Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel
0 Shopping Cart
Author

Susann

Browsing
2 Mins Read

A to Z of South African Leather Shoe Makers

The truth about a made in South Africa anything is that it will outlast made in China every single time.

A woman with good shoes is never ugly.

Coco Chanel

A to Z of companies that make leather shoes in South Africa. There may be a lot that I’ve missed but you can leave a comment on this post and I’ll update this list.

Right now is the time to support local. By buying local you are directly contributing to an income of a fellow South African.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

https://www.facebook.com/jessiesnatureinspired/posts/3167643269998441

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

by
Keep Reading
4 Mins Read

5 Cats in guest relations (aka Hospitality Cats, South Africa)

There is something about cats that I love. It may be that they have always bonded to me or that they can sit on your lap for hours without a care in the world. It might even be that they will pick the person that dislikes cats… All I know is that I love cats, I’ve always had a cat and cats love me.

I would like to introduce you to 5 cats in South Africa who entertain guests at a hotel, retreat and even restaurant. If you know of any other cats in hospitality, pop them in the comments below.

Skabenga at Oyster Box

Skabenga (which means hooligan or vagabond in Zulu) is a Tabby cat who permanently calls The Oyster Box, KwaZulu-Natal, home. He wandered onto the hotel property and was persuaded to take up the hotel-life by guests feeding him taste titbits.

This feline is a guest-favourite and he continues to receive piles of fan mail.  There is even a book about him, he has his own Facebook page and Instagram account! His favourite day of the year is his birthday = and of course they make a big thing about it with cake and guests showering him with extra attention.

Skabenga thoroughly enjoys the spoils that come with being the ‘Main Cat’ on the block! He loves regular treats of Catnip, has a favourite couch and chair and chosen spots around the hotel, which he retreats to, when not taking ‘inspection’ strolls around the property.

Skabenga has gone on a few adventures but has always managed to make his way back home.

Meet Skabenga at The Oyster Box www.oysterboxhotel.com.

Hermes, Dolce and Gabana at Graceland Eco Retreat

At Graceland Eco Retreat in Limpopo you will find 3 ginger cats. These very pampered farm cats are called Hermes, Dolce and Gabana. This little fashion trio is friendly with the resident giraffes and dogs.

Hermes is a very small cat with white legs and chest. He is very cuddly and often goes and knock on the guests’ doors as he loves to snuggle up. He is known to follow guests on hikes.

Dolce aka butternut, is the fat cat and the nickname comes from that he looks like a butternut. He loves to sleep, and eat and is a lazy Garfield type of cat.

Gabana is the old female ginger cat who loves to sleep in the office. Her favourite office bed is of course a keyboard. She is extremely social and will never turn down a cuddle.

You can also read more about them on www.gracelandeco.co.za or my previous article here.

Wallis at Mrs Simpson’s Restaurant

Wallis is a Miniature Norwegian Forest Cat and lives at Mrs Simpson’s Restaurant, Dullstroom. This feline has her own Zebra Crossing in front of the restaurant called “Wallis’ Crossing”. She has 17 official godmothers and many unofficial ones too!

This is quite a famous cat! Wallis has been featured on the Travel Channel, Pasella, Top Billing and many more. She has also appeared on the pages of Sunday Times, Country Life Mag and air travel magazines.

Wallis loves attention and knows the regular visitors. She senses when you have allergies or dislike cats and will most likely stare at you until you invite her onto your lap.

You’ll be most likely to find Wallis sleeping in a hidey hole upstairs in a box under the bar, on a pillow in front of the fireplace, or on a heated sleeping pad.

Find out more about Mrs Simpson’s on www.mrssimpsons.co.za or call 013 254 0088.

PS, the black cat in the cover image of this article is Sandton. This is my 3 year old boy cat who lives on my lap.

by
Keep Reading
2 Mins Read

Lesedi celebrates African culture through kids fashion

LESEDI was first dreamt about 5 years ago in the bustling streets of Mumbai by Harsha Prag. She was sitting in a coffeeshop watching the world go when she noticed that the people around her were comfortably combining their Eastern and Western clothing in really colourful, beautiful combinations.

She asked herself, “why don’t we do more of this in South Africa?” Why are traditional African fabrics reserved for special occasions? Why not wear them and celebrate African culture every day?

Harsha started playing around with some ideas but didn’t really have the courage to pursue them at the time. Fast forward 5 years and finally she took the plunge and brought to life the idea she had all those years ago in Mumbai.

Harsha Prag, Founder

The Lesedi ready-to-wear range of Shweshwe clothing is locally produced and made by hand.  Each garment brings together traditional African fabrics and the best of contemporary fashion in a playful way. Each item is designed to be comfortable, easy to wear and ready for any adventure, be it lunch at Gogo’s house or a playdate with friends.

Harsha’s Lesedi clothing line collaborates with local CMT factories and pattern makers.

Currently Lesedi is available online from www.lesedistyle.com as well as their Instagram page. Once the world opens up again, Lesedi will be expanding into retail stores – so keep a look out on their social pages for more information.

You can find Lesedi on:

#lesedikidsclothing #lesedithislittlelightofyours

by
Keep Reading
4 Mins Read

Pandora joins forces with UNICEF to raise over $1M in aid of new One Love initiative

Pandora and brand Muse Halima Aden unite in support of UNICEF, as the Marley family reimagine iconic anthem One Love for global fundraising appeal.

Model and activist Halima Aden has come together with Pandora in support of UNICEF’s One Love initiative, to reimagine a world fit for all children. With the goal of preventing the COVID-19 pandemic becoming a lasting crisis for the world’s most vulnerable children, Pandora will match every dollar donated through One Love up to the value of US$1 million.

Members of the Marley family are rerecording the late Bob Marley’s iconic anthem One Love in support of UNICEF. Tuff Gong International and Amplified Music will release a new version of the seminal song on 17 July with all proceeds from the song and related activities directly supporting UNICEF’s Reimagine campaign.

Originally recorded in 1977 by Bob Marley and the Wailers, One Love/People Get Ready is an iconic song for millions across the globe with its everlasting message to come together as one. The reimagined version of the song will be a true global anthem for 2020 featuring members of the Marley family, established musicians from all corners of the globe and artists from conflict zones around the world.

“Over forty years ago, my father wrote One Love about unity, peace and universal love during a time when there was much trouble in the world. Even in a time when we aren’t able to get together, his message remains true today, we can get through this global crisis if we come together through one love and one heart” said Cedella Marley.

As an advocate for global change, model and activist Halima Aden is raising her voice for the One Love initiative, encouraging the public to support and engage with donating functions across social media. With the first US$1M donated by supporters across the world doubled by Pandora, the proceeds will help UNICEF provide necessary equipment and essential support to vulnerable children and young people.

“As a Pandora Muse, I am so excited that Pandora supports the efforts of an organization that is so personal to me, UNICEF. As a UNICEF Ambassador, who was once on the receiving end of the services they provide to children around the world whilst growing up in a refugee camp, I know how detrimental the impact of COVID-19 will be if it hits refugee camps,” said Halima Aden. “The loss will be unbearable. In camps, there is no such thing as social distancing. UNICEF needs our help today more than ever and I’m so grateful to my Pandora family, as well as the Marley family, for coming together for this important initiative.”

Stephen Fairchild, Chief Product Officer Pandora, comments, “Across the world, we need to stand together in these difficult times, not forgetting those who need it most. By coming together with Halima Aden and the Marley family in support of UNICEF, we can contribute together towards ensuring that the post-pandemic world is fairer and more equal for every child.”

Throughout the month of July, Pandora and UNICEF will drive awareness by engaging with Pandora fans and influencers, raising funds in support of the One Love initiative. This includes a “swipe-up” donation matching function, an AR Instagram filter where each interaction results in a UNICEF donation and matching of all funds raised through activations on TikTok supporting the song launch.

Pandora’s partnership with UNICEF is a global call to action in response to a UNICEF estimate that, without urgent action, COVID-19 could cause an additional 6,000 children to die from preventable causes every day over the next six months. The collaboration on One Love is an extension of Pandora’s ongoing partnership with UNICEF that aims to support young voices around the world.

Visit unicef.org/ONE-LOVE for further information and to donate.

#PandoraForUNICEF #OneLoveOneHeart

by
Keep Reading
5 Mins Read

Eish, this Joburg! 20 Cool Facts about Johannesburg

Johannesburg is everything you think it is but also so much more. It is a city of riches and struggles, people on the run and knowing who your neighbours are. It is filled with South Africans, Africans from so far as the Ivory Coast and Ghana and of course people from ‘overseas’ that fell in love with the city’s energy.

Johannesburg CBD

I thought I’d share 20 cool facts about my city:

  1. Eish, this Joburg! This is a phrase I have heard a million times. It could be thrown in to express that you share in the misery of being stuck in traffic or that you were a victim of crime. It can be applied to just about anything that can go wrong in the city.
  2. Johannesburg is known as the City of Gold, eGoli, Jozi or Joburg. If you see references of 011 or 010 it is the landline area code for the city. 
  3. It is not the only Johannesburg in the world. When some of the gold miners that worked the gold fields here made their way to California in the US they named their new town Johannesburg too. Our US counterpart is of course not nearly as big as my beloved Joburg.
  4. The Hillbrow Tower has been the tallest structure and tower in Africa for 45 years. It stretches 269m into the sky. Before I was born you could visit a floor 197m up… my mom told me about it.
  5. The Carlton Centre is the tallest office building in Africa. You can take a ride up to the viewing floor for a great view of the city. Back in the eighties this was also a destination for school groups from towns far-far-away. I was scared breathless my first time that high in the sky.
  6. Johannesburg is one of the youngest big cities in the world. The first tent-town iteration sprung up in 1886 during the gold rush. The official date is 4 October 1886!
  7. Johannesburg is also Africa’s second biggest city. Egypt’s Cairo is the biggest… but then again, they have a couple of centuries on us!
  8. An estimated 4.5 million people call the city home. I’ve been here since 1999. You will be able to find a person from almost every African country in the city.
  9. Don’t fret if you feel a little dizzy while visiting, the city lies 1753m above sea level. It takes a little longer to boil an egg here than in Durbs or Cape Town.
  10. On the upside, Johannesburg has a fairly mild climate with lots of sunshine. Summer months stretch from September-ish to late March. Our seasons are better than Cape Town’s but Durbs always takes the cake with warmer weather.
  11. Vilakazi street in Soweto is where two of South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize Winners used to live.  Locals will proudly point out former South African president Nelson Mandela and former Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s houses.
  12. The city also boasts one of the largest man-made forests in the world. There are between 5 to 10 million trees depending on who tells the story.
  13. The Johannesburg Zoo was founded in 1904 and is sprawled over 55 hectares. Just imagine the exercise you’ll get by visiting!
  14. OR Tambo International Airport, the busiest airport in Africa, was opened in 1952. It was first known as Jan Smuts Airport, then as Johannesburg International Airport in 1994 and since 2006 as OR Tambo. It’s a good thing we have such a big airport as we’ve hosted the finals for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2003 Cricket World Cup and 1995 IRB Rugby World Cup.
  15. First National Bank Stadium or simply FNB Stadium is the largest sports stadium in Africa with a capacity of almost 100,000 spectators. It has hosted everything from sporting events to international musical acts. It is an must-snap spot.
  16. Sandton is known as the richest square mile in Africa . The richest gold field in the world was discovered right here many moons ago. Now it is the most important business and financial district in South Africa – with the worst possible traffic. (I worked here for 6 years, just ask me.)
  17. The bronze statue of Mandela in Sandton’s Nelson Mandela Square weighs 2.5 tonnes! The statue stands 6 metres high and measures 2.3 metres from elbow to elbow.  The statue depicts Mandela wearing his Madiba shirt while dancing in what was referred to at the unveiling as the “Madiba jive”. This statue was unveiled on 31 March 2004. It was the first-ever public statue of Mandela.
  18. Mponeng Gold Mine is the deepest mine in the world (currently). It takes an hour to get down the 4km deep shaft. It is located towards Westonaria – the western area of Johannesburg.
  19. Johannesburg is the world’s largest city that isn’t located near a coastline or navigable river. However, it has the world’s largest dry port that was developed in 1977 already.
  20. Johannesburg’s traffic is hectic, but not as bad as Cape Town’s. Joburgers are generally more aggressive in their driving style but only because they have places to go and people to see.
Soweto
Johannesburg CBD

Next time you think that there is nothing to see in or near Joburg, think again.

We have Orlando Towers and of course Vilakazi Street, Maropeng, Constitution Hill, the Apartheid Museum, Liliesleaf, Gold Reef City, Museum Africa, South African Museum of Military History, Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, the Nelson Mandela Bridge, James Hall Museum of Transport, Wits Origins Centre Museum, Lindfield Victorian House Museum, Wits Johannesburg Planetarium, more than 1 Mandela statue and even one of Gandhi…

If you want to kick it old style you can still catch a steam train. You can get to any part of the country via train from Johannesburg – just not by steam train.

This one is the kicker, we also have our own winery! Gerakaris Family wines ferment and bottle grapes from the Cape Winelands in the heart of Jozi.

Eish, this Jozi is a strangely wonderful place to live.

Here are some cool things you can do while in Johannesburg:

by
Keep Reading
4 Mins Read

Are our face masks suffocating our skins?

The low down on what happens and how to combat the effect. [Brought to you by Placecol and Skinderm]

Our skin is a living and breathing organ. In fact, it is our first line of defense against the world. Keeping our skin strong and healthy helps us to ultimately be strong and healthy too.

Our skin can’t breathe as the mask forms a barrier to free movement of air. In addition, when we exhale our breath is made up of various gases one of the highest concentrations is nitrogen gas.

Excess exposure to nitrogen leads to unhappy skin as nitrogen is an irritant and is corrosive, leading to sensitivity and skin irritation.

Sweating releases toxins onto the skin and with nowhere to go they interact with the biome creating imbalance on the skin and causing skin irritation and breakouts. That is why PH balancing our skins is more important than ever.

Breakouts have become common for many, due to unhealthy environment created on the skin. Altered PH, high toxicity and sweating are a few of the culprits.

Sensitivity for many is also evident, partly due to the basic fact that the environment under the mask is not ideal, some masks are treated with antiviral/antibacterial components which can create sensitivity.

Barrier impairment is also evident due to constant friction of the mask against the skin as well as the general change to the skin’s homeostasis.

Touching the face to adjust the mask leads to exposure to the virus and other bacteria as well as day to day dirt and impurities. People are touching their faces more and more which is completely against protocol but they are often not cognoscente of the risk and it becomes a habit we consciously have to break.

The Placecol and Skinderm Solution

  1. PH balancing the skin is more important now than ever. Our skins PH is optimum at a ph of 5.5. This is in fact acidic and is part of our skins natural defense mechanism.
    When the homeostasis of our skin is disrupted ad our ph is altered it leads to a cascade of problems on our skins as the biomes [present on our skins to protect us die off and harmful ones grow due to the change in environment. Placecol Calming Mist/ Illumine Anti-oxidant mist/Skinderm Pure Toner
  2. Effective cleansing is imperative: The way we cleanse our skin is essential. We must use a good quality cleanser that is PH balance and gentle and non-stripping. Our cleansers should be part of the skin’s recovery process. Clean start facial wash/clean start facial milk Skinderm Pure cleansing milk /Skinderm pure cleansing gel
  3. Double cleansing in the evenings is recommended
  4. Anti-oxidant power
    Placecol and Skinderm are full of powerful botanicals delivering exceptionally high levels of anti-oxidants to boost skins immunity
  5. Desensitizing serums are necessary to reduce the irritation we are all experiencing on our skins. Placecol Rescue therapy and Skinderm Calming Elixir refresh and calm the skin with anti-inflammatory and refreshing menthol as one of the key ingredients.
  6. Hydrating serums and masks replace hydration lost by revolumising the skin. Placecol Optimum hydration mask or Skinderm hydrating repair mask. Use this as a nigh-time sleep mask
  7. Clay masks help to deep clean the impurities from the pores so as to minimize breakout. Try Placecol’s 2 in one clearing clay mask which is a 2 in 1 product combining dep cleaning clay with spherical exfoliation beads or our Skinderm pure clarifying mask.
  8. Gentle exfoliation helps the skin however over exfoliation or aggressive exfoliation damages the skins barrier function and will make it more susceptible to sensitivity and breakouts. Our gentle exfoliating refiner from Placecol or Skinderm’s Glo pads are gentle exfoliators with no aggressive granules but rather harnessing the natural acids from nature.
  9. High quality masks from breathable fabrics as natural as possible with minimal synthetics as the more synthetic the more irritation and sweating.
  10. Give sufficient time when safe to do so to remove the mask and breath in oxygen rich air
  11. Make sure mask fits comfortably
by
Keep Reading
2 Mins Read

Dear neighbour, it’s corona-time and my kids hate me too!

I got a note on my door this morning… and you can read it at the bottom of the page. Here is my response, because “no name”.

Dear Neighbour that left a note on my door,

I feel your pain. I too have to work from home. I work between 8 to 12 hours a day, sometimes 14. Every single day. I also take care of 2 toddlers under the age of 4. Both of these are full-time jobs. I barely sleep.

Let’s just say it, China screwed the world. We would love to go back to what we did before. We loved sending the kids to preschool and they loved going there. We loved going on holiday or to go away for a weekend. We loved to go shopping as a family. We loved not being cooped up. We loved not being prisoners in our own home with two toddlers that are frustrated and full of energy.

Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, that a kind gesture or word to a parent that carries a load far greater than you, might be the cool thing to do? You might think it’s ok to leave a note telling me how to raise my children, get in line, because the government, journalists and every Tom, Dick & Harry also does.

Here’s the deal, if you sponsor a live-in nanny your problems will be solved. (By nanny I mean qualified teacher.) I don’t want to employ a nanny that has to come in with a taxi on a daily basis – because, Corona-time… 100% capacity in taxis… risk.

I don’t know what to tell you. I know that if you live in a complex like ours, you will hear your neighbours. When I was young and without children I also felt frustrated when babies screamed or kids ran around playing like hooligans, but I never marched up to a parent and demanded that they keep their children quiet. It was not my place.

Regards
Your neighbour that is just as sick and tired of everything

The actual letter that was taped to my door.

Jip, it got disinfected 🙂 This is the actual note.
by
Keep Reading
2 Mins Read

Into the wild: Modderfontein Reserve

It has been 106 days since lockdown started in South Africa. For the kids and I, it has been 118 days. Since the country entered Lockdown Level 3 we have been out and about most weekends to little nature reserves in Gauteng. It felt great to be out and feel the sunshine, see a lion and hear the wind in the trees.

Modderfontein Reserve in Edenvale, close to the airport, was our destination for our last weekend outing. It was a 20-minute drive from Fourways. Entry fees are quite affordable (R30 for adults and R15 for kids with Cyclists paying R50).

We were surprised to see so many people out, there were cars upon cars. People were out picnicking on the banks of the dam, walking along the trails and even enjoying a sit down at the Farmers’ Market.

The website promised a number of herbivores, but we didn’t see any. We did see a lot of birds during our walk.

I probably wouldn’t go back hoping to see animals, but I would definitely go back to have a picnic next to the water! I really enjoyed the walk in nature too.

Find out more here: www.modderfonteinreserve.co.za

What to do in Gauteng with Kids

by
Keep Reading
4 Mins Read

A to Z of South African Handbag Makers

A to Z of companies that make handbags in South Africa – and there are many. You will be spoilt for choice between leather handbags, canvas handbags, recycled material bags and even vegan leather handbags.

I don’t just talk the talk, I support local. In my collection I have Tsonga, IY Apparel, Thandana, Peppertree (who unfortunately closed during the pandemic) and also…

#WearSouthAfrican: Tsonga in white & black and then my other IY Apparel bag

If you don’t spot your favourite South African handbag maker on this list, comment below and I will add them.

A – is for all the handbag makers in South Africa

B – is for the BEST quality handbags in the world made right here

C – is for creative handbag silhouettes and ideas

D – is for dream handbags made in South Africa

E – is for entrepreneurs who help the economy grow

F – is for flourish

G – is for giving

H – is for happy

I – is for industrious

J – is for joy

K – is for kindness

L – is for LEKKER

M – is for the “mooiste” handbags you could ever dream of

N – is for now

O – is for onwards

P – is for productive

Q – is for quality

  • oops… nothing yet here

R – is for roots in Africa

S – is for supporting South African businesses

T – is for thriving

U – is for uplift

V – is for value

  • oops… nothing yet here

W – is for wild Africa

X – is for you get me there…

  • oops… nothing yet here

Y – is for yes

  • oops… nothing yet here`

Z – is for ja ne, ek weet nie

by
Keep Reading