What do you lie about?
‘There’s no more chocolate!’ Hides in bedroom eating chocolate where the kids can’t find me
‘No, I didn’t buy another book.’ Although now that I’m using BookBub I’m only downloading free books, so this technically isn’t a lie anymore.
‘I did my homework.’ No, no I didn’t. I should have, but I didn’t.
What do you consider to be your biggest achievement?
Sheesh people. Really? I have no idea.
Let’s see…
I’ve managed to keep two small humans alive for the last 8 and 5 years. That’s pretty epic right?
I’ve moved to a new country and am learning a new language and navigating a new culture.
I’ve been married to a man I love, who drives me nuts, makes me laugh, loves me fiercely, keeps me in line, drives me nuts (oh wait, I said that already), supports me and adores our children, for almost 10 years. I think that’s quit an achievement.
I cook dinner from scratch at least 4/5 times a week. It may only be pasta with cheese sauce or even waffles (sometimes with choc chips in it), but its from scratch. The other days are either re-purposed left overs or hot dogs or pizza and/or corn schnitzel from the freezer.
This years new achievement will be learning to ride a bike! Maybe. Probably. I’m not making any promises.
What DIY projects are on your spring to-do list?
Well, we have been in Israel for just over a year. We are renting our apartment but our landlords are pretty darn amazing and are happy for us to make our apartment our home (within reason).
One of the things I really, really want to do is put up our pictures. In SA we had a gorgeous red family photo wall in our dining room and I really miss seeing all those pictures.
Yes, I know, we have been living in our apartment for a year! Yes, I know, our things arrived 9 months ago! And we still haven’t put any pictures up on the walls (I’m looking at you Paul!)
So my big DIY project is to get those pictures up. Our home has come a long way since we moved in. Here it is right at the beginning. And here it is the day our lift arrived.
And here is what it looks like now. At least the lounge. I want to fill that big blank wall with the family pictures.
Looking forward to showing you more when the pictures are up on the walls.
What do you want your great-great-great-grand kids to know about you?
I want them to know their history.
How their great-great-great grandfather and I met.
How we moved to Israel and made it our home.
I want them to know I love the idea of them.
That I can already see them spread out across the world, happy and loved.
I want them to know I will always be watching out for them and their children and their children’s children.
I want them to know that everything I do today is with future generations in mind, what I do now is for them.
I want them to know that I was happy, that I lived a fulfilled life and that I would change nothing.
I’m jumping on the wagon and Megan‘s driving!
Darling Megan posted a 52 weeks of blogging prompts list and a few people including Cassey and Cupcakemummy (who also designed the fabulous logo) are also joining in.
I’m trying to up my creative writing game so I may not post factual, nonfiction posts with these prompts but rather fiction stories, poems and other ramblings.
Here’s the list:
I’m looking forward to all the writing and to reading everyone’s posts!
**Please take a moment to add the gals above to your blog readers or subscribe to their blogs as well as mine.
I’ve seen this going around and thought I would steal it…
1. Are you named after someone?
Yes. My late aunt Natalie, my fathers sister. She was born with a hole in her heart. and she died when she was just 15. She was one of Dr Chris Barnard’s first patients. My full name is Gina-Natalie.
2. When was the last time you cried?
Frustrated tears – A few days ago.
Sad tears – A few months ago.
3. Do you have kids?
Two. Aaron, who is almost 8 (!!) and Faith who is almost 5 (!!).
4. If you were another person, would you be a friend of yourself?
I think so. I tend to make friends easily.
5. Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Books. I cant stop reading. I walk and read. I walk into things and read.
6. Do you like handwriting?
Mine, not so much. Doctors, definitely not.
7. What is your favorite cereal?
Frosties!
8. What is the first thing you notice about people?
Their face. No, really. Are they happy, sad, twitching like a crazy person?
9. What color are your eyes?
Green. Dark green.
10. Scary movies or happy endings?
Happy endings. I don’t like horrors but I will watch a psychological thriller. If I’m not alone.
11. Favorite TV show?
Way too many to choose. Right now we are watching Doctor Who, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Flash, Arrow and Supernatural.
12. Summer or winter?
Summer. Much prefer being hot. I can never get warm enough in winter.
13. Hugs or kisses?
Neither? I’m not really a touchy feel-y person. I kiss and hug my children and husband but even then it should be short and sweet.
14. What’s the furthest you’ve been from home?
6462km. That’s the distance between Johannesburg, South Africa and Jerusalem, Israel.
15. Do you have special talents?
Cooking/baking.
16. Where were you born.
The Marymount Maternity home, Kengsington, Johannesburg.
17. What are your hobbies?
Reading, cooking, baking.
18. Do you have any pets?
No, but I would like to adopt an older rescue dog soon.
19. Favorite movie?
Pretty Woman, Rocky Horror Picture Show, anything super hero.
20. What color is your car?
No car. My last car was white though.
21. What did you want to be when you grow up?
An archaeologist.
Thank you Janice for nominating me, I haven’t done one of these in ages and I love them 🙂
1. What is your current fashion obsession? – Slops! I haven’t worn anything but slops since summer started. I love that people don’t bat an eye when you go to work in slops here.
2. What are you wearing today? – Levis, a grey, short sleeved, cowl neck tunic dress and pretty black slops.
3. Hair? – I’ve given up straightening my hair during the week, I just dont have time, so its up in a high, messy bun with lots of waves and curls all over the place.
4. Do you nap a lot? – My husband says yes. If I can get a nap or two in on the weekend I am a happy girl.
5. Why is today special? – My son is graduating 1st grade. Its his last day of school and after 8 weeks of summer vacation he will be in 2nd grade. So proud of him!
6. What would you like to learn to do? – I would like to continue learning Krav Maga, I want to be able to take down someone bigger than me.
7. What’s for dinner today? – Mystery container of leftovers from the freezer. I keep forgetting to label what I put away so its always a surprise.
8. What are you listening to right now? – The hum of the aircon in the office and the clacking of computer keys. I’m about to put on the new Mumford & Sons though.
9. What is your favorite weather? – Hot. I cant abide the cold, especially when it is cold and rainy.
10. What’s the last thing you bought? – Milk and grapes.
11. What are your essentials when traveling? – Kindle, iPad, chargers, clean undies.
12. What’s your style? – Casual. I don’t do uncomfortable in any way shape or form. Life is too short to be miserable.
13. What is your most challenging goal right now? – Learning Hebrew. I’m getting there slowly and I know it will happen but its going to take hard work.
14. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be? – Near my family. I really don’t care where I live as long as my family is with me.
15. Favourite vacation spot? – Mountains. In SA it was the Drakensburg. I need to find my favourite spot in Israel still but it will probably be somewhere up north.
16. Name the things you cannot live without? – My husband and coffee. Not necessarily in that order.
17. How was your childhood? – Regular. Happy. Sad. Stressful. Fun. Family orientated. Normal. Or at least I think so.
18. What would you like to have in your hands right now? – My book.
19. What are you most excited for? – My mommy coming to visit in August. I cannot wait to see her!
20. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? – Heaven (yes I know, not really ‘in the world’) to see my dad and my brother.
21. Which countries have you visited? – South Africa and Israel.
I have started using a small handbag as opposed to my little ‘purse‘ I was using before. Its not much bigger, maybe twice the size but it it has a shoulder strap and leaves my hands free.
Here is what’s in it…
All in all not too bad for a small handbag.
Thanks {Laura-Kim} and {Cindy} for the inspiration today 🙂
You will never catch me fighting with the kids about brushing their hair on the weekends, its just not worth the aggravation.
You will never catch me saying no to carbs.
You will never catch me without nail polish on.
You will never catch me wearing high heals unless its a very fancy function.
You will never catch me drinking decaf coffee.
You will never catch me drinking fat free anything.
You will never catch me running. Not unless something nasty is chasing me and even then, if it looks like it would be a quick, painless death I still may not run.
You will never catch me eating gummy bears, Turkish delight or licorice.
Gratuitous pics of my kids 😉
The gorgeous and fabulous {Jodene} from {Project Me} posted about the {contents of her handbag} and I couldn’t resist posting mine.
Well, I don’t actually use a handbag any more. I haven’t for a while now. It started out with me using a very small, hand embroidered bag that my mom-in-law made for me, but I would just grab my wallet, phone and keys if I had to dash out during the work day. Then {Core/iStore} sent me a gorgeous {Knomo wristlet purse} and since then I haven’t used a bag at all.
The purse has place for my cards, cash and my phone. The only thing it doesn’t have is a dedicated space for coins.
And even though its so small, I still manage to collect some crap that shouldn’t be in there (although I actually cleaned it out on Saturday so its looking pretty good today)…
So, what’s in my ‘handbag’?
What’s in your handbag!
