A quickie

These holidays have been a blast! Having my cousins here was SO much fun. Saying goodbye was very hard, even though I know I get to see my beautiful cousin, Paige, in only 9 months. If you're reading this blog, you probably know that she is coming to live and study in Cape Town next January. She will be studying photography in town, something she is extremely talented at. I am super excited to have her living just 5 minutes away from me, I have missed her so much in the past four years.
If you are interested in seeing some of her work, she has a photography blog where she has taken on the challenge of taking a self portrait every day for a year. Here's the link: http://paigethepinxit.blogspot.com/2013/04/into-sun-169365.html?m=1
Have a fantastic week!
♥ Keren

Delayed

Okay, so my surprise is delayed, but here it is! I dyed my hair, again :D
♥ Keren

Back to the Blog

So, I suppose you all guessed why I have been quiet, if there is anyone out there who actually reads my blog and noticed. Well, life sped up a little and got a bit mad, as per usual. But alas, I'm here now, with a cup of tea, a cluttered brain and a few minutes to spare before heading off to dream land.
Today is the first of April, a new month and a fresh start for me. I will not bore you with an obviously false April Fool, I actually didn't trick anyone this year. I must say, time is really flying by, we're already in April!!! I need to take a few moments to slow down and breathe until school starts I think. Kick the new term off well with a definite Plan Of Action. Yes, I think that's a good idea. Tomorrow morning I will formulate my plan of action, along with all the other things I need to do.
I really need to catch some shut-eye now, but if you tune in tomorrow, I will have a surprise for you!
♥ Keren

Quick Monday Post

There' a cute picture of Max when he was tiny to brighten your Monday :)
Wow, I hope this week isn't all as hectic as today was. I am so exhausted already, and its only Monday. I have so much I need to get done before the end of the term, and I'm feeling a bit stressed. The fact that holidays are so soon makes me both excited, and freaked out. I don't really have much to say, just that I'm going on camp in 10 days :D I am so excited for that!
Anyway I have to get some stuff done /: I hope you all have a fantastic week :)
♥ Keren
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Chopped

I got a haircut yesterday!!! Whoop Whoop! It was really awesome because it was kind of a surprise haircut. Now I know that sounds like a ninja hairdresser jumped out at me with a pair of scissors, a comb and some ow worked her magic without me fighting back, but that's not exactly how it happened. The real story was a lot less cool. All that really happened was my awesomely amazing neighbor Tammy got me to come to her house and ta-daa there was the hairdresser! Just so you know Tammy is awesome like that!
So let me explain the picture. I told the lady to please just cut it until its healthy again, well. Clearly it was very unhealthy! Its a lot shorter than I though it would be, but it grew on me, wait.. no.. it shortened on me? Yeah, something like that! Anyway, at first I was all like NOOO MY HAIR IS GONE! And all worried and stuff, but now I actually like it. Plus, I can always grow it back again.
It was quite funny because when I looked in the mirror this morning I got a fright, I didn't expect my lovely long locks to be gone! But I'm not gonna lie, I quite like this length.
♥ Keren

Just Pictures

I just wanted to do a couple of pictures today, hope you enjoyed them x
♥ Keren

Take Care

Sometimes we just have to take a step back, reassess priorities, figure out what's most important to us in our lives and take care of ourselves. I must say, I can forget to look after myself. I get so bogged down with the little things that I let consume my world and keep me busy, that I forget to take care. I have decided its time to reassess, make time for the things I REALLY care about.
So I have this list, right. Yes, I am one os those crazy-ass OCD list making people. Deal with it. So this list, its filled with all the things I desperately want to do, but can't stop procrastinating about. I think about this list every single day of my life, and every day I say to myself "I'll tackle that list tomorrow, I'll make time for it!" But I never do until its almost too late to get one of the things done, be it homework or paying a debt. And this stresses me out, I just want to be able to relax without it playing on my mind.
So I have decided its time to look after myself, to love myself, to take care. Everything has to start somewhere, and I'm starting with the little things. Things like buying myself a Dr. Pepper and drinking it when I feel like I'll die from heatstroke, going to bed early because my body is crying out for a few extra hours of sleep, or even just chilling here writing this blog post and not letting myself feel like I should be jumping up and doing last minute homework, that can wait. I also think it would be loving of myself to actually do the things on that list, so I can have a little peace about it. So I resolve to assign one thing on the list to each day until the list is done. That's how I'm going to take care of me.
Another way I want to stay sane and keep my priorities in check, is to spend more time with my Maker, my Dad. Even if I was to spend my entire life praying, reading and learning about Him, I honestly don't think that I would ever know Him as well as I want to. But I think its my job to try. So Jesus, get ready, because you're about to hear a lot more from this girl!
My motto from here on out is "If it can be done today, don't leave it 'till tomorrow."
Take care, I meant it!
♥ Keren

Think Pink

As you all you know, I LOVE to dye my hair crazy colours. And this is one thing I have been wanting to do since the very first time I dyed it, and that thing is dyeing my whole head red or pink! I must say, I have been too afraid to for a very long time, but on Saturday I was very bored, and I had the dye, soooo... I just did it!
But yoh, it took forever! Like 2 hours! Tammy (my awesome next door neighbor) always helps me whenever I dye my hair. So, thanks Tammy! The dye I use it actually (blush) Chinese dye that you can buy for R5 at just about any Chinese shop. Its not permanent and lasts just a bit longer than a month.
Its quite funny, because for year I swore I would never dye my whole head, unless I had grey hair, and look at me now!
♥ Keren
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Crafts and Carnivals

Yesterday I taught the monthly craft class I run. Its a bunch of homeschoooled girls and each month I teach them a new craft project. We have done everything from beading to scrapbooking, sewing to baking. This time I taught them how to make heart shaped chalk boards for their bedrooms :) Everything ran smoothly and their projects turned out beautifully!
Them yesterday evening my family went with our neighbors to the Community Chest Carnival :D I haven't ever been before, so it was quite an awesome experience for me :) I had a cool time, and my night was made when I got hold of a chocolate Steri-Stumpie, love that stuff!!!
♥ Keren

A bit delayed

This is a unpublished post that I found sitting on my phone for about 2 weeks, so here it is :P
What a weekend this has been! I've been crazy busy, crazy tired, and it's been crazy fun :)
It started off with Rewired (my youth group) on Friday night (always a highlight), we had a whole James Bond theme-thing happening. As usual, it was jam-packed with awesome games, which my team won! It was kind of by fluke... but we still won! :D I don't know if any of you have ever tried a McDonalds Happy Meal blended up? Don't. Ever. I mean, usually with these eating contests I'm really in there and kicking ass. Well, I was literally gagging. I will never eat McDonalds again (insert dramatic voice and gestures). Basically, it was gross. Other than that, I had an awesome time with awesome people :)
On Saturday morning I had my cool-cat friend, Sarah's, Amazing Race party. It was SO epic! I couldn't have had a better team! We rocked it and came first :D (I seem to have had a little bit of luck on my side this weekend!) It was super fun, filled with cryptic clues, cool surprises and loads of laughs :) Props to our AMAZING driver, Gary, who knows good back routes and is uber competitive!
That afternoon I went to go see Argo, and I'm just going to say right now, if you haven't, watch it ASAP! It is so awesome!!! Oh my gosh, I enjoyed that movie SO much, I can't actually get over it! Wow. Now I want to watch it again! Seriously guys, go see it! Now, like right now. Drop what you're doing and watch it! Its just... Wow.
Sunday was pretty cool too :) I'm involved with my church's, The People's Church (TPC), Sunday school program. I am a small group leader for grade 1-2 girls, they are such cutie-pies! So we have this roster type thing where we have one week on one week off, and some weeks we have a turn to do the teaching. This week it was my turn, and I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous /: Soooo... I took the initiative and roped someone (Casey) in to tag team preach with me :) I was so glad to have her help, it made me feel a lot better about it, like if I messed up it wasn't all my fault :P We basically spoke about how much God values you and wants to have a relationship with you and did a little salvation call for the grade 1-4s. It was really special and I enjoyed being able to teach the kids something new and make some kind of an impact on their lives, even if it was small :)
Yesterday was Monday, and I was really busy, but it was a good day. Last year I was part of a Shakespeare play in the Shakespeare Schools Festival. It was the first time there was a home schooler's group entered. It went really well and we thought it would be cool to do another one this year. We don't have any official drama teachers, its just a bunch of teenagers having fun and putting on a show. This year I was asked to co-direct with Monica and Richard. We have already had so much fun and I think its going to be a great success! The play we will be performing is a Winter's Tale. Yesterday we told the cast what parts they will be playing and I can't wait to see how they bring out their characters :)
♥ Keren

Jambo

Sooo.... I have some news... I GOT A DOG!!!!!! :D :D :D this post is quite delayed, but that's okay :) We got him last Thursday morning from an animal rescue place in Gordon's Bay called PETS. He is about plus minus 1 year old, and a beautiful dark brown (pretty much black) labrador. His name is Jambo (pronounced jumbo), the Swahili word for "hello".
He was rescued from a township after living in a very small 2 meter by 2 meter yard. We don't think he lived there all his life, we think he was stolen by, or dumped on his owners. He is a very healthy strong boy :) He fits right in here and we love him to bits :)
♥ Keren

A fresh start

Okay, so one of my many overly enthusiastic resolutions this year was to finally start blogging regularly! I swear that's my resolution every year.... But anyway! I'm going to be positive and actually try DO it this time :) And what sparked me to start this halfway through February you ask? That is a very legit question. The reason I started this today of all days is because, as you all know, today is Valentine's day. The day to celebrate, feel, ignite and spread love. As usual, I didn't have a Valentine, which doesn't phase me at all, because (drum roll please) I decided to love myself today! And how did I do that you ask? Well, I just did what I love and made myself happy the way no one else can. The things I did were painting, wearing my best red lipstick, drinking tea, baking, putting on my pajamas in the middle of the day and buying books, all because I can! And do you know what? It made me happy. Perfectly, blissfully happy. I think everyone should just have a day where they love themselves, where they don't expect anything from themselves, where they just breathe in the beauty of who they are. That is what makes me happy :)
Today I discovered a treasure, a second hand bookshop, stacked from the floor to the ceiling with books, books and more books, right down the road from me! I always knew there was one around here, but I never bothered going in, but today Josh and I took a walk in that direction so I could check it out. And from that experience I now have my very own copies of the Lord of the Rings trilogy! I would have bought a lot more (including The Hobbit) but Josh ran out of money to lend me /: But, needless to say, I will be back there as soon as my wallet is a little fatter. I think my favourite part about it is that its a TEARS bookshop, so all my money is going to a good cause, that makes me smile :)
So let's hope I can stick to this resolution! Fingers crossed x
♥ Keren

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Back to the real world

Holidays are over. It almost seemed like life would never go back to normal, and to be honest I was hoping it wouldn't :) I haven't started my term very well, I have been sick since Sunday. But I'm not complaining for the extra week of no school! It's given me the chance to mentally prepare myself that I didn't get in the holidays. I'm now tired of being sick though, I'm going to the doctor today so hopefully I can get some medicine and get better already :) Weirdly enough I kind of actually want to do some school... Wow! I really am sick x_x
So here's to the new term, let's make the best of it :D
~Keren
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I love these moments

I love these moments.

Having family sitting on the couches, telling stories, making each other laugh, eating good food, and just enjoying each other.

My Granny is visiting at the moment, Uncle Chris and Aunty Tammy (and of course sleeping Max) came for supper. Nachos mmmm.......

My Uncle's fishing stories, Max making noise and being hyper (love that cutie pie!), Granny being tired and talking with her eyes closed.

I love these moments.

~Keren

Sundays

Sundays, I love them because it means the weekend isn't over, and I hate them coz the next day the weekend is over!

Do you ever get anything done on Sundays? I don't that's for sure! I always say to myself on Saturdays, "yeah, I'll do it tomorrow." But I never do! So the next Saturday comes along and I still haven't done the thing I wanted to do last Sunday and I say "I'll do it tomorrow." It's a never ending loop :)

Its like it's pre-programmed into me to not do anything on Sundays and as hard as I try to get my lazy butt of my bed, or my square eyes away from my current TV series, I just cant! (By the way at the moment I'm watching a cool/lame TV series called Eureka :) )

I have decided that, even though its holidays, I really need to do all that important/unimportant stuff. So I'm going to make a point to get up, get dressed, and do things in the morning instead of doing the other things I really badly want to do, like read a book or watch Eureka for the rest of the holidays :)

Wish me luck!

~Keren

The end of the 2011 ambassadors

Last night was the Chaeli Campaign ambassadors graduation. As some of you know I was an ambassador in 2010, it was amazing and I really learned a lot. needless to say, I was extremely excited t be able to pass on some of what I learned to the next batch of ambassadors, as one of their mentors.

I as not very consistent to making it to meetings this year, something I am not proud of. I could sit here and give you a million excuses as to why I wasn't there, but he truth is, it wasn't on my top priority list, and I somehow always had something else on, or I just plain forgot.

I have signed myself up to be a mentor again for the 2012 group, I plan to make more of an effort this time.

In other news, Zak was part of this years ambassador group. I was very proud of him, he wrote his own speech with no help! I remember how scary my first graduation was and how odd it was that the mentors weren't worried about their speeches, now I understand, once you do it once you can easily do it again with no problem, well that's just me ;)

Here is me receiving my certificate :)

And the whole group together :)

Zak's project was a quiz night. Jenna and I were also very involved with it as we were doing it for Walk for Wheels together as part of out co-op. It went really well, something we could easily do again :)

Another thing that I am doing this year is my bronze presidents award.

So here's to another good year with the Chaeli Campaign!

~Keren

TAG! #2

Ok, so I have already done a tag post, but I got tagged again, so here are my answers :)

1. What is your favorite hobby? Anything crafty!
2. What is you favorite colour? pink
3. Do you like to read? YES!
4. Do you like animals- what kinds? I like lots of animals, mostly little ones :)
5. Where do you want to be right now? In my room (but only if its clean)
6. Do you wear make-up? yes all the time
7. Do you use Yahoo or Gmail? gmail
8. Where do you want to go after you graduate? everywhere!
9. Homemade bread or store bought bread? home made
10. Which came first- the chicken or the egg? chicken
11. Name 3 things that you do every day? wake up, breathe, go to sleep :)

~Keren

TAG!

I have been tagged by Sarah

1 Post these rules.

2 You must post 11 random things about yourself.

3 Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.

4 Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

5 Go to their blog and tell them they’ve been tagged.

11 Random things about me:

1. I love the feeling of freshly cut hair

2. I love parties!

3. I like coffee, but only sometimes

4. I wear makeup nearly every day because its so much fun!

5. I'm not computer smart

6. My best friend in the whole wide world is my cousin

7. I dont ever feel like I'm 14, I feel ageless because my friends are all different ages

8. I burn easily, when I was younger all I wanted to do was tan now i dont mind anymore.

9. I do not enjoy running

10. I get a massage almost every day

11. I like order, but i dont have it in my life :)

1) What is a hobby you do? Karate

2) Heels or Converse? Both!!!!

3) If you had the choice of going to America or France, which would you choose? France, Holland is just a hop away :)

4) Who is your favourite music aritist? I have no idea, I like many

5) How old are you? 14

6) Full piece or two piece costume, which is better? two piece all the way :)

7) What is one word you know how to spell, but get it wrong each time? there is one but I cant remember it

8) Have you been tagged before? on facebook

9) What is your favourite color? PINK!

10) Gmail or Yahoo? Gmail

11) Are you sick of facts and questions now? nope :)

Ok, so im tagging....

My mom

Sarah

Abigayle

Jessica

Paige

And my Questions are.....

1 Have you ever jumped in the pool with your clothes on?
2 What's the coolest thing in your room?
3 What is you favourite item of clothing?
4 What do you like best about yourself?
5 What do people like about you?
6 Can you talk to strangers easily?
7 Are you happy?
8 What do you love?
9 How did your pets get their names?
10 Who got you to start a blog?
11 Do you read and enjoy my blogs?

~Keren

Hope

Wow, I don't know where to start.

My life is crazy, upside down.

I'm waiting for things to happen

I'm trying to get my feet back on the ground,

I'm trying to find the ground actually.

I'm tired of my life

But I still love it.

I love and miss people

I wish others would disappear off the face of the earth.

I want to scream

I want to laugh

I want to cry

I want to run away.

I wish the computer was more like my Blackberry

But I want my Blackberry to be different.

My tongue is sharp,

Because I am upset.

I feel lonely

But I'm surrounded by people.

I love school

But I hate the work.

I have things to do

But they never get done.

I feel like promises are empty.

I'm confused, alone, afraid, frustrated and just plain angry.

All.the.time.

But in the midst of this pain and loneliness, there is a glimmer of Hope. Hope starts with a gentle tapping on the door to my heart, then a knocking, the a full out banging, then it tries to open the door, realizes it's locked, and bashes it down to reveal itself and bring me out of the dark little corner of self pity once again. And there is Hope.

I need to answer the door to Hope once more.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

~Keren

Me, Ashton, and Jenna

Me, Ashton, and Jenna :)

We decided top do a random photo shoot with really bad lighting and my mom's digital camera, this is how it turned out :)

Jenna, taken by me

me taken by Jenna

Ashton taken by me

Jenna taken by me

Ashton and Jenna taken by me

A sneak shot of Cameron, who really didn't want to be in the photos, taken by me

The girls taken by me

Me and Ashton taken by Jenna

Ashton taken by me

Jenna taken by me

Me and Jenna taken by Ashton

I think Ashton took this, not sure though

Ashton by me

Jenna by Jenna :)

Me by Jenna

All of us by Cameron :)

~Keren