African in America: First Impressions
Have you ever kept a travel journal? Here is mine, an African in America, from the first time I came to the U.S. of A. Oh what a place! Getting off the plane Whoa mense (people)! Hierdie plek (this place) is incredible! America! A-merr-rica! Getting off the plane and heading to…
A taste of the Flying Boat Brewery – St Pete Florida
A Sanityfound First I’ll be the first to admit… huh… yes it’s possible and in this case true. Sure I’ve enjoyed the odd beer and sampled all a variety of kinds over the years but I’ve never had an exact beer tasting. Truth be told, the South African in me…
Southern Goodness meets St Pete at Maple Street Biscuit Co.
For those who love comfort food done right Though it may seem strange to you but this South African hasn’t really had much opportunity to delve into the delicious world of country cooking. It’s just never been a “thing”. That is… until now. I woke up one morning and decided…
How taking PTSD on the road and traveling saved my life
The dirty secret They say that one shouldn’t write about personal stuff on a travel blog, that one shouldn’t air one’s dirty laundry for all to see nor share things other than travel. Sadly I have never been one to stay within the confines of societal expectations. See, if no…
Tagalongs… the Girl Scouts secret weapon
Torture for the dieter Continuing on my investigation of the Girl Scout cookies I opened a box of Tagalongs expecting another “Ok, another cookie” moment. After one bite though I found myself eyeing those near me. No, it wasn’t the let’s share and be happy “eye”, more like “come near…
William Dean Chocolates
Chocolate art or art that is chocolate I can’t decide. I’d have to say on first glance William Dean Chocolates is definitely a bit of both. Knowing my intense sweet tooth may not be as objective as needed I managed to talk a new blogger, Donna from Inviting Adventure, into…
Acacia House, Napa Valley – worth all the hype?
Acacia House by Chris Cosentino in St Helena, California… Let me first start by just saying that I tagged along with WineTravelEats to meet a mutual friend for a meal. I was in charge of getting the directions (brave people) and for about 20 minutes had to have the word Acacia repeated…
A Quick Stop at Black Crow Coffee St Pete
First Impressions Series They say first impressions last I had just finished up at an appointment near the Historic Northeast district of St Pete (FL) and found myself in dire need of some caffeine. As one does these days I plugged “coffee” into Waze and the options were many. One…
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Cape Point – Crazy beauty that will blow your mind!
Sharing is caring they say, so I need to let you know the pros and cons to this gorgeous area called Cape Point, also known as the Cape of Good…
Safari West – A piece of Africa in California
From a South African perspective To the average “passerby” Safari West in Sonoma County, California, is a cool place to go glamping with some wild animals and birds in the background….
Postcards from Domaine Carneros
When out in Northern California visiting the infamous Napa Valley, Domaine Carneros is just one of those must visit places. Now let’s be honest, the bubbles speak for themselves with their…
The low down on Savannah Smiles
Continuing on my scrounge for the ultimate “Not to share” cookie aka I can’t do much while I recover other than eat cookies and dream of traveling. Now I’ll be…
Far Niente Winery – Napa Valley, California
One of the highlights of having friends who love wine is the fact that they know the good from the bad and everything in between. Visiting Napa with the author…
Ambrosiana’s Fior di Neve ~ A Cookie Review
Due to a unfortunate medical thing where the doctors insisted I didn’t travel… I was stuck in my house recovering from what I thought would be a quick and easy…
Sanityfound Questioned… updated throughout the day…
So I’m doing something different, ok I’ll admit not at all unusual for me. On instagram I’ve posted an opportunity for people to ask me some wild or normal questions….
You know nothing, absolutely nothing… Until you travel
I once met a man when I was 14. He was drunk on homemade spirits at a clandestine rooftop get together in a country where alcohol is and was illegal. Everyone…
Dream Camera for Travel and Wildlife
I’ll admit. Â I’m a total tech junkie, I love new gadgets and anything that makes life simpler yet more fun, especially camera equipment. From time to time I plan on…
Photography is having no regrets
My obsession with photography started when I got my first camera back when I was 10. Â It was film and in those days crazy expensive so I savored each shot…
Instagram – The game of followers and unfollowing
Unfollowers vs Followers Audrey: Oh, that feeling when I got my first random follower. It was a woohoo moment of note. Then they unfollowed me and I was like whoa…
20 Photos to inspire you to visit the Grand Canyon
When Allegiant Air sends out their ever weekly email about the latest deals I often just browse and move on, more often than not the timing is never right for…
New Years Resolutions
Each year I try to be a good human and make New Years resolutions… some stick and others… well they just get plain revised to the more suitable older version…
A Christmas Poem… of sorts
‘Twas the night before Christmas and Santa’s a wreck… How to live in a world that’s politically correct? His workers no longer would answer to “Elves”, “Vertically Challenged” they were…
Instagram and it’s hashtags
It took us a little while to figure out the whole hashtags business. Maybe we are just slow but hey, we’re all about being honest here. (Please note Amber will…
Self Defence and the Cool Habit Gang
There are some things we take for granted, personal safety and protection is definitely one of them. Doesn’t matter if you are male or female we both do it.  Admit…
What’s up with Blog Engagement???
It’s been a while since I’ve been blogging. Â Ok, I’ll go and date myself now and admit that I started out way back in (ahem) 2007. Â Yes, people, that is…
USA: Lost in Translation… or rather mispronunciation
Have you ever spoken to a South African? Or perhaps someone from a different country and the way they pronounce the words is slightly different to the way you do?…
Skate on the Bay and Sunflowers
Day 1 in the life of a Wine Blogger series I arrived on a sunny Monday afternoon and was whisked off to a beautiful restaurant called Skates on the Bay….
What we’ve learned​ about Instagram so far…
This article is a jointly written by myself (Audrey) and Amber from Napafoodandvine.com, we felt it was time to share some insights into the world of Instagram that we’ve gained…
A South African in America – the Questions & Answers
I have now lived in America going on 8 years and I have to say a few of the questions I’ve been asked have put England to shame… some of…
A Day out at Suncoast Primate Sanctuary
As part of my quest to see sanctuaries in Florida and around the world I managed to visit the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, Florida. Now I must be…
6 days in San Francisco and Napa – A glimpse in to the life of a Wineblogger
In August I was invited by Napa Food and Vine to spend a week with them. Â We’ve known each other for over decade (I’m dating myself here) and worked together…
A visit to the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary
I will state upfront that yes, I have heard the rumors, and yes I have read up on the history of this particular bird sanctuary. I’m not going to gloss…
A day out at the Big Cat Rescue
I was recently invited to visit the Big Cat Rescue in Tampa Florida for a tour of their facility. I’d heard a lot about them and jumped at the opportunity…
Addo Elephant Park in a day
After a solid 48 hours journey we could officially say we were in South Africa! We heartily consumed a filling healthy breakfast (bacon and eggs is always healthy come on!)…
SA: Jackass Penguins are all that!
I love spots that are hidden and off the beaten track. Many tourists don’t know about this hidden gem and often skip it for other more famous sights. Â This for…
Cape Point – the Pro’s and the Con
Sharing is caring they say so I need to let you know the pros and cons to this gorgeous area called Cape Point, also known as the Cape of Good…
Sharing Hurricane Irma
It’s surreal going through something you’ve so often seen on the news, I’ve lived in Florida now going on 8 years and we often have the watches for the hurricanes…
Touching History
There is an ancient belief that objects hold the energy of those that surrounded them, that ancient buildings, temples and lands have stories to tell if we were to just…
Why I visit Sanctuaries while traveling
When I travel I find I like to do the unordinary, of course I’ll find myself doing the normal touristy sites but more often than not I like to wonder…
Pushing the boundaries of comfort zones
The beauty of long layovers and being stuck in an airport you get the time to think and ponder on life, where you have been and how far you’ve come….
Heading to San Fransisco!
Napa Food and Vine (NFV for short here on SF) invited me out their part of the world for a mini working vacation, spontaneous vacations are the best kind and who…
The Cape Storm Photos
After a much needed rest we decided to head out to Cape Town, it was a stormy day perfect for a mini drive. Â The Cape Storm is known to be…
Part 7 – Heading to Cape Town
The Shark Diving finished around lunchtime so we stopped and had a quick bite to eat then hit the local grocery store to stock up on much needed Road Trip…
Great White Shark Diving
Part 6 of our South African Road Trip Journals The next day we had a really early start. Â I’m talking the crack of doom kind of early. But for a…
A Day out in Oudtshoorn
Back on the road again the scenery started to change from lush green forests and mountains to the desert like landscapes of the Klein Karoo. Beautiful oranges and sheep farms…
Part 4 – Back on the Road again
The next day we headed out for the next leg in our road trip, Oudtshoorn. But first a day of driving and sightseeing! Driving through the valleys, hills and mountains once…
Part 2 – The South African Trip begins!
May 31st arrived and we were all packed and ready to, no hitches, no tantrums, I am forever grateful! But you know all good plans go to pot when you’re…
Part 1 : Ultimate South African Road Trip
It’s been 8 years to be exact since I was once in my homeland of South Africa. Â For anyone that has moved abroad that is a long long time not…
What is sunshine without a storm?
Have you ever wondered what makes rainbows so magical or why it feels so good to come out of the house on a cold winters day and to feel the…
Is forgiveness really possible?
Forgiveness is one of the world’s greatest mysteries, one that seems to always come with a short answer “just accept and move onâ€. Hah! Yeah right… seriously? Just accept it…
An African Questioned…
A few slight misconceptions I am hoping that TV & Media have abolished… While travelling I was always asked the same questions about Africa, people thought of me as brave…
Scars on the Soul and acts of Kindness
At birth we are full of wonder, new sights, sounds and smells envelope our senses. Â We are more open to people, learning and life. Something happens along the way and…
Give, Hope, Love, Live
So many times in life we shy away from things because we have been hurt before, we shy away from the very things that we want most of all. The…
Ubuntu in a Can
No I am not talking about the operating system, I am talking about an African saying that has been blown out by the Western world. What is the real Ubuntu?…
South African Culinary Delights
*PG Rating – read at your own discretion due to language. It is not my fault it is the language of the nation. You are warned… Before you arrive: All…
SA Tourism Information: Public Transport
Over the last couple of months I have shared essential details for every tourist wanting to visit South Africa. First there was the African Questioned which included details about our…
You are proudly South African when…
The one thing us South Africans are good at is ripping ourselves off… Please note that to some this might seem outrageous or scary, this is in fact funny and…
Summer Classes for Men
Summer Classes for Men AT THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED by Friday, June 27th 2019 NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS…
Travelling light…
Don’t know about you but I just love travelling, it’s in my blood, it’s in the air I breathe and within the very life of me. I’m the dreaded backpacker…
A 3D World
Do you remember the first time you saw a map of the world, how small and flat it looked? That’s the perception your subconscious retains until you travel to…
Who am I?
A simple answer I am Me I don’t subscribe to labels. I had a dream a couple of weeks ago in which someone stood in front of me and…
Once Bitten
Do you remember when the bug first bit, that moment when you felt the teeth sink into your heart, when you knew your life had changed irrevocably, forever? As life…
Mourning a different kind of loss
If you have ever spoken to a therapist or someone who has studied up they will tell you about the five stages of grief. They’ll tell you that in order…
Be true… Be open… Live
First published Nov 1, 2007 How can life be as it is without the hearts of others, how can life be as it is without the symbolism of this world?…
The one thing I DONT want to understand about WAR…
Politics, war and me don’t really get along. I mean I understand it though I deny it, I know what is going on in the countries, I deny this as…
Dance Party for One
Ever had one? Go on and admit it… surely at least once you’ve had a dance party for one? Everyone has that one song that hits deep, that song that…
Handling the unexpected
If you were sailing along in a beautiful yacht laughing and enjoying the ride when suddenly a big unexpected storm hits and over turns the very thing you were…
The life and times of an ordinary human being
Originally posted May 3, 2008 I have met some incredible people in my lifetime, I know I will meet some more along this road but so far the night sky is…
… and then
Let’s take a map of the world Tear it into pieces All of the boys and the girls Will see how easy it is To put it all down and…
What I have learned…
I have learnt that … Life will always challenge you in order to keep you on your toes so that you don’t stagnate and in turn smell of stale air….
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