There’s just something about Miami

“Currently sitting in the restaurant at Freehand Miami, next to Ami James (famous tattoo artist, Miami Ink) and his friends”. 😀

That is all I managed to write down before I convinced myself they would all think I was some kind of weirdo reporter writing down their every move. I mean I did literally start this post with writing those exact words in my journal so maybe they were right to hypothetically be concerned. Okay, losing focus here let’s get back to the post.

“After a long day of travelling I finally arrived at Freehand Miami to stay for the night. I had to come to Miami for my Visa appointment tomorrow morning – wait let me phrase that better – I got another awesome opportunity to visit Miami even though it was just for my Visa appointment 😉

I took myself out for dinner and a glass of wine. It is so amazing being back here. I forgot how much I love this place.

Discovering that I’d have to fly to Florida just for the application on top of the mission to sort out everything for the Visa was very stressful and it was a huge ordeal getting it all together. Now that I’m here it all seems like it happened for a reason though. I needed this mini trip to Miami.

Living in Georgia has been amazing so far but these last few weeks have been exhausting and overwhelming at times. I’ve been an anxious mess. But now I’m sitting on this bus back to Miami Beach (my appointment was in Downtown Miami) and I don’t remember the last time I felt this calm and genuinely happy.

With the help (a lot of help) from my incredible Momsy, my Visa appointment and application is all done and sorted, now all that’s left is excitement for my Eurotrip with my bestie Moooky ♥

There is just something about Miami. Something about the way the sun feels on my skin, the wind in my hair, the clear blue skies (until it pours with rain), the amazing beaches, the streets, the palm trees, the people, the vibe. I wish I could stay here for longer and just relax on the beach. But this was just a trip for my real trip, and I’m so appreciative I still got to visit!

After feeling very overwhelmed before I got to the airport yesterday, I felt like everything kept going wrong, I’d mess something up, I wouldn’t be able to afford to get anywhere, etc etc. I went and chilled outside in the park and spoke to my late Bobba.

I asked her for a sign that she is with me and that she knows how much I miss her every single day. I didn’t feel anything, but had to started missioning to the airport. It felt like one thing went wrong after the other, be it the public transport or the airport security lines. Yet, without fail, it all seemed to work out just perfectly in the end.

I managed to be on one of the last flights out that night to Miami due to crazy storms. I made it to the hostel from the airport and everything worked out perfectly fine for my Visa interview, all without a phone I could depend on for maps or uber or ANYTHING BECAUSE THE BATTERY LASTS SHORTER THAN okay I’m sorry it just drives me absolutely crazy.

My darling Bobs was watching out for me and I know it 🙂 I miss you and love you and I know you’re loving getting to see Miami today, because you’re here with me in my heart.

So right now I’m still on the bus back to Miami beach and I plan to tan and chill out by the pool for a little bit before I make my way back to the airport.

Sometimes you need to truly be on your own to remind yourself you are perfectly capable of anything you set your mind to.” ❤

X

 

MIAMI

I can’t feel my face – The Weeknd

I love it – Icona pop

Bikini weather – Shortstraw

❤

Weekend away in the city with the Momsy & Vlogging

My mom and I stayed in NYC from Thursday last week till Sunday, and it was amazing. I was inspired by one of my besties Robyn to start vlogging. I thought instead of taking a million photos and only ending up posting a few of them, taking little videos of the weekend adventures and putting them into a vlog would be awesome. She did one for her trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand last year, as well as when she came to visit me in New York City & NJ a couple months ago, and they were incredible!

So I am currently trying to get it all edited together whilst working 11 hours a day during the week, but I’m almost done 🙂 Hopefully I will get it posted sometime this week. I also have no idea how to ‘vlog’ so no judging please 😛 The idea of travel vlogging is fantastic and I hope I get good enough to post some awesome vlogs!

In the mean time, here are a few moments from our weekend in the city:

Natural History Museum

You gotta have HOPE

View from the gym in our hotel – One UN Plaza in Midtown East

Natural History Museum

Untitled waiting for the bus selfie

Starbucks because Starbucks

Brooklyn Bridge-ing

Subway Selfie

It starts with a ‘P’ and ends in ‘erspective’

When my life is frantic crazy busy I come up with so many cool things to write about. Now I’m at work and it’s quiet but I can’t think of what I want to write about. So I thought I’d just wing it and hope my brain and hands do some magic.

As previously mentioned, one of my best friends has just moved to Costa Rica to teach English. I’ve tried to be there and encourage her as much as I can, because I know the feeling of life changing as you know it. These six months haven’t been easy. There have been more ups and downs than I can count. But my friend’s new experience got me thinking, I should start taking my own advice.

There are going to be hard times. There are also going to be awesome times. It is all about perspective. I can give friends and family advice about being positive and how it’s all part of the adventure, but this year is going so quickly that I’ve stopped thinking like that about my own experiences; and my ups and downs. We’re only human, and it’s okay to be sad sometimes. What is important is to realize is to appreciate what you have, and try see things with a positive perspective.

A couple weeks ago I was riding my bike home from work in the rain, and first thought to myself: “Ugh. WHYYYYYY?!”. But then I thought how it is all about perspective; and I realized that it was actually really beautiful. It’s not like I’m allergic to water. Why should I let a little rain ruin my day? I rode over the bridge to a magnificent sunset, and turned my annoyed ugly face into a smile. The saying shouldn’t be about ‘raining on your parade’; it should be about not letting the rain ruin your parade. Nothing and no one should get in the way of your own happiness.

This seems so ironic trying to preach all this about perspective and making your own happiness, when I have always felt like I need other people in my life to make me happy. This year has been so significant in the respect to finding my own happiness, and how to be independently happy. It’s a working progress for sure. But at least it’s progress. I guess sometimes you do need to be thrown into the deep end. Good news is I know how to swim 😉 And by swim I mean I’m trying to be smart and say I know I can get through it.

Life is an opportunity.  An opportunity to grow, to learn, to challenge, to develop, to live, to love. Be the author of your own novel; everyday is a new page. I will start trying to take my own advice 🙂

Perspective is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure ❤

I’ve got a lot more blog ideas and a lot less time.

A couple months back my uncle Tom saw I used dove soap, and bought me a pack of three big liquid soap bottles. At the time I was all like ‘omg it’s going to take all year to finish these’, and now I’m almost finished the second one. The relevance of this soap story is how crazy fast this year is going. Winter has passed, Spring is basically done, and Summer is here – come back to me tan I beg of you. I’ve had my first year of actual seasons. At the end of June, I would have been here for six months already.

I’ve been so busy that it is hard to believe how quickly 2015 is going. I’m always thinking about things to write about in my next blog, but I’ve got barely any time to sit and get them done. I’m currently working 8am-8pm with a one hour lunch break, Mon-Fri, with weekends off. Which basically means I have weekends to have a life. It’s not as bad as it sounds though, I quite like it actually. Staying busy and working hard, and then in the times I am free; socializing, working out or just chilling out keep me distracted from how gosh darn scary this all actually is.

I’ve gotten used to not being around my girls and my family. I miss them and I know they miss me but they have their own lives to deal with, and if I wanna be happy I’ve got to have my own to deal with too. We all stay in contact as much as possible, but sometimes I wish I had more free time to be able to Skype everyone back home more. Yet at the same time if I had more free time to sit and Skype everyone I love at home, it would only make it harder to be happy here. Staying busy is my way of distracting myself. If I’m busy working a lot, when I do have time then I make an effort to go out, or see friends and do cool things. When I have too much alone time, I think about home too much.

It’s hectic but I am working towards my goal of travelling, so it’s all going to be worth it when I’m sipping Sangria in my bikini on a beach in Greece, riding a bike around Amsterdam, taking touristy photos by the Eiffel Tower, getting gondola selfies in Venice, ETC ETC ❤

So what else can I tell you. It has been awhile. I visited family in Long Island last weekend and it was amazing. I had never met them before! Overall I had a wonderful weekend of memories with them, ranging from going to Splish Splash Water-park (which was life changing), experiencing true New York City traffic, Le Miserables on Broadway (Wow) and lots of great conversation getting to know each other.

What’s ironic is how neither Alyson or her daughter Marielle are actually blood related to me. But they didn’t feel any less like family. I think Alyson’s grandfather, and my step-dad’s grandfather were brothers. Marielle was adopted. But nonetheless, I was visiting family. Family is family. They opened their house to me, made such an effort to do cool things and it was really special getting to know them. I’m so lucky to have them, and now I have an excuse to get to visit more cool places in New York!

On an ending note, I have a desk in my room now which automatically means it should increase my organization and magically make more time for me to sit down and look at how cool it is while I blog right?

Apple pie, May, New job, Identity theft & Canada

Probably the most random blog post title ever but that pretty much sums up my life right now.

I had apple pie for the first time a couple weeks ago and now I realize why Americans love apple pie so much. Dear g-d it is fantastic. Yum.

I cannot believe it’s May already. I feel like I just got used to the fact that it’s April, and now it’s May. This year really needs to slow down it is freaking me out. It’s crazy how it feels like I just had my 21st, and now I’m almost TWENTY TWO. Wow. I do not feel ready for this all haha

Two days ago I woke up to a notification saying I have less than $50 in my account. Which was strange considering I had literally deposited my check the night before. I freeeaakkkeddd out, checked my transaction history and it turns out that some scumbag had gotten my card details (from an ATM- I still had my card with me) and had stolen close to $300 from my account. I hadn’t even paid all my bills for the month and I was left with basically nothing in my account. So Saturday was an awful morning for me. Eventually I sorted it out with the bank and they blocked my card, but I’m still waiting for the money to be transferred back into my account.

Boo. Not even 5 months in America and someone’s already stolen my identity. So ironic that I come from South Africa, and this happens to me here. There really are screwed up people everywhere in the world.

On a happier note, I get to go to Canada soon! I’m visiting family in Toronto (and hopefully Ottawa). I cannot wait. Not only am I ridiculously excited to see them and spend time with them, but I can’t wait for a little break. A week away from work just sounds like perfection right now.

Life has been pretty crazy in the past couple weeks. I started a new job, so in the process of finishing off shifts at my old work I was training over here. I’m meant to have weekends off with this new job but ended up working all weekend to try make up for the shifts I’ll be missing when I’m in Canada for a week, on top of just having $300 stolen from me. ‘I need the money’ is putting it lightly.

What’s kinda awesome about my new job is that it’s a 25/20 (depending on how lazy I am) minute bike ride to work and back home everyday, so it’s forcing me to get a lot of cardio in each day. Seen as summer is coming that’s a good thing right? I’m slowly getting used to not having my car to depend on, and considering how expensive it is to taxi all the time I’m really enjoying being able to ride my bike. It’s muuuuch quicker than walking, it costs nothing, and it’s healthy!

Still taking each day as it comes and trying to get into a new routine now that I’m working basically 8am-8pm Monday-Friday (with a lunch break don’t worry). I’m excited to have weekends off once I’m back from Canada!

It’s true what they say, “Life happens when you’re busy making other plans”.

🙂

Random acts of kindness are a beautiful thing.

Yesterday at work a woman was wearing one of the Lokai bracelets. I’d seen them on Instagram and had wanted one for awhile but just hadn’t gotten around to ordering one.

The beautiful thing about them is how there is a white bead which contains water from Mt Everest,  and a black bead that contains mud from the Dead Sea – the highest and lowest points on Earth. The idea behind them is to use the elements to have a balance. At hard times in life, to have hope. In good times in life, to stay humble. I just love it.

So anyways I see this women wearing it and I hadn’t seen one in person before so I asked if I could look at it as I’d wanted one for a while, and admired how beautiful it and it’s concept was.

This woman immediately told me to try it on, and said I could have it. I was shocked as I had not intended on making this random woman give me her bracelet!  I told her how I could never take it but I really appreciated it, but she insisted. She said how she could get another one and she needed to do something kind today so she gave it to me!

Now that’s what I call good karma.

♡

Appreciate the beauty in the little things in life

Today I woke up and took the dogs for a jog.

It was a magnificent morning:

Then I rode a bike for the first time in like 7 years probably. It was fantastic! I used to always ride my bike growing up in the Drakensberg (for those who aren’t from SA let’s just say the mountains lol) but it’s been years since I got on one.

It’s true what they say, you never forget how to ride a bike! I was genuinely surprised I didn’t fall off and break something.

Now that the summer is approaching, I can start riding to work and back instead of walking; which will be lovely.

I am loving seeing Spring in New Jersey, it really is beautiful. The flowers blooming, the leaves on the trees, the birds, the blue skies (besides for the storm yesterday lol), everything! I just love actually having seasons here. As opposed to summer and slightly colder summer back home.

We live in such a beautiful world, and getting caught up in our lives leads us to not appreciating the beauty in the little things in life.

❤

Another blog post about New York City.

Written: 04/13

There is just something about this city.

Something about it makes me happy and excited to be there.

Maybe it’s the tourist in me still but when I get a chance/ any excuse to visit NYC I will take it.

I mean I spent the whole day there (I’m on the train back right now) and all I bought was some food, coffee and a metro card. Basically 20 000 steps later I had a fantastic day exploring new places in the city.

There is always something to see. I love the buildings, the yellow cabs, the artsy well-dressed people. The way you can see an incredible view basically anywhere. The parks. The landmarks.  The pizza. The near-death experiences crossing the streets.

And now that it’s starting to warm up, I cannot wait for more adventures in not-minus-a-million degrees New York City.

I’m currently on my food break and finally have some time to type out my blog post so Hi.

Written 04/ 10

Nothing is really getting easier, I’m just starting to deal with it I guess. People said it would be hard but get easier with time, but it’s almost like it gets harder as you miss more.

You miss a lot of things. Missing as in missing family, friends, home. But also missing as in missing best friend’s 21sts, your graduation etc etc.

I’m trying to put myself first and make a life for myself but it is a lot easier said than done.

I want to travel. Unfortunately you need money to do so. So it’s going to take a while before I can afford to do what I want.

I definitely want to be here for the summer. It’s going to be fantastic.

I’m going to Canada for a week in May which will be amazing. Cannot wait to see my family there and I’ve also sent a suitcase with my summer clothes there. So it will be nice to have something to wear besides my winter clothes I brought here.

Apparently it gets as hot here as it does in SA in the summer but we’ll see. I doubt it could be hotter than Durbs which is basically the sun.

♥