Motivation

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How I pack for my beach holiday

Champagne life over just like that *snaps fingers*, why do bad things happen to good PIPO 😭. With my holiday over, which I have solid proof that I had just 14 hours in a day as opposed to the 30 hour days I have when I have to go to work, we had such a great time in Paphos, Cyprus. We stayed in the most gorgeous hotel that catered to families so well that I couldn't really stay anywhere else without judging them and their lack of soul for not catering to kids. The holiday with friends and their families was the very best I think I have had in all my life.

While we were here to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary in the same hotel we got married in and had our honeymoon, it was a special time for my friends and me when we looked back 10 years ago and saw how much we had grown spiritually, professionally, emotionally and financially (do I hear an AMEN). Also, to see our children who didn't exist 10 years ago playing, laughing and having conversations just filled our hearts with so much joy.

Having visited Paphos twice before I knew what to expect with the climate, culture and the general feel for the place. That knowledge helped me greatly when I started putting outfits together. Paphos is a liberal town and it is very tourist oriented so really little was out of bound when choosing outfits. Some strategies I applied

- I packed day and night outfits for every day I was away. Dinner is always a special time to bond with the family, and where there is live music I will have a dance with my two left feet πŸ˜‚ so I make dressing up part of the special occasion. I always pack spare just in case I have a wardrobe malfunction like this actually happened on my holiday where my zip popped and I had to substitute my outfit for a spare. I chose trousers and a blazer for climates where it is cooler in the evening so I don't ever regret alfresco dining. Lastly, I opted for loose clothing for comfort and to hide the belly after stuffing my face πŸ˜‚. Here are some of my outfits below.

( I obviously have a good side and I am not afraid to show it πŸ˜‚).

- Daytime outfits are pretty easy wear. One pair of denim shorts and one pair of tailored shorts with loose cotton tops for max comfort. The simplicity of the outfits calls for accessorising. I like to accessorise with earrings.

Moral of the story, pack many statement earrings and bracelets that would uplift any outfit.

The pool/ beach style. This is an area that is often overlooked. I had to up my bikini game when I went on holiday to the South of France last year and 60 something-year-old women were giving me a run for my money in the bikini game. This time I packed a different bikini with accessories for every day and realised I spent a lot of time in swimwear so I secretly patted myself on the back for making that call.

Some of my favourite pieces to consider when going on a beach holiday with very warm weather

Bags

clockwise here, here, here and hereΒ 

Earrings

clockwise here,Β here, hereΒ andΒ here

Prints are big this summer, these are my favourite pieces clockwise here, here, here and here

Β 

Lastly evening wear. nothing over the top, simple but elegant, here are some dresses I love for holiday evenings clockwise here, here, here and here

Swimsuits vs Bikini, which one are you i.e Bikini bod or Bikini bod under construction. I am a swimsuit person the be honest, I like to be modest but it is a personal preference. This is an area always neglected for some reason, get your swimsuit game strong this summer. Top tip, white is doing it for me this season

here andΒ here

In summary, key strategies/ checklist for someone going to a beach holiday for 5 days

  1. Pack six daytime outfits mix it up with prints and stripes and make most of your outfit separates rather than maxi dresses or jumpsuit, pack shorts and tops and then one or two dresses so you can mix and match.
  2. Pack 4 evening outfits, do not go over the top, you are not going to a presidential dinner. make sure it is comfortable and breezy, I try to avoid tight clothes too.
  3. Do not dull with swimsuits, pack one for each day you are there with matching accessories too. Who said swimsuits are for getting into the water only? its also for looking pretty walking from your lounger to the pool bar and back again (repeating 100 times a day).
  4. Get cover-ups to complement your swimsuit.
  5. Try on every outfit (and photograph in the mirror) before you put it in the bag otherwise, you will end up taking things you don't like and things you will not wear.
  6. Start packing a week before not the night before otherwise how do you know what to order last minute before the holiday.
  7. HAVE A GOOD TIME. Make the streets of your destination your catwalk.

I hope these have helped. If you have any questions, hit me up. Until next time buttercups.

What I really think about Meghan’s dress

Ok, I am not a video person, interrupted a million times. I didn't know making a video was so hard 😭. Well, this is what I thought about Meghan's dress, the press coverage and the ceremony. Enjoy.  

How to wear bright colours to work

As a colour lover myself and the commander in chief of all colours around the world, I never struggle to wear colour to work but I know some other people need a little nudge of encouragement every now and then. While I would rather show up like this, all majestic fine to my office every damn day, Sometimes I have to dumb it down for people who don't get colour (monsters and ogres). Three ways to incorporate bright colours to work without causing a stir. Wear as a pop of colour. I find shoes always do the trick. All black errthang with a bright fushia pink pair of shoes will look delicious. You can also pair a bright coloured hand bag with a monochrome (black whites or grey) outfit Wear with a white top. For the more adventorous folk. This is actually how I prefer to wearing. A masculine white shirt and bright bottoms. The white top will take some edge off Lastly, use other neutral colours to balance the look. Great colours for this are browns, tan, grey, cream and other similar colours that can seriously put you to sleep forever and ever πŸ˜‚ As an extra person of colour and mightiness of hues *flips hair* , one way wasn't enough. In my Monday morning burst of positivity I convinced myself to wear two bright colours on my body and confuse my enemies at work πŸ˜‚. I softened the blow with light grey trousers but no one was going to stop me from wearing these new look baby blue pumps and my embellished sweater (tkmaxx). I was basking in colour heaven all day. Try it and tell me what you think. Until next time buttercups

Their time is UP!

When I heard that women were going to wear all black to the 75th Golden globes as a protest against sexual harassment and as a stand of solidarity with women who have spoken out and will speak out. I thought ok maybe a handful of people will wear black because at the end of the day no one wants intentionally commit career suicide especially in Hollywood. I didn't expect what I saw next, the red carpet filled with a sea of black, I was shocked. Glued to the TV with heavy eyes watching history unfold, finally people will stand up and listen, at last women have a voice on a big stage. Oprah made a compelling speech which I have lifted parts from CNN.com. her punchline? "THEIR TIME IS UP!" For men who use their position of power to sexually harass women, their time is UP! See below for Oprah's speech after collecting their awards and then the best and worst dressed of the night. "I want to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association because we all know the press is under siege these days. We also know it's the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice. To -- to tyrants and victims, and secrets and lies. I want to say that I value the press more than ever before as we try to navigate these complicated times, which brings me to this: what I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. And I'm especially proud and inspired by all the women who have felt strong enough and empowered enough to speak up and share their personal stories. Each of us in this room are celebrated because of the stories that we tell, and this year we became the story. But it's not just a story affecting the entertainment industry. It's one that transcends any culture, geography, race, religion, politics, or workplace. So I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue. They're the women whose names we'll never know. They are domestic workers and farm workers. They are working in factories and they work in restaurants and they're in academia, engineering, medicine, and science. They're part of the world of tech and politics and business. They're our athletes in the Olympics and they're our soldiers in the military. And there's someone else, Recy Taylor, a name I know and I think you should know, too. In 1944, Recy Taylor was a young wife and mother walking home from a church service she'd attended in Abbeville, Alabama, when she was abducted by six armed white men, raped, and left blindfolded by the side of the road coming home from church. They threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone, but her story was reported to the NAACP where a young worker by the name of Rosa Parks became the lead investigator on her case and together they sought justice. But justice wasn't an option in the era of Jim Crow. The men who tried to destroy her were never persecuted. Recy Taylor died ten days ago, just shy of her 98th birthday. She lived as we all have lived, too many years in a culture broken by brutally powerful men. For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up. Their time is up. And I just hope -- I just hope that Recy Taylor died knowing that her truth, like the truth of so many other women who were tormented in those years, and even now tormented, goes marching on. It was somewhere in Rosa Parks' heart almost 11 years later, when she made the decision to stay seated on that bus in Montgomery, and it's here with every woman who chooses to say, "Me too." And every man -- every man who chooses to listen." Now for the best dressed. And the worst dressed? You guessed it, all the women who couldn't be bothered to wear black and most especially the men who arrogantly wore their status quo regular tuxedos... THUNDER is coming for you πŸ˜‚. I especially commend the men who were brave enough to wear all black, I am not talking about men who threw on a regular tuxedo, I mean men who risked the live rounds of the fashion police and wore black shirts and black ties with their suits. Justin Timberlake, Chris Hemsworth and Ricky Martin we see you. For the very young cast of Stranger things, you are the future, you are doing well, don't let anyone corrupt your young minds, thank you for wearing black and joining the revolution. And lastly to Sharon Stone who brought her son to the red carpet to witness this revolution, you are the real MVP. Mothers, we hold the future of the world in our hands, teach your sons that sexual harassment is NOT OK! Let's go forth this week and remember what just happened at the 75th Golden Globes. Until next time buttercups.

How I teach my son about giving

Christmas time is a very joyful time for many people but there are people that feel the loneliest during this time especially the elderly and homeless. There are also people in the world being displaced, and living in fear everyday because of wars, injustice, persecution. While charity work is all year round, it is a good practice to use the opportunity of Christmas to teach kids about giving. Growing up, my mum was always involved with charities. She would say "charity wipes away a multitude of sin", I never understood that until recently. When you are focused on giving with grace and doing good, there is no room for evil to lurk in your mind. Good and evil cannot live in the same place at the same time. I grew up going to St Vincent de Paul society meetings with my mum who is dedicated to helping the poor. I learnt to be charitable mostly by seeing her charity.Β  Today it is easy for our children to beΒ  so shielded from the suffering of others that they become oblivious to the realities around them so I am making a conscious effort to teach my 6 year old about doing good and giving. And how do I do this? Here are some ways: 1. We went through his old toys for donation to our local hospital. I didn't just want him to give away toys he doesn'tΒ  care for, I nudged himΒ  to give toys he struggled to let go of, with encouraging words like " can you imagine how happy that will make another child? " or "you are going to make another child's Christmas so joyful". Giving is about sacrifice, not only when it is convenient and it is a valuable lesson for kids. 2. I gave him the honour of giving our neighbours their Christmas cards and chocolates. Of course toΒ  reinforce the message of giving and not just receiving during the Holiday. I also reminded him of the joy he would bring to our neighbours by giving them chocolate, of which he replied "but they are on a diet"πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚. But the message was there and loud and clear. 3. We are currently in the planning stages of gifts he is going to make for family members, since he gat no job (Fada lawd please bless him with a job in 2018πŸ˜‚). I have bought supplies for hand made cardsΒ  papier mache jewellery boxes, candy necklaces, decorated picture frames and decorated vases. He will work just like the elves are working very hard to bring him his pressies. It's all in the spirit of giving. 4. We always pray for children around the world who have less than we do. So he will write a letter to them and make a card wishing themΒ  a Merry Christmas which I will put some money in and send it off on his behalf. 5. Lastly, as part of his schools charitable deeds, each pupilΒ  packs a shoe box with little toys, sanitary goods, cosmetics and stationery. I involve him in the preparations and make up two shoe boxes rather than the required one. He helps with picking and the wrapping of the goods. These are just the little things that pass on my passion for good and helping others at this festive time. I hope this helps for people who just don't know where to start teaching kids about giving. SuggestionsΒ  on giving this Christmas Shoe box appeal is still going, it is never too late. See below the Samaritan's site and put in your post code to find your nearest drop off point. https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox/ I usually go to the pound shop and stock a box with 1. Toothpaste 2. Toothbrush 3. Colouring pens 4. Pack of pencils 5. Small book 6. Deodorant spray 7. Small toy 8. Small toy 9. Small toy 10. Small toy All cost Β£10. I do a boy themed and girl themed box and wrap it nicely in a Christmas themed wrapping paper. CRISIS and CENTRE POINT These are very close to my heart. They are both homeless charities who take homeless people off the streets for the holidays (9 days), they provide them with meals, Christmas Turkey, sanitation and a health check all for Β£26 per person. Follow CRISIS linkΒ hereΒ or Center point for homeless young peopleΒ here GIVE BLOOD Giving blood is always a good idea. The question I always pose to people when they are hesitant is "If you or your child needed blood, would you be grateful to get what you need?". If yes then give blood there is really no question. ClickΒ linkΒ for your nearest center. Spread the love and be kind this season and always. Until next time buttercups

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