For some, chilling out may mean booking a camping site 20 km from the nearest village a year in advance. Or going into a Trappist monastery until the festive season is over.

But most people will have a more sociable time – either at home, visiting relatives, or at the seaside somewhere. Who knows, you might need to get back to the office in January to get some rest. In order to get the most out of your break , women24.com suggest that you try and avoid the following festive season stressors.

Guests galore. You have a big house, and over Christmas it fills up with aunties, grannies, nieces, uncles – you name it. Instead of looking after four people, you are now looking after twelve. This is no holiday for you, as you are the unofficial entertainment committee, the caterer, the conflict resolution specialist, and the local cleaner. If you live in a popular destination, you might have to put your foot down. Or at least put together a duty roster for the cooking and the cleaning. And, for heaven’s sake, don’t feel you have to be the unofficial tour guide. Take a day or two off and let the guests entertain themselves.

Feeding frenzy. Food, food, food. It’s all over during the Christmas season and it’s lying in wait for you everywhere, and we’re not talking about celery sticks either. It’s chips, cakes, cheese snacks, chocolates, to name but a few. And, after all, you’re on holiday. So why not? That’s fine, but just don’t get into a new habit. Most people end the festive season with quite a few kilos that were not there in November. Don’t become a festive season fatty.

Booze bonanza. From the office party to friends’ homes, to family barbecues – booze is no stranger to the festive season. And often, other people are paying for it. By all means have a beer or two, if you’re not driving, but don’t binge on booze. Drinking too much is something that carries its own punishment with it, a bit like eating that second helping of hot Indian curry. And do remember, that everyone likes you to have a drink or two, but nobody likes having a social embarrassment at their parties. Fall down drunk, or insult one of the other guests, and you can be sure you’ll be off the party list. Forever.

I’m so lonely. Some people wish everything could be a little quieter. Others wish for a break from the peace and quiet and they dream of the phone ringing or a horde of guests arriving. The secret is to arrange a few things in advance. Invite people for supper, get a friend to go with you to a movie, or organise a day or two away in a different place. Don’t wait until the festive season is upon you before doing something about your social calendar. It’s not going to happen by itself.

Exercise inertia. Most people give their exercise regimes a break during the festive season. It is, after all, the end of the year. Problem is, many people overindulge completely on the food front at the same time, and coupled with a fortnight of couch-potato-ism, your waistline might be expanding at the rate of knots. Go for a walk with the family, run along the beach, play volleyball. Do anything to burn up those extra calories. And get back into it early in the new year.

Credit card crisis. The last of the Big Spenders. If that describes you in the shopping centre with your Christmas bonus and your credit card, you’re obviously a sucker for all those Christmas ads. And you’re going to be stony broke in January, and depressed in February when the credit card statements start arriving. Point is that you can probably buy just as nice a present for R100 as you can for R200, or R400. You just need to plan it well. It’s the thought that counts, not the size of the present.

Sunburn stress. The sun in the southern hemisphere is vicious , and skin cancer is a real danger. And remember that the damage is cumulative. Burning yourself to a crisp or having a whimpering and sunburnt child on your hands, is no way to spend Christmas. Speak to your pharmacist and get a high-factor sunblock before you head for the beach. And speaking of the beach – watch out for bluebottles or pieces of broken glass in the sand.

Crowd control. Think of Christmas, and what many people see are teeming masses of people in a shopping centre, all of them with a mission, and accompanied by at least two unwilling and exhausted kids. It can be avoided – do your gift shopping in November and do a bulk grocery shop before 18 December. Milling crowds can be exhausting, and elicit everything but the Christmas spirit in you. In fact, it can bring on a bout of trolley rage.

Gift of the grab. Frantic last-minute gift-buying is a killer – not only don’t you get what you are looking for, you also spend a fortune on it. Rather than give unwanted and expensive presents, go for gift vouchers – at least people will appreciate them, even if they are not the most personal of offerings.

Family fest. Family. You get them, you don’t choose them. And never is it more obvious than at Christmas time when Uncle Freddy is holding forth on all his achievements, or Aunt Doris is slurring after her third beer. Or your cousin’s kids are running around screaming, chasing your poor cats. Then there are the endless questions about when you are going to tie the knot, have babies etc. Family get-togethers seldom do much for your self-esteem. Just repeat the mantra, “It will soon be over for another year.”

Arniston Bay has a wide wine range that will suit any palate for all the festive season occasions.

Source: women24.com

Out of the way boys! This one’s for the girls! Cape Town girls looking for a dazzling night out will get the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and be care-free by filling their glasses with the fresh, crisp wine and enjoy the 5FM Girls’ Night Out, coming to the Cape Town Women’s Show on Friday, February 19.

The company of wine people^TM‘s Brands and Business Development Manager, Corne Oosthuizen, says, “We are proud to be sponsoring our care-free, wines for an event of this nature. It aligns perfectly with our uniquely relaxing brand of Arniston Bay wines.”

Get your four closest girlfriends together, and join Sureshnie and your fav 5FM girls at the CTICC. 5FM will be treating the ladies to a fashion show, an Elle magazine trend workshop, a hot set from 5FM’s female DJs and a live performance by Gang of Instrumentals!

Listen to Sureshnie Rider’s show (Mon-Thurs, 11pm-1am) for details on how to get onto the guest list.
“We will be showcasing our wines at both The Women’s Show and The Girls’ Night Out Party and are very excited to introduce the ladies of Cape Town to our blush pink, new sparkling Rosé which is an ideal drink for a girls night out,” he continues.

Listen to Sureshnie Rider’s show (Mon-Thurs, 11pm-1am) for details on how to get onto the guest list.

For more info visit: www.5fm.co.za

Lifestyle brand Arniston Bay is proud to announce that it will be the wine sponsor at the 5FM Girls Night Out party.

This event will be held at the Cape Town Convention Centre on Friday 19 February and promises to be a great night.  The party will again be hosted by Sureshnie Rider, fashion shows by the finest designers, music by top SA Bands like Flash Republic & Tamara Dey.  5FM also indicated that they will host a week long competition on air and listeners will be able to win tickets to this exclusive event.

the company of wine people^TM‘s Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, Chris O’Shea, says, “We are proud to be sponsoring our easy-drinking, lifestyle wine for this occasion. It aligns perfectly with our brand essence.”

The Valpre Top Travel programme commences on Wednesday 7th October on SABC 3 at 8pm. Jeannie D and Janez Vermeiren embark on a 26-week journey around the globe in search of all things premium and rare.

High-profile guests attending the launch had the opportunity to sample the easy drinking wines with varietals such as the Arniston Bay Sparkling Brut, Arniston Bay Sparkling Rose, Arniston Bay Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and Arniston Bay Reserve Shiraz.

Kylie Minogue has been voted the female celeb people would most like to have over for dinner.

The Australian pop star beat the likes of Nigella Lawson and Cheryl Cole, winning 23 per cent of the votes in a poll of ideal dinner guests carried out by Arniston Bay wines.

Domestic goddess Nigella received 19 per cent of the votes, followed by The X Factor’s Cheryl with 16 per cent.

The least popular female dinner guest was Katie Price, who only got three per cent.

Nelson Mandela topped the list of ideal male dinner guests with 32 per cent of the votes. He beat Brad Pitt and David Beckham to take the top spot.

Barney Davis from Arniston Bay said: “The ultimate desert island dish is a steak dinner with Kylie and Nelson Mandela as guests, listening to classical music and drinking Chenin Chardonnay. Perfect!”

Source: thisisbristol.co.uk

It’s not easy being green. Just ask some of our purportedly environmentally conscious celebrities like Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio. Despite their best efforts to raise awareness, even they have a hard time leading by example.

See which of your favorite stars have been called out as environmental hypocrites.

ivillage.com

With all the buzz surrounding environmental issues lately, celebrities are taking a strong stance on protecting Mother Nature. Celebs like Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz are making headlines for their commitment to eco-friendly causes, from solar roof panels to organic fashion lines.

Did you know that Charlize Theron opts for an EcoLimo when stepping out to red-carpet events? Or that Brad Pitt is an active member of Global Green USA? Green up by matching the following celebs to their most notable environmental efforts.

Instructions: Match the photos of the celebrities to their eco-conscious efforts as fast as you can.

Celebrities Go Green: Hear from TV stars who are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint

Source: ivillage.com

The Fashion Police , unlike Chris Brown and Rihanna , were as usual present at the Grammy awards. Celeb critic Kimberly Couzens gave a few thumbs up and a few “please-do-not-try-this-fashion-at-home” comments.

 Thumbs up: Katy Perry in Basil Soda. She looks great in pink, her legs are covered, and she stayed true to her personal style by keeping the dress a little wild with the pleated shape at the waist.

 

No-go: MIA. This outfit isn’t nearly as bad as the one she wore onstage, where she looked like a slutty bumblebee. M.I.A., we wish you the best with the baby and everything, but please give birth in the hospital. I was afraid she was going to pop onstage. That plus the overly revealing outfit was just too much to handle.

Thumbs up: Miley Cyrus in Herve Leger by Max Azria and Taylor Swift in Kaufman Franco.  Both dresses are classic black but have modern shapes and embellishments. I also love one-shoulder gowns – I think they are universally flattering.

No-go: Leann Rimes in Philosophy. I hate the detailing, the color combination, and the wrinkled skirt. I just hate it.

Thumbs up: Kate Beckinsale in Reem Acra. Love the detailing

 

No-go: Jennifer Hudson.  The dress would look great on someone petite, and the colors would be perfect on Jennifer if they were made from a flowier gown with a soft-draped silhouette. It just looks uncomfortable.

 

Source: kimberlycouzens.com ]]> http://blog.arniston-bay.com/index.php/2009/02/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-dresses-at-the-grammy-awards/feed/ 0 http://blog.arniston-bay.com/index.php/2008/12/the-big-cheese/ http://blog.arniston-bay.com/index.php/2008/12/the-big-cheese/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:58:31 +0000 Bivio http://arnistonbay.wordpress.com/?p=441

When pairing wine and cheese, you want a wine that’s going to complement the flavours of the cheese and not overpower it – and vice versa. You wouldn’t drink a really light wine with a strong-tasting cheese, or a mild cheese with a full-bodied, robust wine.

There’s a general rule of thumb to follow: the stronger the cheese is, move up the spectrum of the body of wine.

Mild, hard cheeses such as cheddar are best paired with Gamet Noir, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, unwooded Chardonnays or Cabernet Francs. While stronger hard cheeses such as aged Gouda or Asiago go best with a full-bodied Shiraz, Zinfandel or Bordeaux blends.

Aromatic wines such as Riesling and Gewurztraminer are great with soft cheeses like brie and Camembert; while a Sauvignon Blanc and Rose are classic pairings for goat cheese.

When it comes to blue cheeses, you want to pick an ice wine, late harvest wine or port. Going for higher sugar content will smooth out the edges of a strong blue cheese

Source: canada.com

According to news agency AFP, the 34-year-old US star (pictured) will produce a romantic comedy based on the book, which extols the virtues of a continental diet – meals rich in fat and carbohydrates.

Written by Mireille Guiliano, a former executive with Champagne house Veuve Clicquot, the book examines the reasons why Guiliano, who was used to a continental diet of bread, pastries, wine, and three-course meals, went to the US as an exchange student and ‘came back fat’.

According to Guiliano, the book ‘unlocks the secrets of the “French Paradox” – how to enjoy food and stay slim and healthy’.

The book topped the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list and has sold over 2m copies worldwide.

Although not as wine-led as recent wine films Bottle Shock and Sideways, according to reports, the film’s protagonist will be the boss of a Champagne house.

Swank has won two Academy Awards (Oscars): one for her role in the 1999 film Boys Don’t Cry and one, in 2005, for her portrayal of a boxer in Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby.