I Love Mondays & A weekend Update

I think I've said this several times over here and I have to say it again, I love Mondays.
I do.
I know its weird and kind of out of tune with the rest of the world but I think Mondays are kind of cool. Don't get me wrong, I love my weekends a lot. In fact, they are the reason that I love Mondays.
Let me break it down for you with this weekend as an example:
Saturday:
Woke up at 7.30. Showered and did all the usual all the morning shenanigans. Reported to the business by 8.30 am. Worked until 2.00p.m. Went home, did the laundry, cleaned the house and did the dishes. Was through by 5.30 p.m. There was a power outage, therefore couldn't do nothing much except take a nap, fill some crosswords before preparing dinner. Slept at around 11.00 p.m.

Sunday:
Woke up at around 10.00 am. (yeah, I love to sleep in on Sundays). Went to the salon to get my hair done. I had an occasion to attend in the afternoon and I was there up until 6.00 p.m. Went home, cooked dinner, watched some TV and was asleep by 11.00.

Monday:
Woke up at 6.45 a.m. (did not go for my morning run, sorry). And here I am, writing this post at work.
Looking at my weekend, one might come up with a conclusion that I did not do much. But, I love it this way. I love that I get to rest on weekends. I love that I can take naps in the afternoon and just lounge around the house.
This is what helps me wake up easy and well-rested on Mondays. I feel calm and I can face the day after a good weekend!
I so hope that your Monday is going well and wish you a fabulous week ahead!
Tell me about your weekend!

First Impressions

They say that first impressions are very important! I don't know who "they" are but I know whatever they said is true. I know this because every time I go to meet someone for the first time, I am anxious. Anxiety usually sets in because am trying to impress! So, I understand that first impressions are so very important.

When I went to my very first interview, I was super anxious. It was very informal and the interviewer was very understanding but I still wanted to create a good first impression. I guess it worked coz I got the job! There is someone very close to me going for her first interview today and am sure she will do really well!Its my sister and am so proud of her!

Today, if I was going for that first interview all over again, I would be much more confident and I would wear this outfit!

I think the impression would be pretty awesome, what do you think??

first impressions by emmyel featuring a beige skirt

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Current Crush

Am sorry!!
Did I just start my post with an apology??
You know, I wrote a post about running yesterday and I am writing another one today!!
I know its weird and not advisable as the blog may be deemed boring but am just trying to keep the momentum!

By the way, my body is aching like crazy!!I can't even walk properly. Its crazy. The stairs are the worst!I look like a pretty old granny when walking down or up the stairs!
I just wanna sit at my desk the whole day and have someone carry me home in the evening.
I did not even realize I was so beat until I started it.
Am I really that unfit??Hope not!

Now, I really need/want some running gear. I do especially have an inkling towards needing new running shoes. The ones I have are not really that comfortable.
And also, what better motivation to keep running than a new pair of shoes??
So, my current crush revolves around all the things I want as part of my new hobby!!

running by emmyel featuring nike shoes

Running & Pinterest

So, as I told you in yesterday’s post, I have taken up running in the morning. This is not the first time I have done this. While in campus together with hubby, we used to go for morning runs and it was super exciting. We even managed to pull in some of our friends who joined in the running.

Why did I like it so much??? It was so much fun! That's the simplest and most honest answer as to why I loved running so much. On the other hand, my body did respond very well to the morning runs and I can say that hubby (then b/f) did not complain.

Running together also gave us an opportunity to bond and share something that made us feel better about ourselves. We definitely got closer and our relationship became even more awesome with our morning exercise routine.
However, after he left campus since he was one year ahead of me, we both stopped running. A year later, I left campus too and I did not resume the running schedule. I used to give excuses saying that I couldn’t run alone or I was too busy or such like things.
Anyways, over the past few months, hubby and I have been thinking about starting running all over again. Sometimes, we even decided to start but the sweetness of the morning sleep was too much to handle. On Monday, I made the decision.I know its not gonna be easy but am willing to give it another try. Furthermore, the feeling I get from running is so much better than sleeping in. (Ok, maybe on some days).

No pressure, just me and hubs, running for 30-45 minutes, enjoying the fresh air, the sunrise, the birds chirping and each other. I hope it becomes a habit and sticks as a way to start everyday.

Do you run??Is it in the morning or evening??Any tips for me?? Tell me what you think!!

Images via

I baked a cake!!!And an Update

I baked a cake!!!
Yes, I did!And am pretty darn excited about it. Its an accomplishment that I was so looking forward to. I have baked cakes before but then I was just helping my mum. This time, it was all me!!!

Am so happy! I hope you are happy for me too!The cake is for my husband. His birthday is on 31st Aug, and I made it as a surprise. I have never done such a thing for him before and I think this will make him very excited.
In my last post, I talked about my dream of owning a bakery and a cooking school. I can only think of this as a first step. It is amazing how a little thing such as baking a simple cake can bring so much satisfaction.
I hope this is just a first of many.I hope to post the recipe later!
 

Oh and just for some reason, I have to tell you that I went for a morning run today. It was amazing, more on that later!Hope you are having a great week loves!!

I am Traumatised

Its Friday morning and me and my hubby are in a public service vehicle going to our place of work. We enter the town as usual but see a crowd of people gathered around a garbage can. Am not the kind of person who stands and watches whatever interests a crowd. However, since we started a blog highlighting the happenings in our town-Thika, we have had a thirst for news and incidences happening here. So, naturally, hubby also for the camera and goes to the scene while I go and open our business since we are running a little late.

After about thirty minutes, hubby comes back and am almost not interested in what he found because am expecting something mundane. But the he shows me the pictures he captured with the camera. And, people am in tears. Real tears. Its crazy how a picture can move you but this is crazy.
What is in the picture you may ask???What moved me to tears??

A fully developed baby boy (foetus) thrown on the road side. The umbilical cord and placenta are still there and the cord is around the baby’s neck. Believe it my dear readers, while in this world, we will see and experience things that words cannot even express.

                                                                           via
I was confused when I saw the pictures. I did not know what exactly to feel. Should I be angry, sad, surprised, ashamed of what women are capable of doing??Should I start judging this woman that I do not even know??What am I expected to feel??

Then, this is not even about me. It is about a baby, whose life never began. He did not even get to be held in the arms of his mother. No one told him that they loved him, no one hugged or kissed him. No-one even bothered to wash him after birth and cover him with warm clothing. I can cry and be sad and feel crappy, then judge the mother very harshly but how would that ease this situation. My tears or my judgements will not bring him back to life.

I have no comfort at his time. I have no idea of how I should feel. I am sad and most of all, I am Traumatized.

Oh, and by the way, I missed y'all so much. I thought I was gonna die without all of you, but now am back and am alive. Say hi whenever you can!!

Me, Myself & I: Part II

Hey lovely people??Hope your weekend has been awesome. Am down with a cold since Sunday but am hoping to get better soonest. I have something crazy and traumatizing I want to tell you but that will have to wait until tomorrow. Come back and see. However, for today, I would love for you to get to know me better. Last time I participated in this link-up, I was very excited to learn more about other bloggers so Part two would not pass me by!Lets see how I do this time:

1. What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?
If I totally knew I would not fail, I would start my own bakery. And, I would not attempt to do it,I would do it wholeheartedly. Yeah, I said it. I was a little afraid of admitting it but I would. And then expand it to a cooking school. I would entertain all kinds of crazy cooking ideas from innovators and I would enjoy learning and teaching in the school. I would also make the school such that girls and boys from poor families could get in free as long as they were passionate about food and cooking. I would also go to school and learn more about photography and create a cooking website. Finally, I would enjoy doing it all!

2. If you had only six moths left to live, what would you do with the time?
Six months????I would just take my hubby and we would travel around the world. I have always wanted to go to Italy and that would be the first place. We would also go around Europe and the U.S. In the last three months, we would come back to Africa and tour the many beautiful country’s here. Finally, we would land in Kenya, take our family and friends and tour our beautiful country, enjoying each other’s company as much as possible.

3. If a front page news article was written of you, what would the headline be?
Top Kenyan food blogger talks to Oprah about optimism, love and enjoying life…

4. What is your biggest pet peeve?
This has to be pride. I mean, I like people who are proud of their achievements but when pride comes to showing off and shoving people around, it does bother me. Humility always clicks in with me. I love people who can talk to anyone and do not classify themselves or others.

5.What is your favorite chick flick movie?

I love chick flicks. It is hard to pick one so here is the list: The Vow, Dear John, The Back Up Plan, This Means War. And everything involving Reese Witherspoon or Channing Tatum.

Am a Sunset Person..

Are you a sunrise or a sunset person???Have you ever thought about it??I have not but I already know that am more of an evening person. Therefore, given the chance to choose between sunsets and sunrises, I'd definitely choose sunsets. Don't get me wrong, I love sunrises, just that you have to leave some very warm covers to experience them. Sunsets are easier, they signify transformation of day into night. And I love the peace that they bring. Am an easy kind of person though I always seem to make the harder choices.

In honor of beautiful sunsets such as the one above {which I got to experience on Tuesday}, here is a collection of outfits I would love to wear. Enjoy.

sunset dressed by emmyel featuring a collared shirt

As always linking up with {av} at long distance loving for Friday Fancies.

Pillow Talk + Thankful Thursdays

So, since my big news here, I've been thinking about ways to spice up the house. I think it needs a pop of color since it seems kinda plain. And plain is not me, neither should it be you. So, I got thinking of solutions to a plain house. And then I opened Polyvore, my favorite website and I found some things that will definitely solve the problem. And that is why am crushing really hard on these pillows. The collection is amazing and I cannot even begin to tell you how hard it was to make a choice on which pillows to share with you. I love me some pattern and some color too and this is what I chose. Thank God, I don't have to consider the price when making boards on Polyvore.

Pillows by emmyel on Polyvore

I really totally love the blue one, with flowers on it. It is so gorgeous and such a fun color. I also love the ones with a pop of yellow or orange. Which ones are your favorite??

Oh, and now to some of the things am thankful for:

1. The internet, otherwise how would I be able to communicate with you sweethearts while you are miles and miles away. Love you by the way.

2.My Hubby. He makes me giddy inside and I cant help but laugh at all his crazy jokes. I do adore him actually.

3. My Sister. She is pretty, she is fun, she is awesome and she cooks and cleans my house for me {sometimes.}What more could I ask for?

4. My family, I love you all, so much.

5. Blogging. It feels so good these days and I love how we all connect, at one level or another. This is despite all our cultural, religious, emotional and all kinds of differences. Wish the world was more like Blogosphere.

6. Food. Read my post here and you will understand why.

All in all, am hoping you are having a blast this week!

Linking up with