What kind of handbag are you?

I picked this one up on another blog and couldn't resist! You know how much I love handbags.

You Are a Classic Gucci Bag

You've got style mastered - because you stick with what works Like this Gucci Bag, you prefer classic items that stand the test of time You're also a bit of a practical girl, who prefers function over fluff You prefer a big bag, so that you can have your stuff with you at all times

What Handbag Are You?

Thursday Thirteen #12 - 13 things I can’t live without

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1. Alone time
Today has been meeting after boring meeting and I’m exhausted. Why? Because I haven’t had time to myself.


2. Nurofen
I absolutely depend on these things, for 2 days every 25 – 26 days…enough said


3. Water
I drink at least 2L every day and it is definitely my drink of choice


4. My car
I sometimes think back on the time in my life when I used to take public transport to work. I don’t know how I ever waited around for buses because I’m way too impatient now.


5. my computer
Many a happy hour has been spent blogging, reading blogs, developing course content, writing, etc, etc.


6. the internet, blogging, etc.
You know what it’s like – addictive!


7. Google reader
Since I discovered this two weeks ago, I can’t believe how much time I’ve saved


8. My memory stick
What did we do before memory sticks? I can take stuff from home, bring them to work to work on, take them back home without leaving multiple copies on both computers and having to save carefully in case I use the wrong document.


9. My lipstick
I can do without any other make-up but not my lipstick!


10. Books
I am absolutely no fun if I don’t have books around. I read fiction, non-fiction, ebooks, real books, anything. Something you didn’t know about me – I’m a bit weird and I set a monthly reading goal (7 – 5 fiction and 2 non-fiction).


11. Organising time
When I’m overwhelmed or a bit stressed, I find that organising a drawer or area in my home (or on computer) calms me down. I think it’s because I can restore some order to at least some part of my life.


12. My husband
He is my rock, my anchor in any storm, my support, my confidante, my best friend and the father of future babies!


13. God
Without whom I would be a wreck, probably been involved in many car accidents due to my fast driving, and definitely would have no peace.

Recent happenings

Some weird/ funny things have happened lately:

Driving
The other day I was driving to the gym and as I was approaching the 4-way stop, I noticed a male driver at the approaching stop street directing the traffic.

Now people in this city never know who goes first because nobody concentrates and I have always wanted to do it but you’ll admit that it is a bit bossy. But here’s this guy saying “you go, and then you go", and so on, until it was his turn.

I burst out laughing because I love it when I see other weirdos out there.


Jobs 1
One of my corporate clients sent an email to me and some other people telling us about a job (really good one) and asking us if we knew of anyone who fitted the bill.

My take on this is that she wanted to ask us to apply but didn’t want to be seen as “stealing us” from our current companies.

So I thought about it for a day and then emailed to tell her that I’d like to apply. I updated my CV and sent it in. Now, not to brag or anything, but I have a really good CV – one which always invites at least a spark of interest. I also have my photo on there which I think is good marketing for me. (Of course, if I looked like you, Becky, I’d definitely get invited to interview straight away. LOL )

No news yet since Monday when I sent it but that’s fine. I actually feel quite honoured that she was so excited to get my CV.


Jobs 2
Then in other news, I get the weirdest voice mail on my phone today. Someone from a recruitment agency…however I’ve never dealt with them before…they have the perfect position for me.

Curiosity more than anything else made me phone him back.

It’s an admin management position, the likes of which I am really good at. The upper level their client gave him is below what I’m currently earning and I’m not moving unless it’s a REALLY good offer because we’re also on incentive bonuses here and I got a really good bonus last year, so I’m not about to be flighty just yet.

But still, nice to know that I’m wanted.

How I know I'm not 16 anymore

Tonight I went to my hip-hop dance class and I was in the zone! It happens so rarely but is so beautiful.

I was moving, shaking - it was almost like a real performance for me when I go all out! Or it's my type A personality coming through again.

Nevertheless it was a stunning class and I was on top of the world with all those good hormones flooding through my body.

However, after I got home, I had my shower and sat with my laptop in front of the TV, doing some work.

When I got up, I was sooo sore. That's when I realised I'm not 16 anymore.

Thursday Thirteen #11 - personal blogs I love reading...and why

Go here for other TT participants.

Thursday Thirteen – personal blogs I love reading

I browsed on over to those Share the Love awards earlier this week. While I’m not into all these bloggy popularity contests, I did feel bad that I didn’t wake-up quickly enough to nominate some of my favourite blogs, hence this post. (Did I just say hence? Slap me, someone)

Sweatpantsmom
Sweatpantsmom is one of the coolest moms around. To me, she appears to have it all together. She’s secure enough in her own skin to be exactly who she is and that impresses me to no end. What a great example to her two daughters! She’s funny and nice and a great writer and a great mom, and she loves coffee. Someone after my own heart!


Becky’s blog
I love Becky’s personality and of course, her cute daughter too. Becky is the type of person I’d be friends with in real life. She cares about people so much, loves her family and is an all-round stunning person! She also loves taking tons of photos – nothing wrong with that when you’re as beautiful as she is!


The simple life which I think has now moved to Mindi Bartell Photography
Mindi has the three cutest kids in the world – her youngest was just born in Dec, I think. She is a wonderful mom. You can see by the way she tells stories of her kids that she’s a fun mom and of course, a hugely talented photographer. I would love for her to take pictures of me because I’m sure then they would actually look decent! LOL


Antique Mommy
This is my new favourite blog. I love her writing so much and she is LOL funny. I picked her up from the Org Junkie’s blogroll so I’m a new reader but I haven’t read anything I don’t like. Now, due to the weird person I am, I’m busy trawling through her archives. Her story of why she is an antique mommy made me think so much – if anyone is trying to have a baby, go and read it under The Best of Antique Mommy. And remember lines in the sand, okay?


So close
This is Tertia’s infertility blog. I picked it up from a newsletter that I got sent and the other day when I read it, I see that she is the 3rd most popular South African website. Wow!!! I was hooked on this blog for weeks on end as I went through her archives where she speaks so honestly about infertility. An inspiration as the twins she now has is the result of her…wait for this…9th IVF treatment.


Mom-101
She is one of the first blogs I started reading because she writes so darn well. I must admit I don’t check on her feeds first these days because it sometimes feels like there’s too much social commentary. And I read blogs to relax, to be quite honest. She has a gorgeous daughter (and is pregnant with number 2) and if you don’t know her, go read her post Born Smiling, an ode to her daughter, and I still think one of the best things I have read in a blog post.


Metrodad
I discovered Metrodad from Mom-101’s blogroll and I haven’t looked back. He is SOOOO funny and that daughter of his is just too precious. I love the way he is besotted with his wife and daughter. It’s also so nice to read about New York City, one of my favourite cities in the world. I am addicted to all things New York – there’s something else you didn’t know about me.


Bohemian Girl
I picked up this blog from Superhero journal. And obviously since we both want to have babies, I love reading her blog because it so often echoes exactly what I’m feeling but sometimes can’t find the words for. She’s hugely artistic (and I’m SO not!) which is very very interesting to me but obviously worlds apart. I mean, for goodness sake, I studied science!


Austin to Africa, Brasil to the Bay
Ali is an American now living in Mozambique. Her take on things African is fascinating – some days they don’t have water, then the next they’re living it up eating gorgeous food in a swanky seafood restaurant. I love the way she describes all her experiences of Africa. She is a writer and also a jewellery designer and is another blogger who loves taking pictures.


I’m an organizing junkie
Okay, now here’s a kindred spirit. She is so funny in the way she celebrates her uniqueness. She loves organizing and has lots of really good ideas which she shares so freely with others. I think she was nominated for Inspiring blog in those blog award thingies. Go on over and be prepared for those educational organizing pictures. Oh, she also hosts Menu Plan Monday.


Rocks in my dryer
This is the home of Works for me Wednesday. Wow – if you’ve never been there before, you will spend hours going through all of the great tips the participants leave every week. I see that Shannon also won stacks of those Share the Love things last year so looks like I’m late to the party as usual. I found this blog through the Org Junkie too (she’s got lots of good blogs on her blogroll)


Blah Blah Blog
I think I found Carrie’s blog through some scrapbooking blogs when I was surfing one day. And the reason I keep coming back is because her life seems so idyllic and perfect – 3 perfect kids, a beautiful home, nice husband, suburbia, nice neighbours, etc. For me, it is like something out of the movies (in a good way). She is into organizing, cooking and photography too so always has some good ideas on her blog.


Suburban Turmoil
Lindsay is a journalist in Nashville. Another pregnant blogger at the moment. I must confess that I read this one for humour and a bit of controversy. She writes some provocative posts but the comments are what you really must read!

And that’s all for now, folks. Hope you enjoyed this stroll though blogland with me.

Clumsiness

The strangest thing happens to me sometimes. I have a day or two of clumsiness where I am almost dangerous in the kitchen.

The last time this happened was last week. I somehow misjudged, thought there was enough space on the counter and put this white mug down. It totally missed and this is what happened.

Then the next day at work, I misjudged distances again and one of my work mugs slipped out of my hand and broke beautifully (all over the floor in millions of little pieces).

That night I was cooking and the garlic & chilli mix slipped from my hands again and landed up all over the kitchen floor.

I read once that it happens because of our hormones. Apparently it's to do with our spatial awareness at this time. I don't know much further than that, but since then I have noticed that I'm usually having my period when I go into clumsy mode. Then again, I'm not very good spatially at the best of times :)

Sometimes I'll cut my finger while chopping onions, burn myself when taking things out of the oven or spill coffee, sugar, etc. The good thing is sooner or later, I figure it out and call for my husband to help because then he knows that me being in the kitchen is just a bad idea all round.

Is this weirdness just me, or does it happen to anybody else?

My name is Leigh and I’m a type A

I’m annoyed. My salsa dance teacher is still away. We know that she got married and she is apparently still on honeymoon.

So in her place is a belly dance class. I went for two weeks and that was about all I could stand. Belly dancing is too boring for me. I’m the type of gal who needs lots of action and stuff going on in any exercise class.

This is also why yoga and pilates just don’t do it for me. I went to one yoga and one pilates class in my life and both times I nearly fell asleep – it was so boring.

I read recently on a blog (I think it was petroville) about Type A exercises. And my word, I think that’s me. Some of the characteristics I remember are..
1. Likes to be in the front in class
2. Gets annoyed when someone takes “your place”
3. Are competitive in class!


This is all me!

Anyway, this is messing up my health and fitness plans!!! My goal this year is to increase my exercise from 2 to 3 hours a week. So the sooner the salsa dance teacher gets back the better.

Thursday Thirteen #10 - Random thoughts on blogging

For other TT participants, have a look at www.thursdaythirteen.com


1. You can make friends from all over the world.
2. it is amazing to me that not everybody “gets” blogging, like my husband, friends, etc.
3. Comments = love. Although I read somewhere (probably on a blog) that only about 10% of people reading actually comment.
4. It’s like a HUGE reality TV show as you look in on other people’s lives
5. I didn’t know there are popularity contests in the blogging world too.
6. You will never have enough time to read all the blogs you want.
7. Not everybody plays nicely. Some people seem to think they can be rude to you on your own blog. This is so weird to me. If you don’t like what you read, you can disagree respectfully and move on.
8. When you start thinking about things like “I must blog this” or “this will be perfect for the blog” you’re getting addicted. Trust me, I know.
9. I have a weird thing – when I find a new blog I like, I feel compelled to go back and read all the archives.
10. Some bloggers could just print out their entire blogs and publish them. They’re that good. Like Sweatpantsmom. If you don’t already read her, then go over and go read all her archives!
11. I’ve come to realize that as with everything else in life, I have to prioritise my blogging.
12. I didn’t realize that I’d learn so many things from reading blogs – from infertility to recipes to how to be a nice friend.
13. And the photos? Don’t get me started. I specifically take photos now with the sole intention of blogging them.

I need to update everybody on what's been going on...not much... but that's another post!