Yoo Hoo! I'm back :)

Hey hey hey Berryboos!

How are yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa? I missed you. Okay okay, stop frowning. I'm sorry I just disappeared like that. I took a much needed break to spend time with my family and do some necessary wedding planning and preparation. Have you forgiven me now? THANK YOU!!!

I'll give you gist about my trip, including pictures in a future post. BUT before that, let me tell you what happened to me before I traveled.

The night before I left, I did the customary running around to make sure I had bought everything I needed to take, got my manicure and pedicure done, got ma hurrs taken care of, and had Cakes help me with packing. The following day, I went to work and eagerly awaited the end of the day for Cakes to take me to the airport. 5 minutes before I left the office, I ran into a coworker and we say hi, and he says he heard I got engaged and wants to see the ring. I proudly brought out my hand, and BAM!!! NO RING!!!!! ENH?! WHAT?! QUE?! What is happening right now????

Source

I mentally run a marathon in my brain, trying to figure out where my ring went. And then it hit me that I had taken it off while packing and placed it by my phones, which were charging. So I call Cakes...

Me: Cakes, please please please, can you go to my house and get my ring from my bed? I put it by my phones last night while I was packing.
Him: I'm already outside your office. And I saw the ring yesterday. But I thought you forgot it, so I kept it in my pocket, but forgot to give it back to you.
Me: Erm, what are you saying?
Him: It's in my pocket. In the pants I wore yesterday. At home.
Me: *heart stops, brain faints, left hand goes numb because his house is an hour in the opposite direction* I'm coming out now

I pick up my handbag very quietly because I'm in shock and I want to cry, but maybe Cakes is joking. He likes playing pranks. Yeah, he's definitely joking... I get to the car...

Him: Hey. I'm really sorry. Are you okay?
Me: *realizing that he's NOT joking* No
Him: Don't worry. You'll be back soon. At least you know I have it.
Me: Yeah
Him: You don't look fine. Are you holding yourself from crying? Baby, just let it out.

BIGGEST

MISTAKE

EVER

Me: *wails, sobs, cries, clutches chest, doubles over, nose running, waterfalls from my eyes* FOR ONE HOUR. 

I cried all the way from Lagos Island to the airport! Cakes, poor thing, called my cousin to try to console me.

Rexie: Ah ah, what's wrong?
Me: My riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing! I WANT MY RING BACK! What's the point of traveling if I don't have my ring?! I can't show it to my sisters in person!
Rexie: Stop crying nowwwww. Okay, since I'm traveling in a few days, I'll bring it back to you.
Me: So I should go a whole week without my riiiiiiiiiing? *more tears*
Rexie: Listen, it'll be fine. I'll bring it for you. Please stop crying. You're scaring Cakes.
Me: Okay... *hangs up and proceeds to call my sister, Cupcakes*

...

Cupcakes: Berry, you're crying?! What happened? What's the matter?
Me: MY RRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
Cupcakes: What happened to it?
Me: I don't have it. Cakes left it in his pants pocket, and it's all the way far away.
Cupcakes: Why doesn't he have one of his staff bring it to the airport?
Me: They're busy.
Cupcakes: Lemme talk to Cakes... Dude, ask one of your guys to meet you at the airport. The flight isn't for another 5 hours.
Cakes: Yeah, I'll do that. Traffic is mad though, but no worries. We'll try.
Me: *tears stop*
Cakes: Oh. You've stopped crying. Are you saying you love the ring more than you love me? :p
Me: Noooo. But having my ring means I'm taking a part of you with me (Am I not a genius for that answer?)

Fast forward to 3 hours later... I have my ring back and I'm a happy camper :D

If anybody had seen me that day enh, I was unrecognizable. My eyes were red and swollen, and my face was puffy from all the crying. You would have thought Michael Jackson came back to life and died all over again.

Moral of the story: Dear Men, don't take your fiancee's ring without telling her at that exact moment. If you do, you will forget the ring in your pocket, leave your pants at home, and then your fiancee will cry for one hour, nonstop.

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First Kiss Fridays!!!

Hello lovers!!!

We've got another story for FIRST KISS FRIDAYS. Many thanks to today's featured guest. Readers are encouraged to send stories of their first kisses ever, first kisses with boyfriends/girlfriends, ex-boyfriends/girlfriends, handsome/beautiful strangers, husbands/wives, you get the idea... It will be TOTALLY ANONYMOUS so feel free to divulge!

Please send your stories to berrydakara@gmail.com

My lip imprint is pretty, no? 

I was about 16 years old, it was my first relationship. We were about 4 months into it but my vigilante mum never gave us a chance to spend up to 25 minutes alone. So, the only times we had to see each other were the few times I had quick errands to run at the nearby mallam's kiosk. 

Then summer holiday came. Bless summer holidays oh my soul!  This gave us more time to spend together! He would come to my JAMB class during breaks/recess. This made it impossible for other "toasters" to approach me, lol. One afternoon, he was able to cajole me into going to have lunch at Chicken Republic. "It's just at Ishaga junction. We'll be back before your break is over," he said. I agreed. We ate fried rice with chicken and Sprite. After lunch, I opted out of going back to lesson, reasoning that the bell would have rung before I'd be able to settle in. And after all, the last class of the day was Christian Religious Studies, which I was sure I could pass without studying. We decided to go to his grandma's house. When we got there, his grandma was on her way out and said we should stay and wait for her return. 

For the first time we were alone for longer than usual. At first we talked about random things. I gisted him about boarding school and how the matron had seen one of the many letters he’d written to me; and her many words of advice. I noticed he wasn't really paying attention to what I was saying, so I told him to tell me what was on his mind. Na so the GEHN GEHN start! Lol!

 
Him: Baby, I want to ask you two questions and then I have a request."

Me: Okay.

Him: Do you love me?"

Me: Yes nah.

Him: Okay, are you still a virgin?

Me: EXCUSE ME?! WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?! For God’s sake, I'm just 16 years old! Of course I am.

Him: Hey hey, don’t shout.

Me: Leave me o! What kind of question is that? *typing this story now is making me laugh so hard.*

Him: Okay, okay. I’m sorry. Baby I’m sorry. Please.

Me: Fine. You’ve asked your questions. What’s the request?

Him: Have you forgiven me?

Me: Yes. What’s the request?

Him: Will you kiss me to prove that I’m forgiven?

Me: *naively thinking he was asking for the usual peck on the lips* Yes o.

So I gave him a peck and withdrew. He smiled, pulled me back to him and said, “That’s not what I meant. Just follow my lead and do as I do very softly.” I simply nodded, lowering my gaze while feeling some sort of embarrassment. He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine, slowly parting my lips with his tongue. Within a few seconds I got the hang of it, and I pulled him closer and kissed him like the expert that I am now. *winks* We continued for about 30 seconds. And yes it was amazing!  

We dated till I got admission into university and started opening eyes. Looool. #DontJudgeMe.

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ANNOUNCEMENT FOR NIGERIAN READERS!!!

*cue news broadcast music* Tan tan, TAN-TAN *drum roll*

Good morning and you are tuned in to the BRRY News Report. The Federal Road Safety Corps of Nigeria announced a looooong time ago that all Nigerian licenses have to be renewed by September 30th, 2013. Unfortunately, I was blissfully unaware until 3 weeks ago, when a random policeman wanted to extort money from me on the road...

Policeman: Let me see your license.
Me: *rolls eyes and hands him license*
Policeman: Where's your new license? This not the correct one.
Me: Heh? What new license?
Policeman: Oh! You don't even know that license are expire in September.
Me: Oh, really? No I didn't know. Can I have my license back?
Policeman: Drop sometin. This not correct license.
Me: Didn't you just say licenses expire in September? This is August so my license is still valid.
Policeman: Hmm. All these English you're talking.
Me: My license is valid. It's 9pm and I'm all by myself. Give me my license jo, I'm going home. *took it and zoomed off*

Anyways, so I got home and spoke to my dad about it - he verified the information. And just yesterday, Cakes and I started the process. Here's what you need to do to process your new driving license in Nigeria...

1. Go to the Nigeria Drivers License website (if you go to FRSC's website, you'll be redirected here)
2. Click on Drivers License Renewal and enter your license number. If your current license wasn't obtained by godly means, then you'll have to enter your data (name, date of birth, address, etc). If it was gotten properly, then your data will be automatically drawn up. The validity of your current passport will determine the level of stress you'll have to go through. (I went through the stress #DontJudgeMe)
3. When you're done with the form, you're supposed to pay N6350 online or at any bank stated on the website. I chose to pay at the bank because I didn't want to sign up for the payment portal suggested.
4. Print out the form you filled, and staple it to the bank receipts and forms they print (include 2 passport photographs) and head over to the Licensing Office to register. *NOTE* When you get there, they'll more than likely send you to the Vehicle Inspection Office first. I'm not sure if this is only for shady licenses sha.
5. When you get to the Vehicle Inspection Office, you'll be required to do a Vision Test (costs N600) and Written Road Rules Test (10 to 20 multiple choice questions in 5 minutes). I got 94% on my test - YAY ME!!! 8-) *nerd alert* Once these are done, one passport photograph will be taken from you and they'll sign a few more forms and attach it to your bundle.
6. Take this bundle back to the Licensing Office. They'll ask you to photocopy about 4 pages, then bring the bundle back to them and they'll register you and give you a date for your biometric data capture (fingerprinting and stuff like that). Once you have that date written on your form, I would advise that you photocopy that page in case our policeman and road safety friends stop you on the road for whatever reason. That date proves that you've started the process. 
7. This is as far as I've gone, but the next steps are to (A) Go for your biometric data capture (B) You'll be given a temporary license for 60 days while your license is being prepared (C) Voila, you have a valid license to drive in Nigeria.

I must note that my friend completed his biometric data capture in August 2012 and his license was ready just last week. *blank stare* le sigh for Nigeria sha. 

Cakes and I were able to complete Steps 4 to 6 in about 3 hours. But I must say that Nigerian government agency buildings are disgraceful. I mean there were goats, chickens and dogs lying around AND INSIDE the Licensing Office!!! And don't get me started on the Vehicle Inspection Office that's on one end of a scrap yard. It just made me think and wonder how Nigeria came to this. There was a time when things were orderly, right? When government buildings and staff were efficient... when the toilets worked and they didn't have to put a large container of water and a bucket for you to flush with. NASTYYYYYYYYYYYY!

And that brings me to the end of this broadcast. Thank you for tuning in to BRRY News Broadcast. Have a safe evening.

*side note* I started with 'Good morning' and ended with 'Have a safe evening.' Could this be the longest/slowest news broadcast ever? :p

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Weekend Snaps!

This weekend I...

1. Started the TW Magazine Fitness Challenge, with the super-fit Kate Henshaw as the celebrity attached to the project. For the next 12 weeks, 20-25 of us ladies will be working out and watching our food to lose weight, get healthy, and live better lives. 

2. Went to Coldstone Creamery for a wedding-oriented meeting. I DID NOT eat any ice cream. But...

Apparently some ladies didn't know that the waffle bowls can be eaten (that's Cakes' theory). I just said they were being wasteful.

Trying to pretend my hair's longish.

3. Went to Sunday lunch with my closest girls. Instead of fries, I got herb potatoes. And I had a Grilled Chicken Avocado sandwich. #MustBeAHawtBrideByForce

4. Went on a short beach date with Cakes!!!!!!!! We had fun. I got wet. Luckily I had freshly laundered clothes in the car and changed like Superman :D

 

Uh oh! Buried Treasure. Not good for my Hawt Brided-ness!

What did YOU do this weekend? And why wasn't I invited? *sulking*

FOINALLY!!! Our pre-wedding photos

Hello berry pretty people!

How was your weekend? Did you have an awesome time? Today's Labor Day in the States and I'm so jealous of my family that'll be spending time shopping and lazing about and eating lots of food. Wait, I'm supposed to be trying to fit into a wedding dress... sometimes I just want to ask God why I'm not naturally toned, fit and have a body that's like Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Salma Hayek all at once...

Anyways, remember I mentioned my pre-wedding shots in an earlier post? I really wanted to share them with you, but couldn't because Bella Naija was going to post them up. So I just waited and waited, and learned a little bit more about patience, and finally our pictures were posted on Fridaaaaaaaaaaaay!!! In addition to the pictures, I had written a list of things I love about Cakes, and they were all posted there too.

I'll just share a few of my favorite shots here, and then you can read the looooooong post on Bella Naija - What I <3 About Cakes. We've had soooooo many comments, prayers, well wishes and I'm so grateful to everyone who wishes us well. Thanks to you, my readers for your love too. Thanks to Bella Naija for the lovely post. Thanks to Cakes for being you and loving me. Thanks to my family for their love and support. And finally, I thank God for ALLLLLLLLLLLL He's done, doing, and will do in my life.

"Wink and a cake for ya?"

LOVE THIS PICTURE!

I'm fine sometimes o.

The pictures were taken by Eze-One Photography in my friend's aunt's house and one of the little parks in VGC. He comes highly recommended by moi and will fly anywhere!

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