Have you ever discovered something so special that you want to keep it all to yourself, but at the same time want to tell the whole wide world about it? Well, the little Parks Shopping Centre around the corner from me (Cnr Jan Smuts & Wells Ave in Parkwood, Jozi), is exactly that.
The almost secretive (yet convenient) location, is one of the things that make it such a Jozi gem. Firstly, the upper level is home to trusted ol’ Woolies, African Queen & my favourite clothing store of all time, Hermanna Rush. (They’re not paying me to say this, I just love their stuff!). Owned by sisters Nicole & Jacqui – it’s a unique SA designer label for ladies. One visit to this store & you’ll also be totally in love with the French-inspired fashion and accessories.
If the hunger pangs are not luring you to the ground level after your spree upstairs, then the hustle & bustle sure will. There you’ll find Park Café & Polish Nail Spa – owned and run by yet another dynamic sister team – Vicky & Lexi. Park Café is ideal for a working lunch (wi-fi included!) or a beautifully served cup of tea. Over weekends, catch up with friends & family over a really yummy meal & enjoy the live background guitar music (don’t you just love that!?).
Next, it’s time to pop in at Polish Nail Spa for a mani & pedi, where you’ll be greeted by friendly faces, a stylish interior & experienced nail technicians. Careful though – you might just go over board when you see the wonderful luxe hand creams, lip balms, LouenHide handbags & even some jewellery for sale.
No visit to The Parks is complete without popping in at the Lou Harvey shop – an accessory brand that needs no introduction. The range offers a selection of bags, purses & new iPad covers, all in bright trendy prints. Moms also love the variety of functional, yet stylish items like nappy bags, beach bags, kiddies back packs, lunch coolers & a selection of stationery… to name but a few.
Now, for the really fun stuff…. & boy I can barely contain my excitement about this!
*** WIN a full morning of treats at The Parks Shopping Centre worth R1700! ***
As a special Women’s Month treat, aZestyLife & The Parks Centre are giving away a combo prize of (literally) some of my favourite things…
THE PRIZE:
- A classic manicure & pedicure from Polish Nail Spa valued at R490
- A breakfast voucher for Park Cafe valued at R300
- A R400 Hermanna Rush voucher
- A small Lou Harvey beach bag valued at R510 – choose your own design on the date of your visit
TO ENTER:
- Leave a short comment below this post & tell us: If you had a whole morning free, what would you treat yourself to? Pretend you have no budget restrictions, so any weird & wonderful ideas are welcome! The best or craziest entrant will win. Please remember your contact details (which will not be published) – in case you’re the winner.
- Competition closes on Friday, 15 August 2014 at 1pm. The winner will be announced on aZestyLife & Facebook on Saturday, 16 August.
- Done. Now, hold thumbs that you’re the winner!
Be sure to pop around The Parks some time for a fun morning out this Women’s Month!
Yolandi ♥
If I had the morning free with no budget, to treat myself I would…
First let’s assume all the spa treatments are in place and my nails are 100% and colourful. I guess a morning movie with popcorn and smarties for breakfast, and then definitely a turn at the Lindt chocolate shop in Design quarter for their hot chocolate. I hope it is on a Thursday because I love the Bryanston organic market for lunch! And when I’m feeling active maybe an outride at an equestrian place or even pottery at Broadacres?
If I had the morning free with no restraint to the budget – I will do exactly what The Parks Centre has to offer except that I will not be alone. I will take along a loved one to spoil and share with me.
I recently lost quite some weight therefore I will streak through the Parks Centre to show off my new 58 year young figure!
If I had the morning off…with everyhing paid for….that’s easy:
Top toe toe spa treatments at the most luxurious & expensive spa possible! Champagne breakfast compulsory. And of course the BFF must attend…Mom’s the word!
I would treat myself to some quality time with my grandmother <3
A free morning with all the money to do anything….. as cliche as it sounds I would really love to just have a girls day, as we often so busy with work or home stuff sometimes a good girls day is all one needs to feel refreshed and ready to take on the world again. I’d have my hair done and have my nails done (funky of cause) have brunch with a few good friends and once all the girly stuff is taken care of I’d either go dig my nose into a good Francine Rivers Book or bake some yummy treats just for the fun of it
Pizza! I would have pizza for breakfast (Casalottis at the Parks Centre makes my favourite, Chicken Tandoori). Then shopping for awesome shoes! Followed by waffels and ice cream for a late morning snack. Then more shopping, of course. 🙂
Wow Telri! Sounds so indulgent! Food & shoes…what more can a girl ask for!? x
Since its Women’s Month, I would support all female-owned stores and buy all the woman in my life handbags and accessories – I know for sure that it’ll be something different from what they already have/or would even buy. I’d leave the house on an empty stomach, still wearing my pj’s, doek, the works! ‘Coz all (food, hair, clothing) will be sorted as soon as I get to The Parks*(oh the joy in my heart already 🙂
A morning off? Oh what a treat!
It has to start with something to eat!
I’ll start with French toast at the cafe,
then have three cappuccinos if I have my way!
Then off to have my nails buffed and painted pink – that’s what I love!
And after all of that hard work, to lunch I’ll go it that’s okay?
Hermanna scarve across my shoulder and a Lou Harvey bag filled with Woollies clam chowder!
I think I would get up super early do some adrenaline-rush activity… Skydiving maybe?! Then I’d recover with a brunch and a good book in a cafe, or curled up on a couch in front of a roaring fire…
If i had all the money I could dream of and the morning to spend it I would go a Le Creusette Shop and buy all their fancy pots in the most beautiful colors. Then I would go clothing hunting… I mean shopping. hehe. I would buy everything my heart desires, I will take my mom and sister with and spoil them with gifts too. We will also go buy alot of baby necessities and go deliver it to a nearby Creche who needs it.
I would eat ice-cream for breakfast lol.After that i will pamper myself to a facial,new hairdo and lunch with my sisters.Later i will end my day with a shopping spree as a birthday prezzie.
If I had a morning free, I would treat myself and my mum, daughter and some other special ladies, to a scrumptious breakfast/brunch, watch a movie and then go have some spa treatments. Some retail therapy would also be on our to do list.
My morning would start with an early mountain bike ride, early spring and fresh air to clear the mind of all the Jozi noise. Followed by a breakfast with hubby and refreshing shower with all the sorbet products packed out in a row. All this before 9h. Leaving the rest of the morning and rest of the day for other impulsive activities. Best mornings are not always planned but just happen, does not necessarily cost money but where the feeling of you are in control of time and not where time is in control of you. That is the best morning I could ask for!
I will go to the spa and do my facial,hair and nails. After that I sleep for 2hours then eat my breakfast.
If I had a whole morning to myself I would squeeze every last second I could get out of my time to myself. I would book a room at the Michealangelo hotel. I would then organize for hubby to book me in on his way home from work the night before. Then I would wake up at some crazy hour like 4:00am and drive through to my luxury room in my pjs and slippers. I would leave hubby to deal with the morning madness (my kids are 4 and 2). I would go up to my room and snuggle down under one of those awesome hotel duvets and go back to sleep. I woke, around 9am because somehow now that I have children I can’t get my body to sleep later than that. I would then have a full cooked breakfast served to me in bed. I would watch a chick flick like Austenland (which I have been dying to see) in my nice warm comfy bed with no distractions except perhaps for some chocolate. Then I would get up and take a nice long bubble bath and read a good book. Once I was clean and ready for the day I would trot off to the spa at the hotel (which I hear is fabulous) and have a hot stone massage and a pedicure. Then feeling all pretty and pampered I would take Sandton city by storm and spend a load of money on new clothes from Big Blue etc and of course new shoes. Finally I would finish off with a lovely lunch on the square. Hmmmm this does sound like a very long ‘morning’ but seeing as I can do anything on this particular morning why not slow down time as well:)
Mmm.. no budget constraints.. mmm.. It will be an early morning to ensure I’m all packed and ready and on the road with my loved one to the airport. Then we will board our private charter, first class of course.. destination Vic falls!! We will catch a small nap on the one hour forty minute flight and arrive all refreshed for a romantic breakfast in a secluded park overlooking the falls. We will dine on some salty cracks, cos who does not like those, with Beluga caviar, the most expensive caviar in the world. Moving onto the main breakfast, some scrambled eggs with truffle slices, avo, smoked Scottish salmon and toasted baguettes. This will all be washed down with some Goût de Diamants champagne. Once breakfast is done, we will catch the helicopter which will drop us off at the top of Devil’s pool, taking the rest of our champagne with to sip on as we relax in the pool on top of the world!
Varsha, this sounds like the absolute PERFECT morning! Love it!!! 🙂
If I had a whole morning free, I would definitely want to go hot-air ballooning over the Pilansberg at sunrise, with a glass of bubbly in hand. A beautiful highveld sunrise with the call of the waking birds, a cool breeze in my face and a spectacular view. This followed by a skottel breakfast (maybe with a cupcake or two to finish off with!) and a relaxing full body massage to the sounds of the bush. I’d like to thow some retail therapy in there too – so maybe a quick helicopter transfer back into town for a bit of a spree?!
This sounds so awesome Pam! Can I join please? x
When I wake up the house is quiet. All the boys are fishing – yay! I hear a hoot at the gate, and I grab my already packed Lou Harvy carry all and head out to take my first EVER limo ride to the Westcliff hotel, because I’d like to savor my morning cuppa, read the paper and look at the Jacarandas blooming over this great city all at the same time. Rachel Zoe arrives, with a mapped out route of all the best in the city, and inbetween stops I pick her stylist brain in the limo! The morning finishes off with a blowdry and mani at Carlton so I am ready to meet the girls for chardonnay and sushi at noon.
Love it! Westcliff, coffee, sushi AND Rachel Zoe… sounds like my kind of morning! x
An early morning private jet down to Umhlanga, pick up my bestie, breakfast at Circus Circus on the Durban promenade, and a nice long walk along the beach with lots of catching up and a compulsory ice-cream (preferably with beautifully mani’d toes and stylish beach bag ;)) before boarding for the flight home. Sounds like a little slice of heaven!
Being a business owner and mother of two very busy girls, I will just sit my feet up and relax. No rushing. Shopping is not my way of relaxing. The ideas sounds great but to me it is too self centered.
I will rather get up on my own time, get dressed, put make up on and spend the morning helping other people. My husband was admitted to hospital a week ago and I was surprised to see how many people need assistance. I will not spend the morning on myself. I will visit an Old Age Home or a ward in hospital and try to make a difference in someone else’s life. I found that the minute I put my own desires aside, I receive so many blessings that I’ve never asked for. Thank you for sharing all your posts. I enjoyed reading each and every one.
If I had a morning free with a blank cheque I would firstly buy trolleys full of food and give it to the less fortunate. After that treat myself and a few close friends for breakfast, have our nails done, go for a nice massage and lastly do some shopping. Would be great…. can only dream about doing that 😉
Where to start …. I would love a day of pampering with my beautiful daughter and equally beautiful daughter-in-law. We would start with a champagne breakfast followed by a spa treatment. We would then indulge in a shopping spree of note! With unlimited funds we would be buying everything from shoes (shoes and more shoes), to handbags and designer clothes, oh and don’t forget the jewellery! By this time we would be pretty exhausted so after some tea and delicious cake we would be driven home in a stretch limo (to accommodate all our shopping bags of course)!
I would treat myself by flying out to Paris on a private jet for French toast.
She slowly sips her before-work-coffee, close her eyes and hear how the noise of passing cars fade away as she try to process what still needs to happen today…
“ I can’t think! I can only feel my sore feet after the excruciating parkrun I had this morning in Central Park…I should go for a pedi?… or maybe I should comfort myself with that chocolate croissant I saw in the café next door.”
“No! I am determined, I have to stick to my plan to get in shape for summer!”
Her alarm goes off and she doesn’t even bother to open her eyes.
“Oh you keep quiet, I still have 30 minutes left before I have to see a client…maybe I will pop in at Manolo Blahnik on Madison avenue quickly…just to see what they have….those lady’s shoes I saw on broadway last night were to die for”
“I have to seal this deal, my whole new-summer-body-wardrobe depends on it!
I’m so stressed I would definitely need to go for a massage after this…”
The waiter interrupts her thoughts.
“Excuse me lady, can I bring you the bill?”
Slightly shocked and a bit flabbergasted she asks: “Wait where am I?”
“Uhm, mam you in The Parks centre. Are you okay?” he reacts confused.
“Oh my goodness, I thought I was in New York. When I’m nervous, I daydream. I am going for my first job interview…” she replies as she grabs towards her handbag…
The waiter tries to comfort her, “No, don’t worry mam…you will be fine mam! Why New York? Right here, it’s just as good. You can get everything you were dreaming about right here at The Park Centre”
She laughs, “I know, I love this city! But one day I still go the city with a neon heart of flashing lights, broadway shows, crazy people, telivised places and sheer spectacle….but wait, before I go “there” again….bring me the bill, and add one of those yummy croissants you have on display, to go please…”
When i want to escape my busy life… This is where i go to dream and connect with me…. http://anickenovi.com/
A flight to CT, shark cage diving in the freezing sea and then paragliding followed by relaxing on Camps Bay 🙂
Definitely a morning of spa treatments with a girl friend, loads of bubbly and time to spare shopping at Lou Harvey (I never get time so often send my PA there for necessities- as they are;)
Oohhh lala. I would love this. Spending time with my 70 year old mama! It would be awesome having a brekkie together and some awesome shopping toooo. By the way she would love the mani and pedi as she battles to reach her tootsies! Please pick me!
Would be great to spend some “couples” time with my wife. Treating her to a shoppingspree. Please ♡
My free morning would entail me being picked up by helicopter and on to Bela Bela for a quick dip in the natural hot springs followed by a continental breakfast. Upon my return to Jhb, I would be dropped off at a hair salon (to get rid of the heli air hair) for a salon treatment, head massage and blow wave. Newly coiffured, I would have a stretch limo fetch me, adorned with my own flags of course, to take me to a luxury jewellery store to buy gorgeous baubles. With a well-trained masseuse to massage my now heavily adorned neck, I would drive slowly past my office so that I can wave at my colleagues who will finally realise that I am truly royalty!
I would sleep in a bit, cuddling with my 2 kitties for a while. Then I would get out of bed, get dressed and go eat breakfast with my family. We would feast on croissants and cupcakes – all would be completely diet friendly (you said we can be crazy…). I would then take my mom and sisters for a massage, mani and pedi followed a spot of shopping on me! May not sound too crazy but would be my dream morning! Of course, a shopping spree for me at The Parks would be AMAZING too!
A day with all the money I need!!! Shopping with my daughter – she loves shopping. We will start with a few treatments at a spa, paint our nails (what all toddlers love), drink juice (mom some champagne) and feel like we princesses. Then get the butler to grab big bags from Lou Harvey that we can fill with our shopping. My little princess can shop up a storm. We will do clothes, toys, some bling, luggage- you name it. We will have lunch, coffee, champagne, and after we drop dead from replacing our whole wardrobe our limo will drive us home in style!!! Any day out with my little girl, spoiling her is what i call heaven!!!
A treasure hunt with divine treats, trinkets and truly delightful goodies over, under, inside and above. A scrumdiddlyumptious brekkie with veuve clique and much laughing and big hugs xxx
Spa, breakfast, shopping – the ultimate girls pamper 😉
wake up with love and hugs, scrumdiddlyumptios brekkie, huge treasure hunt with trinkets and treasures and truly delightful goodies and flowing veuve clique of course
Ok my craziest, wildest dream will not be about a budget at all. It would be who I could spend it with! My two angel daugters I lost 6years ago in an unfortunate event. They were 2and 5. I would live to spend time with them now 8and 11. What a morning it would be…..
This is such an awesome giveaway! Holding thumbs!
I have not had a free morning in a very long time. I have a one year old three year old and 14 year old. So experiencing the extremes of life but such blessings after 7 and a half years of trying to having a second child and then having a babe at 44 I ll be 62 when the babes in matric so will be a while before I get a gap. Love this shopping centre. It is like a hidden slice of heaven