pagesbyike 12/3/15 pagesbyike 12/3/15

Accountability Post: Garri vs Salad

This is my accountability post. The one where as the writer of a life-hack blog, I give account of the better decisions I have made recently.

First up, The Garri/Salad dilemma.

I never thought i'd say this but last night, I chose a salad over chilled garri. I don't know if it was a mood thing but I think I really might be making better life decisions! *crickets* Ok, so the jury is still out on whether I made the right decision there but still, I was proud of myself.

Next, The Young&Restless Fix.

Last week, I stilled my tongue and refused to gossip about this amazing Young-and-Restless type intrigue and drama situation, not even with Ed. We have both decided not to gossip about other people with each other. My will-power muscle was stretched on that one. Everytime I felt the urge to say something, I just looked to the side, out the window and minded my own business. Minding my business is so cool though, all the stuff I can achieve in that time..........

Next up, kicking procrastination in the mutz (not a typo and also not a word)

I've been giving procrastination a knee in the mid-area. It deserves it and much more. Now, I'm trying the trick of breaking my tasks in to smaller, more manageable tasks. Also, studies show that if you start a project, your brain will prompt you to finish it, more like nag you, because it needs the closure, it needs to see that the task can be ticked off as resolved. I'm trying it and it's working. The trick is to start and the trick to starting is to break the huge task into teeny bits!

What great decision have you made recently? Nothing is insignificant. Good decisions should be celebrated (hence the garri celebration), whether it's putting the phone down and resisting the urge to flirt with an ex, paying back debt quickly, letting go of grudges, choosing not to be stuck in a random relationship, understanding your place with God, passing on garri, choosing not to complain or remembering to shine your light!

Share with us! What awesome decisions have you been making?

pagesbyike 11/28/15 pagesbyike 11/28/15

Minimalist Santa: Long-Throat List

You know how 'Less is more', and few is 'The new fad; minimalist, the new trend, indeed, I have made the big move from lots to lean. I've come to embrace simplicity and make the change from owning tons of stuff to just a handful of items, which is why my Christmas list is so sparce. However, minimalist doesn't mean wretched, in fact, I figured if I adopt this principle, I might as well go all out, get Hermes-y, Spade-y and Kors-y with my list! Just one of each, of course. Hehe. I guess going minimal might counter-intuitively make you greedy.

My Long-Throat List. I guess the candles kinda make the list more affordable for my secret Santa

1. Michael Korrs Rhea backpack ; 2. Light Up The Room Bangle by Kate Spade ; 3. Bath&BodyWorks Winter 3-Wick Candle

4. Bath&BodyWorks Frosted Cranberry 3-Wick Candle; 5. Tiddly Nail Polish by Butter; 6. Bouquets Sellier Twilly by Hermes

What are you craving this Christmas? Whatever it is, don't forget to pick up some scented candles to spice up the festive atmosphere.

What's on your long-throat list this Christmas? What's on your real list this Christmas ?

pagesbyike 11/25/15 pagesbyike 11/25/15

Travel: What Happens in Vegas!

Secret: Whenever I plan to drink any amount of alcohol I usually eat a fine, piping hot meal of Eba and whatever soup. Laugh if you will, it's the truth. Lol. I've found that it keeps me from getting easily tipsy. Well, guess who didn't have Eba in Vegas. Yours truly.

Next thing you know, you wake up and one person is missing

Therefore the drinking was kept to the minimum, the starkest minimum. The point of Vegas was to celebrate our amazing friend's birthday and it was so much fun, it also coinsided with the 4th of July weekend last summer. It's definitely a city worth visiting, complete with torrid weather conditions, all the souvenirs a tourist could dream of, bubbly traditional cabbies (no uber, take note), too much food, way too much and first time opportunities to try and discover new things.

There were many instances that I'd say to myself, "hmm, that was a first!" Vegas was a great bundle of new experiences for me. Here's to new experiences, Eba and the birthday boy!

FIRST GAMBLE

Gambling is pretty addictive.

My friends and I were stuck on some titanic-themed slot machine clearly targeted at women and Leonardo Di's fans in general (there were some men there too *blank stare*). I won $10, then lost it and more. Everytime you win something the machine bursts out singing the bridge/chorus of My Heart Will Go On "Near, far, wherever you are......" and the clanking of coins overwhelm you, causing so much euphoria. Then in two minutes you plug your winnings back in and it's all gone!

Conclusion: Last time gambling ever

FIRST CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

Cirque du soleil is special. They create stage performances inspired by circus activities, street entertainment and some other mysterious (very very mysterious) elements. I had no idea what was going on most of the time. Lol. All in all, the experience is the value added. When I was done though, I felt like I had experienced a different aspect of life. The bizarre aspect and it was quite sensational.

Conclusion: Maybe I'd see another cirque show, one less abstract. Good luck to me finding that.

FIRST SINGING TAXI DRIVER

Imagine it's 3am, you are in a taxi and your extremely chatty taxi driver decides to break into a song at the top of his voice-then he sings another-then another-then another. Half way through, he pulls out his harmonica (mouth organ) and it's now a full-fledged concert! It was quite entertaining, maybe not suitable at 3am. At the end he demanded a fee for his performance! Lol!

Conclusion: Everyone is Elvis in Vegas.

HIT ON BY A GIRL FOR THE FIRST TIME

Words failed me indeed. I was at a pool party so we were all minimally clad. She begins to chat me up. I just always imagined I'd be off limits to lesbians. Why? I don't know. Maybe because they say they can tell if you are straight. Maybe she's a beginner, still getting that sensor tuned.

Conclusion: *blink*

FIRST TIME WEARING A CROP TOP

Crop tops make you very ab-conscious, i think it's a good piece as long as you wear it to appropriate places. Definitely not to meet his parents.

Also, maybe more suited for others than some of us though. (Tip: if you are self-conscious, try them with a pair of high waist bottoms)

Conclusion: Haven't worn it since. I'll try again next summer

FIRST KARAOKE

While I have a video of considerable length showing this extraordinary incident, I will be unable to put it up because there were other participants involved. Lol! It's safe to say we were the backstreet boys and girls for the night and everyone thought we were awesome!

Conclusion: karaoke is best served sober. Then you have no excuse for your behavior. Nope, no blaming it on alcohol, all your innate issues spew forth lol! And forth they did spew that night.

Have any fun Vegas experiences; karaoke experiences, fun taxi driver experiences? Share below!

World's largest chocolate fountain- The Bellagio

Photo II with flowers; Vegas turned me into a flower-backdrop kinda gal

All you need for fun in Vegas, this fab lot

Big Win for the birthday boy! ......which we proceeded to spend on a good(bad), greasy dinner

Chances you'd be married by night fall with a chapel in the hotel basement

Brides dressing room (Photo credit: Demi Eni-Olorunda)

Groom room (Photo credit: Demi Eni-Olorunda)

Shot down the aisle! (Photo credit: Demi Eni-Olorunda)

pagesbyike 10/20/15 pagesbyike 10/20/15

6(+1) Things to do before the end of October

11 more days in October! What to do? Here are 6 things to try before November comes along:

Evaluate 2015 goals

What were the top 15 things you planned to accomplish this year? Did you want to start blogging or designing? Did you plan to leave your job, get rid of some habits or a guy *side eye*? How much of it has been accomplished? Have no fear, there's still time for accomplishments! There are 11 days in october + 61 in Nov/Dec.

Write goals for November and December and set your deadlines

In the -ember months, I personally just switch off on goal-setting and chill till the following year to accomplish something great but there's so much time to accomplish so much still in 2015! I finally decided to write an exam I have been putting off in December. Yay! I'm seizing the -ember moment. No January is going to steal it's thunder. Set goals to be completed before the end of the year and start January on point.

Rewatch your favorite movies of 2015

For me it was the Avengers : Age of Ultron and Jurrassic world.

Nothing like Scarlett Johansson reminding me I can't dye my hair red, go to work in a leather cat suit and drive my bike under an 18-foot trailer on a regular sunny day all at once. I'd have to pick.

The lesson I learnt from J.world would have to be that family is more important than spending all your time nurturing a socially dysfunctional genetically-mutated pyscho dragon-dinasour.

Actually both stories seriously discourage you from creating crazy innovations that get out of hand and try to kill all mankind. Both also convey the fact that the cheek-bob hair style is back.

Have a before dawn- movie session on a Saturday morning

I have been trying to do this with Ed with little success. The plan is to have a complete lounging day beginning before dawn and watch a movie, probably Breakfast at Tiffany's. At dawn, we watch the sun rise from our balcony while drinking home-made herbal tea. What could be more awesome than that? Now that I've written this out I can see his reluctance. Lol.

After seeing the red moon, I've become more aware of the heavenly bodies, stuff goes on up there we hardly take note of. Maybe we'll just watch the sun rise and head back to bed.

Do something for you

Because you deserve it. 2015 is almost gone, a little pampering, huh? I, for one am in need of an economically viable exotic experience. Not sure what it is for now.

Do something for someone else

It's almost 2016! It's so exciting. Someone else probably doesn't see the excitement because they have lost hope of anything coming along with a new year. Reach out to people who need hope and give to them; time, money, love. October 22 is make a difference day, find ways to be a blessing to others!

Have a date with God

Contrary to popular opinion, dates with God does not involve dreary, long one sided conversations to someone you think might be somewhere above the skies, who may or not be listening as he has his giant white beard groomed by cherubs. A date with God really is like having a date with anyone else. I learnt this a few years back; grab your fave beverage (mine would be infusion tea), your bible and chill next to the fan/AC , in my case, the fire place and then soak yourself in the moment. No phones. No date has ever ended well with a phone between your faces. Best date ever!

What are you up to for the rest of October?

pagesbyike 9/18/15 pagesbyike 9/18/15

Happy New Blog!

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!!! This is our new space! Thank you to all who have followed me here. And a special thanks to all who gave me feedback on the old blog and in building this new one. There would be additions and changes on our new space. First, the posts won't be as long. Lol. I know, i know, i hear you thanking me. New also, are a couple of uniquely tagged posts. The most important being the "Selah" posts. They are bible-sourced inspirational posts, which I really look forward to writing. The "influencer" posts, which come up everyday are pretty new too . So brighten someone's day by sharing! Other than those, we're still about becoming life-love-relationship hackers, full of adventure, loving food, people and God; here to chill and grow together.

Drop in anytime and if you feel comfortable dropping a comment, please do!

Happy New Blog!