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Published January 28th, 2012
- A day at the zoo and who do we find at the animal farm but the most content potbelly pig you’ll ever find!
Photo by Pat Sloane Photography for project me weekend photoblog
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 28th, 2012
It’s Saturday morning, 3 days after the #FollowSA Tweetup, and I’m still reeling with Tweets, emails and call to catch up. I’m so tired that I’ve decided to beg Pat to take me somewhere into nature and just breathe in air that doesn’t have the sound of Tweets at all. Not because I’m sick of it, but rather because I need to absorb how very much I love it all that it’s bringing to me.
Last night I was at a friends birthday party and spent the whole night chatting to another dear friend. With friends all around … and everyone I was with tonight began as a Tweet.
One of those friends asked me if I realise how very blessed I am and that I check in with gratitude for the amazing man, friends and achievements that are all starting to come into full bloom.
Of course I am … and I’ve always been so conscious of being thankful every day, that’s what this blog is all about in essence. We can only be grateful when we are conscious and that’s one gift I have truly mastered in myself.
Of course, his statement still got me thinking and as I climbed into bed last night, I counted my blessings of the week that had passed, just to be sure I hadn’t missed a touch of gratitude that could still be expressed.
There was …
On the days that built up the the #FollowSA Tweetup I watched a whole lot of Youtube videos of Caitlin, the electric violinist, who so generously offered her time to entertain the crowd. I wanted to post videos and Tweet them out so that everyone knew what to expect. I was even so excited that I found performance of Cotton Eye Joe (and we all know the country music sucker that I am) and put in a special request.
Amazingly, no matter how many videos I watched and how excited and humbled I was to have this incredible entertainer perform at one of Lifeology‘s events, neither myself nor the crowd got what they expected.
Is the greatest word to describe something beyond words, phenomenal? Is it amazing, incredible, spectacular or breathtaking?
It was all of those. I had people asking me “How did you get Caitlin to perform at your event?” and “Will she be at another one?” and “Will she perform at my event?”
Caitlin, I know I’ve Tweeted and thanked you in person, but here it is again my dear friend. Thank you for your blessed talent and for so generously sharing it with the world. Mostly, thank you for believing enough in #FollowSA to have so graciously entertained us all at Howzit2012.
On Wednesday you had your feet on the ground … but I would love to share with you one of Caitlin’s Aerial performances. It’s wow!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 26th, 2012
A huge thank you to the biggest #FollowSA crowd to date ... 130 people, for making #howzite2012 such a memorable event!
I don’t know whether yesterday, the day of the event, or today was more of a whirlwind. What an incredible event #FollowSA #Howzit2012 turned out to be. My very rough estimate is that #followsa was Tweeted over 1000 times for the event.
The Fire and Ice Melrose Arch team headed by Anton Gillis who just happens to be an amazing DJ on the side. What a bonus
Twitter was an absolute frenzy of Tweets with the hashtag #fireandicema thanks to the generous hospitality of Anton Gillis and his Protea Hotels Fire and Ice team. I don’t have words to express the pride and emotion that filled my night as I took in the venue that made #FollowSA #Howzit2012 the most spectacular event to date.
A special thanks to Karen Battaliou who doubled as an employee and a very dear friend. #FollowSA was born because of my wish that people connected to amazing individuals in the way that I have and K, you are a shining example. Thank you!
The food just never stopped ... wow!
It’s the first time that a venue has catered for a #FollowSA event as part of the sponsorship and the combination of mindbogglingly delicious and the endless supply of it was just spectacular.
I mean, have you EVA?
Yes, that was desert. An unbelievably delicious tower of heavenly pastry, cream, chocolate and strawberry. I’m sure there’s a pic of me walking around with an entire plate full at some point.
Lovoka Milkshakes .... mmmmm
Thanks to Franco D’ Onofrio of Twiga Communications for organising the Lovoka sponsorship so that #followsa could welcome each guest with an adult milkshake that Fire and Ice Melrose Arch hotel is famous for.
Greggie talking the crowd through a very interesting prize from Hustler Girl's store, Hustler Extreme!
A huge thank you to the prize givers, @lovokaSA, @hustlergirl, @daisydeblonde of @lamb_media, @jdhairbeauty and @proteahotels #fireandicema … it’s always such a fun time at the events and with you guys there would surely be something amiss at #followsa
A host of amazing celebs graced the stage
I’m always so humbled by the amazing entertainers who have found their way to the #FollowSA events and found such joy in being a part of the excitement.
Thank you to my dear Sibu Radebe, who I happened to meet through my blogging journey, for stepping in to be emergency MC for the night. You are such a great presence and we were honoured to share the stage with you.
Crushanda Forbes came 3rd in the Idols finals last year and it was so great to have her join us on stage to hand out prizes. Thanks for being such a great sport and for you enthusiasm to be a part of a future #followsa event.
Then there’s Caitlin the electric violinist …
Caitlin, you are an entertainer beyond words and you took the crowd’s breath away by your incredible talent with the violin. Thank you for giving so generously of your time to make #FollowSA #Howzit2012 what it was … and thanks most of all for honouring my special request and playing Cotton Eye Joe for me! I love you kid!!!
I will be posting a video of Caitlin in action for her project me interview on the blog in the near future.
To the new faces and the old, you are #followsa and these events are for you and because of you and on behalf of Greg, Lifeology and me I thank you for every Tweet and every questions that asks: “when is the next #FollowSA event?”
Lastly … to the man in my life who doubles as #FollowSA’s resident photographer, Pat Sloane (and I don’t have a pic because he’s always hiding behind the camera) I thank you for capturing every event as a perfect moment in time, for loving and supporting me and putting up with speed wobble before, during and after every event!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 25th, 2012… NOT!!!
Tonight’s #followsa Tweetup is going to be crazy!!! Tomorrow’s blog will be filled with pics and thanks and sanity …
Hold thumbs for Lifeology’s biggest event EVA!! Thanks so much Protea Hotels Fire and Ice Melrose Arch for making it happen 
Got to dash …
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 24th, 2012
Tomorrow’s #FollowSA’s biggest event to date!
I’m so excited and super proud!
But … I woke up with a headache that I thought was just because I had slept a little oddly. By lunch time it was time for a tablet and a few hours ago it was something stronger.
I can’t remember when last I had one of these. The ones that make me feel ill … like I wanna hug the loo kinda sick. Now all I want to do is cry.
Of course, that’s because I’ve been sitting in silence the entire day and forcing myself through trying to get organised for tomorrow.
Project me lesson … SPEAK UP!!!
I’ve done everything from drinking water to wash it away to eating a decent meal to feed it away. I’ve nodded off at the computer, got a fan blowing cold air on me and done self healing Reiki on my brain … but my head has other plans and sometimes that’s what the body does. Wait … that’s always what the body does. It tells us what it wants to do, to eat and to think, but we fight it and eventually some part of us has to win.
The part that needs to have faith in the process and learn to ask for help, that part has finally won and I’m off to lie down (which I should have done about 5 hours ago!)
PS … did I say that our #FollowSA event at @proteahotels #fireandicema hotel is FULL!!! No wonder my brain feels like it’s going to explode ;p
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 23rd, 2012
If you don’t know my incredible love for dragons, then let me take a moment to introduce you to my world that has my cats named after all the characters from the dragon movie, Eragon. The there are the dragon ornaments that adorn my bathroom and bedroom and of course my very own portal crystal that dragons are believed to travel through. I have books and dragon friends and … well, enough said, I think.
That’s why there is a special excitement for this year’s Chinese New Year that starts today.
I have to admit that if today’s anything to go by then this Dragon energy is going to be pretty interesting for me (and I’m sure so many of you). I remember when I first got introduced to the energy of the dragon, my first warning was of a playful, mischievous energy that tests the boundaries of people and in so, pushes them to the limits. That’s so much of what we can expect of this year. A good old kick in the pants and our choice of what we are going to do with it. It’s one of those years where things are going to either soar or tumble down, but either way, the passion of the dragon shows us the limitless potential to make anything happen.
That’s what I want from this year and it’s certainly what I got from the day. Not that it went without its complete downers that has me literally feeling that every nerve is frazzled with both excitement and frustration.
Greggie and I are having such amazing business meetings, with plans that are beyond exciting. Wednesday is the first of many #FollowSA tweetups and on that night I also announced our first trip to Cape Town for the start of national events. Prizes are pouring in and so are business opportunities, but on the other end of the stick I’m finally feeling like a working woman who can’t believe I have to get home (way after 5pm) and still blog, cook dinner, prepare lunch for Pat for work for tomorrow … with a load of Tweets and emails still to follow.
I’m far from complaining. Actually I think I just feel as though I’ve started a new gym routine and my body and mind have to settle in. We all know what that feels like and I certainly need to adjust to the new pace that my brain needs to operate, my words need to express my creativity and my heart needs to ensure I maintain the balance of the beautiful home I’ve created.
Just on a side, if you read my blog entitled What I learned from Trump and O’Donnell, that was written a few weeks back, you will see that I’m already dealing with so much of what the dragon years bring to someone born in the Chinese zodiac of the Ox. Yes, I’m the Ox and very proudly so … well except for the part where I’m supposed to love to work in the garden. You see … I saw an earthworm once …
Here is how you find your Chinese zodiac and this is how you see what the year of the dragon has in store for you.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 22nd, 2012
That's it, Pat's eating with chopstick for the rest of his life ... tee hee!! The empty plate is mine (rare sight) and the chopstick dyslexia is well ... um ... my man's! )
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 21st, 2012
The prettiest way to spend a Saturday afternoon ... under the fairy bell dresses tree!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 18th, 2012
I can’t remember when last I felt totally exhausted from excitement but at least I know that I’m not having a heart attack or going to pass out, even though that’s the message my heart keeps sending my very noisy mind after today’s events.
Actually, it’s not just today’s events but a build up that literally began the day Greggie and I got back to work. One exciting meeting after another. One person, with compatible ideas to accompany Lifeology, after another. One amazing opportunity after another.
No wonder my body is so tired that even typing is a blur and all my mind is churning in a dull begging voice is “sleep! sleep” sleep!” I think to night is going to make history for the earliest I’ve gone to be since I was in primary school, but then again I remember how excited I was in school and why the end of the day couldn’t come soon enough to go to sleep.
That’s today … one of those days where life was a fun-filled playground that I tired myself running from one activity to the next. There’s always the last swing ride, where you almost touch the sky or the last spin on the merry-go-round where you feel as though you are going to fall off the world … and then you know your day is complete.
That moment for me was a meeting Greggie and I had with Angela Ludek from Radio 2000. I am already honoured to have a regular 5 week slot on her show where I talk about social media, but today’s proposal from Angela left me so excited that I had to run to the bathroom and do air punches, jump up and down and scream silently into my hands.
I am so grateful to every celeb, entertainer, business person and blogger who has taken the time to do the ‘your project me story’ on my blog. It’s one thing to hear my story, but to have people that we admire take the time to share how they have made themselves their own project has taken my blog to a new level. Here is the link to the people I have interviewed so far: Your project me story interviews.
Trying to contain my excitement and extending the greatest thanks to Angela for believing in project me so much, I’m thrilled to announced that ‘project me’ now has a weekly radio 2000 slot with Angela Ludek starting from Sunday 5th February. Angela will interview the individuals I have interviewed as an extension of the blog and ask them to tell their project me story based on the blog’s interview questions.
*faints*
I’m sure the happy bathroom dance won’t be the first but there’s work to be done, guest blogger’s stories to share and a new chapter of project me to embark upon … and it all starts with a good night’s sleep and a prayer that if starts with thanks and gratitude, and end with a self hug.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published January 17th, 2012It’s seldom that I take a look back at the blog post I wrote a year to the day, but it’s not seldom that I don’t notice just how everything is exactly as it should be. Here it is again … one of those perfectly synced moments where the greatest gift I could have given myself was to wonder (now I know the difference between wander and wonder) what I was doing and how I was feeling a year ago today.
I read the post that I wrote 365 days ago and am ending my day mighty proud of my choice to live consciously, or at least do my very best at it each day. Most of all, I’ve never been more grateful for the dedication to blog daily, even on the night’s when I’ve left it too late, I’m tired and weary and all I want to do is curl up into bed.
So here it is … 365 days ago I called my blog post: If you had Dorothy’s shoes for a day
How far have you come in 365?
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
