In a Pickle .... Literally

Yes, I feel as though I'm in a pickle. I have come to find how negative I am and how it affects my everyday life. I read The Secret, and thought it would be easy to be positive, but in fact its rather difficult to always think that things are going to be ok. How many times have you been in a bad situation, regardless of what it may be, and have thought to yourself "its all going to work out for the best." ?

Its not the easiest thing to do. I have thought many times when sitting thinking about how my life has turned out so far, I don't have enough money, I don't enjoy my job, I will never get a house. But the bigger picture amounts down to the fact that, I have a job, I have never been without money, I have family, friends, a boyfriend and Im healthy. Then I think to myself, shit, I am so ungrateful. In these rainy cold days, there are people sitting with nothing, how could I dare be so selfish? I reckon I just thought about ME the whole time.

I am a people pleaser, I like to please people, I always have to have approval from people, and if they don't like me I go out of my way to try and change their mind, when in fact what does it really matter if someone is not fond of me? On the big scale of all the people I know, and care about, what does it matter if the till lady at Clicks looks at me funny? How will it change my life in the long run? It wont. It wont change a single thing in my life.

Well there's a thought, stop caring so much. Guys always say girls look at each other funny, and I must say I often tend to agree, I do it, I'm sure you do it. If I'm in a store and some barefoot fairy dances around 7-11, I stare and think like how does she do that? How does she just not give a flying f**k? I want to be like that, well not barefoot its cold, but just do something with a lot of people around, and actually not care.

Same as our weight, the way we look, I reckon society has a big hold on most of us, you aren't pretty unless you are a size 2, or you aren't model material because you aren't with an agency, or you will never get married because you have freckles. What is it that we can do to make society happy? I reckon if we were all just ourselves, we would each accept the person who is just as different as us.

I would like to start doing seminars at schools about bullying, as a past bullier, and victim, I want to teach children that it is ok to be different. I would like to make a positive change. I would like to change myself, my mind set, and actually believe that it doesn't matter what you wear, who you date, how you even wear your hair. We are all beautiful.

You are beautiful..
Never change,

AbiD

Raddison Park Inn Hotel 'Sweet' ??

Just waiting for my drink :)

On Saturday the 20th of May, I packed my bags quickly, tried on so many clothes, trying to make myself look rich, even though hotel stay purchased on Groupon. Eventually it was time, time to leave and arrive at the destination I had waited for, for almost a month. A one night stay at The Raddison Park Inn Hotel, however when we arrived nobody helped us with our bags. We got to reception and dealt with a young gentleman named Constintin, without an e? I was unsure as to how I should address him, I must admit he was shaking like a leaf in an earthquake, I was not sure as to what was happening, maybe a fit I thought, but then again I thought maybe he was new, and extremely nervous. That sounded more reasonable to me, anyways I wasn't fazed too much by the wait all I wanted to do, was get the card and go to my room to explore, like a five year old at the zoo. They asked Kyle if he wanted to put down money on his card, so that if we spent money in the room it could come off his card; so we put R200 down, just in case.

Eventually we got to the room, and I must be honest most likely because I had the privilege of working in a five star hotel, I wasn't that excited abut the room we were given, but that was snob-like, and I took it in that at least we were somewhere that wasn't home, for a night, and that we would enjoy it. We also discovered that it costs quiet a bit extra for room-service so we went up to the RBG for lunch as we were both ready to eat some sort of massive animal (we hadn't eaten yet). We ordered one beef, and one chicken burger with cheese and bacon. It came with Onion rings, 1000 island dressing and a side of shoestring fries, which were incredible. Our waiter; Honest was lovely, he made us feel so welcome, unlike most of the other staff. He really was awesome, I'm so angry I didn't take a picture of our burgers.. Silly girl.

At the RBG for lunch

Peanut Butter Milkshake

After this filling meal, we went to meet a friend of mine Miss Dani :) Oh, she is lovely. Her and some of her friends were at Hudsons in Green point. We chilled for a bit, I had a Don Pedro whilst Kyle had the worlds biggest Peanut Butter Milkshake, which he loved, even after the chocolate one he had with lunch.. Funny chap that one. We stayed there for about an hour, and by now, we were FULL! We had a problem as we had reservations for dinner at The Famous Butchers Grill which was also compliments thanks to Groupon. We decided to go back to the hotel , and watch some t.v before getting ready for our dinner that night. We had an Amerula, and then it was already time for a quick shower and a change of clothes.

The Famous Butchers Grill; apart from the service not being the friendliest, the steaks highly recommended by the waitress herself ( Sirloin) were tougher than she said they would be, and also absolutely tasteless to me, the best thing there was my Southern Comfort and lime, Kyle, and the musician playing a keyboard at the entrance. The steaks weren't prepped how we had asked, mine of medium to medium well, was the earliest stages of medium. And Kyle's medium was rare. It looked great, smelled great, but it was tasteless and very disappointing. I think that was contributed by the fact that I was already unhappy with the service when I arrived, not the fact that they didn't know what they were doing, but the fact that they were just all so unfriendly, and to me that creates ambiance.. Not quiet the one I was hoping for. Anyways, it was a very quick dinner, as we were both so full from lunch.

leaving for dinner

what to drink?

Looks good ... but bland

Haven't tasted it yet... still happy

Back at the hotel, we were both now so tired and full, we had a glass of Amerula, I went to shower, got into my pyjamas and watched some t.v. The following morning I woke up at 8:10, I was very pleased with the curtains shutting out the dark for my dead sleeping boyfriend. I lit a smoke turned on the t.v and contemplated going to gym with my injury (toe) and the fact that we had to check out at 11am, we still had to fit in breakfast :) Twenty minutes later Kyle woke up, and joined me in watching t.v. We then both got ready for breakfast, and headed downstairs, where the buffet was nicely set up in the restaurant on the ground floor. Our waitress was very friendly, we each had a cup of something warm, mine being tea :) I then had two glasses of orange juice, a plate of starters :) and plate of hot foods.. Yum, the food was lovely. As a baker I didn't like the fact all their pastries were brought in, but I think it costs more to make, and at a Business Hotel its not really necessary to have freshly made pastries, when you can have freshly brought :)

All in all, the experience to get away was great, I may have been a bit harsh, but the only thing I was not satisfied was the service, like forgetting to give Kyle his money back, and then conveniently cancelling it via the bank so it takes 7 working days to get back, or the fact that nobody showed us where to park and we had to pay. The fact that the fridges were off etc.

However I did have fun, because Kyle made it fun for me. Be careful staying in a business hotel if its not at least four stars..

I rate this as a ***, I think that's its rating anyways.

Keep well, and don't forget to smile

Yum.. in my face

Im not tired just yet..

More yummy stuff

Our hotel room

Leaving to go home

AbiD

For groupon deals go to www.groupon.co.za

Radisson Park Inn Cape Town got to www.parkinn.com/hotel-capetown

Famous Butchers Grill  butchersgrill.tablemagic.co.za/

Crazy/beautiful

Morning everyone:)

So good to be able to see that people in other continents are reading my blog. I greatly appreciate it more than one realises. Today my mood is, average I'm neither here nor there. Its bad, cold whether, maybe that's it. My toe is still in a slipper, from kicking it open and landing up without a nail. Its rather painful :(
Getting better though, I had a bit of an upset moment yesterday when I saw a cross by the side of the road, when two nights before I had seen the accident, I saw people trying to pull someone out the car, the horror on spectators faces. I drove past and thought of their family. It made my heart sore to think someone is now without a parent, a partner, a child. I guess thats what happens in life and we have to accept it.

Enough sadness, Sunday cannot come sooner, I am so excited to go to the hotel, like really I'm counting down the days. We all do that don't we? I'm already counting down the days until my birthday next year :) Jokes, but until Christmas. I get so excited for times like those. Anyways 2 sleeps until the hotel. Tomorrow I'm getting my nails done, and my eyelashes extended :) I love girly things, I mean don't get me wrong I'm no princess, in actual fact, man say I am very unlady like but unfortunately that's just how I was made, or became.

People like to say they never fart, but I think they are talking shit. They never burp, never swear. Um OK alien from a foreign planet, that's bull dust. Its just like not possible to not do those things, maybe not in company... but you do!!! I'm so excited to go to the famous butchers grill, and to show you pics. We shall see how it is? And then post pics of just how succulent their steak is, even though I like mine well done, but not dry, I'm not picky just know what I like.

These gifts that i got are all from groupon. I love it, I have never bought anything from there, but I love the idea.

Anyways back to the papers I go...

Keep safe guys, stick to speed limits, but listen to your music while you drive. Helps my mood before I get home :)

AbiD

DIY for the Guy

Yum goes the crunch of a lovely chicken schnitzel as I bite intensely to try get all the flavours of my DIY dinner. After a full day of work, an injured toe and not too much motivation, I decided to make a little do it yourself dinner for my boyfriend and his 'gammon rhyming friend'. Although i had to do much of the DIY work, such as cook schnitzels (a little less than intended) cut all the extras such as tomato, gherkins, place lettuce on a plate, grate cheese, and caramelise onions- they still had to add the toppings and sauces to their liking on their own.

When making a meal of this calibre, i would strongly suggest listening to music, as cutting and peeling; although basic work, can be rather tedious. A little tune or two from old school VH1 or MTV base can be used to get one in the mood and that way all the doggy, dirty so-called work can be managed with a happy and joyful mood. Also remember to buy buns on the way home, as I'm not a fan of leaving anything in the oven whilst pooping down to the local 7-11. I always envision arriving home to some smokey, burned down house. And to make matters worse its not my own home.. eeek.

As i sit typing this, I wonder about my music career, I had always envisioned my stage name to be AbiD, but now with all this food for thought, I think a little something more along the lines of burger queen ya'll. I mean that wouldn't be the best name to call up after giving away a Grammy to Alicia Keys, or nicky Minaj. "we'd like to welcome a new artist to present the next award, please welcome burger queen."Or Croissant Sista. Jokes AbiD is cool for me.

The pictures uploaded are terrible quality- Blackberry quality, so anybody wanting to sponsor a camera is more than welcome :)

Keep well, and remember schnitzel may be thin, but cook it for a while. I learn more and more everyday.

Love music, sing with it, eat with it, and eat well.

Until next time,
AbiD

Gammon rhymes with Salmon

funny enough for the first time ever a young man who came to stay for two nights told me he never thinks of Gammon as pork, he tells me it rhymes with salmon it must be fish. Um, but its not, it truly is pork.. Oops, that's a mistake. Now my favourite thing about gammon is its saltiness, you need not add any salt, and it tastes as if it was left to marinade in the stuff. (cured) Cured I think not. Now, gammon is best served with Apple sauce, YUM, and my best is actually baby purity; although, Ive always eaten purity as a snack, so naturally I just love it as a sauce friend for my pork.

Among my huge plate of gammon sat, roasted potatoes in salt and garlic with a dash of olive oil. (Oven roasted of course) Sweet carrots, with a smidgen of Cinnamon, Butternut, cauliflower with broccoli and cheese sauce and sweet corn. Now this is one of my favourite meals. It just makes me feel complete, often chicken for me; unless served as a proper dish like casserole doesn't feel like a meal to me..I have no idea why? But a chicken fillet with veg seems like a tea-time snack..

This was at my moms house, as Kyle was working and i did not feel like being on my own, as usual. I did take him some home though, in an ice-cream tub like a dog :) I also managed to take back enough for his friend too. And while i sipped on my tea, the silence of them eating the succulent gammon was effortless. My mom makes a mean gammon.

I think dinner tonight is chicken though? We shall see, I think Kyle's friend Lloyd may be making dinner, as I only finish work at six. Kyle at eight, so we generally eat after eight thirty, which isn't good for you. The latest you should eat is seven.

Oh well, we shall see what comes up tonight, maybe it'll be one of those dishes that you just take out what you have in your fridge, see what you can use, and pack the rest back. Although I always feel that's people just trying to rearrange their fridges with an excuse. I generally know what I want to cook, and if its not there and I want it I will go buy it. That's all dependant on how desperate I really am.

Favourite chicken dish - Coronation chicken, and remember you dont only have to use mango, there are alternatives, I'd recommend any dried fruit that is of the same consistency, such as peaches, nectarines, try anything though. That's the only way to find out. Or even better recommend to me, and I can try them out for you :)

Remember all, Gammon may rhyme with Salmon, but its pork, that you eat with a different fork..

AbiD

Cleaning out the closet with a revamp

OK, so its time for a revamp. Kitchen Confidential used to be about the ins and outs of the hotel industry mixed together with what, at the time seemed like my messy life. A fashion guru friend of mine Aisha Baker recommended I incorporate food with my love for music. She's an absolute doll, with the best fashion sense and a face to die for. Go check out her blog - Bakedtheblog.com is its name and you will find fantastic tips, and gorgeous clothes. Today is the day this all changes. I am a qualified chef, a singer and a blogger. Combined in one I'm a Gordan Minaj. And from now, that is how this blog shall be, every time I eat out, look at food, think of food, you will be the first ones to know! If you guys are wanting any recipes or any ideas for cooking, especially baking, let me know and I will be sure to post them. I just entered Come Dine with me, season 2, so hold thumbs. I need to get onto t.v somehow.

On Sunday i shall be spending the night at The Radison Park Inne Hotel, and having dinner at The Famous Butchers Grill, breakfast will be at the hotel, and I will be sure to post some pics for you all. We will see how good the service, along with the food is, and maybe even pretend i am some celebrity. We all know I will be some day, so whats pretending before the inevitable is assured. I think that to be a rather fun game, hide from fake paparazzi and all.

Anyways I really hope this is something you will be drawn to and enjoy, if I can give you tips and help you hook that certain someone from my steamy recipe's I have done my job.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Bake away, and remember when alone mirror dancing and singing is ok, we all do it :)

AbiD

Bakedtheblog.com

Eating out at Greens

Meringue in my Face

I used to work hard

Birthday Bash or Smash

Hello,

It happens to be my birthday today :) Last night I had a bunch of family around for my birthday as it was a public holiday. After dinner, I got a bit upset and I'm not entirely sure why, but I think it has to do with the fact that this was my first birthday not spent at my old house, or with my parents. And yes, i am growing up, but I think you are never too old to miss things, or even feel things.

Anyway, my boyfriend Kyle was amazing, he spoilt me rotten, pretty much made the entire dinner, and was just so good to me. I am at work and to be quiet frank there are a good couple of places I would rather be than here right now. Everybody is in a mood. Nobody would even make me tea. I mean really.
is it that hard? Which brings me to my question, what does it take to be nice to somebody?
Is it really that much effort? Instead of shooting somebody else if you have time, to help them out? Or to open the door for someone before yourself.  Today a girl shut a door in my face, after i waited for her and her troop to leave the building. Was it necessary, or does she just not have manners.

These days I do not know what common courtesy is, I mean I have always been a relatively polite person, wait until everyone has finished eating before you leave the table, answer the phone with good manners, eat with your mouth closed. It just seems these days nobody knows how to act appropriately, and to be frank it scares me. My children will most definitely be raised to greet, and to be polite and to help. Does it really mean going out of your way? I think not, I think it just makes people appreciate you ever so slightly more.

I suppose each to his own though.
Well all I can say is that I cannot wait to get home to my boyfriend who will surely treat me like I'm the queen of the world.

Keep well,

AbiD