Spotted
This Valentine’s Day ignite your desire with these delectable aphrodisiac treats. They are sure to make your day extra-special and all the more exciting. So go on – eat up:
Oysters are known to have powerful aphrodisiac properties and make a sumptuous starter to your Valentine’s evening celebrations. Mussels, are also considered a passion food as are tender asparagus stems. This green vegetable is traditionally served to French grooms in preparation for their wedding night.
A main course drizzled with flavours of garlic, ginger, cinnamon, peppers or chilli will certainly enhance the romantic mood. The strong, musky scent of truffles will heighten your sense of touch while sweet basil, pine nuts and coriander offer an added libido boost.
Be sure not to pass up the tenderloin roast with a mustard and peppercorn sauce.
Spice things up with sprinklings of nutmeg. Known for its hallucinogenic properties, nutmeg will quickly induce that warm, fuzzy feeling for guaranteed starry eye moments of lovingness.
When it comes to dessert, chocolate is the benchmark food of love. It offers a quick energy boost and easily elevates your mood. Nothing like a decadent rich chocolate dessert to share with your loved one on the special day.
A delicious addition has to be strawberries and cream for the ultimate enticment of the senses.
Add sweet grapes to the mix for a seductive moment of juicy flavour. The ancient Romans believed grapes to be an aphrodisiac and considered the sensuous fruit a symbol of fertility. Vanilla ice-cream is a must-have side dish. The scent and flavour of vanilla is known to give you a strong dose of love lust.
Happy eating!
Look of the Day
As the countdown to Valentine’s Day begins, have you given any thought to what look you want to rock on the big night?
Here are a few ideas to share:
If the 2012 Paris Fashion Week was anything to go by, you’ll find plenty of trendy catwalk fashions to inspire your Valentine’s Day outfit.
The timeless off-shoulder or strapless dress design remains a sexy, elegant choice. Just make sure it is a comfortable and flattering. Long and short lengths will work equally well. Or show off your curves with a mermaid style dress, fitted from the bodice to the knees and flared out.
Of course red is always in for the month of love but also consider fuchsia, ivory and classic black with red accessories. Go for pastels for a light, airy look if you wish to tone it down. Match your outfit with a sexy pair of high heel platform pumps or sparkly strappy sandals.
Accessorise with shimmery hoop earrings, heart choker necklaces and cuff bracelets to match. Put on some red lipstick or go for metallic gloss for added Valentine’s Day shine.
Lace is certainly fashionable on the catwalk. It offers a quaint yet sultry, feminine appeal. Go for an off-shoulder dress with lacey detail to show off your designer fashion flair.
Lilian Ejike does just that with her black and red Valentine’s Day outfit offering. She was spotted at Sandton City with a bright red, lacey mini dress, fitted zipper black jacket, crimson red pumps and funky leopard earrings. Whatever your look this Valentine’s day make sure it’ll have all eyes on you.
Our top gift ideas for our foreign visitors to take home
The visitors to our country and shopping centre will be on the look out for that perfect and uniquely South African gift to back home with them as a souvenir.
We’ve put together our top picks of South African gifts. If you have any more suggestions on gift ideas for our visitors, we would love to hear it by leaving your comment below.
1. Diamonds
The classic diamond tennis bracelet (from R21 995 to R250 000) is one of Browns’ jewellery essentials.
2. Tanzanite
It is said that Tanzanite is so rare it will last just a single generation. Tanzanite & micro-set diamond rings range from R40 698 to R148 359 at Shimansky.
3. Gold
South Africa is probably best known for its gold mines. We think nothing beats the Cartier Trinity Ring, made up of three simply intertwined circles of white, yellow and rose gold, which symbolizes love, friendship and fidelity. The Trinity One Ring ranges from from R78 100. The Trinity Ring XL, from R244 000.
4. Semi precious stones
South Africa is a rich source of semi precious stones. Jack Friedman bracelet set in 18 carat white gold with 35 semi-precious stones ranges from R26 100 and the rings from R2 750.
5. Designer brands
Sandton City offers boutiques like Cartier, Mont Blanc, Fendi and Louis Vuitton all under one roof. We love the Loius Vuitton Monogram Aviator for R26 100, and it can be monogrammed on site.
6. Carrol Boyes homeware
At the Carrol Boyes boutique in Sandton City you will find a legendary and uniquely South African pewter collection, which includes a limited edition range of soccer collectibles from the official ball rest to bottle openers and money clips. The range is a great souvenir, from R250.
7. Animal hide handbag
Magnificent handbags made from leather and impala hide are available for R2 095 from Indaba Lifestyle.
8. Indigenous hand-painted ceramics
Whether African-inspired, tribal, animal, floral or modern, hand painted ceramics are hugely popular. Hand-painted mugs go for R320 each from African Origins.
9. South African wines
For a South African white blend, try Oak Valley OV Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, from R100 a bottle at John Wilson.
10. Nike Football Store
As one of only three stores of its kind in the world, a visit to the Nike Football store in Sandton is a must! The new Elite Series football boots are supercharged with Nike technology. Get the Mercurial Vapor SuperFly, R3 500, the CTR360 Maestri for R2 000, the Total90 Laser III for R2 500 and Tiempo Legend III for R1 800.
Most Wanted
Slap™ watches are the latest fad to hit our shores. If you haven’t already slapped one on, here’s why you should:
The Slap™ watch is a silicone watch band with a spring coil action that easily slaps onto your wrist, pretty much like those slap bracelets that were hugely popular in the 90s. The Slap™ watch is a novel time piece with an air of nostalgic cool, just like - as were Vanilla Ice, the discman and Tomagotchi.
The interchangeable watch face and band comes in 11 trendy colours like Purple Berry, Sunset Orange and Alabaster White. Mix and match 121 possible colour combinations to perfectly colour co-ordinate any outfit, a versatile fashion accessory for any occasion.
For an added glamorous edge the watches also come with bling watch faces and chic animal print inspired bands.
The Slap™ watch is eye-catching wrist candy to say the least. Its sleek design and racy colours also make it quite a fashion statement.
The watches are available in standard and Slap junior sizes from R299 to R499. They are easy to maintain and are water resistant. They make great gifts too.
Visit www.slapwatchsa.co.za to try out the right colour combinations that appeal to you before you buy.
You can get your Slap™watch at Xcessory Mix and Dream Nails at Sandton City. Remember if it doesn't say Slap™, it is not a Slap™ watch. For more information, contact info@slapwatchsa.co.za
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