tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59246003844443885462024-03-19T00:54:12.277-04:00Berry DakaraBerry Dakara is a Nigerian Atlanta-based blogger who shares her experiences on Real Life, Motherhood, and a wide variety of Lifestyle topics like Travel, Faith, Style, and more. Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.comBlogger1070125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-45022947744900217392024-01-26T17:06:00.003-05:002024-01-26T18:05:25.144-05:00Weekly Recap aka Berry Bits<p>TGIF!</p><p>I hope you've had a great week. Mine was so-so, but I'm thankful for the weekend to reset and re-calibrate. It's crazy to think that January is pretty much over. Didn't we just say Happy New Year two days ago? Anyway, read on for the little bits of my life that touched me this week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFZurHDHS4jfom7p6EHzxdQVw44kyKEqi5bmxz4UD7uLCNfggUZY0XbiRNly8NoS-udo5PIBYu64fpvrfQM2fZ65tZ18m66uMSHPsZg-NZ35eHrsQE8M-_c27PpLoT4Sz84L4EHQe3NBW5Nwc8oN1udREli25bJxcIYS5g6MaVn8X7PE7S897wx_OYqk/s3648/20240121_153415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2052" data-original-width="3648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFZurHDHS4jfom7p6EHzxdQVw44kyKEqi5bmxz4UD7uLCNfggUZY0XbiRNly8NoS-udo5PIBYu64fpvrfQM2fZ65tZ18m66uMSHPsZg-NZ35eHrsQE8M-_c27PpLoT4Sz84L4EHQe3NBW5Nwc8oN1udREli25bJxcIYS5g6MaVn8X7PE7S897wx_OYqk/s16000/20240121_153415.jpg"></a></div><br><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2024/01/weekly-recap-aka-berry-bits.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-43279483058410131572024-01-20T15:09:00.001-05:002024-01-20T15:13:40.026-05:00Weekly Recap<p> Hola!!!</p><p>Here's another Weekly Recap for you. But first, I'm not 100% sure I like the title "weekly recap." It just seems so generic and blah. I'll play around with it and hopefully come up with something a little more bright and cheery - or you can make suggestions in the comments too! So let's get into what I got into!</p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadJxzOe6_gJ0bZMJlmgO60FFa5QCJYhIvZtOX036iW64udN0w0DvcL1g9AMDCRtY9lX543CT3lFdtrMIJUihlcXSQ20L5-ivdeWMb2CQkypPdlXCph9av7EFNqDrSTgj2vke4vAd9RsYJANn-ABXuatxNKI5TmTorHl-cRDVmPIhDAxE9kJ73hOnTUx0/s3648/20230916_185818-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2052" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadJxzOe6_gJ0bZMJlmgO60FFa5QCJYhIvZtOX036iW64udN0w0DvcL1g9AMDCRtY9lX543CT3lFdtrMIJUihlcXSQ20L5-ivdeWMb2CQkypPdlXCph9av7EFNqDrSTgj2vke4vAd9RsYJANn-ABXuatxNKI5TmTorHl-cRDVmPIhDAxE9kJ73hOnTUx0/s16000/20230916_185818-01.jpeg"></a></div><br><br><p></p><p><br></p><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2024/01/weeklyrecap-2.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-89697829174918609532024-01-13T12:00:00.026-05:002024-01-15T19:05:36.608-05:00Weekly Recap <p>Hiya!</p><p>To get myself back into the habit of blogging, I have decided to do a weekly recap! These posts will be similar to my <a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/search/label/life%20lately" target="_blank">Life Lately posts </a>from days of yore. In these posts I might share a lot, or share a little depending on what I was up to in the week before. I hope you enjoy these little pieces of me that I share on this space :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpYJh16BGX2CvbPVceGcwve-tFXpI0rR6XrwUSrpLJcffB0189Y1V5C-aOnS0OmU6eqmSqFWx9lCuopTjARH2I6GadqW_2d0RoGpOV0FWWhglIigXoUBvnkOfB96AgDpNb6wHLNFecqKp1c6kFGicxrbxUpc5ccTFsX6Y2lg8ZltYy1WgMfKdZs-Whow/s3226/20230204_113830-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3226" data-original-width="1816" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpYJh16BGX2CvbPVceGcwve-tFXpI0rR6XrwUSrpLJcffB0189Y1V5C-aOnS0OmU6eqmSqFWx9lCuopTjARH2I6GadqW_2d0RoGpOV0FWWhglIigXoUBvnkOfB96AgDpNb6wHLNFecqKp1c6kFGicxrbxUpc5ccTFsX6Y2lg8ZltYy1WgMfKdZs-Whow/s16000/20230204_113830-01.jpeg"></a></div><br><p><br></p><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2024/01/weekly-recap.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-72712580113749694202024-01-08T00:00:00.007-05:002024-01-08T00:00:00.177-05:00I Took A Divorce Class!<p>Hi again!</p><p>I thought I had shared about Divorce Care on the blog before, but it turns out that I had it in mind, but never actually wrote about my experience. I'm guessing you're probably wondering why I went through the program in the first place. I became officially divorced in January 2022. The marriage had been in disintegration mode for maybe 5 years before then. While I felt that I had moved on emotionally, mentally and legally, I still felt that I wanted to be sure I was COMPLETELY DONE and had covered all bases. Additionally, I knew that before I ventured into dating again, I wanted to be sure that I had done the inner work and healed, and not take any metaphorical baggage into a new relationship. I had heard about DivorceCare from someone at my church and knew that I would like to go through the program eventually. Well, eventually came later in 2022 and I found a church in the vicinity with a time that worked for me. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFf5V2uGl6yH7W7Ko3szwBayui_o8nsPvTupcsvv_uIdLYAOcU3uUOEVIIXHPvXEN_P5MgoLw_yT3U9WG1DKTWqsAPfvznEsVGf6jFTfNxBZh1Er7kaWEHzdwdv5u_3EItilMesMmLZLzttEhyphenhyphenoeYT0sF4zaoGntWvEI6bhls10EOE42LHbGnQUHekEU/s2592/IMG_7480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="2592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFf5V2uGl6yH7W7Ko3szwBayui_o8nsPvTupcsvv_uIdLYAOcU3uUOEVIIXHPvXEN_P5MgoLw_yT3U9WG1DKTWqsAPfvznEsVGf6jFTfNxBZh1Er7kaWEHzdwdv5u_3EItilMesMmLZLzttEhyphenhyphenoeYT0sF4zaoGntWvEI6bhls10EOE42LHbGnQUHekEU/s16000/IMG_7480.JPG"></a></div><br><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2024/01/i-took-divorce-class.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-84647691308229561912024-01-05T11:44:00.002-05:002024-01-05T18:09:41.408-05:00Happy New Year! 2024<p> Happy New Year folks!!!</p><p>It's that time of year where everything feels fresh and new. Hopes, dreams, goals and resolutions abound! There's always something that screams "New Year, New Me" and a zest to everything to come. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQvUkhcq1nKmkMRI3ZsIrBsMN1rvYLHaKCGwf_kGMpTZ-1Au6bkqMVgPACmAmibrQ_-LnBNtSPW3sMvjZk82pHpQv8J3xSBbE-eSWYPefuj3EiKzb7G79TtLBqfOhRzm_CP2lOVx9QyqcIIGu3DHx-8maqE6hfD5MJEpZ5BruSrGGY32Q8BVN5iti_eg/s1440/IMG_20240103_214710_962.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQvUkhcq1nKmkMRI3ZsIrBsMN1rvYLHaKCGwf_kGMpTZ-1Au6bkqMVgPACmAmibrQ_-LnBNtSPW3sMvjZk82pHpQv8J3xSBbE-eSWYPefuj3EiKzb7G79TtLBqfOhRzm_CP2lOVx9QyqcIIGu3DHx-8maqE6hfD5MJEpZ5BruSrGGY32Q8BVN5iti_eg/s320/IMG_20240103_214710_962.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2024/01/happy-new-year-2024.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-19738977175398368812023-12-31T00:00:00.022-05:002023-12-31T00:36:51.464-05:00My 2023 in Review<p> Woosh! It's the last day of 2023 and boy, has it been A YEAR!!!!!!!!!!</p><p>I've wondered what format I want to share this post in - a Life Lately format? Taking Stock? A Good, Bad, and Ugly one? Highlights and Lowlights? I want to be sure that I capture everything without writing an entire novel. I think I'll break it up into different sections and go with the flow of my thoughts. I might just do them "Bullet Journal" style, so that I can cover more ground.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0i4PPit9IC-7iIadbNOYfJ31e47OL_Ts1dKF35QZ8vbVeI_Px2U8sAaccGn-qOz4awEnu0mG5z-XBDwbX6D9tUtDcUzxiEZf2ggchT0tA4lK4NyNXoydRxiUJRs7foCFl2nE-BHO_-byLiintaTUqCGt8jLeH2PA1G9ZF2aOuQ_B_Ak5F1i4b7ijttpc/s2535/1000092304-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2535" data-original-width="1812" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0i4PPit9IC-7iIadbNOYfJ31e47OL_Ts1dKF35QZ8vbVeI_Px2U8sAaccGn-qOz4awEnu0mG5z-XBDwbX6D9tUtDcUzxiEZf2ggchT0tA4lK4NyNXoydRxiUJRs7foCFl2nE-BHO_-byLiintaTUqCGt8jLeH2PA1G9ZF2aOuQ_B_Ak5F1i4b7ijttpc/w458-h640/1000092304-01.jpeg" width="458"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2023/12/my-2023-in-review.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-58752990971815009682023-12-26T21:08:00.001-05:002023-12-26T21:08:05.225-05:00Season's Greetings!Hi there!<div><br /></div><div>I just wanted to come here to wish you and yours compliments of the season! I know that people are celebrating different holidays during this time and I wish you all the best!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidD_XIkDvwl6usgfxofcPU8fJj8VZOIX1sdiZLrwGL4XZeE0q65yXWlMDHoGid5_vJPW5E2pXDph2mXLvTAuL9qCyLiLiepgCrsPkS9Q3LziGr6OG5JdwV6tboYW0hj3GikHIXuNBPLo-q0jaYw2c1MZUHs24KClMGTXuX3IpVNL0SnZasWPBzFSt0kyg/s3640/CM_Photogrid_1703595031773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3640" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidD_XIkDvwl6usgfxofcPU8fJj8VZOIX1sdiZLrwGL4XZeE0q65yXWlMDHoGid5_vJPW5E2pXDph2mXLvTAuL9qCyLiLiepgCrsPkS9Q3LziGr6OG5JdwV6tboYW0hj3GikHIXuNBPLo-q0jaYw2c1MZUHs24KClMGTXuX3IpVNL0SnZasWPBzFSt0kyg/s16000/CM_Photogrid_1703595031773.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnamM0-apdf7SxeXjnoFwbax_RLqDLmGDtW3vTGE3zd9iSCnWp3uGVB2bKQrY_mDOuNSWYECKC9diAuDx6QHX8p65pEmh9NSyKI5g573qxllSelwFeb0tjabQ5_7aA8d1HnT3uK1gmK_2LxY_0kzqVanT0W5DPpGINrpXh4uf0_NMzDxaO176_PgFnQeg/s1800/IMG_20231225_114727_591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnamM0-apdf7SxeXjnoFwbax_RLqDLmGDtW3vTGE3zd9iSCnWp3uGVB2bKQrY_mDOuNSWYECKC9diAuDx6QHX8p65pEmh9NSyKI5g573qxllSelwFeb0tjabQ5_7aA8d1HnT3uK1gmK_2LxY_0kzqVanT0W5DPpGINrpXh4uf0_NMzDxaO176_PgFnQeg/s16000/IMG_20231225_114727_591.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm hoping to share a post to review my 2023 in the coming days, fingers crossed.🤞🏿 </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-66532706741296446472023-11-13T06:27:00.013-05:002023-11-13T06:27:00.145-05:00VLOG: Solo Weekend Trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico - Day 2 - El Yunque RainForest Tour<p>Hey Y'all!</p><p>As I shared in <a href="http://www.berrydakara.com/2023/11/vlog-solo-weekend-trip-to-san-juan.html" target="_blank">my last vlog</a> (I promise I'll put up a proper blog post with actual words and photos soon), I traveled solo to San Juan, Puerto Rico. On Day 2 I embarked on a tour to El Yunque Rainforest, which was definitely out of my comfort zone! I'm glad I went though and I hope you enjoy the vlog. Stay tuned for Day 3's vlog coming soon. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qGTAZ2j16Sc" width="320" youtube-src-id="qGTAZ2j16Sc"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-40818397579262622212023-11-09T06:07:00.008-05:002023-11-09T06:07:42.465-05:00VLOG: Solo Weekend Trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico - Day 1 - Sunset Walking Tour<p>Hey Y'all,</p><p>About two months ago, I traveled to San Juan, Puerto Rico on a solo weekend trip! I had so much fun and here's the first of 3 vlogs from my trip!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AXN7uhsb05A" width="320" youtube-src-id="AXN7uhsb05A"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-43682955592562780182023-07-03T23:14:00.000-04:002023-07-03T23:14:00.188-04:00Solo Staycation at The Starling Hotel, Atlanta<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My life as a single mom who's the primary physical parent is VERY busy. Unlike other co-parenting situations that are 50:50, my daughter's father lives in a different state. This means that she gets to see him just a few times a year. Even though I have a great support system in my parents, sister and cousin, I prefer to take solo or "me time," only when Coco is with her father (when he comes to visit, or she goes to visit him. For her birthday this year, he came into town for the weekend, and I seized the opportunity to get some well-deserved time alone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JLiekGVi4gjQ3JCvaPh9XWx8qHC7Bt75CNMmvU2Nm_7uUF_SpLdacBvKSFnjeSIBj7rImJhG9hOt14sXp8YYh5kXXAJvtNVWj9hdH2Q3CUzDZ36juBAZ_wb3tFqCZV9gO_m1TEMC6NBUIV4xEkyGBFsZgQcko1CNaXK6iWY-CTG45Pfv0AYFU0H5cdI/s5184/IMG_8704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JLiekGVi4gjQ3JCvaPh9XWx8qHC7Bt75CNMmvU2Nm_7uUF_SpLdacBvKSFnjeSIBj7rImJhG9hOt14sXp8YYh5kXXAJvtNVWj9hdH2Q3CUzDZ36juBAZ_wb3tFqCZV9gO_m1TEMC6NBUIV4xEkyGBFsZgQcko1CNaXK6iWY-CTG45Pfv0AYFU0H5cdI/w426-h640/IMG_8704.JPG" width="426"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span></span></div><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2023/07/solo-staycation-at-starling-hotel.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-89265678228996823882023-06-26T07:49:00.004-04:002023-07-03T23:16:04.594-04:00VLOG: Dating After Divorce<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Roboto, Noto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">How soon is too soon to start dating after getting divorced? In this video I share my thoughts about approaching dating since my divorce, and also as a single mom.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r6Hpkyu_DsU" width="320" youtube-src-id="r6Hpkyu_DsU"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-12604482946404854322023-05-30T06:34:00.001-04:002023-05-30T06:34:13.218-04:00Happy Birthday to Me!<p>There's really no way I can still try to claim 30's anymore. I am now firmly in the 40+ box. When I fill out forms and get to the demographics section, it's the 40-45 or 40-49 boxes I put a tick mark in. It almost seems weird to me. Just yesterday I was talking to an old friend and he mentioned that his son will be heading to college in the next 5 years. What's crazy is I've known him for a long time, way before he had kids... we remember US being in college, and now we're talking about our children heading to college? How time flies. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPHB3itr_kDdjNY7Nr0HyepaISh7qL5D312q-PXrt495meGdfPFn9IgCdzSn3SYNuKiRsHjmVqkQWxtIoZwdb0yPRy3j7JVH18aHARR11eq32Axk9lR_MOKd-aPT0SK4FcPCYdfYgpZZHbZB-12afmvxBGr-VOvzBfRHNF_7xGMb0Ny0H6_TJH6JF/s5184/IMG_8341-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPHB3itr_kDdjNY7Nr0HyepaISh7qL5D312q-PXrt495meGdfPFn9IgCdzSn3SYNuKiRsHjmVqkQWxtIoZwdb0yPRy3j7JVH18aHARR11eq32Axk9lR_MOKd-aPT0SK4FcPCYdfYgpZZHbZB-12afmvxBGr-VOvzBfRHNF_7xGMb0Ny0H6_TJH6JF/w640-h426/IMG_8341-01.jpeg" width="640"></a></div><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2023/05/happy-birthday-to-me.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-46661625376953260972023-01-04T22:19:00.002-05:002023-01-04T22:22:19.993-05:00Happy New Year!<p>Happy New Year!</p><p>I hope you who's reading is having a pretty good start to the year. I want to say that I am, but... I feel anxious. I'll write a little about anxiety in a different blog post, but for now, I'd prefer to keep things positive and light. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJwNaMjhBgRm40g_kD2tek6aGocY_sw39vddCERVINc7bdysZZAwrCESoF32RXtwSTrIWr0572nl--G37weRPZUbOT7Hj3CS7G6nnyxTI7gBbvzSDHbcwTATADRfhA1Nb0nwjzxcMycoJWoqDEdYcqrf0Gb6Ug45ZasMo-zG4kQ21HMm5lzFv2GxI/s4032/20221229_220421-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1816" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJwNaMjhBgRm40g_kD2tek6aGocY_sw39vddCERVINc7bdysZZAwrCESoF32RXtwSTrIWr0572nl--G37weRPZUbOT7Hj3CS7G6nnyxTI7gBbvzSDHbcwTATADRfhA1Nb0nwjzxcMycoJWoqDEdYcqrf0Gb6Ug45ZasMo-zG4kQ21HMm5lzFv2GxI/s16000/20221229_220421-01.jpeg"></a></div><br><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2023/01/happy-new-year.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-51560288316513773402022-10-06T18:39:00.002-04:002022-10-07T07:58:53.654-04:00On Moving On<p>Hello again,</p><p>In the past couple of years, well-meaning friends and family members have told me to "move on." Most of the time when they say I need to move on, they mean I need to get into a new relationship or get remarried.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdJYR0t8gpSWimt1MrXkdScH0D4qdLqRmz1eIdYjFgzJr7Eor84Tq9Nf8YP7vHwW6yfpDhahLpN-KRqc2_A1fp56ZgYRTpP-2T2nXNdjUMnxcp5lyV16noBhLtes0pOEwkSTdDEvRQ58Db29Rrq_8JviBUGOylKWaKFcWvH-8J-8bBMwKUyceTSP6/s1331/IMG_4983-01-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdJYR0t8gpSWimt1MrXkdScH0D4qdLqRmz1eIdYjFgzJr7Eor84Tq9Nf8YP7vHwW6yfpDhahLpN-KRqc2_A1fp56ZgYRTpP-2T2nXNdjUMnxcp5lyV16noBhLtes0pOEwkSTdDEvRQ58Db29Rrq_8JviBUGOylKWaKFcWvH-8J-8bBMwKUyceTSP6/s16000/IMG_4983-01-01.jpeg"></a></div><br><p><br></p><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2022/10/on-moving-on.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-43607804043063908202022-09-09T09:23:00.002-04:002022-09-09T09:23:31.961-04:00My Baby Is Growing Up - Bittersweet Feelings<p>Hey there,</p><p>Today I'm a little bit in my feelings. Yesterday Coco showed me her first wiggly tooth. I had gone to pick her up after school and as I reached down to hug her, she said "Mummy look! My tooth is wiggly." </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ih372xW1lwQHRrEw0rZFI0w2pxpyFIoEfEdjXxtbnQD-J0GAY9h1Fse3Q1UoxO4PN3tRYRr3FWoJQroXcufrAql87V4mXs2m2clah_7y1bniLGVmkXtRtlsy09CQFKJlDqlFnciJhJARn0ILkcXoXIOLXSM5Ji8PnAMjEF2k6H9qqYeYuVPGUVRB/s4032/20220730_171537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1816" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ih372xW1lwQHRrEw0rZFI0w2pxpyFIoEfEdjXxtbnQD-J0GAY9h1Fse3Q1UoxO4PN3tRYRr3FWoJQroXcufrAql87V4mXs2m2clah_7y1bniLGVmkXtRtlsy09CQFKJlDqlFnciJhJARn0ILkcXoXIOLXSM5Ji8PnAMjEF2k6H9qqYeYuVPGUVRB/s16000/20220730_171537.jpg"></a></div><br><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2022/09/my-baby-is-growing-up-bittersweet.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-68051859646077312312022-08-31T22:57:00.003-04:002022-08-31T22:57:27.756-04:00Life Lately: Hello September<p> Yoo hoo! Does this thing still work? Lots of cobwebs, I see. Well cobwebs and all, I feel the need to come here and write a blog post. Is it for me? Is it for you who's reading? I don't know. But I feel compelled to write and write I shall. The easiest way for me to do this right now is with a Life Lately post like I used to do eons ago. *cracks knuckles* Let's get on with it...<span></span></p><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2022/08/life-lately-hello-september.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-45113665792482795382022-05-29T00:27:00.005-04:002022-05-29T00:27:56.768-04:00Happy 40th Birthday to Me <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4Sr4g4h1qnvMR8HPPFvUl1oI-oGleNSBGNnuYNrJw1MojbbH1Bacy7GihEtzPf7vuMr3ihgifxuK0--AX-qZyGXqNti7myn89UZPTmfWhqOFWs_bhbLrOrKgXr_t7Hueo818MOV7fqJ1wdRMEHz0bpzQLed7ed6Q8GImRB0DKsLMerfOw4bQasMl/s4705/IMG_7849-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4705" data-original-width="3456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4Sr4g4h1qnvMR8HPPFvUl1oI-oGleNSBGNnuYNrJw1MojbbH1Bacy7GihEtzPf7vuMr3ihgifxuK0--AX-qZyGXqNti7myn89UZPTmfWhqOFWs_bhbLrOrKgXr_t7Hueo818MOV7fqJ1wdRMEHz0bpzQLed7ed6Q8GImRB0DKsLMerfOw4bQasMl/s16000/IMG_7849-01.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Happy 40th Birthday to me!</p><p>A few years ago I dreaded being this "old." But now I embrace getting to start and rock my 40's. My 30's were great and also very challenging - moving back to Nigeria for NYSC, deciding to stay (for work and love, or what I thought was love) and moving back home to ATL; content creation in different formats (blogging, YouTube, podcasting); getting married - having our daughter after trying for 2+ years - getting separated and finally divorcing this year; going from broke and in so much debt to being a homeowner; seemingly going backwards career-wise 👀 but slowly making strides and pivoting; I could go on and on.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I pray for in my 40's is really come into my own. To come into the woman God meant me to be. To find Him again. To be the best mother to Coco. I pray to be full of grace and live a graceful life as God intended. To let go completely of my past mistakes and forge ahead with wisdom. I pray to thrive work-wise and make an impact. To be more intentional in every aspect of my life. To live a life rooted in prayer, gratitude and joy. To be a better money manager (I'm pretty good already but 👀) because why do I have credit card debt on my birthday instead of having a small chops hangout? I pray to be fit spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially and any other -ally that makes sense. </p><p>Thanks be to God Almighty for bringing me this far! May the next decade be the absolute best ever!</p>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-1523496737765157142021-12-06T09:52:00.000-05:002021-12-06T09:52:15.256-05:00Renting Out My New House or Moving In?<p> Hi there!</p><p><br /></p><p>It's been a little bit of time since I bought my first home (thanks to everyone for the well wishes!). I've had a few inquiries about when I'm moving in and when the housewarming party is, LOL! As much as I would have loved to host a cute housewarming party and get house gifts, I have decided to rent out the house as opposed to moving in with Coco.</p><p>Check out my latest YouTube video to find out my reasons behind the decision to rent out versus moving in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pP52xAmssz4" width="320" youtube-src-id="pP52xAmssz4"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>P.S. Coco is NOT a fan of my decision.</p>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-7145951993206514752021-11-16T08:15:00.005-05:002021-11-16T12:36:07.947-05:00BERRY VLOG: First Home Closing Day and Empty House Tour<p>Hi there!</p><p>After posting numerous videos of what my house looks like on Instagram stories, I have finally put together a short vlog of my empty house tour. I also shared snippets of the day I closed on my house. I'm hoping to share a couple more home-owner related videos in the coming weeks or months.</p><p>P.S. I should say that I watched a few other empty house tours on Youtube and I'm not going to lie, I actually wondered if I should even bother with mine. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="532" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Iq0-i62WU-E" width="640" youtube-src-id="Iq0-i62WU-E"></iframe></div><br><p><span></span></p><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2021/11/first-time-homeowner-empty-house-tour.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-24024003839631775652021-11-08T09:02:00.001-05:002021-11-08T09:34:39.673-05:00DISCOVER GEORGIA: Pettit Creek Farms Pumpkin Fest<p>It's been a while since I put up a <a href="http://www.berrydakara.com/search/label/discover%20georgia" target="_blank">Discover Georgia post</a>. These posts are to showcase some of the different places and/or events in Georgia, and to show you that Georgia is more than just Atlanta. In this post I'm sharing a few photos from our trip to Pettit Creek Farms.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1qdtdDrneOS5zaLw4Kn_VmCjP0T3vYKwmz4A7ab_kTTydmVsW5wgpEKu-_6qaU57bylzNllcHizmpeVc2qGnCCWBcRVe0miZsQ1YD1OQvt6d1_Kzly1QZ2ay_AeI0s7Ice75pHun074/s2642/20211024_152911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1qdtdDrneOS5zaLw4Kn_VmCjP0T3vYKwmz4A7ab_kTTydmVsW5wgpEKu-_6qaU57bylzNllcHizmpeVc2qGnCCWBcRVe0miZsQ1YD1OQvt6d1_Kzly1QZ2ay_AeI0s7Ice75pHun074/s16000/20211024_152911.jpg"></a></p><p><span></span></p><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2021/11/discover-georgia-pettit-creek-farms.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-84784457323502212782021-11-01T09:04:00.004-04:002021-11-01T10:09:20.972-04:00How Early Is Too Early for Makeup<p> As an impending parent a few years ago, if anyone had asked me how early I'd allow my child to wear makeup, I might have said maybe when she reached the double digits (10) or maybe even teenage years. It wasn't something I was necessarily beholden to, but somewhere in my mind, I think that would have been my answer. This comes from my thoughts that kids are growing up seemingly much faster than previous generations, as well as the not-so-great effects of social media on their minds, confidence and self-esteem. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm36mIPidW5OXgxcH_WptnxYXvtXceu4vxTcbnw1-UP_82Eocvp6lT9Z-hQjD06wMUkJPUlQIHomzT1hyZhBHrS408uTeFwXTJ8oue5iuDMMYXkHBozwrgEQBhY9ArQWKdMb32fTfFhnU/s2048/20210911_180525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm36mIPidW5OXgxcH_WptnxYXvtXceu4vxTcbnw1-UP_82Eocvp6lT9Z-hQjD06wMUkJPUlQIHomzT1hyZhBHrS408uTeFwXTJ8oue5iuDMMYXkHBozwrgEQBhY9ArQWKdMb32fTfFhnU/s16000/20210911_180525.jpg"></a></div><br><p><span></span></p><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2021/11/how-early-is-too-early-for-makeup.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-42651599053830561832021-10-28T15:19:00.003-04:002021-10-28T15:36:15.178-04:00Life Update: I Bought A House!!!<p>Errrr, how do I just randomly come back like I haven't been gone for months? Well, just like this...</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR_3Aqx0XOGAKFGwUgR7_xMYKxvIiXzdp43Q5V1U3Ppol9JlUWNDftVYpaVDezbxLJrehnICtkxYafdp3sOxONXYf6Bs85VPVSh_aYGz8n-Qpzjehx8waysUBqAmAFopAIPCjmqVz3II/s1440/IMG_20211027_062616_387.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR_3Aqx0XOGAKFGwUgR7_xMYKxvIiXzdp43Q5V1U3Ppol9JlUWNDftVYpaVDezbxLJrehnICtkxYafdp3sOxONXYf6Bs85VPVSh_aYGz8n-Qpzjehx8waysUBqAmAFopAIPCjmqVz3II/s16000/IMG_20211027_062616_387.jpg"></a></p><p><span></span></p><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2021/10/life-update-i-bought-house.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-63643818447765283222021-04-30T11:08:00.001-04:002021-05-13T15:29:54.916-04:00If Not Now, Then When?<p> Hey there,</p><p>It's been a little while and I apologize for being AWOL. I don't know if I mentioned on here that I started a new job last month (I probably didn't seeing as I've been MIA) and the new schedule is taking a little getting used to - imagine needing to get used to working regular 8am to 5pm hours! Chai, I tried in my previous role o. Anyways, I'm here today to ask you, "If not now, then when?"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukl85UJDp3AqRzCB-RmuZD9vg2052bSrlXYY5CAWNij1sL1UUXgc5KeaP-xc-mlKUUQx7WRyMN4ZvHRSW4dGtck4IpWBeEhVsMCZSwnLKt1MYsQgGC-wmLlgvXaJS2cAjiCxPllzo_pA/s2048/IMG_6392-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukl85UJDp3AqRzCB-RmuZD9vg2052bSrlXYY5CAWNij1sL1UUXgc5KeaP-xc-mlKUUQx7WRyMN4ZvHRSW4dGtck4IpWBeEhVsMCZSwnLKt1MYsQgGC-wmLlgvXaJS2cAjiCxPllzo_pA/s16000/IMG_6392-01.jpeg"></a></div><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2021/04/if-not-now-then-when.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-27843285340359574482021-04-12T09:57:00.001-04:002021-04-12T09:57:09.884-04:00Discipline and Mom Guilt as a Toddler Mom<p>Your favorite threenager has been testing me!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1goo0VRPPrgEQrHfeMauXZi7w3x8WEQd9GDmqc_3vG_uxi23LbdEEdEC91ZF6szg3zSbyiYvgVgS42PM-HKwtxei_Wxal_wqocmysTGqBL0TLu24aBZOlULCmLKb660EOkWPMcrUOPuA/s2048/20210410_143909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1goo0VRPPrgEQrHfeMauXZi7w3x8WEQd9GDmqc_3vG_uxi23LbdEEdEC91ZF6szg3zSbyiYvgVgS42PM-HKwtxei_Wxal_wqocmysTGqBL0TLu24aBZOlULCmLKb660EOkWPMcrUOPuA/s320/20210410_143909.jpg"></a></div><br><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2021/04/discipline-and-mom-guilt-as-toddler-mom.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5924600384444388546.post-46398604168489146102021-04-01T00:00:00.007-04:002021-04-01T00:00:00.572-04:00A Throwback and a Giveaway!<p> It's Throwback Thursday!!!!!!!!!!</p><p>Who remembers how I started blogging in the very first place?</p><p>If you don't remember, I'm about to remind you - <a href="http://ajebutternysc.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Aje-Butter's Guide to NYSC blog</a>! In case you're newer, I started blogging in December 2011 about my NYSC service year (<a href="http://ajebutternysc.blogspot.com/2011/12/calling-all-aje-butters.html" target="_blank">see my very first blog post ever!</a>). I moved back to Nigeria in June 2011 to start NYSC and decided to blog about my experience. After the year was over, I had enjoyed blogging so much, I decided to start this one. I've spent the last hour going through that old blog and JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMN, I was a TOTAL HOTTIE (<a href="http://ajebutternysc.blogspot.com/2013/03/style-post-re-using-your-nysc-kit.html" target="_blank">see photos from this post where I re-rocked my NYSC uniform in different ways</a>)!!!! Please somebody should help me figure out how to get that body back with minimal effort. Thanks in advance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF17-SwYX6KKCCjN3m-ZORh0PRxuJAxghtt1rC4Tsoq7W9yCaQnhlJnINm6NsiXu45ZDHsGoo-w_DnGj0zpgCK1EJWBDSSr8586j5yX9Xpbq4HdhQafaASePAT21LuDEBU2dVIPA__HE/s640/NYSC+throwback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqF17-SwYX6KKCCjN3m-ZORh0PRxuJAxghtt1rC4Tsoq7W9yCaQnhlJnINm6NsiXu45ZDHsGoo-w_DnGj0zpgCK1EJWBDSSr8586j5yX9Xpbq4HdhQafaASePAT21LuDEBU2dVIPA__HE/s16000/NYSC+throwback.jpg"></a></div><br><span></span><a href="https://www.berrydakara.com/2021/04/a-throwback-and-giveaway.html#more">Full gist here »</a>Berry Dakarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228332437019976580noreply@blogger.com3