A Beautiful Life

Hello Friends!

Today, upon browsing through my Pinterest decor inspiration board, I realized, with no exceptions that I am obsessed with white kitchens! What is it about women that makes us all love browsing home ideas?!

Nonetheless...here are a few of my favourite pics from my Decor board which can be found here: Wendy's Decor Inspiration Board on Pinterest

But don't forget to scroll all the way to the bottom for the photography challenge that I will be starting tomorrow for the new 30 days! 

Links/credits of all images can be found on my Pinterest board as linked above.

Hello Again!

Now if there's one thing I LOVE, it's a good musical/ballet and I've had the opportunity to watch one of each on the past week. Lucky girl right?

Last Sunday evening my godmother and I went to go watch Swan Lake performed by the St. Petersburg Ballet Company at Monte casino.

Having played Swan Lake on various occasions in the orchestra has made it my absolute favourite ballet because of the beautiful music which brings the absolute magic to this timeless ballet. The live orchestra was superb and made me proud to be a South African musician.

The ballet was already in its second week when we went to see it, which means the dancers were hopefully acclimatized and not suffering from jet lag. However, it wasn't the best performance of the ballet that I've seen. The prima-ballerina - Irina Kolesnikova interpreted both parts extremely well, but faltered a few times...these falters visible even to an untrained eye. 

Nonetheless it was a lovely and enjoyable evening and the show has been extended for 6 additional shows before moving on to Australia in August.

Vivienne with Andrew Webster [Excuse the BAD photo!]

Viv and I having dinner before the show

the two main cast members thoroughly enjoying themselves!

Hello There people whom I don't know anymore!

I'll admit it has been a while since I've blogged. A while referring to an extended period of...nothing.

In the last few weeks, so much has happened yet I've felt like the things that have been happening have not been ones that have been worth sharing.

Nonetheless, I'm here to share a bit anyway.

Upon my arrival at school a week before the second term holidays began, I was greeted by a frantic student bringing news of my lab having been burgled - AGAIN. Obviously I was disbelieving at first and ran to the class to find that it was indeed true and that all my HOURS of hard work had amounted to yet another let-down in the form of another burglary. After much anger, disappointment and sadness I realized that wasting my energy on feeling depressed wasn't going to bring back the computers. Aesthetics.

Now here I am after a [somewhat] restful holiday and the first week back at school and in retrospect I feel so stupid for having wasted so much time on worrying over something that I will hopefully find a way to forget in the near future.

New computers have been delivered [shockingly fast!] and will hopefully be re-installed, which is going to keep me VERY busy [although I am already!?] for the next few weeks. Fun times ahead. Curse the chops that stole the PCs...from kids!

In other news, Lee has been VERY busy with lots and lots of cars which has been keeping him happy and occupied. Yesterday I spent most of the day helping him assemble, dissemble and then re-assemble an engine. By helping I mean I undid all the nuts and bolts and put them back in. If this sounds like small fry, you're obviously not aware of how many nuts and bolts hold an engine together!

Keep smiling friends!

wx

Hello Friends!

Last night Lee and I were privileged to go to dinner with a special someone. My biological sister and I have never really been able to foster a natural relationship as we were adopted by different families, but we went out to dinner last night and it was lovely. I hope that it will be the beginning of a special relationship. 

Lee has been so supportive of me and has dispelled my silliness and fears regarding the meet-up. Thanks Bub! You're amazing!

Here are some pics - new memories being made!

Lee & Kelly

Lee and I.

Kelly and I

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

Hello Friends!

You have a very ecstatic Wendy writing here today! I told you about my little aspiring adventure in my previous post and one of the two things have finally realized (they had no stock at first!). I have in my possession a beautiful Nikon 5100D. What an amazing camera!

I went out with our friend Timor yesterday and we had an absolute blast photographing some Kosmos in a dodgy field in Boksburg. I got to play with some Macro photography as well as some beautiful landscapes and of course supreme natural light. 

We trudged through long grass, spider webs, ants, bugs in general and all sorts of things to get to the really amazing photo opportunities. Timor is a load of fun and I think (if possible) we giggled more than we clicked! Which is seldom the case.

Below are a few of my favourite images from the day. I couldn't wait to get home and see them up on the monitor blown up. The detail and light play on the camera's behalf is just incredible! I was looking forward to having some high quality images to play with on Photoshop, but these hardly needed any editing. Yay!

Here they are. Please let me know what you think!