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My pasta made me cry…
The other night I made pasta for supper. Now this is not an uncommon thing, I mean, I am the self professed Pasta Queen of my family. But for some reason I started bawling my eyes out! My pasta made me cry… which is illogical, and one can only blame my female hormones for it. But, I confess, the pasta made me sad because…. it reminded me of my grandmother and how much I miss her.
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DIY nail art using koki pens
Thats right. I said koki pens. Firstly, do people still use the word “koki”? Coz suddenly I am feeling a bit outdated. Secondly, yes, you can use your average fibre tip permanent marker to bedeck your nails! Let me show you how in this very easy leopard print accent nail tutorial.
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“Being married sucks!” I told him
The other night, while in heated debate (let’s call it a heated debate, okay?) with my Hubstopher about something so mundane I can’t even remember what the topic was anymore, I said to him “I don’t know WHY people want to get married! Being married sucks!”
Yes, I said those words. Mainly to shock him into saying that he was wrong this whole time and that he can’t believe he has such a wonderful, beautiful wife. Instead, he fumed off and we didn’t speak to each other for the longest time.
Until it was bed time. Ah yes, then everything changed.
Why? Well, dear readers, because it’s Winter. And if ever there is a time that married folk enjoy the fact that they are married, it’s during those chilly Winter evenings. (Husbands and wives, hollar!) So that night, we got into bed (I promise, I’m keeping this post PG13) still angry, staying as far away from each other as possible, silently daring the other to as much as put a small toe on the wrong side of the bed! This lasted for all of 10 minutes until I felt Hubstopher slowly make his way over to my side. He snuggled up behind me and breathed a content sigh of “ahhhh, now I can sleep”.And that’s when I roundhouse kicked him, in the face, back to his side of the bed.
Bhaaaa who am I kidding, I let him snuggle. Nah, I snuggled right on back!As I lay there savoring the moment and falling asleep to the rhythm of his silent snores, I thought to myself: THIS is why people get married. Not for the companionship or the body heat. Though, those are definite pluses. No, you get married because you love this other person so much, that even if they made you super angry an hour ago, none of it would matter at the end of the day. Your marriage becomes your safe place and no matter how much your husband annoys the living daylights out of you (how does that work? I mean, what is living daylights anyways?) nothing is more important than having a right relationship with him and nothing beats having him snuggle up behind you at night.
So yes, marriage has it’s sucky times. Especially after you’ve had a baby, and everything changes, including your level of patience! (You can read more about that in an article I wrote for Lady Qs). Yep, marriage has it’s difficult moments where compromising feels like the worst idea in the world and having your way is the ONLY right way. It can get challenging when this other person does things differently to how you would. But it is there, in the mess of trying to make two completely different people live as one – in unity because they CHOOSE to be – where you will find the absolute sweet spot of a good marriage.
Needless to say, we woke up the next morning, and the heated debate had become a distant memory… unimportant… exactly what it was in the first place.
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Essence The Gel ‘The Oil Slick’
I was super pleased when our friends at Essence sent us a variety of polishes to add to this year’s #ECMeetUp goodie bags. It’s no secret, I am a huge fan of the cosmetics house and love their nail polish range. So I totally aaacked when I found their ‘The Oil Slick’ polish in my goodiebag. I really wanted that one. How’d it get in there? 😉
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Are you embracing your inner ‘psycho girlfriend’?
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably had your fair share of relationship dramatics. I mean, I don’t want to exaggerate or anything, but I’m convinced that my love life could, totally, be a whole season of 7de Laan. And hey, this is no shade thrown at my ex boyfriends. It’s not all their fault. I’ll admit, I’ve displayed psycho girlfriend tendencies on more than one occasion too (remember 7de Laan’s Tarryn?).
When I say “psycho girlfriend tendencies” I’m speaking about those feelings of ‘unloved’ or ‘unwanted’ or ‘not good enough’ one picks up after being hurt.
We all show signs of it on different levels. It can manifest itself in the forms of depression, low self-esteem, mistrust, manipulation or anger and it certainly makes you wonder if jumping into that relationship is such a good idea, after all. I mean, why risk entering a long-term commitment with the WRONG one, if it means toying with your emotional and mental stability?
Now I’m not here to make excuses, friends, but this is the reason why I plan to dissuade my kids from jumping from relationship to relationship. A string of failed relationships is the breeding ground for insecurities and perceptions that are probably as far from the truth as Tarryn and a GHD is. It is these very same negative perceptions that influence how you respond in your next relationship and eventually your marriage. AAACK.
Test the waters, they say. It’ll be good for you, they say.
Well, if I could go back in time and undo all the damage brought on by being in the wrong relationships, I would in a heart beat. (Sorry ex boyfriends. It’s not you, it’s me.) Please take this as a reminder that it’s okay to NOT be ready for that relationship. No matter how cute he is when he laughs.
My advice to you is to wait until you are ready. Have your deal breakers in place and be on high alert for those warning bells. Don’t give the ‘psycho girlfriend tendencies’ opportunity to manifest in your life! You hear me?! Whenever you contemplate giving your singledom away, for an unconfirmed frollick in the sun, picture me, with a police siren on my head and a loudspeaker to my mouth saying: “Step away from the ‘psycho girlfriend.’ I repeat. Step away from the ‘psycho’!”
At the end of the day, being happy – and I mean, truly happy – is an inside job. Find the one that complements you… not the one that completes you. Unless you’re into the whole psycho girlfriend vibe. In which case ignore this whole blog post.
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I’m sorry that I’m sorry
I’m sorry that I’m sorry… No really. Oh wait, I’m talking to myself again. Allow me to elaborate: Okay, so you know all those motivational mantras about being true to yourself, celebrating your strength and allowing your light to shine? Well, funny thing is, up until the other day, I kinda didn’t want to do any of those things. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever played a weaker role even though you knew that deep down inside, you’re actually flippen strong and capable of so much more than you are showing?
Whew, great! I’m not the only loony around here. 🙂
While having a heart to heart last week, a close friend asked me why I’ve stopped being… well… ME. The question took me by surprise but I knew the answer without having to think about it. The truth is this: I had become too aware of other people and their insecurities. And because I did not want to intimidate anyone or make them feel less than, I began compensating for what I thought they might be feeling. I tried to be less than who I am, because I thought that it was hurting other people. I made room in MY life for someone else’s insecurities.I admit, this was a known decision. It didn’t happen to me. Nope, I continuously chose to act weaker and more timid than I actually am. I mean, there were times where I PRETENDED not to know the answer to something, to give someone else an opportunity to have the upper hand. There were times where I played damsel in distress, so that I did not come across as self-sufficient/self-reliant aka powerful enough to get the job done. And there were times where I took a back seat because I was afraid that my awesomeness would make someone else feel less awesome… that my ability to do certain things well would hinder them and make them feel like they lacked something. We are all equal in God’s eyes. We were created each with our own personality, strengths and giftings. BUT, somewhere in the back of my spreadsheet brain, I began to feel guilty about mine.
Now, this may sound super humble and “oh someone, give me a Nobel Peace prize!” but it’s actually very egotistical and selfish. For starters, no one has ever told me “Uh Luchae, I feel like such a loser when you blah blah blah”. Where did I even come up with these things? Secondly, it’s quite a brain trip for me to realize that I thought that I could affect another person that way. Like, how evens? Get over yourself. And lastly, since when has it been okay to dull your shine? When you allow your light to shine, you give others motivation – permission to do the same. OR it helps them to grow.
So with that said, I look back at my previous stinking thinking and I know that it’s not the truth. It’s so absurd, if I think about it now. It’s NEVER OKAY to not be who you are called to be! In fact, it’s an insult to God.
And so, today, I urge you to be exactly who you are meant to be. No apologies. No excuses. You were born on purpose, with a purpose. Your talents are not coincidental. What a waste to put it in a drawer because of *insert dumb reasons here*. You are robbing yourself and others, when you dim your light!
Today, I dare you to SHINE! Sorry, not sorry!
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No time for the nail salon? Avon’s for you…
You know how you know your friends love you? When they get you the type of gifts that make you go “AAAAAAAACK!!!” really, really loudly. Well, that’s the sound I made when one of my close friends got me some totally fab Avon nail polishes as a birthday gift!
I was quite keen to try these out because, to be honest, I was like “okay, what do they know about polishes, like, really now.” When I think Avon I think make up and bath stuff. Not nails. The Avon Gel Finish polishes intrigued me even further with their 7-in-1 claims. They said that my 1 bottle of Avon Gel Finish will give me shine, gel-like finish, vivid color, base coat, top coat, protection and will act as a strengthener. My spreadsheet brain had to see for myself!
I got my nails ready and applied 1 coat of Avon Gel Finish ‘Roses Are Red’ – a pretty bright red polish. On application, I found the formula to be very opaque and not watery at all. The polish goes on smoothly and evenly and even though the box instructed me to wait for the 1st coat to dry thoroughly, before applying the next, I kinda didn’t because: mom life. It still turned out pretty good though, in my opinion!
The glittery accent nail is thanks to Avon’s Magic Effects polish. Yep, they are going allllll out with their nail enamel range! I likey alot! What I appreciated about this Liquid Sequin polish (aptly named ‘Sequin’) is that unlike other sequin/glitter polishes, I did not have to apply copious amounts of the stuff to get full nail coverage.
As you can see, I had a bit of “me time” (think: 10 minutes) so I could do some sort of random nail art there on the middle finger. It’s meant to be a glitter triangle. But hey, it’s art, interpret it as you will.
I am super impressed with the longevity of the Avon Gel Finish polish – it gave me a good couple of days without chipping. I am also impressed with the fact that I don’t have to apply top and base coat. This mani made me feel like I had just been to the salon. The polish’s dramatic color and shine is amazing and the gel look effect is excellent!
I’m excited to try out their other colors! What do you think?
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Come get your pack of new Pampers Premium Care nappies! {Giveaway}
So if you guys recall, Curly and I did a mini-experiment on the newest Pampers Premium Care nappies and made a video to show off our star-like qualities and also how amazing these nappies actually are. Curly has always been a Pamper’s babe, so we were pretty keen to check these out.
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Curly update: How to shine your light (with a needle in your arm)
Big smiles at Kingdom Kids sunday school (Photo: Tyio Pretorius Word of Faith SA) It’s Friday and I could not be more happy that this week is coming to an end. Our Curls had to go for blood tests again this week and as you know, blood draw days are MEH! But this girl has the “shine your light” super power, I’m convinced!
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Fried chicken and egg fried rice so easy my teen made it!
In a strange turn of events my game-head teenage son has decided that he wants to be a chef. Mama’s not complaining. I am ecstatic that the kid’s found something to throw his passion and ambition into. The other night he offered to make his “specialty”, fried chicken and egg fried, for supper. (Keeping in mind he’s never ever made this “specialty” before, so I’m not sure how it became his “specialty”).
