January 29, 2016

Berry Lovely Links

Hey guys,

I hope you've had a better week than I have. But what I have to remember is that no matter what I'm going through, because God is right beside me, I will not be shaken (Psalm 16:8 is what I've been meditating on the past 2 days). Anyways, yay to links! I think they should be light ones, nothing too heavy this week.

January 28, 2016

Blogging in Nigeria

Today I want to share my responses to the Blogging in Nigeria tag. I started blogging a few years ago and it's been a fun, and sometimes challenging ride. Being a Lifestyle blogger in Nigeria is interesting and even though there's an external push sometimes to go in the gossip and entertainment niche, that is simply not my style. In this video, I share my thoughts as a blogger in Nigeria and I hope you find it insightful.

The questions are:

1. Name of your blog.
2. Why did you start blogging?
3. Are you a full time blogger?
4. What do you know now that you wish you knew then?
5. Challenges of blogging in Nigeria (hint: guess how long it took to upload my video?)
6. How much was your first paid ad/ anything?
7. How is the Nigerian blogosphere?
8. What’s your family’s response to you blogging knowing the Nigerian culture with staple jobs?
9. Message to Nigerian brands.
10. Plans for your blog.
11. Perks of blogging in Nigeria.
12. Do you think blogging should be a career path?
13. What do you hope for the future of blogging in Nigeria?
14. Have you ever been copy righted/stolen from someone?
15. Do you feel fulfilled blogging?


This tag was created by Sisi Yemmie and Tosin Alabi (Africanism Cosmpolitan) - all vloggers and bloggers in Nigeria are encouraged to share their answers. 

Enjoy the video, and please subscribe (and like it on Youtube) and share it on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

January 27, 2016

#My2016Goals Workshop is coming February 6th

Ladies!

If you read my blog last year, you know that I attended a series of events (here and here) created by Glory Edozien, who runs the Inspired by Glory brand. The brand also produces a regular vlog series, The Inspire Series, which is aimed at encouraging women to live, love, pray and be inspired!

Glory is back with a new event aimed at personal development, goal setting AND actualization for women. I'm proud to be a media partner for the event and I think it's a great opportunity for any woman who's looking to progress in 2016.

And now I introduce #My2016Goals - Strategizing for Success!


Every year we make resolutions, set goals, targets and hope we achieve our dreams. For most of us, by March some of these goals are either forgotten or seem beyond our reach. The truth is, sometimes, life gets in the way. Old habits return, we get weighed down by over ambitious goals, lack proper planning and time management skills, lack self confidence and motivation or simply give up too easily. To make matters worse, almost every news pundit is suggesting that 2016 will be a tough year for the economy.
How can we position our personal lives, careers, businesses to succeed in tough economic times? How can we set realistic but ambitious goals for 2016? What strategies for success can we imbibe? How can we empower ourselves financially to meet our goals? How can we ensure we stay focused on achieving our goals throughout 2016?
Why the #My2016Goals Workshop?
The objective of  the #My2016Goals Workshop is to ensure attendees set realistic, targeted and ambitious goals, while also ensuring that they have the tools to remain focused on actualisation throughout 2016.

At the end of the event each woman will have a set of realistic goals, a personal vision board, tools for tracking and monitoring progress, an understanding of the role of finance in realising her goals, and much more!

The event will feature amazing speakers, with tried, tested and trusted strategies for achieving set ambitions and targets. Speakers include
  • Stephanie Obi - Business Coach who will be helping workshop participants to create their personal vision boards and teaching on how to stay focused on achieving your goals no matter how ambitious they seem.


  • Omilola Oshikoya- Africa’s Premier Wealth Coach who will be speaking on how to finance your dreams and visions as well as important financial goals to set during tough economic times


  • Glory Edozien- Founder Inspired by Glory who will be speaking on how self love can help you achieve your goals


Who is the #My2016Goals Workshop for?

The #My2016Goals Workshop is for women who are passionate about personal development and want to succeed in 2016.

It is for women who want to learn how to stay focused on achieving their goals no matter how big they are, women who want to learn important financial goals to set during tough economic times and how to finance their dreams. The event is also for women who want to learn how to move past self doubt and become better managers of their money.

Date: 6th February 2016
Time: 10am Prompt
Venue: Prestige Hospitality Building. Plot 6a Block 64 Fola Osibo. Lekki Phase 1
Fee: N25,000 (Early Bird till 1st February 2016);  N35,000 (After the 1st of February 2016)
To register: please visit here and fill out the form at the bottom of the page.

Kindly email events@inspiredbyglory.com for more information 

January 26, 2016

Boyfriend Shirt - Naija Style

Yo yo!

I've got a Style post today, and I know the title says "Boyfriend Shirt" but technically it's Hubby's shirt. And it's not the typical Boyfriend's shirt you're used to seeing in fashion magazines. I brought it home - Naija style.

I can't remember what made me decide to try on one of Cakes' shirts one day. He wasn't at home, and maybe I felt like shopping or wearing something new, and I found myself in his section of the closet. This was the first thing that grabbed my attention, and when I put it on, it kinda made sense! All I needed to do now was try to convince him to let me wear it. I didn't really have a plan, but I waited for a random Sunday to ask him. To my surprise he said he didn't even want it anymore and I could have it for keeps! Yay me!

January 25, 2016

REVIEW - Sky Restaurant at Eko Hotels and Suites

Hiya!!!

How was everyone's weekend? I hope you had fun, rested, relaxed, or did whatever you wanted to do. Cakes and I had guests over on Saturday - they were originally supposed to come at 2 and ended up coming at 5. As in, I was too hungry to wait for them so I started eating before they came :p Anyways, we had a nice time hosting and I wish I did more of it last year. Ah well. We also shot a video (yes, me and Cakes so stay tuned for it in a week or two).

You already know that for our Anniversary Date, I wanted Cakes and I to go somewhere fancy. That somewhere fancy happened to be Sky Lounge at Eko Hotels and Suites. Like I mentioned, I'd been there several times and it was Cakes' first time. This is the review I promised back then. Erm, if you're hungry go and eat first, then come back and read.

Source - Afriscover

January 24, 2016

Berry's Bible Study - Fasting and Prayer

Hi there!

If this is your first time seeing this, I started a Bible Study series about 2 weeks ago and intend to do it regularly. I almost posted last week, but wasn't sure if I was forcing it. I don't want to feel like I'm forcing a post and my heart isn't in it, but then I just now thought 'What if someone needed to hear what I skipped writing last week?' Hmm.

Anyways, today I want to go over some verses about Fasting. Typically at the beginning of the year, a lot of churches call for corporate fasts ranging from 3 to sometimes a whopping 100 days! I have to admit that mostly while in Atlanta, I partook in our annual 21-day fast, but wouldn't really fast throughout the year again. Additionally when I was fasting, I was not doing the prayer part - which essentially is either going on a hunger strike, or dieting (let's be honest). I also noticed that sometimes I wasn't paying attention to the spiritual part of it, but would excitedly wait to see how much weight I lost (you know you've done that before too, don't lie).

January 22, 2016

Berry Lovely Links

It's Friday and we've got another set of interesting stories to read!!! Today we have a bonus link because I can't wait till next week to share the last article. It's a MUST-READ for every Nigerian (especially us young ones).

January 21, 2016

My Favorite Creative Cakes by Cakes

There isn't anybody who reads my blog that doesn't know that my husband, who I fondly call Cakes, is a baker and cake designer in Lagos. From simple buttercream cakes to very creative cakes, commonly called character cakes. I know there's a time and place for everything, but I always wish his clients and customers would push the creative envelope. His team is very capable of making those kinds of cakes and I wish they had more orders for character cakes - but that's just me.

Today I'd like to share my favorite character cakes that have come from his bakery. I hope you like them as well.

January 19, 2016

BERRY CHOPS: Honey Pepper Chicken Sandwich

The last time I did a food post, I shared Cakes's Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe. The comments were very encouraging and I made a mental note to try and do more food posts. But please note, when I'm the one in the kitchen, the meals are VERY VERY simple and straightforward. Left to me I shouldn't have to spend more than 15 minutes in the kitchen - especially when I'm very hungry. So for the more elaborate, time-involving meals, Cakes will be the cook. For simple ones like today's own, it shall be moi, ~Chef Berrie~ (make sure you say it in a French accent!)

Today, I bring you the Honey Pepper Chicken Sandwich.

January 18, 2016

2016 Blog Goals

Hiya!

Last week, I shared my 2015 Goals recap and mentioned that I hadn't quite yet put a finger on what direction I wanted my goals for 2016 to go in. I'm beginning to think I'm using it as an excuse to NOT come up with goals. But I do know that there are some things I want to do better, more of, or differently this year. I'll share them below.

January 15, 2016

Berry Lovely Links


Hey hey!

It's the end of another week and I'm glad that I'm spending most of the weekend at home - I have a lot to do (see Link 6 from today).

January 14, 2016

Nigerian and Natural Tag

I ran across another tag on Youtube, called the Nigerian and Natural tag. It was created by Nappyfu and Klassy Kinks.

The tag contains the following questions:

1. What is your full Nigerian name?
2. When was your first relaxer?
3. How did you wear your hair in elementary school?
4. When did you go natural and why?
5. What were your parents' reactions when you went natural?
6. Which 1 product would you bring if you were to spend 1 month in Nigeria?
7. Palm oil or Coconut oil?
8. Do you use any products from Nigeria?
9. Food favorites: egusi vs. okra soup, rice and stew vs jollof rice, puff puff vs chin chin, suya vs stockfish?
10. What's the state of natural hair amongst Nigerians?


January 12, 2016

Anniversary Style

Last week I shared some photos from our anniversary date. In picking out my outfit, the number one thing I wanted was to be comfortable - which meant that even after eating, I wanted to be free to NOT hold in my stomach.

January 11, 2016

2015 Goals Catch-Up and 2016 Goals

I've been putting this post on hold. Ideally I wanted it to go up either Day 365 of 2015 or Day 1 of 2016. Obviously neither happened. I think the reason why I'm struggling with it is because I have not yet grasped a clear picture on what I want for 2016. I know other bloggers have been putting up their new year's resolutions and goals posts, and it's been fun to read all of them. While I'd like to do the same, I can't come here and pretend that I have everything together. There's a very big change coming up soon (I've told some readers privately) and I've been anxious particularly about my blog.

January 10, 2016

New Series - Berry's Bible Study

Every now and then, I've put up posts around a Bible passage and my thoughts or questions about it. I've also done a Proverbs challenge before, even though I never did the last chapter. I use Youversion Bible app as my preferred tool, and apart from their many many devotionals, they also have Notes where you can write your thoughts about a specific verse or chapter. Sometimes I share my notes publicly and other times I keep them private. I wrote one last week and made it public, and Lola commented that I should post it on the blog.

I thought that posting it was a good idea, and I think it's something I might want to do more often, hence the "series." Please note that Berry's Bible Study is not intended as a way for me to "preach" but just to share my thoughts or ask questions where I get confused. One of the things I miss about living in Atlanta is the weekly Bible study - it was always very informal and everyone got a chance to talk, have fun, and learn. So since I haven't been able to get a Bible study group here (half due to laziness, half due to not seeing any around me), I'll do it right here on my blog. You're welcome to leave comments, answer questions, ask questions, make prayer requests, etc.

Without further ado, here's the first entry.

January 8, 2016

Berry Lovely Links

Am I glad the weekend is here or what?! It has been such a tough week, I can't even lie. I'm looking forward to resting - are you? Well, while you're resting, check out my links for the week :)


January 7, 2016

Berry and Cakes' Anniversary Date

Hiya!

How's your week going? I hope it's fine. Mine is craaaaaaaaazy busy! It's taking me so long to respond to emails and comments because work is busy as heck! As in, I have little time to play - which is why I need to have a better structure to the blog (more on that next week).

So you know that just 2 weeks ago was our anniversary but I was too sick and tired to actually go out and celebrate it. Cakes wanted us to go out to lunch, but I suggested we get small chops from church and go back home for me to sleep. We agreed to postpone the outing to a later date, and that was this past weekend! I wanted us to go somewhere a little more fancy than our regular dates, so we had dinner at Sky Lounge in Eko Hotel and Suites. I've eaten there a gajillion times with my friends, but Cakes had never been, so it was a nice opportunity for him.

January 5, 2016

Pink Lace and Silver Wrappings

At the end of the year, one of my closest friends invited me to her introduction. Some of you might remember, Style Fash, one of my Power Puff Girls. She used to have a style blog, and we actually met through blogging. She, Bex (another former style blogger) and I became fast friends. Even though we don't see each other much, whenever we do, it's almost as if we never missed a beat.

Anyway, since it was her introduction, she warned me to come in traditional Nigerian attire. It's as if she knew I would show up wearing a dress. She told me the colors were pink and silver. Luckily, I had a silver wrapper from my father-in-law's funeral, and a pink lace top that I've had for years. When I put the 2 together, they made a pretty good combination.

January 4, 2016

2016 Word of the Year

I saw a couple of bloggers who wrote about their word of the year. I've never done it before but I think it's nice to have a theme for yourself in different periods. I gave it some thought and I may have a good one. I'll tell you why I've chosen it first, and then tell you what the word is.

Some of the goals I set for myself last year included reading a certain number of books, losing (and keeping off) weight, finally finishing the whole Bible, among other things. I don't need to tell you that I didn't do well at all! And the reason why is because I don't plan and I get distracted easily. Instead of picking up a book, I'd watch Comedy Central. Instead of doing light exercises in the evenings, I'd scroll through Instagram for an hour. Do you see a pattern?

This is why for 2016 I am choosing the word...

January 1, 2016

Berry Lovely Links - New Year Edition

Happy New Year!!!

I definitely didn't want to start off the year slacking here, and I'm going to try to commit to posting these Lovely Links every single week. But I might need your help sometimes, so if you read anything interesting during the course of your day that you think should be shared, email the link to me (berrydakara@gmail.com) with the subject: Lovely Links.

Without further ado, here are the first set of links for you to check out. :)