{April A-Z Challenge} The Letter A

I am really excited to challenge myself to a blogpost every day! eek!

Let’s kick it off…

A is for… Audience

1D Concert – Wembley I have wanted to see One Direction live for 4 years. I promised myself that if more tickets for their already sold out show (12 minutes for the 2014 world tour) ever became available again, I would do whatever I could to get 2 tickets. I had 20 internet windows open for various ticket suppliers in the UK and I refreshed screens like a mad scientist trying to bring Frankenstein to life. I secured my 2 tickets and I must admit, I almost cried. This photo is taken of the audience as we were waiting for the boys. I can remember pausing, just to be in the moment, I inhaled deeply as I listened to the excited voices around me & felt the bodies pushing up against me as we all jostled for a few more steps closer to the stage…  This is what I had dreamed about – this is what happens when you fearlessly follow your dreams.

Copyright – Cocktails & Memories.
Please do not copy/use any of my original photographs or quote text from my blog without listing this site as the source.
Thank you!

Simple Gestures

Our CEO is one of the nicest people you will ever meet.
He is funny, charming and tells really corny jokes. He knows the best spots for good food and great wine.

He is based in Cape Town and has been trying to get me to CT for years. One day I may just relent.

He calls me Sunshine.

The other day a poster of One Direction and a necklace of Liam – my favourite arrives in the mail. From the CEO because he knows how much I love them.

I tell you – surprises like this are enough to have me smiling the entire day!

Speaking of which – my concert at Wembley was 40 days ago. I am still wearing my armband from the show.
Yes I bath with it on – it is not made of paper.

40 Days & 40 Nights

Liam

In the Spotlight

The Boys

Happy Crowd

Copyright – Cocktails & Memories.
Please do not copy/use any of my original photographs or quote text from my blog without listing this site as the source.
Thank you!

21 Things About Me #8

Who knew it would be this difficult to blog once a week!?

I keep promising myself that I will give blogging a serious try again, yet somehow life gets in the way. Here is my commitment to you – I will Try Harder

What is your Go-To Song?

For an avid music lover such as myself, this is not a very easy question.

I have a variety of songs that I just have to play to get myself in/out of a mood.

If I have had a really bad day: Happily – One Direction

If I am feeling like some love: Mirrors – Justin Timberlake

If I am needing energy: Cuckoo – Adam Lambert

If I am feeling the need for some anger release: Not Over You – Daughtry

If I am in a really good mood: She looks so perfect – 5SOS / Can We Dance – The Vamps

Having said that –

My all time favourite love song: Running Away – Eden

My all time favourite happy song: What Makes you Beautiful – One Direction

 

21 Things About Me #8

Who knew it would be this difficult to blog once a week!?

I keep promising myself that I will give blogging a serious try again, yet somehow life gets in the way. Here is my commitment to you – I will Try Harder

This is me being serious

What is your Go-To Song?

For an avid music lover such as myself, this is not a very easy question.

I have a variety of songs that I just have to play to get myself in/out of a mood.

If I have had a really bad day: Happily – One Direction
If I am feeling like some love: Mirrors – Justin Timberlake
If I am needing energy: Cuckoo – Adam Lambert
If I am feeling the need for some anger release: Not Over You – Daughtry
If I am in a really good mood: She looks so perfect – 5SOS / Can We Dance – The Vamps

Having said that –
My all time favourite love song: Running Away – Eden
My all time favourite happy song: What Makes you Beautiful – One Direction

Copyright – Cocktails & Memories.
Please do not copy/use any of my original photographs or quote text from my blog without listing this site as the source.
Thank you!

21 Things about Me # 4 / Twenty Wishes for 2014

I am a bit behind, so excuse me while I play catch up:

List FOUR goals you plan to accomplish in the future
I am actually not much of a planner – never have been. This list really is difficult & I cannot come up with 4 goals.
Most of my goals such as –  own a home, see One Direction live, take mom overseas for the first time – have been/are being realised.

So with that I will give you 1 goal:

1. Take my dad for an overseas holiday – probably to see the Rugby Sevens tournament somewhere awesome like Hong Kong.
   The bonding time with my mom in the UK is going to be amazing. I need the same with my dad. With all his health scares, I want to be able to do this with him before it is too late. Dad and I used to go on road trips to Cape Town and discuss all sorts of things on the 11 hour drive. We have not done this for a very long time.

The rest are all wishes & seeing as I have not yet posted my Twenty Wishes for 2014 ( I compiled it in January, but never blogged it) – here they are:

1. Buy a really pretty dress – Similar to a LBD – in case I ever need an outfit
2. Try Pilates
3. Host more dinner parties/luncheons
4. Learn to cook more recipes
5. Eat More fruit
6. Go to a movie by myself
7. Kiss a stranger
8. Take more photos & complete my Project 365 challenge
9. Fix my dry feet
10. Do another spontaneous thing (2013: Bought 1D tickets)
11. Have High Tea in London
12. Fall in Love
13. Buy a nice fitting blazer
14. Read a great book
15. Watch a classic movie
16. Drink more water
17. Get my weight below 70kg
18. Tone my stomach
19. Work less
20. Be a happier person

Frivolous Dilemmas

http://www.hey-gorgeous.co.za

Besides all the shopping lists that need compiling, I have created my own dilemmas by giving myself too many choices this week.

Dilemma 1: Hey Gorgeous order

It took me 4 days to finally decide what I would like from the amazing range that Hey Gorgeous have to offer. I wanted it all, but that is not going to happen, especially with Christmas on a Budget. I made myself a looong list of all the delicious products and narrowed it down to what I (really) need. And then I justified the fact that I am paying postage, so I might as well make it worth my while and ordered a second product.
These products would also make the perfect Christmas gift.
I cannot wait to get my very first Hey Gorgeous order!
Don’t you just adore their photo styling?

Dilemma 2: Customised Design for phone cover
I came across an awesome South African business: Customised Phone Covers by Tickled Blue for only R275.
I was driving home the other day wondering if I should buy an iPhone so that I can have a cute cover made because there is nothing available for the Samsung S3. That same evening I discovered that S3 covers are available! It’s a sign I tell you.
I designed over 20 case designs, picked my favourite 8 and asked friends/family to choose.

Which one is the winner?

Wait to find out – I will blog all about my new cover as soon as I have received her back!

You are probably asking yourself why I did not go for a One Direction cover? The answer is simple. I want the cover now, by the time I have chosen a suitable image from the million pictures of perfection, I will have a new phone!

Liam Hotness Payne – 1D

Frivolous Dilemmas

Besides all the shopping lists that need compiling, I have created my own dilemmas by giving myself too many choices this week.

Dilemma 1: Hey Gorgeous order

Click image to go to their website

It took me 4 days to finally decide what I would like from the amazing range that Hey Gorgeous have to offer. I wanted it all, but that is not going to happen, especially with Christmas on a Budget. I made myself a looong list of all the delicious products and narrowed it down to what I (really) need. And then I justified the fact that I am paying postage, so I might as well make it worth my while and ordered a second product.
These products would also make the perfect Christmas gift – I have ordered a lip balm as a stocking filler for my sister-in-law.
I cannot wait to get my very first Hey Gorgeous order!
Don’t you just adore their photo styling?

Dilemma 2: Customised Design for phone cover
I came across an awesome post on Vanilla Blonde about Customised Phone Covers by Tickled Blue for only R275.
I was driving home the other day wondering if I should buy an iPhone so that I can have a cute cover made because there is nothing available for the Samsung S3. Then I read the blogpost and discovered that S3 covers are available!
I designed over 20 case designs, picked my favourite 8 and asked friends to choose.

Which one is the winner?

Wait to find out – I will blog all about my new cover as soon as I have received her back!

You are probably asking yourself why I did not go for a One Direction cover? The answer is simple. I want the cover now, by the time I have chosen a suitable image from the million pictures of perfection, I will have a new phone!

Liam “Hotness” Payne – 1D

Copyright – Cocktails & Memories.
Please do not copy/use any of my original photographs or quote text from my blog without listing this site as the source.
Thank you!

Making Things Happen

I am sure most of you know my obsession with these guys:

Even though I try to keep the groupie side of me on my other Social Media, sometimes it slips through onto here.

I didn’t choose the Groupie life, the groupie life chose me.

One day I heard a song on the radio and fell in love with the voice and then the song with it’s cheeky catchy beat. A few days of hearing the song, but never the artist made me research them on Google.

This was my first glimpse of the voice I had fallen in love with:

A 12 year old boy (not quite)

Ermmmm ok….. Not what I expecyed. My first thoughts were: “They are SO YOUNG”

Proceed to watch the music video, love it, google them, watch all their interviews and that was that. I was smitten.

3 years later, look how my baby has grown up:

Liam Hotness Payne

“I want you”

I recently became the proud owner of this lovely perfume, which surprisingly does not smell like a 12 year old high on Candy Floss.

My dad and I had an hour long conversation about these boys and their success and I told him that my new life’s mission is to see them perform live.

Yesterday, I decided to stop saying it, and do it. I am going to see One Direction. Live. At Wembley Stadium.

I can’t contain my excitement!!! I have to keep looking at this photo to make sure it really happened.

Go ahead, judge me. I won’t care over the ear-splitting grin and inward shreaking

I even entered a competition to see them live at Madison Square Gardens in New York, but sadly didn’t win. If you feel like a good chuckle, here is the video. 

Is it just me who hates the sound of their own voice? Apparently your brain alters the way you sound – why? Why doesn’t it just alter our vocal cords to sound better?

 

Copyright – Cocktails & Memories.
Please do not copy/use any of my original photographs or quote text from my blog without listing this site as the source.
Thank you!

Making Things Happen

I am sure most of you know my obsession with these guys:

One Direction

Even though I try to keep the groupie side of me on my other Social Media, sometimes it slips through onto here.

I didn’t choose the Groupie life, the groupie life chose me.

One day I heard a song on the radio and fell in love with the voice and then the song with it’s cheeky catchy beat. A few days of hearing the song, but never the artist made me research them on Google.

This was my first glimpse of the voice I had fallen in love with:

WMYB

Ermmmm ok….. Not what I expecyed. My first thoughts were: “They are SO YOUNG”

Proceed to watch the music video, love it, google them, watch all their interviews and that was that. I was smitten.

3 years later, look how my baby has grown up:

I want you

Liam Hotness Payne

I recently became the proud owner of this lovely perfume, which surprisingly does not smell like a 12 year old high on Candy Floss.

Our Moment

My dad and I had an hour long conversation about these boys and their success and I told him that my new life’s mission is to see them perform live.

Yesterday, I decided to stop saying it, and do it. I made that dream a reality. I am going to see One Direction. Live. At Wembley Stadium.

I can’t contain my excitement!!! I have to keep looking at this photo to make sure it really happened.

Ticket Confirmation

Go ahead, judge me. I won’t care over the ear-splitting grin and inward shreaking (yes you Missy Pie)

I even entered a competition to see them live at Madison Square Gardens in New York, but sadly didn’t win. If you feel like a good chuckle, here is the video.

Is it just me who hates the sound of their own voice? Apparently your brain alters the way you sound – why? Why doesn’t it just alter our vocal cords to sound better?

5 Things I Can’t Live Without…

1. My Cat – He knows when I am sad. He cheers me up when I am sad. He loves me unconditionally.
2. My family/friends – My parents are my rock and my pillar. I cannot even imagine how different my life would have been without there love and support. They do not judge me, they have never hurt me & they are always there for me
3. One Direction – Oh snigger away. These guys are more than a boy band with a fun rock/pop melody. They are wildly famous, yet down to earth. They make me happy. I could watch hours of interviews with them for their quirky sense of humour. I even had my parents watching them for a few hours (without complaining)
   Watch their new documentary This is Us (Directed by Morgan Spurlock of SuperSize Me fame) and then tell me you don’t like them.
   The only thing they have in common with Justin Bieber is their age. Otherwise the have manners and are not spoilt brats.
   Apart from 1D, I just can’t do without music in my life. I have to listen to music – whether it is angry rock, or calming soothing songs, or something light and happy – there is hardly ever a time when you will find me sitting in silence.
4. My camera – These photos I take today will be the memories of my tomorrow and the memories for my future generations. A legacy of who I was and where they came from. I want my nephew to look back at all my travels and adventures and be proud of who I was and remember me for what I was regardless of who I may become.
   It is also important for me to remember my life should anything ever happen to me (Alzheimers, demetia etc)
5. My cellphone – I could not go very long without my link to the world. Whatsapp conversations with my friends. Instagram – to keep in touch with the world through pictures. Facebook and Twitter. Google (how else would I know how to boil the perfect egg?) Also a handy backup to take photos when my camera is at home. A music player when the radio is being boring. My constant companion!

 What can you not live without?