Friday Tunes

At my first job, we had a dedicated “DJ” that would send us Friday Tunes to stop us hanging ourselves get us all into the weekend always with the title “Friday Tunes” and this post is definitely meant to be a shout-out to those good old days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJr80jXCepc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f2qkejlPjo

Enjoy and have a super duper weekend!

Sunday Reads

Some lovely reads this week as you can see below.

1. Goodbye Downton Abbey
2. A Vietnamese coffee cake
3. Cooking with cauliflower. Ten recipes.
4. … specifically this cauliflower risotto. YUM!!
5. Go big or go home in relation to Nigerian Weddings. Thank God we did not have that pressure way back when …
6. Restoring the world’s oldest library.
7. This broke my heart this week. Teenagers who kill in order to become famous or get a following. JUST SAD!!
8. I am really keen for Fuller House. Nostalgia, much?
9. Again, why women friendships are the bomb diggity!

Historically, friendships between women provided them with attention, affection and an outlet for intellectual or political exchange in eras when marriage, still chiefly a fiscal and social necessity, wasn’t an institution from which many could be sure of gleaning sexual or companionate pleasure.
For many women, friends are our primary partners through life; they are the ones who move us into new homes, out of bad relationships, through births and illnesses. Even for women who do marry, this is true at the beginning of our adult lives, and at the end — after divorce or the death of a spouse.

Enjoy and have a lovely Sunday.

xoxo

Wednesday Love

A friend recommended NPR’s Tiny Desk and this week I gave it a go and discovered the most delightful band, The Suffers. I love the soulfulness of the lead singers voice, their lyrics are so dreamy and I just know that the lead singer and I would get on famously.

Below are some videos that have been entertaining me.

Enjoy!!!

 

 

 

Reviewing 2015 through posts

I have enjoyed posting so much this year and pushing myself to write more, write in different formats or on different topics than the typical ones I would. Thanks for the reads, sharing and comments!

1. My theme this year was on obedience.
2. Listened to great music too!!
3. Took care of myself!!
4. Really got into podcasts.
5. Ten little things I enjoyed this year (the first of many similar posts)
6. I hurt when the Xenophobic attacks broke out! In February. Twice.
7. Read a lot about women struggling with infertility.
8. Cooked some nice things.
9. Read some good and bad books!! The invention of wings was easily my book of the year.
10. Made a personal announcement too!!

Enjoy and looking forward to 2016!!

Sunday Reads

1. Interesting to read that Chartered schools do not do any better for children in more suburban areas.
2. Planning an upcoming Cape Town city centre adventure.
3. Cooking with sweet potatoes
4. Celebrating love, marriage and all things in between. Also, check out their podcast, season 2 is coming up.
5. How to help a friend going through a rough time.
6. On meeting your biggest idol!

Sunday Reads

Better late than never ….

1. Because we all need to be more productive at work.
2. Liked some of these comments on the state of play between men and women and the chores at home.
3. The (silent) perils of a PhD.
4. I enjoyed this profile of Michael Phelps and congrats on the upcoming Baby.
5. Fascinated by the paths that people that go to highly sought after schools take afterwards.
6. Ain’t this life though?
7. Alanis Morissette redoes “Ironic”. HILARS!!
8. If you wish to read all of HONY’s stories on the Refugee plight in Europe.
9. Love this story about revealed and stated preferences.
10. Some great conversation starters
11. If you have loads of tea and love to cook with it.
12. Roasted green beans with hazelnuts

30. Beautiful things I have seen recently

Some beautiful pics I have taken recently ….

Some fabric to make a traditional dress

Some lunch for me …

Pasta, some veg and a bit of fish …

The revolution was run by women … #feesmustfall

It’s so sad to say goodbye …. ❤

27. Putting yourself first

A close friend of mine and I often talk about how women always put others first in their lives and they then become a last priority. Also, how women’s self identity often lies with others: I am a mother, a wife, a daughter and never a broader sense of what they really are like. This was made only too real for me in recent weeks when a friend of mine was rushed to hospital seemingly suffering from stress-related issues that then became physical. This scared me and drove home the idea of self-love.

How do I take care of myself?

I will start by being honest to say that I don’t always put myself and that when I don’t it does make me feel not so great. This is what I rather try and do instead:

1. Exercise. It helps me to burn that anxious energy but it also forces me to be in the moment and to enjoy or even breath through the pain and after, I am more relaxed and more capable to deal with whatever the issue was.
2. Prayer & journaling. Writing and praying also helps to start my day on a positive note, it helps me commit my actions to God and to trust that it will be well. I make a lot of lists and more often than not, they are useful because I don’t lose my mind.
3. Evaluate priorities. I find if you keep doing stuff, people keep expecting you to continue with it and rarely will they report back and ask that you stop. So it’s up to you to really stop, step back and determine whether this activity is still as helpful for you. Same thing with money. Do you need to keep spending all that money? Does that debit order still make sense for you?
4. NO GUILT. A part of me knows that I cannot do everything and that I cannot be everything to all people but sometimes I finish that sentence with, but watch me try. And when it doesn’t work out, guilt is an easy second feeling and I have to say to myself, no more! None of that around here.
5. Sampling magazines and books at Exclusive Books. Particularly on a quiet evening when it is not too busy. Every so often, that’s my plan for the evening and boy do I look forward to it.
6. Catching up with a friend whether via email or WhatsApp. So enriching and often empowering.
7. Listening to Music. Whether an oldie or a new album. Something about music just makes me so happy.
8. Tea. Because tea …

A couple of other interesting readings with a more conclusive list of things to start doing today to do better for yourself:

• 23 Ways to love your life
• 10 Ways to treat yourself
• Self care awareness
• The benefits of waking up an hour earlier

25. Sunday reads (Video overload)

1. Linguistically this is why Mama and Baba (Mother and Father in Kiswahili) is almost universal?
2. On the returns to tertiary education in South Africa. Also this.
3.  Some people really have a great calling on their lives!!
4. Beautiful pictures of African kids and their creative hairstyles.
5. My Pastor was on to something when he spoke about how the child’s environment in the womb is very important! (Video)
6. Funny how some product adverts go so left that at the end you have to think back to what they could have been advertising. This video is a case in point.
7. What a gem this video is, dismissive of North Korea but normal against Queen Elizabeth’s birthday and other Royal celebrations.
8. Would you know how to pronounce this town’s name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysilio-gogogoch? Watch how to here.
9. Some people are really leading interesting lives and following some lovely passions they personally have, watch.
10. This is what contact lenses looked like 67 years ago!! Jeez!!
11. Quick and easy couscous salad

A friend is getting married today, shout outs and best wishes.

16. Friday feel-good something

Be careful that you do not burst into tears …

15. Some fashion advice I live by ..

That I have gotten mainly from my dad and my stylish first born sister. Also, stuff that I have picked up over time.

1. Always be comfortable in whatever you wear. Otherwise you get awkward and it shows.
2. Dress appropriately for whatever the function / occasion.
3. Fit, fit, fit …. pick the right size of clothes. Always.
4. My sister always says wear a belt with any pair of trousers/skirt that has belt hoops.
5. Carry a handbag (When I was nine, ten, eleven, she would already try and impress this on me and I would look at her like huh? and now look at me!)
6. From my dad, don’t mix black and brown. I NEVER DO!
7. If you wear something chunky at the top, balance it out with something fitting on the bottom.
8. I NEVER wear skirts with shoes that show my toes. Just eeks me out!
9. I prefer round toe heels because  feel like they are kinder on my toes.
10. In general I am a very conservative dresser – not too loud prints, very dark tones, sensible and comfortable shoes.

Any fashion rules you live by?

14. Psst do you watch Suits?

…. Well I do, but probably not for the drama or any of that BUT because I simply love Jessica (Gina Torres)’s outifits. Below are a few that I would like to steal.

I feel like that sleeve would look silly if you saw it hanging on the shop hangar but somehow, it just works!

Just behold the cut on her bodice!

Even the really simple items have something memorable about them that she looks well turned out each time! I also love the length of the sleeve on the red dress.

You would think the bib would make her bust appear smaller,right? Wrong!

3. (Hair and Dress) Pins that receive love on my Pinterest

I am not really big on Pinterest but occasionally, I pin stuff and get a lotta love for that. So below, some recent loves and the reason I pinned them in the first place.

I don’t really like the high low fashion but I love how she styled the high-low skirt and the pairing of the loud print on the skirt with the other colours 🙂

I remember I considered this dress as one of the traditional dresses at my wedding. I don’t know, I love the lace detail. It was simple but the fish net detail would have made it appear more glamorous.

I am enjoying having my locs down and curly so I love the option to hold it up into a messy bun with a fringe 🙂 I really liked her make up and how her eyes just pop!

I love the curls. There was something loud about this look that just seemed to work – different from how I would do myself up but its beautiful and it works.

And this Baby bonus ….

She seems so confident and bigger than her little self. Reminds me of a little girl I know that is so girly …. ❤

What makes a home, home?

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Home Turf.”

1. My bed with all its’ styling
2. My coffee mugs and the tea and coffee I love to drink.
3. My journal
4. My earring collection
5. The people I share the home with.

I now miss home!!

Yes!!! She stays winning!

Source

I love this woman and what she stands for and her speech was amaze!!! Good job Viola and what an inspiration 🙂

Sunday Reads

In honour of my newly minted niece, there are a lot more baby type links this week so enjoy!!

1. A really simple frozen yoghurt to try.
2. Cooking with tea leaves
3. In honour of my newly minted niece!
4. Also, this nursery
5. Looking for recommendations of where to eat in Nairobi? Here goes?
6. All the things you need to know about cooking chicken
7. Cape Town for a week on a budget (Not sure how old this article is)
8. Lessons that secular and faith based developmental organisations could learn from each other.
9. The IKEA effect and studies we actually need done (h/t Thembalee)
10. Some interesting ways to ask your kiddo how their day was.

Enjoy

Sunday reads

Hope you have a blessed and restful Sunday, enjoy your reads!

1. iPad Apps for the Kitchen
2. A good story coming out of Africa
3. Some lovely tips for dyeing natural hair. 
4. Boo to gender stereotypes but I also believe in traditional roles for wives and husbands 😦
5. A recipe I tried and definitely loved past week that had very good results – Zuccini Cake.
6. A feel good story that we all always need to hear every so often!
7. Beautiful natural hair looks to rock for weddings and other formal occasions
8. I love this couple. Viva!!!
9. An easy ricotta gelato recipe if you are interested to try

 

Gnovembers favourite things list

Currently listening to this album and loving it. A bit late but it’s been my work jam for some time now!

Recently read the following book: Review here.

Recently shopped at The Space in Rosebank. I love the shop, often has lovely clothes but of a larger size. Check it out!

Currently drinking Ginger Glace tea from Tea Merchants

I have enjoyed eating Tapas at Doppio Zero in Rosebank. My favourites, Chickpea fritters, fried haloumi, the calamari and chicken livers. Just yum and not too filling if you are having an early dinner.

I am ashamed that I watch the following reality shows but I so do love them:

• Atlanta Exes
• Marriage Bootcamp: Reality Stars
• Married at First Sight

Also, do reach out to a friend and enjoy the little moments. Life is too short and great friends are hard to come by so keep the few that you make

*All views my own

Some quotes to start off the week

Brandon from Humans of New York has been on a mega roll this past week. Love the following two quotes:

On love and more than just love, secure love.

“I feel much more secure in my current relationship. Everything about my last relationship felt conditional on me measuring up, which magnified my insecurities. There was a tentativeness to everything. It’s hard to explain, but it was certainly felt. It could be a slight hesitation in holding hands, or an unwillingness to talk about the future. Or if he did talk about the future, he used tentative pronouns. It was ‘his’ future and not ‘our’ future.”

I once loved someone that didn’t love me back and if he did, he didn’t show it in a way that made me feel secure and loved. Now that I have that, I can totally relate with the quote above. If the guy or girl doesn’t ever talk in “we” and of “our future” I would say walk away. No, RUN! Otherwise, the doubt and the fear becomes too crippling and you can never quite leave of your own volition but you also somehow know that one day, it will all be over, just like that.

On being a mother and maintaining your identity.

“I’m trying to raise three children and not lose who I am. I used to be a fashion buyer, and I got a lot of satisfaction from that, but now it’s so easy for life to be all about the kids. They need me all the time, and my whole identity seems to be wrapped up in seeing them learn and grow every day. So I’m trying to do something everyday that’s just for me. It could be as simple as flipping through a fashion magazine in a café. I just want there to be something left of myself when they grow older and leave the house.”

My worst fear is losing my identity and only being known as mom and wife. So I like that her remedy is the little things, keep doing stuff that I love that makes me happy. My mom loved to walk the high street on a random afternoon between leaving the office and coming home. My mom’s room was a haven to her, her little space where we children were only ever allowed under the strictest circumstances and only for a limited space of time. I now see why she did that and I love her all the more for it.

Favourite Pins

Loving jumpsuits – they allow me to feel playful and grown up

Beautiful coats

Beautiful home decor, particularly coffee tables

This quinoa recipe

Beautiful loc styles

Her make up. Clean and with her eyes popping

As I get beautiful images, will try and share more as well.