Monday, July 11, 2011

A New Chapter

Hi guys. I've delayed writing this post until now as i wanted things to get to a certain stage before sharing it with you guys. Some things have been going on in the background since May that led to a slight change all round that's a bit difficult to pin point. But while it was all taking place, i knew that it was time for me to take a risk and try a different path than the one i'd planned for myself. I feel like i've changed in some way. I've always used by blog as a form of therapy for myself; i like to call it free therapy. And at some point in time, i always feel the need to change my therapist to suit the state i'm in.

I promised myself that if i passed my exams and became eligible for graduation, i'd start a new blog without deleting this one as i want it to serve as a reference point for me in the future. I'm glad to say that my graduation eligibility was confirmed today so i will be graduating on the 20th; i am excited and nervous at the same time because i know that i am entering another phase in my life and i'm not sure what to expect. But i know that i have to give it my full attention and commitment and see where that leads me.

Having said all that, i won't be blogging on this site anymore. But, i will be journal-ling on my new blog so feel free to follow if you're interested. I've had an amazing 3 years and i can't wait to see what the future holds. I hope you all have an amazing week. My new blog is:


I have an unexplained love affair with cashmere so i could not afford to let that out of my blog name :)
Images 1, 2

Friday, July 1, 2011

Not A Fan of Long Holidays

This is usually the case when i have nothing to do. I thought i had planned out this 4 week break from uni to a T. But i haven't had a shift since the holiday started and i feel like my brain matter is slowly melting. I'm already tired of walking around town like a lost puppy, a few locals are slowly beginning to recognize my face when they see me on the road and i don't consider that as a good thing because it just means to me that i'm beyond bored!

I've been trying to go for a walk about on most days for an hour while i also hunt for another job just in case. But right now, i'm sick of doing either of those things. I just want something to do that's going to set me off on a great high that i can ride until the end of July when uni starts again. The fact that i'm looking forward to getting back to uni work makes people give me the side eye, but i don't care at the moment.

I really need to come up with things i can do away from my laptop that excites my brain. I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Monday, June 27, 2011

My Thoughts on Stevia

I usually use low GI raw cane sugar when i need to add sugar into things like tea, custard and porridge. But recently, i've been contemplating switching from sugar to something with an even lower GI count. This is mainly because i have PCOS and Syndrome X so it's always better to consume things that wouldn't be making my insulin resistance worse. For those who know anything about Syndrome X, you'll know that insulin resistance makes it more difficult for you to shed any weight and that the carbohydrate you consume is mainly turned into fat. But if you follow a low GI eating plan, you're more likely to be less insulin resistant without the need of medication.

My doctor mentioned that Stevia doesn't have any GI value at all so it'll be a good substitute for sugar. With that in mind, i was quite excited when i went to Woolworths to purchase the stevia brand pictured above. My excitement was soon cut short when i tried it with tea. All i can say is that it had a really sharp taste that made my tea taste so bad i had to pour it down the sink.

Don't get me wrong, it did have the sweet taste of sugar but it was accompanied by a sharp bitter taste. I already feel like i've wasted my money purchasing this but i refuse to give up any hope. 

Does anyone know anything that's like stevia out there but doesn't have the same sharp bitter taste? I would hate to give up my search so quickly and return to sugar. I'm looking for something that has 0mg of carbohydrates and fat as recommended by the doctor, thanks.
Image   via Shopmania

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Pale Skin: A Love Affair

For those of you who are unaware, i have a thing for seriously pale skinned girls. I think it might be because in my first year in England, i lived with a girl for a few weeks who was quite obsessed with fake tan. I never understood why people talked about girls looking orange until i met her. Due to that experience, i dislike the smell of fake tan and my love for pale skinned girls just grows stronger and stronger. 
For some reason, i love how Emily Browning almost looks ghostly in these pictures. But i have to say, i'm not quite sure of her outfit. I don't understand what that bag is doing there, even though she was at the LV show. I really like how her hair looks at that length on her facial structure. We do have a similar facial structure and my hair is only a few inches longer so i'm tempted to pull out the hair straighteners and give it a bit of a work out. But i've been working out often and i'm not sure that straightening my hair at the moment is a good idea because i'm just going to sweat it out; and my roots would end up puffing up.
Here she is with Marc Jacobs and her main squeeze Max Irons

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Simplicity

"Simplicity provides a fine line between eloquence and plainness" - LL Cool J
I feel like Cameron Diaz's outfit brings this quote to life.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Blogger Is Being Difficult

I think Blogger might be suffering from some sort of emotional breakdown because i can't seem to post anything with pictures at the moment. This is a lesson to me that i should consider creating drafts on Blogger as a way to save my post ideas. Hope everyone is having a lovely Wednesday so far? I only have 1 hour and 9 minutes left of Wednesday :)

Monday, June 20, 2011

Learning Patience From Dogs

I've been doing a lot of people watching lately from my kitchen counter top. You see, the benefits of living on the 3rd floor with lots of windows in the kitchen (which i had a hard time getting used to because you can see in from the road) is that you get to observe people daily while they go on about their business.

I've always noticed the people who walk their dogs for two reasons. The first being that i want a pet. I didn't really grow up with a pet; we did have an Alsatian puppy for a while but he sadly died. We only had him for a few weeks so i never really knew what it felt like to have a pet. Back home where i grew up, most people didn't have one; dogs are mainly used as protectors as opposed to pets. The second reason i noticed these people (which is the main reason for this post) is how their dogs always seem to be in charge of the walks; especially those without a leash on.

If you went walking with a kid, you can always tell the kid exactly where to go and frown when they vie off that chosen path. With dogs, it seems to be a completely different scenario. I'm sure you could train your dog to be obedient and all, but they always seem to follow their nose. And that's when i see the dog owners being really patient. No one's there yelling at the dog to stop sniffing and continue with their walk; instead they wait patiently until the dog is ready to move on.

There's this particular man who walks his dog pretty much everyday just early into the afternoon. I've noticed that his dog always stops to smell an area that has something that wasn't there before. Today in particular, his dog stopped for almost 3 minutes to sniff around the lamp post outside (yes, i was timing it). I sat there, whilst sipping my milk tea, how this tolerance for the dog's need to stop and smell would translate into patience in their daily lives. Maybe they end up being more patient with the people around them? Or rather become more tolerant of people's attitudes and needs that they mightn't understand?

Now, i've never walked a dog in my life so i have no idea what it's like. But i'm sure there are some pet owners reading this who might be able to chip in and say a few words.

Until next time, do have a lovely Monday

Sunday, June 19, 2011

My Exams Are Over!!!

I finished my final paper as an undergraduate student (hopefully!) on Friday evening and it feels like so much weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I can't even begin to imagine how much sleep i've clocked since Friday. All i can say is that i really needed it; my neck still feels a bit cranked from exams but it'll pass. I'm so glad i didn't have to work last week, with all the stress of exams, i don't know how i would have coped.

All i need to do now is sit tight and wait for my exam results to come out in July. But while i wait, i've decided i'm going to apply to some universities in England for a masters program. Aside from that, i'm hoping and praying that i'll be roster-ed into some shifts for this week and also be back to blogging more. 

I hope you're all having a lovely Sunday

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Couture Arabesque: Fab Friday Finds: The Simply Luxurious Life!

Couture Arabesque: Fab Friday Finds: The Simply Luxurious Life!: "We are closing out this very long feeling week with Shannon from one of my favorite blogs, The Simply Luxurious Life . This blog is chalk f..."

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Decadence for Divas: French Chic versus Inspirational Italians!

Decadence for Divas: French Chic versus Inspirational Italians!: "OK friends,since being on the blogosphere (which has only been for less than 1 year) I am “intrigued” perhaps at times a little “astounded” ..."

Monday, June 13, 2011

Absent Blogger

I know it's been a while since i've posted anything. But a lot has been happening behind the scenes. I got a part-time job and i'm currently in the middle of completing my final exams. I honestly don't know how most people that work full-time juggle that along with studying and life in general. It's been quite hectic over here, but i haven't completely neglected the blog.

During my study break (and a few sleepless nights), i was able to come up with an idea that has been lingering on my mind for quite sometime. Without giving away too much, i've decided to go along with this idea and it'll come to fruition sometime at the end of July, i'm thinking the 24th of July. But i'll definitely give you guys a heads up before it happens.

Until then, hope you are all enjoying life as it is. To all the blogs i follow, don't worry, i've been reading every single post, just haven't gotten into commenting yet. 

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Just Do It

For as long as i can remember, procrastination has always been my thing. I always seem to wait till the last minute before i start something. Even on the occasions i try to start early, i always feel crippled and incapable of completing the task if there's no pressure around the corner. I guess the fact that i've always done well under these pressures meant that i didn't put much effort into facing my procrastinating demons.
But recently, things have changed, albeit at a slow pace. I'm getting much better at doing things earlier instead of waiting till the last minute for that pressure to set in and get me going. I usually start by writing a list of all the things that needs to get done and the deadlines i have for them. In regards to university assessments like reports, i draw up a plan/ draft of how i want to structure my work. With the basic footprint in hand, i simply dive straight in and get on with it.

Previously, i'd take a while to think it through and psycho-analyse it to see if it's possible or not. But i noticed that this habit led me to procrastinate even more. By going ahead without giving it too much thought, it makes me work through it. It was quite difficult at first and some days it still is, but then, i'm a work in progress

Monday, May 30, 2011

Generating Ideas...

...and moving on to implementation. As i type this, i'm on a 10 minute break from listening to an online stream of my International Business lecture. It's quite an interesting lecture as it's covered Plato, political economies, Thatcher-ism and Regan-economy in the last 60 minutes. But that's not what this post is about...
My little brain has been churning some unexpected ideas over this semester and i took the opportunity to jot some of them down at the time. But as of last night, i read a few of them and it got me thinking of putting some of them into action. My problem at the moment is that my ideas are just all over the place. There doesn't seem to be some sort of pattern that i can work with. This means, i have to actively try and create that pattern for myself.

I seem to generate ideas unexpectedly which leaves me taking notes on my phone so i can jot them down when i get home. The beauty of listening to my lectures online is that i actually generate academic and non-academic ideas during the process, so it always helps that my laptop is right in front of me to take these notes. While listening to this lecture, i had an idea of something that i could do with my blog come next semester; i'm actually quite interested in it at the moment.

So, do stay tuned as i'll be sure to let you guys know if i choose to go through with some of my random ideas. But until then, they'll remain my baby secrets. Just out of curiosity, is there anything you'd like to see me blog more of?

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Bored With My Current Meals

Has anyone ever gotten to that point where they're so bored with what they eat that you're no longer motivated to cook? Well, that's me right now. This picture totally explains how i feel
I have no idea why i feel this way. I'm not aware if this has happened to me in the past or not. With this in mind, i really do need your help. Can anyone please recommend recipes to me that i can make for 2? And also some great snack ideas for me? Thanks in advance :)

Friday, May 27, 2011

Books, Books...

...and more books. This is pretty much what my week has been like. I took a break from job hunting to focus more on studying for my exams.
I've got three exams this semester and my first one is on the 11th of June. For some reason, i feel like i have too much to cover and too little time to go about it. I don't know if it's because my flatmate is busy panicking about her exams, so through some form of psychological osmosis, it is affecting me. I've been spending some time at the library much to my surprise. I personally hate studying in the library, everything there just distracts me right from the people to the atmosphere. I generally feel more sleepy studying in the library than i do on my own bed; and when i'm not feeling sleepy, i'm watching people come and go.

But recently, i've convinced myself to study in the library by bribing myself with a nice cup of coffee. I used to be a caffeine addict so i decided to stop drinking coffee unless necessary. And in the situation of the library, i think it's necessary because it stops me from falling asleep. Or, am i just making silly excuses? Who knows? All i care about now is being well prepped for my exams next month.

I leave you all on a happy note, i got an offer to study a Masters in Strategic Human Resource Management at my uni :) Hope you all have a lovely weekend

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Grad Outfit Ideas

This post is quite late; but here are the ideas i currently have for my graduation
My mum has offered to make me this dress if she's able to make it to Australia for my graduation {this is just one of the few things i want her to make for me}. This is great cause the sleeves are long and we'll be in the middle of the Australian winter during graduation. I should note that in the 3 years i've lived here, i still don't own a winter jacket. I get by just fine with a blazer and a cardigan; the reason behind this might be the fact that i moved here from the UK.
 
These pictures are from Tumblr. I think i can recreate a similar look with my black blazer, twill trousers from ASOS and a white shirt OR i could wear a simple cream cotton blouse underneath OR a breton stripe cardigan. But since i'm a lazy dresser, i won't be shocked if i opt for a long sleeve tee :)
This simple linen dress from ASOS comes in 4 colours so i'm spoilt for choice. At A$77.06, it seems like a very reasonable investment for my scanty wardrobe.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

I'm Drowning...

Drowning in my mind's eye
Drowning in my emotions and everything surrounding me
I'm trying so hard to swim but it feels like i'm going against the tide
Everything seems like such a hassle and demands so much energy
It's like everything's slowly been washed away

I want to run away
Far away from it all
Right to the end of the earth with only a book and my glasses for company
Where i can get away from it all and calm my mind and unravel my thoughts
Breathe in some fresh air...

I feel the need to spring clean my life and surroundings
A bid to starting afresh as a means of creating some much needed balance...
Adopt the mantra of less being more
But where's the time for that?
How do i carve out this much needed time when i already feel short of time?

While i try to figure it out, i have to face the reality of today...
...and the weeks ahead...
Textbooks, application forms, presentations and exams

Sunday, May 15, 2011

One by One

The bulbs in my apartment are dying off one at a time. As i type this, all the lights in the kitchen are out and i cook with the light on the hood. Last night unfortunately, the one in my room went off as well; i was living off just one as the other three went out. But now, its all dark except from the light coming from my laptop screen. I can't even imagine the amount of times i've called the real estate asking them to send someone over to fix all the lights. I would have fixed them myself, but unfortunately i can't. 

Whosoever designed the fixtures for the lights doesn't like me at all. I can see so much wiring from where i stand; and what the bulbs attach to is so tight and fixed in too deep that i can't reach it properly. A runny nose and several tries later, i've given up. So, i have to wait until Monday to make another call (and possibly go to their office if i'm feeling any better) to see if someone can come fix it ASAP

I'm lucky that i love turning off my room lights at night. The only problem now is i have to do all my studying in the living room, with the TV as a major distraction (not like there's anything fun on free TV). Maybe this will help me plan my time better and go to bed earlier

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Sick Baby

I feel like i haven't experienced this week at all and it's already Saturday afternoon here in Australia. I've been sick all week although i managed to sit my weekly tests on Monday and Tuesday. Since then, i've been home curled underneath my duvet with my heater next to me and my laptop for company. My birthday was on Thursday and i couldn't celebrate much or make myself anything special because i was too weak to cook. But then, that's the least of my worries because i plan on celebrating it sometime later.

I haven't had the chance to do any of my assessments because i've been ill. So, i have to apply for special consideration because i won't be able to hand any of them in by the due date. I have so much catching up to do. I really hate being sick and it feels like i've been in bed for years already.

I know i promised to post my graduation outfit ideas but i haven't gotten round to it yet. But hopefully i'll do that next week when i feel much better.

Hope you all have an amazing weekend :)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

It's Just Sunk In

It's only just sunk in that i'm graduating in July. Granted, it's not my first graduation ever neither is it my first from university. But it'll definitely be the first one that i'll be attending; i skipped my graduation in England because it clashed with my orientation week here in Australia. I applied for my graduation last week but it wasn't until yesterday that i really started thinking about it. My Mum called me to ask me if i'd thought of outfit ideas for my graduation or if i want her to buy me something. 

I felt like someone had just woken me up from some sort of dream; i can't believe that 3 years has gone by so fast. Of course, during the process of each semester, i certainly whined about how annoying things and people were and that certainly hasn't changed as i type it. But i've also learnt a lot about myself during these years here. It has also become more obvious to me what i'd like to research for my PhD. It's a bit of a mish mash of different courses i've taken over the last 7 years and there's just a few people here in Australia that are willing to supervise this area of research as most universities here don't offer courses related to it. Luckily for me, we do Business Innovation here at my university and it is a key aspect of the research i'm thinking of doing.

But a research is still far off as i still need to start my Masters. In line with that, i'm yet to apply for my Masters because i'm just too lazy to fill out the form; i definitely need to do it soon if i plan on applying to other universities. But with mine, since i'm already a student i can actually apply on the day my final results are released because as long as i pass, i'll get a place.

Now, back to that outfit idea. After my Mum talked about it, my head just kept rambling with ideas which made sleeping a little bit difficult for me. I don't want to get anything that can only be worn during special occasions. I want something that i can easily incorporate into my daily life after graduation is over. So, my next post will be on the outfits i currently have in mind (i really don't want to buy any shoes). Until then, why not share your ideas on what this curvy lady can wear on her day? It'll be winter here :)

Sunday, May 1, 2011

I Just Had To...

...Anna Paquin looks absolutely divine in her outfit. I don't know if it's because i have a thing for pale girls, but everything here works for me. Hope you're all having a blessed Sunday

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Someone's words

"Love isn't about the romantic nights or gifts. It isn't about the fireworks going off around you when you have that first, real, kiss. Love isn't about kissing in the rain and dancing beneath the stars. It isn't about the big moments or big surprises. Love is not a fairytale. Love is about still having the butterflies after years. It's about the second looks and laying in bed wide awake, all night, because you can't go to sleep mad at each other. It's about being willing to sacrifice, literally everything for someone, just because you care so deeply for them. It's not about buying them gifts, but it's about leaving them little presents here and there, just to remind them that you are constantly thinking about them. Love is about all of the little things that add up to really big things. Love is rare and special, but should not be treated as if it would break. Love needs to be thrown around and beat up a little bit, worn in, but not worn down. Love needs to be a comfortable feeling, a place to go when NO ONE else in the world can relate. A safe place, where you know no matter how ugly you look or how angry you are, you will still be...loved".

Unknown (via atomos

Friday, April 29, 2011

Camel Coats...

I don't know why, but for some odd reason, all my dreams last night were dominated by camel coats. Both men and women wore them in my dreams. I don't remember the particulars of any of the dreams i had last night, all i remember is the similarity in what everyone had on. The funny thing is, i'm really interested in getting a navy blue or khaki green military inspired coat for our upcoming winter in July.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

There's No Title...

Hi everyone. How did you spend your Easter break? To those that celebrated Easter, a happy belated Easter from me. Hope you all indulged in some form of chocolate consumption. I didn't; not because i didn't want to but because i'm lactose intolerant and couldn't be bothered looking for brands that sell diary/lactose free chocolate.

Well, here in Australia we had a 5 day long weekend due to Easter and ANZAC day coinciding in the same period. Hence, today is the last day of my 5 day weekend.

I have to say i spent most of the weekend thinking and evaluating myself at the current state and just....well....thinking.....like i tend to do most of the time. I was actually planning to go to church on Sunday, but  something occurred that morning that got me a bit upset; and i have no intentions of talking about it anymore because Sunday is already over and as at Monday morning, i promised myself i'll try my best to let go when people piss me off instead of going to bed with my frustrations. I usually try not to be vocal when i'm upset with someone because i'm blunt on a daily basis and extremely blunt when i'm upset. So it's always better for me to bite my tongue and shut up until i've calmed down a little bit. The funny thing is i don't even show my anger; but thanks to my inabilities of being a good liar, my irritation is generally written all over my face!

Anywhoo, this weekend, i was just thinking what an amazing world it would be if all religions just accepted each other and didn't feel the need to point out that their own way is better than the other. I'm a Christian (or as my Mum likes to call me, a partial Christian because there are certain things i don't accept); i was born into a strictly religious family so i know all i'm meant to know and abide by as a Christian. On Sunday, i chose to listen to/ and read some of the Easter sermons that were preached here in Australia and in England. I have to say i was quite offended by some of them and it almost led to my Mum and I having an argument (she's a Pastor). Luckily for me, i like to be a good child so we agreed to disagree and all is well in our modern-daughter relationship :). Even though we have our disagreements once in a while, i'm so lucky to have a mother who listens to what i have to say even though she doesn't accept and isn't common in the small town i come from.  

The Sunday conversation got me thinking about how my cultural upbringing keeps fighting with me on what i believe in and what i choose to accept. I guess it's one of the downfalls of being an only child; there's so much pressure on you to be everything they would dream of in all their kids. My mum never ceases to complain about how western my thoughts are and how i need to become more Nigerian. Us Nigerians are too judgemental for our own good and we always want to assume that our way is the only right way

Well, i beg to differ. If our way was so perfect, our nation wouldn't be the way it is. The advantage of being educated in different countries is the ability to observe and absorb other cultures. No one is perfect as a human being and there's no one right way is which to find the path to a happy life. I truly hope that when my mum comes over to visit for my graduation, she'll understand why i'm the way i am and also open up her mind to other notions other than what she assumes to be the 'only correct way'.

On Monday morning, i decided to take Catherine R. Staat's advice from this post and slowly incorporate it into my life. The universe was obviously listening to my thoughts because i got this lovely post in my inbox and Shannon posted this on her blog; these made my Monday quite a good beginning to this lovely week. I'm still a bit stressed as per my last post, but things are moving along slowly and i very much appreciate it.

Happy Tuesday everyone

PS: Upon reading this post, i've just realised how much of a boring ramble it has been. Sorry if i've bored your eyes but i just had to :)

Friday, April 22, 2011

There's A Void

There's an emptiness inside me that i'm constantly trying to fill.
I've felt this way for years but all my attempts to remedy it hasn't yielded any positive results.
It seems like as the years go by, the more difficult it is for me to fill this void
So i'm always trying to keep my mind busy so that there's less chances of me worrying about it
But at the end of the day, the void is still there; and sometimes, it leads to sleepless nights

For some reason, this feeling has been pronounced lately
I feel like i'm at a standstill because i have no idea what to do anymore
And that feeling in itself frustrates me
And now it's becoming a struggle to fall asleep at night because i can feel it right there
And at that very moment, i can't run away from how i feel

Monday, April 18, 2011

Some Sort Of Update

I've been on uni break since last week and that has definitely put me in the slow groove of things. Nothing much has happened lately, i've just been relaxing and enjoying the fact that i don't have any tests to study for neither is there a need to go to lectures. But all that is slowly starting to change as i do have classes from next week accompanied with my regular weekly tests and an essay due. Without further ado, i'll let you in on what's been happening with me over here


* I joined thy gym AGAIN! On Wednesday last week while at the mall with my flatmate, we came across the Fitness First stand where they offered a month free as part of the 12 month gym membership. So i went to have a good look around the gym again to see if i was interested. Although the month free promotion was good, i needed more to tempt me to sign a contract. After a lot of teasing and haggling with their general manager, i got offered a Results First program for free. Basically, it's meant to cost $70 and comes with 3 sessions going for 45 minutes at a time with a personal trainer. You also get a customized workout and a few other bits thrown in; but because i wasn't sure if their joining fee was worth my money, the manager offered to pay for the Results First program only if i signed up on that day. Of course, i jumped on it!


* On Thursday of the same week, a sales party was organised in the mall where all the stores had some sort of offer going on. Funny enough, i was very tame and didn't spend much. I got workout clothes and saved $70 in the process; and a pair of military boots. I had my eye on 2 actually but i had to pick only 1 (similar to the picture above). The only problem is i keep dreaming of the 2nd one. It's not your regular biker boots you find here in the mall (or so i think); and because of this i want it soooo much! It has buckles in the exact manner i've always pictured my perfect biker boots. The only problem is it's in black and i already have a black pair. So it's a bit difficult for me to justify buying another. Now i'm considering putting it on lay by


* I watched Paul on Thursday night and i absolutely loved it! Ok, maybe i'm a bit biased because i have a thing for movies written by Brits and also movies with Aliens in it, but it absolutely rocked. We were actually meant to go watch Fast 5 cause the lady here told us it was already out in ShellB. But when we got there, we realized it not out anywhere until this Wednesday. It does have quite a few profane words in it so if you can't stand that, i suggest you don't go watch it or just have your mind prepared :)

* At the moment, there are lots of items saved on my ASOS basket. Thank God for the 'save for later' button they added to their page. I can't seem to get this dress off my mind and it currently retails for A$63.09. Maybe i should give it to myself as a graduation present...here's hoping that ASOS still has it in stock come July

Happy Monday everyone

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Denim Jackets...

It seems to me that everywhere i turn, there's denim jackets; i'm loving the one Emily Blunt has on. I know it's Spring for the rest of the world but here in Australia, Autumn is still playing hide and seek. But that hasn't stopped the local stores also carrying denim jackets. With my new found obsession with all things maxi, i can definitely see a place for a denim jacket in my life. So all i need to do is hunt down the perfect one; i want something with a western look

On another note, i've gotten all my mid session scores back and all i can say is PHENOMENAL! Happy Tuesday bloggers

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Picture Perfect

Ladies and gentlemen, i've had a very long day. I just did 50% of my assessment for one subject in the space of 5 hours and now i have to wait patiently for the next few weeks before i find out my scores. At the moment, i feel refreshed, relieved and extremely tired. I know, all those words don't seem together, but for some reason i feel all those things at the same time. My eyes are heavy because i'm tired and in need of a long sleep in. I don't want to go to bed too early so i don't wake up in the middle of the night with nothing to do. I was too tired to make anything to eat tonight so i had a bowl of custard and two handfuls of red grapes; washed the entire thing down with a large cup of water and i already know that it was too much to drink all at once.

How's everyone's day going? Just to express my relief on the fact that my academic week is over, do enjoy the pictures below and have a lovely time :)

 Katie Holmes
 Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen
Jason Statham & Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Currently Suffering From...

...BRAIN FREEZE. Something has to be said for having so many assessments back to back. I truly hope my exam timetable isn't going to mirror this. My brain has shut down and i can't assimilate anything further. It took me 10 minutes to read one page and that was enough sign for me to give up. I'm going to go get ready for bed now and clock in at least 8 hours of sleep so i can be refreshed for my next assessment in the morrow. I just felt the need to drop by and say a quick hi to you guys :)

Hope all is well and you are all having a fantastic Tuesday!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Off To A Good Start

I couldn't have imagined a better way to start my week. I got my marks back from the group assessment i had last week and it was absolutely phenomenal, i certainly didn't expect to get the scores i did and it has boosted my confidence for the remaining assessments i have this week including a presentation on Thursday evening. My first test for the week was at 11.30am and although i went in with some nerves fluttering, i think it went alright. Unfortunately my tummy wasn't happy with the fact that i had sesame baguette for breakfast cause it kept growling like i'd consumed something with a high amount of lactose :(

I'm currently very tired but still pushing on. My next test is at 8.30am tomorrow morning and this is one of the most tricky subjects i've done to date because usually, all the options given for an answer are correct to a certain degree. So you need to be aware in detail of what you're being asked or you could end up losing a few precious marks. But i'm going to keep studying for about 2 more hours before heading off to bed. I'm hoping to get 8 hours of sleep tonight as i did that last night and it was so refreshing.

I'm desperately in need of some coffee as i haven't had any in about a month now. I'm going to try my best to avoid it but i have a feeling i might cave in with all the stress from uni work this week. Oh well, what can i say? 

I hope your week has gone off to a good start. Monday is almost over here and i know there are some around the globe that are just beginning their Monday. So, happy Monday everyone!  

Saturday, April 2, 2011

One Step At A Time

As the days go by, or should i say as i get a little bit younger, i'm learning that one step at a time works much better. I'm one of those people who need to see a result within 2 weeks in order to keep my motivation going. I lost interest way too quickly and i have a very short attention span, i also get irritated at the speed of light when i find that all the effort i put into something has turned out fruitless. I currently can't think of anything more infuriating than that. I guess that's the best part of being a student; when you study really well (not necessarily hard) for an assessment, you end up with good results.

My knees popped out of their socket on 2 different days this week so i haven't been able to work out as much as i'd love to. Let me just say that i absolutely hate working out, i would eat spinach for the rest of my life if it meant that i didn't have to work out. But i do it because i know my body needs it and because it's another way to stay healthy without any medications. My right knee is currently still sore so i can't really do much until next week hopefully.

Having PCOS has taught me to be much more patient i think. I remember when i was in England and went to the gym religiously whilst working with a personal trainer and dietitian only to lose 2 pounds at the end of the year. I immediately cancelled my gym contract and that was it. Now i'm just learning that it's all slowly but surely, my world certainly won't end if the numbers on the scale doesn't reduce. I'm trying to accept the here and now and just deal with it one day at a time. Sure, i have my days where i'm beyond down and it would take aliens to get me back in the groove, but i guess that's just another part of life.

Now i'm trying to go by the mantra of 'One day at a time'. One workout at a time. One issue at a time, all in a day's work. So everyday this week, i've been doing my best to put a smile on my face and go about my daily innings and i have to say it's kind of worked. Of course, sometimes i've had to force myself to smile but you know what they say 'fake it till you make it'. And even though i've been wearing the same thing i always wear which mainly consists of something black, i've gotten more compliments this week than i have since the beginning of the year. Go figure!!!!!!!!

Right now, my head and eyes hurt from studying. I have 5 assessments next week within the space of 4 days but after that i have a 2 week break from uni and all i need to do during the break would be attend group meetings for the remaining assessments we have after the break. And if my knee doesn't feel better by Thursday, i might have to go see a doctor (i hate going because he already knows me by my first name!)

Happy Saturday everyone :)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A Welcome Break

As i type this, i'm having home made hot cocoa. I'm yet to find a whipped cream that is diary or lactose free, but if you know where i can find one in Australia, please do let me know. I'm done with all things assessments for this week; got an awesome grade in my tests and still waiting for the feedback from my presentation on General Electric.

Next week i've got 4 tests and a presentation all from Monday - Thursday, that should be a lot of fun. My glasses will certainly be happy cause i've been using it to study for the most part of this semester. But this evening, it's all about sitting down and relaxing; enjoying some down time without having to calculate any financial ratios or determine strategies for firms that have no idea i exist. I'm definitely going to be watching a few episodes of Grand Designs Australia tonight, i must say i'm proud of some of the houses i've seen on the show and for its first season, it's pretty solid.

Tomorrow i'll be back to being a student and searching for grad jobs online. It just feels like my week so far has been defined by journals, case studies and textbooks! I can't say i'm looking forward to the weekend, but i'm definitely looking forward to Friday next week :) Hope you all are having a lovely Wednesday

Monday, March 28, 2011

The Luxury Of A Good Night's Rest

I haven't had the luxury of a proper night's sleep and i'm really looking forward to it. I had my presentation today and my weekly test; both went awesome and i'm so happy about that. Now that i've got those out of the way, i've got a 6 page group essay due Wednesday at 12pm and the rush is on to get that sorted and done. But that's the main problem with group assignments, it's pretty difficult to control what the other members of your team are doing.

We're a group of 4 and i can say that 3 of us seem to be on track. I've received all the necessary bits from 2 of my group members, done my part that needs to be included in the executive summary. All i really need to do is read through all the documents i've done and collate them in a sensible manner to yield a 6 page summary. The only problem with that is one member of the group seems to be AWOL. He hasn't replied any of our e-mails, nor has he sent his part to me to proof read and include in the essay. Being that we're getting a group mark, this worries me a lot because i feel like our score is going to be compromised by his non-chalant attitude.

Good news is that we've kept copies of all the e-mails we've exchanged, minutes of the group meeting we had and also all the information regarding how the work is meant to be split amongst the four of us. If he hasn't pulled his weight by the time of hand in, we have no option than to file a report. I'm personally not willing to do his part of the work because i already have more responsibilities than the rest of the group. This leaves the other 2 to decide if they want to split the work amongst themselves. I thought by the time people got into final year, they'd take uni more seriously instead of giving priority to getting drunk at the pub when everyone else is relying on you to do your work.

Oh well, that was quite a rant on my side. I really need a good sleep tonight because i have a lot to do tomorrow; a test and this essay/summary. I'm hoping i'd be able to sleep at least 6 hours so i can wake up a bit refreshed. I spent the bulk of my day in the library studying and doing my assignment, so right now, my brain can't seem to handle anymore information :(

I hope you all are having a good Monday so far. To my fellow Aussies, it's almost bed time right? Do have a good one everybody and speak soon :)

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Weekend Break?

Or so i thought! I was really hoping that the weekend would give me a chance to slow down and rest my eyes a bit. But it hasn't been as stress free as i'd hoped, but i'm not complaining either. I've spent pretty much the whole weekend studying for tests i have on Monday & Tuesday, a presentation i have on Monday (which i've gladly finished writing up) and another presentation i have in the upper week. So it's been all textbooks and highlighters for me. The only good thing about having such a stressful time now is that later on in the semester, i'll have less assessments due and more time to study for my finals because i chose to do my presentations earlier.

I guess the other thing that motivates me is the fact that i like reading. Luckily for me, i don't really have any boring textbooks this semester and that's really a good thing. It's so easy to get put off from studying anything just because the textbook not only looks de-motivating but is lacking in colour! That's usually where my highlighter comes in. Ok, so the main purpose of me highlighting is generally so that i can easily browse through the key things in each chapter; but using a fun colour (orange for today) makes it even more appealing.

So, enough blabbering from me. How has your weekend gone so far? I hope you've had more time to relax than i have. I'm truly looking forward to the 7th of April when i finish my 2nd presentation and finally have a proper break, sleep in all day on the Saturday and watch as many movies as i choose to (i also happen to have four tests in that week so a break is well and truly deserved)

Until next time, stay blessed :)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

It's Been A While

Hello blogosphere, it's been quite a while since i posted anything. Between attending classes, weekly assessments and looking for jobs i haven't had the motivation to do anything else. I have to say i do think i needed the break from blogging, i didn't want to blog whilst lacking motivation so i just focused all my time on uni and job hunting.

I've just finished researching for a presentation i have on Monday in relation to climate change and the Copenhagen talks. It's very rare for me to finish an assessment days before it's due because i work quite well under pressure. But because i've been bothered by a few other things going on, i've just done my best to stay occupied daily until i'm exhausted so there's no room for me to think about anything and get down in the process because i'm already heading in that direction and i'm doing my best to pull myself back.

You'll notice that i've made some changes with how the blog looks. I hope you guys like it. If you have any suggestions or anything you want to see, please let me know either in the comments section or via e-mail. I finally added pages to my blog, i can't believe it took me so long to figure out how to do it...so lame of me.

I probably won't be back to blogging full time until next week; from then, i'll try to put up at least a post a week and depending on if i have much to talk about, more posts. Until then, i do hope you have a good week. I surely am looking forward to the weekend as i want to try and organise my room because it currently looks like i emptied a box of loose A4 sheets everywhere

Happy Wednesday blog-ites :)

Friday, March 11, 2011

Strong Cravings

For some unexplained reason, i've been having serious cravings for all things sugary! I don't know why but i've been wanting donuts, chocolate muffins, cookies, brownies, juice...you name it! I read somewhere that our cravings is a way of our body communicating to say that it's lacking something...some form of nutrient. Well, if anybody has an answer to this please let me know because it's driving me crazy especially since i'm trying really hard to be a good girl while working out.

Right now, all i want is the double chocolate cookies from Subway! Either that or home made pancakes stacked with diary-free chocolate spread and some maple syrup all over it! I've been thinking of ways i can control my cravings. So far, i've been eating apples and grapes because they both have that sweet taste to it without all the fat and calories that come with actual processed sweet goods. I think the fact that i can't consume regular chocolate is even making my cravings more intense; since i'm lactose intolerant, most of the chocolates are pretty much out of my reach because i always have some sort of reaction after eating them. Of course, that didn't stop me from having Snickers on a weekend i had no where to go.

Cravings aside, i've managed to curb my coffee consumption since uni began! I'm proud to say that i've only had coffee twice in the 2 weeks i've been back to uni (both on Tuesdays after my 8.30am class); and i didn't add any espresso shots to them like i used to do last semester. I'm beginning to think those are the only days i'll actually have coffee while at uni as i've been able to survive other classes without it.

All i need to work on is incorporating more veggies into my meals on a daily basis and healthy snack ideas to help with those cravings!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Week 1

The first week on uni is always an interesting one because it sets the mood for the entire semester. Getting all those course outlines in your first lecture just determines how much sweat you have to put into your assessments, especially when it's one that involves a lot of group work.

I have to say that in the past, i rarely showed up for my 1st lectures because i can download the course outlines for each subject i'm enrolled in off the uni site; infact, i rarely attend lectures during the semester. I have a very short attention span so i usually can't stand being in a lecture theatre for 2 hours because my mind completely drifts to everything else other than what the lecturer is saying. I usually prefer to spend this time in the library reading the textbook and doing the necessary prep work for my assessments. I guess because i'm not an auditory learner, it doesn't affect how i learn. If i can't see and read what i need to learn, it never sticks in my brain.

But before this semester began, i made the decision that i'd make the effort to attend at least 80% of all my lectures. And in this first week, i can proudly say that i went to all of my lectures. Ok, for one of them, i only stayed for about 50 minutes because it was an introductory lecture. For the other 3, i stayed right till the end of class, without the help of coffee! And i didn't doodle on any of my sheets at all which is a huge surprise because i tend to doodle in lectures.

For the remaining weeks this semester, i'll be having 2 tests weekly (Monday & Tuesday) along with the usual individual and group work; mid term assessments and all. This is my final semester for my undergrad and probably my last semester as a commerce student as i'm applying to study for a Masters in Information Technology. I still haven't chosen a back up subject yet and i'm not actually sure if i will. 

I found out on Thursday that i have more credits than i actually need to graduate; so i have a choice of dropping one of my subjects as i don't need to do it. The only downside is that it happens to be the most interesting subject i'm studying this semester because it's from an entirely different faculty. I'm studying the history of France and i absolutely loved the first lecture. But this has no relation whatsoever to my degree, it's just going to be an extra subject and i feel like i'm wasting my money doing it because i already have more credit points than i need to graduate; so doing this subject would just be more unnecessary credit points. 

Oh well, i have till the end of March to decide if i want to continue with French history or not

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

It Looks Pretty & Soft

Has anyone had the opportunity to try on or even feel this jacket from Miss Selfridge? I'm quite interested in getting it and using it as an Autumn jacket as Autumn starts in March for us. I don't necessarily want the upkeep and expense of leather so i've been considering opting for a PU version. This one does look pretty and i love the 'gathering' detail on the waist at the back. I'm assuming this detail is going to help it mold better on the body?

I only have memories of their jeans from the time i spent in England years ago but i'm quite unsure of their jacket. I'd really appreciate if someone could help me out on this. I don't want to find myself in a situation where i would need to return the jacket and have to bear the postal costs so if anyone has felt or even tried this on, please let me know. On the other hand, if you've owned a PU jacket from Miss Selfridge, please feel free to share as well

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The Art Of Handwritten Letters

With the rise in popularity of sites such as Facebook and Twitter, the art of communication in our time has drastically changed. I remember when i was 12 years old, i used to exchange hand written letters with my Mum from boarding school. I loved receiving letters and also writing them; i remember how excited i used to get when i received one from my Mum or a pen pal that i kept then. I also loved the whole process of picking out a nice sheet of paper and an envelope in which to write and send off this letter.

But these days, it's all about e-mails, text messages and Ping-ing. I really miss the whole process of writing letters. I appreciate the fact that technology has made communication a much more speedy process and important information can be communicated quickly and easily; and also received at a speedy rate. But i'm pretty sure there are certain information shared that can wait through the time it takes for a letter to arrive at its destination.

Although i'm in a long distance relationship where Facebook, e-mails, phone calls and texts play a large role, i still make the effort to send hand written letters to Le Male. He still gets surprised when he gets them from me because he doesn't expect such in this day and age; he even teases me that i'm very archaic in certain aspects of my life but i don't care. I just love the process of using fine paper, choosing what colour of ink i want to write in and finish off my letter with a spritz of the perfume i was wearing at the time. I think it makes the whole writing process more enjoyable. I also tend to write my letters over a couple of days, i like to spread it out as it increases the depth and interest of information i share in the letter.

I'm now contemplating the idea of including hand written notes and letters more into my daily life as i find it a very pleasing and luxurious experience. The only other idea i have so far is sending out hand written 'thank you' notes and also 'invitations' to people.

What do you guys think of this lost art? Do you or do you not care for it? 

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Je Ne Sais Quoi

I don’t know what it is about Paris and France in general that draws me in and begs for my utmost attention. Maybe it’s the way it’s been idolised in movies and books. I don’t think i’ll ever know until i’ve been to France. I’m not even sure if the bubble will bust when i get there, but i know i have to go there someday so that i can figure it out. Because, it feels like a part of the puzzle that is my life that needs to be solved.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Lady In Purple

Angie Harmon looks absolutely beautiful in this purple dress; i believe it's by Alexander Wang but don't quote me on that one. She looks so good for someone that's 40+. I'm especially loving her simple makeup and glossy hair as i'm sure you all know i'm always about simplicity :) Hope you're all having a nice day

Been Working Out...

I've been working out 5-6 times a week for at least 30 minutes since January and i weighed in yesterday only to find out i've gained an extra 2kg! I don't even know how to react right now especially since my thighs are burning from doing a Jillian Michaels workout! If you haven't read my blog long enough, all you need to know is that i'm not really a fan of her workouts but i've still been putting in the effort to do it since last week because i wanted to do something different from my other fitness dvds.

Right now i'm too upset to even react to my weight gain; considering the fact that i've been passing up on yummy cookies and brownies to stay in shape. Arrgggghhhhhhh!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

I Have A Guest...

...and a problem. My friend's fiance has a guest visiting from abroad so she's had to move in with me and she'll be here until sometime next week. The problem is that we have completely different tastes in food. Even though we're both Nigerian, i don't buy into the idea of only eating Nigerian food or only things that have the closest similarity to it. I'm a student, i don't have time or money to waste and anything that i can't find walking into Woolies rarely comes home with me. I make Nigerian food once in a blue moon and that usually coincides with the times i go somewhere else to get my hair done in an African store. I generally eat anything as long as the meat/fish in it isn't something i can't eat or something that makes me gag

But with her, it's all Nigerian food or anything bearing the closest resemblance in smell and taste. So i'm here wondering what i'm going to cook during her time here and i'm pretty much lost for ideas. She doesn't eat curry, i forced her to eat bolognaise, she doesn't eat pasta bake nor will she eat potatoes except it's in the form of chips. I made her jollof rice and chicken last night (or red rice as some people like to call it)

Right now i'm tired and not in the mood for stress, so i'm just going to order pizza for her to have as dinner while i enjoy a meal of tuna pasta bake. I'm too tired to think of any other alternatives and when she's free, i'm dragging her to Woolies to go pick up whatever she can eat because i'm not going to look for the ingredients to any Nigerian meal. 

If you have any ideas other than rice, please let me know. And if you have any lunch ideas that doesn't involve raw veggies, let me know as well. Thanks a lot in advance and do have a nice day :)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

How Was Your Valentine Day?

I hope you all were able to spend it in a way that was pleasing to you; whether you're single or in a relationship. I spent most of my day alone at home, painting my nails a shade of sky blue and listening to 'Nicki Minaj's Super Bass' on replay. I was planning on making myself some brownies but at the end of the day i really couldn't be bothered as i wasn't in the emotional shape or form to even contemplate doing anything. All i wanted to do was to stay in bed all day and sleep

Even though i've been all over the place emotion-wise since last week, i had to put on my 'fake it till you make it' face and go out to dinner with my friends last night. They both got engaged yesterday and i'm so happy for them. She almost killed me when she saw me because i'd known all about the engagement all along and i never said anything, i also helped pick out the temporary engagement ring and it made me feel really good knowing that she loved the ring

Three new girl friends and several glasses of pink champagne later, i was back at home. I had no interest to read a book and TV was boring so i had a nice warm shower, put on my iPod and stayed in bed listening to Keith Urban and i actually woke up to the same music; yes, my earphones managed to stay in my ears all night! Sometimes when i'm in a certain mood, i can sleep through music no matter how loud it is, just as long as it is something i enjoy listening to

I hope you all had a fantabulous day. It's now time for everyone to check the balance of their accounts as February 14 has finally passes; oh snap, mine is still the same as it was last week :P

Do have a good day :)