Hello Pretty is Winding Down

After more than ten fulfilling, magical years beginning in the good old days of 2012, Hello Pretty is retiring and heading off to the beach with a drink with a tiny umbrella.

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Dress your Love Story

A few posts back I introduced a new blog series that we're doing focused around fashion / decor & frangrance pairing. For this week's post I'm going to build a few outfit possibilities that match a beautiful new Chloe perfume called Love Story.

If you're familiar with the brand you'll probably have noticed that Chloe fragrances are unique and quite identifiable. I'm no expert at articulately describing fragrance notes, so I will just say that this is floral and light. It has that classic Chloe thing going on, but it's a youthful, whimsical, girl-next-door take.  And can I describe a fragrance as romantic? I'd say this one is. The packaging is really pretty too. I'm not a "Save the box!" kind of girl, but I saved the box (it's stashed in my cupboard next to my iPhone box, which I also couldn't bear to part with).

We have no shortage of feminine, floral, whimsical things on Hello Pretty, all made by South African hands. It's kind of our thing ? Here are some that will complement your Love Story.

First up, House of Kallie's Rose Gold & Morganite Solitaire Ring. BE STILL MY HEART.

This magnificent thing is new on the site. I mean though... a pink gemstone in rose gold? What could go better with something called "Love Story"?

And some more of the plenty I mentioned earlier:

1. Mandarin Collar Blouse from Every Mooi Nooi
2. Sterling Silver Stacking Rings from The Daisychain
3. Small Protea Leaf Earrings from Reverie Designs
4. Sterling Silver Wire Ring from The Daisychain
5. Sterling Silver Kitty Playing with Wool Pendant from Jessica Jane Jewellery
6. Afternoon Light Necklace from A Bird Named Frank
 

1. The Sam Wrap Dress from Samsama Designs
2. Coeur de Rose Peep Toes from LanziLove
3. FRUITSALAD Pineapple Earrings from Miss H Jewellery Design
4. XOXO Bracelet from Jewellery  by Jessica
5. Black Diamond and Rose Gold Ring from Chongo & Wells
6. Misu Dress from Cinnamon
7. Peach Blush Flat Pumps from LanziLove

This pretty little flower crown in the photo below is the Pastel Dream, from Sunkissked Handmade. She has loads of them ande they're all pretty. There is also a bunny-ears option, and a unicorn option.

Crank up your baby's cute for winter ☃️

Handmade Pink & White Crochet Blanket
? scroll further down for this week's giveaway ?
 
Croshka Designs. Quality handcrafted crochet goods
 
Hand-Crocheted Baby Shoes
Meet Croshka Designs, a brand founded by Elena, an entrepreneur and mom from Johannesburg. She sells soft things for adults & babies that she's crocheted herself.
 
She never compromises on the quality of her materials and workmanship, and her customers will attest to that (have a look at the reviews on her Facebook page). After all, being a mom herself she understands that parents want only the gentle best of the best for their little ones.
 
Be sure to have a look through her store. She has a variety of snoods, props for baby photo shoots, things for babies, and blankets. And if you want something special, drop her a line because she also does commissions.
 
Espadrille Baby Crochet Shoes with Ankle Ties
  
Crochet Slouchy Pink Girlie Booties
Set of Tw Faux Leather Bow with Gold Accents on Nylon Elastic Headbands
  
Handmade Crochet Owl Hat with Tassels
  
Kira the Kangaroo with Baby Crochet Doll
Crochet Baby Crown
  
Hand-crocheted cardigans for babies
Baby Cardigans
Individually priced
 

Win something for your little one!

We have a R600 Croshka voucher to give away to one person ???
 
Win a R600 voucher for Croshka Design!
Spend it on anything you like in her store.
To enter:
1) Click over to Hello Pretty's blog and leave a comment tagging a friend who would like some crocheted pretties.
2) Go like the Croshka Facebook page.
3) For an extra entry: mail a friend with a one or two line note saying why you like Croshka, with a link to the blog post, so they can enter too. Cc newsletters@hellopretty.co.za in your email so we can add you to the draw.
 
Some stuff to know:
1) Enter as many times as you like. One entry per mail forward is counted irrespective of the number of recipients included (so if you want to get lots of entries, email your contacts one at a time).
2) Recipients of your mail can also enter but must subscribe to the Pretty Cool mailer
3) Competition closes 11 May 2017. Winner will be notified by email.
 
Win a R600 voucher to spend on your favourite Croshka goodies

Win CocoGold beauty products worth R600

Win some 100% natural CocoGold
 
CocoGold is a luxury beauty brand created by Jeanne, a passionate woman entrepreneur from Cape Town. A woman after our own hearts, she loves animals just as much as she does creating the finer things in life. Every product that she's developed is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. The only time that any CocoGold product has ever come into contact with an animal is when someone who's used it is cuddling one.

This is a range of face and beauty products that combine coconut extracts infused with a variety of other natural and organic oils.
 
Anti-Ageing Concentre Serum
  
Coconut Water Hydromist (Hibiscus + Frankinsence)
 
Coconut Milk Facial Cleanser
 

WIN!

Win yourself a CocoGold set worth R600, containing Botanical Tint and Tone Oil & Botanical Bath and Body Oil

To enter: like the CocoGold Facebook page, and leave a comment on the Facebook post below tagging a friend who likes feeling pretty.
Some stuff to know:
1) One entry per person per platform (you may enter on both Facebook and Instagram).
2) Competition closes 31 May 2017. Winner will be notified by Facebook.
3) Open to residents of South Africa.

Dress up your Signorina

Last week Jen (who handles some of our marketing) and I had the privilege of attending the launch of Salvatore Ferragamo's latest fragrances. It was a magnificent event, organised by VelvetLuxe and hosted at the Steenberg Wine Estate. Thank you Rose and Mbali for having us as guests to your event.

Anyone who appreciates some of the finer things in life will most likely have crossed paths with an Italian-made fragrance or two. The great nation of Italy has produced some of the most beautiful fragrances you can get. Ferragamo has now launched three versions of Signorina, their brand new piece of olfactory art. At the same time he's also launched Uomo for the fellas.

I'm going to tell you a teeny bit about each one, and show you what South African beauties you'll wear it with. Each fragrance was launched with a mini movie and I'll link to those too. They're beautifully done and you should definitely watch them.

Signorina - the original version

I found this to be a light and very unique fragrance. It's really gentle and feminine, and was my personal favourite of the three. The original fragrance's colour palette is a soft pink.

A sassy and chic fragrance celebrating cheeky young ladies with a hint of irony and Italian glamour.

Pictured:

Signorina Eleganza

Are you a seductress? Because then this one's for you. Eleganza is the "gold" fragrance in the range.

A rich and velvety olfactive creation that celebrates feminine grace and seduction.

Pictured:

Watch the movie

Signorina Misteriosa

DRAMA! Misteriosa's colour palette is black, which suits it well. It is the boldest of the three fragrances: this is what you'll want when you want to really make a statement.

A daring fragrance that frees the secrets of a young woman who dictates the rules of her life.

Pictured:

Watch the movie

Visiting the Steenberg Estate was fantastic. It's in Tokai, fairly close to Cape Town, and I couldn't more strongly recommend that you pay them a visit (after you turn off from the M5 do not make the mistake we made by heading up Ou Kaapse Weg - keep on straight). The scenery is lush, manicured and expansive. The dining area is intimate, bright and airy, with double doors opening onto a small outdoor area. You can actually even see the ocean from it. We'll for sure be returning here for a tasting and a meal.

Date night at home

Valentine's Day Microgreens

I wouldn't call it a tradition yet, but on a few special occasions we've stayed in and Scott's made us dinner. He likes to try new recipes, and it always involves several hours in the kitchen and a lot of research, prep and planning. I'll tidy our place up nicely and put on a pretty dress and some music (I recommend Carla Bruni's Quelqu'un M'a Dit, she has a voice like velvet), and we'll have dinner at home together. Aren't we nauseatingly romantic ?

We had plans to do that this year, and then the Leopard's Leap Wine Stork paid us a visit.

This marvellous image is from Snobby Tours, of Texas.

 

So suddenly we had a magnificent recipe, the ingredients to make it, and the perfect wine to pair it with. The recipe is one of Chef Pieter de Jager's creations: Roast salmon with olive, tomato and feta. Being Valentine's Day there was a rose theme. So the salmon paired with Leopard's Leap 2016 Chardonnay Pinot Noir.

I'll be honest with you Chef P... this one was an intimidating challenge. Scott rosé (hyuk hyuk hyuk) to the occasion and did it though, what a guy. And what a superb recipe. Click here to download it - and if you make it, be sure to tag @LeopardLeapWine and @Pieterdjgr on Twitter, and @LeopardsLeap on Instagram.

My part in all this was to set up a dining area. I'll take this opportunity to own the fact that we live in a very little studio apartment. The section with the desk in we refer to as The Office. The desk is actually a dining room table so it worked out nicely. And so, The Office morphed into The Dining Room to do some justice to Scott's kitchen-art.

Thank you very much Leopard's Leap and Hatch for this amazing treat.

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