Archive for May, 2018

We all live for them and they are often filled with endless activities of sport, braai’s, calf birthday parties and a quick grocery shop before the start of the new week! Weren’t the weekends made for relaxation? Rejuvenation? Getting enough rest to see us through the week ahead?

Well, quite the opposite is true for our little barnyard family and I think most would agree! Sometimes Mondays are a welcome break from the chaos of the weekend before and I’m pretty sure it should be the other way around!

Every now and then we need to slow down, take a break and breathe – otherwise we might go a little insane! Bill, being my better half, has a sixth sense when it comes to my breaking point and he knows just the antidote…

a weekend getaway.

It’s simple. Find the perfect location, with fabulous hospitality, scrumptious dining, ultimate beauty treats (of course) and luxurious accommodation. Bill found this seemingly impossible place a while back and when he sees life is getting a little too much, he books us a weekend getaway at African Pride Irene Country Lodge, obviously!

From the moment we check in to this place of heaven, I feel the worries of the world drifting away. Upon entering our luxury accommodation always boasting little extras that make our stay memorable, Bill and I feel like we are the only ones staying there.

Scrumptious dinner whether seated at the Meadow Green Restaurant or in-room service, our taste buds love it every time! A wonderful evening spent with Bill allows us the time to catch up on life in general and often we come up with new ideas to make our hectic lifestyle work.

The Meadow Green Restaurant’s buffet breakfast fuels us the next day as we then herd over to Camdeboo Day Spa for some relaxing treats. Bill and I always make use of the sensation showers, sauna, steam room, heated Jacuzzi, techno gym, swimming pool and sun lounger area. A day of complete rejuvenation means I return to the barn with a renewed sense of being. And my family are only to grateful to have their not-so-stressed mommy back!

It’s my refuge, my ultimate treat, my saving grace and I deserve it – actually, so do you! Remember that this magical place does exist… African Pride Irene Country Lodge’s weekend getaway is a weekend everyone deserves!

Till Next Week,
The Dairy Cow

 

 

 

It’s my biggest organ and it reflects my inner beauty, so my skin health is high up on my list of priorities! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not out to enter the next Miss Fields pageant (our local beauty contest) but I love a glowing, smooth, boooeautiful skin…

A while back I discovered the most amooozing body treat at one of my favourite Destination Irene spots – Camdeboo Day Spa. It’s become my trusted booking to ensure my skin is looking its best all year round – a MILK Body Polish.

The MILK range is Camdeboo Day Spa’s signature product allowing a pure and wholesome experience. It’s a must for relieving skin irritations, calming allergic reactions and soothing skin conditions such as eczema and sunburn. Not to mention the everyday benefits of using it to ensure your skin looks fabulous all the time.

This body bliss treatment begins with your therapist covering your skin in the MILK Body Scrub. Your skin will thank you later as the exfoliation buffs away old skin cells and stimulates microcirculation. Afterwards you are escorted to the shower where you are then able to wash off the scrub with warm water. Once done, you return to your treatment room where your therapist will finish off the treatment with MILK Body Butter. Slightly warmed to make it easier for your skin to absorb, your therapist will gently rub this moisturising cream into your skin leaving you feeling all silky, smooth, hydrated and glowing.

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Now doesn’t that sound like a wonderful treat?

Not only are you able to book your regular MILK Body Polish to ensure boooeautiful skin, but you can also purchase the MILK Body Scrub and MILK Body Butter from Camdeboo Day Spa so you are able to enjoy it at home too.

Although you’ll be missing out on the therapist expertly applying the products, you will be able to treat yourself in the comfort of your own home on a more regular basis ensuring that your skin continues to look its best in between your Camdeboo Day Spa visits.

I love my fabulous MILK body after every treat (and Bill loves it too!). After each treatment I enjoy a drink in the Camdeboo Day Spa garden where I get to relax, soak up the peaceful atmosphere and clear my head before returning to the barn.

If you’re wanting to give your skin the ultimate treat – a MILK Body Polish, enough said!

Till Next Week,
The Dairy Cow

Picture a place of serenity, beauty, relaxation and… the most amooozing cocktails! A no under 18’s place where the lounge-style décor lends itself to beautiful sunsets and classy vibes. Bill and I treated ourselves to a date night – The River Bar at African Pride Irene Country Lodge – and it didn’t disappoint!

Recently added to the list of many fabulous offerings at African Pride Irene Country Lodge, The River Bar provides sensational sunset views over the lake with an interesting cocktail menu and tapa style food.

Bill and I were fortunate enough to arrive just as the day was ending. We were ushered to small area where we relaxed in comfy chairs and had a world class view of the sun setting. As the local birdlife made their last rounds of finding worms in the manicured lawns before setting off to their nests for the night, we chose some rather interesting drinks to sip on whilst taking in our surroundings.

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A traditional Dry Martini was Bill’s choice and mine was an Irene Dream, Mixologist Creation. I was really intrigued with all the variations being served around us including River Edge Crunch’s, Vanilla Mojito’s and Nellmapius Tea’s. If we had the capacity to drink endless amounts of alcohol I think Bill and I would have tried just about every cocktail on the menu – all the more excuse to return soon to taste some more!

Realising that our lunch wasn’t going to quite see us through the evening (and seeing as though it was a date night) we were pleasantly surprised to find that we could order from the bar menu which meant we could enjoy the atmosphere till well into the night.

From bar bites to modern tapas, seafood and a few sharing options, we ordered the Sundowner Selection – fitting to the evening we were so enjoying. Our platter included Crayfish Irene, Lamb Cutlets, Prawn Kunafa, Chinese Five Spiced Pork Belly and Bone Marrow Brulee – not bad for a bar menu option!

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As resident guests and outsiders flowed in and out of this latest addition, Bill and I were able to savour each other’s company, drinks and food in our own little setting.

Young and old, groups of ladies (a ladies night out, I suppose) and newbie couples (I could tell) all filled The River Bar air with belts of laughter, great conversations and positive vibes. No wonder it’s fast becoming THE place to meet whether it be for a quick drink, a first impression pre-date stop or simply to enjoy the scenery as Bill and I so did.

After much conversation (and a few more cocktails!) it was way past my usual bedtime and so we herded home to the barn. The River Bar is certainly on the list of our date night treats and we will be heading back there very soon… it’s a great excuse to adult in style!

Till Next Week,
The Dairy Cow

Warm welcomes at African Pride Irene Country Lodge

News in the fields is that African Pride Irene Country Lodge is boasting a brand newly revamped reception area. Being the local celeb when it comes to everything Destination Irene, I decided it would be best for me to check out the refurb myself… so you could read all about it straight from the Dairy Cow’s mouth!

Well, impressive is an understatement! As I entered the mooovelous lodge doors, I was immediately drawn to the warm welcome, peaceful ambience and of course, the gorgeous décor. Not only has the reception area been converted into a more open plan layout, but it’s more functional and of course, as upmarket as ever!

Greeted by the friendly reception staff (as always), they were all smiles as I commented on this spectacular upgrade. Bursting with pride, they excitedly told me that they too love the revamp and look forward to further changes to other areas of African Pride Irene Country Lodge happening over the next few months. (Make sure you keep following my blogs to avoid FOMO). If this is only the start, then African Pride Irene Country Lodge has set the bar high!

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Royal arrival 

This inviting reception had me intrigued and I soon found myself wondering around, looking at the finer details.

With a central fireplace making sure this room will be cosy no matter the weather, I was particularly drawn to a beautiful drawing of the ’Old Dairy Irene Estate’ by C Brotherton – a gentle reminder of where it all began.

As I sat down in one of the many amazingly comfy sofas adorning the room, the hostess eagerly handed me a welcome glass of cranberry juice. ‘’This juice has been very popular today,’’ she comment and I quickly understood why – it was delicious!

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Whilst I relaxed there for the next half hour or so, I watched and listened as guests happily arrived and left. All were welcomed with the utmost professionalism, making each one feel as important as can be. If they were checking in, the porter was on hand to show them to their room and if they were checking out, one could see that they were leaving feeling relaxed and grateful to have stayed. All commented on how they would be back again – and I’m sure African Pride Irene Country Lodge would be only too happy to oblige.

I returned to the fields to update the herd – with pride I explained that not only is African Pride Irene Country Lodge a haven of peace and tranquility but its fit for royalty too.

A royal reception which is only the beginning of the fabulous experience guests enjoy when arriving at African Pride Irene Country Lodge… making Destination Irene all the more inviting.

Till Next Week,
The Dairy Cow