2013 Halfway to where?

I often think about my contiki trip and when we were entering Lyon, France from crossing the English Channel and Bon Jovi's "Livin on a prayer"came on and practically the whole bus was singing "Ohhh whoa we're half way there ohhhh whoa we're living on a prayer..."that has to be one of my favourite moments of my life because it felt incrediably freeing!

The point of my story is we were singing we're halfway there even though we didn't know how long it would take us from Lyon to Paris or what the traffic would be like but just knowing we had passed the channel already felt like an accomplishment and that's sort of how I feel about JUNE 2013. This year is flying by quicker than any other and I thought why not consult my 2013 resolutions list to see how close (or rather how far) I am from keeping to my inital goals for the year.. turns out that all the "big" ones, the ones I actually have control over I'm doing really well!

This year I have: crossed the biggest item off my bucket list and my first 2013 resolution;
                        : I've been reading a book a month, well I'm one behind but I'll catch up this month
                        : I have started my first blog but more so I have made this blog grow
                        : I have danced more (even if it is all by myself in my room - isn't that the best kind of                            dancing?) and smiled and laughed more than I had last year this time.

BUT I have also done things that I didn't even think about at the beginning of this year:
        * I started baking again

        * My blog is growing and even though I write completely for myself, it really is amazing when receive           feedback
       * I have manged to reconnect with a whole lot of friends which is great

I think the best part of 2013 is that I can't tell you what the rest of the year holds but  I hope it does include my trip to Germany, Spain and Ireland, that I do finish 12 new beautiful books for the year, that maybe I start writing my own book (eeek!) , I bake some really good cakes and perhaps some romance.. why not, right?
Also I received these fortunes for my birthday and I think the second one links to my blog, writing is an art form after all!

Either way, if you are feeling down about the mid year blues.... I found this link which could provide you with some motivation for whatever you need.

Good luck all with the rest of 2013 xxx

Restaurant Review - Trabella

It occured to me that I eat out - a lot but I tend to find a place and stick to it.
While that might be great for the restaurants I do frequent, it really can become somewhat redundant.

Last week, one of my colleagues were moving offices and so we dediced to go out for lunch to celebrate/say goodbye.

One of my other colleagues lives near Trabella and she took us there (and treated us- how nice of her!) and I just fell in love with this place.

It's situated at the corner of Corlett Drive and Oxford Road, Illovo and it's really nice. I knew I had to go back so I could take more photos and so I could blog about it! There's just something about the atmosphere that is so chilled and it was enjoyable.

Back to my story, last week we went there for lunch but we had to rush back to the office for meetings... *sigh* but when I went back on Saturday with Candice,who has a really cool blog on fashion, I was a little dissappointed.

The food was still amazing, I ordered the same pizza to share and this time they split it...

BUT our waiter was somewhat off, perhaps hung over?

I really like the decor of the restaurant and the ambiance and I'll give my waiter from Saturday a break because our waitress during the week was on top of her game :)  This is the type of place that when people know about it they stick to it, oh damn it seems I've found another place to add to my redundancy BUT  pizza is worth it!

The food takes time to get to you but it really is worth the wait! I can't wait to go back to try more dishes.. Here are some of the pics and they don't capture the true essence of the restaurant.

Go try it and tell me what you think?

Catching up with an old friend

Yesterday I went for coffee/frozen yoghurt with my friend, Sumeshnee. 

Sumie and I hadn't seen each other about a year and a half.

For some friends that's not too bad, but we were the type of friends who made every effort to see each other as much as possible but as we grew older and our lives took different directions so to say and it just seemed like we didn't have "time" to see one another.

Anyway, what's in the past is there and we met at The Zone and we had some chips and Rocco sauce while we started out chat and I tried the a fruit shake which is delicious! 

We then made our way to wakaberry (which was empty for once!) and Sumie made me look like a glut ... See below - tip her's is the one with little to no toppings! Lol

All in all, it was a really good afternoon to sit and chat to someone who just gets you with no expectation (at least I hope so) but for you to be you!

Here's some picks from my afternoon/evening..

April/ May book review : Sing you home by Jodi Picoult

I've made a rule that after each Jodi Picoult book I read I'll read 2/3 frivolous  easy reads but after this book I'm going to go about 6 books before another book.

Firstly I have to say that I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult and her novels always push the boundary of what I think may be an easy answer or not. In fact for those that read her books will be well aware that she usually has you guessing the whole way through and therefore you are so hooked you can't seem to put the book down but in this novel, I felt similarly to my previous book review which forms part of my 2013 resolutions to read one book a month  on from Notting Hill to New York actually, in that the storyline was pulled further - unnecessarily.

In this book, the main characters are Zoe and Max who start the book as married, trying to have a baby but encountering numerous  problems. Eventually they split  up and both seem to hit rock bottom and then each character finds strength from other relationships.

When they remember that they had three fertilized eggs still available for insemination a court battle ensues as to who should take custody of the eggs/pre-born children... 

Along the way there are a number of surprises but essentially I feel that the actual crux of the story, being the court case was rushed.

This novel illustrates a lot about preconceived notions from ministers to alcoholism to homosexuality and the question that I had to deal with is simply - what is your tolerance level? The beauty of Picoult's novels is that each chapter is usually told from a different character's point of view which is usually how your confusion comes in because you don't know which side is the one you're supporting!

Nevertheless this was a good read but definitely one of my favorites. I really enjoyed the references made by Zoe who is a music therapist as to how music can change your mood, day or life and how it can connect people. In fact I'm trying to read 12 new books this year but this book took me 2 and half months which is ridiculously long! So I'm going to have to read two books this month to make up for lost time *sigh*

If you're a first time reader if Jodi Picoult I do not recommend you read this as your first try as its likely to put you off her style which is in fact quite beautiful. Try The pact or 19 Minutes ... They are among my favorites!   

Maybe you should wait for the movie, I hear Ellen Degeneres is making the book a movie...