Project Me Hustler Girl

Posts Tagged With 'Hustler Girl'

How #FollowSA rocked Joburg at Fire and Ice – project me day 755

Posted by jodene January 26, 2012 3 Comments »

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

Jodene’s birthday tribute from Hustler Girl – project me day 629

Posted by jodene September 24, 2011 2 Comments »

Today is a special day, not only because it is Jodene’s birthday but also because Jo has asked me to guest blog on Project Me for Day 629.

Let me introduce myself, *ahem* drum roll please…. I am Kimmie otherwise known as Hustler Girl.

Jo and I go waaaaaay back. I knew Jo before Project Me was even a twinkle in her eye. Jo was my Business Management lecturer at Beauty College. Our paths crossed again through the wonderful world of social networking on a little thing called Facebook, you may have heard of it. We reconnected and soon after that Jo started blogging and she hasn’t stopped since!

While I am busy typing this post Jo is off on a well deserved naughty romantic getaway with Mr Unexpected at the Mount Grace Country House and Spa.

Birthdays are always a good time to reflect on the past year and acknowledge all the successes that you have achieved. Jo, I hope that you look back on the last year and give yourself a “PAT” on the back for a job well done! J What a wonderful journey you have been on since starting Project Me. I have watched you grow so much as a person and overcome so many fears. I admire your perseverance and that you continue to push yourself and achieve goals which you thought you never would.

I am so proud to call you my friend. We have shared so many fun times together and I look forward to many more.

I wish you a very Happy Birthday filled with the best things that life has to offer. May all the dreams you have become reality.

You once read out the lyrics to this song at college and it really had an impact on me so I sign off with these lyrics as a reminder that we must live life to the fullest and appreciate and embrace each moment.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by
scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable
than my own meandering
experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and
recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before
you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you
imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that
never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm
on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with
people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes
you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with
yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your
life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they
wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year
olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe
you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t
congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your
choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body,
use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever
own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for
good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you
should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and
lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live
in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will
philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize
that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were
noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one
might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you’re 40, it will
look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who
supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of
fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the
ugly parts and recycling it for more than
it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour

Makeup,boys and Twits – project me day 621

Posted by jodene September 16, 2011 6 Comments »

The Bobbi Brown team from Melrose Arch store, a kidnapped Ashwin Willemse and my super special friends ... pic taken by the one and only Pat Sloane

I’m the first to admit that this blog has been a bit blah of late but tonight I got a whole lot of smiling to do. I know my best friend is somewhere between Seattle and San Francisco at this very moment so I’m not even sure if he will be reading this. I don’t think he’s missed a blog in the 620-odd days unless he fakes it really well. Whether he reads it or not, the fact are the same … I miss my boy, but it’s been very empowering having to stand on my own two feet.

I’ve set my GPS to places near and far and I’ve found them all. I’ve discussed finances and make monitory decisions. I’ve requested invoices from the accountant and kept track of the bank account. All the big girl stuff that I just haven’t had to do for as long as Greggie and I have been business partners.

Something is beginning to shift and a part of me knows that there’s a new blossoming of a much bolder and determined person. I started to feel it a few days ago, but had a surge of confidence and self respect when I was surrounded by the most amazing group of women because of one incredible woman.
I fell in love with the story of Bobbi Brown and her journey of creating such a world renowned product before I had ever had the joy of putting a lipstick to my lips or a foundation to my cheek.

It was my first Bobbi Brown experience on Wednesday night and I can’t believe how I felt when I looked around the Melrose Arch store and saw the women who surround me. I got to bring 9 of my closest and it was so easy to choose them. Most of these super ladies have met me through Twitter … actually, besides Hustler Girl who reconnected with me on Facebook, we are all Twit friends. Well, Khanyi is more of an extension of Twitter because I was invited to an event that she was at, but we were Twit friends before the night was through. Liesl, Liza, Michele and Lindsey are all definitely Twits and Carol is another great extension of my social media life.

It was such a joy to see everyone having fun, switching off from our worlds for a moment and getting lost in the girlie world of makeup. It was an even greater joy knowing that my journey of blogging and dedication to my career brought us all together.

And … amidst the crowd of friends and talented Bobbi Brown Makeup artists was the other boy. The very special boy … Mr Unexpected. It’s just as awesome to see that my photographer, who is now my man is so loved and cherished by my friends. So much so that he was asked to gate crash the rest of the girl’s night out that extended to dinner just before our Kleenex girl’s night out.

It’s always bound to happen with this crowd and no one was letting SA’s dishy rugby player, Ashwin Willemse walk past the store without being dragged in for the final pic of our Bobbi Brown experience.

I’m also grinning from ear to ear because my new friend and an inspiration for every person who has a dream, Tazz Nginda finally got his cute ass onto Twitter. Don’t worry, Mr Unexpected knows all about my admiration of this sexy actor, model and role model.

For a meeting that was supposed to be quick few minutes to do a few adjustments to Tazz’s social media presence, we ended up talking for hours. It’s definitely one of the reasons I snapped my attitude back into shape. Listening to the story a boy who had a dream and is living it despite all the odds … that’s project me. Just like I share my story with others and hope it inspires people to do one little thing that could get them that little bit closer to their dreams … I need that too.

Between Bobbi Brown, Tazz Nginda, a loving best friend, a treasure boyfriend and the most rocking friends a girl could ask for and a kleenex girl’s night out … I’m BACK!

As always … a big thank you to Instant Grass and The Venus Networks for making my Bobbi Brown Experience a reality!

With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour

Burn the Floor sizzles at Joburg Theatre – project me day 560

Posted by jodene July 18, 2011 3 Comments »

Book tickets by clicking the sizzling hot pic and heading off to the Joburg Theatre website

I’m not a journalist, entertainment blogger or dance critic. I’m a girl who is blogging her way through life and was lucky enough to be invited to the opening night of Burn the Floor at the Joburg Theatre on my 560th day.

I’m that girl who left a sick boyfriend at home for my mother to take care of. Whose day was filled with worry and nursing that I hadn’t blogged day 559 yet. Who had the looming return to gym after only getting over my own sickness. Who … was that the most perfect body on a man I have ever seen?

Um … where was I? Worries? What worries?

That’s the power of this incredible dance production called Burn the Floor.
As quoted by the Joburg Theatre: “From Harlem’s hot nights at The Savoy, where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa steamed up the stage, BURN THE FLOOR takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance. The elegance of the Viennese Waltz, the exuberance of the Jive, the intensity of the Paso Doble – audiences will experience them all, as well as the Tango, Samba, Mambo, Quickstep and Swing.”

What next? How do I? When is the right time to? Why would anyone want to? If I try this will it? That’s how most of my thoughts begin and it’s always a day of incessant self questioning … until …

I don’t do it often. Actually I don’t do it at all. This mind of mine never stops and even when I’m trying to meditate I never get very far without my bossy and noisy brain taking over the process. I used to love reading but haven’t done it in ages because my head won’t shut up and I find myself re-reading paragraphs far too often. Music almost gets it right for me, but never for very long and I’m the first to say that’s the furthest away from ‘project me’ that I should be with myself.

I love the theatre thanks to the cultured flair that my best friend has added to my life and I’ve seen many productions in my time. I’ve loved a whole bunch of them, but I can’t say when last I had a moment such as last night. To review a production like this must be fun with words like sizzling, steamy, hot-t-t and spectacular, but for me, it was a ‘project me’ moment that is rare and very personal.

I contemplated canceling because the collective questions asks if you should leave the man you love at home while you go to the theatre? ‘Project me’, on the other hand, tries to show the world that it’s okay to put myself first, have fun and still live totally within my integrity. It didn’t feel that way when I left him fast asleep and knew he would wake up, sick and alone. It didn’t feel that way while driving in the car and while waiting for the show to begin. Even though I was surrounded by my special friends including Greggie, Jared who was instrumental in my being at the show and Hustler Girl who was my +1 after Mr Unexpected couldn’t make it. Still … I had all those ‘what if’s’ floating through my head and felt like the most uncaring woman in the world for leaving him.

Follow all the sexy and talented dancers from Burn the Floor on Twitter

And then … nothing … but everything all at once.
If I breathed, I don’t remember. What I do remember it the total stillness of my mind as I watched the most spectacular dance production I have seen. The description says it all but words can never captivate the experience of the combination of powerful voices and flawless dance.
Of course the nattering of my mind began the second the curtain rose and all I wanted to do was get home … well, that was until the dancers all began to emerge and mingle with the crowd. Bless the Joburg Theatre for their hospitality and flowing wine that kept most people sipping instead of drooling. Where beautiful bodies and talent collide … it’s easy to forget about a sick man … but not forever though.

Reality always returns after a night as mesmerising as this and when I got home I did my usual … cry! While the tears were flowing I had a thought. I saw the most incredible partnerships on that stage. The ultimate in trust as one partner throws, catches and twirls another. It could never have been that flawless in the beginning. I bet a dancer or two where dropped on their head. There must have been tears and pain and hours of exhaustion that created something so spectacular … and all of a sudden my mind fell silent once again … to dream!

Jozi peeps and Tweeps … I would love to go see Burn the Floor again, so if you are keen please Tweet me @jodenecoza and let’s make a Tweetup out of it!

With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour

When the body says ‘no’ – project body week 3

Posted by jodene July 03, 2011 4 Comments »

Once again, I’m always thrilled about the truth of my fears that I speak so that when these things actually occur I’m not saying that I promised I thought that or wished I had mentioned something else. We all have our own pattern of sabotage and for some reason I decided to make my journey a very physical and painful one.

One week into gym, one week into a gorgeous relationship, doing things in my career that I only dreamed of and having lost weight within the first 7 days of getting my act together. How does my body react?

I’m not going to go into the crazy thoughts of my mind to try and figure out why, but I am going to tell you that in conjunction with what I’m telling you, I’m adding some alternative healing to my ‘project body’ regime.

I have to because what I’m about to tell you is gross, painful and of course … a little embarrassing. Yes, you know me! That’s why I have to tell you … because carrying shame is the one that kicks addiction back in and I’m not in any mood for that.

It all started as a very painful moment on the loo. One that I thought would just pass if I did a home remedy or two for a very swollen back end. I was relieved that Mr Unexpected didn’t spend his week nights here and did my best to hide the absolute agony I was in. Of course, Greggie saw it all over my face and thank heavens for the friendship we have … I can tell him anything. The girlie bits weren’t feeling so great either but I still pushed on and even dragged myself to gym the following morning.

It eventually got so bad that I had to tell my mom too because I needed to reduce some crazy fears that were going on in my head and by the time I phoned Hustler Girl (in an absolute state) with horrid sores all the way down there … I knew it was doctor time.

Believe it or not, I suffered through the whole exciting evening of Social Media Day and even loved how much better my body is looking while my special man took full length body shots of me and reflected how well I am already doing. That aside … I was in agony that night and faked my whole way through. The excitement and magic of the evening dulled some of the discomfort, pain and embarrassment but that was it … Mr Unexpected was sleeping at me that night.
I teach this stuff, so I have to live it. I had to tell him what was wrong and it was so amazing to feel safe and supported.

So it goes like this. It seems I have shingles down there … OMG … if there is any way to describe the pain then please feel free, because it’s beyond words for me. I was thinking today that when you have one pain you always say it is far worse than another pain you once thought you would never survive. Seriously … this is worse … no, seriously.

So it’s no gym for me next week and of course that throws me in a state, but project body is about building a relationship with my body, so there is no time to get angry at me. I’m super proud of myself for remaining healthy through these horrid days and I’m so touched that my man has cooked me every meal I have needed to eat.

I didn’t stand on the scale and I haven’t drunk the water I am supposed to, but tea has been comforting me and well … peeing has been so ouch that I’ve kinda been dodging the gallons. It might not be the best thing, but it’s the one that keeping me from going totally insane right now.

Not the post you expected I bet, and not the post I ever expected to share. I contemplated this for days and was going to tell a half baked story to just get by … but that’s not ‘project me’ and it’s not what you would expect either. Thank you for being you so that I can be me … no matter how sore or potentially embarrassing it is!

With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour