#ONEPERFECTWEEK X TOTALSPORTS

This is one for my fit ladies! I have been so excited about this giveaway for weeks and finally we get to do this!

So many of my readers joined me in my 50 days of exercise a while back and it meant the world to me to have the support. Summer is here now and it is also party/wedding/year-end season. And cocktails season. And ice cream season. And also the season that new places open in Cape Town that you absolutely MUST try. So keeping things tight for the beach are not always easy. But life is about balance and if you can keep your cheat meals for the weekend you'll be just fine.

On that note, this giveaway. It is perfect to motivate you to get to the gym or onto the promenade because you'll want to show off this gorgeous gear. Totalsports have given me R2500 worth of their amazing range to share with one lucky reader. If you haven't seen their online store yet, go and have a look. Their in-house brand, called TS, is affordable without skimping on quality and great design. Since they launched I've bought a few of the tights because i love the pretty patterns, quality and also that they used their brains when designing pockets and zips, and realised that my iPhone is not the size of a matchbox (I'm looking at you every other brand out there!). See there TS range online HERE. 

Because this is a giveaway designed to help get you into shape, we're not doing a little tweet-and-go number here. We're going to work. Together. For a week.

The challenge is called #oneperfectweek which you may have seen on Instagram. The idea is to commit to 6 days of clean eating - no alcohol, no sugar, no nasties. Just good, clean, fresh food. Ideally no caffeine either but I'll stick to that part loosely and do decaf as much as I can - just not that first cup. Never the first cup.  Oh, and don't forget to drink loads of water. The Kayla's Army folks do all 7 days of clean eating, and you are more than welcome to - but I am a realist. 6 days of being on your best behaviour is a damn perfect week to me. Hello? Wine Sundays!
Then you need to commit to 6 days of training too. I am going to break it down as follows: 2 days with my rather fabulous personal trainer Torie Alexandra (follow her blog for inspiration on food and being hot in general), then I am going to get back into running (le sigh. arg. oh dear) and do that 3 days this week. I use the PUMATrac app for this - it really helps with logging km's and seeing how I'm improving. And they make you sign a commitment to yourself via the app and that helps too. No one wants to lie to Usain Bolt.
Then I'll be doing a SWEAT class on Saturday to round out the week.

What you need to do to win is join me. Follow me and Totalsports on Instagram or Twitter, and on either social platform commit to #oneperfectweek. Then between now and Sunday, tag me in a picture of you exercising, or a shot of your healthy meal and please use the hashtag #TotalsportsOnline. For every day you tag me, you get an extra entry - with a maximum of 6 entries obviously. Winner will be drawn on Monday next week.

So here's a breakdown of the prize: 3 pairs of tights in the amazing prints in the picture below - 2 are long length one one pair is capri length. 2 vests, one burnout style and the other with mesh detail (they are soooo pretty), 1 long sleeve top with open back. Sexy for a little yoga or just looking hot at gym in general. Then we've got some gym gloves and a jump rope for you Kayla BBG girls.
So it is the perfect little starter kit for looking damn fine while getting damn fine.

Get cracking ladies, today we begin!

Disclaimer: Open to SA residents only. We will obviously endeavour to send the exact items featured, however items might sell out so if that is the case we will send the winner an item (of clothing) of the same value if the one featured has been sold out. 

Superga X Poppy

Poppy Ntshongwana's new range for Superga has finally launched and it is amaaaaazing. I love it when our local girls get scooped up by international brands for collaborations. It makes me giddy with happiness actually. She is such a rockstar - fashion forward, a media sensation and a fantastic role model. Who doesn't want to be like Poppy when they grow up? I bloody do. I know I'm gushing but this lady is probably my favourite SA celeb.

So lets take a peak at the range. Its glam. Its edgy. Its gorgeous. It'll be ready for you to shop at the end of October at Superga Concept Stores nationwide, or on Superbalist.com.
I'm eyeing the light pink satin numbers. Whats your favourite?

Beauty Blitz

This week I have sort of a turquoise themed Beauty Blitz for you. I've had all of these products for about 2 months now so I've really given them a good trial and I am so excited to share them with you. Again, some products are new to market and others are new to me or have been recommended by one of the girls. So I hope you find something useful out of these reviews!

Phillip Kingsley Waterproof Hairspray: R515

This stuff was put to the test in Bali and Singapore recently. I would never have previously been tempted to spend this amount on hairspray, and for the sake of disclosure I must mention that this was a PR drop - but I am definitely repurchasing. I wore my hair in a top knot most of our trip because of humidity - but my hair is just too short to stay up. This stuff kept my bun in place and my stray shorter hairs styled up just fine. All damn day. It was never sticky and it never failed to wash out nicely at the end of each day. I'll have a good rant in a travel post about the weather in Singapore but for now all I'll say is that anything that worked in Singapore, will work anywhere, and is worth every penny!

Coola UV Makeup Setting Spray

Why has no one thought of this before? Or why didn't I? I suffer from pigmentation quite badly so I am holy about wearing sunscreen. Any product that has a decent SPF rating get tossed into my shopping cart without a second thought. I use a makeup setting spray every single day, so one that doubles up as extra protection from the sun is a must-have in my books. I really made this baby work when I spent the day cycling in the boiling NYC sun two months ago - and my makeup stayed put all day, and I didn't even get the slightest colour on my face. Normally I'll get a little red on the snorkel if I don't reapply sunblock on a long day in the sun. So I am impressed. Very impressed. It isn't available here in SA, so beg a friend who is anywhere near a Sephora to bring some home for you.

Kate Spade Walk on Air fragrance: $75 - $95

This was an impulse purchase after being swept up by all the pretty things in their flagship store on Madison Avenue. I went in to buy a handbag and came out with this as well. I normally love sweeter scents like Narcisco/Tom Ford Black Orchid - but this fun and fresh scent felt just like a spring day near the seaside and I just had to have it. Its clean, light and feminine with notes of lily of the valley, magnolia, linden blossom and jasmine.
I promised myself I'd save it for spring/summer but I've probably worn it at least twice a week since I bought it because I love the freshness.

The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Essence Lotion: R195

This, along with the revitalising cream, was sent over a few weeks ago. I've been testing both - however this one has been easier to add to my routine as I am pretty set in my ways with my moisturiser. The oil is light enough to add before my moisturiser even for daytime. Just a drop warmed between my hands and patted on to my skin after cleansing and toning is more than enough. I am enjoying it especially for this transitional weather. Cape Town takes until December to decide if its summer or not, so this is handy for hydration and keeping skin plump all day long.

 Cafe de Bain - about R60? I wish I'd bought more!

I regularly panic and go on bubble bath binges. Instead of stocking up routinely, I buy a ton of bubble bath products and then use them all, and ultimately go for almost a month without my beloved bubble baths. Then I get to a mall and buy one form almost every store I go in to. This was a sweet surprise find at Pick 'n Pay of all places and I only picked it up because I grabbed the matching bubble bath first. After smelling it I was hooked and grabbed the body wash too. I only wish I'd stocked up because I've been back since and haven't found these again! If you see these anywhere in Cape Town, please let me know. The smell takes me right back to Laduree in Paris.

Your H&M shopping list

H&M launches this weekend on the 17th of October. The store is staying open until midnight on Saturday and Sunday to allow you to shop up a storm.

They also have their products listed online - you can't shop online just yet, but it is still great to peruse all the clothes and homeware and make a little wishlist. I am so happy that the price point is on par with everywhere else I've been - and in the last year I've racked up a few H&M hauls in London, Chicago and Singapore. So I am thrilled we aren't being penalised with import duties and ripped off like some other foreign retailers have done.

I got to attend the media event last night where we were allowed to do some shopping. I picked up basics mostly and I plan to go back when the Balmain for H&M collection launches in November. They have also recently launched a beauty line which is getting great reviews abroad, so I'll be stalking that situation here.

I thought I'd put together a little post to give you some shopping ideas and to get an idea of the price point. Here are some of my favourites from the stock in store at the moment.

R749

R499

R349

R499

R899

R499

R399

R349

R229

R749

R399

R399

Makeup how-to video with Wink South Africa

If you follow me on either Twitter or Instagram, you'll know I've been working with a brand new girly liquor called Wink. Its an utterly indulgent custard flavoured liquor that goes down well as a cheeky shooter, as well as it does over ice or ice cream for a delicious sundowner or dessert. It officially launches in-store very soon so you can finally get a bottle for your next girls night.

The team behind the brand asked a few bloggers and personalities to get involved in a makeup "how-to" video, with makeup genius Nicole Raab. The video was shot last month at StyleBar HQ (how very chic indeed).

Each of us were located a section of the video, and my fifteen minutes of fame was all about the "bold lip". I was completely out of my comfort zone on so many levels - being in front of the camera, ON VIDEO! I also almost never venture away from nude and pink lipstick - so this was an exercise in burning some boundaries. I learned a thing or two and I'll definitely be wearing some more vampy hippies in future!

I took a few 'behind the scenes' shots to document my day in the limelight and I am so excited to share a few of these plus the video itself. I have to admit I loved every second of being a model for the day. Thank you Wink for an experience I'll never forget - I only wish we'd had a few bottles of the good stuff on set to calm my nerves....