I haven’t done this meme in a while, and I’m literally bursting with random things that are not big enough for a post

• I’m driving to Dullstroom tomorrow for a wedding. I’m really really not looking forward to the drive, because I’m going on my own… but the wedding will be gorgeous.
• I’ve been invited to the long-service awards at work… just the thought that I’ve been working at a company long enough for an award makes me feel old
• My hair looks much better when it’s really short… and this week I dyed it a purply shade of red
• I’ve lost touch with most of my friends now I’m quite sad about it but I seriously have no time for myself let alone phoning someone to chat.
• I hate randomly chatting to someone… I can never think of anything to say
• I haven’t got a clue what to buy the kids for Christmas this year.
• We’re trying to plan our big bucket list trip for next year… it was going to be Vic Falls, but that’s ended up being too expensive.  Now we’re thinking Mauritius, but OMG that’s so expensive in April!
• Did you know it would cost us R50k to get to New Zealand to visit Michelle (Lance’s sister) and Marlise… that’s JUST for the flights!! Holy moly I had no idea it would be that expensive!
• I just love getting the Yuppiechef emails… and I want this new toy… a Zoku Quick Pop Maker.  How cool is that?! (excuse the cheesy pun)

• If you’re lugging around a laptop bag that looks like a handbag, then don’t carry a handbag too… you look like a fool (just something I noticed at work this morning)
• Woolies needs to sell nicer vest tops. I’m tired of the shoe string strap ones that Woolies has sold for the last 10 years (or so it feels), I want the more funky, more “in” vests to wear under sleeveless dresses/tops. I want to be able to wear a bra without the straps sticking out. Woolies, you’re forcing me to buy wardrobe staples from Mr Price, and their quality is not great even though their price of R35 for a sleeveless vest is amazing!
• On the subject of clothes, I love love love Tashkaya’s and Slick’s clothes now that I’ve done a shoot with their clothes for Mandy.  Now Tashkaya has the most amazing vests… the fabric is awesome and they’re long so they don’t ride up (I have a grey one)!
• My career is going to change soon, that’s inevitable, the direction however is completely unknown right now and it’s stressing me completely.
• I haven’t taken a photo since Sunday. I can’t remember when last I didn’t use my camera for 5 days.
• Taking photos for myself, and my art, is becoming more of a need… I miss it.
• I haven’t done anything about my bucket list again… ho hum…

• My mom‘s carrot cake is the shizz… especially when you get a take-home piece to eat after a long day of photoshoots!
• I noticed a new patch of gray hair this week
• I’m SO looking forward to my boudoir shoot next month.  Quite anxious about being on the other side of the camera, but it will only make me a better photographer
• I would love to get a new house and not have to worry about changing our current place, and I would love to live on a quiet road where the kids can go cycling on the road.
• I have something big I have to do next week, just need to get the courage to do it. Or maybe the following week.
• A big shopping spree would be really appreciated right about now.

I spotted a Present swapping project on a blog a few weeks ago, and followed the link to Angie’s blog… and signed up for it!! Oh and added her blog to my reader

I was paired with Giselle aka Lavenderbluebeauty in Durban, and I collected the parcel from the post office this morning ) (I posted my pressie to her late so hopefully she gets hers on Monday).  Yay I love presents… and these are fabulous cos she actually hand made them!

It was fun and I hope that Giselle likes her pressie when she gets it

Madi posted a list of what she likes about winter, and considering tonight is very chilly again, and if I don’t think happy thoughts I’m going to get sad…  I think this is a good enough meme to start up   I like the positivity

Hmm, let’s think now, what do I like about Winter?

• The fireplace – it’s been a lifesaver in this house.  It’s the only thing (with the underfloor heating) that keeps the house warm.
• Milo… if it’s really cold I have some in the afternoon at the office, it gives me the boost for the rest of the day… and then there’s nothing better to end the evening when it’s icy cold outside.
• Boots… oh I love my boots
• Coats… I always feel good wearing a coat
• Sunsets… the colour of the sky is just too beautiful in Jozi at winter time
• Frost (apart from when it kills my plants)… I think it’s pretty
• Sunny patios… I must agree with Madi here, there’s nothing nicer than sitting on my patio basking in the sun
• Electric blanket… there’s nothing nicer that getting into a warm bed!
• Oh and my birthday of course!

What do you like about winter?

So, how lucky am I?  I got nominated for 2 awards this week by 2 of my favourite local mommy bloggers, both of whom I met on a mommies online forum years ago, and I’m so very very pleased they’ve been bitten by the blogging bug… so thanks Fiona and Nicci

I’ve been nominated for the versatile one before, and I’m sorry I can’t actually remember who it was that nominated me… but anyhoo, I’ve decided that tonight will be the night to respond

So apparently how this all works is that when one is nominated, one has to:

1. Choose five (or more) other people who deserve this award and pass it on.
2. Tell 7 facts about yourself.
3. Let the people you gave the award to know.
4. Thank the person who gave you the award.

So here goes…

1. Most of the people nominated by other bloggers have been personal/mommy bloggers, so I’m going to mix it up and add a few blogs that I love reading (and in fact, if they know of me, they’re only aware of my photography blog and not this one), and I know they will never respond but it’s always fun to share blogs that you like reading:

• Emmajanenation:  One of the reasons she’s nominated is her latest blog post has cool chains that I think Fiona would like (I’m always shopping)
• Design to Inspire:  An Aussie blog with the most amazing interiors… I dream about redoing my house every day… much nicer than waiting for a monthly decor magazine
• Color Me Katie:  If you haven’t heard about this blog I’d be amazed but I know that new bloggers will want to find gems like this one so I’m adding her to my list.  She inspires me to think out the box.
• Enjoying the small things:  Love how Kelle portrays her life in photos
• Intermittent Blogger: I met her on the same forum as Fiona and Nicci, and she’s a South African who’s emigrated to New Zealand and also discovered blogging fairly recently
• Three Ring Circus:  Because Tiff is simply awesome and the most amazing mom with the most incredible challenges and I’m in awe of her strength and love.

2.  And now about me.  This is tough cos you guys know so much about me… hmmm… what don’t you know yet…

• My photography has to become more focussed because I’ve realised that I’m not going to be able to do it full-time, so I’m going to be picky about what I decide to do.  A blog post will be coming up soon explaining the change to my packages related to baby shoots.
• I would love to have time to spend time with small businesses and photographers helping them with Social Media.  I spent 20 minutes yesterday in the pet food shop explaining to Mel (the person working there in the evening who was telling me about her FB page about animal adoption and how it’s not working as she thought it would) about Facebook and how it’s not the be-all-and-end-all of Social Media, and eventually I had quite an audience.  Was fun… I like that… I do a lot of that at work, but only they  (and the agencies I work with) know how much I actually know.
• I like connecting people.  I realised this at lunchtime today when I went to get some career coaching with a friend.  I love understanding what everyone does… and realising where they need help and connecting them to other people who can make their lives easier.
• I’ve got my photography workload under control again for now anyway.
• I’m going to the zoo tomorrow, and my kids are going to trail behind me on a shoot for the first time… hopefully they behave… wish me luck
• My aim half way through school was to become a metallurgist.  Yip… can you imagine me in a hardhat every day .  My aim when I went to varsity was to study accounting… thankfully that didn’t work out… ended up studying IT.  Strange how life works sometimes.
• I haven’t read a book in almost 2 years. The thing is, I’m not sure I miss it because I have so many blogs to read, and working where I work has made me quite ADD when it comes to attention span.

3.  Not going to do because I know they won’t respond, this was just fun 

4.  Done that in the first paragraph

Not sure if it’s valid… but this is apparently my love language… and thinking about it, it is about right.  I found this link on Jane’s blog this evening, and decided to take the quiz.  I’ve heard this Love language thing being bandied about quite often recently, and really had no idea what mine was.

I feel loved when…

The Five Love Languages

My Primary Love Language is Quality Time

About this quiz

Unhappiness in relationships is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. It can be helpful to know what language you speak and what language those around you speak.

Take the Quiz!

As soon as I read/watched this vlog post on Mishi’s blog, who found it on Playgroupie’s blog, and I knew I had to do it too.  I spent quite a while last night travelling from blog to blog watching the vlogs and loving that I could listen to my favourite bloggers, and not just read their thoughts.  No-one ever sounds like the way you imagine they do.

The whole purpose behind this vlog meme is to hear everyone’s accents.  Most bloggers taking part are American or Canadian… it’s about time there was someone from South Africa taking part in it

This is the story… say the following words, and then answer the questions…

Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

* What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?

* What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?

* What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?

* What do you call gym shoes?

* What do you say to address a group of people?

* What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?

* What do you call your grandparents?

* What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?

* What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?

* What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

So, here goes:

Just me Talking

It’s very odd watching myself.  LOL!!   One thing I forgot to say in my vlog is that I’ve only ever lived in Zimbabwe and South Africa… hence my accent sounding like it does

This is Day 19 in the 30 truths for 30 days meme

I believe that religion is important because everyone needs to believe… in something… it’s what makes us tick.

Religion to me is any faith or belief that you may have where you worship or pray to, or believe in a higher being of some sort.

I do believe that there is a higher being.  I also believe that all the higher beings that people believe in are the same thing.

It’s just how you choose to act out that belief… ie.  which version of the truth that resonates with you… that is the only difference in all the so-called organised religions in the world.

This is Day 17 in the 30 truths for 30 days meme

I seriously think I’m useless at this meme!! I can’t think of one book!!

Possibly because I don’t like non-fiction books