September Favorites

I haven't done one of these posts in ages - but I thought as this September is more than marginally special, I'd swing back into an old habit.

September Socials:

I didn't really realize it until creating this post but September was an extremely sociable month for me!

I got to see my best mate in the world, Lucien.. A LOT. It's a wonder we aren't completely sick of each other by now. 

I also made a new girl friend... Sandy. 

She's such fun and it is blossoming into a lovely little friendship which I'm thrilled about as I don't have many girl friends left in my little town anymore. 

I'm at this horribly awkward age where everyone either abandons this tiny town to go off and obtain a degree or otherwise sets foot on different land and gets the travel bug! 

I'm not really sure why I've stuck around as long as I have... but I am pretty content right now doing my online degree in journalism, working my little tush off to save enough up to get to Bali and surf there next year and just spending some quality time with family and friends. 

'Aint a bad life, I must admit.

Speaking of quality time with family.... there's been lots of that with my adorable 9 month old nephew, Jenson. He's growing so quickly it's frightening - I cannot believe it is nearly his 1st birthday... it seems like just yesterday he came into this world. 

India:

I got lots of snuggles from my beautiful cat, India while on my three week holiday from work. She is quite possibly the best snuggle buddy in the world.

Addo Elephant National Park:

My family and I managed to escape for a few days and head out into the wild on some game drives. It was so nice to get away from the inevitable routine you build around yourself.

Port Elizabeth:

The weekend after Addo, I went on a little excursion with my three best guy friends: Lucien (as seen above,) Ashley and Louis. 

It was a mad weekend and I doubt I have ever felt more hungover than I did on that Sunday morning.

Music:

I picked up the guitar again and have been played it Like. A. Boss.

I got my hands on my friend Justin Serrao's second album which was released recently. 

I am seeing him live next month and cannot wait! 

My Favorite Recipe:

I have always been the biggest curry fan - so when I had the chance to learn how to make Chicken Tikka Masala I was so excited! 

Unfortunately I didn't have all of the correct ingredients so I made the curry with a bit of a unique, 'Jade' twist. 

There will be a Jade's Chicken Tikka Masala 'With-a-Twist' Recipe coming soon.

Birthday's:

As with any birthday... when my manager turned another year younger we celebrated it the good old fashioned way at work with a bottle of bubbly and lots of laughter.

The Dreaded Flu:

Why is this a favorite you might ask???

Sam:

I am now officially a girlfriend to the most incredible man on the planet.. Yip.. that's right. On the 17th September, this handsome bearded fellow asked me to be his girlfriend.... and while I was practically dying from the flu, he was shoving vitamins and meds down my throat, giving me back tickles and head massages and just being an absolute gem.

Once I was recovered however, we wasted no time in devouring three and a half bottles of wine, an entire season of The Walking Dead and battling through a mean ass hangover the following morning with the help of some double bloody mary's.

Creativity:

It's been a few months since I have hauled out my pliers, beads and gut but I took this as a fabulous opportunity to give my incredible man a little gift. 

I made him this bracelet with his three favorite colors: red, blue and green. 

I added in the wooden bits as I thought they were very beach-vibey and he's an amazing surfer and beach bum just like me. 

I've also been working on my novel, The Other Woman, in which I have just finished the most amazing chapter! I am absolutely loving writing it out and have so much inspiration spilling out of me lately... I wonder why! Hehe

Lastly I've been dabbling in a bit of painting again too. Granted this piece has taken me freaking YEARS but I'm enjoying it when I do occasionally pick up a make-up brush (because I don't own any actual painting brushes.... nor can I afford them....) and put some paint to canvas:

Giggles:

Sam and I had lunch with his family this weekend and I decided to make them all a trifle. 

On the way to their house the trifle cream just kept thickening as we drove over every speedbump - until we ........ had a fight with the trifle.

The trifle won. 

September was such an incredible month for me - and I have no doubt that it is only going to get better as the year continues to fly by.

I am beyond blissed out and ecstatically happy.... and we are also booking our tickets to Bali soon for our holiday next year. 

Then these two surfing beach bums will be playing in the waves across the globe.

I cannot wait. 

Happy!!!

I am so happy, I could pop. 

That is all! 

Have a beautiful Thursday lovely bloggers!

Him....

I think the time has finally come to introduce you to the man that has been responsible for all of my happiness lately...

Allow me to to introduce...

Sam... my Robocop.

The waves to my ocean, 

the grapes to my wine. 

He is the wasabi to my sushi,

the tobasco to my bloody mary. 

and the tennis biscuits to my tea.

He is the snort to my laugh...

The reason for this smile on my face.

Blissed Out.....

I had the most amazing weekend with Sam. We spent the entire weekend together, completely and utterly blissed out.

I started coming down with the flu on Thursday evening and by Friday I thought  that I was dying. Even so, I drove through to George and met Sam at the ten pin bowling alley where I whipped his ass! We also played pool and that's where he whipped mine. In between it all we couldn't keep our hands off of each other and in the end got told off by the owner for inappropriate behavior in front of kids! We felt like scolded school children and couldn't stop laughing.

We had dinner that night at Cocomo's where we watched live music. He stood behind me, holding onto my waist and swaying along to the rhythm of the music. He even sang softly into my ear, "Cos I wanna love ya... and treat ya right. I wanna love ya.. every day and every night."

Which is lyrics from a Bob Marley song called 'This is Love.'

He actually sung it to me all weekend long and spoke about us in long term... saying things like he's going to 'get me' on April Fools Day, he can't wait to meet my family, inviting me to Mozambique for his 30th birthday, telling me how wonderful it is that we got together just before Summer starts, wanting to come to Bali with me next year and even telling me that he thinks we would make beautiful children!! 

It is moving incredibly fast but nothing has ever felt more right to me. 

He even got me a present. A bottle of St. Johns Wort which helps with anxiety, which he knows I suffer from. He is out of this world thoughtful - it makes me melt!!! 

We did get an unexpected visitor at his house on Saturday morning directly after I'd met his dad and his dads girlfriend. His ex who stays next door popped over to basically give us her blessing. I thought that it was really brave and nice of her - it really helped lift a huge weight from our shoulders. Now that the initial meeting is done things will only get easier. 

Saturday was amazing. He took me into a forest to look for mushrooms that we could add to a pasta later that evening but unfortunately none had grown yet. The drive itself was gorgeous though and we parked by two different bridges over a river to look at the views and just held and kissed each other on the bridges. 

When we went out for breakfast and beer later that morning after a little excursion to this beautiful view point called Map of Africa: 

And a drive to his families river house, I picked up a sachet of sugar from the table. 

I always love reading the quotes and messages on the sachets; but the one I picked up on Saturday was just perfect. 

Sam is a miracle. He is my miracle... and I am falling fast and hard.

I kind of cocked up when I met his dad again for the second time on Sunday morning as we were loading his car up with fishing rods and tackle though.
Sam had told me that his dad was entering his 60's, but he looks so young! Instead of wording it like that however, I blurted out: "You don't look old at all!" while nervously shaking his hand....!!!!
Fantastic.
Well done Jade....

Now, my mouth hurts from smiling so much - but it is so worth it.

Always Follow Your Gut.... Here's Why:

This is a really important post for me to share with you all, so please give it a read when you get a chance. 

It is so inspiring.

My hope is that it will help many of you who are currently facing big decision making:

Back in June, I had plans to move to a big city. Everything was all coming into fruition - I resigned from my job, started packing up my life; it was pretty much set in stone. 

Then suddenly, I had this overwhelming feeling of anxiety and nervousness. It felt like something was off. So I couldn't do it. 

It was one of the hardest decisions that I have ever had to make. That move would have altered my life permanently - and I had to give up some truly amazing things by not taking that plunge. 

The day after I was supposed to have started my long road-trip up to the big city, I attended one of my dearest friends (Mister Van's,) birthday party. This was another thing I was actually contemplating not attending because a major storm hit the town that day with gail force winds and floods. His party was held an hours drive from where I live so it was a pretty dangerous drive to be considering. 

I remember it like it was yesterday... I was sitting in the bath, getting ready to text my friend and tell him that I was sorry but it was just too risky to come. As I was typing the message, I felt this incredible force telling me I had to go come hell or high water. So I put my big girl panties on and braved the storm - scary shit. 

I arrived at the party and ordered a drink to calm the nerves - it was Fathers Day, a beautiful, stormy Sunday. 

I started playing Shut The Box (a bar board game) with some of the other party guests and mingling. Then, from across the bar, this absolutely gorgeous bearded fellow grinned at me and waved. 

He wasn't standing around anyone that I knew so I wasn't sure if he was with our group. I turned to look behind me to make sure he wasn't waving at someone else - when I saw that there was no one behind me I looked back to him and yet again he grinned and waved. 

To be honest, I found it a little weird. I wasn't sure if I'd maybe met him before while out - but he carried on waving... so I gave him a small, awkward smile in return and waved back. That seemed to make him happy and he turned away, back to his friends. 

Later in the day, I noticed that the fire was needing another feed of logs so I meandered over and plonked on a few logs. It was so nice and cozy warm there that I decided to perch beside the fire a while with my drink. 

Handsome bearded fellow took this as his window of opportunity and suddenly he was sitting beside me next to the fire. 

We introduced and fell into easy flowing conversation - then he invited me to come and sit with him and his friends and I, of course, accepted. 

Although he was supposed to be heading back home to have Fathers Day with his family, he couldn't leave after our introduction. We had an amazing day of non-stop talking and laughing - it was just so natural and felt so right. 

When we finally parted ways, we exchanged details and met up a few days later for a date. On the date, he blew me away. He was just so fun and easy to talk to. There was no awkward silences - we were just the perfect combination. 

Even so, we didn't see each other for about three months after that initial date . . . until now. 

Last night he asked me to be his girlfriend. 

I cannot begin to tell you how right it feels. I have this mass amount of trust and admiration for him. He is literally absolutely everything I have ever wanted and more. He's more than I could have ever dreamed of. 

Not only is he incredibly gentle and kind-natured, but he is humble and funny, genuine and talented too. 

He's a surfer, a musician, a martial-arts superhero. . .  he's beautiful and wonderful and I am just absolutely smitten. 

For the first time in a VERY long time, perhaps even for the first time, I have no doubts. 

I am jumping in with both feet because I feel this is it. 

Obviously, it is early days. We are taking things very slowly and naturally - but in my heart, I know this is something good.

This blog has pretty much always been based on a single girls life from a messed up love life to crazy all-nighter parties . . . and now, after four-five years of this blogs life, the writer is moving on. 

I Dig You

It’s the small things that count.

A tiny romantic gesture goes a long way, especially if it is so heart-meltingly adorable.

When I received an image of this:

I don’t think I stopped saying, ‘Awwwwwwwwwwwww,’ or smiling like a goof-ball for over 24 hours – and yes, they are just jelly babies on a plate spelling out, “I Dig You,” but to me, that is actually one of the sweetest and most amazing things anyone has ever done for me. 

He opened a packet of jelly babies and instead of scoffing them all (which he probably did afterwards to be fair,) he thought of me, wrote me a note and snapped a photo to send to me. It made me feel so incredibly special and happy - blush.

It is SO important to make someone feel special and do the littlest of things to let them know you care.

What’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for you???

Quote of the Month

I love quotes - especially the ones that truly stand out and are so easy to relate to. They are special, whimsical words of beauty and definition.

This quote is one I heard for the first time the other night and it has resonated in my heart ever since: 

This quote is perfect for everyone - it reminds you to enjoy every moment in life. 

Don't just focus on the end result because getting there is where most of the fun and life lessons lie. 

Addo Elephant National Park

I had the most wonderful weekend out in the wild, going on game drives where there was little to no signal. Every so often it is so good for you to deviate from the beaten track and get lost in the roads less traveled. 

Day One was scorching hot, I arrived mid-afternoon and ventured out on a game drive where I spotted beautiful and majestic elephants, eagles, tortoise, zebra, warthog and lots of buck. 

This is a photo of me introducing my nephew, Jenson (9 months old), to Pumba!

He was such a gem all weekend, laughing, smiling and giggling in between his adorably chaotic crawling EVERYWHERE!! Nothing is safe anymore now that he is officially mobile! Ahhh!

The elephants and the eagles really did steal the show for me this weekend. Both are creatures that I am absolutely fascinated by. 

Unfortunately we saw no wild cats; but on day two we did manage to spot black-backed jackal and hyena munching on stolen prey. 

I called shot gun with my mum while my brother, his wife and Jenson went in their own car... and boy did mum and I party it up in our vehicle. We're as bad as each other really!! Mischief I tell you. 

In the evenings once the gates to the park had been shut and everyone else had gone to bed, mum and I ordered bottles of wine, stole glasses and hopped down to the watering hole hoping to see animals drinking but alas, it was dead. 

It was really wonderful to bond with her again though. 

Our family has been through a lot lately and so it was lovely to forget everything and just let our hair down together.  

In the mornings we'd head over to the local grill and bistro and fuel up with some breakfast - Jenson having his mushed up carrots and butternut baby foods. I couldn't help but feel bad! 

I had to share this photo of Auntie Jade and her stunning nephew though - how freaking cute is he in his little stripey shirt and Happy Chappy cap!? 

My heart melts. 

Overall, it was just wonderful to break routine and escape out into nature for a while. 

I'm not the kind of girl that likes to be in big cities, in clubs and shopping malls and wearing bloody makeup and high-fashion all day, every day. 

I don't like sitting on a computer day in and day out - surrounded by drama and developing a seriously bad case of small-town syndrome. 

Escaping this past weekend really just fuelled me up in wanting to head back out there into the world again. 

I've been stuck in South Africa for a year now, which is the longest I've been without traveling in an incredibly long time and it is starting to eat away at my spirit. 

I've got a few ideas in mind - mainly being to save, save, save while working my butt off and keeping out of trouble and then heading over to India for a little trip next year for the Holi One Colour Festival (tick another thing from my bucket list!) in March. 

From there I'd come back and continue working and saving like mad until I have made a firm decision on where I want to move to for a few months and work overseas. That's been an idea of mine for a while now and the main countries that really appeal to me are Canada (one of the things on my bucket list is to learn to snow-board at a ski-resort there and work there while I'm at it! Lets face it, Canadian accents are beautiful, the country itself is beautiful and the people are renowned for being friendly, quirky and fun!), then there's Bali... my biggest dream in life (barring being a famous novelist!) is to go there and surf - be a beach bum for a while. Here I could teach surfing or English, work in a back-packers. I was thinking about it all yesterday and the thing is that in Canada, I know loads of people from really close friends I met while traveling through Europe last year, old school friends that have moved there since university to pursue musical careers, to amazing 'pen-pals' and blogging friends. Bali, I know no one that actually lives there but I know many friends of mine that go there often to surf and get away (lucky right???). This inevitably makes Bali slightly more scary for me as I'd be 100% alone - but it's awesome to have options. 

Lastly there is Australia. Again, I have not only friends from school and friends that I met while traveling through Europe that live there but I also have family. Family who have been so kind as to offer me FREE accommodation while finding my feet there. 

I don't want to choose a country purely based on accommodation reasons though - and to be honest, Australia, as wonderful as it is, wouldn't be number one on my list. 

My cousin that lives there has been giving me some amazing advice though... drilling into my head that if I don't get out of this small town and branch out, experience what the world has to offer while I am young and have nothing holding me back - then I will regret it... and you know what? He's right. I will. So I know I need to go. 

I was looking at my savings account as some sort of a security blanket and thinking how great it is to have all this cash saved up for if and when I need it but I could die tomorrow. Any of us could - and if I don't go and live my dreams of travel while I can, with the money I have saved, I'll always regret it. 

Someone very cynical told me that I won't have a chance to regret it, because I'll be dead (thanks for that.....) but I see it completely differently. 

So I can confidently say that I have made my decision. 

I will be going traveling again A LOT as of next year. A few more months of saving up to achieve this and then poof... I am off on a new adventure. Where to, I don't know yet - and that is half of the excitement. 

Day 26 - Last Time You Cried From Happiness #26DayBloggingChallenge

To take part in my 26 Day Blogging Challenge please follow the link below:

The 26 Day Blogging Challenge

Day 25 - Last Time You Cried From Sadness #26DayBloggingChallenge

The last time I cried from sadness… 

I don’t cry. I mean, I cry in movies and series - but not out of my own sadness. I guess that’s why it was really weird when I cried about a month and a half ago. There’s a video blog (embarrassingly enough) which is me crying and you know why? A guy. Again. 

Why do us girls do this to ourselves? We get so caught up in someone and give it our all - and then we get hurt. 

The last time I cried was when I was ‘dating’ this guy that lives in Australia. Things were really amazing between us - which is weird considering that I’d only ever met him once and then we just started chatting over facebook one day. We just gelled and quickly entered into an online romance. 

He told me that he had booked his airplane ticket and was on his way to visit me. He told me absolutely everything that I wanted to hear - small little things that just made me go weak at the knees. 

We’d chat every second of every day - and then one day, he just went quiet. It was about three days until I heard from him again and he apologised profusely, feeding me some story that he’d broken his phone. 

All was forgiven and forgotten. But then it started happening again and again. He’d just disappear for days but then just when I’d put my foot down and realise that enough’s enough, he’d come spiralling right back into my heart. 

Wanker. 

Anyway.. sorry. Had to say that. 

So one night I was out at a local pub with my best friend, Lucien. I was telling him how yet again Simon and I had not spoken in days. I logged onto facebook on my phone and saw that I was still facebook friends with him but he’d privatised all of his settings so I couldn’t see anything on his wall. To top it off, the relationship status was gone. I was so confused. I hadn’t even done anything. I only ever wanted to be there for him. We never had an argument, in fact every time we spoke it was always so happy! My cheeks would hurt from smiling so much and so did his, at least that is what he said. 

A girl needs clarity, you know? 

I get that it just didn’t work out and I’m fine with that - but an explanation would be nice. I’m the kind of girl that holds on to things. It’s not easy to admit that, but it’s true. I don’t know when to give up. A part of me will have these unrealistic, hopeless romantic fantasies that you’ll just come riding back into my life and we’ll live happily ever after. I guess that’s because I live in ‘la-la’ land haha but hey, at least I believe in love. 

I never loved Simon or anything. I’m hopeless at love and falling in love and all that crap. But it doesn’t mean that I don’t believe in it or don’t want it. Of course I want it. 

SO… while in the middle of the local pub with my best friend, the tears welled up in my eyes and next thing they were spilling down my cheeks. 

Luckily, Lucien is the best friend you could ever ask for. He always picks me right back up, dusts me off and makes me laugh. 

It was hard to get hurt once again - and there were a lot of tears for a few days… but, as much as I hate this quote, time really does heal all wounds. 

Now, I’m fine.

Just fine. 

Day 24 - Spiritual Moment in Your Life #26DayBloggingChallenge

This is a story I shared back with many of you in 2012. 

It was during an extremely difficult time in my life when I fell in love with someone that I couldn't have - because he was married. Before you judge me, just know that it is a long story. There are many layers to it in fact and rather exciting news - my second book which is based on the whole debacle is nearly finished!

Anyway, 'Married Man,' turned out to be a Christian. Ironic right? Haha I laughed actually just typing that. No wonder I'm so bloody cynical these days. Goodness me... 

Meeting God, for me, was more of an overwhelming, dizzied feeling rather than an actual handshake.

I had been on my bedroom floor, in an absolute state, crying. I hadn't know this guy was married when we met and it was as close as you can get to love at first sight.
See, I was in an abusive relationship at the time. One that my dad had to get involved in to get me out of. It's a really horrible, long story but when my book is complete you can order copies through me if you're interested?
To top it off I was head over heels for a man who loved me back but we couldn't be together because it was wrong. 
Married Man was on the phone with me, trying to calm me down during my breakdown (I think I'd just had my leg slammed in a car door or something by my ex,) and told me to just sit, breathe, close my eyes and think of God and him. He said he would pray while I was doing this. 

At first, this brought on more tears, but then suddenly it felt as though this essence, this out-of-world being wrapped me up into the most perplexing security blanket and I felt my head completely clear to the point of dizziness.

It felt, in an arbitrary way like some gentle but strong force was touching my forehead and with that, I wiped my tears, got up and somehow I had gained that extra strength I had needed to get me through the day.

It was by far the most surreal feeling I have ever encountered.