Respect is earned, not given. Get it?

Growing up, I was never surrounded by strong women. Instead they were too caught up in their misery. They allowed their problems overcome them so they became a mere shell of themselves. They, not once, thought about seeing the better side of things, nor did they seek to better themselves, their lives or skill set. To be in their company became (and still is) intolerable. They were the ones who wanted someone to swoop in and save them, to make their lives better.

No. Things do not work that way. Everyone is responsible for the choices they make.

“Never be a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of you future. You will never be the same,” wrote Robin S. Sharma in The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams and reaching Your Destiny.

Luckily, I have managed to find many strong women in my life as I got older. I admire them for their perseverance, their can-do attitude and their infallible resilience. I admire them for making me want to become a better person, to strive to do more and achieve more. From housewives, to singles, a few mothers, and even career women, there is something in all of them that screams bravery and courage. Yes, they come in all forms, and roles.

I feel privileged to have these women in my life to depend upon, and form a secure support structure. They are always there to lend a helping hand or simply answer any sort of query and share their infinite wisdom.

To these strong women who help mold me every single day, I salute you.

Who Would Have Thought?

It's been a strange couple of days...

The past weekend, I went to Sun City for work. I do not usually share stories about work but this experience is an exception to my rules.

The company I work for produced the Miss South Africa pageant, and televised it live!

I never before experienced the intensity of this sort of a production. I have mainly worked in print  media, but my current job combines online, production, and broadcast... all immensely busy platforms.

In any case, it was quite a hoot to see burly production guys cheer and jeer... for a beauty pageant. It was as if they were watching a sports match in a pub. They all had their favourite finalists, and some were surprised by the results. I never thought I'd see the day when men were invested in beauty pageants... and in fact, neither am I.

But, the thing is, when you work so closely on a project, you unwittingly become invested in it. We have been working on "The Road to Miss SA" from August 2013. And because it has been so long, you feel you have held the contestants' hands through their incredible journey. And I suppose that is the lure of reality TV, as fake as it is, audiences are still able identify with the characters.

The Year Of...

A few of the gorgeous mugs I received this year

If I could some up 2013 in a phrase, it would be the "Year of Mugs". Here's why:

When S.O and I moved into our new house, his sister gave us four mugs.
Mug tally: 4

Shortly after we moved into our home, the Sister-Person gave me a grande mug, with a lion on it. Why? Because I am a Leo.
Mug tally: 5

The S.O also gave me a gorgeous grande pink mug for my birthday, and so did one of my dear friends.
Mug tally: 7

When I went to Doha for holiday, I also got not one, but two beautiful mugs from my friends.
Mug tally: 9

And maybe this does not count as mugs, but when we once invited S.O's friends over, they bought us a set of six espresso cups. It is still something to drink coffee out of, so I am adding it to the mug count.
Mug tally: 15

Chocolate Monday: Week 15

The Significant Other's (S.O) aunt made this for me past weekend. How cute is it? So much so, my first reaction was: "That looks too good to eat!" Nevertheless I got over it and happily dug into my dessert. I even managed to share the saucer and the spoon with everyone... I suspect I was so touched I was left in a generous mood. ;)

Chocolate Mondays have been created to banish Monday Blues, or at least lessen the sting of a new working week.

World's. Largest. Chocolate!

OhMyGosh - I read an article about the largest chocolate sculpture and man, oh man, I want it now! 

Qzina Speciality Foods built it to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Read the article here on the Gourmet Guys website.  I love how they pay homage to the Mayans, and take into account the Mayan calendar too.

Excuse me as I wipe the drool off my computer.

**Still salivating though.**

PS: They may sign me up to 'destroy the structure' in December 2012.

Guest Post Chocolate Monday: Week 10

Image sourced here. 

The lovely Azra put up this pic on Facebook of a 5kg jar of nutella! Not even my best dreams make me this happy. It pleasantly haunted my memory (and taste buds) so I asked her to do a Guest Post for Chocolate Monday. She says:

"You have not lived until you've owned a 750g jar of Nutella... but a 5kg jar would also do! :)"

A gal close to my heart, that one. **Very content sigh**

Chocolate Mondays have been created to banish Monday Blues, or at least lessen the sting of a new working week.

Tag 1 of 2 - in recent tags

Raj  tagged me in the  7×7 Link Award. Thank you!

Basically, this is what needs to happen:

1: Tell everyone something about yourself that nobody knows.

2: Link to a post that fits the following categories: The Most Beautiful Piece, Most Helpful Piece, Most Popular Piece, Most Controversial Piece, Most Surprisingly Successful Piece, Most Underrated Piece, Most Pride-worthy Piece.

3: Pass this on to 7 fellow bloggers.

Right then, let me get to it.

1.
Hmmm...I almost studied Optometry instead of Journalism. I know, I know, those are worlds apart. Let's just say I had some family influence thinking I could do the former. Thank God I got back to my writing roots.

2.
Linking to these posts was more difficult than I realised. I have this blog since 2006 and by George, I cannot even remember what I used to post back then. It was also difficult to think of my blog posts in these terms too. Nevertheless I dug into the archives:

The Most Beautiful Piece: I hate thinking of my writing in these terms, but I really enjoyed writing this piece.

Most Surprisingly Successful Piece: Every damn year my parents have to remind me when I was conceived. Read that post here.

Most Helpful Piece: I like to to know everything about something I am interested in. And so it was with the Phantom of the Opera. Want to know more about how the story started in Paris? Read this.

Most Popular Piece: My most popular pieces in terms of views must be Chocolate Mondays. See them here.

Most Controversial Piece: I don't really do controversial.

Most Underrated Piece: I think this has to be it. Find it here.

Most Pride-worthy Piece: Again, it was difficult to think myself proud of my writing. However, I did feel proud of SA when I attended the opening of the Oprah Winfrey School. Read more  here.

3. 
Pass on to seven bloggers. Any takers? Especially if you have started thinking of your blog posts in these terms...go on and do this tag! Let me know.

A century of chocolate-ness

Guess what? The humble Oreo biscuit turns a hundred years old today! Happy birthday to one of the best treats around. These sort of chocolate related milestones should rightly be acknowledged and celebrated! :) Read the entire story and get great recipes on the Eat-In website.

That Oreo martini really catches my eye. Note to self to try and make it at the next braai*.

*Braai - South African term for the word barbecue. 

Chocolate Monday - week 7

I got this pic from S.O's* cousin. She had it as a profile pic on her BlackBerry Messenger. A girl close to my heart, she is!

As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect for me, this blog and Chocolate Monday.

Chocolate Mondays have been created to banish Monday Blues, or at least lessen the sting of a new working week.
*S.O = Significant Other 

Chocolate Monday - week 6

Godiva truffles - LOVE!

The Lovely Azra  brought this to my attention this morning on Facebook. Could there be a better start to the week?

Chocolate Mondays have been created to banish Monday Blues, or at least lessen the sting of a new working week.

Chocolate Monday - week 4

Dare I put this out there, but this has got to be the best. chocolate. Monday. ever! Okay, let me explain. S.O* and his family came over to talk about the wedding. Tradition dictates he give me chocolates for the event. He told me: "I bought your favourite chocolate." I asked which one and he simply said I will see it on the day. I didn't expect more that a box of Raffaelloes.  He walks in carrying the parcel below:

The parcel of chocolates from S.O and his family. 

A close up of the goodies. 

Unwrapped and ready to be eaten hastily!

Needless to say I was beyond pleasantly surprised! I mean, look at that beautiful bounty of all my favourites!  Oh my, oh my! I swear I will get into a chocolate induced coma quite happily. After he left, he told me: "Was going to put Nutella in there but know you have a tub so left it." Aw...


Now where do I begin?!


*S.O = Significant Other 
Chocolate Mondays have been created to banish Monday Blues, or at least lessen the sting of a new working week.  

If I could shut my brain down for a bit, I would

Recently, I've been irritable, listless and needing some down time. Work wise, I have not really taken decent leave since April 2011 and you know what? I think I have reached the end of my tolerance threshold.

December was a crazy, and I mean an absolutely insane month, having taken on some responsibilities of a colleague who had resigned, plus having had new tasks added to that. Burnt-out and frustrated, that is what I am. I am also so annoyed by how companies everywhere are treating employees in this current economic climate - it is really not fair! It makes me want to punch many CEOs!

I have been fantasising about taking leave from my life, even if it is for a short while. Venture off to an adventure where I am anonymous and not accountable. Dangerous, I know. But what is a gal to do? S.O* and I are hoping to set a date for a wedding in March next year - the families will meet this Sunday to discuss it. Yeah, that is how my little ethnic community operates. Sigh. We want to get a house and make it into a home. I want to begin our life, under our roof and I cannot wait for that. Yet, me and marriage go together like wearing a bikini in a snow storm. I feel I am going against my very nature. (If you need to remember just how much I am against marriage, read this post.)

My dreams have also been vivid and downright odd. I've been waking up long before my alarm, recalling them perfectly, only to fall asleep and have the dreams fall through my memory. That makes me sad. I remember one dream could have been a great fictional story and now I cannot bloody remember it. I wish I could kick myself at times.

I have also been reading a lot less that what I usually do. This is not because I have a low supply of books. No, it is because I am too tired in the evenings! When I do read, I manage a few pages, before I realise I am not concentrating and the book is falling out of my hands. Another reason to kick myself!

This post perfectly reflects my state of mind: scattered, unfocused and downright grumpy.If you managed to read it till the end, a huge congratulations to you. Thanks for lending an eye to my venting session.

*S.O = Significant Other

Show us the real Prixie, please!

Recently, I have been finding it very hard to stay up beyond 9pm. I start reading a book and not even 10 minutes later I am struggling to keep my eyes open. I fall asleep minutes after starting to watch a TV program or movie. 

I have noticed that since I stopped freelancing and got a full time job, my time for reading and other leisure activities has been greatly reduced and this is extremely saddening. Tiredness seems to be with me constantly...  maybe it because I wake up so early to be at work at 6am. Crazy, right? 

I actually hardly recognise myself any longer. Who is this person, working full time? Yawning most of the time? Paying off debit orders galore? And having so little me-time? Who are you and what have you done with Prixie? 

Chocolate Monday

It's been awfully hot recently - summer has definitely arrived. I think these chocolate coated kiwi fruit is a great idea, especially for these sort of hot days. Image found here.

Chocolate Mondays have been created to banish Monday Blues, or at least lessen the sting of a new working week.  

Don't you hate it when...

...you get into the bath and you realise you have left your towel in your bedroom. It happened to me last night, but luckily the Female Parental Unit (FPU) was at home and this is the conversation that ensued:

Me, screaming as if I was at a concert: "Maaaaaa! Maaaaaaaaaa!"
FPU: Yes?
Me: I forgot my towels. Please can you bring them?
FPU: Where is it? In your room?
Me: Yeah, the two pink ones!
I hear her going into my room, and then walking back to the bathroom door. Silence.
Me: Are you there?
FPU: Yes.
Me: Then you can open the door. Nothing you haven't seen before! (After all she is my mother!)
FPU opened the door a small bit, and threw in my fluffy pink towels.
Happiness!

Chocolate Monday

Picture found here. 

Chocolate Mondays have been created to banish Monday Blues, or at least lessen the sting of a new working week.  

Sharing the sunrise

Now that it is summer in South Africa, the sun is rising as I leave the house in the morning for work. Sometimes the sunrise is bleh, meh or simply stunning. Here is a picture of one with lovely colours that looks like it was soaked with the strokes of a happy artist.

Chocolate Monday

I am back at work after a four day weekend and feeling sorry for myself. This milk and biscuits picture is comfort food at it's best, which is really what I need at the moment. Picture found here.

Oh and as an additional note, Happy Halloween to everyone! And a very Happy-Would-Have-Been-Birthday to me. The Female-Parental-Unit's doctor estimated my date of birth as 31 October but I decided to pop out prematurely on 21 August. I think a Halloween birthday would have suited my personality much better though.

Chocolate Monday

This weekend we held a surprise birthday party for S.O's* mum. S.O decided to order this heavenly Ferrero Rocher cake - and he specifically asked for it to be eggless so I could eat it too! I cannot count the amount of times I fell in love with it.

Chocolate Mondays have been created to banish Monday Blues, or at least lessen the sting of a new working week.  
*S.O - Significant Other

A tale of two bags

This beautiful, old Kodak bag was brought to work by a friend of mine. It was her grandfather's camera bag and even though the camera now makes for a lovely antique ornament, she uses the bag for her hard drive! I was instantly taken by it. Inside the flap, there is a cursive, calligraphy handwritten date and initials: "M.D.H.B.M 1914". These sort of old items carry such stories in them, even if we are unclear of what exactly they are. It's as if older items develop a more interesting personality as time marches on. And that makes it's beauty multi layered, mysterious, rugged and alluring.

This is the satchel I won from the lovely Being Brazen and AlexandraKate. This gorgeous bag made my knees weak and captivated me the minute I saw it. I also couldn't help but notice the striking similarities between the two bags, though the latter is new and it's history - only just beginning.