I'll be home for Christmas

Yes indeed I will and will therefore be posting less. I had hoped to have a music video to share before the year was up, but alas (don't ask).

I will be home with the family and I will hopefully get to see some friends as well. Wishing you peace, health and love for the holidays. 2011 was tough and very rewarding. I am hoping for more growth, love and sharing in 2012.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS :)

Sankara

I know its already the 22nd, but this does not make him any less significant. On the 21st of December in 1949 Thomas Sankara was born. Happy birthday and rest in power King.

"The revolution and women’s liberation go together. We do not talk of women’s emancipation as an act of charity or because of a surge of human compassion. It is a basic necessity for the triumph of the revolution. Women hold up the other half of the sky."  - Thomas Sankara

source

Ms Patti!!!

Sounds of my childhood. No child growing up in Soweto in the 80s didn't know this song. Love me some Patti!




Shout-out old school Metro fm.They used to play songs like this all day on Sunday.

Hellooo Summer

It's time for...

Playing silly buggers after wine tasting (and purchasing)

Cocktails and sun

Yummy food. Those wontons are to die for :)

And more drinks ;)

We only have a few more days of 2011 left in Cape Town, so we decided to treat ourselves. Jozi is fun, but we will miss our fav spots. I LOVE Cape Town in the Summer :)

Flash Bright

Its that face that kills me. Maybe if I post enough of these pics Marcee will do something about that disrespectful flash of hers lol.

That time again

It is almost the end of the year... And what a long year it has been for me. Long and very painful for the most part. I've come to the conclusion that it was growing pains. I have grown in ways I never thought possible in such a short space of time. Over at the old blog I used to do a 'what (insert year) has taught me' list. So I thought I would do it one more time

What 2011 has taught me

1. People prefer to be lied to
I guess this is not news, but Truth was the theme of the year. I had to be honest with myself about a lot of things this year; career, health, finances, music, family, friends... The year started with me in an awful way: I was doing a job that I didn't believe in, I was well on my way to being 'more than slightly' overweight, the album was on hold and I wasn't making enough money to get by. I had to get honest (with myself). It was tough, but had to be done. Had I not been honest with myself I probably would have fallen apart. I wish I could say the same for the people I encountered along the way. While I was on this 'I am healing myself with truth' high, I decided to take some people along for the ride. I mean, why get better by yourself right? After a while I realised that the stories we build our lives around are much more comfortable than the harsh sting of the truth. Which brings me to lesson number 2.

2. Nobody is coming for you
I realised that deep down inside there was a frightened girl who was waiting to be saved. Not by the handsome Kal-El from Krypton or anybody with super powers (although that would have been nice too). I guess I was waiting for some big event to happen and all, or most, of my problems would be solved. 2011 taught me that nobody is 'coming for me'. There is no super magical team being assembled to come and conquer your problems. Once I came to that realisation I started being my own super hero. I also stopped trying to be a super hero for other people. It is both arrogant and ignorant to think that you can 'save' someone. That's not to say that I don't give help to those who ask for it. Bringing us to lesson number 3

Image via Superman Super Site

3. I love these damn kids!
Once I quit the job that I wasn't so sure about, I started volunteering at the Shine Centre 5 days a week. I didn't have this much free time at my previous job. I've had very few awful mornings ever since I started volunteering 5 times a week. Its hard to be an ungrateful grouch when you start your day with those little smiling faces. 2011 taught me that being of service 'fills me up'.

4. I LOVE food
I love food and this year I learned how to make it love me too. Previously I didn't care where my food came from or how it made me feel. I just ATE. 2011 has taught me to be a little more aware of food and how it makes me feel. I now know that sugar gives me headaches, wheat makes my tum unhappy and a bunch of other things that I didn't know before. I have committed myself to eating at least one raw meal a day.

I KNOW that its not a raw meal, but its from Harries Pancakes and it was gooooood!

5. The force is strong in this one
I always thought that I was tough. This year and all its financial troubles, moves, changes and BS has taught me that I am tougher than I give myself credit for.

Took this pic on one of our road trips. I just felt like posting it here

6. SWSWSWSW
One of my favourite quotes by Jack Canfield: Some Will. Some Wont. So What? Someones Waiting. After trying to get my music onto SA radio, my sweet manager and I finally gave up. We didn't give up on everything, just SA radio. Once we did that we were able to find countries where radio stations LOVED the music. I am no play-listed in 36 countries and am not so cut up about previous rejections.

Voila Magazine put me in their style fix section. I was so stoked!

7. Memories don't live like people do
After Steve Jobs died, a lot of people called him a genius and a master mind. Many said that he was one of the greatest minds of our time blah blah. I do not agree nor do I disagree with any of these statements (because I don't really care, to be honest). What I found interesting was that as soon as he died, so did many of his indiscretions/negative attributes. There were perhaps a few people who spoke about the not-so-great things that he did, but they were definitely in the minority. 2011 taught me that They will give you hell while you are still alive and forget all about it when you die. So its best not to care what people think of you and your journey, they're gonna keep changing their minds anyway.

Image via Time

8. My song
Finally: I learned that nobody can steal your joy. Nobody! People do not control how you feel. You do. I have been through a lot this year, but I am also the happiest I have ever been in my short life. If I had to do 2011 again, I probably wouldn't (ha ha ha ha). I would not erase it either, because I am grateful for it's lessons. I am looking forward to writing more songs and singing them. I cannot wait to see what the new year has in store for me. I hope you are looking forward to it, without any of the baggage of this year.

Today is the day by BlackPorcelain


P.S I almost forgot to add that LOVE IS EVERYTHING. It was love that got me through this hellish year. I am grateful for love.

See the year off with a BANG!

One Love :)

More rain

SWV was and remains one of my top groups. Lawd I used to play this song all the time.



Taj, Coko and Lelee... I love these women! And I see a young Tyrese made an appearance in the video too :)

Sexy Canadian

To see more of the hotness that is Ryan Gosling head on over to Hurricane Vanessa

Reminders

I LOVE being in the kitchen. I recently discovered that I love to cook and try out different recipes. I cook when I am happy and sometimes I cook when I need to be happy.

I feel so small when I am cooking. But I also feel like I am a part of something big.

And then sometimes I get a lovely reminder of how beautiful and unique we all are

When I'm not cooking or blogging I'm on Twitter or Facebook or at home or working or... You get the picture ;)

She is BAAAAAAAAACK

After taking a break from blogging (not by choice, but because of her work load), my dearest Marcee is back!

Check her out HERE

I LOVE Tigers

via Fuck Yeah Illustrative Art!

I wonder...

I wonder if he knows how much I love his smile...

Let it rain

I will admit to having being on the fence about him. Not anymore. I am all his after this song. Yessir, his album (the next one) will be MINE! *evil laugh*

P.S Its RAINING in Cape Town, which is odd because we only get rain in Winter. This is more Jozi weather. I was missing home so bad, but it looks like home came to me. I wont complain.

Flash Bright

Some people have serious problems like heavy chains (cue Kanye's 'chain heavy'). I have a best friend whose camera has an unbelievably bright flash. I am not exaggerating when I say it is blinding. We were going through pics recently and I realised how many of these 'flash bright' pics we have.

Why the face? Huh? Why? She wont let me be great

Lights Out, Words Gone

I need their album in my life. I just wanna play this song while driving on a Summer evening. I like the music video, but I also don't. Don't ask. It is still a lovely song.

Go all the way

"If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don’t even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean mockery—isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you’ll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. It will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you’re going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is." 

via atomos

Truth

via atomos

Fear

Truth

Via Flo-Yo

Sunday Inspiration - Crazy

I LOVE playing this song in my car, especially when I am feeling down. And you already know how I feel about Mr Tyler ;)

Video Day

On Friday we shot the music video for Today is the day. It was my first music video and I was so bloody nervous. You would think I would have been excited because I have wanted this music video for so long. I was so worried about how my performance would translate 'on screen' and whether I could pull it off.

When we arrived, I was certain that I had made a mistake and wanted to run back home. What I found what I got there was a lovely crew who made me feel so at ease.

We arrived and the crew was setting up. At this point I was nauseous from nerves.

Being 'walked through' what I was supposed to do. Eeeek.

Charmaine doing my make up. Charmaine is just so lovely. LOVED working with her

Nervous smile

Setting 'the scene'

Padraic and I trying to figure out why that damn bow tie wouldn't let me be great!

Shooting. AAAAAAAHHHHH!!

Men at work?!

Charmaine :)

Once we were done, I was ECSTATIC and wanted to shoot another music video (typical). I will put it up once the director (the super cool Padraic O'Meara) is happy with the final product. Yay video!!

Today is the day by BlackPorcelain

 I'm also on Twitter and Facebook *wink wink*

Zwakala

I LOVE Stimela mayne. I truly do. Working with Ray Phiri is on my bucket list.

Need a holiday

Image via top ten Africa vacations

Its been a loooong year. I need a year long holiday. From my lips to the ears of the universe Insha'Allah (God willing).

I'm here too: Facebook & Twitter

My little stars

For the past 2 years I have been a volunteer for The Shine Centre. I found out about The Shine Centre while I worked in radio. I had interviewed one of the founders and she invited me to one of the schools they work in. It just so happened that one of their schools was right behind the building where I lived.

Anybody who knows me, knows that I love kids and I am very passionate about educating them. I thought I knew how poorly some kids were being educated, but I really didn't. Meeting these bright little stars and finding out that some children in Grd 3 were barely literate broke my heart. I decided on the spot that I was going to volunteer. My dad often quotes Gandhi 'be the change you want to see in the world'.

Seeing these kids every morning is honestly the highlight of my day. Now that I have 'down graded' my day job I am able to volunteer Mon - Friday. Last week was our final week with the kids and we made cards for each other. Best cards ever!

If you are in a position where you can spare an hour out of your day, please think about volunteering. I know not everyone can do it, but we always need more volunteers. And if literacy and kids is not your thing, think about volunteering elsewhere. It WILL change you and your world. I stopped believing that the government, most governments, can make a difference. I only believe in people. I've seen how people can make a difference by caring and getting involved.

Singing with the fishes

Last night I had the opportunity to perform my new single 'Today is the day' at a private function at the 2 Oceans Aquarium. I was really nervous because I hadn't performed live in such a long time. The audience was so appreciative and beautiful, it was incredible. One of the reasons I stopped performing was because I felt like I was performing for loud drunk people who weren't there for the music. I wanted to do things properly when I finally decided to perform again. It was fun and it made me want to perform in intimate venues like the one we were at.

How pretty is this pic?

During sound check, we couldn't help looking back at the 'predator display'

Marcee loved it too

Here is the song. Its also available on itunes and the Rhythm Music Store:
Today is the day by BlackPorcelain


I am in such a good place. I love what I do and I am doing what I love. I honestly cannot wait to start performing more.

I'm also on Twitter and Facebook

Remember this?

Every kid in Soweto knew the lyrics to this song. Oh man I still love this song so much. Confession: when people talk about Mariah Carey, this is the one I see in my mind.

Huurr Did

I have been wanting to do something different with my hair for a while now. I've just been a little scared and also wasn't sure about leaving my African hair in the hands of someone with no experience (I do my own hair). A friend told me about a place on Long Street (Hand) that could hook it up. I trust her, so I went and got my 'huurrr did'.

BEFORE

I was so nervous that I had a Martini at Greens before my hair appointment

No prizes for guessing who had the PINK drink. SMH

AFTER

I had not been in a hair salon in almost 4 years. Can you believe that? Kept falling asleep in the chair. I admire women who go to the hair salon often. It is painful to have to sit still for so long. I'm happy with the results, although I am gonna go back in a week or 2 to see if we can go lighter.

One love. New-Hair Porcelain :)

I'm @BlckPorcelain on Twitter and just Black Porcelain on Facebook

Truth

"I think what motivates people is not great hate, but great love for other people."

- Huey Newton

Sabotage

Over the past few months I ave been trying to get 'healthy'. Which means that I work 5 times a week, eat loads of veggies and fruits, drink more water and cut down on wheat. Well done Porcelain, right? Yep. I am well on my way to healing all the damage I have done to my body over the years (by not eating right and not getting 'physical')

I seem to be struggling on one front though... Sugar. I stopped drinking fizzy drinks a long time ago and I hardly ever have coffee. Giving up sweets was hard, so I cut down. I now only occasionally buy Marshmallows or Milk Bottles (I was an addict for real). The ONE thing I seem unable to give up is cupcakes. This is very disturbing. If I could live on cupcakes and wine ONLY, I would.

This is pure JOY

A friends dad made these for her birthday. I am still dreaming about them

Charly's Bakery knows how to make a girl happy

More Cuppy Cakes :)

This is sabotage... I think I like it.

Sweet Tooth Porcelain. Out!

I'm also on Twitter & Facebook

I did try to warn you

When I said that I LOVE Cee Lo Green's album (The Lady Killer), you thought I was playing didn't you? Well, I wasn't. Its been on repeat all day (again).








I think it is safe to say that the man can do no wrong in my eyes. The outfits in the 'I want you' video are KILLING me!! I need them in my life.

You can agree with me here or over at Twitter or Facebook. As long as we can agree that Mr Green is the biznis lol.

Courage

"The fact that you can feel the fear means you also have the courage to get beyond it. Otherwise, the fear would serve no useful purpose."

- Ralph Marston

"The beginning of courage feels like fear."

-Ralph Marston

The Lady Killer

Look what I recently got:

Yessir it is Cee Lo Green's album. I have been meaning to get it for a while. I have had it for 2 days and it has been on repeat for  2 days. Its been a while since I have listened to an album without skipping too many songs. I only skip the intro and outro AND 'Bodies' (it will probably grow on me).

I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!!

Porcelain. Out.

You know I'm on Twitter and Facebook right? Cool. Just checking.

It's a celebration (bleep)

Just in case you don't why there is a bleep in the title: The title is from a Kanye West song and I didn't feel like putting up a 'PG' title. Git it? Good :)

Yesterday Marcee and I had a very NB meeting. We were both very scared about the outcome, as it would affect how well we do this 'tiny label' thing of ours. The outcome was even better than we imagined. She was working at a place called Table Thirteen in Green Point, so we had a mini celebration.

I had wine (obviously)

And the Lemon Polenta. I wanna learn how to make this.

All smiles

THIS is why she was smiling. THE BEST baked cheesecake ever!!

Marcee had the chicken mayo sandwich. The food at Table Thirteen is amazing

Marcee had tea. I have proof that she is becoming an old lady.

Hoping November will bring me more good news.

I play on Twitter and Facebook too.

Porcelain. Out!