ULTRA ANNOUNCES PHASE ONE LINE UP

Ultra South Africa dropped some exciting news this week.  The annual, electrifying and long awaited music festival has officially announced their phase one line up for the 4 day event happening across Cape Town and Johannesburg in February 2016. Once again the folks at UMF have managed to secure some of the freshest and most legendary acts from across the world and Africa to get our feet stomping at the Ostrich farm from dusk till dawn early next year.

 

Headliners

Skrillex

 

Zedd

Support

Black Coffee

 

 Dash Berlin

 

Robin Schulz

The Martinez Brothers

Seth Troxler

Follow ULTRA SA on Facebook and Twitter for real-time updates on artists, tickets and camping, and for those that haven’t yet, relive the breath-taking thrills of ULTRA South Africa by watching the stunning 2015 aftermovie.

facebook.com/ultrasouthafrica

twitter.com/ultrasa

instagram.com/ultrasouthafrica

Ford Go Further Africa | Event

On the 11^th of August at 9am, a few of us media and fashion folk caught a quick flight from Cape Town to the hustle city of Johannesburg for a two day trip with FORD SOUTH AFRICA for their annual Ford Go further event.  Although it was my first year attending this convention, I have had the privilege of testing out and reviewing a ford vehicle before (which you can view here) which was great, so I was really excited to attend the convention and see what ford had in store for us.

We arrived at O.R Tambo, took the 10 minute Gautrain to Sandton and were then shuttled to our “oh so chic” hotel for the night, The Maslow.  We were given 30 minutes to freshen up and headed straight to the Sandton convention centre for the first part of the #GOFURTHERAFRICA convention.

One lap around the packed venue filled with Cars, Games and amazing food, the bell rang and the informative presentation was about to begin.

For those of you who have no idea why they host this event annually, it’s simply to inform the continent of Africa what Ford as an innovative company has been busy creating and doing for the past year and also what they will be releasing over the next year or so.  Below are a few images from the convention and also a few of the new and innovative products that’ll be released soon.

We were introduced to the CEO of ford for Sub Sahara Africa and a few other influential employees of the Ford brand.  They shared with us all the amazing things they are doing right now like building vehicles with Eco boost engines, making  it light on fuel , keeping the carbon footprint of our planet  low but also keeping that ford power and efficiency the brand promises.  

Projects and Products

  The New RS 

Focus RS introduces advanced performance technologies, and is the first Ford RS equipped with selectable drive modes - including industry-first drift mode, as well as launch control. With a 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine delivering 257kW of power and 440Nm of torque, the high-performance road car features the most powerful Ford RS braking system ever.

“The all-new Focus RS is a serious machine with high-performance technology and innovative engineering that sets new benchmarks for driving exhilaration on the road and track,” said Raj Nair, Ford Motor Company group vice president, Global Product Development.

  
   The Mustang

The Ford Mustang has made thousands of appearances in film, television, music and video games, and is the world’s most-liked vehicle on Facebook. Design and performance are two of the essential attributes that have made Mustang appeal to millions of fans for five decades.

“Ford Mustang inspires passion like no other car,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa. “The visceral look, sound and performance of Mustang resonates with people, even if they’ve never driven one. Mustang is definitely more than just a car – it is the heart and soul of Ford.”

With 320kW and 536Nm on tap, the 5.0-litre V8 fastback model with six-speed manual transmission reaches 100 km/h from a standing start in 4.8 seconds – making this the fastest Ford ever in SSA.

 The new Ranger

Due to be launched in the Sub-Saharan Africa region in the fourth quarter of 2015, it will once again be produced at Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria and exported to 148 markets in Africa and Europe.

“The new Ford Ranger brings a new level of comfort and refinement to its segment without compromising on the rugged capability that our customers demand,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa. “It represents a smarter kind of tough, and will help our customers to achieve more, whether at work or with their families.”

Featuring an updated, more muscular front end, and a stylish, smart and functional new interior, the new Ranger builds upon a reputation of capability, innovation and comfort that has helped the Ranger to stand apart from traditional pickup trucks. It also boasts an array of new cutting-edge technologies that enable new levels of connectivity, convenience and utility.

 “When we set out to improve upon the Ford Ranger, we knew we had our work cut out for us: The current Ranger is one of the toughest, most capable trucks out there,” Delate says. “But thanks to our proud truck heritage and global expertise in the utility segment, we’ve made what was great even better, with a bold new look, improved efficiency and a new level of refinement.”

The Everest 

“With the all-new Everest, we’re further strengthening our showroom line-up with a fully capable and competitive premium SUV that works equally well as a comfortable and refined family vehicle or taking on the roughest terrains,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company of South Africa. “It’s a completely new vehicle inside and out with a host of first-in-class features, providing unmatched value in its segment.”

The Ford Figo

·         Ford’s vision for global compact car with advanced technology and clever design

·         Eye-catching styling for five-door hatchback and new four-door sedan

·         Innovative features, superb quality, exceptional fuel efficiency and overall value

Ford Performance

“The Ford Performance brand is all about driving innovation through performance, taking advantage of every technological breakthrough and product enhancement from each of our motorsport campaigns and road-going cars to create unique performance vehicles, parts, accessories and experiences for customers,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.

The Ford BMax

“The new Ford B-MAX really challenges traditional small car thinking,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA). “Its ingenious design opens the doors – quite literally – to exciting new ideas about what's possible with a compact vehicle.”

Many people don’t realise that as bloggers, attending events and conferences are actually part of the job, so having all our friends stay at one hotel and getting to hang out with each other all day before we headed back to our day to day hustles, really felt like a family vaycay.  That being said, I really feel so blessed and honoured to be part of the Ford South Africa family and even more excited and proud of what they’re doing as a car brand right now.  So before I go, I’d like to say thanks to Ensly Dooms (the awesome guy responsible for the brands coolness) for having me and well done on the week’s events.

Part two to follow soon the #BmaxLAunch

ASICS TIGER X Sport & Lifestyle

 Asics has recently re-launched the Asics Tiger brand for their sport and lifestyle market!

Available:  The Scented Pack (Burgundy)

This pack is inspired by a vanilla scent, which means you can now look good, feel good and smell fresh all at the same time.

Retail Price R1500.00

Available: Fresh Pack

The world has not given up on the all-white trend yet and we love that Asics hasn't given up on it either.  These all white sneakers are a must have for spring summer this year.

Retail R1700.00

go out and get yours now!

The Asics Tiger Scented and Fresh packs are available at leading retailers nationwide.

 For more information please call: Asics South Africa 021 300 7710

10 Reasons why the Ford Eco Sport may be my next car

If you know me, you would know that the car I mission in on a daily is nothing glamorous at all,  In fact, its a 1989 model which even makes it a few years older than me.  However, I hope that it's my first before many others and the fact that my hardworking parents got it for me as a gift a couple of years back means more to me than anything else. I feel like it's a good life lesson, not having or expecting things to come easy, which only means you as a person would work so much more harder for everything you want in this life.  For me though,  knowing that my car didn't  come easy just makes me treasure the memories my friends and I have shared in my little old faithful so much more but sometimes, like many others,  we need a change.  A change that will open up our minds to what the future could possibly hold and just to give us a small taste of what we can one day work towards and this was exactly what I needed. 

 

So you can imagine the excitement I felt when our lovely friends at ford South Africa dropped off the Ford Eco Sport for me to drive around in and basically run all my errands in.  before I give to much away,  below are 10 reasons why I would definitely consider buying this smooth ride in the future.

 

1. It's a compact SUV

I've always pictured myself driving a big SUV someday.  However, on many attempts I felt as though I wasn't able to control a vehicle of that size.  The ford eco sport however, was the perfect fit. It was almost as big as a usual SUV but also small enough to pass as a slightly bigger car in my opinion.  From the first pull away everything just balanced.  I could make the sharp turns without fail and even cut through busy roads without thinking I'm going over the lines in the street and not being able to tell.

 

2. I could hear myself breath

Communication barriers were a thing of the past once I got into the eco sport.  Sometimes we are so use to it, we don't even realise how loud and annoying old cars are and this beaut had to bring it to my attention.  Even with the radio on I was able to have a clear conversation with my passengers.

Constant win! 

3. Bluetooth and handset sync

To be honest,  I'm not the most tech savvy person, so finding that this car could be synced to your handset device in a few minutes literally gave me Goosebumps ( a little dramatic...I know).  A few minutes later all my data from my cell phone was synced into the car and there I was jamming to my playlist and even making calls from the car.  How Kris Jenner is that?  I know right.

 

 

4. Voice Command

 

If syncing everything from my cell phone to the car wasn't enough, I later on realised by a click of a button I could make voice commands.  So there I was, going "Call Mom" and in a split second, the lady would go " Calling Mom" you could say I was in AWE.

 

5. 1.0 Ecoboost

We all know that filling up your tank in South Africa is no fun.  With the rate at which fuel is going up, we'd much rather get a pair of cool sneakers and run from A to B.  The Eco Sport however was so economic and lite, you could just feel it in the drive it gave you.  I was lucky enough to get the car with a full tank of petrol and by the 7th day after a hard week of missioning and long drives,  the tank was just under half full.  This could never have been if I were driving my car as much as I did with the Ford. 

 

6. Cruise control

We all get abit lazy at times,  some of us more then others and I believe there are little things we can cut down on to increase our energy levels a tad bit more, even if it means resting your feet while operating a vehicle.  If you are one who is always chasing a different sunset, or even just love road trips, The Ford eco Sport offers a cruise control function which by a click of a button you can set the speed at which you want the car to move and voila!  You no longer have to accelerate and the car would literally move at the speed you wish.  amazing right?  totes!

 

7. Reverse or Parking Sensor

To many of us, driving may not be as much of a problem as parking ( side eyes most of his friends) but with this amazing feature, reversing or parking in general, parallel or alley docking will never be the same.  The sensors around the car would indicate when you are to close to a wall or another vehicle, show you exactly how much space you still have to back up and even made a beeping sound so you knew exactly when it was time to hit the break.

 

 

8. Airbags and Central locking

 

Now I know I might be stone aged over here, but my car, as much as I love it, is a driving hazard (lets be honest).  With a maximum of only two safety belts in working order and no airbags at all, we all know how big a problem this can be at the end of the day.  I really felt so much more safer driving around with the Eco Sport and knowing that I had full control of all doors, windows and if anything should happen, there are airbags all around this amazing piece of machinery to save lives in the event of an accident.

 

9. Leather Interior and detailed finishes

 

You probably all want to know...does the carpet match the drapes right?  Indeed it does.  There's just something about the smell of a new car that gets me going, even more so, a car with a chic, sophisticated and detailed interior.  The inside interior is made of the softest leather but also hard enough to not tare anytime soon.  Ample interior lighting throughout, a place to store coffee mugs or holders, a separate compartment for your sunnies and lets not begin to talk about the Air con/heater, definitely the cosiest I've felt inside a car in a while.
 

 

10. Spacious

If you have as much belongings as me,  you would know that travelling with a full car can be a complete struggle when you have a laptop bag, an overnight bag, a camera bag, two pairs of shoes and a gym bag to cart around with, however, the eco sport was quite spacious from inside and could easily accommodate my passengers and all my baggage too.  From the inside of the vehicle, the boot looks like a tiny storage space behind the backseat leaving a very narrow space to even get things into the boot via the inside of the car, however, once opened up from the outside, there is so much space for you to pack enough goods for a long weekends.

 

 

I hope my 10 reasons were as valid as I thought they would be.  All in all I am definitely marking this beast as one of the top three vehicles I would purchase in the future.  you can even ask the guy who fetched it from my house,  I didn't want to part with it :(

Thank you Ford South Africa!!!

Follow ford @ fordsouthafrica

 

Thabiet Amardien

 

Bronx Woman celebrates 10 years

A month ago, in March, funky and stylish footwear brand, Bronx Woman celebrated their 10th Birthday as well as launched and shared their new AW15 collection with all the media folk and fashion influencers from in and around Cape Town.

 

The event was held at Wembley studios and I'm pretty sure you all know that when Girl about Town PR plans a party,  there's plenty to enjoy.  A beautiful shoe installation hung from the roof, mystery prizes were against the wall for winners to choose from and to my delight, even a candy floss maker and non stop drinks flowed throughout.  I know right...Score!

 

About the collection

 

The team at Bronx Woman have decided to push the styling envelope a little further this season by adding a more diverse detailing and silhouette to their designs.  From a selection of riding boots to the more delicate stiletto heel and even the grungy combat boot, the new AW15 collection definitely has something for every girl out there.  Zips, wedges, platforms, buckles and quilting.  This is for sure the brands most exciting shoe portfolio to date.

 

What's great too, is that the brand offers something for everyone's budget, with the main collection styles starting from R299.00 and the leather ranging from R1099.00

 

It's time to be Front Row Ready for winter

 

For stockist

visit their website

www.bronxwoman.com

 

 

 



New Venture | Herbalife

Some of you might remember me talking about the list of challenges I had drawn up the end of last year (in a previous post) and how that list has really helped me reach and concur most of those challenges just by focusing on one task at a time.

 Another tick off that list was "living a healthier lifestyle" in 2015 and today I want to share my story and journey with you all. 

It all started in that first week of January, you know, the week of positivity and joy, where everyone has a changed mind-set and some sort of New Year’s resolution they’re hanging onto.  Though I wasn’t the New Year’s resolution type, I read somewhere that “it takes 30 days to kick a bad habit as well as gain a good one”.  So in those seven days of euphoria, I had officially decided that it was time for me to hold on to that resolution and start living a more active lifestyle.  I started out slow.  I took morning walks once a week and enjoyed it so much that those walks soon became little jog-walks and as time went on, I found myself running up and down stairs until I eventually puked my guts out LOL.   Although I couldn't see much of a difference in the beginning, I could definitely feel that I was doing something right for the first time in what could have been a solid year, because well…I literally couldn’t move the day after.  

 I eventually got use to the pain and had the courage to attend a boot camp session with my sister (who's been hounding me for a year) and I absolutely loved every muscle burning minute of it.  It was way more intense then running the stairs if you’re asking! And it hurt much more the next day too, but after the 30^th day, it’s true, I picked up a new habit.  A good one.

 

 Now before I go any further, you should know that the words "healthy foods" were never in my vocabulary.  I never ate any fruit or vegetables besides the ones that are almost bad for you and it soon caught up to me that there is no way I would be able to lose this weight without having a proper nutrition plan set in place as well.   I started speaking to the trainers from my boot camp class to find out how I could lose the weight and they were so eager to help me.  They introduced me to Herbalife nutrition and in late February I started using the products on a daily basis.  Immediately I could feel that my energy levels were up.  I wasn’t craving junk food like before and hey, I could even say no to white bread .  But what I really loved about starting the programme, was that not only did I get these amazing products.  They came with my very own herbalife coach, who made sure I stayed on track every day and who was even more invested in my health then what I was at the time.  He made sure that I was not eating unhealthy and that I was drinking water by the litre.  At the end of my first week I already had amazing results.  I lost a good percentage of body fat, gained some muscle and I got back all the energy the business life has taken from me.

Now you're probably wondering..."why are you telling me this?" 

Simply because I want to help you!!!  After getting great results from Herbalife, I opted to become a  member and an independent distributor.  Which means you can now speak to me about going on the nutrition programme and I will hook you up with the best life coaches possible.

Bottom line...I know what it feels like to always be tired, stuck in an unhealthy rut and just lose motivation and will power by the day.  I also know what it's like to not have the proper support system in place to help you reach those goals.  However,  Speak to me and we can change that up for you!  You can have more energy, get into shape and have that support system you need. 

 So contact me if you're looking to shape up and just live a more healthier lifestyle.

I am excited to help you reach your goals with herbalife24.

Contact me on

Whatsapp 079 091 8025

Thabiet.herbalife@gmail.com