Glimpse

Hello from me and Mr Penguin.

Honestly, it’s been a pretty challenging couple of weeks. For a start I had a bug with a cold that turned into a flu which turned my throat into a scratch board. Then medication that was suppose to work that didn’t (exactly why I hate medicine). Moral of the story is go and get the flu jab.

There has also been so much good. There was Christmas which was awesome and of course followed a great entry into the new year. Between those two events I ate my body weight in chocolate, chicken and supermalt. I have been thinking so much about this year and what I want to achieve. I don’t believe in luck as I reckon we make our own way. Normally I have new years resolutions all planned and written in my best handwriting at the beginning of the year. However, this year it is taking me a while to collate all that I believe God has planned for the year to come. I reckon this is because I’m really thinking and praying about it and not just writing good stuff down. So here are a couple of things I’ve thinking about. What kind of resolutions are you making, tweet me on twitter or write them down in the comments. My list isn’t 100% certain so we can share 😉

Some of the things on my list:

1. Truly dedicate my time and heart to God. Not just read a couple of verses a day, listen to a couple of worship songs and try to feel warm inside.

2. STOP PROCRASTINATING, urgh it is such an ugly habit that leads to so much regret. Totally not worth it.

3. Spend more time working on my hobbies (like my blog)and continue writing. Stop trying to only post ‘perfect’ posts, they don’t exist. Hopefully get a short story published this year. Any literary magazines for takers?….anyone 😉

4. Spend more time with my family and friends this year. My circle of friends has got smaller. Not because I purposefully stopped talking to anyone, but because it just happened. I love to meet new people, but I’m happiest with lovely people around me. People that just take take take are just exhausting.

5. Look after my hair, skin and body and stop complaining!

I’m like: ‘Argh my skin so sensitive’?

God’s like: ‘No, you just don’t know how to take care of it.’ Ouchy mouchy.

6. Be more open. The ‘I’m fine’ thing needs to STOP. If I need help this year I will just ask and not just suffer in silence. Silly me.

7. Stay away from weaves. They always go wrong for me. My scalp rarely likes them…..don’t know why I bother trying.

8. Avoid buying dresses and wear more separates. I can sometimes find buying bottoms hard as they never fit my urm…hip/butt area ha! But dressing up is fun when it involves more creativity I reckon.

9. Save up and buy myself an incredibly awesome camera for my birthday in August.

10. Eat healthier. More fruits, more veg and less sugar 😦

So what else have I been up to in the last couple of weeks?

😦

Bistro pub steak with 2 good friends, this was incredible but was not enough ha!

Excuse the chipping nails but what Christmas cuteness from the kids from Church!!??

Wrapping up someone’s first Christmas present…

The annual 25min agony over which Christmas card’s match my wrapping paper best.

Mocktail making at a December birthday!

Blogmas 2012: Mac Cosmetics Holiday 2012

You might be wondering….WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CHIOMA! have no fear, I am still alive and well, the blogging schedule was disrupted for a while. While I’m at it, happy December everyone!

(Enjoying my first Starbucks red cup of the season…yummy gingerbread latte)

Christmas is one of my favourite times of year. I love the buzz and excitement. I reckon it’s greatness centres around the fact that we celebrate something incredibly meaningful. Now obviously as a Christian, Christmas mean a lot to me. The excitement kind of makes sense. However, I’ve realised that a lot of  my generation and above seem to be getting tired of the whole affair.Fair enough there’s a lot of fuss involved. Regardless of what you believe who doesn’t love a fork full of turkey and cranberry sauce (nom nom). Say what you will,most people will be sitting around the TV with someone watching the conclusion to a dragged storyline from the likes of Eastender’s. Christmas brings us together.

So up until  the 22nd of December, there will be a gift idea’s. I will even feature present’s for guys(I find them so hard to buy for). Who says I’m not good too you….. Just to make it even more fabulous I will be participating in Vlogmas this year.

Now for those of you confused, Vlogmas is youtube vloggers post something everyday as a part of Christmas excitement. I being the genuis I am (ha), have created blogmas….say hello to posts everyday till the end of the year, YIKES!

Let’s start shall we.

Who doesn’t like something from Mac? What I love about this huge cosmetic brand is how they spear headed diversity in make-up before anyone else realised there was even money in it.

They have some incredible kits for the gift giving season. and all so beautifully packaged.

Prices start from £25 and are available from Mac Cosmetics online and at Mac counters everywhere.

Glimpse and Overthinking it….

On the way to work.

Love how this guy is casually rocking coral beads.

One giant yorkshire pudding with swede and carrot, mash, gravy and awesomeness.

Stopping by my local Carribean takeaway for a beef pattie and cocoa bread nommy!

Coffee and muffin with a friend 😉

Saw these flowers in a pub garden of all places. Just happened to be walking by, isn’t it incredible how much beauty is around us!? Weird huh?

I am one of those people who over think EVERYTHING. Situations, comments, tasks. When given the chance, my mind will run wild. I find dressing for events pretty difficult when I have tonnes of time to plan. Why? Because it gives me more time to freak out! I’m better off when I have 15 minutes to be washed and dressed.

Coco Chanel famously once said ‘always take of the last thing you put on’, I couldn’t agree more. I’m going to my friends wedding this week(yay!), so obviously I need a new outfit :-). I have FINALLY settled on a dress….

Zara Fitted Studio Dress £49.99 at Zara

Now I don’t know whether to go for funky shoes or classic. Earrings or necklace.  I will post pictures up of the finished outfit…when I finally make up my mind.

Glimpse

Hello wonderful readers 🙂 It’s really starting to get cold isn’t it! Definitely time to start autumn/winter shopping, staying warm creates the perfect excuse! If you follow me on Instagram(@bychioma), you may have already seen some of these! Follow me over there so I don’t feel lonely 🙂

For all the regulars on here, you may be wondering why posts have been a bit scarce recently 😦 (sad apologetic face). The first reason is that my day job(the one that puts food on the table), now involves more hours. This is great for my pocket but means I need to learn how to balance life and work and not just stay in bed out of tiredness. The second reason is that my poor old camera has gone to Heaven. That’s right….she is dead. By the way, repairing cameras is so expensive! argh….(scrooge sigh.) Currently deciding whether to fix it or just get a new one!

No Make-up day 🙂 When I don’t wear make-up I look like 5 years younger.

Took my sister and her friends out for her birthday! This dessert was so incredible I’m pretty much salivating just looking at the picture.

I have no idea who this gentleman is, but he was so well dressed I had to take a picture. It’s not often this stands opposite you on the tube.

Getting way too excited in Boots….ah well got my points!!

Waterstone’s tube adverts…..that little boy is the cutest thing ever, those glasses aww!

Just me…ahahhaha?

Attended the incredible Ayo-Dele‘s album launch with friends, such a great night!

Me and my sister fell in love with the same Topshop bag whilst in two different cities. She bought it, I didn’t. I will soon correct this!

Dim-Sum at Ping-Pong

West End battered shopping bags taking a break on Pizza Hut chairs…

Don’t forget to wrap up everyone…get the boots and gloves out!

The Wedding Spotlight’s On…..A Pretty Floral Bridal Shower

I love creatively co-ordinating events. I started planning for this Bridal Shower a couple of months ago. Every event is special to someone, but this one even more so as I am the Bride-to-Be’s maid of honour. I began by picking her favourite colours and went from there.

The theme was hinted by the invitations I designed and followed through to the event. The cupcakes and bunting that I made also helped to bring a vintage/homemade flair to the event. It couldn’t have been done without  help from friends who even came up with things I haven’t thought of….which is why I always carry extra crafting materials!

There were plenty of games and tonnes of laughter!

Being Nigerian, my culture can influence some of the things I do. One of the aspects of my culture is showing gratefulness to  God by finding ways to give back.(In case you didn’t know Nigeria’s constitution was built on the Bible as we were once under British rule!) At weddings, the relatives of the bride and groom give guests favours to thank them for coming to rejoice with them. The last image shown is of the favours I created for guests to take home (later wrapped up in tissue paper and ribbons.)  Couldn’t really let everyone leave without a present could I? ha!