My Bouari Weight Loss Experience Day 28 - Three Days to Go

So I have to report that this week has not been the greatest. After losing weight consistently for the first two and half weeks, I am still yo-yoing since my monthly visitor.  My current weight is 140lbs though it was 138 yesterday. I wish I got a picture of that :(

The good thing is that I feel so much better about myself. In the picture above, taken soon after I arrived in the US in March 2009, I was wearing one of my old dresses, one I bought back in Edinburgh when I was still tiny from study and part-time job stress. I was already adding weight back then and after that, I haven't worn that dress, which is almost three years. I tried it on last weekend and though it was a bit tight, it was more like a slinky look. I kept preening in front of the mirror, lol...

Hazel Muses - Keep the flames burning…no matter what!

My guest today is Hazel Muses of 21st Century Career Mom. In addition she is the CEO of Beddings and Beyond. On her profile she says, "I love life. I love God. I never want to take both for granted." What I love about Hazel's blogs are how down to earth they usually are, about marriage and about family. They show she doesn't take her wife and mother roles for granted either, but at the same time, she makes time to catch some fun. Enjoy her marriage avowals below.

Kindle Fire Giveaway - US Only

Are you ready to Ignite the Fire? 7 on a Shoestring and Adventures of a Military Family of 8 are co-hosting this great event and I have teamed up with them and 27 other bloggers to bring you this Kindle Fire Giveaway. With movies, apps, games, music, reading and more, the Kindle Fire is the hottest e-reader available and you could win it here!

Tips for a Great First Date Conversation - Erica St. Claire

So you have a first date on the horizon and you’ve spent a good three and half hours (and about a month’s rent) getting dolled up enough to leave your date speechless the moment he lays eyes on you.  No matter how fantastic you look, however, all of your efforts will be done in vain if you are struggling to communicate with the guy.  So that you don’t find yourself caught up in bad conversation or hearing crickets accompanied by the gulping down of your own wine to pass the seconds, be sure to check out the following tips for great first date conversation:

Live Theatre on Sunday: Season 2 - Grip Am by Ola Rotimi

Are you usually out of ideas for Sunday outings? The recent resurgence in the appreciation of the arts inspired the birth of Live Theatre on SundayTM, a repertory project with the intent to promote theatre going culture in Nigeria. They kicked off in April 2008 and the first season of the project featured the production of Song of a Goat and The Wives' Revolt written by J.P.Clark- Bekederemo starring Gabriel Afolayan, Omonor Imorbhio, Ego, Ireti Doyle, Yinka Davies and some other actors.

Don't miss Season 2 featuring the production of Grip Am, a pidgin English comedy, written by the Late Ola Rotimi with such celebrities as Gordons, Matse Uwaste, Igos,Wale Amusa, Debra Uche Nwaohiri and others. The event will hold at the New Unity Centre, 28, Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, from Sunday February 12, 2012 and through all Sundays to Easter Weekend, April 6-8.

Oyi Remix: Flavour ft. Tiwa Savage - Romance Meets Music

This is a new feature where I'll be sharing the music videos of love songs I'm feeling. This one, Oyi (cold in Igbo) is a collabo between Flavour and Tiwa Savage. Flavour, I never heard of until recently when a blogger was gushing over him. In one of her recent posts, Nwunye describes how pants disappear at concerts. I don't really find him that much of an eye candy, but his music is kinda earthy, good if you like highlife, which I do. On Tiwa, I like her Kele Kele Love, but the others and her videos are just there.

This video is a light-hearted one, not much of a story, but they were obviously having fun. I loved the last moments where they were laughing and Flavour was goofing about. Enjoy...

That Which Had Horns - Miriam Shumba (Guest Author)

Miriam Shumba is originally from Zimbabwe and though she now lives in the United States, her second book, That Which has Horns, is set in her native country. She says writing the story was like going home and while she is inspired to write about each place she visits, mostly, stories from Africa come more naturally. Miriam is also a Christian and was excited to find books with Christian themes and characters when she moved to America, and now that is what she feels comfortable writing too. They inspired her and she felt their power in how the characters trusted God to overcome and have victory. Enjoy our interview below;

The Tuface Valentine Proposal - Marrying a Person with a Present Past?

Most of you must have seen this news around of Tuface proposing to his longtime girlfriend, and the mother of one of his children, on Valentine's day. I was a bit conflicted when I read about it. On one hand, the romantic in me was like, awww... that's so sweet. However, my more logical head couldn't stop with the snark. What are you thinking? Romantic, my foot. Are you sure those are tears of joy? What about the other baby mamas? Isn't one of them actually pregnant right now? I couldn't help wondering if Tuface hadn't burned his boats on the romance front, and should just keep a low profile.

So this has been a topic with friends over the years, and I'll like if you can discuss with me. Should a person's history be held against them in a relationship? This is especially pertinent when that past is still present in the form of children, known exes, and/or baby mamas.

Couples Should do things Together - Gift "Muma Gee" Uwame

Gift Uwame popularly known as MumaGee has been described as Nigeria's foremost stage queen. Muma and her husband met on Sunday, June 13, 2010 at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Victory Chapel) in Magodo GRA during the Thanksgiving service of her friend and actor, Emeka Ike. They got married a year and a half later in December of 2011. Enjoy her marriage avowals below.

Picture Weekend - Down the Chicago Memory Lane

These are pictures we took during a week's vacation to Chicago to visit some of Atala's friends, and generally just to chill. We booked to see a couple of musuems, do some touristy thingies, like bus tours and boat cruises and off we went. This was before I started this blog by the way.

Chicago is an amazing city and we had a great time, ended up also taking in the Jazz and Blues scene at a lounge close the Sheraton where we stayed. I especially loved the Millenium park and Buckingham Fountain. The Sky Deck on the Willis Tower was also awesome, as was Navy Pier. Enjoy some of the pictures, and the rest of your weekend.