I am in Berlin!!!!!

'All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore as a free man, I take pride in the words ' Ich bin ein Berliner!!!!!!'. - John F Kennedy

Hi all,

London, Helsinki, Zurich, Vienna and now Berlin!!!!!!!! Afropean Queen is on the move again. So will be here in Berlin til the 4th and then its back to Stockholm and another trip early next year. So will be spending New Years eve here. One of my best girl friends lives here so I decided to come over and pay her a visit.

Now a back story, Berlin has seen me once before about 3 years ago and I loved it. I mean, I was ready to pack up and move here. This is MY city. I feel so at home here. Its just one of those places that I love every single part of it. So its a real treat to usher in the new Year in my favorite city in the world.

So hello from Berlin.

Blessings and Love and beautiful weather

Merry Christmas!!!!!

'There's more, much more, to Christmas than candlelight and cheer; it's the spirit of sweet friendships that brightens all year. Its thoughtfulness and kindness, it's Hope reborn again, For peace, For understanding and for goodwill to men'. - Unknown

Hi all,

Happy Holidays and

Hope you all have a wonderful festive season filled with Love, Gifts and wonderful memories.

Kisses, Blessings and Love

Hair Crazy!!!!!

'Whatever we learn to do, we learn by actually doing it; men come to be builders, for instance, by building, and harp players by playing the harp. In the same way, by doing just acts we come to be just; by doing self-controlled acts, we come to be self-controlled; and by doing brave acts, we become brave'.

- Aristotle

Hi all,

So November 29ish, I made it to two years natural!!!!! Yay, Team Natural. Nice. ......

Not really, so it seems apart from my hair and I not working well together, I also have split ends, knots and very course ends. So what I did, was a roller set, followed by flat ironing my hair and then cutting the damaged ends. That was 4 weeks ago.

Its gotten worse, so last night, I was THIS close, to shaving my head and starting again. This Close. But I decided, to wash my hair, deep condition it, roller set again and cut the ends again But this time, braid my hair with extensions for a few weeks. Out of sight out of mind, type thing. Seriously, right now my hair is doing its own thing. Let me not even talk about how its breaking off at the front and thinning AGAIN at the edges. I. Just. Cant. So maybe I will take some pictures of my process. Right now, I am not loving the hair. Anyways, it could just be due to the weather changing and my hair doesn't work well with changing weathers. But for now, am just gonna have my hair braided. I must say, my scalp is wonderful. Its just my ends. Keep me in your thoughts people, my hair as well, Lol.

Blessings, Joy and Hair

Christmas List

'A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving'.

- Laozi (Lao Tzu, Lao Tse, Lao Tsu)

Good-morning all

So last year, I wrote a letter to Santa, and by some luck, I received throughout the year, Everything and I mean Everything I had wanted. I got a new camera, new laptop, new shoes, new cosmetics, new perfumes, new clothing and I also got to travel. So this year for Christmas, I am putting together another wishlist!!!!! Hey I am on to something here so why stop now, Santa seems to like me.

Dear Santa

Ummmm, Thanks a lot for the stuff throughout the year, very nice and generous of you. Best bit, I didn't get everything at Christmas but throughout the year. Very nice, very nice. So for next year, I am putting together another list. Here goes............ I am going Big for next year.

An emerald ring (emerald is my birth stone)

Nikon D60 camera

Funky Ethnic beaded bracelets

Ipad or Ipad 2

Shea Moisture Products (I really REALLY want to try these, all of them)!!!!!

Ohhhhhh and Santa, more travels. Yes more travels. Some cash as well. More shoes. A few new bags. And a possible new move.

That's all.

Wait........

Ummmmm Santa, you know about That special project that I have been working on.....???? Yep, Waiting on that one, for Next year as well Please. And Thank You.

Blessings, Joy and Presents

Winning!!!!!!

' The first rule of success, and the one that supercedes all others, is to have energy. It is important to know how to concentrate it, how to husband it, how to focus it on important things instead of frittering it away on trivia'.

- Michael Korda

Hiya all

So, a little backtrack, during the summer, I entered a blog contest - Beauty. Fashion. Life. Every day for a few weeks I was on her blog entering and after the summer was over, I found out that I had won. The competition was open to followers of her blog, Facebook page and YouTube channel. Lets just say, I was excited to win, especially after entering every day - See you just had to type in - Enter me - and the person who did that the most would win, it was pretty close let me tell you, was worried there for a bit lol. So what did I win???!!!!

My package!!!!

What I got

Orly Pin-up - 4 Nail polish

Harajuku Lovers Fragrance - Music

The fragrance is a lovely summer fragrance, which is patiently waiting for next year!!!!! It smells so citrusy and so summery lol

The pin up nail polishes come in such cute names like Va Va Voom, Here Comes Trouble, Coquette Cutie, Bubbly Bombshell.

Anyways, I would love to take this opportunity to Thank Mizz Entice for the wonderful prizes and the sweet note that came with it. I am such a fan of your blog and it was wickedly cool entering every day even when I was away traveling through Europe lol !!!!!!! I was determined to win.

Blessings, Joy and Winning

Am back - Again

'I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day'.

- E. B. White

Hi and Good morning!!!!

I know I have been Missing In Action, am truly very sorry. I had my exams in the beginning of the month, then I wasn't feeling so good in the middle and now towards the end of this month, I have been working on some very important stuff concerning next year, which has been taking up all of not if not most of my time. All will be reveled shortly. Trust me keeping a secret is very difficult for me but just wait a little while longer. Hopefully before the end of this month or even in December I can talk about whats going on.

Otherwise, I must still complete my 30 day challenge, do some hair stuff and also some product haul.

For now, need to get my head back in gear.

Thank you all for your patience and taking the time to read my little baby when I wasn't around.

Blessings, Love and Secrets

My parents have been married for 30 years today!!!!

'A wedding anniversary is a celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year'. - Paul Sweeney

Hi all,

So its a pearl wedding anniversary in my household today!!!!! Here are some pictures of my folks wedding 30 years ago, today October 31 in Lusaka, Zambia.

Signing the registry....

cutting the cake

awwwww.......

The wedding party....

So cute......

Had to add this photo coz my mom's shoe game was on lock-down!!!!!!! not to mention that Afro was fierce.

My parents and I - I am sticking my tongue out, but I was still cute!!!!! With my Buddha belly and all. Check my mom's hat y'all and my dad had my swagger, or maybe I got his!!!!!!

So my parents had three wedding ceremonies, one at the magistrate, one at Swapo headquarters in Zambia and then after they came back to Namibia, did they renew their wedding in a church. Also, since both my parents were in exile at the time, non of my grandparents nor family were in attendance, however, my fathers father did ask my mothers fathers for permission that those two could marry. And my mom still kept the letter. And she has a few that her parents wrote to each-other when they were courting!!!!! We are a family of letter writers hahhahaha lol.

ohhhhh, so what did I get my folks, well, I got my mom some silver and pearl earrings and well, for both my folks I got them some fancy drinking glasses even though my folks don't touch the sweet nectar, over here you can get alcohol free champagne, which they like. Its hard to buy for a man!!!!!! And he already has everything else, how many ties, watches, business card holders, coffee mugs, cuff links, wallets can I girl really buy?

So yep, that's it. In our house, celebrations go like this -January (New Years), March (mothers birthday), May (Mothers day and my birthday), June (Father's day), July (father and brothers birthdays - 26 & 27 ), October (sister and parents anniversary).Then Christmas is pretty close afterwards lol.

Blessings, Love and Celebrations.

Do you know about HAT?

'A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more'.

- Rosabeth Moss Kanter

Hey all,

I cant believe I have been keeping this Facebook page a secret?!!!!!!!! I am sorry, Bad Queen, very Bad Queen. Anyways, HAT which stands for Hair's A Thought, is a Facebook page, that I live on!!!!!!!! Its like a natural hair forum where ladies come together to give advice, ask questions, give loads of support and encouragement. Its a fabulous page that I check almost every few minutes because some wonderful lady may have asked a question that I was thinking about or some new information is being passed around.

Apart from the fantastic information that is provided by the natural hair community, you can also post pictures of your hair styles, post videos and much more. There has been some seriously great giveaways, links to other resources and natural hair mixers like the one happening in LA on the 3 of December 2011. Check it out.... here is the link. Miss Woo Woo Woooo - Kim Coles (that's from Living Single - tv show I used to watch , which can be found on YouTube) will be in attendance and she will say a few words - she recently (well a few months now) went natural and her journey is both exciting, funny and seriously inspiring.

So now, the secret is out. Go to the Facebook page and have a look. Am very sure, you will be logged on for ages?!!!!!!

Peace, Blessings and HAT

Happy 25 to my little Sister!!!

'A sister is both your mirror and your opposite'.

- Elisabeth Fishel

Good morning all,

So today, 28 October, my baby sister turns 25. Here are a few photos taken over the years.

In kindergarten

24

her first tattoo - at 17.

dawn photoshoot

Berlin photoshot - Nathan Wright photography

Modeling

Fierce

Modeling shot

This years Lifeball party - Vienna

The two of us.

Happy Birthday babygirl!!!!!! so what can I say about my sister that wont get me into trouble (she reads my blog)...... well she is quite a rebel, fire-starter (in a good way) and wonderful human being. She knows what she wants and normally does whatever it takes to get it. Almost nothing scares her, and she has an inner strength that inspires me. Apart from being my sister she is also my best friend. She teaches me constantly, and always encourages me, she is my rock and my shoulder when things aren't going my way. She also tells it like it is.......Love you to bits.

Blessings, Joy and Sisters

Day 19 - Random Thought

Good morning,

So I just wanted to leave you with my Random Thought for Day 19.

Ummmm so I recently dyed my hair jet black (Henna and Indigo together this time) and am wondering why it looks different since my hair is naturally dark brownish/black. Also, I was reading my horoscope last night and have began to also read that of the Cancer sign, since I was born premature and was supposed to have been born in late June and not May, thus making me a Cancer. My mom says, I am more Cancer like then Gemini, but I feel Gemini-ish. But maybe I feel Gemini-ish, because I have always believed I was a Gemini, so had I not known that then maybe I would feel like a Cancer. Maybe I am a Gemini and Cancer - a Gemicer???

These are the thoughts that keep me up at night.

Blessings, Joy and Zodiac

Taking a break again.

Hi all

So I guess you have perhaps noticed that my 30 day blog challenge has been lacking and well I have good reasons. See on the 25 Of October, 4 of November and 10 of November, I have my final exams. so I am preparing for that right now. Actually, I am preparing for the one next week Tuesday lol. I will try and blog when I get the chance but honestly, right now, the only thing on my mind is getting some seriously good grades and passing, so Blogging will take a back seat for now. Tough times for me lol.

Until then,

Peace, Love and Great Grades.

Day 17 - First pet

'Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions and pass no criticisms'.

- George Elliot

Happy Monday everyone

So for my Day 17 challenge, I am going to do a blog post on my first pet. The picture below is not my old dog, but its what she looked like. Our first pet was named Fluffy. I think most dogs that look like this are named Fluffy.

Now, I dont remember how old I was but I remember it was in our first home in Windhoek, which was in Eros, so I guess I was in primary school and my parents let my siblings and I get a dog. We loved her. We adored her, we played with her and had her for a while. Then she died. And we actually, had a burial service for her and buried her nearby our area. We put stones around her 'plot' and all said a little something. I am pretty sure I cried.

Afterwards when we moved into our second home, we again had a few dogs always small dogs, and we had fish, birds, during our WWF heyday, (We were crazy for Saturday mornings wresting) - we had ducks that we named Chyna and The Rock ( my parents had converted an old plastic swimming pool into a duck pond) and we had the ducks wings clipped - there is a mystery towards the dis-appearance of those ducks that only 007 can uncover. We also had, much to the dismay of my white neighbors, but ummmmm we had some chickens and at one point we had a goat. But my mom only had it for a while before she slaughtered it. I am pretty sure that was the first time I went vegetarian.

We have never had cats. I actually like to look at pictures of cats and kittens, but I am scared of cats. And I don't trust them. And I am allergic, so is my dad and sister. Which works out fine for me anyways. But I still don't trust cats. I don't know there is something fishy about cats.

Another thing about animals and dogs in particular. I am scared shitless of dogs. I mean, we have had pets at home and all. But even then, I would be scared to come into my own home. Its not like I was bitten by a dog when I was little or something. Its quite strange, I have no issues with dogs being in the same room as me, just don't come close, don't sniff me, don't even look in my general direction. And please don't lie on my bed or sleep close to my bed. And in the morning, please don't come say hello and we can happily co-exist. Yet somehow, I get along with all the pets we have had and I miss not having a dog. Please don't get me wrong, I don't mistreat any animal, I am probably more scared of them then there are of me. It just takes me a while to really get used to having a pet. But animals scare me. Except for the fish I have now, which I have adopted as my own, since no one else feeds them.

Ohhhh funny story, we once had a dog that was gifted to us by my friend L. Anyways, this dog loved us to bits and we loved her (even though she was ugly. I shouldn't say that because All of Gods creatures are beautiful, but she was a certain breed that was ugly. She was a cute ugly small dog. Ugly in a cute weird kinda way. She was a sweetheart though. Just ugly - will ask my friend what kind of breed she was that way you get me) anyways she would get into the car when my dad would drive us to school. Problem? Dog would get car sick and would throw up in the car, Every. Single. Time. So every morning, after dropping us off, my dad had to come back and clean the car. 5 days a week. And it would get bad during the weekends if us kids went some place with the car. We tried everything with that dog, leaving her indoors (she would howl pretty murder, which had our neighbors thinking we were abusing her), we would rush out the door - only to find her somehow in front of the gate, or worse somehow she would slip into the car as us three would try to get in. And she would nip us if we tried to get her out. She was a smart dog, sometimes, she would just stand in front of the door and wait for us to finish. Patiently. Unfortunately we couldn't keep her for long because we were going camping one summer and would requires days and days with the car, long stretches of open road and a sick dog is not the way. Sometimes you can go for hours in Namibia without seeing a gas/service station and leaving her at home was not an option. So one Saturday morning, whilst my mom and I were at the shops, this old man and wife walked up to our car and ohhhh and ahhhed about our little Angel....... Lets just say, I don't remember if my mom told that couple about the dogs' special condition, but I do recall us not visiting that super market for a while.

I had another dog, that would bark and try to bite my boyfriend when ever he came to visit. My dad loved that dog. Actually, that dog was kinda sexist, she only ever barked at guys, never the girls. We lived near to our high school and a lot of friends would come over, so we ended up giving her to my aunt, where she still is today.

I had one, my last one (I had named her Chrissy - after myself) well, she and I would take my bike to Parliament gardens, after making a stop at the library, and we would cycle round the gardens, take breaks, she would sit and I would read. I would have food for her and spend hours just there under the shades, just me and my dog. She was pretty well behaved - like me.

I will eventually get another dog. I miss having a dog. This time I want a Jack Russell Terrier, like this one.

I shall Name her Lola Monroe.

Blessings, Joy and Pets.

Day 15 - Favorite drink(s)

'The secret to a long life is to stay busy, get plenty of exercise and don't drink too much. Then again don't drink too little.'

- Herman - Smith Johannsen

Hi everyone

So what are my favorite drinks? In no particular order.....

Hot Chocolate

I prefer red wine to white

Chocolate Milkshake

Orange Juice

Rooibos tea

Mojito

Caipirinha

Amaretto sour

So what don't I drink? Coffee

Ohhhh but when times get hard? A beer. Or cider.

Note:

All images come from Google images. I didn't take any photos myself.

Blessings, Joy and Cheers

Day 14 - Dream / Goal that came true

'Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort'.

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Good morning

So here is my dream or goal that came true for my day 14 challenge.

When I was in high school ( or before I got to high school) I used to write short stories and poetry and when I got to high school, my poems were published in an Anthology for South African Poetry. This was opened to everyone within SADC ( basically countries like Namibia, Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique and Botswana) Region. Anyways, I had 3 poems published within 3 different books.

Another dream I had....... was to be in a beauty contest. And well, I entered and placed in the top 10. Not bad huh. I didn't win. But I placed.

What else?

Worked in television - was a presenter for a children's programm for a number of years.

Worked in radio - presented a show once a week.

Worked as a freelance journalist - wrote articles for a youth newspaper.

Ohhh I met Nelson Mandela and Micheal Jackson. Ok, when I was writing for the youth paper, I was asked to cover a SADC meeting that was taking place (this was in the mid 90s). Here is what SADC stands for. Anyway, this conference would be about a week, and I got a press pass, so I could basically hang around the conferences, eat the free food and hang out in the press room with all the other journalists (see how I just push myself in there), most importantly miss maths, biology and physical education (I was doing important work).

Anyways, on one afternoon, I was invited to join the Ladies for lunch. When I say the Ladies, I mean all the Head of States wives and Queens or Princess. Which was totally cool. Those ladies fed me. Nothing like having women tell you you are too young to be so thin and heap the plate up., over and over. And since I was young, I could eat anything and not gain a pound. Ahhhhh that doesn't happen now, let me tell you. Moving on.....

Then on the last day of the Conference Mr Mandela was suppose to speak, so just as he was finishing up his speech, I made my way outside and waited in the lobby. Now, imagine this, young school girl, in school uniform during the day time when all other teenagers are at school and I am hanging around the lobby. So, Yep, Mr Mandela, did come up to speak to me. He just asked why I wasn't in school and I said, I was covering the Conference for a local Youth Paper, so I can give this conference a teenage perspective. We talked a bit more than he was off. I also got to meet and see other presidents like Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) and Dr Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia) as well as our own President. Do I have pictures? Nope. Why, because I kept moving from place to place and have lost half my stuff. But am sure if I were to dig through old achieves I would find something.

Same thing happened with Micheal Jackson. Met him on 2 separate occasions (also in the mid 90s when he came to Namibia), once at the airport and once in his hotel room. Some friends and I were had gotten permission to see him and take pictures. Still waiting on those pictures lol. Anyways, he was totally cool, seriously sweet and very friendly. Best bit, when he took our photo he had his hand round my left shoulder. I swear, I can still feel that hand.

Ohhhh other great things about having a Press Pass? I got to cover The Miss Universe Pageant that took place in Windhoek. So I got to meet the contestants and hang out with them, plus go backstage and see what was happening. This lead me to wanting to be in a beauty contest myself.

And during our annual trade fair show, I used my pass to do a taste/review on all the foods on offer at the fair. That's 7 days, all day, just eating. I could have used the pass for free rides and other stuff. But, I wasn't thinking like that!!!!!! I also got to go to free movie premiers and theater shows. Also, once I got to go backstage and hang out with South African musicians who were doing a show in Namibia. Also, I didn't have a problem getting into clubs and discos. Wasn't a bad life ne?!!!!!!!

Joy, Love and a Pass

Day 13 - Ipod on Shuffle

'Music is what feelings sound like'. - Author Unknown

Hi everyone (waves hand)

So here is my day 13 blog post. Got my Ipod on shuffle and lets see what I have for the first 10 songs.....

1) Boys II Men - All around the world

2) Celine Dion - Everybody's talking my baby down

3) Boys II Men - Pass you by

4) Brownstone - True to me

5) Celine Dion - Lovin' proof

6) Celine Dion - Its all coming back to me now

7) Ishmael - Avulengile Ma Sango (South African artist)

8) Keyshia Cole - Heaven sent

9) Lionel Richie - Stuck on you

10) Boys II Men - Can you stand the rain

As a Bonus

11) Tracy Chapman - Crossroads.

12) Erykah Badu - Umm Hmm

I gather this all means something, so I am off to make some tea and ponder the meanings on these songs. What a long day I am gonna be having.

Blessings, Joy and Music

Day 12 - Dream house/space

'The house a women creates is a Utopia. She cant help it --can't help trying to interest her nearest and dearest not in happiness itself but in search for it.'

- Marguerite Duras

Hello

So here is my Day 12, of my 30 Day Blog Challenge. My dream house or space. Now, I dont really have a dream house, you see, I have lived in houses for most of my life and then I moved into a flat for 4 years and loved that experience. So I keep playing the ' if money were not a problem where would I like to live' game? Some days its a huge flat, other days its a small cottage and most days in a large house. However, certain things stay the same, in what ever scene I choose. These are.....

African themed Living room. Of course!!!!!!!!

A swing. don't know where I would put it. But it would be there.

Seriously colorful kitchen

Bay windows

Day bed with tons of pillows!!!!!

This I swear, is my dream bed!!!!!!!

The last two pictures come from this fabulous blog (An Indian Summer) that is my new guilty pleasure. Here is the link.

So, This would be part of my dream space. I would love to have a little area to meditate, a small garden to plant herbs, flowers and pot plants as well as a pantry. Not much huh?!!!!! Ohhhhh add a walk in closet, en suit bathroom.

Not to be strange, but I have certain rules for the place I want to move into...... No death in the house and No divorce either. I learned this from my mom. We never lived in a place that had had a death within the walls of the house nor a place that had a marriage break up in the home. Personally, I would also like a nice quiet street. I lived in a busy one when I lived in the flat. It was also above a bar (though I was friendly with the staff - the bar was opened 6 days a week- not good for my beauty sleep). And a place to park my mini cooper (that's my dream car).

Love, Joy and Day beds

Day 11 - Goals

'The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it'.

- Michelangelo

Hiya

So here are my life goals. These are a few things I want to aim for and achieve in my lifetime.

- Get married and have some babies ( 4 - two boys and two girls)

- Publish a book (or books)

- Travel through Asia (India,Tibet, Japan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Korea)

- Get a Black belt in Tae Kwon Do

- Get my drivers license

- Be multi- lingual

- Learn Yoga, Aromatherapy and Reflexology

- Open my own spa, Beauty and Fitness center

- Have both my legs and feet the same size and length

I do have short term goals also, but those are more private!!!!! Gotta keep some things for myself.

I am on course with about 5 of those goals!!!!!! Not bad!!!!!!!

Blessings, Joy and Plans

Day 9 - Favorite Recipe

'Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity'. - Voltaire

Hi and Good morning

So I need to do a quick 30 blog Challenge catch up, so here is Day 9, my favorite recipe.

Mixed Seafood pasta - Makes about 4.

Ingredients:

Creme fraiche

packet of seafood (mixed)

packet of spaghetti

glass of white wine (or 2 glasses - one for the food and one for me)

onions

butter

garlic clove

fresh parsley

salt (optional)

pepper (optional)

sea food seasoning

grated Parmesan cheese

Get to cooking......

Fill a large pot with water, add a little salt and bring to boil

Add spaghetti and cook as instructed on packet

When al dente, remove from heat, drain and set aside

Add butter, onions, garlic to pot and begin to fry

Add the seafood and saute for two minutes

Add a glass of wine and seafood seasoning

Add creme fraiche (only half of a small tub) and stir

Add salt, pepper and parsley. Continue to stir

Once thickened, add the cooked spaghetti to sauce and serve hot.

This is not something, I eat Everyday!!!!!!! Its a bit on the creamy and rich side for me, so normally I do this when I want to indulge myself and I know the next day I will mos def be working that cheese off!!!!!!

Blessings, Love and Wine

Day 7 - Favorite book

'In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but how many can get through to you'.

- Mortimer Adler

Hiya

So what is my favorite book??? This is so very hard for me, because I am an avid reader and have so many favorites. My earliest memory of books is my mom taking my siblings and I to get our own library cards in the public library in Windhoek. We each got to take home four books and let me just say, that was a joy to me,( I don't remember the books, but I know one was about a young boy getting his first pet). I went back every week. Yep every week, see not only am I an avid reader but I am also a fast reader. It doesn't take me long to read and understand a book and as quickly as I am done with one, I need another.Books are my drugs.

Now the public library in Windhoek quickly became my favorite spot, I actually made friends with the Librarians and at one point even considered becoming a Librarian. I often had this fantasy of sleeping over in the library, with my sleeping bag, some torch lights, some cookies and just being left alone for the whole weekend. And yes, I had a spot all picked out. My love for the library grew as I got older, my first real kiss was on the stairs of the library, I got dumped there also lol. In fact, I had met a few blind dates there ...... if you didn't know where the library was, Then we couldn't date. Simple. I had been stung by bees there (another post) and my parents forget to fetch me from there. Two places you were guaranteed to find me in Windhoek, either Parliament Gardens or the Public library. Often I would take my books and go read them at the gardens. Ok. So what is my favorite book?

Drum roll please........drummmmmmm.......

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder.

A book that opens with a young girl who receives two anonymous messages in her mail box with the questions ' Who are you and 'where does the world come from?'. From that first page, I was hooked!!!!! All 544 pages!!!!! Now I wont go into too much detail, but when I read this for the first time, I was in high school about 14 or 15 and had been interested in philosophy, religion and adventure (brought on my my love for escapism through books). At this age, I was interested in more than the normal teenage books (hello Sweet Valley High) and had gone into esoteric books as well any thing on Religion and Faith.

About the book - This book is about a young girl, Sophie who lives with her mom as her father is away working and is turning 15. Sophie receives these two messages and many more that takes her on a learning course about philosophy, adventure, out thinking and a very interesting ending. Golly gosh, I am really bad with reviews, so here is the Wiki page link and Amazon link for you to check out.

What I will say, is why this book is my favorite. It gave me a broader new understanding of philosophy. And because I had already been interested at such a young age, it just increased my knowledge more. Also, this book for me, was written in a way that I could understand and grasp the vast information on religion and philosophy. As well as understand the profound questions on who we are and what we are doing here. It opened a new interest in me, that has lead me to actually study Religion and Philosophy in University as well as Sociology and Politics and Psychology. Not to mention to seek and find answers for myself. A never ending on going life long process.

I have my original copy that my bought me as a young and read it every year. Its never lost its appeal, even though it was written for a younger audience (which I don't really believe, I think it was written for anyone who wanted to learn about Philosophy).

If you ever get the opportunity to read this book, trust me, Do it. Its an amazing book!!!!! I have actually read a few of Jostein Gaarder's novels. And talk about Law of Attraction, I ended up moving to Scandinavia!!!!! And eating cinnamon rolls ( I first read about them in his other novel which I love ' The Solitaire Mystery'. Another great book).

Peace, Love and Books.

Day 10 - Photo of yourself taken this time last year

'Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle'.

- Steve Jobs

Evening all

So I know I have missed a few days of my blog challenge, am really sorry about that but here is Day 10. So this time last year, I had just moved to Sweden from Nigeria and I had my hair in braids. We had arrived on the 8th after a 5 hour stopover in Amsterdam and weeks of packing and anticipation and excitement. As well as leaving Abuja, a place that I have lived in for about 11 months and had come to love not to mention I was just getting the hang of pidgin English!!!!!!!

After unpacking, resting and checking out the new digs, we headed off into the city and went to a fantastic Thai restaurant got our grub on and basically a year later, am still here give or take a few trips away and a very possible move in a few weeks....... ohhhhhhhh need to keep quiet. That's a secret only to be revealed shortly, but here are photos taken of me this time last year.

I miss my tan!!!!!!!!

I seriously miss these braids. Am considering having my hair braided again. But maybe will have it done professionally. I know after doing my own twists and braiding my own hair, I am seriously considering having someone do it for me. An early Christmas present.....

My bro and sis

I have added a picture of my siblings - my brother is not a fan of having his photo taken. As can be seen by his wonderful expression. My sister and I had both had our hair braided on the 5 of October, so our hair dos were still pretty fresh. Anyways, why were we dressed in white? Well we were servers at a luncheon that my parents were giving. So yep that's it.

Blessings, Love and Time

Day 8 - Photo you took

'When you photograph people in color you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black & White, you photograph their soul'.

- Ted Grant

Hi all

So Blogger and I are at it one more again...... been trying to upload Day 6 and Day 7 and new product haul pictures..... and nada. So am gonna skip to Day 8 which is a photo I took. Seems this is the only thing that will load. So on a recent photoshoot with my sis, we decided to play outside and use the last of the Summer/Autumn sunshine for our little shoot. This is what we came up with.

Now, I will be honest and say, I took these photos but B (that's my sister) and I both played around with photoscape (honey child , we dont photoshop, we scape that bad boy!!!!!!!). Not sure what we were going for, but she had bought this huge white shawl/scarf and red lipstick and the sun was out. Thus wah la photo-shoot time.

Yep yep. That's it. In case you are wondering B has her hair in braids which she did herself. Protective style for winter.

Ohhhh I added some photos I took of the flowers in my moms garden....... I love these babies. And I am gonna miss summer!!!!!!!!

Blessings, Peace and Memories