Graduation Day

So my Graduation day came and went. It was the most surreal thing. I was aware I was present but at the same time it felt like it was happening to someone else. Much like my wedding. I was the second one to be called out in my set and I just couldn't stop beaming at the Chancellor. The ceremony certainly brought home to me the achievement of earning a degree. I was proud of me. When I was little and I used to dream about my graduation, I never saw myself being pregnant at the occasion. I used to imagine myself in a banging prom dress & awesome heels underneath my gown but in reality, I spotted a banging 1920's styled maternity dress with awesome sparkly flats. I was comfortable. Not all change is bad is the lesson of my life.

After Graduation, I was sooooo worn out that I just flopped right to bed! So needless to say didn't go to the grad ball. Which was just as well because I heard it was a disappointment. Kinda glad I didn't waste £30 on the ticket! The next day was my Grad party but I woke up in a foul mood. You can blame Progesterone for that! I just couldn't shake it. I just felt really low after feeling so awesome the day before, I should add.  So I went into town on my own, went into some of my favourite stores, Met up with a friend for lunch, Toyed with the idea of getting a manicure by the time it was 1pm, I felt soooo much better. I also bought my little sis an advent calendar which I'm going to post at the end of November to her at boarding school. The image in my mind of how excited she'd be cheered me up no end! I got picked up by DH who had bought me a beautiful bunch of fuchsia Gerbera Daises (My favourites), Got home and began prepping for my grad party. It was an awesome get together which was stepped up by my mummy's serving dishes and fancy cutlery! When I was planning it, I was thinking disposables all the way so I'm glad I was talked into fancying it up. I made everyone wear cocktail dress to match the tone of dinner. My mum cooked up an amazing symphony of Nigerian delights! and my cake, Oh it was a thing of beauty! Was a little sad to cut it up.

  So in all, I had fun and the best part was knowing I was seeing my little bean again and having Monday off work!

Letter to my bean at 12 weeks 2 days

Well baby, your mummy graduates from university tomorrow! I get my 2.1 BA (Hons) English & Creative Writing degree. That makes me so happy. I want you to aim really high for yourself. Whatever you want to be when you grow up is fine with me. Whether you it is to be a surgeon like your grandad or a model like your mummy likes to think she is especially during ANTM season. It doesn't matter as long as you're really passionate about it and you really push yourself. And of course that you are truly happy. Mummy was one of those who wanted to be all sorts growing from Astronaut to the next Mariah Carey. Till I found my passion. I feel truly happy singing along to Colbie Caillat whilst I write my still yet unpublished poetry & of course the prospect of being your mummy feels me with such joy. Once I realised my passion, the apathy I once felt just melted like the frost outside my window. So little bean just be you. I love you & hope you are enjoying swimming around in there! I get to see you real soon on Monday, be  good to the sonographer, I want a really great picture of you for my desk.

Love,
Mummy
x

Introducing AfroElle

There is something special about women coming together to share things. This statement is a loaded one partly because if you knew me pre-2007, you'd know that I found women to be too toxic for me to cultivate deep friendships with. Pre-puberty, I found girls to be really fun afterall boys had cooties.

Once I got past primary school, Girls were so hostile and I just couldn't deal with the sheep mentality that had taken over most of the females at my school. I got backstabbed a lot at boarding school and that made me wary of sharing anymore.

However, I prayed about find good girlfriends that I can be real with and vice versa and I'm being serious when I say that it took quite a battle for that to happen. I met really great women but the issue laid with me. I had no trust. Being at University really developed that and now I realise that yes SOME women ARE toxic but the majority are actually pretty amazing! There is nothing like talking about something that is bugging you with your friends only to see them nodding their heads to say yes, I've been there.

Well, I recently discovered a place in blogosphere that is striving to achieve that. It is named appropriately AfroElle; an online lifestyle blog for the young aspirational black woman. It is edited by Patricia Miswa who is a 25 year old freelance writer and editor from Kenya. She is also owns a handmade card business 'House of MisStyles. Inspired by little things, from captivating morning conversations in the bus with strangers, random café happenings and her great love for life, Patricia started a personal blog called Pages of My Journal where she blogs about everyday life, everyday issues that affect everyday people with a sole purpose to inspire and motivate her readers. 

When I asked what made her create it, Her answer was strangely familiar to what I felt about friendships with women.

She said "The idea first came to me while I was going through a relationship breakup, I wasn't all about sharing what i was going through but the day i sat down with my friends, I realised at one point or the other they had gone through the exact same emotions and experiences. It's at that point that i realised that women need to talk, to share, to help each other out by their stories of struggle, of pain and joy. To elavate each other through their common experiences. We might be of different races or age but we are still women, thats what binds us."

I think that Patricia is doing an awesome job! I 'met' her through the ladies room blog. She does this segment called love story on there which is perfect for a Romantic like myself. DH & I  actually got featured on it. Just writing down my thoughts on our Marriage for the feature helped me reassess our lives especially as our little bean is on its way. It made me see that Life is Good.

So check out Tricia on either blogs, if you'd like a little bit of inspiration thrown into your day and who wouldn't like that eh?

My Hair Story

I've been on a hair journey all my life but it got serious in February 2010.


Image From: Nappy Hair by
Carolivia Herron



I wanted to have healthier hair and so I stopped straightenening my hair with flat irons or blow drying each time I washed my hair. It was very difficult because I believe the relationship you have with your hair is equal to the one you have with yourself. Taking away my always together hair style for one that was wild took some getting used to. Then in June, I upped the ante. I stopped relaxing my hair. I toyed with Texlaxing but by July I stopped completely. I started the transition to Natural hair. Not for any political reason, it just felt like the next step. I then started to think about motherhood. My future daughters view  of her curls and suddenly, I had a focus.

 The week before I found out I was pregnant was one where I wanted to cut off my hair and start from scratch. My mum asked me to reason with her and be patient. reminding me of 1999. The year I chopped off my hair coz I was bored of long hair. A mistake I believe. I always chop my hair when something huge is happening/happened. Then it was leaving home for boarding school. I chopped it when I left for University and I'm chopping it before my baby is born. This time however, I have a focus. If I have a daughter, I want her to love her curls. How can she do that if mummy is always at the end of a hair straightener? I need her to have amazing self esteem.  For me to help her get there, I need to begin with myself. So I have put my hair in twists and come January, I will be cutting off my relaxed tips and retwisting my hair. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against relaxers or straighteners, I just NEED to do this not just for my future daughters but for myself. I'm going back to my roots.

Another Blog Award - YAY!!!!

I received a blog award from Mom Delicious. Thank you so much!

Rules For Winning This Award

~Thank & link back to the person who gave you the award.

~Share 7 things about yourself.

~Pass the award to 15 other bloggers you've recently discovered and think are fabulous.

~Contact the bloggers you chose & let them know about the award.

So here I go:

7 THINGS ABOUT MYSELF

1. I have a thing about Jacket Potatoes, Cheese & Beans. That's all I've been eating since morning sickness rolled into town.
2. I was more excited that a new Cath Kidston Store opened in my town than I was about the fact that my dad said he was proud of me for the first time since I can remember ( I've got issues)
3. I love our new nest but hate the bathroom.
4. I adore the colour Pink.
5. I'm pregnant & praying for a girl.
6. I love Wether's Original.
7. I wear flowers in my hair especially when it is raining ( It is a mood improver)

Bloggers I'm Awarding

1. Gingerbreadlady
2. Confessions of the unpublished
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?
9. ?
10. ?
11. ?
12. ?
13. ?
14. ?
15. ?

I will add new bloggers as I find them. I've already awarded my last award to my other blog friends so I don't want to seem spammy!

The First Time I saw My Lil Bean

I was in awe of my Creator God. It was breathtaking seeing the heart beat going strong. I was so overwhelmed I actually don't remember if I heard it or I just saw it. I'm sure I saw the heart going though.
It was agreed that the baby is due on the 3rd of May, 2011. So that makes me 10 weeks 1 day along... I have a little bump already. I love my little bean already. Roll on 2 weeks so I can have my 12 week scan and then the whole world can know about my amazing baby.