Nice read, and what on earth has OAU UTME got to do with this post?

I think I just tore my ajebutter certificate,lol. I just finished eating garri and moi-moi for lunch, at the office and it tasted sooooooo damn good.My colleagues were kinda shocked, I don’t know what gives people that false impression that I am an ajebutter o, anyway, I guess that fallacy died this afternoon at the office.

I was talking to a colleague, and we kept whining that food options were so limited unless you wanted to spend heavily by ordering fancy stuff. But if like us you are a fast food and eatery person then you are stuck with rice, swallows, yam porridge etc. though occasionally (notice I said occasionally o, cos my power no reach) I order Chinese or something fancy. I also pack my lunch from home and even send the office assistants for some “mama put”

Well, back to my moi moi story, today I called Ngozi (the food angel in my office) and asked her what she thought I should eat, and then she said

“aunty, you do swallow yesterday, make we do rice or moi moi”

I was sick and tired of rice, so I said moi moi, and God supplied the nice Ijebu garri (don’t ask me how I got that.lol) usually I order it with a side salad, but today I decided to go rogue and drink garri! God bless my office, we have a very lovely lunch room with bar stools, a microwave, refrigerator and it is quite cosy to have lunch. So I sat down, soaked my garri and sugar and unwrapped the leaf (for the record moi moi in plastic, foil or any of those artificial packaging na counterfeit moi moi jare) and attacked! Best lunch ever.

The only problem now is getting my brain to function so I can work, but considering I could type this piece and upload on my blog, then I guess I am not as killed off by the moi moi like I thought.

Have a great day y’all!

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One of those movies by the late Brittany Murphy that I only discovered after her death. I don’t see love as a disaster, but for some strange reason this title came to my head while I started writing this piece.

I love LOVE, like I jokingly tell my friends, I love that warm fuzzy feeling, I love being so carried away in a relationship that no one else seems to measure up to the one you are with.

I have felt that way just once in my life, and for some reason, I believe that feeling makes you or breaks you emotionally. Or perhaps I am just one of those people, whose action says,

“I know you are going to break my heart, but I am giving it to you anyway, here is my mumu heart, break it gently” lol

Lately I have been thinking, about that stage in life when you want to be all homely and married and have ten kids, or if you are sane like me two kids, and all of a sudden everyone wants to be with you, and the proposal comes from all corners, but deep down only one person makes you feel safe enough for you to trust them with that irreplaceable, priceless piece of you…your heart.

Then you stop and ponder, no amount of money, gifts or tangible substance can replace that intangible feeling , you think of those silly calls that last hours, sometimes nothing substantial being said, just happy to hear each other talk, sometimes you remember the first date, the first kiss, the first time you both said the word I LOVE YOU, and you realize that those words were like vows and they just won’t cease!

You think of those times you fought and how he never raises his voice at you, how you guys never had a fight that was left unresolved. you think of how patient he was even when you proved difficult, you think about how easy and satisfying it felt to make sacrifices for your relationship, because he made you feel like the whole world could take a back seat.

You think of those walks, the talks and how he could be sweet and romantic, and try to act all macho to cover it up. You think about how when you are mad at him everyone could still tell that he loves you and believe in him.
You think of the times you needed someone to talk to, and the certainty of the other person being there to share, you reminisce on what it would be like to wake up each day, forever in the arms of this person, and you realize that the thought of forever doesn’t scare you, it just makes you smile, then you know for certain, its time to make a decision that will change your life forever.

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Na u sabi! I believe is our naija way of saying "talk to the hands" this is seriously my favourite pidgin sentence, especially to haters and beefers. Haba! Anything you do some oversabi will definitely be all up in your business.

• I was sitting down at home jeje o, and a friend of mine had one of those animated art pieces that he brought from England and wanted to give me as a gift quite large and really lovely. I went all the way from Ikoyi to Ajao Estate to get it, and as soon as my oversabi landlady saw it, she was beefing and asking the house help if that was another TV I just brought in, if yes how many TV do I want to put in my small apartment? To my landlady, na you sabi!Na u sabi! I believe is our naija way of saying "talk to the hands" this is seriously my favourite pidgin sentence, especially to haters and beefers. Haba! Anything you do some oversabi will definitely be all up in your business.

TV do I want to put in my small apartment? To my landlady, na you sabi!

• I have been feeling stressed lately and figured I deserved a break, so I took a long weekend off and jetted off to Accra, and some people where saying I like wasting money. To all those people, Na una sabi!

• I am against being gay, because my bible tells me it is wrong, but unlike my homophobic friend Yimi, I do not hate gay people, so I watch Ellen Degeneres, Will and Grace and I really enjoy them. To my friend Yimi, Na u sabi! (Lol, I am soooooo in trouble)

• I go to a salon at Falomo to make my hair, it is way cheaper than most of the salons on the Island, and not in anyway classy, but Iyabo,mulikat and Sikirat (not their real names sha) they make my hair, and I look so damn fine. To all my bigz gelz friends who keep psyching me to waste my money, na u sabi!

• I don’t like to party or club, I like to go to the movies, sit in my house watching TV, reading a good book, blogging, listening to music and occasionally travelling and visiting friends on weekends, on the other hand, I have some crazy friends, who think I am crazy for enjoying my indoor lifestyle to my friends living la vida loca, Na u sabi!

• Most people I know seem to like all the fancy oyinbo dishes, I am a proper naija babe, born in Lagos, grew up in Benin, served in Imo, Lived in Abuja and now back to Lagos (Full Cycle), I like my local dishes a lot. I am one of those people not big on trying new food, unless I know whats in it, so anywhere I go, I search for a Naija restaurant, I don’t care the distance. To anyone who thinks that makes me less classy, na u sabi!

• I think everyone one is beautiful in their own way, God did not create anyone ugly, you might be not so cool facially, but might have great hair, a nice figure, a lovely voice, an IQ that makes some of us feel like olodos or something that makes you stand out, so to all those people beefing and saying I am pretentious when I say no one is totally ugly, I ma sticking to my theory, so na u sabi!

Okay let me get back to work, because if my boss catch me, fear no go let me tell am say, NA U SABI!
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When I was about thirteen years old, I read a novel by Merrill Joan Gerber entitled, [b]EVEN PRETTY GIRLS CRY AT NIGHT [/b]and it gave me a different perspective, for me it just affirmed the saying that the grass always looks greener on the other persons lawn.

Pretty girls are mainly thought to be snobs, not because they are any more than the next person, but because sometimes people are so intimidated by their looks, that they never give them a fair say before judging them, which is quite unfair.
You know how tall people or skinny people get teased endlessly especially as a growing teen? You get called palm tree, tally, longy, lepa and all sorts and they (my very humble self being a victim) smile and take the taunts, but God help you is you call someone short shorty or a fat person fatty and everyone descends on you for being insensitive! I don’t get it!

•I know at parties, sometimes you find the pretty girls without a dance partner, guess why? Most times guys assume they are stuck up and will say no , so they settle for the homely girls while little-miss-pretty sits in a corner acting like she doesn’t care, but inside she almost wishes she could be ordinary so people do not get intimidated, kinda explains why some aint married too. If a pretty girl approaches her 30’s and is unmarried, people assume she is too selective that’s why she is still single, but if miss-not- so –pretty is single, people sympathise and say, Oh, she is such a nice girl, hope she finds someone! Double standards if you ask me.
•I will also use a scenario that deals with races, you know how blacks keep acting like they are so hated by the whites, but they themselves treat the white with disdain saying its because their fore fathers were wronged, please get a life! People are individuals and should be treated as such. Sometimes we just wallow in so much self pity, that we fail to see a good thing even when it hits us SMACK! In the face.
•And also think about how people who are poor seem to think they have an exclusive right to heaven, Hello! Being poor does not mean you will go to heaven, if you act like a devil, you will be miserable here and in the life after as well, so instead of judging your rich boss or neighbor and assuming he made his money through crooked means, why don’t you live like Christ would want you to and pray that God almighty blesses the works of your hand, rather than self righteously wallowing in poverty!

Anyway, my thoughts are based on the fact that sometimes we treat a certain class of people unfairly because in certain aspects of life they seem highly favoured already, could be physically, intellectually, socially, or financially. I think we should accord everyone same treatment, what is referred to as the curtesy of Christ. Before people start saying it doesn’t make sense and all the usual stories, na my blog, and I am entitled to my opinion, if you don’t like it, leave a comment or go create your own blog! Shikena!

ps: for all the tall skinny teens who were /are teased as kids, trust me when u grow older and fill out in all the right places everyone starts saying you are hot and look like a super model, trust me, i speak from experience *wink*

www.dianahsplace.com

I have heard that a lot of times from people who have just had their heart broken, or people who do not have serious relationships, ladies to be very specific….its all a BIG FAT LIE! No woman truly wants to be alone, it’s all a ruse to cover the pain and emptiness, and some ladies tell themselves this crap for such a long time, that they actually start believing it! Before all the single ladies condemn me to death, I be one of una o, I am single and ready to mingle. LOL

This piece is not to berate the single ladies, but rather to point out the fact that deceiving yourselves or hanging on to some heartbreak that happened some years ago is definitely not gonna help you snag a guy! Some people just sit and brood, and become men haters because of one lame ass guy that is probably not so lame ass anymore, but was just a silly kid who has grown up now, and is happily married with kids! Girlfriend, get a grip on yourself! We have been heartbroken and we have broke a couple of hearts too, so why spend so much time talking about the past that you can do nothing about, while you can actually sit up and do something about the future which is still filled with hope and ahead of you.

I think the truth is that some ladies like feeling sorry for themselves and playing the victim, because it always feels easier to lay the blame on someone else, makes you feel vindicated, well, the last time I checked laying blames is not exactly a solution to anyone’s problem.you snooze....you lose!

In this I LOVE BEING ALONE façade, my all time fave is the so called career girl, gosh! Who ever said having a career means you can’t have a family? I am focusing on my career is just another big fat lie! The minute “career girl” meets a correct bobo, she starts to sing a different tune and before the guy even buys a ring to propose, she is already planning aso ebi with her girls and deciding on wedding colours. lol

I think we all want to be loved and treated like princesses, we want men who will respect us enough to know who we truly are or at least interested enough to want to find out, we want the love, attention and companionship….we want the little things (love, affection and attention) most of the times and the big things sometimes (gifts, vacations …etc) the “I want to be alone” story is just a myth, a myth which only lasts till we find MR RIGHT.

TGIF!, have fun, live right and be that person everyone wants to have in their life, dont be the one your ex bumps into and he feels sorry for you, or is secretly pleased that he dumped you while he had the chance. Be that person he wishes he could turn back the hands of time, just so he can be with you again.

okay, e don do!, enough with all the serious talk already, I just wanted to share my thoughts and as always, you dont have to agree with me.

I will leave you all with this quote "Better alone than in the wrong company!"

Dont leave God out of your weekend y'all!

Follow on twitter: @dianahsplace
visit: www.dianahsplace.info

I have heard that a lot of times from people who have just had their heart broken, or people who do not have serious relationships, ladies to be very specific….its all a BIG FAT LIE! No woman truly wants to be alone, it’s all a ruse to cover the pain and emptiness, and some ladies tell themselves this crap for such a long time, that they actually start believing it! Before all the single ladies condemn me to death, I be one of una o, I am single and ready to mingle. LOL

This piece is not to berate the single ladies, but rather to point out the fact that deceiving yourselves or hanging on to some heartbreak that happened some years ago is definitely not gonna help you snag a guy! Some people just sit and brood, and become men haters because of one lame ass guy that is probably not so lame ass anymore, but was just a silly kid who has grown up now, and is happily married with kids! Girlfriend, get a grip on yourself! We have been heartbroken and we have broke a couple of hearts too, so why spend so much time talking about the past that you can do nothing about, while you can actually sit up and do something about the future which is still filled with hope and ahead of you.

I think the truth is that some ladies like feeling sorry for themselves and playing the victim, because it always feels easier to lay the blame on someone else, makes you feel vindicated, well, the last time I checked laying blames is not exactly a solution to anyone’s problem.you snooze....you lose!

In this I LOVE BEING ALONE façade, my all time fave is the so called career girl, gosh! Who ever said having a career means you can’t have a family? I am focusing on my career is just another big fat lie! The minute “career girl” meets a correct bobo, she starts to sing a different tune and before the guy even buys a ring to propose, she is already planning aso ebi with her girls and deciding on wedding colours. lol

I think we all want to be loved and treated like princesses, we want men who will respect us enough to know who we truly are or at least interested enough to want to find out, we want the love, attention and companionship….we want the little things (love, affection and attention) most of the times and the big things sometimes (gifts, vacations …etc) the “I want to be alone” story is just a myth, a myth which only lasts till we find MR RIGHT.

TGIF!, have fun, live right and be that person everyone wants to have in their life, dont be the one your ex bumps into and he feels sorry for you, or is secretly pleased that he dumped you while he had the chance. Be that person he wishes he could turn back the hands of time, just so he can be with you again.

okay, e don do!, enough with all the serious talk already, I just wanted to share my thoughts and as always, you dont have to agree with me.

I will leave you all with this quote "Better alone than in the wrong company!"

Dont leave God out of your weekend y'all!

I have no idea how this works, but I think men marry for stability, and get mistresses for the excitement. Typical of them to want it all, in one package (wife) or in as many packages as they can afford (wife, secretary, mistress, and even the occasional unknown girl) So, genius that I am, I figured if we want our men to be faithful, we should try to be both wife (home maker, mother of his children, supporter etc) and his mistress(lover, confidante, seductress, etc) in other words, lets try and make them have a single, diamond studded, gold trimmed package.

I try to be as reasonable as the next person, and try even harder not to be biased about the differences between the male and female species, because as my BF would say when we disagree over an issue, “we are wired differently”. Be that as it may, we have to reach a compromise so that our differences do not the destroy us, but rather make the relationship/marriage a successful and rewarding adventure.

There will be no relationship rules or guidelines in this piece, just the usual rant and rave based on observation, experience and some people’s reality.

Dutiful wife sits at home, pondering and wondering why he cheats on her, why he seems to have forgotten the good times and all they have been through together, the kids etc…she sits at home feeling sorry for herself, crying and neglecting herself in the process. As sad as it is to have a cheating husband, feeling sorry for yourself is not the solution. You might want to get your A** off that chair, take a break from the sad love songs, romantic movies and soul food and take hold of your life! You might want to ask God, for strength, get a make over, look as attractive as possible and do something interesting with yourself. Look pretty and remind yourself how attractive you are (he must have seen something in you if he married you innit?) re awaken a zest for life, take your kids out, visit friends and relatives and NEVER go dissing your man to your girlfriends or family, because when the storm is past, they might have lost respect for him. Hatch a plan, make him dinner, be all seductive and sexy, give him a reason to want to come home, if you want your relationship to work, the truth is you have to work like you mean it. I am no relationship expert, but I just feel some women give in too easily to THE OTHER WOMAN.

Mistresses feels she has the power to make him do her bidding, heck she feels he is cheating on her by having a wife! Strange as it may sound, some mistresses have come to see themselves as the real deal in their man’s life, while the wife might as well be his mother for all they care. And when wives go fighting the mistress or nagging constantly about her to their husbands, it only makes it worse, as he ends up justifying his actions with excuses like ; She nags constantly, I just never have peace at home (she is not insane, if you act right, she won’t nag. Duh!) Just one tip here ladies, NEVER fight with the other woman, it's cheap, sleazy and it just sinks you down to her level. If there should be any fighting (which I strongly oppose) it should be with your man, afterall he is the one in the middle of the whole sordid affair.

And for the unknown girls he sleeps with, sorry wifey, you need prayers o!, because a man who sleeps with just about anybody, has some major issues, and only God can help you out of that one.

As usual, you don’t have to agree with my rant and rave, we know some men and women will be promiscuous no matter how much their partners try, but its my opinion that we should give it our best shot, and the last time I checked we are all entitled to our personal opinions, so feel free to leave a comment, tell me how you feel. I’ll leave you with these words, STAY TRUE TO YOUR PARTNERS and COMMUNICATE because it is important to know what your partner expects in a relationship, so you can come to a compromise and possibly be his Wife and his Mistress.


culled from: www.dianahsplace.info
twitter: @dianahsplace

·         You are self righteous
·         You are a goody two shoes
·         You have no conscience…hmmm, but then maybe if you have no conscience or spirit of discerning wrong or right you should actually read this.

I have never been anything close to a preacher, to be honest I don’t think I say much when it comes to  spreading the gospel, but I love God/Jesus  and I am always quick to let people know how much of his grace I enjoy, I am unapologetically a  Christian. But, like so many others, there have been times I have fallen short and I always try to get back up. I hate wallowing in self pity or guilt, I really can’t stand the mental picture that forms in my head, let me try and paint the picture with words:


The devil with horns and a pitchfork standing over a whimpering, helpless person
Its not okay for someone to push you down, but its even worse when they do push you down and you chose to stay down!

The inspiration behind this piece is actually stemmed from a place within, a deep desire to forgive/be forgiven and move on, far away from those things holding us back, and in the words of the legendary Michael  Jackson, I am starting with the “Man in the Mirror” , ME!
I’ll breakdown my ever so random thoughts and you can share your thoughts in the comment section.

[list]
[li] How many of you have found themselves in at least one of these situations:

·         You steal something so little, and you end up making up telling humongous lies to cover up
·         You cheat in an exam and you make excuses such as we have bad teachers or they failed me
·         You bribe to get certain things done and you say “that’s how we do it in Naija”
  ·         You make up silly stories to your partners so you can go on that “harmless date” with the office hottie.
·         You make up stories to try and squeeze extra cash off your folks, even when you know they give you all they can afford[i].(typical silly kid thinking :if they cant take care of me, why did they have me?)[/i]
·         You treat your helps/staff like slaves (they need you as much as you need them, else do the damn work yourself!)
·         You think some people are beneath you so you treat them like dirt (the earth is beneath you too, try taking it for granted and walk on air!)
·         You think its okay to litter the streets or mess up the office/public toilet (afterall its not your job to cleanup)
·         You laugh at other’s misfortune because someone made a joke of it (I didn’t say it I only laughed, yeah right!)
·         You think its ok to laugh when people mock God or make blasphemous jokes because God is merciful abi? Well, Newsflash! The same Psalm 140:8 that says “Plenteous in Mercy” also said “Slow to Anger”,  so know that God is no pushover.
·         You tell a seemingly innocent white lie, then you eventually end up feeding it with more lies and it keeps growing bigger and more complicated and you don’t even know how it got that bad!
·         You start with a little petting, a little kissing, a little sex and a little baby…none planned![/li]
[li][/li]
[/list]
I am not condemning anyone for saying “yes” to some of these situations listed, heavens forbid! I am just as guilty of these, but I learnt a long time ago from my big sis Abby (bet she doesn’t even recall), she once told me when I was about twelve that those times you fall short are the times you should get closer to God, I took it to heart and I never give up on myself, because the beautiful truth is this, God never gives up on you.

Falling is never the problem, staying down is. Move On! God isn't given up on you, you shouldn't either.

Have a lovely weekend, Make it Count for Good.
follow me on twitter: @dianahsplace
www.dianahsplace.info

I woke up this morning to the news of Whitney Houston’s death! It was a weird shocker to me because yesterday morning, I was watching a video of what has turned out to be one of her last songs “I Look To You” and I started reminiscing on my early teens and how much she had changed. I remember clearly how my cousin Seun, my friend Vwede and so many others have all thought her inspirational and had even thought most singers after her were all "Whitney wannabes". We used to say that Whitney not being in the scene for some years actually gave some singers an opportunity to shine.
It broke my heart when her life started falling apart, and I was one of those people who prayed she would get her life back, so this morning did not start on the happiest note for me. I thought marrying Bobby Brown was not one of her smartest moves, but I am not one of those people who attributed ALL her problems to marrying Bobby, because in my opinion, we give him too much credit, she was not a string puppet. (It;s like saying all Celine Dion's Success is cos of her husband or Iyke made Tina Turner) I believe people contribute to our failure or success, but we cant keep blaming or praising them forever, cos we have a role to play.
I have been feeling a bit low this weekend, trying to get over malaria and some other stuff, and in a strange way Whitney’s death has got me thinking….how much we fuss over everything and death just makes it all seem so vain, how much each day ought to be lived to the fullest, how we have to make each day count for good, because all we have is the very second, minute or hour to make an impact.
I am overwhelmed with so much emotion right now, not just by Whitney’s death, but by life itself. How we take each day for granted sometimes not knowing it just might be our last.
I am no preacher, I am just one very emotional individual who thinks our time here on earth is for a reason, reasons way beyond our vanities, our wealth, our looks and all that we hold dear. I am one of those who believe that whatever gift God has given us is a huge waste if we only use it for our benefit.
I am one of those people who cry and hurt over every injustice or suffering because I really think this world can be a very happy place if we could just treat people the way we would like to be treated, with what as I Christian I still call the “courtesy of Christ”

I am going to end this note saying,

Dear Whitney, I sincerely pray you find eternal rest in God’s bossom, hopefully you get to sing with the angels,and to my Dear readers, let’s try to make today count for good, because realistically, we don’t know if we will have a tomorrow.

Follow on twitter: @dianahsplace
www.dianahsplace.info

I woke up this morning to the news of Whitney Houston’s death! It was a weird shocker to me because yesterday morning, I was watching a video of what has turned out to be one of her last songs “I Look To You” and I started reminiscing on my early teens and how much she had changed. I remember clearly how my cousin Seun, my friend Vwede and so many others have all thought her inspirational and had even thought most singers after her were all "Whitney wannabes". We used to say that Whitney not being in the scene for some years actually gave some singers an opportunity to shine.
It broke my heart when her life started falling apart, and I was one of those people who prayed she would get her life back, so this morning did not start on the happiest note for me. I thought marrying Bobby Brown was not one of her smartest moves, but I am not one of those people who attributed ALL her problems to marrying Bobby, because in my opinion, we give him too much credit, she was not a string puppet. (It;s like saying all Celine Dion's Success is cos of her husband or Iyke made Tina Turner) I believe people contribute to our failure or success, but we cant keep blaming or praising them forever, cos we have a role to play.
I have been feeling a bit low this weekend, trying to get over malaria and some other stuff, and in a strange way Whitney’s death has got me thinking….how much we fuss over everything and death just makes it all seem so vain, how much each day ought to be lived to the fullest, how we have to make each day count for good, because all we have is the very second, minute or hour to make an impact.

I am overwhelmed with so much emotion right now, not just by Whitney’s death, but by life itself. How we take each day for granted sometimes not knowing it just might be our last.
I am no preacher, I am just one very emotional individual who thinks our time here on earth is for a reason, reasons way beyond our vanities, our wealth, our looks and all that we hold dear. I am one of those who believe that whatever gift God has given us is a huge waste if we only use it for our benefit.

I am one of those people who cry and hurt over every injustice or suffering because I really think this world can be a very happy place if we could just treat people the way we would like to be treated, with what as I Christian I still call the “courtesy of Christ”
I am going to end this note saying,

Dear Whitney, I sincerely pray you find eternal rest in God’s bossom, hopefully you get to sing with the angels,and to my Dear readers, let’s try to make today count for good, because realistically, we don’t know if we will have a tomorrow.

culled from:
www.dianahsplace.info
Follow on twitter: @dianahsplace