30 days of me: Day 16

A recent picture of me...

This photo was taken by a friend of mine and fellow class mate, Colleen Larsen, during our photography course in Seoul.

30 days of me: Day 14

Todays challenge is to post a picture of me and my family. I can't find one of us all together- so I'll have to use two.

My brother and I at my 21st Birthday Party themed "Chinese, Japanese, will you come to my 21st please?"

My dad, mom and I on holiday skiing in Switterland. My Brother was there too, but I presume he is taking the photo.

30 days of me: Day 15

I have decided to skip day 13 and 14 for now. 13 because I'm not sure I'm ready do open such a big door, and 14 because I can't find a nice picture of me and my family all together that isn't like 15 years old! How terrible is that?!

So, I'll come back to that, but for now I'm putting my I-pod on shuffle and telling you the first 10 songs that play apparently!

Source: Unknown

1. Carnival Town, Norah Jones from the album "Feels like home"
2. Breath Again, Sarah Bareillies, from the album "Kaleidoscope heart" (this has go to be one of my favorite albums of the year.
3. Gap, The Kooks, from the album "Konk"
4. I Could Say, Lily Allen, from the album "It's Not Me It's You"
5. Now I'm Here, Queen, from the album "Greatest hits 1"
6. If I Were a Boy, Beyonce, from the album "I am...Sasha Fierce"
7. 1985, Bowling for Soup, from the album "A Hangover You Don't Deserve" (It's impossible not to sing along to this song!)
8. Girl I Wanna Lay You Down, Jack Johnson
9. 7/4 (Shoreline), Broken Social Scene, from the album "Broken Social Scene"
10. I Know, Fiona Apple, from the album "When The Pawn"

There you have it, had more fun making this list than I thought I would, brought back some good 'ol memories. If you give it a go let me know:)

30 Days of me: Day 12

I've been revoltingly busy at work at the moment, and my poor little blog has been neglected, so I'm a little behind with the 30 day challenge, but never mind, hopefully next week will be a little quieter.

Moving along, todays challenge is to write about how I found out about blogger and why I chose to make my own blog.

Well it all started at the beginning of this year when I took an Internet and Web design course through Unisa. Our final assignment was to create our own website, which I did, you can go have a peak at it if you like, The Binki Box. The Binki Box is basically my personal online graphic design portfolio where I showcase some of my work. When the course finished I found myself really missing working on my online identity and keeping myself busy. I had heard of the blogging world several years before while studying journalism and thought "hey, why not give it a try!"

I have quite a lot of spare time on my hands at work, in-between classes, and blogging has kept me out of mischief and leaves me feeling more like I've accomplished something at the end of the day.

It's such a great way to meet new people, share with others, learn, showcase my photography and touch up on my writing skills.

So there you have it, the story behind why I decided to make my own blog. As for how I found out about blogger, I google searched something along the lines of "how to make your own blog" and blogger was the first thing that caught my eye.

30 days of me: Day 11

Todays challenge is to post another picture of me with a friend. Chris (now on referred to as Charlie Brown) is my friend, fiance, superhero, everything. I'd be lost without him. xox

30 days of me: Day 10

Songs I listen to when I'm...


Happy Kings of Leon- The Bucket
To many amazing memories have been made with this song and sing star!


Sad Damien Rice- 9 Crimes
The music video is a little strange, but I love the song
(I also really like Adele- Someone Like You, and Lady Antebellum- Need You Now for this category)


Bored Mika- Billy Brown
This song always lightens my mood and puts a smile on my face.
(Noah And the Whale- 5 years time is a close runner up and anything by Lily Allen)


Hyped Adele- Rumor has it
I love Adele and this song is no exception.
(LMAFO-Pary Rock Anthem, is another good song for this category)



Mad
I don't really think I listen to music when I'm mad. I'm more of a brood in silence mad person- so I'm going to leave this one blank,

30 days of me: Day 9

Something that happened in the past few days that I'm proud of is breaking the 2000 page view mark on my blog. I know that might sound a little lame, but The Binki Box has become quite special to me and it makes me happy that other people are sharing it with me.


If you care to share something thats made you proud in the last few days please do! I'd love to read about it.

30 days of me: Day 8

Todays challenge is to write about my short term goals for this month and why

Source:unknown

1. Reach 50 google followers on my blog. You can help me achieve this by going here- and clicking the "join this site" button in the top right of the page. It may take a few seconds to load, but will make me smile all day.
2. Take more photos, with such little time left in Korea I want to capture as many moments as I can.
3. Spend more time touching up my Adobe Illustrator skills!!! This should be number 1 on my list, I have been procrastinating and putting it off for too long now.
4. This list would not be complete without something about weight-loss- so here goes;  lose 3 kilograms. This month I want to focus on a smaller (and hopefully more achievable goal) rather than the big and scary picture. One day at a time is my motto for this month.
5. Spend less time internet shopping and looking at things I simply can not afford! With less than 4 months left in Korea it's crunch time when it comes to saving!
6. Spend more time outside, I don't do it enough but enjoy it so much when I do.

"The biggest favor you can do yourself is to turn envy into inspiration." -Anonymous 

I would love to know what your goals for the month are so please share by leaving a comment.

30 days of me: Day 7

Today's challenge was to post a picture of someone or something that has had the biggest impact on me. It's been the easiest one thus far as it required no thinking at all. The person that has had the biggest impact on me is my mom.

My mom and brother in the kitchen at my parents house.

She's been there for me since I first popped my head out into the world (well actually 9 months and two weeks prior to that too.)

She's someone I know I can always rely on no matter what. She's my best friend, and my harshest critic. She always tells me the truth whether I want to hear it or not, and somehow always knows whats best for me. I know that even if the whole world turned its back on me she'd be there.

My mom on the right and her friend on the left at my mom's 50 birthday, themed "Great Gatsby"

She is the strongest person I have ever met, she has never given up even when life has been terribly difficult. She's funny, clever and beautiful, I feel so blessed to have the privilege of having her play such a huge role in my life.

I love you so much mom, thank you.

30 days of me: Day 6

Todays challenge is to tell you all who my favorite super hero is and why. Well, my favorite superhero is a little obscure, his name's Captain Awesome, I'm not sure that you would have heard of him. But I'm definitely his biggest fan.

At Rhodes, (the little university Chris and I went to) it's become a sort of a tradition to have a big 21st and give your 21st a theme that everyone comes dressed up as. The more creative and outlandish the theme, the better. For Chris's 21st (more than 3 years ago) he decide upon the theme "Obscure Superhero's," and created his very own pseudo personality- "Captain Awesome."

As Chris is my real life superhero; he has saved my life more times than I can count, and miraculously appears whenever I need him, plus he's totally awesome, he's my obvious choice (he needs to work on the catching me in mid air thing though).

30 days of me: Day 5

Todays challenge is to post a picture of somewhere I've been. To find out more about the *30 days of me* challenge go here.

That's me on the Great Wall of China in August 2010. To find out more about the trip go here.

30 days of me: Day 4

Today's challenge is about a habit I wish I didn't have, I have quite a few bad habits so it was difficult to choose between them. But I guess the habit I hate the most is how much I worry.

Source: Unknown 

I worry about things that have happened, things that haven't happen, things that shouldn't happen, and things that could happen, it's a totally exhausting task living in my head sometimes.

A clever person once told me there's no point in worrying about something if you can't do anything about it, and if you can do something about it, well then there's no need to worry, because you're doing something.

Source: Unknown

Never the less controlling my worry is a daily struggle, if you knew some of the things I worry about it would probably be hard not to laugh. But like I said, it's something I'm working on and I'm getting a lot better at not stressing the small stuff (although this entails multiple self pep talks).

30 days of me: Day 3

Todays challenge is to post a picture of you and your friends. I must say- I'm gonna have to bend the rules a bit here- because posting just one picture isn't going to cut it.

A crazy group of awesome girls and guys who helped me survive my first year in Korea. You guys rock.

Through the years I've made so many different great friends, and I plain and simply wouldn't be the person I am today without them.

Unfortunately, I don't have digital copies with everyone, and my prints are back in South Africa, but that doesn't mean I love you any less.

Gone but never forgotten. Beko you will always live in my heart.
You were my rock and I will love you always.

Wish I had a photo with the 3 of us, but this will have to do.
Kath and Lau Lau, you're the first people I think of telling when anything happens, good or bad.
You made the last year of Rhodes magical. I'm so lucky to have two amazing friends like you.

Cherise! I would not have survived high school without you!
Cheers to a friendship I know will last forever.

Leek, you see the world in such a unique way. You have been such an irreplaceable support
system to me here in Korea, although our friendship is less than 2 years old- I know we'll always be friends.
Thanks for everything.

These lovely young ladies made my university experience what it was.
Fun times, great memories and beautiful people inside and out.
 Cara (thats you in the middle), there are no words for
how much I love you, and how much you mean to me.

30 days of me: Day 2

Todays challenge is to share the meaning behind your blog name, so here's the story.

That's me in the middle, my brother on the right and a close family friend's baby on the left. I guess I would have been a little too old for The Binki Box at this point in my life- but I don't have any older digital baby photos, so this will have to do.

When I was a little girl, too little to actually remember, too little to even walk, my parents bought a special cot for me that was able to clip onto wheels, so it served the dual purpose of a cot and a pram/push chair. While in the cot my dad used to sing a song which went along the lines of "a binki a bonky daddy bought a donkey," and as a result my chariot was named 'The Binki Box", and the nickname "Binki" was bestowed upon me. 


I guess I've always thought of The Binki Box as a happy, fun, safe little place, which I could go anywhere in, and thats why I chose to call my website and blog The Binki Box.

30 days of me: Day 1

So todays challenge is to post a recent picture of myself and share 15 interesting facts about me, although I can't promise they will all be interesting, I can promise there will be 15. So here we go.

1. I really don’t like the smell of people when they come out of the cold.
2. I’m engaged to the most amazing man, I truly believe I’ve found my soul mate. His name is Chris and he’s mentioned quite a bit in my blog, we’ve been engaged for a year and a half now, and have been together for almost 4. We haven’t set the date yet- but you’ll be the first to know when we do.
3. I cry every time I get my hair cut. After a traumatic childhood experience where a hairdresser butchered my very long hair into a so-called “bob”– I just can’t help it. Even if I like the cut, I think it’s the fear of the unknown before that gets me.
4. I’m a total control freak/perfectionist (maybe this explains number 3 a little more)
5. The things I’m most afraid of are geckos and lizards. Regardless of how big or little they are I can’t even be in the same room as one. I can’t actually explain how petrified I am of them.
6. I think my worst quality is how much I worry about things- even the small stuff. I’m trying to get it under control but it’s a daily struggle.
7. I have an awesome little brother who’s, well not so little any more. He’s 19 and I can’t wait to see him when I go home.
8. I was born in London, England; both my biological parents are British. But I grew up with my mom and step dad (who’s South African) in South Africa, now I live in South Korea where I have been for the last 18 months, but I’ll be heading back to S.A in 4 months time
9. When I was little I slept with a blankie and sucked my thumb. I’ve long since ditched the blankie but have to shamefully admit every now and again I catch myself with my thumb in my mouth. This seems to happen particularly when I’m deep in thought about something.
10. I have a strange relationship with the taste of mint. I like mint, as in a breath mints, toothpaste, gum and the mint you grow in your garden, but I really don’t like peppermint chocolate bars, or mint choc chip ice cream, or peppermint tart. Weird I know.
11. We (Chris and I) have a pet hedgehog named Herbie, he lives with us here in Korea. When we leave we’re going to have to find him a new home because hedgehogs are illegal as pets in South Africa. Sad face.
12. I love make-up especially MAC
13. I’m very particular about egg. Egg really grosses me out. I’ll eat it but it has to be totally cooked. I often go to restaurants and the glasses smell like egg, so I won’t drink out of them. Chris thinks I’m insane.
14. I’m not very good at saving and have a bit of a shopping addiction (the two go hand in hand)
15. Even though I studied Journalism, and the fact that I am currently an English teacher, I can’t spell to save my life! Spell check is my best friend- but sometimes even it can’t help me because I’ve spelt the word so incorrectly that spell check can’t even recognise what the word is trying to be.

30 days of me: Intro

A whole bunch of bloggers are doing this 30 challenge called *30 days of me*. I first found out about it on the lovely City girl searching blog, and thought I'd give it a try.

Heres what it entails:
Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Your favorite song.


If you've done the *30 days of me* challenge or start doing it after reading this, leave me a comment I'd love to go check it out.