Saturday was the 1st Durban blogger meet for ladies. I worked with the amazing team of Michelle and Nicola in arranging this very successful event which Trended in SA on Twitter.
The event was held at the uber trendy #Hashtag. I decided to just share a few pics. Full blog posts will follow shortly.
A great day of fun,amazing food seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
April is my favourite month of the year as its my birthday month and my gran’s too.
I am really looking forward to my amazing month and all the adventures it brings with it. For some reason I feel this birthday is going to be rather spectactular.
Helllo April, my BFF, I been waiting for you since last year and now you are here. I know you have amazing adventures and surprises for me this month.
I can’t wait!
Welcome and cheers to a great month of love, laughter,happiness, fun and surprises…
Ciao xxx
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
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 :
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
In December during the time of Madiba’s passing, I came out of the movies to find a most interesting email. The email was from a lovely lady who contacted me via the blog posts I had written for my dear friend Sue Levy. The email was praise for my writing especially the post Forgetting Fear.I was asked if I would be interested in a book by Cherie Roe Dirkson called Carpe Diem or Bust.
My response was immediately “yes” and this started a beautiful friendship between R and myself which has blossomed over emails. I now consider R my big sister as I don’t have one. So today I finally got around to paging through this book I was gifted.
I paged through the book today and instantly I was drawn to this :
The post is called “Stocking your cupboard with Happiness”.
1)Loved ones – think of all the people in your life that make living a joy.Picture their happy smiley faces and feel the effect of their love in your heart centre.
2)Play music – listen to your favourite songs that make you happy.
3)Precious memories – bring out old scrapbooks/albums. Remind yourself of how many moments you have had in your life that were full and extraordinary.
4)Encounter animals – Cats balance your aura by their purring. Pets lift our spirits.
5)Nature – go be in Nature, its calming, grounding and balancing and its FREE.
6)Count your blessings – all our basic needs of food, shelter, clothing and a healthy body are things we take for granted but we should count these as blessings.
7) Laugh your head off – watch a comedy as no one likes a sour puss so make sure your face is creased with laughter lines.
After reading these 7 pearls of Wisdom I am defo going to be stocking my cupboard this week with happiness. All of the above are so easy to do.
Thank you my sister R for gifting me this book and sharing this recipe for happiness. I hope you follow my example.
Ciao xxx
Well, as all of you know, I am a hopeless romantic and also not very lucky in the department of love. So I was quite taken aback last weekend when a male friend asked my help on Dating advice. Yikes here’s me who completely read the retard in shining tinfoil incorrectly but oh well let’s see. The 1st question I was asked was my thoughts on Dating Sites..
Well been there done that got the Tshirt but its not for me, I did suggest to the friend to sign up on one of them and give it a try, I mean you never know. So the friend tried this but was not to impressed with the sites. And then came question two: How attractive am I ? (From a ladies point of view) and what can I do to improve myself ??
Before I continue, here is a lil background on the friend. He is well educated, easy to get along with, able to hold conversations, dresses well, enjoys good food and wine. I mean, he has a lot going on but for me I think its his self confidence.
So my mission for March is going to help my friend boost his confidence and hopefully find a gf 🙂
Wish me luck!
Ciao xxx
Well second month of 2014 with fewer days you proved to be rather interesting. It was the month I changed the type of posts I wrote, taking on a more personal approach. I shared a very personal post in Love Actually and Comfortzone).
The last few weeks have been totally busy working on #DbnBloggerMeet with my amazing team of Nicola and Michelle.
This month also held the launch of the @IluvDBN media launch of #welovedurban campaign and included in this month was us nursing Gran and Zara back to health.
As I write this post today I feel :
Thank you Love Month for your life lessons and amazing opportunities.I look forward to Marvelous March and all the wonderment it holds.
Ciao xxx.
How has love month treated you ?
In keeping with the theme of Love Month and all my personal dramas that went down , I decided to explore a different train of thought. After re reading my favourite book I thought “arranged marriages”.
Instantly I know you are cringing reading this BUT, stop and listen to what I am getting at. Traditionally in many Eastern cultures and religions, arranged marriages are the norm where the bride and the groom literally meet on the day of their wedding . These matches were made by parents and astrologers. Most of these marriages do actually work as a suitable spouse is found for you according to your background – but not always. Love marriages on the other hand.. well, they too go 50/50 in terms of working.
Mum always says “What happens when love flies out the back door ?”.
So all this got me thinking, here’s me, 30-something , returned from London 4 years ago, don’t have a big social circle and not into clubbing. I work odd hours – 12 midday to 7pm and work in an environment that doesn’t allow me to meet anyone suitable. Everyone I know is married, taken or gay lol. So how does a single girl meet a decent single guy??? Yes I have tried online dating. It’s rather scary with plenty perverts with fake profiles.
Then I thought why not consider arranged marriage with a modern twist.. Who knows us better than anyone else??? Our friends and family – they know our likes, dislikes and our dreams so why not ask them to be matchmakers? They would suggest potential suitors for you to meet for coffee and prior to this would be calls and emails and then its up to the couple to pursue this match or not.
So no its not arranged marriage but arranged dating. I am rather open to this option 🙂
Anyone out there will to take on this challenge and help me in my quest ?
Ciao
So on this day of love, I decided to be real brave, put on my Big Girl panties and pretend its Leap Year.
It took a lot for me to do this as after my last serious relationship I shared with my readers in Love Actually, kinda left me damaged. So I decided to, throw caution, do the wind and ask.
Well it was not the response I expected as there were so many signals since December but alas, my judgement was so off radar.
So its time to regroup, refocus and get rid of this retard in tinfoil trying to be a knight in Shining Armour.
Lesson of the day: If you don’t get out of your comfort zone and pull on your big girl panties, you will still be mesmerised by the retard in tinfoil trying to be a Knight in Shining Armour 😉
ciao xxx
It always baffles me that the English Language has only word to express the word Love yet the Greeks and Indians each have over 5 words each.
We each experience different kinds of love in life…. For me personally, Love manifests itself in my life like this :
All 5 are so different yet have the common thread of Love binding them together. Love is a verb and is definately more than a feeling. Go out there into the world and Try to be LOVE ! Love does make the world a better place.
This song is so beautiful, have a listen let me know your thoughts… http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qeNRQgzJqt4.
Ciao xxx
Meet JaredinCPT: Travel Writer, Content Creator & Tour Guide
Everything from familylife and parenting to DIYs and reviews
A Lifestyle Blog
let the adventure begin
BRAND CONSULTING | CONTENT CREATION | LIFESTYLE BLOG
The world through my eyes......
A plus size fashion and lifestyle blog about the journey to body positivity
Lifestyle and Parenting Blog Of A Rock n Roll Mommy
South African fashion, beauty & travel blog
Fashion. Travel. Beauty
Food adventures of a troubled chef
Travel. Parenting. Lifestyle.
Spicegoddess 