Weekend Learning's

I ated this... a summer - treat details below. 

Should we talk about how great my weekend was? Right! It was fantastic! I’m just loving life these days. It is blissful, and it is summer, and next weekend… well this Cocobutton will be surfing the Cape Town shores! Mmm hmm. A whole month of holiday… So this is what I learned;

• My favourite Essie shade for the Summer holiday? Tart Deco. It’s not too hot to be lumo but peachy enough to show off a tan. Perfect! 
• “Dear Ladies: you should never have to prove to other women that he’s in love with you. That’s his job.” - Charles J. Orlando
• I’ve learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. 
• I love hummus. That is all. 
• “I don’t want to be the other half of your soul. I want to be the one who reminds you that you’re already whole.” - G.S.
• You’ve got a face with a view… 
• “The trouble with being a daydreamer who doesn’t say much is that the teachers at school, especially those who don’t know you very well, are likely to think you’re rather stupid. Or, if not stupid, then dull. No one can see the amazing things that are going on in your head.” - Ian McEwan, The Daydreamer. I feel like this explains a lot about me… this head of mine, its full of galaxies. 
• My sister is an amazing little chef. She pretends not to be, but the chicken, rosemary and mushroom lasagne she made the other night… good god girl… I’m glad I know you!
• Sometimes a girls just got to to have an ice-cream cone… and why not? The Woolworths frozen yoghurt has the low calories I love and the summer shade of pink I’m crushing on this season… 10 points! Yum!

I hope you have a plush week full of petals and puppy kisses! See you on the beach!

xoxo

PS. You’re the type of person who makes forever seem too short. 

Summer lovin'

Leave a Comment Charles J. Orlando, Essie, hummus, Ian McEwan, quotes, sister, Summer, weekend, Woolworths

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

Weekend Learning's

Coco, on top of the world.

Gosh! But it is cold outside! Autumn is being pretty mean. Or perhaps we skipped Autumn and jumped straight into bed with Winter? I believe this is true! So this is what cold Coco learned this weekend;

• After a whole week of no parents at home, I welcome them back with open arms. Actually I always welcome them back even after one day, I love my family and hate us being apart for too long.
• On that note the one okay thing about a house of no parents is I get to have little sister all to myself… and I kind of love that, like a lot.
• A real woman can do it by herself, but a real man wont let her.
• What is one of the nicest things about living in Johannesburg? No matter what the season you can always sit on the grass in the middle of the day in the sun and enjoy the weather, even in Autumn and Winter… unless it is hailing, then you should go inside.
• “Givers have to set limits because takers rarely do.” – Irma Kurtz
• I really love going to events where I am a little younger than the rest of the crowd (this is quite rare I will have you know!) It is also nice when I don’t know that many people. It makes for an interesting affair.
• “Trendy is the last stage before tacky.” – Karl Lagerfeld.
• Sitting in James and Ethel Grey park on a Sunday – it is lovely. You know how Coco loooooves dogs? (If you don’t then this must be your first post, hello, welcome!) well the park is full to the brim with funny wet nosey four legged , sniffing, curious, cute and ridiculous pups! It is bliss! You should come… sit in the sun.
• “Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” – Epicurus. This I can believe. As I grow I find a lot more joy in moments and humans than I do in things.
• I took a little visit to my dear old Gran on Sunday too. My Granny is one of the rare and glowing people in my life. I hate that nature is taking her body. But her mind, she is a million times smarter than me, I only hope one day I will grow up to be as wise as her.
• All relationships have one law, never make the one you love feel alone, especially when you’re there.
• I did not sleep at all on Sunday night. No matter how much design work I put out into the universe, each beautiful piece, to me, is like a child. Letting them out into the world is not only frightening, but with the additional brutal front of Social Media one has to face… it is mortifying. Having to monitor peoples responses, not only makes you and your design child feel naked, raw and awkward, but truly at the end of Monday I was so overwhelmed I was in tears, sick to my stomach and felt like I’d been mentally stoned all day. Even though there was a lot more positive than negative, the one-year build up and tension threw me. Don’t ever say being a Designer is easy! Anyway, so my logo is up on the walls for all to see, and I think I am pretty proud of me and the JSE.
• Humble enough to know I’m not better than anybody and wise enough to know that I’m different from the rest.
• So my lovely readers… I am considering making a smoothie section on my blog, I’d like to know your views, would you be interested in this or not? Let me know {here}.

Keep warm my tiny stalagmites!

Xoxo

PS. You grabbed me in your sleep one morning and whispered ‘mine’ in my ear. And I kept that memory on my windowsill, and feed it music, water and light.

I love her when she drinks her morning coffee,
and drinks me. And I love her more when she assures me
that she’ll take over the world, and take over me. - Nizar-qabbani

Leave a Comment Autumn, design, dog, Epicurus, family, Gran, happy, Irma Kurtz, James and Ethel Grey Park, JSE, nizar-qabbani, quotes, sister, smoothie, weekend

Weekend Learning's

Dancing, with love under the trees, forever.

Moving weekend! And hell was it stressful. It is actually one of the top 5 most stressful things. And yes I know I'm not moving countries or anything. But living in the same room for 16 years… you collect a lot of stuff and become quite comfortable. And I'm still not one hundred percent into Coco's Cottage yet. But I'm getting there with a little help from my fantastic sister. I think the tear show on Sunday and the idea of double-breasted cupboard space pushed her into full gear. Thanks Pickle. Anyway, this is what I learned;

• I love my new space. I especially love living alone but if I need someone or some pup they're just a phone call away.
• There is no easy way from the earth to the stars but every time I look into your eyes baby, I feel a little closer to them. Yes I made this up myself.
• Nice is Parkhurst still, in Coco's opinion, has the best breakfasts. The queue is evidence of this. I love the Scrummy Crumpets and if you are still scared of the sweet strawberries and syrup and salty bacon combo (you nut) there is always the heavenly Egg Baskets which are always a huge hit! Scrumptious!
• Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow."
• There is nothing more wonderful than a fantastic summer's day on the grass with both old and new friends enjoying a spot of tennis, a dip in the pool all dressed in white while the braai sizzles and the sun beams, what bliss you were Saturday.
• Hello Miss Apple! Have you heard!? Well she's just the best thing since apple sauce! And her shipping is free over 50 Dollar, yay! Loving the chicken wishbone and anchor collection. Cute.
• I loath, and it must be said, I LOATH people who cut down old trees. At our old house there is… was… (sob) an old 90 year old oak who stood tall and proud. Bastards cut her down and a couple of exquisite old jacaranda's too. Surely there are laws against this? Luckily we managed to steal a slice (cringe) of her to keep. Oh the remains… the horror… just because it can't talk and can't fight and can't bleed or speak it doesn't mean it isn't alive!! Haven't you people seen The Happening?! Sigh.
• "She walks in beauty, like the night. Of cloudless climbs the starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright. Meet in her aspect and her eyes." - Lord Byron

Have a smashing week buttercups, in two weeks Coco is going to be jetting off to her two favourite cities, (apart from her precious Jozi) New York and London! Yay! Dream dream dream… see ya!

Xoxo

PS. "I've known others and I've loved others too, but I loved then 'cause they were stepping stones on a staircase to you."

Empty bed syndrome... always ^_^

Leave a Comment Coco's Cottage, Hello Miss Apple, London, Lord Byron, love, New York, Nice, sister, The Happening, Tyler Knott Gregson, weekend

Weekend Learning's

Pretty, flowers, sculls, white, wood, tusks and pillows... lets stay in.

Third detox weekend has come and gone and it was spent relaxing to the max. Literally, we were bed ridden. This is what I learned;

• The weather is definitely a determining factor on my mood and social skills. Water falls from the skies, I retire, call it the cat in my star sign, but I do not like to get wet and especially not cold, EVER.
• "I can't get out of bed. These blankets have accepted me as one of their own and If I leave now I might lose their trust." - Alan, The Hangover.
• Breakfast in bed is such a rare commodity when you get it there is nothing better and it was very well received. I am a spoilt Coco, best boyfriend!
• Love is not about finding the right person, but creating the right relationship. It is not about how much love you have in the beginning but how much love you build till the end.
• I love noodles!
• Soho beauty salon gives epic mani and pedi's in Sandton City. And let me just tell you… the Reflexology! Good grief! Ask for Elizabeth and be prepared to be educated through your feet, heavenly!
• Always pray to have eyes that see the best in people, a heart that forgives the worst, a mind that forgets the bad, and a soul that never loses faith.
• I am totally addicted to The Walking Dead. Oh my gosh, I forgot how much I love to be scared! Little Sister was right! Best. Show. EVER! Addict here!
• January Curse, as I know it, is when my mind is constantly ticking. It is literally  planning the next 12 months, sorting, filing, diarising 2013 into categories so that by February my mind, body and soul will naturally take the steps in order to perform smoothly. For example: Point 125b: "Take winter jackets to dry-cleaner in mid March before Autumn chill sets in…" Type A my darlings, Type A. Does anyone else out there do this?
• Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.
• I forgot how delicious homemade Granola is. I made one of my favorite recipes this past Sunday, Apple Spice Granola. Healthy and totally moreish it is amazingly easy and inexpensive. Coco's recipe to follow this week!
• I can't wait to move into my little house. I really do not care how tiny it is or how small the garden is or how empty it may be at the beginning. All I know is it is mine and the memories I create in it will be the best yet. Maybe I will never leave… except to go to work to pay for that little roof over my head… YAY tiny tin roof YAY! *Coco jumps for joy!

Have a special and star-bursting week my shining lights.

Xoxo

PS. Petrichor (n.) the smell outside after the rain.

...pretending to be your friends... A lesson from Walking Dead!

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