So there has been a call over the weekend to all our old Blog buddies to start again, share again and thanks to Mel we have a little meme to get going:

1. What time did you go to bed last night and were you alone? About 22:30 and with the hubby.

2. If you could be given ANY gift what would it be?  No anxiety - anxiety is killing me at the moment. This does actually imply a lot - also that the issues that cause me anxiety be resolved but also not to have anxiety about those that honestly do not have any foundation to be anxious about.

3. What was the last film that really moved/disturbed/thrilled you and why? The Little Prince - it came at a time when we were facing loss in our family.

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? Friends or a close second, Frazier

5. Whats your favourite way to wake up and whats the first thing you do?  Without an alarm clock, rested. I dont think this has happened in a long time.

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

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? Anything slimy - a can not stand the texture thing Oatmeal is a challenge

8. Whats the worst/most embarrassing CD/Album you've ever owned and do you still have it? I had a Steve Hofmeyer record once...and nope, not any more

9. What would be your dream vehicle (bikes, cars, boats, bat car and millenium falcon is allowed!)?  Anything that has 7 seats, is high and can drive anywhere and is not too big to maneuver

10. Whats your favourite way to spend a Friday night?  At home - with take aways and the family Friday is wind down night.

11. What characteristics do you dislike in yourself?   I am overly anxious and procrastinates.

12. Your favourite item of clothing and why? .Still my denim jacket

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be and who would it be with? A family island vacation - we need a huge rest.

14. If you could have any animal/creature, what would be your ultimate pet be? I really love our labrador .

15. What did you want to be when you were little and do you think you ever will be?  A doctor - and I have been milling my career choice over and over in my head the last yea and a half.

16. Whats the next planned event you're looking forward to in your life?  This weekend - in the bush for a great friend;'s 50th birthday

17. What were you doing before you started this? Working - this is the rarely found lunch break.

18. What was the last thing you ate that you really shouldn't have? I have had a tummy bug for the last two days - so I have to think far back.

19. If you were an ice cream what would you be? Vanilla soft serve.

20. Who was the last person you spoke to that you didn't want to talk to? The contractor on site - enough said.

21. What was your favourite toy as a child  . . .and now? I loved my Cindy dolls (Barbie type doll) and played with them wel into high school. I guess my phone - but stationary brings on the happy.

26. What are you really afraid of?  Losing a loved one, leaving my loved ones before they are grown up, being unsuccesfull.

So lets see who join the reunion.

A bit more about me

Cassey tagged me on this one:

Are you named after someone?
Very traditionally after my gran on my mom's side - the same long official name - she was commonly know as Cate

When was the last time you cried? 
Last night in the shower - I am a bit tired and emotional. It was just an outlet.

Do you have kids? 
My 3 not so little any more loves that keep my feet on the ground and my heart filled with love.

If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself?
I have always seen myself as a good friend but the last few years I guess I need to up my friend game. So I think yes - if I find the time.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? 
Reading - I would read anywhere, anytime . And Sally Williams nougat.

Do you like handwriting? 
I do - I make all my notes by hand in note books and diaries. I do however if at all possible prefer to always write in colours with my favorite kokis.

What is your favorite cereal? 
I am not a great lover of cereal but eat Special K with yogurt almost every week morning at the office.

What is the first thing you notice about people? 
Their eyes and if they make proper eye contact with me. If they do not I find it difficult to connect.

What color are your eyes? 
Brown

Scary movies or happy endings? 
I do not watch scary movies. Love happy endings.

Favorite TV show?
I do not watch much TV at all! But I do watch Masterchef, Survivor and the Amazing Race.


Summer or winter? 
100% Summer - I am totally ok with 30 degrees as long as it rains. The 39 degrees and drought we had the last two weeks got to me but not as much as the winter. I hate the cold.

Hugs or kisses? 
Depends who - but mostly hugs

What’s the furthest you’ve been from home? 
Europe and Turkey. I backpacked as a student. It was a very fast growing up experience and one I will always treasure.

Do you have special talents? 
Does being a mom of twin boys count?
But I do doodle, draw and can make a very pretty party table.

And I think for an amateur photographer I take pretty ok pictures.

So whoever wants to do this or need a filler, please do this. See yourself as tagged.

Vintage - and more.

We had a lovely weekend apart from the frustrations with the stolen phone and all that hangs around that. I need to seriously do some catching up on Blogvemeber - so here goes:

 8. Favorite Restaurant - For years we frequented a little Italian place called Tutti Pasta and honestly the last few years with the kids we have fallen into the abyss of Spur. But I blogged about our foray into good cuisine with kids last week so we will do more of that - so my current favorite will have to be Mesa Portuguesa.

9.Take a photo - Vintage. Table center piece of a family wedding we attended a few weeks ago - Vintage themed.

10.Dream date?  At this stage any date with my Hunter would be great - we are low on time and babysitters. But dream, way out of anything realistic? A dawn hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara during migration with bubbly to add and a 5 star breakfast in the bush follow. We are both nature lovers and seeing the migration is a bucket list item for me. This would be both exciting and very romantic.
Photo credit

So I am going to try #blogvember

I never take part in these blog challenges - and honestly I find myself hardly reading what people write when they do it. But somehow this one by Cupcakemummy and Love, kids and other things looks a bit different. So I am going to give it a shot - mostly because there are photos involved to. We shall see how it goes - I may have to do a few at a time but am going ot give it a bash.

Today is the 6th - I am just going to fall in here:

Today's shoes are my sometimes loved, sometimes hated turquoise wedges. Loved for many things of which their colour is not the least, but in general I have lots to wear them with and they are comfortable. Sometimes hated because now and again, like last week Wednesday they hurt me and chafe my toes - so much so that I had to wear other types of shoes until yesterday. Today however, they are doing just fine

Things I love and don't

So Lynette set us a little challenge to make a list of things we love and don't love. I read hers on Tuesday and made my list now - off cuff, without much deep thinking. So join in please - either blog and tell me in comments or just tell me in comments.

( You all know my hubby and kids and puppies are my favorite things  - but this is about the rest)

THINGS I LOVE
Summer rains
Watermelon
Sally Williams Nougat
Good Coffee
Red Cappuccino
Tasty food
Coloured pens
Roses
Sweat peas
Kiddy cuddles
Dog cuddles
The smell of a freshy showered/bathed child
Cake - I love baked goods
Being creative
A good book
Taking photos
Creating memories
Great teachers
Pumpkin pie
Lamb stew
Enthusiasm
Little brooches, beads etc - pretty bits
Jenna Clifford jewelry
A nice hot bubble bath
A refreshing shower
Good manners
To sing
Music
Going to places and seeing new things
Exploring
Nature
The bush
Walks along the sea
Actually just everything at the sea and in the bush
Camping
New discoveries

THINGS I DON'T LOVE
Bad coffee
Overwhelming noise
Bad smells
Overwhelming perfume
Arrogance
Bad manners
The lines on my face
The grey in my hair
Feeling blah!
Feeling helpless.
Snakes! I am very scared of them
Crime and being scared
Winter
Being cold
Brussel sprouts - and my hubby is in on this one
When a favorite piece of clothing or shoes has to retire.
Boring TV programs
Nasty kids and ignorant people.

Seems like meme time again

 Debi is one of my oldest blogging friends - hers is the second blog I ever really read (the first was Tertia's) as the expecting mom of twins. I see her as way more than a blogging friend - she is a real friend and has been for over 4 years.

She tagged me for this little meme:

The (bendable) rules:
You must post these rules.
Each person must post 11 things about herself on his/her blog. (I am skipping this - as she did and you can too)
Answer the questions the “tagger” listed for you in her post, and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
You must choose 11 people to tag and link to them in the post.
Go to each blogger’s page and mention that you have tagged
him/her.

 The 11 questions Debi gave us to answer: (and boy can she ask difficult thought provoking questions):

1. Word association. I say “tender”, you say Steak! Ok, you can see I am craving a nice juicy matured rump steak 
2. What is the most important virtue you possess? Difficult one.I would say to multi task. I can seriously muti task and keep my mind about all the different tasks.
3. Favorite song and why? My favorite favorites are all classical pieces, but in popular music - "I can see clearly now" as sung by the Hot house flowers - not the Jimmy Cliff or Johnny Nash versions but this one with it's haunting piano. It just makes me all positive when feeling down. Where even on You Tube the original video seem to be lost so this is more for the music only

4. If you had to choose someone from the Bible that most closely represents you, who would it be? After a lot of thought I think Esther. I think courage and being forced to have courage is what I have been about for the last few years.
5. A quote or inspirational verse that you turn to when times are tough. Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV version here) The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.  We have a beautiful hymn that the kids love to sing from verse 17 to 19 and I sing it in my head when happy, when stressed, when sad.
6. What is your favorite recipe? My playdough recipe  it is truly the best play dough you will ever have and last for ages. A  simple variation on the usual one using gliserine that makes all the difference.. Reminding me I need to make some.
7. Most dramatic childhood memory. The night my dad passed away. And the few days following that.
8. (for a school throw-back question) If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? An Accacia Xanthophlea or Fever tree- part of the African thorn tree family. You see, they have those thorns everywhere that really hurts, but they provide shelter for a lot of small animals like birds, where the thorns prevent snakes from reaching their nests, shade for animals in the hot summer months and gum for the bushbabies and flowers and pods for the birds to eat. Elephant also loves their pods. And it is very very hardy and I love the lush green stem. It's a bit out of the ordinary.
9. If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? The twin skin I can not get rid of, no matter how much weight and fat percentage I loose. (Keep in mind I had two babies of 3kg in there at a stage)
10. Coffee? Iced, frozen, hot or not? Any form, I am an addict. But my best is a nice foamy cappuccino.
11. A moment in time that changed your life? Meeting my hubby. Without him, my life would have been totally different.

The 11 questions I want answered:

1. Name the one product in your kitchen you can not function without.
2. If you can change your career decision, what would you like to be (disregard training, money etc- this is a dream job)
3. What is your favorite toy (as in gadget, craft item, etc)
4. What is your favorite book of all times? (or just choose one for now)
5.  If you could give your 16 year old self one bit of advice only, what would it be?
6. Chocolate or vanilla cake? And specifically what type.
7. Meat, fish or chicken?
8. On what would you spend R300 or 40US$ or the equivalent thereof as a spoil for yourself?
9. Which building in the whole wide world do you think is beautiful or have captured your attention?
10. If you could go on a dream holiday right now, no costs spared, to which one destination will you go and who will you take along? (no world tours allowed - one destination)
11. If you were a flower, which one will you be. And why?

So, I decided to tag the last 11 people that left comments on my blog who are:

Kat in Africa , Heather,  I'm so not a blogger (private blog), Blackhuff, Lea White, Fiona, Karen - Mom again@ 40, Alidaonline, Hayley, Shayne (private blog) and Marcia.

Thank you all to your loyal and regular comments.
And if anyone else wants to do this, just do it and tell me you have done so. I would love to go and read it.

A bit of a Meme thingy

Gee, I am so busy at work, not time for the usual bit of photos on a Friday. Hence, I am playing along with Wenchy  - just because I have one that I think most people do not have. Can you spot the one I am thinking?

Please play along – place an X by all the things you’ve done.

Shot a gun X
Gone on a blind date X
Skipped school
Saw someone die
Visited America
Visited Mauritius
Visited Europe X
Visited Australia
Visited Sun City  X
Visited Cape Town. X
Been to  Victoria Falls  
Been to court.  X
Been lost  X
Travelled to the opposite side of the country (by car!) X
Visited Pretoria X (Hell I live here!)
Swam in the Ocean X
Cried yourself to sleep X  many times.
Played cops and robbers X
Played cowboys and Indians X
Recently coloured with crayons X
Travelled by train  X
Sang Karaoke X
Sang a solo or duet in church  
Paid for a meal with coins only X
Made prank phone calls X
Laughed until some beverage came out of your nose X
Caught a snowflake on your tongue X
Had children  X
Had a pet   X
Been skinny-dipping outdoors  X
Been fishing X
Been boating  X
Been downhill skiing & made it down the hill without falling
Been water skiing
Been camping in a trailer
Been camping in a tent  X
Flown in a small 4-seater airplane
Flown in a helicopter
Flown in a hot air balloon.
Walked on a glacier
Driven a motorcycle/been a passenger  X
Been bungee-jumping
Gone to a drive-in movie X (In fact we are going again tonight)
Done something that could have killed you-but didn’t  X
Done something that you will regret for the rest of your life  X
Met Nelson Mandela X
Visited Asia
Rode an elephant
Eaten biscuits or cake for dinner: X
and ice cream for breakfast. X
Been on TV. X
Stolen any traffic signs  X
Stolen any traffic cones
Been in a car accident X
Donated blood
Played bowls (old man’s marbles)

So who else is playing along?

Dear Secret Santa

I am participating in the Secret Santa project this year, and am really struggling to figure out what to send to the blogger to who I am Secret Santa. So, I have decided to do a little post so that maybe my Secret Santa can get some ideas. So for R100 or less, I would love: (And if the family read here they could also get some Brithday ideas, but alas...)

•  Fenjal bath oil or foam bath - a lovely memory of years gone by. I can recall my gran so well when I smell it.
• Anything to craft with - pretty paper, ribbons whatever.
• Any bath stuff - especially Tranquil body treats stuff.
• A good book - even second hand
• Beads and other prettyness. 
• Cute lace summer scarf that you see at all the Chinese shops- in light pink , light blue or grey
• Colourful flip flops - I wear a size 7. I love colourful flip flops.With stuff on.Especailly those Pick n Pay cheepies with lots of cuteness.

What I really am not crazy about right now:

• Edible stuff - with my cholesterol issues I really have to be careful. If it has less than 5% fat per 100g I guess it's ok - go try, very little is.
• Bangles - I can not really wear bangles - they irritate me when I work.
• Although I am crazy about note books I have about 4 unused ones lying in my bedside table.

So hope that helps?

I have also received this lovely award by many bloggers - the only ones I can remember in my fogged slightly sleep deprived mind today are To love Bella and Dear Max, .My sincere apologies if I forget to mention you here, I have really not kept track with this - crazy time of the year.












So I have to tell you 7 random things about myself:

1.  I can not eat cooked oats - jip, I have huge tactile issues (I guess L's issues should not have been a surprise to me). When I get home I have to take all jewelery off and tie my hair up otherwise I just can not function
2. I really do not like noise and very loud music. I love soft music, preferably classical or jazz. Sometimes the noise levels in the house totally drives me over board.
3. If I could sing better I would love to sing the role of Carmen in the opera by Bizet. I would love to passionately sing the Habanera in a black and red Spanish dress.
4. I can not put nail polish on my own nails - I really just can not. I do not have the time for "proper nails" so I just do not "do" nails.
5. I also can not do my own eyebrows - I leave that to my much beloved beautician friend.
6. I really want a second island honeymoon with my love. 
7. I am totally addicted to humus, taramosalata and tahina with biscuits I am allowed to eat. And pasta - I can live from pasta. I think somewhere in my precious lives I was both Greek and Italian

Now this one has really done the rounds and I am sure almost all of you have received it - so I would like to award this to everyone that reads this post. Go ahead dear - take it and thanks for your kind comments. As the Golden Girl song goes: "Thanks for being a friend".

My favourite things.

There have been lots about the kids, and our lives and such the last while, but pretty little about myself. So, when I saw Jenty's post this morning it just hit the right button.

Favourite Song - Adele - Rolling in the deep.

Favourite Shop – Woolies andBig Blue
Favourite chocolate –Wedgewood Chocolate Honey Nougat (with real Belgium chocolate). Seriously addictive.
Favourite cookies - Wedgewood Angels - these are seriously great (cookies with nougat)
Favourite food –  Chemeen Murgh Kari - Kerela -Chicken simmered in curry leaves, coconut and spinach, gravy- At Geet Indian Restaurant
Favourite meal that I make –Pasta  - see recipie. I have made quite a few variations, amongst them avo and snoek.
Favourite flower –gerberas
Favourite colour to wear –berry colours
Favourite shoes – black ballet type pumps
Favourite drink – Red wine and gin and dry lemon
Favourite lens – 55-250mm
Favourite place to walk the dogs – Struben dam in Lynnwood Glen
Favourite place to take the kids – Our local park or Foodprint because of their great child minders.
Favourite coffee for every day at home – Douwe Egberts - the red one
Favourite coffee shop – Isabellas
Favourite pizza place – Mimmos with the office - I know, boring, but we do not get out much with Lucy on extended sick leave.
Favourite place to take photos – Struben dam. Anywhere with autumn leaves.
Favourite place for holidays –San Lameer - we just had the most wonderful holiday.
Favourite joghurt – Pick n Pay Choc chip yoghurt
Favourite man –My Hunter - because he is just the best. And I love him. And although he is in the bush this weekend he left me with cooked meals both evenings.

Favourite website – You tube. I know, boring, but I landed on old Ally Macbeal clips on Friday night and had a blast.
Favourite TV programme - Top Billing or Amazing race. I do not watch much TV but do enjoy these.

So what are your favourite things? Feel free to consider yourself tagged.

Monday musings

We had a good weekend - really good. I went to my ever so fab. hairdresser on Saturday morning and feel revived, as is my hair colour. But I will have to leave the weekend report for tomorrow as clever me left the camera and memory card at home. 

So this week I really want to get the decluttering program going at home I am going to try and do one small area each night - this may be over ambitious, as I am often really tired in the evenings, but wish me luck!

Bookclub will be at my place in the beginning of September and I need a few suggestions from you, my friends for books to buy, but also for dinner ideas. A lot of the girls do lasagna or bobotie etc, soup in winter or salads in summer. I want to do something different. Last year I did chicken pie and salad, the year before my famous homemade pasta with carbonara or seafood sauce. Any suggestions? It is the start of Spring, but as we all know the beginning of September can be nice and warm, but also freezing.

So, onto some blog fodder - I was tagged by Blackhuff for this. 

1. What is your signature color?
I don't really have one, I wear heaps of colours - a bit of a peacock really. But my favorite is a light blue with purple undertone - I believe the correct name is Periwinkle. You almost never find clothes in that shade - if I see it, I buy it. My lounge in my flat used to be painted in it.
2. Your most embarrassing moment?
There are many - I am really clumsy. But falling with my handbag in Woollies and spilling everything all over the floor is pretty much up there.

3. Would you ever get anything pierced other than your ears? If yes, what?
I have no others, but if it was not for those bloody post twin extra skin rolls, I would have loved a belly ring.

4. Are you a social butterfly or a homebody?
None of the two really.People often think of me as an extrovert, I come across like that, and in business I say my say. But walking into a room of strangers is really overwhelming. I am seriously nervous about going to my first ladies on lunch. I am much better on a one on one level.
 I do like to spend time at home, but do get cabin fever - in fact, our whole household is prone to cabin fever.
5. Are you done having babies or do you want more?
Really, really done.

6. Are you loyal to your hairstylist or are do you try out every salon in town?
I would possibly rather change my gynea than my hair stylist. (although I think I will keep Dr Barbie as well). Mariette is the only person that knows what number my natural hair colour is ;-)
7. How many times have you moved in your life?
Only 8 times since birth - so as I am almost 42 I guess it is not too many. But I hate moving.

8. If you could plan your dream vacation with just you and your love where would it be?
I would love a second honeymoon to an island - Zanzibar sounds great. We were planning one for our 10th anniversary at the end of the year but we have decided that it is not feasible with the boys. Maybe in a year or so. Touring through the Italian country side (Tuscany etc) would also be great.


So I am not tagging someone specific, but please take it if you need some blog fodder.

The first time, ever I saw your face (remember the song?)

Blackhuff has tagged me for this one - a long long time ago.
What’s the first thing you notice about a man when you meet him?
For me, it's more smell than sight. Cleanliness and grooming than a look. I am quite paranoid about being clean - a bit obsessive compulsive maybe. I shower every morning. Sometimes if I go to gym during lunchtime I take shower no 2. Then I have a nice bath before bed every evening. I wash hands a million times a day. Hunter is much the same. You can think that a man that does not keep himself hygienic is an issue to me. So I love a man that smells nice and fresh and looks clean and neat. And really, that was my first impression and still is. Did I mention I love my man?

A great laugh and sense of humor is a close second.

So if you need some blog fodder - you're tagged. 

About the girl.

   Louisa tagged me for this one more than two weeks ago (yeah I know - it's been a while)
1. Are you ruled by the heart or the head? A difficult one for me - they are constantly doing battle. But at the end, it's the head because I am too scared to expose the heart too much.
2. What is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do? Raising our children - as Oprah says, it's the hardest job on earth. It's also the most rewarding one.
3. If you knew today was your last day on earth, how would you spend it, with who, and why? With Hunter and the kids - laughing, eating, playing. I'd also write each of my loved ones a letter and/or make a video to tell them just how much I love them and they mean to me
4. Would you give your life to save someone else’s? For Hunter and our kids for sure.
5. Monopoly or Cluedo? I used love Monopoly as a kid, but I am more of a Pictionary type of girl.
6. What’s your fondest childhood memory? I have many, but it would certainly be before age 7, before my dad passed away. He was my hero.I was his princess.
7. If you could have a super power, what would it be, and why? To be able to read minds - to know what the person on the other side of the table is really thinking.
8. Do you colour-coordinate? Yes, but not as in Melanie Griffith in Bonfire of the vanities ( do you remember the mustard underwear with the mustard dress - oh my word!). What I mean is that I love to co-ordinate certain colours say like pink and lime green - to me they work so well together. But I know I might be the only person on earth to think that. I do love coloured shoes to match an outfit.
9. Chocolate or vanilla? Both! I just have a sweet tooth, ok.
10. Light sabre or blowtorch? Oh I have always wanted to be a Jedi knight so I'd love my light sabre in pink please and can I please meet Yoda?

I am not going to pass this on to anyone specific, but if the Force is with you, please do it ;)

Tag!

Candice and Marcelle (private blog) tagged me for this one.

The directions:

1) Go to your photo files, select the 8th photo folder.
2) Select the 8th photo in that folder.
3) Post that photo along with the story behind it.
4) Then challenge 8 blogging friends to do the same.

As I have done this one before I decided to use the current hard drive of my laptop (only this year's pictures) and not my big photo archive on the loose hard drive that I used last time.

The Lil Miss in February this year before bedtime in her Barbie PJ's. Not a great photographic moment but a good memory.

Well, it's Saturday crazy hour and the kidlets are hugely busy and I really have only only a few minutes to blog - so, if you read here and am looking for a subject to blog about today - tag, you're it!

Me- 5 things.

I have been tagged by the charming (and lovely) Laura of Harassed mom for a challenge that Sally started. This one had me scratching in the archive and thinking really hard because you have to place 5 pictures of yourself that you really like and list 5 things about yourself that you really like.

As I am more often than not the one behind the camera (the way I like it), it took a bit of thinking and searching on the ole backup hard drive.

I really like this one with Hunter - we were so happy and relaxed at the wedding in April.

 Me and the princess in Cape Town in November last year. I love this one because when I saw it I realized that regardless of how many things I really have an issue with regarding my body, I still look ok for 40.

This is one of my all time favorites taken by a professional photographer (and I can not find his website!) in December 2007. Cropped, this is still my Google profile pic and used to be my Facebook one too.

 On my 40th birthday party doing the Magaliesburg treetops tour. I loved the day and the event - it was just what I wanted.

I had to include this one - Hunter's favorite of me and possibly the prettiest ever as I was all dressed up and so happy on our big day. Photograph by Partick Furter.

5 Things that I like about myself:

1. I love my hair - 3 times in my life I almost lost it (once completely) and I really appreciate this curly frizzy mess - I promise to do a post about this - I have to. I love that it grows easily and that I really experiment with it. Currently I am growing once again.
2. I love my boobs - I used to love them more in their DD pert and young state, but now the smaller B/C is just so much more comfy.
3. I think my eyes are the part of me that people notice first - and I like them because they are so expressive.
4. My nose is the best possibly available in the gene pool and believe me we have some seriously weird ones. It's a copy of granny Kate's and I am proud of it.
5. My skin colour - it is darker, almost Mediterranean in colour and is really great and easy to tan and at least in winter I do not look like a white rat.

Now the fun part - to tag 5 friends. I am going to keep it local (well Candice used to be local) this time and tag:

Shayne of Time Out, Lynette of A work in progress, Candice of Wolf's on Safari, Marcia of 1,2,3,blog and Karen of Momagain @ 40.

Stress - and the Female to female blog challenge.

Why is it that going on holiday is such a stressful affair? Not actually the going or planning, the finishing of work before you go - the planning to make sure that all is covered? I worked until late last night and still have to work miracles here this morning to finish everything. Hunter will have to burn the midnight oil tonight to get his work done. Why, oh why? It happens every time. And then when you get back to work there is the catching up to do - even if we are just away for 4 working days.

But on the other hand - we have 11 glorious days of holiday ahead of us - 2 (what is predicted to be rainy days) at home, 2 days traveling and 6 happy days at the seaside. Yeah!

What colours would your wedding be/was your wedding? Gray and lavender. My wedding dress was made from my mom's 1960's hand beaded dress (see pictures) and some of the silver beads had turned to gray - hence the choice. The flowers were bright and mixed colours - it looked stunning. We ordered a huge amount of lavender from a lavender farm - the aroma filled the air.
Scrubs or Greys Anatomy? Greys Anatomy
Do you pick your battles? Or do you fight for everything you disagree with? Or do you let it all go?I pick my battles very selectively and then fight had and teeth.
Bar One or Whole Nut? Bar One
Where is your favourite holiday destination? Anywhere at the seaside - actually the Eastern cape coast.
High School Musical or Cinderella? Cinderella
You are buying a new house what is the one thing the house must have? A real stoep and no lapa - I hate the ideas of a lapa.
Spring or autumn?Autumn - the Spring allergies kill me - well almost.
Have you every skinny dipped before? Yes.
Yoga or Kata Box? Yoga - I love yoga. Still did yoga until 32 weeks pregnant with the twins. At that stage I could still do most preggy related postures. So day I am going to so a lot of yoga again.
If you had to study what would you study?A Photography course.

Female to female blog challenge.

As per usual, I am late, but I did it at least.

If I could I would make music (as in sing and play an instrument) the whole day.

In my kitchen cupboard is an Ina Paarman Cheesecake mix that I want to make.

On my desk is pure and utter chaos.

Image in my head is my happy place - sunset at Sardinia bay.

In the middle of my to do list is so much to do I can not even get my head around it.

I am dreading the chaos in our house.

Right now I want to sleep.

I think I need to get myself to think more positive.

Going to gym during lunchtime.

May you have a merry little SITSMAS

Here in the Southern bit of Africa, Christmas is all about watermelon, seaside holidays, swimming pools, long lazy summer days and holiday fun. From me and mine (whilst decorating the tree), to you and yours. Merry SITSMAS!



Now if you still do not know what SITS is - go have a look!

Random dozen - my first shot.

I find myself doing too many Meme's - filling my week rapidly with these. But I am tempted once again by one I saw over at Frizzy's. So, I have made a decision, I will do these when and if they fit my mood on the day. If not, so be it!

So this is actually for Wednesdays, but what the hec - it's Thursday morning here but I am sure it is still Wednesday somewhere in the world!

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
Freak here it is way too dangerous to wait the light out, you may be high-jacked - so for sure, I run the light.
2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
I would so NOT eat the Gorgonzola and asparagus crepe I had for lunch - it was way too rich.
3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
Got to her blog, but I am contemplating answering int he next day's post too.
4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
The Jungle Book. I loved it ass a child and still do. It is the last Disney I saw with my dad.
5. Do you recycle?
Yes.
6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
Strategy. Backgammon though has both and I love it.
7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
Used to - not any more.
8. What did you learn from your first real job?
To treat upset customers as calmly as possible - in that way they calm down.
9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
I love to buy but with the Book club I have access to great books to borrow. So this year, I have mostly borrowed for the first time in my life.
10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?
Flat Lady Di Style shoes - now called ballet shoes.
11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
Around October - but I do my big one at a Christmas market for autism every year - am going tonight! I very seldom have shopping left after the 20th of December as I hate last ,minute shopping.
12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion? I seldom show emotions to the outside, but I know that I did when we won a small sum of money (ok substantial enough to make our wedding and honeymoon more comfortable) 3 weeks before our wedding in our national lottery. It paid for the wine, beer and cool drinks on the wedding and provided great spending money for our honeymoon.

You got me Debi!

So my friend Debi did a sly one this morning - and yes, I am tagged. For you girl, I will do both. And you, busy reading here, you're tagged as well:
Here's the rules:
Stop what you are doing right now and take a picture of yourself.
No prep work allowed!
You must take the picture exactly as you are right now...
you may not go put on makeup or brush your hair or change your clothes.

So here I am right now at work in casual Friday clothes- bet you have never seen me with glasses before! Check out the tissue, yeah after the cold we now have sinus brewing.

She also gave you the alternative to talk about Tuesday's blog party. Now head over to her blog and have a look.

I will not go into a long discussion about this but please click this button and have a read on the blog and participate either by donating or betting or both.

I have two cute little African titbits that I will donate for the auction - so look out for that on the 5th of May and place your bets for a tiny piece of Africa. I promise to post about them soon.

So yes, if you read here you are tagged - either to place your photo or to talk about Tuesday's blog party - or why don't you do both like I did?

Playing Tag with memory loss

So Debi tagged me for this one - and true to my brand spanking new resolution, all posts have to wait until this is done - I have such great news that I have been keeping secret since Tuesday!

In any event, this is how it works: *Go to your Sixth Picture Folder then pick your Sixth Picture.
Then pray that you remember the details. Tag 5 others.

Well, this is what I found:

Lucky girl me - I can remember the details exactly. We even used another one from the same series as our Xmas card that year.

Time: Somewhere between 4 and 6 October 2006.
Place: The world famous surfing village of Cape St Francis, Eastern Cape, SA. (fetured in the Endless Summer surfing classics as the perfect wave)
The occasion: We were driving back from Stormsriver mouth where we spent a couple of days with my FIL and MIL celebrating his 60th birthday. The Little Miss was 21 months old. And in her hands is the infamous "Bersie-beer" I'll have to tell all about that one.

So, I am tagging the following girls:
1. Heaven's mom at Frizzy & bird
2. Nancy at the Zimmer Zoo
3. Rachael at Little bites...
4. Terri at Irish eyes...
5. Jen at Buried with children

Have fun girls!