Showing posts with label Happy Friday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Happy Friday. Show all posts

Friday, 11 July 2014

The 7 Year Itch


I've never quite understood the 7 year itch until recently. Not a 7 year itch in it's normally intended context of a relationship or marriage, but in a career sense. I've been with my current employer for 7 year and while the time in some ways has flown, in other ways, I'm starting to feel like this is all I've ever known. My frame of reference has shrunk to these four walls and my confidence outside of this structure has diminished.

I definitely have a love-hate relationship with my job at the moment. Last week was horrific and this week was great! At what point do you release that the grass isn't always greener on the other side...but then again, isn't life all about moving on up and trying new things?!

So many things to ponder...But for now - HAPPY FRIDAY!



PS - just so you know:

The seven-year itch is a psychological term that suggests that happiness in a relationship declines after around year seven of a marriage.[1] The phrase originated as a name for irritating and contagious skin complaints of a long duration. Examples of reference may have included STD herpes outbreaks that are known to significantly decrease in frequency after seven years or mites that live under the skin (scabies) and cause severe itching that is hard to get rid of. Later on in the 19th and early 20th centuries it was viewed as an expression of imagined appropriate punishment for antisocial behavior, or as a simile for a situation with little hope in relief.[2]
The phrase was first used to describe an inclination to become unfaithful after seven years of marriage in the play The Seven Year Itch by George Axelrod, and gained popularity following the 1955 film adaptation starring Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell.
The phrase has since expanded to indicate cycles of dissatisfaction not only in interpersonal relationships but in any situation such as working a full-time job or buying a house, where a decrease in happiness and satisfaction is often seen over long periods of time.

Friday, 27 June 2014

Home Sweet HomeS!

 
 
I'm always happy when Friday rolls around, but I'm especially happy this week. After 10 days out of the office (half for a work trip and the other half on leave) this week readjusting to the desk and chair has been horrible! The days have dragged, the coffee is bad (I forgot) and the mood is gloomy...but it's Friday so let's not dwell on all that!
 
Lots has been happening that is happy in the past few weeks:
- I'm now a Godmother to THE most adorable little man in the world
- We are getting married in the most perfect chapel in (almost) the most sentimental spot I could find
- The wedding venue that we booked before even seeing it, is as beautiful in person as it looked on the website...phew!
- We got to spend a week with our families catching up and planning for the big day(s!)
- I got the mock up version of our wedding invites and they are adorb
- There are some exciting possibilities on the horizon at work (which should they pan out would make life a lot more fun)
- Our house is bought and the move in date is set for 1 August...is it too soon for me to start packing?!?!
 
I've always been very homely - perhaps growing up in a farm house that your family has lived in for close to 100 years does that to you!! Home equals security to me and the insecurity of renting has always bothered me (add to that an erratic letting agent and I'm a nervous wreck!) So being able to call our new house home is one of the most exciting things ever for me! We'll both have a set of keys (something previously banned by said erratic letting agent), I can wack nails in the walls without fear of punishment, I can paint the walls in accent colours / stripes ('cause I can!) and I can feel secure in the fact that no one can kick me out until I'm ready to leave...it's going to be heaven!! 
Happy Friday everyone :-)

Friday, 23 May 2014

10 000 hits!!

Wow! I just missed a massive milestone in my stats - I reached 10 000 hits and didn't even know it! I started this blog almost exactly a year and a half years and it's grown with me (very slowly at times due to my less than regular posts!) through rough and happy times. I don't know who bothers to read my random ramblings and I don't really care if anyone does...I just needed a place to share my thoughts and feelings, an outlet of sorts and this forum has been just that for me.
 
So thank you if you follow my posts and if you just see this one, that's cool too ;-) 

The whole "Keep Calm and Carry On" thing is SO 2012 I know, but at times in life it really is less of a cliché and more of a reality for some (myself included!) I'll think about if it should stay or go, but for now HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Friday, 11 April 2014

Let the Planning BEGIN!


It didn't take long for people to start asking when we were getting married...in fact, the first such question came approximate 2 hours after we got engaged! Luckily, we'd discussed where we'd like to get married about 6 months in to our relationship so that was easy. Once one has narrowed down the geographic area of the venue, and if the area is small and remote like ours is, then finding a venue is easy as their aren't many too chose from! A couple of calls, emails and a venue visit by my folks and the deposit was all but paid.

Finding a date on the other hand was slightly more tricky. We obviously want as many our family and friends to be at both of our weddings - the "white" wedding as well as the "traditional" wedding - but finding dates suitably close yet the right way around (the "white" wedding must happen first I've now learned) was a challenge.

But...all that is now done and dusted, the dates are set and the venue booked :-) Now for the planning to begin!

Friday, 15 November 2013

Keep Calm and Keep Quiet



My mom always told me that if I didn't have anything nice to say, I shouldn't say anything at all. In a nutshell, this explains my long absense from blogging. It's been a tough few months. Scrap that. It's been a tough year. In my head, in my office, in my car...where my most negative thoughts seem to take place! In fact, substitute the words love for work and sister for mother in the Katy Perry song "By the Grace of God" and you pretty much have my 2013 summarized.

And it's by the grace of God that I'm finally feeling like I'm in a better head-space. That and the fact that the light at the end of the tunnel (shutdown from work) is in 4 weeks (and counting!) I've been getting back into the routines that keep me sane: morning sermon podcasts, going to cell and church regularly, giving back to those less fortunate and stopping those pesty negative thoughts when they come into my head.

There is so much that has been happening that has allowed for self doubt to creep in, self confidence to be obliterated and it's been a constant struggle to balance it all. In every exciting situation, I find the stress, am unsure, second guess myself... And this hasn't gone away but I'm really trying to remember the positives, to be excited despite all the uncertainty. It's become even more clear to me that I hate not being in control, hate not knowing what the next months bring, hate not knowing where I'll be living in 3 months time.

But it's time to cease the day, live it, enjoy it, love every moment of it. Yes the stress will come, the uncertainty remains - but in trying to approach it in a more positive manner, hopefully good things will come and the self fulfilling prophesy wheel will spin with more good fortune than bad.



Friday, 14 June 2013

Extra special HAPPY FRIDAY


Whoo Hoo! It's Friday at last! Never before have I been so happy to see Friday - Why you ask? Let me list why:

- I've been looking forward to taking leave since I arrived back at work in January...it's been a rough year so far but it's good to be back in a good space and ready to take a break
- It's been a super busy week with lots going on at work and outside of work
- I'm going to my second cooking class at Chez Gourmet (the first was a Japanese Cooking class and this time I'll be learning all about the baking process - breads, roti's etc.) Can't wait - YUM!
- We're going home! Now that I'm not working in the EC as much, I'm really missing my monthly trips back home so it will be great to catch up with family over our short stay there
- I'm going to finally start watching the 3rd season of Downton Abbey. I left it over a month ago at a happy cliffhanger after the Christmas Special and can't wait to see what happens next
- There will be some lovely eating out taking place no doubt with friends bday celebrations and a few more days with friends visiting from Aus. It's great to be a tourist in your own city for a little while

Happy Youth Day for Sunday, Happy Friday for today :-)

Friday, 31 May 2013

Clear Eyes, Warm Hearts, Can't Lose


It's been a really good week but a a busy one so TGIF! I'm normally fairly reclusive on week nights - not this week. Between work dinners, social dinners and a little down time, I've found my way back to a happy and more positive space.

I met up with my ex-boss from the "armpit of Africa" office who was such an encouragement to me, making me see that good in various work situations and giving me a far more positive outlook on my 8 to 5 life. He really has become a great mentor to me and I'm truely greatful for this input at the moment.

Then, I put my cooking skills to the test and had 3 of my ladies over for our first "pasta and prayer" night. I promise that my cooking on the night was closely monitored by my man who called me to check on the progress and give some helpful hints before they arrived. Food aside, what an awesome night of connecting with the girls and sharing our lives. Nowadays so many of our new friendships are lived in a very superficial space and never really make it into the stage or depth that some of our longer standing friendships do. It was awesome to be honest and real and share the truths of our lifes making all of us feel more normal and less alone!

This week I also discovered podcasts on my iPad (I'm hugely technicologically challenged you see so it did take me a while) and I've been loving listening to hugely motiviating stories, money matters etc. It's my new favourite thing and I can't wait for my data bundle to kick in tomorrow morning so that I can download some more!

In what must be one of my favourite series ever, Friday Night Lights, Coach Taylor's famous saying is "clear eyes, warm hearts, can't lose." I feel like this week, I've without knowing it, been able to live with clear eyes and a warm heart. Clear eyes because I've been able to put into perspective all that has been going on, seperating the person from the problem (as Arnold Mol teaches) and as a result, being a little less stressed out. Seeing that I'm not alone in my worries or my fears has also helped me in seeing that I'm not paranoid in this and that a burden shared is a burden halved. Warm hearts because I've been able to remember elements of my role that I used to love and have tried to seek out more of these things to incorporate into my work and personal life (prehaps some further studies lie ahead in my future!) Knowing what I'm passionate about has helped me to feel that there is more to my current work life and hopefully I'm able to make positive steps forward in achieiving this.

So over all, it's been a great week. But man oh man am I glad it's Friday - excitement like Dillon supporters felt as the lights came on and the Panthers were about to run out onto the field! Happy Friday :-)

Friday, 10 May 2013

Happy Friday!

It's a HaPpY fRiDaY because:

1) The sun is shining
2) I'm about to leave work
3) We're about to go away for the weekend
4) We're going away with most of my nearest and dearest besties
5) There will be wine where we are going!
6) There will be water where we are going
7) There will no doubt be good food where we are going (with 2 chefs and an exceptional home cook in tow)
8) My boo will be with me
9) There will hopefully be no cell phone reception where we are going
10) Every day is a happy day when it is has been a stress free day at work :-)

Happy Friday everyone!

Friday, 26 April 2013

No Pain, No Gain... Now SMILE


Today I truely am smiling a BIG smile...and not only because it's Friday. When I was a kid we went to our beach house (my happy place) every holiday and all of my cousins and I loved to go up the beach on bakkies (they were allowed on the dunes back then!) We would then try to dig the tyres into the sand, hoping that the bakkie would get stuck and we would then have to come to the rescue and push it out...so random I know! One day when we were far up the coastline with family friends I was digging up a storm and knocked my front tooth out by hitting it against the rim the bakkie formed around the tyre. Our family friend, 9 months preggers at the time (she gave birth 2 days later!) raced me back to my parents and all I can now remember about the long drive was thinking that I really hoped that she didn't give birth with just me in the vehicle with her!

Why am I telling you this really random story?! Well, I obviously got my tooth fixed back then and although it lasted about 24 years, it wasn't the prettiest fix seen to mankind! Last week, with much pushing and prompting from my mother (thanks mom!) I embarked on the painful process of repairing and improving my two front teeth. It took 3 dentist trips and 2 trips to the dental technician (most of these very painful) but today I can SMILE and be confident about it! The "no pain, no gain" saying really is true. So I'm celebrating this Happy Friday with a big, straight toothed SMILE :-)

Friday, 12 April 2013

Always look on the bright side of life



I realised yesterday while mulling over my woeful work situation that I'm so very luck and greatful that, while my 8-5 life is at an all time low, my personal life is in the best place yet. I'm so appreciatative that I was blessed with a wonderful, happy and rewarding work life during my years in the 'bay of not-so plenty.' God must have realised that it wouldn't have been fair on me to have it all at once and he probably doesn't want to make other people jealous ;-) LOL

So I'll take my happy after hours life and try my damndest not to let any deproness leak through past the 5pm mark! And it's Friday today - so have a wonderful, restful, fun-filled weekend! I plan to :-)

Friday, 5 April 2013

Be a Tourist...in your own city



I love the fact that I live in a city which I get excited about sharing with friends or family visiting. Who else can boast of being a tourist in your own home town?!

My parents and brother were recently here for their annual visit and it wasn't hard to find things to keep them occupied (despite the rain.) Although, in writing down all that we did (and ate) I started to pick up two very distinct themes - I love food and I love Noordhoek! The two merged with our trips to the normal faves: The Noordhoek Community Market at Cape Point Vineywards, Cafe Roux who have recently opened for evening meals too and of course, last but very much not least, the much before mentioned Foodbarn Deli - Tapas by Night.

And then there was the family time - squeezing my flat with as many people as possible, visiting relatives, getting up at the crack of dawn to support the 2 Oceans Half Marathon runners and seemingly endless shopping (the Eastern Cape doesn't have REAL shops like we do!)

With a couple more days to go of entertaining the brother, the itinerary looks a little like this: rugby and more food at Barristers, more rugby and drinks at the famous Percy's, Steak, salad and chips at HQ and prehaps we should throw in something a little less food oriented and more cultured like a trip to Robben Island.

Busy and fun times - TGIF so that I can sleep in a little tomorrow :-)


Thursday, 28 March 2013

Happiness is...


It's the HAPPIEST happy Friday when:

- It's infact Thursday, but it's the last day of the working week
- It's followed by 5 days free of the office
- Your parents and brother are about an hour away from arriving at your house for a much anticipated visit
- Even though it's raining, you still have a smile on your face and a happy heart <3
- You will be eating chocolate for the next few days without feeling horrifically guilty about it #Eastercomesbutonceayear

Happy ThursFriday everyone :-)

Friday, 22 February 2013

Searching for Sugarman



It's the end of another week and what a tough week it's been! Sipping my coffee, listening to my newly downloaded Rodriguez (I'm loving the fact that South Africa can FINALLY purchase music on iTunes) I'm waiting for the calm to end before the next storm hits. And it will in a few hours when the board results are released. But for now it's headphones in and music on...

It always amazes me, although I'm not sure why, how much music can calm / change my mood. Hearing the cracks on the 1971 recording on the Coldfact album can only but make me happy - there are imperfections in even the most beautiful and perfect things. And they are better for them. They are unique for them. They are what they are.

On Sunday I'll be waiting in baited breath to see if the documentary Searching for Sugar Man receives the recognition it deserves at the Oscars. In a era of performers it will be awesome to see a true artist be recognised for his craft - a recognition he has, until recently, never been privy to, despite his popularity in our country. His story teaches us to do what we love and do it well, without needing positive reinforcement from others.


Lyrics to "Cause" - by Sixto Rodriguez

Cause I lost my job two weeks before Christmas
And I talked to Jesus at the sewer
And the Pope said it was none of his God-damned business
While the rain drank champagne

My Estonian Archangel came and got me wasted
Cause the sweetest kiss I ever got is the one I've never tasted
Oh but they'll take their bonus pay to Molly McDonald,
Neon ladies, beauty is that which obeys, is bought or borrowed

Cause my heart's become a crooked hotel full of rumours
But it's I who pays the rent for these fingered-face out-of-tuners
and I make 16 solid half hour friendships every evening

Cause your queen of hearts who is half a stone
And likes to laugh alone is always threatening you with leaving
Oh but they play those token games on Willy Thompson
And give a medal to replace the son of Mrs. Annie Johnson

Cause they told me everybody's got to pay their dues
And I explained that I had overpaid them
So overdued I went to the company store
and the clerk there said that they had just been invaded
So I set sail in a teardrop and escaped beneath the doorsill

Cause the smell of her perfume echoes in my head still
Cause I see my people trying to drown the sun
In weekends of whiskey sours
Cause how many times can you wake up in this comic book and plant flowers?


Friday, 15 February 2013

Be Brave and Just BLOG IT


Being honest and vunerable is a very brave thing. I don't know about you all, but I often find it a lot easier to be honest about my emotions to complete strangers, in writting, than to those I know. When I started this blog, I just wanted a creative outlet - I didn't want anyone to know who I was, let alone have those around me read it. It took me a very long while to send my man the link to it and I still haven't told any other family or friends about it! I kind of like the idea of it being my little secret...My place to be me without the fear of reprise.

Why is it that we are so scared to open up and be vunerable to those around us? Prehaps it is that those around us don't truely know what goes on in our minds? I'd like to believe that one day, if my family and closest friends were to stumble across this page that they would know and understand the posts within the context of my life. There are however many "friends", or prehaps people better described as acquaintences, who would think I had multiple personalities!

When thinking this all through, I realised that, as the years tick over, I'm far less phased by what those around me think of me. This has forever been an issue that has plagued me and it's so empowering to be breaking free of it...slowly, but surely! I'm very happy to focus on the great group of close friends and family who know the real me than to be concerned over the views of others.

Am I ready to hit the "share blog" button on my Facebook page or even Twitter account yet - probably not. But then again, there are still plenty more years coming up to grow in confidence and in "who-gives-a-damn" attitude! Let's call being brave a work in progress.


Friday, 1 February 2013

Happy Friday (but happy Monday through Thursday too!)



Wow - it's been a super busy week at work and as a result it's been the happiest week at work that I've had in months! There is something about an active mind that just makes one generally happier. After spending some time recently with people who don't have to work (and don't have kids at home anymore - cause stay at home moms are a WHOLE different kettle of fish!) I have definitely decided that me staying home, doing nothing, all day, would not be a good idea (prior blogs will attest to this!) And so it's with an appreciate heart and soul that I leave the office this afternoon, happy to not only have had a Happy Friday, but also a Happy Monday through Thursday!

I'm super excited for this weekend as it is not only my cousins' 1 year olds bday (who doesn't love a kiddies party and gift shopping for them!) but it's also my man's birthday on Sunday :-) If there is one thing that I love more than giving gifts, it's a surprise adventure exploring new places on a special day. Needless to say (if it's to remain a surprise) I need to stop here and only tell you more on this next week. 

Happy Friday everyone :-)

Friday, 25 January 2013

Keep Calm and Watch Dirty Dancing



If you are anything like me, and pretty much live for the weekends, then today is indeed a HAPPY DAY!! The slog of the week and all it's mundainity is soon over and we are free to do as we please for a full 64 hours (yes...I did the math!)

This weekend promises to be especially cool as my aunt is here dropping my cousin off at university for the first time....oh to be young and fun and experience O Week all over again! Being a "refugee" from the Eastern Cape, it's always super cool to have some family around to show of our beautiful city. So the next 64 hours will no doubt be spent eating out, drinking out, market shopping (I'm keen to try out Blaauwklippen Vineyards Sunday Family Market), engagement parties and last but very much not least, a trip to Artscape with the girls to watch Dirty Dancing. Not only was this one of my favourite movies growing up, I seem to recall that I had my first kiss (*CRINGE worthy moment of note*) while dancing to the Dirty Dancing sountrack ("She's like the Wind" to be specific!) Regardless,  I can't wait to see "nobody put's Baby in the corner" on stage.  

 Happy weekend!

Friday, 18 January 2013

Keep Calm and Try New Things


Yay, YAY, it's FRIDAY!

This week I've rediscovered my love of Pinterest. It's amazing how my "go-to" page, while sipping on my morning coffee, changes week to week. But my suspision is that Pinterest will hang on to the #1 spot for a little while longer due to the many hours it's enthralled me this week!

This week the posts have inspired me, challenged me, horrified me and generally movitated me to try new things. And so...


1) Use Washi tape like never before - Courtesy of Cleverbird Andrea :-)
2) Gift shop in a new, more thoughtful way and on a budget
3) Eat at a new restuarant and try new wines - River Cafe, Constantia Uitsig
4) Bake something new - Peacan Pie Bars
5) Go back to basics in my relationship - "16 ways I blew my marriage" - Single Dad Laughing blog

Friday, 11 January 2013

Keep Calm and Carry On...into 2013


It's a new, clean, fresh year! I'm not generally one for New Year resolutions, but I do love the idea of a brand new start, a clean slate of sorts. January is always a time of cleaning out the closets (literally) and finding new and improved things to replace the old and rumpled with. This year I'm on the hunt for the perfect scatter cushions...but let me not get sidetracked!

"Out with the old and in with the new" is all good and well but there are however somethings that I want to "carry on" from 2012 - my new found love of the random ramblings on this blog, my rediscovered love of scrapbooking (lame and SO middle-aged Afrikaans tannie-ish I know!!), my attempts to hit the gym and become physically fit (sing it with me now: physically, physically, physically fit!) and just generally to live life to the full - appreciating all that comes my way. The good, the bad, the ugly...

After spending some great QT with my family during the break, I was reminded by my (oh-so amazing) Gran, that in life you always have the choice to see the glass half full, to see the best in people, to have a positive attitude no matter what the obstacles. She is the best example of someone who does this 100% of the time and the results of her choice show in her serenity. So when the chips are down and the times get tough, my motto for this year will be: "What Would Gran Do?"

Here's to a happy, hopeful, harmonious 2013 everyone :-)

Friday, 14 December 2012

Keep Calm and Go To the Sea

When I was young, we only ever referred to our beach holiday house as "the sea" - as if it was the only sea out there. To us it was! And so as today draws to the close a rather interesting, hectic and emotionally draining work year, I bid farewell to these four walls and cannot wait to go to "the sea" next week.

The plans are few, but the food and fun will be plenty. Books will be read, sun will be soaked in, wine will be drunk, catch up convo's will be had, boardgames will be played and table tennis contests will be won (by me of course!) and the laptop will remain firmly shut with the cell phone of course not having any receiption....these are the best types of holidays which make the 9 hour drive to get there well worth it!


Now just to ask the weather gods for no wind and cloud free skies and all will be perfect!


Friday, 7 December 2012

Keep Calm and Sing Carols


Wow - I can't believe how fast the past two weeks have flown past! Things have just not stopped and now finally, as the the end of the working year draws closer, the mad rush seems to be calming down and we will hopefully be able to laze our way into shutdown. #5moreworkingdaysleft

It hasn't all been hard graft though: 3 lazy lunches, 2 year end functions and 1 half day off in the last couple of weeks is not a bad strike rate. But for now my focus is going to shift from all that has not yet happened at work to all that has not yet been done on the home front. For what must be the first time EVER, I have NO ideas as to what I'm buying everyone for Christmas. Oh - I have the gift boxes sorted, quirky gift tags purchased, the Xmassy washy tape read to stick, but do you thing I have any ideas as to what will go into the pressies?! Serves me right for only shopping for myself at the recent gift fairs.

So besides a shopping spree of note this weekend, we're also off to Carols in the Park tonight! Great way to kick off the weekend and get into the holiday mode! Happy Friday :-)

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