Pictures from New Bride,Adenike Ojo's wedding

2013 NSE Essay Competition

Here's a fun opportunity to win cool prizes for actually being smart. 

Win Scholarships, Equity Investment, Tablets and Computers for your school. Enter for The Nigerian Stock Exchange Essay Competition 2013. Download entry forms at www.nse.com.ng or fill an online form on https://www.facebook.com/TheNigerianStockExchange/app_256579511063777

Courage and beauty

So, a lot has happened in terms of transitioning in my life

... from all gooey eyes to a maturing confident young lady
... from sitting tight with things I don't like to leaving and then living.

Life honestly does not owe anybody anything, so instead of sitting and looking at your wristwatch, impatient with a frown, wondering why Life is delaying with all the good things and promises that should be on a platter of gold, with a big red ribbon, its really important to realise that time waits for no man and time spent can NEVER be regained, hence it has to be invested wisely.

My advice is live deliberately...

Now on a lighter note, I stumbled on information, well more like good news for folks with oily skin like yours faithfully, moi...  I really i'm careful about how my face looks and the story it tells, so i'm careful with what I feed my skin. With that brief intro I  heard that egg white and lemon is fab facial, so its supposed to suck out the oil and the protein is nutritious food for your face...

...That's it, i'm off to make an omelette on my face if that's what it takes, lol

xoxo

PS- Hopefully my next post would be soon...

Double xoxo

Open facial secrets

                        

Venting

...  I get frustrated when I feel a fresh pimple on my face. People say that its more rare to have severe acne after teenage years (lies they tell). I'm a testimony to that, so in addition to it probably being as a result of oily skin or hormonal issues, I learnt that the following are causes of these breakouts

 

Stress

Obviously, stress is the cause of a multitude of skin and health issues. Even excitement (like preparing for a vacation or wedding) can be wrongly read as stress by your body, and affect skin the same way.

Your Hair
The products that you use to style your hair rub up against your skin whether you notice it or not. Every time a lock of hair brushes across your cheek, you’re guaranteed to be transferring some type of product onto your skin, which causes pore blocking, especially if you’re susceptible to an oily scalp.

Water
Surprisingly enough, the same thing you use to help clean your skin can cause your pore blockage. Hard water, or water with a high concentration of minerals, does not rinse away soap as effectively, and the leftover residue can clog pores.

Lattes
Research has suggested that a dairy-rich diet can cause acne. Proteins and peptides in cow’s milk can increase your body’s oil secretion and clog your pores. If you’re a regular dairy drinker, like someone who has a latte or two a day, you could be causing some of your acne this way.

Your Boyfriend (hehe)
Chances are if you have a boyfriend, his face is rubbing up against yours more often than you think. This causes friction, inflammations, and transferring of his facial oils onto your face: a major pore blocker.

Birth Control
The pill is frequently used as a skin clearer, but with any medication, it can have an opposite effect on some females. After all, the pill is essentially a huge surge of hormones being added to your body, this of course could be to blame.

The Sun
We all love the sun (well not the blazing scorching sun). Anyways there's a boring cycle involved in how the body reacts, but the end is it sometimes leads to clogged pores.

There you go... Now we are armed with information. No more boyfriend for me, that's my only takeout, lol

 

Stop Doing These, To Start Living Life

If you are at a point in life – no matter what age – where you are looking at life, and you ask yourself what it is you’re doing, you probably need to re-evalaute those things.
Questions like, why am I dating him, why am I friends with her, why am I giving up my own self-worth for others to be happy? You wonder why you are sacrificing yourself to make others happy.
You know that in the end, the happiness of others will not make you happy. So why are you still living life like this? Here is a list of things to stop doing to start living life the way you want to and to be 100 percent satisfied.

Stop spending time with the wrong people.

I have seen too many occasions where a person likes another person and will do everything and anything to impress them. If you are this person, in return for your devotion, you probably receive next-to-nothing, as the other person is only looking out for their own worth and satisfaction. If you find yourself consistently going out of your way to do something for someone else and they show no gratitude, it’s time to give it up. This could be something as little as buying your favorite coffee before meeting up, or sending a funny picture to let you know they’re thinking of you. If you are important to them, they will let you know. Even if it’s someone who has been there from the beginning, people change, and sometimes it’s a negative change.  It’s okay to move on from friendships that are holding you back.

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Stop running from your problems.

If there is something going on with you and you are facing the other way, you’re going to get pushed face first into the ground. Running from your problems just leads to other negative things that will just lead to a whole spiral of negativity, which you will never be able to get out of until you lose control. Just remember, people are not made to be strong and solve every problem with ease. People are made to cry, laugh, feel sad, stumble and fall, with difficulty getting back up. The sum of your experiences is what eventually turns you into the person you want to be, or not be – whichever you decide is up to you.

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Stop lying to yourself.

Don’t try to be someone you aren’t. Lying to yourself will only translate to lying to other people, and eventually, everything you represent will be a lie. Don’t be that person. Be true; be you – whether you’re good, bad, happy, or sad. Own up to yourself and love yourself.

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Stop berating yourself for old mistakes.

Stop beating yourself up for past mistakes. You are not that person – you made a mistake. Mistakes happen. Everyday is a new day, and you are here now to learn from that mistake, accept it and move forward with every day of your life. Learn from it and move on from it.
Every past event that happened in your life happened for a reason. Those events happened to you so you could handle a moment that has not yet arrived. If someone puts you down for your past mistakes, holding you back from moving forward, from that person. No one person is powerful or influential enough to make you feel inferior to yourself without your consent.

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Stop being idle and thinking so much. Just do it!

Thinking about something you cannot change is the most ridiculous thing people do. The more you think, the more problems you create. It’s like when you broke something at homw as a little kid and didn’t know what to tell your mom. You got so worked up about it. You started to cry; you started to breath heavy and scream.
You did not know what to tell her.  You made up a story and ended up getting in trouble for it. Then, she discovers you didn’t tell her the truth, and in reality, if you had just told her what really happened, you wouldn’t have been in trouble at all. Weigh out the situation and take an action. Progression is key.

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Stop thinking you’re not ready.

You are never really ready for anything: your first steps, your first test, your first kiss, your first job, marriage, baby, etc. You don’t understand how many things you are actually not ready for, but it happens anyway. When you look back and recall where you were last year and all that you have overcome, you will realize you are never really ready for anything life has to throw at you, but your experience has made you ready. New opportunities incite nerves. Take a leap of faith and get comfortable with the things that scare you, and you can handle anything.

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Stop letting others bring you down to their level.

You should never have to explain yourself, and you should never have to defend yourself. Do not lower your standards for those who will not raise theirs. Trust me, those people are not worth it. Know your self worth and those who bring you down will never faze you again.

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Stop overlooking small moments.

There are so many beautiful moments that people tend to overlook, as they are consumed in their own selves and what’s going on. Everyday before bed, look back on your day and point out something that made you smile. Eventually, you will look for the little things on a daily basis and your days won’t seem so normal or so boring. Days are long; life is short; people come and go at the most unexpected times. Embrace life, and life will embrace you.

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Stop trying to be everything to everyone.

Learning this will only make you happier and less stressed. The only way to explain this is to say, “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” Put your energy into people whose energy will respond.

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Stop worrying so much.

Just think, does this problem have a solution? If not, then why worry about it? If yes, then why worry about it? Have a beer and let whatever is going to happen, happen. You cannot change what you do not have control over so stop trying to.

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Stop focusing on things you do not want to happen.

When you focus your energy on things that are positive, rather than thinking of the negative, the universe will feel your energy and make the positive more prominent in your life. For example, if you really want a job, but you’re not sure how you did on the interview, just consider the positive aspects of the interview, rather than the negative.
Tell yourself you will get the job, and chances are, that job will be yours. This applies to everything you do in life. Wake up with the sun shining and bring positivity into your every day and to everyone you encounter. For example, if you wake up late, drive to work and while getting out of the car, you lock your keys in your car, do not allow for this to be a negative occurrence that weighs down your day. Instead, think positively about a solution to the situation and only positivity will ensue. If you think negatively, that just gives off a negative vibe and everything from there on out will not be happy.

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Stop being ungrateful.

While your complaining about life, someone out there is taking their last breath. Be thankful, pray more, stress less and live free.

20 Pieces Of Advice To Get You Through Your 20s

The time you spend in your 20s can be the most influential in regards to your future. These years are incredibly crucial to your development. But as important as these years are, they can be the most confusing. For many of people, this is our first time living independently while navigating the post-grad world. There is so much uncertainty that surrounds every aspect of our lives, whether it’s dating, friendships or a career path.

At times, it is difficult to lose sight of what is truly important to us. Let’s take a look at the 20 pieces of advice that are crucial to succeeding in your 20s.

  

 

 

 

 

1. Stop Settling

Why do people choose to be complacent instead of moving where there are better opportunities? Mediocrity is a place people often get stuck in and do not know how to escape from. This is a mindset that can only be changed with mind renewal. In order to move from this place, one must think differently, get rid of what hasn’t worked, connect with those who can give sound direction, design a plan of action and put that plan in motion.

We accept jobs we hate (oh yeah), we deal with friends who let us down and we let our significant others get away with a lot of bull. You can’t expect to achieve more in life if you keep accepting the bare minimum.

2. Be Positive

“You attract the energy you put out. The universe will keep sending you problems and annoyances that hit an issue you have within yourself as long as they remain useful to you. Once that issue is resolve, the problem no longer stimulates your personal evolution and therefore no longer needs to happen. Happiness therefore lies within a shifting of perspectives in the present moment. Choose freedom. Choose liberation. Move from panic to freedom and watch a world of magic and bliss open itself up to you.” Think positive.

  3. Get Over FOMO

There’s always going to be something going on, some event to attend. If you always give into FOMO, you will never have time to do the things you want. Also you’ll probably become a fat alcoholic and waste away all of your potential. Don’t let others pressure and guilt you into doing things you don’t want to do.

4. There Are Always More Fish In The Sea

Yes, this is beyond clichéd, but it’s true. There are over 6.974 billion people in the world, do you REALLY think there is only one right person out there for you? Each person you date over the course of your life will teach you something new. Who you are at 15 is way different from who you are at 21 and who you are at whatever age will be way different than who you are at 40. At different points in our lives, we need different things and different lessons. Of course, once a relationship has ended, you are going to be upset, but mourn and let it go. Take the lessons you learned and carry them with you.

5. Be Ambitious

If you want something, go out and achieve it; anything is possible if you put your mind to it. That dream job you want is completely within your reach. Realize what it is you really want and don’t stop until you get there. Set goals and do everything in your power to make them come true. Live like there’s no tomorrow and make the most out of any situation.

6. Accept Change

Change is a natural part of life and as soon as you recognize that, the better off your life will be. People are terrified of change, failure and taking risks. It’s not about unrealistic goals or perfection. It is about changing the things you can to be happy, not simply drifting along in life and complaining.

 

 

7. Know Your Priorities

It is important to have a clear idea of what you want in life. If you do not establish your priorities, it is too easy to lose sight of what’s important to you and what is not. By recognizing this, you can better manage your time between commitments.

 

8. Don’t Rush

We live our lives in one huge hustle and bustle. We are always on the go, looking for the next thing to do; while we are doing one thing, we are thinking about doing something else. Distraction takes away from the current task at hand. When you choose to engage yourself in one thing, you need to focus on that and only that. Focusing on one thing is quite difficult, but it is more than worth it. Sure, multitasking can be a useful skill, but you most likely will end up with worse results.

 

 

9. Confidence Is Key

Even if you are faking it, people respect a person with confidence. Fear paralyzes people and holds them back. Many people suffer from tremendous amounts of self-doubt and are unable to believe they are good enough. There are always better options out there, but too many people have low self-esteem, which prevents them from realizing this.

 10. Don’t Lose Sight Of Your Goals

Hurdles will appear constantly throughout the course of your life, but you cannot let these obstacles deter you from reaching your goals. Take each challenge as a learning opportunity that will only help you grow as an individual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 11. Start Exercising

Your metabolism starts to change at this time in your life, so it is beyond important to establish some sort of fitness regime. Don’t work out to impress others, but rather to make yourself feel good, this will only help to increase your confidence. I should heed this advice too.

 

12. Increase Your Financial Intelligence

It’s no fun being broke and living paycheck to paycheck. You need to increase your financial awareness, so you can optimize your savings. Your 20s are typically the first time you have money at your disposal, don’t fall into the trap of spending on pointless stuff just because you can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13. Have Fun

The most basic piece of advice — just have fun. Go out and do things for yourself that will bring you pleasure. It doesn’t matter what those things are, but if they make you happy, go out and do them. Don’t listen to the opinions of others, if it is something you want, just do it. Sometimes just the thought of a great story or memory can be enough to motivate you, embrace it because no one wants to look back on their life and wonder: ‘what if?’

14. Live Your Passion

Stop wasting your precious time with a career you don’t like. This will only make you miserable. Life is too short to waste time, so let your sense of purpose motivate you to greatness. Travel if you need to. Indulge. Have your "me" time.

 

15. Live In The Moment

There is no sense in worrying about the past or the future. The past has already happened and there is nothing you can change about it. The only thing you should carry from your past are the lessons you learned from it. The future is completely uncertain, so there is no reason to consume yourself with worry about it. If you waste time thinking about points in time you cannot control, you limit the capability of yourself in the present moment.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16. No Regrets, No Excuses, Just Results

Seize each opportunity that is presented to you and immerse yourself completely. Do not make excuses because you will only hinder your own personal progress. If you want results, you need to stop making excuses. Work hard because that is the only way you will garner the largest and most beneficial results.

 

17. Surround Yourself With Good People

The people you choose to surround yourself with can, and often do, sway your behavior, sometimes preventing you from reaching your full potential. You need to surround yourself with people who are constantly pushing themselves for the better. If you consistently surround yourself with negative people, it will hinder your progression in life. Why choose to spend time with people that are holding you back when you can surround yourself with people that can elevate you?

 

 

18. Always Be Where The Opportunities Are

You cannot just sit back and except opportunities to present themselves to you. Take risks and surprise yourself. You need to be proactive and seek chances out. Do not take a backseat to life; go out and make things happen. Remember strategy is everything.

 

19. Don’t Be Afraid To Fail

Fear is one of the biggest limitations we place on ourselves. You cannot concern yourself with failure because honestly you never know what you can achieve until you try. Remain positive — life is what you make of it, and although life can throw you some awfully big blows, you are fully capable of overcoming them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

20. Eat Healthy

Your future self will thank you for this. Heart diseases, diabetes and other health risks can be decreased if a proper diet is followed. Treat your body right and you will be happily rewarded.




from http://elitedaily.com/life/20-pieces-of-advice-to-get-you-through-your-20s/

Our little prince is here

Whoop whoop, so excited, I hear from a very reliable source at St Mary hospital that the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton has delivered a cute darling baby boy. Whoop! I bet I’m about the first to break the news. You don’t believe me, the date of this post will confirm it.

Congratulations are in order to the parents and extended family including the good people of England and of course the world... me included. lol.

All hail Lagos roads...

Now this is a major expressway in Lagos. and yeah, these roads used to be tarred, now they are a nightmare!

Interesting Fats

So i read somewhere that Smart women grow curvy hips! Based on research, curvy hips indicate smart women who will deliver intelligent children! Women should have fat in their hips, rather than their waist, because hip fat is usually high on omega-3 fatty acids (fat that develop the brain), while waist fat is high on omega-6 fats that do not develop the brain. 

Also, butt and thigh fat is much better for your brains than belly fat. Mid-life large belly not only increases the risk of diabetes and heart problems. People with mid-life bellies were 3 times more likely to develop dementia later in life. 

Now whether its true or not #talkingtomyhips,buttandthighs# c'mon, grow, c'mon come out some more. Dont be shy, you now have more reason to. lol