New Things...

So one thing I can say about 2012  is that it's been a year full of new things - some of them good, some of them not so good.  I thought I'd share a few of those new things here:

1) I blogged.  For a whole year.  This is a pretty big thing for me because, as I have mentioned before, I've always been very nervous about writing for any kind of audience.  I took part in 30 Days of Lists, I was Geek of the Week on Chocolate & Cream Cake, I started my own feature and I even managed to finish the 5 Books I set for myself.  I am full of ideas for 2013 and I am going to use my mini break to really plot them out.  Stay tuned!

2) I joined a gym!!  This is another huge one for me.  I never played team sports and, aside from swimming, have a well documented disdain for public exercise.  However, after failing at early morning yoga and breaking my stepper, I was left with no choice but to join Curves!  I can honestly say that it was a great experience.  The branch I go to are super friendly and there is zero pressure to look great at gym.  It's basically perfect for me.

3) I crashed the car...

4) And we bought a new one.  Yup, that was my first accident in almost 8 years of driving.  As bummed as I was to part with the old car, it was just the motivation we needed to upgrade to a bigger, more powerful car.  It's also pretty much the best colour ever!

5) I studied.  For the first time since varsity, I applied my mind and learnt a new skill namely Conceptual Writing for Brands.  I learnt a lot, met some cool people and got great feedback on my writing abilities.

6) I got a hamster!!  After years of mice, I switched to a different variety of rodent and I can honestly say that Rolo is an awesome dog substitute.  He is so small but has so much character even though he can be a little savage!!

7) I made a Totoro plushie.  Using a pattern I found online, I managed to make a passable version of Totoro!!  He turned out quite well, even if I do say so myself.  I hadn't sewed for years and I forgot how cool it is too make something from scratch like that.  I am planning a Domo and a Pikachu in the very near future.

8) I visited a new province.  In July my mom, dad and I took a roadtrip to Mpumalanga, place of poorly marked roads, tons of sugar cane  and cute pups.  It was great fun travelling with my folks, visiting with my cousins and seeing a new part of South Africa.

8) I discovered Wakaberry.  Oh how I love frozen yoghurt!!  That is all.

9) I finally went up the stadium.  If you ask me, Moses Mabidha stadium is on of the coolest things to come from the 2010 Soccer World Cup.  I love it so much.  In February, my friend Sam and I took the Sky Car trip to the top.  Highly recommended!

And that's just a small sample of what I got up too.  In 2013 I am going to be a Maid of Honour for the first time, I have another tattoo lined up, Rise Against are coming, I'll have a junior technical writer assisting me at work and I am hoping to work up the nerve to try Roller Derby.  Plus I'll be 30!!  On paper it's looking like a good year already!

Day Twenty-six to Thirty

Well, March is finished and with it my first attempt at 30 Days of Lists.  What a fun project!  I definitely enjoyed it and I’m sure I will do it again.  Here are my last 5 lists from Day 26 to 30:

Day 26 - My Morning Routine

Put off first alarm/Put of second alarm and drag myself out of bed/Drink Coffee/Shower/Make breakfast/Make lunch for the day/Feed Rolo/Straighten hair/Make myself presentable/Take vitamins/Pack bags/Leave house

Day 27 - If I Could Do It Over Again

I would've stood up for myself more/I would've take part more/I would've have finished my honours at UKZN (or rather I would've taken the place I was offered)/I would've taken more chances/I wouldn't have hesitated so much 

Day 28 - My Last Meal Would Include

Sushi/Roast Chicken/Cous-Cous/Chocolate/Berries/Fruit juice/Red Wine/Roast veggies

Day 29 - Songs That Make Me Want To Dance

I'm Not Okay - MCR/Warthog - Ramones/Velociraptor - Kasabian/Hate To Say I Told You So - Hives/Burn Burn - LostProphets

Day 30 - To My Future Self

Calm Down/Stop over thinking EVERYTHING/Just go with it

Day Nineteen to Twenty-five

I can't believe that March is just about done already.  Here are my lists for days 19 to 25:

Day 19 – Dear Jason, you make me happy in the following ways:

By always carrying the groceries and my laptop/By making me coffee in the morning, every morning/By being infinitely patient/By cooking/By making me laugh

I have an awesome husand:)

Day 20 – Favourite Memories

Marrying my husband in home affairs/Buying my first car/Flying in an army plane (even though the reason was sad)/Watching Who Framed Roger Rabbit? at the drive in/Watching Star Wars for the 1^st time/Getting our first puppy/Fetching our third puppy/My Gran’s rice and gravy and chicken curry/Too many more for this list

Day 21- With an extra hour in the day I would…

Get more Sleep!!!

Day 22 – My Care Package

Chocolate/Wine and/or coffee/Sushi/A good book/My husband/Rolo (my hamster)

Day 23 – Confessions

I haven’t read the Hunger Games/I only read the Harry Potter books after watching 4 of the movies/I have an obscene amount of t-shirts/I am socially awkward/ I LOVE America’s Next Top Model

Day 24 – I am famous for…

My clumsiness/My inability to cook

Day 25 – Title options for my autobiography

Clumsy and Proud of it/Diary of an Awkward Girl/Monique vs The World

In a related note, I always thought that if there was ever going to be a movie of my life, that Muzzle by The Smashing Pumpkins would play as the credits role.

Day Twelve to Eighteen

I have come to the conclusion that until I learn to use the new camera, my list photos won't be getting any better.  Oh well...here are my lists from Day 12 to Day 18:

Day 12 - Super Powers I'd Like to Have...

Ability to control weather like Storm/Teleportation so I never have to face Pinetown traffic again/or Flight/The ability to eat copious amounts of chocolate without getting sick or fat/Time travel/Infinite patience

Day 13 - 10 Years Ago...

I had just started varsity/I wanted to be a journalist/I thought I knew who I was going to marry (I was wrong)/I had A LOT to learn

Day 14 - Tools & Toy to Try 

iPad (I am getting one for work & I can't wait)/New camera/Pinterest..I just got an invite/Networked Blogs

Day 15 - Overheard Today

Mom! It's like I'm not wearing pants/This is like the great wall of China/We were meant to go out on Saturday but then we got lazy and drunk

Day 16 - Pet Peeves

Drivers that think jumping the queue is okay/Willful ignorance/People who make racist remarks & think you agree because you're also white/People who are famous for nothing/News24 commenters/Selfishness

Day 17 - Favourite Day of the Year

MY BIRTHDAY October 12th

Day 18 - Family Traditions

Getting gifts from the family pets on birthdays and Christmas/Picking your birthday meal/Quality Streets at Christmas/Watching Home Alone at Christmas/Birthday Week

Day Five to Eleven

Yes, this post is two days later than I promised.  And my photos are no better than last time!  In fact, I think one of them is even worse *insert embarrassed face here*  I am a bad blogger but I caught up on sleep so I don't feel all that bad.  Better late than never right?  Right.  So here are my lists from days 5 to 11:

Day 5 - Words to Live By

The prompt for this list used a collection of quotes and seeing I have a few close to my heart, I thought I'd borrow the idea

Day 6 - Things to Collect

Domo/Old family photos/Quirky Perspex jewellry/Books, Books, Books/Tattoos/Star Wars Goodness/Weird Creatures/Pretty Unusual Art

Day 7 - I am inspired by...

Cool, calm mornings/Beautiful combinations of words/Songs that make my heart soar (cheesy, i know)/The awesome people I know 

Day 8 - Things to say NO to

Getting unreasonably mad in traffic/Chocolate everyday/Laziness/Over-thinking EVERYTHING

Day 9 - Happy Places

The couch after a long day at work/Wakaberry/The Iron Fist store/Bed/The Weekend

Day 10 - Today was awesome because...

I had yummy breakfast with my family/I visited my lovely friend Gill/...and she made brownies/It didn't pour with rain while I was driving/We had drinkies for Sam's birthday/Spurs lost/We hung out with good friends/I had a prawn and chicken bunny

Day 11 - Right now I am...

Watching Man City vs Swansea/Waking up from a nap/Listening to the storm/Drinking coffee/Running out of page

The First Four Days

It's very damp and rainy in Durban today.  Cyclone Irina is lurking somewhere off the coast and she’s dumping all her excess water on us.  Its been pouring since sometime last night and I don’t think it has stopped even once yet!  It’s the perfect weather for books, bed, movies and blogging.

As I mentioned on Thursday, I decided to take part in the March 30 Days of Lists.  It was a last minute decision so in the absence of a pretty notebook, I decided to just use my trusty Moleskine.  Here are my first four days of lists:

Day One – Challenges to Accept

30 Days of Lists/entering that short story competition/one of those photo a day things/gym.

Day Two – This Month’s Goals

Start Gym/and then go another 11 times/Write every day/Start studying again/ Grow Bye Bye Blackbird/Learn to use our new camera/Take more photos

Day Three – Recipe for a Perfect Weekend

Blueberry Flapjacks or a Cinnamon Croissant/Good company/My Husband/Lots of Coffee/Wakaberry/A good book/An Arsenal Win/Rainy Weather

Day Four – Things I will put off until Tomorrow

Cleaning the shower/Tidying my cupboard so I can actually find my clothes/Thinking about work

I apologise for the not-so-great photos.  Next week I will be more organised and take my photo’s when the light is better!

March Randomness

I can’t believe we are already in March.  It seems like it was just yesterday that we were sitting on the couch making New Years plans!  Anyway, its already shaping up to be a busy month so I thought I’d share a few updates here:

• Tomorrow I am going for a fitness assessment at a gym.  This makes me laugh and can officially be filed under Things I Never Thought I’d Do!  I am not a fan of exercise but its time I got fit and rid of some pesky insecurities.  Wish me luck.

• Hopefully by mid-month I will be back in a classroom on a part time basis.  I've had my eye on a Vega course on Conceptual Writing for Brands for a while now.  I am registered and waiting to hear if the course has enough people to go ahead.  My fingers are crossed.  If not this course then I will be doing an online one so either way, March will be a month of self-improvement.

• I decided at the last minute to register for 30 Days of Lists.  I like lists and I followed Mandy’s lists last year.  It looks like a lot of fun and I am looking forward to it!  I will be posting my lists once a week, probably on a Sunday.

And that’s that!  Throw in some birthdays, office team building and a farewell and you can see what I mean when I say busy.  On the plus side, March is the beginning of Autumn in Durban (I think) which means that cooler weather is on the way.  Yay!  Its already getting darker faster in the evenings.  I am definitely looking forward to Winter and scarves and coats.