keyna.b

No offense, but...

2012-01-30T13:36:00.002+02:00

...stop calling me.

Ah the bane of our lives. Telesales.
I will admit there is a small part of me that feels bad for the poor sods who're earning a living cold calling people. You cannot win. There is never a good time to call anyone if you're not a friend or family member. During office hours, we're working (or writing blogs... ya know?) and after hours you're invading our "me time". How very dare you?
So I do try my best to be polite and patient. Honest.

Actually I've even started to feel bad for the "beep-bank" employee on the radio advert who keeps phoning people only to have his fortune read to him by people who already bank with FNB (or is it Nedbank? See I'm not sure if this series of ad's is effective for me anymore).
I think it started out as a brilliant concept, I mean who hasn't had daydreams about messing with that pushy person interrupting your day. It played nicely on schadenfreude for all of us as well.
But now the campaign is in it's 4th or 5th installment and I'm actually really starting to want to give poor Steve a hug! "Be polite you imaginary bastards! Yes your bank is cooler, but Steve's just doing his job. He has to eat!"
When I caught myself yelling this at my radio the other day I had another of those moments where I realize I'm a bit mad.

The telesales problem has continued to spiral more and more out of control for a lot of people and there are some innovative ways I've seen to try and keep your cool when the 3rd call of the day happens:
• Place your phone on counter and walk away to make some coffee.
• Try to sell THEM your couch. And when they say they already have a couch... just say "precisely"
• Start singing
• or the most popular reaction: talk over them saying "no thanks no thanks" and hang up. This has to be done really quickly before your blood has time to heat up at all, let alone begin to boil.

Then again, there's apparently THIS option someone sent me the other day. I haven't signed up yet, but if I do I'll let you know how it goes and I hope you'll let me know as well if you get to it before me.

"The DCM (Don't Contact Me Database) helps you to make sure your address, email address, telephone and cell number are no longer available to organisations, who are members of the DMA, who want to make offers and send information that you do not wish to receive."

You can of course also do this by contacting companies directly and asking them not to contact you... but WHO has that much time to phone so many people... unless of course you're in telesales.

Awkward. What a cool word!

2012-01-23T11:00:00.000+02:00

Just call me Socially Awkward girl!

I had another one of those evenings a friday and a bit ago, where you're sitting in a pub, in your home town and about 9 people you went to high school with stroll in.

What the hell does one do? No matter how hard I try I can't bring myself to stroll over and hand out hugs as if we're long lost friends. Sure, that would be lovely, but I'm half the time not sure they even remember who I am! There've been more than two incidents where the conversation has gone something along the lines of:

"Hi there 'popular person because of your surprisingly strong jawline as a teenage boy from class of 1999'. How are you?"
"Oh hey! Um... Kezia er Kiera right? Yeah! Great! How goes it"

(let it slide let it slide)

"Yes, really well thanks!"
"Are you still with that guy you dated back in highschool? The really short one from the sound and lighting crew?"

(at this point do you still just go with it even though that's completely false... or do you go with the possibly more gut churning "hahah I wish! No I didn't date anyone in highschool... ever. Remember?")

"No, that didn't really go anywhere...since he didn't know about it."
"Oh wait! Aren't you gay now?"
"Not in recent rumours I've heard... I think it died down a bit after 2001."

(Awkward silence as the person tries to decide if I'm joking or not. While I start to giggle like a loon.)

"Anyway it was nice seeing you..."
"Yes definitely! You still have a really nice strong jawline by the way."
(...and flee in terror)

This same Friday in question I was also involved in a conversation that went like this
"What do you think Keyna? Is Jessie more a girl or a boy's name?"
"I think it could be a more boy dog's name?...Oh wait... shit... are we talking about names for your baby?"

SO to all those who spot me out and about from school years, PLEASE see my friendly wave as the heartfelt hello it's actually meant as!
Some believe it's a miracle I venture out in society and have friends at all.
Thank goodness for those that understand my gibberish and especially to my boyfriend who's clearly bloody nuts to stick it out half the time! Bless you!
This is how it went down with us huh?

Just like that.

Dear 2012

2012-01-09T09:48:00.000+02:00

First, a small confession about my NYE post. I actually wrote it just before I rushed out to a 3hour car ride to Struisbaai where I knew I'd have no real internet connection to write something up.
This doesn't really make any difference I reasoned, since it was all reflection on 2011 and I was quite convinced that everything that could happen was pretty much wrapped up 3 days before all our calendars flipped over to 2012.
Right?

I still feel fond emotions for 2011 as it treated me quite kindly, but not so much all my friends and family. Seems some rather ridiculous things waited to happen in the last 2 months to people that I only just recently heard about. So here is an extra post... and a small request.

Dear 2012,
Please be a little kinder to all my close friends and family. I hold them dear because they're already so strong and have proved themselves survivors of sadness and heartache. Could we give those two themes a break and bless them all with happier moments in the months to come. Chat to your friend Karma, because I'm pretty sure she has a lot of debts to pay up – she seems to be fond of slacking.
My friends are beautiful enough...

This song is dedicated to The League (which contains an extraordinary gentleman...).

Gosh 2011...

2012-01-02T11:12:00.000+02:00

... You were awesome.

Looking back over previous New Years posts I've done, it's kinda clear that although my 20's weren't the worst years of my life, they weren't exactly a piece of cake either.

This year, I am grateful for so many things, I feel a bit as if I'm bursting when I think about it. This of course makes me very nervous because although I'm often told I can be an incorrigible optimist (read "annoying"), I'm actually pretty good at "Final Destination" imaginings and all too often get the "Crud. I'm happy. What's going to go wrong here?" feeling.

Well, give a big welcome to this years resolution – to banish thoughts like that and relax.
Now on to the list for 2011:

• Travelled! Finally! TWICE! (what more is there to say? That in itself makes me so happy I get a big smile just thinking about it.)

Hopefully in 2012 I'll find a moment to make one of these for our wall at home. Clever ain't it? Express your love for all the places you've seen for all to see.

• Studied. Proud of me. I have no idea if I passed or not yet, but just the fact that I finished something feels just fine thanks!
• Painted. Not the 6 paintings I meant to paint, but 1 for my long-waiting Aunt. Also drew and doodled more than any other year.
• Spent 2 weeks alone with my partner in mischief and we didn't kill each other. We came close twice, but recovered well. (Trust me this is a great thing to be grateful for! Worries are now cast aside)
• B-b-b-b-bb-bought a HOUSE!

2011 is leaving me feeling more rested than I have in quite a while and I'm so grateful to all my friends who have helped make it so. It's weird thinking about everything that has actually happened in the world as it's turned upside down in so many ways. I'd already forgotten half of what happened this year... I hope future children in school will find the number an easy one to remember when they sit in their history exams!

Lets look back with Jib Jab. It's pretty America focussed but still worth a watch, if only for the fact that it's all done by a popsicle stick puppet choir!

P.S. In 2012 I plan on watching a WHOLE lot more Korean cinema and series. Care to join me? If so you're a bit behind but I'll wait for you. On the list so far is the highly recommended "Castaway on the Moon" and then also the chick flick "Sunny". Go! Go!

Ah yes... and for series watch "The First Shop of Coffee Prince". I was addicted.

Gong Yoo: More recently stars in "Finding Mr Destiny" and "The Crucible" which are on my to watch list.

(Anyone care to introduce me to him? huh?)

Christmas Cheer

2011-12-25T22:09:00.000+02:00

Bless the funny, witty people out there. YOU have made my Christmas.
This of course includes my madcap family (as well all you extended members we've collected over the years.)

These two gems from the net had me chuckling so enthusiastically that my belly shook like a bowl full of jelly.

I hope everyone has a very merry day and gets as much enjoyment out of these two creations as I did!

Doesn't this just make a ton of sense to your child brain? Of course Santa is most fantastic!

"and mama in her kerchief and I in my cap, had just settled ... our brains..."

(Zombie Christmas?)

Those unexplainables...

2011-12-19T23:26:00.000+02:00

OK, to be fair none of the mysterious injuries I've found the next morning after a night out could really count as completely unexplainable... there's this lovely concoction called alcohol that combines with my natural grace and coordination to render the results of an evening unpredictable. That I guess makes the whole whole question "What the... HOW'd I get this?" a silly one to ask.

I recently was mercilessly teased by some friends when I bemoaned the fact that surely a 30yr old grown-up woman should no longer have to worry about wearing longer skirts in case someone sees her latest grazed knee. (Not you too. I trip! Ok people? Happy?)

That following weekend we all went off to watch two VERY happy friends walk down the aisle. And what a celebration! It truly was one of the most fun wedding's I've been to with not just a band or a DJ, but instead a singing group called The Imaginations who we're great sports and only cried the tiniest bit with laughter as the groom sang Lionel Ritchie to his beautiful bride. Oh and how we DANCED! The best weddings are the ones with dancing and boy was there was plenty. So much so that I danced my teeny toenail off...
Gross and painful but...Hah!
I showed those teasing friends! These things just happen. Simple.
The good news is it really does warrant me getting these plasters I think, as surely I could now use the "DANCE OFF" one?

Now all I would change about these is I'd add one about Pirates to explain the brand new graze on my left knee I got from posing during the Twilight run. Nice.

Gimme More

2011-12-12T16:55:00.002+02:00

So one of my favourite things about Pinterest (other than EVERYTHING about it) is the collecting of beautiful food imagery that's so much easier. If anyone I follow ever reads this and notices I've been inspired at work by one of your images, I hope you take it as the compliment it was meant as.

The plan is to actually TRY some of these recipes for a change rather than just reading a magazine, telling Miss G that I want to try half of them, putting the magazine down and then putting them all promptly out of mind.

So far I've tried this yum one, which already means on average my Pinterest collection is beating my magazine rack.

Here's the math involved in Keyna's surviving the summer:
Awful heat of Cape Town + this here recipe I pinned = almost possible

This next bit is straight from the original blogger's mouth. Many thanks to Use Real Butter for blogging something so pinable and delicious!

Single Ingredient Ice Cream
from The Kitchn
4 bananas, just slightly overripe (brown spots good, completely black not so good)
2 tbsps creamy peanut butter (optional – thus 2 ingredient ice cream)
2 tsps cocoa powder (Dutch process), (optional – thus 2 or 3 ingredient ice cream depending on peanut butter)
DO NOT FREEZE THE WHOLE BANANA, you’ll have a heck of a time blending that beast.
Peel the bananas and slice them up into 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick disks. Place the banana slices in the freezer for about an hour or until they are frozen solid. Put the frozen slices in a food processor and pulse. First they will start to resemble gravel, but keep going. The bananas will soon turn into a frozen mush – at this point, start scraping the sides down (you will do this a lot). Or you could add a dash of milk since the liquid will help the blending. I’m lactose-intolerant, so after a few minutes of stopping to scrape the sides down, the banana begins to blend into a creamy texture. When the bananas look like whipped ice cream, you can add your mix-ins like peanut butter and/or cocoa powder, chocolate chips, toffee, raspberries, anything goes! Straight out of the food processor, the ice cream is like soft serve. You can also freeze it for a firmer texture. I find it’s pretty hard (and therefore, brittle) when I scoop it immediately after removing it from the freezer. Just give it a minute or two to soften up. Makes a pint.

Home Sweet Home

2011-11-28T12:25:00.000+02:00

We're planning on taking a big big step. It's pretty much all in place - just waiting on nauseatingly large amounts of moola and a couple of signatures.

Hardly fathomable that we're so close to literally opening this door together and stepping into a new adventure. It'll lead to so many NEW questions we'll need to ask...

Important things like...

WILL he let me buy these to put on the walls and the kitchen? :P

Via Pinterest

from the series "Civil Star Wars" by Greg Peltz via Je Voudrais Que

Via Geek Alerts

Luckily there's still a couple of months to get him to warm up to the idea. I'm gonna need them!

I spy

2011-11-21T12:08:00.000+02:00

I hope I see a hedghog! How difficult is it to bring one of those home with me to South Africa?

And this time I'm going to spot a fox! Hopefully it'll look like this, but I hear many many rumours they're a lot more mangy and disturbing. But this little guy... aww.

Off we go!

2011-11-14T11:48:00.000+02:00

SO we're just a couple of hours away till I take my first lonesome long distance flight.
I'm off to see some incredibly good friends and family & I'm so excited I'm practically hyperventilating everytime I realise how close the trip is.

Partly it's nerves because, as I just mentioned, I've never flown long distance on my own before and of course there would be a stopover (that I have to google), but also because THIS cartoon kinda applies round about now. Yes I would be the dog... not the wise, wise rabbit.

Ch ch chaaanges

2011-11-04T11:30:00.000+02:00

"Where have you been?"
I can hear all of you* asking me and I have a couple excuses lined up. Oh yes. Prepare yourself.

The last two weeks of October were an interesting time to say the least. I think I should stop giving people the advice that change is a good thing. It just seems to invite MORE changes into my own life. I have enough thanks!
Next time I should qualify it a bit more. "Don't worry! Change is always a good thing! For you mind you... not for me. I hate change, it's very stressful. But yeah for you, change is awesome! Do it!"
Here follows a list of some of the kinds of things I'm talking about:

Changed Jobs:
Thats right! I'm no longer in the mad world of publishing! instead I'm in the interesting world of people selling pots and things! Now that it's day 4 and I'm feeling a bit more settled with Lefty,my pot plant, in place and all... I'm starting to enjoy it! Minus the mishap of sitting through a meeting with my left eye's make-up actually sitting on my cheek – it's going well.

Finished Studies (for now):
Egad! what a disaster! I got it all wrong and thought my deadline for my studies was the 22 November. That would have already been quite tight as deadlines go since I'd been procrastinating quite nicely and would have needed to get it done before my trip (see the next point). Turned out my deadline for my project was actually the 28th of October. Nearly a whole month earlier than I'd thought. What a genius.
So I sucked it up, let go of my urge to sleep till it all passed, then let go of sleep all together really, cheated a LITTLE by using Dreamweaver to get the design moving and actually handed it in!

Applied, got my ancestral visa and am going to UK:
THIS is my favourite news so far! I am so very very very excited to finally be doing this. So far things on the agenda are a supper with Al and Michelle before they get married, a roller-disco night for my birthday present because Tam and Luce ROCK! Seeing Eugene and Hyo Jeung which I'm so excited for as well, AND then a fun bus trip down to cornwall to see my mom's family which I've ALWAYS wanted to do! I'm going to try and see if I find time to look up some addresses on our family tree as well and see if some things are still standing... you never know!

oh yes...
and I may have bought a house.
But this post is stupid long already so I'll save THAT saga for when it's more official.

OH OK! One more time... "Change IS good." Damn you wise ol' Mark Twain.

* I love to pretend it's not just me out there. ;)

Tip Tap Tops

2011-10-17T10:37:00.000+02:00

This Saturday past, Miss J and I took to the stage once more and wowed our adoring fans.

Translation: We took part in a dance show, with a bunch of 7-11yr olds and my mum clapped for us.

(I take the "make a fool of yourself" part of the quote below very seriously)

About a year and a half ago now, "Ginny" (new blog/nickname) bought my sister a tap lesson for a birthday present and convinced a few of us to join. I've been happily tapping and living out my daydreams with an invisible Gene Kelly ever since.

So this is a post of thanks to her for her mad ideas which always end up being fun, and a shout out to all the rest of you out there who don't give a hoot what people think of you. Nerds and geeks might not all necessarily rule the world like the 90's told us we might, but you sure end up a bit happier at the end of the day.

These gems just look like they should have taps on them don't they?! I spotted them via Pinterest - my latest vice. Go look and get hooked!

Feeling Sluggish

2011-10-10T11:42:00.000+02:00

I was browsing the site of one of my long-time favourite illustrators and found this great image.
(I'd avoided it for a while as I was incapable of emotionally distancing myself from some memories...*cough cough* Don't we all have and hate an evil ex?)

Now if only I hadn't been avoiding the site for that while. This would have been a perfect image for a weird little story.
Have you ever had a slug on you? There are a LOT of ads out there at the moment for snail gel and that sort of...ick. I had up until a year ago managed to avoid the scenario quite effectively. Even through all those weird tasks they set you in primary school (don't tell me I'm the only one?). I mean I've been told I'm a bit of an oddball when I get caught calling a little snail cute, but that does NOT mean any amount of wrinkles are going to make me like the idea of one sliming up my skin.

As I was leaving my friends house I reached down to get my bag and saw an ENORMOUS slug on my arm. Not even I expected the way I freaked out let alone my poor friend's dogs.
There was squealing and jumping around and a lot of post-moment gagging, (from me obviously not the pups) as well as the expected cacophony of laughter from those who'd seen.
Thats fine. If you're me this kind of thing happens all the time. Sure.
Now time for the hug goodbye near the gate. Reach up with both arms and... ANOTHER giant slug!
Cue now BOTH of us squealing and hopping around like lunatics.

Would you believe me if I told you that in the five steps it took me to actually get to that gate and leave her garden we found another 2 slugs on my body? It happened.
I should just get used to this kind of thing like the unphased lass in the pic above.
Love her expression, love the colours, love Stuntkid... and now I want her hair.

Must motivate myself to appear motivated

2011-10-03T12:55:00.000+02:00

I'd like to think I've become a teensy bit better at motivating myself and not procrastinating these days. Certainly I'm about a million times better than I was as a teenager (*wabbing was a term I quickly managed to grasp and use and almost every day). I've even created a few tests for myself to do in the next year to check my progress. Sure every time I think about them I get cold sweats and my heart flutters a bit ridiculously, but hey, I'm THINKING about it in the first place which is a start and next you know I'm actually doing it.

After seeing this infogram, new on my list of things to achieve are:
• become a more effective worker in sweatpants and sitting comfy in a la-z-boy.
• never to work with "sensitive" material
• become a person someone else would trust to look after their children

Because THEN I believe I'm well on my way to being allowed to work at home. What a dream that would be huh? Remind me to send this to my boss sometime next year.

by Mindflash via

*Wabbing:
derive from acronym of "work avoidance behaviour" - the action of finding something else, ANYTHING else to do other than the task at hand (whether studying as a student or working); like sorting your CDs & DVDs again, making yet another cup of coffee, rearranging your desk, reorganising your inbox, vacuuming the carpet or just browsing the internet, surfing cables channels
someone chatting online to friend: "Hey what you up to?"
in reply: "Well not a lot really, just wabbing!"

Had I been immortal...

2011-09-26T10:00:00.000+02:00

Had I been immortal I think I would have definitely tried to save all my outfits and made this video!
(also forEVER would have given me time to actually learn these moves... ) In my head all this stuff really happens.

As Diamonds and Dust says on her blog "I can’t stop watching it."
Agreed!

Dots and fulllstops

2011-09-19T10:36:00.000+02:00

I started another journal a while back (me and my journal issues huh?) and it reminded me again that I've become ridiculous with writing.
Everything ends on a question? or an outburst! When did I stop expressing myself like a nice normal-toned human being?
Why am I ending everything on an up sound... have I become Australian?
Point is (see what I did there?) that the good old full stop is underrated and I'm going to focus on remembering him in my writing and my speech.

I always used to have the urge to do dot-to-dot with them on book pages. How amazing were dot to dot drawings when you were a kid? Those and those other books where all you needed was some water and a paint brush and an awesome colourful painting would pop out of the page.
I miss them!
Then I found this and now I miss them even more.

Mona Lisa - 6,239 dot to dot drawing from Thomas Pavitte on Vimeo.

Via The Worlds Best Ever

Now to find out where I can find one for my flat!

Sorry, I meant flat.

Back in your box!

2011-09-12T10:07:00.001+02:00

This image was just too good to resist.

Did I tell you all I'm finally studying web design and some basic programming stuff? huh? huh? I'm enjoying the "being creative in a structured environment" thing I must say!

I mean, I'm sure clients will come around eventually with a few interesting solutions to something I thought was pretty simple... but for now... LOVing it.

Go on, don't listen to everyone else... thinking in the box has it's own set of benefits! Go!

What's better than superhero's?

2011-09-05T09:16:00.000+02:00

Superhero Dinosaurs... OBVIOUSLY.

Honestly. WHAT more can you say about that? Done.

Thanks to a colleague I have a new site to follow! Find some more great stuff here at Shortlist.

New Journal... you WILL be mine

2011-08-29T09:34:00.002+02:00

...One day!
Yes I say that a lot.
Much the same way I say "One day I will go through and finish all those other journals I started and wrote half way as a teenager".
Maaaan they're scary things.

I found myself starting the journals in a happy head space, getting distracted by life as only a teen can, then only picking them up to write when things on my chest got a little too heavy.
Eventually I'd ignore them completely as I noticed everything I was writing was actually too depressing to even read back to myself! (Heaven forbid someone else actually stumbles across them after my death :P I'm attaching warning labels)
Press stop. Rewind. Press play... and so it loops.
Ridiculous.

It seems I've successfully convinced myself that "if life starts to get you down... toss your old journal into the back of a cupboard and start a new one!" It's a physical put-things-down-on-paper way of starting fresh!

To date my life is documented by about 7, half filled, journals and this blog. And may I once again say, "bless you Internet". You're a magical space where I feel obligated not to moan too much and where wonderful new discoveries wait for me every day to lift any kind of heavy heart.

Or you know... I could just BUY THIS and stop writing altogether. Life is easier to absorb in pretty pictures anyway.

found via The World's Best Ever

Also I was attracted to this because the person is drawing a robot. It makes it THAT much cooler.

I'm not Knit picky

2011-08-22T18:54:00.000+02:00

I love google reader, but mostly I'm glad I'm such an obsessive blog follower!

How else would I have found two beautiful projects, so very different and yet both using knitting?

#1. Ginormous knit used to upholster stools

Claire-Anne O'Brien has used a combination of hand and machine knitting to create dramatically oversized patters as upholstery

#2. Teeny Tiny two-year project

Anna Hrachovec embarked on a two-year project after knitting a tiny brain. She's now made over 100 tiny designs and written patterns for some of them! Amazing madness! If you'd like to read an interview with her there's a great one on Craftzine where I found her.

What I would love to be doing right now is reading a book, with my feet happily resting on THIS stool, and THIS cutie-pie of a donut lovingly attached to a silver chain. (or any of the characters from this big little collection - I'm not picky ;))

Move it or Lose it!

2011-08-18T13:34:00.001+02:00

We're moving offices this Friday! FINALLY.

This is something that the powers that be have been dangling as a carrot for, oh, about 2 whole years.
Only thing now is we've been told we can pack a box. One. Each. One box will hold all our notes, files, our "help me remembers", our multi-coloured highlighters and pens so very necessary to survive this office jungle. Most disastrous of all, this box will have to hold all our reference magazines.
IMPOSSIBLE.

I wonder if they'd consider me bringing some chairs with me to my new little "pod person" space.
Hmmmmmmm.

This is brilliant and I think I could do with some at home as well. That might just JUST help me out.

by Sut Kutusu
Via Swiss Miss

Oh Hello Monday. Oh? Uhoh... Boom!

2011-08-15T09:06:00.001+02:00

Not a Monday person.
I think that will be one of the things said about me one day when I'm gone.
I'm one of those people whose mood actually starts to plummet on a Sunday evening in anticipation of the horrors I suspect are lurking in the next day.

So this is just a quick post for these beautiful pieces (via The Given Collective) by Zach Johnson.

THIS is what I feel like at the beginning of every week!
(or at least it's pretty damn close to what I keep imagining I must look like when the day's tasks POUNCE! and cause my poor unsuspecting brain to explode.)

Boom.

Better than Barbie or Barney fo' sho

2011-08-08T14:21:00.003+02:00

Contradiction...
One of the things I try very hard not to be is a hypocrite and yet some days I find little inconsistencies which tug at my brain going "hey... but yesterday you were moaning about that VERY thing!".

Here's an example. I haven't always been treated kindly by my chosen profession. Design is a harsh and fickle deity to worship and loves reminding you that you'll never quite be able to completely absorb or understand everything. So I hate telling people I'm a designer. Absolutely, utterly, hate it. I always feel like they immediately put you in a box. A very pretty creative box, sure, but I've never really felt comfortable there. Don't get me wrong... I still LOVE design (my posts should show a little of that at the very least), but I find the pressure and other people's expectancy to be cool a bit much. (flashbacks to high school *shudder*)
SO I do what I always do... try to ignore it. Deny it. Only buying things I really like and not things just because they're currently fashionable. Sometimes just plain hiding out in the suburbs helps quite a bit. You know that old trick of signing up to be a library monitor on your first day during lunch because you KNOW it's the wrong thing to do but you love books? - That's what I'm still doing.
Ridiculous? Yes! Childish? Yes. I have no excuse.

So here I am coveting these...
Dammit.

If you like them as much as I do you can get the whole LOT of them as part of their launch special over at Tattly

Unbeleafable!

2011-08-01T10:23:00.002+02:00

In my defence, I'm surrounded by people who make it impossible not to leap at the opportunity of cheesey wordplay.

These peices are so intricate and beautiful that part of me really itches to try create one... Then my reality returns and the overwhelming thought is WHO HAS TIME? Crepes!

Amazing Cut Leaves Art via Craft:

"Natural leaf carving is actual manual cutting and removal of a leaf's surface to produce an art work on a leaf. The process of carving is performed by artists using tools to carefully remove the surface without cutting or removing the veins. The veins add detail into the subject matter of the carving. The material or most common leaf used in leaf carving is the leaf of a Chinar tree. The Chinar tree is native to India, Pakistan and China. Chinar leaves have a close resemblance to maple leaves."

These next three don't use the Japanese style of keeping the veins of the leaves in tact but are still beautiful! (by Lorenzo Duran via Design Boom)

(Of course I coooould considerrrr spending less time scouring the internet for cool things... Erm... Nah.)

READ it!

2011-07-25T12:23:00.003+02:00

This little bit o news on Gizmodo captured my imagination.

It's not that I'm a fan of zombies... I mean who is? (If you are that's definitely not an invitation to meet you as I suspect you're nuts.)

But I am a big fan of this book!

I find it so well written that I describe it as "terrifyingly bloody-well believable!"

But why should I go into a more detailed description when I've found a nice person named Duncan who's done it for me!

World War Z: an oral history of the zombie war is the second zombie book by Max Brooks (Mel Brooks’ son). The first was The Zombie Survival Guide, which I’ve not read, but I believe is basically a lightweight spoof of other ‘survival guides’.The scenario is there was a worldwide zombie outbreak, which pushed humankind to the brink of collapse, but after several years we overcame the walking undead. It’s set in the immediate future, i.e. there are references to current world leaders etc. It’s structured as a series of interviews with some key survivors, ranging from those who first witnessed it, to soldiers who fought in conflict against the zombies.If you ignore the basic zombie plot, this seems to be as much about topics like environmental catastrophe andgeopolitics. The chapters are all set in different locations worldwide, and for the most part are convincing in their attention to detail. There were only a couple of instances which didn’t ring true.There’s lots of nice little surprises along the way too… mainly the way certain country’s fortunes change due to the zombie war, with a few slightly satirical moments to savour....

read the full review on his blog here!

and then READ the book. It makes ya think...

Psst...

2011-07-18T11:22:00.002+02:00

Hey you. I know if you could, you would walk around like this the whole day. Masculinity be damned!

Yeah you know who you are... ;)

via Favim.com

Must'ave Mustache

2011-07-11T11:13:00.001+02:00

Right interwebs... where can I find these puppies? All I have so far is an image I stumbled upon on a tumblr account. Eep.

I'm assuming (ah assumption. you mother of all...) you can buy them as they have numbers next to them giving a catalog effect.

Thats both the wonder and the problem of this monster we've created. You can find almost anything, but that doesn't mean you're going to necessarily be able to track it down and have it for your very own. This is going to seriously stretch my cyber stalking capabilities, but here goes. If I track them down I'll try to remember to let you all know.

Happy Anniversary X

2011-07-08T11:00:00.002+02:00

Here you go... (not that you read my blog :P but just in case you stumble across this my love) THIS is our new unromantic and at the same time romantic song.

And don't judge it on the bad youtube vid. It was unfortunately the only one I could find that wasn't MUCH worse. Find it on your playlist ;)

You are the hole in my head

I am the pain in your neck
You are the lump in my throat
I am the aching in your heart
We are tangled
We are stolen
We are living where things are hidden

You are something in my eye
And I am the shiver down your spine
You are on the lick of my lips
And I am on the tip of your tongue
We are tangled
We are stolen
We are buried up to our necks in sand

We are luck
We are ]fate
We are the feeling you get in the golden state
We are love
We are hate
We are the feeling I get when you walk away….
Walk away

Well you are the dream in my nightmare
I am that falling sensation
You are not needles and pills
I am your hangover morning
We are tangled
We are stolen
We are living where things are hidden

We are luck
We are fate
We are the feeling you get in the golden state
We are love
We are hate
We are the feeling I get when you walk away
Walk away
Walk away

You are the hole in my head
You are the pain in your neck
You are the lump in my throat
I am the aching in your heart

P.S

Thanks for my breakfasts!

Oh I'd DEFINITELY make space for these!

2011-07-04T09:12:00.008+02:00

Could I please have all of these for Christmas? These paintings by Jeremy Geddes are so absolutely beautiful they actually make my chest feel tight.

Via The Given

------------------------------------------------

If I were more adept at "assembling" and technical things I would so make one of these for the Foo-boy. Noone I know is more fun when it comes to organising the watching meteor showers or spotting iridium flares. It would be a great gift for someone who keeps you aware that there's a universe out there and we've got our tips of our toes just dipped in.

ISS Lamp Alerts You When Space Station is Flying Overhead @Craftzine.com blog

"The International Space Station (ISS) is a marvel of current technology and humanity. Sadly, we often forget it's there.
This light sits on a desk and lights up when the space station passes overhead. It stays lit as long as the station is more than 10 degrees above the horizon.
Being reminded that there are astronauts doing science over our heads every day helps reconnect us with our space program."

Pandamonium

2011-06-27T12:25:00.003+02:00

As Swiss Miss says "there are some serious Panda Loving People out there", and my mum is certainly one of them.

I don't know too many women who'd buy a box of cereal just because they're called panda puffs (or whatever) just because of the name and picture. Good thing my cat seems to love them because none of the humans in our house have been lured into trying them yet.

I found this cutie and thought about how cool it would have been back in the day for the playschool that my mum used to run. Of course ipods would have needed to have been invented 15 or so years earlier as well, but hey, if time travel existed then this would have been the perfect gift!

Panda Pal

panda-monium |ˌpandəˈmōnēəm|
noun
wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar : but with cuteness
Panda-monium broke out at the playschool

;) look at me playing with words...

Braided Typography

2011-06-20T18:08:00.004+02:00

So this popped up in my reader today via TrendLand

What a great reference for practicing my drawing of hair - something I need to do more often. I'm trying to encourage myself, instead of obsessively doodling little arrows pointing North, South, East and West (yah I'm not sure what that's all about myself...), to try drawing actual things I see in meetings or on my desk while on the phone.
So far I have a very rough brown pen drawing of an earphone. Not much but it's a start! I'm taking my doodling back from my subconscious... it's way too boring these days.

Braided Typography is the outcome of Teagan White’s semester-long research project on pre-Columbian Native American culture for my Ideation & Process class.

(...) Read More about Braided Typography (6 words)

Crass, crude, but still often charming

2011-06-13T12:30:00.000+02:00

Crass, crude, but somehow still often charming – that's how I would describe the one blogger I follow called Coke Talk.

Honestly the things that come out of her mouth are like a shock and awe tactic on my brain. Most of the time though, I find myself thinking similar things and we do seem to share similar interests if you manage to minus the c-word etc from her posts

Here's one of her much much milder posts called "Otherwise known as “The only way you’ll ever survive..."

"Pahsties" and "Paysties"...

2011-06-06T22:17:00.004+02:00

"Pahsties" and "Paysties"... That latter pronunciation has lead to several people being nearly chased out of our house. Mostly of course when my gran is visiting.

Having a Cornish gran and heritage is something I'm quite proud of. Don't get me wrong I love being South African, but I also love the culture, history and beauty of Cornwall. One day (holding thumbs it's soon! November maybe?) I WILL go there and see it for myself. It's a big one on my bucket list.

Pasties have always been a favourite in my family and it's a tradition passed down from mother to daughter even if my surname is very afrikaans. I can braai... and I can make pasties... watchout people. Elite skills these.

I wish I had time to make them more often just as I wish I could see my gran more often. She's such an amazing woman. Brutally honest, quick-witted, hysterically funny and puts up with all of her crazy grand kids only to a point and then you meet her sharp tongue. My mom does keep reassuring us that she definitely still loves us though.
I like to think of Granny June as having plenty of gumption. I've decided on that word in the end to encompass all of the above.

Here now is some pasty love as a sort of dedication to gran's visit last month. Can't wait to have you visit us again!

OH and don't forget. It's PAAAAAHSTIES! ;)

I also managed to find this little guy via Pasties and Cream
A great blog which manages to always trigger my dreams of a visit to Cornwall even more acutely.
Meet Teddy Pasty!

Teddy Pasty™ from Emily Fishpool on Vimeo.

Lazer Blast it all...

2011-05-30T23:46:00.000+02:00

Lazer Blast it all! THIS is how i should have tiled my bathroom! Ah well. There will be a next time I'm sure. I just hope I haven't matured by then.

Chances?

Star Wars Shower Tile

Just when you feel a little low

2011-05-27T20:34:00.002+02:00

Just when you feel a little low you can always depend on the internet to serve up little titbits to keep fuelling your mini melancholy.

Good thing this particular serving is quite pretty!

The Greatest Writer Alive

CIVILIZATION

The leaves have grown thick
atop the monuments
erected in memory
of horrible men
who amassed by horrible means
all of the wealth needed
to cement their legacies
as heroes.

—Dallas Clayton

We <3 Infographics

2011-04-12T16:01:00.003+02:00

Actually, I'm pretty much contractually obligated to say something along those lines these days.

I do in fact like infographics a lot and always have, but the obsessive nature with which art directors and editors have fallen in love with them, leaves me with a little chill running down my spine.
Someone far away (apparently in Brazil) announced to the rest of us that they're the NEXT big thing in publishing for delivering content to our readers. Now a large group are treating the idea as a shiny new one that popped out of a box.
Weird.
Luckily infographics have been around for quite a long time and there's plenty of inspiration out there. So have hope all you designers and we shall weather this "new" pictorial pressure... I will survive and hopefully so will my appreciation for a cleverly illustrated idea. Eek.

As a form of encouragement for myself I'll pop up any new infographics I heart onto my blog. Well look at that. Here's one now!

Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions
by Shell Greenier via Information Is Beautiful

"Robert Plutchik also created a wheel of emotions. This wheel is used to illustrate different emotions compelling and nuanced. Plutchik first proposed his cone-shaped model (3D) or the wheel model (2D) in 1980 to describe how emotions were related.
He suggested 8 primary bipolar emotions: joy versus sadness; anger versus fear; trust versus disgust; and surprise versus anticipation. Additionally, his circumplex model makes connections between the idea of an emotion circle and a color wheel. Like colors, primary emotions can be expressed at different intensities and can mix with one another to form different emotions." - Wikipedia

Today I had my lovely performance appraisal. That wonderful thing that always turns out to be torturous and beneficial all at the same time. I would say, tentatively, that it went alright. It didn't exactly go terribly wrong from what I can tell so that's a bonus.
What I realised again, while discussing my future and past, is that these kind of situations really show me over and over again that I live in a bubble of extreme emotions. In that long meeting I think I could have coloured in QUITE a few of the segments of this wheel.

Six months to the next one... THANK GOODNESS! Now to achieve all the things I came up with that I should be achieving... doom doom doooooom.

Earth Hour 2011

2011-03-25T14:51:00.001+02:00

Do not forget people, it's Earth Hour this Saturday 8pm!

Last year, at the B residence, we sat in the bottom flat, in the pitch dark, with bottles of wine and watched as whole sections of the the pinpoint light carpet I love so much blinked out. It was fantastic!
And not just because I consumed way more wine than was necessary...

There's nothing to do with the lights out, except to sit still and appreciate the company you've found to spend that hour with. It's a moment (if you're like me) to just take a breather and let your head quieten. Listen to something or someone else other than the whirling craziness that can take over inside. If you know us personally, you'll be shocked to hear that it all seemed so hushed and calm that the B girls even spoke in whispers and tried to giggle as quietly as possibly. I did mention there was wine right?

This year The Dad has built a deck and I'm thinking that could be the new spot for this year.

There will of course not be ONE light on in our home. No way. Because don't think the scenario in this youtube video hasn't occurred to me before... *shudder*

quiet screaming desperation

2011-03-22T14:00:00.005+02:00

With the potential for everything from your colleagues, to the parking your fought hard to get, to the milk in your canteen fridge being under threat of "restructuring" these days, I've been thinking a lot about what we're willing to sacrifice so as not to meet the same fate.
The problem is you can't really predict these things, not even in the media industry where current knowledge is meant to be a click away and often gets typed up by the person sitting next to you. So we end up giving up more and more just to dig our fingers deeper into the crags and hang tight.
We're now at a point where we're given teeny tiny perks such as casual Fridays and flexi-time and we're so very grateful for these things if we have them and horribly jealous of others if we don't.
Yesterday was Human Rights day here in South Africa, and sometimes it's hard to remember through all this chaos and on a deadline that we all have a simple right to go home to our families at 5:00pm. Use it :)

Nigel Marsh says...
"...the reality of the society that we're in, is there are thousands and thousands of people out there, leading lives of quiet screaming desperation, where they work long hard hours, at jobs they hate, to enable them to buy things they don't need, to impress people they don't like. And it's my contention that going to work on a Friday in jeans and t-shirt isn't really getting to the nub of the issue."

Via swissmiss
How to make work-life balance work: "

Work-life balance, says Nigel Marsh, is too important to be left in the hands of your employer. At TEDxSydney, Marsh lays out an ideal day balanced between family time, personal time and productivity — and offers some stirring encouragement to make it happen.

Don't panic...

2011-03-09T20:25:00.002+02:00

But I'm toying with the idea of redesigning my blog again... "clean and uncluttered" might not be portraying myself very accurately. So if you're visiting and this place looks a mess please have patience for a while.

Food & WIne Pairing

2011-03-09T20:19:00.008+02:00

–noun

fate; destiny. Two parts of a whole

Some things in life are just meant to be paired up. Food and wine, bare feet and sand/grass/mud, ice cream and chocolate sauce, ebony and ivory, my hair and a hair iron etc.
Ah you get the drift.
And in case you were wondering about some of those examples I gave that would be the influence and help of my imaginative family sitting nearby and answering what I thought was a pretty normal question.

Another personal example of kismet, to me, has always been at how perfectly Ushi and The Pyromaniac seem to fit and make sense. So when they got engaged the rest of the B's breathed a collective sigh of relief that the madness of our family hadn't scared him away over the years.

Recently they've both started blogging (more successfully and frequently than I ever have come to think of it) and how's this for perfect? Hers is about food and his about wine. See what I mean? A perfect pair!

Go see how it's all starting out before they become famous and give them a little encouragement. These are two blogs I'd love to see stick around!
Meet Season's Eat-ins and Dear Wine Diary and read their descriptions in their own words rather.

I still hope...

2011-02-17T12:29:00.003+02:00

I still hope to see THIS beautiful place in real life one day, and the chance that it might just be sooner than I ever originally imagined is in itself a very exciting thought!
Holding thumbs!

This'll do in the meantime though - A clickable swivelly interior with choir and all.
The Vatican provides...

Nerdiness!

2011-02-16T12:01:00.004+02:00

I think I have a new favourite site to visit for a while! Fast Company.
I was put onto it by N, who sent it to me as another link to help with my investigations as to which tablet I'm eventually going to buy (in my dreams).

What a great site. I particularly loved this short film:

I wish I'd seen this video yesterday, so I could've told my valentine that I wanted to passionately juxtapose my orbicularis oris muscles against hers. (Well, maybe it was a blessing that I didn't see it in time.) Anyway, the factoids are still fun: 90 seconds of scientific and cultural tidbits about kissing, presented in animated infographic form. Watch and learn:

The Kiss - Infographic from Marija Vidanovic on Vimeo.

"Don't ever get used to it..."

2011-01-24T23:59:00.001+02:00

I'm a blog junkie. I'm not entirely sure I could help myself to quit, and to be honest, I do think I'm border-lining on the whole web-addict thing that seems to be plagueing facebook vampire teens around the world and a little place called, oh, the whole of Japan (at least that's what the weird news reports seem to be saying)
If you've written something interesting and I've happened to stumble accross it, chances are you'll get a notification to say one Keyna B is now following your blog.

Yes there's a bunch of nonsense being put on the web, and not every post by the hundreds of people I follow is going to win any prizes, but I love the feeling of browsing through other people's creative moments and often finding something that feels like it's been written almost to you. Sometimes it can feel like it's even been written about the day you've been having or just survived.

Here's just one of those moments. via CokeTalk and dedicated to one or two good friends going through a rough time. The first two points feel a bit like the past, but I think point number three is the one I can honestly say I'm realising more and more each day!

Three pieces of advice I'm about to give other people that I would do well to remember myself::
1. You can’t be crippled by an emotion unless you’re the one doing it to yourself.
2. Just because your issues have a name it doesn’t mean you’re aware of them.
3. Assholes are gonna violate the social contract. You can come to expect it. You can even be prepared for it, but don’t ever get used to it.

I could wait here in South Africa...

2011-01-19T09:56:00.006+02:00

OR! I could donate part of my liver, cash in my leave early, book a plane seat and then pray for a ticket to Coachella! Once there I can see half the bands I'd like to see before leaving this earth and then rest easy for a few years.

With this kind of line-up it really doesn't seem like that much of a ridiculous idea, does it?

Photo
via Coke Talk on 1/18/11

Iiit's Aliiiiiiive...

2011-01-12T14:19:00.003+02:00

I'm a bit of a geek. I suppose though that if you've read bits of my blog, some of my previous posts may have hinted at this a bit.
Recently, tragedy struck. My 1TB passport hardrive, hopped a mere 10cm off where I'd unthinkingly placed it. Those 10cm were apparently the equivalent to plummeting of a cliff. It's irretrievably busted.

Holy hell. To say that I was upset would really be an understatement. Although I don't afford many... my gadgets and gear become instantly precious! Like pets! Or friends even! Yes I know this is ridiculous, but if you saw how much I love my robotic vacuum cleaner you would possibly understand a bit better. Tech becomes such a part of my life, I think I get a bit blurry when it comes to whether they're just mindless mechanicals,` or whether my laptop can actually hear me when I beg it to work faster and is just in a mood if I try and make it do too many tasks at once.

Here is an artist who's thought about the question "what if technology were alive". Not only do I love his illustrative style, but it also makes me feel a bit better about my urges to try and desperately perform some kind of CPR on my hardrive that day. That sad, sad, aweful day...
*sob*

via Trendland

Stumbled upon...

2010-12-18T09:28:00.002+02:00

How about these?
Terrible, sure, but oh so terribly cute! I love them.

Of course I tried checking out the rest of the site but it hurt my eye's a little. Yikes. Don't do it. But these are definitely a find! I'll have to try and figure out where they're originally from I guess to credit it properly.

Here finally we have some of the answers! Credit goes to tech guru Mandy whom I met last night at the Geek Girl Dinner CPT.
"They're called the The Gashlycrumb Tinies and they're by an artist named Edward Gorey."

Thanks again for this. And apologies for my ill-timed question right as everyone had already started clapping. I have an amazing talent for the art of timing.

This week's "I covet"

2010-10-26T22:13:00.001+02:00

I've been desperately trying not to spend money these last few months which, in true form, means I've somehow been spending more and have no savings to show for myself. Boo.
And yet here I sit trying to convince myself that, if I buy these lovely two sets for my kitchen, it's technically nothing resembling my impulse buy of gladiator sandals and much more of an investment for my flat.
Now the cincher will be if Dave suddenly expresses a love of pastel shaded porcelain...
You never know. He has been known to surprise.

Chi-Wing Lee Miix Spoon Set

Christopher Jagmin Little Odd Plate Collection

both via Daily Candy

I can half save your life.

2010-08-10T16:33:00.004+02:00

Things I learnt at First Aid today included:

- It's legal to sell your organs in South Africa. "You'll get about R7000 to R9000 for a kidney round about."
- Spray and cook does help make your licence plate blurry but you'll need a CD to obscure your licence on your windshield. Who knew?
- Ambulances WILL prioritise your calls in this order.

#1. Bleeding (be sure to use words like spurting and gushing else you won't rate as high)
#2. Unconscious (because they know that most people are crap at CPR and if you're unconscious you're a bit too close to dead)
#3. Broken bones (actually there are a few that come before broken bones but she didn't really say what they were. Basically if all you're phoning about is a broken bone, get ready to wait a while. The only thing lower than a broken bone apparently is if you mention the person needing help may have been a suicide.)

-Another tip is to call your local fire department. The ratio of emergency vehicles to people in most area's is higher for fire departments than ambulances.
- 99% of the time the person you're performing AV or CPR on won't regain consciousness while you're working on them. Usually only at the hospital.
- 7 out of 10 times you're going to break your patient's ribs. That's why a first aid course is important, so that you hopefully break them in the correct way towards the outside rather than towards the inside where you can puncture a lung and kill them. ugh.
- Up until about 5 years ago you wouldn't pinch your patients nose to try and wake them up, it was allowed that you pinch their nipples of ALL places. The only reason this stopped was because a lot of people sued. Rightfully so methinks.
- There are 3 things a "First Aider" may not do unless they enjoy being sued:

#1. Hand out any medication. Be it a Panado, Disprin or Nurofen etc. Myprodol is a no no peoples.
#2. Move an unconscious patient.
#3. Purposefully harming a patient or causing them pain. (no matter how difficult they're being. pity ;)

what a day!

But I passed the practical test so far, so here's looking to the theory exam tomorrow!

16.09.2010 TURNS OUT.
That maybe it's not so legal. er.
read this one

Ah Mr Marley...

2010-08-02T22:37:00.004+02:00

Smart man that.

My Weekly Daily Dose: No Space for Fun

2010-07-05T17:52:00.002+02:00

Always dreamed of becoming an astronaut? Maybe it's not as glamorous as you imagined

In Hunter Freeman's imagination it's no big deal to be an astronaut. They spend lonely mornings in diners, work in warehouses, frequent laundromats and scour beaches for metal. Maybe these are aged spacemen who've become too attached to their suits or maybe this is what Mars will be like should we never sort out that pesky atmosphere problem.

Hey, it might even be a comment on the whole sex ban in space.
Average guys doing normal everyday things, but in a space suit, versus astronauts in space not allowed to do normal everyday things.

The Plug: You, of course, are welcome to do anything you wish. In fact if you'd like to get better at it you may click here.

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

My Weekly Daily Dose: Thorne In Your Side

2010-06-24T16:49:00.001+02:00

The latest offering from Aussie humorist, satirist, Internet personality and author, David Thorne will have you in stitches

If you haven't read anything from Mr Thorne, you're either unloved and nobody ever emails you, have the the most intense firewall set up on your work email, or you don't actually have a computer and are receiving this via... no look, you've probably read it but didn't realise he was behind it all.

Does an email conversation involving a drawing of a spider as payment for rent ring any bells?

In his latest exchange a "colleague" asks if he's not too busy to make a poster for her as her cat has gone missing. David answers in a way in which most designers would love to.

The Plug: We, on the other hand, put the same time and effort into our replies. But we actually care. Why not write to us at tellmh@touchline.co.za? And read what other guys think here.
Hell, we'll even reward you for it.

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Some understatements

2010-06-12T16:20:00.002+02:00

Yesterday was an experience I'd like my usual goldfish-like memory to actually hold onto.

I drove my car into work in some of the best traffic I've ever seen, because for one of the first times in my life, on a weekday, nobody else seemed to be travelling into town by car. In fact I'd only taken my car in because I'm still trying to find a bus that leaves at a time giving me enough opportunity to pry my eyes open with a crowbar.
I miraculously managed to achieve some tasks at work before my brain turned to excited mush, and then we were off!

The Fan Walk!
I don't even think we walked much on the official one, but here's a tip, any street, between the station and the stadium, it's now the fan walk. I would definitely recommend the bridges that have been put in. You don't want to lead your colleagues to their near death, otherwise known as oncoming traffic, like I did. Twice.
We made it safely into the hyundai fan park which wasn't too bad. Hiccups included having to negotiate with signage guys to steal their table when they were done as seating was scarce, as well as the screen cutting out twice, but otherwise it's not the worst place to watch the match for the price and with atmosphere. R20 will get you in and drinks were almost reasonably priced too. You can't expect to pay your usual pub amount for a beer in a tent trying to make a bit of money in the world cup season I guess, but I'm sure tourists though it was ama-cheap-cheap. So recommend it to your foreigners, as it won't break your bank and I hear it was less chaotic than the Grand Parade Fan Fest. I'd like to reserve my judgment on the Fan fest though, at least until I've seen it for myself.
Whan an openning ceremony! I truly think our country did us proud and that this is a great time to be a South African.

And then the game! When that goal happened it was madness! I saw a whole group fall off their table as they broke it with their jumping, and the woman next to me, wrapped in our flag in a way resembling traditional clothing, litterally started crying. Wiping away tears while still blowing on your vuvzela is a skill she had somehow found time to master.

By this stage Jenny had finally perfected her own vuvzela skills just as mine started to deteriorate and we arranged to meet up with our crowd who hadn't made it in time to make the cut of 2000 people let into the tent. We made our way along the "fan walk" through the swarming V&A waterfront to hunt down some food before our next leg to the stadium. ... to one of the most boring soccer games I'd ever seen.
BUT WHO CARES?

The Stadium
I would love to be able to say I'm one of those people who was there last night because I ultimately love soccer and always have, but that would have been a little bit of a lie. They could have been playing chess on that field and I would have still enjoyed last night. Our stadium is magnificent! Our nose-bleed seats were a climb, but when you reach the top and you see that view and the crowd, it's amazing. If you don't feel excited the first time you attend something there, you should consider seeing a doctor.
I felt it was equally impressive from the outside and we had no real trouble getting into the stadium grounds or out. Yes, there were some queues but there were 64100 of us who attended last night. Earplugs are a must, and I definitely recommend the foam ones not the silicone, having in the course of the evening tried both in an attempt at not going deaf.

To round this off since my post has become so much longer than usual I'll leave you with some understatements about last night because seriously, for me, to describe how much fun yesterday was just doesn't seem to do it any justice, so here goes.

To say that the atmosphere in Cape Town was electric is an understatement.
To say that our Stadium in our Mother City is BEAUTIFUL - Understatement.

I am very proudly South African this morning. Understatement.

(of course to say that my lips are slightly swollen this morning... understatement. Vuvu-lip. ouch!)

image via the capetour

Nice!

2010-06-10T11:37:00.002+02:00

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

The Jessica Simpson Cover

2010-04-07T22:34:00.002+02:00

Be grateful this post isn't about another bad song.

I don't know if I truly care enough this evening as to whether Jessica is or isn't wearing make-up on the Marie Claire cover.
Maybe they should technically have rather used the words "barely any make-up", but hey, that's a pretty bad coverline when alongside the other ones.

I think even though it's now being picked apart, the cover is still refreshingly different and I would have bought it off the shelves to see the other images that follow. It's doing it's job and certainly attracting attention. As it is I immediately hunted some more images from the shoot down on the internet.

So it may be a ploy. So it may not be the whole truth. I'm always won over if I get to call something beautiful. Look at this image.

BEAUTIFUL.

via Just Jared
more images here MarieClaire.com

T-Rex Syndrome and it's affects on yoga practices

2010-02-17T14:52:00.005+02:00

I've often used the term T-Rex syndrome while grumping about challenges my body presents me with from time to time.
This is how it usually goes.
I feel that I have rather large hip bones. And I'm not complaining about the width of my hips, don't get me wrong. I'm not confusing my bum size with bone size and therefore blaming some growth in the derriere area over the last few years on my bone structure. (I eat enough to have figured out that I might be personally responsible for any development there *grin*)
I mean that the actual length/height of the bone in comparison to my spine and ribcage means that there seems to, literally, not be any space for me to work on getting that gradual indentation normal people get to call a waist.

The latest complaint however revolves around yoga. It's not exactly a secret that my most recent attempt in bettering myself isn't bringing me the peace and serenity yet that I'd thought was pretty much part of the contract when you step into a class. In fact poor Neil was possibly one small step away from begging me NOT to try another class. (Think how moody I must have been for a boy to ask me NOT to take a class which generally leads to people becoming more flexible...)
But the weird unleashing of moods aside, the main thing that's bothering me with yoga is that the simplest exercise, which involves lifting my bum off the floor by just straightening my arms, is impossible! Sitting with my back straight, my shoulders down and then straightening out my arms results in only lifting myself one measly excuse for a cm off the ground. Not nearly enough to then swing back and forth. I've now started nervously laughing whenever I sense a similar exercise coming my way. I don't know whether it's my arms which are too short, or my spine, or if my legs are just completely disproportionate to my upper body and therefore impossible to move, but this is going to be filed right there under T-Rex syndrome.

Grrr. Arrrrr.

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Cheesy Pick-up Lines to Use on Graphic Designers

2010-02-11T14:42:00.003+02:00

Wow, there were a LOT of bad ones and due to my fragile state of late I'm regressing to a more prudish me. In other words I whittled them down to 9 cheesies and none of them too rude.
Hah. Spoilsport? Me?

I wish I had an Eyedropper to capture the color of your eyes.
Has anybody ever told you that your teeth have perfect kerning?
Come back to my place and I’ll show you a really naughty way to fill up some negative space.
If I went to a stock photography site and typed in the keyword: “sexy”, I bet there’d be a picture of you.
Just looking at you from across the bar, I could tell you display high Brightness and Vibrance, and have multiple Layers.
You look perfectly put together. Do you display this well in IE?
I like my fonts sans-serif, and you sans-pants.
I dig your look and feel.
Do you want to touch my Bézier curves?

VIA http://www.crestock.com/blog

Also while looking for a nice image for this post I think I may have found a new favourite photographer. Love her stuff. Meet miss Annelie Solis

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Doo doo it for love?

2010-02-03T23:12:00.002+02:00

Ah good. Another most useful gadget that's managed to surprise me from Japan.

It landed in my inbox as one of a list of cute offbeat valentine's gift ideas. I suppose it definitely has a point. Nobody I know can tell me it's not embarrassing to go to the bathroom when you're certain other people will be able to hear you. But then I hope this thing sounds real because is it not going to be extra weird if they hear tinny fake toilet flushing noises coming from the bathroom either?
What's more, Amelia had a point. They say it's small and clips easily to your mobile, but is this then assuming that we all take our phones into the loo with us as well?

If you're wondering about the version via the link that has the green logo on it, it's because this is an environmentally friendly gadget don't you know.

"...after all, this little device means you won't have to flush for real and thus saves water."

We love you Japan.
x

via daily candy

Wys jou appels?

2010-01-21T13:56:00.003+02:00

Actually this post has almost nothing to do with it's title. The title is what a friend's mom was shouting on his birthday to get him to flex his arms. Disturbing.
Almost as disturbing though is the price of Apple Macs here in our lovely little country.

All I can say is thank goodness it's more expensive in Brazil else I might have been really depressed. Hey, at least someone put it in a pretty poster format for us to stare at. There's a silver lining everywhere!

Side note: Congrats to Tam who will finally for the first time, this very month, receive her true salary! You finally own your whole beautiful machine!

via gizmodo

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Our first little Christmas tree in the top flat

2009-12-21T17:18:00.004+02:00

Looksee looksee :)
As we always have our tree in my parent's house, it slipped my brain that I actually have a space for my own little tree in the flat this year.
Luckily Christmas came early this year for Dave in that his worldly goods and belongings from the UK arrived almost exactly one year after his being rudely booted out (thank you recession).
This little beauty popped up out of one of those boxes.
Welcome to the madness little tree, you are very welcome here.

(2hours later I had Dave trying to help me move in an organ... I'm pretty certain he hates me.)

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Life in snaps

2009-12-09T14:15:00.005+02:00

I've got cuts on my ankles from my glitter sneakers! Not many people can say that.

Local Loquats... but not.

2009-10-22T09:50:00.002+02:00

You know how something can become such a huge part of your childhood, that you kind of just assume it's of the same origin as you.
Our lovely loquat tree has been around so long, and so many people have a similar one in their backyard, that somehow I always just assumed it was a uniquely South African fruit (much like the other members of my family *wink*)

So it possessed me this Heritage Day that I was finally going to do something with all those yellow fruit burdening my tree. Oh yes, I've claimed it as mine since I was always the kid who scoffed most of them before pointing out that some had started ripening.
Only then after hunting down some recipe's online did I find out that the loquat actually originated in China. What?
Ah well, what with us pretty much eating anything the Chinese have been feeding us politically for a while now... perhaps it was fitting that I sat peeling 1kg of these sweet and sour fruit on our national holiday?

Here's a recipe I found in The Times which sounded quite nice! I think I may have either made my tea too strong, or cooked the syrup a little long though as mine seems to be lacking the beautiful golden colour this image shows. I'm trying it again! At least now I have my own little kitchen to mess in and won't torture the rest of the house with my mess the next time.

Ingredients:
1-1,5kg ripened but firm loquats, washed
3 cups of sugar
3-4 cups of rooibos tea made using four well-steeped rooibos tea bags
10ml whole cloves
1 stick cinnamon
5ml mixed spice
125ml brandy

Method:

Peel loquats by blanching in boiling water to which the juice of one lemon has been added. Leave until the skin loosens - it will just be a couple of minutes. Drain, cool, peel, halve and remove the seeds.

Combine the sugar and rooibos tea in a large pan. Bring to a gentle boil stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Add the spices and simmer for 10 minutes. Add brandy to syrup. Pack fruit into sterilised glass jars, pour over warm syrup and seal. Leave to infuse for a couple of weeks.

This is good served with ice cream or cheese.

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

International Kite... Er

2009-10-14T12:19:00.003+02:00

Well we finally got to the kite festival only to discover, not the amazing international show we'd somehow imagined, but more a HUGE family event.
There were more children attached to strings than could possibly have been safe.

I do think that THIS publication may have over-sold the idea a little when they claimed

"Dragons and scuba divers are just some of the kiting creations that will fill the sky above Muizenberg..."

But at least all you really need for a great afternoon are some good friends, mixed with a little spontaneity and if one of them happens to bring a hip flask... Even better!
• Long walk on the beach
• Drive to Hout Bay
• Fish and chips
• Tea on a mountain pass

Fun fun fun!

A nice lesson for those of us trying to whip ourselves into shape for the job market... again :P

2009-10-01T16:29:00.004+02:00

Ah life, you have really been inducing some big sigh's out of me lately.

About a month ago I got great opportunity to crawl out of my stagnant career situation and skip off into greener pastures. Was it scary? Most definitely. At the same time though it was so very necessary and exhilirating and with all the support in the world any girl could wish for I set out on my new adventure.

It's been four weeks and thanks to the economy, crisis, lack of advertising or gremlins (honestly who do we blame really?) my beautiful new desk is in danger of vanishing just as I was finally starting to make new friends and settle into my new design groove.

Do I regret taking a chance and moving? Not at all really. If it hadn't happened here it could have happened somewhere else. Also it's been a great pleasure to work somewhere that I've aimed to reach with people that I admire.

I do however find myself in that uncomfortable state of limbo while waiting to receive notice and hoarding my pennies for my coming rainy days. Again, thankfully, I have all the support I had with my initial move and am feeling oddly positive for someone lately being termed as an "affected person".
So here I go updating my portfolio again and analysing my CV. I'm getting ready to call contacts and sell myself to a financially tight market place with a beaming smile as soon as I'm notified of my enforced holiday. I'm also seeing this as a chance to finally brush up on web-design - a project I've been postponing till I finally get a chance to take a nice break. Careful what you wish for...

So wish me luck people and if you're in a similar situation and have been using the resources of those around you to tune and tone your porti... I found this article which has been a great help so far.

A good read for any designer methinks.

HOW TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO DESIGN CRITICISM
(via smashing magazine)

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Some things i learnt from anime...

2009-09-17T14:21:00.001+02:00

I suppose I in fact actually have Eugene to thank for all the knowledge I have gained these last few years, as he's to blame for getting me hooked.
*grin*

I'm not sure how to explain my love of anime. Maybe it's the outrageous hairstyles, or perhaps I've just always loved animated movies since my first Disney experience and never quite let go of that joy. All I know is I still get cravings all the time and have a burning desire to go see Japan.
It's a pity I don't have as much time as I used to, to get lost in episode after episode until late at night – it’s the sacrifices I grudgingly make to preserve Neil’s sanity. I think that it really has gotten a bit bad though, so will make more of an effort to educate myself a bit more.

Look at all the things you can learn!

*NOTE: This was just a fun e-mail, which landed in my box. I’ve edited the list slightly just to personalize it a little.

(study time - Youkai Okami via deviantart.com)

59 THINGS YOU COULD LEARN FROM WATCHING ANIME (this is for you Neil… hint hint)

1.     War sucks.
2.     You CAN have too many women.
3.     Smart people wear glasses.
4.     Music foreshadows plot.
5.     The less you care about sex, the more opportunities you'll get.
6.     (Inversely, the harder you try, the less you'll get.)
7.     When you die, make a long speech, and don't finish the last sentence.
8.     Snow means love.
9.     In space, you can hear everything.
10.   There's always room for flashbacks!
11.   When in China, listen to your tour guide.
12.   The good guy always has the BLUE glow.
13.   Believe in goddesses.
14.   Teachers have excellent aim with small objects.
15.   Vengeance with a mallet is the sweetest revenge of all.
16.   Honor is sexy; villainy is irresistible.
17.   Women are attracted to loners and nerds; men are attracted to ANYTHING.
18.   The coolest weapon is still the sword.
19.   The hero is never really mad until they hurt his girlfriend.
20.   Female androids are sexy; male androids are male androids.
21.   School uniforms are cool only when the collar is open.
22.   A show without sexual tension isn't worth watching.
23.   Love knows no race, species, or logic.
24.   Never trust a huge corporation.
25.   You can never have too much hair.
26.   Daydreaming leads to accidents.
27.   Everyone wants to conquer Japan.
28.   The cute, fuzzy creature isn't what it seems.
29.   Cherry blossoms mean nostalgia.
30.   Losing your temper can be therapeutic.
31.   You can never have too many subplots.
32.   If she sings, she's doomed.
33.   Outrageous vehicles only make the hero cooler.
34.   Fancy ice cream is for girls only.
35.   Hot water has innumerable benefits.
36.   No matter how much blood is lost, no one can die by a nosebleed.
37.   (The same theory above applies to vomiting.)
38.   The girl with the curly hair is always the seductress.
39.   If a sister falls in love with her brother, somewhere down the line you will discover that they're not blood related.
40.   The guy in the baseball cap is always more powerful than he seems.
41.   All young children can pilot mecha; you just need to give them a few days.
42.   The oldest sister is the nice one; the youngest sister is the brash one.
43.   When someone paints up their face, they mean business.
44.   Everyone in Japan has excellent singing voices.
45.   No matter how many times you rebuild, Tokyo keeps getting destroyed in a massive fireball.
46.   A martial arts expert is always defenseless against a slap from the girl who loves him.
47.   The longer it takes to say what your punch is called, the less effective it is.
48.   The more possessive a woman gets, the less likely she will end up with the man of her dreams.
49.   The fate of the planet will rest in the hands of a seemingly normal high school student.
50.   True evil can never be destroyed, only banished to some nether realm where it awakes after a few hundred years.
51.   Even the bravest souls can be made weak and helpless by the sight of a cute little puppy or kitten.
52.   Never trust a guy with shiny teeth
53.   A samurai sword can cut through anything.
54.   All people over the age of 60 shrink in height in direct proportion to their age.
55.   Any love interest will always at some point be (or seem to be) possessed by a demon.
56.   Mallets can be stored anywhere on anybody.
57.   A hero always loses the first fight with a new enemy.
58.   Don't trust a guy with two earrings.
59.   Any truly evil person who changes sides for the woman he loves will die in that episode.

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

ooooooh... chickenosaurus a thing for the future?

2009-08-26T10:46:00.002+02:00

http://technology.iafrica.com/news/science/1886221.htm

I keep thinking "oh COOL!"

and then I think... hmmmm... but we've obviously already seen this movie...

and then I think "oh Cooooooooool!!"

Dear Universe...

2009-07-30T10:57:00.002+02:00

Why say something that comes across like this?

"Oh here you go guys... have the boy you want. You, have the girl you want. Don't worry about hurting other people involved, be as mean as you'd like to them, fall in love, move in together, get married, and I'll even throw in working nearby each other as often as I can so you can live in a blissful bubble of happiness especially created for you..."

Clearly you and Karma are still having a fight yes?

Kind Regards

Keyna

p.s thanks for remembering to move me this time at least. It's appreciated.

creepy but cool

2009-07-21T06:41:00.003+02:00

Just a follow on and a "find" from when the whole media circus began.

Not really going to waffle much more on the topic of good, bad or wack... :)

All the same this was a good picture that I found that could have worked for the post.

thanks Sarah Weaver. Awesome stuff in your porti!

RIP Michael Jackson

2009-06-26T10:12:00.003+02:00

Being 3 girls, with very different personalities in my family, there was a deal that we each would have our idol/favourite artist. Not that the others weren't allowed to like the icon as well, just they were YOUR favourite.

MJ was one of these. The hours of fun and dancing that this artist brought to our house are some of my favourite memories!
Over the years I guess our idol fell off his pedestal quite badly. I mean it's hard for even the most die-hard individuals to ignore accusations of kiddie-fiddling and weird tales of "Jesus juice"? How do things even become as sordid as the stories that filtered out of an estate called Neverland...?
Will we EVER fine out what really happened behind those gates, or to his nose, or to his skin? The questions and even urban legends around MJ seem endless! But was it just me or did the music always seem to wipe the weirdness away?
It could make you believe that you too could do the moonwalk (yes you, the geeky kid in the corner! I know you practiced!), sing passionately that Billy Jean was not your lover and also that we'd all finally realised we are the world, that black and white definitely should never matter. That last song may have become cheesy, but damn, as a young South African now having become adult (ok... more like a kidult I guess) I still love it.

Maybe he was wacko jacko, maybe he truly was an innocent
lost boy from Neverland happy in his fantasy. Maybe he was horribly lonely even when he had all the wealth and things his heart could imagine?
There have been times where I was completely convince he was sick and maybe we were supporting someone who needed help not acceptance?
There have been others where I've thought along the lines of Gareth Cliff's post this morning
@GarethCliff I'm so very sad about Michael Jackson. The world treated his sad genius very badly. I think he died feeling quite lonely. He deserved more

I guess only his family or those close to them could possibly ever know the real man, and even the small group who could be close to him seem to disagree in opinion.

The one thing we can and should all say though is this : THANK you for all the songs, the boogies and the beats, and I hope that he realised that he'd live on forever with some of us.

He was anything but "normal", thats for sure.

Michael Jackson sample map:
(via @lebogang_nkoane)

@Deepak_Chopra A Tribute to My Friend, Michael Jackson http://bit.ly/tYis4

"Did you find it?"

2009-06-22T11:16:00.001+02:00

Ever had one of those precious moments where you're an observer of a conversation going horribly wrong?

For months now Alex and Neil have been having alarming effects on each other. Bringing entertainment to the Bosch household with their latest experiments and mildly obsessive behaviour.

The latest of these involve large fish tanks, aquatic plants... and fish. Although it's generally thought that the fish are pretty much merely there to make the tanks easier to explain rather than forming part of the actual reason for having them.

(oh yes... and to clean the tank!)

One of Alex's fish (named Cow) has however recently gone missing. Presumed dead it's now just a matter of whoever can spot the fish will bring the mystery of it's whereabouts to an end.

Enter the scene:

The rugby match is underway and Neil has excused himself. Ian enquires as to where Neil has gone but misses the answer Gaylin and I provide. On his return this conversation takes place.

Ian: Neil, did you find it?

Neil: Um...

Ian: Is it dead?

Neil: (puzzled) It is... pretty dead yes.

Ian: Oh! well then we should flush it! Or did you flush it?

Neil: Oh no it's ok... er... I took care of it!

Ian: Oh good! where was it?

Neil:...

Ohna: Ian...

At this point Gaylin and I were giggling so hard nothing much more could be explained.

It was about 5 minutes later when Neil FINALLY realized Ian had been asking after Alex's fish and that he wasn't THAT concerned with his toilet behaviour...

My word. These moments are priceless.

Image via deviantart.com by Vonzilla

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

"Get Wasted"

2009-06-19T16:28:00.006+02:00

I can't quite remember where I first spotted this but it was worth a re-post!

"Trash: AnyColorYouLike" Art Project pink trash!

One man's $1,000,000 piece of modern art is another man's garbage.
And vice versa.

So if you're low on funds but consider yourself an abstract thinker, participate in Trash:AnyColorYouLike — Adrian Kondratowicz's project making a statement on mass consumption.

An intervention of sorts, the idea is to beautify garbage by using vibrant colored bags, causing people to take notice of how much trash they produce.
Made of 100 percent biodegradable PVC and scented with peppermint bubble gum, the bags are hot pink with gold or while polka dots (and repel insects and vermin to boot). Purchase one for $10, fill it with air, display at home, and explain to confused peeps that it's art. Or opt for a box of ten ($30) and use them for actual garbage bags as Kondratowicz intended.

Either way, people will start talking trash.

Available online at anycoloryoulike

My my, how useful!

2009-06-09T16:36:00.004+02:00

Looksee at this little gem of a site!

downforeveryoneorjustme.com

It sorts out that niggling paranoia that some of us suffer from.

You're sitting at your computer, waiting, hoping that your site you've casually clicked on is busy loading. But alas, it doesn't! Does the internet hate you? Is there a web god who's taken a particular dislike to you? Are you not meant to purchase the treasure trove of online shopping your newsletter brought you? Has google abandoned hope of world domination and crashed? (god forbid!)

Just type in the url of the site that's taunting you and get your answer.

Sucks when it's just you though...

burn.

via neil

(his site is a little LOT more technical than I get in my day to day life though *grin*)

How I'm feeling today

2009-06-05T16:02:00.001+02:00

I listened to this album a lot while thinking about Linny and now again this week...

I know it was naive but I was hoping that this year would be easier in a way. I tried making a little pact. That I would try even harder to be the person I know I should, and can be, if I could get a break from some of the tougher things in life.

It's not that I have it tough. I'm not deluded into thinking that life has been a massive struggle here in suburbia... in fact I'm very grateful for all the blessings I've been given.

I guess I just miss people.

Some have slipped, or are slipping, so slowly and painfully out of my life. And last saturday my cousin Dan left so suddenly it feels as if it knocked the breath out of our whole family.

I think I would like 2009 to be the year I learn to lessen regret.

Because yes, I have some new ones this week for which time has run out to try and fix.

I know I must let go of it and I will. But I'd rather try and keep my pact I made, even if the hurt keeps coming.

Life is always going to bring death no matter how many promises you make, but regret can be lessened by being that person we should all keep trying to be.

Vibrations in the Air - Josh Pyke

Thinking 'bout the times I

know I should have taken

photographs

Something to rely on,

sharper than a memory.

'Cause chemistry dictates them,

they're not coloured by emotion,

They're coloured by the shades

of how things used to be.

And nothing breaks the

heart much more than

looking at old photographs

When you can taste the moment,

and worse still, if it's passed

They're gone now to the future,

but you still can't deny them,

like a song that's sung.

Regret, is like a filter,

that colours all your endeavours

And once put on becomes a feature

of your current works

WHAT I FEAR,

is that all fo these things I hold dear,

never become more than

vibrations in air.

Vibrations in air

Voices in the air,

they echo in my head like radios,

scratchy frequencies and

static in between words

They're all on the wind now,

but I bet I never told you,

I missed you when you were gone

Regret, is like a filter,

that colours all your endeavours

And once put on becomes a feature

of your current works

You gotta change your focus,

turn your eye to something else

'Cause once put on becomes

a feature of your current works

What I fear

is that all of these things I hold dear

never become more than

vibrations in air.

We miss you Dan,,,

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Heartfelt-nessness repeating itself

2009-05-25T11:41:00.006+02:00

This is a BIG thank you to EVERYONE who came out on the town on Friday!

I loved every second of being out! (riiiiiiiiiight up until my untimely bathroom visit and then not so stealthy departure)

I believe I'm going to let thanks for that lie in Sarah's lap *grin*

Just a few mini special mentions:

• Thank you to the Ragdolls clan for witnessing and partaking in my demise AGAAAAIN. (hope I didn't frighten you too much Jess & Kyle & Kyle! arriving early means you got to really see my tragic fall :)

• Thanks to Paul and Maresa for listening to my "love of little Dutch people" ramblings.

• Thanks to Amy for remaining calm as I harassed her lovely friend Stephan. (I'm assuming there was harassing, as I just remember what seemed to be a terrified look on his face...)

• Thanks to Graham for his stellar spinning techniques!

• Thanks to Cybil for still having any faith in me as a book club organiser after everything she's seen me get up to.

• Thank you to my legs for not letting me down as I skipped everywhere!

• THANK YOU TO NEIL & TAMSIN! MY HARD WORKING GUARDIAN ANGELS.

I don't tell you two enough how damn blessed I am to have you around.

Which brings me to some apologies...because as per usual I owe both of you plenty! (I'll start grovelling in person though *grin*! it may take too long in this post...)

also

• Apologies to any of you lovely friends who I may have randomly squished in a hugging frenzy. People tell me I may be repressed in day to day life and this is a side effect drinking has on me...

• Apologies to those of you I didn't GET to squish because I'd left by the time you'd arrived! (eeek Jenna and Carrissa you are in that bunch!)

• and apologies to anyone who saw my sorry state before Neil whisked me away like the knight he is...

LOTS & lots of love

Affectionate feeling Keyn.

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Salutations

2009-05-22T10:29:00.002+02:00

Please feel free to pass on :)

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

many more thankyous!

2009-05-20T18:29:00.006+02:00

Thank you to everyone who has made today so special!

I feel completely spoilt and honestly just want you to know how much I appreaciate all you have done for me this last year! I am SO blessed and I should try to remember that more often! (feel free to remind me if I'm daft enough to ever forget ;)

To you all:

via OhJoy

Ragdoll raffles & raucous raunchiness TONIGHT

2009-05-13T12:00:00.005+02:00

uh oh, I'll be spending another night with The Ragdolls... and this time there seems to be more being given away than just random Jägermeisters!

You can win, THEM!... but the question is who on earth can handle this prize?

Having over the last few months steadily built up my ability to only just aaaalmost finish a full night with these nutters, I can honestly say whoever wins this prize instantly earns my respect! You'll also be winning the envy of a lot of people, because, let me tell you... you're about to have TONS of fun!

see their write up below!

The gloves are off. A combination of honest-to-god rock and roll music, untamed vocals with some of the raunchiest lyrics, and not to mention on-stage antics, you're likely to come across in this day and age.

there will be a R20 a raffle ticket.

what will you win?
• a Ragdolls CD.
• double tickets to every show of the cape town leg of the tour.(stones tableview w / the uncut... corner bar w / the uncut & the assembly with Taxi Violence + the uncut)
AND AND, the biggest prize.
• a Night out with the Ragdolls.
• You will not drive
• You will not pay entrance fees
• You will have plenty of free drinks (which means you'll wake up in the morning with your clothes still on, wondering why all your money is still in your pocket. and why there is a blow up sheep next to you)
• You will have an awesome time while we show YOU how to party!• You will be a Ragdolls VIP till you fall over and beg us to take you home.

All that, for just a R20 raffle ticket.. The more you buy. The more chance you have to win...

See you on Wednesday! Remember its the last time you'll be seeing them till the 17th of June!

Also performing on Wednesday night is Kombat Fudge
Kombat Fudge rocks. Formed back in ’99 in the beach suburbia of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the 3-piece band went straight to work on an original rock sound that brought together elements of punk, funk, reggae, blues, jazz, metal and rock ‘n roll.Influences like Jimi Hendrix and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers float through the deep funk they produce, while pangs of Pantera creep into their hardest darkest sections, and when its time to just rock ‘n roll, in sneaks a little AC/DC tone.

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Private Browsing

2009-05-08T16:49:00.008+02:00

I completely agree! This private browsing sweater via Trend Insights is hilarious!

Am I mad though, to think it's also kinda cute in my opinion? Of course, it would definitely have to be a winter device... Can you imagine sticking your head into a wooly jumper in the middle of a South African summer? :P

Then again... can you imagine sticking your head inside anything that could blind you to approaching danger in South Africa, in any season :P

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Absolutely, utterly hysterical! and a few other words you can find here!

2009-05-08T16:44:00.005+02:00

Holy hat! when SamWilson1 pointed us in the direction of this blog I didn't realise I was going to let out one of those LOUD giggles that sometimes escape in the office?

How am I honestly supposed to keep up my appearance of a hard working lass, when there are things like this out there to distract me?
Here's to giving up and sharing some of my favourites...

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Zipper sounds!

2009-05-07T10:26:00.005+02:00

Innovative headphones by Ji Woong!
Now aren't these a beautiful solution to those stupid little rubber-band-like things? (They've always been one of those irritations my brain just never got over. It began as way back as that first sony walkman my dad brought back from Bangkok. I was so cool! Thanks for that brief moment dad :P)

Would love to see this in real life! Hope the volume control isn't a little too bulky, but I guess I'm pushing it seeeeriously if I think it could go smaller?
Hmmmm yes. Possibly ignore this last bit!

In other words, I still covet!

via Trend Insights

hello photo-lovin-fun-peoples!

2009-04-20T21:28:00.002+02:00

just passing this on! looks like a cool idea!

So even tho it's elections and whatnots keep your camera's handy and snap away! :D

Earth Mosaic 2009

via jurgenphoto

About Earth Mosaic 2009
Mark your place in the world on a full colour picture-mosaic map of Earth, made entirely of images capturing special and ordinary moments, around the world, in just one day.

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing on Earth Day – 22 April 2009, we’re asking you to take photographs of the world around you and select your best one (or more - but make sure they're GOOD!) for submission to this project.
You can visit the EarthMosaic project website here.
Follow @earthmosaic on Twitter

RULES
All submitted images must be taken within the 24 hour period of 22 April 2009, as it occurs in the country where you are on that day.

You may send in more than one image taken on the day – but make sure they're your best ones!

All those participating are asked to spread the word and help make the project as far- reaching as possible.

All images must be uploaded by 30th April 2009. By submitting your image to EarthMosaic.org, you license the image as Creative Commons (Attribution, Non-Commercial, Derivatives)
Every attempt will be made to place each image on the map as close to the country where it was taken. However, to allow an even spread of images across the map, this may not be possible.
http://earthmosaic.org/

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Formula 1 Cuisine Club Fun! - China

2009-04-20T16:34:00.003+02:00

SO after attending my first ever and, I feel, very successful bachelorette party on Saturday night... it was with a thumping headache and suspicious bruises that I headed to the kitchen on Sunday morning.

I think i was attempting to experience panic that I had overslept by about half and hour but I'm not sure my body was listening to my brain at that stage yet! So HOW relieved was I to see a wonderful blonde man in my kitchen deftly chopping up some fruit and a fantastic mom standing at the microwave urging rice to get nice 'n fluffy!

Honestly bless BOTH of you!

This sunday was China at 9:00 in the morning which meant me preparing some sort of chinese breakfast!

And here is what was on the menu! (Gaylin and I plan to start a seperate blog for peeps to follow along with! save you all your own research time :P But in the meantime I'll post here!)

• First up was "Chinese Fruit Salad"

We made this minus the star fruit tho as I just couldn't find any anywhere! Fruit & Veg is really letting me down lately!

We did put in some pomegranate for prettyness though and it looked great with the lemon rind sprinkled over the top.

•Then I TRIED to make "Eggs in Rice Nests" which should have been simple enough but I'm thinking the oven wasn't hot enough initially so the first few bowls came out with the rice quite dry... *sigh*

It's quite a cool concep tho!

You make a savoury brown rice with chicken stock, then add some flaked almonds and spring onions and "Italian seasoning" (I added nice fresh bean sprouts too!)

Dish into bowls with an indent made in the middle.

Crack an egg into the hole you've made and sprinkle mozzerella around the edges :)

I think if the rice hadn't dried out as much it would have been pretty cool.

I'll definately try it again tho on a smaller scale – 15 bowls popping in and out of an oven was a little intensive for this noob of a kitchen kid!

and finally for something sweet

• Kat's cheeky chocolate springrolls!

Definately the hit of the meal as far as I'm concerned! Kat came over to also save me from myself that morning and was her usual star self!

I also completely understand why she's addicted! they ARE easy to make and yum yum yum!! It's nutella heaven! hmmmmmm....

photo's coming to this post ASAP! x

Posted via email from keyna_b's posterous

Robot love

2009-04-17T13:44:00.003+02:00

Robots are working for me of late!

Maybe I should specify. I'm loving illustrations of robots lately and this is definitely one of my favourites so far.

So if anybody would like to find me a t-shirt like this... or a poster even, feel very free to do so!
*grin*

found via dear swissmiss

note: Actually if I'm completely honest I'm loving quite a few things which start with the letter "R" lately! Natasha got me hooked!! grrr...

A Bright project in more ways than one I think!

2009-04-09T11:38:00.010+02:00

The Bright Side Project has become one of my favourite visits every day! (or at least I attempt to visit as often as possible)

Lets just say it combines 2 of my very favourite things!

A place to chance upon designers I may not have heard of yet, aaaaaaaaaand free goodies!

It's a brilliant concept! A bright idea, as I'm sure you'll agree!

Honestly. If you're resisting the urge right now to go and immediately check this link, then I'm completely shocked by your lack of curiosity.Don't go disappointing me now *grin*

oh ok fine then, lazy bones... here, read this and THEN go take a looksee

The Bright Side Project is here to bring you a little metaphorical sunshine every day, to help you stop for a second and remember life is (still) beautiful and there is goodness in the world. Most importantly, The Bright Side Project strives to build fantastic exposure for those contributors who have been generous and kind enough to participate.

The Bright Side Project Part is dedicated to YOU. All you have to do for a chance to win is answer the artist/designer’s question in the comment section. Easy-peasy! I do hope you play along each day, as your answers make our days brighter and we all need a little reminder to look on the bright side...

See? Pretty cool huh? I absolutely love good intentions and sites spreading positive ideas!

See also operation nice which I carry a badge for on the right of my page

Proudly South African

2009-04-07T19:24:00.002+02:00

Well no, not exactly. Not yesterday anyway.

I guess I’m actually not too sure what to say about this whole farcical thing anymore, other than I truly do wish an ACTUAL trial had happened. Even if then, in the courts, it was not proven without a doubt that Zuma is as guilty as many believe, at least we wouldn’t all be sitting here still in some darkness to political shenanigans playing out around us.

But hey, it doesn’t make me any less South African (even if I’m only half Afrikaner tribe…:P)
and if there’s one thing we’re good at, no matter what, it’s poking a bit of fun to cheer ourselves up!

So here guys are some “Zuma Biscuits” I found online today. I spotted them on my trip to the SA National Gallery with Maresa as well but had forgotten about them.
Now apparently Stuart Bird didn’t mean to poke fun at Zuma when he created them. Rather he was making a statement representing how…

"Just like a child will take a cookie from his parents, without thinking of health or other consequences, that's how his followers swallow his utterances, without questioning them."

Nevertheless may they make your mouth tilt ever so slightly upward, as they did mine, while we wait to see what on earth happens next in the race to the polls.

the bizznaz!

2009-04-07T00:08:00.001+02:00

Great site found by Laura!
http://www.yoc2008.com/en/home.do
Lots of inspiration to create your own business card
BE the person you thought you'd grow up to be
Change to something far more interesting than you do now :P

One for Tam! SO clear! so driven that it makes me envious

One for Kat

What I’m SURE I’d be better at

One for Lucy

One for Tessa

One for Neil

One for Gaylin’s Schalkie

An eeeeevil fun one for Tam (I believe she and Jen are a formidable team!)

One for Fritz!!!

One for too wise Gaylin

I’m pretty sure I could find one for everyone of course but these are the ones I liked on my first brief browse.
Go take a look. It’s worth a few moments.

Thomas C. Marsh Middle School – There is Only Opportunity

2009-03-18T22:03:00.000+02:00

Band: Thomas C. Marsh Middle School'
Title: there is only opportunity.

1 - Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random” or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:RandomThe first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations" or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3 The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days” or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.5 - Post it to FB with this text in the "caption" and TAG the friends you want to join in. (you can untag yourself if you don't want this photo up) PLEASE TAG ME IN YOURS SO I CAN SEE IT!!

umm…

2009-03-06T00:21:00.000+02:00

thanks!
I have a better idea… how bout we just take your word for it?

Found this lovely example of packaging on one of Neil’s MANY trips to Garden Centre!
Someone remind me to find the gem of signage regarding their drinking policies. Or maybe I just have a very very silly sense of humour.

I’m not making too many excuses but, all I’m saying is, if you’re the kind of person who’s been cursed with a black thumb, don’t really enjoy sand or soil sneakily finding it’s way into places it shouldn’t be and suffer from melting disorder every summer… you find ways of entertaining yourself while your loved one oooh’s and aaah’s and thoroughly studies plant after plant. *grin*
It is pretty interesting a lot of it I will admit! Just every now and then my brain wanders.

do you deserve it?

2009-03-02T19:54:00.001+02:00

aaah Karma...

I must say! Thank you for being so present these days!

When those degenerates’ tent blew down I had a good chuckle. When later his car battery died I was pleasantly surprised!

It's small things but I guess in the last year I've had some moments where my mom's words have finally rung brilliantly true. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you..."

Or as I've summarised it over the years it's kind of more along the lines of this

"Play nice, be considerate and kind...or karma will whoop yer ass!"

Good people don't always have good things happening to them. You'll receive trials and tests and seemingly insurmountable obstacles... you'll also be betrayed by people pretending to be a good friend but you will overcome them because you will have with you true good friends who love and appreciate you for who you are and who you try to be.

And bad people... well... they don't always have bad things happen to them. But thats life, good and bad.

Here's the catch though...once you've done things and pushed people away with your actions then what? I know without my friends I definitely wouldn't have come out sane, and I can only HOPE i manage to repay them, somehow, one day. I'm very grateful I haven't managed to push them away by hurting them somehow. I hope to never do that.

So that is why I'm writing this I guess. Just to acknowlege that I still believe (possibly naively) in a form of karma.

*psssst... if you're listening up there tho... lets not forget I've been waiting a nice long half a decade to see some kind of ass-kicking related to "the incidents". *grin* heheheh ok no that was a little eeeevil. whoops.

For this post I went hunting and found this great site The Devil’s Garage. I’m really enjoying his illustrations and believe I’ll subscribe to keep an eye on this fellow!

fauxhawk fun & sillyness

2009-02-27T19:10:00.000+02:00

from back when I first cut my hair…

much much silly sillyness

see Maryke? I posted these in the end! *grin*

Hellooooo design and fashion watchers!

2009-02-26T09:31:00.005+02:00

Tam was lucky enough to see Li Edelkoort's presentation the other day!

grrr... I am a most jealous Keyna

For those of us who missed it! Here's a little overview of some trends we should see in 2009 and 2010!
clickety click

YAY FOR YELLOW!
and birdies and insects and blurriness!
How's that song go? these are a few of my favourite things...

oi…vey…

2009-02-22T19:07:00.000+02:00

Today I walked into Tygervalley and tripped.
I looked for a birthday present for Gaylin, and popped a button nearly hitting a saleswoman. I walked with Dave to the ring section and broke a ring. Went to HangTen and knocked a display over…

Went to a spinning class and nearly flew off my bike.

I am going to bed early. It’s safer and just one of those days *grin*

...to you

2009-02-17T23:29:00.001+02:00

another belated Valentines to my special someone...x

I'm happy and it's that big enough of a deal. :)

(image via 80percentWeeklies)

ok so I know it's not a...

2009-02-16T23:34:00.001+02:00

ok so I know it's not an intergalactic proton powered electrical tentacle advertising droid.

but it's still electrical and tentacled! so this is for you two Danie and Neil! :D

Say hello to OCTOBOT!

via supermarkethq.com

* oh shoot!!! AND FOR YOU DEEEEEON! thanks for telling me neil! (see below)

bizarre but cute things for kiddies

2009-02-16T20:21:00.000+02:00

Pretty self-explanatory. The Pee and Poo Kids Underwearicon features a dare-we-say cute characterization of one's bodily functions in the anatomically appropriate places. Pee and Poo can help educate your child about the body, and their friendly personalities will help your child be more comfortable with the potty training experience. Available in boys and girls styles as well as unisex baby briefs.Pee and Poo Kids Underwearicon. Made me smile.

Like I said… bizarre. But CUTE!

Want

2009-02-15T17:55:00.001+02:00

Brilliant posters available at
theposterlist.com
I've already spotted 5 i want to buy for myself and neil.... oh blast...
i covet... sigh*

View Full Album

Dear cold Safa friends…

2009-02-13T19:00:00.000+02:00

We miss you!

I was browsing news24 through the pics that have been sent through of London’s cold spell.

This one was definitely my favourite :)
Dear Madiba… hasn’t he always given us hope and pride? and now this week ice-cream!
hmmmm… or is he about ta getcha with these snowballs! lol!
Hi5!

I hope even though you’ve been cold that you’re having a great time! dress warm ‘n keep safe!

Love
K

you.is.being preeeeeety

2009-02-06T19:42:00.000+02:00

USB jewellery
Posted by TrendInsights

If you want to look cool carrying whilst carrying your USB, you can consider USB jewellery. USB jewellery spots fashion items that are both functional and highly fashionable. It ranges from cuff links, to bracelets and necklaces. The USBs are made of sterling silver, with two types of designs - matt finishing or shiny finishing. Each of the USB has a storage capacity of 2GB, with upgrades available. All details are handmade in Berlin by industrial designer Tonia Welter and jewellery designer Julia Reymann.

I’m still thinking it’s just a matter of time till I can plug myself straight in. One day Keyna, one day.

In the meantime I really wouldn’t mind these pretty little trinkets. pleez?

you know I did…

2009-02-04T19:18:00.000+02:00

so everyone has by now haven’t they?

I found these stored in a file for a rainy day to bring a smile to my face.
It’s not raining but that’s no reason not to have another look ‘n giggle.

Go on if you haven’t. Yearbook yourself!

Here are some of my fav’s

not too bad?

the frightening thing here is I look almost identical to my Ouma in the 70’s

Young Michael Jackson eat your heart out!

My fringe is often conspiring to reach these proportions!

aaaah SA Politics... I love you

2009-02-03T16:09:00.001+02:00

IFP: Julius our Grand Hero
2/02/2009 22:47 - (SA)

Cape Town - Inkatha Freedom Party Chief Whip Koo va der Merwe paid tribute to ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema on Thursday, as the "grand hero" of all opposition parties.

"On behalf of all opposition parties I wish to pay tribute to the Grand Hero of all Opposition parties - Mr Julius Malema," Van der Merwe told the National Assembly."

Never in the glorious history of this land have opposition parties had such a magnificent organiser canvassing votes by the thousands for opposition parties.

"Never in the history of the ANC has any human being effectively sabotaged the ANC as much as our Grand Hero Julius Malema," he said.

"I am personally so grateful for our Hero's unstinting efforts to win votes for the opposition that I am prepared to start a fund to contribute to his expenses.

"Julius, old boy, thank you very much. Siyabonga kakulu, mfane. Please continue your magnificent efforts. And, Julius, please don't allow civilized people in the ANC to derail you from your efforts."

"You will go down in political history as the Grand Hero of the Opposition and the Magnificent Mampara of the ANC," Van der Merwe said.

Earlier on Thursday, Malema issued his latest unconditional apology for insulting Education Minister Naledi Pandor about her "fake American accent" on Wednesday.

"I acknowledge that the remarks I made against you were uncalled for and might have disappointed and hurt you.

"I write this letter to unconditionally apologise for those remarks," Malema said.

Currently funny

2009-02-02T15:15:00.001+02:00

via Trend Insights

tinsiders.blogspot.com

keyna.b

No offense, but...

Awkward. What a cool word!

Dear 2012

Gosh 2011...

Christmas Cheer

Those unexplainables...

Gimme More

Home Sweet Home

I spy

Off we go!

Ch ch chaaanges

Tip Tap Tops

Feeling Sluggish

Must motivate myself to appear motivated

Had I been immortal...

Dots and fulllstops

Back in your box!

What's better than superhero's?

New Journal... you WILL be mine

I'm not Knit picky

Move it or Lose it!

Oh Hello Monday. Oh? Uhoh... Boom!

Better than Barbie or Barney fo' sho

Unbeleafable!

READ it!

Psst...

Must'ave Mustache

Happy Anniversary X

Oh I'd DEFINITELY make space for these!

Pandamonium

Braided Typography

Crass, crude, but still often charming

"Pahsties" and "Paysties"...

Lazer Blast it all...

Just when you feel a little low

We <3 Infographics

Earth Hour 2011

quiet screaming desperation

Don't panic...

Food & WIne Pairing

kis·met

I still hope...

Nerdiness!

"Don't ever get used to it..."

I could wait here in South Africa...

Iiit's Aliiiiiiive...

Stumbled upon...

This week's "I covet"

Chi-Wing Lee Miix Spoon Set

Christopher Jagmin Little Odd Plate Collection

I can half save your life.

Ah Mr Marley...

My Weekly Daily Dose: No Space for Fun

My Weekly Daily Dose: Thorne In Your Side

Some understatements

Nice!

The Jessica Simpson Cover

T-Rex Syndrome and it's affects on yoga practices

Cheesy Pick-up Lines to Use on Graphic Designers

Doo doo it for love?

Wys jou appels?

Our first little Christmas tree in the top flat

Life in snaps

Local Loquats... but not.

International Kite... Er

A nice lesson for those of us trying to whip ourselves into shape for the job market... again :P

Some things i learnt from anime...

ooooooh... chickenosaurus a thing for the future?

Dear Universe...

creepy but cool

RIP Michael Jackson

"Did you find it?"

"Get Wasted"

My my, how useful!

How I'm feeling today

Heartfelt-nessness repeating itself

Salutations

many more thankyous!

Ragdoll raffles & raucous raunchiness TONIGHT