Blog Candy

For the longest time I’ve had a battle with the phrase ‘doing things the right way.’ What does that mean and who is the person responsible for judging if you’re doing things the ‘right way’ or not? In my life, I have learned that the only way to do things the right way is to do things in accordance with what is best for you and what makes you happy regardless of what that looks like to other people. This is a concept I think most people looking at you fail to understand. If I am the one living my life, the only person that should be dictating my life is me. Right?

I recently read an article that really hit home, not just because I’ve experienced it, but because my friends have experienced it too. Having strong feelings for or loving someone you weren’t in a relationship with is real. Losing that person is even more real. 

More often than not, I call on my girlfriends when I need to talk rather than turning to family. Why? Because there are so many times when all I need are people who listen, genuinely listen. People who don’t revert back with advice, but to hear what I have to say and to provide a crying shoulder if I need it with no judgment. These are my girls.

As a mother, it’s incredibly important for me to capture those precious moments in my children’s lives. As you grow older, you tend to forget the memories that made life’s experiences that much better. Photos for me, is a diary of sorts that captures everything. From my son’s little toes, to my daughter’s favourite toy, to a piece of artwork in the most random position.

For some reason when people look at me they see someone who is confident, someone who has it all together. Wrong, so wrong. Over the years, people who are supposed to love me made me look at myself in ways that one should never look at themselves. 

Over the years, I’ve been called a lot – good and bad, and for the most part I take it with a pinch of salt because everyone is going to have an opinion about me whether they know me or not. Being called selfish however, rubbed me up the wrong way and made me defensive.

Too often, as individuals and as parents we are too focused on being guided by what society deems ‘normal and acceptable’ and we end up making life decisions based on this. Decisions that actually aren’t in our best interests, and ones that don’t leave us happy.

For the last few weeks I have wanted to write about my feelings regarding this topic and I think today, being International Women’s Day, it’s just fitting that I actually took the time out to write it. 

With so many products on the market, it’s difficult to choose a brand in the hope that it will work best for your skin type – in my case, combination skin. I personally found all the options daunting and it was for that reason that I opted to use a non-perfumed moisturizing soap on my face for the longest time.

As we enter the second week of January, I’m sure that you are all beyond tired of the ‘new year, new me’ babble … don’t worry, that’s not what this post is about; I intend on staying the opinionated, straight-forward, foul-mouthed individual I’ve always been.

There is nothing quite like the adrenalin and sound of getting a tattoo. If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the hunt for a new tattoo design; and again, if you’re like me, you are sometimes impulsive and want instant gratification and when you look again, you’re on tattoo number uhm 26? I think. 

Yesterday I had the great honour of attending the wedding of one of my friends. It was also the first time I attended a Nikah (Islamic marriage ceremony). 

When did disrespecting women become acceptable? I often find myself wondering if men would be happy if their daughters, sisters and mothers were treated the way they treat women. Is the virtue of chivalry dead? No its not! I just find that some ‘men’ lack basic respect when it comes to the opposite sex.

So I haven’t been married before so how can I actually form an opinion about divorce?  Here’s why I think I can. I am a child of divorce so I know what its like to come from a household where my parents didn’t live together. I know that everyone is affected by divorce differently but I think I turned out quite well. 

The Body Shop South Africa recently unveiled its Elixers of Nature perfume range. This new collection includes four rare and precious new fragrances inspired by natural scents. 

I joined Virgin Active two years ago but didn’t really take it as seriously as I should have. When I did decide to get back into it, I sprained my ankle badly and was out of action for a few months. 

At my daughter’s netball tournament a couple weekends ago she said something to me that prompted me to write this post. We were talking when we saw her friends' parents; but her parents are no longer together. The dad had actually brought his new girlfriend and the mother is pregnant with her new boyfriends baby. My daughter turned to me and said ‘that’s weird’. To that I responded, ‘baby, sometimes that’s how life work’s. They’re adults and they’re getting along.’ I think it was weird for her because it’s a situation she has yet to experience. 

There comes a time in your life when you appreciate being single. Alone time to sit quietly, take a long bath, watch a movie, go out and have fun etc., but there’s another side to it. The side that most people don’t tell you about. The lonely side. 

                                                                                                                                                                     Photo credit: The Body Shop SA Facebook page

This refreshingly light, fresh and exotic perfume creates the perfect scent for Summer. 

Has anyone ever said to you ‘but you’re a mom’? What does that mean exactly?? I had a colleague say this to me a few times and do you want to know why?

Well damn! Not a single person told me it would be that difficult – thanks friends! I am definitely not the fittest person so when I walked up that first curve in the path – 10 minutes in, okay, not even – I was ready to turn back.

Have you ever just looked at your kids and thought, WOW! I've done something right? That's how I feel when I look at my babies. They are by far my greatest achievement. Yes, I am a mother and 'that's how I'm supposed to feel', but that is genuinely how I feel.

2012. Not just a movie about the year the earth was to expire. It was the year that my relationship of over a decade expired. 25 December 2012 to be exact. My son was a mere 7 month old at the time but when you have reached the end of the line, you’ve reached the end of the line.