I only wish I was resting after my loooong break!

Yes, yes, I'm back after my very long but deliberate break from blogging. I had to stay away from the internet because I had crazy deadlines which were being affected by my internet addiction.

So the last time you heard from me, I was having that huuuuuge issue with my ex land-lady.... an episode I hope I'll never go through again. BUT 2 months down the line (2 months???!!! Gosh... how time flies), I am convinced kicking me out was the best thing she ever did to me. It turns out you never know how much of a crappy time you're having in a particular place until you leave. This is YET another testimony of the silver lining behind the initial grey cloud.

How did I resolve the housing situation? Well let's just say I didn't find being locked out of the flat I called home for about 5 months (on 31 August) very funny. I hate the idea of being exploited by people simply because they think they can. For Pete's sake, I had paid the rent till 31 August no.... 15 September. So what did I do? I went to the authorities who accompanied me back to the flat. Well though I didn't get my full deposit, I proved my point that I wasn't just some stupid student who didn't know her rights.

People asked me to take it further by going to the small claims court but frankly I just felt it would be a waste of my time (even if not money since the legal services would be for free). Seeing she obviously needed the money more than I did, I decided it'd be best to sow a seed into her life :-). She didn't know this, however, and quickly revised the advert lest she got caught trying to exploit me. HA! You know what, I doubt that she found someone to take the room before the 15th because the advert was constantly updated till around the 15th. Needless to say she confirmed that no-one wanted the room. I wonder why.

My flatie was great, sticking by me every step of the way. Till tomorrow, she wonders how I could have stayed there for so long. Well I dunno. Now that I look back, I really wasn't living in an ideal situation. But anywayz, Big Daddy up there fought my battle for me and I am thankful! Despite all, I still sent her an sms saying I enjoyed my time there and it was a shame things ended the way they did. I hate leaving a place with bad vibes.

So the sms ended that chapter and my flatie and I went for sushi and Chinese to celebrate!

I have having a blast since I moved. Though not a typical bedroom but a lounge like I said, I have made the best use of my large living space. I have converted it into a small bachelor flat consisting of a mini bedroom, mini study and mini lounge. It is amazing what a few curtains and the right colour coordination can do for a previously stark space. I have a lovely 4 poster bed and my room is a burst of colours with lime green, peach, green, white, red and fuschia curtains. The sunshine through the colourful curtains gives the most divine glow to the room.

Ok, let's ignore the fact that in trying to cut costs, I was sleeping on a "kak" mattress placed on a futon which I had pulled apart. This totally messed up my back and had to buy an orthopaedic-like mattress to reset my spine. Sigh..... What an experience. Furnishing the space cost me an arm, a leg and a few ribs but it was worth it. People who visit are amazed at what I did to the room. It is really cool and I smile whenever I walk into my room. I guess being a design student also helped. I wish I could do more but I really have to save funds seeing I'm pretty broke now. I think I'll post pictures for you to see.

Ahh... you know what??? It worked out for the best! My flatie is simply amazing (the kind of flatie I have always wanted to live with), I have an amazing view of the sea from my bed, a LARGE living space to do my work in a fantastic location. The block is a friendly block and people are always willing to help no matter what.

The implication of this? I will definitely be there for much longer than 2 months. Recall that my initial plan was to stay here temporarily till the guy's lease was up. Well, I've scrapped that now. As long as there's no more drama, I'm cool. To be honest, I think I'm sick of moving house. My priority now is to get a car! I really really need one now!

So yeah... like Droopy the Dog (without the droopy face) "I'm happy"!

Before I sign off, I'd like to offer my deepest sympathy to my cousin who lost his son last month. It was really traumatising for the family and I was quite depressed.... so upset that I didn't move from my couch the day after I heard the news. I was stuck in the same spot for about 10 hours and cannot even recall eating. It was such a huge blow and great loss BUT all I can say is God knows best! RIP DA!!!

Y'all are probaby wondering where I've been right?

Yes yes I know... I've been away but I'm cool. Enough gist to catch up on but right now I'm slaving away at my machine preparing for the fashion show in October. And I'm FARRRR from finished, trust me. I don't even have a model. I'm making the clothes and praying to God they fit the model, when I find her. Theme? Time Shift. AND this is like another competition because I'm not sure if I'll be in the show. It's like a Crsytal Gala all over again.

I just thought I should buzz. Should be able to breathe by Wednesday.... for a while.... And then I'll fill all y'all in on all that you've missed.

Enjoy your week all!

I've just about HAD IT!

Can you just imagine this lady has refused to give me a full refund of my deposit??? She claims I'm still liable to pay her for the portion of the one-month notice period I am not staying at the flat. In other words, she's taking half of my deposit!

She tells me I cannot move out of the flat because she's already posted an advert stating the room will be available from the middle of September. Like .. hello... can an advert not be modified??? So as a friend said, "she wants me out, but wants me to move only when she's ready". She claims the room will be unoccupied during that period which I know is a lie! For Pete's sake, she was telling the prospective tenants that the room will be available from 1 September in my presence. And I KNOW she will not give me my full refund even if the room is occupied from the 1st of the month. Meaning she benefits both ways. How greedy can one get??? Can you just imagine?! I am sooooo PISSED!!! Is it legal to do this???

I have checked the South African laws and there's no provision regarding this peculiar situation. And people, it's not about the money but the principle. I hate being cheated and people taking advantage of situations simply because they can. It appears extorting money from international students appears to be the in thing these days. I am aware this lady witheld money from the 2 previous tenants as well. I know this because she told me. The sad thing is she'll get away with it. That's what really irks me! To be honest, I cannot be bothered to seek legal representation on this. I mean, the law says I'm entitled to a written notice (which she didn't give me) and the interest accrued on the deposit (which I bet she won't give me).

But you know what? It's not worth the time, effort or money (though sometimes it may be worth it just for the principle). That and the fact that most times, we'd rather stay safe than fight for our rights. But I've always regarded money as a secondary issue, for my sanity and no matter what, I know I'll always get money because I pay my tithes religiously. So things always just work out for me.

Well people have asked me to leave it to God so I will. But I am out of here tomorrow by God's grace. After all, there's no reason to stay anymore. In fact, I cannot bear to be in this environment any longer. The sad thing is I've already paid for the new place, so I've lost a substantial sum of money, which right now could come very handy since the year has ended and I'm "very rich".

Thing about situations like these, money obtained through inappropriate means never lasts and like my mother says in literal translation from Yoruba, "you cannot buy a product that will make you smile from taking money that has made someone else cry". I know one thing for sure... my God is up there and He sure will look out for me like He always has!

I am very pained people. I am pained! But hey, what's a few rands right? Much MUCH more will come my way by God's grace when I become rich and famous! And t-h-e-n she can eat from the crumbs that fall from my plate! Amen!

Romans 8: 28

I'm not very good at quoting Bible verses. I usually remember the text but not the exact location. But there is one that ALWAYS comes to my mind when I'm either going through a challenge or something has just worked out through God's divine intervention:

Romans 8: 28 "All things work together for good to them that love Him and are called according to His purpose".

I know the italicised portion by heart but googled it to confirm its exact location in the Bible. A search for this verse brought me to this quote on The Jesus's Blog, a sort of mini-sermon on this passage:

"It is a powerful scripture. The power lies in the fact that this is a scripture that explains so much of what goes wrong in our lives. The loss of a job, a betrayal, a death, going bankrupt. It all seems so negative at the time. Nevertheless, God is working out an eternal purpose to bring His plans to pass."

How true this is. You all have read about my latest challenge in my last 2 posts. It is SIMPLY amazing how things have worked out and I thank God for it.

Ok where do I begin...

Househunt yes. Well after this episode, I decided it was time to get my own place. Apart from the costs, I'm not too keen on living alone. As my sister said "sometimes, living with someone gives a sense of security, even if the person is never there". SO I placed an ad looking for someone who is in the same position and who I could sign a lease with.

Well this South African guy responds and we start chatting about our situation and how we could hook up to see if we are compatible. During our conversation, it turns out he's been around quite a few Nigerians... and better still, knows one of my buddies back home!!! I was tooo tripped! I mean, what are the odds of meeting a total stranger, a South African who knows one of your personal peeps back home??? Turns out they met at a training in Paris.

Anywayz, by then I was like... "ok you have no choice, we DEFINITELY are moving in together". The only BUT here is that his lease expires in October... meaning he'll only require a new place in November. Oops! And I have to find a place by 1 September (though I have till 15th to move, I'd rather leave sooner than later). So anywayz, we agreed that I should perhaps find temporary accommodation till his lease expires.

Well I am pleased to say that I have discussed with the chic who owns the flat I said I found 2 days after I got the notice and she says it's ok for me to move in temporarily till I'm ready to move on, provided I give her one month's notice. Further, she's happy to extend the lease if I find that I like it at her place and has not only offered to help me move but said I could move in before the end of the month at no extra cost to me.

So people... all's well that ends well. At times like this, I am speechless at how things work out for me. One minute you feel like you're drowning, and before you know it, you realize that you're just taking a dip in fresh spring water simply because you're thirsty and you need a gulp of water. It's not because I'm too good but it is simply by His mercy and grace.

People! I have just TOO many testimonies, I don't even know where to begin. But one thing I know is no matter how bleak a situation may seem, there's ALWAYS light at the end of the tunnel. Trust me, I'm living proof of His grace!

Always think to yourself, "It is well. This is just for a short while..." Believe it and it will come to pass.

Enjoy your weekend all!

The Truth Revealed.....

PEOPLE!!!!! I had to RUN HOME to give you the latest gist on my accommodation situation. LOL!!!! My goodness... this is incredible!!!

I'm minding my business, browsing through gumtree for accommodation when I stumbled upon this ad obviously posted by my landlady:

"Furnished room in Sea Point apartment available for short term let from mid-September or 1st October.

Will suit mature person (male or female) who is clean, tidy and considerate. Must be animal lover - I have a dog and 2 cats, and must not be an anti smoking campaigner!

Rent includes electricity and maid.

The apartment is situated a stone's throw from the beach front promenade and has stunning sea and mountain views. Close to all amenities and transport."

Now after reading the 1st paragraph, I start to think.... "oh ok... she needs the room seeing she's looking for a short term let. But why didn't she just say so and give me enough notice instead of taking the route she took???"

These were my thoughts until I saw the 2nd paragraph about the "anti-smoking campaigner"... and I'm thinking "WHAT?!!!"

OK.. let's go back to when I first viewed the flat. YES she did tell me she was a smoker. YES I still moved in anyway. YES after the 1 month trial period, I said "Sure, I can live with the smoke" because she doesn't smoke that much anyway. Besides, the place is really airy and she burns candles to absorb the smell (which I thought was really cool.... and yes she told me this when I asked why she had so many candles around the house).

SO the cigarette smell doesn't really get into my room. The only time I really smell the smoke is when I come out into the hallway and when she smokes in her room which she rarely ever does anyway. For Pete's sake, I watch Project Runway with her when she's smoking and I have NEVER complained. Of course, like someone who has an allergy to smoke, I cough when I first smell it until my system adjusts. But then, I also cough when I spray insecticide, cook or when my throat is clogged from stress or cold.

SO I'm starting to think "why on earth would she think I'm an anti-smoking campaigner???"

And then suddenly it clicks! Hold up for JUST ONE SECOND! No no no.... SURELY she cannot be kicking me out because I spray air freshener all the time???!!!!!

OK people, anyone who knows me would tell you I'm addicted to lovely smells, hence my addiction to perfumes (designer perfumes by the way wink wink) and air fresheners. I love to smell nice. In fact, I told her about this when we went to Checkers once and I was looking for the "Glade Strawberries and Cream fragrance" for my wall.

If you look at my room people, I have air freshener EVERYWHERE!!! I love the fresh smell in my clothes... the so-called "janded smell" we all love so much back home. I have 3 in the cupboard I hang my clothes (2 hanging from the rail and 1 on the floor), 1 on every shelf in the wardrobe, 2 in my shoe cupboard, 1 hanging from the ceiling, 1 hanging from the door, 1 stuck on the wall, a can in the bathroom and a can in my room and extra cans and units just so I never run out.

AND I always spray the cans of air freshener. I spray after I finish cooking for the smell (since we don't open the windows in case Minky runs away again), I spray air freshener when I'm done in the loo in case it gets into the hallway, I spray in my room because I eat in my room and hate the smell of stale food, I spray when I take off my boots just in case there's an umpleasant smell (no my feet do not stink people), I spray my shoe cupboard even though I have the hanging units, I spray when the smell of her dog gets a bit strong, yes I spray when the smell of the smoke gets into my room, I spray after I have treated my bed with insecticide (which is usually at night since bed bugs are nocturnal creatures) and sometimes I spray just for the heck of it, usually when I think to myself... hey I can't smell any air freshener.

SO tell me... why on earth would she think I spray air freshner only because of her cigarettes?????? How different is it from having a plug-in unit that sprays automatically every 10 or 15 minutes?

You know what it is??? Paranoia. NOPE! I refuse to believe it's the air freshener. Surely there must be some other reason. ANd if she had a problem with it, why not just tell me? If she thinks it quite ridiculous, then she could make up some story about how the smell of air freshener mixed with cigarette smoke can be quite nauseating or some other story.... except she thinks, "Hey I can't caution someone for spraying air freshener all the time so I think the best way out of it is to throw her out!"

So see people... my phone calls were obviously not the problem. That was just an excuse which didn't really hold water anyway. The main issue was "freshening the air" with my air fresheners.

HOW LUDICROUS!

Sleeping with the Enemy...

PEOPLE! I need to write a best seller on my experiences here. You cannot believe I am house-hunting.... AGAIN!!!!! Really, I think I deserve a medal for this or what do you guys think??? I mean REALLY I thought the search was over. I was soooooo comfortable here and had already started buying little furniture and all...

UNTIL... my landlady comes home Thursday evening and tells me just out of the blue "I'm sorry but this just is not working" and gave me a month's notice. To say I was shocked was an understatement. I have NEVER had cause to think I had issues with the lady. I mean, of course there was the bedbug issue which I thought had been resolved.

Oh yes.... the bedbug issue.... lemme quickly gist you about that. But first, don't think I live in filth. Bedbugs are attracted to human blood not waste or filth.

Anywayz, when I moved in here I had issues sleeping at night because I always woke up with itchy insect bites - and I still have the scars to prove it. Really strange since I never even saw a cockroach in the flat I moved out of in February. I complained to her but she claimed she never had such problems... UNTIL... the bugs got into her room!

And the complaints began, accusing me of bringing bedbugs into her flat. Imagine that! Of course I felt bad so I coughed up 700 bucks to get the place fumigated. After 2 treatments, the bugs still didn't leave because the treatments obviously don't work on the eggs. But hey, they no longer disturbed me since I treated my bed every night with insecticide. In fact I slept soundly! But she kept on complaining that she couldn't live her life spraying insecticides all the time.

But the whining continued every morning till I just got fed up and called the guy who stayed here before I moved in. Imagine my relief when he told me that that was the reason he moved out! Meaning the problem was there BEFORE I moved in. Of course I told my landlady what the guy said and she denied it, claimed the guy only complained about mosquitoes. HA! The guy told me he thought the insects were fleas from the pets.

We never spoke about it again and she never complained about the bugs to me again and things went back to normal before I left... or so I thought. This episode obviously marked the beginning of the end of my stay here!

I got back from Lagos and noticed she was acting strange. I told my mum and my sister about it but they advised I just act normal that maybe she was going through some issues. But despite her attitude I still spoke to her (though not as much as before) and just last week I was telling my mother that things were back to normal... until that fateful Thursday!

I asked her why she was kicking me out and initially she said nothing. Then to my surprise, she said it was because I was always on the phone. WHAT?! BULLCRAP!!! Complaining about me being on MY CELL PHONE??? I mean this is a lady who's in front of the TV till like 12am and I'm always in my room. There is NO WAY she can hear me above the noise of the TV. In fact, I should be the one complaining about the noise from the TV. I told her surely this could not be the reason. She said, "well and lots of other things". I asked which other things but she couldn't give me an answer. I asked why she never told me about these "lots of other things", still silence.... and then "you have a month to find somewhere else". How cold!

BUT seeing that God loves me sooo much, I have found a place already!!!!!! In 2 days I found a place! I mean it's not my usual style but hey I am eager to get out of here! The chic seems nice but hey, after what I've been through in CPT, I'm pretty much prepared for anything now. Only problem is I have to buy furniture which I'm not too happy with, so I'm still searching. In fact I had promised myself I would not stay with the owner of a flat ever again but to be honest, I'm not keen on staying by myself either. Not in this society that has the "it's all about ME" mentality.

I really do not understand these people. It beats me how someone can be so old (yes she's 20 years older than I am) yet be so immature. How can you live with someone you have issues with and not discuss it with them. For Pete's sake, you sleep in the next room every night! I bet her office peeps convinced her that asking me to leave was the best way because I'm sure she would have discussed it with them, after all they were instrumental in her dealings with the previous tenant.

I pride myself on being the perfect tenant, and my ex estate agent can confirm this. I am extremely clean (and yes I do say so myself), I don't drink, don't smoke, don't have wild parties, respect other people's privacy and pay my rent on time, sometimes even before the due dates. I make an effort to talk to my flatmate, always concerned about them and always offering to help when I can. For Pete's sake, I tried to sell this lady's fur coats for her, placed ads on gumtree for her advertising her make-up skills, bought her pets food with MY money and lots of other things I don't need to tell you.

YET she stabs me in the back all the while smiling at me and speaking sweetly. For Pete's sake, just 2 weeks ago, she moved a large piece of furniture from my room without my asking her to and got the place ready for my reading table. So really I cannot fathom how such a sweet person (because she really is one... let me rephrase... seems like one) could do such a thing. I had praised her so much, my school wanted to put her on their list for future students. Goodness, what a strange person!

I tell you, right now, I CANNOT WAIT to be out of here... in fact no need to take up the full month's notice. I'll be out in 2 weeks by God's grace. I wish Tenades was still here. We viewed the place together. She will be stunned!

But hey people... what can I say, I feel like a nomad. Gosh the stress of packing, moving, settling down again... groan.... I am sooooo not looking forward to it! But I know God will continue to watch out for me as He has done in the past because He loves me!

Enjoy your weekend!

Errrrrrr..........

Could it be that I am back to my disgraceful ways??? Not updating my blog??? Come on! It's funny, I've come online to post an article enough times in the past week but for some strange reason, I just never posted the articles. They seemed too bland. They lacked a certain something. And of course, seeing I don't want to give you anything but my usual posts which y'all love (psyches), I decided to delete my post for today and post something else later.

SO

I haven't forgotten you guys. And I don't want you to think I'm lazy. SO... I'll leave you with my veryyyyy best wishes for a wonderful weekend! :-)

Amazing Tips...

Hello People,

FIRST let me say a massive HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! to 2 important people in my life... my mother July 11) and my big sister (today). Well My sister's ... years old today (thought I'd keep that a secret lest she lynches me)... Here's wishing you lots of lots of fun and God's blessings today and always.

Sadly I couldn't post birthday wishes on July 11th because we were just soooooo busy preparing for my sister's (yes.. this same one's) wedding the next day. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mummy. Love you loads!

So here are 2 amazing cakes for 2 AMAZING people...



Ok...

NOW for the amazing tips I've been itching to share...

I just learnt 2 things and thought I should share. You know what they say... there's love in sharing. One's really cool... for females and one's just gross (is that how to spell it???) but you'll thank me for it. So which should I tell you first?

Ok... let's start with the cool one first.

I have an extremely oily face! It's so oily you can fry an egg on my face. I have... or should I say had tried everything. You name it, I had used it and I finally gave up. Until... Rae Rae introduced me to this amazing product by Estee Lauder....

Estee Lauder Sparkling Clean Purifying Mud Foam Cleanser

But this product is simply amazing! My face actually looks fresh all day! And it wasn't ridiculously expensive... though yeah maybe it cost 1 or 2 ribs sha. But it is a worthy investment. And thing is, depending on how you use it, it should last you for a year because it comes in a 125ml tube. And it smells great! Cool eh? Just remember to use it with a nice water-based moisturiser for a nice effect. I use it with Johnson's PH 5.5 Oil-Free Shine Control Cream (which was not too effective when I used it on its own. In fact my face was even more oily when I used the Johnson's on its own)

Check out the reviews on:

http://www.epinions.com/reviews/Estee_Lauder_Sparkling_Clean_Purifying_Mud_Foam_Cleanser_42385213

Ok... the other errr.... tip is for those with strange bowel movements. I mean, going to the loo is not a favourite activity of mine. Actually I can't stand it... couldn't stand it since secondary school. So over time, my system just got used to storing crap. So yup.. you guessed right, I became a constantly constipated. So constipated that i had to use laxatives to purge myself of the toxins that have built up over time. I could actually feel.... ok... you guys get the picture.

Well until I discovered.... drum roll pleaseeeee....

Yup... Kellogg's All-Bran Flakes.

What did you expect, some major drug I can't spell???

VERYYY affordable and works wonders! In fact... I have been smiling all the way to the errr...... ok... let's not complete that now... Just remember not to use it on a day you can't get a clean loo to use. Nope you will not run. Far from it... which beats using laxatives that not only give you a stomach ache but make you run as well.... but when you gotta go, you gotta go...!!!

So yes people. Both are tried, tested and trusted tips which I thought I should share. And that's my good deed completed for the day!

Have a nice week y'all!!!

Urban Transportation... WHAT???!!!

How on EARTH do you translate such a theme into a fashion project?

That's the latest assignment we've been given. I have 40 pages to fill with ideas. Guess how many pages I've done? None! ZILCH!!! In fact I have NO CLUE where to begin!

As strange as the theme may seem however, I've been able to adopt it in the latest garment I'm making, a men's shirt (is that correct???). The pins on the shirt seams are like rail tracks... still don't know how I'll pull it off though. But will DEFINITELY post a pic.

SO... as usual, I have like 3 or 4 projects due in the next 2 wks.... in fact 1 due on Friday, and I haven't a clue how to go about it. For Friday, the question is, how do I go about making a window display without a mannequin??? We'll see. I guess stranger things have happened...

B for Babes... Rest In Peace B.A....

Surely it must be too soon to write yet another tribute... so soon after Tenades... in fact back to back.

What is happening???? Just when I thought I was finally starting to put the last 6 months behind me... 6 months of sadness, 6 months of tears, now this happens in the 7th month.

Why Lord? Why???

I have cried so much in the past 6 months, … in fact more than 6 months... since last November to be precise after losing AA … that I am now numb. I had had enough depressive episodes and thought I was starting to pull myself together and now this. In fact I was so in shock after the news today, I had to watch a movie just to get my mind off it... what a temporary measure. The pain is still there.

Babes.... you were SUCH a treasure.... A pleasure to everyone who knew you. That smile.... that picture in the mag.... smile.... yes I can only smile....

That day!!! That event!!!! The event that made us meet. The event , like Adora said, which initially seemed like a waste of money but was worth every penny because we met you. YOU made that event bearable.

I still cannot believe it... but I remember the bubble dress and the hair.... I thought you had a lot of attitude.... the attitude needed to pull it off.

THEN your smile.... My goodness... that smile....

BABES.... though we didn't see much of each other, I can NEVER forget you! This reminds me of that chain mail that tells us to cherish everyone and never let our busy lives get the better of us. This is the 2nd time now.... after you even jokingly harrassed me for not contacting you. I still have your FB wall post. But if I recall correctly, I tried to reach you.... without success.... but obviously I didn't try hard enough because it seems so vague...

Anywayz...

I take solace in the fact that you are up there with God smiling down on us, telling us "it is well".

God Bless You Babes. Rest In Peace!!! We will meet again!

A Tribute to Tenades - "Desire Fulfilled"

It's been 2 whole months since I last blogged.

2 months filled with a lot of different emotions.... tears, hurt, pain, anguish, desperation, fear, remorse, happiness, sadness, you name it, I felt it.

But though I like to think of happy times, I cannot really move on till I've paid a special tribute to my special friend, Tena Desiree.

Actually, I have avoided posting an article on this great loss because it seemed that I would finally confront what I have desperately tried not to believe. I have asked myself several times what happened, cried till my eyes were dry, and no day has passed that I have not thought about you.

Words elude me at this point. But I will forever remember what a mutual friend said:

"God comes and picks His best flowers during His Harvest".

That is how I like to think of your departure.

You were.... ARE an angel and will NEVER be forgotten.

We had plans. Lots of plans but you left too early. But not to worry, God will help us make the plans a reality to ensure your legacy lives on and your "Desire Fulfilled".

It hurts.... it really hurts...... But God knows best.

Rest in Peace, Tenades.

PS. Did I tell you I met your mum? Amazing woman!

Birthday wishes to a VERY SPECIAL SISTER...

It's been almost a month since I've posted an article. Sigh....

I was going to postpone blogging till next week for a reason

BUT

It's TEAL's bday today and yes you guessed right, TEAL's my sister, the baby of the family though she's anything but...

18 May... though I was very young then, I still remember the day like it was yesterday. A Saturday morning.... staring at that big bright pink baby in that cot... hmmnnn... And I remember the day she opened her eyes...

Anywayz, sorry to go down memory lane

BUT it's today and I cannot but wish her a very happy birthday. She's always been there for me.... especially in the past month.... checking up on me twice a day till she got broke I guess...lol...

This is just my way of saying THANK YOU and wishing you God's guidance and blessings today and alwayz....

Lots of love...

My piece of advice for today...

And don't forget what I said about my cake...

OR ELSE...

5FM & Akon Live in Cape Town: 12.04.08

I have just 1 word for his performance... BRILLIANT!!!!! All those who didn't go for his show... YOU MISSED!!!

I danced so much, screamed so much and danced so much! He was actually in the crowd!!! And he told those with the normal tickets (like me) to cross over to the "Gold Side"... i.e. those with the gold tickets. I didn't though.... for fear of being crushed.

I had no clue I was THAT MUCH of an Akon fan... well now I know. He was brilliant. That near strip-tease.... even I had to hold my breath and scream NO THANK YOU! The crowd went WILD!!!

I've been singing his songs ever since. Shame I didn't take my camera for fear of being mugged. But all that was BULL!!! I have no idea why people just overhype the crime in SA. I mean yes there is crime but haba... as long as you're cautious, don't walk alone at night or do silly things tourists do like hang cameras on their necks and pray hard, you have nothing to fear.

People warned me against going alone. The area is dodgy, blah, blah, blah. Well I tried to find someone without success but I damn well going going to sit at home wishing I had gone... so I did.... after all it wasn't the first time I was going for a concert alone. Best move ever. not sure I would have loosened up that much if I was with someone. I think I'll start going for concerts alone. that way I have my "no holds barred" fun.

Fat Joe was there as well... but I'm not much of a rap/hip-hop fan but he was good and Black Violin....

Sadly... I have no pictures... BUT I have the memories... That definitely counts.

Well done 5FM. The advert with the model walking her giant pet tarantula was brilliant! It truly was a good show!

Thumbs Up to 5FM, the Urban Music Festival, AKON's DJ (he was really good... his work, his hair and his skirt )... and of course AKON!!!!

The Cape Town Crystal Gala

Every project begins with a brief…. and then an explanation of the brief. But THIS was a little different.

IT began with a mini-lecture, a certain expectation by the Academic Director of what was expected of us as 2nd year students…. And we thinking… “ohhhh-k-a-y-y-y… where is he going with this?”

IT then advanced into a glowing review of what a certain gala represented and an address by a representative of the producers of the certain gala. A show, the 1st of its kind in Cape Town with the best of jazz music and a runway showcasing work from international and local designers, 12 evening gowns (and 6 male outfits) from the 2nd (and 3rd) year students at FEDISA.

Errrr….. REEEE---W-I-N-D…..!!! Only 12? But we’re over 20 in all...

SO…

…what was meant to be yet another task for the module, “corseted evening gowns” turned out to be a mini-competition for the launch of the Crystal Gala ball in Cape Town, part of an annual event alongside the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

And FEDISA’s interpretation of Crystal Gala? An array of “shimmering” corseted evening gowns in shades of only white and silver and LOTS OF BLING!!!!

Only THEN did we get the brief!

And boy… did our classroom turn into FEDISA’s version of Project Runway!

Patterns, fabric, tools, threads, you name it EVERYWHERE!!!

Fittings, accessories and yelps and screams of pain from damaged fingers caused by rotary cutters, pin pricks and sewing machines all over the place.

I was one of the last to finish (what else is new) but I was undeterred; bothered by finished garments from colleagues...

...but not discouraged.... never discouraged because I knew it wasn't over till the deadline for submission.

Funny…. We all thought our creations would look like wedding gowns but HA! FAR from it!

Well... apart from this one because this was an actual wedding gown for her sister...

Yah the chic trying on the outfit made the outfit. Shame you can't see the crystals on the outfit. Stunning work I tell you...

ANYWAYZ...

THIS was my initial sketch and my ORIGINAL concept.

It took me all of....what.... 10/15 minutes to sketch. Lucky for me, this first sketch was immediately approved which, though was surprising, was a huge relief. Some peeps... actually enough peeps had to work on theirs again or improve on their existing sketches.

WELL...

52 pattern pieces (I pride myself on this), 2 days of couture beading (including accessories), a few modifications here and there and approximately 3 weeks later (not my fault as I had to start again because I bought the wrong fabric colour), this was what my concept turned out to be…..

DRUMROLL PLEASE……….



Yah I know you can’t see much of it but there are crystals down the front and back of the outfit.

YUP! You guessed right! I was one of the CHOSEN 12!!!!!!!!!!!

We all took chances, making garments without seeing the models.

BUT I was lucky. Mine was a perfect fit! And I have God to thank for that.

I never got to see it on the runway but I do have this picture of the final result. AND it truly is a good feeling.

Honestly? In a class filled with such talent, I never thought I’d be part of the final 12… or 14 I think the final figure was. Perhaps I underestimate myself.

I still think my garment was simple in comparison with what my mates did but I have been told it is brilliant. Hey… I got chosen didn’t I? I guess I really am too hard on myself.

Lesson learnt? Always believe in yourself… no matter what!

And you know what? It gets better…

I already have orders for the garment…… or better still…. my work…

SO

There is HOPE… and ASSURANCE… that I will indeed, by God’s grace, succeed in my chosen career path.

Check out http://www.fedisa.co.za/eventdiary/?p=154 to see the outfits that made the Crystal Gala runway.

AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!

OK... the pet hairs are REALLY starting to get on my nerves now!

They are EVERYWHERE!!! In my face, on my clothes, in my food... I FEEL LIKE SCREAMING! And Snuffles now has this annoying habit of waking me up at 6am.

BUT...

At least I don't have to pack pet poop all day. They're clean like that. And though the hair is annoying, they are still adorable!

Meet the Pets...

Hello People,

You'll be pleased to know I've moved house! YAYE!!!! I tell you, God loves me! The place is so nice it's not even funny! It is simply brilliant! Just check out the view from the balcony....

Amazing right?

Well.... remember those pets I told y'all about? Here they are!

MEET... (drumroll please.....)

Buddy

my new football mate.

He's always harrassing me to play football with him which I enjoy doing. I'm sure if I play 30 mins everyday with him, I'd lose weight in no time!

Snuffles

The wise old cat. Quiet, quite mature.... well as mature as cats can be, very friendly, very finicky about food, loves to be stroked (which cat doesn't), doesn't like milk and sleeps all day!

and Minky!

The mischievious feline! Very playful, eats everything, always hungry, LOVES to eat, LOVES milk and loves to explore.

She ran away the other day, jumped right out the bathroom window! I almost had a fit! How do I tell the owner that I lost her cat in less than 1 wk of moving in. And imagine how stupid I felt walking up and down the block with a bowl of milk shouting Minky.

I finally found her in the dark stairwell! And I almost smacked her. Now she runs away when she sees me. But she's just so adorable, i've forgiven her.

I've always loved dogs though I'm scared of those I don't know. It's funny, just recently I was seriously aching for a dog..... and now I have not only a dog but 2 cats! After only 1 wk of living with them, I wonder how pple can live without pets. And the cats???... why get a teddy bear when you can get a cat!

Oh.... and the owner Michelle? A truly lovely person. Very good-looking. She's so much older than I am but looks amazing for her age. She'd give me a run for my money any day.

And the smoking is not an issue at all! She only smokes when I'm not there and burns candles to absorb the smell. We get on great!

So people, now I can see the silver lining behind the cloud. Trust me when I tell you everything happens for a reason. Ever since moving to Cape Town, I have had many testimonies and now I truly believe that every disappointment is a blessing!

Have a great week y'all! I know I will... I'm on a one-week break! HA!

House-Hunting in Cape Town... Would NEVER wish it on my enemy!

This is Beach Road, Sea Point. This is where I live. Beautiful isn't it? My flat is somewhere amongst those flats on the right.

Going for walks by the Beach every Sunday after church always had a soothing effect on me. But living where I am right now has had anything but a calming effect on me.

I'll tell you why.

I've lived in the same house since I was 2 years old. I always thought it'd be cool to move house. Well since I came to Cape Town, I've moved almost 10 times... from hotels, to flatshares, to flats... and don't forget I've been here for only a year.

I recently moved from my flat, 3 days after my Bday, because the unreasonable owner sold the flat before my flatie and I got back from the Christmas holidays. So I moved, without my flatmate for various reasons, into a nice FULLY FURNISHED 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment.

I had all I could wish for. A fully furnished flat right next to the beach and my church, my own en-suite bedroom, 2 parking bays, my peace, proximity to everything.... I mean what more can a gurl ask for. All I needed to do was find a flatmate... how hard could that be right?

HA! WRONG!!!

Well... the 1st person I interviewed was into some serious scary stuff like soul-searching/getting in touch with your inner spirit or some shiz nit like that.

The 2nd person changed his mind the day he was supposed to move in and decided to get his own place.

The 3rd person decided to get a flat with some guy she met at a Backpackers.

The 4th person confessed to smoking ONLY weed!

My goodness.... by then I was thinking... would I ever get a suitable flatmate?

BUT how many of y'all know that things always happen for a reason. Of course, I never saw the silver lining behind the grey cloud until....

...a portion of the ceiling decking fell!

And THAT, my friends, was the beginning of my nightmare!

That's the ceiling... ...and part of it on the floor

There was.... IS a leak somewhere in the building!

The leak is so bad that the roof decking is soaked and falling off....

See the water spreading across the ceiling...

... and water's coming out of the switches in this health and safety hazard of an apartment!

water from the switches...

As if that wasn't bad enough, the geezer was so bad, it had to be replaced. SO guess who was without water for a while and who had to have her bath with cold water with her tiny CUP of a bucket!!!

And of course the smart plumber left the board covering the geezer in the shower...

And the SMELL!!! Gosh.... you always have to brace yourself for the smell!

Who would believe, something as horrid as this existed in the lovely apartment. I live everyday in morbid fear of a fire or electrocution. But I know God loves me so nothing dey happen! But imagine if someone had moved in? I'd have been in a deep RUT!

I dare not open the windows not only because I'm on the ground floor but people you should see the RATS around here! As massive as the VW Bug cars. Those creatures will literally eat you alive! And for the first time since I got to Cape Town, my lovely smooth body has been battered by the mutant mosquitoes. And BOY do the bites ITCH!

And y'all don't even want to know how much I paid for the flat! An expense I bore on my own since no one in their right mind would share this flat with the obvious defects.

So why did I move in you ask? Well.... when I came to view the flat, it was NOTHING like this. Kofo can confirm this 'cos we viewed the place together. She was SHOCKED when I told her about these issues.

Obviously, the peeps staying here cleaned up the mess before we arrived. I should report to the authorities!

Anywayz, I decided to look for another flat! Meaning I had to move by March 31st.

My goodness... you literally have to clear your bank account to get a decent flat here.

Seeing time was runnning out, I decided on a flatshare.

The first place had 2 MASSIVE scary dogs who kept hitting me with their tails. It was quite painful but I dared not scream lest they decide to "fetch" my leg.

The second place had a room smaller than a Smart Car.

The third place was so far from the Main Road I felt I was crossing the Sahara Desert.

The 4th place, though nice, had an owner with an attitude.

SO I place an ad on Gumtree asking for like minded people who were interested in leasing a place together to contact me. That didn't work out.

SO I reexplored the flatshare option.

Well... people... you'll be pleased to know that I FINALLY found a lovely flatshare, with a balcony larger than my previous flat RIGHT NEXT TO THE SEA and the Main Road!!!!!!

BUT.... the owner has a HUMONGOUS (if there's such a word) German Sherpherd Dog (as big as a horse), 2 sinister-looking cats and she smokes!

BUT I'm moving there anyway. The friendly dog kept bugging me to play with his ball (BALL people BALL not balls...) Dunno about the cats though...

It will be a temporary arrangement till I either find my own place or feel I can cope with the pets and the nicotine!

God help me!!! I know He will. He always does because He loves me!

Is Expensive Necessarily Good Quality?

Remember this picture? The Halle Berry look I told y'all about last year. The cut that my top notch highly expensive salon told me was a piece of cake to achieve. I mean.... how hard can this cut be right? Hmmmnn...

Like every girl I could spend any amount to get the perfect look. I have always believed that a brilliant hairdresser and make-up artist were all that was needed to achieve "that" look. My business teacher once told us, you wear your hair everyday so any amount spent on it would be fully utilised. One could always get away with a pair of jeans, a tee-shirt and a pair of flip flops. Besides, you can't wear them everyday of the week, unlike your hair and "face". This is probably why people charge an arm, a leg and 3 ribs right for both services and the accompanying products.

However, many of us suffer from the misconception that the more expensive a product or service is, the better the product or service is. Well my experience this past weekend proved otherwise.

Check this out:

In the quest for that famous Halle Berry crop, I went to my top-notch salon because I assumed they were good. The decor, the smiles, the cappuchino, HECK you feel they definitely must know what they're about. So imagine my shock when, even with a picture, I got an absolutely horrid haircut! And then I was charged R430 for the nonsense!!!! People, the hair was SO nasty, I fixed a weave the very next week!

Well..... 6.5 months down the line, I risk another haircut after seeing this really amazing creation on a friend. It was simply gorgeous. BUT.... to get the haircut, I had to go to a salon in the "township"!!! My goodness! The township is not where anyone wants to go. I would have a fit if I heard my sister went to the township. BUT a week later, I decided to go to the salon in the township simply because I could not get over the hair cut.

SO.... yesterday, I went to the township, looking as plain as ever, without jewelry, to ensure I came back in 1 piece. After enduring 2 agonising hours on the bus, I arrive at the salon. Hmmmnnnnn... ok let's fast forward to the good bit!

PEOPLE.... R170 and 5 hrs later, I look like a million bucks! I could not believe it! Y'all should see me now. DARN I look good even if I do say so myself! I mean though it was stressful, it was really worth it. And I am going back next week to add colour to my hair! Ok... I may go back...

BUT really people, a lot of us know deep down we're actually paying for the facilities rather than the service. A lot of us (me inclusive) need to change our mind-set that the more expensive a service is, the better the service. Cheap does not necessarily mean low quality.

I leave you with this text message my sister sent me after her trip last year:

"It is quite interesting to note that your so-called cheap clothes which you dissed me for buying do not shrink, fade or stretch after several washes. I have worn them several times and they're still as good as new. I wonder if it is just a bias..."

I have thought about this ever since she sent it to me and after my experience, I think she might be right.

Shame I didn't have this cut before my TV show last week...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Okay... it's 11.44pm... at least that's what my clock tells me and I know that my day will not be complete without, not only sending a bday shout-out to me but also to thank you ALL for your wonderful messages.

This time last year, I was a newcomer in a city who started school on her bday. Surely you could have imagined how lonely it was not getting calls because people back home did not have your phone number yet and the people around you had no clue who you were. I mean, I doubt it would have been cool telling people on your 1st day it was your bday.... even though, vain sucker that I am, I did and got just a few polite Happy BDays.

But 1 year down the line, I THANK GOD not only for making the past years a testimony, but also letting me realise how truly cherished I am. I mean, though I am really far away, I have never felt so close to... I can't say home because calls and messages have been coming in from all over the world!

Imagine how good it felt receiving calls 2 days before your bday just because everyone wanted to be the first to wish you a wonderful day! WOW!

OK... let me quickly post it before the day runs out. This MUST be posted 26 February 2008!

Do you really need to study Fashion Design to succeed in the Fashion Industry?

Concepts and Story Boards, Life and Figure Drawing,

Draping,

Garment Construction, Pattern Making, Textile Studies,



History of Fashion,

Textile Studies, Technical Drawing, etc.

These are the all too familiar courses fashion design students d.r.e.a.d... and love to hate... but have no choice really if they want to get their certificates.

But REALLY do you have to endure 3 years of an undergraduate degree or diploma to become a Fashion Professional? I use the words Fashion Professional because obviously not everyone who studies Fashion Design wants to or will become a designer.

The fashion industry is so diverse. I mean you can become a Fashion Buyer / Merchandiser, a Retailer, an Illustrator, a Stylist, an Image Consultant, a Clothes Manufacturer, a Fashion Journalist... really the possibilities are endless.

SO

Why on earth must I study Fashion Design if I do not want to become a dress maker or fashion designer...???

YES YES we know, some of the world's famous designers, John Galliano, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, etc all studied Fashion Design. But do you all know that the billionaire designer, Ralph Lauren, dropped out of his Business course at the City College of New York and NEVER went to Fashion School????

I know what y'all are thinking? Does she think she made a mistake by studying a BA in Fashion Design? Nope. In fact FAR FROM IT!

BUT

I cannot help but wonder why a lot of us feel we need to go back to school to study a course if it is not absolutely necessary. I mean if one wants to be a Fashion Stylist, for example, why does she need to study a course in fashion design? Is this borne out of the necessity to add another credential to her already long list of credentials or is it because she truly believes she needs the requisite skills to excel in her chosen field? I personally believe the latter. To be the very best in what you want to be in, you NEED to learn the basics. But then, this is my personal conviction and the major reason why I chose to study the course..... or maybe I was brainwashed into thinking this way... Hmmnnn...

Truth is that a lot of us have different aspirations. I recall recently, a friend of mine who was so frustrated with the area she was studying the course in that wanted to quit in less than a month. In fact, I BEGGED her to stay.

Now this got me thinking. She wants to have a label and be a reknowned designer.

BUT

Can't she simply just employ dressmakers and illustrators and tell them what she wants and get the clothes produced while she concentrates on the management and business arm of the conglomerate she wants to set up? Surely there are a lot of designers who send clothes to Asia and get perfect results every time. And I know she definitely does not see herself behind a sewing machine for long. And frankly, neither do I... see myself behind a sewing machine that is. I mean, one would just collapse if she chooses to make all the clothes herself.

BUT despite my personal belief, as Pennylicious said...

"Is school necessary for success? These self-made billionaires seem to suggest that talent, attitude, hard work and lots of luck seem to be the vital ingredients for success not college or even high school degrees. Bill Gates, Sheldon Adelson, Larry Ellison, Li Ka-Shing, Roman Abramovich, Paul Allen, Michael Dell, Amancio Ortega, Carl Ichan, Kirk Kerkorian, Donald Newhouse, Francois Pinault, Stanley Ho, Jack Taylor, Y C Wang, David Geffen, Steve Jobs, David Murdock, Henry Fok, Ralph Lauren"..... and of course... the very famous Sir obsessed with playing with words and suggestive book titles like "Losing my Virginity" and "Screw it, Let's Do It".... "Sir Richard Branson".

Food for thought right?

For a summary on these billionaires, go to http://www.pennylicious.com/2006/10/09/billionaire-dropouts/