Day 21. Sometimes I amuse myself

Day 21... are we there yet?

Topic for today is:  A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives.

Easy enough.

Below are some of my personal favorite blog posts.  My favorites probably because I really enjoyed wrting them, or because the topic has a special memory or because I laugh at my own jokes.

For your enjoyment:

From this challenge:

Teaching you more about South Africa in 'South Africa 101'
Talking about what not to be afraid of anymore

From before:

I like this post about me falling in love with Spokane in the Summer, I remeber trying to imagine what life would be like here. Slow walking in Spokane

Sharing photo's from our road trip to Glacier National Park, here, here and here.

Sharing with you all the DIY projects I've done for our wedding.

Dealing with being homesick, missing South Africa.

Celebrating my 100th post!

Admitting to being a cheapskate in 'Thrifting around'

Do you have any particular favorites? I'd love to know!

Day 20. On the real side

Today's topic is: Something you're struggling with right now.

Guys, blogging everyday is turning out to be both wonderful and a tad bit more challenging than I anticipated. By a tad I mean  a lot.

But,

This is not my struggle.

(It might just be me, and my South African history geekery, but when I say struggle I over-roll the 'R')

I'm not a big fan of writing about the tough things here, not because I want to look like I'm awesome, but this was never  a space for every single account of my life. It's a creative outlet or something...
However, I myself am big fan of reading other blogs and I just love that moment when you read an account and go "it's not just me!", "this person has problems too", "wow, what a different perspective".

So that's why I'll share a little of what I'm struggling with right now.  Along with shadows in my house, you could see the shadow snaps as a representation of some deeper meaning, or, just enjoy them as I am.

Wow, that's a lot of rambling without really getting anywhere. What is my daily struggle you ask impatiently?

Confidence.

In different aspects, and it's a fight in different ways.

The source is mostly found in the fact that I'm new at so many things.  Strangely not so much the wife part, I have a great confidence in being a new wife to the most wonderful man in the world. So that's an obvious new for me, but not a stRuggle.

Small things like not having a drivers license here, and not driving for over half a year is hard. Not having that freedom I've been used to for almost a decade is hard. The longer it takes me to just get around to doing the tests and getting the paperwork the harder it gets. Usually I just feel like an idiot for taking so long on something so simple.

I don't have the job I used to have, in a way I'm starting new or over. That's why I decided to intern while my green card was in process, taking the pressure off to just keep on working like I used to. I can't wait to feel that confidence in what I do everyday. Guys, this is possibly the biggest fight I've fought here.  Fighting with the impatience of why it's taking so long for me to settle. Wondering what I'm really good at. Longing for the days where I knew exactly what I was doing, whether it was selling a house, teaching a class or booking a travel package.  It's been a long time since I've had that.

People who've know me for a while are usually surprised at just how shy I can be. Being the new kid in town doesn't help with that. It's getting better honestly and so far I've met some really wonderful people. But I miss the confidence that comes from having solid friendships and a few at that. If you've never moved to a new place you might not know what I'm talking about, but trust me, appreciate it when you have your peeps around. Don't take it for granted!

I think back on the week before our wedding, we had a bit of a destination wedding, so a few friends and family members were able to come a few days before. If that wasn't one of the best weeks of my life! I just miss that.

Hmmm, I'm tired. Let's just end there. Of course, here is the disclaimer: I know this will pass, I know that through this weird process of rebuilding my confidence I'm learning about myself, America and  life. I know that there are way more difficult things to go through in life, and while this is very real to me at this stage of my life, I do also say Thank You a lot for what I do have. Which is so much, a ridiculous amount of wonderful. Focusing on what I'm thankful for is usually what get's me through the dark and heavy moments.

Other things that help:

Listening to this Sound of Music tune: I have confidence
Mostly because Julie Andrews can lift any a moody moment, and my life makes  more sense as a musical.

But on the serious side, I've listened to this song over and over: Oceans (where my feet may fail)
Because sometime I don't have the words to pray, and this reminds me where all real confidence comes from.

The 5 Fav's

Today's topic: 5 favorite blogs and why you love them.

Today, I'm not feeling awesome, so forgive me as I make it a little short.

In no real order:

* The Everywhereist

-Travel blog

-Longest blog crush (over three years)

-My favorite writer on the list

*Rose & Crown

-Gorgeous, authentic moments

-Poetic writing

 

*Text Sketches

-One of my new favorites

-a Family member

-Great writer

*A Beautiful Mess

-because EVERYTHING

*Miss Moss

-fashion

-photography

-biggest source of where my pins come from

day 18, on being a child

Today's post is ' a childhood memory'

I don't have a specific memory to share today, more just a stream of moments really.

Visits to grandparents. Sprinklers on hot days. Building mansions for my barbies with books. Making clothes for my barbies with scraps. Chomps. My favorite shocking pink swimming costume. Willow trees and the crowns my Grandpa would make out of them. Swings. Mom's bedtime bible stories, Dad's made up bedtime stories. Killie die krap. Crayons and a fresh coloring book. Heidi in Afrikaans. Dreaming about the day I can make a ponytail. Twirling.  Wearing skirts on my head, pretending I had long hair. Not understanding English. Sunday school and praying for a baby sister. My grandma's nighttime lullaby. My immaginary friends 'Klienkie' and 'Maaitjie' Picking out a piece of candy for under R2. Watermelon and water slide parks. Tweety and Sylvester in Afrikaans 'ek-dag-ek-sag-n-kittie-kat'. Trying to milk a dog that one time. Burning leaves with a magnifying glass. Hide and seek. Training wheels coming off. Princess band aids. Animal shaped kids vitamins. Getting lost in an elevator. Jumping castles. Roller skate dares. Climbing trees, my favorite thing.

"Could we but see the world through the eyes of a child a little longer? Oh to live once more in innocence and well being where time has no meaning and money is the price of sticky sweet clutched in an equally sticky hand." Trevor Wright  

Side note: Wondering about getting bangs again...

me, yellow, roadtrip: yes! day 17

Today's topic: A favorite picture of yourself and why

I'm choosing this one.

From last weekend when we took our quickie road trip to Palouse Falls.

I love it because of the colors, the flowers, the fact that we're out on the road, that Ben will always pull over for me to take photos when I ask, that I'm 'caught' doing something I really enjoy, it's not posed and lastly because I remember how happy I was in that moment.

Here is the other side of the story...

On, not being a morning person...

Today the topic is: " Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it"

Kind of a meh topic...

At first I thought I'd just ignore this topic, or twist it around into something else. It seems so whiny  right? "Let me tell you about how hard I have it in life blah blah"

However, I have something really difficult I'm dealing with (like every living person), the last two decades of my life. So I'll quickly chat about that.

What is it?

Mornings!

You think I'm joking right? Like I'm being snarky or something.

Well, I don't blame you, generally you'd be right in assuming that, but seriously, morning are tough.

No no, not these mornings I told you about a few days ago, those are easy (sort of).

It's that second round that gets me. Especially if I don't have anywhere to be in the morning.

I'm tired of just blaming it on 'not being a morning person'... well I'm not, but there's more to it than that.

There's a heavy kind of guilt that grabs hold after hitting the snooze button for the millionth time, of not being useful and it get's me really down. I want to change this habit with the best of intention but in that moment it's almost impossible. Is that a thing?

It's usually a sudden sense of stress that finally get's me jumping out of bed rushing around like a mad person and basically ruining the rest of the morning. This is no way to start a day  I tell you.

I believe this will get better  with my new schdule next week, where I'll be working from the office in the mornings. 

I don't just want to be a bad morning person, I want more, I want to know what it feels like to wake up refreshed and ready for the day. I want the physical pain of waking up to lift. The stress to be managed, the guilt to be a thing of the past.

How to overcome?

Well, I'm sure that a new routine next week will help.

Also, I'm getting more and more convinced to go through the Whole30 challenge. A challenge where you focus on eating only whole foods for 30 days (lots of veggies, meat, eggs, nuts and I think that's about it).  Some of the benefits reported are; that sleep gets better, waking up is easier and a few dozen more benefits.
It sounds like a challenge, but in the grand scheme of things it's more challenging to hate something I have to do everyday. Everyday Lanette!

I was walking back from the office early this afternoon, thinking about what I should share for this topic.
  I was taking the long way home because it's prettier and quieter  than the shorter way. 
I realized  something. I was walking home on tree lined streets!
You need to go over and read my lovely cousins post about what she is finding difficult in life, for this to make sense.
She mentioned that she'd love to do just that. Walk to work, tree lined streets. Here I was doing just that while mulling over what is so difficult with my 'lot in life'.

It's not a 'ha ha look I have trees' to my cousin, but the humor of it all wasn't lost on me. So I walked home appreciating the trees a little more, imagining that my cousin is probably a really good morning person for life to make sense again. 

It just seemed worth mentioning here. 

today in black and white

Topic for today is: 'a typical day'

So I'll share today with you, not the most exciting of days, sorry.


Here are some snaps of a typical day. When the typical day involves working from home.


Second cup of coffee, toast with peanut butter



Today I had a lot of 'work from home' stuff going on. Getting ready, doing make up (brushing teeth) helps me get my mind around that now I'm 'ready to work'... No more moping around in my fluffy gown.



In the interest of proving that we can keep stuff alive I water the plants. Bring on puppies and babies I say!

Laundry day

Mid morning, first pot of tea, I start starring at this screen. I have this research job now, but more on that in later posts.

The dryer in our building is from the middle ages, so tossing damp clothes on bed, turning fan is what everybody does in these situations right?

My view, my distraction, my 'look at something in a distance break from staring at said screen'. In other news, how awesome are trees post winter!?

Working from home means that you take breaks to wash dishes. This needs to be addressed...

Left over Middle Eastern wraps for lunch.

Later in the afternoon and the need to continue working from the couch becomes a nessicity. One, because it's closer to my laptop cable, two my desk chair sucks and I have really bad posture.



It's a second pot of tea kind of day around here.

Not everyday looks like this, but me, having a new identity crisis between 'house wife' and 'employee' it's something along these lines.

it's so easy, to make me happy

Today's topic: 'ten things that make you happy.'

Woo hoo an easy topic for a change!

It's so easy to make me happy guys! Here are ten ways of doing just that.

(in no particular order)

1) A strong internet connection (on both sides!!) when talking to my friends and family over Skype, WhatsApp, Viber.

2)Fresh flowers in the house, even better in every room

3) My husband.

4) Reading the Psalms

5) Warm Springs (hint hint Spokane) and Summer lasting forever. Also summer thunderstorms but this is more something I miss now.

6) Long walks with my husband after dinner, through the park across the street or down the millionaire's row a few blocks from us. Bonus if it's sunset and warm.

7) Hikes. Views. Mountains. Waterfalls. Open Spaces. Lakes. Road trips.

8) a Clean house.  This is new! Cleaning doesn't come naturally to me.

9) Travel plans coming together. Of course the actual travel part, but that is more listed under "things I need in order to remain a functioning citizen"

10) Trying a recipe for the first time and it comes out fantastic. Bonus if it's an easy, healthy, cheap, enough-for-lunch type recipe. Those are the best.

You see! Easy easy...

More photos from our recent quickie road trip to Palouse Falls, WA. So many things that make me happy all in one! The best.

Apologising to America

Today's topic: make a public apology

Day 13


Dear America,

I want to pubically apologise for some of the resentment I have towards you.

I resent that you're so far from South Africa, but thankful you're so close to Mexico.

I resent that your tourist visas are expensive and a real mission to get, but thankful that you give ten year visas. (Yes I'm looking at you judementally Europe with your schengan visa rules)

I resent that you're so big, seriously, there's so much of you I want to explore but everything seems so far apart, especially here in the Northwest. I am however thankful for the beauty you do provide on those epic roadtrips.

I resent that you're not the same as your Hollywood version. At the same time, I pretty darn thankful that you're not the same as your Hollywood version.

Also, I apologise for those things I said abou you when the green card process was taking forever. Hope you've forgotten about that, but thanks for getting that green card to me in the end.

Sorry for waving my fists in a furry at you with regards to warmer weahter taking so long to arrive. Although, I have to say I'm very appreciative of how pretty your spring is, especially here in Spokane.

Seems like you and I will have to get along better, I'm not leaving anytime soon it seems. Also sorry for being a little sad about this fact every now and then, but thanks for taking me in none the less.

..I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship America, that's if you'll forgive me for these minor little trespasses.

some photos of a recent roadtrip:

What I'll miss about Spokane

Today's topic "What do you miss"

(phew, I'm a little uninspired here at the end of a lovely weekend)

This is the third country I've lived in, the seventh city I've lived in, the tenth home I've lived in(since my 21st brithday).

I get around.

Every time I move I miss some aspects of the previous place, and as you can imagine, I miss South Africa a lot! I miss my family and friends like crazy. My car, the family dog, Nandos...

But instead of getting caught up in that I'm going to share with you what I would miss about Spokane, the North West and the US, if we were to move tomorrow.

I've actually been thinking about what I would miss a lot.  It's helped me appreciate what I do have right now. It helps with those homesick 'i-just-want-to-go-have-sushi-with-belinda-and-visit-izanne-and-speak-afrikaans-and-drink-wine-with-my-family' days.  I can't be the only one that feels this way every now and then, right?

So let me share some here.
(I say some, because I know I'll think of a few extra very clever things I should have posted here like 4 days on)

- Just a how freaking gorgeous this town is in the late Spring. I.CAN'T.GET.ENOUGH! (See my instagram for an overload of blossoms)

-Trees everywhere

-Our apartment. For wood floors and big window reasons, but also sentimental first home together reasons.

-The Spokane river. Riverfront Park. Spokane Falls.

-The Monroe bridge, and the views.

-Snow.  Not that I'm missing it so much in this very moment, but I know that I would miss it.

-Manito Park of course.

-Bloomsday

-Micro breweries

-Spokane Downtown and how close we are to it.

-Tulips and lilacs. It's not called the lilac city for nothing, believe me.

-Being close to my family in law.

-Their farm, the free eggs and honey.

-The Steam Plant, best.beer.ever.

-Trader Joe's

-Being so close to the hiking trails.

-The Palouse (just recently discovered how gorgeous it is)

-Our neighborhood, and all the tree lined streets.

-That it's safe to walk


As I mentioned, these are just a few of the things I think I'd really miss.

day 11, 10 words

Today's topic is "Sell yourself in 10 words or less"

 ...uhm okay EverydayinMayChallenge... like describe? But not?

Sell to who?

Bloggers? Friends? Strangers? Employers?

In light of my rebellion with yesterday's topic I guess I'll cover all the bases, so here goes:

Bloggers: New wife, new immigrant, will travel, will post about it. 10/10

Friends: Will make every effort to attend your wedding if possible. 10/10

Strangers: I don't have a speech problem, it's my exotic accent. 10/10

Employers: I will work really really really really really really hard. 10/10

(it's not really an 'exotic' accent)

my park and not my most embarrassing moment

Today's topic is "most embarrassing moment:"

Nope.

Look at these photos I took in Manito Park instead:
(basically like my back yard or something)

 

the first moment of my day must be a dream

Today's topic: ' a moment in my day'

5:00 am. Ben's alarm goes crazy. He get's up.Takes a shower. I roll over and pretend like I'll sleep another 5 hours. I don't. Instead, I get up, but not wake up. I head over to the kitchen. Pouring the water into the coffee maker must be what wakes me up, such concentration not to spill. It feels surreal. Next, I gather ingredients for a power smoothie, the real breakfast of champions. Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries sometimes rasberries, spinach sometimes kale, almond milk, yogurt, coconut oil. The obnoxiously loud machine is what really brings me into the waking world. a Morning kiss from a clean husband, who himself is coming slowly to the truth that he is awake. It is another day. Sometime we stare into far off spaces. We finish off dreams, or laugh about what we can recall. We talk. We  plan. We imagine it was Saturday. Just like that we move on. I pack a lunch. Ben re-irons a shirt. We speak life and love over each others coming day. Ben leaves. I pray for him. Should I get started on my day? I don't, the bed is suddenly reminding me of it's charms. Drifting off, only to wake up all over again and earlier feels like a lovely dream.