of tea. And it hasn’t been scientifically proven yet, but chocolate covered peanuts (or as we call them, naughty peanuts) always seem to help the words flow.
All writers procrastinate. How do you drag your heels before getting on with putting the story down?
I do the standard ‘Desk clean, facebook check, twitter stalk’ routine, then I play a couple of games of backgammon online before guilt really sets in and I force myself to get to work.
You must get some wild fan mail. What’s the weirdest thing someone’s ever sent you or asked you?
I write a weekly column in The Sunday Times which can sometimes be a bit risqué (depending on your definition of risqué, of course), and that gets an awful lot of mail, not all from fans. My favourite mail came from ‘Frans’, who was very disappointed in my choice of sex as a subject matter, and suggested I write about something ‘a little more uplifting, like the Christian Religion’. So then I wrote about this lady in America who gives Pole Dancing for Jesus lessons, but apparently that wasn’t what Frans had in mind either. I guess you can’t please all the people all the time.
Any plans for a new book? Rough plot?
I’ve been playing around with an idea in my head for the last six months or so. It’s a bit like when you’re a kid and you have a loose tooth, and you fiddle with it with your tongue constantly until it just falls out. I’m hoping this idea will fall out soon.
Where can we buy your books?
Both A Million Miles from Normal (re-launched in paperback) and This Way Up are available at all good bookstores. Or online through all the usual suspects, Kalahari.net, pulp books, loot.co.za etc.
Last question… you live in Cape Town. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I seriously heart Cape Town big time. My sister and her husband own Newport Market & Deli in Mouille Point, so I may be biased, but they do make the very best Cajun Chicken Burger in the world. And much to my bank manager’s disgust I also spend far too much time and money at The Book Lounge in Roeland Street, and anywhere that sells shoes. And I’m a big fan of all the markets that pop up in and around Cape Town.
Guys I had the pleasure of chatting to the fabulous Lindiwe Suttle, who’s single ‘Man Made Moon’ is on my iPod between Lady Gaga’s Judas and Willow Smith’s 21st Century Girl. Lindiwe is the face of Woolworth’s latest Beauty campaign, part of the Woolworths Winter “Come Together” campaign. Lindiwe is an amazing lady. She’s worked as a stylist to Beyonce and Ciara, and as a buyer for brands such as DKNY and Kenneth Cole. You can totally see this coming through in the fashion film she made for her first single Man Made Moon (click here to watch it – its awesome) – it’s being released next month so listen out for it on air. Massive respect to this entrepreneurial diva, who clearly works extremely hard at creating her destiny.
1) Hey Lindiwe, CTG here. You look gorgeous and elegant in the new Woolies beauty campaign. Are you happy with the way it turned out?
I am so pleased. This is my first beauty campaign and it is such an honour to be associated with such an iconic brand like Woolworths. I feel the campaign is a celebration of the various races we have in SA.
2)The ‘Come Together’ theme for Winter is friendly and fun and stylish. I love it and the song too. Are you a Beatles fan? What’s your favourite song of theirs?
All artists have to love the Beatles. If you read about their work ethic when they started out, you can only respect how hard they worked to achieve their larger than life appeal and status. Their melodies are genius and my favourite song has to be ‘Hey Jude’.
3)Your video for ‘Man Made Moon’ featured loads of local fashion and jewellery designers and some seriously fierce makeup looks. Am I right in saying that fashion and beauty seem to be as much a creative outlet for you as music?
Just to confirm, this was a ‘fashion film’, rather than a music video. It was released as part of my single Man Made Moon, the fashion film showcases the talented local designers I used and some behind-the-scenes footage of the stills photo shoot I did.
A still from Man Made Moon - so deliciously fashion forward - I love it!
4)I am a huge fan of both the Sisley and Benefit brands at Woolworths. What’s your pick of the Woolworths beauty spread? Any products you can’t live without?
I love the Woolworths Private Label range. Their long lasting lipsticks and nail polish colors are my favourite.
5) What’s your beauty quick-fix after a big night out or a long day on set / in studio?
My mom always knows best and always said, even after a big night on the town, always wash your face before you go to bed, never fall asleep with makeup on and also use extra moisturizer to allow your skin breathe and not dehydrate.
6) I believe beauty is an inherent part of being a woman. What, in your opinion, makes a woman beautiful?
I know you hear it all the time but it’s all about inner beauty, a genuine smile also goes a long way. While I was shooting the Woolworths campaign, I remained positive thoughout the day and I think this positive spirit comes out in my eyes especially in the campaign shot.
7) Which artists inspire you? Musically and in terms of beauty and fashion, and why?
Lyrically, Bjork, Tori Amos, Sia and Lady Gaga are my favourite female songwriters. Musically, I love Radiohead, I respect the band and I think they understand the importance of sound and how to take their fans to a different world.
Thank you Lindiwe. You look stunning love! Listen out for Man Made Moon – it’s gonna be everywhere soon – and look out for Lindiwe in Woolworths stores across the country. So lovely!
Click here to visit Woolworths online.
If you’ve ever been to the Cape Quarter you have probably come across Daniela’s, a delightful little confectioner next door to Dillon&Jada, where I like to get my Vivienne Westwood Melissa shoes. This weekend I had the privilege of tasting the CTG-inspired macaroon (blogged about here), hand-delivered by Daniela’s Durban partner Lexi, owner of Durban Central blog.
The CTG-inspired macaroon is Champagne-infused vanilla, and it is like nothing on earth. It has all that creamy deliciousness of vanilla, with a tart, almost creme-brulee-cheesecake type finish. And truly, it has to be the most delicious macaron flavour I have ever tasted. Its appearance is that of a gold-dusted vanilla macaroon (see below).
Daniela’s in the Cape Quarter have a limited stock of the CTG macaroon, so you should go and taste one while you can. Or ten. It’s not hard to get carried away!
Pictured is a very thrilled CTG with her box of golden macarons. Can I also just take a moment here to appreciate Daniela’s packaging?! Presentation is everything, and Daniela’s treats are as well turned out as those from world famous Laduree in Paris. Simply beautiful!
Click here to see more of Daniela’s delicious treats.
Click here to follow @DecadentDani (owner of Daniella’s) on twitter.
Click here to follow Lexi (DurbanCentral) on twitter.
Click here to follow CTG on twitter.
You should get yourself a copy of the May Cosmopolitan mag - you’ll see me perched in a bauble, clutching my iPhone (and pointing to a fellow TQ’s shoes no doubt) in the Cosmo Queens of Twitter feature. We had such a lot of fun on the shoot, a big thank you to the team who made it so. LOVE those leopard print heels – they’re Zoom if you’re wondering. Jeans are Levi’s Curve ID. Sparkle top is from Slate. Makeup done by SLKaye.
Click here and here to see my behind the scenes pics from the shoot.
Click here to follow Cosmo on titter.
Click here to follow me on twitter.
Click here to see more Cosmo Twitter Queens.
