Celebrating!!!

Been a while again. I seem to forget to blog. I beg your pardon if you read my blog and are mad at  me for not posting anything new and exciting. I thought today I would dedicate a post to a very special man to me. Today would've been my dad's 50th birthday. We had a little get together in the style he would've celebrated his birthday usually. My gran visited from George for the occasion. We had such a great time remembering him and spending time together. 

This one is just for you daddy. Happy Birthday!!!

Daddy love

Me and dad

Ice cream!!!

DIY sushi

It seems like the biggest thing to take over the food industry (other than organic eating that is) in the last 5-10years in Sushi!!! Love it or Hate it, its everywhere and its popularity is growing.

Personally I am a huge fan... I get my fix at least twice a month. New sushi places are popping up everywhere with all kinds of specials. "All you can eat"; ""half price between 5pm and 10pm" and so on. At first, I will admit, I was very cautious about what I ate and was not a fan of the wasabi but now I am a all you can eat kind of girl. I love salmon, tuna, prawn, crab, eel. I have even had squid and octopus sushi during my time overseas. My friends are divided on the idea of it. Some love it (look for places online to get the next deal of the little money they have) and others hate it (they haven't actually tried it but the idea of raw fish makes them want to gag)

 I have Mikhail to thank for introducing me to sushi. Before I met him I wasn't even remotely interested in sushi but I am a little gaga over it. The two of use are able to consume an incredible amount of the fishy goodness (because we only really enjoy the salmon items) Salmon sashimi is his favourite (with a little mayo to dip) I love California rolls (or inside out rolls). Our latest favourite couples activity is making our own sushi. We tried it for the first time in Korea (Mikhail brought a kit) we had a lot of fun. Since then we have bought some new items and started again. With some instructional videos and little love we seem to have gotten the hang of it. Here is a picture of our latest set.

California, Roses, Hand rolls

Mikhail rolls (bottom right corner) so good!

Our presentation has gotten better over time and will improve more. As you can see, we love salmon. We bought a 300g fillet and finished it on one go. Mikhail made these inside out rolls with salmon, cream cheese and strawberry. They are amazing!!! If you have never tried it and want to please do and let me know what you think of the combination. We had some wine with our sushi and rolled to bed, satisfied, proud and with very full bellies. 

If you want to try making your own sushi, whether by yourself or with your partner (great couples activity by the way) here's what you will need to get started. Take note the first time might be a little pricey but once you get going it will just be a matter of getting the ingredients you want.

Utensils:

1 Very sharp chef's knife

Bamboo rolling mat (however many you need)

Plastic sandwich wrap (to put over the mats)

Chopsticks

Serving plates

Ingredients:

Pickled ginger 

Soy Sauce

Wasabi

Sushi rice (short grain)

Avocado

Cucumber

Dried Nori (Seaweed)

Sesame seeds

Your choice of salmon, tuna, prawn, crab stick or veggies

I would suggest going on to youtube.com to get your instructional videos. You will have such a good time but don't be too disappointed; the first time it's a little tough but you'll get the hang of it. Try your hand at it and comment to let me know how it all goes. 

xoxo

Nats

The Rant

I hope you all enjoyed and participated in the 30 day photo challenge. I have to say I had a great time taking the pictures (even though sometimes, I have to admit, I had a tough time to find what it was I was meant to photograph for the day) And now that its done, let me get back to complaining about my life (I have a lot to be thankful for, don't get me wrong... I promise to blog about that too, but for now...)

I have been back in the country for 4months now and still haven't found work. I have been on 3 interviews of which (obviously) none were successful. All the work in this country seems to be up country. I should move there but I am not ready to move again. Move away from the good things I do have in my life.

On the plus side I have another interview tomorrow, hopefully I will be a little more successful this time around. Granted there are things about the job I am interviewing for that I am not 100% happy about. For example, they canceled my first interview because they filled the position but then emailed me today to say that the 'successful' candidate was not up to their standard (not cool), and there are shifts that I have to work (so not a traditional 9-5 as I was hoping for)

But it's a job nonetheless. And if I was their next successful candidate, I would work very hard and be grateful for the opportunity. I'm over being at home (to be fair I was over it ages ago) I mean I love doing what I want, all day long (I should be looking for more jobs, and I do) but seriously, I'm over it. I really hope this time it works out... in serious need of a break.

Rant over.

xoxo

Day 30 - Desire

So this is a strange one, but recently I have desired to be more fit and this is my new tool to help me do just that. Thank you Mikhail!!! 

watch this space

Day 29 - Colour

Another one of the more recent things I bought for myself. I love these, for their shape, height, fit and of course... their COLOUR!!! 

Cute, comfy and COLOURFUL!

Day 28 - Empty, Clean apartment

Well, today I am stumped for a picture since I don't live in an apartment anymore... But here is the only picture I have from when I did have an apartment of my own and was picking up to move back to South Africa... Now, I know its not of an apartment but it was the result of packing and cleaning up...

This was so expensive to ship home

Day 27 - Calm

A calming view on a rough day... Perfect for today's word.

Day 26 - Last thing I bought

Well here is a funny story... So I went to my favourite cosmetics store. Clicks sometimes has random beauty products on sale and the day I went they had some nail polish... I chose this one because I love the colour without looking at the price. When I got to the till it scanned as R00.01 and so I argued until they gave it to me at that price... So even though I paid nothing for it, it is in fact the last thing I bought...

bad shot

Day 25 - On the road

Something old but great! A fun, spontaneous road trip to Langebaan airforce base to drop off my love. Good times with Mikhail, Nadia and aunty Trish!!! 

West Coast Rd

Day 24 - Sunrise/Sunset

I am very far behind in uploading the last few picture, for this, I apologise. Here is a sunset from a rainy day in Cape Town. The next day was even more rainy...

Rainy sunset

Day 23 - heart!

This is my cousin, Nina's son, Owen. He is 5years old and the cutest. Here he is trying he's hardest to make the heart <3 hand sign... having a little trouble but still so damn cute!

Owie ka-powie <3

Day 22 - A stranger

Late and behind again I know... Sigh this is tougher than I thought it would be. Forgive me I beg you. Here are some pictures I have managed to get to catch up a little... Bear with me everyone. These guys filled up my car... 

Friendly attendants

Day 21 - Mirror/rorriM

When I was in Korea I was awfully home-sick most of the time and when Mikhail came to visit he brought this glitter snow-globe of Cape Town with him. After he left this was such a great reminder of home for the last few months... (I admit to taking a million pictures of myself in the mirror before deciding that there are more lovely things in my life to document...)

CPT <3

Day 20 - Upside Down

Nadia came home from school early today so she and I decided to try out the "sock-bun" that everyone on the beauty and fashion blogs are raving about and its actually rather cute and fairly easy once you get the hang of it. Nadia had a lot of hair (if you don't already know this) and her bun was like a crown. Here's a cute picture of her laying "upside down" o my bed.... 

shining in the sun

Day 19 - 9 o clock

Well I must admit that is is getting harder and harder to keep up with the photo challenges on the weekends but I am determined not to fall behind again. So here is today's picture depicting what it is I usually (and tonight is no different) do around 9pm on most evenings. If you don't use http://pinterest.com/ you should! I love love love it!!! It's a photo sharing site and its AMAZING! Check out my profile, follow me and I'll follow you right back! http://pinterest.com/natsy2103/

my profile

Day 18 - Eyes

Here is the eye of my favourite man in the world. 

my love

Day 17 - Animal/Insect

Willow

Enough said!

Day 16 - Plate

Yesterday Mikhail flew over Cape Town for the first time and over our house! I am so proud so I thought I would make a celebratory dinner for him. All things he love (Alfredo pasta with ham and mushrooms, Mango juice and chocolate Brownies with ice cream). Today's word is "Plate" and I thought it only appropriate to show you what it looked like after we ate all that food.

Yummy yum!!!

Day 15 - Korean Addiction

I love love love the obsession Koreans have with cutsie couples things. Couples t-shirts, couples shoes (which Mikhail and have by the way... We just had to), couples mugs, couples clothing sets!!! I love it, cheesey as it is, I love it. So for today I have a picture that I took a while ago of a set of couples mugs I bought for Mikhail and I at 'Diaso' (my favourite Korean store)

with hats!!!

Day 14 - Sign

Since I'm stuck at home for the day and am not out and about in the city prowling for opportunities to take pictures to complete the daily challenge as part of the 30day photo challenge, I thought I would take today's word/theme with a slight pinch of salt. Today's word is "Sign". And here is a sign of how bored I am today.

Facebook tetris

I'm a little ashamed to mention how often I play this online but it's so addictive and helps pass the time. Also don't forget to check out illusemyword.blogspot.com and pohangdiaries.blogspot.com to follow my friends pictures on the 30 day photo challenge!!!

Kisses! xoxo

Nats

Day 13 - Danger!!!

Mikhail and I have been getting bites on our legs and arms so he suggested we do a fogger to kill all the little bugs that bite us. Before I left to pick up Nadia at school I opened one. Unfortunately its very poisonous and I had to put the cat out of the house so he wouldn't be affected by the poison. He was very angry with me. Anyway for today I chose this picture of the fogger before I opened it.

bloody bugs

Day 12 - Building

Today my sister-in-law and I went for a mini road trip to my rival university, Stellenbosch University (I went to the University of Cape Town which makes me an Ikey and not a Matie from Stellies) to drop off her applications for next year (to my dismay, she liked the place). Even though there is some stupid rivalry Stellies happens to be situated in the most gorgeous part of the Cape Winelands and has some really old buildings, thus I thought it would be suitable to do Sunday's word/theme, "Building" there. 

'Gebou' means building in Afrikaans

Day 11 - Open

As I'm playing catch up. Here is a picture I took today on one of the better winter days where it wasnt raining so hard that my bedroom window had to be closed. I was happy to have it open with some sunshine and fresh air streaming in. Oh and by the way this one was for Saturday and the word/theme was "Open".

sunny day

Day 10 - Business owner

savvy lady

So I know I'm behind on the challenge and I'm hoping to catch up asap... The weekend gets so busy that I forget. My apologies. This post is for Friday's word which was "business owner". This gorgeous lady is my cousin and very good friend Nina. She owns her own business running an after-care and kids holiday program. She gave the opportunity to get experience with kids so I could go to Korea and teach! I love her and she is a wonderful, successful business owner.

Day 9 - Stress Reliever

Cam and Mitch - world's funniest facial expressions

Modern family makes me laugh and laughter is the best stress reliever. Adding some chocolate to that and you have the perfect R&R time!!! Happy Thursday!

Day 8 - Cute Student

As I've said before I was an English teacher in South Korea last year and I tell you, I had the cutest students in the world. So I thought for today I would use one picture of one of them for today's picture challenge.

Meet Mindy!

Day 7 - BIG!!!

smacking the camera flash

Today I thought it would be perfect to introduce Willow. This is Willow, my kitty. He is BIG!!! and he loves BIG and he has a BIG attitude and a very BIG and bushy tail. He loves shoes and cake and does yoga with us sometimes and calls birds but then runs away when they come close to him. He hates being alone and sadly is not a fan of my fiance'. So there's Willow and his BIG mouth!

P.S in this picture he is hitting the camera because I took lots of pictures of him and the flash was upsetting him so he just smacked it

Day 6 - Lunch

Background for today's photograph is that I was baby-sitting my little cousin (Although she will say shes not a baby so how can I call it 'baby-sitting). She's 8 years old and we hung out for the day because her school only starts for the 3rd term tomorrow and her mum had to be at work. We watched movies and played with Willow but we also spent the better part of the day baking and what we baked was our lunch and thus my picture for today. We had fun making this!!!

Thanks Lyn!!!

Day 5 - Garden

Today I feel a little bad about the topic because, if you know anything substantial about my family, you would know that they all love to garden and they are really good at it. My grandmother is by far the best, she eve makes mini gardens for people to buy and take home (well actually they are rockery's or whatever she calls them) Either way, its a mini garden that consists of two small plants (usually cacti) and rocks placed in way that makes it look as though its a garden. She makes these not because shes nuts (debatable)  but because every year her church has a bazaar and the congregation make things to sell and mini-gardens are her thing. I on the other hand am not big into gardening (to be very honest I'm not even small into it) but luckily our garden is beautiful!

potted paradise

Here is just a tiny bit of our garden. There is a lot more of it but I personally enjoy the walk to the front door and lovely smell that the blossoms give off in the spring! I'm really looking forward to that!

Day 4 - Chair

On the weekend it becomes more difficult to complete the photo task for today, or even to remember that there is a task because I am so busy enjoying my weekend. But, thankfully I remembered and got this one with me in my cat, Willow's favourite chair.

Willow ran away so I couldn't get him in the pic

Well there we go, let's hope I don't forget tomorrow!!! 

Day 3 - The best part of my day

Today's photo challenge was slightly tough for me because there were so many good parts of my day (hail storm, a cup of warm home-made soup on a chilly day and my cat chuffing like a tiger in the window at the birds outside) But I realized, IT'S FRIDAY!!! My favourite day in the week, not only because its the start of the weekend (which for me means nothing right now because all my days are weekend-like) but because on a Friday the man who loves me most in the world, the man who I adore comes home for 2days a week!!! So today my picture is a screen shot from my phone. The minute I know he is on his way home to me and that in a matter of 2 hours I will see him, I get all tingly and giddy and the butterflies in my tummy go crazy and fly in some serious aerobatic sequences! Definitely the best part of my day... and so you know, it only gets better from here on!!! (wink wink)

He still gives me butterflies

Have a great weekend everyone!!! <3 

Day 2 - busy

So as I continue with the 30day photo challenge I thought I'd be cute rather literal in my picture for today. As the title of the post suggests today's word/theme is 'busy' and in my picture I choose to, instead of creating a busy situation to photograph, I'm showing the busiest time of my day. 

busy blogging

Yes, I know I haven't done anything with my day as you can see. Don't judge me!!!

Check out http://illusemywords.blogspot.kr/ and http://thepohangdiaries.blogspot.kr/ to see my friend's pictures for today!

Say Cheese!!!

HI all, I know I've been away for a while but I'm back and with something fun and interactive too.

A good friend of mine asked me if I wanted to join a 30day photo challenge with her and some other friends. And of course I said yes, which is why I'm telling you about it (then again if I said "No" and was keen to blog I would've probably also... Anyway I digress). I said yes.

Here's how it works:

• There's a list of themes (one a day) and everyday you take a picture according to the theme and upload it to your blog or on a social network site by mid-night
• Share with your friends
• Here's the list of the pictures for each day!

So I'm taking part and today's theme is 'SELF-PORTRAIT' and here is my picture...

funny face!

Go to the following blogs to see some other pictures on my friends blog

• http://illusemywords.blogspot.kr/2012/07/30-day-photo-challenge.html
• http://thepohangdiaries.blogspot.kr/

Have fun looking at the pictures for the next month or so and do your own challenge with your friends if you want. Comment and let me know your thoughts! Say Cheese everyone!

I be bored yo!!!

So, as mentioned before, I am currently unemployed and job-hunting. And, as it is for everyone in today's current economic climate, not going too well.

Aside from the lack of work and the ridiculously low salaries being offered; there is also the frustration that comes from being bored at home and then there's the dread and doom of living off your life savings. Now, I know this is not just my problem but the whole world's problem right now. However, in my little part of the world it's all-consuming right now. At first I thought it would be nice to take a break and relax before diving into a job when I came home (Yes, I was naive enough to think that I would be able to pick and choose as I pleased when I came home); and yes, at first it was really nice to sleep until noon (after I got over my jet-lag that is), catch up on reading (which I didn't do much of), and flutter about like a lady with nothing better to do with my time (which I did do...) but now, just over a month after touching down in my home town, I am unequivocally and and irreparably BORED!!!

Yes, I know, I nag a lot... but this is my blog and I can moan and bitch and nag if I want...

Boredom: According to the Collins English dictionary is, "noun - a state of being bored; tedium" And this, my friends and foes, is exactly what I am. I have cleaned and re-cleaned, sorted and re-sorted, emailed and re-emailed (yes I often had to resend emails) and all the other "ed's" and "re-ed's". Not only was it fun but I felt like I was doing something productive with my time; unfortunately now, I see that it really wasn't (No really - it wasn't). Rather I should have spent my time adding skills of some practical worth to my repertoire of "things I can do". Luckily I have some amazing people around me to remind me (I just waited too long to visit them).

BORING!!!

So the boredom that comes with unemployment and the desperation I feel to be productive with my time again and to be doing something that will better who I am and add something to my life, will soon end. I have started looking for things so do with my time that not only will keep me busy (thus tackling the boredom issue) but will also add to me and my skills that I can eventually put forth to my future employer (look at all these other things I learned to do while I was waiting for you to employ me). That's something new to look forward too... and I cannot wait to get started.

Here are some cool sites to check out if you too are bored and need some ideas ( please look some of these suggestions are so fun and others are just funny):

1. http://www.bored.com/boredthings/
2. http://www.urban75.org/useless/bored.html
3. http://www.lists-galore.com/2009/08/150-things-to-do-when-youre-bored.html

Shop till you drop - NOT!!!

So, as I said before this blog will be about things on my mind and today having trouble fitting into things I want to purchase at a retail clothing store.

Today, after being bored for about a month or so (Context: I was working in South Korea for the past year as a guest English teacher to elementary school kids. Recently came home to South Africa and now I have no job and decided to go do a little shopping with a little of the money I saved while I was away) I decided to go to a shopping mall to one of my favourite stores to browse and maybe do some shopping. Nothing Major (I'm a little bad at spending money on myself)

So off I went into this store. Now let me tell you a bit about this store. It imports clothing from China and sells it at fairly reasonable prices in comparison to other clothing stores. The clothes are youthful and fun. Lots of colour. Lots of opportunity to mix and match and because its so cheap, I'm able to but a lot and make various outfits without spending too much on each item. A lot for a little... just the way I like it.

So here I am in my favourite store after being away for a year and the shop is filled with fabulous looking clothes THAT DON'T FIT ME!!!!

How absolutely frustrating. And no. I know what you're thinking. It's not because I gained a ton of weight and so I shouldn't complain. It's because of these Asian sizes that the clothing comes in. Now, I'm not being racist this is fact. I know because I spent a year with Asians. Their traditional diet and good genes means that most of them are slim and very few are even a little over-weight. This causes a chain-reaction that has now, clearly effected me and made me very sad...

Asians ----> Healthy diet -----> tiny waist lines and 'itty - bitty' little bums ----> the production of smaller sizes even though it remains labeled  as (S, M, L, XL) -----> export of large quantities of cheaply produced textiles (cheap labour and mass producing factories - another blog topic) -----> countries whose manufacturing and textile industries have become redundant due to the rapid growth of the equivalent Asian industries import these cheap textiles and sell them to retailers ----> unsuspecting, excited, bargain-hunting consumer fits on clothes in the fitting-rooms only to be disappointed and forced to buy a bigger size ---> feeling fat and taking a blow to your self-image and eating ice-cream and croissants to make yourself feel better.

So that's my rant for today... thoughts???

This is the look I was trying to recreate today (minus the hair - although I love it)

I love these coloured pants but refuse to wear a size that I know I am not ....

Great skirt -  party in the front; business in the back

A really cute lace shirt I would love to own

What the BLOG!?

Starting a blog has, for an embarrassingly  long time, been on my to-do list. And, with that said, I am hereby announcing that I have started one. I have not yet figured out what it will be about but its up and running and will beg my attention so things will appear. 


Life according to... as the title suggests should not just be about me and what my views and likes and dislikes are. Instead a platform to write and discover what I think about others opinions and lives are about.


Super-duper excited about having finally started to blog. I hope I don't end up being one of the bloggers people are annoyed by; and if I am... well then don't read my blog... I won't mind you skipping over it. You're allowed!

Yay, let the fun begin!!!