Nike Women Live

The Nike brand - much like the mythical Phoenix, seems to constantly rise from the ashes. The minute Nike hits us with an all encompassing - firing event, we are given a moment or two to calm down, catch our breath and then BAM, we are hit with another one.

On the 28th of January 1000 women gathered at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. On arrival we checked in, received an event t-shirt, a bag and some delicious snacks. At 7pm the doors to the arena opened and we walked in to DJ Cosmo on the decks. With so many women in one area, I am sure you can imagine the excitement as we danced our way to our training mats. Without wasting any time, the event kicked off.

This was not your regular training class - not by miles. We came prepared for a 90 minute sweat session but what we experienced was something far more impressive. There were four trainers and each held their own session, in between each session we were entertained with live performances from Busisiwa, Tarryn Alberts, Kuli Chana and Twins on Decks.

Something I always take back from these events is the message behind it all. Whilst the Nike brand is promoting and pushing us towards a fitter lifestyle, they are also inspiring us. Their #believeinmore hashtag and slogan is a glimpse into this. Having the trainers share their stories, their passion and their tips at keeping motivated, it can only propel those who go to these events forward. It teaches us that everyone was once a beginner at something but the only way we can be better is by empowering ourselves, believing in ourselves, pushing harder and always choosing to BELIEVE IN MORE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You do not need to wait for another event to get started. Download the NTC app on your phone and get fit in the comfort of your own home. Keep your eyes peeled on this site for more NTC (training) and NRC (running) events. All events are free unless stated otherwise. 

 

Pictures via Nike.

St Helena Bay

Before we knew it, the year came in with a bang and we are already one twelfth into the new year. Only eleven more months to go. I am well aware that this post is - what most people would call, 'late;' but this is my space for self expression. And on this space I declare that there are no rules.

December may seem like ages ago but I cannot help but reminisce at the wonderful memories made. I had such a wonderful time that I feel the need to share it, whether it be the first of February or not. If anything, it illustrates the lasting impression and great difference that this holiday has made.

Through mid to the end of December we visited a beautiful town two hours from Cape Town. Most of you might be familiar with Vredenberg and Paternoster which are neighboring towns on the West Coast. We were happy to get a beautiful house on the beach. We were blessed with something as simple as no internet connection, no malls, a quiet neighborhood and beautiful weather.

What made this holiday stand out from so many others was the well needed time out. It was at this time that I decided to take a social media break. I even went as far as deleting Whatsapp. The only form of interaction that was needed was between me and the people around me. Aside from being more engaged with my family, I found a form of inner peace that surfaced from being involved in activities that made me feel more present.

I took two books along. I read one of my own, after that I got lost in a book shelf owned by the owners of the house. Aside from reading, absorbing and pretty much breathing each literary interpretation in; running on the beach, watching and listening to the crash of waves and watching the sunset everyday fed my soul in a way nothing much on this Earth can do. This brought about a couple of realizations which are important to me: unplugging from social media is never a bad thing, it can do more good than harm; what we search for is always right in front of us, lastly, it is so important to take time to nurture your inner being.

If you are keen on visiting this highly recommended town, we found this house here. Have a look at the gallery (not all pictures are included in this post) thereafter, I am sure your mind will be made up.

 All pictures (except the opening picture of this post) are property of Cape Villa Rentals.

Getting Started

I decided to write this post as it is something I am constantly asked about. Repeating the same information over and over again can be a bit exhausting. I guess it makes better sense to compile it in one public place for those who wish to start running. I am going to begin this by saying that I am not an expert on the matter and most definitely not a personal trainer. All that I know about running has been through building my own experience, asking fellow runners for advice and, (most importantly) reading about it. There is a wealth of knowledge on any given matter on the internet and it comes in handy whenever you decide to start something new.

I started running in 2011. Looking back, it was probably one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It may seem as simple as putting one foot in front of another but it really was not. We all face our own challenges in life and for me, phasing out bad habits whilst trying to replace them with those more beneficial to me was a change that needed to be made at the time. Not only was I unhappy about my body but it filtered through to other aspects of my life. I realised if I did not look after myself, no one was going to do it for me. I assumed being unhappy in my skin would not change until I did something about it, and if I did not, it’s likely I would have reached a place of greater discontent.

At the time, I only looked at it as a quick fix and not a lifestyle choice. I used to enjoy running in school so when I thought about how I could change my body, this seemed to be the best option for me. I half-heartedly read articles on running for beginners. It became clear that this was something you needed to build up tolerance to. Some articles say it’s best to begin walking for a few days and then work up enough tolerance to eventually begin jogging. Others say, you should do a combination of walking, speed walking and jogging. I chose the latter because it seemed more exciting.

After much procrastination and intense mental battles I did a warm up on my treadmill, which consisted of walking really slowly for two minutes. After that I bumped up the speed and did the following:

1 minute of walking (a pace higher than the warm up walk)

1 minute of speed walking (a 1 up pace - higher before)

1 minute of a light jog (another 1 up pace - higher than before)

1 minute of a faster jog (yet another pace higher than what you did before)

To begin with, I could only do the above twice, which works out to a ten minute run. I was eventually able to do this for twenty minutes after a few weeks. (The last two minutes consisted of a two minute slow, cool down walk). It took me months to be consistent with the twenty minute workout. Once I got the hang of it I went on to playing around with the above, doing two minutes of jogging then two minutes of the faster jog. When I wanted to push myself I added in another minute of an even faster pace and at some point I managed to eliminate walking from my regime completely and jog the entire distance.

This all sounds so easy when typed out but I feel the need to be very honest with you. This process was extremely distressing. The concerns I had were probably twenty percent physical, and 80 percent mental. When you are doing something new, doubt always creeps in. I would wake up on the mornings that I had scheduled a run for and always question whether I could actually do it. On so many occasions I allowed this doubt to consume me to a point where I  did not run. This made me disappointed in myself because I felt I was giving up because of fear. Yes, the process hurt mentally and physically but once I got through that initial stage of difficulty, it gave me a lot of confidence. This confidence was not only towards running but to other aspects of my life.

I hope you've enjoyed my brief introduction to running. It is just that, an introduction. I still have a lot more to share with you. In my next running post I plan on speaking to you about motivation, fitness apps and how the two connect.

If you are beginning your fitness journey, I commend your effort - even if it is something as small as making the decision to start. Never give up on your fitness goals and just remember, if I can do it, so can you. Have a brilliant week and attack it with enthusiasm.

Thanks for reading.

Vest, Shorts, Running Shoes, Cap: Nike
Watch: Fitbit
Photo's: Leeya Motara



Paella Braai Day

 

Happy 2017 

Everyone - except the minute few, had a go at 2016 for being a terrible year but I happen to disagree. It might be because the simple things in life tend to keep me happy. When you take time out everyday to recognise this, it raises your spirit more than you can imagine. 

We celebrated the New Year with this lovely dish. My sister and her husband are the connoisseurs of this annual creation - the reason for it being an annual occurrence is because a lot of preparation goes into it. I guess this is what makes it so special and enjoyable. 

Hope everyone enjoyed the festive as much as possible. 

May your year ahead be filled with immense blessings.

 

Heritage Day

Happy Heritage Day!

This is always a vibrant day in the life of a South African. It's a time where we are united in celebrating our cultural differences. Living in a country where our diversity previously wasn't accepted, and is now treasured is beauty within itself.

A kaleidoscope of colour and prints is something that marks this special occasion- more so than other days. Everyone tends to get dressed up and we learn more about each other and ourselves.

I decided to wear what is known as a 'huis rokkie'. As the label suggests, it is mainly a kaftan worn in the house. However, I realised the print and colours had to make their way to the office. I was surprised at the appreciation this garment received. It's hard to see the beauty in something you are accustomed to seeing daily. You see it as 'normal' while it is adored by others. I think you can see this as something relevant to all aspects of your life and not only your clothing or your culture.

I was supposed to spend this Heritage morning running a 10 kilometre race. I was really excited for it as last year's race was not only pleasing to the eye but one that I was well prepared for. As a result, I managed to run it in a time that made me so proud of myself and the hard work I'd put in. Imagine the disappointment I experienced when I realised I was ill and now unable to do it. I will admit that I've been in bed, upset about this but I will look at the good in it. At least I can stay in bed, relax a little bit and start a new book. Reading fixes lots of things. ❤

Kaftan: Something I acquired on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia

Scarf: This was a free gift in a magazine a few years ago.

Clogs: Cotton On

Wind Beneath My Wings

I thought this title was suitable as Spring is here - a semi windy time for us Joburgers. I'm quite chuffed with these shoe wings. I first saw them in an Adidas ad a while back and wished I could have them, luckily found them the other day whilst doing store visits away from work. 

I'm not the type of woman who wears dresses often. It's something everyone points out and I wish they'd get over it. However, this dress appealed to me. From time to time I feel the need for unusual items and was drawn to this dress for the fabric, cut and colour. I am quite a denim fan and there are many options to choose from seeing as though it's quite a trend but quality must always take precedence. Since it's a simple style, I decided to add some badges to funk it up a bit. This new badge and patch trend has me so excited. I love being able to customise what I wear as it speaks to my need to creatively express myself. 

I added the tights to brighten this outfit up and thought it was the perfect transitional piece seeing as tho it's still windy and I get cold so easily. Lastly, I love my shoe wings! My family members seem to think it's slightly juvenile but my inner child needs to be expressed from time to time. 

I don't have much more to say today but I hope you enjoyed. 

Eid Mubarak to those celebrating. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

... And one more of the shoe wings because I just can't resist. I know there are paint stains but I refuse to part with these sneakers on this basis. I feel it gives them a comfortable, worn in look and some character - although, I'm vigilant about which clothes I choose to wear on painting days and expeditions. 

 

Dress: River Island

Tights and Earrings: H&M

Badges and Shoe Wings: Cotton On

Superga's: Sportscene

Casio Watch: Superbalist 

Photos: Ziyaad Osman 

Harry Potter And The Cursed Child: Launch Party

Let's get this out there, I love Harry Potter. In fact, words cannot describe the way this wonderful series makes me feel. It's a mix between excitement, immense joy but has the ability to make me relax and focus on something beautifully enchanting. 

I'll admit that I found the first book hard to get into. I was ten and - very honestly, I was lazy. My English teacher sung the books praises but I was hearing none of it, until the first movie came out the following year. Yes, it captured me. I immediately started the first book that night and soon, finished all the books that were released at the time. 

Later, J.K Rowling launched a few more and I remember the excitement it brought about. Waiting in line to get our copies, having discussions with my school peers trying to figure out what would happened next. It was exhilarating and we'd always make sure we were the first to watch the movies when they came out. 

We were most definitely disappointed when it all came to an end but it made for wonderful memories which we cherish today. 

I was so happy when I heard about The Cursed Child Launch Party. I roped my nieces in and we got dressed up and at 11pm on Saturday 30th July we Ubered to Exclusive Books in Hyde Park. 

The queue to get the book was one of the longest I've seen, taking up two whole floors of the mall. Coffee shops and a few restaurants stayed open to cater for this. The fans created a wonderful atmosphere while the Exclusive Books staff dressed up, enacting their favorite characters and giving out prizes. 

At 1am the queue started moving past a black curtain. After the curtain, a wonderful experience was created while we waited to get our hands on the book ...

 

 Hogwarts students 

 The errr ... Boy who lived.

 Professor Dumbledore and the sorting hat.

 

 Past the black curtain.

 

  Dementors everywhere

 Professor Snape teaching potions

 

   Time for the Bean Boozle challenge.

 Finally! 

 

We had some well earned pizza after everything. Life Grand Café was open until 3am and had a Harry Potter themed menu. It was needed after the long and enjoyable night we had.

I know lots of fans were disappointed by the party, I guess I was too but at the end of the day it's what you make of it. I walked out of the mall exhausted but fulfilled and happy that this wonderful series can follow me into my adult life. Here's to more memories and endless Harry Potter discussions!