Monday, December 5, 2011
Bucket-list-achievements...
Friday, November 18, 2011
Now and then…
can refresh your mind.
I can get used to this idea.
I feel so incredibly blessed.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Tattoo
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Kids
Monday, October 3, 2011
Our PINK bathroom
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Dear Holiday
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Kayamandi Township 1
Going through all my photographes, I redisovered these. Xanele organised this lovely day about a year ago. We painted a crèche in the Kayamandi Township. Not only did the building end up with colourful paint, all of us (including the kids) had a full-colour day filled with fun!
Monday, September 12, 2011
West Coast
I’m in love with the West Coast. I was born there and would love to move back. The amazing smell of fresh salty sea breezes and fynbos. Everytime I visit the West Coast, I make time to just close my eyes and let my senses enjoy! It’s sad to admit, but as a child I took it all for granted – fresh air, soft sand and lazy days on the beach – a much calmer life than this one. What I wouldn’t give just to have that as part of my everyday life again… sigh! The memories, the innocence… but dreams can come true, so until then, I’ll keep on dreaming that soon, I’ll have my feet in the sand again!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Toddler-sitting...
I have to admit that babysitting is a bit easier than toddler-sitting. All a baby basically needs is a full tummy, a clean nappy and a cuddle or two. And the bonus with a baby is that they can’t really move much. A toddler on the other hand, is a whole different story. One is a handful, but two toddlers – obviously added a whole lot of fun and adventure! I am very proud to announce that it went extremely well. I guess it helps a lot if children have excellent parents, because excellent parents = excellent children. I just have to add... there’s nothing uglier than a naughty child.
We had lots of fun, giggles and games. Glitter and nail polish everywhere!!! The foam in the bath almost ended up against the ceiling! And we had a lot of questions... The “but why” questions are their favorites. Sarel and I had to laugh at each other because of all the creative answers... They really picked our brains... Ha ha!
Such fun!!!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Anke’s room...
I’m very happy with the end result. And again, I had so much fun – playing and painting. This is also proof of how inexpensive changes to your interior can be. Just a few canvasses, a brush and fun ideas!
So now my next mission... Getting the Londoners to Cape Town so I can help Steph with a beautiful nursery for little Lily. :)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
New life...
The idea of giving birth goes through my mind quite often and I love reading birth stories. I see it as a precious gift that God gave women to experience with their partners. An experience still waiting for me one special day. Some days I wonder in which month I’ll give birth... And, will it be a cold, rainy day, or will it be a warm, sunny day? Well, if I can have it my way, I hope that it will be a very cold day in winter... Late in winter (as if one can be fussy about stuff like that!). I can imagine how wonderful it must feel to cuddle with your baby on a cold day... Ok, obviously I have the more “glamorous”, edited version in my head.
But don’t worry, I am very aware of the unedited version. I’m a very strong believer that one should say it as it is... Say what you really feel. If you have a bad day, tell someone. We don’t live in a perfect world, so there is no way that every day can be perfect. If you share what you feel, people and friends can relate with you, because they experience something similar – it will actually make your day seem brighter...
So yes, it is a wonderful experience to have your own children, but obviously nothing can always be glamorous like celebs make it out to be... No stress, no fuss. A pregnant woman’s figure is something extremely beautiful. I can imagine how awesome it must be not to worry about pulling your stomach in when you wear tight clothing! But what do people don’t tell you? You might get stretch marks... I’ve seen some really bad ones. Your boobs will never be the same... Bye bye perkies :( And how do you get rid of all the baby fat after birth? The worst is when people ask you about when your due date is – after you’ve given birth!!! Ouch!!!
And the actual birth process... I can’t image how excited one must be when your water brakes and you realise; The time has come, today I will meet our baby! But how do you cope with the pain of the contractions? How do you know if you will be able to handle it? Well, I suppose you don’t know – the idea you have in your head before you give birth is completely different after you’ve actually given birth. And when the baby is finally there, I imagine that there will be moments when you wish that it was still in your stomach... And how do you get a human being so small and fragile to grow up and be healthy? How do start to protect them from... EVERYTHING?
What I believe is that this experience is something one would never swap for anything on earth and whatever “bad” happens during pregnancy (stretch marks, floppy belly, massive nipples, etc...), birth (farting, crying, “roaring”, etc...), parenthood (no sleep, paranoia, more crying, etc...)... It will all be worth it when you look into your own child’s eyes.
So Steph and Marchand... Congratulations on your first baby girl! I can only imagine how amazing/crazy/precious your past few days must have been. Enjoy every moment with her, take all your napping opportunities, and take a lot of pictures! We can’t wait to meet her in December.
All our love!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
On my mind today...
• Step 1: Girlfriend + boyfriend (NO SEX); Step 2: Engagement (NO SEX); Step 3: Wedding (and all of a sudden... A LOT OF SEX); Step 4: Kids... Who said that this is the “right” order for things to happen? And if you do dare to step our of this order... BAD PERSON! YOU ARE GOING TO HELL! How sad! (Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest... Phew!)
• I love downloading free stuff!!! Oooo...
• Squirrels are so cute!
Tretchikoff...
Some days you wake up and think, a new day, just another, normal, new day...
Luckily, I’m one of those people who tries to live everyday at its fullest. Some days I feel a bit frustrated because I feel like people around me restrict me from achieving this mission and it really upsets me. Just to put it clearly.... It’s not like I wake up every morning and feel like I need to change the world... or my world.
Luckily I have a few friends who share the same passions. I feel that it is very important to spend time with these individuals – to enrich my life... Leaving me satisfied without really doing much at the end of the day.
Saturday was one of those days. It started with sleeping a little late... Well, till 11:00. I know, that’s bad, but I felt like I needed it. (And I am doing this, because, one day when we have kids there will be no sleeping late for years!!!) Then I met Joni in town for lunch (at an awesome little restaurant, but that is a whole other story).
After lunch we went to the Iziko Gallery to view some Tretchikoff... The People’s Painter. O my goodness, his art is fantastic, vibrant and so colourfull. Especially the paintings of Lenka really intrigued me. I want to know more about their history together. One can feel his passion he had for her through his paintings. He must have been more than just mesmerised by her beauty. Other favorites are: Lady from Orient, The Chinese Girl, Balinese Girl, Self Portrait, Blue Monday and Rainy Day... And he mastered the water drop! So my next gift to myself will be the biography of this wonderful artist.
And after every visit to an art gallery with an exceptional exhibition, I feel like I want to repaint the world. This really inspired me so I tackled a painting (of a spitfire airoplane) I started in 2004 already and miraculously finished it within 3 hours!!! Does this make any sense? I leave a painting for 7 years and then finish it in 3 hours time! Well, all I needed was a little drop of Tretchikoff colour in my life.
“Express your passion.
Do what you love.
No matter what.”
Tretchikoff
Friday, June 17, 2011
On my mind today...
• I also want another tattoo – but sharing a “friendship tattoo” with a very special friend... Anyone keen?
• I wonder if I’ll ever regret any of my tattoo’s?
• Who cares! Just imagine Bianca in an old age home! Rocking!
• I love kitsch and cool drinking glasses. 80’s prints are the best!
• I miss my friend René and hope she’s having a wonderful time.
• Will my first child be a boy?
• I love the name Elliot.
• I crave expensive pizza – Mama Roma makes awesome pizza… everything fresh and delish!