The crumpling of New Year’s resolutions

I hate New Year’s resolutions – and hardly ever make them. At some point last year I made a before 2012 end’s resolution, it was quite simple, or so I thought. My year-end resolution was to be able to run 5km. I bought myself running shoes, reflective clothing and a cap. In check was my fully loaded iPod, a Run 5km in 5 Weeks programme and plenty of weeks left to do it in. I was quite looking forward to trotting along the beachside when we went to Durban for Christmas.

What I didn’t bargain on was the illnesses of an *almost* 30-year-old creeping up on me, about 11 months in advance. I have since been told that in your near 30s your back gives in (check), in your 40s your knees and in your 50s your mind. By 60 you don’t care what else goes because it is your mind you miss the most. Back to the resolutions…

As 2013 approached I decided to do the New Year’s resolutions thing. Small, simple and achievable goals (in no particular order);

1. Do my first 5km road run – preferably before Winter.
2. Read more – or at least finish my sparkling new Games of Thrones box set.
3. Spend more time with friends. Last year, due to being a part-time student, some of my favourite people were seriously neglected.
4. Pass seven subjects.
5.  Spend more quality time with bf.

The new year hadn’t even started when my well-intended resolutions started crumbling.

In early January – after a Voltaren injection, two Cortisone injections, chronic medication (or so I was told) and one, still need to happen, neurosurgeon appointment – I realised that my dream to run 5km has to be put on hold. In fact – all training has been put on hold, until such time that I know what is wrong with my lower back and what I can and cannot do (to prevent further injury).

Now the crumpling of resolutions 2 and 3 are as a result of resolution 4. I have registered for four subjects in this semester and, after assessing the workload, I realised that most of my spare time will be dedicated to studying.

In my own stubborn and dedicated way I do try and stick to resolution 2 and 3. I try and read for five minutes every night, normally while brushing teeth (it’s a skill I mastered as a child), and I’ve accounted for special events with friends in my study schedule – my iCal app is by far the most overused app on my devices – everything goes in there.

So far the only resolutions that seem to be doing ok are 4 and 5. To date I have managed to stick to my study schedule. I keep myself going by reminding myself that the faster I complete my subjects and get my BA, the quicker I can get back to this thing called a life. Bf and I are doing our best with this quality business – we now eat at the table and talk instead of in front of the TV. Plus, there are special times in my iCal entitled “Date Night”, in two cases “Date Day”.

I suppose the lesson is this – even the simplest of goals require work. Get off your butt and work on it. It reminds me of why I value reading and am desperate to hit the road; 

"The keys to life are running and reading. When you're running, there's a little person that talks to you and says, "Oh I'm tired. My lung's about to pop. I'm so hurt. There's no way I can possibly continue." You want to quit.

If you learn how to defeat that person when you're running, you will learn not to quit when things get hard in your life.

For reading, there have been gazillions of people that have lived before all of us. There's no new problem you could have – with your parents, with school, with a bully. There's no new problem that someone hasn't already had, and written about it in a book," – Will Smith.  

Review: The Twilight Saga

I get why Stephenie Meyer wrote Twilight. I get it and I’ll admit she is clever for playing on the emotions of females. As young girls we are taught that we are princesses and that a prince will one day come on his white horse and sweep us off our feet. That is until you meet your first boyfriend and he breaks your heart.

The Twilight Saga brings back the childhood hopes and dreams of true love, romance and everlasting happiness. I don’t make this shit up, the truth really is stranger than fiction.

I have read all four books and watched the movies. Don’t judge. The fact that I have read the books and watched the movies makes me a topic expert and, by default, an excellent critic.

Review: The books

Ok, let’s face it, Stephenie Meyer is no Bram Stroker and definitely no Margaret Mitchell – thankfully she isn’t quite Mills and Boons bad either. The books were fairly enjoyable, as far as mindless reading goes – to clarify, that means easy reading. The plot and flow of the story was well thought through, for most of the Twilight saga.

The fact that the vampires sparkle like an 80s disco-ball is bearable, that said vampires would give up their staple diet for love – I could handle that too, but not knowing the difference between a shape shifter and werewolf?!?!? Are you an idiot?

For those who have not read the books: Throughout the books Jacob Black and his clan are referred to as werewolves, they refer to themselves as werewolves. It is only in Breaking Dawn, the last book, towards the end, that Carlisle Cullen, head of the Cullen vampire clan, corrects the said wolf clan by explaining the difference between a werewolf and shapeshifter. Yes, please feel free to high-five your face.

Now just a quick little note for all you Twihards – a werewolf becomes one by being bitten by another werewolf. (S)he has no choice in their transformation, when the moon is full they transform and will rip your head off.

A shapeshifter is decedents from an animal i.e. a wolf. Their transformation is voluntary and they won’t necessarily rip your head off – unless they have anger issues, which clearly Jacob does.

I wouldn’t add Twilight to my top 10 list, or even 101 books, but if you have capacity and feel like an easy read – then go for it.

Review: The movies

Normally the book is better than the movie, the same could most certainly be said for The Twilight Saga. The first movie wasn’t all that bad, trust me – it really does get worse after that. To describe the movies I would have to make use of the words “awful, disastrous, dreadful, poor, unimaginative, uninspiring, boring, appalling and simply horrible” – you get the point.

But, throw in a stereotypically handsome, buff, hunk and a semi-dark, untanned, mysterious guy (who sparkles like diamonds) – and girls go wild and spilt themselves into teams. Sorry Team Jacob, Bella stays with Edward – as it is written – so please stop hoping that she’ll wind up with Jacob. And Team Edward, unless you pour glitter all over your boyfriend tonight, there is no way that he’ll be your Edward. The amount of times I have heard a girl say, “he is my Edward” or “I can’ wait to meet my Edward” is enough to make anyone vomit.

That said, I am looking forward to the release of Breaking Dawn Part 2, because, in true tradition, I will go watch it with a group of girls, with the promise of a questionable amount of wine afterwards. I will bitch about the inaccuracy of the movies – they will tell me to zip it because Jacob (or rather Taylor Lautner) is a hottie. We’ll then move on to discuss the cute pair of shoes we saw, our December plans and the latest changes in our tax laws – while sipping our choice of red or white. Because that is what girls do.

Day seven – four books

Being a bookworm selecting four books is complete torture. I grew up in a library, or at least I spent most of my Primary School days hiding out in one, I was a little introverted.

Having discovered the world of books at a young age, I have lost track of the many adventures I got sucked into. So many books have been devoured and there are still so many to indulge in… ok, four books; 

1. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Anne finds her home and her little spot on earth with the Cuthbert. I love a happy ending and the start of new adventures.
2. The Madonna of Excelsior by Zakes Mda. I had to study this book, cover-to-cover, for my English studies (Approaching Literature). I absolutely adored every second of it. Zakes Mda is a brilliant and witty writer. "From the sins of our mothers all these things flow," – a perfect circle, a perfect book.
3. This list would not be complete without a Harry Potter. By far my all-time favourite Harry Potter book has to be Harry Potter and the Horcruxes. This book contains one of my favourite revelations – Professor Severus Snape’s story. The movie doesn’t do his story justice – go on, give the book a read.
4. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind. I love a good murder mystery and Süskind takes his character to a whole new level of… well, weird.

So there you have it, four books.

Day, er, four – seven wants

I wanted to post this on Friday, but after settling down, around 7pm, on Friday night I was far too exhausted. So a few days later, my seven wants;

 

1.   My very own library.

Picture: A friend sent this to me some time ago and yes, it’s so me. I’d rather spend money on books than on shoes.

2.  To see Rob Zombie live in New York. Boom! Two-in-one combo.

3.  To own every single Sweet Valley book ever written. I’ve mentioned once before that as a teen I read Sweet Valley, I had quite the collection too, but I’ve never read all the books. I’d love an opportunity to read every single book (from Sweet Valley Kids to, well, now). 

4.  To own a Peaches Swimwear bikini. While this want is a phone call away, I don’t quite yet feel body comfortable, or confident yet, to make that call.

5.  To build a snowman. While we were quite fortunate to experience a bit of snow in Joburg, my first, it was hardly enough to build a snowman – I tried. 

6.  To enjoy a plate of pasta from the Italian Bowls Club. 

7.  To go on a coastal road trip in a Cadillac, top down, with Roxette, Dire Straits, Right Said Fred and Beach Boys blasting over the speakers. No planning, no prebooked accommodations, no roadmap. A simple hop in the car, blast some sing-along songs and drive from beach-to-beach.

Day two – nine loves

The list of loves, and likes, is endless. Narrowing it down to only nine is quite the challenge.

• Bf takes the number 1 spot.
• Our kittens, Meeko and Tulip. There is so much love in those little fur-faces.

• Christmas time. I am a sucker for a pine tree with glitter over it, stockings that contain presents, the wrapping and unwrapping, but, most of all, I love getting together with family and friends, that warm fuzzy feeling of ‘this is what it is all about’.
• The beach. Splashing in the waves, toes in the sand, basking in the sun and an ice-cream. The beach makes me feel like a child all over again, and I am known to behave accordingly.  

• Harry Potter. I have seen the movies countless times and have read all seven books about five times. I love Harry Potter.
• Books, the printed kind. I simply love reading and if I can get my house smelling like a secondhand bookshop, I will be the happiest person in the world.
• Rob Zombie. I have a not-so-secret crush on the man.

 Picture: Google. Sorry but I don't have a 'I took that picture of Rob Zombie'. Still working on it.

• Metal music – and anything that involves and electric guitar and screaming vocals.
• Penguins. No, cupcakes. Penguins. Cupcakes, definitely penguins. Can someone please bake me some penguin shaped cupcakes?

The 10 Day YOU Challenge

I have mentioned once before that I love a challenge, so when my friend, Girl from Mars, took up the challenge I thought “heck, why not”. This is a 10 Day YOU Challenge – it looks easy, but once you get started you are left doing a bit of head scratching, or rather, soul-searching. 

The challenge goes a little something like this:
Day one – ten secrets
Day two – nine loves
Day three – eight fears
Day four – seven wants
Day five – six places
Day six – five foods
Day seven – four books
Day eight – three films
Day nine – two songs
Day ten – one picture (of yourself).

Picture: For The Beauty Of It

Feel free to join in!

 
So here is my day one – 10 secrets (in no particular order).

1.   I hate my toes and my fingers – they look like chipolatas. I’d trade in my two front-teeth for elegant toes and fingers.

2.   I have duck feet. No really. My feet are so broad that I will never be able to wear elegant strappy shoes – ever. When I shoe shop, I deliberately go for chucky shoes, and when I find a pair that fits, I buy it in every colour. Please don’t stare at my feet next time you see me…

3.   I haven’t worn a pair of shorts since I was 13. I am extremely self-conscious about my legs and, as such, I avoid shorts. Unless of course they come up to my knee, those are cool.

4.   I have never been outside the country.

5.   I believe that you should fake it until you make it. We all strive to achieve something, but getting there takes time. By faking it, like you’ve already made it, you develop a certain amount of confidence, or at least you bullshit people into thinking so.  

6.   I don’t have patients, at all. If I want something, I want it NOW! For example, waiting for my study material, even just a few days, is nothing short of pure torture and not to mention waiting for results! I’ll visit the myUnisa site, where all the exam information is published, 110 times an hour. No exaggeration.

7.   I haven’t read 60% of the books I own. I love books, and I do read them, unfortunately I just seem to buy them faster than I can read them.

8.  I don’t forgive. If someone hurts me really bad, I won’t forgive and forget. It’s a huge personality flaw. There are even some incidents I can date pinpoint the unforgivable event.  

9.   I drop the f-bomb on occasions (I am cautious about when and where though) and in the (questionably) wise words of Limp Bizkit’s frontman, Fred Durst, “fuck is just a word, and it’s all fucked up”.

10. The person I admire the most is my bf. He is the single most kind-hearted person in the world, who has an amazing amount of tolerance and patients, and he always sees the good in someone, even if they don’t see it themselves. He rocks. 

For the love of a good book

When I was a child I use to walk up the road to my mom’s workplace after school. I’d pop in say hello, and then run across the road to the library. There I would stay until the librarian would remind me it is 16:30 – home time. I grew up in a library. I grew up surrounded by books. 

Today I cannot walk into a bookshop without walking out with a book, or two, and I never give a book away or sell it. As a teenager I read SweetValley, give me a break ok, I’m a girl. I actually started collecting the books and had well over 250 books (ranging from Sweet Valley Kids to University). In Varsity I gave it away. Yup, GAVE IT AWAY. I regret it more than accidently spilling acetone on my iPhone 4. I swore never again. Hence, I keep every book I buy. 

I realise that in another 10 years I might need a room to store my books in, which suits me fine. In fact my aim is to one day have a reading room with a large comfy chair, fireplace and bookshelves of all shapes and sizes. Here is a walk through my perfect reading room;

Minus the ornaments and wasted cupboard space. Visualise rows and rows of books.

I simply love this bookshelf! In fact I have convinced bf that one day when we have children, yes my Trend Stalking friend plural, this will be the centrepiece of the child’s room. Except it’ll be the child’s name.

I love open and airy spaces so another window would be fabulous! With the chair of course, comfort is important if you are planning on spending hours reading.

 I spotted this canoe-bookshelf at a shop in Clarens. I think it’ll fit in well with my collection of bookshelves.  

Now what would a reading room be without a fireplace? The stepladder isn’t a bad idea either.

Here are some other bookshelf ideas which I simply love, and will have to make space for;

 

Now you must think I am crazy considering that we live in a digital world and I can have every single book I desire on one device. I have the Kindle app for my iPad, and every other book app you can think of, but it is simply not the same. I love turning a page and the smell of books. As long as I am around, print will never go out of fashion, all for the love of a good book.

Best I go and pick bf off the floor. Once he sees this, he will faint – guaranteed. 

For fabulous, practical, easy to implement, home ideas visit www.thefurnishingtouch.co.za.