LINDT CHOCOLATE BOUTIQUE HITS GATEWAY

Durbanites have been waiting for this for a long time, well I know I have....and last week Wednesday it finally happened, a LINDT Chocolate Boutique opened in the Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Umhlanga, which just happens to be 2 minutes from my house 
(too close for comfort I know)

LINDT Chocolate Boutique Gateway

How could this be happening? as the usual sequence of launches of international brands into the South African market goes something like this...launch first in Johannesburg, then Cape Town and Durban if we are lucky, but after speaking to Catherine - the National Retail Manager of LINDT, she explained that following their recent and hugely successful launch of their first South African chocolate boutique in Johannesburg an opportunity arose sooner than planned to roll out those chocolate balls, bunnies and teddies right here on my doorstep and thank goodness they have,
so Cape Town "eat your chocolate heart out".

Swiss Master Chocolatier

An invite to the VIP opening was longed for by everyone and I was so lucky enough to receive a golden ticket
 (not literally but as good as)

 I have eaten,tweeted and instagrammed about LINDT for years and my first experience of LINDT chocolate was way back in the 70's in the way of a box that contained 2 layers of solid LINDT Chocolate Bears. I can recall how smooth and creamy the chocolate tasted and it was streaks ahead of the usual Cadburys and other brands available back then in the UK...

The event was wonderful, as is the boutique, which happens to have the largest Pick n Mix selection of Lindor Balls in Africa .
Just to tempt you.. Almond,Coconut,Caramel,Hazelnut,Cappuccino,Strawberry are just a few of  flavours begging to be eaten and that creamy chocolaty taste savoured...

Is your mouth watering yet, well it soon will be when you visit the boutique, be sure to pop in and feast your eyes on all the imported Swiss chocolate delights.
You will also find several specials running in-store and carry on reading to the bottom of my post to find out how you could win a trip for 2 to Switzerland the home of LINDT.

LINDOR Pick n Mix

Also Durban consumers are in for an added treat this festive season, with LINDT offering one lucky customer to the new Chocolate Boutique the chance to win a trip for two to Switzerland. Anyone who spends R100 or more in the new store between 10 and 31 December will be entered into the lucky draw, and stand in line to win this incredible prize.

The winner will be chosen on Friday 8 January and will be announced on the Lindt South Africa Facebook page as well as in store.

 For more details, please visit 

www.facebook.com/LindtChocolateSA.

GLAMPALM MAGIC CURLING WAND REVIEW {PART 1}

Straight hair or curly hair? 

Typical answer from most of us would be the opposite to what you naturally have,as those that have the curls and the waves often want the sleek straight hair and vice versa, which is and always has been the case with me until very recently.

Warning this blog contains images of a curly nature

Moi as a toddler with curls

My corkscrew curls as a young child were positively awful....however if I saw a child with this mop of frizz today, I would think it was cute, but cute on me it ain't! 

As I got older and the hair got longer it became less curly and more wavey, but still frizzy.

Fast forward quite a few years and I was then able to straighten my hair with a hair dryer and apply products to control the frizz...Happy Days! 

Thankfully pour Moi and millions of others, the GHD straightening iron came into our lives and all things hair got even better, as everyday I had that sleeker, straighter look that I had always longed for.

So why would I ever want to review a curling wand you maybe wondering! 

Early this year I was approached by Glampalm to trial the Glampalm Magic Iron and my initial thought was to turn the offer down, as I was and had been perfectly happy with my faithful GHD for 8 years or more,so why would I want to think of changing?

After much research I agreed and enter my new Glampalm and the rest is history.

Glam Palm Iron Review

Several weeks ago I was approached again by the "beautiful hair" people at Glampalm 

(I do imagine that they all have beautifully styled hair) 

to see if I would like to review their Magic Curling Wand and as I read the e.mail a feeling if dread came over me...why would I ever want curls again?

On the verge of declining I then thought about it and my hair is NOW straight (thanks to the Glampalm iron), smooth (thanks to Kerastase) and all one length (thanks to Joyce my hairdresser of 20+years) why would I think about changing a good "hair" thing, as it's taken me until my 50's to finally get it right!

Again I did a little research and thinking and if the Glampalm Magic Curling Wand could put some curl back into my hair then it would be worth telling you about. 

Not knowing anything about the dreaded curl other than my childhood horror experiences, you can imagine I knew nothing about curling wands, let alone how to use one!

When it arrived all beautifully packaged that feeling of dread made way for a feeling if panic. 

The glove was the culprit.... What had I done...accepting the offer to review a curling wand?

To Be Continued.....

Glampalm  Magic Curling Wand

JOSEPH RIBKOFF - DURBAN GATEWAY LAUNCH

Until last week, if you had asked me to name a few of Canada's famous exports I would most likely, off the top of my head, have said Maple Syrup, Celine Dion and Micheal Bubblé, but I'm sorry to say that the name Joseph Ribkoff would not have been one of them. 

Even though I did know it was a fashion range, as I had seen this global brand in the UK, 

I was totally unaware of its roots. 

A bunch of us were enlightened this past Friday evening at the Durban launch of the Joseph Ribkoff 2016 Spring/Summer Collection at Stuttafords Gateway.

Joseph Ribkoff 
creates evening, party, elegant and formal dresses and stylish separates and following its hugely successful launch into the South African market at Stuttafords Sandton in August, we now have this Canadian designed and manufactured collection available exclusively at Stuttafords store in Gateway, which is great news.

Joseph Ribkoff

Joseph Ribkoff
is by no means the "new kid on the block", as he started from humble beginnings back in 1957 and now 60 years later his clothes are adorning women of all sizes in more than 64 markets around the world.

I was so impressed that the collection sizing starts at size 6 and goes up to size 22, many of the jackets and trousers are reversible and the quality of the fabrics and attention to detail on the garments is impressive. I went back to try on several of the items during the week and to inspect the stitching and quality of the fabrics more closely. Joseph Ribkoff really understands a women's body shape especially if you don't fall into the small size category. The clean cut lines of the range enhance all shapes and don't hug the body in all the wrong places. Several of his pieces can easily find a place in my wardrobe ,which tends to be more classic-stylish and timeless.

I was pleasantly surprised with the price points and even though it's higher end, I honestly expected the prices to be more in Rands. 

(I did some research online and our prices here are on a par with the £ & $ prices)

I have earmarked a couple of gems to add to my wardrobe.

P.S.
Just to let you know that next time if I am asked the same question.... 

the name Joseph Ribkoff will be included in my list of famous Canadian exports....

P.P.S

Thank you to Joseph Ribkoff, Stuttafords and J.C Le Roux for a lovely evening.

Classic - wear anywhere and anytime Black & White and some bolds thrown in for good measure

                                               

My favourite was this LBD R4,995

Detail of sequins on the LBD

Reversible trousers 

Perfect Jacket  R3,495 to wear with leggings and ankle boots 

The Gold and Black stripped cropped jacket below being shown to me

How stunning is this?

Canapes and J.C Le Roux bubbles were served

www.josephribkoff.com