The Real Jenty

I got 3 questions posed about treats etc, and thought I’d answer in one post

Sharon asked: What makes you happy? Something that puts that silly grin on your face and you cannot wipe it off because it has made you happy from deep within your soul?

When someone loves something I’ve done.  Like this morning, when Beauty got her prints, and she had tears in her eyes and told me “that you know just how to shape me, and I’m not fat. I was thinking about why I bother dressing up when I come to work in the morning, but you’ve made me see myself differently”
That made me cry, and smile all the way to work this morning.

Tara asked: I dare you to share 3 guilty pleasures. Like, that chocolate you buy at the shops and then scoff before getting home (not that I do that. Much.)

1. Putting on the TV for the kids, so I can read some blogs
2. Plant shopping at Lifestyle cos it’s just so nice, and I should rather spend the money on the kids. I haven’t had much time to do that recently.
3. Buying new lingerie every few months… I just love it.
Seriously, if I buy myself a chocolate to have on the way home from the shops, I’ve normally bought some for the kids and Lance too.

Laura asked:  What is your favourite sweet?

Definitely chocolate, as long as it’s not Beacon.  I hate Beacon.  My favourite chocolates are Crunchies, and Cote d’Or Noir chocolate.  I love a good dark chocolate.  Or Caramello Bears, now those are also yummy!

Laura also asked: If you had just R150 to spend on YOU – what would you spend it on?

Only R150? That’s tricky. Probably a pedicure, summer is coming.

Ask me something… anything?

I’ve hit a blogging slump, I can’t think of anything to write that you might want to know… so I thought I’d open the floor to you all

Ask me a question in the comments, and I’ll answer over the next few days.

Why do people have to be so spiteful?

I got an email from an old friend this morning to tell me that one of our shared Facebook friends is having a problem.  Her ex-husband has got hold of her Facebook password and cellphone and is sending random messages to her friends.

This is the second time this has happened to a friend of mine!

I have a few things to say about this…

1.  WTF are you thinking when you do a stupid thing like that?

2.  WTF do you think you’re actually achieving?

3.  You do realise that that instead of getting the support that you’re clearly craving, that you’re alienating yourself entirely.

4.  The person you want to hurt by doing this is ending up being the hero.

What an idiot!

Start acting like a man and get on with your life, like she clearly is!

You would think that after eating quite a few of Angel‘s red cupcakes on Friday and yesterday, that I would have had enough.
But nooo, today Bananaramagirl and Snowgoose had cupcakes for us to eat for the photoshoot… and they were divine.  These ones were chocolate with butter icing and the most gorgeous crowns and gold T’s decorated them.
In fact,  I’m yearning for more.  They would go down so well tonight, while I’m editing… and we don’t even have a chocolate in the house!

Oh woe is me (

I asked Bradley to take a few photos of me… and the dogs decided that it was play time… it’s utter chaos at home!!  I think the photos are pretty awesome actually, considering Bradley is 7 years old.  I’ve done no cropping to these photos, just used a preset to pop the colours.

Naming your business is important right?  You have one try normally.

When I started my photography blog, my own domain… I decided after searching long and hard on the internet, to use my real name.  Not Jenty.

The thing is, I’m kinda known as Jenty now though, because of all my blogging over the last few years.

In fact, today, Andy Hadfield asked me why I didn’t use Jenty for my photography.  I didn’t really have a reason.  He reckoned that Jenty would suit a rock-star photographer… yet Jeanette Verster is the name for a pro-photographer.

Hmmm…. I like the idea of rockstar. I like to think of myself as not run of the mill, and kinda funky.  Yet, Jim the other day commented that he’s never seen a funky woman photographer… which made me laugh.

Anyhoo, the deed is done, it’s Jeanette for my photography, and Jenty for blogging and other social media… no wonder people are constantly confused

It takes a while for people to connect the dots and realise I’m the same person.  I’m not just a photographer… I do have a day job LOL even at work it’s confusing for people… especially when they meet me for the first time because most people at work call me Jenty too.

I saw this list on Jane’s blog… very cool idea and I know I’m not nearly as capable as she is, but it’s a fun thing to test…

While not totally comprehensive , here is a list of 50 things everyone should know how to do:
1. Build a Fire
2. Operate a Computer
3. Use Google Effectively
4. Perform CPR and the Heimlich maneuver
5. Drive a Manual Transmission Vehicle
6. Do Basic Cooking
7. Tell a Story that Captivates People’s Attention – not sure about this one
8. Win or Avoid a Fistfight
9. Deliver Bad News - now this I’m terrible at!
10. Change a Tyre
11. Handle a Job Interview
12. Manage Time
13. Speed Read
14. Remember Names - Nooo I’m notoriously shocking!
15. Relocate Living Spaces
16. Travel Light
17. Handle the Police
18. Give Driving Directions
19. Perform Basic First Aid
20. Swim
21. Parallel Park
22. Recognize Personal Alcohol Limits
23. Select Good Produce
24. Handle a Hammer, Axe or Handsaw
25. Make a Simple Budget
26. Speak at Least Two Common Languages
27. Do Push-Ups and Sit-Ups Properly
28. Give a Compliment
29. Negotiate - again I’m shocking at this
30. Listen Carefully to Others
31. Recite Basic Geography
32. Paint a Room
33. Make a Short, Informative Public Speech
34. Smile for the Camera
35. Flirt without Looking Ridiculous – doubt it
36. Take Useful Notes
37. Be a Respectful House Guest
38. Make a Good First Impression
39. Navigate with a Map and Compass
40. Sew a Button onto Clothing
41. Hook up a Basic Home Theater System
42. Type
43. Protect Personal Identity Information
44. Implement Basic Computer Security Best Practices
45. Detect a Lie – depends who you’re talking about here
46. End a Date Politely Without Making Promises
47. Remove a Stain
48. Keep a Clean House
49. Hold a Baby
50. Jump Start a Car

I really didn’t do as badly as I initially thought!

… but it made me think…

“Your life will look a lot like your dominant thoughts”

courtsey of @_robin_sharma and @simon_fill

A few thoughts in my head that aren’t enough for full posts, so here’s a little ramble…

1.  I’m clearly starting to speak in social media speak at home… Connor has started saying “awsum” which is ever so cute.

2.  I’m also saying Wow too much – online and offline – it’s quite disturbing actually that I can respond WOW  to most things now and think that just that word is a complete response.

3.  I know I said I was tired of wearing black dresses on Friday… but I find myself drawn to that part of my wardrobe… I think I might just succumb to that temptation tomorrow.

4.  My photography is really starting to get busy, and I’m now starting to turn work away because I’m never going to get to the editing.

5.  My neck is so damn sore.  The pain started yesterday morning, and I’m sitting here now with Transact patches on my neck and pumped with pain killers… so no… there’s no post on my photography blog tonight, I’m going to sleep instead!  If it’s not gone by tomorrow I think I’ll have to find a physio

I know it’s not the “thing” to blog about the same thing 2 days in a row, but damnit, Connor is cute sometimes…

I took my car in for a service today, so Lance drove to Sandton with the boys to pick me up and take me to the garage. He parked on the side of the driveway into the building to wait for me and then said “I can’t find Mommy, she’s not here”

Connor replied “She’s not here”… “Have you lost Mommy?”… “where is she?”

Oops, don’t think he’ll word that statement like that again, Connor got quite distraught at the thought of me being lost

Then he wasn’t so cute later on, when I was at Woolies with the boys buying groceries… and he was running riot like normal and eventually tore out of the shop at top speed when he noticed that I was occupied with paying for the said groceries. Once I caught him, dragged him back inside and shoved him into the trolley… he then threw the MOST almighty tantrum! Oh joy… I could just imagine what everyone was saying about me and the kids.

On that note, I went to a bloggers lunch on Saturday organised by Angel, and it was in a nice looking restaurant. It was also raining… which meant that the kids couldn’t play in the playground. Not that that stopped them for long, and Connor got wet sliding down a slide in the rain… then he decided that being wet wasn’t fun at all… so promptly took his shorts and shoes off… and it took everything in my power to stop him from stripping completely. Needless to say, I didn’t stay long after that!

He’s a handful… cute… but a handful!