As a small and local business who loves other small local businesses, we've build some fulfilling relationships with inspiring people throughout the lifetime of Hello Pretty. One such business is Cecilia's Farm.

Cecilia's is on a farm near Ceres called Koelfontein. They do fruits, nuts and wine and believe that nothing but the best fruit and nuts should go into their products and we can attest to them being true to their word.

A couple of weeks back we tried out a new product they've released, called their fruit wheels. We bought all of the cheese in Cape Town, and a few other treats to have with them, and had our friends over and all stuffed our faces. And obviously wine. Obviously.
 

We just love the folk's over at Cecilia's Farm, and we love delicious food, so it was only to be expected that we would become friendly. 

This 7th generation fruit farm grows a long list of different fruit here including cling peaches, apricots, nectarines, prunes, plums, various types of pears and apples, and even some grapes. They also make some DELICIOUS fruit and nut products - many of which we have had the privilege of tasting.

We were extra excited to hear about their new Honey Nut Drizzles, just in time for summer, Christmas, the weekend - any time to eat really.

This past weekend we popped through to Stellenbosch to visit the new Werf farmers market at Spier, and we're so glad that we did!

It was packed full of delicious ready to eat food, as well as fresh fruit and veggies. And of course, amazing wine!

So from time to time, Team Hello Pretty ingests things that aren't wine, cheese and coffee - and recently, Zestly Box has made our kitchen endeavours infinitely more enjoyable.

As the new kid on the subscription box block, Zestly Box is all about gourmet snacking, so we were naturally thrilled when one landed on our doorstep. AND! Because there are glass bottles and jars in the package, there is also lots of shredded paper padding. What's that thing about how you give a child a gift and they play with the packaging?

A spoon full of sugar may make the medicine go down, but I would have to insist on a good looking spoon!

• Afternoon tea tiny spoon rings by Pretty Found Things Jewellery Design
• Cutlery lever arch labels by Design-A-File
• Wanna spoon by Wanna Spoon
• Vintage spoon pendants by Antique Fusion Jewellery
• Meri by Anomali Jewelry
• Spoon table runner by Yumyum
• The salt spoon ring by Rollin Vintage
• Sugar spoons by Anne Hodgson
• Spoon, knife and fork washi tape by Sanna Se Winkel

So grab a spoon Pretties!

Pretties, will you judge us when I say that Team HP partakes in the labours of our nations wine industry with great enthusiasm? I hope not, because we do.

Our online store crush has always been Yuppiechef - they inspire our own customer service, because let's be honest, those guys are just so super friendly and on the ball.

So basically, our crush sent us our favourite thing for Valentine's Day! Aw Yuppiechef stahp, you're making us blush.

Towards the end of last year, we were lucky enough to spend one lazy Sunday together, drinking wine and absolutely gorging ourselves on the most incredible food.

It was a pretty great opportunity just to be together outside of work, unplugged, to reflect on our year. It just gave us a rare quiet moment (or like, three hours worth of lunch) to talk about what we had achieved, and what we wanted to achieve in 2015. Because we are all constantly moving and travelling, to be able to do that together is really rare, and we couldn't have asked for a better setting.

We headed out to The Table at De Meye on the most beautiful day with the top down, wind in our hair, Taylor Swift blaring. (Shame. Our one male team member has ZERO say in our music choices.)

We were welcomed with a complimentary wine tasting, and obviously all left clutching new bottles - the wine is delicious, easy to drink almost any time (our favourite) and super well priced. What a win.

But then the food. Oh the food. I don't even know where to start. Actually just look for yourself:

I spotted these lovely, tasty looking bits of chocolatey goodness on the interwebz last week, and felt that it was compulsory to share: Chocolates That Represent Japanese Onomatopoeic Words To Describe Texture. I mean. Just look at them.

I was recently invited to a lovely, intimate breakfast with the ladies behind Vintage With Love - I had heard of the Jo'burg event, and was really interested in finding out what happens behind the scenes.

The concept is that fashionistas get to shop til they drop, and all proceeds go to literacy charities - that Jo'burg event? R750 000 in the bag, to help teach kiddies to read. Impressive or what? Not your aunties average pre-owned clothing sale - these ladies mean business.

Naturally the next step is to expand their reach to include Cape Town, which is where breakfast came in. The most fabulous Pnina Fenster charmed the pants off us, with tales of the fantasies that both vintage and the ability to read can weave in our lives.

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day - so what better way to celebrate that than a breakfast inspired round up of designer products from the site?