The Real Jenty

This blog meme is going around… and I’ve been nominated by Boobah’s Mom and Gina and Megan and Camilla

And now I have to blurt out 7 random facts about me that you don’t already know… tricky considering the amount of time I spend blogging!
1. I’ve started following more style bloggers recently… in an attempt to keep up to date because I don’t have time for magazines anymore
2. I’m really enjoying learning how to do UX Design and as someone who has been a Business Analyst for so many years and designing functionally, this way of designing sites and systems is just WOW… all of a sudden there’s a real reason behind where a button must go… and it’s not about how cool it looks.
3. I wish I had time to do yoga
4. We last had family photos taken 3 years ago… and I’ve only got one photo of Connor on the walls… and it breaks my heart when he tries to spot himself in the photos… I just don’t have the energy to trawl through all the photos I’ve taken and print the nice ones. I need to organise a family photoshoot for ourselves!
5. I desperately want to redecorate my house, and redo some of the rooms completely
6. I haven’t worn high heels in ages… have decided to only wear flats from now on… my feet don’t hurt anymore
7. I want a new car again. LOL! I suppose for those who know me well, this doesn’t come as a surprise, I’ve had my car for 18 mths… and that’s a lifetime in car years for me… I want the new Hyundai ix35

I’m going to forego nominating… if you want to do it be my guest

Being Brazen has a few questions that beg getting answered again….

1. Snack of the week… snack biscuits and blue cheese
2. Currently I am craving… a cappuccino and a chocolate croissant
3. Last night for dinner I had… a prawn curry from O’Galito’s in Benmore… I went to a team dinner… hence no #365 photo.  The food was awesome!
4. For lunch today I am having… probably something from Woolies… I’m going to Sandton at lunchtime to swap some clothes that Bradley got for his birthday cos they’re far too small… if you’re wondering… Bradley wears size 8-9 now!
5. Right now my favourite food blog/website is… I don’t follow foodie blogs, almost all other types of blogs, but not those
5. What’s your favourite comfort food? curry – either a thai green curry or Butter chicken
6. Favourite quick meal? egg on toast
7. Italian, Mexican or Chinese? Italian…  not pizza though, I’m so over pizza

and you?

… and I’m in!!

I know it’s not like going out into the country, but seriously, a few nights away would just be awesome… and we could catch a show… just wander around… maybe book some time at a spa… and just spend time by ourselves!  Sounds divine, and it sounds especially divine after the crap traffic this evening that ended up causing me to get home after 7pm!! Can you say stress?!!

Anyhoo, here are the details:

Southern Sun announced last week the opening of their latest hotel on 24^th April, the Southern Sun Montecasino.

What’s really cool is that they’ve opened up a competition to bloggers!  Just think, how awesome it would be for some of the other city bloggers to win this and to come up for a weekend and meet all us awesome Jozi bloggers!!  So get to it, and write your blog post!!

Here’s the deal.  Blog about the Southern Sun Montecasino opening

1. In the blog post mention that this competition is open to all bloggers

2. Answer the 6 easy questions

3. Send the blog post link to sheenag@aquaonline.com to tally all entries

Questions are as follows:

1.       What is the opening rate special?

2.       Where has the latest Southern Sun opened? (they opened on 24^th April)

3.       Who is the General Manager of the hotel?

4.       How many rooms are there in the new hotel?

5.       When is their room service available? [How many hours a day?]

6.       Which item would you most like to order off the Punchinello’s menu?

*Hint: visit the website and download the fact sheet for more info.

On Friday 14^th May, one blogger will be chosen to win a weekend stay at Southern Sun Montecasino for 2 adults sharing, bed and breakfast and dinner to the value of R200 each.

Terms & Conditions:

Subject to availability, not applicable during 2010 World Cup

Children under 18 sharing parents’ room stay and eat breakfast free

Valid for 6 months from date of issue

Winners need to make their own travel arrangements to the hotel.

Female2Female’s bloggy challenge today is about Blessings. I was actually going to moan about Joburg Water on my blog today… but counting my blessings is just so much nicer

Todays blog challenge is about the blessings we have in our lives. The challenge is to list as many things as you can that you are blessed with!

I count myself as blessed because:

• I have kids who make me smile every day
• I have dogs who have made the kids play outside for longer stretches and watch less TV
• My “new” job allows me to work from home every now and then
• I can use a camera and make people smile
• I can buy clothes for the kids to keep them warm.  I got a SMS from Hannah this morning asking for help to get the kids winter uniforms and clothes… she’s struggling… not sure how to help her yet
• My parents are just down the road from my house, and they’re awesome!
• My husband wakes up at night for the kids so I can sleep through now
• I get to meet the most awesome people with my photography, and go to events that I would never normally go to.
• I get to capture memories… and that’s so so very important

Laura put together a few questions today on Female2Female… and they look like my kind of questions for tonight… the simple kind

What colours would your wedding be/was your wedding? My dress was white, and then everything else was a mix of pastel colours… or at least everything was meant to be… because my bridesmaid, who despite being told about the colours, pitched up that morning wearing a bright red lace dress!

Scrubs or Greys Anatomy? Greys Anatomy without a doubt!

Do you pick your battles? I tend to pick them too carefully now, so I’m not confrontational enough!

Bar One or Whole Nut? Bar One

Where is your favourite holiday destination? I dunno, anywhere, as long as there’s sea and a beach to lie on, for at least part of the time

High School Musical or Cinderella? Cinderella

You are buying a new house what is the one thing the house must have? Bright and light rooms

Spring or autumn? Spring

Have you every skinny dipped before? Hell yeah!

Yoga or Kata Box? Yoga

If you had to study what would you study? Art or Photography



Meme from Female2Female

• No matter how many vitamins you take… you still get sick
• I need an upgraded wardrobe… I’m starting to read more and more fashion blogs and I just want to go shopping now
• I can actually get through my to-do list
• Even though I desperately want to help a friend whose in a really bad situation, I can’t, and it’s making me feel very sad
• We had a presentation today about 2010… I didn’t realise how much Sandton was going to get affected.  Wish I could work from home during that period, it’s going to be a mare getting to and from work

Some randomness that I found on Brazen‘s blog

1. Thought for the day: Let’s get the show on the road
2. This week… I’m trying to get somewhere with my deliveries, and trying to concentrate at work, and ordering boxes for my photography business, and have 2 family shoots, 2 friend’s invites and 1 kids party booked for the weekend
3. Last night… I went to bed at a decent time, after reading 2 books to the boys, watching the end of Ugly Betty and doing some editing
4. Song of the moment: Puff the Magic Dragon… I know I’m sad
5. If I could be a crayon colour, right now I’d be… Green
6. Bella or Buffy? Probably Buffy, but only because I’ve never read the Bella story
7. I wish I could quit… procrastinating

You all know I like random… so this blog challenge from Female2Female is right up my alley!

If I could work half day I would

In my kitchen cupboard is Kelloggs frosties, tinned salmon, lemon cream biscuits, soya sauce and thai stir fry sauce

On my desk – my Blackberry charging cable that keep forgetting to take back to work!

Image in my head – planning images for Tanya‘s engagement shoot next weekend because I’m trying to convince her that they won’t look like retards!.

In the middle of my to do list – the print orders that are outstanding so I can’t deliver the DVD or the photos.

I am dreading – I’m not really dreading anything at the moment apart from the traffic on the way to work every morning.

Right now I want to start blogging on my new domain

I think I’m a little loony.

Going to have my hair cut short on Friday… squeeee!! (as Veronica would say).

I got this from another blogger, and I felt the need to answer the questions too

Outside my window… I’m watching the Sandton traffic while it’s pouring with rain

I am thinking... that I need to do something without thinking much… hence this blog post

I am thankful for… Lance starting something… btw if you need a handyman in the Johannesburg area, my man is your man

I am wearing… Black pants and a black frilly blouse and very high heeled sandals

I am remembering… that I need to start editing Wenchy‘s photos tonight yes, you’ll get them soon

I am going… to Kameraz in Rosebank at lunch tomorrow to get a UV filter for my new lens and another CF card

I am currently reading… blogs and I’m going to buy the latest Elle Decoration this evening after being tempted by their blog this week!

I am hoping… that it doesn’t rain for my photoshoots this weekend… and the wedding next FRIDAY!! OMG it’s so soon

On my mind… Lance’s 40th coming up.  Connor’s birthday party next month.  The wedding next week.  Our weekend away in March for Lance’s birthday.

Noticing that… I have a lot of work to do in the next month

Pondering … why…

From the kitchen… please no, I’m tired of the food from this kitchen

Around the house… mess constantly

One of my favorite things…sleeping

JessicaMcD is a new blogger, and she tagged me a few days ago… yay for an easy blog post for tonight

Opening…
Do you get regular massages? Pre-kids I used to do regular spa days… cannot remember the last massage I had now.
Do you have an answering machine? Voicemail and email, no need for an answering machine
What cuss word do you use the most? The F-word has to be  move used… but I’m swearing quite a bit at the moment, so it’s close call.
Are you underweight or overweight? Overweight
Can you see your veins? Yip, always been able to.

Favourite…
Soap? I love the Nivea shower gels, atm my favourite is the Diamond creme one.
Fruit? At the moment Nectarines.
Kind of red meat? Lamb but only because I rarely eat it
Fish? Any kind of fish… fave has to be prawns
Candy bar? any dark chocolate or mint chocolate

Have You Ever…
Eaten a whole bag of potato chips? Hell yes!
Eaten lobster? Once, it wasn’t a bit of a let down.
Climbed a mountain? Hill yes, mountain no
Been skydiving? No but have always wanted to.
Been water skiing? Yes when I was in varsity… I wasn’t very good at it

Do You…
Wish you could change something about your life? Hell yes
Like your nose? Yes, I have no problem with my schnozz
Like salt and vinegar chips? Love ‘em
Eat salsa? No, I’m not too partial to tomotoey things
Own a boat? No

What Is…
A small thing that people let slide but that actually has dire consequences? clean feet… I could smell someones dirty feet last night towards the end of the movie, and it drove me mad!
Your most macho trait? Huh?
The longest relationship you’ve ever had? This one… married for 13 years on Monday
Your most embarrassing thoughts? I’ve had a few
Your most shameful moment? Can’t remember but I’m sure there have been loads, I haven’t been known to be diplomatic

This/That…
Bath/Shower? Depends on my mood
Markers/ Crayons? Crayons, but actually I prefer lead pencils for colouring in
Pens/ Pencils? Pens
Jelly/ Cream Cheese? Jelly
Bagel/ Toast? Toast but only because we can’t get good bagels easily.

Finish…
My greatest weakness is… my kids
I wish I was… not having to work for a living and could spend more time with the kids
Three things I wouldn’t do for a million dollars are… sleep with someone, betray my kids,
The oddest thing I’ve ever put in my mouth is… Dried mopani worms… I was very drunk and they tasted crap!

Firsts…
Credit card you had? Only ever had one
Loan you got was for? study loan for varsity
Paycheck was for how much? R2.5 per hour as a packer in Hyperama when I was 14
Time you had stitches? Caesar when I had Bradley
Time you went to the hospital for something? I broke my arm when I was 6.  Someone pushed me off a jungle gym and broke my elbow… I was in hospital for 2 weeks.

Lasts…
List everything you ate in the last 24 hours? Serious… bad day to ask that   Since 11pm last night…  2 hot cross buns toasted for breakfast with coffee and tea. Hotdog for lunch with coke. Steak, roast potatoes and salad for supper with red and white wines with Chocolate brownies and custard!
Last thing you used a credit card for? Topping up the ADSL
What was your job previous to the one you have now? I’m about to move anyway
Last thing you celebrated? Our anniversary last night
Last time you were at a sports bar? Can’t remember

I’m not going to tag anyone, if you feel like doing it, let me know in the comments so I can read it