Ticking something off one’s “bucket list” doesn’t happen all too often (unless you have a VERY long list) so when I was able to do just that recently I was really excited!

Since purchasing my SLR digital camera 5 and a half years ago I have been meaning to learn how to use all the manual settings… I think I’m not alone in this as so many people I know who own beautiful SLR camera’s keep them set to AUTO!! I did, for way too long, the main reason (excuse) being that I bought the camera just before the birth of my eldest child and since that time, well, you know – there has been no time!!

Now that my youngest is 2 I am slowly rediscovering the things that are important to me and that I love and want to spend my time doing, creating, enjoying – hence the start of this blog in fact!! Photography is something I love and have always ensured I haven’t stopped altogether, but it is a time-consuming process learning all the settings, buttons, methods and then having time to actually USE them. I have found many books and websites on the subject but as many times as I read the information on the page I could not take it in. Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, White balance…. it was a foreign language that my baby brain was not absorbing.

But, I digress… this year I made it my mission to finally tick the “Learn how to use my SLR camera on manual” off my bucket list and that’s where the wonder called Groupon saved the day. I had initially been keen on attending a weekly course over a couple of weeks through a photography school or similar but realised that my budget was not going to extend that far. I decided to keep my eyes peeled on Groupon and signed up for the daily email so I wouldn’t miss out. The emails arrived first thing every morning and I scanned the various offers for restaurant discounts, tooth whitening, spa treatments, photobooks, amazing travel deals for accommodation around the world and vouchers for various extreme sport experiences… Many times I could have spent the money set aside for my intended purchase – the deals were certainly tempting!

Finally after a few months the deal I was after came up – a one day intensive photography course teaching the basics of the manual settings and I took the gap and signed up – even though it meant travelling to the unfamiliar territory of Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs. I then headed out early one Saturday morning to discover what I had been missing out on all these years. I felt like I was back in college and my brain took a while to warm up but finally it did and all the little bits of experience and knowledge I had gleaned over the years was all pulled together by a great teacher who took the time to show each attendee the workings of their own camera and answered all our many questions while still explaining in a very clear way how to use each setting. Finally someone who was easy to understand and could show me in person what to do! The various sessions were all helpful and by the end of the day I was confident enough to move the dial onto “M” and so far, I haven’t looked back! Obviously there is still so much I can learn about shooting in manual and I would love to attend a more comprehensive course or maybe learn how to use Photoshop in the future so I will be scouring Groupon for another great deal shortly!

images: Kathryn Rossiter (in manual!)

Ensure you don't miss any posts, sign up to receive a daily email from | Becoming you in your inbox here.

Congratulations to entrants 6 & 19

Enigmeg & Marcelle

I know you will enjoy your prize!! Please would you contact me with your address details and choice of moisturizer so that I can arrange delivery.

And if you didn’t win this time why not head over to the current competition running to win a pretty polka dot shopped filled with lovely things from Heart and Home online shop over here.

Have an awesome weekend…

Images: Dr Hauschka

Ensure you don't miss any posts, sign up to receive a daily email from | Becoming you in your inbox here.

Heart and Home specializes in home accessories, soft furnishings and gifts for children and adults, many of which are hand made. Each product is carefully selected to ensure a unique selection of gifts. This is a wonderful way to purchase birthday presents and wedding gifts for those loved ones who live in another part of the country as they offer a complimentary gift wrapping service! Each gift is carefully wrapped in cute polka dot gift wrap and red Petersham ribbon with a customized tag. During checkout of your purchase all that you are required to do is to indicate whether you would like your gift wrapped and write your personalized message and it will be delivered straight to the recipient.

They really do have a lovely selection of items. I’m trying to encourage more outdoor play so the tent teepee really appeals to me and it’s something that could be moved indoors should the weather turn! So pretty. The croquet set is also something I have my eye on. Very “Alice in Wonderland”!

I am thrilled to announce that Heart and Home are generously sponsoring a competition on Becoming you. You can win this pretty polka dot jumbo shopper above filled with goodies to the total value of R315 delivered to the address of your choice!

How to enter
1. Pop over to the Heart and Home Facebook page and click “like”. Be sure to “like” Becoming you’s Facebook page too!

2. Visit Heart and Home’s website and leave a comment on this post telling me what your favourite product(s) is. If you sign up for their newsletter while you’re there you can get 15% off your first purchase (P.S. Remember Mothers’ Day is around the corner!!)

That’s it! Easy Peezy Lemon Squeezy!

If you would like an extra entry you are welcome to share or tweet about this competition just leave another comment on this post so I know you have!

Please note:
This giveaway is open to all readers in South Africa
Winners will be drawn via random.org on Monday, 28 May 2012
The winner will be announced on Tuesday, 29 May 2012 on this blog.
The value of the prize is R315 and is not be redeemable for cash.

Contact details
Heart and Home
www.heartandhome.co.za
info@heartandhome.co.za
+27 (0) 83 538 3096
Facebook
Twitter

images: Leigh-Ann Cooke of Love Life Photography

Ensure you don't miss any posts, sign up to receive a daily email from | Becoming you in your inbox here.

What I…

Know

Well, jeez. I’m 23 years old. What DO I know? What I’ve learnt, though, is that you are the creator of your own happiness and success.

Love

God. My fiance. My parents. My friends. Reading a good book. Music. Mathematics. Dressing up. Eating. Cooking. Horses. Keeping myself fit and healthy. Living life as passionately as I can, really. That’s love.

Read

I’m a bit of a book snob. No Twilight or Eat, Pray, Love for me. I read classics and modern classics, mostly. I’m currently also read French novels to keep my French up. And I’m working my way through reading the Bible front to back. But every now and then I will indulge and pick up a Bridget Jones’ Diary, or Harry Potter. They may not be Shakespeare, but they’re great reads and they certainly have their place in the world.

Want

I’m on a mission to prove that it is possible to have it all- the great job, great wardrobe, amazing, marriage, strong relationships with God, friends, and family, the healthy body, the life experience worth talking about, the great family life and social life… Right now, I have almost all of those, except that I’m not married [that's happening in September], and I don’t have kids [that's on the cards for my 30s]. But what I want is to someday feel like I do have it all, and to look back on a truly wonderful life. I also want to someday change one South African’s life, whether that means helping them through school and university, or giving them the opportunity to start their own business, or funding a low-cost house or ten. That’s on my bucket list. Oh, and a pony. I want a pony again.

Wear

I’m not a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. In fact, I hate wearing jeans. I love dressing up, although I hate doing my hair because it is just so boring. I like wearing pretty dresses and heels. I love shoes. Like, really really love shoes. I hardly ever wear jewelry, except for some of my mum’s vintage gold and pearls now and then.I love wearing nice underwear, too. It has to match, though, because I have OCD.

Need

I need God. Every day. I need more patience. Less anger. I get so enraged by people’s behaviour and while I never want to become an apathetic product of this world, I need to learn not to get so angry about other people, and rather focus on being the person I can be. I need to drink more water.

images: Lize Kay

Ensure you don't miss any posts, sign up to receive a daily email from | Becoming you in your inbox here.

To summarise the products in the May Glossybox are:

L’Occitane Immortelle – 2 x envelopes containing a voucher for a free Brightening Foam Cleanser when purchashing a Moisturizer from L’Occitane as well as 3 sample sachets including:
Divine Cream
Divine Extract (Serum)
Divine Eyes

All these products are amazing for their anti-aging properties and the Divine Cream was voted the best anti-ageing miracle cream in 2011 by an independent panel of women across the UK!

Gatineau
Activ Eclat Flash Radiance Serum
OR
Aquamemory Cream
OR
Aquamemory Mask

I have yet to use my Gatineau products from this month’s box but will be sure to update this review as soon as I have…

Beaute Lip Liner Pencil in Sangria – A full size lip liner with the convenient built-in sharpener similar to the eyeliner in April’s Glossybox!

Colours Extreme Nail Enamel in Fairy Dust Yellow – another full size product in this month’s box!! What a treat.

4Flavour floral scarf available from YDE stores in South Africa – this was my favourite item in the May box and I have worn it a few days in a row already!

(see the top picture on this post for images of the last three items)

I look forward to next month’s Stuttafords Glossybox. I am excited to find out which luxury brands will be showcasing their products in this luxurious box… Be sure to order yours now while stocks last. At only R130 it is sure to be a bargain!!

Images: Kathryn Rossiter (on my phone!)

Ensure you don't miss any posts, sign up to receive a daily email from | Becoming you in your inbox here.

images: Kathryn Rossiter

Ensure you don't miss any posts, sign up to receive a daily email from | Becoming you in your inbox here.

TIME magazines complete coverage on “Are you mom enough”

The Science behind Dr Sears. Does it stand up? – TIME Ideas

Confessions of an Accidental Attachment Parent: Once you get sucked in, it’s hard to back out - TIME Ideas

Shocking TIME magazine cover show mother, 26, breastfeeding son, almost 4 – Daily Mail

I was the TIME magazine mother and barely lived to tell the tale – The Stir

No. I am not Mom Enough – Lisa Belkin for The Huffington Post

Mommy Wars. TIME Magazine’s Latest Breastfeeding Cover Sparks A Whole New Controversy – Mommyish

Kid from breastfeeding cover is totally screwed – Mommyish

About the whole magazine cover thing – Nish Happens

Image: TIME magazine

Ensure you don't miss any posts, sign up to receive a daily email from | Becoming you in your inbox here.

At this point I realised I need to pray and uttered a few lines which I have become accustomed to doing in these circumstances. Fortunately I always find peace in doing this so whether the prayer is trivial by some people’s standards I always still make a point of asking God to help me find the missing item. If you know me in person you will know that losing something (anything) is very upsetting for me. I didn’t grow up with many precious things so I value everything I own and I HATE to loose anything. Second to that would be wasting money – another pet peeve of mine – so you can imagine how I was feeling about loosing something that would cost a lot of money to replace – because who wants just one diamond stud?? And they were my favourite, most worm earrings. And they came from someone very special to me with a history… aaarrggggh

So I was at a loss, I then turned to my husband at 8pm and mentioned searching the vacuum cleaner bag. He was not amused! But as he is possibly the most amazing husband in the world he ripped open the dust filled bag and painstakingly searched through who knows what with a paintbrush and screwdriver while wearing a dust mask. I held the torch…. This was quite possibly one of the lowest points in our marriage. I was not feeling the love. After an hour of searching we reached the end of the dirt, dead cockroach, dead maggots, and who knows what else pile, with no luck.

Strangely enough while I was feeling rather depressed and frustrated with myself for being so careless as to leave diamonds lying around (and in reach of little hands) I felt a sense of hope and calm that I couldn’t explain. The peace that passes all understanding perhaps?? At this point we admitted defeat and gave up the search hoping that it would make an appearance in due time. I struggled to go to sleep while feeling so upset but eventually was too tired to think about it anymore.

On waking on Saturday morning my first thought was to the missing item and I immediately quizzed the kids in case they had carried it off – the 5 year old was easy enough to get a response from but the 2 year old just said “I don’t know” in a very cute voice but she says this to most questions… I had to give up the hope of finding it and move on. So I did.

I went off to a wonderful morning of fellowship with friends at a women’s meeting at church and it shifted my focus to what is most important in life.

Much later in the afternoon I was feeling really tired after the emotional late night and went to lie down. I hadn’t been lying down for 2 mins when a thought popped into my head out of nowhere. “Last weekend you were sick and blowing your nose a lot which might have meant that you picked up the earring in a tissue when throwing them away (sorry gross!!) I jumped up with the idea of searching the bin. Yes, my husband was again less than charmed with me and this idea!! Now, as a background to prove how amazing God is in all the details of our lives, on Thursday, said husband was late in putting out the garbage – not that late, probably 5 mins – and we missed the truck. I remembered this and it gave me a glimmer of hope that the cleaner who had been on Tuesday might have thrown away the tissues then and they might be in the bin. Alas, the gardener had been on Friday and the big black bin was FULL of garden refuse! Thus entailed another argument about whether it was worth it to tip out all the garden refuse and search for the earring. I said YES without a doubt. Husband was not so convinced especially as it was 5.30pm and we were meant to be making supper for the kids.

At this time a friend dropped in to pick something up, as she was leaving I mentioned what I was about to do and why. She had experienced something similar and reminded me of the story in the Bible about the women who searches high and low for a missing penny and encouraged me by saying what I was doing was “very scriptural”. I hadn’t thought of it that way but she got me thinking (I must go and read that story… can anyone tell me the reference??)

Very reluctant husband once again proved his worth by having already tipped out the bin and refilling all the garden refuse and putting aside the household refuse. I was given the task of the other bags…. He wasn’t going that far but I was seriously desperate and started the most revolting task I have ever done – sifting through rubbish from the past 2 weeks. Do you know what that looks like? Do you know what that smells like? Do you know what other things you come across while doing this?? Seriously you don’t want to! Let’s just say I was glad to have some latex gloves especially when confronted with the MAGGOTS… Oh my gosh how gross…. I can’t believe I am telling you this…

So my friends words stuck with me – “very scriptural” she had said and it got me thinking. “What is God trying to tell me in all of this. Is he trying to teach me a lesson here??” My thoughts went to the children who do this to survive. The people who live off our rubbish. And eat the mouldy food and have nothing else. They are desperate for food and here I was desperate for a diamond. How spoilt am I? This was such a humbling experience just to go through what so many have to do every day. It made be feel a bit ill. But this wasn’t the biggest lesson He wanted to teach me. Read on…

I carried on going sifting dirty nappies, old food, used tissues. I wasn’t giving up until I had moved every last piece of rubbish. I had come this far! But by the last bag I was losing all hope of finding it and really starting to feel more than a bit stupid sifting through all this rubbish. (I could use more colourful words..)

It was now dark, cold, and my husband was worrying for my sanity… The last bag was the one from 2 weeks ago. It was not pretty! I was ready to give up. I was desperately crying out to God to help me find this stupid earring (and inside so was my husband!!) And then amongst the revolting garbage – I FOUND MY MISSING DIAMOND EARRING. In the last bag. It was shiny and looked brand new. And I screamed with excitement and joy at finding this most precious item. And you know what, I wasn’t even excited about finding the diamond. I was more excited about God answering my pray. And more than that about the testimony of this story. I couldn’t not share with you the biggest lesson God taught me in this – because it’s not for me, it’s for someone else who is reading this – to God you are his most precious thing, his missing diamond earring, and he is desperate for you to be found by Him. He is anxiously searching for you EVERYWHERE. He is hopeful you will be found but he WILL NOT GIVE UP until you are found by Him. He will even search through maggot infected garbage until he finds you and He will celebrate when you are found. And he will cry tears of happiness for you to be reunited with Himself.

I hope you realise how special you are to God the Creator of the Universe – He wants to find you! You are His flawless, beautiful, valuable diamond and I hope you will allow him to find you.

I’m not usually a “preachy” kind of Christian but when something this amazing happens I have to share it…. Whether you share my beliefs or not it is a special story! Thank you for reading my ramble. Thank you for sharing my joy with me. I’m so pleased to be able to share this story with you! Please share it with anyone else you feel may benefit from it. I hope it touches someone somewhere!

Ensure you don't miss any posts, sign up to receive a daily email from | Becoming you in your inbox here.

Here are some of the pics from the shoot.

They look lovely and I am so pleased to have been a part of this in a small way…. Congrats Taryn, I hope you and your baby enjoy these photos for a lifetime!

For more pics of the photoshoot or to book one for yourself or a friend visit Blomerus Photography’s website.

images: Blomerus Photography

Ensure you don't miss any posts, sign up to receive a daily email from | Becoming you in your inbox here.

Guest writer, Carla, shares her coffee love affair with us…

I can still remember my first kiss with coffee, as if it was yesterday (well in fact I had a reminder just an hour ago). The foam tingling on your upper lip, rich full bodied perfection dancing over your tongue, the sweet caffeinated deliciousness rushing to your brain, a smell so exotic it’s almost intoxicating! There is no denying that bound up in the pleasure of the daily coffee drinking occasion, is the happy anticipation of that therapeutic kick.

Some might see my obsession with coffee as an addiction but I see it as nothing else but a love affair. I can relate with the woman who refused to give up her coffee in Bach’s symphony “Kafee Kanate” as she sings “Ah! How sweet coffee taste! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, sweeter far than muscatel wine! I must have my coffee.”

For many years some scientists tried to convince consumers of the hidden dangers of caffeine. They surely are not trustworthy in their opinion because when you think of it, they either never had a good enough cuppa or are trying desperately to stop out of their own convictions. In my experience, trying to abstain a whole day without drinking a cup of coffee, resulted in outright horrible symptoms of withdrawal: headaches, irritability, and drowsiness… Now how can anyone conduct proper research feeling like that? I rest my case.

Coffee addiction seems harmless enough and, unlike others, relatively affordable, freely available, nowhere near as neurotoxic and may I add legal. Despite the bad reputation recent research does prove that drinking coffee provides a wide range of health benefits. Some studies suggest that a few cups of coffee a day may actually help reduce the risk of a number of ailments including diabetes, gallstones, depression and even Parkinson and Alzheimer’s disease.

After all, drinking coffee may not only be beneficial to one’s health, but you would also be boosting the economy, since coffee is the second most commonly traded commodity after oil and the most consumed beverage in the world, with over 400 billion cups consumed each year worldwide. The coffee industry states that 6.7 million tons of coffee were produced annually in 1998-2000, rising with a projected increase of 7 million tons by 2010, so literally millions of people depend on the coffee industry for their livelihood. So not only do we need coffee to function properly as human beings, but the world in general pretty much needs coffee to survive.

There is enough justification for my addiction as I greet each mug of coffee with the enthusiasm of young love, the only problem is cheap imitations and water dissolving mixes won’t do the trick. Coffee aficionados know the fix you get from freshly roasted coffee has no comparison. Lots of ground coffee from the grocery store contains fillers as well and once you try coffee fresh from a roaster, you’ll realize all the stuff you’ve been drinking as all along wasn’t the real thing.

Proper roasting and blending of coffee beans is at the heart of any coffee success story as the technique dictates the ultimate flavour experience of coffee. Specialty coffees are generally roasted in small batches by hand according coffee company standards. Artisan roasting as an art form in itself, is what most coffee lovers highly appreciate. Roastmasters use sound, sight and smell to determine when the beans are roasted to perfection.

Luckily saving me the time and trouble of finding the best artisan roasters, Coffee Cart made sure that they have sourced the best artisan roasters in town to deliver one’s daily recommended dose to stay healthy and do my part for society by doing what I do best, enjoying the kiss of coffee!

The Coffee Cart online shop is the result of a computer geek, an amiable salesman and a coffee shop blogger joining forces to combine their skills and love for coffee. During the month of May, Coffee Cart are offering free delivery so now is the time to satisfy your addiction with some of the finest locally roasted coffees in South Africa.

Ensure you don't miss any posts, sign up to receive a daily email from | Becoming you in your inbox here.