14for14: Finishing Line

Hey!!! WE made it @ Ms JB, T.Notes and Duru. This challenge challenged me in a good way... Lol! The aim of the challenge was to revive the dwindling blogging spirit and learn the discipline of "sticking-to-something". Guess what? It achieved its goal! I have 14 posts to prove it *winks* and so do my 3 blogging buddies. I know its a bit cliche to say 'what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger' but I kinda feel it bests sums up this challenge. I know am stronger. Through this challenge I was privy to the fashion and style of the delectable Ms JB, I found and rediscovered amazing blogs from T.Notes sniffing and have been able to see life through the eyes of the young and confused Duru. Its really been an awesome run. Thanks you guys for all the ginger! Giving up was never an option :)!

My 14for14 posts are

1. Intro
2. Looking for Love
3. Throw pillows
4. Mushroom
5. Common Sense Wahala
6. Playing with fire
7. Dining Hall Nightmares
8. Last minute
9. Street people love
10. 5 things I'm loving lately
11. Writing on the wall
12. My World
13. Minding my business
14. This one :p

Cheers to a greater 2015!! Let the countdown to the new year begin!!!

Sincerely,

Cee

14for14: MY WORLD

So It's November already and Christmas is 6 Thursdays away *inserts dancing* !

Not only that my service year is gradually coming to an end...

Today was a teaching free day! Continuous Assessment Test day!!

I also conducted the United Nations My World Survey TODAY for the kids in my school and I got all kitted up in my NYSC regalia to do it.

It was fun and involved plenty pushing, shoving and excitement.

Most of the Kids voted for Affordable and Nutritious food + Good Education among other things :)

(For more info on the survey, check http://vote.myworld2015.org/)

Towards the end of the year, is always birthdays and celebrations galore for me. Saturday is my grandma's birthday! Whoop whoop! I have classes that day but hope to be back in time to "play" with her...She's a wonderful sumbori :)!

Funny how while talking with a friend a few days ago we both said simultaneously that we hated the question "what do you like to do for fun?"

It sounds so regular and innocent that I'm sure you are wondering whats the big deal? right?

Well five things are wrong with it

1. Its over-used! I can't count how often I have been asked that in the past few weeks.

2.  Its a trick! The guys claim to wanna get to "know" you *yimu* Na lie!

3. Its a kind of personality test or some sort of "judge of character". Someone once told me I'm a selfish person since all the things I like doing are 'solo' - reading, writing, solving puzzles and doodling. Imagine the nerve!

4. There's an underlying message. (go figure it out :p)

5. Its Banal

Now its my turn... what do you guys do for fun??! That is asides blogging and blog stalking ;)!

(actually joking 'seriously' Lol! )

Oh before I forget Tomorrow is The Young and Confused bloggers Birthday! Whoop! Whoop! Lemme tell you a secret... I posted early this month because of a bargain we made. Lol! Expecting my delivery oo and Duru remember to inbox me the number to call tomorrow :)!

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Romans 12:2 The Message (MSG)

14for14: Writing on the wall

Ever wondered about the early man and what they did for fun? Well today I taught my class about Cave art and how cave men used to draw and paint on cave walls. As you might have guessed the class was hilarious! Someone even asked me why couldn't the men just draw on paper like normal people. Lol! It reminded me of my childhood and my fave past time.

I won't pretend and say I was a docile child. Infact I was often the opposite. My parents had a standing order with the painters beacause of us. We loved to write, draw, scribble, doodle in fact we did anything and everything on the walls in our home. At a point they had to paint parts of the house textured paint and glossy paint in an attempt to deter us. It didn't work though. My brothers and I were determined to live our marks and tell the wall world we were here (We still are).

*In Beyonce's voice*
I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time
Know there was something that, and something that I left behind
When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets,
Leave something to remember, so they won't forget

I was here
I lived, I loved
I was here
I did, I've done, everything that (He) wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so everyone will know
I was here

Truly, after all has been said and done that's what really matters... What mark would I leave on the wall of life? Would my Creator say Well done? This is what I'm learning and striving to do. Won't lie its not a piece of cake! (In pidgin.. pesin wey neva chop belleful u com dey ask am to remain for im pikin) God dey!

This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever. 1 John 2:17 (NLT)

Sincerely,

Cee

14FOR14: 5 things I'm loving lately

September has been quite wonderful and FULL of activities for me. I've had this post in my head for about 2 weeks now just didn't get round to typing it till now...

This post was inspired by a post I read a while ago on Cassandra's blog here on the things she was loving lately too. So here are my 5


 1. Marc Jacobs Lola

 I got this perfume as a birthday gift and I'm so loving it right now :)!

2. My Hair

I finally got round to doing straw curls. Wondering what that is? Well its the reason why straws are finding themselves roped into ladies hair drama. My brother says he doesn't get why the ladies at work are doing it and now his sister too has joined 'em. *yimu*. I'm enjoying the bouncy curls and how my hair is off my neck. At the same time... its been raining a lot of late so I don't know how long I'll be able to pull it off :(

Although mine involved me getting into a dryer...lol

3. My Love letters... Can't explain it but the things I had been reading in THE BOOK of late have been very personal and mind blowing. *lovestruck* He just knows how to make me blush n'all.

4. My "Jimmy choo's"- Lool! I'm kidding buh I'm loving my new gym shoes :)! I love looking at them when I  work out. So I guess they are secretly a motivating factor for me to stay fit. Don't judge me :p

Last but not the least

5. I really didn't want to fall any one's hand so I'll live up to my reputation of being a foodie (according to two of my blog readers)..... GRILLED GIZZARD & SNAILS. 

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Luke 10:27 (NIV)

Sincerely,

Cee

Lagos what did i MISS?

It's good to be back home. Missed Blogville especially my blog readers!

I have never really been a fan of tanning (I'm Nigerian so what did you expect??! lol) but I got one involuntarily :'(! I got back several shades darker. I didn't realize how bad it was until a few days ago, while having a conversation on different powder tones, someone said a friend of mine (who is 'black' in my opinion) was lighter than me! Yepa! You can imagine the shock on my face.  I've been consoling myself that my real colour will soon return. Una join me in praying oo!

Would have posted a selfie so you guys could do the judging... but I'm scared as in really scared to do that. I don't wanna be labelled someone with a mental disorder!  Read a funny article about it today... something about the American Psychiatric Association classifying selfies (or the need to take them) as mental disorder. Apparently it's a hoax (a.k.a Na Lie!) you could read Myne's article on it here.

I'll be back with proper gist/blog post soonest. Still catching up on all the things that happened in my absence. Thanks everyone for being patient with me, for checking up on me (I got some lovely emails) and to my dearest new followers. I really appreciate you guys **hugs&kisses**

"You are beautiful in every way, my true love. There is no blemish on you."

SOS 4:7 (GWT)

Sincerely,

Cee

14for14: Throw Pillows

You won't believe what I realized recently...I have too many Throw pillows in my life! Those considerable important people and things that I often overlook and take for granted but don't know how I'll cope without . 

Shey you guys know what I mean by Throw pillows right? Those tiny fancy pillows on the sofa in your living room that are best for hurling at a sibling when they are blocking your view of the TV or just being annoying. Throw pillows have a way of spicing up the living room ambiance by adding a touch of elegance and splash of colour (especially the arty ones) 

My Top 10 throw pillows are *drum rolls*

• Good Health
• Love
• Laughter
• Sleep
• Speech 
• My Pen and my amazing mind (Imagination)
• Hugs and Kisses
• Family
• Friends
• You

In an old article I read by Sam Kirui on "Don't take anything for granted- be grateful to God" (You can read it here), he asked the following questions...

Do you view life and breath and health and friends through the lens of the cross? Do you take those things for granted and view them as yours by right? What biblical truths have you neglected that lead you to regard these blessings as rights?

It got me thinking about this song,
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be. 

All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands. 

For it's only in Your will that I am free,
For it's only in Your will that I am free,
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.


I'm not there yet and don't have all I want or desire but I do know that every awesome thing and gift (especially the people in my life) I have is from Him so I must never lose sight of this truth. Instead I'm gonna engrave it in the inner recesses of my hearts. So help me God!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17 (NIV)

Oh before I forget does anyone have any useful suggestions or tips on how to write fun and interesting book reviews? The editorial Lady in Church asked me to do a monthly book review column for the church bulletin and since I get a Free book every month courtesy The Book Tea Fountain tea party, I agreed. Now I need Ideas on how to do it. I'm thinking of reviewing the book Courageous by Michael Catt (Not yet done reading but its really loaded and inspiring :)

Sincerely,

Cee

14for14: Looking for Love

So Yaay! My first real 14 for 14 post (the other one was an introduction..lol). 

"What a person desires is unfailing love"

I can't forget this silly simple definition of Love I heard or probably read somewhere awhile ago. "Love is the feeling that you feel that you have never felt before". Of late, I've been looking for love o! Una help me o!

Searched all over... couldn't find nobody
I looked high and low... still couldn't find nobody
Nobody greater... nobody greater no... nobody greater than you

(I couldn't but insert the chorus of "Nobody greater" here)

Anyways back to my love hunt story, How am I supposed to experience this feeling o??! Bump into a stranger at the bank? Pretend that my car developed a fault on the road and wait for a handsome gentleman to pass by? (as is the case with most Nollywood movies) or be innovative or is proactive a better word and grab the "bull by the horns"? I am actually tired of seeing a lot of crap all in the name of offering relationship and love expert advice.

Anyways, I think I've found him...*scrap that* I know I have found Him or better said I know he has found me *love struck*

I think C.S Lewis knew about us sha.

Because he summed up my love story when He wrote 

“God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other... God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there.”― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

...ON LEARNING

So that is how someone I respect and used to "salute" hurt me in a bad way recently. I actually thought I had forgiven her and moved on but recent events have proved otherwise. I truly want to let go and move on. Shebi it has happened and there's nothing I can do about it right? Forgiving should be a piece of cake but it hasn't been. I blame it on the major falling of my hand by her and the indirect way in which it was delivered (which deprived me of doing the whole confrontation and get-it-off-my-chest routine).  Oh well! I'm learning to forgive her all the same... its a gradual process... God is helping me...you see I smiled as i wrote and thought about her just now (Progress baby!!!)

In other news, the Love day is around the corner...usually associated with a lot of PDA's or if you are in Lagos... get ready for another round of  extravagant Red and White mismatched attires (last year the red and white everywhere was over the top and irritating ). 

Anyways, this picture below summarizes my plans with Le boo *winks*

Blogsville Pay it Forward originated from YSU and I got it from Lady Ngo,  So i'm doing this too:

*The first 5 people who comment on this blogpost with "I'm IN", will receive a surprise from me at some point in this calendar year - anything from a book, a ticket, a visit, something homegrown or made, a postcard, absolutely any surprise!

These 5 people in turn must make the same offer in their blog and distribute their own joy. Simply copy this text onto your next blogpost, so we can form a web of connection and kindness

****if you are not a blogger or someone i know outside of blogsville, it would probably do you well to leave some kind of contact info or something otherwise your surprise is most likely not going to reach you lol.****

 Sincerely,

Cee

14 for 14 challenge

“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - Joshua J. Marine

When I saw a post by Ms JB (you could visit her blog here) on the '14 for 14' challenge, I was inspired to go for it :)!! The challenge will involve me creating 14 posts for 2014 on a certain theme or something different from what I usually write about and blog about it every month. The aim of the challenge is to revive the dwindling blogging spirit and learn the discipline of "sticking-to-something". If you can join, please do. 

For more Info on the challenge click here and here


Now for my 14 for 14 challenge.... I'll be writing about any of the 3L's & R - Love, Life, Learning and Relationships. In No Particular order, I'll share a bit of my Journey so far monthly in this areas. Everyone has a story to tell so hopefully it will be fun for both of us :)! Check back soon for my post for January!


P.S: I was really tempted to write about Food, Hair, My Art class, Books or Places I visit instead.

Sincerely;

Cee