This is all so true ......

So where have i been?

Its been a LONG time. I have since gone to Thailand and Singapore, come back with endless packets of goodies and clothes and life has appeared to get ahead of me! Well i suppose there is no point in blabbering and making excuses ~ but to merely crack on with my blog and updates!

So ..... here we go ....

Our new house is looking amazing! We have done so much and working hard on the garden! I have the most wonderful veggie garden that anyone could dream for ~ it truly is wonderful thanks to my husband's hard work :-) We busy building a boundary wall, planting lots and generally all round busy at home!

I got a new car ~ her name is Tobie - A BMW X1 Silver! She is just so wonderful! I am really enjoying driving her! :-)

We have been cycling a lot and competing in races! They have been great! Really have a fantastic vibe to it! We competed last weekend in a technical and challenging race in the wind but we did it! I was the 5th female to cross the finish line! Super chuffed about that! This weekend we are competing in the MTB Challenge... looking forward to it all! Then 5 - 7 August we are off to compete in the 2011 Storms River Traverse Race! (More to come on that)

Here's a picture of me competing at Knysna ~

That's all for now! I'll return soon! :-)

Feeling the cold!

I cannot believe how chilly it has got all of a sudden! I am so SUPER cold that i have gone and purchased so many hoodies and fleece warm tops! Seriously - where does it come from all of a sudden! I can't believe it!

It was so chilly ~ hot chocolate was in order :-)


Anyhow ~ on a warmer not ~ literally - i will be on a plane this Sunday morning, off to Singapore and Phuket!!! How marvellous! I am SO excited and can't wait to get away for a lovely break! Sun, massages and cocktails! What more could one think of right now?

To make you a "tad" more jealous - this is where we'll be staying :-)

(Image take from Amari Coral Website)

So until i return ..... goodbye! :-)

Easter has come and gone :-)

We had a lovely long Easter weekend! Lots of choccies were consumed and a wonderful breakfast was made! We had to celebrate a day earlier as Rach left for the USA on the Saturday evening.

I was so busy around the house, cleaning, white-washing a kitchen table with my mom and generally busy around the house! I really do enjoy pottering around the house - it's got such a warmth feeling to it!

Wonderful long weekend ahead

I am so relieved that the week has finally come to an end and will be having a very long weekend! I always get excited for Easter time, remembering the reasons behind it and of course all the "Benji Bunnies"!

My weekend is just about filled up! :-) Lots of house things to do, cycle and go for lovely long walks ~ that's the plan!

Have a wonderful long weekend! :-)

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"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength." - Corrie Ten Boom

Feeling the Easter vibe and Benji bunnies!

Easter is around the corner ~ here are some images to get you in the mood for Easter :-)

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***** New Home *****

On the 15 April 2011 we became the proud owners of a new house! It's a lovely cottage - like house which has a great feel to it!

It began with the cleaning services and took a taxing 3 days to complete and clean everything! It was very, very tiring! Myself and Jason are exhausted to say the least! My parents helped us so much, as well as friends! Really superb and a great help!

It's been a hard few past days and we both are longing for our Thailand holiday, which is taking place in just under 2 weeks now! Can't believe it! I remember counting the days down last year, and here it is upon our doorstep! :-)

Here are some photos of the inside of our house!

Shopping List

Well, with just under 3 weeks to go, we'll be heading off to Thailand and Singapore, from 1 May until the 18 May! I simply CANNOT wait to get my feet in the soft beach sand and clear blue sky water, sipping a cocktail! I really cannot think of anything more splendid right now! :-)

To prevent me from forgetting what i would like to purchase and "drool" over, i have compiled a shopping list that i'll be taking with me!

Here are a few (trust me - a FEW) things on the list:

- Perfume - the new DKNY Range
- A fab pair of designer shades (Still researching and deciding on them!)
- A few selected designer items ~ from Zara, etc
- New running shoes ~ i like the look of the new Puma Faas 300 takkies! They fab! Don't you think these are awesome?!

All in all i recon it's going to be a well deserved holiday and time off :-) (That said - after i have got through all the flying etc! HATE flying with a passion!!)

A movie in the pipeline for me . . .

I am so super excited about this movie ~ Water for Elephants!

It is coming out this week Friday, 15 April!

Here's some information on it:
Based on the novel by Sara Gruen, this drama from Constantine and I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence deals with young veterinary student Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson) who, devastated by the sudden death of his parents in a car crash, abandons his studies in his final year and hops a train to nowhere in particular.

His adventure really begins when he finds out the train is part of a travelling circus and he tries to get a job with them. When August (Christoph Waltz), the head animal trainer, finds out Jacob is a veterinarian, he hires him to look after the animals.

However, Jacob soon learns that August is an abusive man, both towards the animals and humans. And when he falls for August's young wife, Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), Jacob struggles to hide his feelings and to keep his job, despite the circus' money troubles and the tendency of the bosses to red-light workers (throw them off the train in the middle of the night when they no longer need them). Read more about it here.

I have read the book and loved it - a definite read if you haven't read it as yet!!!

YaY for Friday!

"The time is now, the place is here. Stay in the present. You can do nothing to change the past, and the future will never come exactly as you plan or hope for." ~ Dan Millman

(Image Google searched)

Have a wonderful weekend :)

oOoooO look what i got !!!!!!!!

I am SO super excited! I got a new bike yesterday! It's a 2011 Giant Anthem X2 and is black and white AND completely amazing! You'd so want to get your hands on it and take it for a cycle down the mountain! But .... you can't!

Isn't it just fantastic :-)

I am back :-)

I know I have been scarce and this is a little delayed ~ but here you go … following on from last "weekend post" below!

Well i am really surprised how i managed to accomplish all my things i wanted to do last weekend! It was superbly great! :-)

Here are a few piccies of where and what i was doing!

My delicious carrot cake i made for Saturday's tea!

We went to go and watch the start of the ABSA Cape Epic which started with the Prologue in Tokai Forest. We watched at the starting point and then walked up the mountain to watch some of the down hilling which is always great!! There are 8 stages to the race, finishing off at Lourensford Wine Estate on Sunday. Here, it will combine other races, which we are competing in - the 26km. I am really looking forward to it as i have had a lot of time to cycle this week and feeling strong!

This race is a race that i definitely have on my 'bucket list' and hope to take part in it in either 2012 or 2013, depending on circumstances. The cost is phenomenal and has to be paid by the 5 April 2011 if you would like to compete in 2012. So planning is essential! Watch this space . . .

We also went to watch Cirque du Soleil ~ WOW it blew me away! Was amazing!!! :-)

We went to Beluga, in Green Point, for supper which was delicious! I had this lemon zest cocktail, which, i might add, was extremely hard on the tooth. Following that i had a tuna steak, which was amazing! My source of protein for a long time, finished off with a Dark and White chocolate Lindt desert! Simply amazing!!!!!!! The evening was great and the atmosphere in that restaurant is incredible!

Did some packing, reading and pottered around the house! Was a glorious weekend!

Earth Hour

Don't forget about Earth Hour ~ contribute by playing your part!

Read more about it here!

Something to ponder on ...........

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too, can become great. When you are seeking to bring big plans to fruition, it is important with whom you regularly associate. Hang out with friends who are like-minded and who are also designing purpose-filled lives. Similarly be that kind of a friend for your friends." ~ Mark Twain

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wEEkend fUn

What I am going to do this weekend:

- fetch our wedding album - YES! ** no comment **
- have a romantic dinner at Beluga with my 'love bug'
- bake a carrot cake
- have my mom, aunt and uncle over for tea and carrot cake
- cycle lots
- start packing things up
- perhaps read some of my book ~ wishful thinking though!
- watch the start of the Cape Epic in Tokai mountains!
- go to CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
- go check out some fashion?

(Image Google Searched)

Lumete Eyewear

I stumbled across this website and think they have an awesome range of sunglasses available! How i wish i could "pop" over to New York to purchase a fab pair!

Taken from the website - "Based in New York, Lumete is an independent luxury sunglasses brand for women, by women. Our debut collection of handmade sunglasses combines sculptural detail, symbolic ornamentation and ultrafemininity."

Lumete sunglasses can be found at fine boutiques and here on lumete.com.

Don't you think they are fabulous!!!

Refreshed & Revived

Hello! Well what a lovely long weekend i had! I needed it after last weeks "manic - ness" - wow what a week it was! Exhausting is the best word to describe it!

Moving along - this long weekend was wonderful and i feel refreshed and alive! We did a lot - braai, friend's birthday snacks, cycled in the mountain, went for a lovely lunch at Knead in Muizenberg, followed by a walk into Kalk Bay! I had Sinful ice-cream which was "oh so delicious'!!! I had Addictions and Coffee flavour! YUMMY! Yesterday i did some baking - made lemon poppie seed muffins and cinnamon crunchies! Both came out very well! :-)

We collected boxes to start packing up our house .... as time is ticking! We packed one box - how successful is that? LoL! We are going to buckle down and do some packing in the evenings too!

Have a wonderful Friday and lovely weekend :-)

It's a long weekend for us and i cannot wait to have time off to do as i please! Some dinners out, birthday party, some packing and baking and i want to go and buy some macroons and share them :-)

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Before i forget; i must mention - i completed the Cape Argus Cycle Race on Sunday and it was AWESOME! My time was 5 hours 10 mins and i was super stoked being my first one! I am asking myself why i hadn't done it before? I almost wish that i could repeat it all this weekend! Nutter i know i am! LoL!

Here's a pikkie of Chow and I before the race at the start :-)

Have a glorious weekend!!!!

What shall i wear today?

I am SO super excited! I am getting a book delivered to my brother's home in the UK - called "What should i wear today?" by Fifi Lapin. You can read more here about it - here.

It's a cute little book on clothing and accessories! I can't wait to get my hands on it! It looks so awesome!

Pancakes - in celebration of Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is the last day before Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday. The word 'shrove' comes from the Old English 'shrivan' meaning 'to absolve' or 'to confess', as this was the day of the one time compulsary pre-Lent confessions or 'shrifts'. On Shrove Tuesday, in the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins so that they were forgiven before the season of Lent began.

Shrove Tuesday was the last day for using up all the fat, butter and eggs before the Lent fast, so pancakes were traditionally made, as they still are today - hence 'pancake day'. In the old days there were many foods that observant Christians would not eat during Lent: foods such as meat and fish, fats, eggs, and milky foods.

So ~ last night we made pancakes - both savoury and sweet ones and thoroughly enjoyed them! Here are some photos!

For Lent, which begins today, i have given up all sweet things as well as bread! I am smitten over bread, no not really ~ i just enjoy it so much! So it's going to be a taxing time for me, but i know i can make it through!!

Safe snacking

Today i thought i'd share some "safe" self snacking options which i came across on WomansHealth's website.

Take a look here.

I'm inspired to eat healthily .... are you?

Wonderful Friday!

Happy Friday! This week has gone by pretty fast for me ~ thankfully! I think it's cause i was so busy at work and so busy training for the Argus!

Time is ticking! Tomorrow i'll be cycling in the Cape Argus Mountain Bike race, which i am super excited for! Hope it goes well :-) Other than that not much else planned ... some relaxing ahead of next weekend's Cape Argus! Am feeling the nerves setting in .... scary!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and may it be full of sunshine and happiness!!!

(Image taken from the movie P.S. I love you)

"Life is not complex. We are complex. Life is simple, and the simple thing is the right thing." - Oscar Wilde

DIY Fabric Covered Flower Pots

I stumbled across this website - "DIY Fabric Covered Flower Pots" and think it's a marvellous idea!

This is also just too beautiful! Very inspiring! Take a look here!

Wishing you a Happy March!

Well what can i say - It's March already! Where has the time gone to? This year seems to be speeding by and i am not keeping up! This photo reminds me of lots of things we did in February - from weddings, to picnicking in our garden (Post to come on that) and to all the fun things we did on the weekends! And it's got a lovely summer feel to it! ** I like it **

I have a lot planned for March so i am hoping the month runs as smoothly as possible!

May it be a happy one for you all!

DeSiGn InDaBa 2011

This was the first Indaba i have ever been to and asking myself why? Where have i been all these years? It was truly an amazing experience to see how many talented people are out there and what beautiful things there are - really it blew me away ....

We spent about 3 hours browsing around and watched 2 fashion shows too - wow - those are really cool! I thought it was fantastic!

I got a cute rabbit hearted necklace from kooky. You can check their website here.

It was really hard to hold back - all the lovely ceramics! How i wish! :-) See more about the 2011 Design Indaba here.

We also went to Riverdance which was phenomenal to say the least! What a great experience and being able to watch the show!

WoW a busy weekend it was for me - am sitting here wondering where did the time go?!

Hope it's a great week ahead!

It's been a while ..... but i am BACK!

Due to work constraints i have not been able to update my blog as i would have liked to! But i have a gap and breathing space; so hold yourselves and wait for all my news! :-)

Have a Happy Friday and Wonderful weekend

Lovely - Dreams by Langston Hughes

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Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

And he strikes a ONE!

On Tuesday we went to play Putt Putt with my brother! It was simply magical... no not really... it was awesome! I had been itching to play Putt Putt now for months and YAY we finally got there!

The scores were as follows -
Oliver - 50
Chow - 56
Me - 58

Ok - i sucked - but afterall i was a bit rusty! lol! We then headed for Caprice in Camps Bay for a cocktail and Burger! Ok am gonna say this - Cafe Caprice - those chicks, seriously - they are SO SO thin! I walked in there feeling like a ten pound tussie! No seriously - i did! It was awful! How are they so thin? Like really? Makes me wonder ....

I'm inspired!

Well 15 April 2011 is the day we'll be moving into our new home! I am super excited about it all, but sad at the same time :-( I've decided that the packing will start a month before - which takes me to just after the Cape Argus Cycle Race! A month should be plenty of time! (I hope)

I keep telling myself - 1 step at a time ... but somehow it doesn't seem to be registering?

I am very inspired after looking at lovely décor styles and designs! I simply love this bed and spare room bed! I think i better start saving my pennies :-)

(I unfortunately cannot remember where these images came from)

Motivational Ramblings

I find quotations and motivational writings are so inspirational and really gets me thinking about what i want out of life! It makes me stop - think about what is out there, what i have achieved and where i am at in life. It makes me pause and reflect and be thankful for everything i have and have accomplished thus far.

It's a beautiful sunny day today and i think there's no excuse not to be happy! Here are a few quotes to get you going!

“Life is like riding a bicycle. You don't fall off unless you stop peddling.” - Claude Pepper

"The secret of achievement is to hold a picture of a successful outcome in mind.” - Norman Vincent Peale

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Image taken off the Creative Thursday website

Sweet Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day to you all! I hope you received something, even if it was little, it still makes the day feel a little bit more special! We don't really celebrate Valentine's Day in the sense of buying each other gifts, cards, etc.... but i did pop a little note in Chow's lunch bag for today! SO when he has lunch he'll see it :-) sweet i think?! We having a picnic in the garden and enjoying our home - as this will be our last Valentine's Day there before we move! Another post will appear soon with beautiful pic's of our evening! Keep your eyes peeled!

This cute image comes from here - take a look at Creative Thursday! Some lovely images!

Trip over love, you can get up. Fall in love and you fall forever. ~Author Unknown

Enjoy the day!