Weekend Learning's

Pretty vintage glasses on a wooden table,
wild flower (babies breath) - happy Coco.

I am in a weird place in my life where I’m feeling pretty uncomfortable on a daily basis. I do not know what it is or where it comes from. Last week I had two near death experiences (no jokes) and no I’m not in the mood to discuss. I also was informed some planet is rubbing my Leo moon up the wrong way and this is why I feel so prickly… great. And just to add to my woes someone very dear to me who I have learned to strongly lean on over the last year has packed up her teepee and pottered on over to London and left me here with an empty hole in my heart! Glum. I have my own opinion on what the universe is trying to get out of me… all I know is that I’m really trying very hard to keep smiling… meep! This is what I learned;

• Having all my family is one place is my ultimate! Friday night with all five siblings, plus all their partners and my little niece and my mum and dad – there are a lot of us and there is a lot of love, we are so blessed! BEST! What a great start to the weekend. 
• “I like messy people; people who don’t fit in a box or stay between the lines, but who’s integrity is greater than any rule book and who’s loyalty is stronger than blood.” - Jim Wern. 
• My little sister makes better banana bread than I do, and I love that! And my older sister has the best taste in shoes, so I love getting her hand-me-downs! Sisters - I can’t get enough of them! 
• “Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself.” - Rumi. Well one day at a time, at the gym, and mentally improving my outlook on life.
• Can you remember the last time you sat and drew or painted something? So I draw a lot it’s part of my job. On Friday we painted some canvases for work. I was very quite, as I always am when I draw or paint. I get lost in my wild imagination and it’s wonderful! So many people who were also painting (who work in other departments) commented on how much they enjoyed it and how good it felt. When was the last time you picked up a paint brush? Try it, paint! Just for fun! 
• “Sometimes life is a constant battle against the nostalgia of a time that can never be real again.” - Jason Myers
• I’ve come to an understanding that I love Rooibos. I follow a “Food benefit” site on Instagram and the other day they posted the “Rare Miracle Plant Rooibos”. I giggled. I know how amazing it is, but I wasn’t amused by the word “miracle” I was interested in the word “rare”. Then I read the comments, poor souls. It is virtually impossible to get hold of if you don’t live here in South Africa… now I love it even more! Read some Rooibos benefits {here}.
• “There’s a difference between loving the idea of someone and actually loving who they really are.” - White Collar. 
• Bad times, or rough patches like this little hiccup I’m having is good for you… well for me and for you or anyone! They teach you to appreciate the good times, learn from the rough and discover during the bumpy roads. Just remember not only could it be worse, but this is a lesson, learn from it, take it in your stride and come out of it a better human… shucks but I’m positive! 
• This weekend I said goodbye (for now) to my special Sarah. I can hardly write this without burting into tears (again). I am so grateful to everything you brought into my life and I cannot wait to see you again.
• “Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them but you know they are always there.”

Have shining weeks my shooting stars!

xoxo

PS. “Courageous hearts are often covered in scars.” - T.B. LaBerge

Last but most importantly,
Happy Anniversary to the one who reminds me to breathe.
Love.

Leave a Comment anniversary, family, goodbye, Jason Myers, Jim Wern, love, quote, quotes, Rooibos, Rumi, Sarah, sister, T.B. LaBerge, weekend, white collar

Because I'm Happy

Actually, everyday!

There is a thin line between a good day and a bad day. I've heard simply getting out of the bed on the right / wrong side can influence someones mood. Dramatic. This year I really put my happy hat on and made a decision to wake up everyday and smile. I am so blessed after all! Not only that but it is good for my health... apparently. 

I am not the only one who has had this outlook on life. The 100 Happy Days craze blasted through the social media air waves and me and a sky-full of happy sunbeams are still strongly posting. In this modern society when choice is so vast, relationships are disposable and using social media as a soapbox to gain attention with selfies and empty depressing captions... what is the world coming to?

So lets try and be positive, keep it upbeat and be grateful! Of course I cannot speak for everyone. Some people really do have little black rain clouds above them and need someone to help them and I hope they do find their light.

I stumbled across this post last week (when I was having my miserable work week, boo!) and felt a little break in my temporary black cloud. So I thought I would share it with you beautiful souls, hope you like it. 

• Six simple rituals:

1. Drink a glass of water when you wake up. Your body loses water while you sleep, so you’re naturally dehydrated in the morning. A glass of water when you wake helps start your day fresh. Getting those organs moving is a vital part of my day!
2. Define your top 3. Every morning ask yourself, “What are the top three most important tasks that I will complete today?” Prioritizes your day accordingly and don’t sleep until the Top 3 are complete. They don't have to be huge things! start out with little things and build them up as you go along. The feeling of completion is part of you rounding off your day so don't make "Buy that new BMW" or "drop 20kgs" as your first days task, you'll disappoint yourself and feel crappy.  
3. The 50/10 Rule. Solo-task go faster by working in 50/10 increments. Use a timer to work for 50 minutes on only one important task with 10 minute breaks in between. Spend your 10 minutes getting away from your desk, going outside, calling friends, meditating, or grabbing a glass of water. I find this very constructive!
4. Move and sweat daily. Regular movement keeps us healthy and alert. It boosts energy and mood, and relieves stress. I found with last weeks horrid work days, going to the gym really helped me both unwind and let off a lot of steam! If you struggle to join a gym or run on the road, just playing with your dog or even doing 50 star jumps can help!
5. Express gratitude. Gratitude fosters happiness. Each morning, think of at least five things you’re thankful for. In times of stress, pause and reflect on these things. I cannot tell you how this point makes you feel... 
6. Reflect daily. Bring closure to your day through 10 minutes of reflection. Asks yourself, “What went well?” and “What needs improvement?”

- (via yumegrrrrrl on Tumblr) Tweaked by Coco.

Hope you have a bright day tomorrow. I know it is not always possible to have a good day everyday, but we can at least try right? 

xoxo

PS. I just want to spend the rest of my life laughing... 

When in doubt, just remember it really could be worse,
you are after all really lovely!

Leave a Comment 100 Happy Days, gym, happiness, happy, positive, self improvement, six simple rituals

Weekend Learning's

How I feel at the gym, *pounce!

When you get to my age, things start to change a little. Things effect you. No I am not as old as the hills! But I can say that I can see a difference in the little things. The way my body heals, the way my body doesn’t agree with certain things and the way my body thanks me when I am good to it. The first time I started noticing this was when I started drinking smoothies and going for facials a year ago. I am not the pamper type. I like a mani pedi now and then as you know but I’m not into massages and personal overindulgence. Waste of money and time if you ask me. But my face is a little different. I can see my skin thanking me with every visit. Why am I blabbing on about this? I joined the gym. Can you believe!? My dear little sister reminded my that the big three-zero is around the corner and I suddenly thought about my face and then I thought about my ass and I thought it was time to move my running shoes from the streets to the treadmill and get hopping! My body (since last week) has both thanked me, and cursed me. I am writing this post with a little bit of a sore bottom, a few tight muscles and a couple of achey joints. But all in all this body of mine is saying “can we go to gym please mum”!? So from this sore seat, this is what I learned;

• If my sister says I can do it, I believe I can!
• Sometimes work is not as lovely as I think it always is. Sometimes I have a terrible, revolting week and all I want to do is run and hide under my covers and scream profanities at the people in charge (from under the duvet of course, I’m a lady not a monster!). This is a good thing! Not everything can be perfect you know, I can’t always be the winner, *wink! It makes you appreciate the good times.
• “They call it homesick, they say it will fade, they promise and I listen. They call it homesick, but how can I be sick for a home I’ve never known?” - Tyler Knott Gregson. I actually know exactly what he’s talking about. Meep. 
• I really loved the Neon Run. Did you do it too? I live in the area so my fit (in both the athletic and attractive meanings of the word… tee hee!) boyfriend and I walked to get our tickets, then walked to meet our team, then did the run, then we partied a little, then we went to eat. Two points; by the end of the day we’d done about fourteen kilometres… another reason I’m a little ouch today. Second point, the little sober party we had was pretty awesome in my trainers and my sports bra. Really a lot more comfortable than stilettos and a pushup! Maybe I am actually as old as the hills…
• “Awake, my dear. Be kind to your sleeping heart. Take it out into the vast fields of Light, And let it breathe.” - Hafiz
• Gym, it makes me sleepy, isn’t it meant to give you energy? Anyway. With my grim spouts of insomnia, this really excites me. Could this be the end of my sleepless nights? A girl can dream right? Get it? 
• “The soul has been given its own ears to hear things the mind does not understand.” - Rumi
• Another thing that has popped up in my (old) age is my desire to be healthy. I find myself lusting for anything that will nourish me. This is another reason for the gym I am sure… so weather it be sleep, spinach, smoothies or sprints I want it in my life! 
• This also works in the opposite way, if it is bad for me, I feel really terrible putting it into my body. Am I taking one step forward and two steps backward by eating this chocolate? Will I feel terrible tomorrow if I drink that shooter? Is it hurting me if I order chips instead of a salad? That saying “my body is a temple” is really becoming a serious thing for me… and I am a million times happier for it!
• Another good thing I am lusting over – dates! Yum! I read somewhere eating one a day was a good idea and they’re in season now in Johannesburg so I bought some. I am now obsessed. I pack them in my smoothies, and eat them instead of chocolate. My new best friends! And the benefits are ridiculous, talk about miracle fruits! Read {here} for some date benefits.
• I can truly say that I love and adore my boyfriend from the bottom of my heart to the tips of his toes. I’ve learnt a lot over the years of broken hearts and a multitude of bad choices in both exboyfriends and destructive friendships. It is actually just about respect for one another. We’re building a relationship that is both cherished and supported by love and a common understanding of each others needs and the steps we are both at in our lives. I am both grateful and humbled that he not only understands me (which is a juggling act on its own) but he also supports and fulfils every dream, wish and hope in my wild and bursting heart. Blessed.

Have a sweet and juicy week my little plums!

Xoxo

PS. All of me, loves all of you…

Leave a Comment boyfriend, Dates, fitness, Hafiz, happy, love, Neon run, Planet Platinum, quotes, Rumi, Tyler Knott Gregson, weekend

Weekend Learning's

The sweetness of doing nothing.

First weekend without the prospect of AfrikaBurn looming over my head. It was rather slow and a well needed rest. There was a lot of family time with both my respected families… Gosh I love family time. This is what I learned;

• “The mouth should have three gatekeepers. Is it true? Is it kind? And is it necessary?” - Arab Proverb
• I am in LOVE with the new nakd bars. No I am not talking about a nudest club! It is a raw food snack! And they're hell of a yum! I've only tried the Cashew Cookie and I need more in my life. What a great concept, and the name!
• "To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it." - Osho
• I have a love / hate relationship with healthy looking hair. I love the look! But I feel rather sad that whenever I get a haircut I feel like my hair is all gone. Even if it is just a trim, the lack of weight my hair once had, I almost feel robbed. What is it with women and this unreasonable desire to have long lustrous hair? One snip, and all femininity crumbles!
• “And tonight, I think of you; as I do every night.” - T.B. LaBerge
• I took my dogs to see my Gran on Mothers Day. They can get a little frantic with the excitement sometimes, especially when we go with my mum. I noticed this time, driving myself and just the pups that they were both pretty calm. I came to the realization that they'd either been soothed or knocked out but my singing… either way, I have finally found a way to calm the bests! 
• “I think a lot of people compare their insides to other people’s outsides.” - Emma Stone
• There are some people that come in to your life and are instantly family. Mother's Day dinner was lovely with the addition of our Sarah sister. I know, wherever she is in the world in the next few months, she will will close in our hearts.
• “Because if you’re lucky enough to have people in your life that make you happy, that inspire you, that move you, you need to devour each moment you have together because you never know how many of those moments you have left. These people are sacred.” - Katie Kacvinsky, First Comes Love 

Have a good full five day week my chunky-knit-scarfs! Its going to be a long one!

xoxo

PS. “Understand, I’ll slip quietly away from the noisy crowd when I see the pale stars rising, blooming, over the oaks. I’ll pursue solitary pathways through the pale twilit meadows, with only this one dream: You come too.” - Ranier Maria Rilke

Do it, you feel nice after.

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AfrikaBurn Learning's

Sunsets, oh the sunsets.

I have a secret. An open secret that I shared for six days in the desert somewhere between sevenish and a lace umbrella. I think I found a place, a floating island in the sky perhaps, where you dressed how you would if the world did not judge. Where under the sun we danced in the dusty sparkles and when the stage turned we tumble into luminous laughter. A place where around every corner there was a story to be taught by a new friend or a whispering sculpture.

Today is my first day back in reality after my wide-eyed awakening in that devilish dream land, AfrikaBurn. Why was it such a big secret you ask? Because words, stories, not even photos and videos can explain the root of the glow in my heart and the sparkle in my eyes from those few days. It is an experience I shared with a few thousand beautiful souls and a handful of special friends and it will be our secret till you come and learn it yourself. This is a little of what I learned;

• Forget everything and anything you once knew about yourself, you will come back changed. 
• Remember the 11 guiding principles and you'll be fine. This includes both internal and external reflection.
• You might 'Leave no trace' but you take back so much, and I do not mean stuff I mean intangible blessings.
• With those 11 guiding principles there are so many points I wish some people would take into their own lives. Basic teachings and leanings which we should all practice in everyday life, not just for 6 days. Just a thought. 
• Disregard monopoly, that part of your life is over, till you return to reality that is. Bother.
• With 9000 people and 95 registered art works this year, you are not going to meet them all. I am just grateful for the ones I did get to meet, and yes I am also referring to the art… You will meet them when you get there, they have feelings too… or at least I had feelings for them.
• Being a creative, I really felt for the artists during the burns. (they literally burn the works to the ground… leave no trace…remember.) There is beauty in the primal nature of the fires and the freedom. But my goodness… the idea of burning my work, I have so much admiration for them. 
• Embrace every person you meet and disregard your pre-perceptions of them, they are most likely about to teach you something. They might be Einstein or the March Hare, but that is the beauty of the Playa, you never really know.
• The African terrain will teach you and test you. Personally I found skipping and stumbling through the karoo brambles rather fun, and I like my new sun kissed skin.
• Speaking of teachings, Tankwa also tests your relationships. If there is one thing I learnt on this journey it is how well my love and I excel when our worlds are turned upside-down and how much I appreciate this quality in our relationship. There is a lot of love at Afrikaburn, but after all this time, ours still burns the brightest.
• Last but not least, when I arrived at TankwaTown there was a lot of hugging going on. Being a person with a big personal bubble which I like to keep closed, I found this rather odd. But by the end of it, I was swooning with all the hugs I received and gave out. There is this unspoken connection. My boyfriend came back last year with this (the secret, you see!) and I couldn't put my finger on it till my AfrikaBurn bubble was popped. Hugs, they're fuzzy and I like it.

So after months of preparation and weeks of excitement it is all over. Poof! Just like that. It is gone. It was my first adventure to a land far far awayish but it was most definitely not my last… 

xoxo

PS. And even under the kiwi triangles of that funny (not so shady) Now-Now tree, I dream to go home. 

Mutant vehicles - Rhino DJ

The Kissing Tree, one of my favourites.

My bunnies - love!

Reflection

Sunsets and beauty

Mutant bus, the Ledhedz DJ's

Hugs on the Playa

Love and light

Leave a Comment 11 Guiding Principles, AfrikaBurn, AfrikaBurn 2014, Burn, Burning Man, fire, hugs, Karoo, kiss, Leave no trace, love, Moop, Now Now Tree, Playa, Tankwa, Tankwa Town, trickster