I received the below via email from my mom. And after the morning I had fighting with SAA, it was received with laughter and snorting and sore smiling-muscles! I am sure they will cheer you up too if you’ve also had a crappy day…
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
…sounds like the start of a joke, hey?! Well they are all separate elements that created serious stress for me and they all happened in the past two days…
My boss
I have been at my current job for the past 16 months. And my time there has involved some good, some bad, some frustrating and some why-am-I-not-grey-yet moments. Anyway…things got quite heated on Thursday, so much so that I handed in my letter of resignation on Friday which the boss didn’t accept. I don’t think I can/want to say more about this at the moment but let’s say that things will need to change if I am to stay…
My hairdresser
If you follow me on twitter you will have known that I had a very crappy experience with my previous hair salon. I had gone there in July-ish to retouch my highlights and get a trim but on arrival I was told my hairdresser had quit and that another lady would “fit me in”. Not only was my hair butchered (badly cut and highlights not done properly), the lady messed hair product on my white jersey. So I was in search of a someone new… And then my sister told me about this lady at a salon in Dunkeld that was looking for new clients and had vouchers for complimentary treatments. I jumped at the chance to try someone new (and a referral) and to use a voucher towards it. Let me just say that I have found my new hairdresser! The highlights were perfectly done and she fit as many as possible to ensure I was happy. I was then led through to the wash basin area where my jaw dropped as I entered… Instead of the normal chair positioned in front of the specially shaped basin, I spotted a few curved beds with the specially shaped basin where a pillow would be. And next to the bed was a stool where a therapist was waiting to give me my complimentary hand (or foot) massage. And the thought came to mind of why would anyone need to go to a spa when their hair salon relaxed them like this!! I’m definitely going back…
My dad
We arranged to see my dad this morning so we could chat through what has happened the past few months and where we are at the moment. My dad has been worried about Gary and I getting back together (and understandably so)…so this conversation had been a long time coming. Not only to put to bed what happened all those months ago, but also to tell him where we are now and where we see ourselves in the future. It was a nerve-wracking drive to the restaurant but the chat went well and I think we’re on the way to patching things up…
So how stressful was the past two days for you?!
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
So last night’s Sony event was the highlight of my week! Not only did I get to catch up with some other Girl Guide reviewers, I got to put my hands on some awesome new goodies that are coming onto the market. And if you count in the yummy canapés and delicious lamingtons and nut brownies, the night was sure to be a success!
The most exciting product that has stuck in my mind (and that I’m hoping to review…fingers crossed!) is the reinvented Handycam Camcorder. Sony has paired an HD camcorder with a projector! The camcorder looks like any other but now sports a built-in projector on the flip-out LCD display. This means that you would not need a TV screen or laptop to show your holiday videos or share your little one’s first steps… All you would need is a flat white wall! What’s also exciting is that the camcorder allows the videos to be projected from as far away as three metres, or as close as twenty centimetres (if I remember correctly). Let’s hope one of these little camcorders will be waiting for me at the Girl Guides’ offices soon… hint hint
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
Your TomTom will operate at its best if it is continually updated with the new maps and elements as provided by TomTom. It’s a simple step of logging onto the TomTom website and downloading an application to keep you up to date. Here’s how…
Take a look here for the full How To…
…and so the need for scarves is still here too!
I happened upon the below video through twitter and thought I would share it with you. If you are anything like me, I only know of one way to wear a scarf. But with the 25 different ways to wear a scarf shown, my wardrobe will be getting a whole new lease on life!
Enjoy!
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
PS: If you know of another way to wear a scarf, send a pic through so I can see too…
*Note: Before all you spelling Nazi’s attack me for my poor spelling, let me tell you first off that it is intentional. It has been so chaotic that normal spelling will just not do!
So on to this Kraziness (with a Kapital K)…
Life in general has not been easy. Work has been Krazy. After work hours have been Krazy. The world as I know it has been Krazy. So let me update you on the Krazy life that I’m living at the moment…
For those of you who have an inkling of the world of event management, you will know that generally speaking the winter months are quieter. There are less weddings as brides don’t particularly want to walk down a grassy aisle that is a wintery brown instead of a summer rain-kissed green. There are less events as companies know their staff would rather spend the evenings cozied up on a couch than strutting their stuff a company function. And so this time is used to get organised with the events in the summer months, and get organised at the office. However this year we have not had the chance to breathe. We have been going non stop! This past weekend we had a wedding at Summer Place for a couple from Botswana. This weekend we have a farewell party for a private client. Then half the team jets to Cape Town for a bridal fair. And before you know it, it’s the end of August with another function to arrange before the start of wedding season in September. I’m feeling all shaky with tension just thinking about the calendar ahead… On the plus side, another lady has been hired to assist me. At this stage she has only taken over a few files, but at least it’s a few less files for me to worry about. And as she gains in confidence and experience, more will be taken off my plate. Can I get a hallelujah?! 
So the stress experienced at work thus overflows into the after work hours… And the result is me wanting to stay on the couch, finishing off slabs (and slabs) of chocolate, while I further my new obsession of SuperNatural (yes, I know I’m late to the game). And yet, in between these moments of chocolate overload, I find myself writing reviews as The Dessert Teaspoon for a new food reviewing site called The Upper Palatte. And let’s not forget the tech reviews for Girl Guides! To be honest I am not quite sure where or how it all fits in time wise, but it does. And I’m a better, more rounded person for it.
And now for the bit you’re probably all waiting to hear about. Especially if you noted a relationship status change on Facebook… Gary and I are back together! Yes we have things to work on. Yes we have things to deal with. But we’re happy. And we’re making the necessary changes to move forward and grow together.
And on that happy note, what’s news with you?
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
If you read this post, you would know that I enjoyed these desserts on Thursday night when The Upper Palatte (TUP) met for our first “ingestion” at Cube Tasting Kitchen in Parktown North.
To my absolute excitement, there were three dessert courses!
Dessert Course One
Pistachio polenta tart with lemon custard & olive shavings.
My Thoughts
The lemon custard tasted like the perfect lemon zest found in my favourite lemon meringue tart. It was tart but sweet. And when paired with the polenta tart, I was in heaven. I know it was a “tasting menu” but I could easily have had a larger portion served.
Dessert Course Two
Pineapple & raisins flambéed in Jasmin Tea with Chantilly cream and a delectable caramel popcorn shooter.
My Thoughts
I am not the biggest fruit fan, so I was pleasantly surprised to taste the pineapple and raisins and find that the Jasmin Tea had altered their taste…in a good way. And then paired with the Chantilly cream… Mouth-gasm of note! And then… I dipped my teaspoon into the caramel popcorn shooter and my mouth-gasm happened all over again. It was like buttery caramel popcorn but in a liquid form. Wow!
Dessert Course Three
Rosemary infused hot chocolate & baked chocolate custard.
My Thoughts
I wasn’t a fan of the rosemary hot chocolate. It tasted more like a savoury gravy with a hint of chocolate, than a hot chocolate infused with rosemary. Nonetheless it was a great palate cleanser. The baked chocolate custard was like a chocolate crème brûlée. It was rich and creamy. And when paired with the last drop of the rosemary hot chocolate, the taste was enhanced to perfection.
I would love to try a multiple course menu of desserts. Maybe Cube Tasting Kitchen will do this one day… Would you join me?
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
…because dessert should always be enjoyed with a teaspoon!
Some of you may know that I have a sweet tooth (to put it mildly). And some of you may know that I have become known as the Sweet Tooth Extraordinaire Dessert Reviewer. Well, I was recently invited to join the The Upper Palatte (TUP) as their Dessert Teaspoon. TUP is a group for discerning palates and distinguished patrons of exquisite cuisine in some of the finest settings in and around Johannesburg. Whether it is luxurious gastronomic fare, a cosy neighbourhood bistro, a downtown ethnic eatery, or a pavement cafe, the Upper Palatte aims to bring together good friends for great company. (Taken from their Facebook page)
Now last night happened to be the first “ingestion” which took place at Cube Tasting Kitchen in Parktown North. And when I first heard that we would be having multiple courses, my stomach grumbled an excited HELL YEAH!
We arrived late which was not a good start – the restaurant wasn’t labelled so we had trouble locating it. Luckily we spotted The Fork on the sidewalk and quickly found a parking spot.
I’m not going to tell you about what I tasted, I’m going to show you… And hopefully it’ll make your mouth water, and your hand pick up the phone to call in a reservation!
Serving One
The white square held smoked salmon slices and a micro salad.
The glass underneath that held warm home-made apple cider.
The glass in the middle was a hazelnut milkshake with duck confit.
And the cone on the left held chilli chocolate with chicken.
Serving Two
The white dish on the left held tomato pate with brinjal.
The glass just above held a prawn and avocado creme brûlée (a much tastier version of avocado ritz).
The glass to the right held a mushroom soup.
And on the wire plate was a chicken spring roll in rice paper with a chilli dipping sauce.
Serving Three
Lemon-grass infused Thai Green Curry with coconut shavings, and served with home-made bread.
Serving Four
Braised sole positioned on a new potato and finished off with creamed spinach and a sweet lemon crème.
Serving Five
Lobster Thermidore with chorizo purée on a bed of barley with lemon zest crème.
Serving Six
Slow roasted honey-glazed pork belly on a bed of oxtail ragout with a drizzle of butternut purée.
Serving Seven
Quail served with a star anise & fennel (licorice flavour) reduction.
Serving Eight
Fillet with beetroot mousse, creamy mashed potato & white wine mushrooms.
Serving Nine
A cheese salad with olive tapenade & spicy onion marmalade.
Serving Ten
Pistachio polenta tart with lemon custard & olive shavings.
Serving Eleven
Pineapple & raisins flambéed in Jasmin Tea with Chantilly cream and a delectable caramel popcorn shooter.
Serving Twelve
Rosemary infused hot chocolate & baked chocolate custard.
This four-hour meal was definitely worth the R450.00 per person price. I left feeling happy and full (though there was still space for an extra few courses of dessert). Would definitely do this again… Feel like joining me?
Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles
