Day in the life

Hey guys!

How are you? I am doing mighty fine sitting in my room in a quiet house on a Sunday morning. These are the best. Everything is silent. An occasional car would pass, but the only thing you hear is the humming of the kitchen equipment and once in a while my bird, Watson would say something something. 

But, I am not hear to creatively tell you about my surroundings and sounds. Today I would like to share a day in my life. I have been wanting to do a post like this for a long time, but I was a little bit hesitant for it being pretty boring. I will never know what you think if I don't write it down here.

I started a new job at the beginning of the month and the first week was pretty hectic trying to figure out a routine. I am still not completely done with it, but I am working on it. I still need to add some activities, for example running and working out (cleans throat here). 

I thought of doing a vlog, but as much as I love a camera I hate a video camera. So I will write it out for you.

Here goes.

05:20 My first alarm goes off. It is my radio so I let it play and listen to some music. It is always tuned in on KFM.

05:30 My phone alarm goes off and then I get up. I have 45minutes to get ready. A cup of coffee, make-up, getting dressed and brushing my teeth.

06:15 We take a ride to the train station. Dun dun dun. I don't take my car to work. It is about 30km's, but it takes you 2-2.5hours in the traffic to get to Cape Town and I work (almost) in city centre. So, my dad drops me off. I am usually early then I have 3 options. 

06:28 This is usually the train I take, but it can also happen that my train is cancelled or delayed (which happens a lot). So the latest train I take is 06:38. 

07:30 This is the time the train has been arriving in Cape Town Station the last few days, so let's go with this time. It is the safest. I take a brisk walk to the office. Through the station, through the city and I love it. I look almost like a tourist taking time to look at the buildings and people. I wish I could go on a photography exploration, but I am not comfortable yet and I can not do it alone. 

07:40/45 I arrive at the office, take the lift (I hate it every morning, but I don't want to climb 7 flights of stairs). Then I have my breakfast (on Friday's we get treated to a breakfast at a local coffee shop just across the street from our office. So Friday it is cuppacino and croissant day!), have a chat, get my station ready and start working.

08:00 This is the official office day starting. Then it is answering customer queries, chatting on our live chat (with the customers of course), meetings and so forth. Some weeks might be taken up with training for the first month(which is where I still am so I have been training as well).

13:00 LUNCH! Need I say more. Time for a break and filling up the tummy. Obviously before lunch I have my snack or a cup of tea/coffee, but it is not an event.

14:00 Back to the desk. This is the last stretch.

17:00 Time to go home! This is what happens. I pack up like speedy, rush to the elevator (the eternal machine of doom), brisk walk (no actually speed walk and sometimes run) to platform 23 where the train is waiting. 

17:15 Yeah! On our way home. I like to read in the train, so if I get a seat I do and sometimes we just chat. 

17:55 We usually arrive at the station at this time, but it can be later.  My dad picks me up and we head home.

18:00 Home. Yes! Now all the evening activities begin. I have dinner, I watch some TV with my family. Pack my lunch bag for the next day. Remove my make-up and take a shower.

20:15 At this time I am already paste and the go to my room and sit down for some Bible study and at the moment I am reading a book by John Maxwell called Make Every Day Count. I like it a lot. It is about priorities, attitude and taking control of your thoughts and actions. I say my prayers.

20:50 This was the time on Friday night that I went to sleep. Yes, a Friday night. At the end of the week I am washed out. I always opt for getting at least 7 and half hours of sleep. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. It is best to get 8 hours I think.

So, this is what my day looks like almost everyday. I am sure you are thinking "how booooring", but I am a creature of habit. I love routine, it keeps me focused and organised. I absolutely love my job and I am super happy that I am back in travel.  

My most favourite time of the day is the morning. Everything is fresh and quiet. Do you have a favourite time of day? Tell me in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.

Have a super week. Speak to you soon!

xoxo

Advice to my younger self

I think we all have felt sometimes "If I could only tell my younger self this or that". Lately I have been feeling like this a lot. To tell you the truth a lot has been happening in my life and I do feel that if only I knew this or if someone told me that it would have made everything better. It probably would have, or not. But I am at an age in my life where what would have been best for my younger self to hear will still be perfect to hear now. 

Not to long ago I wrote down a few things that I wish I could tell my younger self, but all is not lost. I can still use this advice. If you are a "young self" yourself or you have a daughter or a niece or just a friend that could use some younger-self-advice, I hope this helps.

What advice I would give my younger self.

The day I got my period. Oh my word I am gonna die was my first thought. The only thing my mom told me was "oh my little girl is now a woman". Here, have some super awkward super big pads and some stuff that should go where nothing is suppose to go {according to me}. All I am thinking is I am 12 and my life is over. I am probably gonna die and everybody is going to think I am a freak. ♥ You are not a freak, your life is not over just a bit more complicated and nobody is going to think you are a freak. It is all going to be okay and you are not the only one. I probably would have turned monster on you, but it would have been nice to hear these things.

The first time a boy broke my heart. I cried for days. I was such a desperate teenager. If only a boy would like and love me. I was always friend-zoned faster than a person with diarrhea goes through a roll of toilet paper. ♥ He is not worth your tears. Take lessons learned from this and don't make the same mistakes. Forget about boys, for now. He was anyway to old for you and you too good for him {most of the time this was the problem}. Be careful of boys and choose them with great care. You are worth so much more.

When we were in school there was always the "cool kids". I remember in gr2 I did not have friends. Nobody thought I was cool enough or maybe they thought I was weird because I was different and my own. I remember asking the teacher for some help. Lets just say I had less than no friends after that episode. The cool kids was always there and I just never made the cut. Looking back I am happy now, but back then I could have used some advice. ♥ Cool is a word created by kids for kids.  Cool is measured on bad habits and worldly possessions. Possessions does not define you. It is just stuff. You define you. Remember that.

I was never an A-grade student. I was average according to school standards. A C-average to be precise. I hated school and luckily I did not have "monster" parents that expected A-grades every time, but sometimes I wish I worked a little bit harder. ♥ Again, grades do not define you and you need to give your best. You know what is your best. Work as hard to the best of your ability. If you reach you C-average that is okay. If that is your best, be proud of it. You are practical orientated, your pears academic. That is also okay.

I have a few other things to add. It cannot be linked to particular incidents, but it is kind of life advice.

I would tell my little self

♥ Do more of what makes you happy. If playing hockey makes you happy, don't stop just because the teacher pissed you off and put you in the C-team. Don't be a snob. Show her you are one of the best and deserve your place in the B or A team. Or if you like playing piano and you are afraid that the teacher might really whack you over the hands with his powerful wooden ruler-change classes real quick! Just don't stop. Do it, because it makes you happy!

♥ Don't ever change for other people. You are your own kind of special person.

♥ Exercise more and look after yourself. A little bit of movement won't kill you.You will also thank your young self when you turn 30 one day.

♥ Be patient. This is really important for school, university and job hunting one day.

♥ Choose your friends with wisdom and of course remember, you might think this is for life but sometimes it is for a season or just a reason. It is okay. You won't die of loneliness. You will be all okay.

♥ Create your own happiness. Don't base your happiness on people. They will hurt and disappoint you, but forgive them. Forgiveness brings freedom.

♥ Choose to be happy. It is a choice. It was never meant to be a feeling.

I have wrote this down in my little notebook and now here {for easy access}. Sometimes you need to go back and read it again. 

I hope you found this helpful and maybe even a bit entertaining. If you could give yourself some advice, what would you tell yourself? Leave a comment below! I would love to hear from you.

Speak to you soon!

xoxo

ps. Dr Suess is awesome!

Summer Essentials

Hello there!

Summer is approaching us. Slowly but surely. I think it is safe to say that Spring has sprung and the weather can prove it. Although winter gets my blood pumping, I also look forward to a little bit of summer after the wind, rain and cloudy weather. I also like to get a few items to add on to my summer wardrobe. So, I sopped by at Cotton On, Lovisa and The Body Shop lately. Here is what I bought.

A flow-y cotton top is always a good addition (as per the picture above) for those in between days. Especially because it is spring in Cape Town and you never know quite what the weather is going to do. I tend to be pulled towards white (teehee). A pair of converse and 3 quarter denim is a must for your spring/summer wardrobe!

Some more flow-y tops from Cotton On. These are great for that hot summer days. they cover everything I want covered and its the cool new high-low design. I recently bought this navy blue sandals at Green Cross. They are very comfortable and the great thing about Green Cross shoes is that they "remember" your feet. the only thing that is missing from this outfit is a longish-cardigan. I will add that later.

Season changes brings on a lot of sales. Jay-Jays had a 50% sales recently and as you can see i have a thing going here with the flow-y tops.. This one is loose fitted around the middle to hide anything you want hidden. It goes great with a pair of bootleg jeans and comfy flip flops or sandals. Whatever you prefer.

Moving on to some girly stuff. Lovisa always have some kind of "special" going on. It is always 3 for R100 or 50% off and the other day they had a cool 8 for R100. What I like about this shop is, it is affordable and cater for a lot of different people styles.

The Body Shop is one of my favorite shops when it comes to body care. They recently launched this limited addition Virgin Mojito range. I could not just smell and walk away. I had to get me some of this. So I settled for a body wash and a body sorbet. This is the first time I heard about a body sorbet (don't judge me. Sometimes I am way behind). It feels light and fresh on your skin and with a little bit of lemon zest it is perfect for a summer night! Go and get yourself some body love!

Ok, this is not really a specific summer need, but I do need facial wipes and thought I'd tried these from Woolworths. They feel really good, they are nice and big and does not make your skin feel "harsh" afterwards. They are gentle on the skin. I like them a lot!

Other things I would include in my summer essentials are:

♥A pair of sunnies

♥Bunches of sandals and flip flops

♥A comfy denim short

♥A big sun hat for those beach days

♥Lots and lots of t-shirts (Cotton On has a very nice range)

♥A sling (or across the body) bag so that your hands are free for ice cream

♥A bike to take a ride along the seashore

♥A bottle that can hold at least 750ml of water, you need to stay hydrated

♥A smoothie maker (yes, this is an absolute must!) 

♥Camera, to capture all the good moments

♥A 50spf (at least) sunscreen

♥Lip Ice

♥and don't forget your book (or kindle).

I am looking forward to summer. Beach days, longer days and warm nights!

What's the one thing you cannot do summer without? Let me know in the comments below.

Speak to you soon!

xoxo 

I attended a wedding party!

Hey guys!

So, this weekend I spent my time with a family that is so dear to my heart. Next year will be our 20th anniversary being the best of friends. I was in Swellendam with them having a wedding party as my little dear friend got married. I am super happy for her. (**Note to the new groom: I know people who know people hashtag just saying!)

This post is more about the photo's I had the privilege of taking. I did not take a lot of the bride and groom as I was so honored to be maid of honor! How cool is that?! I have never been one. I felt so cool! Hahaha 

I took the opportunity to practice a bit. My eye is not "in" yet (too a lack of better words), but I took a chance and I went along shooting some cool shots. 

I would like to share a few with you. I also had the opportunity to do my first photo booth and I had so much fun. Just one thing I noticed, I should stop counting to three. It's like taking a picture of a child "one two threeeee! Smile!" I cringe a little thinking about it. 

Without further ado I present to you: A Wedding Party Photo Album!

 

 

 

 

Here is just a few of the photo booth photo's. The guests had fun, I had fun. It was so much FUN!

**If you would like more info on the venue (CHRIS ELLE Venue) in Swellendam, please check out their Facebook and website (**these links are not affiliated)

Speak to you soon!
xoxo

ps. If you would like to book me for a photo booth at your function, you will find my contact info under the "Contact" tab.