The Elephant Orphanage

I spent my Saturday morning playing with baby elephants and I can assure you, it was as fun as it sounds!! Went to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage which is about 10mins away from Bomas of Kenya. I'd originally intended to go with the whole family to see the elephants but surprise surprise, everyone but my trusty sister was busy. You can always count on Amani!

All I knew before going to this place is that the elephants are only brought out between 11am and 12noon. Obviously punctuality was key and so I decided that I'd leave the house by at least 10:15. But of course that didn't happen and we only left at 10:35, got caught in traffic, lost our way for at least 10mins and stopped to take pictures of some random baboons that we run into. We only ended up getting there at 11:35!

How cute is the elephant above trying to give itself a foot bath? 

I'd been told that there wasn't an entry fee so all I had in my wallet was Shs1,000. But guess what people, there was an entry fee. Shs500 per person which makes a total of Shs1,000 for Amani and I. Luck cannot even begin to describe this situation.

The elephants were ADORABLE! All there was between us and the little guys {that really aren't so little} was a rope that was tethered to poles to form a small square. The elephants usually stay in the forest and are brought out to interact with the visitors for that one hour every day. 

All the elephants shown here are actually orphans. Their stories are beyond sad as most of them involve ruthless poachers (boy have I come to hate those bastards) that killed their parents and sometimes even tried to hurt these babies. It's really heartbreaking to think of what they've had to go through. 

You can read more about The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust from their website. They really do a good job taking care of these orphans and making sure that they are rehabilitated to the best of their ability. In fact, if you want, you can foster an elephant! Read more about it here.

That's my hand on little Elly! Yup, I named him.

I kept having to push Amani to get closer to the elephants as she was pretty scared. They really aren't dangerous but one of their caretakers did warn that they sometimes kick if they feel threatened. That didn't help my case one bit cos after hearing that Amani kept a one meter distance from the elephants at all times.

Someone needs some anti-wrinkle cream, don't you think? Possibly a truck-load. Or 10. 

That's meeee touching Elly! I figure if I name them all Elly there's a lower chance of me forgetting who's who. I really wish I could keep one, they truly are amazing creatures and I may be making this up but they seem to have such sweet and pure hearts. Like all they wanna do is splash water on each other and play in the mud! Cute beings.

This is the other Elly who decided to play with the guys who were across from me. He just went down and started rolling and there wasn't even any mud! Cut little Elly just fooling around.

After that assigned one hour, the caretakers started walking back into the forest and the baby elephants diligently followed. You can't see it but there are about 3 men walking ahead of this herd. It was amazing cos they didn't even have to round the elephants up, they just started walking and the elephants all followed.

Like I said, if you want to foster an elephant you can do so here!!

This is Maxwell, a rhino. On our way out we passed by him and I couldn't help but wonder why he was in this cage and not out in the wild. Turns out he's blind and so the orphanage took him in to protect him from wild animals and possible poachers. I felt so sorry for him cos all he did was lie there. I can't even begin to imagine how vulnerable he must have been out in the wild if he couldn't even see. At least he's receiving good care at the shelter. You can read more about Maxwell and his story here.

Hope you liked the pictures! They can only say so much however so make sure you go there yourself if you haven't already. I promise you, it's worth your time! I can't wait to go back again. This time, I'll be there at 11am sharp. Who knows, maybe I'll even get to feed the baby elephants their milk in their giant milk bottles..

Black, White and Heart All Over

Decided to take part once again in Nany's Klozet Challenge and this time the challenge was to wear Black and White. I aim to take part in each and every challenge she puts up from now on!

Top - had it for years, Skirt - Mr. Price, Tights - Woolworths; Boots - Lu Yi Lin, Earrings - jewellery cart at Westgate mall

Hope you have a great start to your week!

Boho-Chic

My day was amazeballs!! I got to hang out with baby elephants. Guys, that's b.a.b.y.  e.l.e.p.h.a.n.t.s. in case you needed me to say it again..  I'll tell you all about it in another post though, can't wait to share those pictures with ya! For now, I'll leave you with my  boho-chic inspired outfit.

 What do you think of the boho-chic look? It's my first time trying it out and I've got to say, I love it!

Top - passed on from mum ages ago; High-waist jeans - 2nd hand market; Sandals - Mr. Price; Turquoise ring - cart retailer from Westgate; other rings - whole lotta places; Sunglasses - street vendor from Cape Town; Shoulder bag - gift from aunt.

Versatile is my Middle Name

This post is eons old, and by eons I mean 3 weeks and 6 days to be exact. Sharleena from Marked Beauty (hey girl!) was lovely enough to nominate me for the Versatile Blogger Award! She's also hosting a great giveaway on her blog so check it out here and make sure you enter cos she's got pretty good things up for grabs! Plus the giveaway is international and we all love international giveaways now don't we?

Rules
- Thank the person that nominated you with a link back.
- Tell 7 things about yourself.
- Pass this on to 10 newly discovered blogs & let them know that they received the award.

Seven Things About Me.

1. Hair

I think I can safely say I am obsessed with long hair. A fellow blogger suggested that I measure my hair so I can keep a record of how long it's getting and trust you me, I am on that measuring tip like a tick is to a dog. Are there any tips you have on how to make your hair grow long? Believe me, I am willing to try the most ridiculously bizarre suggestions.

2. Amani

There's few things in this world that tag at my heart as much as this young lady does. Her heart is so beautiful and pure and truly loving. So much so that even when I decide to go to my dad's office to do some blogging she'll happily tag along with her bag of crisps and her book and quietly sit across the table from me. Why? Because she just wants to be next to me. She's the best sister out there for sure! For shizzle ma nizzle chucky chizzle dizzle wizzle wizzle.

3. Photography

This has quickly become a great passion of mine. I'm obsessed with pictures to the point where I'll browse through National Geographic for hours looking at their photographs. I'm getting a Canon EOS Rebel T2i in about a month's time and I am beyond excited!!

4. Travelling

I really want to travel the world, meet new people, see new architecture, be exposed to new cultures etc. So far I've only been to Dubai, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania (Zanzibar) and Australia. Starting from next year I want to try save up to go to a new country each year.

5.Nailpolish

This year I decided to start collecting nail polish and even though originally I aimed to get 100 nail polishes by the end of 2012, I'm now going for 150 as I already have about 70. A friend of mine told me how he collects pictures and I'm thinking of doing something similar, especially seeing that it will be aligned with my passion for photography.

6. Tattoo

I have one. And it's of a dove.

7. Love and Gratitude 

This has quickly become one of my mantras in the last few weeks. I want to embrace it, believe it and own it like I've never done with anything else before. I've recently been buying and borrowing lots of books with this sort of message and I can't believe it took me this long to discover this new outlook on life! Nonetheless, this discovery couldn't have come at a better time. Do you believe in the power of love and gratitude?

I know they're meant to be 10 but The 5 blogs I nominate are:

That Brunette One

Miss Directions

Guts and Glamour

The Mess Inside My Head

Polka Dot Pearls

Can't wait to see your responses ladies!

Hair, Bugs, Nails and Fashion

Now now, just because you've already seen pictures of me in my braided hair doesn't mean I can't introduce my braided hair to ya. I wonder how many of you tried to click on the picture thinking it's a video.. Did ya?

I'm really looking forward to undoing my braids and seeing how long my hair's grown! Any chance it's reached my breasts yet do you think? In case you need a refresher, this is how long my hair was six weeks ago.

Sally Hansen Red Carpet

Luron #113

Lately I've become very keen to try out any sort of nail art. Any that you're into lately? I'm looking to try new ones!

Olorgesaile. Beautiful huh?

I'm not sure what's happening but lately I seem to be attracting a whole lot of weird animals and insects. Find Exhibit A and B above and below, respectively. Just this weekend we had a bat fly into our apartment too!! Maybe Adam's Family came for a visit.

Amani has become such a fashionista lately. Makes me proud! She's also hit this phase where she wants to be a famous singer and is constantly singing all over the house. So cute. 

A snapshot of the most exciting part of my outfit from this week, my beaded belt.

The end of phone pictures.

Organising Jewellery & Ombre Nails

Few things can be more annoying than spending 5+ minutes trying to untangle your necklaces.. Particularly when you're in a rush and have decided that your outfit's life depends on this single accessory. Several times I have come close to breaking my necklaces as frustration gets the best of me! Enough was enough though, the time had come for some long overdue organisation. 

I still need to get a better storage option for my longer necklaces in the box as I foresee a tangled mess in the future. I'm hoping to use one of those cork boards. How do you store your jewellery, particularly the necklaces? If you want to see how I store my stud earrings, click on.

I've really gotten into this nail art phase and seeing as ombre has been a big hit lately (clothes, hair and nails of course) I had to try it out.

Luron #114, Belle Collection #13, Flomar #09, Luron #38, OPI Red (it really is just called Red, how original OPI!)

  Bam. Ombre nails baby.

Tried mixing 4 of the colours on my pinky. Can't wait to try this out again!

source

Aren't these stunning?!

Laughter

A day without laughter is a day wasted. ~ Charlie Chaplin

 

 Wedges - Mr. Price, Jeans - 2nd hand market, Top - TwentyOne, Sweater - 2nd hand market, Bag - Susen

Laughter. Don't you just love it? It's a beautiful thing I say. 

But what happens when someone wants to change their laugh? Can they? Are you born with your distinct chuckle/laughter or do you create your own? You see whenever I engage in this soul-lifting, wrinkle-drawing, often contagious laughing business, I laugh like there's no tomorrow. I laugh from my gut and seem to consume all of my energy doing so. Tears are also usually involved which doesn't do much for my mascara I can promise you that. Occasionally I'll even catch a stranger trying to examine my tonsils because of how wide I open my mouth. Bottom line, I definitely don't have one of those graceful, composed laughs which I've sort of learned to accept. But what happens when I'm in Church? On a date? An important meeting? 

Ha! Yeah.. Is it too late for me?

All we need is L.O.V.E.

Meet Solita and her lovely fingers in the shape of love. 

This picture makes me smile every time I see it :) :) :) :) .. See what I mean?

You can find more of Solita's beautiful pictures on Twitter as @fauiepie and on Instagram.

Hope your week has started on a lovely note!

Mini Haul

Over the past couple of weeks I've been lucky enough to stumble on a few things that all have one thing in common: Vibrant colours. The weather has been pretty drab lately so anything to spice up my life has been more than welcome. 

Maasai necklace - Shs400; Maasai bracelet Shs400

Both pieces were bought off Maasai women who were selling their jewellery while I was at Olorgesailie

Susen bag Shs3,500.

I got this bag off mother's friend who was selling some stuff she'd got from Dubai. I fell in love with the colours immediately I laid my eyes on it. Me thinks this is colour blocking at its best. 

Top from TwentyOne - freeee

Mother got this top about 2yrs ago from Dubai but has never won it. She finally caved in and handed it over to yours truly!

The story of how I got my hands on the above items is beyond epic. Here's the short version:

The rings were being sold for Shs1200 while the earrings were going for Shs800 but I got everything for the grand total of Shs800. That's Shs200 for each ring and pair of earrings. Between me and you, there's a very good chance that the man who sold them to me may have been Santa. I mean, who gives such a discount?! He later explained that the stones in the rings may come off if the ring was dropped and so he didn't feel right selling to me a product that wasn't 100%. Although he didn't say anything, I'm guessing the same applies for the earrings?? Most people don't usually own up to the defaults of their products so his honesty made me so happy! Such a cool dude. He was at Westgate Mall for the day but he usually sells his products at Mobil Plaza, Muthaiga, where he's got a stand. He's got really cute stuff but be warned, a few of them might be faulty! Regardless, go check him out!!

Love that these earrings are handmade. Ended up giving them to mother.