Outdated trends? what do you think?

Trends come and go.  But I think I'm now officially over these.  What do you think? 

There are a ton I can think of but these are the big ones. I don't see anything wrong with any of them, though, because that is what makes your celebration or wedding and special to you.  Also if we try to keep our parties timeless, they would all look the same (and very boring).  But let's move on to something new.  Let's be bold and start a new trend.  This weekend it's the Design Indaba in Cape Town and I can't wait to hear and see the latest visual inspiration.

The end of a journey

My dad passed away on Valentine's Day. He suffered a long and hard battle against cancer and we are relieved that he is free from pain now.  I am leaving for the funeral today but will be back on the 25th of February 2013.  My cell phone will be with me, 083 253 5556. 

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross het geskryf: I've told my children that when I die, to release balloons in the sky to celebrate that I graduated. For me, death is a graduation.

Dit was 'n voorreg om die laaste 72 uur by hom te kon wees en sy hand vas te hou tot op die einde. Ek WOU daar wees, elke oomblik, my hande deur sy kuif stoot en hom herinner dat hy nie alleen is nie. Om te sterf is sekerlik een van die mees eensaamste paaie waarop ons almal moet loop.

Ek wil my pa se lewe vier. Hierdie sterk en wyse man wat altyd die anker was in my lewe - altyd die regte raad in 'n krisis, gelykmatig en beredeneerd. Nooit bang vir niks. 'n Innerlike en fisieke krag wat min mense hom kan nadoen.

Sy dood het my geleer wat liefde is: om hom te versorg al was hy meesal 'n baie moeilike en befoeterde pasient. Al waaroor ek beheer gehad het was my eie houding en met verloop van tyd die besef dat al wat nou belangrik is, is liefde en om net te "wees", being there next to him. Die dood was nooit vir my vreesaanjaend nie, maar dié van 'n diepe liefdesband tussen pa en dogter.

Dankie vir die stroom van boodskappe, sms'se, oproepe. My pa is nou tussen die Karoo-bosse, windpompe, kleinvee en die oop rante van die Nuweveldberge, hy is vry!

Sy sterfte is hartseer maar my fokus is om sy lewe te vier.

Sy gedenkdiens is volgende Saterdagoggend 9h30, 23 Februarie vanuit die NG Moederkerk in Beaufort-Wes.

Colour of 2013: Emerald

PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, 

a lively, radiant, lush green, is the Color of the Year for 2013.

The 2012 color of the year, PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, provided the energy boost we needed to recharge and move forward. Emerald, a vivid verdant green, enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight as well as promoting balance and harmony.

Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. Also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity, no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.

"The most abundant hue in nature, the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today's complex world. This powerful and universally-appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors."

Find out more about this radiant jewel tone and its many applications in fashion, beauty, home décor and design on www.pantone.com. Dig deeper into the thinking and decision-making process that answers why, of the nearly infinite range of colors perceivable by the human eye, 17-5641 Emerald captured our attention, our imagination and our collective eye to become this year's selection as the Pantone 2013 Color of the Year.