SOUL SATURDAY

So nothing major has been happening, looking forward to Easter and Good Friday especially cos its a tradition to cook FREJON AND FISH apart from that  I would have to say I am DULLING CENTRAL.

My play list has been bubbling though so check it out................................................... Have a good weekend guys.

    

  
                                                                   

LAGOS MEGA SHOE SALE

 
Ok, so I am overly excited about the Lagos shoe sale happening on the 2nd of April, finally an answer to a shoe addict's craving.

For a while now I have been lamenting about how much I need shoe therapy, it just came at the right time and after speaking to the organisers I am more than convinced I want to be there.

The prices are supposed to range from =N=3,000 - =N=15,000 which isn't bad considering the Naija factor
and for me its the Steve Madden pair I have my eyes on, Check them out on Facebook .

I am definitely gonna be there so I will update the blog with pictures from the sale.

It takes a lot to get me excited about today's music but drake is definitely getting under my skin, he is on the play list CIAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SEVEN: Howard University's 7th Annual ASA Fashion Show

We recently attended the Howard University ASA Fashion Show in Washington DC.
This was their 7th Annual Fashion show, and was themed SEVEN: EXPERIENCE THE FORBIDDEN.

The show had 7 main scenes, each representing the 7 Deadly Sins: Greed, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, Lust, Pride, Sloth (but maybe not in that order...)

Each scene showcased exotic couture from one or more upcoming African and American designers - some of the designers featured in the show were AYA MORRISON swimwear, COTE MINOU, GLAMM FASHIONS, IDIA DESIGN, NOTE2SELF CLOTHING, and UREBOR FAUTORE by Fatima Ozoya.  

Pictures below, courtesy of A.O. Frantz.


Overall the show was fabulous and well put together by the Howard African Student Association - and in addition very creative (thoroughly enjoyed the scenes!)

UREBOR FAUTORE by Fatima Ozoya

AYA MORRISON

 COTE MINOU

IDIA DESIGN

FOR THE **HEART** OF MUSIC

There are times I am more than certain I was born in the wrong era with regards to music, don't get me wrong  I listen  to today's music like the next YOUNG person but it doesn't do anything for me.

I would rather listen to Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, James Dean, George Benson, Al Green ; men!!!!!!!!!! the list is endless, no matter what people say about today's music, to me it is barren.

Music of then had soul (yeah I know you have heard this before ) but it had life in it, maybe I am being a little melodramatic but you could feel the song's heartbeat while listening to it WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My play list has had a couple of these songs:
 
Smokey Robinson - You Really got a hold on me



Marvin Gaye -Trouble Man



Ella Fitzgerald- Bewitched




Frank Sinatra - I get a kick out of you



Frank Sinatra -Saying something stupid



Al Green - Lets stay together



Earth, Wind and Fire September


 Nina Simone- My Baby Cares For Me


There are toooooooooooooo many songs will definitely dedicate a post to them, have a wonderful evening guys cos I am gonna.

BARAZAHI: THE PERFECT URBAN ESCAPE

So I experienced a little bit of heaven this weekend at Barazahi, it  was 5 1/2 hours of total spa indulgence.

The rustic decor and ethnic murals is the first thing that grabs your attention as it completely covers the entire layout of the spa.

The mani pedi was divine and I was told it  was a special Thai treatment and though I was allergic to the herbs, my nails turned out FEROSH!!!!!!!!!!

I think one of the major highlights was the wine bath I had, OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! royalty cannot even begin to describe how I felt while having it.

The point I think that made me give the spa 2 THUMBS UP was the massage and facial, it literally took me to another planet.

The masseuse I would say was gifted in the art of de-stressing the client and with the backdrop of soulful tunes, it was almost impossible not to loose yourself in moment.

Yes, their treatments may set you back a bit but trust me when I say it is definitely worth every single penny.

LIBERATION

So I finally did the short hair, I don't think I have ever felt so freaking liberated and p.s. it wasn't the Rhianna type bobs but a very short pixie cut which I absolutely love.

Blame it on the hair but I have been feeling like a whole new person ever since and after reading this post http://www.innyvinny.com/2010/03/09/chopped/ it sort of confirmed how I felt.

Its so good to be your own person and define your style which is definitely my new motto,we are planning a major post so you should definitely watch out for that.

Have a wonderful weekend guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOL ANGEL

So I know everyone seems to have their opinion on Solange Knowles but i think people should give her a chance.

She is an absolutely phenomenal artist and there has been so much growth in her music with the release of the SOL- ANGEL AND THE HADLEY ST. DREAMS album.

Apart form her music, her style is very retro and I recently started following her blog which I "HEART".

Since work has been very "BUSY" I have had a couple of her songs on my play list

T.O.N.Y.(The Other Night Y ) I love this song sooooo much; the lyrics are freaking deep, its about the night she got pregnant with her son Daniel.



CRUSH The melody is so pure its like listening to something from your early childhood, I LOVEYYYYY



GOD GIVEN NAME The lyrics are just iish



Have a good day guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BEAUTY IN WORDS

So I had a very eventful weekend if I do say so myself **Iblush** and the highlight was when I received Chimamanda Adichie's book THE THING AROUND YOUR NECK.

The book is flawless in its simplistic style of writing and the real life scenarios that ensures you loose yourself in the character's identity.

It is a collection of short stories that explores various situations in life from a Nigerian perspective while giving you the freedom to decide your own "HAPPY"ending. 

The beauty of the book is in her style of writing, it takes you back to the days of Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka when emphasis was placed on the little details that captures the essence of the story.

There  were a couple of stories that made an impression on me:

JUMPING MONKEY HILL
THE SHIVERING
IMITATION
TOMORROW IS TOO FAR AWAY

I am not gonna spill the beans but trust me when I say it is definitely a MUST- READ.

Have a wonderful day guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.::something to think about::.

Won this card at a team building event at work for my awesome communication skills :)
It is part of Roger von Oech's Creative Whack Pack for daily inspiration (www.creativethink.com)

Just something that inspired me today and I thought I'd share...

Hope you guys have had a good weekend.

SOUL-SEARCHING WEDNESDAY

So, today totally didn't turn out like I had hoped for but a question that has been on my mind all day is this: how do you cope with the aftermath of a not very good incident and think of something positive?

I practically used the whole of today doing a bit of soul searching and I stumbled upon this fabulous article:

88 Important Truths (courtesy www.raptitude.com)

Here's a few which really made me think:

1. You can’t change other people, and it’s rude to try.
6. Bad moods will come and go your whole life, and trying to force them away makes them run deeper and last longer...
11. Every problem you have is your responsibility, regardless of who caused it.
13. If you never doubt your beliefs, then you’re wrong a lot.
15. NOBODY HAS IT ALL FIGURED OUT.
17. Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours.
21. Anger reveals weakness of character, violence even more so.
23. When people are uncomfortable with the present moment, they fidget with their hands or their minds.  Watch and see.24. Those who complain the most, accomplish the least.
25. Putting something off makes it instantly harder and scarier.
26. Credit card debt devours souls.
30. The most common addiction in the world is the draw of comfort. It wrecks dreams and breaks people.
31. If what you’re doing feels perfectly safe, there is probably a better course of action.
34. Everyone you meet is better than you at something.
35. Proof is nothing but a collection of opinions that match your own.
41. Revenge is for the petty and irresponsible.
42. Getting truly organized can vastly improve anyone’s life.
47. If you aren’t happy single, you won’t be happy in a relationship.
48. Even if it costs no money, nothing is free if it takes time.
52. Posture and dress change profoundly how you feel about yourself and how others feel about you, like it or not.
57. There is nothing worse than having no friends.58. To write a person off as worthless is an act of great violence.
59. Try as we might to be otherwise, we are all hypocrites.
63. Casual swearing makes people sound dumb.
64. Words are immensely powerful. One cruel remark can wound someone for life.
65. It’s easy to make someone’s day just by being uncommonly pleasant to them.
72. There are not enough women in positions of power. The world has suffered from this deficit for a long time.
81. Life is a solo trip, but you’ll have lots of visitors. Some of them are long-term, most aren’t.
83. The fewer possessions you have, the more they do for you.
88. Killing time is an atrocity. It’s priceless, and it never grows back.

For a complete list of the 88 Important Truths, please visit http://www.raptitude.com/2009/07/88-important-truths-ive-learned-about-life/ 
It is a great blog/site with a lot of insightful articles.

Nina Simone - Feeling Good is on the play list.
This song totally describes how I felt after reading this article...Have a wonderful evening guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LAGOS BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL

For those that may not have heard or seen any of the posters around, the event to look forward to this year is definitely the LAGOS BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL (BADAGRY 2010).

Black heritage festivals have been hosted all over the world for several years, the festivals aim at embracing black culture, history, arts and music.

Ok so I have been following the event since last year and I am overly excited about it mainly because of the Music festival and according to the sponsors, the music which is the highlight of the event will feature a blend of musicians spanning across different genres.

There will also be a book exhibition where Nigerian authors can showcase their works, I hope Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie  will be there because I love her work immensely.

For more details check out their website http://lagosblackheritagefestival.org/

Stylin' & Profilin': Elohor Aisen

Elohor Aisen (nee Isiorho) is the lady behind Beth Model Management (http://bethmodelmanagement.com/) for those of you that don't know, they represent the bulk of the most successful and most featured models in Nigeria.

They constantly brace the covers of True love Magazine, Genevieve, Thisday shows amongst others.

Her style is very modern and extremely chic and personifies high fashion at its peak.

Her outfits focus on a signature piece which usually screams out class be it a classic Chanel purse, a gorgeous pair of Christian Louboutin shoes or simply an exquisite hair do.

She has been able to merge modern fashion with classic pieces which always produces a superb ensemble like the one above that screams JACKIE O!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but in a modern sense.

She is not just a pretty face, but a strong and successful business woman who has been able to take modelling in Nigeria to the next level and was behind the ELITE MODEL LOOK NIGERIA event that was recently held in Lagos.

She has braced the cover of Genevieve magazine and has continued to make huge waves in the industry. Elohor is definitely a force to reckon with.

We at frannysquared will continue to watch out for her next breathtaking ensemble.

Have a wonderful day guys, KEM - I CANT STOP LOVING YOU is on the playlist.