stuff i like...truthfully

Sometimes, I find myself in the fortunate position of getting media packs sent to me. Sometimes, I just get requests for endorsements of products on this blog.

I'd like to think that because this is my blog, that I'll certainly consider endorsing products here. However. Only if I honestly believe it's a product I TRULY like and/or use.

This blog is meant to be a true reflection, wholly subjective of course, on day-to-day stuff that is my life. And therefore, any mention I make of something is because I genuinely dig the product. Not because someone has asked me to do it.

This is just the way I do things around here, only for the sake of the truth. It's how I roll, and it's not to say it's sensible or commercially viable. But it's how I've kept Peas on Toast.

You won't for instance find me saying here, 'So I bought a set of new tyres, amazing one's from Tiger Wheel & Tyre. Who happen to be having this incredible promotion where you get two spark plugs free when you SMS 'TYRE' to 32100. You also stand a chance to win a free wheel alignment in the final draw, how amazing is that?

But there are products, on the flip side, that I'll willingly talk about and endorse, whether the folks at PR HQ ask me to or not. As well as openly rant about a company or a product that fucks me off. This is a blog after all.

So, here is a list of my current Best Products Ever. No one has formally asked me to blah blah about them, but I will, because they're fucking fantastic:


Big Hair shampoo by Lush. It's a paste that comes in this (recycle-friendly) tub, sadly only available from Lush shops, which, yes, are situated in London. (Although did see an outlet in Berlin too.)
It's shampoo like you've never experienced. It's this lumpy, salty paste that makes your hair shine like someone ignited it with a blowtorch. Or to some effect.
Made from seaweed, salt, egg, lime juice, it actually smells better than it sounds too. It's simply fabulous, and if I remember correctly, cost less than ten pounds. The shop sells a mound of organic stuff, I could sit all day and wax lyrical, but will save you the time.

Vitamin Water, hell yes. Especially the XXX Antioxidant one. I'm no gym bunny, but I drink this stuff like wine. I think the psychology behind knowing that you're imbibing something that is even healthier than water - and God knows, tastier - is why it works so goddamn well. In fact, I'm drinking one right now. Even if it IS full of colourants and flavourants and sugar.
I use Dermalogica. It sets me back about as much as my rent each month, but as far as I'm concerned, it's a fixed expense. It's the first product that has completely eradicated my eczema patches. Which I get from stress and climate changes when I travel. It's expensive, but then I smoke. So I justify the expense through luxury skin treatments. The Skin Smoothing Cream (above) is my favourite of all their bits and pieces, I use it at night, and it's just fabullllllllous. My facial lady knows my weakness and tries to sell me tons of Dermalogica stuff each month. Successfully, I might add. She sold me a Dermalogica cloth, a flipping cloth, last week for R165. Extortion. How did she do that?

Steri Stumpie. The guys up at Flavoured Milk HQ sent me an amazing media pack two weeks ago. They did well, delivering a pack of Steri-Stumpie stuff to my desk. But that's not why I've chosen to mention it here. Sterie-Stumpie was a large and in charge part of my life when I was a student. As a student, I couldn't afford to purge a hangover with a fried breakfast. I'd buy a Sterie-Stumpie instead. Basically, when I wasn't drinking Autumn Harvest Crackling, I was drinking a Sterie-Stumpie. I still do.

I love the Body Shop, who doesn't? But body butters aside, and something with a local-esque flavour, is this shit right above. And it is the shit. Lasts forever too. It's a fine salty scrub, but fused with creamy honey. It's like rubbing honey all over yourself, but with exfoliating properties, and it doesn't stick to you. Obviously. If you love bath time as much as I do, then I'd suggest this bad boy, big dog.

Sloane Meat Market. In Bryanston. It really does have the best biltong in town. And I consider myself a biltong aficionado. I eat a fuckload. Trust me. The chunky one, where it's all moist inside, chewy, and with just the right amount of fat on the side. Amazing.

This post wouldn't be complete without Diemersfontein Pinotage. As seen here time and time again. My poison. My mother's milk. I already know where to source it in the UK, (Waitrose, FYI), and consider it the tastiest winter wine there ever, ever was.

The fact that the shop smells like vanilla is no coincidence. Local designers, one-of-a-kind fashion, easy browsing, amazing fabrics. Fabrics you'd want to wank over, basically.