2014 - Words and Appreciation

  I chose the 31st to write this because it's the last day of the year 2014.

   2014 was a  year of great grace for me. It was the turning point of a lot of things in my life and i'm grateful to God for them all.
I was unhappy, indifferent, irritated, almost faithless, negative but I was also hopeful, over joyed, full of faith, full of love and positive, all in this year. It taught me a lot of new things, opened my eyes to see, my ears to hear, my body to feel, the things less regarded.

  In this 2014, July to be precise, boredom and free internet blessed me with a wonderful family, you all. Those of you that read, reposted, retweeted, shared,  favourited, followed, criticized, advised, encouraged, thanked, liked, talked about, did everything! For me and this my baby girl blog. Without you, I wouldn't have met the people I met this year so easily neither would I have received any offers and pleasant compliments from people, so thank you and I pray God makes your 2015 brighter than the sun.

  I want to thank two important people in my life specially, my dearest sister Beulah and my mentor Bimpe (whom I believe I met this year) because they always encourage, inspire, support and "promote" me in any way they can. It's safe to say they are my number one fans!!
Let's not forget my mum who lowkey reads my blog lol I didn't send her o! But thanks to mummy dear as well.
My bestfriend Dika, thank you for being my bestfriend even up till 2014, baby girl we have tried, more years ahead of us.

  Ib, Ngozi, Chidinma, David Anthony, what year can go by without you four? Then it is not a year. Especially you Ngozi, my parole bebe. You are all so amazing and i'd keep enjoying and cherishing every moment with you for years and years to come.

To all the photographers that told me "Let's have a shoot together", God is watching you o, when you are really ready, I am too. Infact, I will buy my own correct camera and do my own shoots. In 2015, I aint gonna wait on nobody.

Hey Lolu lolsss, you know you were a huge part of my 2014 right?

  Oh to my dear chin chin chinos Chinedu, I just love you lol shey I started talking to you this year? Yeah, you're such a chinos :')

   To all the people I met this year and those I met wayyy back, I am glad I did meet you and I do not regret it. There's this love I have for you that is stronger than village wine.

  To the internet, my phone and laptops, even in hanging times, slow times, "not saving draft" times, you still posted my posts. God bless this invention.

  To God, in Whom I live, I move and have my being. The maker of all things, words can't express how much I love You and thank You for everything in this life you gave me.

Hey!! My birthday is on the 25th of January, don't forget that.

Let it go, let go of that emotion, let go of the pain...start over again, you have no idea what it holds.
2015 we are ready for you, O set! More love, thanks, meetings, good, grace, more more.

Until the next post, next year, have a great 31st December, 2014.

Day 4: Departure from Fugar

  Who ever thought I could have an experience, adventure and fun in less than a week?
  Fugar was an interesting place, it was nice to me even though the weather got me asking "To bathe or not to bathe", even though it got my shoes red with it's soil, even though it got my lips cracked, even though it made me oil my skin x2 in order to avoid being on the white skin gang, even though it made me breathe through my mouth and nose interchangably and so on. It made my skin fairer and fresher though, is it just me or does cold cause a change to the human skin?. Fugar was adventurous because it's a place i've never vsited before in my life and Fugar, my tropical island seems to be a cold dessert.

  Minutes to 6 we set out on our Lagos journey, before anyone could even say anything long, operation sleep commenced. What'd you expect me to do? I woke up real early, some time around 3am so you can imagine. When did I even wake up? Around 7:30am and  before I could even yawn, operation hunger set in. Shoo? Did they send all those things? We had to stop at an eat-out along the road to Lagos and my oh my! Their food can make you wanna fly, no I won't tell you what I ordered, if you were on my snapchat now you'd have known but too bad.
Did you know Ondo was on the way to Lagos? I was driving through Ondo without knowing. Omdss so I didn't just go to Fugar but Ondo as well. It would have been cooler though, if we acted our own movie called "Around Nigeria in 4 days"

  The journey back was bliss, less accidents compared to the day we were going to Fugar and of course, the usual jamming to music. Now, I have the new year to boogie down in Lagos!

Hello Lagos, did you miss this baby girl? Yeah, whatever!

(I'll keep to my word, picture post coming up, chill, I only just got here >_>)

Day 3: The Trek

  Still on the Fugar parole, what was once ice is now lava. This place is sooo cold at morning/evening/night and sooo hot in the afternoon. It goes from 0 to 100 real quick, faster than the speed of light.

Today was a day! We stood and walked like never before this year. We went to Agenebode; the market, to river Niger then finally to stream Obe.
When it comes to the market, dear friends, my mum can't be your partner o. My mother and the market are bffs, she walks around without getting tired; pricing and buying, i'm like how does someone her age do that? I almost fainted, I became so dehydrated, how didn't she feel the hot sun? I thought she was buying the whole market. Disliking going to the market doesn't make one less a woman right?

Next stop river Niger, oh that walk, oh that sight, it was a beautiful one. We wanted to enter the boat for a 40 minute ride across and back but guess what? The life jackets were too less :( so my dad was like no no no, we cannot get on that boat. Sigh, my heart nearly broke into a million pieces, but thank God for that sweetly seasoned stick meat that crossed my path and stopped the heart.

Last stop, the stream Obe. The trees that surrounded that place, nothing like i'd ever seen. Have you ever seen a twisted tree? The stem was not our every day straight stem, this one was twisted like the way we have twisted braids lol. The leaves too were so odd. I wasn't prepared enough, so only my feet could get into the water. I couldn't act my Nigerian film, we stayed for just close to 15 minutes, who knows? maybe one young fine darksinned prince was going to bathe there if we stayed longer >_>

It was a lovely and interesting day, why is that, the day before people leave a place it always seems like the most interesting?

Pictures upon pictures, we took until we could take no.more.
(Don't forget I told you about the picture post i'd put up when I get back to Lagos)

Tomorrow, it's Lagos baby!
How was your day?
I hope it was a fun as mine.

Day 2: Christmas Day!

  It's so funny how I've grown so used to living Lagos that visiting other places leave me in a state of awe. Nigeria is hot no doubt, but Lagos is hooot!
The last night into today has got to be my coldest this year, I don't know for sure if it's the harmattan or if this part of Edo state is just naturally cold, but whatever the case, where did our Lagosian harmattan take its rest? It was such a cold cold night, who sent me? When my dad was packing his sweater I was just wondering why. Now here I am, at least I took my jacket and a pair socks thank God but I enjoyed the cold and long night so much I couldn't shut the windows.

  Who knew christmas here would be much fun? The food, drinks, people and the drive round town we took. During that drive, I noticed something really funny, did you know that the people of Fugar had an obsession? or was it just that christmas vibe posing they had going on? Hahaha like 70% of the females were on heels (wedges to be precise), the males on canvas and all were on shades, from ages baby to grandma, the sun had nothing on them, the trekking (walking) had nothing on them, nothing had nothing on them mehn.
A happy day as I expected it to be. Ohhhh and guess what? This house i'm staying at has dstv o, you know what that means...yep! Telemundo baby but that's just aside.

Let me leave you with a proverb I heard today from one of the elders; it says,
"Whenever you want to strike your hand on your chest, it must be your right hand"

MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS!!
I hope today was worth it for you, remember Jesus and He'll comfort you if you thought it wasn't.

PS - (Forgive me guys, the network here is not it at all so pictures can't be uploaded but I should put up a picture post when i'm back)

Day 1: Arrival at Fugar

  I'm not quite sure what the spelling might be but I know how to pronounce it. Fugar is a town in Edo state of Nigeria for your information.
  Never have I ever visited a state other than that of my dad or mum and stayed for up to a full day. Never have I ever even been excited about going to other states in Nigeria but this was different. I was told we (my sisters & I) were going to Fugar for the christmas break, not last week, not last month but weeks and months ago and I was totally cool with it. One major reason for my being cool was that somehow, the name "Fugar" sounded like some tropical island >_> (even though I knew it was going to be the opposite).

   We set out for our road trip. The farther away from Lagos we were, the more green and red we saw - trees and soil. Is it just me or does Lagos have less red soil compared to other states?
It's been a while though, my last road trip was in 2007 and it was 9hours on the road so no big deal, 5-6 hours of sitting wasn't a problem, at least we took a break. The juice we had was converted to what we call pee - we had to find a place. At a point, one of my sister's was like "No, I can't do it, cover me guys", my mum was just there looking at her and was like "the piss never catch you", haha you can guess what happened next.

  The accidents I saw on the road just left me thanking God. I can't really number them but they were in different forms involving private cars, transport buses and trucks.There was even one explosion on the way to Ore and from what I saw, it involved tankers and cars, I just hope no one was feared dead.
  The risk takers on the road, the speed induced, the chief over-takers, the "smart" ones, the "sharp" ones and our dearly beloved police officers that swing their guns anyhow, stand on the road anyhow and try to RUN after cars ON A HIGHWAY!!
All of such people were on the road and more

  In all, the trip was a really nice one, from jamming American to Jamaican to Nigerian music in the car, to eating small small, to sleeping (me exclusive), to chatting with Bimpe my mentor and Martin my snap bestie throughout the trip , to not reading the book I carried, to a lot of things. I'm like if we took a flight, that road trip feeling wouldn't be lived, neither would I have seen all I saw at that moment.
 
  We are here now, whole and hearty to the glory of God, expecting a pleasant stay in the much talked about Edo State.

Photo: Meet my friend...

  I just had to post this photo for you all to see. This is my friend Ib, if you know her as much as I do you'd understand better what i'm talking about.
  I won't say she's a tom boy but she has that Kristen Stewart-Sam Puckett kind of character. She can make you feel like you're the ultimate girly girl but just take a look at this little birdie ^^

I just love this picture, i'm like "Ib, izz that yeeww sister?" maybe Ib will end up becoming the ultimate girly girl after all :')

This Week...

  As the hours go by, the days go by, only a few to come and it's the new year. It's not the last week but close, what are you going to do? How do you feel?

  I'm soo excited, the closer we are, the happier I am for many many reasons. One major and most exciting reason for this week, is that my best and most expected gift which i'd let you know about in time to come, arrives today!
The second and also exciting reason, is my trip to a place in Nigeria I call a tropical island because if its name (of course pictures I shall post when I go). Today,  I have something in the like of a get-together which I intend on going and this pre-new year week is just something i'm excited about. A delayed package that's almost in, a new adventure and a meeting, what more can this week have?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"What you see is what you live; you are what you feel"

  You don't have to have plans like everyone else, you don't have to live like everyone else, you just have to have plans like yourself and live like yourself. Remember, yourself is what you're content and happy with.

Enjoy your week like you would!
   Have a blessed week!

Let me post a picture of myself to lead a cheerful start to your week lol it'll actually work...

It's the weekend!

  I'm so happy today because a lot of really good stuff has been happening to me - I'm perplexed.
Yesterday I got to hang out with a group of friends I hadn't seen in a loooooonnnggg while and we were all like we just saw each other a day before. All the snaps I took...I got tired even.

Today is a brand new day!! There's more fun to catch up with, it's my friend's birthday, it's bonfire day, it's a dinner day - it's a lot day lol but what can I say?
It's our holiday!

Let me just drop this picture of Imeda and I here -->

STYLE CRUSH || Aine Tagon

    

   When I stumbled upon her profile on the blogger programme,  it was her picture that got me. I was like there's no way this pretty face isn't going to have style! Guess what, I was right,  no way, like it's against the beauty code (whatever that is) for you to be pretty, a fashion blogger even more  and not have style.  What are you looking for? What is wrong? Lol Let me introduce you to this beaut I'm talking about - she's Aine Tagon of Aine's wardrobe.

  Aine is a student, fashion blogger and video blogger with a very relaxed approach to fashion. Her style is more street but chic. She knows how to make jaded look like so fresh and she does not care. Her style is safe and neat yet fashionable.

Can you see what i'm talking about? Isn't she stylish? Isn't she pretty?

You can check her blog out: Aine's Wardrobe

Or her youtube page: Aine's Wardrobe

  You see, because most of you aren't internet wayfarers like me, you'd never come across such people you can crush on.

Quote Of The Week

"This week, keep your shoulders up, stand firm, feed your faith, Be confident"

What you stand for will stand for you...don't forget that.

Have a wonerful harmattany week ;)

Get To Know

Hello everyone, I have got news for you.
There's a new blog called PauShades run by students of the Pan Atlantic University, they want to invite to in their community and here's what they have to say to you and your questions:

"What is PAU Shades?:

Yes you asked,

PAU shades is the social and interactive body of students of the Pan Atlantic University in Nigeria.

The Origin of the name:

The name was decided by a group of students, male and female of the university. PAU (Pan Atlantic University) is the name of the university and Shades came from the colours.

Our name basically came from the way a colour has different shades from lightest to darkest but remains the same colour. That's just how we are - different skin colour, different hair colour/length, different body size, different characters, different attitudes, and the list is endless but the main point is, we remain united (the same colour).

The whole idea behind PAU Shades:

PAU Shades was created to share, interact and connect with every active person on the internet. To keep them up to date on our life in the Pan Atlantic University socially.

What we expect:

We expect to have a good relationship with people who connect and interact with us.

Our Motto:

Our differences unite us.

Social networks we're on:
Twitter: @PAUShades

Facebook: PAUShades

Google+: PAUShades

   For any other thing you need to know, you can send us an email at paushades@gmail.com, leave a comment on this blog or post it to us via Twitter, facebook or Google+.

                                     SEE YOU SOON!"

Untitled

Untitled by shariieemauve featuring a collar jacket

Off the shoulder top
seedheritage.com

John Zack collar jacket
$78 - newlook.com

STELLA McCARTNEY shorts
stellamccartney.com

Suede shoes
$600 - christianlouboutin.com

Valextra green purse
barneys.com

Kate Spade stud earrings
saksfifthavenue.com

DailyLook stone necklace
dailylook.com

Gold jewelry
claires.com

Quote Of The Week

"Be the suffix to the rain,
Be the coat of many colours,
Be the gift from being pleasant,
Be the rainbow,
Be the assurance of the end of badluck,
Be beautiful,
Be colourful,
Be a promise - one never broken."

Keep smiling through this colourful and beautiful week you will have!

5 Life Lessons This Week

1. Be friendly: Don't give an attitude, don't think high or low of yourself. Just be friendly, say hi if you can, hug of you can, just do anything to show how friendly you can be.

2. Pray: Prayer is the key that unlocks the door to all pleasant things. Start with prayer, end with prayer.

3. Be patient: Do not be in a hurry, do not be hasty, do not rush. Even if you might be getting late for something, just chill, if it's for you then all things will work for your good.

4. Listen: It'll take nothing from you to just listen to what someone has to say. It might be so useful to you or someone you know.

5. Live right with God: This is how the foundation of your life should be. Live right with God, and nothing, absolutely nothing will be against you or go wrong with you.

   It's not that i've never known all these but an event of yesterday made it dawn on me that these things are deeper than just the surface we see.
Anything can cause anything, so just learn to be friendly to others, pray for yourself and others, have patience, be a listener - an obedient one at that and encourage someone to live right God and you live right with God as well.

Do you know why?
It might be too late and you just might regret it.

Have a blessed weekend guys!

My Top Favourite Nigerian Personal-Life-Style Bloggers

    There’s this saying that goes, “give ______ to whom ______ is due”, have you ever come across it? I have, and that’s what I try to be all about. As some of us know, there’s this world or zone called the “blogosphere”. A world where I’m just a baby girl that’s still crawling, but in this same world there are 3 amazing baby girls that are now walking, running, reaching and touching a lot of things. I just wonder if they ever crawled.To be honest, I haven't really come across a lot of personal/style/fashion/life blogs that are as chic as theirs (if you have, drop a link and let me attest to it). I'm giving recognition to whom recognition is due. 

   That short preceding story just leads to one thing - My top 3 favourite Nigerian (you know the rest) bloggers. I want you all to meet Dodos, Toyin and Cassie!, I havent particularly met any of them in person but I feel this force that is bringing us together ._. 

    All three of them are pretty, they possess this thing that just keeps me refreshing their pages for whatever update, and they have got style I must say.

Tid Bit On Dodos:

   I came across Dodos' blog a few months back during one of those random fashion searches I do online. Her style is so neat, classy and somewhat effortless. She sooo pretty and she's not only a fashion/beauty blogger, she's also a make up artist. I remember I just had to leave a message on her blog avowing my love for her style.

Blog: IAmDodos

Favourite Post(s): All especially the Simple Everyday Makeup, Plaid, Please and Neon x Foral posts.

Dodos

Tid Bit On Toyin

    I began following Toyin's blog up sometime early this year and it's like from her blog you can tell that she has this down to earth-care free-fun lifestyle. I'm drawn to her blog because of her not-afraid to try this or that style. She's a shopper (one with a good good eye for style I can tell).

Blog: TheSohoSister

Favourite Post(s):  Somewhere Being A Hippie, An Ode To Wang and Black Almighty posts.

Toyin

Tid Bit On Cassie

   I'm a one year reader of this blog *bell of blessing rings* lol, well from what I know, Cassie is a model, misc blogger and medical student. Writing about her blog can take a while because there's just something about her blog. She might call it a fashion, life and style blog but with the way I see it, it's more than just that. The blog is...let me say it is interestingly and oddly miscellaneous yet well organised. From the poems, to lessons, to fashion, to style, to everything it's all about. It is a really nice blog to visit.

Blog: Cassandra Ikegbune

Favourite Post(s): Sorry I can't even give a short list. I like almost all her posts.

Cassie

    The cool things about all three of them is the fact that they're young, pretty and stylish which is a plus. Now, I have been sitting on this chair for minutes just writing this short post and it seems like sleep or hunger is calling me. So on that note I rest this case, I feel content that I've put up this my procrastinated post.

    You better visit their blogs and know what i'm talking about >_>

                        Enjoy the rest of your day! xx

A Warm Winter

A Warm Winter by shariieemauve featuring a faux leather backpack

American Vintage shirts top
$71 - net-a-porter.com

Lapel coat
blackfive.com

Paige Denim denim skinny jeans
$290 - julesb.co.uk

Chinese Laundry roll up shoes
dailylook.com

River Island faux leather backpack
$47 - riverisland.com

GoodWood surgical steel stud earrings
karmaloop.com

Lauren Ralph Lauren woolen glove
zappos.com

H M loop scarve
$11 - hm.com

DECEMBER!

It's a new month which is not just any month but the last month of the year - December !!!
  I'm excited about this month for a few reasons, two of which I mentioned in my last post and i'm oh so thankful to God.
  
QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." (Romans 14:13, KJV)

This just simply means we should learn to accept one another, care for one another and serve one another.

One person can find it unacceptable that you find something they find acceptable unacceptable. This is life. One man's treasure is another man's trash. If you judge, you will be judged.
Live with a clear mind towards others.

     Have a blessed and grace filled month!!

xx Sharon x