Checking In #6

 Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Grace how you doing? As you may know, I recently did another Big Chop because of a rogue stylist that critically damaged my curls – click HERE to read all about that tragic episode and you can see the videos on Instagram too. So Grace is a low pro right now. Surprisingly, I’ve actually started to like the TWA look. It’s a look I always wanted to try but never had the guts to. With this Big Chop, I felt almost forced into it and I definitely wasn’t ready for the drastic look. I still feel a bit bitter about the experience when I think about it but on the upside, I am really beginning to get comfortable with the look; so much so I’ve already visited the barber’s chair twice since the initial Big Chop. I’m even thinking of keeping it…don’t panic though, I said thinking. Let’s wait and see what the future holds.Product love: Toofaced Better than Sex Mascara. This mascara is crazy! I have like 10 lashes on a good day but this mascara takes them and multiplies them by like a million. Ok I exaggerate, maybe only a thousand. Ha! Seriously, though, I love it. Consider my predicament, I’m still getting used to my cut and I need all the help I can get with highlighting my features to make sure I don’t look too masculine. This mascara does a fantastic job helping with that, even more so when I double up, or even triple up on the lashes. The difference is certainly clear!

Wearing: Makeup. Lots of it. And on a regular basis – See above question and response. As I just said above, much as I have grown to love Grace’s new look, I cannot afford to be complacent. The fact is, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt without any makeup on, I look like a 12 year old boy. So makeup has become my new best friend. My shoulders have come down and I am no longer proud. I do not go anywhere without some mascara and eye brow definition (Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz is most definitely my go-to eyebrow pencil.)

Food cravings: Pizza. Not just any ol’ pizza though. I want Pizzeriah pizza. If you live in Lagos, you will know exactly what I’m talking about. If you don’t, head to 13 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, Lagos and then thank me later. Need to get me as much of that pizza before the New Year!

Highlights of 2017:

I thought I would just run through my highlight reel of the year 2017, so here we go!

Passing my law school exams and being called to the Nigerian Bar was probably the biggest highlight of the year for me. The past 18 months were not a waste!The testimonies keep on rolling in because I got a job too! I was going crazy whilst on the job hunt and then my job just happened. Like literally. I applied for it whilst on holiday (it was a working holiday ha!) and then before I knew it, interviews were done, I was jumping on a plane, contract signed and now I’m looking for a place to live. I don’t want to give the game away just yet but the clue is in the picture!Even more exciting is seeing how all these things are just fitting in with my Forty By Forty list. I could not have planned things better. Already, I can see I’ll be crossing off quite a few things in the New Year. Yes!

Whilst I didn’t get to do as much travel as I would have liked this year, the travel I did was pretty awesome. I had a fantastic post-exam holiday break in Tenerife and here in Nigeria I had some amazing experiences which included camping out in Ogun State in search of elephants, visiting the famous water town of Makoko, discovering the magic of the infamous Fela Shrine and experiencing some good ol’ relaxation at Tarkwa Bay. Camping on Omo Forest Reserve in search of elephants TenerifeMakoko Fela’s Shrine Tarkwa Bay Click HERE to read all my travel adventures and HERE for Nigeria-specific trips.

2017 was definitely the year of African fashion for my wardrobe. Good Lord, I couldn’t get enough. Click on the links below to my favourite outfits of the year.Sunday best: ResoluteSunday best: Time fliesQueen of the CanariesHoliday best: Same but differentSunday best: Backdrop

Looking forward to: 2018. New country. New job. New way of life.

Dreading: With all the excitement of all the “new new” above, there’s a little bit of apprehension too. After all, these ARE major life changes. But right now I just want to focus on the excitement. I’m ready, bring it!

How I’m doing on my goal setting: (click HERE to also read my resolutions)

Goals from previous Checking in: Go on holiday. Find a job. Make it out of SW Nigeria.

I’m pretty pleased to say I smashed those goals. I achieved all three (yeah who’s your mommy now?! Ha!) Sorry, getting carried away!

1. Holiday – The Tenerife posts can testify to a brilliant holiday (see above highlight reel) and best believe that there are still more posts to come!
2. I got a job! (Again see above)
3. I made it out of the South West of Nigeria. It may have only been to Abuja for my Bar ceremony but you know what? It counts!

On my other resolutions I may not have been totally successful. I had a grand total of TWO drum lessons in 2017. I haven’t yet managed to hold a dinner party (my nerves couldn’t take it this year!) but I did successfully organise two games nights since the last checking in post and those were tantamount to dinner parties in my view. Ok maybe not but close enough. Or not…

Goals for the next four months: Get back to regular blogging at least once a week. Find a place to live. Cook at least one meal a week. Till then, I wish you all a blessed and prosperous 2018. Happy New Year!