Friday, February 17, 2012

One Year of Living in Cape Town and a Giveaway!

Hello! 

I can’t believe I’ve lived in this beautiful, challenging place for a year now. It does feel like “home” to us. We’ve come a long way, literally and figuratively.  I thought that I’d list some of the highlights and milestones of our life in the last year.


Our first home here.
  •           We arrived at 11:30 at night. My very first impression was that it was windy and hot.
  •           I learned pretty quickly how much my visa status affects my civil liberties. No bank account for me!
  •           We explored a little of the western cape and saw penguins, baboons, eland, tortoises, eagles and many other animals.
  •           We learned how to drive on the left side of the road, manual transmission. Not that hard, really.
  •           We learned how to use Rand instead of Dollars- I still have to do a conversion in my head every time.        Here is the conversions list I developed.
Our second home here.
  •           I’ve learned that I have too much stuff. Too many books.
  •           I’ve made my peace with washing dishes, but the bathroom and floors are my dreaded enemies.
  •           We learned how to ride Segways.
  •           Our dogs have made life bearable, even on the toughest days.
  •           We’ve become better cooks.
  •           We eat out less.
  •           We are healthier and value exercise and fresh foods.
Beautiful wine farms.
  •         We learned how hard it is to keep in touch with even the people you are closest to. Sometimes, it is “out of sight, out of mind.”
  •           I’ve learned a new skill- Beadweaving.
  •           I’ve learned a new way to move- belly dance.
  •           We have both developed our skills of patience.
Beautiful beaches.
  •           We are learning how to communicate better. When you only have each other…you need to be open and honest about your needs and goals.
  •           We’ve learned that friendships can come in all shapes, ages, and abilities.
  •           Living here has helped us clarify our priorities in life.
  •           We celebrated one year of marriage, and are over half way towards our second year! After eight years, he’s still my best friend and light of my life.
Scenic vistas.

This list could go on and on. But I’ll spare you.


Our new theme for the year is “to make this year better than the last.” It shouldn’t be that hard, now that we have a year “under our belts.” We are more confident here and are learning how to navigate the Rainbow Nation. What a challenge and privilege we have gotten to live through. 

We are ever grateful for the life we have together.




So in celebration of our one year Cape Town-aversary, AND this being my 100th post, I am having a giveaway!




I’m giving a pair of spiral earrings away. Something like these here:










Really Easy Rules of the Giveaway:

All are welcome! Friends, family, followers, or potential followers, worldwide!


Here’s what you do: 
·  Please leave a comment for me, saying what are your top 4-5 favorite colors, and I’ll make you a custom pair of earrings! 
·  If you don’t have a blogger profile, make sure you leave an e-mail address so that I can reach you if you are the winner! (If you’re worried about spamming, you can write your e-mail address to look like this: “withoutcomplexities at gmail dot com.”)
·  For extra ballots: become a follower through Google Friend Connect (it you aren’t already) of Lovely Light, Google Plus me, and/or follow me on Facebook and let me know in a comment here (a separate comment for each one). 
·  This means that you have up 4 chances (via three comments) towards winning a beautiful handmade pair of earrings! I will use a random number generator to pick the winner.
·  If you are the winner and do have a blog, I’d love it if you gave me a little “shout out” and picture on your blog. No expectations though!
·  The giveaway will be open for two weeks, closing on Friday, March 2nd. I'll announce the winner a few days after.


Good Luck!






Song of the Post: The Weight by The Band. This is hands-down, one of my all-time favorite songs.



45 comments:

Peggy said...

Wow! your first year. I love reading your list of all the things you did this year! So many things are put in a different perspective when you live over seas. I think it's a wonder learning experience! We Americans are spoiled people. I have really enjoyed reading your blog even though I don't always comment.

Unknown said...

I would like various shades of white and cream. Beautiful earrings!

Unknown said...

I follow via GFC!

Mindy said...

What a fun 'looking back' post! Congratulations on the milestones. =)

Favorite colors... orange, purple/amethyst, light blues. Such a variety. ;-)

Thanks for the chance to win such beautiful earrings!

Mindy said...

I follow you through GFC. =)

Amanda said...

This is such a lovely post, other than the first photo none of the others are showing.

What a wonderful of growing and reflection, hope the next year is wonderful for you both!

Jennifer Salter said...

Lots to Celebrate! :) And thats what life is about isn't it? Celebrating things with the people you love!
My top favorite colors are teal, purple, white and black. (I wear alot of black) But if I won I'd love whatever you make!

Jennifer Salter said...

I follow you via GFC

Anonymous said...

I really really wish I lived in CT so we could go for coffees! I will be there in April though, we are definitely meeting up!!!
Im so glad that you have had a good first year, even if it has been tough :)
My top 4 colours are black, grey, white and red :)
my email is gina at jacobson dot co dot za ;)
Here is to having a totally fantastic amazing and super 2nd year!

Cami said...

Wow. Beautiful photos for sure :)

My fav colors are light pink, sky blue, lime green (that matches a nice bright pink)

Thanks for the cool giveaway!!

Cami said...

OH and I'm following gfc :)

A Life Un-Styled said...

What a beautiful review of your first year in Cape Town. You've done so much and learnt so many things. That's a year well spent :) Now as for this giveaway ;)

A Life Un-Styled said...

My top 4-5 colours....Marigold, Green, Navy (I can only think of three) If I win I'll leave this to your creative eye!

A Life Un-Styled said...

I follow you on GFC :)

A Life Un-Styled said...

I follow you on FB :)

Unknown said...

Yay! Your first giveaway! My colors would be red, black, teal, white, and grey.

Unknown said...

I follow via GFC.

Unknown said...

We're pals on Facebook.

Unknown said...

I'm also following you on Google Plus.

Sami said...

Congratulations on your first year in Cape Town and your 100th post. Love the pics of the houses you have lived in, they look pretty. The earings are beautiful! My favorite colors are: turquoise, black, red, purple and white. A toast to the start of your second year!!

NGS said...

It looks lovely there! My favorite colors are amber, purple, blue, and red.

Stephanie said...

Congratulations!! One year is a
GREAT accomplishment!! Thanks for leaving comments on my blog, it is fun to get a different perspective of another culture! I look forward to reading more of your blog! Happy 1 year anniversary!! (It only gets better and easier, i promise!)

Stephanie said...

Oh yeah, sorry, also, the earrings are gorgeous!! Im impressed! You'll have to do a tutorial one day!!

jhitomi said...

My favorite colors are red, pink, orange, cobalt blue, black.

jhbalvin at gmail dot com

jhitomi said...

I just became your 200th GFC follower! Hurray!! Isn't that fun when you reach a milestone. Congrats on your blog. Maybe number 200 will turn out lucky for me.

jhbalvin at gmail dot com

Christina said...

Christina - xristya@rock.com - Such lovely earrings, hope I win (I love red and yellow and turquoise and black!). Congratulations on your 100th post (quite a milestone!) and on your Capetown one-year anniversary!

Maegan Morin said...

I like Dark Purple, Lime Green, Royal Blue, Neon Pink :D

megnate at telus dot net

Maegan Morin said...

I follow you on GFC (same name)

megnate at telus dot net

Crochet Addict UK said...

My favorite colours (even though I hardly ever wear them, think I need to change that) red, purple, violet, silver, blue

sandyandcosmo said...

How about 5 shades of ocean blues and greens! Thanks for the giveaway.

BlackAsphodel said...

My favorite color is black, but I also like blue, red and purple. If I win I'd like the earrings made out of black beads and with silver hooks! :D

My e-mail: blackasphodel(at)yahoo(dot)com

BlackAsphodel said...

I follow you via GFC as Black Asphodel

BlackAsphodel said...

I follow you on Google+ as Black Asphodel

BlackAsphodel said...

I liked you on Facebook as Black Asphodel

Sarah said...

Gorgeous! My favorite color is "Rainbow" hehe. I think all colors are beautiful!

That being said, I wear lots of reds and greens!


sblake1[at]student[dot]framingham[dot]edu

Sarah said...

I'm a GFC follower!


sblake1[at]student[dot]framingham[dot]edu

Sarah said...

following on G+


sblake1[at]student[dot]framingham[dot]edu

Sarah said...

I'm a fb fan!


sblake1[at]student[dot]framingham[dot]edu

Why Girls Are Weird said...

Wow congratulations to you!

Some of my favorite colors... pinks, purples, blues and greens!

jaragabrielle said...

i love deep earthy colors! Oranges, reds, browns!
Or black and creams!

jaragabrielle1018@gmail.com

jaragabrielle said...

Following you through GFC!
Jara Christensen

jaragabrielle1018@gmail.com

jaragabrielle said...

Liked you n Facebook!

as Jara Gabrielle

jaragabrielle1018@gmail.com

Jacqueline said...

those are beautiful! i love creams/whites/yellows
jmmccarr@gmail.com

momto8 said...

the earrings are gorgeous!!!
I love the brown one the best.
I am also your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.

Alessia said...

I love creams/ white/ blue/ teal :)
GFC follower: Fabulosit
alelale at live dot com