i want to write

I want to write.
Not just write though, I want to write so people can read it.
I want to write and get paid for it.
Sure thing I write here but it’s not exactly like I get paid to write here though and I don’t feel right about making cash out of my blog like most people suggest or do, it just doesn’t feel right. Getting/giving goodies is great, bartering is a fantastic thing but unfortunately it does not pay the bills.

Due to circumstances I never took my writing further than my final year of high school which means I can’t exactly go and apply for writing positions at magazines and so on because for the most part the response is the same: you need a journalism degree. Makes sense, those people who went out and studied the 4 years deserve the position but then again there are those of us who sadly couldn’t afford to head on off to study for a few consecutive years. Or perhaps it’s the talent I lack and they are just being kind? I pray for the former.

There are a few options – write a book; carry on writing here and hope that eventually someone sifts through all the bullshit and sees something worth while (like what happened with the article I wrote for YourBaby last year, my few moments of fame); or get lucky. Luck has never really been on my side, I think you make your own luck sooo…. What do I do? Not sure yet. I’ll figure it out though. Maybe I’ll join the band wagon and start writing erotica or some YA novel, then again I’ve never really been a “follow the crowd” sort of girl…

Any chance you reading this right now knows of something? Anything?
One day I am going to buy a yacht and write about my adventures sailing from port to port while homeschooling a boy (though am sure by the time I can afford to do this he’ll long be out the nest), about the ups and downs, the different cultures, the beautiful surroundings and probably the occasional storms, ripped sails and visa issues.

I’m sure writing for a living is most many a bloggers ambition and it’s a long shot but hey… dream big right?!

Oh and if you haven’t already (you can only vote once – unless you have multiple email addresses then please use them all haha) – please go vote for this blog in the Big Blog Exchange, you’re a hunny x

unearthed secrets – giveaway

Right, it just so happens to be giveaway time again. The first one of a few for April… it’s my birthday month after all so I think we’ll be celebrating it with pretty things! I like giving away things on my birthday, makes me feel good.

The first one is from a very talented Cape Townian, Miss Gina from Secrets Unearthed Jewelery Design. I stumbled across her via a friend and just knew that I had to exploit her talents! Her goodies are sterling silver and have I mentioned hand-made?

I adore her goodies and can’t wait to fill my jewellery box up with a few of her things in the future. These are some of my favourites:

And what is it exactly I’m giving away? A beautiful home-made cupcake charm and bracelet of course…

Entries are easy, they always are:

1. Like Secrets Unearthed Jewellery Design on FaceBook
2. Like CupcakeMummy on FaceBook if you don’t already
3. Tweet about it if you are so inclined, or share it on Facebook (both these are simply extra entries in your favour when I drop all the names into the random picker)
4. Comment below (mainly because I love comments but also because it counts and it makes it easier to see who did what)

I’ll announce the winner on Monday :)

kick the chicken in the pox

And I’m back after a rather lengthy leave of absence, with good reason though I swear. At first it was mostly because I hate typing on my tab, touch screens are seriously over rated. They need to invent a PC that attaches to a typewriter, that would make me happy. Anyway, then of course I got stuck fixing an engine and then my body betrayed me and decided to get ill. I thought it was the flu…

Turns out that while I was cursing my stupid skin for acting like a 15 year olds instead of a 25 year olds it wasn’t those issues flaring up at all it was bloody chicken pox. Again. Yes again, at (almost) 25 I had chicken pox for the THIRD time. As if it wasn’t bad enough as a kid and then worse at 18 I had to go get it now. Bloody hell. And no, they can’t really tell me why I have had it more than once because in reality you should only get it once. Grrr….

At least I know that I had a legitimate reason for feeling like a sloth, a tired and achey and miserably bitchy sloth. I tried to keep up the exercise regime but I did cave into over indulgence and a little comfort eating so I’m going to avoid the scale until the 7th and then hope like hell I’ve worked off what I put back on again.

Time to sit down and do some catch up posts though so I apologise in advance for the spamming that will happen over this week. Also keep an eye out as I have THREE giveaways coming up over the course of the next few days: a gorgeous handmade cupcake charm bracelet from secrets unearthed, 3 bottles of kelslim as well as 2 books… have to make up for being a bad bad blogger some how right…

tea lover, book whore…

I might have a slight problem. Where do book addicts go? The library? Is there a Book Addicts Anonymous? Is it even considered a problem?

The long weekend saw me fly through the following books:
Beastly – Alex Flinn
It’s one of my favourite movies, my favourite beauty and the beast adaption, it took me a while to get into though as the book and the movie are nothing alike, at first I thought this might be one of those instances where I really do think the movie is better than the book but after finishing it I realized there is no way you can compare the two because the movie may have used the names and location but it is jack shite like the book in any other way.
Light in the shadows (the sequel to Find me in the dark) – A. Meredith Walters
I wrote a piece on Find me in the dark after I read it, it was one of those books that touched me in a way most books haven’t no matter how I’ve enjoyed them. This book hits home, well the theme of it does and it makes me both happy and sad at the same time. Happy that someone told the story and sad that I now have a slight view as to what those around me have to put up with.
Cloud Walking – A. Meredith Walters
Sort of an in between book for Find me in the dark and Light in the shadows, where the first two told the story of Maggie and Clay Cloud walking told the story of Rachel and Daniel falling in love while Maggie and Clay fell apart.
Sharp Objects – Gillian Flynn
I downloaded this because someone asked me for her “gone girl” book and the write up of sharp objects caught my attention, again there was a bit of a reason it did I guess, again something hit home but only the cutting bit, the creepy mom and psycho daughter not so much hahaha. The writing style is strange and it’s a change from what I’ve been reading as of late but it was good. And hells bells but the twist in the end…
Down to you – M. Leighton
Smut with a twist…not your usual twist either…
Up to you – M. Leighton
More a continuation than a sequel really, as good as the first with an even harder twist to it.
The siren – Tiffany Reisz
Not sure how much I should reveal about this book… let’s just say you should read it with an open mind. It’s like 50 shades of grey, but realistic. And I love it because it reminds me a lot of one specific relationship… let’s just say that you’ll understand a hell of a lot about my private life if you read this book ;) Definitely looking forward to the other 3 in the series…
The Chef – Martin Suter
I started this one but I’ve stopped about half way through, it’s not an easy read. Originally written in german (I think in swiss to be exact) it reminds me of something typically german and growing up with one as a parent I think I can say that without causing too much of a stir, the story is about two people who open a catering business but it’s slow reading and for the most part it’s about politics and the recession and banks closing. I’ll get it finished. Eventually.

And that dears is just this weekend… as of January 1st I have read 54 books. FIFTY FOUR. I set a goal on good reads to read 100 by years end… somehow I think I’ll manage to manage that…

chocolate overload…

The easter bunny nearly didn’t make his appearance this year, you see he’s a little broke and he also doesn’t understand why he needs to celebrate the holiday of a religion he doesn’t follow. But family members pitched in and helped fill the pockets of those conglomerates who profit most out of these overly commercialized holidays so that Fysh could go and hunt for bunnies and eggs in the garden.


I wish I had a video camera… at one point my brother (12) decided to make a joke and he put a handful of eggs behind him and exclaimed “Look, I can poop chocolate eggs” then let them fall into the basket… obviously from the front it looked as you can imagine. guess what Fysh just had to do…

After the bunny had been and gone, the chocolate found and damn near polished off it was time for a good old braai. Still gets me shaking my head sometimes that mums ex fling, her ex husband and her current husband all get along well enough that they braai together. It’s nice actually. These three men have pretty much each played father figure to me over the last 25 years.

The adults also got to indulge in chocolate. Namely chocolate vodka in chocolate cups as well as chocolate ice cream laced with chocolate vodka… Of course after a few chocolate vodka shots, beer, irish coffees and something I can’t pronounce the albums came out and everyone got rather nostalgic. Damn I was a cute kid…


I hope that everyone had a brilliant day, regardless of how you decided to celebrate (or didn’t celebrate) it.

suck pull bang blow

A while back I heard that the academy could do basic maintenance and trouble shooting diesel engine courses but that they weren’t allowed to until they had a motor. With them taking so long to find one I made a deal – if I found them a motor to use I get to do the course free. You’ve got to love the old barter exchange system… it really did/does work. Now if only the bank accepted hugs for payments…

Needless to say, it took me a day and a little sweet talking but I found an engine.

And then spent 3 days cleaning it and painting it up. Engine work is DIRTY and the connotations are too much of fun for my gutter mind, no wonder guys enjoy it.




But at the end of the day I walked off with another certificate to my name. I am now qualified to run basic maintenance and troubleshooting on diesel engines! One step closer to the end goal. Not quite sure what it is yet but hey… at least we’re moving forward yes?

birthday wishlist

In exactly a month’s time it’s my 25th birthday.

I had all these dreams about where I wanted to be by now and yeah… that never happened. That aside it’s time to post a wish list so that my friends and family know what I want.

This year I want direction. A job that pays well and happiness.
But seeing as those things can’t be bought you can get me one of these things:

• A cupcake bag – I used to have one, sadly it was stolen :(
• Cowboy boots – I’m a size 6 and I know that Jordan shoes currently has them for R300
• Money – duh… easiest thing ever. I could say that it’s going towards a new wardrobe (which I really need) or a new camera (which I also really need) but in the end we all know it’s just going to end up in my diesel money stash. The joys of having a car during this day and age…
• A new camera – wishful thinking I know but I just had to put it out there. You never know, maybe some company out there or someone with too much money wants to do their good deed for the year or something. Then again rich people don’t stay rich by helping those in need. mmm… still worth a shot haha.
• A holiday – a paid for one, this is some serious wishful thinking I know but I so need a good 10 days somewhere in the wilderness or on a yacht or just somewhere that isn’t home or here. I need time away to spend a day or two doing absolutely NOTHING other than sitting down and enjoying the scenery or sleeping or instagramming photos or drawing or something and not feeling guilty for it. My brain needs this before I slip further.

one big house of *cough*

I have been awol almost a week now, have reviews and competitions and exciting news to share and post but Fysh got sick the weekend and of course passed it on to me, what started off as a lil sorethroat has turned into my annual bout of pharyngitis/tonsilitis… The joys.

Not only have I battling these crappy germs but I’ve been mowing through some pretty great books (2 of which I have to give away), knitting some more beanies for my #100beaniesforcancer mission, cleaning and painting a diesel engine and exercising my ass off (literally).

Will catch soon, easter weekend this weekend so lots of time to sit around and catch up. Tink we might skip te whole hunt ting this year though, maybe just get one egg or bunny but sadly no moola for a big elaborate hunt like we have most years. Hopefully that will change as soon as I complete my pb instructors course next month.

Hope evryone is well xxx

There’s a pipe!

Human rights day mostly means a reason to sleep in and call it a long weekend, not pc but true. But what does this chop do? She rallies up a few people crazy enough to get their asses out of bed before the birds and goes to climb a bloody mountain.

Well no, no mountain was climbed, we sort of walked along it with sections of steep inclines, but it wouldn’t be a hike without those right? And then because waking up at sparrows fart for a not so easy hike wasn’t enough I decided to do it with Fysh strapped to my back. Then again I’m sure we’ve already deduced I’m a sucker of punishment…

It’s not all that often I will sing the praises of a product so when I do you know I’m honest, and I can’t sing praises loud enough about this carrier. I don’t even know the maker of it, the bag it came in said “african baby carrier”. I bought it on a whim about 3 years ago (when I could afford to do such things) at a market, forked out about R400 for it and to date I can say it was worth every bloody cent! Fysh weighs about 16/17kg’s now and I can still comfortably carry him in it, it makes him feel like a backpack, albeit a heavy one.

The hike was beautiful – all 3 1/2 hours of it (we had a time limit) along the 12 apostles. It’s the old pipe track but apparently also known as the “kasteelpoort” trail, the company and conversation was top notch and the view… Well, it is cape town after all…

you know you’re old when…

I have grey hair!
Yes you read correctly. G R E Y! as in it has lost colour, as in I am now so old my hair no longer gives a damn about trying to pretend it’s a colour!

I’ve been colouring my hair since 1999. That’s 14 years of my hair not being its natural blond (shock horror, yes I’m blond, have you seen my kid?!) tint and when it grows out the roots are that shitty “you’ve fucked up your hair with bleach and now you’re stuck with this shitty colour” sort of colour. But I’ve never really left it to grow out for long enough to actually realize how bloody grey I am. At least it used to grow out that shitty colour, now it’s gotten to the point where it doesn’t even try to come out in some sort of shade of whateverness.

When I was 20 I found a grey hair and though nothing of it. Just a random hair right… bah humbug… I think that if these evil lil grey things continue to multiply at the rate they’re going I’ll be rocking the silver look by the time I’m 30.

I’m OLD! *cries*

Although on another note I’m starting to get used to the short hair and even think it looks okay on me. Not sure I like it enough to keep shaving it so it stays this length though. Still want those long mermaid locks back again… and I tell you this, it is taking every single ounce of willpower not to colour it right now. Particularly now that I’ve realized how grey I am but then again I googled “grey hair” to find a funny quote and I will admit that I might want to try it as a colour when I start colouring again, I think I could actually pull it off. Maybe grey with teal streaks…