Now isn't this a pretty fridge?

{via here}

Eataly

The philosophy of Eataly is "It is not just a market, but a food experience." Ignore the cheesy name, this place looks amazing! Mario Batali described his New York Italian food hall as a "temple" where "food is more sacred than commerce." Opening August 31, this more-than-a-grocery store is filled with all things Italian from a bakeries and butchers, to a coffee bar and pizza bar. But beyond the homemade food sections, there is a bookstore, a wine bar, Italian houseware, a rooftop bar, and a cooking school. The signs are in Italian and English (I love the signage design) and there is even an Italian Bank ATM. This will definitely be on my list when I visit New York (OH YES!) in October.

{Source}

GAP is as good as here

The official GAP site, click here, has launched international shipping to 50 countries including, yes!, South Africa! Just in time for spring/summer shopping.

Some of our picks available now ...

City T R188.40

Silky Ruffle Dress R534.50

Tuxedo Khaki Pants R380.70

Belted Pleated Skirt R307.50

Including shipping, duty and taxes this order would come to R2912.60, which according to the site is 100% guaranteed as the final cost. Still adds up but cheaper than buying it at the local stockist (you know who they are!) - let us know if you give this a try!

Adorable

I will make my little niece or nephew a tiny white mask. These little characters are dressed in clothes from TALC, a french kids' boutique.

{Via all the mountains}

Kitchen genius

To me, this is the perfect apron.  Useful kitchen instructions, measurements and the like are printed all along the bottom. And upside down so they are the right way up when the wearer is reading them. Genius!

 

{Available via Charles and Marie}

Lead SA

Holding onto the awesome optimism and sense of togetherness we all felt during the World Cup? Then we know you have already committed to LeadSA, we certainly have and so admire the creators and funders behind this initiative. Click here to find out more about LeadSA, which aims to highlight our country and people's achievments, to challenge people to take responsibility for the change they want to see. And join the Facebook page here.

We're followers already and committed to the simple ways we can be proactive leader:

1. Stand up for what’s right. If you’ve had a glass too many, let a designated driver take you home.
2. Stand up to corruption. Don’t bribe.
3. Stand up for morality. Report crime.
4. Stand up for your community. Get to know your neighbours.
5. Stand up against indifference. Take an interest in those around you.
6. Stand up for free speech. Listen to the other side.
7. Stand up for your future. Respect the environment.
8. Stand up for education. Read to your children.
9. Help instead of Hinder. Say yes when asked to do a favour, don’t look for excuses.
10. Acknowledge goodness. When you have something good to say, say it.

Be an activist

During the long weekend that turned into a lazy long week I watched The Cove and had to share it with you all. It's not often a movie, albeit, a documentary can spur me into action but this one certainly has. I urge you to see The Cove as soon as possible and then you, like me, will not be able to ignore the words of the one participant - "either you're an activist or an inactivist". This documentary won a well-deserved Oscar and will shock you and keep you on the edge of your seats as it breaks open the mysterious cove in Japan where the cruel killing of dolphins happens on an unimaginable scale. I so admire the makers of this film - brave, passionate, bold and true. Please see it, and then take action by sharing it with everyone you know.

Dreaming of Spring

We're already dreaming of spring and summer - literally a few weeks away! So this may be premature but we know you'll love these pretty, flowery tags from Eat, Drink, Chic (read these instructions first for info on the cute font) and use them lots for gift tags, tying around bunches of flowers, or how about around the necks of homemade drinks at your summer parties.

Click here to download now!

Decorex

Another great event for our Jo'burg readers, South Africa's largest decor and design show. Decorex started today and is on until Monday, 9 August. Be inspired by a fresh perspective on all the spaces in which you live, work and play. Find out about all the details here.

Exhibition at Wolves

To all the Jo'burg readers, join us tonight at Wolves Cafe for the Between 10and5 Serenade Your Walls poster exhibition at 6pm. Starting at R120, a poster by some of South Africa's talented young designers is a great way to get some inspired art up in your house!

Happy weekend!

Have a lovely weekend where ever you are in the world. We shall be back blogging daily next week so check back in :)

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A good sale

In Good Company is having a sale! It is well worth visiting their online store for all sorts of things from party decor, to interior extras (I love the ceramic rabbits) to gift ideas and great things for kids. As if we need an excuse to shop...

A lovely coat

When you have one winter coat the sensible decision is to go with black: classic, cool and can basically be worn with anything. However, if you have many winter coats in your wardrobe, how much fun would it be to include this patterned, hooded beauty!

{Source}

Forgive us

Hello lovely readers

Excuse our absence over these last few days: we have been busy studying, working, wiving (which is the verb for being a wife), and a whole lot of other things that suddenly seem to make your day full! We will be back to normal soon so look out for ideas for a fabulous book club, new recipes, new stores, more travel and all sorts of other inspiration!

Love the inspired wives x

It's not Monday

It's not Monday but it is winter and thus soups can be eaten any day of the week. Monday's Soup is the blog of a friend of mine in New York, who, as the name implies, makes and then posts a different soup recipe every Monday. With 52 weeks in a year, and over a year old, this site has many an interesting soup that you may not ever have imagined (Syrian lentil and chard soup?, vegan Ethiopian magic meal?, cock-a-leekie soup?) but will tantalize your taste buds and warm you up from the inside out!

Try out this delicious chickpea and rosemary soup:

• Roughly chop about 4-5 cloves of garlic and saute in olive oil with some hot red pepper, adding a roughly chopped yellow onion when beginning to get translucent. Add about 4 stripped sprigs or fresh rosemary, leaves only.
• Increasing the heat a little, add 4 parsnips (also chopped) and then a zucchini. Cook another five minutes or so until everything is a little softer and you can stick a fork through them
• Add 4 drained and rinsed cans of chickpeas and two tomatoes, then cover with vegetable broth and bring to a simmer (not a full boil! it will make the rosemary bitter)
• Drain and season with lemon juice and black pepper!

Kids in stripes

The future-aunt in me is coming out and I am loving looking at baby clothes and what-not for the babe-to-be. We don't know if it is a boy or a girl but these gorgeous stripes from LuckyBoySunday work either way!

Shop 'til you Drop

My sister-in-law works for ASOS, the UK's largest online fashion and beauty retailer, and they have amazing clothes and brands available - some at great prices, especially with the strong rand right now. I have just discovered that they have flat shipping rates to Africa - only GBP10.50 for delivery within 9 - 11 days. (Don't forget you'll have to pay customs at the post office so add on an extra 20% when ordering.) Nows the time to order some spring/summer clothes as the ASOS range goes on sale as they move into winter.

Let their spring trends inspire you.

Above from left to right: Glamazon - global print and after-dark glamour, Elegant Ease - sharp tailoring with slouchy comfort in sorbet colours and translucent layers, Rodeo Starlet - glitzy and bold '80's American glamour.

Above from left to right: Breezy Boho - '70's prints, floaty layers and  bohemian luxury, Urban Army - military-inspired details and sports shapes for new urban casuals

Above from left to right: Powder Roc - ruffles and romance with structured silhouettes, Hyper Real - Glossy, sexy brights and prints 

Fabulous Free Fonts

We adore fonts - fun, interesting, unusual, beautiful. And it's great to use unusual fonts when creating invitations, notes, anything creative, rather than the usual ones that we all have pre-loaded on our computers. Kenzie's blog, Cute Links For You, often features Font Friday when she features her favourites from around the web - we love them too! Here are some of our recent faves (find them all via Cute Links For You).

Star signs

These birthday cards available from Tiny Prints are pretty, fun and unusual!

Weekday Dinner

I love the blog, Simply Recipes - a family's food blog filled with great, real-life recipes. I'll be trying this Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce this week and if it works out, it might be a good recipe for book club, which I host later this month. Have a look around the blog - there are so many recipes you'll want to try.

Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

1 lb skinless, boneless chicken thighs (you can use breasts, but the thighs are more flavorful)

1 large red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced

2 Tbsp olive oil or grapeseed oil

1 14-oz can coconut milk

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

3 Tbsp fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger

Hot cooked rice

METHOD

1 In a small bowl, mix together the salt, ground coriander, cumin, ground cloves, cinnamon, ground cardamom, black pepper, chili powder, and turmeric. Set aside.

2 Rinse chicken, pat dry. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Put into a bowl and sprinkle the spice mix over all the pieces. Coat well and let sit for 30 minutes at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours.

3 In a large skillet heat 1 Tbsp oil on medium high heat. Add the onions and jalapeños and cook for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Remove the onions, peppers and garlic from the pan and put into a medium sized bowl. Set aside. Use the same pan for the next step.

4 Add 1 Tbsp oil to the skillet and heat on medium high heat. Add one half of the chicken pieces, spreading them out on the pan so they are not crowded. Brown for a few minutes on each side. When the chicken pieces are cooked through, and no pink remains, remove from pan, add to the bowl with the onions. Cook the second batch of chicken pieces the same way. Remove from pan, add to bowl with onions.

5 Add the coconut milk, minus a couple tablespoons, to the skillet. In a small bowl, mix the remaining coconut with the corn starch to dissolve the corn starch. Add the corn startch mixture back to the skillet with the coconut milk. Cook on medium heat and stir till thick and bubbly. Mix in the worcestershire sauce. Add chicken mixture, basil, and ginger. Cook 2 minutes more to cook through.

Serve over rice. Serves 4.

Home Made

In a world where everything can be bought, be proud of your baking and give your cookies the "home made"stamp!

Available online from SUCK UK

An inspired wife is going to become an inspired mum!

Some very exciting news: one of the Inspired Wives is going to become a mom at the end of the year. Because we are burtsing with joy you will be seeing some mum-inspired posts pop up on our blog!

Although not quite looking as big as this yet, I love this Vogue cover of Claudia Schiffer looking as beautiful as ever.

Snack healthy

These snacks sound delicious and are super healthy, low-energy releasing options! Quick and easy and perfect for a lunch at work or midday energy booster. For more ideas and recipes click here.

Tuna and white beans

Avo and lime

Savory sweet potato

Ricotta, herbs and cucumber

Tropical fruit parfait

Savory yogurt dip

Spiced nuts and seeds

Tea Party in Town

We love Joburg city and all the new and exciting ventures popping up all over - you've heard us rave about Arts on Main and now we're dying to have a look at the new store up the road from there, Malva. Join them on Saturday for a tea party!

Click image for full-size version.

Welcome mat

I love this welcome mat and think it would be perfect at my front door. Unfortunately I have no idea where to get it but I found it online here.