A Beautiful Life

Today, out of nowhere a thought popped into my mind - to go and check if one of our old blogs are still active and up for viewing. I happened across this blog and although I had forgotten about it I remembered it all the moment I started reading. I really loved posting here & although I'm the type of girl who loves a clean slate to start with I find myself nostalgically attached to the past posts here. Silly, I know! 

I suppose blogging has died in the age of Instagram - posting a single image is such an easy way to visually document your life so it's really no surprise that blogging has died down. But it is very sad. When I logged on here I also ventured to the 'blogs you follow' tab and it saddened me to see people who had been such regular posters just fall away. Perhaps one of the reasons I stopped was because of the fear of losing these virtual friends who just decided to stop one day. If I didn't check in here anymore I wouldn't know that our virtual connection was broken. The last post from anyone I follow was in 2017 - how disparaging :( So instead of sitting here and mourning over the fact that no one wants to pour out their lives into blogposts anymore, I am writing one instead.

If I'm honest my true reason for stopping is because I felt that there were people out there in my readership that didn't wish me happiness (there's something about a bitter ex-boyfriend that can put a girl off blogging like nobody's business!) and I didn't want to be so publicly vulnerable. This combined with a growing desire for intense privacy after a very public childhood, teenage years & early adulthood have been the two largest contributing factors as to why I stopped writing here regularly.


I'd like to mention another thought about a blog past - when I was 18 I started a blog called 'simply wends'. I can still recall the pink and green design (what was I thinking???) & how popular it was to post on your blog at the time (2008) and to follow your friends in turn! 11 years on I am very upset that I deleted the whole thing on a whim after a breakup. Can you imagine how comedic it would be to look back on those posts now!? I certainly have done some growing up since then, but the biggest change would be how much I have been able to travel since then and how I have eventually started to find who I really am. But still - I'd love to look back on those photos, memories and thoughts. 

I don't know if anyone will see this (If no one is posting then perhaps no one is reading either?), but if you are reading this, I challenge you to write a blogpost today. Even if it is just a few lines. Perhaps one day you will look back as I do today and feel gratitude that you shared something today.

Wx

Hello Again!

I have been terrible about blogging events in our life as they happen over the past little while, but this means I'm busy which in itself is a very good thing!

We've never really 'celebrated'?! Halloween, so this year it was really fun to get dressed up for a night out.

My dear friend Roxanne (hereafter known as Rox, Roxy, Froglady or any other strange names!) invited us to a Halloween party at a local club called Movida. A few days ahead of the event Rox and I were shopping at Sandton city (see photie below!)

Hello!

This morning my sister called me and although for some this may be an every day occurrence in some of your lives, it's a recent addition to mine.

Needless to say a blog is a public and open platform so I'm not going to share intimate and private details of our history, but I will say that for the first time ever we are making a full-hearted attempt at having a relationship and it's become something which I value already.

A few weeks ago I woke up to a message from Kelly on whatsapp and she had sent me some images. The one I'm sharing today is when Kelly was still an infant and i was probably about 3 years old. I can't remember this day, but I know that in my heart it must have been special - I just know.

The reason why I'm sharing this post today is because this past week I've realized that although we CAN'T choose our family, they are not something which we can throw away. I've had so much up and down and back and forth when it comes to family and at one stage I thought myself better off without any relatives in my life, but now I know that although I don't have much, I have enough.

wx

Hello Friends!

I found this awesome blog challenge on a few of the blogs that I follow and decided to participate and tag three people of my own!
Firstly, I tag the following lovely ladies:

1. Timor Broide

2. Ruby Hugo

3. Courtney Semanek 

Ready? Set? Go!

1. Who/What inspires you?
This is easy! The person who truly inspires me is Lee. It's funny how Lee doesn't really do artsy, creative stuff as his interests are different to mine, yet he is my biggest source of inspiration and the most supportive sounding board for any and all of my crazy ideas. What Inspires me...photography. I love seeing an image that makes the gears of my mind go into spin cycle! 

2. What is something you can't live without?
Oh boy!
Cheese Curls!

3. What is something you have to do every day that you wish you didn't?
Housework! I don't mind washing and ironing, but dishes are my WORST!

4. Best piece of advice you ever received?
"It doesn't matter what people think."
It just really doesn't! Close to the beginning of Lee and my relationship, I went through a stage of being affected by what people think. No more! Today you're headline news, but within hours someone else will be!

5. Best piece of advice you've ever given?
To a despondent past music student of mine - "Anything worth having is worth working for."

6. What is your most prized possession?
My letters and cards from Lee - he ALWAYS puts so much thought and preparation into them!

7. What are you most pleased about in your life right now?
My Nikon! Shallow I know!

8. Best book you've ever read?
Always, always it will be...
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

9. What colour is your personality based on this free test?
I remember attending a seminar for the colour code test! I was and still am a yellow through and through! Yellow and secondary Red. I love people...they're my passion! And I'm a very strong personality ..a leader not a follower and also sometimes VERY hot headed!

10. What is one thing you love about yourself?
Although this question may seem a little vain, I think self love is the key to love others too! So...I love the fact that I can see the finer details in situations. I have learnt through trial and error and general dealings with people how to discern their true intentions and things that they do not necessarily share with me. I'm not the mentalist, but I love the fact that I car enough about people in general that I take the time to look for tendencies, preferences or any small thing about any individual I meet.

11. What age/year would you like to relive?
2012!
Although last year was FULL of some of the hardest times I've faced yet, I shared SUCH special moments with Lee that I would relive in an instant because they have altered me, my views and my entire life so much! 2012!!!

That's it! Can't wait to read the answers from the ladies I tagged!

wx

Hello Friends!

Today, I just wanted to share a little bit on my photography endevours and all the amazing doors that are opening for me...

About three years ago, I started taking photos with a digital SLR camera. I fell in love with photographing anything from the flowers in the garden to things that were happening in my life in fine detail.Everything had to be recorded photographically.

Right around this time I went through a variety of life-changing events and photography took the back burner because I simply didn't feel the need to record such a dismal time in my life. Since then, I've done a lot of growing up and finding myself and I'm so excited to be at a place in my life where I am so ready to photograph everything around me and remember it for always.

That said, my approach is also less jovial and laid-back - I've dived right into developing myself professionally. I have been playing around with my camera, taking a million shots of the same thing until I get it just right! I'm sure any photographer reading this will identify with this learning phase (although learning never stops).

I think Lee's sisters are so tired of me photographing them and I'm sure Lee is really tired of me editing photos - by the tons, but that said I feel a fire has been lit in me that may never die!

Unfortunately for artists - musicians, painters, photographers, dancers, etc...one can't always only engage in one's passions...there WILL be paperwork, logistics and general organisational matters that need to be tended to. That said, I have been working hard at developing an image and style for myself and also a presence. Of all the tasks towards making my professional photography dreams come true, getting the blog running is the one I'm most proud of. Please feel free to go take a look at it here as the URL is a bit of a mouthful...
I am proud of the content on there and the simple, yet unique design. Phew! Blog Design is not for sissies! ;)

Furthermore, I would like to publicly thank the various people who have inspired, motivated and supported me in this venture, but most especially - Lee. He has been dragged along to camera suppliers, shown every blog and site that inspires and has been the ROCK in my life - anchoring me so so much! I love you my Man! Thanks for your love and tolerance AND support! 

That said, here are some of my recent images...thank you for the time taken to read this! 

wx

I often feel so overwhelmed by life and especially by social networking. I found this little quiet place which may seem irrelevant to you, but I feel that the countdown especially works to clear my mind in minutes. Try it!

wends x

Hello Hello!

Right...so although we're already in week 52...I am behind one week with pictures which needs to be caught up before the last week of 2012 is done and dusted.

Week 51 was such a bittersweet one because we really made a concerted effort to spend some time with all our close friends and family before leaving on holiday as we wouldn't be seeing anyone until the new year. Ofcourse, the opportunity to spend quality time with the people who mean a lot to us is always a winning opportunity, but I could almost kick myself for not taking pictures repeatedly because I was simply just so involved with everything that needed doing before the trip and spending a decent amount of time with those we care for.

I feel terrible for the lack of photos of some of my most precious moments spent with special people, but I'll post what I have and make it a New Year's Resolution to visit together more often and take millions of pics!

Here goes:

A (100ml) gift from me dearest Lee who obviously loves me. Obviously.

I decided to bake for the first time in forever...

I played A LOT of house with Adi and the cute Sylvanian families stuff she collects!

I packed my dancing shoes into my Marc Jacobs - and ended up wearing them for...like 15 minutes?

We met up with this girl - Hannah...for lunch at Melrose during our last week in JHB...

We waited in line for like almost two hours to get into PSC just to get in in time for the last two songs played by Civil Twilight. We then proceeded to the light booth to take photos and ofcours I made a clown of myself.

After expounding all my energy on the jumping photos I became civilized again...

The most sport I've done this year...

Cocoa visited the vet for his yearly puppy booster/rabies injections. Boy did he howl and talk and moan and whinge?! Wouldn't you if you were getting two jabs in the butt?

He then proceeded to ignore me for the rest of the afternoon except for the occasional glare and glance my way because I tricked him into the vet visit with Biltong. That's it! wends x