underwater holiday

Jayde and I went on holiday last week. I spent hours in the water, soaking up the sun. We might have soaked up the sun a little too much, our skin is definitely paying for it this week. 

Right before we went we got this fun underwater sony camera that sadly died the day before we actually NEEDED to use it. We went on a dolphin/snorkeling excursion and my camera died before I could prove that I got to swim with dolphins in a non-controlled environment but in the gorgeous, clear blue, Indian Ocean. It's okay, I'm not bitter or anything. It's just what ever person wants to happen on vacation the underwater camera doesn't indeed work properly underwater. (silver-lining, we replaced it but we aren't sure if it was a default or it's going to happen to the new camera.) 

Before the camera died we did take these fun underwater photos and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. They totally bring me back to warm water and clear blue seas. 

If only I could be a mermaid. 

Diy: Christmas Cards

///wrote this last christmas and completely slacked on it... what perfect time then now?

Every year it is the same drill. Christmas cards. I always decide I have to make them. While, every year it's the same thing. I procrastinate and everyone receives their christmas card a month late. (or not at all) It's the thought that counts, right ?

Also, I've been making it a point to stop hoarding as much.  As well as using what I have. A couple years ago, I was given some christmas paper. Let's face it. I would never use it for anything else. Also, I had some buttons that I knew I would never use and I didn't want to throw them away. So after some collaboration with crafting supplies sprawled out on Jessi's living room floor. I came up with some simple card ideas that repurposed elements I wasn't 100% thrilled with but now LOVE them.

Enjoy. 

Boston: The Magical City

Okay, okay.

Boston, magical? 

Yes, Boston is a historically enriched city. It is also a beautiful beautiful city and the surrounding suburbs lead you to enchanted woods and hidden railroad tracks. 

I've had the best time with my friend Ashley. 

I landed back in the United States on Wed., September 11. Ash sent me on a wild goose chase with all my luggage taking the bus and walking blocks with a huge suitcase and backpacker's backpack. The chase left me at the Thinking Cup for hours. But it was great to finally be able to sit and kind of just turn my brain off. I had kind of an overwhelming emotional almost meltdown  once I landed and the first thing I saw was the American flag and the questioning,  What the hell am I doing here? 

But once I saw Ashley I knew we were going to have a great time. But had no idea how amazing of a time we could have in just 2 days. We've had no agenda that's taken us to the most amazing places. 

I remember on Thursday at the end of the day, I was laying on the floor saying this was the best day ever. This was the most perfect 24 hours. But in return, it became the best 48 hours. 

Day 1: Amazing Omelets, Walden Pond, Swimming, Traintracks, Flower fields, Peach Berry Ice-cream

Day 2: Cambridge, SOFRA Bakery, Sesame  Latte, Harvard Bookstore, The Garment District, Beautiful Vintage Skirts, Flour Bakery and Cafe, Rain,  Indian Food 

Now, I'm going to overwhelm you with photos. Enjoy.

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Spring is springing.

It's amazing how the the changing of weather can add the little spring in your step even when nothing else has changed. I found a new spot that I'm pretty much in love with. It's this secret garden place. It's one of those hidden gems on the side of the road in honeydew. With a sign saying "Second Cup Coffee." on the left. Jayde and I found this gem a couple months ago but it was one of those quick trips and then we explored it again when he had a day off recently, then I expressed my love of the place to Lucia and we went again. It's a little garden village, and every corner you turn, behind every tree there is a new surprise. Small boutiques, art studios, coffee shop and restaurant, small little bookstore with classic and afrikaans books, a flower shop, the list is endless. There is the cute little craft antique store that has all things that I make me happy.  Needless to say, I'm in love. It's a beautiful little gem. 

side note: I finally got the beautiful mess app. I'm in love. Has anyone else gone crazy with it yet? 

ps. how amazing is this photo? I might be disowned after. 

Children and Silence really don't mix.

Living in a household of three girls all under the age of five is an adventure. They follow you around, get in all of your things and are constantly in your business. Privacy doesn't really occur to them. They are constantly laughing, screaming or crying. Silence doesn't ever really exist. UNLESS.

Yes, for all those mommies and nannies, you know the unless.

Lucia, sickly Kayla and I were watching The Mindy Project and Up All Night  I heard silence. My first response was to say something but I thought it was just my paranoid self. After catching up on the episodes it was time for the girls naptime.

Lucia goes into the girls' room and all of a sudden Lucia mumbles something and then there is more silence followed by, "Sam come in here."

I quickly scamper into the girls' room and see white. Not just a little it but white everywhere. It was almost like snow but without the cold. Josslyn decided that she would a)put every single toy in Vida's crib and b) use 1 1/2 bottles of baby powder on everything and yes, everything.

After moments of trying not to laugh, I finally ask Joss, "What made you think pouring baby powder over everything was a good idea."

Her response, "My heart told me to do it."

Then she progressed to explain to me that there was no other option because of her heart.

She is three.

Being a tourist, finally.

Yesterday was good. Not just good but great.

I finally felt like a tourist in the city I live in. Not the annoying kind but just truly curious kind. I had the perfect excuse too. My friends, Debbie and Paul, from Scotland were visiting a township in the area and had a day to spare. Luckily for me, they spent it with me.

I managed to convince Jayde to take a half day as well. I'm so glad he could take off work. I went to the embassy earlier in the morning and killed a couple hours in Sandton at Nelson Mandela Square. I went into a store and spent money I didn't mean to. So, after decided to kill time in a coffeeshop and grab a sandwich to keep myself from the temptation of spending unnecessary money.

After a couple hours, Jayde, Debbie and Paul picked me up and we went on a whirlwind tour of Johannesburg. We went over the Mandela Bridge and headed to Newtown.

Newtown was pretty dead on a Monday but Paul got some much needed fried chicken to make it worth our while. Newtown is a really cool part of the city. It's filled with history, old buildings and is known for it's artistic culture and museums.

Then we went to braamfontein. I like braamfontein a lot. It's filled with lots of little coffeeshops and boutiques. We went to one and I can't remember the name for the life of me but we all got the daily brew which wasn't coffee at all but a mix of mint + honey + lemon + one other ingredient that has left my mind blank. The shop designs of the area are so fun and colorful. Very much the minimalistic style.  Also, my kind of style. My next goal is to head to braamfontein on a Saturday to check out the Neighbourgoods Market.

After we got our architectural and coffeeshop kicks we went to the Johannesburg Botanical gardens. Despite it being winter right now, it was actually a perfect afternoon to take a walk and explore nature.
The botanical gardens have a lot to offer and my personal favorite. The rose garden with perfectly placed benches to take the beauty in and smell the aroma.

It was a great day and we ended the night with sitting down for dinner, drinking sangria and chatting the night away until we had to depart from our friends.

Although it was a whirlwind of the city, I'd say it was a pretty successful Johannesburg in 24 hours.

Independence Day

To all the American's out there, I'm hoping you're Independence day was fabulous and you had glimpses at how lucky you really are. Aside from all the negative of the country and silly politics and scandals. There is something we still have in some fashion or another. Freedom. I hope you're wearing that. Because aside from it all, we're still luckier than most. 

America makes prodigious mistakes, America has colossal faults, but one thing cannot be denied: America is always on the move. She may be going to Hell, of course, but at least she isn't standing still. 

e. e. cummings 

Okay, I'm finished with my rant. 

Living in South Africa, I'm not without anything, really. But you start missing familiarities or certain ways of life.  For instance, I miss sno cones, ranch dressing and marshmallows. Strangely enough South African marshmallows tastes different. You start missing all sorts of things you never thought you'd miss.  Silly, things like knowing that if you left your cell phone at a restaurant there is a 95 percent chance that someone would turn it in. It's that mindset that you start missing. Not that it doesn't happen in America. But maybe I'm just more blinded by it. 

I'm sure I'll compile a lis sooner or later.

Have a safe weekend. 

Breakfast Diaries: Eat Cake For Breakfast

#eatcakeforbreakfast 

I have a sweet tooth. Not really any old ordinary one. I have a cake obsession. For my 23 birthday two friends of mine baked me 23 cupcakes with the big muffin pan. Within 36 hours, I ate the majority of the batch. I shared a couple. The year before, another friend baked me a cake and I hate the entire thing within 24 hours. Would I consider this a problem? Not really. I also love everything breakfast. Why not mix the two? I've been noticing a trend that's catching on. Kate Spade has some of my favorite accessories for my favorite philosophy. I decided to compile an inspiration board for the cake lovers out there. Enjoy.  

my lovely friend ashley baked the above cake for my 25th birthday. Chocolate cake from scratch with cute little flag bunting on top. It was scrumptious. She surprised me when she picked me up from a flight, then I had the cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Then she snuck some in a paperbag with other goodies for my flight to South Africa. She knows the way to my heart. 

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natural remedies, not so naturual remedies

Organizing: mind, spirit and life.

Do you ever have the problem to where you have one thing churning in your mind?  

You want to release it but lack of energy, motivation, or even tools seems to win. Then in conjunction, corresponds with the rest of your ideas, existence, or being. That this one thing manages to manifest into the simple, less thought-provoking things and that fixation that you still haven’t done the one thing you were wanting to do in the first place hasn't been done. Yet somehow,it effects the day-to-day and everything else manages to be placed on the back burner.

That’s how I feel with most aspects in life. Not just metaphorically but the physical, the spiritual, and the emotional.

I decided to put the one big thing that’s been churning at me, the one thing that I want to get out and explain, I decided to take the pressure away and start working on the little things.

Besides, isn’t it the little, small things that begin to add up? It’s the small things that become overlooked until we’re drowning in small issues and tasks that just originally needed to be pruned and maintained a bit. But they add up, and then restoration has to happen. Often times stripping the entire piece just to get to the core of what it is and start over.

Wow, I wasn’t intending to pour all this out.

I wanted to take the time to show you some of the details in my room in South Africa. Nothing fancy, just a couple visuals. 

please note the crooked lamp. it just doesn't want to stay straight. 

some random crafting + painting. had some bad dreams one night and decided to paint a dream catcher. 

postcard from time spent with my friend ashley in boston + a note for Jayde's wallet

tink the cat + perfect window lighting