Monday 30 April 2012

The Ballerina At My Door

I'm killing two birds with one stone today, since I am a certified idiot who forgot yesterday was International Dance Day and also, I need to up my kindness quotient *a new year's resolution* that really isn't done often enough. Not that I'm a mean snob or something...jeesh.
But seriously. Oh wait I forgot what to write now...erm....YES! Gaah....how typical of me -_-

So me being a ex-ballerina of 6 years, who's worked with people from Juilliard and everything, dancing has always been part of my life. As previously mentioned, I was a ballet dancer in training for 6 YEARS. Heck, I saw dreams of being a prima ballerina one day. Then, of course, I quit after my first year of high school to pursue music and fashion. But I still miss it. I loved ballet a lot. I thought of it as such an elegant, graceful and beautiful art form. I loved the costumes and the music and the movements. I loved everything about it.
I also hated the fact that people used to think, and still do actually, that ballet was for sissy girls who just twirled around on their tippie-toes in silly, froofy tutus. It annoyed the CRAP out of me. I hate people who try to imitate ballerinas. They look like absolute fools. And I also hate people who laugh at ballet and don't take it seriously.



This is an amazing ballet duo that were on the show, Live to Dance. I LOVE their performance :)

I remember coming home with sore legs, I remember gritting my teeth when I was forced to raise my pointed leg at a 90 degree angle and keep it there for a whole minute while keeping the rest of my body straight and perfectly aligned. I remember feeling like I was going to cry because my teacher kept shouting at me to point my toes while I was pirouetting in the air for hours on end.
Nobody really understands the kind of pain and sacrifice a ballerina goes through. It's actually a lot tougher than running around trying to kick a ball. In fact, I think it's one of the most difficult dance forms in the world. So I guess you should think twice before making fun of ballet. It DEFINITELY ain't for sissies.


I never got to go on pointe. It's actually pretty dangerous. If not done properly or at the wrong time, then you can break your toes, or seriously injure yourself. Possibly, ruining the chances of you ever dancing again. But still. I guess doing your first pirouette en pointe, is a pretty magical feeling :)


Aww, I used to love it when the little kids came from the baby class to watch us. They'd stare with their little wide eyes and gasp at our twirls and exercises. I remember thinking to myself, "This is the best feeling in the world" :) This year, I met with one of my old friends who I used to do ballet with. She told me how she'd always wanted to be like me as a ballerina. She told me how she'd feel pathetic when the teacher complimented me and ignored her. She asked me why the hell did I quit when I was so good! This made me laugh because I used to feel neglected and awful in the exact same way about another girl!! I guess ballet also makes you feel insecure and down a lot. You need to have a tough skin. Now both of us have left ballet and we laugh over our memories.  We may not have been cut out for it but that's okay. We enjoyed it back in our days :)
Ohmigod. I sound like a granny reminiscing about her past!!! Lmao

Oh I clearly remember waiting in the wings, giggling with my amigos and waiting for my cue. And I wore a costume exactly like that when I played a swan in our rendition of the Swan Lake. My white tutu is still sitting in my cupboard ;)

Tell me. Does that in any way, look easy to you??

Moving on to the actual point of this post :) I have a friend. His name's Tawanda and he's a writer. No, scratch that. He's an INCREDIBLE writer. The stuff he writes, is so incredibly mature and moving and beautiful and....well, why don't you see for yourself? I stumbled across one of his poems on Facebook yesterday, and sure enough, it's about a ballerina :) Enjoy!

The Ballerina At My Door

There's a ballerina dancing at my door

Dancing to classical music score

Here skin pearly and pale

Each footstep like raining hail

Eyes icy cold

A girl whom has sold her soul

Her soul sold to dance and ballet

She would like to perform a piece if she may

A figure so gracious

Her movement vivacious

Yet so soft and calm

She holds the music in her palm

Perhaps I could give the ballerina

A penny or two for a dance

Perhaps I could give her applause

If she shows me contemporary romance

Tights stretched across her long legs

Black markings and white powder on hercheeks

It is for dance that she endeavors

An endeavor I would like to meet

Choreographed and synchronized touch

The tears from her eyes bear too much

The little girl who dances for the world

Holds the music in her palm

And utters a soft psalm

She whispers quietly to herself

She dances on the shelf

The library of dance

She tries to find her book

She tries so hard to look

The ballerina then performs her grand opus

Her final piece and final movement

The final orchestration that is conducted

The plot and the story that has been constructed

She pirouettes for the final time

Tonight is the night she finally shines

She glows and her joy spreads

We feel all that she has held inside

The ballerina dancing at my door

Does not wish to dance any more

She has moved enough to the musical score

Doubt erased she is now sure

While moving her feet to the symphony

The ballerina at my door has left me
Left me with harmony and melody
Omigod. That just makes me sigh at his talent.  And also make me feel like a pathetic loser compared to him. If you wanna see more of Tawanda's rad writings, check out his blog HERE
Thank you for sticking by till the end. I atleast hope you now see ballet in a different light :)
And if you're a serious dancer, I say that keep on dancing and never give up. One day the world will see your moves :)

xoxo vami-kat

Sunday 29 April 2012

Vanilla Twilight

 I really don't know what's wrong with me...I just wanna EAT. No, no, don't take me as some scary eating disorder girl or something, I just....gaah. Cannot explain. I'm really just a girl who likes to have fun. But, which girl doesn't? Ahh...I guess I'm just high on shopping and chocolate ice-cream.

And the fact that Botswana has finally got a really cool new mall!! It feels like I'm in SA!! Sigh...thus country has finally made some retail progress... I thank whichever angel listened to my prayers. And for snagging  me those two cute tops today.  Sigh...whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know the temporary bliss a recent purchase gives a girl ;)

Mmm...I love this song :) It's an oldie but goodie!!! Hehe


Mmm....I'm drunk on vanilla twilight *that's not some new age brand of alcohol*.....Just kidding. I gave my Tumblr a GIGANTICO makeover today. And now its new title is officially, yes, you guessed it, Drunk on Vanilla Twilight.  Creative, huh? So check it out NOW NOW NOW---> Drunk on Vanilla Twilight :)
If you haven't already figured out my lyric-addled brain's doings yet, yes, I did name my tumblr after this tres jolie song




Aww, don't we all miss Owl City?? Seriously, where have they disappeared to....? o.O


I honestly don't have much more to say today, because I am a boring, pathetic loser whose brain likes to shut down sometimes. I think I'll just go eat french fries and watch Gossip Girl for like, the gazillionth time. Oh and also endlessly reblog Hunger Games stuff. 'Cause that is just my geekiness shining through -__-


Peace, Glitter, Cupcakes & Confetti :)
xoxo vami-kat
P.S John Mayer's music is the bomb.com :O

Friday 27 April 2012

Life is a Prom

Ello people!!! :D
Just discovered some bad news. Betsey Johnson *possibly one of my most favorite fashion designers ever* has filed for bankruptcy! Gosh, I'd always dreamed of buying something from her stores and now they're closing down! Well, screw that >.<
This is why today, *even though I don't own a single piece of Betsey Johnson merchandise*, I'm making a tribute for her. Betsey Johnson was one of my first inspirations to becoming a fashion designer. She's a 69-yr old fashion genius who taught young girls like me not to take life too seriously and to live it like its prom. She taught us how to look good, feel good and be wild! She taught us how to be unique and stay true to ourselves. Think about it. Nobody does fashion like Betsey. She cartwheels on catwalks, uses staff and employees as models and her designs are young, fresh and make you feel alive. They're very punk rock mixed with super girly *which is totally my style*. Think hot pink paired with black, skulls, glitter, poofs, ruffles, bows and craaaazy prints galore. It's totally fun and makes you feel like you're a walking party actually ;) Nobody does fashion like her. She doesn't take it too seriously as well. It's not high fashion or avant-garde or semi-sculptural at all. None of her clothes look like they need to be sent to a fashion museum stat. In fact, they look like, a bunch of crazy teenage girls decided to have a party where they got tons of fabric and glitter and spray paint and just had a blast making a bunch of funky outfits. It's totally cool and I salute Ms Johnson for making fashion so fun and effortless :)
So..

THANK YOU!!!!
and virtual hugs!! Xo



Here's a well-needed taste of the Betsey Johnson cake :P


 


 That's an iPad case. I'd totally buy it if, you know, I actually had an iPad -_-




 Accessories!! Accessories!!! *Hyperventilation* Sorry, calming down....ACCESSORIES!!!














 Katy Perry's actually worn this one :) I have to say it looks like a cross between a supremely girly prom dress and Barbie Swan Lake's gown...







xoxo vami-kat
P.S Perhaps anybody would like to gift me something by Betsey Johnson..? A late birthday gift? No...? Okay :|

Thursday 26 April 2012

Drawing of the Day: Downtown Girl

 For chilling in the cafe or traipsing round shopping malls, you can't go wrong with a chocolate coloured satchel and wedge heels. My latest dig is white feather earrings which I splashed onto outfit 1 and the classic coffee cup accessory evident in outfit 2. Very laidback downtown chic.






Just a little note: Outfit 1 was inspired by one of Aria Montgomery's outfits in Pretty Little Liars season 2. She was wearing a blue denim jacket over a printed black dress with of course, those white feather earrings I seem to be lusting over. You can't go wrong with them :)

xoxo vami-kat

Wednesday 25 April 2012

A Beautiful Mess :)

Lol, hi guys :) Just dropped by to express my love for this fantabulous blog, A Beautiful Mess

It's seriously one of the most fun, inspiring, informative and quirky blogs I've ever read. Here are a couple of posts I love, that I think give a pretty good insight into what the blog's really all about:


Mmmm...just think about devouring these warm, freshly baked NUTELLA sandwich cookies :P Yes!! Got you drooling didn't I? A Beautiful Mess posts a bunch of seriously delicious snack recipes. You can find the recipe for these lovely cookies HERE

Ohmigod words cannot describe how much I'm IN LOVE with this hairstyle. You can seriously find ANY type of braid tutorial at this blog. And the tutorials are fun, simple and devastatingly pretty :)
Find this Maiden Braid tutorial right HERE

A Beautiful Mess is also chock full of cute DIY projects and decor ideas. Learn how to make this adorable jewelry display HERE


There's also fun, quirky fashion finds galore as Elsie, the owner of this blog, runs a fabulously adorable fashion boutique called Red Velvet. You can see some of the cool stuff they sell on her blog as well as get exposed to a whole range of other great online shops that offer lovely vintage accessories, cameras, clothing and blog bling. Plus, these shops are forever hosting lucrative giveaways so you might end up winning something gorgeous!

If you're a budding photographer or even a pro, you can find some great tips and tricks at A Beautiful Mess, along with super creative ideas and stuff to experiment with, ensuring that you end up a happy snapper :) Check out Elsie's Camera List HERE

I do hope you check out this absolute gem of a blog. It's fabulous vraiment
So here's me, just spreadin' some good ol' blogger love and bidding you adieu *finally, she leaves!*
Lol :D

xoxo vami-kat

*All pictures (except the first one) are from A Beautiful Mess*

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Drawing of the Day: Summer Fun

Summer's over for me but it's eagerly being awaited on the other side of the world :) So might as well






xoxo vami-kat