Browsing Category: Featured

My Mother’s Day established a new Mother’s Day tradition

Mother's Day Tradition

I had a seriously eye-opening Mother’s Day. It was intense and emotional, but also pretty transformational – what I did first thing in the morning on a day all about celebrating moms is definitely going to become a Mother’s Day tradition for me. But first, let me back up and tell you how it all came to be.

You see, I was approached for the Cape Town Embrace campaign, and I wrote about it a few weeks back. I wrote all about how even with all the love, support and help that I had as a new mom, it was still so daunting, so scary. And I encouraged all of you to take part in this idea of visiting moms on Mother’s Day. We’d reach out and encourage them, make their day a little brighter and generally just welcome them to the mom tribe. But there was one problem. I had no idea which hospital I’d be going to or what it would be like. So I felt like a total hypocrite, telling everyone to do this and not even sure how I would manage to do it. Well, the amazing Sharon from The Blessed Barrenness stepped up and organized for us to visit Charlotte Maxeke hospital on Sunday morning, and I was blown away. Continue Reading

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Comment Parenting, Preeclampsia, Rambling, South Africa

Gaming role models: Aloy vs Lara Croft

I mentioned in my last post that I was going to start making videos. Well, said videos are happening. I did my planned Facebook Live on Sunday evening, and of course, life happened and there were interruptions. But I think it went pretty well, although due to interruptions I sort of lost my train of thought at times and didn’t give as much depth and detail in my argumentation. But that’s okay – that’s what the written word is for! So, here is a bit more insight into my assessment of the Aloy vs Lara Croft argument.

It’s something I’ve been thinking about after getting a platinum in Horizon Zero Dawn. Yes, I loved the game. A lot. The gameplay, the story… so much of the experience really resonated with me. And a large part of that was because of Aloy, the protagonist. What made her so unique? Why did I like her so much? I still love Lara – she’s the original trail blazer of a gaming icon – but Aloy is just, different. But first, let’s talk a bit about role models. Continue Reading

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2 Comments Gaming, Geek

I’m going to start making videos

videos

I love this little place on the internet. This blog is my corner where I can share whatever I’m going through. Part chronicle, part journal, part opportunity to vent, I love being able to write posts and share what’s going on with all of you. Even better is when some of you take the time to reply, to comment or tweet or leave a Facebook response to whatever I’m going through. While part of blogging is incredibly narcissistic – you know, that whole thing about assuming that my story/life will be interesting to other people – the other part is really outward facing. It’s the community of readers and lurkers who help make me feel less alone on this journey, and I adore every single person who pauses on my site to read my words. But one of my goals this year was to connect more with people, in my private life, and on my blog, and I think the best way to push that forward is with videos.

Before anyone worries, fear not! This doesn’t mean that I will stop writing words or sharing my thoughts here. I am committed to this blog, to writing. I just think that video will give me a chance to share things differently, to give more of a behind-the-scenes glimpse into my life, and open up another channel for you all to respond, engage and interact with me. I really want to connect, and I’m hoping this will help with that. Continue Reading

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3 Comments Rambling

Our Cape Town holiday was one of my best vacations

Cape Town

Dean and I just got back from the most amazing trip to Cape Town. It was all part of my grand plan. I figured that before we emigrate, I should see Cape Town, especially seeing as everyone raves about it as their favorite city in South Africa. In fact, before I ever met Dean, I was planning to do a trip around the world and the only city I really wanted to visit in South Africa was Cape Town. In the almost ten years I’ve lived here, I’ve visited most of the urban centers and national parks, but had missed out on the Mother City… until now. And wow, what a trip!

There are so many things that made this a fantastic holiday. We saw incredible sites, tasted so much deliciousness, saw people we love and also simply reveled in each other’s company. It was everything a vacation should be, and definitely a destination that I would love to revisit in the future. For sure when we come back to South Africa when Harley (and maybe one day, baby #2) is older to visit, I’d want to return to Cape Town. I really tried hard to chronical this trip more than usual – friends always laugh at me and Dean because we will go places and come home without a single picture. So I tried my best to take more pictures – I don’t think any of them will do our trip justice, though. Continue Reading

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9 Comments Rambling, South Africa

Some emigration logistics to think through

logistics

Often, this blog serves as a place for me to think my way through parenting feelings, emotional debates, and general epiphanies. But you know what, it’s also my place on the internet to explore what I’m going through and what’s occupying space in my head, even if it’s not emotional, parenting related or deep and meaningful. At the moment, I’m thinking a lot about our goal to emigrate. It is definitely taking shape – Dean’s medical is complete, which means we just need to finish off some last forms and then go for his interview and we should hopefully maybe almost be done with the bureaucratic hurdles (more on all of that once they’re done, I promise). Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean we are at the finish line just yet – there is still all manner of logistics to sort out before we can get on that plane.

It’s been funny as we plan our move what people have asked if we’ve considered. On the one hand, I like to think that Dean and I have thought our way through most everything, but I’m sure there are some things we haven’t gotten to yet. My goal is that once Dean’s Green Card is officially approved, we will move within six weeks. That means a lot of the planning and thinking has to happen now, so we can just set everything in motion when the time comes. If you’re planning to emigrate, here are some logistics you might need to consider. Continue Reading

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3 Comments South Africa, USA