How Time Flies

We are in August already. Geez! Where is 2011 running to?? So much to be done, isn't it?!

The year so far has been eventful, a lot of reasons to rejoice and a few challenges here and there but through it all I know my God is my sustainer of all times. This has kept me going.

I don't really have an update but just to say the soulsistas blog has been resurrected yet again. Writefreak and I have gotten so busy with stuff that it is a struggle to update our own blogs. Hpwever we intend to work on the soulsistas blog as we feel we have a word in season for our single sistas out there. Please bear with us as we put our acts together. We are passionate about women and helping them identify their selfworth. Our partners (or furture partners) are meant to compliment us not complete us. (just thot I'll chip that in)

Please go on over and see the latest post we have for you. Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section. Also if you have any questions or topics you want us to address, just let us know via email thesoulsistas@googlemail.com

God bless y'all

Aloted

Everything is Working Out for your Good

Last week was a very very challenging week for me, I stood for what was right but it appeared to backfire. My faith wavered and I doubted God. On Sunday a friend prayed with me and asked God for mercy. Yes mercy, that was what I needed. By Monday morning, God turned my situation around with just 1 text message and now I have a completely different story. He came through! He surprised me! Woo hoo!!!!!

This post is simply an encouragement to someone out there trusting God for something.

You feel pressured to do the wrong thing because everyone is doing it

You speak the truth but discomfort, pain and rejection follow suit

You pray and pray and that thing you so desire isn't coming forth

HOLD ON!

Do not be discouraged

Everything is working out for your GOOD

Just HOLD ON and TRUST in HIM who knows you and loves you

God is bigger than any mountain or trouble you may be going through.

Even in good times or bad times- HE is STILL GOD. He is Unchangeable, Unshakeable, Unstoppable!!!!!

Cast all your cares on him

He will SURPRISE you much more than you can ever imagine!

Stay STRONG.

Below is the song I am loving now. Heard it in Church this Sunday and it reassured me of God's love. It is all about God..only God.....

Hope it blesses you.

Thots!

Aloted

What Aloted has been up to...

Hi people!

How goes it?? Hope you are all doing well?

You may or may not know about an exciting initiative a friend and I started last year but I would like to share it with you. FabXchange, (formerly known as Wardrobe Swap Party) is a cloth swapping company we started after we both found fashion treasures in each other’s wardrobes that the other didn’t need or wear. We realised that between us, our friends and women in the UK was a mountain of clothes rarely worn and sitting in wardrobes all over the UK.

Think of clothes you have bought in the store but are not exactly your size or don’t have the right fit and you never had the chance to return to the store. Think of clothing items you have worn once and know you will never wear again (because you don't want to be caught in the same outfit at that party lol). Think of quality clothing items in your wardrobe you hardly wear. Such items are what we welcome at our swap parties in the hope that they would go to new owners that would treasure them. We also swap shoes, bags and books.

Our cloth swapping venture gives ladies the opportunity to get new clothes into their wardrobe without going shopping. It also provides the chance to get rid of clothes that are hardly worn, and de-clutter their wardrobe in the process. It is the trendy way to do ‘ethical shopping’ and now ladies concerned with keeping the earth green can keep their carbon footprint down while getting something back.


Our exciting and entertaining cloth swapping parties also feature numerous appealing side attractions such as beauty and makeup giveaways, beauty makeovers, book giveaways, entertainment, fashion advice and the sale of accessories.

We provide other services that might be of interest to you, your friends or community.

We have had three events now and they have all been successful. This is one feedback (amongst others) we received from one of our attendees- "The swap party was full of fun and I made new friends. I got a new black evening dress, a mini jeans skirt (my husband thinks its gorgeous!), a Ralph polo top, just to mention a few. The organisers pulled it off beautifully well and I believe the subsequent ones will only get better. I recommend FabXchange to ladies out there."

More feedback can be found on our website.

As per my blogville family concerned, if this is something you would like to know more about or be a part of, then kindly

• like us on facebook- We are currently doing a giveaway on fb and twitter so maybe that might be an incentive for you;)
• follow us on twitter if you tweet - @fabxchange
• visit our website www.fabxchange.co.uk. follow us there for more details and leave us comments too!

I am seriously counting on you guys o cuz we need your support.... :)

Don't hoard the love, please tell your friends about us, as every woman needs to know how they can look good without breaking the bank!

Our next event is in July or August, God willing. More details will be available on fb, twitter and our web page soon. I hope to see the "Londoners" there or if you are in London then.

Thank you in advance. Any questions or suggestions do drop us an email at info@fabxchange.co.uk or leave your comments here!

Best
Aloted

Re letter to Nigerian Parents and #wePray275

Hi People! Hope you are all doing well? Thank you all for your comments on my last post i.e. the article “A letter to Nigerian parents”. Unfortunately I do not know the author so couldn’t get her to respond but I thought I could share my own views. People made a lot of valid points in the comments so will try not to say much.

Someone mentioned to me the writer should have titled the letter- "A letter to Affluent Nigerian Parents" and then maybe her article will be completely justified. I tend to agree. I don’t think all the examples she provided are valid or would resonate with a large group of Nigerian parents but I agree with the underlying message she was trying to pass across.

As parents we are accountable for how we raise our kids. I read in a book by Dr Robert Anthony- “the greatest gift any parent can give their children is to help them to become self confident by making them self-reliant. Children should be given as much responsibility as they can handle at any age level. Only through independence will they learn the joy and privilege and human dignity of standing on their own two feet”. This I think is one of the points the writer was trying to make. “Overpowering, over permissive or over possessive parents are usually the ones who can turn their child into an emotional cripple.”
There are so many examples one can give but I will go back to my first point. We are accountable for how we raise our kids. The bible tells me if I bring up my child in the way of the Lord he/she will not depart from it. This doesn’t only mean spiritually but mentally, emotionally. Teach them with love and encouragement on how to move from a state of dependency to a state of self reliance. This would help their confidence as they grow up. So by God’s grace I am doing my part and I am holding God to his words to do his part. My children will turn out just right.

Ok moving on to other things, is it me or have you all noticed that there has been a tremendous number of young people dying recently. I started noticing it last year and this year the number has grown exponentially. Almost every week, I hear of a young person’s death. Personally I have lost two friends, I know friends that have lost friends, siblings or partners. This is not right!!! It is not our portion to die young so why is this happening?? I don’t know but I know I can pray about it, stand on and declare God’s word that this would stop. To this effect, a fast as being declared on May 27th, Children’s day to pray against the spirit of untimely death. I got to know about this through someone who lost his cousin recently. I would like to invite you to please join in the fasting and prayer on that day. Let us stand as one and pray this untimely death away. If you can’t fast for whatever reason you can still join us in praying on that day. God says he will hear us if we repent and call on his name. Please spread the word. Pray for yourself, your family, husband, wife, children, partners, siblings and every young person. PRAY as the spirit leads! Prayer is the only way I know so I will PRAY.



Please if you feel led too, you can blog about this to so others can join the fast/prayer. I noticed that Zoe Believer tagged this on twitter as #wepray275. So for those twitter gurus, do your thing- tweet about it with the tag. Who knows it just might trend!

Thanks and God bless.

A Letter to Nigerian Parents

Hello people, I got the below article from a friend of mine and it totally made sense to me. I bow for the author! I just had to share it with y'all. It is a letter addressed to Nigerian parents. As long as you are Nigerian, whether you don naturalise to American, British, Canadian, Chinese werava, a parent, or hope to be a parent one day then this is for you to read. I am sure other nationalities can pick a thing or two from it as well.

Oh it is a bit of a long read but worth it. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts.


Ta!

Happy Easter x

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Friends, Let me add the benefit of my time as a student and then resident in the UK - and I live in Lagos now. The first thing that I discovered about UK-born, white, English undergraduates was that all of them did holiday or weekend job to support themselves - including the children of millionaires amongst them. It is the norm over there - regardless how wealthy their parents are. And I soon discovered that virtually all other foreign students did the same - the exception being those of us status-conscious Nigerians.

I also watched Richard Branson (owner of Virgin Airline) speaking on the Biography Channel and, to my amazement, he said that his young children travel in the economy class -even when the parents (he and his wife) are in upper class. Richard Branson is a billionaire in Pound Sterling. A quick survey would show you that only children from Nigeria fly business or upper class to commence their studies in the UK. No other foreign students do this.

There is no aircraft attached to the office of the prime minister in the UK - he travels on BA. And the same goes for the Royals. The Queen does not have an aircraft for her exclusive use. These practices simply become the culture which the next generation carries forward. Have you seen the car that Kate Middleton(the lady soon to marry Prince William) drives? VW Golf or something close to it. But there's one core difference them and us(generally speaking). They (even the billionaires among them) work for their money,we steal ours!

If we want our children to bring about the desired change we have been praying for on behalf of our dear country, then please, please let's begin now and teach them to work hard so they can stand alone and most importantly be content, and not having to "steal", which seem to be the norm these days.

"30 is the new 18", which seem to be the new age for testing out the world in Nigeria now. That seems to be an unspoken but widely accepted mindset among the last 2 generations of parents in Nigeria. At age 18 years, a typical young adult in the UK leaves the clutches of his/her parents for the University, chances are, that's the last time those parents will ever play "landlord" to their son or daughter except of course the occasional home visits during the academic year.

At 21 years and above or below, the now fully grown and independent minded adult graduates from University, searches for employment, gets a job and shares a flat with other young people on a journey into becoming fully fledged adults.

I can hear the echo of parents saying, well, that is because the UK economy is thriving, safe, well structured and jobs are everywhere? I beg to differ and I ask that you kindly hear me out. I am UK trained Recruitment Consultant and I have been practicing for the past 10 years in Nigeria. I have a broad range of experience from recruiting graduates to executive director level of large corporations. In addition, I talk from the point of view of someone with relatively privileged upbringing. Driven to school every day, had my clothes washed for me, was barred from taking any part-time job during my A-levels so that I could concentrate on studying for my exams?! BUT, I got the opportunity to live apart from my parents from age 18 and the only time I came back home to stay was for 3 months before I got married!

Am I saying that every parent should wash their hands off their children at age 18? No, not at all, of course, I enjoyed the savings that I made from living on and off at my parent's house in London – indeed that is the primary reason for my being able to buy myself a 3 bedroom flat in London at age 25 with absolutely no direct financial help from my parents!

For me, pocket money stopped at age 22, not that it was ever enough for my lifestyle to compete with Paris Hilton's or Victoria Beckham's. Meanwhile today, we have Nigerian children who have never worked for 5 minutes in their lives insisting on flying "only" first or business class, carrying the latest Louis Vuitton ensemble, Victoria 's Secret underwear and wearing Jimmy Choo's, fully paid for by their "loving" parents.

I often get calls from anxious parents, my son graduated 2 years ago and is still looking for a job, can you please assist! Oh really! So where exactly is this "child" is my usual question. Why are you the one making this call dad/mum? I am yet to get a satisfactory answer, but between you and me, chances are that big boy is cruising around Lagos with a babe dressed to the nines, in his dad's spanking new SUV with enough "pocket money" to put your salary to shame. It is not at all strange to have a 28 year old who has NEVER worked for a day in his or her life in Nigeria but "earns" a six figure "salary" from parents for doing absolutely nothing.
I see them in my office once in a while, 26 years old with absolutely no skills to sell, apart from a shiny CV, written by his dad's secretary in the office. Of course, he has a driver at his beck and call and he is driven to the job interview. We have a fairly decent conversation and we get to the inevitable question - so, what salary are you looking to earn? Answer comes straight out - N250,000.00. I ask if that is per month or per annum. Of course it is per month. Oh, why do you think you should be earning that much on your first job? Well, because my current pocket money is N200,000.00 and I feel that an employer should be able to pay me more than my parents. I try very hard to compose myself, over parenting is in my opinion the greatest evil handicapping the Nigerian youth.
It is at the root of our national malaise.

We have a youth population of tens of millions of who are being "breastfed and diapered" well into their 30s. Even though the examples I have given above are from parents of considerable affluence, similar patterns can be observed from Abeokuta to Adamawa! Wake up mum! Wake up dad! You are practically loving your children to death! No wonder corruption continues to thrive. We have a society of young people who have been brought up to expect something for nothing, as if it were a birth right.

I want to encourage you to send your young men and women (anyone over 20 can hardly be called a child!) out into the world, maybe even consider reducing or stopping the pocket money to encourage them to think, explore and strive. Let them know that it is possible for them to succeed without your "help".

Take a moment to think back to your own time as a young man/woman, what if someone had kept spoon feeding you, would you be where you are today? No tree grows well under another tree, children that are not exposed to challenges, don't cook well. That is why you see adults complaining, "my parents didn't buy clothes for me this christmas", ask him/her how old-30+. Because of the challenges we faced in our youth, we are where and what we today, this syndrome- my children will not suffer what I suffered is destroying our tomorrow. Deliberately reduce their allowance or mum-don't cook on Saturday till late afternoon or evening-do as occasion deserve.

I learnt the children of a former Nigerian head of state with all the stolen (billions) monies in their custody, still go about with security escort as wrecks. They are on drugs, several times because of the drug, they collapse in public places. The escort will quickly pack them and off they go, what a life. No one wants to marry them. Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.- Henry Ford. Hard work does not kill, everything in Nigeria is going down, including family settings. It is time to cook our children, preparing them for tomorrow. We are approaching the season in Nigeria where only the RUGGED, will survive. How will your ward fare?

If the present generation of Nigerian pilots retire, will you fly a plane flown by a young Nigerian pilot, If trained in Nigeria? People now have first class, who cannot spell GRADUATE or read an article without bomb blast! Which Way Nigeria!, Which Way Nigerians!! Is this how we will ALL sit and watch this country SINK?

Blog Award

Finally got round to doing this. I was presented the Versatile and Stylish award by Dee and @ilola

I really appreciate this and I am sorry for not acknowledging all this while. Forgive me pls!

The Rules are as followings:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
2. Tell us 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 other bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and let them know that they have won.

I shall obey rule 1 and 2. Thank you Dee and @ilola!!!

Rule 3 and 4- hmm I can't think of 15 specific bloggers to give this award too so I shall award it to all bloggers who read this post. You are all stylish and versatile in your own way. :)

SEVEN THINGS ABOUT MYSELF

1) I hate going shopping. Unlike a lot of people that find it therapeutic I find it tiring and draining. I'll rather shop online. Yes its so bad I do even my grocery shopping online. And no I don't miss out on window shopping. I browse a store online, add the things I like to my shopping basket, checkout to see the cost and promptly close the page. I find that therapeutic!

2) I have a love/hate relationship with my/our car. When I know I have to drive somewhere I freak out and start mapping the routes in my head as I fear the road will eat me up or I'll miss my way. But once I get behind the wheel and start blasting my music I am totally fine and don't want the driving to end.

3) I dislike people encroaching in my personal space esp when sitting on the train/tube. Most men I sit beside are guilty of this-putting their leg in your space. Ewww! Maybe the seats are too small for them, who knows. For that reason if I had a choice, I'll rather sit beside a lady who is also trying to manage her space.

4) I have only fixed fake nails twice in my life- first time was for writefreak's wedding because I was her CBM and I thought ok "Aloted make an effort". Second time was for my wedding. On both occasions I got rid of the nails the following week. They looked beautiful but I found them to heavy to carry and couldn't get on with my regular activities. I hear ladies get used to it after some time but I don't think I want to get used to that.

5) I like playing sudoku on my phone but I am still on the EASY stage. Tried the MEDIUM stage once and got stuck. *Shameful*

6) Generally I relate well with people around me but I have consciously chosen to have very few close friends because it takes a lot of emotional energy to invest in friendships and its intricacies. Marriage on its own is demanding enuff. Don't get me wrong o I love my friends and being married but I know how much effort I would put in each relationship so I'll rather go quality than quantity.

7) I have had natural hair for over 2 years now and I am still learning about maintaining it and different styles to wear my hair.
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Is it too late??

This is bad! We are 19 days into the New Year and I haven’t even hailed my people. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Sincere apologies for the delay.

Last year was good, thank God, but 2011 is going to be GREAT. I pray 2011 brings a lot of GREAT surprises to you in Jesus name.

2011 is the first year in this new decade so that makes it is the year of many firsts- 1^st House, 1^st Job, 1^st baby, 1^st (and only) husband or wife, 1^st car, 1^st business etc. I am very expectant and will definitely be back to share my “1^st” testimony. Sooner rather than later.

I need to improve on my blogging this year o. I have a post whirling in my mind but to write it out, na wahala. I will get to it soon.

See you around soon :)

photo credits- http://reavel.blogspot.com

The Soul Sistas are back!

Hi guys! Hope y'all are good!

Just to let you know the Soul Sistas are back. Please check our latest post here.

We would love to read your comments.

A follow up post would be posted soon.

Have a great weekend!

Much love,

Aloted

My natural hair journey

Two years ago today, I started my natural hair journey out of choice. My hair was natural “by force” from the age of 0 till 16 as my mother forbade my elder sister and I to relax our hair till we finished secondary school. After my final exams, I was so excited to relax my hair and that was one of the first things I did. But you see my hair is very soft and anytime I relaxed it my scalp would burn. I felt this shouldn’t be, but what else could I do to my hair. I started considering going natural but was scared to do it as I wasn't sure how I would manage my hair.

I gradually came to a point where I used to relax my hair twice/thrice a year. After a while I began to get tired of putting chemicals on my hair. I felt God gave me this natural hair, why am I trying to make it look different killing my scalp and hair in the process? I decided to check online, read articles, watched videos and bought a book on natural hair. I didn’t want to do the big chop and regret it.

I transitioned for a while and on that fateful day, Nov 1 2008 I took a bold step and did the big chop. I didn’t set out to do it but it happened (long story). Baale was not a happy bunny. I had been hinted to him I was going natural but I don’t think he took me serious. When he saw my chopped up hair in comb twists later that day he was in utter shock and didn’t speak to me for sometime. We have come a long way from where we were two years ago maybe because I have come to a silent compromise with him- I braid my hair and fix weaves some times. Those are the times I don’t hear any complains. I think he has come to terms with my natural hair (more like given up on me) but still hopes some day I go back to relaxing my hair.

Like Baale, some friends and family find it perplexing that I have gone natural. Some quietly wondered while some have asked me out rightly what on earth I am doing. Some people see it has your hair is unkempt. Well, I try to explain myself in one sentence because anything more than that might result into an argument. My hair is not a function of who I am, it is a part of me but I am not my hair. What I decide to do with my hair is my personal choice. The same way you have decided to relax your hair is the same way I have decided not to. I don’t judge you because you have relaxed hair. God loves us all and I doubt it is our hair that will determine where we end up when we die.

Some have even gone as far as saying, “if you like don’t relax your hair but if Princess wants to relax her hair don’t stop her”. LOL. My reply usually is to laugh and say I will tell Princess the same thing my mother said to my elder sister and I- “nothing touches your hair till you leave secondary school, after that if you want to put jerry curls on one side and tint the other side that one na your own palaver.” Hope that answers the question.

My natural hair journey in summary has been full of high and low moments. Frustrating days esp. when I can’t think of what to do with my hair. Right now I am considering chopping it all up and letting my hair grow again. Hmmm. Whatever the case I don't see myself relaxing my hair again.

I think it is safe to say that going natural isn’t for the faint hearted. It is probably against everything you know right now and what the BLACK/Africa media, culture, or society agree with e.g some African companies won't employ you because of it, some hairdressers will put their nose up and refuse to braid your hair, some will try to charge you more (happened to me). You need to make the choice for yourself and do your research. I am glad I have inspired one or two people in helping them make that final decision to go natural.

So today, I wish myself happy two years of going natural and will like to give a shout out to all the natural hair bloggers (as at the last time I checked) I know. It is a narrow road we are on (if I may say so myself) and only a few travel it so we should be celebrated.

Standtall, tygernity, favoured girl, tolatino, jaycee, archiwiz, FFF, Scarlet, doll.

If u are a natural girl like me, hola! For my relaxed hair friends as well, I love you too. Muah! ;)

Time surely flies- Thankful Tuesday

It seem like yesterday when I was in the labour room thinking my life would end and then my adorable princess was born. Last weekend she turned 1. She is such a smart little diva who walks all over the place, can say the words "bye-bye", "gba" (which means take in English) and "take", follows simple instruction and knows when she does something wrong.

She had a quiet but lovely first birthday with gifts from daddy and mummy. An evening at snakes and ladders proved to be fun as well. It was all about her and no one else.

I am thankful to God for Princess' life. Strangely I can't remember what life was before she came into our lives. She is such a blessing and delight. She is growing up to be a change maker in her generation.

Words cannot really express how I feel.

What are you thankful for?

Fashion Gist

Hello people, I hope you are all doing well. A friend recently discovered my blog and mentioned to me that my blog made her laugh. I didn't even realise my blog was that funny. It then occurred to me that I have been blogging since May 2006, 4 years! Oh mine! I feel like a grand mama blogger. LOL. I went back to read a few of my posts just now and even I was lol-ing. I think I should do a post with my favourite posts some day as soon as I find the time.

Anyway today I would like to share with you three relatively new fashion blogs that I am feeling. I have recently re-discovered my love for fashion especially shoes so these blogs make a lot of sense to me. I know a lot of you blogville ladies and men are into fashion- don't lie now. :)

Ilimitado-NG- I mentioned about my love for shoes hey? Well ilimitado is all about shoes, style and more for both men & women! They believe in not compromising hard earned money for style, or style for a good bargain. I so agree with them o, you know how it is in this day of economic crisis. Do check them out.

The Wardrobe Swap Party- Also called WASParty is a blog by two friends who organise cloth swap events in London. They say they are eco-fabulous, I like the sound of that :) They are all about upgrading your wardrobe at a cost close to nothing. Yes, you heard me right. Who no like better thing?. You need to follow this blog to know about their upcoming events amongst other fashion gist.

TheFashionPatrollers- This blog is written by a lady called Enii Akinbo, an upcoming fashion designer. Enii tells us about her journey as a fashion designer and also highlights the current fashion trends to watch out for. Follow this "correct" fashion blog for more gist.

Do visit them when you can and let's give them some blogville love and support. Thank you my people!

I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.

God bless!

To speak or not to speak

***Inspired by a friend's status on fb.

***Sounds like a rant but really it isn't.

***I am Yoruba hence this post might seem directed at fellow Yorubas but I think we can all relate

My two and half year old niece amazes me. She speaks English and Yoruba quite well. This is because sometimes she spends time at my parents (her grandparents) house in Ibadan and my grandma (her great grandma) who hardly speak any English stay at my parents’ as well. So you can imagine the English and Yoruba conversations that go on at my parents’. One time my grandma called her and I heard her say “Mama, mo n bo o”. Another time someone else called her and she replied “ I am coming”. That cracked me up! The girl even says some Yoruba words that I don’t know. At that age she can interpret English to Yoruba and vice versa and she knows who to speak English and Yoruba to respectively. If I say I am not amazed, I lie.

So, I was sharing my amazement with a friend and she was like “ah they have turned your niece into iya arugbo (old woman) ” referring to her speaking Yoruba. I laughed at the time but thinking about it later, I wondered, when did speaking Yoruba become razz or an old person’s thing to do. If children don’t speak it when they are young is it when they are older they will speak it?

I think many Yoruba people are guilty of this notion. The worse ones are some that live in Nigeria and refuse to speak any Yoruba to their children “Please o, I don’t want my children to be razz” (so that means you that can speak Yoruba you are razz abi?), “We only speak Queen English in our house” (Fake fake). What a sad and ignorant thing to think.

I observe Asian parents with their children on the bus or train here in the UK and all you hear them speak is their native language. And I can bet you that those children can speak English fluently. Why do we have this mentality that if our children speak Yoruba they won’t be able to speak English? You! yes you, don’t you speak both English and Yoruba and maybe another language like French effortlessly? Or what exactly is the issue as I really what to understand it. If someone can explain it to me I will appreciate that.

I have one kind of respect for people who can speak Yoruba well and English even better. It trips me. I am definitely not the best Yoruba speaking person (I can hardly pray well in Yoruba or read a book in Yoruba) but I can converse relatively well in Yoruba. My wish is for Princess to understand and speak Yoruba well enough amongst other languages. I want her to be able to hold her own wherever she is. Because of this I speak Yoruba to her as much as I can (she will be 9 months soon). Yes I am razz like that, bite me! lol

An uncle of mine who works with the American embassy told me Yoruba language is hot cake in the States and there are Americans looking for people to teach them Yoruba. What am I even saying, my sister, once had a job in her school to teach one of her American lecturers Yoruba and she was getting paid per hour ( i think), no be say dem tell me. I tell you, this language we have so belittled has serious potential. And you are there feeling cool speaking Queen English. Proud that your children don't speak Yoruba. Yeye!

Yoruba is such a rich language and if we are not careful it will go into extinction with all this nonsense posh behaviour we acquired from only God knows where. Today, Latin is considered a dead language. Even though it is still taught in schools, there are no native, fluent speakers of Latin. What a shame!

We all need to do our part if we don’t want same happening to the Yoruba Language. I beg una, keep speaking the language. Hopefully our mentality will change gradually.

I have said my own o! If I have offended any one by this note, e ni binu ni o (don't be annoyed) because na true talk I talk and you know it. :)

Olorun a ko wa mo se (somebody please translate!) Lol

I feel so blessed and honored!!!

I just found out randomly today, a day before votes open, that I was nominated for "Best Parenting Blog" and "Most Inspiring Blog". To be honest, I was not expecting to be nominated for anything this year since I have been slacking with blogging so I was surprised to see my name up on the list. Thank you to those that nominated me. Thank you for believing in me. I feel so blessed and overwhelmed.

Last year, I was nominated for "Most Inspiring Blog" but I didn't win, so guys I am begging o, I no dey do yanga ooo...plsssss vote for me for either or even both of the categories. Without your votes I can't make it. So it is up to you guys. Votes open tomorrow, 31st May. Thank you plenty.

On other fronts, I am resuming work in two week. Oh my days!!! I have mixed feelings. I am looking forward to be out of the house, have some adult talk and stimulate my mind...lol. On the other hand, I am going to miss my time with Princess. I know I can't have it all and therefore should make the best use of the time I have with her now.

Hope you all are well? I shall be stopping by yours to solicit for votes. wink wink

Have a blessed week!!

Thankful Post- On Volcanoes, Ash and Fire

I was suppose to do my thankful post yesterday but all sorts came up.

So, many of you might be aware of the volcano that erupted in Iceland some weeks back but was only escalated last week Thursday, 15th April. Baale was in France for a work conference for a week and was due to come into London that day when he called to say planes might be grounded. Thankfully he made it to London safely. His flight was the last one in before Heathrow was shut down at 12noon that day. I am so grateful he was not stuck in France. A lot of people who went for the same conference are still in France as we speak. Not to talk of many other people who are trapped in different locations. Moreover I am grateful that there were no reports of any plane crashes due to the volcano ashes. On a lighter note, it was kinda surreal not hearing any planes hovering the skies of London. I can hear them now :) Thank God

I am also thankful for God's protection and mercies. The other day, my oven caught fire. I was grilling chicken and the baking paper I used caught fire. I opened the oven, switched off the grill and I did the silliest thing ever. I tried to blow the fire with my mouth and hand! That didn't work obviously and then I froze. Next thing I called out to Baale "Babes, babes, fire!! Next thing I know I see him flying to the kitchen from the living room. He pulled out the tray and somehow stopped the fire. I started laughing and Baale did not find that funny at all. I felt so silly, useless and "mumuish" (idiot) at the same time. Then I felt really sober. Thank God, Baale was home and not stuck in France. What if I was home alone with Princess? What would I have done? Maybe I would have just left the fire, picked up Princess and run out the house. I really don't know and hope never to find out. No repeats, dear Lord!

I was chatting with Good Nigerian Girl at the time and told her what happened. She assured me that if I was alone I would have saved the day but em I am not so sure o. May God help me! Anyway, I think I need to brush up on my safety skills- fire, water, burns and what have you. God forbid bad thing.

Thank God I can laugh about it now.

So what are you thankful for?

Thankful Tuesday: Birthday, Family and Friends

I am thankful for another year in the land of the living. My 30th birthday was on Sunday. I went through all sorts of emotions knowing I am no longer in my 20s (sob sob) but I have come to realise that I have a lot to be grateful for and I am still very young at heart. Consequently, I decided to have a little celebration to mark the day at my home. It went very well. Enuff juicing and eating. Favoured girl and her hubby were in attendance (thanks guys!) Nolimit stood me up...she has begged me but i still dey vex small. LOL

I am thankful for my folks. My dad, mum, two sisters and one brother. They say you can't choose your family but I am so glad God chose them to be my family. God has been so good to us, we always have cause to rejoice and this will always be the case.

I am thankful for Baale's family. His dad, mum, three sisters and one brother. I have heard people complain about their in-laws (or stories about people and their in-laws) but that has never been my case. I have had no cause to lament or complain about them (and I pray I never do). They are truly a wonderful set of people- each and everyone of them. I am blessed to have them as my second family.

I am particularly thankful for my brother-in-law's wife. I actually call her my SIL but she is more like a sister and a good friend to me. God bless you sweetie!

I am thankful for Baale. He is truly the best part of me. For my little princess, who is such a blessing and charmer. Where have u been all my life? As a family, God has been good and faithful to us. Words cannot begin to describe my gratitude.

I am thankful for the few friends I have. Friends that stand by me, that go the extra mile for me, that support and care. Friends that accept/ignore my idiosyncrasies. I really hope I have been a good friend to them as well.

One of my childhood friends sent me this poem on my birthday. I really like it because it helped me refocus on the good things in my life.

Count your garden by the flowers,

Never by the leaves that fall.

Count your days by golden hours,

Don't remember clouds at all . . .

Count your nights by stars, not shadows,

Count your life with smiles, not tears.

And all throughout your lifetime,

Count your age by friends, not years

Below is a blur picture of me (well part of me) and my cake on my birthday (ignore my lil princess' bouncer in the background..lol)

Thankful Tuesday (15)!

I am thankful for the gift of life and love. I am thankful for good health and accident free journeys. I am thankful for provision and protection. I do not take these things for granted.

I am thankful that summer is nearly here, I am not really a fan of cold weather.

I am thankful for the Easter holidays and for what Easter represents to me. Christ came to earth, died and resurrected just so I may have eternal life. Isn't that amazing love.

I had to make a crucial decision last week about starting a new role or going back to work with my current employer. It's amazing how my princess, as little as she is, had a major part to play in my decision. It took me a while to make a choice but I am thankful for God's wisdom and direction. I know I have made the right decision by not taking the new job in as much as I really want to move on. The right time to move shall come, that I know.

So question for y'all. Would you keep your baby (male or female) with a male childminder, with 10 years child-minding experience. This is not an attempt to discriminate against male childminders but just to get your views.

Have a great week

Thankful Tuesday!

Finally I reached my 100th post! Finaaaaaally...geez! it sure took me forever to reach this point. Anyway I am here to give thanks like I promised.

• I am thankful for divine protection over my family, especially my princess. There is a limit to how much I can watch over her but I know God has assigned angels to protect her always.

• I am thankful for health, shelter, food to eat, water to drink, clothes to wear. I thank God I do not have to worry about basic amenities.

• I am thankful for my blogville family. You guys are just amazing. I have made some new friends here and for that I am grateful.

• I am thankful for Baale and my marriage. We clocked two years in January. It has been a wonderful journey. I cannot complain but give thanks instead

• I am thankful that I am a woman/mother and for the joys of motherhood. So amazing! Indescribable!

• I am thankful to be alive!

So what are you thankful for?

Knock knock! Anybody home???

My peeps! How far naa! Just thought to drop a note to say we are still alive and kicking- me and my blog that is! I sure sound like a broken record. Geez!

Please how do you blogville mothers do it? Combining career, wife duties, mother duties and blogging?? please show me the way o, I beg una. I am still on maternity leave so I can't claim work is taking up my time. So we know where all my time is going to and we all know it ain't blogging!

Ok I think what I should do is resume my thankful post abi? That should give me something to blog about. Hopefully...

My little princess is 5 months today! Yippee! she is growing up into such a smart cutie if I may say so myself. In fact, I give all glory to God for her life!

Ok so this is me signing out and should be back here with my thankful tuesday post next week by God's grace. Writefreak darling, please remind me o cuz i'mma just forget! LOL

Ok let me go do some blog rounds now.

God bless!

Gone too long...(Another Milestone!)

How are you all doing? Fine I believe. Did you miss me? Me, I missed you guys o. Thanks to those who checked up on me via email, facebook, blogger comment page. I appreciate it. God bless you.

I have been gone too long I don't even know where to start from. Ok let me start by sharing my wonderful news which a few bloggers know about already. It is weird because I keep saying my blog is not a personal blog per se but an inspirational one. However I feel I owe it to you guys (my blogville family) to share my good news and the Lord's doing in my life, like when I got married.

Ok enough of the suspense. About a month ago, I gave birth to my adorable princess. She is such a delight and keeps amazing me everyday. My pregnancy experience was amazing apart from the first 3 months of morning sickness. The labour experience was out of this world. I am sure other blogger mamas can testify that it is like going through the valley of death but totally worth it when you see your bundle of joy. I thank God for safe uncomplicated delivery. Baba God is ever faithful. He is too much!

I pray for bloggers known and unknown who:

- are currently pregnant that God will give them supernatural childbirth. Mother and Child(ren) and even daddy will come out of the experience alive and well.

- are waiting on God for the fruit of the womb. Children are the heritage of the Lord and it is HIS will for us to multiply and dominate the earth. Blessed is the fruit of your bodies in Jesus name!

So you might ask how does it feel to be a mummy? LOL, well I am just enjoying the ride as each day comes with different experiences. I am taking each day at a time. Baale is excited to be a daddy and I can tell Princess will be a daddy's girl.


N.B- Hopefully I will continue with my celebrity series very very soon.

Count Down to 100th Post (Intro)

Hello Peeps, I hope you are all doing well. It has been a while but I am here again. I am thankful to God for his faithfulness over my life. There is no one like him in all heaven and earth.

So, I have finally decided how I want to mark my 100th post. Sorry no answer and question session. Maybe I will do that for my 150th or 200th post. Haha.

I have come to realise that in this life, many of us seem to celebrate families, friends, mentors etc when they pass on to the other side. Sometimes we acknowledge them in our heads but never really voice out our appreciation till it is too late. Take for example Michael Jackson. He was ridiculed when he was alive, but now that he is gone a number of people are celebrating him. Why wasn’t this done when he was alive?

Well, I have decided that for my next 4 posts (97th-100th), I will make it about others by celebrating some key people that I cherish and that have influenced my life over the course of the years.

Please take time to celebrate the people you cherish today. I cannot overemphasise this.

Stay tuned and God bless you blogville.


N.B- On a totally random note, Koko Mansion has come to an end. Sob sob! I enjoyed watching the show and I think Bolanle deserved to win, though I was rooting for Rita (hehehe, don't shoot me abeg! I just dey gbadun the chick as razz as she is). To know what I think of the show, especially for those that did not watch but are quick to judge, please read Nolimit's views on it. She has spoken my mind. No need to repeat long story. Kudos to the producers and D'banj. See you next season, God willing. Ahhhhhhhhhh Oooooooooooooseee!
Fi le!