Painting for holiday fun

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

What do you do when you get bored? You get creative (sometimes).

This year, I will have my own room at my residence and it will be a lot bigger, so I need to decorate it with more things. But decorations are expensive and not exactly what I want, therefore I decided to buy and paint my own decorations with my favorite color: Blue, especially turquoise.

Adventure: my word for 2015

"The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure."- Christopher McCandless

This is my motto for 2015. I simply want to have fun and adventures. Read about it here.

Happ(y)iness: My word of 2014

My motto and word for 2014 was: Happiness and the motto: Happiness is an inside job. I had an extremely happy year and it was because I chose to be happy. Read about it here.

I am impressed with my attempts at painting! I will take orders (ha-ha).

Babysitting two girls

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

We struggle to find things to do for my baby sister during the long December holidays. The schools and holiday care at the school is closed for the festive season and we are running out of ideas, so my sister's best friend came to sleep over, last night, and she played here for the day.  This is roughly the summary of my babysitting adventures:

Coloring in Tinkerbelle

Painting ceramics

A letter to the Tooth Mouse/ Fairy

My sister had lost her tooth, because she refused to take it out, only to later realize that it wasn't in her mouth anymore. We had to write a letter to the Tooth Mouse, asking forgiveness and asking him if he would be so kind as to search for the tooth and to still give my sister money for it.

Pizzas for lunch

 I made the girls delicious, little pizzas after they nagged me for it, only to change their minds that they want pasta and I ended up eating it.

Playing dress-up 

Clay play- making all sorts of interesting things

Man, kids are different kinds of species and hard work. I am waiting another 20 years before I get my own children. Babysitting is hard work and I have mad respect for all the teachers, babysitters and nannies out there.

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!

The winner of the iTunes voucher!!!

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Last week, I launched a competition on my blog, because it's my blog's blogaversary! The competition was that you could win an iTunes voucher!

Today I announce the winner!
Drum roll please....

The winner is:

Hanno Schoeman!!

Congrats Hanno, I will contact you shortly!

Happy birthday to Millenium Lady

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Last year, the 20th of November, I wrote my first blog post on this blog! Time flies when you're having fun, I guess!

I have learned so many things about blogging, as well as social media, while I enjoyed myself on this blog. I also met a great deal of people, who I would never have met if not for this blog.

I have decided to give away an iTunes voucher of a R150 ($15), because it's the blog's birthday!

What do you have to do to win?

You have to:

• Comment on this post and tell me what you will do with the voucher.
• Like the Millenium Lady page on Facebook

The draw will take place on Thursday, the 27th of November. Anyone can be part of this competition. The name of the winner will be drawn at random!

Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor! 

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.

My bucket list for university

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I am final year Communication student at my university and it got me thinking that I have not done everything that I wanted to do here. I still have a year left at my university because I'm going to do a post-graduate course in management, which means I have a year left to complete my bucket list.

My bucket list will only make sense to me and the people studying at this university with me, but I will still share it, because sharing is caring....

• I want to 'Sokkie' in Impala (It is a dance form, which I want to do in Impala [a bar/pub/dance place])
• I want to get a tattoo.
• I want to attend a class, that I am not registered for.
• I want to hide in the library so that I can spend the night there with friends and watch movies.
• I want to pull an all-nighter with my amazing friends or someone special or both.
• I want to go to the roof garden in F1.
• I want to go to the 'Purple' garden, which is on one of the roofs on campus. I always see it when we drive over the bridge.
• I want to go to Potch Liggies, but with someone special or great friends (view where you see the city lights)
• I want to go on an adventure with my friends.
• Dress silly and go and eat in the Draak (Our campus restaurant/bar)
• I want to go and eat at all the dining halls.
• I want to see what is behind the random doors on campus
• I want to go and watch a rugby game with my dad.
• I want to go to a spa therapy with my mom
• I want to dress up silly with my baby sister and go out to a mall or something.

If I think of anything else, I will gladly share them afterwards... What is on your bucket list?

My summer list

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Here in South-Africa, there is no such thing as spring. We get the blossoms that bloom like spring, but we have the heat of a full-blown summer! I was born in the winter and therefore I am a lover of summer. I blossom in summer (pun intended).

My mom, Momagain@40, asked me to take part in this Summer List. Well, here goes:

What is your favorite thing about summer?

My favorite thing about summer is the fact that the whole world gets life again. Everything is green and blossoming, people dress pretty and colourful for summer and everyone is inspired to accomplish higher heights. But my most favorite thing is that I can open my windows and just take it all in.

Do you have a favorite summer drink?

I must confess that after a long and hot day, there is nothing better than an ice cold beer, running down my throat.

Is there a location you like to go each summer?

I don't have a place where I always go, but I am crazy about the bush veld and going to game farms. It feels like I belong there and should be running wild with all the animals... 

Dresses or skirts?

Oh, I love me some dresses! And each and every year, the dresses just get more beautiful and then I just want them all! If I could wear them 24/7 I would! 

Sandals or ballet pumps?

Sandals are the best option for summer, because they won't give you smelly feet like pumps. I am crazy about my sandals and I wear them down in the summer time...

Hair up or down?

I am a hair down type of person come hell or high water even though it is hot....

Hair always down

Smokey eyes or bold lips?

I recently discovered the power of bold lips: red lips. I love the boldness and it makes me feel so sexy! But I prefer smokey eyes as well in the summer, especially when we are having a night-out.

My red lips and I

Favorite perfume for summer?

My favorite perfume for summer is Adidas: Pure Lightness. It smells delicious and it doesn't cost this student an arm and a leg....

Favorite music for summer?

My favorite music for summer, is music that make me want to go on an adventure or roadtrip. Music that makes me feel infinite and invincible... This song by NONONO- Pumpin Blood, makes me want to go an adventure with great friends...

What is your Summer List?

Surviving in a residence

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I am a third and final year Communication student and since my first year, I’ve been staying in a hostel. An all-ladies hostel. Meaning hormones, moodiness, back-stabbing, but also so much love and friendships... I've also met my bridesmaids here. 

My hostel is the home to 260 unique ladies and that means unique things happen and you learn your lesson very fast here. Here are the things that my friends and I have learned:

• ·         Sometimes it’s better to not see/hear anything (Jonanke)
• ·         Never leave your dishes in the kitchen, no matter how insignicant you think it is, it will disappear (Mart-Mari)
• ·         There is not really ghosts in the residence, but yet you sometimes believe it (Toni)
• ·         People who do not live in residences will never really know what goes on there (Hanri)
•        Never stay next to the balcony, because you will have people constantly smoking next to you and chatting very loud (Mone)
• ·         You get one toilet roll per week. TOILET ROLLS ARE GOLDEN! If you accidentally forget them in the bathroom, they will be gone by the time you go looking for them.
• ·         Silence is not golden.
• ·         It is totally acceptable to walk in pajamas all day long or slip into your pajamas any time of the day.
•        The more you participate, the more friends you will make.
•        The more you participate, the more fun you will have.
• ·         Bathing is too much cleaning work (because people don't clean after themselves) and it takes too long to take a bath. SHOWER INSTEAD.
• ·         The walls are thin. Watch what you say and keep your music down or you will have angry neighbors.
• ·         There will be someone studying the same as you, so get yourself a study buddy to make things a bit easier.
• ·         Buy some earplugs for noisy nights.
• ·         You will have a lot of friends in the residence, so doing projects can sometimes be hard when they pop.
• ·         Having a tidy room, makes you more positive and feel task-oriented.
• ·         If you go to sleep before 11 pm, people will ask you if you're sick. NO ONE SLEEPS EARLY.
• ·         Watching scary movies is not great when returning to the residence. A residence is scary by nature.
• ·         Watching a lot of series' is acceptable.
• ·         Being up to date with ALL the movies and series is acceptable.
• ·         Great food is scarce.
• ·         Having an almost empty fridge is common and not strange. Fridges mostly contain sauces and food that no one wants to eat.

·      I would not have preferred to stay anywhere else, it is so much fun to participate in activities and all the friends that one makes, makes life worth the while.

Living in a residence makes you part of something fun, you will have stories to tell your children one day. Living in a residence has taught me many lessons and how to work with other people.

Also check out my post about the things that university guides will never teach you.

I give snow arc eyes...

Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

So, for those who know me, know that my skin color is just a shade darker than snow! I have always been a casper and had many nicknames like Tippex, The milk man's daughter, snowy, etc... Name it and I had that nickname!

It is summer time and it means that I have to show some skin again and then I realize that I really am insanely white! My family and I are also going to the sea in December. I found this gem of the last time when we were there

Yes, this is me!

I white-out on photos, I am invisible on some, and sometimes I get a photo I can actually use, where I don't white-out! 

I have tried tanning, I have tried spray tans... I have tried every trick in the book, so stop giving me tips: Been there, done that, got the leopard striped spray tan marks.... 

Yes, I have had some bad times just trying to tan, like being sunburned very badly, etc, etc...But then I realized there are perks to being a Casper:

• When I'm old, I won't have a rubbery and ugly skin, because I never tan.
• I can't tan (Tanning is bad for your skin), I just stay snow white.
• I can scare people in the dormitory and make them believe that I am a ghost.
• All the colors of rainbow look good with my skin
• I shine like white paper when I'm in the sun (almost like the vampires in Twilight, unfortunately I don't sparkle...YET).
• Chinese think of me as royalty, because kings, queens and other royalty are not allowed out of the palace, therefore they have very white skins. (I learned this fact, when I was in Paris and met a lot of Chinese tourists).
• I won't be mistaken for another race. 
• People instantly know that I'm from European lineage.

I give Snow White a run for her money. I make Tippex look brown. I give snow Arc Eyes. I shine brighter than a white paper in the sun... AND I LOVE IT! 

Regards, 

The Blonde Ghost

Free food, massage spa's... being a shadow is great!

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

For this week, I'm shadowing/interning at Flow and I've been enjoying it a lot. I wrote a blog post on Monday about my first day, but never wrote a post about yesterday.
Why? Because this was me almost the whole day:

Typing away and doing research

But today was quite different, I had a jam-packed day. This morning started off with another opinion piece of a wonderful entrepreneur, who has great ideas for the future. Later in the day Street Chef came to the offices and made some nice Thai Red Chicken with Basmati rice, it was so delicious! I love the concept of Street Chef! You can check them out on twitter @5star_chef.

Just when I thought my day couldn't get any better, we had a walk-through at enmasse (No, it shouldn't be with a capital letter), they are a spa, unlike any other you have ever been to

Selfie at enmasse

Being rebel in the quiet massaging-area

enmasse's chocolate tea= amazing!

Feet up while being served the tea

I was also in meetings, which were also interesting, because people are interesting! Anyway that was my day in the life of a shadow/intern at Flow. And man, am I loving it! I can really get used to this! 

Who thought job shadowing can be this fun?

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

In one day I learnt how to write a press release, how to evaluate a company's website, as well as how to handle corporate people when you criticize their website, social media presence as well as their digital marketing.

Day 1 of shadowing

In the beginning of this semester, we were notified by a lecturer that we had to shadow a Public Relations Officer in our October holiday. I wanted to shadow at my mother's company, only to realize they don't believe in the importance of Public Relations... Like are you crazy?

Anywho, I had to find other alternatives, because working at my mother's company was out of the question. My aunt's friend told us that her daughter is in Public Relations and will organize something, that's when the opportunity of a lifetime came my way! Flow Communications accepted me to shadow at them for this week. I couldn't be more ecstatic! They are a company doing pure communication work: anything from web development, content, design, social media, public relations, media training, exhibitions, name it and they do it in communication.

On my first day, I was asked to fix a press release by making it shorter and write more concise sentences. It was hard for me to think in English again after being at the university for so long, where we speak purely Afrikaans. I'm sure in a day or so, I will get my English vocabulary up to date again.

I, also,  helped to evaluate a company's website, we then went into a meeting later this afternoon to point out what needs to be done to their website, the content on it, how it links to their social media profiles, etc. Thankfully, it was not my job to tell them what Flow thought and what the critique was, because I'm only shadowing. It felt like sitting in a tennis court and the ball going back and forth. The opinions in the company differed so much, one person agreed, one didn't, the other one asked Flow to elaborate... No one was on the same train of thought. Coming to a conclusion was not easy at all. I was just a spectator in that tennis match and I'm so grateful for that. Nonetheless, it was a great learning school on how to handle a meeting like this.

A selfie on the way to the meeting with this company

Today was really great and I have already learned so much. Flow Communications have exceeded my expectations on so many levels. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the week has in store for me! I think PR may be for me, but let's not talk too soon.

Flow Communications is responsible for the following campaigns:

• Nando's
• World Wildlife Fund
• Nelson Mandela Foundation
• South African Tourism
• SASOL
• South African Heart Association;
• and many, many more!

So yes, I'm very privileged to be shadowing here. They mean business!

Peace out 'til next time!

A toast to a dear friend

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

My dear life long friend has decided to go work and travel in Versailles, France, for 7 months. 7 months! It feels like a lifetime to me! She will be an English assistant at a school there. She will always be able to travel in her off-time. I am very happy that she has this opportunity to broaden her horizons. But she is leaving us behind!

Marinda and me have been friends literally since birth, but actually Marinda is more than that to me:
I looked up the definition of friend in the Concise Oxford English Dictionary (2011: 568):
"a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations". But Marinda is way more than that to me: She is my lunch-buddy, my go-to when I need advice, my best friend, the person who understands me best, my soul sister.

We organized a farewell party for her, where we had a lot of fun and the other night, I had the opportunity to be her date to the formal, where it was our final farewell.

We are the complete opposite. We are night and day. The moon and the sun. Whatever you want to call it. But I believe that is why our friendship works so good, we can never get bored of each other, because of the fact that we differ so much. She is my friend that is my missing puzzle piece.

Marinda, I hope you have a wonderful journey of a lifetime in France. I hope you find yourself in ways that will amaze you. I hope you make friends all over the world. I hope you eat and drink as many weird and wacky things there, because you only live once and life is too short to be on the safe side! I hope you love walking down those beautiful streets every single day and that you will walk in the rain instead of avoiding it. Embrace the cold and the winters and maybe even the snow! I hope you do crazy things and make up your own bucket list! Well, this is kinda a demand ha-ha!

My friend, I wish you well. I really do hope that you have one great adventure and I cannot wait to hear all the amazing stories.

Listen to this song, it reminds me of the journey you'll be having.

I love you, Marinda, and I will miss you. But mostly I'm excited for you!

Will your younger self approve?

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about my younger self. By younger self I mean my 5 year old self. I keep asking myself: Would my younger self approve?

Would the younger Kiara approve?

When I was little, I was a very big tomboy. I used to play with bugs, chase boys around with all sorts of them literally from big to small. I loved playing pranks on people, scaring the living daylights out of them, doing all sorts of silly things and part of being tomboy, I also loved to play with cars and refused to wear dresses, because it wasn't fun to play in it. Yes, that was my younger self. Just writing this blog post is giving me nostalgia, which I can't explain. Is it a part of yourself which you lose whilst growing up?

I feel like I have left my younger self behind on some playground, because somewhere along the line, life said that it is time to grow up. Why is growing up so boring? Waking up, getting ready to go to class, working, eating and sleeping has become my daily routine. But yet, life is fun and it is long enough to both have fun and sometimes be serious and act like an adult. I must just make time to have fun and just be me who I really am. I always make excuses that I don't have time, but my problem is that I never make time.

I miss the days when I made pranks on people. I can never forget the different reactions I got from people and how i laughed until I cried.

I once had a small paper bag, which said "Rattle snake eggs: handle with care". I would take it to school and show the teachers and they were usually curious to look inside, once opening the bag, a rattling sound would come out of the bag.

The trick was that there was a rubber band with a piece of metal in the middle of the rubber band. You then had to wind the rubber band up and hold the packet correctly so it won't unwind. When people opened the packet, the rubber band unwound and the metal piece hit the sides of the packet, making the rattling sound. It scared a lot of people and the reactions were priceless.

My sister brings the fun back

Since my sister's birth, I learned to chill a bit and have fun, because she is only young once and when she's older I won't be cool enough to have fun times with her. She taught me a lot about life and how to enjoy the simple stuff.

Enough of the complaining! This is my decree to myself for all to see: I will go back to my roots and have fun for the remainder of 2014! I will pull pranks on my friends and family! Yes, you heard it... be prepared, I'm coming

Being COLOURFUL at the Holi Festival of Colours

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Since June, I've been excited about this festival, because all the previous times that there were colour fests like these I was not able to go. But then the REAL DEAL came along and I was able to go!

Paint being thrown in the air

Thrown with colours by the photo bomber

The parents and me

It was really a fun day and it really was worth the money, because the whole day there were DJ's rocking the fest and there were great food stalls (Always a bonus for me).

We had an amazing DJ line-up:
DJ FRESH
PASCAL & PEARCE
MARK STENT
ROYAL K
LADY LEA
VIN GROOVIN
NICK ESSENTIAL
HOUSESHAKER
OZZY FUNK
KEREN ONAY
WILSON FURY

DJ Fresh and Pascal and Pearce, really delivered and they got the whole crowd singing and dancing! But later on, it got super cold and our flimsy jackets and jerseys was no comparisons to the wind.
But non the less we had a lovely time. So, if the Colour Festival is coming your way, make sure to get your tickets, because you will have a blast! This is a bucket-list event...

Soapbox: Have you ever known fear?

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Have you ever woken up several times per night in cold sweat? Having dreams of being killed by the one person you feared most?

Why is Millenium Lady on her soapbox again? Because August is the month of Women Rights. Yes, this is a huge issue and a very relevant campaign that is creating awareness about women all over the world, who do not have rights or their rights aren't respected.

This was me a few years ago, when my biological dad was still present in my life. I knew how to walk on egg shells, just to not start a fight. Just to keep the peace. Just to remain in one piece. I was between 12 and 15 years old when I already knew these skills. Sad for a young teen to live a life like this. December the 6th, 2008, was the day when I said enough...

But this is the hard and cold reality. Domestic violence exists! Emotional manipulation exists! Verbal and physical abuse exists!

Marinda and me

This photo was taken at the age of two or three. We have been friends for literally our WHOLE lives. Our dads had the same personality... The verbal and emotional abuse was always a factor. Did we know it at the time? NO! We were still children, just trying to have a normal childhood.

I remember how I constantly lived in fear when visiting my dad every other weekend and everyday after school. Always wondering when the next fight will be, what it will be about and how bad will the fight be.

As a child, you always believe that your parents are perfect and you are the princess, but then you realize it was an illusion. That first time your biological father pulls out the gun, that first time he hits you, that first time when he grabs your stepmother around the neck... Yes, that is when you realize it was just an illusion. Your parents are just people. Normal and sometimes crazy.

But abuse is not okay! Whether it is verbal, emotional or physical... Never will it be okay! Not from a beggar, parent or the fucking king! Never! But YOU have to stand up. YOU have to say ENOUGH! The situation won't change unless YOU change it. The person won't ever change. A leopard never changes its spots.

My heart goes out to everyone stuck in a situation like this, but YOU have to do something! YOU HAVE TO! We as women have rights and we should use them.

Previous posts on the subject:

Soapbox about abuse and relationships
What is abuse?

It is not normal to live in fear. It is not normal to wake up in cold sweat. The normal life should be where you are excited to spend time with your family. Where there is only love and happiness. Where abuse is only a rumor and things you read about in history books.

Marching for our rights

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Today, we made history! We, as students, fought for our rights to be educated in our home language, Afrikaans and to have English and Tswana, as interpretation services.

Merieke and I at the march
Second poster translation "Media stoking anger, what about my degree?"

Our university has been receiving bad advertising from newspapers and television since the beginning of the year, making false accusations of the university endorsing a Nazi-culture, which is rubbish!

The university was forced to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor after all the bad media, but this Vice-Chancellor made promises that he will not change our language of instruction. So everyone was happy, until he made statements on TV that he had other motives. Yes, he was considering to change our language of instruction.

Now, here is the defense of the students and the university:

Since our country became a democracy in 1994, we had 11 official languages. Talk about a rich culture and traditions of a country! I absolutely love it! There are so many types of people here and each and everyone is individual. We all have different backgrounds and we are a Rainbow Nation. One of our rights in this Rainbow Nation, is that we have the right to be educated in our home language.

Why not go to another university to receive education in your home language?
Because we are the last Afrikaans university in South-Africa. All English and Tswana students have translators in EACH and EVERY class.
There are so many English universities, who provide interpretation services for all languages of South-Africa, except for Afrikaans.

Lizanne, me and Merieke

Thousands of students marching!

It will still take some time for the Vice-Chancellor to realize what he is doing to our student culture. He will cause the separation between students and friends, because of this. And Nelson Mandela, his hero fought so hard to prevent exactly the things that are happening now at the university.

How do you feel about this? Please share your views.