WIN online tickets to DON'T BURN YOUR SAUSAGE, with Chris Forrest and Pete Goffe - this Saturday

Staying in is the new going out:  Chris Forrest and Pete Goffe-Wood re-create a night out 

In these strange and challenging times we need more comedy to keep us sane. What better than the upcoming Don’t Burn Your Sausage, via Mzanzi Live, featuring Chris Forrest and Pete Goffe-Wood this coming Saturday. 8pm, on your couch!
We can't wait!

Two readers can win tickets on Instagram to attend the show. @karentoittoit

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GIVE-AWAY! >>> What are you doing this Saturday evening? We need comedy to keep us sane during this time! There’s nothing better than a double whammy of comic genius, Chris Forrest, and celebrity chef, Pete Goffe-Wood, who are creating a night out by scrumptiously blending comedy and cooking together into the ‘Top Gear’ of cooking shows with their lockdown version of Don’t Burn Your Sausage on the 18th of July. The show will be a live online broadcast with Pete cooking from Tintswalo Atlantic in Cape Town and Chris from his home in Randburg. Following sold-out shows in Grahamstown, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Windhoek, the duo has cleverly and successfully delivered this live food show to rave reviews from critics and adjusting to the times, this will be their first online show. The show promises to be an absolute hit for both food- and comedy-lovers alike. Tickets for Don’t Burn Your Sausage on the 18th of July are available at R80 via https://mzanzilive.tv/. The show starts at 20h00 CAT. Proudly brought to you by Mzansi Live in association with Tintswalo Atlantic and La Vierge. Two online tickets are up for grabs: - Tag a bestie - Follow @tintswalo_atlantic @laviergewines The two winners will be announced Friday 17th June at 15pm.

A post shared by Karen Du Toit (@karentoittoit) on Jul 16, 2020 at 12:34am PDT

Getting creative online (and in the kitchen), comic genius, Chris Forrest, and celebrity chef, Pete Goffe-Wood, are re-creating a night out by scrumptiously blending comedy and cooking together into the ‘Top Gear’ of cooking shows with their lockdown version of Don’t Burn Your Sausage on the 18th of July.

Deliciously funny and rather ‘whisk-qué, this cheeky duo will demonstrate how food and sex are delectably intertwined as they prepare the ultimate seductive 3-course meal with a naughty line-up that will have you salivating salaciously and crying with laughter.
This refreshingly funny show is jam-packed with great humour and great cooking – with Chris working his special brand of South African humour alongside Pete Goffe-Wood’s unmatched cooking talent, candour and naughtiness.  This pair will win over your hearts and your stomachs.

Chris Forrest has been on the SA comedy scene since the late nineties and Pete Goffe-Wood (best known as the Masterchef South Africa judge known to crack a joke or two), has been making great food for nearly 30 years.  When the two of them met on the set of Celebrity Masterchef SA in 2015, they found that they had a couple of things in common – one of them being the same dry sense of humour and the other, a liking for mouth-watering, delicious food.  After the series ended, they decided to combine their respective talents to bring you this culinary comedy show, the likes that have not been seen before in SA. 

Tickets for Don’t Burn Your Sausage on the 18^th of July are available at R80 via https://mzanzilive.tv/.  The show starts at 20h00 CAT.

Proudly brought to you by Mzansi Live in association with Tintswalo Atlantic, which launches on 29 July, and La Vierge.

We are planning to sort Miss Fine with a movie, while we will be sipping wine and escaping, with humour and food. 


Disclaimer: We are also getting a ticket!                   

A memorable date night, especially with Simmi Areff

Simmi Areff

We do not get that much opportunity for a date night, but last week was one for the books. Simmi Areff gave the proceeds of his comedy nights at Auto & General Theatre on the Square to Femme Projects. We were invited to media night on Thursday, and we are extremely happy we went.

Simmi Areff is funny, and he "works" the audience. Looking at the social media engagements I know not one of his nights or jokes are exactly the same. I bow to that, because how is it possible to stay funny for two hours with an audience that you do not know? Well, he does it really well! Check him out and sign up to his podcasts on his blog. Apparently he is a very big deal on TikTok as well. We laughed for two hours straight!

"Let’s tackle the tale as old as time….love! Simmi Areff is the Agony Uncle for the heartbroken; the love guru of the modern era.  He seemingly has all the answers – but take them with a pinch of salt – because he wouldn’t be sharing his story if his love life was better than yours."

Nelson Mandela Square

As always, we enjoyed Nelson Mandela Square, and had to make a stop at Hard Rock Café. The Entertainer app still has the two for one burger deal, which is really tasty. I had their vegetarian burger made with cauliflower.

Nelson Mandela Square

This was an epic date night! (My husband was smiling, just not on this photo, I promise ;-))

Hard Rock Cafe

Date night at Hard Rock Cafe

Jimi Hendrix booth 

Thanks to MS Publicity for inviting us to media night!
Thank you, Simmi Areff, for the laughs, and for donating the proceeds!

Follow Simmi Areff online:

Twitter: @simmiareff

Facebook: Simmi Areff

Instagram: @simmiareff

15 years anniversary - Can you believe it?

Date night at Chicago's Piano Bar

We both can't believe it's been 15 years. It was just the other day we got married and started with our adventure together. We have been looking through our photos, and reliving all the good times. There's been more good times than the bad one's. We can definitely say we can weather the storms by now. 

We had the most epic date night, but now we have #parentguilt

We had an epic date night last night. We were invited to Menlyn to Hard Rock Café for a show featuring The Muses. Who can say no to that? It's Hard Rock Café, which we love, and it's THÉ Muses. It was perfect for Valentine's Day.

Last night: Instagram @karentoittoit - #MenlynSA #ValentinesDay (print screen)

We don't get to do date nights that much. It's the budget, and it's Miss Fine... Surely we should grab the opportunity when it presents itself?

Aunty Merle The Musical - Top Notch

Aunty Merle (Marc Lottering character)

Joburg finally gets a chance to meet up with Aunty Merle from Belgravia Road, one of the oldest characters created by Marc Lottering.  She's all the hype and the SKINDER (gossip) worthy! Who does not know an aunt like her who knows everybody's business, and helps fixing where she can?

Aunty Merle the Musical is lots of laughs, some crying, family dynamics mixed with rich cultural diversities. Social commentary and politics are lightly interwoven, and we walk out of the Mandela Theatre with a beat in our step and a lighter look at our social political landscape. Four Fleur Du Cap Theatre nominations are well deserved.

The ABBA Show is in town and it's ABBAsolutely fABBAulous

The ABBA Show - CC Emperor's

Relive the ABBA Concert experience

That's exactly what we did! The ABBA Show is a real treat. It's on at Emperor's Palace until 10 February.  Who does not know the music of ABBA? We all grew up with it. Even Gen Xrs know their music. Hubby and I had a great date night on Friday. I made sure I had all the ABBA on our sound systems before we did the drive to the South, and it was more than worth it.

Wordless Wednesday #352 - Date night sunset watching

A Saturday night in another city

We had a most interesting Saturday night last week. The Voortrekkers had a Zoo Snooze at the Pretoria Zoo, and Little Miss HAD to be there!

Best night at the Phil Collins Tribute Show

We had such a great evening on Friday at the Phil Collins Tribute Show at Emperors Palace! One More Night is a brand new tribute show that features both the story, and the music of legend Phil Collins.

Vocalist and drummer Victor James Chapman does a great job capturing the music and the icon that is Phil Collins! Backed by a 10-piece band, they all contribute to a great evening with favourite hits such as Another Day in Paradise, Sussudio, Groovy Kind Of Love and You’ll Be In My Heart.

Phil Collins is part of our history! (Maybe just mine, but judging by the crowd on Friday night, I am not the only one!) The eighties was my high school and university years! It was part of growing up and becoming a person!

The two hours went by in a flash! It is definitely worth the drive to the East Rand!

On stage at the Theatre of Marcellus for three weeks from 17 November to 4 December. Great for a date night and great for the whole family as well!

The show is performed at 20h00 from Thursdays to Saturdays, with 15h00 matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets are priced from R150 per person (regret no children under the age of 4).  Bookings can be made through the Emperors Palace Box Office on 011 928 1297/1213 or by visiting www.emperorspalace.com.  Tickets are now open at Computicket online 

Disclaimer: We got 2 tickets for Friday"s VIP night!

A long anniversary weekend

We had a very quiet, but lovely weekend.
It was our anniversary as well, but we kept it low-key this year!
The budget had an impact, and it's 12 years! By now we have figured out we like each other, and we would like to stay... ;-)

No, each year I am reminded again of how lucky I am to be married to this guy! I would not want my life to be any different than being with him! Thanks, D!

We had a movie date on Sunday and went to see The Dressmaker! What a strange but delightful movie this is! But be warned! There are serious plots involved! I am still a bit dazed about all the twists in the movie!
Afterwards we had a light meal in Parkview, and that's all I want in life!
A dinner and a movie with my Hubby! It was a perfect anniversary!

We started the long weekend at our favourite Papachinos, and Little Miss told me to take this video! I don't know why or what, but when she says take a movie, I jump! I shared it on SnapChat (The chances of getting her on screen are few and far between!)


What did you do this past the long weekend?

It was a good weekend

It was a very uneventful weekend! Also NOT!

While telling Little Miss of all the things she must remember about the weekend for her weekly feedback in class, I realize that it was actually a very good weekend!

We started off the weekend with an unexpected date night! Little Miss was asked to a sleepover, and we suddenly had a night to ourselves. We had tapas at one of our favorite restaurants, Tei Avon in Victory Park. 

Little Miss really enjoyed her sleepover and it seems there were no melt-downs or problems. 

Little Miss also had her first Voortrekkers meeting of the year on Saturday which consisted of lots of water sport activities! 

Although it was a cloudy day, it was still very hot and perfect for a day of outdoor fun!

Little Miss took a long afternoon nap, and Hubby and I could catch up with a little bit of movie binge-watching on Saturday afternoon. 

We were able to braai (barbecue) on Saturday evening and enjoyed sitting outside for long before it started to rain later on. 

Little Miss entertained us with card tricks for the weekend. She picked up some pointers at the BFF. 

We also took the very excited dogs for a walk on Sunday after church. 

Little Miss told us that she was separated from her friend in Sunday School because they sang too loud. They were instructed to sang at their utmost, and when they did they were moved away from each other! We had a good giggle about it, thinking about Little Miss being in trouble for singing? 

And for the rest of the weekend we had creations like this going up everywhere in our house!  ?? 

But it kept her occupied!

This is what great weekends are made of. Lots of family time and rest!

I hope you had a great weekend too?

Wordless Wednesday #190 - Date night at Crowne Plaza Rosebank with #BlindTigerSessions and Arno Carstens

Dragonflies & Astronauts: Beautiful!

The picture of a sleeping toddler was not to be on Saturday night when we went to see a show of The Parlotones…


We usually don’t have a problem and at eight (nine perhaps on a weekend) she goes down, but Saturday she was bright and breezy!
Murphy does not sleep!

But we left the Toddler with the Teen. We haven’t done that much up until now!
You would think that we have a babysitting minder in-house… But, we mostly prefer to take the Toddler with. If that’s not an option, we leave her with her grandparents!

We worry about that “what if?” something very bad happens! (Just in case…)

Anyhow, we left the Teen and Toddler with a Barbie movie! And it went well! Except for lots of bed jumping that had to be endured, apparently…
(The Teen doesn’t mind at all, because she is getting a bit of pocket money!)

We went to see the live 3D movie of The Parlotones show of Dragonflies & Astronauts! It was incredible! Some of their best music in a great post-apocalyptic (?) show! Loved it! They had some problems sorting out the technicalities in the first songs, but from there we were with them on the stage!

We were sitting with our 3D goggles, and I wanted so much to take a picture. Imagine me with the blackberry with the 3D goggles in front of it! I only got this very poor image…

I hope there is a DVD coming out? I hope they do it again?
I want some more!
In the meantime I am listening to all their songs…

Yes, it was nice! (I am officially a Parlotones groupie now!)