Book Challenge: Quickie Update (book 43 to 52)

Here is a list of books that I have read so far:

1. The Shadow of the wind by Carlo Ruiz Zafron (6/10)
2. My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult (8/10
3. Dance Upon The air by Nora Roberts (9/10)
4. The Debutante by Kathleen Tessaro (7/10)
5. Slim for Life by Jillian Michaels (8/10)
6. Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts (9/10)
7. The Burning Shore by Wilber Smith (6/10)
8. Revenge by Noel Hynd (5/10)
9. Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides (6/10)
10. Face the Fire by Nora Roberts (9/10)

Lovies,

Heather McIntosh

(@heatherluvpink)

10 songs to listen to ( if you need a little inspiration)

Everybody needs inspiration...

If music be the food of love, play on – William Shakespeare

You know that popular saying, “you are what you eat”.  I guess it is a way to encourage us to pay attention to what we put in our bodies. And in some ways it is true... if you eat crap, you might end up feeling and looking like crap. Or maybe that is just me.

Could it also apply to the music we listen to?  Could the “food” we consume on the radio, Youtube or any other music really shape who we are? Anyway, this is not an academic paper, so I am not going to answer any questions I do not know... But what I do know is music always, ALWAYS makes me feel better. If you do not believe me, go ahead and try it.

What do I do when I need inspiration? I read self-help books, blogs, pray but the most versatile one of these is to of course... listen to music.

Music is all around us, and sometimes it may be the impetus we need to get out of our buts and get to work or feel better about ourselves...

So I compiled a couple songs that I find “inspirational”. They are the eperfect remedy when I need to drag out of bed or just need some positivity. My littler sister says I listen to depressing music, and after a while ballads screaming about broken hearts and... broken hearts can get a little... depressing.

This is in no particular order.

1.     Golden – Jill Scott

I’m taking my own freedom

Putting it off my shelf

Putting on my chain

Wear it around my neck

I’m taking my freedom

Putting it in my car

Wherever I choose to go

It will take me far

I’m living my life like it’s golden

Why I love this song: The lyrics speak for themselves. It is a reminder to live your live to the fullest.

2.    Living on a prayer- Bon Jovi

She says we’ve got to hold on to what we’ve got

It doesent’t make a difference if we make it or not

We’ve got eachother, and thats a lot for love

We’ll give it a shot

Whooah, we’re halfway there

Living on a prayer

Why I love this song: it is just an awesome song! The song just tells a story about Tommy and Gina whose lives are so tough and have dreams of escaping their unpleasant life situations, yet they still have hope. They do not give up on their dreams. It’s a great song to listen to when you’re working so hard on that 5,000 word assignment or 10km marathon.

3.     Video – India Arie

Sample lyrics:

I’m not the average girl from your video

And I ain’t built like a supermodel

But, I learned to love myself unconditionally

Because I am a queen

Why I love it: it is just inspiring. Personally, it reminds me to embrace my uniqueness and to just simply love myself. There is no shame in that

4.    One Day – Matisyahu

Sometimes I lay

Under the moon

And thank God I’m breathing

Then I pary

Don’t take me soon

Cause I’m here for a reason

Why I love it: this reggae- type song its another reason to be grateful for every day we are here on earth, and to find and live out our purpose. We all have something to offer the world, and each day we are breathing is a a chance to live it out.

5.    Don’t stop believing – Journey

Don’t stop believing

Hold on to the feelin’

Streetlight, people

Don’t stop believing

Hold on

Streetlights, people

Why I love this song; I will be honest, the major reason I included it in the list is because I just LOVE the Glee version of this song. Nuff said. The lyrivs really do speak for themselves, and often I imagine Rachell berry belting out the high notes while the rest of the cast doo-woops in the background.

6.    This too shall pass – India Arie

 Then I hear a whisper that this too shall pass

 I hear the angel’s whisper that this too shall pass

My ancestors whisper that this day one day will be the pass

So I walk in faith that this too shall pass

Why I love this song:  A good friend of mine sent me this song durng a rough week, and ever since then it is a reminder that tough times don’t last, tough people do.

7.    Waiting on the world to change – John Mayer

One day our generation

Is gonna rule the population

So we keep on waiting

Waiting on the world to change

Why I love this song: it is optimistic that the world will change... someday.  HOPE.

8.    Brave – Sara

Let your words be anything but empty

Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say

And let the words fall out

Honestly, I wanna see you be brave

Why I love this song:  it reminds me to be brave and to not be afraid to speak up for what I believe in.

9.    Destiny - Zahara

People telling me it’s a highway

And I ponder of letting go

But I know in each and every end of the tunnel

There will be a little light in the end

And I thought of taking the route everybody else

Oh yes has been taking

But I know I have to find my own destiny

Why I love this song: Its a reminder to follow your own destiny.

10.  Proud – Heather Small

I look into the window of my mind

Reflections of the fears I know I've left behin

I step out of the ordinary

I can feel my soul ascending

I'm on my way

Can't stop me now

And you can do the same

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

Why I love this song: I love it because it simply reminds me to be do something each day that would make me proud, moving me closer to achieving my goals, whether it may be jogging for that 10km marathon or working on this blog.

What have YOU done today to make you feel proud?

Peace and love

Xxxx

Popcorn Bites (Skyfall, My son is innocent, Sin City)

Skyfall (2012)

Directed by: Sam Mendes
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem
Genre: Action
IMDb Synopsis: "Bonds loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. Whilst MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost."
My rating: 8/10
My Comment: I mentioned this before,  but I usually don't watch action movies. But for some reason, my gut told me to watch this movie. And I have to say that I was glued to the screen the entire time. Amazing stunts with and intriguing story line.

My Son is Innocent (1996)

Directed by: Larry Elikann
Starring: Marilu Henner, Nick Stahl, Matt McCoy
Genre: Drama
IMDb Synopsis: After a brutal nighttime attack on a woman alone in her suburban home, police investigators zero in on teenager Eric Sutter. When the victim identifies Sutter as her attacker, the legal system closes in on the boy as friends, neighbours and media turns against him. Only through the dogged determination of his mother, and her loyal boyfriend and Eric and the victim have a chance for justice to be served.
My rating: 3/10
My Comment: When I first saw the synopsis for this movie, I got so excited to watch it. Lets just say that it highly disapointed me. The acting was bad, and the ending was worse. Only to be watched if you are bored and not even Teletubbies is on.

Sin City (2005)

Directed by: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Jessica Alba, Alexis Bledel and Michael Clark Duncan
Genre: Thriller
IMDb Synopsis:  A film that explores the dark and miserable town, Basin City, and tells the story of three different people, all caught up in violent corruption.
My rating: 9/10
My Comment: Fantastic! Beautiful editing, acting and story lines!

Fit Thursdays: Starting over

Wow it has been a while since I've posted a proper Fit Thursday blog. So I'm just going to get right to it.
So for the past 6 months I would be on and off exercise because I was working two jobs a day plus studying. I WAS EXHAUSTED to even think about exercise. Therefore I gained weight and am now slightly overweight (shit!).

A Few Changes

 But now that I have left my morning job and have got a awesome gym membership, I am willing to get my life back on track. And I am going to make Fit Thursday as a motivational way for people (like me) who want to get their life back on track (physically and mentally). I will, for now on, be posting my weigh-ins, life changing advice, workouts and how I am doing in my gym classes.


My New Workout Schedule: 

My local gym has some amazing gym classes and memberships for a good price. Here is my day to day schedule and what I have signed up for:

Monday: Boxing (am); Spinning (pm)
Tuesday: Body Blast (Jillian Michaels style of workout) (am); Pilates (pm)
Wednesday (active recovery): Pilates (am)
Thursday: Boxing (am); Pilates (pm)
Friday (active recovery): Walk the dogs
Saturday: Zumba (workout video at home)
Sunday (rest day): Yoga or meditation

Yes! I know that this schedule seems hectic but it involves ALL of my favourite workouts and I'm really excited to start.

My starting weigh-in and July Measurements

Weight: 61.8%
Body fat Percentage: 27.8%
Muscle Tone: 35.8%
Hydration: 49.6%
Arms: 27.7 cm
Neck: 30 cm
Chest: 84 cm
Waist: 73.7 cm
Hips: 98.5 cm
Thighs 57.5 cm
Calves: 37.5 cm
BMI: 25.4 (0verweight)
Waist to hip ratio: 0.77 (pear shape)

Lovies,
Heather McIntosh

Winter break: Being a part of something

A couple months ago I wrote a post moaning on how I did not feel like I was being an " all-rounded" student. I was in a slump. All I seemed to do was go to lectures, go out for coffee( alone) and study in the library or secretly log on to Pinterest while no one is looking. My college experience was... boring. I needed to do something, make something, Be PART of something

So I signed up for a couple societies. For instance a poetry society, a literature society and an outreach society. There has not been much going on, except for one really great poetry evening I went to. It is a start, at least to step out my little library.

Last Saturday, the society I joined, Benevolence participated in a community outreach. Basically it is a Christian society that does these outreach projects by raising funds, soup kitchens etc. Being the newbie, I was excited. Not only would I have the opportunity hopefully to make a difference in someone's life for a day, I could also get to meet new people. And be a PART of something. Actually "belong". 

So the morning started off with a group prayer in one of the group member's homes and carrying heavy pots, buckets of drinks etc to the " park". Now before that morning, I thought the park would be like green filled with kids playing around on swings and jungle-gyms. It was quite the opposite. We were literally on the side of the street in the middle of town, hoping to catch the attention of people around. So we waited... and we waited and no one came. Here we are thinking: " wow! look at all this food we have brought to feed hundreds of people!"

After a few members of our group spread the word around that there was " free food", the people came. and they came. Even people who were not homeless came trying to get a plate, driving their nice cars... I mean, really guys? 

Anyway, in total we fed about 96 people who told us to come again. It was sad though when one homeless man said that this was his meal for the day. Others remarked saying they wish we could come everyday. I do. I wish that people could have a hot meal to look forward to everyday .

 I say it was a day well-spent, as opposed to being a potato back home. I do not want to sound melodramatic or Mother Teresa like, but there are little things we must not forget to not take for granted. Like warm showers, hot food, under floor heating... 

Which brings me to the whole being thankful thing... I have noticed that no matter what curveballs life brings, there is so many positive things in our life which outweigh the negative. 

Peace and love

xoxo 

Imani Dlamini

It's not fair

 “If you expect the world to be fair with you because you are fair, you’re fooling yourself. That’s like expecting the lion not to eat you because you didn't eat him”. 

The truth is the world is not fair, but heck, you did not need me to tell you that. In addition, you do not need to be on this earth 18 years to know that. Even my 10-year-old sister could have told you that after the mysterious “disappearance” of her new pair of Nike sneakers from her school bag (despite the printed name-tags on them). 

You can abide my all the road rules, stopping at a stop sign, stopping when the robot turns red and indicating when you’re about to turn alerting the other drivers. You can look left, look right, and look left again like your grandmother taught you, before crossing the road. You may be a loyal and trustworthy friend, putting others’ needs above yours. You may exercise 5 times a week, maintain a balanced diet low in fat and get vaccinations.Still, bad things happen or to avoid sounding completely negative, undesirable things...An elephant might jump in front of you as the robot turns green. On the other hand, you may found out that your best friend has been...  well not so honest with you, secretly holding drawing a dagger in and out of your back without your knowledge.


I am sure we have all been there and asked ourselves: why me?. What happened to the whole karma thing what goes around goes around thing? I am no philosopher, expert on spirituality, preacher etc... However, I am a human being who has been in “crappy” situations I have labelled: unfair.I am sure we all have. It really does not make any sense. It still does not. It really is not fair! But resisting and getting mad at the world is not going to change anything, and in life there are some things you cannot control. Except for your attitude.It may not remove the obstacles in life.

 Take a zebra for instance. I imagine when a zebra is born, it knows it purpose on this earth is to: eat, reproduce and be eaten by a lion( as far as I can imagine since I am not an expert on the animal kingdom). That is just how it goes. And it can try and run and run and beg the lion not to eat him... but it probably will happen. Just watch a documentary on discovery channel.But that my friends is the circle of life( cue Lion King music in the background).  We are zebras. We may go about minding our own business, but the lions will always be there. But yes, we are zebras. But what can we do? 

 I often wonder how millions can be killed in a war they did not sign up for? Why is there so much violent crime perpetrated to innocent victims Why do people who claim to shield your heart end up being the ones to break it ?

What comforts me, despite the chaotic " cruel" world we live in is Mahatma Gandhi words: “ Be the change that you wish to see in the world”. Be the change! SO what? You have been lied to, cheated on, the jerk scratched your car or something. DO not let the world turn you bitter. The world may not be fair, but you can be.


If it is any consolation: at least you are not a zebra!


Peace and love


 Imani Dlamini 

Winter Break

Winter Break

After a gruelling two weeks or so of modes of assessment that they call “exams”, or what I like to call them “ the E word”, I am pleased to say I have made it through my first round of university exams. For now as I now anxiously awaited the results. 

Meanwhile the end of exams means the end of the semester. Whoop! Which means... “spring break... But seeing as it is Winter down here, I will call it winter break.

With holidays or breaks comes many hours plopped in front of the television, face_booking and occasionally reading a novel or two wishing I could be more productive. A month is a very long time when you’re not planning on spending it in Hawaii or some other exotic location. But you can survive:  I mean all you really need is decent internet connection and food, and all seasons of your favourite TV show.

It is funny how every time a school break like this comes around, I construct an elaborate to-do list to keep myself occupied, and to prevent the unpleasant “cabin fever”. The most severe symptoms of this ailment is actually wishing you were at school. Yes, it is a true story.

But somehow, when the holiday is coming to an end and we are all conversing with my friends on what they got up to during the summer holidays I always have nothing to say. Zilch!

“Oh, I just chilled... “  WOW!

I did get a holiday job during the December holidays before starting varsity, so I did at least keep busy and do something productive. Even though I did dream of being back home being able to sleep till 11 am every morning.

I’ve got another month off, and I feel like in order to actually achieve the things I plan on doing I should actually blog about it. SO here it is:

·         Learn fluent Japanese

·         Learn how to knit

Ok, that was a joke. But the first thing I embarked on was off course this blog! And DIY projects.

Talking about the blog, there is going to be a few changes going around here to our loyal readers.  Just so you know, it feels really awkward writing about myself because I mean, it’s like talking about yourself.

My mom and I are running our first 10 km marathon. Whoop!

Last year we started running, and were we such diligent athletes. I swear we could have completed the Comrades marathon or something. It all started like this... let me note: I hated running. Maybe because I always ALWAYS came last when I was forced to run as part of interhouse running and I hated how after running, I would be so out of breath and all hot and sweaty and ugh! Highly allergic!

And then we got a school physical education assignment where I actually had to run. And being the studious learner I am, i did dragging my mom along with me for moral support.

Months later, We have been running ever since and even ran a 5km ( we more like walked because the streets were soo full... ).

And then after the euphoria and hype of us telling all our friends we had run a marathon, we stopped.

“ Oh, its too hot!”

“ Oh, I’ve got so much homework!”

“ OH, my fingers hurt!”

So now we are back to where we were, training for another marathon but this time it is going to be 10km. 10 km and 12 weeks. Let us do this!

Anything to get us exercising

Healthy Fridays

Remember when I used to blog “healthy Fridays”? That is still going to continue, but I will mostly be posting recipes that I have tried out because I just love to cook, eat and eat.

Winter Break

The winter bucket list, I like to call it. This is my attempt at keeping busy and blogging about it. Whoop! Mostly DIY projects I get from pinterest!!!!! www.pinterest.com

Book reviews

My dear friend Heather has also inspired me to also occasionally write book reviews. Isn’t she just great? 100 books in one year? AMAZING! I am not going to try and top that, but I guess I could at least try, right?

That is it from me for now. Happy reading J

Xoxox