Pick of the Week

Gosh, what's a girl got to do, to get some action up in her life. It's quiet around me at the moment (winking and saying, you know what I mean girls) and since I get the sense that I need to be prepared for the excitement and drama that may soon be arriving at my doorstep, I have to share with you my favourite items for the week.

Just in case you haven't noticed, 'Patent' is a key element of the current season's trends and a major one too at that. You will find jackets, handbags, accessories, shoes and even a few items of clothing (such as skirts, and dresses) all featuring 'Patent' , in the stores and boutiques. I have to admit that I haven't entirely been a fan of anything Patent in the past but yours sincerely is now a true and reformed convert due to some key pieces featuring on my list below.

My first choice for the week is a LBD (Little Black Dress) by Zara (http://www.zara.com/) which incorporates the key elements to look out for in any LBD i.e. complimentary knee-length, bejewelled on the neck line, and accentuates the curves. But what excites me the most about this LBD is the combined features of the current season's look i.e the double pockets at the waist, slightly gathered at the knees, alongside the 'Patent' detail around the neckline giving it a simple sexiness that's so easy to pull off. It is also all in Black making it easy to accessorise with almost anything in your wardrobe.

'Patent' accessories are also the rage this season which brings me to my second 'Pick for the week', this lovely clutch from FCUK aka French Connection (http://www.frenchconnection.com/). It's the perfect size (its handy and urban chic) to accessorise with the dress above or any other look you go for and believe me, it's still a lot chaeper that some of the other Patent bags I've seen around.

My third and final 'Pick for the week' is this elastic pair of 'Patent' pumps by Miu Miu (http://www.miumiu.com/) of which an exact prototype exists by Zara (http://www.zara.com/). This combined with the handbag above gives you the casual chic look when combined with Jeans and a Sweater, or a short smock (as is the rage too in this season), or even on a night out on the town without the stress of wearing heels (you will feel totally in place amongst the other revellers).

Don't hesitate to take a dip in the 'Patent' pool this season by trying any of these items or being inspired to pick any other items more suited to your look and taste in the Patent range.

If there's any action, parties, events you want to share, please holla at your girl. I'll be here waiting to give you the scoop on the look to be had.

Fabulous love.

Note to Self - Pay attention to Yourself

Girls, Girls, Girls, we need to take care of our bodies and ourselves in general (oh dear, what's caused this outburst?).

I don't know how Tyler Perry's movies evaded me all these years, considering the fact that I'm a movie buff (another word for addict) especially for black movies. Anyway, I got to watch Tyler Perry's ' Why did I get Married' (don't ask me how considering it's not in UK cinemas) and it was such a pleasure to watch (for me anyway)http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809847807/video. In as much as I loved the movie, it triggered off a train of thought for me to ponder upon and discuss with you, fellow girlfriends of mine, wherever you are in the world, reading this.

The catalyst for my point today is the heavy-set, docile, christian woman (played by Jill Scott) whose husband no longer finds attractive, has even become disgusted with her physically (and every other way possible) so he begins to cheat on her. She's obviously gotten used to hearing her husband tell her she is fat and as a result, she's begun to see herself as fat and ugly. Her husband doesn't mince words in telling her she is fat, unattractive and worthless and she takes it all in, with a pitch of salt and a tub of sugar. She begins to put herself down in front of everyone she meets just to be sure she is the one insulting herself first before anyone else. She is obviously desperate to get her husband to love her physically and emotionally yet she cannot bring herself to address the deeper issues in her marriage and herself before it breaks down irrevocably.

What got me the most, was the fact that she wasn't happy with herself (even though this may be as a result of being put down all the time) and her unhappiness with herself was the main reason her husband could say and do all the things he did. She was unhappy about her size yet she didn't have the strength to do something about it when she absolutely needed to.

Women need to take care of every aspect of our bodies, if we don't, who will? Your eyesight, your teeth, your physical and oral hygiene, your health, your weight, your looks, need to be attended to every so often. It's not vanity, it's reality. It is also not cheap but it's a necessity. But I have a tip for you on a planned and cost-effective way of making sure you get a full check-up at least once a year, tit's called a Health Cash Plan.

Health Cash Plans are sort of like Insurance Policies, but they are not Health Insurance Policies. They are Yearly Plans you buy and pay for, monthly (or otherwise), which help ease the burden of paying for yearly Dental, Medical, Physio, Chiropractic, Optical check-ups and treatments (depending on the level of cover you buy or get). The range of medical treatments covered depends on the Plan and the company providing the plan but you are offered a limited amount each year to be claimed back once you receive a treatment within your plan. Just make sure you buy a plan suited to you. Companies such as Axa, Bupa, Saga, Westfield, Standard Life etc offer this sort of services and it beats depending on the public health system (NHS) for treatments you are not bound to get or for doctors you can't see unless you are dying. This way you can get more proactive in going out and getting check-ups, getting your teeth cleaned, getting your eyes checked and glasses sorted, making sure you get the medical screening every woman should get (breast & cervical cancer, smear test, blood pressure, sugar levels etc)

We owe to ourselves and our families (where you are wives, mothers, breadwinners) to take care of ourselves , love yourself and your BODY, and take care of yourself and your BODY. Be proactive in learning new things that enhance your health and life, and live life to the fullest in the best way.

My love to all your women out there keeping it real. Love yourself so that you can love other people healthily. Fabulous Love.

Helping the senses - Smell and Touch

Gosh, nothing exciting has happened lately. The last time I went out was in October when I and some girlfriends from my alumni, FGGC Oyo, met up for some paella (a Spanish dish of rice, seafood, and chicken) and Sangria (a chilled Spanish drink of red wine, fruit juice, lemonade or soda water, and brandy or another spirit, usually served in a jug with pieces of fruit). Boy oh boy, I sure had fun that night (girls, I am looking forward to our next outing).

End of Autumn sales are on (and drawing to a close) in the stores that matter so don't miss an opportunity to prepare for the next season by getting a bargain this season. And I'm keeping in theme with the winter period by touching on the subject of textures and smells for the season.

If you are wondering why all of a sudden your perfume or Eau De toilette doesn't come off as fragrant as it seemed during the summer, its because the drop in temperature all around you leaves the hard work of the perfume/temperature chemical reaction, to your body heat (does that come off too technical?). Basically, in the summer the heat around you is enough to trigger off the scent from any perfume (depending on the perfume) by inadvertently causing an increase in your body heat leading to the explosion of smells (body, perfume, environment).

On the other hand, in the winter, temperatures drop to a point where it hardly elicits much of a trigger on perfumes and even though your body heat becomes higher in reaction to the cold, it might or might not be enough to trigger off a reaction needed to maximise a spray or splash of your perfume (you might pour the entire bottle and not get a reaction). As a result, picking the right perfume is important because you need one that works well with body heat to come off smelling nice, and you don't want to have to buy a new bottle every week.

Do not fret girls because I'm gonna reveal three top perfumes which work wonderfully well in the winter (just as if its summer) and only need normal body temperature to explode and leave you smelling good for hours on end. They are:

Flower by Kenzo (http://www.kenzoflower.com/)

This has got a flowery sweet smell and all you have to do is dab a few drops on your pulse points (behind your ears, on the inside of your wrists, on the inside of the elbows, on your temple, at the base of your neck, in between your breasts, or even on the inside of the knees) and you are good to go. if you are allergic to or react to flowers and sweet smells, I'll say you should steer well clear of this one but its absolute gem for those who does have any reactions.

Noa by Cacharel (http://www.cacharel.com/)

This has also got a flowery tone to it but its not a sweet smell like Kenzo Flower. It smells just as great and works exactly the same way, dab on your pulse points and you won't be disappointed. Also, you can spray your perfume in an upward direction and step straight into the spray as it drops, immediately after a bath but before putting any clothes on. That way you have the perfume directly on your skin with body heat working to push off the fragrance. This perfume is good for early evening outing or intimate dinner dates because its a light fragrance and really sensual in smell.

Tresor by Lancome (http://www.lancome.com/)

This is a perfect choice for a night out on the town, it stays with you all through the night. Its strong but not overpowering that I can't help but love it. This just needs spraying onto the skin before wearing your clothes and you are good to go.

Trust me girls, these fragrances work not just for the winter but through the summer but there's always loads of summer fragrances to use that you might just want to reserve this for the winter months.

With the subject of fragrances and smells sorted, we'll turn our attention to fabrics and textures.

During the summer, everyone wears cotton and linen and these fabrics work well with the weather & temperature levels, and body heat regardless of skin type or variations. But once temperatures drop at this time of the year, there's a shift in the materials/fabrics being sought after and worn to keep warm and comfortable. Bearing in mind that only a few of the fabrics being used to produce clothing are natural whilst a majority of clothing are made from man-made fabric, you need to watch what you wear in the context of comfort, durability, skin sensitivity and hygiene.

A few things to know about the fabrics used mainly for winter clothing are:

Fleece - Can get damaged by high temperature (so do not drape over radiators or heated surfaces), it does not absorb moisture (which isn't a good feature at all for those who sweat a lot), cannot be washed beyond 30-40 degrees (so the risk of harbouring bacteria or stray dirt is high leading to a high risk of catching skin infection from an infected individual e.g scabies). Avoid buying 100% fleece clothing. Buy clothes with fleece only works when the fleece is entirely on the inner lining of the garment because the internal part of a garment will not be in contact with any other person's skin except by choice.

Wool - You need to watch out for your skin's reaction to wool because if you experience some itchiness when you wear wool, it means you might be allergic to wool. On the other hand, wool keeps its shape better, lasts longer, and can be machine washable. You need to read the care instructions carefully because it can shrink or felt in a hot wash even though it is less likely to pill (a bubble of fibre that develops with use or wear). Natural wool should be hand washed.

Angora - You need to also watch for skin reactions. It's inelastic and does not stretch so make sure you buy your exact size or a size higher for comfort. Its soft, warm and fluffy.

Mohair - This is durable, sheds dirt and does not pill easily.

When buying wool, cashmere, angora and mohair sweaters, its best to buy the good quality ones (even though it might mean a little bit more expensive than the average) because the cheap versions may have other man-made fabrics incorporated into the clothing which would mean that the natural features of the predominant fabric may not hold. Don't be penny wise, pound foolish.

When does Insanity stop?

Walahi talahi, If I swear for this our Nigerian Government, something go catch them no be small. Ba na so wanan wahala fa! ( a bit of rudimentary hausa for you there).

I need to have my say on the article I read this morning covering the new angle to the ongoing controversy unfolding in the House of Reps (the lower house) in Nigeria. The Speaker for the House of Reps, Patricia Etteh ('the accused' as we lawyers would say) is alleged to have awarded a contract to refurbish her home for an exaggerated amount of N628m (gosh, the amount alone makes me swoon from disbelief. Bloody hell that's a lot of money).

What amazes me beyond the contended amount, are two things. Let's begin:

http://allafrica.com/stories/200710190046.html reports that the Nigerian Labour Congress is planning a protest march against the continued leadership of Patricia Etteh. Since when did the Labour Congress become a tool for parliamentary issues or matters pertaining to the transparency and honesty of the country's leaders. I thought the Labour Unions are meant to be spokesmen for the labour force in matters of employment and conditions of service (pay, entitlement & benefits, fair treatment, discrimination etc). Is the Nigerian Labour Congress at loss for something to do that they have found a new objective for their existence, i.e taking over the appointment and dismissal of parliamentary heads.

It would make sense if the protest is all about the suspended sessions of the House of Parliament because a bill is under consideration and it affects the members of the labour force or is pertinent to the needs of the members of the Labour Congress, but the article does not say so. It clearly says they are matching against 'the accused'. All, that's left to be said is that the members of the Labour congress had better reconsider their name cos they are beginning to look like puppets and not the respected Labour Congress. They need to go home and get to work on drafting laws that work for their members in getting improved work benefits and better standards of work treatment (the minimum wage in Nigeria by law is N5000, imagine that).

My second bone to pick is the fact that a Life was lost amidst the upheaval and mayhem, and this is what we call 'Government'. The article makes reference to the collapse and death of a member of the House after a heated argument between supporters of 'the accused' and supporters of the opposition. The scenario painted in my mind for this 'heated argument' would be a very rowdy gathering of people, coming close to hitting each other, pushing and shoving at each other, and screaming their lungs off (Gosh, I wish I could draw cartoons, this would be a classic). Is this what a Parliamentary House should be?. How could a session get to a point where a person to drops to the floor and die, I would be buying Life Insurance Policies (for the family members who have lost their breadwinner) if I were a Member of the House in Nigeria cos it looks to me that the risk of being a member of the Senate or House of Reps isn't a reputational risk, its a Life & Death situation.

My condolences to the family of the Member and a prayer for them, for God to give them the strength to bear the loss of their loved one.

When does the insanity stop? Every leader of the Senate and the House of Reps is always plagued with one scandal or another that I'm surprised anyone stills wants to take up the role. There's hardly been any improvement to Laws that have been passed in 1990 yet there's always time for arguments and protest marches. We have a President who hasn't called his team to order (that's taking the separation of powers rule too far) and the Press is having a field day at the expense of Nigeria's integrity.

Okay, I might come across as an outsider talking because I don't currently live in Nigeria, but my views are still valid because I lived and grew up there so I know what it feels like to watch the people we place our votes and trust in, mess it all up and the masses just look on and feel powerless in the face of it all. It has got to stop soon or else.......

Viewsflash

Its Mid-October and its suddenly hit me that the year is coming to an end. Considering the fact that October, for me, signals the arrival of the drastic change in temperature and a need to be totally wrapped up all the time, still its a significant month. October in UK is Black History month (there hasn't been a lot of buzz as I normally expect, to remind me. Just a few statements on MTV Base by some black artists). I look forward to the month hoping to hear about concerts, plays and a host of black-themed events but there isn't a lot out there really and its kinda disappointing. However, if you are interested all events are listed on http://www.black-history-month.co.uk/events.html

Another significant day that went unhonoured by yours truly, was the 15th of October. It was the Environmental Blog day when all bloggers were encouraged to dedicate their blogs to an environmental theme. I didn't get round to doing this however, I have now taken some time out to think about my stance on global warming, recycling and such environmental issues. And sadly I still don't have a stance or view.

But thinking about it, my excuse is that I grew up in Nigeria where it was a miracle to have electricity for two days in a row so making a mental note to turn off my TV was not required, it was always off. We didn't need central heating so there was no need to switch any such thing off, and even though we needed air conditioning or fans, NEPA wasn't a good friend to the masses. And as for recycling, it was a way of life (you didn't and still don't throw anything away unless it has absolutely deteriorated to the point of no return), and even then you would turn round to see someone else picking it out of the trash. Recycling was a automatic mode of survival not an environmental issue. Talking of global warming and the rest, Nigeria has always had a problem with extreme weather cos when it rains, it pours and when its hot, its burning hot (why do you think I have never had to wear suncream? that's because my skin has taken the beating of its life walking the streets of Lagos trying to make a living). The Nigerian flag is Green and White so its automatically eco-friendly and doesn't need an additional green campaign, just give the money for the campaign to the needy sitting on the street corners of the major cities looking for a meal.

And even now, I only turn my TV completely off because my flatmate does it. I only turn my heating off to keep my bills to a minimum and I only turn off my lights because I don't fancy bright lights showing me my imperfections (not that I have any).

Seriously, I might be a bit naive to actually believe that the average folk in Africa can't be bothered to join in the global warming or environmental debate because their main concern is how to get the basic necessities of life as enjoyed by westerners and not how to keep the weather cool enough to take a walk. I don't even understand the carbon foot print debate and I am literate, for crying out loud. I am not a fan of tough reality or gory details so Al Gore's film on Global warming 'An inconvenient Truth' isn't on my 'To see' list, but you should see it if you are curious.
So, please enlighten me if I am ignorant enough to give global warming and environmental issues the least priority in my life. For tips on making your contributions to the Green campaign, check out http://themilklady.com/, she has a good blog entry on the subject matter.

Winter Blues

So, its been quiet on the home front for me in the last week. Rogue incidents in my life are minimal/non-existent (gosh, do I strive on drama in my life?), I moved house (even that came with a tint of soap opera drama), and I am comfortably settled within the four walls of a lovely flat in East London. Whats next?

Well, its beginning to show the tinges of the winter season and I'm beginning to feel like I usually do during this season. I want to kick back a lot, not wanting to go anyway but sit down glued to my TV watching all the reality shows they bombard us with. I switch the way I monitor the fashion trends by staying confined to the four walls of my home (its called the Internet), and when I finally walk out of my house, my best friends are my UGG boots and my sweatshirt.

Speaking of sweatshirts, they are very comfortable and convenient in the Winter. My favourite sweatshirt store is definitely Abercombie & Fitch - http://www.abercombie.com/. That's because they have the interior of the sweatshirt lined with fleece which keeps the heat retained and keeps you warm.

I know the concept of walking out of your house dressed in a sweatshirt does not exactly say a lot about your attention to yourself and your image, but really girls, its only the guys you are worried about. You think any guy who sees you dressed like that would think you are a slob, sloppy and not well-dressed. And to be honest with you girls, I place the need to be warm and comfortable on a scale against the need to look good for any other person (if they really care), and 7 out of 10 times, the need to be comfortable and warm wins. Its the attitude with which you carry yourself, regardless of what you wear, that counts. Hence, my sweatshirt would be in a nice colour, and will be clean. I'll be wearing a nice pair of earrings and a nice watch to accentuate my very casual outfit. I'll definitely be wearing a great pair of curve-hugging jeans (or whatever it is, you wear to show off the curves) and my boots will be making a statement of their own. If that doesn't all come together, then it wasn't about the sweatshirt in the first place, something else was wrong.

I am not saying you shouldn't look sharp at all during the winter. But, there's an outfit for every occasion and this is my definition of a casual outfit during the winter season because you need to keep warm and look hot at the same time.

My other habit during the winter season is to keep all entertainment indoors in a warm and comfy place. I tend to do a lot of entertaining during this period over a hot meal, so I'll have friends for dinner and vice versa. There'll be lots of meeting up with friends over a drink/coffee and/or dinner and less of going to the clubs or events that require showing skin and queuing to get into any place. Ice-skating is the only exception to this rule cos its fun.

What are your habits during winter? Do tell.....

Picks for the Week

I don't care what anyone says, its officially winter for me (even though I still feel awkward wearing my heavy woollen winter jacket so my leather jacket has become my best friend for now). Walking around in 120C weather doesn't do my mood or temperament any good, its only make me check out the fashion scene and fantasise in my mind what I would be wearing if I was temperatures of 220c or more (Nigeria, India, Madrid).

So, what do I have in my wardrobe this season? Definitely a few woollen dresses from H&M, a prototype of which I found on ASOS.com (As seen on Stars). I love Asos.com because they give you affordable fashionable clothing made to look exactly as seen on the famous stars we all see everyday. My Picks for the week will come from http://www.asos.com/

A few are here:

H&M has this dress in a soft wool fabric and it does the trick. With tights and 3/4 length boots or flat pumps, you should be good to go. On the other hand, Asos's version is good for those who react to wool fabrics, just make sure you are wrapped up warmly with removable layers. Once indoors, Glamour will be the word.

Unfortunately in the winter, you don't get to hibernate with the animals and stay away from social engagements, so I prepare for the night outs/celebratory parties/birthdays/hen parties/wedding after-parties by buying clothes I can still wear the next summer (Never buy one-season going out clothes). My pick for the week here would include:

I'm sure you'll notice a similar trend here consisting of short lengths, v-neck lines, and empire lines. These should emphasise the right attributes and hide any bulges (if you decide to enjoy some good food whilst you are out and about), just add on a camisole beneath if you don't want any cleavage and throw up knee-length/3/4 length/ankle boots with tights depending on your preferences in UK/America and obviously the girls in Nigeria can enjoy the pleasures of their heels/wedges just like this favourite of mine -

Like I said, its all there on ASOS.com so go make some fashionable and stylish purchases and enjoy the shift in weather, don't let it stop you.

I am looking forward to stepping up my game in the winter and not becoming home-bound and boring, of course, you'll be kept in the loop the entire time.

Go girls. Fabulous love.

Food and Recipes - Okazi Soup

Since I promised to share some of my favourite recipes, I'll share my recipe for Okazi Soup. Its of Ibo origin and became a favourite when my university flatmate began cooking it as a Saturday treat. All the girls in the flat would gather round with the boyfriends and their usual entourage(who all had the uncanny instinct for food and so would turn up on the day) and feast on eba and Okazi soup complete with loads of meat (believe me, there was no more work done that day). Gosh, those were the days.

Anyway, all you need to get started is freshly blended pepper/tomato/rodo, spinach/water leaves, fresh or dried okazi leaves (can be found in African shops in UK but don't know about America), stock cubes, different pieces of meat (shaki/pomo/cow leg/beef/dried fish) depending of your preferences, Palm oil, and salt to taste.

Then you can get started:

• Heat up your palm oil to boiling point;
• Pour in your blended combination of pepper;
• add the stock cubes and salt;
• pour in your meat/fish;
• fry till your pepper is palatable and the meat/fish is cooked;
• pour in your spinach/water leaves, frying in the already fried pepper;
• once your spinach/water leaf is cooked (a sign of which is the decomposition into liquid form;
• sprinkle in your fresh/dried okazi leaves;
• leave to boil until the okazi leaves are somewhat softer;
• serve with your accompaniment of choice - eba, pounded yam etc.

Gather your friends and/or family around and make your own memories eating this meal together. I hope those memories would keep you feeling warm for a long time as mine have.

Remember to love yourself and everyone around you.

Fabulous thots.

ASA (ASHA) FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

I have waited so long to hear some material from this acclaimed artist from Nigeria (there has been a lot of buzz about her talent)so its good to see this and I love this poignant, true and deeply intellectual song from her. I hope you all enjoy it too.

More Tips on Engagement Rings

So did you know that the fourth finger on the left hand which the engagement ring is worn on is referred to as the 'vena amoris or vein of love'. Well, there you have it.

Anyway, we talked about the prelude to the engagement ring shopping i.e budget and metal preferences. A tiny detail that can't be overlooked is the ring size of the lucky woman.

Once these details (very important details I have to emphasise) are sorted, the next decision would be the 'Stone'. In present times, most people go for Diamonds and their rationale seems to mainly be the fact that it's the most beautiful, expensive, and enduring stone (notice the order in which the reasons are listed). However, there are other stones to be considered such as semi-precious stones like sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and there are rare stones such as pearls and opals which are soft stones.

With Diamonds, the factors that need and must be borne in mind are known as the 4Cs - Clarity, Colour, Cut, Carat (weight).

Clarity - Its the purity or clearness of the diamond. There are various symbols used to signify the level of impurity i.e F (flawless), IF (internally flawless)...

Colour - Is the amount of colour the diamond contains. It could be brown, blue, green, pink, red, gray, and range from light coloured shades to intense/deeply coloured shades. The colours make them variably valuable.

Cut - This relates to the finishing and proportions of the stone. It affects what is described as the 'brilliance' of the stone. A stone is either well-cut or not and this determines its price.

Carat - Is the unit weight of the stone. The value for each carat increases with the carat size.

Gosh, I am now exhausted after all that talk of diamonds, I need to detox the melancholic feeling setting in because the mention of diamonds seems to be synonymous with getting engaged or married (whichever causes the man to go out and get me, my diamond) and that's something a girl like me still considers a far-fetched aspiration. Let me get on with my detox and you'll hear from me soon.

Back on Track - Wedding Scoop

I guess you''ll all be be wondering by now and thinking "how on earth is she coping without electricity?", the shortest answer to that question is that I have been well and truly surprised at the ability of some foreign nationals (namely some people I have met in the last week) to reconnect electricity illicitly and because I have had some benefit in this case I will say no more (I know that any Nigerians reading this will understand the hidden humour here and will be laughing their heads off, yes there are people other than Nigerians who know how to deceive NEPA).

My rogue estate agent has disappeared into thin air and I now have another estate agent (bigger and better). I'll be moving house shortly and hopefully I'll restore some sanity back into my life. Welcome to London.

Seeing as I might have the benefit of getting married (as nonchalant as I sound, in my head I picture myself kneeling before God and seriously begging him to send someone quickly), I have to give you the parameters that need to be set for the ultimate wedding ceremony.

First, the engagement ring (hopefully, you'll get a romantic proposal. If you don't the sins of the man can be quickly masked and forgiven by the ultimate ring).

http://www.bryanjewelers.com/. Believe me, there's a rule on how much the man should spend on an engagement ring, its the fifth 'C' to consider (the first four Cs being cut, clarity, colour, and carat). The rule is....(drums roll and excited girls holding their breathe) 1-2 mths wages. In the old day tradition it used to be two months however, due to the modern development, increased wages and increased cost of living, for most people (hope you noticed I said some people) a month's wage can provide the right ring.

After deciding the budget aallocated to the ring, the man needs to consider the woman's taste and the metal that would suit her. For some people, yellow gold works perfectly while white gold works better for others. There's also the option of sterling silver/stainless steel (which does not appreciate in value over time, so it does not make commercial sense) and there's Platinum (which currently has the most commercially value). I find that yellow gold suits fair-skinned women since it blends in with their skin colour and does not stand out garishly. On the other hand, white gold/stainless steel/sterling silver/platinum all sit dark-skinned women better than yellow gold in a classy, distinctive way. At the end of the day, its all a matter of opinion and individual taste.

If your man does not get your taste (which is very often the case), drop subtle hints early enough and try to ensure that you point out a designated friend to be his chaperon when he goes ring shopping, or better still, go with him yourself where you've both informally decided to take the plunge(get married).

There are Personal Shoppers who specialise in helping with shopping for an engagement/wedding/commemorative ring. So if he doesn't want to get it all wrong, it doesn't hurt to commission a undertake the task of finding the perfect ring, after all its meant to be a once in a lifetime occasion.

When the first two details have been sorted, the Four Cs will come into play. We'll have to expand on this next time. Until then, I've got nothing but fabulous love for you all.

Dispatches - Immigrants: The inconvenient Truth Pt2

Dispatches - Immigrants: The inconvenient Truth Pt3

Nigerians have been seen to be extremely hardworking, well-educated and are considered beneficial to this country so they should be allowed to emigrate here.

Dispatches - Immigrants: The inconvenient Truth Pt1

This is a controversial issue that affects me as an British African because for all intents and purposes I am an immigrant. As a Nigerian, I am happy to hear that we are considered one of the highly educated and commercially beneficial immigration population. Its good to see that the truth has been exposed.

Sugababes - About You Now

This ticks my button so I thought I'd share it with you all.

Fantasia - When I See You [www.kovideo.net]

I absolutely love this song and the video. Fantasia is currently an all time favourite.