Surrounded by Love: Happy Birthday to Me!

February is my favourite month in the calendar not only because it's the month of “love” but because it's my birthday month!

I am so BIG on birthdays, growing up I never got a party for my birthday as my older sister was asthmatic and usually ill around that time or something terrible would usually happen just before my birthday. For a long time I always thought my birthday was jinxed and I never enjoyed it. I've not really celebrated it for the last two years as my best friend lost her dad just before my birthday and the next year we his memorial service.

Because of all this I've ALWAYS wanted to have a huge birthday party. I've been obsessed with it for years, but this year I didn't feel that way. I actually just wanted a quiet birthday with a few of my very close friends over a meal and some drinks. I wish I could say it's growing up (hahaha) but fat chance, I still intend to have a big birthday party when I finally hit the big 30 (geez)
So my birthday was on Sunday 2nd February, after church my best friend and I went to meet up with two other friends at a quiet, laid back restaurant. We had cocktails and a meal and we shared stories and laughed so hard. I really didn't want to leave, I felt so surrounded with love.

The Evolution of Zambian Music: Cactus Agony Album launch

It's been a little while since I posted and usually I would be crawling back in shame but I've come to realise that it's more important to post when I feel I have something relevant to share rather than for the sake of just updating my post. I really do not want to bore you guys!

Great Minds & New Friends- #ZedCreatives Brunch II

It’s almost the end of April and what a lovely month it’s been! My kid brother, niece and aunty all had their birthdays this month which I sadly couldn’t be there for but I’m so blessed to have them as a part of my life.

Apart from that one of the highlights of April was that I finally managed to show up for the C1rca1964 Zed Creatives Brunch II, last weekend at Pzazz Restaurant. The brunch is just a fun get together event with other creative young Zambians over a meal. I missed the first one so I swore not to miss this one and I’m glad I went because I met lots of lovely people from a rap artist, stylist, cartoonist and skin care guru, it was a lovely mix of young creative Zambians.

I have to mention though that I experienced a case of bad service at Pzazz Restaurant, an issue of bad potatoes and a rude waiter but otherwise it was a lovely event and I will let the pictures do the talking! Forgot to get a full outfit picture but I wore and H&M bodycon dress and a pair of colour-block wedges, will try to take a full pic later!

Shout-out to all my lovely new followers, thanks for the love!

Everybody's Free (to wear sunscreen) ~ Inspirational Thoughts

It's been forever since I posted something on here, my apologies!

Today all I want to really do is share one of my favourite songs which has one of the best messages ever! But what would a post be without some pictures? Thought I would share a few of my favourite people with you. This weekend I will be attending a one year memorial of a really close friend, it makes me realise that we are only here for a moment and we should always, always appreciate the people we love.

 


Everybody's Free (to wear sunscreen) Baz Lurhman

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '97... wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be IT.

The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.

I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

You are NOT as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

    Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

    Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

    Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't, maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't, maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself, either. Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance. Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

    Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you'll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Weekend Shenanigans

This past weekend was really a mile stone for me in unexpected ways. I think particularly when it comes to my relationship. I have been dating my man for over two years now and it is the first serious relationship I have ever been in.

On Sunday morning my boyfriend took me for a walk and we went looking for a Park where we could sit and talk about all the issues that have been boiling up between us over the past few weeks. He got us lost twice and in the end we found ourselves at a botanic garden. We found a rusty old swing and we sat there for hours talking and ironing out our issues. We talked it out and we decided to put all our errors behind us and start afresh. It was a lot like renewing our commitment to each other. I now understand why people have ceremonies to re-dedicate their marriage, I thought it was a little artificial but after experiencing something close to it I realise that sometimes in a relationship you can take each other for granted and forget the reason why you are together.

I learned a lot of things that I need to work on and also expressed all the things that had been hurting me. Some things can seem so little but as they build up they create resentment and it explode unexpectedly.

 The swing was not that comfortable..lol..but it was a peaceful place to spend time.

Have to admit, that smile is a winner! He can get away with anything with this puppy look :)

Afterwards I met up with one of my best friends and two other friends. We went to Rhapsody’s which is a chic restaurant in Lusaka and we chatted over some cappuccino and barbeque chicken wings and chips. Lately we have all become so busy with trying to get our careers going and work that we rarely have time for each other so it was good to catch up, with a little gossip too!

I think it is important to make time for your friends once in a while no matter how busy you are, it is so refreshing to be in the company of good friends. My best friend finished law school last year and is now trying to be admitted to the bar but we always spend Sundays together after church. I really appreciate the effort she makes because I know how hectic life is for her right now. I am trying to be better at keeping in touch with old friends too cause I know how it feels when your friends seem to have forgotten all about you. Sometimes you just need to know that there are people who care about you out there.

Sorry but I have no proper picture of my dress, it is a floral maxi dress and I love it. I want to have lots of maxi dresses in my closet because they are so comfortable and stylish, also perfect for any weather. Speaking of which it is so cold here! June is our winter and though we have no snow it gets pretty cold. Lucky you if it’s warm and sunny in your country..lol.

Thank you for reading!