The last lecture...

I cannot believe that I am writing this blog post, the time has eventually come as I have attended my final Media Studies lecture and in the process of finishing up with Management. I dont think it has actually sunk in yet. Two years of Btech studies has been anything but a breeze. I can actually admit that I underestimated the challenge of studying part time whilst trying your best to have a full time career and attempt to actually have a life outside of all the work.

Looking back now, I am happy I have completed it, as I patiently await my results however there were definitely times when I was ready to throw in the towel and focus on my career and life as a 24 year old. However these phases past by as I realised that if I want to climb the corporate ladder and achieve my career objectives then I would have to complete my Btech. Challenges had to be overcome there was no way of giving up, one just had to knuckle down, sacrifice and picture the end in sight which at times was very difficult.

During the two year period, I was tested and challenged in a number of ways. Whether it be meeting deadlines, attending lectures even though my plate was already overflowing with work, sacrificing weekends and my ME time and realising that for the 2 year period I would have to give up certain luxuries such as sleeping in. My character, ambition, committment and perserverence were all tested on a regular basis which I think added a touch of spice to my character.

I am so thankful for the wonderful people in my life who constantly encouraged me to keep going even though there were times when the tears would not stop flowing from being purely overwhelmed. I am so happy that I stuck it out, as I learnt so much during the two year period about the communication industry, life lessons and most importantly myself. I look at the experience with fond memories, I would encourage individuals to pursue their Btech's however never underestimate the challenge that comes with it and one needs to be up for it if you want to succeed. Failure and not completing my Btech was never an option, accomplishing this achievemnt is fantastic, I could not be happier and I'm so excited to see where my career will go. For now its time to take a mini break from studying and its time to focus on my career on the otherhand I am looking into a few short courses for 2011 as I believe you are never too old to stop learning and the mind needs to constantly be challenged. Its now time to put all the years of studies into full practice and see where I end up.

If not now, then when?

For the first time this year I really realised how quickly time can fly by when you are engrossed in life with so much to do. If you are not at the office meeting deadlines, at university, seeing clients, strategising, planning, going about your daily busy schedule, spending time with family and friends, doing what you love, learning and discovering new treasures or pieces of info you are hopefully getting a bit of shut eye or as my 7 year old cousin would say, 'resting your eyes'. The reality is as each year goes by we take on new challenges in life whether it be at the office or in a personal capacity and when one looks back you realise how much you were able to accomplish. If you do not push yourself, take on the new challenges and really test your abilities then in my mind you are not really living.

With that being said, if one is completely engrossed in your current life with so much to do, is there room to make the big step that you have been wanting too? Are you ever too busy to make that change or take a new direction in life? Do we use our busy schedules as an excuse to stay in our comfort zones instead of overcoming a fear?

A good example would be the fact that I have been trying for a while to get back into exercising. I absolultely thrive on getting my heart rate up, being active and staying in shape. However due to my busy career and additional take on of my Btech, I put this very important activity on hold. It got to a stage where I would find any excuse in the book not to exercise forgetting how much I actually enjoyed being active. Until a friend of mine encouraged me to start playing soccer. At first I was very apprehensive as I had not been that active in a while neither had I ever really played soccer. I decided to give it a try as I would never know if I actually enjoyed playing until I tried. After my first practice I was hooked and have been playing ever since. Thus if I had not been motivated to give the 1st practice a shot I would have never tried. The moral of the story, speaking from experience, if you do not start something now or at least give it a bash, the likelihood of you actually trying it is very unlikely. Take that extra big leap, put yourself out there and do it now, what do you have to lose?

Watch this space...

Cape Town has something to offer to satisfy all your needs 

Forewarning about this blog post, you may find it to be a tad biased however you should understand why if you are a South African or have visited our amazing country before. I have lived in South Africa for 24 years, that is basically my entire life and I have had no urge to move to another country for a long period of time. Of course I have had the urge to travel and discover new countries however South Africa is definitely where my heart is and will always be. Cape Town has been my home city for nearly the quarter century of my existence, wow that is actually quite a long time if you sit and think about it. However there are reasons why Cape Town stole my heart from the early stages of learning how to walk. South Africa hosted the infamous FIFA World Cup a few months ago and we showcased our beauty to the rest of world, which caused an absolute uproar in foreigners flocking to the sassy south of Africa or at least planning their next vacation basked in the warmth of our sunshine.

My reasons for loving Cape Town

• Our warm summer months of evening braai's, long walks on the beach, sunsets and cocktails.
• The natural beauty of the city (Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch and our white sandy beaches)
• Long Street- a street filled with such ambience which transforms from a busy business street to an electric evening spot
• Delish Food- Spending  saturdsay morning at the biscuit mill, afternoons at Mzoli's and evenings with fish & chips on Chapmans Peak
• Culture rich city
• The people are warm, friendly, work hard but are always up for a good time.
• Supporters of our provincial sport teams like WP- spending an afternoon at Newlands Rugby stadium with a beer and boerie shouting Province is sure to turn any Sharks supporter into a fully fledged blue and white supporter
• Actvities- there is so much to do in Cape Town where you enjoy extreme adventure, a quiet afternoon of tea, a long walk, a boat trip or wine tasting either way you are bound to find something to do that we will leave you completely satisfied.
• Small coffee shops, bakeries and boutiques are bound to satisfy your needs
• Unique architecure, history museums and galleries capture one's mind and allow you to set foot in a reality unknown to you.

Watch this space world, South Africa is stealing the hearts and minds of individuals in places that we have yet to discover.

http://tinyurl.com/39otbpw

If you had to teach, what would you teach?

Teaching English

I take my hat off to those individuals who pour their heart and soul into teaching, trying to impact the lives of individuals whilst they are forming opinions, discovering life, testing boundaries, questioning the unquestioned, causing trouble and really just being a child or teenager discovering whats acceptable and unacceptable.

I definitely think being a teacher is a calling as one needs much patience as you are tested on a daily basis and not only by the students but by a number of rules and regulations. But like any job there are rules and regulations which need to be followed as these keep people in line as well as provide guidelines for whats acceptable behaviour and whats definitely not.

If I had to teach something it would be english as there are so many individuals in Africa and beyond who cannot speak it fluently. I would want to travel and teach english as it will not only allow me to teach, share knowledge and experiences with others but I will be able to learn about a new language, culture and country whilst doing what I enjoy. A few places that I would want to teach english would include

• Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Athens, Greece
• Tuscany, Italy
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Andalucia, Spain
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Copan Ruina, Honduras

and in Africa

• Malawi
• Ghana
• Uganda
• Kenya
• Swaziland
• Zambia

I would not only want to teach english but hopefully get individuals to understand the importance of embracing different cultures and see the good as well as reap the benefits of helping those less fortunate.

http://tinyurl.com/3a3almw

Which activities make you lose track of time...

The art of being a shopaholic

Time is such a precious commodity in todays society as everyone is constantly trying to fit more activities into one day than one should probably fit into a week. However time is a constant factor in our lives, we need to be on time for meetings, on time for lectures, on time for meeting deadlines, on time for your dental appointment, on time for your flights (I'm always on time if I'm going on holiday), basically our lives for the most part are ruled by time. Thus I embrace the times when I'm not rushing around checking my watch every five minutes making sure I'm on time, I thrive on not having to wear a watch on the weekends or on holiday as I know I don't have to keep track of time. Being able to have time to just be, to relax and do what you want to do and not within a specific time frame is essential for one's soul to be happy. 

There are a number of activities which make me lose track of time which I thoroughtly enjoy:

• Shopping- I can shop for hours, browsing in and out of stores, trying on clothes, shoes and accessories. I can enter a shopping center at 10am and leave when it closes and not realise that I have spent an entire day shopping as retail theraphy certainly is therapy for me.
• Spending time with family and friends allows one to forget about the bad week that has past and focus on sharing moments with people who have really positively added to your life.
• Travelling and discovering new places, people and cultures gets me engrossed in the activity as I absolutely love discovering new places, learning about new cultures and just fully embracing a new dynamic.
• Spending time at my favourite NGO's like Sarah Fox, Learn to Earn, Carel du Toit and Star Schools, just gives me such insight into giving back and how one can impact the lives of others in such small ways.
• Social media and spending time on the internet. There is always something new to learn about, there's so much information available that spending time on the net can most certainly make you lose track of time.
• Doing activities that I love like cooking, trying new restaurants, going wine tasting, reading, being adventurous, learning and discovering hidden gems completely make me lose focus on the time.

Time really can dominate our lives, however its up to you to make sure that it does not and that you allow yourself to lose track of time every now and again.

http://trendsupdates.com/recession-shopaholics-victims-of-addiction/

My favourite Cat in the Hat book is Fox in Socks, because...

Cat in the Hat, a journey of fun and learning

My childhood memories are filled with stories by the infamous Dr. Seuss. This classic collection of childrens books were and still are an absolute hit with the younger one's as the stories are filled with crazy characters, catchy rhymes and colourful drawings which takes you on a creative journey far far away. I have many favourite Cat in the Hat books however Fox in Socks still stands out as the one that I remember most.

Fox in Socks is a tale of the energetic Fox in Socks who teaches a rather confused Mr Knox all about tongue twisters. Poor Mr Knox is very overwhelmed to say the least however after much practice he learns all about the tongue twisters in town. Fox in Socks takes Mr Knox on a complete journey of tongue twisters through the town introducing him to other characters like Sue and Crow as well as teaching him tricks along their journey.

This book is ideal for children who are beginning to read on their own as the rhyme, repitition and rhythm assists the little ones to become more confident in their reading abilities.  Its one of my favourite Cat in the Hat books because I thoroughly enjoyed all the rhymes, it made me start thinking of creating my own rhymes from a very young age. I will definitely keep my collection for my kids one day as I want my children to discover the tales of Dr. Seuss and Socks on Knox and Knox in box. Fox in socks on box on Knox.

Going the distance....

The hug at the airport after months of being apart

Relationships with individuals living in the same city is already challenging as being in a relationship requires much compromise however its so worth it when you begin discovering life's gems together. Relationships are all about learning about new discoveries with that special person, testing the boundaries, sharing experiences, compromising, being willing to try new activities, adapting but most importantly its about trust and being able to just be yourself with your partner.

There are those relationships which work because both individuals have been willing to trust, learn and embrace life together. There are those relationships which after so much effort just don't work, which is normal but the important thing is that you learn from the experience in order for it not to repeat itself again.

Relationships can be challenging without the added 10 000 km between you and your partner which most certainly adds to the challenge. However one realises after experiencing a long distance relationship that if its meant to be and both individuals are willing to put in the double dose of effort, its bound to work out. Long distance relationships are definitely not everyone's cup of tea or flavour of the month, as it takes a unique soul to committ and be willing to go through the ups and downs which come with the time difference, longing and the need for a cuddle. The truth is, as soppy as it sounds, yes I am a hopeless romantic and believe that things do happen for a reason and each princess will find their prince in due course, if you connect with someone on a certain level you will not want to not give the relationship a shot. At least if it does not work out, you know you have tried your best, put in the effort and have given it your all, with no regrets. Yes, there may be the thought of what if, what if we were in the same city, would it have worked out? Lets be honest if either of you are willing to make the move, make the life changes or if your paths cross again in your life time then yes, its meant to be and you should embrace the feelings associated with the experience.

As hard as long distance relationships are, I would give it a try again, wouldn't you? You never know what may come out of the 10 000km distance, it may actually force you reassess your current situation, challenge your daily activities but most importantly it should cause an eruption of happiness, love and learnings.

Below is a snippet from the movie Going the Distance which is all about the challenges that come with trying to make a long distance relationship work.

http://tinyurl.com/32ee4gg



Why I have converstaions

Conversations keep us sane

Conversation are an informal exchange of thoughts, ideas, opinions and information between individuals. As human beings we have conversations in order to express our opinions, provide insight and knowledge, ask questions and engage with others. Many people have conversations to stay sane or at least avoid going insane.

I have conversations to share thoughts, ideas and to learn from others. We are all experts in our own right, whether it be in politics, current affairs, gardening, knowing the best place to find a good burger in town or the best travel agent to use when booking a holiday we are all in our own  special ways experts of some sort. Thus I have conversations in order to learn from experts and share my knowledge and experiences. Plus my personality type which is an ESTJ gets energy and inspiration by conversing and engaging with others which I must admit is very true.

One can learn so much by conversing as it allows one to challenge others, debate and form opinions. Imagine a life without the ability of conversing with others, you would have to embrace the imaginary friend which would result in one never getting any feedback. As individuals we thrive on conversations and feedback. Next time you are having a convo, instead of just talking, think about what you are contributing to the conversation and what you are gaining from the convo. I bet you would start looking at things in a different light.

Conversations with ourselves is normal, right?

http://tinyurl.com/2bm3o9z

Sometimes people need to make their own mistakes

Life is all about making mistakes, not many of us want to admit or find it easy to admit that we’ve made a mistake as who wants to admit when they are wrong. One of the hard tasks of life is watching a friend who you have grown up with, fall head over heels in love with a guy who one feels is not a great fit.

Friendship is more than just playing barbies or sharing a drink, it’s a bond which one establishes over time. It’s a feeling of comfort, happiness and trust which one shares with another individual and overtime the strength becomes like a bond one has with family members.

I have a friend who I have known since I was 3 or 4 years of age and over the years we have become family as we’ve shared heartache, achievements, deaths, love and made many memories together. She has generally only been in long term relationships and never really embraced the freedom of being single. She started dating a guy about 1 year and a half ago. They met in a rather unusal way, he was in a relationship and she had been single for a brief period. Their relationship started on a bad footing in my mind as he cheated on his ex girlfriend with my friend and this is how their relationship began. My theory of once a cheater always a cheater was put to the test.

Over the period that they have been together, I actually became fond of him until he cheated on my special friend who really does not deserve to be treated like that. After the cheating episode my opinion of this individual changed completely. It got to a stage when my dear, innocent friend realised that they needed to take a break in order to give her time to reassess the situation. However the douchbag of a male once again waved his magical wand, threw a slight tantrum which the usual 5 year old does, and he got exactly what he wanted. This break didn’t last long as they are now back together. During the period after the cheating, I was always or at least tried to be the friend I thought I should be which included voicing my opinion of him and his actions. I understand that love is a feeling, connection and an addiction which one at times will do and try everything to hold onto it. However there needs to come a time when you question whether its really love or if its just fear of not wanting to be alone. I guess there are times when all we can do is voice our opinion but the reality is sometimes people just need to learn the hard way and make their own mistakes no matter how much we care about them.

My bucket list- 100 things to do before you die

Everyone should have their own bucket list

Death is never a pleasant topic to discuss as it brings out emotions which for many have been buried under a double layer of extra hardened fat which unless put under extreme heat will melt and be set free. Below is my bucket list, 100 things one should try to do before you die.

1. Overcome the fear & go sky diving
2. Go Paragliding
3. Go for a ride in a hot air balloon
4. Ride an elephant and guide an elephant by his/her trunk through the forest
5. Scream and screech as one goes bungy jumping
6. Learn a new, out of the ordinary foreign language
7. Study aboard
8. Spend an afternoon swimming with dolphins
9. Make a snow angel in minus temperatures
10. Learn how to play a musical instrument – for me that would be the piano, drums or guitar
11. Create your own website
12. Invest in the stock market
13. Experience the innocence, warmth and absolute high of being in love
14. Get married, have your dream wedding and discover a country on your honeymoon
15. Have a child
16. Adopt a child or sponsor a child through their years of education
17. Raise a happy, healthy, sensitive and kind child
18. Witness and be present at significant moments of the upbringing of your children
19. Provide a safe home environment which exudes love, happiness and comfort
20. Have a pet whether it be a mans best friend or gold fish, learn to look after a pet.
21. Stay and experience a new culture by staying with a traditional family
22. See and touch a koala bear
23. Become a vegetarian for 2-4 weeks (Yes, this will be difficult for the extreme meat eaters & remember to take your supplements)
24. Milk a cow
25. Ride a camel
26. Live in a house on a lake
27. Spend time on a farm and participate in the daily farming duties
28. Move into a Tuscan Villa
29. Grow your own herb and vegetable garden
30. Find your passion in collectable items, start collecting and keep these items for your kids. This could be anything from snowglobes to coins to stamps to cd’s.
31. Attend the Olympic games and experience the pure thrill of sport
32. Attend a FIFA World Cup, what an amazing experience. You are bound to become addicted and would do anything to attend as many matches as possible.
33. Try new foods even if yo never thought you would, be adventous. Enjoy escargot in Paris, boerwors in South Africa,
34. Catch your own fish and eat it
35. Spend a week in silent retreat
36. Find inner peace
37. Learn to forgive as life really is too short to hold a grudge
38. Learn to live in the now
39. Take up yoga or mediation
40. Have your palms read
41. Go to a tarot card reader
42. Get hypnotized
43. Attend New York and Milan Fashion Week
44. Get golden circle tickets to your favourite concert
45. Experience the talent of attending a show on broadway
46. Sit in and watch a court case
47. Bet on your favourite horse even if you know nothing about betting
48. Go horse riding on the beach or sand dunes
49. Play a game of golf and drive a golf cart
50. Watch a sporting game live whether it be rugby, soccer or hockey
51. Spend a night sleeping under the stars
52. Start a journal
53. Spend a weekend painting, expressing yourself through art
54. Climb Kilimanjaro
55. Do the Inca Trail in Peru
56. Backpack through South America
57. Step on each continent
58. Smile at a stranger daily
59. Live like a local for a month
60. Learn how to Tango in Argentina
61. Learn how to surf
62. Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef
63. Have one of your articles published
64. Volunteer at an NGO that your feel strongly about
65. Go sailing on a yacht
66. Teach English in a foreign country
67. Smoke a cigar in Cuba
68. Do a photography course
69. Have your own photoshoot
70. Spend the day at a spa
71. Enjoy high tea
72. Pop a bottle of champagne way before noon
73. Pick strawberries
74. Make a kite and fly it
75. Shake hands with someone who you admire and who has made a difference in a country
76. Be part of a positive change
77. Save a life
78. Crowd surf
79. Learn how to fly a plane
80. Write a book or start a blog
81. Dance in the rain
82. Learn how to wind surf or wakeboard
83. Spend time on an island
84. Visit Disneyland and allow the inner child to erupt whilst experiencing the thrill of the rides
85. Spend a week with no television, radio, computer or cellphone just enjoying the quietness
86. Name a star
87. Make a list of all the countries that you want to visit and try to see as many as possible
88. Go sandboarding
89. Attend an international conference which interests you
90. Spend an entire weekend reading a book which engrosses you
91. Host a dinner party
92. Plan and go on a roadtrip
93. Plan a surprise party for someone special
94. Experience a white Christmas
95. Learn to follow your heart even if this means making sacrifices which may not work out as planned.
96. Teach someone a new set of skills
97. Thank the people in your life who impact your life so positively
98. Visit the Roman baths in Bath
99. Take a risk or chance in life
100. Enjoy life, make mistakes, make a difference, learn, be happy and love.

http://tinyurl.com/336y9gj

Watching from the side lines

Watching from the side line vs being part of the action

I started playing action soccer a month ago and have been enjoying it thoroughly. Who would have thought that running around non stop for 20 minutes aside, kicking a ball, defending your territory, trying to scole a goal whilst attempting to not faint from exhaustion would be so much fun. Action soccer is a sure way to get the pulse beating, blood flowing rapidly whilst getting the body into shape for summer.

I couldn't play in our teams match last week but watched as my team played a rather tough match, which we should have won but did not. Watching from the side line was a totally different experience, the game seemed to be in slow motion. Standing on the side line seemed as though I was pressing the pause button every now and again as all passes seem to be much slower. I shouted from the side, hoping my team could hear me cheer as well as direct the passes informing them who was open or not. I realised that playing the game, being in the crux of the action versus watching on the side line are two totally different perspectives. When you're in the middle of the action, you dont really hear the screams and shouts instead you try to strategise and plan your next pass. 

In life there are times when we watch from the side lines as there are times when things seem to happen in slow mo and we wish we could have changed the outcome. I guess the best that we can do instead of screaming from the side lines, one should rather put yourself in the heat of the moment & question what your decision would be. Would you prefer to watch from the side line or be in the heat of the action and make that pass?

http://tinyurl.com/2u23p38

My big fat BIG dream

From a very young age we all dream about what we will be when we are all grown up. I remember wanting to be a doctor then a teacher then a veternarian then an air hostess and now I have landed myself a career in Public Relations. When you are young and innocent the world seems like a candy store, colourful, sweet, perfect and full of choices. I agree that the world is full of choices but most of the time these choices are dependent on several factors which at times hinders ones ability to truely follow your heart. As a young girl you dream about meeting Mr. Right at a young age, the perfect white wedding, starting a family, buying your first home with a white picket fence and the truth is most of the time this is a dream. Yes, we will all find Mr Right at some stage if we have not already but things generally do not

work out as we imagined when we were the tender age of 8.

From a very young age, little girls dream of their perfect wedding

Its important to have dreams as this helps one set goals to work towards to achieve. Dreams keep the mind and soul alive as it gives one the ability to create a superb reality and if lucky achieve this reality. In most cases my dreams are based on where I am at in my life, which part of the rollercoaster journey I am on, am I heading for the steep decline or the sinulating rise up.

Right now my big fat Big dream would be made up of the following:

• Travelling, I definitely have ants in my pants at this point in time. I would love to see more of the world, possibly start a travel book or even blog writing about all my special discoveries which most likely will revolve around food or hidden gems.
• Studying abroad, studying in 3 or 4 different countries in a year.
• Being my own boss and working my own hours
• Starting my own non profit organisation which focuses on edcuation, alleviating poverty, eradicating HIV/Aids and women empowerment.
• Getting the opportunity to do PR for global events such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
• Starting my own family business in the wine industry , I've always wanted to own a vineyard and produce award winning wine.
• Starting a new, fresh and exciting challenge.

Owning a family vineyard and producing award winning wines

The reality is that right now I need to focus on completing my Btech in PR Management which I am a few months away of completing but there is no harm in dreaming right. I do believe that dreams do come true...

http://tinyurl.com/3672gw7



Conventional is a good fallback position isn't it?

Change is a word that a vast number of people dread. For many change means uncertainty, a feeling of not knowing what to expect, the inability to plan and the constant worry whether or not you will be able to embrace the change or not. Change in most situations is inevitable, in one's personal life, at the office and in day to day activities. Imagine how boring life would be, if you knew exactly what to expect each day, you would reach a point when you no longer were challenged. Is this a reality that you can accept? For many not being challenged, staying in one's comfort zone and going about your own business is what makes your world go round. Is this a way to live? Are you fulfilled knowing exactly what to expect each day, does this add a level of security to your life?

In any situation change is bound to be a factor whether you want to embrace it or not. The more one resists the change the harder it will be to eventually adopt the change. In many situations if you do not adopt or embrace the change you will eventually be left behind. Its important to adjust your attitude, identify the positive impacts of the change, consider the new challenges and allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them.

As John F Kennedy stated

"The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable"

This quote is very true as life is full of changes and there is no way to prevent change from occuring.

http://tinyurl.com/2ujhfc2

You cannot chase two rabbits at the same time

The fine art of multi tasking

Can you chase two rabbits at the same time? Women certainly can chase two rabbits at once, considering our natural ability to multi task and successfully do more than one thing at a time. Men on the other hand are able to really focus on one activity or task at a time. Thus if you want  a male to complete a task whether it be changing a light bulb, mowing the lawn or doing the shopping, instead of overwhelming him, give him one task and he should complete that one task successfully unless distracted along the way. However men are able to multi task when it comes to watching sport and drinking beer or braaing and watching sport at the same time. I guess they need a bit of credit as braaing and holding a beer in hand are two tasks which need much co ordination.

Do you think women are better multi taskers or is this just a generalisation? Personally I do feel that women are the better multi taskers as they need to manage the home along with holding down a job which may involve climbing the corporate ladder. There are those men who in any situation are the exception to the rule and when put to the test multi tasking comes naturally.

Multi tasking is an inherent ability in most women which is a quality that should be embraced. This is one technique which men definitely can watch and learn and give credit where its due, as quite frankly the world without women would be, extremely boring.

What makes me smile?

A true smile takes over your face

Seeing someone smile is definitely my favourite expression to observe as a smile effects different facial muscles and can even been expressed through ones eyes. When someone is exceptionally happy, if you observe the eyes, one would note that the eyes in essence are actually smiling whilst glowing. A smile is generally brought about by a feeling of happiness, pleasure, contentment and excitement however there are times when one may smile due to anxiety or annoyance. Then there's the fake smile when one feels obliged to smile or you just smile for the sake of smiling in order to mask an annoyance or irritability, which I must admit I'm definitely a culprit of.

There are so many moments, activities or things that make me smile. Below are a few that spring to mind

• Friday afternoons, knowing that its weekend & I can attempt to sleep in.
• Spending the afternoon with people that I love and creating new memories
• Trying new activities like tobogganing and realising that I actually enjoy it.
• Food, trying new restaurants and discovering a new passion for cuisine
• Getting involved in a CSI project and watching how it positively impacts a community
• Going on holiday, packing my suitcase and boarding an aeroplane
• Learning from others especially older, wiser and experienced individuals
• Overcoming a challenge, realising how much work went into the task and being able to tick it off my To Do List
• Arriving home after being away, seeing familiar faces and just being home
• Sunday afternoon naps with the sun penetrating my back as I snooze
• Sharing achievements with special people
• Looking through old photo albums and reminiscing about the 'old days'
• Getting into bed after a long, hard day
• Morning cuddles
• Being on holiday and realising that its time to switch off and just be
• Seeing others achieve and overcome hardships
• Seeing others smile, makes me smile
• Meeting up with friends who I have not seen in years
• Being part of a society where one is encouraged to make decisions, stick by your decision and learn from the process.
• Love and the emotions that go with it

Life is all about the moments that make you smile however lets be honest there are many moments which encourage you to frown rather than smile. Instead of focusing on the frown fulled moments, I'm going to try to capture the moments which are full of smiles.

A smile confuses an approaching frown

-- Author Unknown

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smile

http://kamydental.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/children_smiling.jpg

When you’re her age, (over 80) what will matter to you most?

Love matures with age too

The older you get, you either celebrate each birthday or you pretend that its not your birthday and instead would rather let your age stagnate as this means no more wrinkles right? Whether you are the type to plan your birthday weeks in advance because you believe you should celebrate each year of challenges and life, which I do or whether you would prefer to spend your birthday doing your day to day activities, the reality of aging is bound to take place. No anti wrinkle cream, magical vitamins or injection will prevent you from turning a year older each year.

If i was 80 the things in life that would matter to me most would be:

• My family - spending time with my husband (if he's still alive or maybe my toyboy), my children, grandchildren and friends.
• Being able to wake every morning and embrace the day in a healthy, happy and loving way.
• Reminiscing with old friends over a cuppa tea or a G&T whilst we remember our days as teenagers, 1st loves, marriage, travelling and how things have worked out.
• The ability to be mobile, still active, not too dependent on others but still an independent, hip 80 year old.
• Still being able to positively impact  the lives of others whether it be that I bake for the local kids orphange or make use of my yet to be discovered sewing skills.
• Enjoying my ME time, reading, gardening, cooking, baking and watching soapies
• Still being challenged, keeping my mind, body and soul active
• Travelling- still being able to see the world or rediscover Cape Town
• Achieving self actualisation - being happy with where my life is at.

Its best to embrace the art of getting old, we all want to age gracefully right.

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."

-- Mark Twain

http://mtaram.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/old-age-love.jpg

"Nothing is more dangerous than an idea, when you only have one idea"

The importance of a Plan B

Does the thought of considering a Plan B come naturally to your thinking process or do you get so engrossed in one amazing, out of this world brainwave idea that you physically do not think anyone could turn down your idea. Then you are caught off guard with a question from your MD, with the what if questions, you suddenly feel as though you would rather be in bed, covering your head with your pink fluffy cushions from granny fay.

The truth is at times one can get so caught up in an idea, as brainwaves do not come naturally to a large percentage of society thus when a really good idea crosses your mind, you spend all your time, effort and focus on expanding this one idea. However you do not take into account that this idea may not be perfect but may need tweeking in order for it be put into progress.

What lesson can be learnt from such an experience apart from pure demotivation, frustration and the need for a strong drink? As good as you think your idea may be, before you present it to management or the team always put yourself in the audiences position, think of the what if questions, understand your idea in & out and make sure there is an alternative plan or the ability for your idea to be tweeked slightly in order to be suitable for your brand or organisation.

I would rather have a Plan B, show that you are prepared, have thought of the possible alternatives for my idea and have my idea tweeked yet implemented instead of having my idea completely thrown out on a flying carpet.

http://thetalentcode.com/wp-content/uploads/lightbulb-idea.jpg

Have you figured out the second head fake?

The story of Randy Pausch, who was a computer scientist and co-founded the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University is one which left a lump in my throat and my eyes welling up with tears as I watched his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University on Youtube. Randy suffered from pancreatic cancer which reappeared and he was given 3-6 months of healthy moments to live before his health would go downhill. Randy celebrated life with his wife and three kids.

One's health is such a valuable asset, we dont always realise how important our health really is until we fall ill, or a loved one suffers from a dying illness. This reminder assists in putting life into perspective and how essential it is to maintain a balance in life even though we all struggle.

Watching Randy's last lecture made me realise that so often with death we focus on the negatives as we are losing a special person in our lives but how would this person want to be remembered? For Randy, he wanted to be remembered for his last lecture, instilling life lessons in the lives of young, aspring individuals, encouraging individuals to realise their dreams, live their dreams and enable the dreams of others. Instead of hibernating in his home with his family and reminiscing about past times, he decided to part with instilling wise words and reality amongst individuals who were the future leaders. This act of courage, a desire to leave a legacy and make a difference is a quality not many individuals possess.

After watching the lecture I realised that yes I am living my life, trying to achieve my goals but there are times when we stumble across a high hurdle which can demotivate one terribly. It's about having the courage to keep trying, fighting and proving yourself until you are satisfied. It's about getting over the fear of taking risks, if this means jumping onto a plane next year and challenging oneself in a new country but learning life lessons which I can share with other individuals and my family then so be it. I dont think I have fully figured out where I am going in life but I am discovering that journey day by day.

Summer in Cape Town

Kids, water and summer = one afternoon of pure fun

The months of summer sunshine in Cape Town is definitely my favourite time of the year. Cape Town as a city has so much to offer but I feel that the city can really showcase its natural beauty when the suns rays are basking, lighting up the blue skys whilst capetonians frolick on the beach, head up Lions Head or enjoy a traditional braai with a boerie roll and beer in hand. There are those individuals that prefer the cold, wintery months of lighting the fire, sipping on a glass of merlot and hibernating however I feel more alive when the sun is warming my soul.

I love summer in the Cape Town because:

• I wake up in a better mood, if the sun is shining I automatically smile and do not have the need to the press the snooze button
• I actually consider going for a morning run in summer which is a great way to get the morning started.
• Light, colourful clothes including dresses with pretty shoes can be worn to the office instead of pants & coats
• I am more likely to enjoy a salad for lunch in summer & put more effort into having a colourful, veggie filled salad.
• After work drinks whilst watching the sunset is a wonderful way to end a busy day.
• Evening walks or runs are more likley to happen as its warmer and it stays lighter for longer.
• The smell of braai's on the go, who can say no to a chop, boerie roll and a glass of wine or a beer.
• Spending time outdoors refreshes ones soul and outdoor activities are a great destresser.
• Summer dresses, accessories, sunhats and colour are all part of summer
• Manicures and pedicures are a must
• Happiness, people are much more happier when the sun shines

Summer is brimming on the top of a glass of champers, waiting to spill over and warm our souls for a few months and I absolutely cannot wait.

Summer is ready to pop

A life without love is like a year without summer.

-- Swedish Proverb

http://athirstyspirit.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/champagne-bottle.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=summer+fun#page=2

How hard is it to follow instructions?

Chocolate Cake Recipe

Ingredients

• 250g butter, chopped
• 1 1/2 cup (375ml) water
• 1 cup (220g) caster sugar
• 1/3 cup (35g) cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup (100g) dark chocolate, chopped
• 1 2/3 cups (250g) plain cake flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon bi-carbonate of soda (bi-carb soda)

Method:
1.Combine the butter, water, sugar, cocoa powder and chocolate together in a medium sized saucepan.

2.Place over gentle heat. Bring to the boil whilst stirring. You need to stir until everything has dissolved to stop the mix from burning. Be careful that the mix does not boil over.

3.Simmer gently for 5 minutes.

4.Remove from the heat. Cover with a lid and leave to cool to room temperature.

5.Whisk in gently the flour and bi-carb soda into the cooled liquid. Whisk until all lumps are removed. Do not over whisk; you are not trying to add air into the batter just remove any flour lumps.

6.Pour batter into the prepared baking pan. Remember the baking pan must be lined with non-stick baking paper. The batter will be quite liquid and will level naturally. Tap the tin on the kitchen bench three times to remove any large air bubbles.

7.Bake in a preheated oven set at 160oC (325oF) for 75-80 mins. The top of the cake will crack. Don’t worry the cracks will settle and will be hidden when you turn the cake out of the tin.

8.Remove from the oven. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins. Gently turn out onto the cake plate that you plan to serve your chocolate truffle cake on and leave to cool. This cake is quite soft whilst still warm which is why I suggest you do not turn out onto a cake wire to cool. Use a flat plate or board lined with non stick baking paper.
 

If you want this outcome then you should follow the above instructions

If baking is not a skill that you would like to brag about or if you are used to burning the cupcakes or having your cakes flop then its essential to follow the instructions step by step. However there is still no guarantee that you will get the desired outcome. You may add a bit too much sugar, too little cocoa powder, not enough water or you may not whisk the bicarb properly. In life it is very difficult to follow instructions because as human beings we all have areas of expertise or areas which we feel we know alot about therefore we forgo following instructions. The question which we need to take into account before deciding not to follow instructions should be if I dont follow the instructions will I still achieve the desired outcome and will I be happy with this outcome? If not, then is it actually worth the risk?

 

I am not the best cook around therefore I will follow the instructions given to me step by step until I feel confident enough to add a little more spice or try something new. If I have done something before then the likelihood of me following instructions are very slim, thats reality. However with that being said, instructions, guidelines or directions are a way of life, you either follow them or you dont but if you dont you risk possible failure or pure achievement or creation. Its up to you to decide if you prefer sticking to the rules or pushing the boundaries just one step further.

 

Recipe from: http://tinyurl.com/37lweyw

Picture: http://tinyurl.com/33w2gxm