Good things

{Romantic walks on Noordhoek beach}

For the majority of people, this would have been your first day back at the office. I decided to take just a few days leave over the festive season to allow myself just enough time to relax, while scrounging my leave days for later this year when all the tourists have departed Cape Town's shores and I can actually do a bit of sight-seeing without standing in ridiculously long queues. As it would turn out, I spent most of my leave on the couch trying to fend off a nasty bout of 'flu, so I didn't get round to doing half the things I'd planned to do during my time off and I felt far from ready for the year ahead when I returned to work last week Wednesday. I allowed myself some time to ease into things, promising myself that I would put my nose to grindstone and get some real work done as of today, and I'm proud to report that I managed to do just that (I actually finished one of my beauty features, due for next week Monday, today!). This weekend was all about relaxing and preparing for the week ahead while catching up with old friends, going for a long stroll on Noordhoek beach and finally getting round to that long-overdue at-home mani and pedi.

{Summer-ready beach toes, courtesy of Revlon Nail Enamel in Red Hot Tamale}

{Saturday afternoon was spent at a beach braai at Bakoven, with this gorgeous view}

I am feeling newly inspired and so ready for the year ahead. How was your holiday break? Did you get round to ticking off all those important (and hopefully fun!) tasks on your holiday 'to-do' list? And if you went back to work today, how did it go?