Birthday Frills

For me, a birthday is not a sign of getting older, but it signifies the survival of another 365 days of life's ups and downs and in-betweens. All our experiences have moulded us into a wiser, more appreciative, more forgiving, more self-determined, more ambitious, optimistic and courageous version of ourselves. Isn't that the greatest gift we can receive? This birthday, there is nothing material on my wishlist, just the hopeful thoughts below...

This Birthday I Wish For:

 * Happiness in my heart * Serenity in my soul *

* Success in all the things I attempt to do *

 * Time enough to reach for my dreams *

* Enough patience to see me through *

* Inner beauty * An open mind * 

* Confidence, strong and lasting *

* Strength to do what needs to be done *

* Believing in tomorrow * Living in today *

* Knowing the right way is the only way *

* Clearing out the confusion * Facing the facts * 

* Not being afraid * Never giving up *

* Finding hope in hard-to-find places * 

* Putting smiles on other people's faces * 

* Knowing when to talk * And knowing when to listen *

* Standing by the truth *

* Being firm in my commitments *

* Using my insight to set me right *

* Going from rock bottom to mountain top *

* Learning from mistakes *

* Understanding the greatness within *

* Looking for the good that is always there * 

* Sharing the things that need to be shared *

* Remembering that it can all be a puzzle, 

But solving problems is one of the sweet joys of life. *

If you are also celebrating your birthday in February, I wish you a great one!

P.S. I am lucky to be have the lovely Adeola Naomi interview me on her blog here.

*Poem adapted from original by Douglas Richard.

Things I've Learnt About Blogging

My Blog turned 2 over the weekend and to commemorate the milestone, I've decided to jot down the little bits of wisdom that I have collected over this time.

Things I've Learnt About Blogging...

*Even though my blog may hold the tiniest space on the web, to me it's a creative place I can call my own...where I am able to freely express what I'm passionate about. 
*I believe a blog shouldn't be defined by other's expectations or conform to any standards, it should only be about what makes you happy.
*It takes time to figure out and fine-tune your personal blogging style.

*One can never really get tired of seeing yet another pretty red carpet dress or outfit post.

*My favourite part about blogging is hearing everyone's opinions. It's always interesting how we can all look at the same thing & have entirely different views on it.

*I am still in search of a cure for BAS - 'Bloggers Addiction Syndrome'. It's a pretty serious condition - it starts where you click onto one amazing blog and that leads you to another one and another one and then another...and eventually you will either run out of webspace and battery life or someone at work/school/home will catch onto your click-happy antics.

*I've found that bloggers are some of the kindest, amicable & considerate people around. 
*I've discovered a fond home within this supportive, steadfast and courteous blogging community, magnetically brought together by our mutual love for fashion and style.
*There are some days when the inspiration to blog runs out and I've learnt that this is Okay. 

*I realized I don't need to read fashion magazines or browse runway pictures for style inspiration, all I do is log on to my favourite blogs (all 300 of them) for my daily fashion fix. 
*I really admire bloggers who write in English, even though it's not their first language.

*I also admire bloggers who find the dedication to post every single day of the week.

*I spend far too much time trying to figure out wobbly word verifications on comment boxes. This has to be my least favourite part about the blogging world.

*Although I may follow hundreds of blogs, I know it's not humanly possible (unless you're a member of The Big Bang Theory and have a time-freeze machine) to comment on every single one of them everyday. But the best I can do is try :)

*And finally, I have been lucky to make the most wonderful and sincere friends through blogging, whom I otherwise would have never met in the real world. 

So a massive thanks to each and every one of you, who are all truly special to me. I treasure your friendships, support and daily visits. (This is starting to sound like a melodramatic Miss World acceptance speech so I'll wrap it up now). Thanks for your constant contribution and encouragement over the past two years...it means the world to me!

*Images via Tumblr. Collage by me.

Birthdays and Bucket Lists

This birthday, instead of making up a wish list of material things that don't matter, I decided to write down my bucket list. Because experiences hold far more value than any shoe/bag/ring or other sparkly things ever can.

On My Bucket List...


* Work at a fashion magazine. It may not be obvious on this blog (hahaha) but writing about fashion is my greatest passion, I'd love to live that dream. Do you remember in the movie 'The Devil Wears Prada', everyone tells Anne Hathaway's character Andy, "A million girls would kill for this job"? Well, I am one of them.
* Volunteer at an animal shelter. I have a love of cats and all things furry, and this is something I've wanted to do for ages. Unfortunately there isn't a shelter near where I live, so starting one here would be even better.
* Take creative classes - anything from art to origami, photography, floral arranging, tap dance (seriously, I've always wanted to try it), cooking and cake decorating. I truly believe that you will never what you like or what you're good at until you try everything!
* Visit the magical city of Prague. It's been my dream destination since I was young, I even started a 'Prague Fund' while I was in school. I want to immerse myself in the glorious historical architecture and bohemian streets of this enchanting city.
* Attend the couture shows at Paris Fashion Week, especially that of Elie Saab. The designer gowns are spellbinding on-screen, but to truly appreciate the exquisite craftsmanship, I would love the opportunity to see them up close. 
* Master another language. I tried French while I was in school...only to find that I would need some sort of nose-and-throat operation in order to properly pronounce the words. So I'm thinking maybe Spanish, as it's one of the world's Top 3 most widely spoken languages.
* Learn to make authentic home-made Italian pasta in Florence or Tuscany. Pasta is my staple diet, so it would only be fitting that I learn to do this.
* Publish my series of children's books. I have yet to find an illustrator for them. I had written the series a while back, I just need to muster up the courage to show them to a publisher.
*Audition for SA Idols. I think this would be a nerve-wrecking, pulse racing but nevertheless exciting once-in-a-lifetime type of experience. I know that I don't have a snowball's chance in the Sahara of making it past the first round. But you never know, I may stand a chance at winning the highly coveted wooden mic award (for the worst singer of the season). 
Aim high, Shoot Low ;)
* Switch lives with Elena in 'The Vampire Diaries'. Okay, so I must admit that this one is on my things-that-will-never-happen-but-a-girl-can-dream-anyway list. I don't even know a thing about acting. But Nina Dobrev has the best job in television series. She gets to play two completely contrasting but magnetic characters - the sweet, lovable Elena and feisty Katherine; and she has the unconditional, eternal, (and literally) undying love of both Damon and Stephan Salvatore. A role made in TV heaven, don't you think?


If you're also celebrating your birthday today or in February, wishing you a wonderful one!

P.S

One of my best friends read my bucket list yesterday and decided to help me out on my last wish. It may not be the real-life Stephan Salvatore...but it's a good start! Thanks Ms Mocha, That's what I call a really great friend :) Most Thoughtful Gift Ever! 

Frills & Thrills First Birthday

365 days, 52 weeks, 12 months...is it one year already?

I am not the ceremonial type, but I think 'mentioning' that today is my first blog birthday doesn't steep too deep into the pool of vanity. My dream of being a fashion designer never materialized, so I figured that those who can't sew, blog. Frills & Thrills sums up the two things I am most passionate about - fashion and writing. Upon seeing my blog for the first time, people who know me personally say "It's so you!" Initially, I had no idea how to regard this overused phrase, but over the year, I've formed a clearer idea of what it means. 

Frills & Thrills is personal extension of who I am. A lover of pink (in refined moderation), an admirer of fashion (from runway to red carpet), the girliest of girls, a devisor of words, and a teller of tales. All this served up with a spark of enthusiasm, a spoonful of sarcasm and a sprinkling of fairy dust from the closets of Vogue. I may only have the smallest bit of space on the World Wide Web, but it is a space that's I am delighted to call my own.

So thank you to my friends and family for your unconditional support and encouragement. I am always elated at receiving your calls, emails or smses about something you've seen and liked here on Frills & Thrills. And most importantly, thanks to you, reading this right now. Even if you've stopped by just once, whether you're in transit to some place else, or if you're a regular reader...I am so thrilled to have you visit this frilly space I call home. I don't like the word 'Follower', because in order to be 'followed', one would have to be a leader. And that I am not. Instead, I consider you to be a good friend with whom I can share my thoughts, views and perceptions on all things style-bound and fashion-able.

Here's to the very first Frills & Thrills birthday! I will now proceed to cut the virtual pink vanilla cake and share a piece with all of you. The best thing about it? No added calories ;)

*Images found via Tumblr & Google Images. Collage created by me.

Passing Youth

Birthdays may celebrate all the years that have made your life beautiful, but it also indicates that you've grown a year older. Another year signifies that our carefree, idealized youth has passed and we unwillingly have to settle into responsible adulthood. As if trying to cram 20-something candles on a cake wasn't bad enough, there are many other signs out there that prove you're getting old. 

"Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Satchel Paige 

You Know You're Getting Old When...

• The songs you listened to when you were young are now referred to as 'Classics' on the radio. When did Genie in a Bottle and Britney's One More Time become 'Classics'?
• All your friends have kids old enough to call you Aunt or Uncle. After all, they were taught to speak to their elders with respect.
• Chatting to the above-mentioned kids, you begin all sentences with, "When I was your age..."
• You've not only had to invest in an anti-wrinkle cream, but the entire anti-wrinkle, collagen boosting, skin-tightening, cell renewing, line eliminating product range.
• You have to ask a 13 year old to interpret abbreviations & slang used in emails, IM's and sms's you've received.
• You have no idea who Willow Smith, Justin Bieber, Taylor Momsen or Selena Gomez are. You've heard their names before and just assume that they are part of that Twilight movie or The Jonas Brothers.
• You avoid going to places where the music's too loud and the crowd's too rowdy. In fact, you're appalled by the behaviour of 'Today's Youth', forgetting that 10 years ago, someone was appalled by your behaviour.
• You don't use the newspaper as a floor-mat anymore, you actually read it.
• You don't stay out later than 9pm on a Sunday, any later and you won't be able to wake up early for work the next morning.
• You don't need to show your ID anymore to prove you're over 18. However, you need it to prove that you're still under 35. Ouch.

Present-ly Surprised

February is Birthday Month, and (hopefully) that means that there will be exciting presents in store. There are 3 different types of presents: The gifts we spend the whole year wishing for, the gifts that we get in reality and finally, the gifts that we'd rather 'return to sender'. Still, you have to smile, say thanks and pretend you like it anyway, secretly wondering whether the tag is still on, so that you can return it to the store. I find that the simplest presents are always the best & most thoughtful, but there's no harm in making a Birthday Wish List, right?

This is my Birthday Wish List for 2011

• A weekend getaway to a luxury spa resort
• A Louis Vuitton bag or 2
• A perfectly straight smile worthy of a Colgate advertisement
• The entire charming collection from beauty brand Benefit
• A Ragdoll. It's actually a cat
• A Carrie Bradshaw inspired walk-in closet
• A year's subscription to all local and international fashion magazines
• The new Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Now that's Wishful Thinking.

The Presents I Hope I Don't Receive

• Birthday cards. Besides not being sentimental, have you seen the price tag on some birthday cards? Instead of buying a R50 piece of cardboard, please donate the money to Save the Trees Foundation
• Teddy bears or any stuffed toys. Do I really look 3 years old?
• Anything made from exotic animal hide. I am a serious supporter of Animal Anti-Cruelty campaigns
• Novelty gifts - that means anything from Cardies. Like weird balloons, boxes, badges, ornaments, frames and t-shirts with silly sayings on them.
• Gold & Silver jewellery. Believe or not, I really dislike precious metal jewellery. I may be the only girl in the world who does.
• Anything in polka dots. Serious phobia. Don't laugh
• Crocs - Tractors for your feet. Enough said.
• Flowers. They barely last a week and look best in a garden.

Happy Birthday to everyone also celebrating their birthday in February. 

May it be present-ly surprising!