I’m a big fan of Marie Claire and an even bigger fan of The Naked Issue. As my dear friend Mike Sharman, who’s also featured in the March issue says, “Life’s short. Play naked!”. Best. Motto. Ever. Okay, smut aside, this year’s campaign is the stuff goosebumps are made of. Or at least that’s how I felt watching this >

Sjoe.

“This campaign allows celebs to feel the vulnerability a burn survivor feels all their life by baring all for all to see,” says Burn Foundation Southern Africa Executive Director Bianca Annandale. “Scars are never just skin deep, they imprint on our psyches as well, but that does not change the fact that beneath the scars there is a person like everyone else. This campaign will hopefully raise awareness that we should not allow our perceptions to be taken at face value, we should take a few moments to look further and see one another for who we are and not as we look.”

Follow the Burn Foundation on twitter and facebook. And the twitter hash-tag is #MCNaked

brandslut xoxo

Holy Schindler’s Lifts. 5 Gum announced today that they’ll be bringing international indie dance sensation Two Door Cinema Club to South Africa for the next #5GumExperience. Here’s a taste of what’s in store…

Another announcement will be made next week, detailing how to apply for those exlusive not-for-sale tickets. OMFGYG.

Follow 5 Gum SA on facebook here and on twitter here to find out more!

brandslut xoxo

On Thursday I hosted the first Book Club of 2012. You see, the kind folk at Smirnoff sent me some of their new Ruby Orange and Cranberry Vodka Premix to try and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share it with my lady guys. I had visions of a beautiful table set in the garden, the warm February air, sun-downers and all things pretty. I set the table before work so that the evening would be stress-free. Ja. Not so much. A panicked phone call from my house-mate at 5PM revealed that the heavens had opened up over our house Johannesburg and she was doing a mad dash home to move everything inside. I was bleak, but couldn’t help but laugh at the hilarity of it all, ourselves included, drenched and heavy-lifting to recreate the scene inside.

It all looked gorgeous in the end and we had a grand old time, cocktail-induced bun-fights over books and all. It seems I left my photographic skills outside in rain and my gourmet-burger shots make them look like anything but. They were delicious though, as were the Smirnoff cocktails we were sponsored. The winner was Ruby Orange as it wasn’t as sweet as the Cranberry, but both are fab. The product is such a win with the little tap, perfect for picnics, beaching and, well any get-together really…

Thank you Brandhouse for spoiling us, we’re always available for sampling Follow Smirnoff on facebook here.

brandslut xoxo

Every now and then I attend an event that gives me goosebumps, leaves me thinking “Dang, I’d give a nipple to work for that brand!”. Last night was one of ‘em nights. We decended upon Shine Studios in Braamfontein for the big reveal, communication leading up to the event had been intentionally vague. We entered a concrete courtyard with Run Free projected high onto one wall, free runners bouncing from the walls/stairs/anything they could climb onto. After some tomfoolery and mingling we were moved to an impressive glass studio with 360 degree views over Jozi and Nelson Mandela Bridge. We took our seats and all was revealed…

“Nike announced a new campaign set to invigorate the local running scene, with the launch of its Nike Run Free.Run Jozi 10 kilometer night race. Featuring 10,000 runners, the race is set to traverse the streets of downtown Johannesburg on March 21^st, one of South Africa’s most commemorated public holiday’s – Human Rights Day.

Some of the prominent landmarks befitting the significance of the Day include City Hall, Luthuli House, Constitutional Hill and Jeppe Police Station. Other iconic landmarks include Johannesburg Stadium, Ponte Tower and popular streets like Bree and Market Streets.  As the runners take back the streets, the city skyline will peak through a number of high rise buildings, making for a breath-taking photo moment.

The finish line will welcome runners at the Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, which will also host a celebratory chill zone with music and entertainment for the runners.

This inaugural race in South Africa this year is part of the Nike We Run City 10K world series tour which is galvanizing multiple international cities including Buenos Aires (Argentina), Mexico City (Mexico), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), with a unique run experience combining running and music.  Over 150,000 runners from 15 cities across continents have already imprinted their footprints in the streets of their respective cities during the latter part of 2011.”

To make history, click here to register for the 10km night race on March 21st, or find out more about the event and route on facebook. The race is limited to 10 000 runners, so get on it!

Thanks to He Who Says Hmm, my awesome plus one, for allowing me to steal his photographs from his blog. And thank you Nike and Fleishman for inviting me to this epic event.

See you there in your day-glo kit!

brandslut xoxo

Cripes, if only I could speak Latin. Here to redeem, if you’re versed in Lorem, that is.

brandslut xoxo

The NIKE+ FuelBand, an innovative wristband that tracks and measures everyday movement to motivate and inspire people to be more active, was launched in New York last week. Activities can now be measured through a new metric called NikeFuel: the more active you are, the more NikeFuel you earn, apparently. I’m unclear as to exactly what NikeFuel earns the user, apart from virtual credit and motivation. It would be great if it translated directly into product discounts and incentives. Anyhoo, here’s the down-low…

“The NIKE+ FuelBand is a way for Nike to further evolve the exciting possibilities of merging the physical and digital worlds,” said Parker. “Nike has always been about inspiring athletes, and the NIKE+ FuelBand will help motivate them in a simple, fun and intuitive way.”

Designed to be worn throughout the day, the ergonomic, user-friendly NIKE+ FuelBand uses accelerometry to provide information about different activities through movement of the wrist via a LED dot matrix display. Four metrics are available: Time, Calories, Steps and NikeFuel. Unlike calorie counts, which vary based on someone’s gender and body type, NikeFuel is a normalized score that awards equal points for the same activity regardless of physical makeup.

Users set a daily goal of how active they want to be, and how much NikeFuel they want to achieve. The NIKE+ FuelBand displays a series of 20 LED lights that go from red-to-green as the user gets closer to their goal. The FuelBand syncs with the Nike+ website through a built-in USB, or wirelessly through Bluetooth to a free iPhone app, to record activity and track progress every day. The app interface also provides encouragement and motivation as goals are achieved.”

“NikeFuel means everyone can get recognition for activities they do,” said Durant. “It provides a scoreboard for your day and gets everyone moving.” Jeter said, “You don’t have to be an elite athlete to appreciate how NikeFuel can motivate you. It’s an easy way to get credit for activities and compare how you do with others, even if you take part in different sports.”

The Nike+ Fuelband will be available for preorder starting January 19th in the US at Nikestore.com for a suggested retail price of $149 (US) and will only be availble in South Africa later this year.

brandslut xoxo

Whilst I’m not not a big meat eater [I can hear you humming Deadeye Dick], this is something special and close to my heart. Friends of mine have recently started Cape Town based Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants, purveyors of  fine meat that’s good, responsible and frikken delicious. FFMM know where your fillet came from, what the cow was fed, how it lived and won’t stop at anything less. If you’ve seen Food Inc. you’ll understand why this matters. If you haven’t, watch it. Today. I digress. Here for how you can place your order online and where to collect.

Congratulations team Bond & Fenner.

brandslut xoxo

I’ve recently moved into a new pad and my flat-mate and I have been on a decorating mission for the past 2 months. Our style is a sort of quirky retro chic. Just kidding about the chic part, I just threw it in for it’s naffness. I actually don’t know how to describe our vibration (vibe is so 2011), but Jozi-based Brak Furniture is it. I almost don’t want to share this with you, however it’s about paying it forward and I anticipate better karma in 2012. They’re making me some benches for my dining room table, and when my bank-balance is back in the green, I’m hoping to become the proud owner of these…

Here to become the owner of a uniquely designed and restored Brak piece.

Covet!

brandslut xoxo

[Thanks Amanda for sharing]

No? Well then consult these kids, they know what they’re doing…

Here to go viral.

brandslut xoxo

In case you didn’t know, Starbucks beans are now available at our beloved Checkers. You’ll find the following blends in the coffee aisle: Caffe Verona, Caffe Verona Decaf, House Blend, House Blend Decaf, French Roast and Columbia. Thanks Checkers, loving your work. And your new website.

brandslut xoxo