Nigerian blogger

World Sickle Cell Day 2016

…Is few weeks away, what do people out in these streets have planned?!. Doesn’t matter where, feel free to share with me what program(s) you have planned for that day or the week, I know this year’s celebration falls on a Sunday. So far, I have seen healthy fruits/veggies challenge for the weeks leading up to the day, but the way my taste buds are set up, I don’t think I can survive a day on just fruits and vegetables. My hats off to those participating in that, I will be supporting you guys from afar. I do plan on increasing my water intake though, so help me God, in this hot weather we’re starting to see (thank you Jesus for the sunshine, we dare complaineth not). I have also seen some walks organized in different parts of the U.S and in Nigeria, I hope to make one this year, I will keep you updated on that.

Comment below what is going on in your neck of the woods for #WSCD

Ciao.

My Hair Story: Pt 1

Hey y’all… I noticed I haven’t posted/written anything relating to hair/hair journey in general; although my Instagram once featured a tad about my natural hair journey but has since halted (kinda) mainly because I had a second big chop that left me super confused about my hair. There was little to nothing to do with my new look, except the constant protective styling I did for a year plus now. BUT it has been 15 months post second big chop and my hair seems to be thriving, I’m trying to get back into the swing of things with all thing natural hair. I want to continue to share some of my experiences.

Where to begin… so from the time I was born, my hair has always been natural. I either had plaited hair or cornrowed hair when I was younger, I cut my hair couple of times in between that because as a child I hated doing her hair, in fact I hated hearing other children in the neighborhood playing while I was in between some relative’s legs, pinned down to a stool, so I asked to have my hair cut couple of times, lol. When the time came to go into secondary, I had a low cut aka TWA.. good times, looking like a boy (NOT!)

My first relaxer experience happened when we relocated to the U.S. I had been going to school with rubber plaited hair (sigh, when I tell you my mother did me wrong, I mean (-_-)..) since 7th grade. Boy did I have the hardest time adjusting already, my hair only contributed to it more than it helped. Though, I made some pretty cool friends from it too. I will never forget my first day at my last middle school, I was starting a new school and a new grade then, I stood with the other kids at the bus stop and I noticed this one girl who was also waiting. We (my mom and I) asked her if that was the spot for the school bus going to my school, and she said yes. When I got on the bus, she sat at the back and I was in the front part of the bus. She came to me and talked to me a bit and asked about my hair, I had wool plaits in that day. When we got to school, everyone was in the cafeteria for breakfast, all the kids were seeing each other after a long vacation and were all so loud catching up with each other. This girl from my bus stop happened to notice that I was by myself, so she called me and introduced me to her friends, she was one of the very popular kids in school. Anyway, before I further digress, my hair got me to make friends with this lovely girl who was definitely one of the kindest people I ever met in my entire life, she left such a great impression on me. We later went on to the same high school and for our 4 years there she had my back, and was just super sweet and kind to me. It was pretty devastating for me when I heard about her death, shortly after starting our first year in University. I still remember my friend Mariangeli Carmona, aka Maddy.
We lost one of the best human being and I miss her everytime, I always try to imagine what she’ll be doing if she was still here with us, nothing short of amazing things I’m sure. RIP Maddy.

After the ever consistent questions about my hair and the common WHAT IS THAT ON YOUR HEAD questions, and even a little bit of bullying – yo middle school kids are of the devil! They are the most wicked little bunch of people you will ever meet. I got pretty tired of having to explain my hair to people, and what I had done to it. It didn’t help that I was already such a dork and so uncool, I got tired of it and wanted to fit in so I asked my mother “please for God sake, I want to perm my hair.” She was pretty understanding of why, because by that time I had gone through too much trying to adjust in this new environment and system I was thrown into. That was the beginning of anything hair for me. From that point on I basically started caring a tad bit about hair. I maintained a healthy hair from then on, I was a minimalist though; I wrapped my hair when I remembered to, which was almost never, I had trims sparingly, I hated greasy hair and therefore did not really put products in my hair, and even with all of these I had a good length of healthy hair for the most part. I had permed hair from year 1999/2000 till 2/12/2010.

All through the periods I had perm, I always had one complaint/dissatisfaction with my hair, and that was the frontal parts of my hair seemed thin to me, especially after a fresh perm. I don’t know why that bothered me and remained so at the back of my mind. I would try to tease it and make it fuller but that never did work. That was actually what prompted my decision, I wanted to try and regrow my hair, so I ditched the creamy crack.

SCD Post: Traveling

If you know me a bit, you will know my love to travel, and will jump at any opportunity to “ajala” granted I have money (LOL). It’s true. Although I haven’t done much travel in years because of school/work, but I am slowly trying to get back into struting my (tiny) long legs around the place. But through my few experiences with travel, both near and far, I have learned some tricks to traveling that has made my experiences more comfortable and has made me enjoyed taking trips.

This post is dedicated to the process of packing for your flight, I have tricks to for the different trips I take; the car trip versus plane trips, versus the short trips to the long trips. Ultimately, the goal is to be as comfortable as possible, and as pain-free as imaginable.

Because you can almost anticipate a cold atmosphere during the duration of your flight, the first thing that you need to pack is a blanket/throw … planes can get cold and it is almost unavoidable sometimes. Second thing that needs to go into your carryon bag are socks! I don’t care where your destination is, as long as you are travelling by air, you will need socks during your flight. And this is where I suggest a comfortable socks like a double layered socks  like this . I swear by that socks, to the point where I have plenty back-ups and gift them out during winter. Peep that sale!! I have never bought them that low so you know I will be stocking up real quick.

Third thing to pack are medicines,  your narcs are your bff literally. God forbids you go into some kind of pain crisis inflight, YOU do not want to end up in a strange place due to emergency landing for a situation you could have controlled to some extent. I was on a long flight to Dubai recently and had what I think was food poisoning that ended up triggering a small pain crisis. I was in such excruciating pain where there was not enough rooms to begin with… needless to say I threw all care in the world out the window and was rolling (literally) on the floor of the back of the plane in so much pain .. next to the damn lavatory. Yes y’all, I forgot about being a fine girl and did not realise when I yanked my hair off and walked barefoot on that dirty floors – I am not one to walk barefoot inside my own house to begin with, so imagine the horror. Don’t be like me, who forgot her socks is all I’m saying. But throughout that whole experience, the one thing I was thankful for beside the amazing Emirates crew was the fact that I had my medicines! It would/could have been worse, and would have landed me in a strange country  on the count of medical emergency, because the air crew told me they would descend as it seemed like the pain was not getting better and my BP kept rising. My medicine gave me some control, I was able to control the pain eventually. That is another story for another day… I may do a #tbt post on that, I have video of me in Dubai Airport hospital, getting a medical clearance lol.

So far, you need a blanket, the ones on the plane aren’t always warm enough and you may find yourself requesting for 3-4 blankets, you do not want to be that one person on board hoarding the blankets, so bring one that’ll keep you warm from home. Bring your (double layered) socks, your narcs. Another thing to consider packing is a pillow, especially if you are taking a long road trip where you may/may not be driving and have to be in one position for long durations at a time. I love driving and always have, so I quickly learned to have pillows on board when I’m driving or taking the bus, and in the case where I’m flying I make my sweaters and extra layer of clothes I have (which you should have packed along your blanket btw) and use them as support pillows.

I also pack heating pad, yes I have no shame. In this day of technology where planes comes with outlets, yes that is the BEST thing that has happened to the planes these days. For those long flights, and in a plane that has outlets, you will be glad you packed a heating pad. And if you don’t end up in the plane that does, then you can use your pad while waiting to board in the terminals or bring the heating bottles. Although, if in need of heat compression inflight, the crew have ways to heat up water bottles for your use. Emirates crew came through big time during my incident on their airline.

The last thing I pack are snacks/food and water bottle/tumbler, yes I know you are not allowed to bring liquids on board so you bring an empty tumbler/bottle so when you get on board you can fill it up! Or at the water fountains in the airport, either way the goal is to stay hydrated. I sometimes don’t have bottles with me so I wait till I board (if I’m able to, otherwise I buy expensive water at the Hudson stores, sigh) where I can ask for water soon as I board before take off and throughout the duration of flight, as needed of course. Same goes with snacks/food. I am that passenger who asks for extra peanuts and whatever, so thanks to all the air hostess who have been kind and generous to me in the past.

I hope you find this helpful in some ways. If you have pack some things that you have found to be helpful during your trips and was not mentioned above, do feel free to comment below. HAPPY TRIP’N 😀

P.S, please bear with me as I navigate a schedule that works better for posting. And a happy new month!

 

Shame Has Caught Me

*strolls in slowly with feet dragging, head down in shame*

It is I, the prodigal girl, I’m back again but this time shame dragged me back to blogville 👀 lol. It’s actually sad that it has gotten to the point where people have to call me out and bet your bottom dollar that they have on multiple occasions but shame, yes same one that has now brought me back to write, once stopped me. What are we going to do about me eh 🙈

Anyway! Like always, let’s act like nothing happened, jest pray for your girl.

2016! It’s here just like that. It was like film trick but we’re here. I’m more than blessed to see it like you, it’s something I must not take for granted. We ask that God will lead us right this new year, He’ll order our steps and bring everything we desire/ask to fruition.

I’m loving this year already, more than the fact that I am currently basking in the hot sun in Nigeria *sips cold chapman*
The amount of time I have gotten to spend with family most especially my little cousins, most of whom were born after my family left Nigeria, it has been great. They are HILARIOUS! My family members are all clowns and I have had so many moments of deep laughter and that enough makes me happy! Also, I have done things I never thought I will do, most recent and memorable one being climbing Idanre Hills. Yo that alone needs its own post, in fact that’s what I’ll do.

For now, cheers to an awesome 2016 and eventful, blessed year ahead. And to more posts! Amen.

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On A Lighter Note

Hey guys!

I am still trying to figure what works best for me as far schedule goes, and especially for the blog, hopefully soon, I know one day it will all click I promise.

Just wanted to come on and update, starting with health update which I am pleased to report all is well, nothing major going on except yesterday I started feeling funny, particularly my throat! It tickles (more…)