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Rose and Thorns

Lifestyle

My favorite photos of 2019

My girls Love..., Parenthood

Encouraging imaginary newborn doll play for all

Explore, Food & Drink

Leopard’s Leap makes family lunches lovely

Food & Drink

Join the Rugani juice revolution

Lifestyle

2019 Local Christmas Wish List

Explore, Food & Drink

Family lunch at Perdeberg

  • Food & Drink

    My 2018 jolly Festive Drinks Guide

    A show of hands please for those who are looking for some festive drinks to enjoy over the holidays?…

    November 27, 2018
  • My girls Love..., Parenthood

    Crazy for Kiddylicious

    How do you start a “praise” post about Kiddylicious without sounding like it’s forced? I really struggle with this…

    November 23, 2018
  • Parenthood

    A family photo shoot with Grand Little Adventure

    A few weeks ago, we were blessed with a family photo shoot which was everything real and authentic….it started…

    November 19, 2018
  • Lifestyle

    I put Environ Focus Care™ to the test on tired, dry skin

    I trialed Environ Focus Care™ for a month and the results surprised me. When it comes to my skin,…

    November 14, 2018
  • Food & Drink

    I’m dreaming of a white chocolate Christmas

    I am MAD about Christmas…and so is Cadbury. I have so many personal and family traditions that I keep…

    November 11, 2018
  • Parenthood

    Christmas gift guide for new mothers and babies

    There is something in the water…EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE PREGNANT!? The birth announcements keep coming in thick and fast…

    November 8, 2018
  • Parenthood

    Christmas gift ideas for the kids

    There are going to inevitably be so many Christmas gift guides circulating already but honestly, when it comes to…

    November 6, 2018
  • Explore, Parenthood

    Fun locations to visit with the kids in JHB & Cape Town

    Whilst Christmas time is full of joy and good cheer, it’s also a period of acute fatigue (mainly for…

    October 30, 2018
  • Parenthood

    Love To Dream because I Love to sleep

    You know that awesome idiom, “Sleeping like a baby”? Remember how people used to use it to denote a…

    October 17, 2018
  • Explore

    Five reasons to visit Franschhoek with the Family

    I could be totally biased choosing Franschhoek as a travel destination seeing as it’s only 45 minutes away from…

    September 28, 2018
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Hello!

Hello!

I'm Shante Hutton, mother to two wonderful girls, Rosie and Cece. Welcome to my lovely (and raw) world of parenting, food, wine, travel and British sarcasm.

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  • *Work for a marriage that’s more beautiful than the wedding* . . . With so much emphasis on having a stunning, unique wedding that’s “Pinterest-worthy”, it’s dangerously easy to focus on a 24hr sprint and forget the coming marathon. . . Today Mr H & I celebrate 9 years of wacky and wonderful wedded bliss and bloodshed. I will not pretend that our marriage has been a magical explosion of unicorn farts and pixie dust. We have grafted. Dug trenches. Started wars. Cried. Screamed. Sat in heavy silence until our shoulders felt like they could no longer hold the weight of our expectations. And then we stopped fighting. Started listening, loving without prerequisites. We became best friends. . . . Our marriage is better than I could have imagined but we had to work at it, we had to stop thinking we needed to be wearing armor in each other’s presence. You can’t hope to fully love someone and grow together if you’re hiding behind fantasy/your envisioned expectations, and defenses. . . . Sure, I’m a pain in the ass. I’m hopelessly self-centered. I’m a self-confessed hermit. But all my “bad” traits become workable quirks under the love of someone who truly gets me. Maaan, I love my man. . . . Next year we’re hoping to do something to celebrate 10 years - to perhaps renew our vows and have the wedding we always wanted, with the people we actually want there and a photographer that takes photos of the family 😬🙄 (I might share our wedding day in my stories). We’re thinking of hiring an Airbnb villa type and just having a big party...what do you think? Did you celebrate a decade of marriage? . . . . . #anniversary #marriagestory #marriagegoals #wifelife #honesty #thislove #thepursuitofjoy #lifewellcaptured #kindredmemories #subjectlight #inbeautyandchaos #roses #portrait_vision
  • *This Valentine’s Day, I want to enjoy long walks to the fridge* . . . Dear Cupid, today, as with every day, I would like the following: ♥️A uninterrupted 12 hour sleep. ♥️The ability to eat all the carbs and still wear my leggings as pants. ♥️Someone to perfectly style my unruly mane. ♥️A magical veil that allows me to eye-roll without people seeing it. ♥️Great wine and food, made and served by a top chef/winemaker. ♥️Would it be extreme to require a trip to the Maldives? ♥️How’s about a bs radar? . . . Whatever you can handle Mr C, send it my way! . . And if that list falls through, a night, in bed, with takeaway, wine, a cheesy movie and my man will be just perfect. . . . . Happy V Day ya’ll - I look forward to all your pregnancy announcements in May! 😌😏 . . . . . #makeyousmile #makeportraitsnotwar #womeninframe #theeverygirl #forthegram #makeportraits #dearphotographer #photooftheday #picoftheday #newromantics #husbandandwife #myman
  • *When in doubt, throw some shapes* . . . When I think of Nike, I think of Serena Williams. I think of some of the strongest sports campaigns in the field and I think of a titan of tennis, blowing the fuddy duddy haters out of the water. It’s a brand that have supported their heroes even when no one else has and when @rookieusa.za got in touch to kit out the girls, I was secretly hoping that they would end up in full-on Nike. . . . Game. Set. Match! . . . We received a bundle of amazing clothing that puts my active wear to shame…how is it that my kids keep looking better dressed than I am?! . . . However, Nike is not the only brand under the @rookieusa.za banner, they also offer Converse, Jordan, Hurley and Levi’s and it’s a kids only, multi-branded premium retail destination focused on kids from the ages of 0-20 years old. . . . Whilst these images of my kids are super cute (look at the sass in Cece’s walk), and the pics in my stories are adorbs, here’s the real kicker… . . 🗣🗣Rookie USA is giving away a hamper worth R2500 to one you! Yep, let’s get some of that Valentine’s love in the form of clothing (it’s a thing right?) and the best bit, this comp is open for all in SA, for kids (and young adults) aged 0-20 years!! . . . How to enter: 1. Like the post 2. Follow @rookieusa.za 3. Follow me 4. Tag a fierce friend 5. Extra entry for sharing to your stories. . Entries close Friday, 28 February 2020. No cash exchange. NB DO NOT SPAM ME, a few tags is okay but more than 5 and I get 🙄😑. Troll accounts (those who keep following and unfollowing me) will be blocked. . . To see what you could be winning, visit the Rookie USA site . . . . . #nike #pixel_kids #runwildmychild #wildandfreechildren #nikewomen #funseekingkids #curiouslittleexplorers #watchthemgrow #explorerkids #freespiritedchildhood #themagicineveryday #rememberingthesedays #capturingtheday #myhappycapture
  • *Pinterest gave me unrealistic expectations about photographing my kids* . . On Sunday I threw caution to the wind and it came hurtling back in my face. Cape Town wind is not a team player. . . I thought that we could capture some pics of the girls in their new @rookieusa.za gear and as you can see, we all had the best time 🙄🥴 . . We lasted approximately 7.5mins before I couldn’t feel my face anymore. Have I become a Toddlers & Tiaras mother?! My poor kids. . . . Anyway, we tried again! And you’re gonna be glad we did because I’ve got a fab giveaway loading... . . . . . . . #funseekingkids #curiouslittleexplorers #watchthemgrow #momentsoverposes #writeyouonmyheart #lovingtheordinarymoments #explorerkids #freespiritedchildhood #themagicineveryday #rememberingthesedays #stunningbabies #capturingtheday #myhappycapture #lifecloseup #oureverydaymoments #collab #justdoit
  • *We’re all at war, some of us just hide our wounds better* . . . I don’t make my mental health a secret. I owe it to myself to honor my fight, and I owe it to those who feel helpless and unable to put words to their darkness. . . . Last year was the most successful year of my business life. But my personal life got shat on and my body and mental state was reduced to dust. . . Depression and anxiety are common but they are not normal. To say they are “normal” is to imply that we should accept it, that it is something we must just “get over”. Some of us may never be able to live without it, but we get used to fighting and we constantly upgrade our armor. . . . I know so many incredible entrepreneurs who are building empires whilst the walls of their minds feel like they are breaking. . . We learn to hide the mania well. But, I decided awhile ago that I wasn’t going to add to the melting pot by trying to live up to other’s expectations of me. . . . Some folks believe that speaking your mind is “drama” but why should I tiptoe around issues that have no business being another dead weight in my head when I could just voice it all out in the open? We spend too much of our time bundling up our thoughts and feelings, adding them to our already fragile inner monologue and then it builds and explodes. . . Shrapnel everywhere. . . It’s not about being a “bitch”, it’s about choosing what you allow to get under your skin and what needs a swift swipe with the sword of truth. . . . For those who want to condition what people share and who are constantly offended by what we have to say, NEWSFLASH, a lot of us have much bigger monsters to fight than to worry about your precious sensibilities. . . . . #thatauthenticfeeling #verilymoment #littlestoriesofmylife #momentsofmine #feelfreefeed #visualcrush #theeverygirl #thephotographerwithin #inbeautyandchaos #portraitpage #portriats_ig #hometruths #nothingisordinary_ #click_vision #littlebitsof_life #mentalhealth #beingyourself
  • *”Well that escalated quickly” is pretty much our family motto* . . . We all know that outings with children can make us go a bit cray and frankly, I don’t contemplate going anywhere that doesn’t have a play area, food for distractions, and wide open spaces for me to run around and scream out my frustration. . . . Last week we were invited to @spiceroutepaarl to test out their activity passport (valid for a year and includes chocolate, biltong, beer, wine tasting for R210pp) and to see how this destination faired for families with young kids. . . We picked the freakin’ hottest day of the year (can you see my delicious upper lip sweat in the photo) so we couldn’t spend time on the children’s play area coz it was blistering. But we did eat a questionable amount of chocolate at the De Villiers Chocolate tasting - the girls, naturally, adored this and I was in my element - I got my wine at the restaurant, the kids had a lot of food, and then we also had ice cream at the DV Café. Basically, it was a cheat day all round...but we still didn’t get to the beer, gin or charcuterie tasting so we will need to go back soon. . . I would recommend the destination for ages 4 upwards as the play areas wouldn’t suit younger kids. They’ve mentioned they are putting in a water feature for the kids and I think that will be brilliant because Paarl is haaawt. . . . The chocolate tasting was fantastic - I want to reiterate this. There was a seemingly endless amount of tastings and the price is insanely good (R35). Once we’ve done the other tastings I’ll share some more of my thoughts coz obviously ya’ll dying to know 😌😬 . . . Have you visited @spiceroutepaarl how did you find it? . . . . . #hosted #bloglife #mommyblogger #ontheblog #seekthesimplicity #livethelittlethings #lifestyleblogger #thehappynow #littlemomentsofhappiness #toddlerhood #lovelifeoutside #whatevertheweatherkids #exploremore #capetown #wineryreview
  • *”Watch carefully the magic that occurs when you give a person enough comfort to just be themselves.”* . . . This quote resonates so strongly in my bones. . . My girls have very different personalities. Rosie is emotional, passionate, loves to be loved and loves to give love. Cece watches, waits, when she bestows affection upon you it’s like magic, but if she doesn’t like something, you feel the earth quake. The way we parent them has to be different, we have to be aware that the space we create with our words and actions needs to make them feel comfortable to not only be themselves but to encourage their growth. . . . It’s the same with ourselves and the people we interact with. Don’t plant yourself among the rocks and the weeds and then wonder why you can’t breathe. Imagine how far you could go with the right people that encourage your uniqueness? With the people who welcome difference and strive to understand you first before giving an opinion. . . . You notice these types of people immediately. They are the ones who you don’t have to always see eye-to-eye with; the ones who debate, rather than fight; who strive to learn rather than leave. . . . But we can’t take the space all for ourselves - we have to give it too. I’m terrible at trying to force people to accept all my loudness without always being open to accept theirs. And in the past I have been bad at appreciating those who let me crash around their space like the over imposing giant that I am 😆🙈 . . . So, who makes you feel like you can be yourself? And if you’re currently with people that are forcing you to hide who you are...darling, shall we break out the hoes? 😌 . . . . . #honestmotherhood #makeportraits #dearphotographer #photooftheday #picoftheday #justgoshoot #visuallife #heaventhroughmylens #littlepiecesofchildhood #ourcandidlife #instakid #letthekids #pixel_kids #runwildmychild #wildandfreechildren #womensupportingwomen
  • *It’s the Oscars, biets!* . . . Are you ready to get your review on folks?! 🙆🏻‍♀️💅🏻 . . To celebrate the #oscars2020 review on the 9th, I’ve got an Oscar hamper of bubbly and oscar-themed cookies to give to one amazing follower, and I will personally deliver it dressed up and looking fabulous. Yes, you read that right. I want you to sit back, relax, and enjoy all the fashion choices with something delicious. . . . Entering is super simple: 🥂Follow me and like this post. 🥂Follow @laborie_wines . 🥂Follow @thefrostedraspberry . . 🥂Tag your most fashionable biets . . Comp open to CT folks. Ain’t endorsed by Instagram and there is no cash exchange. No trolls or spam please. Winner will be chosen on the 7th and prize will be delivered on the 8th. Winner will be forced to take a selfie with me. 👸🏻🍾 . . . . . . #visualcrush #theeverygirl #pursuewhatislovely #dressedtoimpress #lovelylittlesquares #oscarfashion #lifewellcaptured #subjectlight #howyouglow #makeyousmilestyle
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