Marshmallows & Merlot

1.  Life Is Beautiful  (La vita è bella), 1997 It's in Italian. It's sub titled. It's as much a favourite for a laughter as it is for the tears. It's the film that stopped me disregarding foreign films 'cos I didn't feel like 'reading'. It's the reason I wish this was a ten films list so that I could include The Kite Runner, Mao's Last Dancer  and The Diving Bell and The Butterfly. 2. My Fair Lady, 1983 Not only is this my favourite musical (I've seen it on stage several times), the film – starring the legend that is Audrey and the love-to-hate-then-love Professor Higgins played by Rex Butler – is one of those that I can watch over and over and over, much to hubby's disbelief. Between 'why can't a woman be more like a man' and the Ascot Opening Day sequence, choosing a favourite bit is a bit, I imagine, like choosing a favourite child – it shouldn't be done.  3. The Devil Wears Prada, 2006 'I love my job, I love

1. The Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl The first book I ever read that made me feel like a grown up reader. I was 9 or 10 when I my dad bought it for me from our local CNA... it started a bit of a Roald Dahl phase. I remember feeling pretty darn chuffed with myself for reading a whole book in just a weekend. 2. The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis Technically not one book 'cos there are seven, I was assigned the series as a holiday homework assignment by my Standard 4 (grade 6) English teacher, Mr Mess. Even as a youngster I picked up that CS Lewis was talking about far more important things than lions, witches and wardrobes. 3. Winnie The Pooh: The Complete Collection of Stories and Poems by AA Milne Not the Disney version, the original. The one with all the beautiful EH Shepard pencil sketches. The stories and poems are so familiar to my mom, my aunt and I, that a spontaneous recital, peppered with 'Tiddly Pomms' is always entertaining. 4. The Bible (yes, as in

On the back of having read way too many new-years-resolution-mission-skinny-disguised-as-mission-healthy web posts and blogs and glossy mag cover lines, I have decided NOT to write about the five foods I should be eating for all the organic-antioxidant-shiny-hair-strong-nails-wonder-woman-energy-muffin-top-melting properties but rather the five foods that, in my opinion, make the world I live in a happier place.  1. Wine In my world, it's a food group. 2. Nachos Avo, salsa, sour cream, mmmm, cream... atop crunchy (wheat-free) corn chips with a 'catch a wake up' whack of chilli. Viva  Mexican Fresh  viva!  3. Chicken Salad Monday to Friday, month in and month out, this is my answer to the eternal question of 'what's for lunch?' Boring, dull? Definitely not... my  Local Kitchen Co  know how to keep the taste up and the calories down. And, they throw in a little sprinkling of...  4. Bacon... mmm, bacon.  Bacon makes me happy. It just does. Blame it on

1. KZN The place I think of when I hear Adele's 'Hometown'. The place I crawled, walked, dabbled in finger painting and watched The Neverending Story' for the first time (at least all the bits except that super scary wolf scene which still freaks me out). The place I attended my first Natal vs. Transvaal rugby game and opted to support the Vaalies 'cos their rugby jerseys were 'prettier'. Natal won, I learnt my lesson and no matter what they rename the stadium, it'll always be Kingspark to me. Although I am rather relieved that I no longer have to own up to supporting The Banana Boys , The Sharks is much better. It's also the place I said 'I do' a couple of decades later. 2. Jozi The place I moved to, moved away from and came back to. The place I found out my stammer was really a full blown stutter and that being held up at gunpoint in an armed robbery and a hijacking couldn't diminish my love for the city of gold.  It's also w

1. A Pedicure Top of the list, however frivolous/shallow/superficial, with Spring right around the corner is a pedicure. Yes, a combination of personal training torture and winter boot wearing has left my feet in desperate need of some TLC. The last time these toes saw a fresh coat of paint was March. I do feel a tad sorry for the poor soul that needs to tackle these hobbit-eque feet but luckily the lovely Carol at  the Chilli Lane branch of Perfect 10  has agreed to take on this challenge. 2. An Admin Fairy Don't get me wrong, I love my job. Yes, I'm on of those annoying people who says things like "if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life." Building a business. Love it. Freelancing 9 to 5 'cos my team has everything under control at  my little agency . Love it. Getting to work the term 'awesome-balls' into a radio script. Love it. The only thing I don't love is admin that goes with running a business, which is why I would

1. Speeches, presentations, cross-hemisphere conference calls. Public speaking in general, really. I have been known to communicate with cue cards. I'm a Pictionary girl, not a Charades girl. 2. Crocs. Not the creature, the shoe. I'm terrified that one day I might find myself thinking "those actually look quite comfy." [shudder] 3. Archer's peach schnapps, Sambuca and any shooter that traditionally should have had a worm in the bottom. This, in my opinion, is a healthy fear. One that my liver is bound to thank me for. 4. Children. Having them and not having them. But this is blog post all on its own. 5. Heights. I have no issue with climbing up mountains, ladders and ski slopes. I do, however, have an issue with coming down mountains, ladders and ski slopes. I have no desire to bungee jump or sky dive and I think that people who backflip off diving boards should be doing so in straightjackets. 6. Bunion surgery. Yes, bunion surgery. While my love of h

Right, as a pretty good summary of my loves is summed up on this blog in my short n sweet bio (God, hubby, wine, nachos etc.) I'm going to pretend they're No.10 and get to the other nine... 1. Glossy fashion magazines  Love 'em. Love the looks for less, the break the budget wish lists, the not-so-natural 'get the natural look' tips, the photoshopped unattainability of the cover stars, the (you know you won't but read it anyway) 'get a bikini body in 7-days' summer staple and the fact that I do really (really, really) buy my favorites (Elle and Marie Claire) for the articles. I love that I'm a bit of a fashion victim, I love that I look at brogues in October, swear to never-ever own a pair and then live in the pair I bought from Topshop all December long. 2. Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough ice cream I love that even the mention of the name, or the spotting of the branding in a delicatessen, takes me right back to 2004/2005. To pulling double

So, some friends in the blogosphere have taken to their blogs –  Scribbles by Lelani  and  Girl from Mars  – to take part in this 10-day challenge thing that's making the rounds. Seeing as I've been neglecting this blog over the past couple of months I think a 10-day challenge is just what I need to get my blogging mojo back. So here it goes...  Day One: Ten Secrets 1. I had an imaginary friend growing up. Yes, really, her name was Susan and she was very real to me. My mom had to make her exactly what I was eating and drinking every meal time. When my sister was born, my mom asked me why Susan hadn't come to visit in a while. I answered, "Susan moved away." 2. I can't watch reality TV show auditions without crying. So You Think You Can Dance, American Idols, X-Factor, SA Idols, Masterchef. If there's someone with a dream, getting a stab at it... best there be a box of Kleenex close by. 3. I will never name anything a name that starts with a hard co