My Gym/Workout Playlist | Blogtober Day 8

I can't for the life of me gym or run on a treadmill without my headphones in. Even though there's already music playing in the background at gym, I can't even tell you what kind because I never pay attention to it; I prefer to listen to my own. You know... to "set the tone" for my gym session.

I’m a Virgin Active member and I'm usually at the gym for an hour to 2 hours per session and I’m there every Monday to Thursday. Friday is my rest day and on the weekends I'm supposed to be doing home workouts even though I have yet to get to them. I don't know why I seem to lose motivation when I'm at home, too many distractions I guess.

Some of these songs are more up tempo than others; it really depends on which section or machine I’m using at the gym which songs I’m listening. I only have the one playlist at the moment so I skip through the songs that I feel are killing my vibe.

So here’s a peek at my workout playlist:

• Ride – Ciara
• Paris(workout mix) – The Chainsmokers
• All in my head (workout mix) – 5th harmony
• Gangnam Style - Psy
• So good – Zara Larsson
• Burnin up – Jessie J
• Bon Appetit – Katy Perry
• Breathing – Jason Derulo
• Anyway – Chris Brown
• Bump That – B2K
• Bitches & Marijuana – Chris Brown
• Who Dat – J Cole
• Feelin’ Myself – Will.I.Am featuring Miley Cyrus

So that’s the gist of it, I won’t give you the entire playlist because it’s freaken long. So if you’re looking for that extra motivation while you’re breaking a sweat, you can give some of these a try.

Money! Money! Money! If a Had a Million Bucks | Blogtober Day 7

Everyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE money; even though I never have any. I’m broke b#!  . I would love to see that many zeros in my bank balance; it would drive me wild. Don’t worry I wouldn’t waste the money though. I already have a list of what I’m going to do with money even though I don’t have it. So what would I do with a million dollars you ask?  Well…

Firstly I would invest say... a quarter of it so I can get more money. Then I would calculate how much it would cost me to finish my degree and pay that amount to the university; in one go. Then I'd get myself a tutor for all the subjects I struggle with; especially maths. I am terrible at maths. I'd finish my degree a whole lot faster if I never repeated anything.I would also stop working for a short while and concentrate solely on my studies then I'd be able to do more subjects per semester and obtain my qualification in a shorter time frame.

Hmmm let’s see what’s next… oh I’d fix everything in the house that’s broken or old, some of these items include the back door, my mom’s toilet and leaking bathroom ceiling. I’d get rid of our dogs because they are only there for security purposes not because they are loved (I’m not a pet person) and add security beams to cover the back yard. 

I’d travel the world too of course. I’ve always wanted to do that. I love exploring new places. I’d go to Dubai, London, Mauritius and knock off a few other places on my bucket list if my balance still allows it.

I would probably get myself a new wardrobe too... how exciting that would be. I absolutely LOVE clothes and shopping. I would give the clothes I don't want anymore to a family member who wants or needs them more than I do or I'd donate them to charity. Of course I would need a few pairs of shoes to match my new outfits... what's an outfit without the perfect pair of shoes?

I would definitely make the tenant move out; he’s BEEN annoying me. (My mom let him farm chickens in the back yard; a story for another day). Then I'd turn a portion of the backyard into an entertainment area; maybe even get a pool table.

I can’t forget my sister in all this. I’d give her a couple hundred thousand to spend as she wishes. I’d do the same with my dad.

Everyone knows that when you get a large sum of cash, you need to make your money make even more money. I mean; I can't just spend and invest it all. I would need to start some sort of a business; probably an employment agency because I am passionate about helping people to find jobs that will help them sustain themselves (I'm actually one of those people right now – (read about my job hunting here). I know what it's like not to be employed or to have a job that isn't quite getting you where you need or want to be.

So yeah... that's what I would do with my million. 

My Typical Saturday | Blogtober Day 6

Clubs, booze boys... typical weekend vibe for most, well not me...

I always look forward to the weekends because it's my time to relax and unwind. I pray I never have to work on Saturdays.

I wake up in the morning and open the windows and curtains wide to let all that fresh morning air fill the room, splash my face with water then it's off to the kitchen for a steaming, hot cup of coffee...then I can start my day.

I usually start off with laundry; I do laundry every Saturday morning; unless it's raining of course. I like to listen to music while I'm doing laundry and I play it really loud. Then from around 8 to 12 I'm doing house chores. This includes cleaning the kitchen, bathroom and my room.

I like sleeping in fresh bedding and a lot of people find it weird but I change my sheets every Saturday even though I'm the only person who sleeps in my bed. It's just ingrained in me to do this and it feels weird for me not to. I get annoyed when my mom does my laundry for me (weird I know; you're probably thinking "are you nuts? I'd love to have someone do that for me!" But yeah, I prefer to do my laundry myself, (1) because I'm an adult, (2) I enjoy it and (3) I find it calming and therapeutic. It's the one house chore I do not mind, probably because my laundry is machine-washed.

While my laundry is in the machine; I move on to cleaning the toilet, bathroom and kitchen. In between all this I keep reloading the machine and hanging the laundry out to so then resuming cleaning whatever section I was busy with. All this is happening while there's music blaring in the background. I'm sure my neighbours find me annoying but they've never said anything...

If I still feel energetic enough then I wash my baby, no not an actual baby, I'm referring to my car. I prefer to wash it myself than take it to a car because I believe that's a waste of money. The car is small - I can do it myself; besides any physical activity is good.

I dedicate my Saturday afternoons for doing assignments because I'm usually so tired after work during the week, so Saturdays are the perfect time to catch up. The great thing is that I can spend hours doing schoolwork and I don't feel the time go by at all. My mind is more open and relaxed on Saturdays for some reason and that's why I choose Saturday afternoons for school work. Maybe if I had done this in high school I could have reached my full academic potential (laughs a little).

After all of that, I cosy up on the sofa with a nice cup of wine or coffee and binge watch series and movies. I don’t do a lot of TV watching during the week because I get home pretty late and I’m almost always tired. So Saturdays are when I catch up. I’m usually watching Netflix or I see what DSTV has to offer when I want to watch something a little different. I absolutely love movies and in case you’re wondering; 90% of the time I do all this alone. I pretty much do the same thing when my sister is in town the only difference is that I have someone to share the couch with hahaha…

This is my Saturday routine, pretty boring most of the time huh? It doesn't change much unless it payday, my mom wants me to go to town with her or it's the odd occasion when my friends show up with booze, in which case I'll do a little toiletry shopping and maybe purchase a new clothing item or 2... And maybe some drinking.

50 Random Facts About Me | Blogtober Day 5

Hey guys!!! 

So I decided that today I'd share 50 random facts about myself with you so you can get to know me just a little.

1. I love Nandos chicken
2. My favourite colours are blue and red
3. I started dating when I was 18
4. I have a younger sister
5. I'm a chocoholic
6. I love going to the gym
7. I got my navel pierced when I was 13
8. I love music
9. I love dancing
10. I have scalp eczema
11. I'm a fitness fanatic
12. I love short hair so I keep my hair short
13. I love horror movies even though sometimes they make it hard to sleep when I'm alone at night
14. My favourite person in this world is my sister
15. I lost my virginity 3 days before my 19th birthday
16. I am single at the moment and have been for 4 years
17. I once dropped out of university
18. I'm addicted to coffee
19. I'm a part time student
20. I used to weigh 19 kg in grade 2; I was the smallest in my class
21. I can dance.... as long as it's not choreographed
22. I'm 1,52m tall
23. I'm an open-minded person
24. I LOVE red lipstick
25. I have 2 tattoos

As I sit here typing this list, my colleague is having a serious conversation with my boss about our current work situation (read about it here), oh what a life I live… Anyways let's proceed….

26. I like trying new things and experimenting
27. I love lemon tea
28. I'm not the best cook
29. My favourite features are my lips, eyes and legs
30. I didn't like make-up until I was about 25
31. I don't like cooking
32. I'm not a fan of Facebook
33. I love watching movies
34. I like playing scrabble and 30 seconds
35. I enjoy reading 
36. I have had 3 boyfriends in my life (not at the same time hahaha)
37. I'm a loner and I'm okay with it
38. I get along better with people about 10 years older than me
39. My closest friends are men
40. I don't drink cow's milk
41. I love the beach
42. I was in an incubator for like the first few weeks of my life and I don't have those baby photos from when I was fresh out the womb because my mom didn't think I'd make it. Here I am 27 years later!!!
43. My drink of choice is gin and juice
44. I have dyed my hair red before, I loved it and I'd do it again
45. I also like wine
46. I do not like homophobes
47. My longest relationship lasted 2 & a half years
48. I prefer my own short, natural hair (the closer shaven the better!)
49. I do not like swimming
50. I come from a family of 4 (immediate family that is) 

So that's me! Wow, 50 facts, I actually thought I was going to run out of ideas as to what to tell you guys about me but I did it! Now you’ve gotten to know me a little better and I’m no longer just a random chick behind a screen (laughs) … I still am aren’t I? I must say though, Blogtober is making me dig real deep.

My must - have Phone Apps | Blogtober Day 4

I have quite a few apps on my phone that make life a little easier for me.

Clap to find

I am always misplacing my phone. Whether it falls in the gap in the sofa or it somehow ended up in my pillowcase, this app has changed my life. I spend way less time looking for my phone now because all I have to do is clap and it rings loudly wherever it is, even if it's on silent.

Flo (period tracker)

I used to struggle to track my period and it would catch me by surprise which can be a huge inconvenience. The more information you enter the more accurate the predictions become and now I'm always prepared. I also use Flo to track my daily water intake and remind myself to drink water because I don't drink enough water. 

Banking apps

I use 2 different banks; ABSA and Standard Bank, so I have both banking apps on my phone. They make it easy for me to pay bills and purchase data anytime. The apps are very user friendly an a convenient way to make transactions wherever you are.

Blogger

For obvious reasons but if it isn't all that obvious to you having the app on my phone makes it easy for me to blog on the go. Sometimes inspiration hits at the most random times, now I can just write down my drafts for my posts wherever I am and never forget a thing.

Mr D Food

I love takeaways and driving to pick them up is a drag for me. Now I can get all the food I want delivered straight to my couch at the touch of a button. It even tells you which options are the fastest so I can pick the most convenient option for me.

Study Tracker

This is is a must have for me because I always think I'm doing more than I actually am. now I can set study goals for myself and stick to them to make sure that I've covered all the work before exams.

WhatsApp

This app has saved me a great deal of money on airtime and data costs. It's great for me because even though I'm always broke, I can still communicate with everyone.  Most of the people I'm in constant communication with are also using this app; I can voice call my sister who's in another city for no extra cost to me at all.

Virgin Active App

Must have gym app to book classes and check schedules on the go. I also use it to track my goal progress and it helps me push myself even harder at the gym. I find this app very motivating because it frustrates me when I see a low percentage on the progress bar and I want to do better!

Apple Music

I love this app because I can access all the latest as well as favourite music from my phone at any time. You don't even need to reload everything when you change devices, all you have to do is log in from your new device and all of your music is available to you to download instead of having to search for the songs all over again. it even suggests music that you might like based on what you've been listening to on your device.

Load Shedding

This app is useful for South Africans during load shedding so that you don't get caught in the dark. It lets you know when load shedding will start and begin in each zone ahead of time; that way you can plan your activities around those times if you can.

Scrabble

I like playing games that make me think. If I'm stuck in a long queue or I want to take a break from work at the office, this is a great game to get your mind to focus on something else. It's a great way to better your spelling and build your vocabulary.

These are the apps that I have on my phone. 

18 Uses for Coconut Oil | Blogtober Day 2

I'm sure you've heard of the many benefits and uses of coconut oil. It's a great all-in-one item to have in your home. It really comes in handy. Now I'm no expert, just your average woman who has learnt through a process of trial and error and I have personally seen positive results from experimenting with coconut oil.

Coconut oil is a natural product extracted from the kernel of coconuts and is completely edible. According to the Harvard Health Centre; coconut oil gives good cholesterol a boost. Coconut oil has gained so much popularity over the years. I've even seen women pull it out of their gym bags at the gym even! If you haven't jumped onto this coconut oil bandwagon then maybe it's time you did.

Let's get down to it. 18 uses for coconut oil:

1.       Moisturiser for your skin

2.       You can rub it on your vagina to clear infections from ingrown hair etc.

3.       Use it for cooking and baking

4.       Use it as a moisturiser for your hair

5.       Ingestion increases metabolism 

6.       Improve your oral hygiene as it fights bacteria

7.       Remove makeup

8.       Remedy for lice

9.       Massage oil

10.   Lip balm

11.   Use it as shaving cream

12.   Clear stretch marks - I can see a difference

13.   Flavour enhancement while cooking

14.   Treatment for eczema

15.   Moisturize a dry scalp 

16.   Prevent dandruff

17.   Boosts hair growth ( I rubbed it on my thinning eyebrows so I can attest to this)

18. Aids digestion

So if you haven’t given coconut oil a try, I suggest you do so that way you can see the benefits for yourself. If you know of any other benefits derived from this wonderful gift from nature, please feel free to let me know.

Why I'm doing Blogtober | Blogtober Day 1

I heard a lot about Blotober on Twitter and I was like; "what the heck is that?" so I found it what it was and it sounded like a great challenge and then just like that - challenge accepted!

Besides that there are a number of other reasons I decided I'd like to take up the Blogtober challenge. I enjoy writing and I want to challenge myself. It's always good to try new things so that you can see what you're made of. Also, i don't have a social life so between work, gym and studying; I have plenty of time to blog. I have yet to completely commit myself to a challenge and see it through; I have never even completed one of those "30 day abs/squat challenges" so maybe this is it.

Coming up with a list of topics was easy at first and the ideas kept flowing, then I hit a stump. I felt like I had written about all the juicy stuff I could think if already; I needed to find some new inspiration. Most of the posts I have written thus far have been from personal experiences and were quite subjective. Now it’s time for me to switch it up a little, challenge myself and try a new approach.

The blogging community is so accepting and supportive and I am thrilled to be part of it. I can't wait to share more with you and to read all the brilliant and creative topics everyone comes up with. This is an exciting opportunity for me as I have recently gotten back to bogging.

  BLOGTOBER is here!!!

Follow me on Twitter or subscribe to see more of my Blogtober posts. This is going to be fun!!!