Blogtember : 30 Sep 2013 - Something Treasured Through Time

Blogtember Challenge

 

So after my previous post earlier today I wasn't in the mood to post but then I thought... participating for most of the month of September - I should do myself a favour and keep to the last day! SO here it goes....

 

Monday, September 30: Share a photo of something old. Maybe something that has personal history for you, that was passed down to you, and that has special meaning to you. Tell us about it and why it's special.

 

 

 

Our first meeting

 

Ok maybe Uptothemoon isn't exactly old but in terms of her racing days.. they are definitely numbered. I am not someone who would be considered an animal lover. I mean I love animals but I don't usually allow them too close because I've had to say goodbye to too many of my pets that I loved. But Uptothemoon changed all that.

 

We bought our share of Uptothemoon three years ago, she was two years old.  We waited nine months before she ran her first race but in those initial nine months, I connected with her in one of the biggest ways. I've often tried to explain why it is I love her so much even though she is "just" a race horse but the truth is, she has the most incredible temperament. I didn't fully comprehend that until  I started visiting her more and just chatting to her. 

 

I don't think there are enough words to explain how much of a calmness I feel when I am around her. Even when I am feeling off, she picks up on it and she can either try to cheer me up by hugging me or chewing my hair OR she can decide to be off and pull away from me.

 

I knew her and I had a connection but when I moved to Cape Town and she stayed in Johannesburg, I missed her so much and when I visited her - I could feel that she missed me! But then others started noticing that she was calmed by me or excited by my presence or upset by it. I've also taught her to pose whenever the camera is around ... she even knows when we are doing self portraits  : )

 

 

Do you have anything old that you treasure? Have you ever connected to an animal?

 

 

Blogtember, 23 Sep 2013, Life Lately

Blogtember Challenge

Monday, September 23: A "life lately" post. What you're up to, how you're feeling, how you're doing on your goals, etc. Bonus points for great photos!

As mentioned in yesterday's post, I have been struggling to adapt to life post my Eurotrip 2013 but it is what has been happenig.. here are some picutres to explain how I have been feeling and what has been happening

This is me in Galway, Ireland

Spending time with my family

This has been my mindset

 

Unfortunately this is what my weekdays are like

 

I have been suffering with this!

 

The picture explains it all

 

 This is how I have been feeling

This is my motivation at work, I've been depending on it heavily lately

How has life been treating you recently??? 

 

Blogtember, Thurs 26 Sep 2013, Post From Somewhere Different

Blogtember Challenge

 

Thursday, September 26: Go to a coffee shop. Order a favorite drink. Write about what makes you happy and what makes you sad. Or write about anything you'd like! Bonus points for including a photo from the coffee shop. (I recommend downloading Ommwriter and bringing headphones along!) *if you can't make it to a coffee shop, at least leave your usual space and write someplace new.

 

 

So this is my second Blogtember post for the day, I'm trying to catch up the posts I missed. I have never blogged as much as I have this month and it's exciting and scary and exhausting! Either way, there are a few days left and I'm excited to have completed this challenge.

 

Todaý I'm sort of cheating because I honestly blog EVRYWHERE from my app but today I started this post as usual but finishing it from my Blogger App.

 

 

 Ok so I'm writing from our garden.. Look how pretty the rose is.. 

I think in retrospect, it's funny that I picked a picture of a rose becaus often people will say to you when you're stressed over a whole lot of things, just remember to stop... And smell the roses and this is so relevant for me because I have been SO stressed about so many things and I've been worrying about the future and if I'm being honest, I've been reflecting, scratch that, obsessing with the past and especially my recent trip.

I keep saying how much it changed me but actually adapting those changes into my life is definitely more of a challenge. 

So things which make me happy:

* my family (even they drive me somewhat insane) 

* music! I absolutely love listening to alternative folk music, traditional Irish folk music, any good love song! 

* Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres - I love watching them play and their interviews.

*baking

*blogging (reading and writing posts)

* TV - I am without a doubt a TV Addict!

Things that make me sad:

* Watching Liverpool lose

* People who are hungry

* People without ambition

* When I realize someone has underestimated me

So... Tell me, what makes you happy? Or what makes you sad? Where's your favourite place to read or write blogs?

X

 

Blogtember : Friday, 20 Sep 2013 : Comfort

 

Friday, September 20: React to this term: comfort.

 

Catching up on my Blogtember posts! Eeek... I'm a bit behind!

 

When I think of comfort I think of being in my room. It's always been MY space. It's the place I get to say, do and listen to whatever I want too without judgement. Well, my room and my car!!! The rules in my car are simply, you will listen to what I want to listen too.. unless I'm in a generous mood.

I know it sounds mean that I want to listen to only my music but the problem is that I like so many types of music that it's impossible to make my passengers happy all the time. My mom hates that I listen to soft rock and country but then I find her singing along :)

 

However, I actually think that feeling comfort comes from being comfortable with yourself. There is not much more to it then that.

 

That's the reason I would say, I feel so much comfort when I'm with my family. Last week, I actually tweeted about having dinner with my family and how awesome it was. It was that awesome purely because I got to be myself with them.

 

We all walk around with flaws but when you're with loved ones, they know them and they love you anyway!

 

I am not going to lie and say that I am completely comfortable with myself - but my recent trip overseas definitely helped me to come to peace with who I am and that makes me feel comfort.

 

I think if you are comfortable in your own skin, you can find comfort anywhere!

 

What does the term "comfort" make you think of?

Blogtember : Tues, 24 Sep 2013 : Review Something

Blogtember Challenge

 

Tuesday, September 24: Review a book, place, or product.

 

 

Today's review goes to Tyler Perry's Temptations, Confessions of a Marriage Counsellor.

I hired this movie last night, yes you can still do that but I ended up falling asleep by 9pm and not watching it.

 

 

A couple of months ago when my parents and aunt watched this movie they completely raved about it and said it was "Amazing" "Life Changing" "Eye-opening".. I'm sure you can understand why it is I wanted to watch it.

 

Then the guy at the video shop said "Everyone who had watched the movie took something different from it". So I was clearly intrigued.

 

I won't go into the details of the content of the film but here's the trailer for it....

 

 

While I knew everything that was going to happen (due to my parents who told me) I was still intrigued and it was worth it. I think the movie highlights many different things including but not limited to:

 

* How important image is

* How important it is to pay attention to your partner

* Monogamy should not equal monotony

* If it looks like trouble, trust your instincts!

* When you love someone, you can forgive and forget but it doesn't mean you have to rewind and repeat

* When you chose to settle for something (albeit a relationship, a man, a job etc) you eventually get fed up.

 

Here's a song from the movie which was really interesting...

 

Have you watched the movie? What did you think?

 

As a side note, in South Africa, today is a public holiday - National Heritage Day and in light of all the events happening around the world, Africa and particularly SA, it is nice to take a time out and remember why being South African is great. I have many reasons including traveling to other countries (which I posted about here and here) and realising that South Africans are really nice and friendly and South Africa' local talent is getting more exposure (remember this post?) and mostly I love the fact that there is no "typical" South African because despite everything... we are truly a Rainbow Nation. Charlize and Nelson Mandela are great exports but I think I do my country proud too! 

 







 

Blogtember: Thurs, 19 Sep 2013, A little story telling....

Blogtember Challenge

 

 

Thursday, September 19: Creative writing day: write a (very short) fictional story that starts with this sentence: "To say I was dreading the dinner party would be the understatement of the century."

The story does not necessarily need to have a conclusion - you can leave your readers wishing for more!

 

HERE IT GOES:

 

 

To say I was dreading the dinner party would be the understatement of the century. HE was going to be there - with HER. How could Janie invite me to this shindig knowing that he was going to be there. Ok, I'll admit it would be a challenge to avoid inviting both of us after all she's my best friend and he's Steven's brother.

 

What was I thinking when I said yes to a date with my best friend's boyfriend's brother?! Obviously things were doomed to go badly. Then again they weren't always bad between us. In fact, things were great.

 

The problems started and ended with his highschool girlfriend showing up, beautiful, brunette and a seven year old. I did not need my maths major to work out that at 25 that seven years ago he was the high school child who made a child. 

 

It was challenging to watch him react to that news... I could see he was beyond excited to have someone whom he "made" and I could see that she wanted a family for the three of them. He was so thrilled at the prospect of being a father he didn't question her much as to why she had kept their daughter away for the last seven years. 

 

His reaction was one of the many reasons I fell in love with him. Why I still loved him. Then why did I end things? Because I'm an emotional mess. I want him to be happy and his child to be happy. After all, we may have never been able to have children together...

 

I look great, in a new nude bodycon dress. He always said he loved to see me in nude!

 

Why did I pull up behind, I suppose some instincts never leave you, I'll always want to be close to him. Oh No! He's in the car, I thought he was just parked here. When he first saw me, it felt like MerDer in  Season 1 snd 2 - we shared our look.

 

As he approached the car, I was ready to ask where Ann was, he blurted out "She's not mine! Ann lied, Brooke isn't mine... please say you want to get back together! Now we can have children together and be a family just like we planned".

 

There is so much going on in my head but should I tell him the truth... we may never have children together, I may never have children which biologically mine... but I missed him too much and he already lost one child this week - should he lose the hope of anymore?

 

 

...............

Blogtember : A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Blogtember Challenge

 

Wednesday, September 18: Only photos

 



 

 

Blogtember : Tues, 17 Sep 2013, Reliving a memory

Blogtember Challenge

 

This is an easy one, I take it that it's a memory I wouldn't change, so the one memory I absolutely loved was my 21st birthday party.

 

The party was so much fun and I had so many loved ones around me. I remember feeling overwhelmed with happiness and love.

 



 

 

If you could relive any memory, what would it be???

 

Blogtember : Monday, 16 September 2013, A Public Love Letter

Blogtember Challenge

Dear Liverpool Football Club

How do I put into words what being a supporter of this team means to me?

I remember always being aware of LFC because my dad was a supporter and if I had to pick I would LFC but then the night before my first University exam, Introduction to Constitutional Law, and Istanbul happened.

 

I was hooked. I remember watching the team defend like crazy and then win on penalties. It was magical even all the way from South Africa.

 

However supporting LFC didn't mean I was in for an easy ride, you are a team which makes supporting you a challenge. In the past, we have been inconsistent, we have been great at playing but bad at scoring... we have been playing badly and then scoring.

 

We have the most intense football rivalries... it may have just been Man United and Everton, once upon a time but now... after Fernando Torres... Jose Mourinho... Chelsea is most definitely up there with teams we love to hate.

 

When planning my first trip overseas, I made sure to include time in Liverpool, and the day I spent in the museum and at Anfield, was easily one of my top 5 best days of my life. The aura as I stood in front of the gates was at times, overwhelming and simultaneously comforting.

 

 

When Fernando Torres left, I stayed up all night waiting to see if he would betray the fans or not and when it was official... I cried myself to sleep and it broke my heart to hear Stevie's hurt

 

 

 

His betrayal only pushed me further into my love for Steven Gerrard. Our captain fantastic, brings so much joys that he deserves his own public love letter but that will be another day.

 

 

On game days, I feel anxious the whole day, I try to wear red and keep positive thoughts... I add LFC to my prayer list because, you are my team but more than that, you are my family!

 

 

Our song... is the most beautifully suited song for our relationship.. because I know that no matter what happens, I will never walk alone.

 



It's unexplainable to describe the bond I have to you but over the years I have come to peace with the fact that those who have experienced, understand it deeper than words could explain.

Love always.....

Natalie

Blogtember, Friday the 13th of September 2013 : Self Portrait

Blogtember Challenge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blogtember : Thursday, 12 September 2013 : Social Media

Blogtember Challenge

Thursday, September 12: Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you.

I wish I could be one of those people that could say - "I haven't changed"or "I don't care what my social media status says about me" but that would be a BIG FAT LIE!

I definitely find myself editing myself because, you never know who will come accross your profile, whether it is Facebook, Instagram or Twitter..

Also, I definitely make sure the photos that are put up are more "facebook" ready whereas when I joined facebook way back when, I didn't care...

Now all my pictures need to be "pretty" enough or my profiles can't appear to rawcous in case a potential bf or boss come accross it.

There is definitely some pressure on how you are perceived on social media but I must be honest, I tend to be more myself on twitter than on Facebook purely because I have a lot of family on my facebook page and often on twitter I'll be really active and then really quiet which is more indicative of my mood. Sometimes I won't even post links of my blog onto Facebook because I don't want people too close to me reading them.

However, I must admit that I am extremely grateful for Social Media, it's been the easiest way for me to keep in touch with friends all around the world and allowed for travel acquaintances to become great friends!

Blogging on the other hand has been amazing for me! I have always felt like I had sooooo much going on in my head and now that I've started blogging I am definitely finding ways of expressing them or getting my thoughts out into the world....

Has social media changed you? How would you say it has? Why did you join it?

Blogtember : Online Shopping

Blogtember

Wednesday, September 11: Share links to your favourite online shops, preferably with a few photos of your favourite items in each shop.

I must be honest I am not big on online shopping but I did enjoy browsing the Mr Price shop.. I previously did a post on it.

However while looking at this post, I found some items I may just purchase ...

 

Where's your favourite place to shop online?

Blogtember : The moment it all changed

In keeping with the Blogtember challenge here's what you're in for today :

Tuesday, September 10: Describe a distinct moment when your life took a turn.

While I can honestly say that there are many moments I could tell you about... I decided the most distinct moment that I will always remember which is also extremely personal was when I was 10 years old and the shop my family owned was robbed on a Sunday evening in April 1997.

My father, mother, brother and I were closing early because we wanted to go to church that evening. I remember that evening so well... excruciatingly so.While I won't go into details of it, the thing that pushed my life in a different way was trust. From that night on, I think my ability to trust others became questionable and I learnt to trust my instincts so when I sense something is off I know trust it.

Perhaps it helped me develop my sixth sense or perhaps it just made the reality of crime more tangible in my life. Either way, that's the moment I learnt to trust my instincts and myself.

Whooooooo that was a serious post! Sorry about that!

Blogtember: Monday, September 9

Blogtember Challenge

 

Monday, September 9: Take this short personality test and respond to your results. (at the end, find the detailed profile of your personality account - click "click to view" under "You" and "self awareness and personal growth." You can even google your type and find more info on it!)

In today's topic for the day, I had to take this test... and react to the results

And because I like to be honest with all of you, I must admit that I have taken this test before.. on many occasions and each time I have received a different result.

ESFJ

Extravert(22%) Sensing(1%) Feeling(50%) Judging(33%)

• You have slight preference of Extraversion over Introversion (22%)
• You have marginal or no preference of Sensing over Intuition (1%)
• You have moderate preference of Feeling over Thinking (50%)
• You have moderate preference of Judging over Perceiving (33%)

Notice how none of my answers are distinct in establishing what kind of person I am, there are marginal or slight or NO preferences over the others.

However, I must say, the explination of what I am like is sorta spot on!
Here are my most relevant parts...

 

ESFJs are easily wounded. And when wounded, their emotions will not be contained. They by nature "wear their hearts on their sleeves," often exuding warmth and bonhomie, but not infrequently boiling over with the vexation of their souls. Some ESFJs channel these vibrant emotions into moving dramatic performances on stage and screen.

Strong, contradictory forces consume the ESFJ. Their sense of right and wrong wrestles with an overwhelming rescuing, 'mothering' drive. This sometimes results in swift, immediate action taken upon a transgressor, followed by stern reprimand; ultimately, however, the prodigal is wrested from the gallows of their folly, just as the noose tightens and all hope is lost, by the very executioner!

 

 Have you taken this test before? What did you think of the results?