JAZZ ON THE LAKE @ ZOO LAKE

On the 2nd of September 2012, which was a few weeks ago, Jazz on the Lake took place. This annual festival has been taking place for over 20 years now (Thandiswa Mazwai reminisced about how she used to come to the festival while she was still a student at Wits university). This event is organised by the City of Johannesburg for its residents. It basically is a way for Joburgers to welcome Spring by chilling in the sun, having picnics and or braai's while listening to some great live music by the Lake. This year was no exception, some of my favourite acts included Lira and Thandiswa Mazwai. I went with my friends and had a great time. The event was well organised, with metro-buses collecting people from either Braamfontein or Alex and Parktown. We caught our bus in Braam and were in Zoo Lake in no time. A lot of people attended the event and needless to say by the time we went home, it was a nightmare to stand in line for a bus. All in all, it was a great way to spend a sunday afternoon with friends. Below are some of the pictures.

BFOM____Best Friend Of Mine

It's a lovely rainy friday morning today and I feel nothing short of being blessed with the most amazing friend. They say true love is rare but true friendship is even rarer, when we are lucky enough to find amazing friends we must hold on to them no matter what. In my industry true freinds are hard to find, harder to leave and impossible to forget. It's always better to stick with people who knew you before you even knew yourself, the same people who were there to help you grace that maths & science exam in matric, the same people your mom didn't mind seeing with you, although they were a guy and she really didn't want her daughter to hang around boys but she would assert that this boy is different. So she would allow you to hang out and chat till 10pm at night because she knew her daughter was in safe hands. And as you grew older, you talked about random jokes, making each other laugh till you both cried, you spent hours talking to each other on the phone, and you have that "you hang up, no you hang up" kind of vibe. This person knows everything about you and yet they still love you regardless, they are still your friend for life. They make life simple because they understand and support you as though you are family, in true essence you are family. Then sometimes, there is that inevitable separation which occurs as a result of growing up, when you go separate ways to find yourself and what you want to do in this life. Be it varsity or other pursuits, somehow you loose contact and touch with each other and before you know it, you haven't spoken in four years(in my case). You somehow manage to get in touch, and it's like an answered prayer. You are talking on the phone relentlessly again as you try and fill in the blanks of the past four years, though you haven't seen one another in years you still find yourself in stiches over the jokes, this person still knows you so much more than anyone else on the planet. Now when you call them you get butterflies in your tummy just because you are so thankful that they are back in your life, need I say more?! For me this very special person is Daddy Mohapi, the most amazing person I've ever met in my life, there's no one else like him. I can talk to him for hours, I can tell him anything and everything because he listens. His friendship is truly a special gift,  genorously given, happily accepted and deeply appreciated. He is such a wonderful friend, I'm truly blessed to know someone like him, and I'm looking forward to yet another six years with him. If that didn't leave you feeling warm and fuzzy,then I don't know what will...hahahaha. Lord knows we need some warmth to make this day more bearable, Happy Friday friends!



xoxo
Grace

WATER-BAPTISM!!!!

A couple of days ago I got an opportunity to be baptised..Lol yep! I was dipped(immersed) under a lot of water by my Pastors. That's the big & exciting news I promised you on my last post. It was such a surreal moment of my life. I don't exactly remember the moment it happened. I just remember the before and after moments. Before I got into the water I was super-excited and then afterwards I couldn't even utter one word, tears just flowed like a river, I felt calm and peaceful, that whole day I was overcome by peace and quiet. It was beautiful and I think everyone who got baptised on the day felt exactly as I did because later on our bus driver commented on how quiet everyone was, he was like "guys, this is supposed to be the happiest day of your lives, how come you're all so quiet?" Above all else I'm truly grateful for the gift of life, God has been nothing but gracious and awesome to me. I'm very blessed in all areas of my life from career, business to family...and I know that from henceforth it can only get better. I intend to make the most of everyday, afterall I've been given a new lease on life. A new beginning, a new page, a new dawn, a new chapter..renewed strength and grace!

The Beginning, My Beginning

In the spirit of spring and new seasons, I decided in August that I would give away most of my clothes to the needy. For the past two weeks I have been clearing out my closet, and it is very funny that I have so many clothes. Most which I haven't worn since last year or since they were bought from a store. I never believed that clearing out your closet could clear out your mind, but it's true.. and what better reason is there to spring-clean your closet than doing it for charity?! In one of my storages, I found my signed matric shirt from 2006...talk about a flash-back. This brought so many memories of high-school, How I couldn't wait to start my final exams and be finished with school. Many hopes and dreams of what my life would and could be like, what I remember the most though is how fear-less I was back then. I knew what I wanted to get out of life and I wasn't scared to go after it. I wasn't afraid of what I would have to face out in the real world, instead I was afraid of staying in the same situation. With that said, those who follow me will notice that I changed the name of my blog from "Finding my voice" to "The Beginning". I'm at a point in my life where I'm going through various changes. Changes in career, business, spirituality and life. Never in my life have I been this sure about what I want and what I need, and the best part about it, is that I'm not scared to go get it. Great things are coming, things I always knew I would do, and now they are finally being realised. Because of all those changes, I truly felt like my blog would only do justice to me if it represented me..the real me. Before finding my 2006 matric shirt, I must admit I was feeling slightly overwhelmed and daunting by all the tasks that I needed to complete, seeing that shirt and reading all the messages from my high-school mates made me realise that I've truly come a long way.
From 18- 24 I had never looked back, this was the first time in 6 years that I took time to reflect on what had happened since I finished my matric. I felt encouraged that I am on the right track and so much more than what I have ever imagined is yet to come. I still want to visit so many other countries than where i have gone thus far, I'm a globe-trotter by nature. When most girls my age are dreaming about finding "Mr Right", getting married and raising kids around a white-picket-fence, I'm dreaming about spending a month in Milan, another one in Paris, then Zurich, New York, Rio, LA, Amsterdam, Egypt and so forth. My travel list is truly a long one. I just want to experience the world at it's fullest, build my Fashion Empire, Buy more Shoes, Wake up at a beach house in Mozambique one day and be in Paris Fashion Week the next day. I want to live..in the totality of that word. On a lighter note though, I'm truly glad that the weather is getting warmer and warmer..Yay for summer! Something totally amazing is happening on this weekend, I'm excited and will share it with you on tuesday. Have a blessed weekend.

Enjoy & Live your Life
Grace

T.G.I.F

Hello my hunnies..TGIF right? well, for me that means Thank God I'm fabulous as opposed to Thank God It's friday...LOL catchy right?! Anywho I've been a stranger to my own blog. Not good at all. I've been very busy with other things, including being burried in my own thoughts. Last weekend was an EPIC one. I went to Jazz on the Lake at Zoo Lake, my next post will feature the pictures we took there. Alright then, that is all from me..for now! Have a Fabulous weekend and stay warm and out of the rain..Hahahahaha

Love Always
Grace

The Sensation that is Sabelo Mthembu

So a couple of weeks ago me and a friend of mine and her friend went to Tanz Cafe` at The Buzz Shopping centre in Fourways, needless to say it was a cold wednesday winter night, Lol but it was very warm inside and the music kept us very hot. Back to the subject at hand, Sabelo Mthembu! I have always been a lover of Live Music, and the intimacy that comes with listening to a Live Band, and that wednesday evening was no exception. Sabelo was the opening act for other bands that would perform later that night, and Oh My God was I blown away. Listening to him sing was like being swept away to a whimsical musical journey. It felt as though he was talking directly to me and everyone else in the room began to fade away. It was very magical and marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream. What I'm trying to say is that Sabelo is the "next big thing" to look out for in the music industry. His music is fresh and fun, from songs like Dreaming in Cairo to Free Falling(I think) he will have you wishing that you knew the lyrics so that you can freely sing along. He also mentioned that he was on South African Idols in 2007(I think) Lol. Attached below are some of his pictures as he was serenading us(the audience) with his captivating voice. Oh I've also attached pictures of a Rock Band whose name I totally forgot(Hopeless I know Lol) . 

Sabelo & His Band

Sabelo & His band

 

Inno & Me



        

The Other Band

Lol I love this..just couldn't resist

FRIENDSHIP

Hey everybody...it is yet another month, women's month in South Africa and I must say I'm very excited about all the things that August has in store for me. One thing I'm not chuffed about though is this cold..I mean isn't August supposed to be preparing us for Spring? Just today most people in and around the country had snow pictures to share with everybody on twitter. Most people hate winter, me included but I must admit, I found the whole "snow thing" intriguing...if it doesn't indicate Global-warming then I don't know what will. On a lighter note though, moving right along to the title of this particular post... FRIENDSHIP!!! When I hear that word I can't help but think of Shopping, Cupcakes, Chick-Flicks,Pink,Hugs,Kisses.  So I woke up feeling warm and fuzzy and gooowy at the thought of my friends. I started thinking about this one friend of mine I've known for 21 years...yes can you believe it? 21 years and we are still the best of friends. We met when we could hardly speak properly, we entered beauty peagents together..our mommies wouldn't dare try to separate us. All this history gone by, such a strong past yet we still get along like a house on fire. Ofcourse we can't see each other everyday because at times we are in different cities, but what we share is more precious than anything. My normal day begins with a bath at 5:45am and almost always by the time i'm through bathing, i'm always welcomed by a "good morning' message from any of my wonderful friends, today was no exception. As I journeyed to work, my phone was a buzz...getting messages from three of my friends and chatting the morning cold away. At one point I thought.."who talks so much in the morning? I have very chatty friends" Lol and I began to laugh immediately at that thought. But then it hit me, these people are more than my friends..I mean not a day goes by without us talking to each other, they are the best thing since sliced bread, the cold breeze on a hot summer's day, the first cup of coffee for the day, that hot shower/bath that is so invigorating that you don't want to step out off. I realised that life would be bleak without these people, I realised how blessed I am to have such amazing friends. Needless to say when I got to the office I had to google beautiful pics to share my thoughts on friendship with you guys... I hope you enjoy reading them like I did. Have a Fabulous evening and a great week!!! PS: I have theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee MOST amazing news ever!!! I really can't wait to share them with you guys, August will truly be a memorable one for me ;)