That time my hair smelled like a BBQ pit for three days

With Rodeo season upon us, our first order of business was to attend the big "Cook Off" party.

And party we did.

See that lady? We had no idea who she was, but she really seemed to enjoy our company.

We just make friends wherever we go!

Reasons why I am excited

1. In honor of the rodeo, we get to wear jeans to work today.

2. Speaking of the rodeo, my friends and I are going to the big Cook Off party tonight. Good times will be had by all.

3. Oscar night on Sunday.

Hells yes.

Challenge accepted!

Title, courtesy of Barney Stinson.

If you don't know who that is, you don't watch good TV.

It's time for the customary Lent post, in which I moan about how I'm a Lent failure.

But this year, I will succeed.

I am determined!

No sweets.

...except on Courtney's birthday.

Other than that, NONE!

So for 40 days, I will blame any bad moods, stress, or random illnesses on lack of sugar.

Let's do it.

Girlfraaaans

As I'm sure most ladies out there can say, I am quite grateful for my girlfriends.

Especially ones who like to have silly photo shoots before an evening out.

We get all prettified, then make ourselves look like crazies...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Not captured on camera: the epic evening Courtney and I had. Sometimes you just have to have a flashback to college kind of night.

And for good measure, here I am in my natural state:

Weird as ever.

You're welcome.

That time I got reprimanded by an NYPD officer...but mostly when I ate a lot of food

Yes, I really was reprimanded by NYPD [and almost fined!].

Not for anything scandalous!

Just for using my aunt's subway pass.

Apparently they could I tell I wasn't the woman in the picture...and also not a senior citizen.

Oops.

But anywho...I only took like five [ok, obviously more than that, but less than 20!] pictures. This was a very chill trip. No running around trying to hit tourist destinations. Just relaxing, eating [and you know I documented all of it], hanging out with mom, and acting like Brooklyn locals.

Molly the dog. She slept in between my mom and I at night. Nothing like a giant dog pressed up against you as you try to sleep. I forgive her though because she's the sweetest pup ever.

Anyone who says New York bagels taste the same as bagels anywhere is a damn LIAR. They are infinitely better.

Mama outside the brownstone Let it be known that Kerri Russell lives down the street.

The ceiling of Trader Joes AKA Heaven. I stuffed my suitcase with so many of their treats.

Shake Shack burger. Verdict: delicious, but In-N-Out is better. Sorry East Coasters.

The one "touristy" thing I requested we do was visit the 9/11 memorial. 

It is beautiful and moving.

Somehow I had never been to Lincoln Center. Situation rectified.

And what do you know, it was Fashion Week! I thought I saw Miss J

 from ANTM, but alas, it was just a model who looked like a man.

Dinner at a delicious Italian place in Brooklyn. Prosciutto, arugula, tomatoes, and some delicious cheese.

Indian from Grand Central Station. I ate it all. Duh.

Don't kill me, but Magnolia Cupcakes aren't as good as I remember. Give me Crumbs cupcakes any day [and you bet your bottom we got some...but I ate them too fast].

Scorpion Punch, as featured on Kelli's blog the other day. It was dangerous and made for a very fun night.

Last glimpses of the city as I rode to the airport. Have you ever seen a skyline more beautiful? 

So needless to say, my love affair with this city was only strengthened through this visit.

Anyone know of people hiring in NYC??

Kidding.

No, but seriously.

My resume is ready!

Scenes from Valentine's Day

And by scenes, I mean two pictures.

For reasons unknown to me, this picture won't turn. At any rate, the ginger sent me tulips because he remembered how much I loved them in Amsterdam. :)

Real friends make you personalized wine glasses and fill them with Twilight Valentines.

Valentine's Day with my girls was just what I needed!

A glimpse of how I spent my weekend + a blog you absolutely have to start reading

Hi.

I'm back again.

Do yourself a favor and visit the blog of my friend, Kelli.

She's a Texas girl [we are from the same city, both went to A&M, and her brother is ginger boyfriend's bff] living in NYC with her fiance and is always having some sort of adventure.

Her latest post has a snippet of our Saturday night together in which I had entirely too much of a good time.

Go forth and read!!

Temporary food coma...be back later

After bagels, cupcakes, sushi, hamburgers, pizza, and Indian food, I am a bit full.

Will return later this week with the very few pictures I took this weekend.

[I was obviously too busy eating and pretending to be a local.]

Guest Post: Delicious Ambiguity

Whilst I'm away in the Big Apple, I have my friend, Thobeka, here to entertain you. 

Thobeka lives in gorgeous South Africa, and I'm pretty much jealous on a daily basis. 

But I can't stay mad with jealousy for long because she is so super sweet and awesome.

Enjoy, as she gives you a glimpse of her beautiful country!

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Hello Mutal Weirdness.... Weirdos? Should we just stick with blog readers? Yes, let's do that.

While Alex is away in one of my travel bucket list cities she asked if I would be a guest on her blog! Does make us international besties then? No pressure Alex, you can answer later :) It was 32 degrees today.... 32! That's about 90 degrees farenheit excluding the humidity which adds on about 8 degress. Count it.  February is one of our hottest months...the heat and humidity is killer. So yes, while my Northern Hemisphere peeps complain about the cool... we, down here in at the southern tip of the dark continent - we melt.

 

Should you ever feel the need (yes, you must!!) to visit the country of the 2010 World Cup, home of Shaka Zulu, Nelson Mandela (I'm totally name dropping right now) oh, and Charlize Theron I thought I'd get you started with 5 places you MUST visit! These aren't from a brochure, but from my favourite places to visit.  Where my greatest memories sleep.

I'll give you quick snippets...little teasers...you KNOW you want to venture down this way.

First stop:

Tembe Elephant Park

 

A friend and I spent a weekend here last year and I didn't want to leave! Most people think that just because you're from Africa you should be used to seeing wild animals? Nooooo.  They are wild animals after all :) It's just as much of an eye-opening experience as it is for tourist.

We didn't have cellphone connection for 3 days and it was the.best.ever! I completely forgot that I had work woes to think about. 

We stayed at an amazing lodge, that her family owns, and it was like camping in style :)  Ever had a shower outdoors? I did. Strange at first, but not a soul can see you... just the Elephants walking by.

 

Second stop:

Soweto

Soweto may sound like an African name, but the word was originally an acronym for "South Western Townships", a product of segregationist planning.

It's one of the biggest and most popular townships in South Africa.  Great places to see there are the Nelson Mandela house, Hector Peterson Memorial and you can bungee jump off The Towers.  My sister did and she lived to tell the tale!

It holds of a lot of history and I've always enjoyed going to places where I can learn about the culture, first hand, not from a book.

The Apartheid Museum is also a MUST SEE.

Third stop:

Drakensberg Mountains

The highest mountain range in South Africa - it's quite spectacular really... It's a World Heritage Site - that means it's legit :)

Growing up, I used to spend a week, every January with my besties family. A week in the mountains, of waking up to magnificent sunrises, horse riding, bike riding, playing in the river - just enjoying the outdoors.  Some of my greatest memories are at Alpine Heath up in the 'berg :)

Fourth stop:

Durban

My birthplace. My current place of residence. My hood :)

I love it here! I'm a beach loving girl through and through and summer nights are best spent with friends on the promenade.

Durban has the friendlist people - I'm not even being biased... it's a nationwide fact. Life isn't as fast paced here as it is in Johannesburg and that's why we love it so. We work hard, but play even harder.

Fifth stop:

Cape Town

I fell in love with Cape Town when I spent a couple days there last July. Even though I love Durban, I've been dropping hints to my boss to transfer me to the Cape Town office... i need a change of scenery and woah the Cape Town scenery is gorgeous!

Also boasting a rich history and colourful culture and a city everybody should see.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Yes, Thobeka, we can be international besties ;)

 

Want to see my New York "to do" list?

In no particular order:

1. Eat at Shake Shack

2. Eat at Rice to Riches

3. Have brunch at Clinton Street Baking Company

4. Have a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery

5. Buy a pastry from Empire Cake

6. Eat pizza..anywhere [but ideally Grimaldi's]

7. Eat a REAL New York bagel every day

8. Stock up on Trader Joe's items

9. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

10. See a show [I'm thinking War Horse]

11. See Lincoln Center [because as any times as I've been to NYC, I never seem to make it to the Upper West Side]

12. Explore the Brooklyn neighborhood I'll be staying in [it gets more hip every time I visit]

Is anyone surprised that 8 out of 12 items involve food?

I didn't think so.

As a  point of reference, please observe some pictures from my last trip there in 2008.

Cannoli. 

Magnolia Bakery cupcakes

Central Park hot dog

See y'all next week, 15 pounds heavier!

What I did instead of watching the Super Bowl

I know I'm a lot a little late in seeing this, but be still my heart...this movie blew me away.

I was enchanted.

Enchanted, I tell you!!

I nerded out the whole time.

And maybe I cried because the story/the scenery/everything made me so happy.

Can I run off to Paris and just live there for a summer? Two summers? Forever??