I spent a few hours making this sweet tree yesterday. It looks so fun and simple but it's never ending work and it uses up a MASSIVE amount of sweets. The result is great for a sweet lover though!
Sweet Tree
Cafe Neo Lagos
So today, I discovered this amazing blog called
and spent the morning reading their amazing posts. I've always loved this lagos food blog
and while Peju of that blog, still gives a more clinical and robust view of restaurants, the style and humour of eat drink lagos is awesome. While I was on there, I read a post about cafe neo, it wasn't a review post, it was a giveaway. I had seen their picture on another blog before and got love hearts in my eyes when I saw that they sell BUBBLE TEA! So today, I took the sighting as a sign and paid a quick visit.
I couldn't take too many pictures of the interior because it was full of people tapping away at their MacBooks and enjoying what (i didn't confirm) but assume was free wifi.
How did they hear my name wrong? Also, can the person that wrote the board be in charge of writing the cups?
The coffee was pretty good. I can't wait to go there properly. This one was at 16 Akin Adesola/Adeola Odeku.
The Tea Room Abuja
I love tea. I love drinks in general, but tea is one of my greatest loves so imagine my excitement when a new tea place opened in Abuja with tea in the name! I went about two weeks ago to try it.
It's a cute little place that only sits six people so perfect if you really don't want to be around too may people.
As adventurous as pomegranate tea sounded, I went for a safe and regular lemon and mint tea.
I would have died if they plonked a mug on my table. A great part of drinking tea is the experience of drinking tea, you know?
When it comes down to it, I'm not sure basically a candle can keep a whole pot of tea warm but it was a pretty sentiment.
The pot was HUGE. It would be easy to share this with one or two people. I felt like I kept pouring and pouring and pouring, but that's a good thing.
I didn't really want to have any 'real' dessert so I had some fresh strawberries and cream. It was killed with cream, wow, I had to dig through to look for the strawberries. However, on a fatter day, I might have appreciated that. I wonder how long it would take before the cream becomes insignificant. Nigerian places are excellent at not remaining consistent and it's more than a little frustrating.
Their desserts looked very good for tea. Their sweetness would be tempered by the blandness of tea, but I was a little surprised at the lack of chocolate offering. I got their menu after I was done because I went in their trial week and they have selection of breakfasts, savoury foods and an option for high tea(mini sandwiches, desserts and tea to share).
The price is fair but I think at its very maximum. Any push and it will be too expensive especially for a place in Abuja.
I will definitely be going again, especially on a diet! (Money or food diet)
#Charity
In this new social media age, raising money for charity has moved beyond showing moving images of starving African children and abused donkeys and unto more sophisticated and modern methods. Just this year, we have had the ALS ice bucket challenge, #nomakeupselfie, and off course Michael Kors is selling a watch for charity (i.e a little less than 10 percent of the sale of each watch is going to charity).
Charity is a noble cause no matter the motive and no matter the method if the end result is resources going to those who need it. However, it's a bit tiring the constant exploitative methods being used to garner support. If donation to charity is attached to some kind of sale in which only a fraction of the takings are being donated to charity, then that's advertising. It's not a grey moral area for me, it's quite black and white , it's bad. I'm all for honesty and openness, that is, admit that business is business and charity is charity but don't try to confuse one for the other.
The underlying message from these campaigns is 'c'mon, lets help the needy, you can do it' without mention of 'oh and this is adding a huge percentage to my bottom line'. Again, it's good that the needy get some money at the end of the day but people need to learn what the word charity actually means. Charity isn't something for something, thats a marketing ploy.
I know the whole Bob Geldof ebolagate is still fresh in our minds. (He wanted us to buy the album and delete it and buy it again because he sang a song about how West Africans won't experience christmas this year) although I have to say, I'm in West Africa and I have plans for christmas and no-one I know has ebola. I also have an iTunes account but I'm not inclined to buy this album once, more less twice because you asked me to Bobby.
I think one of the reasons these campaigns work so well is that we all want an excuse to buy something guilt free or do as little as possible to actually give to charity. I definitely find it easier to write this post or give £2 a month rather than volunteer my time to any meaningful cause. I watched a lot of ice bucket challenges but I don't know the stats of motor neuron disease. If i was going to buy a pretty new watch for christmas, it'll certainly be nice to buy one that also means I'm donating to charity. Every little helps right?
Not Another Food Post: Meat Liquor Review
THIS IS NOT A DATE RESTURANT. I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DATE RESTURANT.
Now that I've made that clear, I can proceed. All these two ingredient places all over London- Burger & Lobster, Duck & Waffle...meat AND liquor? like two of the largest ingredients?? Anyway.
When my friend suggested this as a meet up, I was distraught- why are we going to that loud place, why can't we just go to Byron? But she really wanted to- so we went.
Central London on a Friday Night? Ha. club type queue.
Every single thing I ate was absolutely delicious. The meat was thick and well spiced. The corn was AH-mazing...I didn't think corn could taste so good. I actually said no when my friend asked for one. Sigh. Terrible behaviour, but it was that good. The chips were perfect and crispy and it was so hard to pick a drink. In the end I had a mojito (because I always have a mojito) and it was non-fancy and perfect. I didn't get any pictures of the onion rings we were offered while we waited but they were HUGE and delicious. Crispy and light.
The only thing I didn't like (and it's a big thing) was the atmosphere. Seating is tight (but it was a saturday night in central London so that't to be expected) and it's dark and loud. Its basically a bar cum club vibe where you eat. I also don't like that all the food is loaded on one tray. If it was with someone I didn't know that well, I would have been a little irritated (boundaries and all).
If you want to try it for the first time, I don't think you should go on a saturday night and definitely don't go there for a catch up or intimate date. I do think it would make the PERFECT place to break up although you might be too tense to fully enjoy the food.
The bill only came to a respectable £36.20 including service charge and charity donation. Service charge is optional in the UK but I tend to pay it except I really hated the service- then nah G. This charity donation I was reluctant to pay- but my view on charity soliciting in an upcoming post- it was only 50 p, that would have been a bit mean and ridiculous, principle or no.
My friend was a bit concerned about the 'devilish' symbolism. haha. I think it's just cows horns, but hey!
Nasty Girl
The year was 2001. The album- Survivor. Beyonce and Kelly were 19 years old, Michelle was 20 and they were rising out of a bad break up (hence the surviving). Track 4 comes on...
You's a nasty, nasty, trashy, nasty
Sleazy, nasty classless, nasty
Nasty put some clothes on, I told ya
Don't walk out your house without your clothes on, I told ya
Girl what you thinkin' bout lookin' that to' down, I told ya
These men don't want no hot female that's
Been around the block female, you nasty girl
THE NASTY GIRL
THE NON-NASTY GIRL
THE NASTY GIRL ON HER WAY TO A NON-NASTY MAKEOVER
POST MAKEOVER
ALL NON NASTY GIRLS
Hard for women like me
Who try to have some intergrity
You make it hard for girls like myself
Who respect themselves and have dignity
You nasty girl, you nasty, you trashy
You classless girl, you sleazy, you freaky
N A S T Y ya nasty, F R E A K Y ya freaky
Girl where's your P R I D E, put some clothes on
13 years later, this song will not fly. Women calling other woman hoes for the way they look? Nah G
Best of 2014 : New TV Shows (Fluff)
Before I begin: a warning. My taste in tv is light and airy, it's supposed to entertain, life is already deep and dark enough so this list is going to appeal mainly to people that feel like that. And I feel like I have to mention this: I DIDN'T LIKE BREAKING BAD. So with all that information, clearly stated, I feel like you can proceed at your own risk.
1. Jane the Virgin
This is the ridiculous of ridiculous. It's written a bit like a telenova and if you've ever watched one of those, you'd know that it is a melting pot of over the top storylines and people dying. Jane, a 2nd generation American with an abuela that instills the fear of something in her, decided to wait till marriage to have sex. But mistakenly gets artificially inseminated with the sperm of a man she had a crush on who is also her boss who is also the man her cop boyfriend is investigating...you get the idea.
2. Cristela
Not another lawyer show! Yes, another lawyer show, what can I say...lawyers are awesome or everyone is a lawyer. Cristela is a New Jersey gal (yes, accents)...trying to make it as a lawyer in the big city, more or less. I like her.
3. Red Band Society
Not another medical show! Yes, another medical show, but plot twist, with teenagers- oh oh. All these kids with long term illnesses bond in a hospital with the usual hospital/teenage drama.
4. Finding Carter
Not another teen show! Yep- another. Carter kidnapped at 3, finds out when she's 16 that the woman she thought was her mother is actually her kidnapper. Reunited with her actual parents in another town, she's finding it hard to settle in and misses her kidmother? Yeah, all that with usual teenage drama, heartaches and your parents are imperfect..etc
5. You're the Worst
Two people better suited to one night stands and not getting their lives together meet at a wedding and hit it off and off course end up together. This explores the dysfunction that they are. It's not soap recorded in front of a live studio audience funny. it's better than that.
I have to add at this point that I'm sick of Tv making it seem like you will all get together in the end. You won't. Don't get stuck with a commitphobe because of tv.
6. Married
Pretty much the couple in You're the Worst after they've been married for some years. a lot-ish of years. At least that's my theory, but hey. Read the last three sentences of the above. Above above, aka no 5.
7. Chasing Life
Girl finds out she has cancer, juggling that with her life basically.
8. Silicon Valley
I have to say...This is my absolute favourite show from this year. Socially awkward tech guys trying to be the next big startup and socially awkward massive tech guys trying to stay relevant.
9. Broad City
This comes from the youtube show of the same name. Two girls, best friends and their day to day life in New York. It's not New York as we've seen it on any other show and more importantly, it's not about New York...it could be set in any city anywhere and and and their random mix of friends would still be just who they are.
10. The Lottery
At first, I was taken in by the hype of this show, fancy costumes, set in the future - smart sounding plot and about three episodes in , i realised that this was just well packaged nonsense. Entertaining nonsense. It's the future (glass iPhones) and there is a fertility crisis but a scientist in America has managed to fertilise 100 embryos. These embryos are central to the plot of solving mysteries, terrorism, double agents, etc etc.
11. Satisfaction
What is the plot of this show? I really cannot definitively say and episode to episode, I asked myself up till the end of the series. There are excerpts, there is self discovery, there is infidelity , love, confusion. Maybe watch it and explain it to me.
12. How To Get Away With Murder
I love Greys Anatomy. And I'm starting to understand that 'I Love Greys Anatomy' doesn't necessarily mean 'I Love everything Shonda Rhimes is involved in'. So far, I don't love this show. Then again, I don't like plots centred around one central event. (looking at you Pretty Little Liars), so understandably, I just want to know, do they get away with murder and does everyone end up happily ever after?
Now, a loot of shows have come out this year. Among the others i've tried and discarded are:
Bad Judge
Black-ish
Manhattan Love Story
Marry Me
What I Actually Did Today
Currently listening to Jeje- Dj Exclusive- like I know i'm late but this song is too much of a jam. Also, I'm still stuck on High Class- it just never gets old and in a running playlist? Constant fire! Anyway, today was the final day of my cousin's make-up school and I went to be her model.
I'm currently in the middle of an intense diet that doesn't let me eat more than a breath of fresh air and fairy blood ...so I'm relying on double bagged earl grey to keep me alive (and awake late into the night...sigh)
Eye Primer and intense eyebrows
smokey eyes and false lashes
The final look. I can't say I'm a fan of a lot of make-up. My general intense make-up look is still quite relaxed
Some Holiday Food Snaps
some home cooked thrown in
at least this is healthy right?
try a bit of every dessert
Nandos has to be had
Can you tell that I'm a foodie?
Styling Viola Davis
It was the final scene of episode 4, Season 1 of How To Get Away With Murder. Annalise Keating sat in front of her mirror and calmy took off all her make-up (i wish taking off make-up could always look so deeply emotional in real life, but it's anything but...
At that point, the one thing that stood out to me was , this is how Viola Davis should be styled. Not because she's not the 'typical' actress look but because theres no need for her to look quite so harsh. We can get strong black woman without the severe hair and dark accessories.
In this scene, I nearly screamed for joy. the hair was curled, the make-up was softer, her guard was down.
On Engagementism
Let's be clear about one thing. Girls LOVE getting engaged. They love the ring, they love the status update, they love the instagram post and they love wedding details. But they especially love the ring. Ask any girl over the age of 23 what kind of ring and she knows. It doesn't mean she knows the cut and clarity, it means she knows how much she wants her boyfriend (or a guy she hasn't met yet) to spend on her ring for maximum brag value.
I'm a girl over 23 so I know what kind of ring I want (a diamond ring from an actual jeweller, not a chain store even tiffanys) and the kind of wedding I want (a cheap one) but I honestly don't get the fixation on getting engaged.
It's not a fixation on the wedding day (even though there is a fixation on that, not to mention a ridiculous amount of money and effort), it's not a fixation on marriage. It's a fixation on that first ring selfie with a hopeful freshish manicure and a stream of congratulatory messages and essays dissecting the ring.
Also, to go slightly off on a tangent, on wedding blogs and instagram and even personal posts about the brides dress, I only ever really hear where its from when its a over a thousand dollar designer (ESPECIALLY if it's Vera Wang)
Anyway, what is it about the engagement that is so exciting? The surprise of it? (although people are printing invitations before even getting engaged lately, so I don't know if there's even surprise involved) Is it the new shiny piece of jewellery? Although I met someone with the largest cubic zircon ring , is it the happiness that you're not going to die a spinster and remain under the glaring judgment of your peers and your parents?
Hmm. I might have just figured this thing out.
Marie Claire UK November Round-Up
I love magazines! I read mostly British magazines after trying American, South African, French, Canadian, Australian and Nigerian magazines.
Marie Claire was my favourite magazine to read this month.
It was full of so much stuff!
enjoy!
Uber Lagos Review
I finally took my first uber ride today. Since it was Sunday, I could risk a metered taxi in Lagos and since I hadn't left my house in a week, I could risk taking a taxi at all (but that's a story for another day)
It's pretty easy. You download the app, put in your card details and you're all set. (All uber rides get charged to your card)
The app finds your location, you put in your destination and a driver will be sent to you. You can track his movement on the app and the app updates with estimated arrival time.
The taxi is metered AND the prices are high calculated based on time and distance, so be careful if you want to jump in it on a random regular day.
I would definitely use it again on a Sunday. On a weekday? Easy taxi.
On Creative Blocks
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| this is what sitting in front of a computer for a full day looks like I am extremely blocked. I've spent my whole day looking for inspiration on lifestyle blogs and reading lists and tips on how to 'unlock my creativity' and be a 'great blogger'. I paid for a blog layout and I have a list of ideas to blog about. However, I realised that I've been blogging for years and that has never been a reason to blog. How good or bad of a blogger I am, I blog to get my info from my head into some sort of platform. I want people to see it but I still want it to be for me! That's what I've realised today about creativity. You can spend all the time in the world planning for it but until you do SOMEthing, it's pointless. so this is my something for the day. x |
About Tyra Banks and That Modelling Show
Is the TYRA banks show about anything other than TYRA banks- oh my bad , I called it the TYRA banks show- I meant Americas next top model. Except America, next, top and model all mean something different to the basic use of the words as we're used to them, it doesn't seem like the show serves any purpose than to highlight Tyras bad editing choices and hero complex.
It's entertaining tv- no doubt but I have a few pressing questions
1. Why is TYRA in the opening sequence for longer than everyone else. I would argue why is she in it at all- but hey hey- it's her show
2. Why does she take irrelevant photos at the beginning of panel that often don't have to do with the weeks challenge at all??
3. What are the horrible outfits she wears at panel and who is her stylist and why is her lace wig still so lacy? I mean even MY lace wig isn't that lacy and I'm unemployed
4. Why is the competition about so many other things than modelling -Oh your face...oh you're not fun...blablablabla
5. What are these makeovers??? Do you ever really see money making top models having funny coloured two tone hair as their standard 'look'- no. Models are largely mannequins and while they may have striking features occassionally, I don't know if multi coloured hair really counts
Then again, what do I know about modelling?
It's entertaining tv- no doubt but I have a few pressing questions
1. Why is TYRA in the opening sequence for longer than everyone else. I would argue why is she in it at all- but hey hey- it's her show
2. Why does she take irrelevant photos at the beginning of panel that often don't have to do with the weeks challenge at all??
3. What are the horrible outfits she wears at panel and who is her stylist and why is her lace wig still so lacy? I mean even MY lace wig isn't that lacy and I'm unemployed
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| my lace wig |
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| what is Tyra Banks wearing ffs |
4. Why is the competition about so many other things than modelling -Oh your face...oh you're not fun...blablablabla
5. What are these makeovers??? Do you ever really see money making top models having funny coloured two tone hair as their standard 'look'- no. Models are largely mannequins and while they may have striking features occassionally, I don't know if multi coloured hair really counts
Then again, what do I know about modelling?
I keep thinking the key to finishing is starting over. Like if I keep doing new things, one day, I'll hit on something that truly captivates me enough that I can't help but to finish. Nothing ever is. All I do is start a series of unfinished things. So now, this is like my millionth blog with no clear idea of what it's supposed to say. I've never quite achieved skinny except by accident and maybe that's what finishing is like for some people. An accident. Maybe too sad that all you can do is write and one day you wake up with something finished.
But I don't want an accident , I want to learn how to do it. Myself. Don't yell at the screen 'JUST. DO. IT.' If self proclamations were wishes, I'd have wished on a million of them by now.
*Sigh*
Another day, another post. That's progress right?
But I don't want an accident , I want to learn how to do it. Myself. Don't yell at the screen 'JUST. DO. IT.' If self proclamations were wishes, I'd have wished on a million of them by now.
*Sigh*
Another day, another post. That's progress right?
On Free Food And Why You Should Never Eat It
Today, breakfast was a buffet. Have you heard that thing people say about eating less at buffets because there's so much food, you end up picking at everything and end up eating not much? It's a lie. Complete, utter, bullshit. Yes, there is a lot of food and yes, you pick at a lot of it, but do you know the sum of many small bites? A damn huge meal!
So my friend offered me a free buffet and like the weak foodie that I am, I took it. A whole row of bread rolls and pastry. basically, a row of butter, refined flour and bleached sugar. Varieties of actual sugar and actual butter and cheeses and milks and meats and eggs and four fresh juices and more meats and pancakes and waffles with delicious looking toppings and more meats and carbs, carbs, carbs and fruit and sheets of seaweed. Seaweed ffs! There was seaweed in a breakfast buffet! Am I painting a picture?
I had little bites of a lot of things and ended up feeling like I couldn't breathe.
That's the danger with free food. You end up eating things you probably shouldn't eat. Birthday cake you don't even like, soggy small chops, butter cookies and do not get me started on work snacks!
So my friend offered me a free buffet and like the weak foodie that I am, I took it. A whole row of bread rolls and pastry. basically, a row of butter, refined flour and bleached sugar. Varieties of actual sugar and actual butter and cheeses and milks and meats and eggs and four fresh juices and more meats and pancakes and waffles with delicious looking toppings and more meats and carbs, carbs, carbs and fruit and sheets of seaweed. Seaweed ffs! There was seaweed in a breakfast buffet! Am I painting a picture?
I had little bites of a lot of things and ended up feeling like I couldn't breathe.
That's the danger with free food. You end up eating things you probably shouldn't eat. Birthday cake you don't even like, soggy small chops, butter cookies and do not get me started on work snacks!