Enjoying the small things in life

A wonderful reader of my blog Rachel, reminded me about moderation and how the little things in life are so important to my sanity.

As the weekend draws near, so does Friday afternoons dreaded traffic..dum dum dum (I'm feeling a lil dramatic today, but in a good way).

So here are my tips for getting through the traffic with your sanity intact:

1. Breath
2. Put some good music on (you could even make an epic travelling cd filled with all your favourites)
3. Remember that the maniacs on the road who are trying to lane jump in traffic are there to remind   
    us that we need to be vigilant when on the roads..things happen when we forget that and if any
    destination is reached sooner it will be whatever lies ahead for us in the afterlife.
4. Pedestrians will cross roads, and generally at a leisurely pace, might as well let them pass you,  
    pump the music louder and chill - promise you it ends up far more serene this way.
5. Bikes will come flying by, so either change lanes carefully or chill. You will get to your destination
    at pretty much the same time as you would have had you 'just got round the slow-poke', there is  
    traffic, chill (statistics have proven this).
6. Might as well enjoy the scenery that is the beautiful city we live in...
    my favourite moments while driving have come from breathing, jamming in my car and taking in 
    just how the light is streaming across and making what would be a beautiful photograph had my
    eyes been camera lenses and could capture it in more than just my memory bank.

Have a fantastic weekend guys!

Over & out.
Mich

Ramfest in Recovery

What a crazy ass experience, all of which I remember. Winning in my books!

Just a year ago I was stuck in a dysfunctional relationship that should never have been begun in the first place. But once I was in I was transformed, in some way or another after realising that this was the longest relationship I had ever been in, I fell into the trap (set up by my low self-esteem) and believed that clearly only someone with that many issues could ever love me and be with me for longer that 3 weeks -  what I have come to call the 3 week curse.

A year on and happily single (o.k. that's a lie sometimes, but for the most part it's true) and clean, not entirely serene (but that's o.k, it's life). And still making some of the stupid mistakes, but that's o.k too, because if I expected myself to just be fixed I would be as naiive as the family members of a dear friend of mine (not naming names, *cough* *cough*).

Nearing 9 months now (saying that in my head sounds obscenely weird) and finally went to my first outdoor adventure... Ramfest. Off I went, on my own - dear g-d, must have been feeling real brave yesterday and driven insane by my deep love for Inflames.

Thankfully as I have come to realise over the last couple months, I always tend to bump into friends. And had made plans to meet up with some of the my lovely friends that I had not seen since I disappeared into rehab. Unfortunately it didn't go exactly according to plan (as I didn't get to see all of them), but that's ok I guess.

What it did make me realise is just how much I am willing to put my body through in order to watch one of my all time favourite musical geniuses. Migrane aside it was a phat jam! I could have listened to them for the rest of the night and the next day quite happily.

I did however learn a lot of life lessons upon my Ramfest journey and a few things about myself. That said, no hangover and an early bedtime so I could be at work today all bright and bushy tailed.. it was an epic day (even if I got totally sweaty and often had to go dunk my ass under the water towers). The joys of festivals. (laughs to self) Responsible Mitchel, has changed in so many ways and yet remains flawed and driven by her heart and not her head some days is here to stay. She just needs to learn to manage the heart issues with a little more logic and a little less hopeless romantic wishing for the Decembers of yesteryear and all will be well.

Just for today I'm still my hopeless romantic self and that's o.k. I don't need to punish myself, nor do I need to beat myself up for the next month because I'm still human. I am human, and that means I am fallible and at times get caught up by my hearts yearnings, it doesn't make me a bad person. It just means I'm not a robot.

Over & out.

Mich

Gifted Friends Series Rose Molteno

In my life I have been very fortunate to meet friends that are not only passionate, but also extremely talented. One such friend is Rose Molteno, an incredibly talented designer who in September 2011 started working full time on her own company, Molteno Creations.

She has been in the industry for five years now and from the get go she was making waves. The judges at the Durban July knew they had a gifted designer on their hands when they chose her as a finalist in the Durban July.

Rose isn’t afraid of working hard and is passionate about creating exquisite garments for anything from your Matric Dance to your wedding. Any occasion can be made even more spectacular with a Molteno creation hugging your curves and showing off your temple in all the right ways.

Rose learnt her trade (coming top of her class) graduating with an International City & Guildes Diploma and working under names such as Michelle Harper (YDE) and Craig Native.

She certainly knows her stuff when it comes to creating incredible gowns that fit like a glove and any girl would be lucky to own their very own Molteno Creation.

More recently Rose is looking for a fresh face to represent her marvelous company for 2012 and from next week a competition will begin where you can enter (simply by ‘liking’ her Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/rosemolteno) to become The Face of Molteno Creations 2012. The finalists will be notified in September 2012 and the winner will win a fabulous make-over and professional photo shoot to either add to, or begin her modeling portfolio.

So come on ladies, what are you waiting for… get clicking and stand a chance to look and feel like a princess, even if it’s just for one day.

Don’t forget to check out her website for more details on prices and ordering –

http://www.moltenocreations.com/ & her Facebook page to see some of her incredible creations http://www.facebook.com/rosemolteno 

Will post pics of her work soon... 

Over and out.

Mich

p.s Coming soon – an interview with the talented designer. <watch this space>

Humanity

Some days I am amazed at the world I live in. The one thing the program has taught me is that even though I have changed, those around me have not. What has changed is how they affect me. In the past I would want to use because someone deleted me off a site, it meant I was not good enough to be their friend and that they didn't like me. Today, I don't care, not everyone is going to like me, and that is perfectly alright with me.

I spoke my mind on a subject earlier today and people disagreed. Although I agree with their points as they are valid, my opinion is as valid as well.

I have done many things in my life that I am not proud of, I have done many things that I can however hold my head up high and say I did those with the purest of intentions.This post would not be one of those. In all honesty it is a rant. Just as they had a right to rant about how they disagreed with what I did, now it's my turn.

Do you think we live in a world of butterflies and rainbows? No, sadly we do not. If by simply posting a picture you are willing to delete me off a site I wonder if we were friends in the first place? Do you not know that I would not just post a horrid photo to traumatize some of those on my friend list?
I shared it because it shocked me. And yes, I am not taking action, by posting it. You are right in that respect. But on numerous occasions I have in fact taken action against it. This post was not to get you all up in my face, it was done out of care, out of the fact that I was shocked at what I was seeing. The brutality of the people that are supposed to have the same beating heart in their chest and the use of their frontal lobes. I was shocked, and my heart broke for the animal, so I posted it. Hate me for having a heart. 

Over and out.

Mich

Gratuity

A foreign concept almost 8 months ago, and today it is one I am so familiar with.

Nearly 8 months ago I would have scoffed at you had you told me to write a gratuity list and told you, 'be grateful for what?' and yet here I sit today and I have the warmest fuzziest feeling in my tummy because I have the best friends a girl could ask for. And shock horror, some of them are girls...this I myself find hard to believe. How life has changed.
That is the beauty of never knowing what is coming next.

Last night, lets just say it wasn't my finest moments emotionally. Even in recovery I am a pro at shoving down and numbing feelings though not with the use of drugs, but rather with preoccupation such as work.
Last night after my final shift at Exclusive Books it all hit me like a ton of bricks. Suddenly I had a moment alone with my thoughts and BOOM there those thoughts were.

The best line I ever heard in rehab was 'your mind  is a dangerous place, your likely to get hijacked there' and it still rings true. Boy can my mind take me to a dark place, and once I allow it too, the cravings to numb it with the use of mind altering substances begin to flow in. Thankfully I have the tools to handle them and friends who I know I can talk to no matter the situation, no matter how silly I think the topic is that is making me crave. There is no judgement there. There is only understanding and acceptance. And for that I am so grateful.



I love you guys, I hope you know that! <3

Over & out.

Mich

Working Girl Adventure

In my quest to become financially independent as quick as possible I took on two jobs, and couple part-time ones too, ignoring all nay sayers. So began the 7 day working girl adventure.

And what an adventure it has been. Unfortunately due to scheduling difficulties it is to soon end. It did however give me time to learn some valuable lessons and most importantly to realise just how important my recovery is to me.

Just as I was beginning to miss the fashion world (the only contact I have had has been working backstage at fashion shows), opportunities have come knocking. The corporate world is a daunting one if nothing else, but my heart yearns for some creativity. Some really rad friends of mine are planning on starting a lable and have asked me to sew some samples for them. Who would have thunk it? Me behind a sewing machine again. But a lot has changed over the year that I have spent away from my machine. No longer do I want to kill two birds with one stone and throw my machine at a taxi. Instead, I can't wait to start getting back behind the pedal and creating some fantastical pieces.

Now all that's left is to venture towards my home town, Paarl, and pick up my machine. Something that scares me since my relationship with my mother is rather volatile and I never know what vale I will find over the house that I once called home.

7 and a half months and loving recovery, but have to keep reminding myself I am powerless over others and that it's about time to get back on my stepwork. Been procrastinating for a while now, time to get cracking. If this is what recovery holds without stepwork for a couple months, then I can't wait to see what it has in store for me once I stop procrastinating on step 3.

Over and out.

Mich

Rolling with the suggestions

The last couple of weeks have taught me a lot about myself.

When depression knocks on the door and I let it take over. I loose and my addict wins. But the war was not lost, nor was the battle. I just had to fight a little harder and pack my ego away.

Asking for help has never been the easiest thing for me to muster up the courage to do. But with the friends I have made over the duration of the last five months, who can read me better than I can read myself sometimes, it's easier these days. Not easier in the sense that it's no longer difficult, but simpler.

If I follow my program and work my steps alongside my fellows I know I can't go wrong. The suggestions being more like subtle hints in the right direction. As long as I'm on this path I know I'm going to be okay.