What better way to kick off the weekend than knowing it consists of four days - so woohoo to that! And next weekend is also another four day weekend... so double woohoo! lol! It has been a great week actually! Nothing specifically life changing, but lots of productivity and that is always a good thing lol. As those of you who read my wrap up post last week would know, Jude and I went to a good friends 40th birthday last Saturday which was such a brilliant evening, for both parents and kids - so brilliant in fact that I barely took any photos haha! That was definitely the highlight of the week for me!

We were thoroughly spoilt - the private chef cooked up endless lasagne for the kiddos and us old folk were treated to a roast leg of lamb buffet with all the trimmings and then the most delicious and gorgeous looking chocolate cake for dessert, which was completed by the most delightful fruit platters! It really was a meal fit for kings and queens!

Anyone who follows me on any other social media will know, I am a huge fan of Eggs Benedict and it is always a great week when I can sneak in at least one of those lol. I don't have it with bread anymore, but instead request that they serve it with avocado and it is the best thing evaaaar!

So what else did I get up to "off the blockchain" - well, as I said I would in my Persian Style Roast Lamb with Boulangére Potatoes post some time back - I attempted to do the boulangére potatoes with sweet potato. It was really tasty, but nowhere near as successful as the original product as you can see...

The above photo is the sweet potato version and the below is the original... the sweet potato version (obviously) didn't have the same starch levels so it didn't set as nicely. I know how to work around that and I will definitely give it another go!

And before I forget to mention the most unusual, unlikely and unexpected event on my agenda for the week... WE HAD A BRAAI! hahahahaha - I mean, seriously, what would a week in South Africa be without a braai!

Another definite highlight this week, but on the blockchain rather, was that I made the decision to open the doors to our Power House Creatives Community. We are really excited to start welcoming some new faces, voices and talent into our space and if this sparks your interest - you are welcome to check out the details here....

JOIN US! - Collective Inspiration & Influence - THE POWER HOUSE CREATIVES!

_{I would like to invite the TRULY passionate #STEEM individuals to join our Power House Creatives community on Discord. #Steem needs more people who are prepared to go the extra mile, bend over backwards and put in the extra hours - No matter your content genre - if you are someone that GIVES YOUR ALL then we would LOVE to welcome you to our team! I am not going to sugar-coat things for anybody, because it would not make any sense whatsoever, nor would it serve anybody fruitfully - long-term. Our community is incredibly proactive - and DRIVING the success and growth of the people within it is our FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE, because this is how they are able to do the same in return for other individuals in communities beyond our own! Our reach extends WAY beyond our own walls and this is one of the primary reasons why it is important to ALL OF US that each of our members are able to hold our flag high wherever they may roam.}

As for the rest of my week on the blockchain, I decided to get the creative juices flowing again and jump onto the whole inktober bandwagon. I am actually quite excited to see the end result of what I have started. My other posts shared this week were inspired by troubles a close friend is going through, my life itself - and food... obviously haha!

Cajun Chicken with Sweet Potato Stacks & Wilted Veg - #showcase-sunday

_{A few years ago, I made the transition from eating normal potato to eating sweet potato and as much as I missed traditional potato in the beginning - I must admit that sweet potato has really grown on me and although I do cheat every now and then haha - the majority of the time I will opt for sweet potato. Jude always used to moan at me and ask me to PLEASE make some "real potato" and there was a long stretch where I didn't cave, I thought I would give in the other day and I made him some "real potato" - and well... he then admitted that he no longer likes it and would rather I stick to making sweet potato. haha - typical!}

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BEAUTY from ABUSE

_{“One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but it can never be taken away unless it is surrendered.” ― Michael J. Fox - Never were truer words uttered! Life does not always follow the neat, white picketed fence or yellow bricked road which we may have internally intended, imagined or dreamed – in fact, it seldom does and internal growth comes from the learning of how to ride some of the biggest waves which roll towards us at often unfathomable speeds. Having been in two horribly physically abusive relationships myself starting at the age of 15 (one of which was my eight year marriage), and two other emotionally abusive ones, it strikes a rather tender and protective chord when I catch wind of someone else being exposed to the same – no matter if it is on a minuscule level.}

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Pleasures & Escapes...

_{Earlier today, whilst contemplating what to write, I thought that perhaps I would focus on “laughter” – relating to my life past and current… how I lost it once upon a time and then found it again years later… shortly after this inspirational thought, I began thinking about my love for wine and how it has offered me slices of sanity over the years. No doubt this will raise a few eyebrows among readers but hey, most of you are already more than familiar with my passion for wine... and some may think I have a problem and well, yes... I do have problems… in fact, I have quite a substantial amount of baggage (understandably) lol - but laughter, wine and people’s opinions of me are not any of them. Haha!}

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The Prompted Mandala - #inktober (Days 1 - 8)

_{I love symbolism, always have - always will! I also love mandalas and the enormous energy which they hold - not only because of the illustrative symbolism, but also because of the sheer time and energy that goes into creating one. From the time I could hold a pen in my hand, I have doodled and although this is not done with a professional ink pen, I have always had a passion for scribbling with a ball point pen - and that is technically ink isn't it :)}

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Don't be a DOORMAT!

_{There is a difference between being a kind, considerate individual and being a doormat. I have all the time in the world for honestly GOOD people… that have back bones! – In fact – I might be so bold as to basket myself alongside those… but I have a very low to zero tolerance for people that simply never seem to stand up for themselves but perpetuate their situation...}

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Yesterday...

_{I may be a music lover, but I am not a huge fan of "traditional" musicals in terms of movies... I am however a HUGE lover of musical movies which have both history and substance and tonight I watched one of those! Personally, as light-hearted and somewhat comical as the details were, I believe it held a much more serious and stronger underlying message.}

And here are a few other really awesome posts by other Steemians which I stumbled across. If they have expired by the time you read this, please consider visiting their direct blogs and maybe even give them a follow if you like their work.

Discovering Life by the Road - Beautiful Sunday

By @watersnake101

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My First DIY Compost.

By @joelai

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Squirrel, the requested video!

By @papilloncharity

It was a great week from beginning to end! And now I am looking forward to doing as little as possible for the next fours days haha! Last weekend was rather eventful and I plan to do the complete opposite this time around! Earlier this week, I was looking through South African memes and there was one that really got me giggling! I thought of @awgbibb when reading it lol :)

SOURCE

Well peeps! That's a wrap from me! See you all on Sunday! I hope you all have a magnificent weekend - and don't forget to be fabulous! Love you all long time!!!

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Until next time...
Much Love from Cape Town, South Africa xxx
Jaynielea
_{FOUNDER OF THE POWERHOUSE CREATIVES}

www.rockyourworld.co.za

_{A community of individuals who are dedicated to producing quality content
which adds value to the Steem network and beyond.}

_{ALL IMAGES ARE MY PROPERTY UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED}