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So I remembered when I was stuck at work on a Friday evening and instead of going home I decided to chill at a restaurant. I thought to myself why do I want to be stuck in traffic when I can dine in a restaurant and go home later.

I mean, when you consider the hussle and bussle in Lagos, the traffic, sometimes, it could be overwhelming. Sometimes you just want to chill out. So, I decided to follow my heart. I mean, what’s the best that could happen?

While looking for the ideal spot for what I wanted at the moment, I had found a spot earlier on. The thrill that I was going to a restaurant that had the names of every street (well some not every) in Lagos drew my attention.

Read more; https://smilingkemi.com/traffic-bar-lagos-made-me-a-picture-freak/

Hello Dawnomike. Kindly follow this link to read; https://smilingkemi.com/discover-a-place-where-people-fall-in-love/ thanks.

Have you ever seen a grilled fish so long? Lol, that was what happened to me.
It was so big and long. My heart skipped at first sight (you know when you see food and feel you can’t finish it?) In that instance, that was exactly what happened to me. I loved how fresh it was although I couldn't finish it. (I had my friend finish it for me).

Read more; https://smilingkemi.com/discover-a-place-where-people-fall-in-love/

Noted. Thank you.

I figured the best time you can ever have to enjoy is with your girls/ boys. Its always an amazing time to catch up with gist, successes/challenges of each other with words of encouragements. We all need someone to lean on despite the odds. So if you’re looking for where to hang out with your buddies, or an atmosphere of Love, hang in there because this is just for you.

For some reason, I love open-air restaurants because of the cheezy breeze, the view and the relaxed mood it sets for me.

Read more: https://smilingkemi.com/discover-a-place-where-people-fall-in-love/

Thank you CanadaorBust. But its not by the cars, good job etc. Its important to build friendship except you're not looking for what would last and possibly lead to marriage. Hence, you have to communicate value.

I’m not the regular games person but I certainly love to try new things and places. I remember occasionally when I watch some movies and I see scenes of bowling experience I always wondered when that would be in Lagos. Well I’m happy to announce I finally did it and I’m super excited about it.

The very first time I ate this pizza here at this spot even though it wasn't planned, it was so tasty and yummy. You're wondering how the pizza and the games correlates right?

This spot has automatically become my favourite game arcades to go in Lagos. Some people find it hard to believe that a place like this exists in Lagos.


Seems like people need to catch up with lots of trends in Lagos. I showcase where to go in Lagos and enjoy life. Stay glued to this page.

Read more: https://smilingkemi.com/first-bowling-experience-in-lagos/

Thank you mokt. That's not a problem. You can catch up with me on Instagram via this link for more. https://www.instagram.com/smilingkemi/ or see more on my blog. www.smilingkemi.com

So you’ve finally found the woman of your dreams – Lucky you! And now you’ve got to figure out how to ask her to be your wife. Planning is everything and when you don’t know what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it, you would be nervous.

Proposing to a woman is a big deal. This next phase you are entering in your life, you want to do it right, you want to do something special for your love to remember forever.

Things to Know:

1. Her preference
2. Her ring size
3. When & Where to propose
4. How to pop the question.

1. Her preference;

Know what your woman wants. Some women prefer proposals with friends and family around to show love. Some other women prefer intimate private proposals (just the two of you, you know what i mean) #winks. Whatever her preference is, just do it. That’s what make it count.

2. Her ring size:

In choosing a ring,

i. Go shopping with your girlfriend to allow her to give her input way before the date. You can pretend, for example, that you are going to buy a ring for your mom/sister/aunt/niece etc and you want her to go with you to choose. Watch out for her reaction to her choice of rings.

ii. Use one of her rings without her notice. If your partner’s out of town or you know she absolutely won’t notice one of her rings missing you can take a ring out of her jewelry box and take it take it straight to the jeweler and they’ll measure the ring size for you.

iii. Ask her friends: A great way to find out her ring size is to ask one of her close friends who won’t spill the surprise to her. Friends occasionally have this insight! And, if the friend doesn’t know right away, she can be the one to ask (nonchalantly). Even better, ask the friend to take your girlfriend engagement ring shopping “for fun and tell her to write the size.”

Read more; https://smilingkemi.com/how-to-propose/

Lately, when I think about the new evolvements in Lagos with restaurants and bars opening up everytime, I feel like I’m Lost in Lagos. I mean, its getting really trendy and fun in Lagos. Trust me if you have so much you can enjoy yourself in Lagos, no need to run anywhere.

Anyway, Welcome back!!

‘Don’t forget to smile, you never know who is falling for your smile.’

So SmilingKemi decided to go spot haunting in Lagos despite the heavy traffic after work. Its safe to say she prefers hanging out after work than spending that time in traffic. I mean use a stone to kill two birds, right?

To be honest, when you visit some places in Lagos it makes you feel like you travelled away from the country, giving you the feel of another country in your country.

Can I just talk a bit about my spot? I had a meetup with my chop life gang partner at this spot. I went to a restaurant this time around (yes, we all love food).

Entry;
On my arrival at the restaurant, I was fascinated by the entry. It felt like a red carpet entry but in this case it was a well layered green turf with concrete slabs over it with beautiful white stones and lights by the edges. The entry also had a beautiful array of potted plants, flowers. Right from the entrance you can spot the moonlight hues which reminded me about ‘Tales by moonlight” – a Tv show where kids gather around the presenter for a story. I still remember the sound of the music. Well, this happened while I was a kid.
The well layered green turf with concrete slabs over with beautiful white stones, lights and potted flowers

The Ladies/Gents;
When I entered, I was in a hurry to defecate because it turned out I had too much water to drink before leaving work and so all I wanted to do was ease myself. That was the first thing I asked for despite the greeting I got. I got directed to the restroom and I must say I love what I saw. While washing my hands, I noticed how the tissue rolls were folded with the mini towels to use after hand-wash (all in a mini weaved black & grey basket).

It was my first time seeing a restroom neatly arranged, it also had a seat where you can relax to sit. Oh wow, I got engaged right there with a woman who just traveled from her country to Nigeria and she kept talking about how wonderful the restaurant was. Whilst trying to adjust our make-up (the woman and I), the discussion continued (we totally forgot it was the restroom). Regardless, that conversation lit up my mood for the dinner.

The only thing I had with the restroom is that its one for female and male each so you have to take turns.(I don’t think that’s cool). I’mma be real, I changed to my heels whilst I was in the rest-room. (A lady has to slay, lol).

The dining;
After leaving the restroom, I went to look for my friend but we later changed where we sat. Guess where we sat? Boom, I saw a long couch with long array of mirrors(to be honest, it crossed my mind to lie down and sleep as the couch was so comfy). I moved over to the other side which was a single seat and I was captivated with the ray of lights in a ball-like shaped hung on top.

Drinks;
At some point while trying to get my balance as I hadn’t taken pictures to my satisfaction, my friend needed a drink and called one of the attendants. He brought out the drink menu. So he ordered for “Once in a blue moon” (a mixture of Vodka, Blue Curacao & Blueberry). When I saw it, I was shocked because its just a shot. I think the drink took him to the moon (lol).

As for me; I got captivated by the Shirley Moon Temple (I wondered what that would taste like) so I ordered it. It’s a classic –grenadine with a touch of moon magic). Although it was pretty much I couldn’t finish it.

While waiting to be served, went out to take more pictures so y’all can see how fancy it is.

Ambience;
I got attracted by the garden which was also arrayed by candles. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
There’s also a long round table for group meetings/ hangouts inside. I love the sight of the bar when you come in with different bottles and the bartender mixing things up.

At night;
The lights were reduced to a less brighter light with some good oldies to give it a more quiet feel. Need I mention the blue light on each table? Oh, lovebirds this is romantic. Although I didn’t find that fancy because at that point I was about to eat (I’m sorry I didn’t mean to break everyone’s vibe). So I had to call their attention to it for the light to be increased which was.

Customer service
While trying to look around for a change in seat, one of the staffs thought I needed something and so he came to ask me politely what I needed. That to me is a level of sensitivity which I adore. I also loved the fact that one of the staff was sighting some spots for me to take pictures. Hilarious, I know but I love it.

Food;
Honestly, I was confused on what to order as I had no idea. The names of each meal is fascinating enough for a try-out. So all I wanted was to eat seafood and so I stumbled on “Shaky Prawns’. A Lagos style prawns poutine with caramelized onion & mushroom sauce. I’m not a fan of mushrooms so I ate the two big sized prawns alone without the sauce which was so filling for me. I had a complimentary bread basket courtesy of the house which wasn’t bad. Although I didn’t like the cracker (was kinda spicy for me).

Ratings:
Ambience: 4 stars
Food & Drink: 4 stars
Customer service: 4 stars
Comfort; 5 stars. It was very comfy.
Value for money: 5 stars. You get good value for your money.

Cost;
Shirley Moon Temple – N2500
Once in a blue moon – N2000
Shaky Prawns – N5000

Conclusion;
Alas, I felt super relaxed after a stressful day at work. I had to remind myself of work the next day so I could get going. It’s a good place to relax and dine. So visit Vanilla Moon Lagos situated at 2 Saka Jojo, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Did you enjoy this article? Feel free to share.

Read more; https://smilingkemi.com/getting-lost-in-lagos-with-your-chop-life-gang/

Hi everyone,

I'm Smilingkemi of www.smilingkemi.com a Lifestyle and Travel Blogger. I show you cool spots to hangout in Lagos and things about Love. Visit my blog.

So you've been crushing on someone lately and you've finally secured a way to ask your crush on a date and you want to make it memorable for subsequent outings. Going on a date can be nerve wracking yet exciting (especially if it’s your first one or you’ve been single for a while).

You can go into them thinking you're going to meet the love of your life and walk out reflecting on an evening of small talk, wondering why you spent your only free evening with a boring person. Its better to go with little or no expectations though so you're not disappointed. Every successful date requires at least some pre-date planning, so you want to ensure you avoid some mistakes and make it count.

There are many things you should do/ consider:

1. Plan;
As a man; Make sure you have a plan. Ask her for where she’ll like to go. If you’re the one asking to take her out; let her decide where she’ll like to go, let her choose what she’ll want to eat etc. So you definitely need to be boxed up (I mean what’s the point if you’re not up to it at the moment, no offense) especially in this part of the world we are, men are responsible for paying on first dates.
As a lady: Plan as well. I mean hold your cash too. You’re not paying for anything but what if everything goes wrong that you have to pay? Eat what you know you can pay for if he doesn’t pay so you’re not embarrassed.

What not to do:
Never impose where you want to go to her as she might not be comfortable with it. Never think because you’re paying for it, so it has to go your way. No! No lady wants to be controlled by any man especially when she can take herself out. You don’t want to ruin this.


2. Be early:
I’m gonna stress this well. Be punctual. Punctuality says a lot about you. No one wants to be left hanging and waiting for so long. I’ll take myself for example: I had a date with someone. I chosed the time and place. Some circumstances were way beyond my control that day.
Cancelling wasn’t an option as he was already there waiting for me before time. All I kept doing was to keep checking in with him to say I would be running late. This was just to show that I was sorry about the delay. I mean avoid been late.

3. Have meaningful conversations;
Have meaningful conversations if you want things to move to the next level. You don’t want to be boring at the same time loading too much. You want to keep it simple while you have fun.<br> Talk about your goals, values, what interests you. Your perspective of life. You want to make sure you have intelligent conversations not interview questions. Lol I wonder why people do that. etc.

What not to do;

Never bore her with what you’re going through on the first date. Subsequently as you build friendship you can. Never talk about your family issues or what’s going on in your life. That’s too much to know. The aim of your outing is to get to know each other not call for pity party or leave depressed. It sucks! I have been in a situation on the first date the guy kept telling about his family issues, how he’s the first graduate in his family, housing issues. That was too much to take in at once, and it totally killed my vibe. I tried to show sympathy and what he could say was don’t say that word. I was lost because at that point I didn’t know what else to say and I wasn’t catching fun.

What to do Ladies:
Ladies you know what I’m about to say right? Now is not the time to talk about how you need to buy a new phone, new laptop etc whatever it is. Don’t sound needy. Men like independent women. You have to make him know with or without him you can live. Centre on meaningful conversations. Tell him how you want to take your career to the next level, tell him about what inspires you. Let him know how intelligent you are with your conversations.

Likely topics to discuss are: Hobbies, Work/ School, Interests, Travelling, Music etc.

4. Compliment each other
Oh yes!! Men you have to compliment. Don’t say you don’t know how to. It could be the tiniest thing. It could be her nails, her earrings, her looks, her dress, her eyes etc not her body (as she might think the next thing you wanna do is have sex). Whatever thrills you about her compliment. We love it. It makes us feel loved and sweet to you. It could be during your conversations that you find something attractive, compliment!!

Ladies, compliment also. Men have ego. When you compliment a guy it makes him feel on top of the world even if they might not show you. Compliment his looks, his shoes etc whatever attracts you.

What not to do; Never complain about your date’s look if you can’t compliment because you can’t find anything to compliment.

5. Pay Attention
Be a good listener. Pay attention and be flexible. The first date is when you’ll learn a lot of new things about your date. Take the time to really listen to what he or she is saying. The first couple of dates will help you decide whether to continue with the relationship or move on to someone more compatible. Your date shouldn't have to compete for your time. Your date shouldn’t have to repeat his or herself several times.

Don'ts: Don't get carried away with your phone. Its not a good time to call your friends and family. Focus on your date.

6: Going with a friend:
I know some people might be tempted to go with a friend but stop right there. This is one-on-one time, and that doesn’t involve two or three additional people. Save the group outings for later on in your relationship. I mean he has asked for you alone and that should count. No need to bring your friends.

Hopefully this was helpful. Happy hook up. Don't forget to leave your comments and visit my blog.

See more https://smilingkemi.com/first-dates-what-to-do-what-not-to-do/

Read more on my blog for more; https://smilingkemi.com/categories/cool-spots/

Hi everyone, I'm SmilingKemi of www.smilingkemi.com. A Lifestyle and Travel blogger.

I know living in Lagos can make you lost in Lagos especially if you're in your comfort zone. But hey, don't stress yourself. Lagos has got vibes, plenty vibes.. From the danfo (yellow buses) to the hawkers, the street boys, the noise (behind all of that Lagos has got some cool vibes with positive energy). Living in Lagos is fun if you know your way around. Of course, if you’re willing to explore like me. Besides Lagos is always bubbling with life and I think it's one of the best places to live in Nigeria regardless of traffic. Shout-out to every Lagosians.

Away from Lagos vibes I went spot haunting. One of the places to visit in Lagos is the Beach.

My spot was Landmark Beach situated at Landmark Village, 4 Water Corporation Dr, Victoria Island, Lagos I must say Landmark beach has got some beach vibes and fun. It is a very sweet private beach you can enjoy with your family and friends. Its so posh and classy. If you want a private place to chill, think and relax then this is for you.

I must commend their well organized parking space. I mean it’s rare to find beaches in Lagos with well organized parking spaces without street boys. This made me happy because your car is safe in the hands of security.

You would need to buy tickets before entering. Tickets cost 2000 for adults. Child entry (5-12 yrs) – 1000. That’s fancy to me. Without the ticket you can’t enter into the beach. I like the fact that the ticket is worn on your hand for you.

Looking around when I got there, it’s a quiet, reserved beach. You can actually propose on the beach if you want to because it’s that cozy. I like the fact that the beach is clean and neat.

Furthermore, there are several things to do on the beach.

1. Games:

You can play games such as:

-Tennis: The beach has a tennis court that you have access to once you’re in.
-Volleyball on the beach: Lovers of volleyball, you can play with your friends also on the beach.
-Beach Soccer.

2. Dine & eat at the beach:

There are some lounges to eat at the beach; Lagos beach club, Illies diner restaurant etc.

3. Boat cruise:

Also, right there on the beach I saw a boat on the water for boat cruise experience if you want to explore in the water.

Besides at night the beach has a hot view if you know what I mean.

Let me talk a bit about the club I went to. It seems like everywhere you want to sit like the cabana’s you have to pay except dining at the restaurant or beach club. So I had no choice but to go to the beach club which was really cool.

The Lagos Beach Club:

I totally love the view from this bar. You can sit at their bar but you have to buy something at least.

The view from their lounge to the beach is beautiful. I love the mini pool around the bar. Its got some cool colored lights at night also. Moreso, everything seems to be classy here with soft music, colored lights, good sofa, beach volleyball and most importantly good food. I ate chicken and chips for 4k and I totally love it. The vegetable salad was fresh and we had a complimentary doughnut which was sweet. I love it because it makes me wanna spend all night at the beach. Even more you can have hangout with friends or colleagues or even hold meetings at the beach club, it's that relaxing.

What you’ll see

Cabanas and Loungers: I like the fact that the Cabana’s are comfy and pretty to sit. It cost 2000 to sit, it's not for free. lol.

I totally had fun at Landmark beach and I'm certainly going back to have more fun as I missed the bon fire that night. Thank you for reading. Feel free to ask questions. If you like this, don’t forget to like, comment and share.

See more- https://smilingkemi.com/fun-things-to-do-at-the-beach/

Do you have a weekend habit of driving around looking for restaurants to try out? Sometimes you just want to be pampered and treated special. Well, there’s always something new to try in Lagos with eateries and bars. Sometimes when I think I’ve known so many restaurants, I discover a new place and its really great to know how Lagos is evolving with new restaurants with different delicacies daily.

I had the opportunity of visiting an amazing spot over the weekend and I’m totally in love with the ambiance of the place

I visited [https://sugarcane.ng/][SUGARCANE]. Don't worry its not the sugarcane we all eat. Sugarcane is a restaurant in VI situated at 6B Ologun Agbaje St, Victoria Island, Lagos.


If you are looking for a very sweet, quiet & warm cozy vibe the restaurant's ambiance will set the mood. The lush potted plants and furniture made me feel so relaxed. I must say I love the setting in Sugarcane. The restaurant’s indoor space is wide and pretty comfortable.

Did I mention that there’s space for parking also? The security was polite on my arrival. It felt like the queen had arrived. Lol!

Upon entry, I spotted the beautiful garden so I took a tour around before settling down to eat (would get to that part soon, don’t worry). I went all the way to where the backyard lounge was. They really have lovely views for pictures. The backyard is an open wide space with a huge tree. Friday nights, the lounge is always bubbling. What I found most attractive going to the backyard lounge was the garden with well-decorated plants. The display of different shades of light around the plants was so colorful and beautiful at night. I had no choice but to take some shots.

The staff was very welcoming. We had complimentary cinnamon popcorn although I didn’t taste out of it but my friend did. That was so cool, makes you feel at home to relax. After taking my seat, the waiter came and dropped the menu with me. I looked through the menu as I wasn’t sure of what to order and I wanted to try something new. While asking the waiter for the particular choice of food I chosed, he was honest. It shows they knew their menu well. I was impressed as his feedback was exactly how I felt about the meal.

So I started my food journey first with the desert. I went for Pinnacolada while my friend went for Mixed Berry Smoothie. It tasted fresh and sweet. I enjoyed every bit of it. I also took a sip of the mixed berry smoothie and it was nice too. That’s not all, my Entree was Beef Mongolian Rice. Its Beef fillet served with rice noodles, cabbage and carrots tossed in a sweet and slightly spicy sauce. Wasn’t spicy enough for me though. What Beef Mongolian rice does to you; it makes your taste buds yearn for more. It was so tasty. My friend had Louisiana Chicken Pasta. Its Penne tossed in creamy mushroom sauce served in herb-breaded chicken breast. I tasted it and it was really creamy and yummy too.

Sugarcane Experience: Overall it was an amazing experience. A lady came with her friend to celebrate her birthday and it was so nice. Everything was in place.

Value for Money: Comes in large portions but not so cheap.
Louisiana Chicken Pasta –5300
Beef Mongolian – 5300
Mixed Berry Smoothie – 3000
Pinnacolada Smoothie - 3000

Comfort: 4/5 Really really comfortable. Its warm and cozy.

Customer Service; 4/ 5 Swift customer service. Each waiter knows the menu well. Really impressive.


Recommendation:

If you’re looking for a serene, quiet <a href="https://smilingkemi.com/categories/cool-spots/">spot</a> to go on a date, celebrate your birthday or have dinner with friends I recommend this spot.

See more; https://smilingkemi.com/my-sugarcane-experience/