June Shoes of the Month

Red used to be the one colour that I couldn't stand. It's odd because it is also the one colour that my mother kept on begging me to wear back in the day - telling me it looked so good on me.
I never agreed.

I can't really describe it. To me, red is just such a harsh and bold colour and I tend to lean more towards earthy shades. Browns, greens, oranges and of course I love my black and whites.

Lately though, red has started to spark a bit more of an interest in me.

They say that if you put a beautiful woman in a white dress and send her strutting down the street, she'll not turn nearly as many heads as if you put the same beautiful woman in a red dress and walked her down the same street.

Red is striking. It oozes self-confidence and sex appeal. Which, as a singleton of today's world.. you need, right?

Today I am wearing these sparkly pumps. I'm also wearing a red button up shirt. Who would have guessed?
I love absolutely everything about these new pumps of mine. The bow. The sparkle. Even the colour.
It isn't a bright red - I'd say it is leaning more towards the maroon side, which is one of my favoruite colours.
It's deep and it's dark and over all the style is completely me.

These shoes are available at Mr. Price for an absolute bargain of under R 100.00 in South Africa.

As many of my regular readers know by now, I am trying to grow my shoe collection by buying one pair of shoes every month - but, at the end of the day, I'm always happier barefoot... especially now with my new tattoo. 

Have a fabulous week ahead stunning people.

I may go a bit quiet over the next while or so. I have a fair bit on my plate. I'm just about to finish my university degree and qualify as a journalist - finally! I'm also flying through writing my second novel, which I'm dedicating every waking and breathing second to. On top of all that, two of my dearest friends will be leaving little old Knysna this week... for good. It's going to be painful to bid them farwell. Goodbyes are never easy.

There's one quote that I'm trying to keep in mind here:

"New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings."

I'm very happy for them to be spreading their wings and venturing out into the world and at the end of the day, it doesn't matter how far apart you are from your loved ones, true friendships never die.

May the Hangover be with You....

Good God......why am I up so early? It's Saturday morning, in the middle of an icy winter and I literally had to defrost my hands this morning. Have you ever been so cold that typing becomes painful?! To top it all off, my head is banging...

Let's compile the facts:

• Yesterday was Friday.
• There was a farewell party.
• There was also a live band... with saxophones, flutes, keyboards and incredible vocals.
• Unlimited shots.
• A mixture of brandy, vodka, ciders and wine.
• Breaking it down on the dance floor.
• An unexpected mad hatters party.... again. In someones mansion. No lies. AND... Somehow, someone managed to put permanent red lipstick on me and now I have these really odd bright red lips that I can't get rid of!
• 2am drunken texting and video calls.... I need a better password on my phone. One I can't spell when intoxicated. Any suggestions????
• A God awful alarm clock jolting me out of my peaceful slumber (ok I lie... I passed the F out when I finally hit the bed!!!) at some unruly hour this morning.

Work. That's why I am up.

Work I tell you.
On a Saturday.
With a mean ass hangover. 

Here's what we got up to last night 

(pre-warning.. the majority of the below photographs are horrendous)

How was your Friday?? Are any of you joining me on the hangover train this morning?? 

If so, how do you intend on recovering?? 

As for me - I have the kettle on the boil. I'm making a strongest cup of coffee I think is humanly possible - and then I am going to shove cake in my face. This cake in fact:

If that isn't a hangover cure... then I don't know what is.

Then, at some point in my life... I should PROBABLY go on a detox. 

But considering it is Saturday..... I may just be inclined to open up another bottle of red and share it with some good friends. 

Maybe even go horse-riding. 

Gate crash a mansion... 

Do sun dance. It's like a rain dance, but praying for sun and warmth... because without it... I may just die. 

Here's to being barefoot and crazy with weekend madness with all your chums. 

Have a goodie beautiful people xxxx

Cherry Blossoms

Fathers Day was this past weekend and I decided to do something particularly special for my good old papa bear. 

Cherry blossoms symbolize mortality. 

Over a year ago, my dad became very sick. He has been suffering with Tuberculosis, osteoporosis and emphysema not to mention the black spots on his lungs that he is refusing to get checked out (and to top it all of he still smokes!). 

With my dad being as sick as he is and giving us all regular scares with his health, I thought that cherry blossoms would be quite fitting... for more reasons than one. 

I have been thinking about getting this tattoo for him since he first became ill.

Not only do cherry blossoms symbolize mortality, but they also symbolize how beautiful life is. 

These Chinese flowers bloom for 1 day and within those 24 hrs they become the most stunning flower; making the most of the short time they have in this world.

To me, that is exactly what my dad does. 

He is the most amazing man I know. He is beyond strong, stubborn as all hell and probably the funniest guy I have ever met. 

His determination and love for life is beyond admirable. 

So although my father was less than impressed with the new addition to my body, it was for him. 

My dad is my everything. 

My family, my love, my life.

I look up to him. I respect him.

I am proud to be his daughter. 

(please note that from all of the tats that I have... the foot is by far the most painful!!! But that being said, the pain is temporary... the tattoo is forever):

 This is how my tattoo parlor visitation went, it's hilarious because it is like watching a video... watching the pain slowly creep up!

 

 Oooo... felt that dude.

It was so worth it in the end. I absolutely love my new ink.

I never thought I'd get a tattoo with color in it purely because what happens if you get sick of the color? Or want to wear something with it that clashes with the color!? I still have no idea how I'll face that debacle but for now, it's busy healing up and I'm in love with it.

It is and probably always will be strange to know that this body art is with you for the rest of your life. While I was busy getting it done I was chatting to the artist about it and he actually had some amazing points to make.
People always say how permanent tattoos are and that they are scared of them but the truth is that tattoo's are the most temporary form of art! Once we pass on. that tattoo will be gone with us. It isn't like the Mona Lisa. You can't restore it thousands of years later or store away safely.

I've always lived with one simple thing in mind... your body is your canvas. It is an expression of who you are. Tattoos should be about the things that are the most important to you and your life - judgmental people who don't agree with them don't matter. It isn't for them. It is for you.

Be different. Be you. 

Never let someone else in life fan out your flame. Dance proudly on your short wick of life - vibrant and bright!

Have you guys got tattoos or are you planning to get any?

I'd love to hear what they mean to you. 

Thursday's Trio of Blessings

Where are the weeks going? I can hardly believe that we are now halfway through the year. Is it just me or is time just going too fast? So much has happened in my life that I wish I could just step back and process it all; but time and life stops for no one. You just have to keep carrying on. 

Today is another freezing day, grey and stormy with trickles of rain running down my windowpane. I haven’t slept since 3am. By 4am I finally kicked off the blankets and padded downstairs to boil the kettle. With the storm being so loud it was impossible to drift back off to sleep - so instead I put on Bones season 8. I am a few episodes away from finishing the season - which is excellent by the way. 

While writing this Thursday’s Trio of Blessings I honestly wasn’t sure if it was hard or easy to choose the three main points to mention. I’ve decided that to focus blessings on purely one day is way too hard. Instead I’m going to focus on three blessings that have happened throughout the course of the week from one Thursday to another. 

So here we go, another Jade’s Thursday’s Trio of Blessings posts:

Blessing One:

Walk With Me, my very first novel, has now started to be distributed into the homes of my friends and family. Copies have been shipped off all over the globe. 

It’s an intensely scary feeling knowing that your work is suddenly out there, breathing its own life. After all these years, I have finally kicked it from the proverbial nest and am letting it build it’s wings and fly as it falls into the hands of the readers. 

Already I have had the most wonderful feedback. 

I guess the most frightening part about writing a book is knowing that it obviously won’t be every persons cup of tea. My book has fallen into the hands of equal amounts of men and women which is great although I do feel that the men won’t thoroughly enjoy the chick-lit type of writing that I am automatically drawn more towards. 

I’ve asked each person to write a small review on the book once they have finished it - that’s probably the most exciting part. I’ve asked them to be open with me and tell me the good, the bad and the ugly about it. How else do you grow and learn? Constructive criticism is so helpful to us writers out there. 

In the batch of books I currently have printed I have 7 copies that are still available. 

Should any of you wish to make an order - please see below the details:

Place your order by either commenting below or preferably popping me an email as I will need a postal address to send the book to you. 

The book is R200.00 - depending on where you are in the world you can convert it into your specific currency from ZAR (South African currency).

Once I have your postal address I will request quotes to courier the book to you and quote you thereafter. 

Payment will obviously have to be done via EFT and once it reflects, the book will start its journey to you!! 

If you are a book reviewer - I would love a link to your website and would love to get in touch with you about reviewing my book. 

OK so with that bit of writers business out of the way… here is…

Blessing Two:

As I am sure the entire world knows by now, the FIFA world cup has begun and the festivities are ginormous! 

I have been having the absolute best time with my very best friends cheering and watching the matches, cooking dinners and getting merry on red wine in front of the crackling fire place. 

As of next week I won’t be seeing much of these guys anymore - as there will be a huge physical distance between us. We will all be in different cities - so we are currently just enjoying the last few days of our time all together. 

These people in these photographs are the most special and wonderful people I know. They have the warmest and kindest hearts and are just the most precious people in the world to me. 

It is so important to acknowledge how blessed you are to have the friends you have in your life. 

Blessing Three:

I just realized that it is one week until pay day - thank GOD. 

What were your blessings this week? 

Have a fabulous day lovely readers. 

Jadie's 15 Minute Meal | Steak and Humas Tortilla's Infused With Spicy Jalapeno's and Other Crunchy Greens

This is such a wonderful meal whether cooking just for yourself or for a dinner party

It is literally effortless - quick (15 mins) and probably one of the tastiest yet simplest dishes I know. 

Here are the ingredients that you will need in order to make this dish: 

• Tortilla Wraps
• Steak
• Light Soya Sauce 
• Terriyaki Sauce
• Rice Wine Vinegar
• Cucumber (finely sliced)
• Spring Onions (finely sliced)
• Jalapeno Chillies (Diced)
• Humus

 Step One:

 Combine your light soya sauce, terriyaki sauce and rice wine vinegar into a bowl. Cut your steaks into strips and coat them in this marinade for as long as possible. 

It is hard to say how much of each sauce you need as it completely depends on how many people you're cooking for etc. Just make the marinade to your liking - I never measure things if I can help it anyway! I just lug sauces and spices into my dishes and hope for the best! It makes it interesting and fun.  

 Step Two:

Thinly slice your cucumbers and spring onions. Dice your jalapenos. Set these ingredients aside to put onto your tortilla wrap later.

  Step Three:

 Spread humus onto your tortilla wrap with the back of a large spoon. Using the back of the spoon makes it easier to spread out. 

Once the humus is on, scatter on the cucumber and spring onion sticks in the middle of the wrap and sprinkle the diced jalapenos on top.

*Optional: Should you wish the warm up your tortilla before hand then place it in a large, dry pan on low heat for one minute on each side. 

  Step Four:

Cook your steak to your liking - this should take no more than five minutes.

  Step Five:

 Place a few strips of steak on top of the greens in the middle of your tortilla, roll your wrap up making sure to tightly tuck one end of the wrap into the middle. 

There you have it. The perfect recipe when cooking for one, when cooking for a dinner party; when cooking for any occasion. 

Enjoy it.