What are the brands that work for you? I’m stuck on certain brands, but there are some things which I still haven’t found my favourite brand of. For cosmetics, I love Annique. Their products are made from Rooibos, and some are not scented, which makes it ideal for sensitive skin.
For coffee I love Nescafé, and of course Cremora, since I don’t use milk. Strangely enough (very annoying) most coffee shops don’t have coffee creamer! How ridiculous? There are alot of people who are lactose intolerant, which would be a good reason to offer an alternative, specially at coffee shops, but seems like no one has thought about this.
As you already know, I’m totally in love with Revlon nail polish and lipstick. My mascara and foundation are however Maybelline, and NO, I was not born with it. The Intense XXL™ Volume & Length Washable Microfiber Mascara really does make my lashes a few milimeters longer and adds volume. The Dream Matte™ Mousse Makeup foundation applies without any hassle, just as they claim.
There are a couple more brands which I would never consider changing, like bakers Marie & Tennis biscuits, Pantene shampoo & conditioners, and Aquafresh toothpaste, but please let me know about YOUR trusted brands.
I dream of the day when I can buy my own house, and hopefully that day isn’t too far away. Its such a stable investment, and you hardly ever lose on property. I have been looking at renting a place closer to the new job, but renting means paying off someone else’s bond! That just seems like such a waste. For a bit more on your monthly payment you can be buying your home instead of renting it!
In South Africa property is rather expensive at the moment, but prices are not so much increasing anymore. A while back the property industry had quite a boom.
Getting a home loan is a whole different story though. It might be farely easy to GET a home loan. But how to know which one to pick? Which offers you the best? In the end it doesn’t really matter which one you pick. As long as you know what it entails. Read the fine print.
If you pay an amount extra every single month you could end up paying a LOT less.
For instance: If you were to buy a house of R750 000, and you choose to pay R1000 more on your monthly repayment, you can pay off the loan in 15 years instead of 30 years. Thus also saving just over R600 000!!! (On interest)
Please note that these figures were calculated roughly, and will differ from bank to bank, and obviously depend on the interest rate etc.
Like Green Tea is for the Chinese, so is Rooibos Tea for South Africans.
For those of you who are not from South Africa, this might be very interesting for you too – and strange at the same time. Aparantly Rooibos Tea isn’t readily available abroad, but still is – so if you can afford to pay the price, you should give it a try
The taste might be a bit strange at first, but its quite nice, for me in any case (I grew up with it though)
Here are some Rooibos Tea facts which might fascinate you like it did me…
With its many positive attributes, Rooibos Tea is a great choice of drink for health conscious people.
Rooibos Tea contains no colours, additives or preservatives, making it a natural beverage. It contains no caffeine. According to studies conducted in South Africa and Japan Rooibos Tea has been shown to aid in health problems such as insomnia, irritability, headaches, nervous tension, and hypertension.
Studies also show that this tea contains anti – spasmodic agents, which can relieve stomach cramping and colic in infants. Rooibos Tea in South Africa Rooibos has been used to treat allergies such as hay fever, asthma and eczema very effectively .
It is also used to treat irritated skin. Rooibos Tea is brewed and placed directly on infected areas. Rooibos Tea contains anti – oxidants which can help slow the ageing process and boost the immune system.
Rooibos Tea is a great thirst quencher and is an excellent beverage for active people, including children. Most kids will drink Rooibos Tea without added sugar or sweeteners.
This tea contains almost no oxalic acid, making it a good beverage for people prone to kidney stones. Rooibos Tea contains the following minerals: copper, iron and potassium, calcium, fluoride, zinc, manganese, alpha- hydroxy ( for healthy skin ) and magnesium (for the nervous system) are also components of this tea. In South Africa pregnant women and nursing mothers drink Rooibos Tea because it contains no caffeine.
I have recently found that a friend I thought to be a good friend lies to me. On a regular basis. The thing is, we share a lot of common friends, and strangely enough I have found that she always has a different story when its just me and her, but as soon as there are other people around she starts telling a different story. When not doing that, I have found that she has said something to me accident, something she didn’t plan to admit.
The mature thing to do would be to confront her, right? So I tried that, but it didn’t work. I asked her why she said something, and then she just denied it.
Its as if she enjoys keeping things from me, or as if she likes to tell me things that are not true. She’s also forgotten to invite us to certain socials that all our other friends were invited to… Its just so weird.
I could’ve understood if she was maybe a bit sour, then I might have assumed that she didn’t want to be friends anymore. But the thing is, she contacts me, and seems extremely friendly. Is it possible that she’s a compulsive liar? Or The other thing that I suspect is that she was asked not to talk about certain things, and then tries her best not to talk to me about it, but then somehow it slips out that she knew about it while I asked her if she did, and she denied knowing.
It bothers me because I believe that people should be honest in all relationships, and it hurts to know that a person doesn’t even have the decency to be honest.
I wouldn’t blame you if you found this confusing, but its just so awkward, and I had to get it written out. Besides you might have some good advice for me
Often I have felt that it is extremely unfair for people who smoke. They get to have smoke breaks all the time, while non-smokers have to work. It might seem a bit strange for a non-smoker to stand on the balcony just for the fun of it, but if its a smoker, its OK.
I suppose its better that way, and I really wouldn’t want them smoking inside, but it would be nice to be able to have a break every now and then, but then people can call you inside any time. However if they see that you’re smoking, they understand immediately that you NEED YOUR BREAK. Suddenly they find nothing wrong with it that you spend so much more time doing nothing that the rest of us.
To get a bit technical, suppose a smoker smokes 6 cigarettes a day (at work) – which I have found to be average for the people I know? Help me right if I’m wrong – they would typically spend 7 minutes outside for the whole little procedure (5minutes is just too short, and 10 too long). That would mean that smokers have 42 minutes which they spend, tending to their dirty little habit – while the rest of us are working!
I’m not jealous of smoking though, and I suppose they do need their perks too – besides, they will live shorter than the rest of us, so maybe I just need to understand too. And let them have their little breaks. While they can still enjoy it
That is the title of a song by the Scorpions. Its such a beautiful song, and I’ve always sang along to it (when I’m ALONE) But I never realized how difficult those changes might be. Sometimes changes can be things that we have waited and prayed for for years, but other times it entails things that we never thought possible. And never think we will survive. Things which make us feel out of control, and a bit freaked out.
I’m again referring to the job changes that I’ve been through these last two months. It is scary. To start at a new place. Each time I am reminded of how vulnerable I can actually feel. Going through the heartbreak that relationships can sometimes cause I thought nothing could ever scare me more. But being unsure of where your next pay check is going to come from has to be right there at the top of the list too. It suddenly makes one realize that nothing is actually in your control. Things change so quickly without giving us enough time to adjust.
Change is good sometimes, but I think it could be good all the time? I’m just speculating, but I think that change and growth go together very closely, and even though the circumstances might not be what we hope for, the change could always have a positive effect for the future. No matter how hard it is to see the good in that moment of distress, there will always be a bright side.
Difficulties will always come our way, and we just need to learn the best way to deal with it. I still feel like I have so much to learn. So many people have been through much worse circumstances than myself, and yet they seem to come out the top. It reminds me of the story about the donkey….
A farmer had a donkey that unfortunately fell into an abandoned well. It brayed and brayed until the farmer heard him and came running over.
The well was deep and the farmer couldn’t figure out how to hoist the donkey out. Besides, the donkey was getting old and the farmer had other donkeys. And, the well was abandoned and should be covered up anyway, so …
The farmer called his neighbours over with their shovels. They all gathered around and started shovelling dirt onto the donkey, which was still braying away in fear.
After awhile, the farmers couldn’t hear the donkey any longer. They continued to fill the well with dirt until suddenly the donkey stepped up and out of the well!
As the farmers shovelled dirt onto the back of the donkey, he would shake it off and step up onto the new dirt until the dirt lifted him out.
You will get dirt shovelled on you in your life – lots of dirt, all kinds of dirt. When you feel like you’re stuck in a well, just shake all that dirt off and take a step up.
If someone says you can’t do something, shake it off and step on it.
If you do poorly, shake it off, step on it, and try again.
When you stop trying, that’s when the dirt will bury you. So, shake it off, step up, and never give up.
For those of you who are currently going through difficult times. Know that there will be a time when you can look back – try to live in such a way that you’ll be proud of the decisions you’ve made.
I’m posting this video not because I’m lazy, just because its so funny. You might already know that I don’t post video’s regularly, but this one is special Hope you enjoy it… [Needs Sound]
I have realized how quickly people can forget to say “hi”. For those of you who have remembered to drop me a line, thank you so much. It doesn’t go unnoticed, and it is extremely appreciated!! Thank you for the “hello’s”, and “how are you’s” I know how quickly I forget to e-mail or just comment on blogs. Its asif we think the person doesn’t read comments when they don’t blog. That’s not true. I have read ALL your comments, and find them entertaining and enlightening to know that people do still read here!
I have also seen that when I stopped sending regular e-mails, I stopped getting regular e-mails. The odd few do still come in, but the traffic in my inbox has dropped drastically.
All these changes have started because of my recent job changes. I have yet another job (2nd one since August). The new job is kind of the same as I originally did, but different still. The people are kind – the atmosphere very relaxed, it just doesn’t feel like I have a real job yet – I don’t have any tasks & responsibilities defined yet I’m kind of disappointed with that…
Oh well, I should probably open my mouth round about now, and tell them how I feel, but I feel a bit bad, cause they’ve been running around. However it won’t help me to just sit around trying to get to know things, without knowing what they expect of me?
I will now make an effort to visit the blogs I always do Take care, and enjoy the rest of the week!
For those of you who are not from South Africa, this might be very interesting for you too – and strange at the same time. Aparantly 
Often I have felt that it is extremely unfair for people who smoke. They get to have smoke breaks all the time, while non-smokers have to work. It might seem a bit strange for a non-smoker to stand on the balcony just for the fun of it, but if its a smoker, its OK.
Hope you enjoy it… [Needs Sound]
