Let's Be Real

I can't believe how my laptop not working has really messed around with my blogging schedule and my life in general. Isn't it insane how much we depend on technology? I, of course say this to you via some means of technology - the irony is not lost on me. 

The truth is, and this is what I intend to discuss today, is that our online personas are so far from who we are in real life that at times I think we spend more time worrying about "Will this make a good picture?" "Should I blog about this?" "Will my readers want to know this?" "Will they still like me?". My last question is the biggy. WILL YOU STILL LIKE ME?

The internet has become such a huge part of who we are and how we communicate that it's only fair that we should care about our online image as much as we do our real life image but and here's where I'm going with this thought process... shouldn't the two images be the same, or somewhat aligned?

People in your real life don't get to see the filtered/edited version of who you are and you know what, most of the time they like you anyway. I think it's incredibly important for us to align our online personas with the real person. I think I shared the article about the guy who was flying all around the world to sit down for coffee with all his Facebook friends and of course I think that is an incredible idea but it got me thinking.. do I even want to have coffee with some of my Facebook friends? Sometimes I see photos being posted on my timeline and I honestly have no idea who it is in that photo I am supposed to know. Am I alone in this?

Also, I think when I was younger I used to add everyone on Facebook or accept friend requests if we had a few mutual friends but the truth is now I am so reserved and try to limit new friends because I don't want people in my business AND then it hit me.. then your business probably shouldn't be put out there. So it's not. I have resisted sharing my new work related developments with my online community and resisted sharing details of being an employer as opposed to an employee and I've resisted sharing my frustrations as well as my joys. 

So I think, I need to really work on aligning my online persona with my real life one (which shouldn't be too challenging because I have been so silent online) but also I think I need my real life personality to start shining through a little bit more. 

In upcoming posts, which I have yet to plan, I will share what's on my mind and really get back into blogging or facebooking or instagramming or tweeting because I want too and because I have something to say not because I feel pressured to share the perfectly filtered version of who I think you want to see. 

Whoa! That was a heavy post for a Friday but it is Friday! Tell me what's your weekend looking like?

Snapchat Update : August Edition

So you know I have been missing blogging but it's been such a challenge to do it from my phone but I really wanted to share some of what's been going on in my life and the easiest way is to share highlights from the month... I could share all the pretty filtered options but that's not necessarily what's been going on in my life so I thought I may as well show the truth! 

A visit with Brielle

Lovely woollies Tea

QT "Me" time 

Loads of good food 

Beach walks

Night Markets

A visit from a fellow joburger and long time friend 

My favorite drink 

Cousins #LongHairDontCare

What an athlete!

Gangs Of Ballet Performance

Deserved huge daiquiri 

Trying to change the windshield wipers!

What my "office" has looked like...

Long days!

Trip to Joburg and girls night out! 

Surprise morning visits 

FriYay drinks!

Feeding the ducks with my person and munchkin ;)

Love that she's walking now ... 

Happy girls!

Family day at the fair!

Coming home (begrudgingly)

 Girls Night Out - Toni Braxton & Babyface! 

Looking back on August, I got to spend a lot of time with my family which is awesome and I seem to be drinking a lot more #ImNotEvenSorry but also in eating healthier #BalanceIsKey and lastly I seem to be catching the best moments of the sunsets... 

What did your August look like?

PS: Again, I'm posting from my phone so I apologize for the crappy set up! 

Spring Spring Spring!!!!

I love the beginning of new seasons and it's officially that in South Africa today! 

There's just something about spring that makes everything seem like it will be okay!

I'm looking forward to this "S" month Spring, September, Success ... 

What's your plans for this month? 

x Nats x

PS: My laptop is still being sorted out so still posting from my phone.... Sorry for the horrible format ! 

Literally Ladies - Part Two

Ladies I cannot believe another month has passed into this challenge (or at all, really) because it feels like I was just deciding whether I wanted to join the challenge or not just the other day and now... Well now... I've just about finished it! I can't believe I've read 10 well actually I've read more than 10 but I'm still finishing off 2 categories.. 

Also, slight disclaimer for this crappy set up. My laptop is acting up so I'm posting off my phone which means I can't share links to the link up or my previous posts until I get back on to it properly. But I am linking up with Kay, Kari and Kristen! 

So from where I was last time, I've read the following:

1. Paper Towns by John Green this may be swapped into my previous lists for the YA category but I haven't made my final decision.

Paper Towns was totally not what I expected it to be and tbh I was slightly disappointed. It felt as if I've read this story or watched this movie a million times. The geeky boy next door obsessed over the hot girl next door  who used to be friends and then there's a reconnection of some type etc... I found Quentin just downright annoying  with his obsession with Margo and I found I wasn't even rooting for him. I will though, of course go watch the movie because you know... FOMO! 

2. What Alice Forgot by Lianne Moraity... This book was boring me and surprising me simultaneously. Strange I know, but the thing that kept pulling me into it was thinking, "What would my life be like in 10 years time?" It's so odd to think at the natural progression and regression of some relationships and how we don't think anything in our lives will change and then it does. Coincidentally I didn't understand the whole level of how huge Gina's friendship was to Alice and how she could even take her "memories" as her own. I found it bizarre. 

3. Grey by EL James this was surprising too, I thought I would have somewhat enjoyed it because I enjoyed the 50 Shades series but for the most part I didn't! I'm sorry to all the 50 shades fans out there but seeing things through Christian's eyes didn't make me comfortable at all. 

So it seems like I haven't enjoyed my last few books but that isn't true I am truly enjoying them I think it's just because I'm reading so much that my level of expectations is so much higher. 

Also I will tell you I'm very close to finishing Where we belong by Emily Giffin and I am LOVING it! 

That being said, it's 20 minutes later, my laptop is still frozen (not good news) and I have to get back to work! Have an awesome weekend and tell me about your views on the books I've read... Or recommend something and make it good ;) 

Don't forget to check in with the other ladies doing the link up and I'll update this post soon with pics and links and buttons! 

X nats