Texas, the Lone Star State that stole my heart.

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I haven't blogged in a while, because I had exams in June and then went on an amazing holiday to San Antonio, Texas.
After the holiday our plane landed, I have hit the ground running when university started two weeks ago. So it has been hectic! But this post is not about how hectic it is going, but rather how amazing my holiday was...

IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT I BLOG ABOUT TEXAS!!!!

My uncle has been living in San Antonio, Texas, for the past few years. My grandparents and aunt already went to visit him, ranting on about the beautiful country, so finally our turn came to visit him. We swapped  our very cold winter here in South-Africa for a very hot summer there! So here is my general feeling about San Antonio and Texas:

• Texas is green: Coming home felt like leaving Avatar to come back to Earth. We left the green, beautiful, warm and green country to come back to a very dull and cold South-Africa. While flying over Texas, we just saw green green trees and land and then a few hours later, we flew over South-Africa, the brown, dull country of ours. 

The Valero Trailhead- the green is everywhere and majestically beautiful!

• Everything is big; the food, cars (trucks), the drinks, the roads (which is mostly highways), did I mention the food?

My dad next to a truck- it is BIG!!!

The highway interchanges goes 4-5 levels up! Holy crap that is high and MASSIVE!!!

• Everything works; Postal services, packages arrive a day after it has been ordered, without getting stolen! People want to work there, they don't have the attitude of that they HAVE to work, they WANT to!
• Their beer is AMAZING! 

CHEERS!!!

• They have Rodeos!!!!! You know like the sexy cowboys and bull-riding... Like where do I sign-up for a sexy cowboy husband??? 

Looking all cowgirl-ish

• It is safe! We did not have to check over our shoulders or be afraid. Even the dodge areas of San Antonio didn't scare us. There is not crime like we know it in South-Africa. We felt safe and relaxed. Postal services can drop packages in front of your door, without it getting stolen. 
• We were in the company of two gorgeous dogs: Mila and Percy!

Mila and my sister

Percy getting some loving from my uncle

The locals are so friendly! The locals always greet you and they always ask where you are from. They made me feel welcome and at home. My 'thank-you' was always met with a reply of 'you're welcome'! They have manners like you cannot believe...

San Antonio has stolen my heart! I still want to travel the world and see all there is to see, but I think that San Antonio will be my home one day. It is the type of place where I can live out my days with my family and be extremely happy.

So, how can I get my green card?

I will be writing of my trip in more detail on my other blog: In Travel Of Adventures.
Check it out and follow my journey...

Don't you sometimes wish for a day for every day?

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Exactly at 11:11, I made a wish. A wish that there is a day for every day.

You are probably gonna hate me for making this particular wish. Damn you person for making such a wish! Is a year not enough for you??

But I certainly need a day for every day! What do I mean by that? By that I mean that for every Monday, I need another one. For every Tuesday the same, etc....

Why? Would you ask. Well, because my workload is a lot and I am struggling to keep head above water. I am usually 'til late busy with academic work. It takes me the whole day to complete my work, which must be handed in next. The days are flying past like tennis balls being shot out of the machine.
But after my day is done, I haven't made time for the people in my life and therefore I need a day for every day, so I can get the chance to spend it with them!

Maybe I need time manage. Maybe I need to sleep less. Maybe maybe maybe.
But this is my wish, which will not be granted. So stop hating me for my wish and chill! Life is short, enjoy the days. They go by so fast.

My beautiful mom's birthday

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I hope you have a great day! I hope you have an AMAZING year! You are a woman, whom I look up to! Therefore you deserve the best birthday ever!

You are strong. You are loving. You are kind. You are soft-hearted. You are beautiful. You are hard working, but most of all, YOU ARE LOVED AND APPRECIATED!!!

I cherish every moment that I can spend time with you, because you are my hero. My Superwoman. You were strong for me, when I couldn't be strong for myself and you loved me unconditionally. You fought for me and I am so thankful for that, my gratitude can never be put into words!

I am blessed to have such an amazing mom like you. Thank you for being my mom. I am proud to call you my mom.

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her" -George Washington

The older you get, the more beautiful you become! I strive to be like you.

I hope you have a splendid day. Wish I was there to spend it with you!

I am officially a graduate!

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen 

I am a graduate.

I am a graduate!

I AM A GRADUATE!!!!!!!

The idea is only sinking in now, since I officially have my degree in Communication and Languages! These 3 years have been hard, but extremely amazing, as well! All the hard work, the late nights or the nights with no sleep at all, the calls to my mom in tears, the partying with my friends, going out even though there is still work to be done, the last minute running to give in a project on time: it has all come down to this day. The day that I have GRADUATED! But believe me, without all the amazing people in my life, I would not have been able to achieve it!

   

My amazing friends, who won't even let me be silly alone, because they wanna join

There must always be a balance in your life, otherwise you will go batsh*t crazy, so to my friends, thank you for ensuring that I have a social life outside of all the academic work! You make life worth while and fun.

My group. We achieved so much together in our studies and projects

We cried together, we laughed together and we motivated one another through the 3 years of studies! We achieved a third place in one of our campaigns last year, because we made an excellent team! I am so proud of them and so glad we could all graduate together!

My amazing and beautiful parents

My parents are the people, who made it all possible! I am infinitely grateful to you and everything you have done over the years! You guys are my motivation and my inspiration!!!! Thanks for always being there and supporting me through everything! YOU ARE AMAZING AND ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! 

My gorgeous grandparents

They are my No. 1 supporters! My grandpa, grandma and my Aunt Debbie, Ronel, Anton, Wynand and Leon, thank you for everything! I am really grateful for your support! 

Without my friends and family, I wouldn't have been able to do this by myself! So, I am sharing my degree with all of you!

My word for 2015

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Words are very powerful things, therefore I like to pick a word each year to live by. I strongly believe that if I make that choice to live by the word then it will happen in that year.

My word for 2014 was Happiness and 2014 was a truly happy year for me. I constantly made the choice to be happy and make the best of everything. My quote for 2014 was "Happiness is an inside job", it will also be my quote for life.

My word for 2015 is ADVENTURE! Yes, I want to have adventures this year. It will be my last year as a student and I want to enjoy every single moment of it.

I will say 'YES' to every opportunity to have an adventure and to just have fun. I will also have to work very hard, but I will aim for adventure every day.

Also, happy New Year to all my faithful blog readers and to the new ones! I hope you all have a year filled with happiness and adventure. So here's to 2015 that is going to be an adventure!

What is your word for 2015?

Travelling starts locally

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

One of my biggest dreams is to travel the whole world. This has been my dream, since I went to France and London in 2011. I have discovered that I have a wanderlust. According to the Urban Dictionary the definition of Wanderlust is:

1. A very strong or irresistible impulse to travel.

2. Strong longing for or impulse toward wandering


I want to see and explore every country. I want to eat the weird and wacky foods of those countries and learn about the traditional foods, the traditions. I want to experience EVERYTHING!!

But what does it help if you travel the world, but you never explore your own country?

This past week, we went to Uvongo in Kwazulu-Natal on the South Coast of South-Africa. Here are some photos of our time there and the surrounding areas. I decided to use photos, because they are worth a thousand words.

Beautiful mountains on our trip to the coast

We have arrived! Rock pools at Uvongo

Sister taking a photo of me at the rock pools

Sisters ready to go to the beach

The beautiful beach, Uvongo.

My flip flops in the sand

A coffee tour at the Beaver Creek Coffee Estate in Port Edward

Taking a walk at the Clearwater Trails in Port Edward

I find the name Clearwater Trails ironic, when I look at the river. 

Travelling back home, my sister made a fort for herself out of pure boredom

Travelling starts locally and then internationally. I had the best time this past week and I realized all over again, just how beautiful my country is. South-Africa truly is majestic and amazing!

Communication degree: COMPLETED!

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

On Thursday I wrote my last test for my communication degree, I wanted to scream with joy after the test, but I had to be considerate of the other people who were still writing. But on the inside I was screaming of joy!

I MADE IT THIS FAR!!!!!

Blood, sweat and tears were all part of my degree. So were all-nighters, calls to mom crying my eyes out, running like an Olympic champion to give projects in on time. and also going to write an exam for the second time, because I failed the first exam.

Yes, it wasn't always easy, but there were more good times than bad. I made amazing friends, who will be my bridesmaids. I have fallen in love and also fallen out of love. I have learned to replace my "what if's" with "Oh well's". I realized that it is fine to not know what the future holds and to simply tackle each day as it comes. I discovered myself.

My amazing group of friends

We had a lot of group projects this year and in previous years, we had people in our group who did nothing and we were stuck with all the work. This year we had the perfect group and they became my best friends (See photo above). We worked very hard, but also played hard. Without that combination I would've drowned.

Unfortunately, some of my friends are not going to study further and my last goodbye's have been said. But most of my friends will be staying on and doing their Honours or a diploma of some kind.
I will also be making new friends next year when I am doing my post-graduate diploma in management.

I look forward to the adventures and the unknown awaiting me next year. I am also gonna complete my bucket list for university. This song is my motto for next year:

But that is next year! Now, I am going to enjoy my 2 months vacation and spend some time with my amazing family and friends from home.

Extremely blessed

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

This weekend, I celebrated my 21st birthday. My friends and family made it extremely special. I have tears in my eyes of thankfulness to each and everyone.

At my 1920's Gatsby 21st

First of all, I would like to thank my parents and especially my mom. They did so much effort with my party and with my birthday. The tables looked beautiful, the food was amazing and I even had a birthday cake! I think this was my first legit birthday cake! It was amazing! Thank you Mom and Dad, you are everything that children wish for. You spoiled me rotten. I really love you.

My aunt Debbie, my grandmother and grandfather for the wonderful and big presents. You really spoiled me in ways, I cannot ever say thank you enough!

The cake!

I would also like to thank my friends for enjoying my party with me and all the wonderful gifts I received. Without my friends I would be hollow. we had the best night and danced our feet off doing the Charleston on the dance floor!

My friends dressed beautifully!

My gorgeous sister and her outfit

My 21st was everything I hoped for and I couldn't ask for more because it was THE BEST!  Thanx to everyone that made it so wonderful and great!

My love list

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

So, I saw the Love List on Momagain@40  and decided to compile my own Love List.

(In no specific order)

• Books
• Coffee dates with my friends
• My parents  
• 
• My baby sister

• Flowers
• My entire family
• All things beautiful
• Good food
• Popcorn
• Love
• Fruit
• Positivity
• Being happy
• Friends 
• Visiting my friends
• My friends visiting me
• Travel
• Holidays
• The bush veld
• The ocean
• Our two dogs
• The color blue
• Sunsets and sunrises
• Lays chips
• Liquorice
• Dubbel zout droppies
• Water
• Coffee
• Tea
• Pasta
• Being in nature
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Making memories
• Photos
• SLEEPING!
• Writing letters
• Shoes
• Scarves
• Dresses and skirts

Yes, I love a lot of things.

There is also a hate list, but I am not going to compile such a list, because it is negative and to focus energy on a hate list, is wasting energy on the things which I do love.

What are the things that you love?

Blessed with the best

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Today is Mother's day!

No "thank you" will ever be enough for everything that my mother has done for us. She is amazing and always puts us first. She taught me many life lessons and showed me how a woman should be treated. Nothing less than the best.

When looking in the dictionary and searching for the meaning of 'Mother', my mom's name will appear. Motherhood doesn't come with a manual, but I'd say my mom is the manual to motherhood!

Mom, thank you for everything that you have done for Mieka and me. No words will ever be able to describe my love and appreciation for you. Thank you for raising Mieka and me to the people we are today.

Hope you enjoy Mothersday! Wish I could be there to celebrate it with you!

Lots of love xx

Good to be home

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my baby sister, or my dad's food? Yeah well I'm mentioning it now.... It really is good to be home for the Easter weekend.

The headband gang

Mieka and me wearing our onesie's

Missing home

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

My university is 120km from home, which means I can only go home on weekends and holidays. But I usually have too much work to do, to go home every weekend.

My baby sister is growing up very fast and I am missing out on so many things, she is 5 and my mom wrote a blog post about my sister having a loose tooth. It makes me sad because I am not there to experience and share my sister's excitement.

I have also missed out on a few family holidays due to exams. It sucks to miss out and to just miss...

Earth Hour

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Yesterday, the 29th of March was Earth Hour. Earth Hour is where you switch off your electricity or just lights to save the Earth little by little! Every little bit helps, your daily effort to save power is also making a difference.

We started out outside

We planned to watch the stars, during Earth Hour, but it is Autumn here in South-Africa and it gets quite chilly once the sun goes down. Our plans soon changed and we made a Christmas bed inside!

The flash is too bright in the dark

Take #2- dog included

It is fun to take part in an initiative, which is happening all over the world. 

What did you do during Earth Hour?

The most beautiful wedding

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Last night, my eldest nephew got married. It was literally THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WEDDING EVER!!!!!!!! My sister was also the flower girl and she looked absolutely gorgeous!

Flower girl still waking up, while hair is being done

Flower girl posing for photos

The table settings

Flower girls walking down pathway

The beautiful bride, Bronwyn.

The kiss that seals the deal

3 nephews and the niece

Photobooth fun!

It was the best wedding that I attended so far, it was a fairy tale! I better start to save if I want a wedding like this. Everything was just perfect.