An award ... thanks Dimi

Awww, isn't she just a honey ... Dimi over at LittleWitches/TinyWizards gave me an award and I've been so muddled that I forgot to acknowledge and do the necessary, so here I am ... Daxi Dimi. 


I have to share 7 random facts about me and pass the award on to 15 more "Irresistibly Sweet" bloggers!!

1.  I tend to be a bit of a scatter brain when I'm under pressure and need to write notes for myself, otherwise, it may well be lost for ages and suddenly, in the middle of the night, I'll remember something.  When I did not work a normal office job, I'd get up at weird hours of the night and do things I'd remembered, just so that I wouldn't forget again.

2. I often played on the pc right through the night, especially when my husband was travelling, by creating webpages or others websites and would go to the bakery before 5am to buy fresh bread and sit outside with a cuppa coffee and watch the sky lighten and listen to the birds waking (I love waking early before the day sounds start and before the first birds ruffle their feathers).

3. One of my biggest pet peeves is dirty windows.  Oh boy, I even cleaned windows when it was snowing ... okay, not while the snow was actually falling, but there'd be snow on the ground and I'd be cleaning windows.   I miss looking after my home, but appreciate our house keeper.

4. I don't eat minced meat.  I used to go crazy for it, spaghetti bolognaise, lasagne, curried or savoury mince etc. but after opening a pot that had been left on a stove with minced meat in it and seeing maggots crawling all over, I've had a huge issue dealing with minced meat ever since ... sorry for the visual.

5. I love movies but not movie houses.  I wait until it comes out on DVD or is on DSTV/Mnet to see it.  My ultimate indulgence, when I really want to see a movie, is to watch it all alone so that I can rewind and rewatch scenes. 

6. I know the entire script to Toy Story 1.  Liam watched it repeatedly - by that I mean, at least three times a day, E.V.E.R.Y. day for an entire year at least.   It's also one of my favourite movies ... its so sweet and I just love Sheriff Woody's sexy swagger.

7.  I am still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up!

... and here's my 15 bloggers I'm giving the award to ... I need to get back to this ... but if you pass by here and I haven't left you a comment ... grab your award ladies .

Lynette at Creative
Ally at Shybiker
Sheila at Ephemera
Natalie at When life hands you a pear
Lyddie at Chic on the Cheap
Tricia at Tricia's take
Mel at Five Tribe
Piper at Cheap & Chic in Chicago

Beautiful You

I don't remember where I got this, or who the author is ... but I love it and wanted to share it this morning.

I wanted to be you.

Better.

More.

Until I learned I am not alone.

Each of us is a masterpiece.

Be yourself.

Aspire, be, create, dream.

(if you know the author, please let me know so that I can give due credit).

A post to share *click here*

Freezing on Thursday

Am I ever thankful that I don't rely on public transport!!  Today was cold and I'm pretty spoilt because I walk out our back door and take about 10 steps into the garage where my little chorrie is parked, then drive to work and park in the basement, right at the door to the lift access and really don't deal with much wind factors or such.  It's on days like today that I'm grateful that I don't have to brave the elements on a daily basis.

This evening though, sitting here at my pc, my little fingers are freeeeeeezing, so I'm doing this post quickly, then I'm going to hit the shower, put out the clothes for tomorrow and then crawl under the covers and read through some more of my notes for next weeks exam.

Ah, see our lounge in the background

Details : Striped to : Pick 'n Pay | Cardigan : Truworths | Black pants : Finnigans and Truworths | Boots : Truworths | Bangles & Necklace : I think Mr. Price and Edgars|

... and one more pic just because I can ...

Two new blogs on my list

I've been visiting and catching up on the following two blogs - just love these ladies style.

First, Piper (isn't that just the most delicious name?) at Cheap and Chic in Chicago http://cheapandchicinchicago.blogspot.com/ love her funky hairdo, it tempts me to chop mine off but her style is just lovely.

Then, Delane at Euphoric Agony  http://euphoricagony.blogspot.com/

Just wanted to share.

Triple whammy Wednesday

This is becoming a bit of a habit I'd say, although, not intentionally.

Monday night was class, Tuesday I was just tired and busy and well, here I am on a wacky Wednesday.  It's been insane at work, I have put in 40 minutes of studying so far this week and I'm writing next Thursday = S.T.R.E.S.S.E.D.  With our new Project Manager having started last week, it's a new boss and new ways of doing things ... and with the other secretary on leave - I'm like a cat on a hot tin roof.

So onto the looks ... I laddered my stockings and could not find many options in store the last two days.  I don't think the dotty one's looked so great - but well, they had to do.

Details : Dress :Contempto | Cardigan : -- | Hose : Falke | Shoes : Merien Hall @ Edgars | and I think this is the first time I've ever taken photos with my glasses on.

A previous viewing of the dress

 

Details : Dress : Mr. Price | Top : Edgars | Shoes : Truworths | Scarf : gifted by an insurance company |

 

Totally enjoyed this look today!

Details : Skirt, cardigan and top : Truworths | Mary Janes : Foschini | Belt : Edgars

Skirts previously worn

Shirt previously worn

25 Getting to know you questions

 

1. What time did you go to bed last night and were you alone?

2. If you could be given ANY gift what would it be?

3. What was the last film that really moved/disturbed/thrilled you and why?

4. What is your favourite TV show of all time ie you've seen them all, can watch it over and over again and quote lines from it?

5. Whats your favourite way to wake up and whats the first thing you do?

6. What would you call yourself if you could choose your own name?

7. If you had to do a bushtucker challenge (you have to eat insects/grubs etc) what would be the worst thing you had to eat?

8. Whats the worst/most embarassing CD/Album you've ever owned and do you still have it?
 

9. What would be your dream vehicle (bikes, cars, boats, batcar and millenium falcon is allowed!)?

10. Whats your favourite fantasy people sandwhich?

11. What characteristics do you dislike in yourself?

12. Your favourite item of clothing and why?

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be and who would it be with?

14. If you could have any animal/creature, what would be your ultimate pet be?

15. What did you want to be when you were little and do you think you ever will be?

16. Whats the next planned event you're looking forward to in your life?

17. What were you doing before you started this?

18. What was the last thing you ate that you really shouldnt of ?

19. If you were an ice cream/haagen daz/ben an jerrys flavour what would you be?

20. Who was the last person you spoke to that you didnt want to talk to?

21. What was your favourite toy as a child  . . .and now?

22. When was the last time you cried laughing and why?

23. What is stashed under your bed/mattress?

24. What did you dream about last night?

25. What are you really afraid of?

If you play - please leave me a comment, I'd love to read your answers.

My answers :

1.  Around 9pm and I think my kitty cuddled up immediately, then my schatz would have snuggled down a little later.

2.  A hot genie

3. Monster - I think we all have a killer inside us

4.  Friends.  I absolutely loved it.

5.  I like to wake to the 'silence' of the morning, just as the birds start scuffling in the trees ... and sadly, I then have to race to the loo.

6.  Lee or Savannah ... but I think I'm a Wendy through and through

7.  Worms, long thin slimly worms, or no, maybe spiders

8.  John Denver, and no, I no longer own it.

9.  Bugatti Veyron

10. People Sandwish?  Between my schatz and my brown eyed baby.

11. Impatience

12. My pj pants - they're soft 'n comfy.

13. Paris, then Venice and Rome with my Schatz, because he'd appreciate the old buildings as much as I do.

14. Any big kitty - but I think, most of all, a scar faced old lion past his prime.

15. I guess a teacher, then in my teens a photographer - that I still intend attaining.

16. Hopefully my dd will come home for a visit soon.

17. Tidying my pc area.

18. 4 cookies for lunch then a McDonald's burger for dinner ... tut tut

19. Anything with fudge or nuts in it - I'm a little nutty

20. The driver

21. Probably my barbie - now my camera and laptop

22. I don't really remember, but I think it was at one of the monthly 'sister' dinners

23. My box with my handbags, my rollers and a pair of shoes I need to have fixed.

24. Don't remember

25. Snakes and heights

A lifetime "must read" books list by Johnmaxwell.com

I got this list off of John Maxwells site earlier this year and keep misplacing, so I've decided to put it up here so I can find it.

Spiritual Life

1. Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster
2. Walking with Christ in the Details of Life - Patrick Morely
3. The Applause of Heaven - Max Lucado
4. Screw Tape Letter - C.S. Lewis
5. The Road Less Travelled - Scott M. Peck
6. Broken in the Right place - Alan Nelson
7. Practice the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence
8. The Pursuit of Holiness - Jerry Bridges
9. Life Signs - Henri Nouwen
10. Too Busy not to pray - Bill Hybels

Leadership

1. The Bible
2. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Leadership - Donald T. Phillips
3. Developing the Leader within you - John Maxwell
4. Lincoln on leadership - Don Phillips
5. Leaders - Warren Bennis & Burt Nanus
6. The making of a leader - J. Robert Clinton
7. Spiritual leadership - J. Orwald Sanders
8. The 21 irrefutable laws of leadership - John Maxwell
9. The leadership challenge - James M. Kouzes, Barry Z. Posner
10. Colurageous leadership - Bill Hybels
11. The Bible and leadership - Lorin Woolfe
12. Jack : Straight from the gut - Jack Welch
13. It's your ship - D. Michale Abrashoff
14. The 360 degree leader - John Maxwell
15. Leadership gold - John Maxwell

Marriage & Family

1. His needs - her need - Willard Harley
2. If only he knew - Gary Smalley (definitely aimed at men)
3. The blessing - John Trent & Gary Smalley
4. When bad things happen to good marriages - Les & Leslie Parrot
5. Building your mate's self-esteem - Dennis & Barbara Rainey
6. For better or for best - Gary Smalley
7. Getting out of your kids faces and into their hearts - Valerie Bell
8. Parenting isn't for coward - Jim Dobson
9. Saving your marriage before it starts (also saving your second marriage before it starts ) - Les & Leslie Parrot
10. Helping your struggling teen - Les Parrot
11. Love talk - Les & Leslie Parrot

Personal Growth

1. Today matters - John Maxwell
2. Winning with people - John Maxwell
3. Half time - Bob Burford
4. The on purpose person - Kevin McCarthy
5. Search for significance - Robert McGee
6. 7 Habits of highly effective people - Stephen Covey
7. Purpose driven life - Rick Warren
8. Think & grown rich - Napolean Hill
9. As a man thinketh - James Allen
10. How to win friends and influence people - Dale Carnegie
11. Total life management - Bob Shank
12. Talent is never enough - John Maxwell

There are so many books out there to read and this list appealed to me. 
Italic - we have it in our house/I have read

Magazine Madness

Majority of women I know buy magazines and often and more than one per month.  I decided this week that I would clear out all the magazines prior to 2010.  I was looking at the prices of some of them and am fairly surprised at the amount of money my household has spent (namely G-man and myself) on magazines. 

There is the once-in-a-blue-moon purchase of the Conde Naste Home and Garden which in 2008 was R32.95.  It's not a regular one, but between us, we have bought a few.  Another one, purchased more often is Garden and Home or Home ... not quite as expensive, but if you buy both issues in month it's around R70. 

Then there's my addictions, namely Woman and Home, She, Fair Lady, Oprah, Marie Claire and Psychologies and what was a regular, but now a once-in-a-blue-moon purchase of Shape. 

Once is a while, there's a random purchase like Joy, Femina or Essentials.  I know that I don't read all the magazines from cover to cover and sometimes, do little more than page through and drool over the clothing or recipes.  Therefore, I think I need to cure myself of this addiction and decide only 'some'.  So I'm in a quandary - which one's do I keep on purchasing and which do I cull?

I would keep purchasing Psychologies as it's more about life skills and self development and an area of immense interest for me.  But as for the lifestyle and fashion mags - I need to make a choice namely between Woman & Home and Fairlady.

So that makes me curious - which in your opinion are the 'best and why'?

And here is my fashion inspiration of the day ... which I based my outfit on, but did not get around to photographing as both my SD cards were upstairs at my laptop.

source : http://www.fairlady.com/

My outfit consisted of the following items:

Denim skirt : Truworths | Polka dot shirt : Contempo | Purple pullover : DH at Truworths | Booties :  Woolworths|

Another double bill

So Monday's outfit - althought in my head at the time of putting it together I thought would look much better than it did in reality - sadly - but this happens and I tried it, now I know ... but Monday I felt fat - oh boy, of course you ladies know what that means is heading your way!  lol

Not thrilled

Details : Shirt - Woolworths (its a man's shirt) | Skirt : the Hub | Shoes : Truworths |

 Along came Tuesday and I quite enjoyed this - but as you can see, I've been lazy about taking my 'baby' out to do the photos and hauling it upstairs, so I've been doin the lazy kitchen area photos on the little camera - anyways, the dress is a summer dress and the VERY low cut one I wore to my nephews engagement part last year.  I put a long sleeved top underneath (never shown on the blog before from what I can remember and a purchase from Germany, so its about 6 -7 years old) with a snood. I like it and the colour and design, it is so pretty.



... and no, thats not a cigarette in my hand, it's a sucker stick ;-)

The shoes Miz T hates ... and I love

Details : Dress : Truworths | Shirt - A store in Germany | Snood - Legit | Shoes : Free2BU at Edgars|

So it's Wednesday, and tomorrow will be Thursday and I am writing an exam and look at how hard I'm studying ... so now I'm off to do the right thing - read through some more of the work and make notes and hope that something sticks in my brain :-).  I don't know where my daughter got her brain from - but boy, she wrote 4 papers last week and got three A's and a B!! Sigh, it's stressful having bright kids ;-)

Hope you had a happy voting day.

outta whack

Hmm, its awful for me to admit, but my little world is out of whack.  I am sitting here and looking around me and going through the list in my head of all that I would like to sort and it dawned on me, that more than anything, my life is out of whack, the rhythm is off, I'm off, I'm somewhere but not here, present in body.

I need more energy to tackle all I'd like to and need to do - I've become  a complete S.H.E. in the most classic way.  The more I do, the less is getting done.  My head is so busy with all the stuff that I can't quiet myself to concentrate.  I find myself so easily distracted, flitting from one thing to the other, then realising suddenly that what I started off reading or doing is still sitting unfinished hours later ... sigh. 

Someone - send in the troupes, quite the voices, I'm drowing in my life!!!

I need to get the exams behind me, but the state of my home is distracting me and intruding on my thoughts and concentration. 

Well, sitting here complaining about it is not going to get it done and is certainly not going to get dinner finished and Jarod's stuff ready for his trip tomorrow.

Hope your head is quiet :-)

Mama's new shades

Last week I went for my eye check up and got myself some new frames.  For the first time, I also got 'label' shades but they have my script inserted in the lens.  G-man says I look like the girl who got scared to go with the huge frames in style ... sigh, he really knows how to make me feel so good at times.

This morning saw Jarod and I heading to buy him some cheap pants to take on school camp next week.  They said the kids are to take 5 changes of clothes and Jarod only had about 2 that I consider disposable so I went and got him 3 pairs of jeans that cost R40.00 each, cheap and not a big issue if they end up in the bin.

Then we came home and I was busy on my pc when my phone rang and the optometrists said my glasses were ready for collection along with the shades.

This is also the first time I've ever worn black and brown together. 

Details : Shirt : Pick 'n Pay | Cardigan : Truworths | Leggings : OBR at Truworths | Boots - Woolworths|

A triple bill (Reposted after blogger gobbled it up)

I've been a little scarce with class on Monday, a storm with some mean lightening on Tuesday as well as Patrick coming over to help Courteney with her Math etc. and although I took the photos, I only got to download them this morning as I left a little later to go and do the office grocery shopping.  So this is a rather picture intensive post.

Monday saw me in this ...  (don't my boobies look amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - wish I could remember which bra I was wearing).  Sorry - could not resist that comment, I'm quite impressed.

Details : Shirt - Identity | Skirt - Mr Price | Shoes - Plum | Necklace - Contempo

Tuesday saw our client visit day, so I try to go with a slightly more professional and polished look.  However, by the end of the day, I was looking anything but polished ... rather like a raggedy Anne I'd say.

Details : Skirt and Shirt - Finnigans at Truworths | Shoes - Merien Hall at Edgars | Belt - Edgars | Hose - Falke (I'm completely sold on this brand)

Todays look - oooh I'm rather chuffed ... lol.  I bought the dress a few weeks back and have put off wearing it as I could not decide what to style it wish.  On Sunday I decided I HAD TO wear it this week and just last night came up with the look ... what do you think of it and the photo's ... I took them before I left for work (as I said earlier, I left later due to going to do the shopping so had some time).  Interestingly, out of the three outfits, this one got the most compliments this week ... I don't think it photographed to show of how pretty it really turned out.

Details : Dress - Charter Club at Edgars | Shirt - Truworths | Belt - Meltz | Shoes - Truworths | Necklace and bracelet set - Miladys | Earrings - Justine Cosmetics.

EBEW

I got the days mixed up ... yesterdays outfit should have been Tuesdays I see ... oh well, win some lose some - sometimes on time, sometimes not.

see yesterdays lengthy post, with additional pictures of the shirt above previously styled.

Thanks for visiting

Happy Mother's Day

To all the Mom's, all over the world, and the Dad's who are raising their children and doing the Mom job - I hope your day was wonderfully blessed. 

Mine was spent .... in my pj's!!!  Yes, that's the honest truth.  I only showered around 19:00.  I did not move further than the washing line today.  I don't think I even brushed my hair ... gasp in horror.

Liam gave me breakfast in bed (and can you believe it,  not one photo was taken today), then Jarod made me coffee later and they gave me homemade cards.  Courteney got home around 12:00 and she had bought me a gorgeous necklace.

Taryn called late this afternoon and that just had me in tears.  Darn, I miss her so much and so many things just aren't the same without her :-(.  How much longer until this feels normal?  How is it going to be when 'the bean' leaves?  I think I'm almost in a state of denial, I don't want to imagine it.  I'm scared in more ways than I care to admit.  I think I may have to rent a daughter.

Anyways, I spoke with my sister earlier as I could  not remember the name 'pagemaps'.  I asked if she'd one any scrapping today to which she replied no, then she asked me if I had, to which I replied no, but that kinda woke the 'want' up.  Since I do have photos that I printed sitting on my desk, I thought I'd start a page.  It's almost done - it's a layout of the first day of school and will go in Jarod's album.  Almost done and I'm feeling pretty chuffed with myself - it's taken about 45 minutes compared to my usual three days ... lol.

So now, I'm going to quickly finish up and get my hiney down to bed.

Enjoy the rest of your Mother's day.

'Til next time ...

be fabulous, be stylish, be awesome ....... be creative!

Thank you!

To Dee,

Who kindly let me know that Jentine at My Edit's was. the inspiration for Thursdays look.

Have a fabulous day

Inspired - Gold and purple

Source Jentine, http://myedit.blogspot.com

Help - I can't remember the site/blogger - I usually save pictures I use as inspiration by the name of the blogger, but seems I did not this time ... please help so that I can give due credit - I visited her just last week but the name escapes me.

— Common connotations —
royalty, imperialism, nobility, Lent, Easter, Mardi Gras, episcopacy, upper class, poison, friendship, passion, sharing, wisdom, rage, homosexuality, contrition, sympathy, extreme and sophistication

source : wikipedia

 In real life, the skirt has a far more 'gold' tinge to it that what it looks like in these photos.

Details :  Skirt & Shirt - Truworths | Booties - Woolworths | Lace Tanl - Jay Jays|

Necklace - Miladys | and my fave bracelet from Miz T.