Hello January!

We are already more than two weeks into the year but it feels like 2016 only started yesterday. There are still tons of stuff that need to be organized from messy closets to cluttered kitchen cabinets and then there's your wedding. Now wait for it, you are already two weeks into the year, there are still 350 more days of chaos ahead! Whew!

While it is okay to feel overwhelmed (and slightly disoriented), you need to take a moment to take just breathe. We spend our days chasing the ultimate goals forgetting to take stock of the mini victories we have along the way. Victories that are absolutely worth celebrating I must add. Sure your office drawer still has that paper you used to wrap fried yams which you brought to work in July 2015 but you have "sort drawer" on your to do list; that's a start. At least you are not oblivious to the fact.

So what am I rambling on about? Life doesn't happen to you in big gigantic clumps of record breaking moments. It happens by the second. The big picture perspective is great but the little things are what add up to that view. So stop. Breathe. You made it. That counts for something.

PS: Love...xxx

Images have been culled from the following sites (bottom to top):
www.terilynneunderwood.com
www.wsj.com
www.123rf.com
www.grannyenchantedspaperdirectory.blogspot.com

My 2015 Bride List

It is that time of the year when we get to reflect on our experiences, evaluate our expectations and then examine the end results. 2015 for me was a mix of highs and lows which is typical of every year except this year, I am more appreciative of every experience I had.

I attended quite a number of weddings this year, so much that I should qualify as a wedding party expert. That said, there are weddings I didn't attend and I kinda, sorta wish I did. Actually, I would have given an arm to be there (and trust me, I love my arm). Thankfully, blogs like Bella Naija gave us front row seats to those weddings and all I had to lose was a few megabytes. 

In the spirit of reflecting, here are my favourite brides of 2015. Mind you, this list is not a rating in any way. I'm not that kind of girl. However, I am the kind of girl who pores over images of beautiful brides and feel happy.  Here are 5 brides that made me glow 

1. JOKE SILVA

Beautiful and talented, Joke Silva, a Nigerian actress (among other things) graced the cover of Genevieve magazine looking all bridal with her husband of over three decades. That's my kind of bride, 30 years in and still glowing. She is the bride we all aspire to be. Note to self: I would like to get that app that would tell me if I would half this good at her age!

2. DOLAPO ONI

Who does not love a fairytale romance? Uh...nobody! When we heard that this beauty had snagged her Prince charming who happens to be an actual Prince, many of us...well I was hit with first jealousy and then joy. The jealousy part I'm sure you understand. And the joy part? Well it is nice to know that these beautiful romantic stories do exist even if they don't happen to regular folks like you and I.

3. LILLIAN ESORO

I like to think of Lillian as the comeback bride. Months before their marriage, the rumor mill was agog with sordid tales about the relationship. People didn't see them coming back together much less getting married but they did and I love them for it. This just goes on to show that true love is worth fighting for.

4. TOSIN BUCKNOR

Tosin in my opinion is gorgeous, inside and out. Of course I don't know her one on one but she is my personal favourite. She wasn't your average conventional bride. She wore her hair naturally and beautifully too. The pictures of the wedding showed us just how classy and cool the event was without going over the top. But when you have the country's most amazing wedding planner as your big sister, we shouldn't expect anything less.

5. OSAS IGHODARO

Oh to be young and so in love! We have watched their love story bloom from on screen to off screen and I loved every moment of it.  And then when you look at how gorgeous she is (side eyes at Gbenro), she just goes to show us that you can have it all. Beauty, a home and a career. The trifecta!

I wish all the brides many, many, many happy years ahead. On a side note, I'm pretty certain you heard of that guy that married a pizza in Russia. Yeah, that has got to be the strangest bride of 2015 for me. I hear it wasn't a non-veg pizza. So since "she" had some meat on her, that has to count for something right. As opposed to marrying a plant! I rest my case.

Love...xxx

Happy New Month

It is December!!! Like you didn't know that already...Lol. I am wishing you a fabulous month as we look forward to the festive season. May your home's be filled with love, peace and joy now and always.
PS: Love...xxx

Great Skin in 2 weeks or less!!!

It’s your wedding day. You wake up to [insert your choice of music. I love Flavor’s song “Ada, Ada”] and you stretch out on the bed. The weather is looking perfect as you go over to the window to inspect the skies. There are butterflies in your tummy, you open your closet to admire your wedding dress for the thousandth time…sigh. Perfection. Your phone beeps, Bae has sent you a text... aww. You smile and drift on clouds for a few seconds. You suddenly want to see your face, to confirm that you are the lucky bride so you look at the mirror and then you see it. Angry zits threatening to spill their gooey contents all over your beautiful face. You scream and then you wake up for real this time.

A whopping 90% of brides to be have nightmare about their skin among other things in the weeks leading up to the D-day. And while it is perfectly normal, it doesn’t have to be a reality. Ideally, you would have a weekly appointment with skincare experts but not many of us have the time or resources to do that. Still that doesn’t mean you cannot have a perfect glowing skin (all brides have a glow, it is different from pregnancy glow but it is a glow nonetheless) so, I shopped around for products that promises to deliver better skin in a matter of days. Pay attention

SUPPLEMENT; HAIRSKINAILS: Beauty I am told begins on the inside so what you ingest matters as much as the stuff you rub on. So pay attention to your diet, swap milk for yoghurt, use olive oil instead of your regular vegetable oil etc. But what nobody told me about is this wonder pill by HealthAid. It’s a little pricey but totally worth every kobo; I have only used it for a week and I have noticed significant changes in my hair and skin. It is also meant for nails but I have always had great nails so whatever. My forehead which is usually a ground for pimples both big and small is suddenly smooth and amazing. This is not a paid advert so I am telling the gospel truth. However as with all pills, you should clear it with your doctor before you take them. Also, always eat before taking them. I learnt this the hard way. The only down side is the size and smell. They don’t smell good at all. But when I touch my smooth face, I forget what they smell like.

FACIALS: CLEAN AND CLEAR MORNING BURST: I have a very shiny forehead and you all know that the goal is to glow not shine. I got this shine control facial cleanser and frankly I believe I have found my soulmate (well the perfect cleanser). It has got these tiny balls or bursting beads they call it that scrubs as it cleanses your face. It leaves a tingling sensation and a sweet fragrance behind. Plus, it actually works so this is a bathroom staple for me.

SKNINCARE; NIVEA: There are two Nivea products I am recommending; the antiperspirant roll on and the anti-cellulite moisturizer. I have used the new pearl and beauty antiperspirant roll on and I believe that this is the one…as in the one roll-on we all should have. It is affordable, durable and smells great. It also delivers on its promise to give you smooth underarms in 2 weeks. Which is perfect for brides who are wearing strapless gowns. You don’t want to stand on the podium and throw your bouquet but no one catches it because everyone was distracted by the mess under your armpit (another nightmare). As for the anti-cellulite moisturizer, I am yet to use it. But I have heard great reviews about it so it is definitely on my to-shop list. It is meant to sculpt your problem areas; butt, thighs, arms etc. to give you a firmer skin in get this, 2 weeks!

SUNSCREEN; MURAD: In these parts, sunscreen is not considered essential so this may not be on your list but I have learnt that we do really need it even if we do not get sunburns (thanks to genetics). The products we use on our skin from cleansers to toners etc. are great but they also make us vulnerable to the bad sun rays that damage skins. Every skincare junkie I know has recommended Murad and after some research, I buy into this idea. However, at almost 10,000 naira for a tube, I am going to have to hold out for a less pricey product that I can commit to. Know of any, let me know!
PS: Love…xxx

Before you do series (Money)

Love is blind, that is what they say but when it comes to money matters, love turneth not a blind eye. Au contraire love shines its eyes here and that could become a problem if not addressed promptly. Those who are love stricken may chant, I love him or her too much, I don’t care about the money. Boo trust me, you want to care. Cinderella and Prince Charming may have gone off to live happily ever after but I can bet that their different backgrounds (him rich; her poor) would have strongly influenced their spending habits and caused them to argue about this every other day. So before you tie the knot, you might want to have the talk…the financial talk.

Start off with something simple, like what would either of you consider as too much to spend? This would help you guys figure out priorities and work out where to go from there. Try not to be too judgmental here. For instance; she may have no qualms spending 100,000 naira annually on her hair and he may think spending 100,000 naira on cable TV is perfectly justifiable. As individuals with a monthly income of say 85,000 naira, this may seem okay but when you are planning a family and you have long term goals like buying a home, saving up for the kid’s education etc. both of you will have to cut back.

A combined annual income of about 2million naira and a long term goal of buying a home among other expenses leaves little room for spending 20% on hair and TV when rent alone for your current place could take about 30% if not more for a property. So you definitely have to talk about adjusting your spending in other to accommodate each other and the future you are planning together.

You should also decide if you want to combine your accounts. This is a great idea but some people might feel stifled by this. A compromise would be to operate a join account with an individual spending limit. What I mean is that you can spend without consulting the other unless you want to make a purchase that exceeds the individual spending limit. Say for instance you both have 20,000 naira respectively per month to spend on whatever you want but you have your sights set on buying a new phone, or upgrade your skill set with a professional training that cost 40, 000, you would have to consult each other before you do that.

The key is to keep an honest open communication about your expenses. Major financial decisions should be taken together. Even if one person earns way more than the other, both parties should be involved in the decision making. Avoid the keeping up with the Joneses trap. Cut your coat according to your size. And if you find that both of you cannot come to an agreeable compromise, talk to a financial counselor. Your premarital counselor in church can set you up with one if you are unsure. It may cost you but it is better to enter your marriage with a full game plan than to just “wing it”.
PS: Love…xxx

True Love, Weddings and Happily Ever After

I love weddings. I love "love". I love being in love. I love romance and the beauty of selflessly loving someone who absolutely loves you in return. Marriage is the culmination of everything that love symbolizes and a wedding commemorates/celebrates this union which is why I believe in it being extra special. However, I am realistic as much as I am romantic. I would rather put more efforts and resources to preparing for the future (the forever after implied) than this one beautiful day...still it is one beautiful day and like every other girl, I want that day to be magical and to last forever. So  in essence, this blog is my scrapbook for my dream wedding and fantasy wedding.

And for taking time to read through, you will also get tips, insider knowledge of all things weddings as well as some sage advice I have gotten from tons of people on maintaining a successful marriage. Some of these guys have impressive portfolios, 30 years into their forever and still going strong. We hear a lot of horrible and tragic stories about love gone awry but I know that for every horror story you hear, there are a hundred other beautiful stories. They may not be as grand as we would like them to be but they are there, perfect in all their imperfections and beautiful nonetheless.

Don't worry, it won't be all fluff. I save that for my personal diary with a tiny heart locket. This is the grown up stuff for the Alpha bride, you. 

PS: Love...xxx