Be Pampered Spa Give-Away

via Be Pampered Spa Buy One Get One Free FB Page

There are a few things I love more than value. It also gets me jazzed to know that something was created in the spirit of service and assistance to someone else. Be Pampered Spa got its start because the sisters that own it realised that they existed in a stressed out world and that time out to rejuvenate and replenish was a luxury not accessible to too many. This heart warming offering can be found in Westville North, Durban. They have a website, Facebook page and Twitter presence. Most of their packages are buy one get one free and come with a light lunch. I mean. The spa is fully equipped in its simplicity, keeping its focus on providing  the pricey but necessary experience of unwinding. The sisters in generosity typical to them, have given me a treatment to give away to one of you Lovelies. Cherry on the top, you get to bring a loved one with! To enter, simply share this post on any social media platforms you use (Facebook/ Twitter/ Pinterest etc) and tag @pinchosalt on Twitter, A Pinch of Salt on Facebook and let me know who you would enjoy this prize with as your plus-one or who you would give the prize to if that’s what you chose. Me’s thinks this is a fabulous time to be surprised with a spa treatment. Right as we gear up to take on a year filled with possibilities.

Much Love X

A Parisian Elopement

Oh this couple. Spot on my kinda people. They thought they didn’t want to get hitched, until they discovered marriage was not their problem, a big wedding was. To quote Lauren, the bride, “When we met we both said we weren’t very interested in being married we were happy just to be together – what we soon realised was that it wasn’t that – we just didn’t want a big wedding. We wanted the commitment without the fuss.”

Check out their full elopement on the Polka Dot Bride

What do you think of elopements?
xo

The New Wedding

Queen Victoria

Whilst there have been some kick-ass weddings I have had the honour of attending, I keep circling to the thought that had I to do all over again, I would definitely elope. I was 24 when I married, and whilst I knew I didn’t want to get caught up in the trappings of a ‘traditional’ do, I wish I had delved deeper into the possibility of an elopement and all it would have meant for us. We loved our 80 guest morning high-tea celebration to bits, but being the woman I am now, I would definitely have made bolder choices, and these are some of my reasons:

By the time we celebrated our marriage in March, Mr. N and I were already married for two months because we tied the knot at Home Affairs. I would have just done the Home Affairs portion better. An incredible dress, photographer and amazing meal would have made me more happy than you know.

Weddings as we know them are themselves the heritage of non-conformists, as in the case of Queen Victoria’s marriage to Albert in 1840, Victoria insisted on donning a white dress instead of the traditional blue at the time.

For everything weddings are, they are still an expensive few hours. For everyone involved, guests included!

The only aspect of today’s traditional wedding that resonates with me is the coming together of a community to wish a new family well and celebrate an institution I love!

A Pinch of Salt is a blog about celebrating and supporting better alternatives, alternatives and practices that take into account the whole person. In the case of weddings, the person before, during, and after ‘the big day’. Too often, weddings are a heavy burden that are more trouble than they are worth. For couples with greater value in doing it differently, for whatever reasons.  For couples seeking a lighter load, I will be sharing on lighter weddings more often. If this is your vibe, follow along on Pinterest too.

Keep It Simple this Silly Season

just a dream by Adrian Limani

Hey There! I just wanted to reach out in the noise you may be surrounded by and remind you that this season is a happy time to be spent reflecting, resting, preparing, releasing, loving and being kind. To yourself and others. You’ve made it to the end of a cycle. What have you learned, what needs to change? Take stock, gather yourself and your thoughts.

What I mean to say is, STAY OUT OF DEBT (all the kinds – emotional, physical, financial, spiritual) 😉 Keep focused on where you’re going and how you’re getting there. Don’t get swept into the marketing. There is absolutely nothing you need to do or get to be happy. Everything you need and desire is attainable from within. Look there to fulfill your dreams, visions, WISH LIST.

I had one of my best years, ever. My life expanded to embrace the greatest gift I have ever received. Being a mother has enhanced who I am and who I hope to be. I have taken it easy on myself (for the most part), and allowed this incredible time with a baby be all I am about. There were times I felt the world (opportunities, work, laundry, socials, coffees, relations etc.) would have all moved on without me. I would then be reminded that this precious time is fleeting, never to be repeated with this particular Spirit in this particular form, at this particular time. Opportunities abound. Love infinite and our time here finite. Happiness begins when we mute the noise and connect with the authentic.

Merry Christmas. May 2015 be your most prosperous, holistically fabulous year yet. All my Love,

Thina

xoxo

Simple Wedding Crush – Beth and Brent

When I started on this journey of sharing and celebrating healthy alternatives, I expected there to be many more people interested in better ways. Better weddings, better habits, better marriages, better births. It has since occurred to me that mostly, people like following a model, no matter how rigid, taxing and uncharacteristic it is for them. That is why when my smart and beautiful friend told me that she and her fiancé had decided that their initial idea of a wedding would bring them more strife to pull off, than a simple celebration, I was pleasantly surprised and shouted for joy.

They were doing their planning for a wedding that was to take place in Durban, South Africa from Beira, Mozambique, where they work and live. The couple, taking their personal set of circumstances, values, vision, hopes and priorities into consideration, decided that the task of planning a more traditional wedding for their own celebration didn’t suite them and wouldn’t line up with their priorities. So started the journey towards their wedding.

To say it was a phenomenal wedding would be a gross understatement. It truly rocked my world. Everyone blessed to have attended agreed, one of the best spent days of our lives.

We were invited to experience who this magical couple were, interacting authentically when their loved ones and celebrating everything they hoped to become.

It was simply fabulous.

We haven’t featured a real wedding in a long time, so I will be uploading this inspirational brides commentary and pics as soon as I receive them because we need more examples of the way it can be done.

Simple Wedding Crush

Seriously crushing on the pearls that I discover on Polka Dot Bride. Today’s wedding crush has a beautifully styled bride and a before-message from the groom that makes me smile. He says he isn’t nervous about getting married, just excited. I was a nervous wreck before I saw Mr.N because I don’t enjoy being the centre of attention in the least! Once he was with me, I felt better. Elopements are my best! Isn’t it sweet how once he pronounces the couple married, the officiant disappears? #Winning

Simple Wedding Crush

An elopement captured on video, a GREAT idea. Love the bride’s look.

Shared from Polka Dot Bride

And in Other News, Things We Should Celebrate

Image taken by Mr. N

Did you know that I am not a big wedding person? Well, not in the traditional sense anyway. I was very excited to marry my husband and celebrate it, but the idea of a wedding did not appeal to me. That is when I realised that by definition, a wedding  (via Google)  is a marriage ceremony, esp. considered as including the associated celebrations. So you see, a wedding is any celebration associated with a marriage ceremony. No prescription as to what is to be worn, the number of guests, location, or activities. Well. Once I understood that I didn’t have to celebrate the same way (more or less) as everyone else, I was giddy with excitement when I considered the possibilities. I had a good, warm laugh reading this article linked by A Cup of Jo, about all the celebrations we might have during the course of our lives, and I must say that I agree with these sentiments. Bachelor parties, where we celebrate the last hoorah of single-hood after some time spent in a serious relationship is a little backward, don’t you think? And why do we give couples that have lived together for some time, dishware? Have some fun considering the possibilities.

Simple Wedding Crush

I am in love with how calm, natural, at ease and in the moment this couple (especially the bride) looks.

All images captured by jennifermendezphotography.com

Polka dot bride featured a PHE.NOM.ME.NAL wedding the other day. The smart couple had their intimate family witness the promise of their union before they sat down to a sumptuous meal, great drinks and dancing. How amazing?! Mr N and I did half of this. Before our celebration in March, we were married at Home Affairs in January of the same year. After our signing, we were hosted at a celebratory tea and cake by my folks with exceedingly immediate family. Truth be told, if I had it to do over again, apart from straight up eloping, I would organise a better dress and a professional photographer. So very grateful there are others that have priorities in a similar order to mine. It’s reassuring 🙂

Cake and Satay House

Image taken by Me

So a few years back I was looking for an intimate setting for a romantic dinner for Mr. N’s birthday when I happened upon what has become our go to when we want to eat out, have great Asian food and have it be a secluded affair. For my birthday I knew what I wanted was to celebrate with my Love at a special spot we could escape to and feel world’s away. Cake and Satay House fits this description perfectly. A couple-run Indonesian eatery in the couple’s home, it was perfect for good food in seclusion. I had ordered the grilled prawns in chilli, ginger and black bean sauce but we ended up sharing our meals. Yum. Cake and Satay House is incredibly reasonably priced and offers real value for money. It’s totally rustic and reminds us of our time in Thailand.

They’re in Glenwood and really a treat to experience.