It happened | Fear forever

It happened. It just happened. One of the things I feared the most (and strangely proud that I have never encountered it) happened.

How? I stepped on it. 

My husband tells me "Watch out, there is a bee on the floor in the kitchen". Note to self-wear shoes.

Our friends came over for a visit. We had such a fun time. I got up and walked into the kitchen (bare feet) to say goodnight to Watson (my bird). Cooing and speaking to him and then...chaos. 

I think chaos is maybe an understatement, more like the next level of craziness. 

"Ouch"

"Ouch"

"it burns"

(Watson hanging by a thread to my denim short, flapping and scratching some pretty mean scratches in my leg)

"Get it out"

"Get it out"

"GET IT OUT"

"I have never been stung by a bee before"

My husband: "Love go sit down. Please go sit down."

"I CAN'T. IT BURNS"

Crying, screaming, crying some more. Shaking hands. Shaking legs.

(Watson makes it safely to his cage)

I hang onto my kitchen cupboard like I'm swimming the butterfly stroke.

My friend suggest: "Do you have alcohol in the house?" (I feel something cool -my husband tried some of his Axe. Apparently it contains alcohol. I did not know that.)

Next suggestion: "Toothpaste" (Again something cool. Hmm that seems to work)

"It hurts". Sobbing.

I hop to the chair to sit down.

Through tears and shaking hands I tell my friends (sitting in silence, eyes big)
"I'm sorry you guys"

And the next thing out of my mouth: "Will I be able to run tomorrow". Really woman, are you mad? But, I did go run.

I knew there is a reason why I have a fear for bees. I knew it. It hurts. No, that is not descriptive enough. I can't describe it. All I know is I never, EVER want to get stung by a bee again. It hurts like hell.

This morning my cat ran over my foot. Almost yelling out loud, and almost waking my husband I got up and stepped on my foot. Then doing some crazy dance to the couch.
 
So, today I have a swollen foot. I have toes that look like cocktail sausages and I can not bend or move them. Red feet and it itches like crazy.  I also learned that you are not suppose to touch or scratch it. Scratching or touching just makes is worse!

So, the evil, uninvited, piece of ....bee family that moved into our backyard...guess what -YOU ARE MOVING!

I am begging, on my knees, please I never want to get stung by a bee again.

 

Speak to you soon..or sooner

xoxo

Get ready with me {Festival Edition}

We went to a festival this pass weekend. I love festivals. The vibe, the music, THE fooooood!!!!

Obviously we can not just go without getting ready, so let me share my "get ready with me" tips. 

After my shower I start with my face. I use the Hydrafine Cleaner and give my face a good scrub (not literally). I apply Essence Sensi Cream. This is a wonderful moisturiser and I end it all with the Lucid refresher spray. All these are available at any Annique salon. Do not forget the sun block! I use the Nivea Sun 50+. I trust this one. This is a keeper;)

Moving on. You have to colour your face, but keep it natural. I LOVE the natural look and go for neutrals. I just want to give my face some colour. These are the products I use:

Foundation: Everlasting Foundation - Avon
Super Shock mascara - Avon
Pressed powder - Avon (I use this as a "setting" powder)
The blush and eye shadows - Victoria Jackson Survival Kit (this is available in the USA and on their website)
Gel eye liner in Gold - Woolworths
The kabuki- and blush brush - Avon
Lip Gloss in Mango - The Body Shop
Make-up Setting Spray - Avon (this stuff is AWESOME!)

Then you NEED to be comfortable. There is nothing worse than having on the wrong outfit and wrong shoes. You are going to be on your feet for a while.
So, I settled for my:

Trusty Sandles - Green Cross
Crop Jean - News Denim @ Foshini
RE:T-shirt - Woolworths

 I did not take my whole handbag. You want your hands free to eat as much as you can and to shop till you drop and throw your hands in the air singing at the top of your lungs-that's what festivals are for. So I opted for a cross body bag. Out of the way and comfy. And this is what's in my bag:

Just the essentials. I knew I won't be using everything in my "usual" bag and all you need is your purse, sunglasses and camera!

Now, you are set to go. We had a lovely day, it was just windy (way to much!!) We will see if we see them next year again!

Speak to you soon...or sooner

xoxo

6 weeks, at the speed of a tortoise and sloth like movements.

That moment when you realise WHAT was I THINKING? How do you start exercising again after doing absolutely bugger all for more than 6 weeks? O you just start running a 4km (which was still fine) and then you go to the gym and do 3 vigorous sets of your strength training exercises and then you go (and try) doing speed training... and then we you start crying out in pain and feeling nauseous you realise again...WHAT was I THINKING?!

So, my husband and I have not been doing anything for 6 weeks, so last week Monday we started getting back to business again. Aaaaand we failed miserably. Tuesday was still fine after my slow-as-a-tortoise 4km, I could actually still walk the Tuesday. Tuesday is where it all went south. We went to the gym and my legs were screaming out in agony “please stop please stop”, but I thought “no man don’t be a sissy”. I pushed onwards and afterwards felt very proud of myself. I mean who is going to stop me? King of the world...yeah right!

Wednesday came and we started off for speed training. Now, imagine this. My whole body is shouting at me STOP, in the name of the exercise, please STOP. No, no no, there is no such thing. We are going to do this (I tell myself). 

Now, I am running at slower than tortoise speed. I am trying to keep my boobs in place (and that’s WITH a sports bra) because with every step I am sure they are going to rip from my chest muscles and without them I’ll suck. That was the longest, most agonising 2km I have ever done! My whole session was 18minutes plus and I only did 2km....I did not do any speed training. So you do the math on my average. Wednesday evening I was moving around slower than a sloth. Luckily my tummy works way more than theirs do and I have not grown any trees under my arms and feet! hahaha FYI their tummy only goes once a week or month( I am not sure-google it). 

Getting in and out of bed is like this..roll over...make funny noises...chase the cat because even his light weight causes serious damage..fall out of bed and walk bent over. That was me for 3 days. The car...MI4 I am telling you! Getting into the car i felt like that advert where they hypnotised the people to think they are old. It was a combo of pregnant lady vs old lady. 

That moment when you realise “I am not wonder- or super woman”. BUT I still have the health to go for a run...I just need the common sense! :))

Speak to you soon...or sooner!

Joke for the running squad..I am SURE I looked like this...

Photo Credit: http://blog.timesunion.com/30love/fit-friday-running-sucks/660/

Withdrawel symptoms, ice and a wedding

I am SO late with my blog I am having withdrawal symptoms!  What a great weekend I had and an event filled one that was!

I flew down to Cape Town on the 6^th of June. It was cold. It was dark, but it brightened up when we got to Cape Town. First I had to keep myself seated and not jump up at poor Errol (those who do not know who I am talking about, his real name is Christo Davids and he is an actor on the 7de Laan soapie in SA), it was the second time I flew with him (well in the same plane). He greeted me with his smile and a wave and of course the Barney doll.. I have NO explanation for this. The poor Barney even got spanked.

Yes, I had to be a freak and ask for a photo. I don’t usually do this because I am all for respecting their privacy and treating them as human beings. Everyone else was trying to ignore the poor guy. Poor thing. But not me. So I approached him and got my photo. So sweet of him.

We had a busy Saturday morning. I went to visit a very, very good friend of mine and his family and we did a challenge that morning. Coke and Mentos.. This spells danger to me. I was convinced if I eat Mentos and drink coke I will explode. Luckily I am still alive and all good. But I think this has to do with the fact that he cheated.. When the video is live, go watch it. You will see what I mean.  I will announce the video in the blog (and Twitter..and Facebook..) before it airs. 

Any who. MY BEST FRIEND GOT MARRIED SATURDAY!!!! I am SO happy for her. I am still drying off tears. She looked so beautiful and we had so much fun. I wish I could stay longer, but my dad was my date and it was a distance to get there and back. 

Let me first tell you. We get in the car and start driving and I am looking at the mountains, the snow , it’s so beautiful. As we enter Porterville my dad casually states.. “ So, where will this church be now”. Wait, what?! We drove here without the GPS and we don’t know where the church is...( we knew where the venue with the food was! hahaha) Considering that there is about 15 minutes left before the wedding starts, we casually drive down the main road and my dad spots the church tower. My first question is, “how do you know it is the right one?” “Oh” says my dad, “all the NG Churches have towers”.. Ok then. So, the church is situated in Kerk street in Porterville. How original. I tell my dad what if this the wrong church and we wedding crash someone else’s wedding. Imagine that. At the end it was the right one and so pretty it was.  We had fun with the photo props and all my friends and it was a joyous celebration!

The rest of the weekend was fairly chilled. Had lunch with the family, visit the cousin, visit another friend. Did a video with my sis. It will probably be uploaded in June..maybe or July. I am still deciding. It was just so much fun!!

Latest edition to our family. Well, my cousin's family :)

 From left to right. My friend and I, Blaze (my sisters adopted husky) and I chilling on the bed. Some bonding time, My sister and I being silly and my little cousin.

I had lots of tea this weekend.  Now, I am actually a self-proclaimed professional coffee drinker. But, I made myself a cup of coffee one morning and as I opened the bottle I say to myself, this is not right.. The coffee is a bit funny and sticky, BUT I make it any way. DAMN!!! It was horrible. Should have gone with my gut. All my mom had to say was, no that’s very old throw it out... I forgot to do it. I hope they forget..REVENGE! hahahaha

Well, you are lucky. I am posting this blog today and the weekend a new one will follow. 

OOOOOO, I almost forgot. So on Monday morning we are on our way to airport when I receive a SMS from Kulula, “We are sorry to inform you, but your flight is delayed with an hour”. Well, isn’t that fun? I am not too upset because then we had extra time to get to the airport, and that meant I did not have to work. Arrive there, I am informed that it might be later because they are trying to defrost the plane’s wings and the runway..Where in my life did I imagine this EVER happening in South Africa? We don’t have a snowy, frosty climate.. Its global warming! But, it happened and I think that was the most interesting new I EVER received. By the way, the flight was delayed by 2 hours at the end.

Stay warm. Its flippen freezing. 

Speak to you soon...or sooner!

Ps. Thank you for reading! xx

3 Years of marriage and a whole bunch of dolphins

Halloooo there,

Saying this in my head I sound like that slug on the movie Epic! I was thinking about my blog today and I realise that even though I added the photos to Facebook, I have not really shared my experience. So let me get to it.

In March this year, my husband and I were married for 3 years (man, time flies). We had our ups and downs, but it was more happy than sad. We were privileged enough to visit KZN (or Kwazulu Natal-it's a province in South Africa and yes, I think I should stop mentioning this because I will always be from South Africa). I have travelled extensively in my life around South Africa, but this province I have not been to once! So, this was my first time. I'm a KZN virgin. O goodness, that sounded better in my head!

Arriving there was like a smack in the face with Mauritius. The weather and how it looked reminds me SO much of Mauritius. I remember thinking, gosh I should have left everything at home and do the swimming costume-thing (although people would have put me under "hotel arrest"). Any who.

I could not wait to visit uShaka Marine World. I have booked our dolphin interaction months in advance. Accept I NEVER booked my own husband. I am such a bad person. Arriving there, I was informed about this (not booking for 2). I almost burst out in tears. I begged and explained that it is our 3 year anniversary on that day and the whole shebam. The manager informed me that I should feel lucky cause it is only 3 instead of 6 people doing the interaction and I am one of them. So, I apologised extensively to my husband, almost shed some tears and off we went.

They start by saying A LOT of stuff and rules and yadha yadha yadha. I missed ALL of it. The whole time my inner person had a shouting mantra. I'm gonna touch a dolphin, oe I am seeing them, oe I must touch fish, I.am.going.to.touch.a.dolphin and so forth. 

We were given instructions and the first one is make them sing. Like a bunch of retards we swing our hands like a choir person (I don't know the English word haha)and then hit the water lightly and she will splash..a bit. Yeah right. We were covered in water and a bunch of giggles!

It was a lot of fun. After this little splash it was time for our individual session, while everyone else watch (like a monkey gallery). I was first every time! hehehe Yeah me. So, we get a kiss, we stroke the backs and then we give the kisses. 

I don't know how to explain the feeling of their skin except that is feels like a combination between a wet suite and leather.


After all we waved...

She returned the goodbye...

And we all said farewell. 


It was amazing and they are so cute and naughty and trained very well. It was awesome and if I go on now I am just going to think of other words to explain the same thing.

We also saw the dolphin show at the end of the day..

I can really recommend uShaka Marine World (http://www.ushakamarineworld.co.za/) and this interaction. Don't be a nanna and not visit the park when you ever set foot in Durban, KZN. 

My hubby was really awesome about the whole situation and he took extra pictures. Thank you my love for my awesome anniversary gift:).

This is it. This was my experience with the dolphins. Leave a comment below, I would like to hear from you. If you would like to meet me some place else here are a few links:

www.twitter.com/elrehvdh
www.instagram.com/elrevandenheever
www.youtube.com/elre van den heever

Speak to you soon!!

ps. you want to read next week blog...its going to be funny! ;-)