Weekend Learning's

Illustration; Bri Emery

Gosh. I have not done a Weekend Learning’s for so long. Where to start? At the beginning. This is what I learned;

• I live in a semi-detached, ground-floor, newly refurbished (so new it was finished two weeks after I moved in) house. It is complicated! I am still learning her ways. It reminds me of this quote to one of my favourite movies, Under The Tuscan Sun.
  "Pick one room and make it yours. Go slowly through the house. Be polite, introduce yourself so it can introduce itself to you." - Frances Mayer.
• Maybe I hope too much, maybe I dream too much, but at least I won’t give up until I’ve tried, and I won’t regret anything.
• Did you know that all the swans in London are owned by the Queen? Well since back in the day they are a protected species so the Royals look after them. I like it. Hurt them and get fined! Wish South Africa would do this for the Rhino’s. 
• “The best smell in the world is that man that you love.” - Jennifer Aniston. Oh how I miss the little things the most.
• I live in London. Just incase you forgot! Which means sometimes I will catch a bus somewhere and go past Marble Arch or Selfridges or Big Ben or any of these amazing landmarks! This weekend, the bus I caught took me past Harrods. Their window dressing is out of this world. Every time I realise I am about to go past there I get excited, open my eyes a little wider to see a little more (like a little kid) and gawk with my mouth open at the incredible display of the Harrods windows. This particular weekend I think I heard myself gasp out loud - they are magical! 
• “It takes both sides to build a bridge.” - Fredrik Nael
• My little sister is getting married! Yay! So I spend a lot of time looking into wedding stuff, did you know there is a bouquet glossary? Like a Pompander, is a flower covered ball tied with a ribbon for a flower girl? And a Nosegay is a compact cluster of flowers wrapped tightly and cut to one uniform length? And that is only two of them… I know. 
• I recently started a migraine eating plan to try and figure out what foods are triggering my migraines. I am a chronic sufferer. This means if I am not medicated, I can get 15 migraines a month… debilitating. So I am basically a vegan at the moment who cannot eat some select fruits and veg and nuts to add to it. But I feel great! Can you believe? I did have one migraine last week though… one is better than four… I’ll keep you updated.

Hope you have a Harrods window kind of week!

Xoxo

PS. Be grateful. Eat more vegetables. Love others. 

So many friends I thought would build haven't,
Friends I thought wouldn't have surprised me,
thank you.

Leave a Comment Frances Mayer, Fredrik Nael, Harrods, health, Jennifer Aniston, London, London Diaries, migraine, quote, quotes, SAFA in London, Stephs Wedding, swans, vegan, Wedding, weekend

Weekend Learning's

Fight for love, always and forever.

Weekend Learning's after a… 57 day hiatus, can ya dig it? Yes we can! No we can't I know. Thank you all of those for the pep talks, messages and the er…  "I love you but I'm going to start to hate you" mail (was it really necessary? I guess you got my attention). Especially I must add a little two cents to Atz, girl, if I see you looking at your watch once more to check the delay time on my last post… ill take you to the bar! Thank you.

I think it might have something to do with the fact that my little Cocobutton needs a little makeover, a nip tuck shall we say. I opened her up today (after all this time) and saw the lighter shade of what I used to be. Yes Coco we need some highlights! Watch this space… This is what I've learned;

• Going abroad makes you realize how truly backwards South Africa has become. Yes I know I am sorry to start off with a negative trust me, this will be the last but really, you have no idea how much bullshit we put up with till you go over there and put up with none. Its despicable. Can we all pull together to try make this a better place? And for gods sake VOTE people!!!
• I crave cake when I'm sick. I've come to the realization that this is in fact the "I feel sorry for myself" hunger. No wonder I'm so fit when I'm happy. None of that now happy clown!
• On that note, I am sorry for what I said when I was hungry… hungry = grumpy = no thinking before speaking.
• "I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." - Vincent Van Gogh.
• I think I might have a new favourite blog in my future! My fellow juicer / veggie / townie / indie baby-shoes has FINALLY joined the blogging cult! You should add In My Green Boots to your list of blogs to follow. If you love me you'll love her, welcome Nats to the addiction.
• Smile To Go is probably NYC's best kept secret. A tiny place with the best granola (yes possibly as good as mine OKAY) delicious coffee and scrumptious lunch. The sheer gorgeousness of the interior and the ridiculousness of the girl riding on the chicken… you can trust the food here! Which is more than I can say for most of the streets of New York… scary.
• Sarang.(n.) love; lit. "I wish to be with you until death."
• One cannot enjoy joy, when ones joy is at home.
• Weddings are best left small, with very close and intimate friends and family with the main breath being love (in) and joy (out). This I have learned from the last two weddings I have experienced since my last post (yea, Coco's been busy!). First was my aunt in New York and second, my dear and long time friends Ash and Guy Park. Thank you for letting me share your days with you!
• Smoothies! I am officially green smoothie obsessed. Two a day for everyday in may! Well it was a 30 day challenge and by this Sunday I would have happily done it. And I plan to stick to it forever. Adding it to my normal daily menu rather than replacing meals makes sure I am adding to my lifestyle not subtracting from my routine. And hells spinach are they delicious!
• No matter what the size or severity of someones operation, if they're a member of my family I am scared stiff! It is just one of those things where everything is out of your hands, fate is your biggest enemy and vulnerability becomes the biggest emotion I personally brew. Thank god its over.
• Getting another logo in another design book is like the cherry on my cake. I'm going in the right direction, that is all the proof I needed! Yes! Coco Winning!
• "They told me that to make her fall in love I had to make her laugh. But every time she laughs I'm the one who falls in love." - Tommaso Ferraris.

Have a leaf on the wind type of week my sweethearts, I shall try not to take so long from now on.

xoxo

PS. The streets are paved with gold my dears, and also glass… dance in army boots!

Light my way...

Leave a Comment Blog, design, In My Green Boots, New York, quote, Rare word meaning, Smile To Go, Tommaso Ferraris, Vincent Van Gogh, Wedding, weekend

Weekend Learning's

I still remember... why don't you?

I spent this weekend surrounded by love with my family in Swellendam for my big sisters wedding. It was interesting trying to be all hopped up on love when i had a little black raincloud following me around. This is what I learned;

• It is amazing how constantly cold I feel now that you're gone.
• "Groaking" is an act of watching people eat food hoping they'll offer you some. I see this sometimes on the plane… it freaks me out! Get your own!
• Augusta De Mist is the most divine little romantic guest house ever! Loved it! Thank you Michel and Henk it was amazing! Future suiters, take me here please.
• The wines of Danie de wet and De Wetshof are delicious, I learned a lot here, Sav tells you the region Chardonnay tells you the soil… and I don't like Chardonnay grown in gravel… sour.
• “Angry, and half in love with her, and tremendously sorry, I turned away.” F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby)
• My family is so amazing… it consists of me, my sister, my mum and dad, my half big sister and here fiancé, my two half brothers, one of them is married with my angel 5 year old niece and the other has a gorgeous girlfriend. Then my dads mad brother and his two crazy girls, my cousins. A grand total of 14 Sampsons! Eish… good times!
• Sometimes I wish that we could all live in one big house together…
• I always cry at weddings. So do all the Sampson women in my family, its quite a treat to see us all silently sobbing… then all laughing at each other sobbing.
• Every woman's heart has different instructions. They're written through her eyes, in her smile, through her actions and in her tears.
• My big sister made the perfect bride, and her fiancé is the perfect new brother. Now I have three! Lucky much!
• Random fact, Iguanas can and do commit suicide… I for a moment wanted to be an Iguana when I thought about the prospect of going back to reality hell hole… not feeling the love much back here in joburg, sob.
• One of the hardest decisions you'’ll ever face in life is choosing whether to walk away or try harder… I think the harder problem is when he walks away from you, and you stand, watching and he doesn't look back. Break.

Have a good week there cotton wools.

Xoxo

PS. “Heart, we will forget him… You and I, tonight! You must forget the warmth he gave, I will forget the light.” Emily Dickinson :(

My sister and my new brother! Mazeltov! xx

1 comment Augusta De Mist, De Wetshof Estate, Emily Dickinson, Iguana, Swellendam, The Great Gatsby, Wedding, weekend

Weekend Learning's

foxes, birds and fire. Prrr.

Sometimes I sit in my car and drive quietly and wonder what the point of it all is. The music might be playing and the people might be talking but I’m not really listening. I only really hear the thoughts in my head, watch the road and feel the tar beneath me. My thoughts might be screaming or softly bristling but they always have meaning and the meaning might not always be louder than the message but it’s always trying to say something. This might not make sense to you. I am share my thoughts and sometimes they do not make sense even to me, however, there is one thing I realised for sure this weekend... I’m done with the begging and the pleading and I am happy and I am glad and I am smooth sailing down my path and there is nothing you can do to bring me down or rope me back... I’m gone. This is what I learned;

• If you’re always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you’re in? Enjoy the ride.
• Christmas is still my favourite time of year, it makes you appreciate the friends and family you have and love.
• Wrapping gifts is one of the best parts of Christmas.
• I do not trust you, I am sorry I just don’t. Woman intuition? Perhaps.
• I am going to dress up for Christmas, I am Christmas nuts, accept it.
• Taking the wrong spool with the right Lomo camera to a special event is THE most disappointing feeling in the world! Meh.
• I love the drive to Parys and I love the destination even more. I hope to spend more time there.
• Sadly I am one of those people who will always cry at weddings, especially when it is my little cousins.
• Getting married on a warm summers afternoon next to the river on the open farm surrounded by white decorations and crystals, beauty!
• My new family is amazing! I cant wait to get to know them better! Love.
• I want a little bird mobile, just because it feels like freedom.
• Fireworks are still one of the most gorgeous inventions and simple loves of my life. More please.
• I hate pretty boys. If it looks like you spent more time getting ready than I did, go bath in the river, alone.
• Life is fragile, a scare can make you realise this.*get well soon please.
• I want this Fox necklace. (fox mad, that’s me)
• Spending Sunday saying goodbye is bitter sweet. I spent the day singing in my head “Don’t go, don’t leave, please stay, with me...” by Wretch 32... Love that song.

Have a great week puppy loves.

PS. No matter how old you are or how badass you think you are, if a toddler hands you their toy phone... You answer it. 

I am so in the {pause} right now and loving it.

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Weekend Learning's

Fly away with me....

This weekend was a different kind of weekend. I had a weekend of sorrow and love! This is what I learned.

• Having a funeral and a wedding in one weekend can erupt a lot of strange and different emotions.
• I am strong and I can easily take on life alone, no need for your ‘help’ thanks.
• Being a bridesmaid to a special couple is a honour, words cannot surface.
• Photo-booths are so AWESOME! Lets go again!!
• Rain during a wedding is still an African blessing in my eyes.
• Sometimes you have to let go in order to gain balance.
• I miss my lomo... I think its time to go on a shoot!
• Bat for Lashes is my new favourite lustful music... Awesome!
• I thought it was just stress but my insomnia is back... Why Mr Sandman, why?
• This is going to be another big year for weddings! I need a great dress rental service... Help?

Xoxo

PS. Flying away is something I think of a lot these days. I guess I like the concept of landing somewhere new...
 

3 comments Bat for Lashes, fly, Wedding, weekend

Weekend Learnings

It really was a beautiful weekend. 

A weekend away is precisely what I needed to get super excited for the holiday season. I cannot believe that four days actually feel shorter than the usual two but I can feel inside that this weekend filled my heart with love. So what did I learn this weekend?

• I love little suede grey pumps from Woolies.
• The only time I ever wonder why I live in Johannesburg is when I go to Knysna.
• Ile de Pain is the most wonderful little haven. If I did live in Knysna I would spend my days there. Eating. In love with life. Their fruit plate is... the best! I think Ile de Pain is the only place I will always go to and always love.
• My China has gorgeous stuff. So gorgeous that it makes the perfect wedding gifts.
• I like little plain paper books covered in fabric. Om in Knysna has cute ones covered in fabric.
• Eating fish and chips next to the sea in the sun with a glass of wine, my favourite company and a view of the water, must be the best thing in the world.
• Rain during a wedding in South Africa is a blessing. Rain cannot stop a wedding full of love. It only brings lovers closer together.
• Peonies are FINALLY making a comeback. They are my favourite flowers and the wedding I attended had thousands of them, petal bliss.
• Another flower of the weekend – the majestic Protea. South Africa’s national blossom is so powerful all you need is a glass full of water to show one off. 
• When naming a beach house, names should consist of sea or beach jargon. The stranger the better. It’s highly entertaining for the city folk.
  Fujifilm has stepped in with its line of Mini instant-film cameras and they are a super awesome way to take pictures of people at your wedding :)
  I want what I want more than ever before. I think the go-getter in me has finally been awakened. Trust a weekend in a sleepy city to rev your engines!

PS. The bride-to-be wore shoes by Vivienne Westwood. Magnificent! Congratulations W and D Klopper xoxo

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