Blog Challenge : Day 8: 3 things that turn you on

1. A sense of humour
2. Compassion
3. Being self assured, but not arrogant.

I just fell in love with Rose

Rose - found this via Already Pretty .. oh I do love this lady, I hope to be stylish and lively when I reach the age she is.

October 30 - Sunny Saturday

Yippee - it's the weekend.

I did not get around to taking pics of yesterdays look which consisted on my denim culottes, black sandals and (now I can't remember what top I wore), so I decided to quickly take some of today's look.

We're taking my daughter and her friends ice-skating for her birthday.  I had to go out and get hotdog supplies and goodies for at the rink so I stole a few minutes before to take these pics.

Top given to me by my sister - InWear at Truworths

Jeans (kinda skinny jeans) - Kelso at Edgars

Cute flat flat sandals - Truworths of course

My necklace and earrings made by favourite designer - Miz T ;-)

Hope your Saturday is fantastic.

Blog Challenge : Day 7: 4 things that turn you off.

4 things that turn me off ... wweet and short

1. Dirty nails
2. Untidy appearance
3. Beer bellies
4. stubble

Blog Challenge : Day 6: 5 people who mean a lot to you (in no order whatsoever)

It goes without saying that on the list would be my 4 children, my schatz, my three sisters and two of my brother in laws, my Mom and my Dad.  That's a whole lot more than 5 though *wink*

October 28 - 3 days running

... as I was cropping the pictures from yesterday and today, it suddenly dawned on me that I have worn blue in my outfit for three days now.  It was so not intended, but just happened.

I may be all 'blued out'.

After some major storms last night, this morning was really cool and after freezing in our offices a little yesterday, I did not feel up to shivering away while I beat out the last of the 'document from hell', so I opted for a thin, long sleeved t-shirt top.  It's a comfy wrap around.

I really need someone to help me find my groove as it's seriously off, but I paired it with a brown skirt, a cream stretch cami underneath and an animal print scarf because it just didn't look right with a necklace ... and because I've been bad and getting out of bed late, I ran out of time.  I have also not been preparing my outfits at night and it's showing.

Skirt - Merien Hall at Edgars

Cami - Kelso at Edgars (but you can't see it)

Scarf - Edgars

Shoes - Kelso at Edgars

Wrap around top - Pick 'n Pay

Very much another Edgars outfit.

October 27 - A new addition

So this skirt was a new addition to my wardrobe ... I bought it about two weeks back (shhhhh, don't tell anyone but I totally blew the TGAAD) as well as the white shoes ... I really needed the white shoes ;-)

 I felt the t-shirt was too 'heavy' and that a cream or white would have looked better, but since I was running late, I had run out of 'try on' time.  Above, meet Tequila ... she's now a Fashionista wanna-be doggie too.

 Then Miss Bean did her latest trick - this is now becoming a daily thing, one of the kids jumping in the photo - maybe they should just take the pictures cause the quality on this camera is disappointing!

Skirt - Merien Hall at Edgars

Ruffled t-shirt - Pick 'n Pay (Cherokee I think - is that the Walmart or Target Brand State side?) - a gift from my Mom for my birthday

Jacket - Fashion Express

Shoes - Fashion World

Blog Challenge : Day 5: 6 things you wish you’d never done.

Totally did not get to a chance to do this yesterday and then we had a major electric storm and it's safer to just leave the pc alone.

This is a really tough one to answer ...

1. Left school with one year to go.
2. Married the first time I did - such a silly girl I was.
3. Smoked for 25 years.
4. Drank way too much alcohol.
5. Attempted to O.D. on pain killers.
6. Taken my pay out to pay off someone elses debt, I should have invested it.
7. Not insisted on a financail payout in my divorce.

October 26 - Hmmm

I'm feeling as though my groove is a little off ... I was attacked by what I think was a spider over the weekend and bitten on my face, it's itchy and sore :-(.

Then today I was ueber bloated ... and since it's not 'that time' I'm really confused by this.
As you can see if you look real close, I barely have a waist and my little guy blushed bright red when I looked down at dinner and said 'looking down from here I look pregnant'.  He's so cute and I really wonder what he was thinking.
I've also been having flu like symptons and feeling really tired, along with having a document from hell to try and fix at work and I have been fighting it for two days now. 
But, I'm surviving.

Just look at my missing wait :/)  I wonder who stole it??!! lol

Todays outfit

Basic black trousers - the usual Finnigans (I have another two pairs but one needs a hem and the other is just looking tired) but since I wear black trousers almost weekly, I think I do need to invest in another pair.

Top - Woolworths

Jacket - In Wear at Truworths

Grey peep toes - Shoe City

Necklace worn as a belt - Woolworths (I took a picture of it a couple weeks back, but for the life of me I can't find it).

It kinda sorta did not feel 100% right, but its doable.

Could someone please come on over and sort out the rest of the weeks outfits, pleeeezzzeeeee.

Blog Challenge : Day 4 : 7 things that cross your mind a lot.

1. What shall I make for dinner.
2. I wonder if Tan's really doing okay.
3. When will these kids stop fighting.
4. I wonder if he's ever going to propose.
5. How on earth am I going to afford 'THAT'. 
6. Is it worth it?
7. Why am I so tired.

October 25 - Miserable on Monday

 Not the happiest looking mama on the planet - I was so tired and feeling really blah when I got home.

Cami - Woolworths

White shirt - Exact, gifted from my sister

Pants - Merien Hall at Edgars

Belt - Edgars

Sandals - La Diva

Necklace - Miz T.

So when I looked at the photo above, I tried with smiling in this one.

The outfit was chosen by my dd and I don't think, despite having worn the top twice now, that I'm wild about it.  All in all a very mediocre look, I think.

 

But I do so love the cut-out design in the material.

Meet me on Monday

Questions:



1. Do you sleep with a night light on?
Nope, our entire house, except outside lights is in darkness.

2. What do you drink with dinner?
Sometimes a wine spritzer, water mixed juices ... I try to steer my family clear of fizzy drinks and our latest crazy is by Halls.


3. Do you play the lottery? If so, how often?
About once every two years ... I see the billboards on my way into work saying 'Guaranteed R20 million jackpot' and I think yes, I'll give it a try and usually completely forget.

4. How often do you go to the grocery store?
Daily, because I buy fresh bread/rolls for my families lunches. 


5. Would you rather travel back in time 500 years or travel forward 500 years?
Back in time as I would rather go and visit with those I never met, miss and am fascinated by.

Weighless

I've mentioned weight before and then it fell by the wayside, because other things were going on which I know are such a poor excuse but they're my excuse all the same, but I've decided that I can't put it off any longer. 

Next week, come 2 November, I will take my bootie down the road and jointhe weighless group that meets there.   I have asked my sister if she'd like to join me, and whether or not she does, I'm doing this!

I've also decided to get my bootie out of bed a little earlier and go for a walk in the morning.  I am desperately searching for the walking plan I found about two weeks ago, but irrespective of whether I find it or not, I am going to walk from tomorrow morning.  I like in a gorgeous hilly neighbourhood which is just where they suggest you walk, so I have no excuses. 

It's time ... I'd like to drop a few kilo's for me - luckily my G-man thinks I'm hot just as I am, but I want to feel better about me :-)

So, here we go ....

Blog Challenge : Day 3 : 8 ways to win your heart.

Day 03: 8 ways to win your heart.

First thought was, ah easy, but now I'm sitting here pondering ...

1. Make me laugh, oh boy I'm sucker for someone who can make me laugh - real belly laughs.
2. Have 'deep' conversations/debates with me ... about life, God, religion, everything anything  ... I honestly love speaking with people and to win my heart, you'd best have an opinion on most everything.
3. Be truthful.
4. Be honest.
5. Be real and live by your truth, whatever it is.
6. Be reliable.
7. Hug me when the world is closing in, and any other time when I'm not dashing about like a crazed demon.
8. Be my friend ... I must say, even though we have our moments, G-man and I are friends.  I love being with him, because I know he sees 'me' and enjoys 'me' ... all the initimacies of relationships aside and he thinks my galumpa bootie is hot - now that's a real heart winning trait.

Blog Challenge : Day 2 : 9 things about yourself.

1. I have learnt to control my impatience and impulsiveness in some areas of my life.
2. I have a weakness for shoes ... especially high heeled shoes.
3. I am one of 4 siblings and have 4 children.
4. I love taking photographs and enjoy looking at photographs, even of people I don't know.
5. My favourite animals are cats ... from teeny weeny baby kittens to great big fierce roaring lions.
6. I'm very opinionated and there are few grey areas in life.
7. I'm extremely protective of the people in my life.  I've learnt with age and maybe some wisdom, when it's better to step back, but I think part of that is being a mother and realising that others are dependent on you.
8. Although people think I'm self confident and outgoing, in reality I battle with low self esteem and am very shy, I just made a decision early in life to try and deal with it, because I do love people and meeting new people - it's really a total contradiction.
9. I don't believe I'd have gotten through what I have in my life if I did not know Jesus Christ.  He's my rock, my friend, my strength, my confidant ... I tried so hard to be 'a good Christian' girl and change my personality and then I read The Purpose Drive life and realised that he made me as I am for a reason.

Blog Challenge : Day 1 : 10 things to say to 10 people

Here's a few questions that you get to answer for 10 consecutive days to keep you blogging ... wanna play along.  If you do, please drop me a comment so that I can come and visit and read your daily posts.

Day 01: 10 things you want to say to ten different people right now.

I am choosing not to mention names.

1. Did you ever stop to think about the long term affects your choices would have on your children? 
2. If you had treated him right, loved him, cherished him and boosted his self-esteem, told him how amazing he was, do you think he'd still have behaved the way he did?  Did you ever stop to think about how amazing your life could have been if you'd just packed your pride away and 'given in' a little. 
3. Is it really possible that in 17 months you have not had an hour free on one Saturday to meet me for coffee - and you want me to believe that I'm your 'best' friend?
4. I hope the young man you give your heart to appreciates who you are.  I hope that he treasures you, because your worth is truly far greater than gold.  I don't know many people in this world with the compassion, love, strength, tenacity, drive and staying power you have.  I marvel at who you are.  I am stunned often by how incredibly beautiful you are - and its not just physical beauty.  Your soul astounds me.  You are so very special and talented in so many ways and I'm amazed that I somehow had something to do with how you've turned out.   
5. Thank you for being a dad to me in so many ways, without even knowing.  You are so special and I do love you, even though you have the ability to drive me to distraction.  Your belief in me and support mean the world to me.  
6. I hope that one day you'll find it in your heart to forgive me for what I did.  I know how incredibly stupid it was to do what I did and although I could use a thousand excuses for my actions, it still won't change that I did what I did and I've paid the ultimate price for it.  I know that there are no words to describe how much it hurt you and ate at you for years and sometimes I still think I should have denied it, but it really was time for the truth to be outed.  I'm sorry.
7. I still miss you.  I wish you'd been wrong, I wish you had not seen my future or at least not told me and predicted it so precisely.  But I wish you were here to speak with me, to give me advise.  I wish I could hear your laugh and see you gorgeous white hair and sparkling blue eyes.  I wish I could tap into your wisdom.  I miss you my wise old owl. 
8. Please stop hating her.  You'll regret how you've treated her once she's gone and then it'll be too late.
9. I wish you could see your potential.  Stop being afraid, go run the race.
10. Yes you can.  Do it now!

Day 02: 9 things about yourself.

Day 03: 8 ways to win your heart.

Day 04: 7 things that cross your mind a lot.

Day 05: 6 things you wish you’d never done.

Day 06: 5 people who mean a lot to you (in no order whatsoever)

Day 07: 4 things that turn you off.

Day 08: 3 things that turn you on.

Day 09: 2 smileys that describe your life right now.

Day 10: 1 confession.

Reality

http://www.anvari.org/cols/Stars_without_Make_Up/

It's a lot more than just makeup that makes the stars look gorgeous ... someone forgot to add 'airbrushing', lots and lots of airbrushing and photoshopping. 

I look at myself in the mirror and think 'damn girl you're looking old' but then I look at the picture of Cindy, who is a few months older than me and think, in reality, not too shabby girl.

Guess if I photoshopped my pictures I could look A LOT younger, but overall, I'm pretty content.

I think we should keeps pictures of the stars sans makeup and airbrushing right on our mirrors so that each morning we can be reminded that they're ueber polished before their pictures are put in magazines.

Remember, love yourself just the way you are (I'm trying, I promise)

October 21 - Thursday Floral

Dress and shoes - Truworths

Belt - Edgars

I love this necklace, but it seems to 'unravel' and I fiddle with it but it seems to keep bunching,

but I still enjoy it.

Necklace - Contempo

Gold Earrings - Truworths

She's got the schoolgirl tan ... I'm envious as I don't have a tan at all.

G-man and I went shopping after work and when we went into Woolies they had some items marked down by 70%!!!  There was not a lot to choose from but I got a grey waistcoat and a military style jacket - although it's very wintery looking, I'll save it for next winter as I've seen by the USA and UK magazines that it's still hot.  There was a cute denim bomber style jacket, but I needed a size bigger. 

I had every intention of buying it myself, but he gifted me them ... shhhhhh but I think he wuves me :-)

Tomorrow is Friday ... what am I going to wear.

Wordless Wednesday - The look of my life today

October 20 - Basics

Ready for a crazy day in the office I did not want to deal with anything too fiddly ... so out came the basic black trousers - Finnigans at Truworths (I better buy another pair of these as I love them)

Pink T-shirt - Unknown

White Shirt - Woolworths

Scarf - Edgars (I just love the colours)

My favourite almost 12 year old boy, Jarod ... and look how tall he's getting!!

 of course, my favourite Mary Janes because they're ueber cute and comfortable.

Pearl bracelet - a gift from my nephew and hs wife some years back.

Short pink and white pearl necklace made by a friend.

Longer necklace bought at Edgars

All in one silver bangles - Truworths

Earrings by Miz T.

October 19 - Back to Basics

A basic office look with basic pieces ...

Skirt - Merien Hall at Edgars

Knit top - Truworths

Snakeskin looking shoes - Edgars, bought about 4 years ago and hated by Miz T.  She just took an instant dislike to them, but I love them, although I don't wear them too often.

Necklace - Contempo

Liam keep running up and asking me if he was in the background and sadly, I keep telling him he wasn't so he hung around asking to be in ... so this is just for him.

Just after these pictures I kicked off the heels and put on my takkies and dry mac and dashed out the door to rescue G-man who's bike gave up in the serious downpour we had this afternoon.  I spent 15 minutes waiting for the rain subside once I'd done shopping.

There were a lot of cars that failed in the rain and I'm sure there has been a huge amount of damage to cars ... I managed to hurt my hand when I hit something and my steering wheel shot back at me ... the joys of the African rain ... I do love a good old thunderstorm.

What I found interesting

I enjoyed this article since I asked these types of questions so often ...

Top 10 Things You May (Or May Not) Be Too Old to Wear

Fitness over 40 Free e-coure

 

Dressing your truth - sounds very interesting and I can't wait to sit down quietly and have a look at this.

 

Work Chic - I really like this site and will definitely use it for ideas to shop my wardrobe.

October 18 - Maniac Monday

What a crazy Monday!  I did not even get to sit and eat my lunch, it was non stop.  But it was a great change.

Todays outfit was not planned ahead of time, it came together this morning.  Not too bad I think ... and I'm chuffed that my hair is looking so healthy.

Necklace - Ginger Mary at Truworths

Ring - unknown

Watch - Honey Accessories

Skirt - Legend at Makro .. I love the design and it catches the light at sends star shooting around.

Strappy top - Fashion express

Jacket - Finnigans at Truworths

Shoes - Truworths

The oopsie ... did not get my jacket on quick enough.

Little girls and birthdays

My little girl (meaning my younger daughter) is turning 14 on Sunday.  I can't believe that another has passed ... she's grown so much and become such a real teenager ... the rolling of eyes, sulks, stomping and back chatting ... all part and parcel of it, but really hard to navigate at time s... one minute sweet as pie, the next a black rolling cloud of thundering nastiness.

But, she's my little girl.

With the big brown eyes, freckles on her nose and dimples.

One minute a sweet heart, the next a devil heart.

I feel for her, so confused and trying to figure out who she is.

But underneath, under the sulking and pouting and fighting and 'stuff' is a very sweet little girl with a heart that has so much love.

 You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. ~Franklin P. Jones

... come back for an update of photos showing the 14 year old now.

October 15th - Frivilous Friday

Todays look was initially going to feature my 'pink and black' cardigan, but then as I was doing my face I looked down and saw my purple shoes and the direction changed from pink to purple.


Simple Friday look (since I usually wear denims of some sort on Friday)


    Denim skirt - OBR at Truworths
    Pink Cami - Woolworths
    Purple Cardigan - Pick 'n Pay
    Purple Shoes - real real cheapies bought at Legit
    Belt - another cheapie from a store in Mulbarton.
    Necklace and Silver Bangles - Truworths
    Earrings and ring - unknown

October 14th - Black and Floral

I think G-man was saying "a rather prissy office outfit" about my look today.  Must give him credit he always says I look nice.

I did not get to take a photo, but will photograph the shirt later :-)


Black Finnigans Trousers
Black Cami from Woolies
Floral top - from my sister

Black patent peep-toe wedges - Truworths.


Necklace & Earrings - Edgars
Marbe ring - given to me by ex many years ago as an anniversary gift.


A really simple and straight forward office look for a grey and wet Thursday.

October 13th - a lil bland

I got struck down with a migraine last night and it tends to leave me grumpy and disinterested.  Therefore, little effort was put into the outfit last night and when I looked out the window this morning and it looked like rain, I decided against wearing a skirt.

Shirt - gifted from my sister

Pants - Merien Hall at Edgars

Belt - came free with a pair of jeans

Sandals - La Diva, Glenvista

Earrings and necklace a gift from Miz T.

Let me know what you think of my look ... honest and constructive critisim only :-)