I heart Fashion

Autumn into Winter ... I love this time of year purely for the fashion. Jackets, jeans, jerseys, shirts, boots, ankle boots, ballet pumps and most importantly ... accessories. I love chunky jewellery, hats, beanies, berets, scarves and even short square, dark nails ... *happy sigh*

In other news ... I've been in hospital again. Don't ask ... long story. Not fun. Drained and I just want to get to the bottom of this. So far I've had several specialists who are just as baffled as I am. Xrays say one thing and then when they go inside, it's suddenly not there.

I have become a medical mystery. I think I am an alien.

Anyone have House's number on speed dial??

Autumn Clean

Seriously need to Spring Clean.. Autumn Clean?

Problem? I'm a hoarder.
I luuuurve my things and I always feel like I might just need that purple sweater, that movie ticket stub (memories for that scrapbook I'll eventually get around to making) and that costume jewellry that's seen better days, but I have the best intensions to turn it into a brooch.
I need to be ruthless, but actually I need someone to do it for me and they need to be stern.
I need my own Sex and The City scene where we can sit in my apartment with Moet and my girls can say "Chuck" or "Keep."
Problem is, we would just chat too much, drink too much and before long we'd be wearing the Chuck pile and prance around to a blaring i-Pod.

I need a company like Clean House but in South Africa and preferably without the camera crew.
Don't get me wrong ... my place is clean and in an order, it's just that there is far too much of everything (in order.)

Are there companies out there? Seriously?
Blondie here is officially waving a white flag of hoarding surrender

Grins

I am having a ball. No really. Is it possible to be having this much fun and be feeling this good?

I know you'll be reading this on a "Blue Monday" and so I may just be nauseating right now. Yes I have bad days and I'm not all rays of sunshine all the time, but right now, I am and while I feel like this, I am going with it. Work with me here.

Weekend is all a bit of a Blur. In a good way. Friday, was interesting... I was a part of a fashion show. Again, I am always quite perturbed that I get asked to do these things. It's not a fishing party right now, but I don't model. I am not a fashion hanger in any shape or form and so it is hilarious. I did this for a childrens charity with some Binnelander and Egoli stars. I wonder if all professional models run thoughts like: "Suck in your tummy! Shoulders back! Don't trip; don't trip..." through their minds. It was a high fashion, think European FTV channel fashion show with the weird make-up and hair and clothes I wouldn't wear out in public. It was fun to be a part of this experience, don't get me wrong, but I wish I could have taken a photograph of the looks I got from the models when I asked a simple question back stage. "To smile or not to smile, that is the question." I wanted to know what "look" we were supposed to be doing with high fashion, dark eyebrows and red lips. Were we supposed to smile or were we supposed to look like we were in pain or bored. I am always fascinated how these models portray their faces down the catwalk...the pained expressions are probably from not eating or shoes that are too small. I experienced this on Friday.

A little blurry, but here are two of the models...

High fashion make-up

Well, in case you were wondering, I was told not to smile from a model (striking features, mind you) who looked me up and down disdainfully, flicked her high-fashioned-teased hair and minced onto the ramp. So I didn't smile and I felt ridiculous. I have to smile. I am a smiley-person and if I can't smile when I want to, I take on a pained expression. Perhaps, that's it.

I had fun though and I got to gaze at the male models that really are quite beautiful. This one in particular looked exactly like Emile Hirsch and I embarrassed myself by staring too long and hard and then subsequently blushed furiously when he asked for my number.

Saturday was spent having breakfast at a quaint restaurant with the family and looking at cars. I have decided to get myself a new car. I felt guilty as I test drove these beautiful cars. Guilty because I felt like I was "cheating" on my car parked at home. I am still driving my very first car and she has certainly served me well for the past 7-8 years, but she's old now and so I am fickly trading her in for a new model. I'm excited.

I went to a braai that night at JB and had a blast drinking glasses of wine and playing 30 seconds...or tried to at least. My poor team mate must have been "chuffed" at being on my team. 2 bottles of wine will do that to you. I pretty much played like this:

"Um...um... It's the actress...um...shit....what's her name...oooh...ooh..ooooh...um....."

"TIME!!" Everyone yelled out, gleefully.

Normally I am a little champ at the game but with wine and shooters, I was useless at it.

I did however, see European Boy. This whole... yes, I can't believe these words came out of my mouth: "Let's just have fun and enjoy each others company with no strings attached" is very new for me and I'm certainly having fun.

I feel like a teenager again.

Today has been spent feeling sorry for myself, lying in bed catching up on all the Girls of The Playboy Mansion episodes and catching up with Sugar. She came to visit me and we giggled like school girls.

Oh and yes...here she is...looking smoking hot...man, I want a body like this and if she can go from looking how she did to looking how she does now...I have HOPE!! HOORAY!! I'm back to gym tomorrow!

Skinny Bitch - well, I'm getting there!

I am absolutely and utterly thrilled. No seriously. I cannot remember the last time this happened to me. In fact, I need to take a moment.

I bought a cute dress yesterday to put over leggings. I hate change rooms and so I didn't try it on. I just took the size I normally wear with the thought that if it doesn't fit, I'll just exchange it.

I put it on this morning, looked in the mirror and my face dropped...into a smile.

It was TOO BIG!!

Well fuck me. I have not experienced that in, well, years!

I did my happy jig and beamed down the stairs to the man who was drinking coffee and playing PS2 Guitar Hero.

"What do you think?"

"It's too big for you!"

"Exactly!! Oh my God! Do you realise what you have just said to me?"

"It's too big?"

"Yeeesss!!!" I break out into 'Hallelujah!' and dance around the room a little.

"Shit, I should have just said that every time you ask me "what do you think?"...it would have saved me a lot of agony over 5 years."

"Ha! You're funny! Let's take a moment. It's. too. biiiig!"

I have had a permanent grin on my face the entire day!

Now. I'd like to take a minute to address clothing shop owners who have changing rooms.

I am no expert, although I am the typical gal who loves clothes and accessories, so here is my question.

Why the hell are there bright, unflattering lights that show up every lump, bump and pore?

If I had to own a store with change rooms, I'd find "thin" mirrors, with soft attractive lighting and enough hooks to hang up all the clothes plus enough space to move around in.

I'm just saying.

Blondie Boutique. Nice ring to it. Oh and all my blogging friends would get free clothes.

Just as well I don't have a store. I'd be bankrupt before I open! Hahaha!

Oh and...I am seriously looking for a cotton dress that can be casually worn that looks like this - anyone know of a place??

Humbling.

I look like a smurf. Some colleagues and I went to the Guild Cottage. It is a safe haven for children between the ages of 5 and 15 who have been sexually abused and traumatised. They are mixed races of boys and girls and it is just heart breaking. We never got to meet the kids as they were at school plus their trust has been broken by adults and we were told they can be quite aggressive. We were told that they are in desperate need for the boys rooms to be painted. We brought along light blue paint and painted the corridor and boys rooms. I am high from the fumes of paint and turps. I look like a smurf because the walls and I are having a contest to see who could have more paint on them. Apparently, blue is my colour. Go figure!

We got to have a look around the premises and it is beautiful. I like to think that the children who live here are somewhat lucky to be in a safe environment. Even though we didn't get to meet the children, we saw lots of photo's on the wall. I was amazed at their bright, cheerful faces. You would never know by looking at the photo's. Isn't that so incredibly telling?
It just shows that you can never quite tell what is going on in someones world.
I feel incredibly humbled and sad. HOW can someone sexually abuse anyone, let alone a child?
A child?
I get so angry and I'm really glad to have been a part of something (even if it was small) that can change their surroundings and the world they live in.

I am, however, feeling awful. My sinus' have been really affected by yesterdays dusty wind and today's fumes. I have a dull headache and I feel exhausted.

It's Fashion Week and I am supposed to be going tonight, but I don't know if I'm up for it.
Tomorrow I'm going to the EA Games Music Festival with my "twin". That should be amazing!

I hope you have a brilliant weekend!

PS> My man is going to that European country for 14 days. 2 whole weeks. I'm bummed.

PPS> It is Michael Jackson's 50th Birthday and no one has seen him in a while. Until now. I have NO words. Oh and I find this rather ironic too, considering what I did today! I'm just saying. Ouch!

Exercise (Yuck), shopping (Yay) and the weekend (Whoop-whoop)

Things have been a little crazy at work at the moment. I'm sorry I've been a little slack

with my blog.

I can't help myself. I can't stop it. I went into a shopping frenzy again! I bought a pair of snglasses, a black Nine West handbag, cute tops and I bought my man a pair of really funky rock-star jeans! They were all on SALE!!!
It was necessary, you see?
Aaarrrggghhh!!!
I hang my head in shopping shame.


Tonight I am completely chilling. I don't want to do anything but watch TV, eat and sleep. In no particular order.

Tomorrow we're going to Special K's place for sundowners. I've had enough of functions. I'm tired of dressing up all the time, making small talk and stuffing myself with hors de ouvres. How am I ever going to lose this horrible weight if I carry on like this?

I hate exercise. I hate gyms. Gyms freak me out. I hate the smell, the sound of the circuit, the sounds of clanking metal from the weights and the general atmosphere.
I really want to go back to my boxing, but I'm putting it off. The only reason I'm putting it off is because I know that once I start, I know I'll have to carry on.
I am putting it off completely. I go into a panic when I think about it! Seriously. My chest starts to close, I can't breathe properly and my heart starts beating...hmmm...maybe I should just panic instead of doing cardio ;-) No. Seriously. I panic at the thought of exercise.


I feel silly blogging about this because I know most gals love it and enjoy it and do it for fun! I hate you girls. Haha.
Ok, I do a little. I want to have the same mindset. I want to be motivated and I should be because I am not loving my body at the moment. I have got the eating right side down, but I can't seem to incorporate exercise now.

You would think that if I'm unhappy with the extra weight, I would WANT TO get into an exercise class.
Noooo...not blondie. I almost rebel against it and order a fat slice of cheesecake instead.


How do you girls do it? "They" say you should do something you enjoy...I thoroughly enjoy boxing but I'm still dragging myself into the ring.
I am so unfit that it scares me and I just cannot bring myself to do it.


Something has to change and quickly.
How do you do it?

See?? This makes me feel even better....look at this woman...I'm 25 and I can't get my ass into gear? Argh!

A random post...

Thanks for your advice on FB - greatly appreciate it :-)

There is something magical about being at home in the evenings, snuggled on the couch with a warm blanket and hearing a thunderstorm boom outside. It is weird to hear in winter, especially in Johannesburg. It hardly ever rains.

I love cold days for completely shallow reasons. It's for the fashion. I love scarves, hats, warm jackets and stylish boots.

Oh and another one bites the dust. One of my friends, Skinny girl has got engaged. We're all a little shocked but happy (don't get me wrong) for her. She's known this dude for 2 months and broke up with her last boyfriend of 2 years in February.
I am now officially the last girl in my group of friends to not have a sparkly piece of bling on my finger.
Am I upset? Nope. I know my time will come when the timing is right and I'm very content in that.

However, the thing with society that annoys the crap out of me is that when you're in a serious relationship the standard question is: "So, when are you two getting married?"
When you eventually do get married, your honeymoon isn't even a distant memory and people start asking: "So, when are you going to have babies?"
Your first born will still be a little bundle and people will ask: "So, when are you going to have the second one?"
Good grief.
Does it ever end?

The other thing I have decided I am going to start doing, or stop doing, is this: "We must get together..."
I have a tendency to bump into people I haven't seen in a while and at the end of the conversation I always say: "Great to see you again, we really must get together!"
I have the best intentions, but let's be honest, we both know it probably wont happen.
I'm going to stop putting myself in those pressurised situations so that when I bump into that person again and we haven't got together, it's ok.
So there, I've decided to do that.

I've been given extra work to do, which is great. Very glad about that. Yes, it sounds a little ridiculous, but I am happy. More work = more pay!
Woohoo.

Oh and I love it when it's someones birthday in the office, especially in winter. It means cake and cupcakes and getting to really enjoy it because I can just hide that "moment on the lips; forever on the hips" under a big warm, large jacket.
Bonus.

Sex and the City Movie Premier

I have 4 words, followed by 2.

Sex and the City - Unbelievably Awesome!

I was blown away at the entire event. It was really well done! The decor was sensational, there were chinese take-out boxes (very SATC), New York hotdogs and cosmopolitans doing the rounds.
Everyone really dressed up for the chic Sex and the City theme and I ejoyed seeing people in the industry again. It's a pity how we all wait for things like these to pop up.

It was eventually time for us to head off to the big screen and I could hardly contain myself. We all scrambled to get a good seat in Monte Casino's Il Grande cinema. We marched (elegantly) right to the back. There was popcorn, Appletizers and cosmos.
I just couldn't wait for it to start and when the lights went down I squealed. Yes. It even surprised me. I bloody well squealed. Loudly. A real girly: Eeeeeeeeeeehhh!!!
Everyone giggled and I was glad the lights were down so they couldn't really see who it was or that I was blushing (seems to be a habit.)
2 and a half hours of pure bliss. Pure, fashionable bliss.
I want the wardrobe, the stylist, the apartments and their figures. Awesome.
I can honestly say that I put that movie onto my Favourite Movie List.
I wont spoil it for anyone, but I can't wait for you to see it, so we can have a good banter!

When we walked out I was thoroughly surprised to see a huge feast of pastel coloured Appletizer, Peartizer and Grapetizer cupcakes -so cute, Sinful Sexy Brownies, heeeuuuge chocolate chip cookies, "Sexy donuts" and more!
Heaven.
A moment on the lips; forever on the hips. But oooh so good and yummy!

I had a wonderful time and what made it even better is that I took my sister with me. It's the first time she's come to a premier with me and she was amazed at the hype from the photographers to the decor. I had a good giggle when my sister lent over and said: "I haven't been to a movie in so long without my boyfriend that I nearly held your hand!"
She loved the goody bag, and it was a goody!!

Guilty spending

I have had an indulgent day. I don't understand why I feel so guilty. It's not like I do this every day!
Why, as women, do we feel guilty when we spend some hard earned money on ourselves? I am one of those who will smudge the truth about what the price tag really says. Yes. I am the one hiding the receipts in a shoe box.
I have no idea why! It's not like I have ever had someone raising an eyebrow or had someone tell me how irresponsible my spending is. Ok, my mom did, but I don't live with my mom anymore. Hmm...maybe it is her fault. Maybe she psychologically fertilized the root of my problem. Poor moms. They get blamed for everything.
I blur the truth of how much things cost to my man. Why? My money is just that...my money. There is no joint bank account (never will be) and I'm certainly not spending his money, so what is the big deal?
It is my own little guilty demon.

Today I have spent a fortune. In fact, I am 102% sure that I have spent the most I ever have in one sitting.
I feel awful.
Thing is, I needed these things. White lie number 5. I needed some of the things. The other 40% were buys that were based purely on: "Oh. My. God! How cute?" and "Oooh that will go so well with what I just bought!" and "It's pay day! You've worked hard...Go on Blondie...you can do it! You can doooo eeeet!!"

I have bought:
The Secret DVD (sick of not actually owning it) and 3 crystals, because I was in the store and the smell of incense made it seem necessary.
5 knitted tops...a pink one, turquoise one, black one, green one, white one, all are super cute.
I bought 3 chunky silver bangles, because I saw this stylish girl in a coffee shop wearing cute chunky bangles and it inspired me to get some of my own.
A winter hat. I love hats. I think I will wear it out tonight and let me blonde hair, desperately in need of a touch up, have a break from embarrassment.
A chunky pair of silver hoop earrings. (not to be worn with the bangles...no need for chunky over kill, right?)
A DVD player and surround sound system...still have no idea why? I think I'm thinking of cosy, blanket covering, hot chocolate drinking, DVD nights.
2 pairs of denim jeans because I need them.
5 sexy pairs of knickers and 4 not-so-sexy pairs of g-strings...also a necessity.

I then sat down for a cup fo tea at a small coffee shop when I saw my mom and sister gliding past me. I had enough packets around me, that I am worried I may have sped up the global warming process. Must recycle.
I immediately felt guilty. My sister instantly dug through the packets with the "Ooohs and Aaaahs" and the standard: Can I borrow this?
I get immediate satisfaction when she says this, because my sister is extremely stylish * in my opinion.*
My sister then asked: "What are you doing for the rest of your morning?"
Kill me now. So I said, "Well...um... I... am... um... goingtogetmynailsmanicured." as quickly as I could.
My mom just looked at me and smiled, saying: "Good! You need knew things and you're looking good Blondie! You're losing weight. I can see it in your face. Keep it up my darling!"
Say what?
No raised eyebrows? No 'tsk tsk's' for over spending?
Whatever is wrong?
My mom immediately looked guilty, "Well...um...I...um... goingtogetmyhairdone!"
Aha! Why do we do this? Why do we feel guilty when we want to spoil/pamper ourselves?
It made me feel better though, seeing my mom act the same guiltily way I did. Genetic, I guess.

I'm going to watch Arno Carstens tonight. It is his final gig before he sets off for the UK, to make it international.
My man is MC-ing and I can't wait to drink champagne with my short and square manicured ruby red nails and my new sexy hat and chunky bangles.

Have a fab long weekend!! x

Domestic Bliss

I cannot tell you how happy I am to have a domestic worker again!

I was furious with my last one in December (Mad at the Maid) and have had a nightmare trying to find someone new and reliable!

It's been 3 months now and I have FINALLY found her...her name is Patty (short for a name I cannot pronounce, but I'm working on it) She is, in my opinion, my black Mary Poppins. She smiles constantly, hums while she works and managed to get EVERYTHING done. She even rearranged my lounge, which ordinarily would piss the crap out of me *hmmm...don't think that's possible* but she actually made the place look amazing and has given us more space.

She's excellent.

There is nothing better than coming home to a clean home, fresh, ironed clothes and clean cups for tea and sparkling surfaces, grime free showers and windows I can see out of. Woohoo!It's not that I don't keep things tidy...OK...I don't do a great job, but it's awesome! It's the small things, you see?

I'm done with the graveyard shifts now and am very happy to get my body clock back to normal!

I have a 30th tonight at Cubana and super excited to party it up. I plan to drink plenty of dacquiri's and rip up the dance floor! I also have the cutest dress I want to christian ;-) Good times!

FASHION...something girly! Sorry guys!

Are you the type of person who goes to the shops and in your mind you want to buy new clothes, you know something exciting and something fashionable, but instead, you go for the same things you normally buy?

I do this all the time. I always buy the same style top, same skinny jeans, same colours etc. I also only discover this when I get the parcels home and I put them into my closet, next to the same shirts and jeans.

I admire women who experiment with fashion and try new things. I want to, but I guess I'm stuck in my ways. That's why you need to take a really stylish but realistic and honest friend with you who can pick things out that you ordinarily wouldn't.

So, I have some pics of some things I would love to get. I'd like to get your opinions though.

The floral Maxi dress (admittedly this is only cool for summer)

I love this white dress, although I'd prefer to have this in a less shiny material.

I am absolutely in love with the grey jersey, long or short. Too cute! Love the entire look!

QUESTION: Is this fashionable?? Have I missed the bus somewhere along the way.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!!

I've noticed this trend: Stockings/Leggings cut off past the ankle. It's interesting and I'd like to try it out!

Do I need to explain?

What do you think??