Vacation Time - Kate Henshaw at the Top of Salvatore Mountain, Switzerland

Kate Henshaw is currently on vacation in Switzerland and decided to take in some touristy sights in the Lugano area. She took the tram to the top of Monte S.Salvatore.. Lugano. Switzerland and like she wrote, the views are certainly worth it. Enjoy her pics below...

We Take a Mini Vacation - Road Trip From the West to East Across the Cascades

To say a proper good bye to summer which leaves early around these parts, Tola and I decided to have a short road trip over the weekend to the east of the Cascade Mountains which kind of divides Washington state in half.

I've Got a New Hobby - Riding a Bicycle

Before I met Atala, I didn't know many people who loved riding and took it as a hobby. Moving to UK as a student and interacting with other students had of course opened my eyes to bikes as a viable option for commuting. But in Nigeria before then, the closest I had come to biking was half-following the Tour de france and admiring Lance Armstrong in his jersey.

What is Your Most Embarrassing Moment?

There's the saying that no one is perfect, and this cannot be more true for the life of a typical woman. Not only do we set very high standards for ourselves, nature has also given us a set of very high jumps to hurdle over. If it's not the major milestones of periods, childbirth, breastfeeding, weaning, then it is the little ones like impressing that cute guy we fancy or coming out tops over our favorite rival in school.

Do You Shave Your Legs And Why?

Before I moved to America, hairy legs were what everyone had depending on how hairy they generally were. If there was a scale for hairiness, I'd probably fall around 7 or 8, and over the years, a few men actually complimented my hairy legs. But then I moved abroad, first to the UK and now the US. In both places, women were supposed to be hairless, all over, but especially on their legs.

Proposal or Date Idea - The Top of the Empire State Building

One of the things I always knew I would try if I ever made it to New York was to get to the top of the Empire State Building. It's one of the tallest buildings in the world, it's wonderfully designed, and a favorite of Hollywood. I didn't know I would be visiting it with someone, and when that someone was Atala, our visit has one of the best highlights of our years and travels together.

I'm in Texas and Everything Really is Big

There's this joke that I'm sure a lot of you have heard various versions of it. I can't remember any version completely but suffice to say, one of the lines say, in Texas, everything is big. This is my first time in Texas, and I can now say, that part of the joke is totally true.

Throw Back Thurday - Bringing the Sexy

This was about 5 years ago. I was already living in the UK and traveled to Nigeria for vacation. Like someone said in the last tbt post, my youngest sister who had just entered university then said, Myne, you're always very serious and formal. I know you're older than me, bla...bla...bla... but come let me show you how to let your hair down."

I already had the dress, which I often wore as a top to tights or jeans, the shoes, accessory and the hair. But she provided the makeup and put it all together. At the photographer's studio, she provided moral support as the guy reeled out model instructions - "head to the side, strut it, flaunt it, head up, hands bent, etc."

I love you sis, and I can honestly say, this was the picture that got Atala across seven oceans and seas to come get me. #trueword. Since then, I know it's quite important to sometimes not be so grown up and serious. You can also either be young and carefree, or you can bring the sexy!

Positive Social Spaces

I want to use this opportunity to address some of the comments on the Chimamanda post. That post was not meant to offend anyone, but to correct the impression some people got from wrong blogs and sources about what she said the first time around. On this post, a comment actually left a link to one of such wrong information blogs .

It was unfortunate that the comments became embroiled in that which divide us. Maybe I should generally moderate comments on this blog, or have stopped the comments on that post after I saw the way it was going, but I couldn't have guessed how it would end. To anyone who was insulted or offended, I apologize. Adura Ojo, I'm glad to hear you've calmed down, this is for you too.

I may be a hypocrite, but I can never hate myself. Am I perfect? Far from it. Do I try to live a more healthy lifestyle, I do try, but I am also real and true to myself. I eat ice cream and processed foods. I know cell phones and microwaves are radioactive, but I still use them. And yes, I know relaxers may be linked to hair and general health issues, but it is my choice to use them, under advise, at this time.

15 Things I Love About My Nigerian Husband

By Nkem Akinsoto

I didn't set out to marry a Nigerian man. It was a preference, but after I moved to the UK, I knew it was up in the air. In Edinburgh where I lived, Nigerian men were less than 5 percent of the entire male population. However, for most of my years there, my primary social group were the other Nigerians in the area, so of the people I met, Nigerian men were up to 30 percent.

Needless to say, I socialized with a lot of non-Nigerians and actually dated outside the Nationality, and even the race for a while. I confess that I had different measures for each category of people I dated or seriously considered for a romantic, and possibly long term relationship.

For instance, if the guy was British, it was less likely that speaking good English would be one of his weak points. But for my Nigerian brothers, especially if they were not students like I was, it could be an issue. Are you surprised a good command of English was among my requirements, wait till you hear the rest :)

Happy Mothering Sunday

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and some other places around the world. You see I did not include the United States because there's another date still coming for us. It can all get confusing sometimes, I know also there are even two mothering Sundays in Nigeria, Anglican and Roman Catholic if I'm not mistaken :)

But no matter. Even three days is not enough. I cherish my mum like no man's business and have already called to tell her that. I also appreciate all the other mothers in my life, my MIL and you readers, mothers to your own children, and whose motherly advice myself and other younger readers gain a lot from.

Happy Mother’s Day for being so amazing. Thank you.

My First Baby Shower in America

I think Baby Showers are an American construct. I never heard about it while in Nigeria and in my time in the UK, I had a few friends/colleagues who had babies, but there were no baby showers. In Nigeria, usually, the celebration is after the woman has had the baby, and there is baby powder and laughter and rejoicing.

Here in the US, the birth of the baby is heralded a few months or weeks before the ED and it helps the mother to be to keep up the excitement as she receives gifts from family and friends that help her prepare for the arrival of the new baby.

I had missed a couple of previous showers which took place while I was in Nigeria, but when a new friend, who happens to be from my village in Asaba, invited me to her baby shower, I just knew I had to be there. It was a great way to celebrate that joy with all the other women there, and to show support to my sister/friend. Now counting down the days to welcoming the new baby :)

Our Cirque Du Soliel Experience - AmaLuna [Pictures]

AMALUNA is Cirque du Soleil's latest creation and currently touring the Seattle area. We found out just before valentine and would have loved to make an anniversary event of it. However, that day's tickets were sold out. We saw it a couple of days ago, and even then, it was still sold out. Totally worth every penny of the ticket price, I loved it.

Cirque du soleil presents contemporary circus experiences, with the traditional jugglers, aerial performers, acrobats, dancers and clowns fused with modern music and a story. AmaLuna is a magical romance, inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest, and takes place on an island where women (Ama) rule along the cycles of the moon (Luna).

"The daughter of Queen Prospera is undergoing the rituals of her coming-of-age ceremony when a group of young men is caught up in a storm and stranded on the island. Prospera's daughter falls in love with one of the brave sailors, but the two lovers must overcome many trials and setbacks before finding peace together."

Re: Valentine - You asked, I answered

Please forgive my bad hair day, I'd just come out from getting a massage. The picture was taken on Valentine's Day. So I asked in this post for you guys to ask me any thing, and few questions came in which I've answered below;

Did you love Atala instantly or did you grow to love him? and if you did, whats that process like?

Thanks, Prov. I didn't love him instantly but I did admire him [or his mind and personality I should say]. You see, we 'met' online at a message-board. I was a lonely student in a new country looking for a place that felt like home. I found this website of Nigerians and the community welcomed me. He was among those that first interacted with me, and with time as I saw his intelligence, kindness, and level-headedness, I started to crush on him. I knew there was an attraction between our online personas, but he was aloof for a long time and so I just had fun.

Happy Valentine's Day - Ask Me Anything!

I hope everyone is having a fun day, by themselves, with friends or family, or with a love interest or significant other. Valentine's Day happens to be Atala and I's wedding anniversary, and so it is extra special for us. Plans have been made and both of us will be taking most of the day off for some sweet TLC and relaxation. Like I told an interviewer recently, a "massage for two is on the cards, as is a dinner. The real fun starts after all that." LOL...can't wait!

On this blog, it is three and a half years since I started blogging, and you guys have been awesome all the way. As I find my feet more and more in what I do, I want you guys to also feel at home here. One way to do that is for you to know me better. Some of you who have been following from the beginning, and paying attention, probably know even the size of my bra. But if you're new or have any pending questions, personal or otherwise, put it down in the comments, and I promise to tackle it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

My Interview With The African Street Writer on Style

Like I told Chizitere Ojiaka who conducted the interview, I'm probably the last person to ask about style, but she insisted and I obliged. Enjoy...

When it comes to fashion and lifestyle, many writers are branded with the stereotype of being very eccentric and untrendy. Most people say it’s just how writers are built, while others think it’s one of the rules to making it as a writer, you must have a weird or signature style.

In other beliefs, some say that having to juggle many characters at once makes them stay simple so it’s easier to build theirs without too much influence from they, the creators. The theories and explanations are numerous but that’s not what we’re here to discuss anyway.

Today, we’ll be taking a sneak peak at the life of one of the hottest best selling names in the world of romance writing. She goes by the pen name Myne Whitman.

Shapewear for Women - In Search of Figure Eight

Is this topic too hush-hush for a blog? LOL...well it has been on my mind and I decided to share. I use shape wear for my slightly superflous tummy and especially when I intend to wear a figure hugging outfit. My body type is an apple, I think and once I add a bit of weight, it goes straight to my abdomen and back.

So in some particular clothes I need help to give a good silhoutte, you know, that much touted figure eight or coke bottle shape. I currently use two generic shape wear outfits and would like to get a discussion going with some of my blog readers on what they use, if they do of course, and their thoughts on shape wear.

5 Things to Consider Before Becoming a Housewife

I'll use my personal experience here. I wrote about changing careers after marriage and how I had to move from the UK to the US to join Atala. Making that step was not a simple, light-hearted decision, or one that we took for granted. And that was why I said at the beginning of this article that contrary to most other women, I planned to be a housewife.

We had several conversations about the issue, and contemplated several scenarios, which apart from the option of living in the US together, included Atala moving back to the UK, both of us moving back to Nigeria, only me moving back, or remaining in the UK. None made as much sense as the one we finally went with, moving here and being a stay at home wife.

And though we didn't think it would take this long, a stay at home wife is what I've been for the past few years, and that is the easy part. For the stay home mom, the workload increases exponentially with each child. Add child care to the housework, and you may be working round the clock, especially if you decide to home-school the children. So what should you consider before you jump in?

How to be a Stay at Home Wife or Mother

Did you see how I used the stylish name and not the one most of us are used  to put up our noses at. Yeah, the H-word. I mean housewife. Another way to describe staying at home as a wife or mother is as a Homemaker, this I think is the best description. But whichever way it is put, a housewife usually does not have an external income, or she just does not earn as much as she would if she worked outside the home.

For this reason, a lot of stay at home wives and mothers will tell you, "I did not plan to be a housewife", but in my case I actually did. I mean we did, Atala and I. Let me start from the beginning. I am one of those never say never kind of people, I try to remain adaptable, and not to think in absolutes. For instance, it was never taboo in my mind for a woman to choose to be a housewife, the key word being choice. If a woman gets married and decides to stay home, either for the husband or the children, who was I to judge? Especially if it is working for their family?

Having a career or not is one of those topics that can get educated and socially-aware women up in arms, the debate being whether career women can be good mothers, and how much housewives contribute to the economy. I remember when Michelle Obama said at the DNC last year, “... my most important title is still ‘mom-in-chief.’” Some people were not happy about that, and feel that with all her degrees she should be out building on her career and not staying home.

Doing Things Together as a Couple

By Nkem Akinsoto

One of the advice given to new couples is to do things together, and even where they have busy schedules, they are encouraged to make time to spend together. When Atala and I got married, he was living in the United States and as we agreed, I had rounded off my stay of three years in the UK in plans to move continents. Luckily, I was able to get my US visa and join him about a month later.

When I arrived, it was March, and if you've heard of Seattle, you've probably heard wet, cloudy, or evergreen in the same sentence. Spring in Seattle is the poster child for dull and depressing weather and that was when I arrived. Add to that fact, I had no job at first and also did not have an American driving license. You can measure my desire to get time outside of the house as well as spend time with my brand new husband.