Just another pebble..

For those of you that read my previous post, you know I stated that I have Burkitts Lymphoma. So before this train gets totally derailed let me just set a couple of things straight. I do not have brain cancer or bone cancer or cancer in my back for that matter. It's Burkitts lymphoma which is a rare aggressive curable cancer. I clearly recall the professor telling me one morning and apart from that quintessential tweed coat reserved only for clever people, the only word I took from that conversation was 'curable'.

Having being diagnosed and being told that I had to be admitted to hospital immediately happened very quickly. As aggressive as the cancer is, so is the treatment and is administered in hospital to monitor the whole process. Sadly enough I was given like a days notice so I didn't really have a chance to mentally prepare myself or my kids in fact as to  what it all would be like.

So it's probably been two of the hardest weeks of my life and I'm thankful because at least I have a fighting chance which is much more than most people with this dreaded disease. The treatment has knocked me most days, as was expected but I'm still around to tell the tale as they say. I don't want to go into too much detail regarding the chemo because it is what it is and I just deal with it as it comes.

That feeling of having walked a thousand miles overcomes me most days and I need to constantly remind myself that this is just another pebble in my path. 

My heart breaks into a million pieces every time I think about how this is affecting my family especially my husband and kids not having me around to hand out hugs and kisses before sending them off into the world each morning. 

And yes this is probably one of my most depressing posts but I'm just emotionally raw and drained on so many levels. 

I am as ever in bewildered awe of the constant love and support I receive daily which warms my heart. I appreciate it and even though sometimes I don't respond I'm just overwhelmed by the love. 

So Algamdullilah week three is upon me and I've been placed in isolation because my entire immune system has been wiped out. I'm on a chemo break as side effects have started to kick in so I'm in for another bumpy ride. Inshallah Allah knows my path. 

Other than that I spend my days being poked and pricked and prodded drifting in and out of sleep and dreaming of better days inshallah. I must admit I'm still amazed at the interest shown in my initial post and would appreciate if people would share the correct information about my condition. I would love to know why these posts are so interesting so don't be shy and  leave a comment in the box below. As I said before, me documenting this is my therapeutic outlet as I'm on a journey of treatment, and recovery and the duration is unknown. I'm trying to be mindful of my thoughts and just deal with each day as a blessing in its entirety. So this basically is the proverbial horses' mouth and please refer the link to the misinformed. 

Don't mistake my emotions for weakness  because I've still got this, some days just a little less than others.

Be safe and remember me in your duas

xxx

Postcards from paradise?

Hellloooo there lovelies. Now I know it's been a while and I do apologise for being so quiet in my posts and beauty flashes of late. As anticipated, it was quite a busy end of year trying to keep up with the kids school diaries, my own work engagements and other business administration. Festive season social duties came and went and finally I was all packed and set to fly off into the sunset with my love to a magical island destination for some serious R&R. I secretly snuck in some new products for editorial purposes which I thought would make for some great visuals in and around the island. Yes, so that was the initial plan.

Flying into Ile Maurice from high upon the candy cotton clouds set the tone for an indulgent couple of days with nothing on my mind but sun, sea and surf. Gone were the beauty flashes which I hoped would be flamed by the peace and tranquillity of this breathtaking location. Yes, it was inspirational, but on another level for me. I took the time to just sit and 'people watch'(which is an absolute delight for me when travelling!) and also enjoy the cool calm turquoise waters. I surrendered to the sunshine which shone down on me, and just embraced my state of being. Sometimes that's all a soul needs to heal and prepare for another year of adventures.

Mauritius was everything and more than what I could have imagined. It's like He created a little bit of heaven right here for us to enjoy. I lapped up the sunshine and sipped on delicious mocktails because..there's no reason except because! Whatever else happened in Mauritius stayed right there in Mauritius.

So 2016, and back at my desk ready to tackle the new school year, current projects almost coming to fruition after months of planning and just getting all the 'to do lists' for everyone in place. Stationary, books, schedules, extra murals, annual Dr check ups etc. Normal admin tick tick tick.

What was to enfold over the next couple weeks was nothing short of world shaking and mind breaking in every way. A routine mammogram which I initiated for the first time in my life left me reeling as this led to further investigations with my Dr and I now sit with a diagnosis of Burkitts Lymphoma Cancer. Quite a mouthful isn't it. Believe me when I say it was the furthest thing from my mind.

As this point I'm not sure whether I intend documenting this journey as I haven't quite made sense as to how that would be beneficial to any one really. I just have this feeling that writing about it may just make the journey easier for me as It's always been a therapeutic outlet. I feel like I just need to get a load off my head this morning before moving on. If I have to start on how the whole family is coping, I will not be able to finish this post as I will have a meltdown and that's not my intention for today. I've spent three days crying and prepping for this moment and today there will be no tears and no fears. 

So where to from here you ask? Well it's exactly a month since I noticed an abnormally bloated tummy and I now sit waiting for my first dose of chemo on a Monday morning can you believe. I am however humbled by the massive amount of love and duas and well wishes I have received since early morning and over the past couple of days. With an emotional heart I say bismillah and pray the almighty gives me strengh to make it through today. 

I'm going to skip the Oprah life lessons and drama about how precious life is and all that so just give me a minute while I tuck in my bloated tummy and straighten my big girl bloomers. I think I got this!

Wish me luck...

to be continued!!

xxx
**PS** excuse any typos as this has been written very quickly to ease the morning anxiety💕

Mojito anyone?

So I'm totally obsessed with the Virgin Mojito range at this point, as its everything it promises to be. A perfect summer indulgence if like me, you love the smell of freshly bruised mint muddled with lemon and limes. I have been running around for the past couple of months and it totally slipped my crazy mind to upload this post. It was meant to be my final instalment of the Spa of the World launch held a couple weeks back. It's clean, its fresh, and oh so crisp. **WARNING** Extreme intoxication up ahead!!

Exfoliate, scrub and polish your skin to perfection and replenish with intense hydration body butter.

It's in stores today and if your'e in the Cape Town area pop by the new-look Tygervalley store. Sadly I could'nt make that launch as I was eid prepping at the time. Just a couple more weeks to breeze through before the jolly season up ahead. But in the meantime, I'll have another mojito please!

Oh hello October..xx

Bon Voyage!

Launched together with Spa of the Worlds, the Voyage Collection is destined to take you on a sensory journey to the far corners of the globe. Infused with only the finest natural ingredients and harvested at their individual optimum blooming times. 

Hand picked at dawn in the Moroccan Dades Valley, the roses and cassis buds are blended with warm spices to create this exquisite Atlas Mountain Rose.

Fijian Water Lotuses only bloom in the early morning (I didn't even know this!) so the petals are hand separated and steam distilled to extract the purest essences. It's combined with mandarin zest and marine salt to bring you this subtle breath of the ocean.

From the Kashmir Mughal gardens, the Jasmine flower is picked at night when they are at their most precious in fragrance, and combined with Sandalwood to create this fragrant delight.

Sun-ripened Puglia figs are picked at the height of  Summer when the aroma is at its richest. Fresh and flirty and just the right combination that will have you swooning for a dreamy and decadent Italian retreat. 

As you can see, the entire range is simply an amazing addition to The Body Shop family. World class perfumers have journeyed the world over to capture the purest essences and bottle them to 'Body Shop' perfection. The packaging for each range depicts a pattern which is traditional from its region, and yet still lends itself  to quite a stylish and trendy look overall. The inspiration and regions behind these products are way more interesting as The Body Shop is a huge supporter of biodiversity and the local communities where they operate. The products are never tested on animals and 100% vegetarian. 

What's next? I think it's time to start packing those bags! I'm looking forward to another endless Summer.

Happy Spring Day loves

xx

Spa of the World Media Launch

Words fail me when I think back to last Thursday's Spa of the World Media launch. The weather played along and I was happily swept away to probably still one of my favourite venues in Camps Bay, the Bay Hotel. The super awesome team over at the Body Shop launched what must have been the most anticipated range for the year. Well at least I seem to think so!

First order of business was as an update as to what they have been doing apart from creating delicious skin treats for me and you, and it's probably one of the reasons why I love the brand so much. They live up to their brand values and always give back to local communities.

Beauty insiders were treated to four deliciously decadent ranges and a peek as to what Christmas will be looking like in stores. The Spa of the World  is a ritual sensory overload intended to create the 'spathroom' experience in the comfort of your home. Think Egyptian Milk & Honey milk baths, French Lavender oils, Dead Sea Salt scrubs and my already personal fave the Japanese Camellia Velvet cream. I haven't even mentioned the full range here and I'm dying to jump into my beauty box to start trying them. I just wanted to give you guys a heads up as to what to expect when these hot prods reach the stores which will be over the next couple of months. The new look packaging is pure decadence & sophistication to match this luxurious indulgent range.

Some more from the launch will be up over the next few days.

Happy days..xx

Winter Warmers

I'm sharing some of my winter skin favourites this morning because I know exactly how harsh the elements can be this time of the year.

Always remember that it's best to load your skin with vitamin-enriched products early to combat excessive drying, and you will definitely reap the benefits as your skin matures. I cleanse as normal with Chanel Lait Douceur which is a smooth cleansing milk, and tone with Chanel Lotion Douceur. This reminds me there's a review on that soon. I like mixing and matching my products and don't always stick to one brand for the whole routine. High end low end it really doesn't matter. What does matter is that I'm getting the best results possible for my skin. I also have a bit of sensitive skin and it seems to get irritated easily especially when I'm trying new products. I'm way more cautious now and have limited the amount I take on board my skin in terms of brands. A very small amount of Vitamin E Moisture Cream is enough for the whole day and it's not heavy or oily in any way. It's light, easily absorbed and just as fresh as the pretty pink packaging.

As for this little bullet, firstly the size is perfect to pop into an already full make-up bag, and yes I was swayed by the packaging simply because I love pink everything. It's only been a couple of weeks but it's refreshing and soothing on the eye area after a late night out. I also love the almost dewy glow it leaves just below my eyes. These two have become daily staples and just enough to get me through with no skin drama. Both are in Body Shop stores nationwide so it's best to invest!

There's a fine line..

So there's a topic that I have been sitting with for a good couple of months now, and only because it's taken me quite a while to marinate it all and finally embrace my decision.
A couple of months ago I was introduced to the possibility of having botox and fillers after having a very in depth consultation with a reputable professional. Hesitant at first and not knowing what to expect, I have since decided against any sort of such treatments.
Let me just say the clinic I consulted with was extremely professional and obviously knowledgeable regarding all of this. Knowing me, I had a million questions and they were addressed very comfortably and with great ease. At the time when I was researching all of this I had just turned the big 40, which was probably what kick started all of this silly behaviour. With that came the 'instant' wrinkles which I'm sure had been there all along but just made its presence felt because I was now older. I have since accepted the absolute madness of the way all this age stuff affects ones mind. Let me please highlight I am referring to my own mind here, because I poked and prodded every line, every frown and eventually I gave up.
Regardless of how easy it is to make an appointment and just pop by for a quick botox shot or two or three, as was recommended for me, I don't think I would ever do it. What I did see in the mirror was me just beating myself up when every wrinkle and line was a part of me and of my journey through this blessed life. The ups and downs, the constant 'mommy worrying' about my children's first everything in life. Would they be ready for anything this big world would throw their way? Every wrinkle reminded me of where I had been. My precious heart that had been through too many losses, one too many break ups and the daily shake ups.
I'm happy to report I am not ready to betray my beating heart so it's peaceful once again even though some days my boobs do seem like they could do with a good old lift, and my tummy is not as tight as I would like it to be. Oh see here I go again!

This is my story and everyone may feel differently obviously, just know that self love and acceptance is never an easy feat when we as women are constantly bombarded with unrealistic images which are contoured and filtered to the point of an apple now looking like a orange.

I accept that I am never going to be perfect in any way but I refuse to compare myself to a twenty year old who has never walked my path. Because note to self here..I have already walked all of hers!

For those of you interested in the clinic I went to, It's called Heart Charm Aesthetics and based at 21 Atlantic Road, Muizenberg Ph: 021 788 9466. They have an amazing team and offer some great treatments as they specialise in skin rejuvenation.