Homecoming…

Four years ago on this day, I arrived back home to South Africa. One suitcase and 3 boxes later. I cried at Heathrow saying goodbye to friends and to the city which had become my home and love. Strange as this was the same picture roll back my life to December 2000, Durban International Airport. I left as an SA child and returned an adult from the UK.

My decision to come home was not my own but something my late dad wanted so as I booked that single ticket and packed my life into 3 boxes, never did I think, I would return back to SA on a permanent basis but I now know it was my Kismet. I returned just before my birthday month.

The first 6 months were awful. I was homesick for London, my friends and the life I had built there for myself. I felt a stranger in the land of my birth, everything had changed – friends were married, new places had popped up and most shockingly – my parents and gran had gotten older. I missed my carefree London days of using public transport and socializing.

Depression did start to set in. I lived for those London calls, messages and any reminder of my life in London. As an extrovert I found it very hard not having a social circle and not always on the go. So I started reading more, and spending time with family. I got to be home for the amazing World Cup and felt shivers run down my spine everytime I heard the National Anthem.

One of the major things living abroad does to you is that it makes you love the land of your birth fiercely. In 2011 dad was diagnosed with cancer and my life changed.

Looking back now, its very clear that I needed to be home. I started working short contract after contract and I worked with friends I studied with. Eventually my job began permanent.

In 2012 after Dad’s passing I started slowly expanding my social circle and entered the world of Social Media. In June 2012 I was approached by a company called My digital life to write blog posts. Me? Write? No way! But I tried and I loved it.

Six months down the line the site closed so I had no choice but to start my own blog and that was how https://spicegoddess.wordpress.com was born.

As I wrote, I found opportunities started arriving on my doorstep, social circle increased, Twitter activity increased as well as my Twitter following. It was here I discovered the Goddess within me who needed to pen her thoughts and share them through her digital addiction.

My humble blog has gained readership over time and often offered me a sanctuary to vent. I write because I love to, I share, I inspire and I create.

At the start of 2014 I promised myself I would blog atleast three times a week and I kept to my goal. Yes I am still in love with London and all my amazing memories BUT now I know there were reasons for me to return home.

Thank you to my readers, Twitter followers, Sue Levy and Rupasha who saw my passion for words and they nuture and inspire me to #Live2Inspire others, I thank you all with gratitude and love from every inch of my Soul.

I leave you with this Youtube Video … I’m coming home , I’m coming home tell the world I’m coming home my Kingdom awaits..

As I boarded that plane at Heathrow with tears in my eyes a heavy heart this song played in my head and I knew it was time to return home to my Kingdom as there was work for me to do…

Ciao xxx

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Girls Night Out…

Last night I won tickets to the Lux Girls Night out at the movies. I invited my friend Megan to join me. With my crazy work times and since Megan got married last year, we haven’t spent much time together.

We have a lot in common and can chat for ages. So it made perfect sense. We arrived early and chatted non stop on our way there.

Soon as we arrived, we popped into the new Filo Frozen Yoghurt shop and tried out their delicious offerings.

 

Then it was off to get checked in to the event – champagne and orange juice awaited us. We were treated to Lux goodie bags and had a dress up photo booth.

I, the typical poser had to do those pics. It was at this point we both realised we didn’t even know what movie we were going to watch. Typical us chatting – up a storm. We both were unsure about the movie “The Divergent” but were rather surprised and loved it.

The soundtrack is amazing with great eye candy and amazing ink work. Before the movie while sitting there stuffing our faces with popcorn, we recalled dramas and craziness from other movies that we had watched and were hysterical.

I totally loved my evening spent with Megan. It reminded me about friendships and several lessons :

1. Just because I don’t see/speak to you often doesn’t mean you are special to me.
2. Friends will always have your back regardless.
3. Only friends will fight to pay.
4. Friends are memorykeepers .
5. Friends care regardless situations.
6. Laughing and crying at the same time over crazy moments with friends.

Dearest Megan, I thank you for your friendship, care and advice. Strange that we gelled instantly at work with so much common ground.

Though we don’t see each other much I appreciate the time we do spend together.

Here’s to more days out with fun, laughter and crazy stories…

Hugs and Kisses V…

 

ciao xxx

When life gives you lemons…

This morning while getting my daily Twitter fix, I came across this blog:

http://adventuresofvictoriafolksy.blogspot.com/2014/03/when-life-gives-you-lemons.html?m=1.

Victoria  shared her story of what happened to her when life gave her lemons. It was such an incredible post that it got me thinking to pen down what I did when I got lemons.

My general line to complete the title of this post has been bring on the Tequila baby :).

On Valentines Day 2014 , I put on my big girl panties and acted like it was Leap Year. But the retard in tinfoil showed his true colours and ended up a hypocrite. So what did I do then…

1. Spent amazing times with my great friends who support, love and have left hand shooters with me at Friday night foam parties.
2. I started working with my great team of @ordinary_misfit and @NicolaLMeyer on planning the much talked about #DBNbloggermeet. This meant constantly emailing companies/brands and getting amazing companies on-board.
3. I blogged more and worked through these lemons by letting my words flow on a page. I even wrote 2 blogs for Women24.
4. I started to focus more on me and have started looking and feeling great.
5. The big girl panties moment has given me the confidence and courage to put myself out there.
6. I started a new project 🙂 which is undercover for now.
7. Reading has always been a hobby of mine but has been neglected so I started reading again starting with Carpe Diem or BUST by Cherie Roe Dirkson. Life changing book get it.
8. I harnessed the Goddess within me and started using her divinity to enhance my life.
9. Enjoying life at every given opportunity from family gatherings to watching Sharks plays from a box at Kings Park.
10. And then due to these Lemons my motto was born #Live2Inspire.

Thank you Victoria for inspiring this post and getting me to share what I did…

ciao xxx

Opportunities…

Most of you would recall I recently wrote my first blog post for Women24.

Last week I decided to work on a different piece which went live on their site today. I was unaware the post was even up and only did so when I got 3 beautiful emails from 3 strangers who had read the post.

The one that really touched was the lady who said I inspired her to mend her broken relationship with her dad. I felt very emotional reading those emails.

Writing the post took lots of courage and strenght, as yet again I bared my soul to the world.Check out the post and let me know….

http://www.women24.com/Wellness/BodyAndSpirit/Dealing-with-the-death-of-my-father-20140319

ciao xxx

Don’t date a girl like me who loves to travel…

As a blogger I spend time reading many interesting, funny and heartbreaking blogs from bloggers around the globe.My readers know I love travelling and have been bitten by the travel bug. I came across this awesome post that was so me yet funny and I knew I had to share it.This post has resonated with so many women around the world and has been translated into over 20 different languages including Spanish (EU & SA), Portuguese (EU & Brazil), German, Italian, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, French-Canadian, Dutch, Greek, Danish, Swedish, Croatian, Estonian, Russian, Czech, European Spanish and Thai.

Check out this blog http://www.lovethesearch.com for great posts .

So here goes :

She’s the one with the messy unkempt hair colored by the sun. Her skin is now far from fair like it once was. Not even sun kissed. It’s burnt with multiple tan lines, wounds and bites here and there. But for every flaw on her skin, she has an interesting story to tell.

Having been sunburnt in Jamaica has left me far from fair lol and yes I do have burns from cooking.

Don’t date a girl who travels. She is hard to please. The usual dinner-movie date at the mall will suck the life out of her. Her soul craves for new experiences and adventures. She will be unimpressed with your new car and your expensive watch. She would rather climb a rock or jump out of an airplane than hear you brag about it.

Yes I have a phobia about been stuck in a boring relationship not fussed what car you drive long as we can go on Roadtrips.

Don’t date a girl who travels because she will bug you to book a flight every time there’s an airline seat sale. She wont party at Republiq. And she will never pay over $100 for Avicii because she knows that one weekend of clubbing is equivalent to one week somewhere far more exciting.

Yes always reading travel section for deals dreaming and planning,yes I am not a keen clubber.

Chances are, she can’t hold a steady job. Or she’s probably daydreaming about quitting. She doesn’t want to keep working her ass off for someone else’s dream. She has her own and is working towards it. She is a freelancer. She makes money from designing, writing, photography or something that requires creativity and imagination. Don’t waste her time complaining about your boring job.

Yes yes I am working on been my own boss soon 🙂 and yes I am a freelance blogger.

Don’t date a girl who travels. She might have wasted her college degree and switched careers entirely. She is now a dive instructor or a yoga teacher. She’s not sure when the next paycheck is coming. But she doesn’t work like a robot all day, she goes out and takes what life has to offer and challenges you to do the same.

I started teaching Hospitality now Lecture Business Studies and now a blogger and Social Media fundi.No single day of mine is the same and often more than 3 jobs on a go.Love encouraging and inspiring others.

Don’t date a girl who travels for she has chosen a life of uncertainty. She doesn’t have a plan or a permanent address. She goes with the flow and follows her heart. She dances to the beat of her own drum. She doesn’t wear a watch. Her days are ruled by the sun and the moon. When the waves are calling, life stops and she will be oblivious to everything else for a moment. But she has learned that the most important thing in life isn’t surfing.

I have a permanent email addy if that helps lol.I am the Captain of my Soul so I dance to my own beat however I feel undressed without a watch.

Don’t date a girl who travels as she tends to speak her mind. She will never try to impress your parents or friends. She knows respect, but isn’t afraid to hold a debate about global issues or social responsibility.

Hmm what you see is what you get , everyones parents love me #TrueStory , Modern girl with morals and values, who can hold a convo about anything and everything.

She will never need you. She knows how to pitch a tent and screw her own fins without your help. She cooks well and doesn’t need you to pay for her meals. She is too independent and wont care whether you travel with her or not. She will forget to check in with you when she arrives at her destination. She’s busy living in the present. She talks to strangers. She will meet many interesting, like-minded people from around the world who share her passion and dreams. She will be bored with you.

Indeed I am independant and can look after myself guess living abroad does that to one.I do strike up random convos with strangers and am always meeting interesting people.I don’t need you but want you to share my adventures.

So never date a girl who travels unless you can keep up with her. And if you unintentionally fall in love with one, don’t you dare keep her. Let her go.

Been told I am addictive lol so can’t help if you happen to fall in love me, keep me but be prepared to Live Life to the fullest.

To my SuperHero/Superman are you willing to take the plunge and take a chance of falling in love with a girl like me who travels…….

Ciao xxx

Blessings…..

There is a very popular and famous saying that goes like” when one door closes and ten open for you”

The last week in the life of me has proven this tenfold.I am actually gobsmacked and still in shock as to all the opportunities and things that have happened to me.I actually even asked my cousin M to pinch me to make sure I was not dreaming. The opportunities that are coming my way are totally WOW and I will reveal all in good time.

When my life as a blogger and tweeted started , never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would have these opportunities coming my way. Through my social media contacts , I have made some very good friends who are so inspirational and support me and my work all the time.I actually feel so humbled knowing these people hold me in such high regard.

THANKS must go to the man above for affording me the privilige to surround my life with amazing people who bring with them kind words, inspiration and motivation into my life….

WATCH THIS SPACE:)
Have a blessed week ahead
xxx

This week

If this week of my life could be summed up it would be WOW. All sorts of amazing has happened. I will tell more in due time. I am mentally and physically shattered and yet I am wide awake.

Tomorow is another exciting day in my life, its Taste of Durban.I am so excited as I will be meeting so many bloggers there.Will be live tweeting the event @verushka143 and @themagnifyingg.

I need to sleep now 🙂 sweetest dreams my loyal readers

CIAO
XXX

Reason or Season?

Over the years life has taught me many lessons but one of the most valuable was about friendship. I have on my life journey met some really amazing friends but in reality and on social media networks.

The lesson I have learnt is that not all friendships are meant to last forever till I am old and grey. Some of these friendships believe or not have expirey dates and we should try and keep those that have expired.

People come into our lives for a reason or a season and once the lesson has been learnt they leave,but us as humans try and hold onto the person and ask questions and beg for that friendship.Over time I have learnt these lessons wisely and now if these friends decide it time to go I thank them for helping me on my journey with valuable lessons and say ciao.

But on the flipside some of the most amazing humans ever have enriched my life , held my hand and stayed through every storm and rainbow.

The lesson is learning to let go if its past its expirey date……

Keep Calm

Often life throws are curve balls and we find it pretty hard to cope with. A few weeks ago I was going through a very trying patch with the people in my life.My dearest friend M sent me this Keep Calm pic and I loved it. From the colour to the words it was meant for me. Sometimes its the little things tha make our heart happy. I often use my blogging as a platform to vent. Thanks M 🙂

Ordinary People

The world is made up of all sorts of people . In our journey of life we meet some really amazing people who inspire us ,care for us and most of all appreciate us.

And then we meet some monsters , people who are fake , self absorbed and just want to hurt us. These people use us emotionally , drain us and then toss us to the kerb like a used can after fulfilling their needs at that point in time. Its awful that these people have no heart and think nothing of hurting others. I have had my experience with many of these monsters who started off as Ordinary normal people but then mutate once we let our guard down and let them into our inner circle. They then show their true self once we let them in and this is very scary. I am so glad to have gotten rid off several of these monsters from my life .They drained me emotionally drained and sucked away all my positive energy. One monster I met in London really was one of note she always put me down, passed negative comments and used me luckily I escaped from her clutches and kinda disappeared into almost thin air where she could not get hold of me. She has befriended me of Facebook and tries to fish me for information on my life .But I have become wiser and I aint afraid of this monster no more , I offer very little information and often give her the silent treatment. Monsters however dont come in the female form only but male as well. The male ones are very damaged , looking to hurt and use others then turn their backs and walk away without turning back on the damage and destruction they have left behind. I had the pleasure of meeting one male monster last year and boy was he a work of art damaged and fake to the core. I was saved from his clutches and refuse to let him emotionally drain me again.

I firmly believe that we meet these monsters on our life journey to teach us lessons. Sometimes we feel so betrayed and hurt by these monsters that we cant see the true reason they are set on our journey.Life has taught me to be positive , be happy and rid these monsters from my life . I cant fix all these monsters with their damaged pasts cause some people are not meant to be fixed ……So instead I thank them for their life lessons and appreciate the amazings friends I have all over the world, friends who love, care ,inspire and support me .I AINT AFRAID OF NO MONSTER (sung in the Ghostbusters theme song lol)

So in the words of John Legend…..We just Ordinary People……we dont know which way to go …..