Continuation (A piece of fiction i wrote for a Magazine when i was still in Uniport. The next edition did not get published. Decided to publish it on my blog

I AM THAT GIRL PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY LABEL WITHOUT A CHANCE OF GETTING TO KNOW ME. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT MY LABEL IS, WELL, IT STARTS WITH BEAUTIFUL. I AM NOT BRAGGING. THEN THEY SAY I AM QUIET AND DOWN TO EARTH. I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY HUMAN BEINGS HAVE LABELS; I MEAN WE ARE NOT PRODUCTS IN THE SHOPPING MALL. THEN AGAIN, I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH THAT PART OF SPEECH IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE CALLED “ADJECTIVES”. ANYWAYS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAGGED ME WITH THESE LABELS ARE A 100% CORRECT. I HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN THE RELATIONSHIP TYPE OF GIRL BECAUSE I THINK ALL A GUY THINKS OF WHEN HE WOES YOU IS HOW TO GET TO THE PLEASURE CENTRE, TO ME, GUYS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE EMOTION CENTRE. THEY CAN’T HANDLE THE HEAT OF REAL PASSION. SO WHEN A GUY STOPS TO WOE ME, I SIMPLY SOLILOQUIZE “I GET IT, IF YOU WANT SEX, HOOKERS ARE PRETTY AFFORDABLE THESE DAYS”.

I HAVE MADE OUT WITH A COUPLE OF GUYS BUT ONCE THEY WANT TO GET TO SEE THE COLOUR OF MY PANTS, I IMMEDIATELY SNAP OUT OF THE MUSHY MOOD. PRATICALLY I WAS STILL A VIRGIN NOT BECAUSE THE THOUGHT OF SEX FRECKED ME OUT BUT BECAUSE I COULD NOT BEAR THE PAIN OF A HEARTBREAK AND ALSO FEELING USED. FOR CHRIST SAKE, I CAME INTO THE WORLD AS A HUMAN BEING AND NOT A TISSUE PAPER. MY IDEA OF SEX IS VERY ROMANTIC. A CANDLE LIGHT SCENTED ROOM; MY PARTNER WOULD BE A PRINCE CHARMING WITH A SEX APPEAL THAT COULD THROW A LADY OFF BALANCE. HE WOULD BE TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH ME, THAT WAY, WHEN HE TOUCHES ME, I WOULD KNOW THIS IS LOVE MAKING AND NOT SOME SORT OF QUICKY ON A HARD FOAM, AND WHEN THE GUY IS SATISFIED WITH HIS ROUNDS, HE JUST TURNS TO ONE SIDE OF THE BED, DOZES OFF AND SNORES. THIS YEAR, I BECAME TWENTY AND SOMEHOW I COULD NOT BELIEVE I WAS STILL A VIRGIN. I WAS JUST RECOVERING FROM MY THIRD HEART BREAK FROM THE SAME GUY. SOUNDS PATHETIC, RIGHT? IT STILLS BAFFLES ME HOW I COULD BE WITH DAVE AFTER HE BROKE MY HEART TWICE. I GUESS HE WAS JUST CHARMING AND I WAS UNDER A SPELL. THE THIRD TIME WAS THE LAST HEART BREAK; I WAS NOW READY TO USE MY BRAIN AND NOT FOOLISHLY FOLLOW MY HEART.

THREE WEEKS AFTER BREAKING UP WITH DAVE FOR CHEATING ON ME, ANOTHER PRINCE CHARMING SWEPT ME OFF MY FEET. I MEET HIM IN THE CINEMA, HE WAS JUST TOO CUTE, HE WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME. WE WERE WATCHING A ROMANTIC COMEDY “THE UGLY TRUTH”. WHEN HE LAUGHED, I FELT MY HEART MELT, IT FELT LIKE I WAS SITTING CLOSE TO AN ANGEL. SOMEHOW, MY HEART STARTED BEATING FAST, I ACHED FOR HIM TO JUST TALK TO ME. I WOULD NOT MIND BEING JUST A FRIEND. HE WAS SO INTERESTED IN THE MOVIE, SO I TRIED TO GET HIS ATTENTION. OUT OF MY DESPERATION, I STOOD UP WITH MY POP CORN AND ACTED LIKE I WAS HEADING OUT OF THE CINEMA TO RECEIVE A PHONE CALL, THEN I LET MY POP CORN OUT OF MY HAND AND IT POURED DIRECTLY ON HIM. I AM SORRY! I QUICKLY SAID NOT KNOWING HOW HE WAS GOING TO REACT. HEY! TAKE IT EASY, HE SMILED BACK, THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. WE PACKED THE POP CORN TOGETHER INTO THE PACK. THEN I SAT DOWN, AND HE CONTINUED WATCHING THE MOVIE WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING TO ME. SO I SAID I WAS SORRY FOR THE SECOND TIME, HE SMILED AGAIN AND SAID IT WAS OKAY. WHEN THE MOVIE WAS OVER, I GAVE UP HOPE AND WALKED OUT OF THE CINEMA, AS I HEADED TO BOARD A CAB, SOMEONE TOUCH ME ON MY SHOULDER. IT WAS HIM. I AM SORRY, I DID NOT STRIKE A CONVERSATION INSIDE THE CINEMA. EVERYONE WAS SO KEEN ABOUT THE MOVIE AND I DID NOT WANT US TO BE THE NOISE MAKERS. BY THE WAY, I AM TIMI. I SMILED BACK SHEEPPIHSLY, I COULD FEEL MY HANDS TREMBLING, I PRAYED IN MY HEART THATHE WOULD NOT SHAKE MY HANDS. YOU CAN CALL ME ENIOLA. THAT’S A NICE YORUBA NAME. THANKS! SO ENIOLA DO YOU STAY IN PORT HARCOURT? YEAH BUT I AM ALWAYS TRAVELLING, SO I AM NOT REALLY A TYPICAL PORT HARCOURT GIRL. I SEE! HE SAID SMILING. I DON’T STAY IN PORT HARCOURT, I ONLY CAME HERE FOR A WEDDING CEREMONY, I STAY AT ABUJA. I LOVE ABUJA, I HAVE AN AUNTY WHO RESIDES THERE AND I RANDOMLY VISIT MY COUSINS. THAT IS INTERESTING. I GUESS YOU ARE A STUDENT? YEAH! I AM IN MY THIRD YEAR STUDYING COMPUTER SCIENCE IN UNIPORT. YOU MUST BE A GURU, NO OH! I JUST TRY MY BEST. HERE’S MY CARD, FLASH ME AND I WOULD GIVE YOU A CALL. I WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU A RIDE HOME BUT MY FRIEND IS INSIDE WAITING FOR THE PREMIER OF “HANG OVER”. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND MAKE SURE YOU FLASH ME. TOODLES, HE SAID AND HURRIED BACK INSIDE THE CINEMA. I WAS SO HAPPY, AND SILENTLY THANKED GOD THAT THIS ANGEL DID NOT PASS ME BY.

WEEKS PASSED BY, AND WE WERE LIKE BEST FRIENDS, WE SHARED A LOT OF THINGS IN COMMON. THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THE DISTANCE BUT IT DID NOT MATTER BECAUSE TIMI WAS A RICH AND YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR. HE COULD AFFORD TALKING TO ME FOR HOURS IN THE DAYTIME. HE WAS DIFFERENT FROM THOSE CHEWING GUM GUYS WHO CALLED IN THE MID NIGHT DURING MTN FREE HOUR. I WENT TO BED WITH TIMI ALWAYS ON MY MIND, I SAW HIM IN MY DREAMS AND I WOKE EVERY MORNING ARCHING TO BE BY HIS SIDE. ONE AFTERNOON, AFTER LECTURES, TIMI CALLED AND ASKED ME, IF I WOULD LOVE TO COME SPEND THE WEEKEND IN ABUJA WITH HIM, I SAID YES WITHOUT HESISTATING. HE SENT ME MONEY FOR MY TRIP. MY GIRLFRIENDS THOUGHT IT WAS NOT WISE TO TRY SUCH AN ADVENTURE BUT I IGNORED THHEM BECAUSE I HAD NEVER DARED TO DO ANYTHING DANGEROUS. ABUJA WAS FUN ALL THE WAY THROUGH, HE SPOILT ME WITH SHOPPING AND EXPENSIVE GIFTS. I COULD NOT WAIT TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL AND NARRATE MY FAIRY TALE TO MY FRIENDS.

MY FAIRYTALE TURNED INTO SOUR EXPERIENCE. I WAS TO LEAVE ON MONDAY MORNING WITH AN EARLY FLIGHT. SUNDAY WAS COOL, TIMI TOOK ME TO A 5 STAR RESTAURANT AT MAITAIMA, AFTER HAVING A DINNER DATE, WE HEADED HOME. WHEN WE GOT HOME, HE MADE A HOT CUP OF COFFEE AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT MY OWN DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS. THEN SUDDENLY, HE WAS QUIET, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY, EVEN THOUGH, WE HAD BEEN GOOD FRIENDS FOR SIX MONTHS, I WAS STILL SHY AROUND HIM. HE HELD MY HANDS AND GAVE ME A LIGHT KISS, MY HEART STARTED BEATING FAST. TIMI! PLEASE STOP! HUSH ENIOLA, STOP TALKING, YOU ARE RUINING THE MOOD, I LIKE YOU. I AM SURE YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS BY NOW; YOU DON’T NEED ME OR A SOOTHSAYER TO TELL YOU THAT I CARE. I HAVE SHOWN IT IN MY ACTIONS. I SAID NOTHING, I WAS READY AND I IMMEDIATELY KNEW THIS WAS THE PRINCE CHARMING THAT COULD BREAK ME AND TAKE IT ALL. HE KISSED ME SOFTLY, I FELT I WAS DREAMING, HE WAS SUCH A GOOD KISSER, HE KISSED ME ALL OVER AND THEN CARRIED ME TO HIS BEDROOM AND MADE SWEET LOVE TO ME.

I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING WITHOUT REGRETS, I FELT LIKE A PRINCESS AND I WISHED RIGHT ON HIS BED THAT HE WOULD BE MY HAPPILY EVER AFTER. HE WAS NOT IN BED; I TIPTOED TO THE PARLOUR TO SEAL HIS LIPS WITH A MORNING KISS, AS I APPROACHED THE PARLOUR I HEARD A FEMALE VOICE, SHE WAS GIGGLING AND HER VOICE WAS FLIRTITIOUS. I IGNORED THE FEELING OF JEALOUSY INSIDE ME AND STILL WENT TO MEET HIM. AS I REACHED HIM, HE SMILED AND THE LADY WITH HIM SMILED AND SAID “I GUESS THIS IS THE ANGEL, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT?” YEAH! YOU ARE RIGHT. I WAITED PATIENTLY FOR AN INTRODUCTION. ENIOLA! YOU LOOK REALLY BEAUTIFUL, ANYWAYS, MEET ALICIA, MY GIRLFRIEND. WHAT? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TELLING ME? I ASKED TIMI LOOKING DUMBFOUNDED. I WAS TREMBLING, I COULD FEEL AN INVISIBLE ARROW PUNCTURE MY HEART, WHAT THE HELL WAS HE TELLING ME? IF ALICIA WAS HIS GIRLFRIEND, WHY WAS SHE NOT MAD AT HIM FOR HAVING ME SPEND THE WEEKEND AT HIS POSH APARTMENT? A LOT OF QUESTIONS KEPT POPPING IN MY HEAD BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE QUESTIONS SPINNED MY HEAD. PLEASE TELL ME YOU ARE JOKING, .............................................................................. TO BE CONTINUED.

Chic kente top.

kente blazer.

Blazer spiced with patched African prints

THE PILOT WHO TAKES YOU ON A FREE TRIP. DEATH HAS NO RESPECT FOR NO ONE.IT COMES WITH ITS WINGS TO TAKE A SOUL ON A SAD FLIGHT. IN THIS TRIP THE TRAVELLER DOES NOT HAVE TO BE READY BECAUSE THE PILOT OF THIS AIRLINE IS ALWAYS READY FOR DEPARTURE.IN THE PLANE YOU HAVE NO AIR HOST OR HOSTESS WARNING YOU TO PUT ON YOUR SEAT BELTS, NO PASSENGERS ON BOARD, IN THE PLANE, IT’S JUST YOU AND THE PILOT. THIS IS ONE TRIP THAT MAKES YOU TRAVEL LIGHT WITHOUT A SUIT CASE OR A TRAVELLING BOX; YOU GO EMPTY HANDED IN THIS TRIP. EVERYONE FLIES IN THE SAME PLANE, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE FIRST CLASS TICKET. EVERYONE GETS THE SAME TICKET. SO YOU SEE EVEN IF IN THE WORLD THERE IS POOR DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME AMONG ALL, THERE IS ONE THING THAT WOULD MAKE THE POOR MAN AND RICH MAN PARTNERS IN A BUSINESS, IT IS CALLED DEATH. IT SCARES ME TO KNOW THAT SOMEDAY, I WILL BE NO MORE OR THE ONES I LOVE COULD VANISH ONE DAY WITHOUT TELLING ME GOOD BYE, WHICH IS THE SADDEST WORD. THE MORE REASON WHY WE SHOULD BE READY FOR THIS PILOT WHO COULD GRAB YOUR HANDS ANYTIME AND SAY “YOU HAVE TO COME WITH ME NOW” LET’S MAKE SURE EVERYDAY WE SPEND ON EARTH COUNT, ATLEAST EVEN IF YOU DON’T DIE A LEGEND LEAVING A LEGACY BEHIND, YOU DIE A GOOD MAN WORTHY OF A FREE VISA AND TICKET INTO A CITY MADE OF GOLD WITH NO MORE PAIN. TRY MAKING YOUR TIME SPENT ON EARTH COUNT, I DARE YOU TO DREAM, TO GRAB OPPORTUNITIES WITHOUT THINKING TWICE, TO LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING VULNERABLE AND LEAVE YOUR FOOT PRINTS ON THE BEACH. TRY AND LIVE YOUR LIFE LIKE YOUR TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY AND MAYBE THERE WON’T BE A TOMORROW. IT WOULD HELP YOU PONDER ABOUT LIFE AND MAKE YOU ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR LIFE LIKE “IF YOU WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK RUNNING A GOOD RACE OR IF YOU WOULD WANT TO BE REMEMBERED AS YOU ARE NOW”. A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME “NOT TO BE AFRAID TO LIVE MY LIFE” GUESS I SHOULD USE THIS TO INSPIRE MYSELF DAILY BY TAKING CHANCES. SO I AM GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING TO EVERYONE READING THIS. “DON’T BE AFRAID TO LIVE YOUR LIFE” TAKE CHANCES. YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE, EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS WITHOUT FEAR, YOU SEE A PERSON WHO NEEDS YOUR HELP, DON’T HESITATE OR GIVE IT A SECOND THOUGHT, YOU GET INTO A FIGHT WITH SOMEONE, MAKE PEACE WITH THE PERSON, YOUR DAD GIVES YOU A GOOD ADVICE-DON’T YELL AT HIM, YOU HAVE A GOOD FRIEND-DON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PERSON, WITH ALL THIS INSTANCES, ONE PERSON COULD GO UNEXPECTEDLY, THEN IT SHOCKS YOU AND YOU REALLY CAN’T BELIEVE THE PERSON IS GONE. YEAH! THAT IS WHAT DEATH DOES. IT CREATES THE “HAD I KNOWN EXPRESSION” WHICH IS TOO LATE AND WON’T GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE TO TURN THE PAGE AND MAKE IT RIGHT. TRY AND LIVE A GOOD LIFE PLEASING GOD WITH YOUR LIFE. MOST PEOPLE DON’T BELIEVE THERE IS A LIFE AFTER THE EARTH STORY, BUT THERE IS, AND IF GOD IS PLEASED WITH YOU, EVEN DEATH CAN’T PUT YOU TO SLEEP FOREVER. THIS ARTICLE “THE PILOT WHO TAKES YOU ON A FREE TRIP” IS DEDICATED TO MY COUSIN "CHICHI ODU" AND EVERYONE I HAVE LOST TO THE COLD HANDS OF DEATH. With love, Lamidee.

life is full of so much, and I mean so much. Our hearts are occupied with how to make life comfortable,interesting and fun but I personally like to pause and see the important things first, so I don't get lost chasing so much and then forget the little important things that should matter. I read this short note in my church bulletin and decided to share it. it blessed me and I hope it blesses you too.
TEN THINGS GOD WON'T ASK YOU WHEN YOU SEE HIM.
1. God won't ask you what kind of car you drove. He will ask how many people you drove who didn'nt have transportation.
2. God won't ask you the square footage of your house, He will ask how many people you welcomed into your house.
3. God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He will ask how many you helped clothe.
4. God won't ask you how clean you kept your house. He will ask how many people you fed in It.
5. God won't ask what your highest salary was. He will ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
6. God won't ask you what your job title was. He will     ask you if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
7. God won't ask how many friends you had. He will ask how many people to whom you were a friend to.
8. God won't ask in what neighbourhood you lived, He will ask how you treated your neighbours.
9. God won't ask about the colour of your sin, He will ask about the content of your character.
10.God won't ask why it took you so long to seek salvation, He will lovingly take you to your mansion in Heaven and not to the gates of hell.
God blesses us, I hope we use these blessings well and not abuse them. Reach out, live,love and never forget the little things that count.
                              With love, lamidee.

Green with so much love for lace.

Our feature on TOTAL WRAP.

http://www.totalwraponline.com/2012/05/mide-couture.html click the link and check out what TOTAL WRAP (a fashion forward website) had to say about us.

TANKARA by MC

African print earrings

.....by MC

Ankara earrings

Ankara bow brooch by MC

model: Ify.

CHIFFON TOP paired with Ankara pants

TANKARA paired with yellow pants

flapless jacket paired with pants.

APPRECIATION..... I got inspired to write this while sitting on a toilet, it sounds nasty, I know. Well, the truth is I had a flashback, when I just gained admission into the University of Port Harcourt and a lecturer encouraged to stay in the hostel in my first year. I remember all the nasty tales I heard about the hostel life, how 12 girls would manage one small room, how you have no right to privacy but the one that really sounded nasty was the fact that you had to get a spare bucket to excrete inside. I thought the girl was trying to crack a joke or she was exaggerating. It turned out to be true; we had to do this to prevent diseases. Using the toilet directly was a taboo, you had to empty your system waste in a bucket, and then throw it into the toilet. No wonder, I did not last in the hostel. I packed my stuffs in my 2nd semester and told myself ‘I was satisfied with the experience’’. Moved into an off campus residence. Sitting down on my toilet at home and feeling comfortable made me realize how everything can be appreciated once you know its value. How often do you appreciate what you have? I realize that most people are guilty of this sin “running to God when the chips are down”; I used to be like that. We often don’t appreciate him until we are faced with a near death experience or something far worse. At that gruesome moment, we realize that we can’t do it on our own except we get a divine intervention. This automatically means that our relationship with God is just for benefits. This is wrong. When some people talk about God, you only hear it but it is not seen in their actions. They claim to love God but there is no love in their life, they claim to be lovers of God but only remember him in times of need. Friendship with benefits is selfish, even as humans; we hate this kind of relationship. When you have friends who only stick around because of what they can gain from you, you get hurt. I am sure that is how God feels too but Grace makes him forget that we were selfish. We take his grace for granted and feel we can do anything because at the end, Grace would be there and forgiveness comes easily from heaven. We need to appreciate God always. You don’t have to be in a terrible situation to remember God exists. If you have God in your mouth and the world in your heart, you are a hypocrite. Appreciate him always, in good and in bad times. Extend your appreciation to every human and everything in your life. “You never know what you have till you lose it”, this sounds cliché but it is the truth. If you have ever stayed with people you are not related to in this life and you were maltreated, you would cherish your family. You would understand that they were created especially for you because God does not want you to be lonely and depressed. Appreciate that father who scolds you, appreciate that mother who cares too much, appreciate the sisters who tease you a lot and appreciate the brothers who irritate you a lot. Don’t wait to be in a bad situation before you know their value. If you have good friends, appreciate them, don’t fall back on them only when you need their shoulders to lean on. Don’t make them a second option. Most people have friends but have no true friend. This happens because they get lost in the crowd and lose the person who truly cares. Appreciate your life, appreciate your health, appreciate the air you breathe, appreciate the sun, appreciate the rain, appreciate animals, and appreciate everything. Don’t wait for terrible circumstances to remind you to be grateful. WITH LOVE, CHIOMA OLAMIDE UDOM.

Memory Lane.....Journal entry- My first visit to my state of origin. You can imagine how excited I was when my mom told me to get ready for a trip to my village. I was happy, I have always been curious to know how the state looked like, how the house in the village looked and if there were some distant relations I had not met. Well the d-day came, it was 2009-09-18, and everyone was in the jeep except Funmi and Abidemi who were in school. Somehow I felt the strike had favoured me because I knew this was a rare opportunity. Unlike most families in Nigeria who travelled back home during the Christmas holidays to celebrate as a family. My family was a distant one with family members scattered all over the globe, they never gathered together to do a reunion, and most importantly they know absolutely nothing about their culture or tradition. My grand dad lived his life in the Yoruba speaking states; Lagos and Ibadan to be precise, and married two Yoruba wives. So when he died, my grandmothers groomed their children in the Yoruba culture and it was easy for them since my dad and his siblings lived in Ibadan, my great grandmother was also a Yoruba woman, I guess the Udoms are so in love with the yorubas. Anyway, that is why my dad, uncles and aunties know nothing about Akwa ibom, people would say it is pathetic but they don’t care, they all accepted their mothers’ culture as their own. And it doesn’t matter to them as far as they can identify themselves with one Nigerian culture. So I also imbibed their character, when people seem curious about my name which is a mixture of Ibo, Yoruba and Ibibio, I simply shove in their curiosity and tell them I understand the three major Nigerian languages which is Ibo, Hausa and Yoruba. The journey started with a heated conversation between my dad and mom about a gate, our neighbouring street had fixed at our street. Dad was furious about it and wondered why they would extend their plans to our street, he hated their audacity. I kept quiet at the back seat, looking outside and feeling like a prisoner that had escaped from a routine prison. My life had become a boring routine since the strike started and I was desperate to change my environment, so dad’s anger did not mean anything to me that morning, all that mattered was me, myself and I. I tried to dose off but the bad roads won’t let me. It was a bumper journey all through till we finally left bori, a village in Port Harcourt. Then we zoomed off, we had to stop several times because the bribe collectors who are also called policemen were on the road serving and protecting themselves. At the several stops we made, dad would tip them with a 100 naira or 200 naira note and tell them it was for pure water, it irritated me and vexed my spirit. I mean I was really broke, and it was hard to recharge my phone, and these policemen just get tipped off with a selfish grin on their face. Finally we arrived akwa ibom, and dad did all his best to give me a brief detail about every major place we drove through till I got to my own Nsit Ubium. A sign board welcomed us with bold letters that read “welcome to Nsit Ubium”. Wow, my village rocks I soliloquized, I mean not every village has a sign board to welcome its people home. For starters, my mother’s village doesn’t have a welcome sign board. Our house was not far from the road side, it was the third house. I came out of the jeep and inhaled the fresh breeze of my roots. I was happy to have my feet on the soil of Akwa ibom. I saw udeme with her heavy stomach, it was unbelievable, and so she was truly pregnant. Let me do a brief introduction of Udeme. Udeme also called UD is my father’s cousin, the last child of her father. She use to stay with us but she was a trouble maker stealing, lying and just causing a lot of troubles. So mom ran out of patience and UD was sent back to the village, after 2 months, news came from the village that she was pregnant and after some weeks, her mother passed away. She is just 17 years old, so all I thought about was pity, she looked miserable with eczema all over her neck, her clothes were so dirty, they looked like rags, her hair was unkempt and yet when I reminded her of all the times I tried to advise her to behave herself, she just laughed ignorantly. Just then I started asking myself why some people enjoy poverty. I asked her who the father of the child was. She said he was a village photographer who had denied the pregnancy. Her father, whom we nick named papa meisere because whenever he visited us he was always trying to force the language into us, was a very well to do young man in his hay days. He was a journalist and had a good life; he went to different countries and even dinned with the queen of England, a fact he never fails to leave out when he is telling us the story of his life. He would have been a very wealthy man by now but he spoilt his prosperity by settling in the village without doing anything. He claimed he wanted to learn the language and make his children also learn the language. Over night, he turned into another man and refused his children the right to education, claiming education was a barrier to our culture and traditions. Sounds stupid, right? Well that is what he claimed and so all his children ended up like him. Udeme’s elder brother got a teenage girl pregnant without even having a means to livelihood. I saw the girl, she was really beautiful but poverty had stolen her beauty. If she had a better life, she would be a sweet sixteen. I looked at them and wondered why teenagers now become fathers and mothers; it’s like the order of the day in Akwa Ibom. We brought out the food, mom had made for papa, you needed to have seen the joy on his face, he told us he had not eaten a decent meal since last night, they rushed the food and asked for more. Papa meisere later told me more about my great grandfather. I got to know that he was a pastor who married a woman from a family that practised juju. What an irony! Anyway, we all chatted about a lot of things and then when it clocked two, we said our goodbyes and left. To papa meisere, it felt like his birthday but to me, it felt like Christmas. As they waved us good bye with smiles of satisfaction that would last till the provisions we got them finished, I pondered on their life and many questions was on my mind. Don’t they have dreams? Is this all they want to do with their life? Bringing children into the world to suffer in penury, will they ever come out of the village to experience another world? At that moment, I thanked God that I was sent from heaven to be my dad’s daughter, even though sometimes I wished for more, I was happy; I had my two parents alive to provide for me, we are an average family. Even though sometimes, I wish I could be like other cool kids who travelled all over the globe for an education or holiday tours, I was happy, I had visited some countries and I was always given a free pass to visit any state I wanted to visit, I had parents that could afford to pay my fees and clothe me. I thanked God silently in my heart, as we drove back to Port Harcourt.

Pessimistic monsters

People with negative approach to life scare me. I hate pessimistic attitudes. I hate voices that limit me. I hate fear. I hate voices that persuade me to stay in my comfort zone. I hate voices that make me believe there is no future hope and so, i should not try at all. I hate voices that discourages people from making bold decisions in life. For God sake, if you believe you are a failure, why spread the disease and kill another person's hope with your wicked tongue. Pessimistic people are advised to cut off their tongues or remain mute when they can not handle a hardworking fellow trying to make his or her dreams come true. If you are not supporting a person's dream, then just remain that way instead of possesing the person with the spirit of doubt. I rebuke every pessimitic spirit around all hardworking people around the world.
If you are working really hard to make your dreams come true and things seem hard, just focus, you would definitely get to your peak and above it. If you have a dream you want to make come true, leave your comfort zone and make it happen. A baby step does not hurt. Dare yourself to move, to believe in something, to trust your instincts and hope for the best always. When you fail, try again. Never make failure an excuse. Finally, avoid every pessimistic monster that breeds doubt and fear.
                                                                                                     With love, CHIOMA OLAMIDE UDOM

Why LOVE is COMPLICATED.

Love sounds like a simple word, it is even easy to spell, for some people, they easily feel it and for some, their hearts are far lost and they want nothing to do with love and its siblings. You know the siblings of love, right? Well, they are affection, care, faith, joy, hope, humility and happiness. The world has carelessly destroyed the word “love’’. We all know this, it is a stale gist. I was strolling one day listening to “this is love by THE SCRIPT”. The song was interesting but the words were really captivating. Then I wondered why something so beautiful could be so ugly, something so sweet can suddenly become sour and how friends become strangers over night.  Who makes love complicated? People. In a platonic relationship, the friend who loves and cares more is considered weak and vulnerable. The person who calls or communicates often is too friendly or jobless. You hear people giving excuses like “sorry, I have not returned your calls or replied your messages, I have been so busy”. The caring friend is also a busy person but thinks regularly about his friends. When this person doesn’t get the same affection back, he slowly cares less and begins to appreciate friends who appreciate his existence and forget the ones who don’t. In an intimate relationship, the partner who loves more is equally seen as weak and vulnerable. It is easy to cheat and play games when involved with vulnerable people because they forgive easily. They love deeply. They have no control over their hearts and hardly use common sense. They let their guard down and let their heart control every other sense organ. When such a person gets heartbroken, they hardly appreciate other people who come along later into their lives with good intentions.Why love is complicated? Love is complicated because people fail to take chances with their hearts. One heart break leads to several heart breaks. Leo has his heart broken by Ruth, it takes several months for him to heal and finally let go of all the lovable memories of Ruth. He becomes mean and vows never to fall in love again but this does not stop him from having relationships with girls, it is different this time. He dates girls but never attaches emotions. Ruth was the criminal, Leo was the victim and other girls are the victims of fate. One heart breaks builds a circular flow of bitterness, anger, deception, and hatred. Who suffers when this circular flow is created? The new partner. The wicked emotions are strongly against love and all its siblings. Sometimes, most people get saved and some people end up being lost forever. They are not capable of loving anyone. God made me realise love is not complicated. He told me “I GAVE MY SON TO THE WORLD, HOW HARD CAN IT BE?’’. Jesus Christ loves us even when we go astray, he loves us even when we don’t return the affection back, he gives us even when we are selfish, he protects us even when we deny him, and he sticks around even when we betray him. Now, that is love. The kind of love I am building in my heart and making a way of life. I have been called ‘vulnerable and weak’ so many times because I care and love too much, then I stopped caring but this year, i want to be like Jesus and embrace a selfless love. The only thing I would care less about is the tag people create for True LOVE. Everyone is capable of feeling love and everyone is worthy of the emotion. Appreciate your friends, forgive easily and allow your lessons become blessings.                                                                                                  
  WITH LOVE, CHIOMA OLAMIDE UDOM

HOW MI'DE COUTURE became my passion and job.

My name is Chioma Olamide Udom and I am the brain and talent behind MIDE COUTURE. I started sketching when I was nine, my aunty would be watching NTA news and see Eugenia Abu wearing a lovely Ankara design and say to me “look at that style closely, I want u to draw it for me”. I would look closely and sketch the design afterwards. My aunty would then give the sketch to her tailor the next day and eventually she would have the style her favourite newscaster wore, thanks to me.

I continued sketching but I never had a flair for fashion. When it came to talents, i always felt writing was my thing. I got hooked to sketching designs in my 2^nd year in university. Anytime the lecturer was boring, I would start drawing designs in my notebook and friends would look at it and compliment “awww, it’s beautiful’’ or  “I want something like that”. I would just smile. I started sketching for people but I dashed them the designs. Sometime in 2010, I attended an AIESEC conference and got motivated by a member who saw me sketching during one of the learning sessions. To all those who do not know, AIESEC is an international organization that helps young people develop their leadership skills and potentials. The member looked at it and told me that “she liked my designs and believes that someday my clothing line would be a household name in the fashion industry”, i was really inspired by what she said, that day, I made up my mind to leave my comfort zone and to stop playing with the talent GOD gave me. There is a reason why he blessed my hands with this talent. I told my parents about the talent and my plans to turn it into an enterprise. My parents gave me their blessings to pursue my new found love. I started producing my designs in 2010 and charging a fee for it. It turned me into an entrepreneur and my interest in the fashion business started growing. It was now more than just the talent of creating styles.

My clothing line is called MIDE COUTURE and I create chic urban African designs as well as western styles. It depends on what the client wants. My fashion styles are casual, chic, vintage, urban and trendy. I specialize in female clothing, in the future; I plan to make my clothing line unisex because all my male friends tease me and say “she is a female chauvinist”. My source of inspiration is GOD. My favourite designers are Lisa folawiyo, LDS, SAG, BABE FOR LIFE PATCHED ANKARA,  Mary Ebubedike of WEST &COUTURE. Fashion allows individuals to express themselves and that is why I love it.

Peplum Ankara pants by MC paired with a POLO t-shirt.....casually Afrocentric

Happy Valentines day to every soul that has breathe. Dedicating 1st John 3:16 to you all, which says " dear children,let us not love with words or tongue but with action and in truth. Let love shine in all you do.

casually Afrique......

casually Afrique......

Glam Pink bridal party dress by MC

Customized green and white dress by MC

Dinner gown by MC and she rocked it at ALL NATIONS UNIVERSITY convocation dinner party.

Dinner gown by MC and she rocked it at ALL NATIONS UNIVERSITY convocation dinner party.

Formal dress by Mide couture

Ankara long top spiced with black lace by MC

Chic dress by MC

Ankara dress with laced flaps

Ghanaian kente dress spiced with black lace by mide couture

a tank top spiced with Ankara

A chic dress with lace.

A client smiling in her MC dress. Consumer satisfaction attained.

Chic high waist afrocentric skirt paired with a tank top

The love affair between Ankara and the red carpet.

Making Ankara fabric a red carpet look? make sure the designer creates a flawless chic, elegant and urban style. Ankara suits every occasion, it all depends on your designer. Solange Knowles looks FAB and Elegant in this Ankara piece, I don't know the designer but he or she did a great job.

Tick tock! Tick tock!! Tick tock!!!

OMG,it's the 21st day already? Wow. Time really moves fast and waits for no one. Thank God, the subsidy drama is dead or in between death and life. GEJ finally dropped the price to 97 naira, even though, Nigerians were not excited about the still yet high price, the strike was called off. To all those who lost family members to the revolution, I pray God heal your scars.  So, my fashionistas, what have you been up to? How many goals have you achieved already? How challenges have you faced? How many chances have you taken?. Yours sincerely took a chance last week on saturday, guess what it was? A modelling audition for Port Harcourt Fashion show. It was interesting trying my hands on something different. I have modelled several times but not professionally but my sister keeps pushing me to try it professionally. So I gave it a shot,I did the runway catwalk with so much attitude but I didn't get the job. The judges said wedges are not runway shoes. I was not sad, I was happy I took a chance and now, I know that when another oppportunity knocks, I should never go for a modelling audition in wedges. Bottomline,Keep taking chances, setting goals, dreaming big and keep trying. My personal motivation are these words "I would rather have a life of OH WELLs, than a life of WHAT IFs". Love you all and have a fab weekend.

A life instruction package.

Sometimes many of us wish that as we were born, God should have kept a note in our hands that explains to us how to live our lives, how to overcome failure, how to be famous, how to become rich instantly, how to mend our hearts immediately after it breaks, how to pass an exam without reading, how to go to heaven without abiding by his commandments, how to smoke without any health issue, how to have sex randomly without health issues, how to travel around the world without visas, how to get high without being stupid, how to disrespect parents without getting cursed, how to please a man without sleeping with him, how to win a woman's affection without money, how to revenge without getting hurt in the long run, how to loot national treasures without being tagged corrupt, I could keep going on with the numerous things people feel a life instruction package can solve. Life is complicated, we all know this and that is why most people give up on life easily, they can't handle the heat or pressure. Some people even seldom ponder why God would throw them into earth when HE already knows how earth is damaged, well I guess HE knows best. Life doesn't come with instructions but it teaches us lessons, and if you are a great learner, then you can shape your life into what you want it to be with the help of God and the holy books "the Bible and the Quaran". So the next time, you loose your faith, hope and love, remember the substitute for a life instruction package are  the holy books. Life is not a merry-go-round but you can make yours one. Love you all, have a fab week and to all the protesters out there, your labour shall not be in vain.

Being a style icon

Everyone wants to follow trends but sometimes fashion trends don't suit all fashionistas. We all have different body sizes, to be a style icon, create your own style, wear clothes that suit your figure and skin colour.

Fashion is about expression and remember you have to feel comfortable. Imagine a skinny guy in a pair of shorts (eyes closed) "fashion disaster" or imagine a plus size girl in skinny jumpers (eyes closed) "fashion disaster".

My style is chic and simple. I like trendy clothes but I am so in love with vintage. So I create retro vintage designs for myself. I love being comfortable, I don't show too much skin. I am simply sexy and that's my style and it suits me well.

Definition of life

TO LAUGH MUCH AND OFTEN;  TO WIN THE RESPECT OF INTELLIGENT PEOPLE  AND THE AFFECTION OF LITTLE CHILDREN;  TO EARN THE APPRECIATION OF HONEST CRITICS  AND ENDURE THE BETRAYAL OF FALSE FRIENDS;  TO APPRECIATE BEAUTY, TO FIND THE BEST IN OTHERS;  TO LEAVE THE WORLD A BIT BETTER,  WHETHER BY A HEALTHY CHILD, A GARDEN PATCH  OR A REDEEMED SOCIAL CONDITION;  TO KNOW EVEN ONE LIFE HAS BREATHED EASIER  BECAUSE YOU LIVED.  THIS IS TO HAVE SUCCEEDED.

 I LOVE THIS NOTE, IT'S BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

Personal perception

DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT PERCEPTION. ONE MAN ’S MEAT IS ANOTHER MAN’S POISON. A COUPLE BOUGHT A DONKEY FROM THE MARKET. ON THEIR WAY HOME, A BOY COMMENTED, “VERY STUPID. WHY NEITHER OF THEM RIDE ON THE DONKEY?” UPON HEARING THAT, THE HUSBAND LET THE WIFE RIDE ON THE DONKEY. HE WALKED BESIDES THEM. LATER, AN OLD MAN SAW IT AND COMMENTED, “THE HUSBAND IS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY. HOW CAN THE RIDE ON THE DONKEY WHILE THE HUSBAND IS ON FOOT? HEARING THIS THE WIFE QUICKLY GOT DOWN AND LET THE HUSBAND RIDE ON THE DONKEY.  FURTHER ON THE WAY HOME, THEY MET AN OLD LADY. SHE COMMENTED, “HOW CAN THE MAN RIDE ON THE DONKEY BUT LET THE WIFE WALK. HE IS NO GENTLEMAN.” THE HUSBAND THUS QUICKLY ASKED THE WIFE TO JOIN HIM ON THE DONKEY. THEN, THEY MET A YOUNG MAN. HE COMMENTED, “POOR DONKEY, HOW CAN YOU HOLD UP THE WEIGHT OF TWO PERSONS. THEY ARE CRUEL TO YOU” HEARING THAT, THE HUSBAND AND WIFE IMMEDIATELY CLIMBED DOWN FROM THEIR DONKEY AND CARRIED IT ON THEIR SHOULDERS.  IT SEEMED TO BE THE ONLY CHOICE LEFT. LATER, ON A NARROW BRIDGE, THE DONKEY WAS FRIGHTENED AND STRUGGLED. THEY LOST BALANCE AND FELL INTO THE RIVER. YOU CAN NEVER HAVE EVERYONE PRAISE YOU, NOR WILL EVERYONE CONDEMN YOU. NEVER IN THE PAST, NOT AT THE PRESENT AND NEVER WILL BE IN THE FUTURE.  THUS, DO NOT BE TOO BOTHERED BY OTHERS’ WORDS IF YOUR CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR.

DEDICATED TO ME..................

Limitations suck....Hello fashionistas! Hope Nigeria's situation has not stolen all your joy. Pastor Adeboye said "People have asked why I often laugh or crack jokes about the disturbing events taking place in our nation. The reason is, if you don't laugh it off, you could develop hypertension." The fuel subsidy removal is depressing but let's hope for the best. Thumbs up to every youth across Nigeria protesting and having their voices heard, you are our heroes. Taxi fares in port harcourt is times 2, I felt exploited when I went out yesterday, but I remained calm. In between, I have been sketching male designs and the designs are nice. If you set your mind to do something, you can. The only limitations in the world are the ones you set for yourself. So, Mide Couture also known as MC is now unisex. Guys can now have MC urban clothings in their wardrobe (Yipeeee). So, who would be my very 1st male client?

My definition of music.....

We all love music. I define music as a sound that mixes with words to provide listening pleasure. For me, I don't just listen to the sound, I also listen to the lyrics. Lyrics mean a lot and that is why we have song writers. African musicians are taking over, however, most of the songs have lame lyrics. Most of my friends would say "the important thing is that you can dance when you hear the sound". Music should be educating, it should inspire, it should bring smiles, it should make you miss people, love people, love God, it should provide hope,it should make you want to take chances and avoid limitations. In Nigeria, my best musicians would have to be tu face, Asa, Bez,Waje and sound sultan. My best genre of music is rock. My best international musician would have to be Adele, I am in love with her (no homo), she is so talented, her songs and her vocals are to die for. Eagerly waiting for her new album. Music should be timeless and that is what Fela and Micheal Jackson represents. You can still listen to Fela and Micheal's songs and feel the sound. Other musicians should record timeless songs if they want to be living legends or leave a legacy. xoxo....Lamide....

Happy new year Fashionistas....it's 2012 already. Time surely flies. So I am guessing most of you have new year resolutions "things to do and not to do", I hope you keep all your personal promises. Me? I am just going to take chances, that's what I did last year and it worked out for me. I am going to let God handle the steering and hopefully my dreams would come true but Hardwork is included. Nigeria's current gist is "the removal of fuel subsidy" and it has been passed into law. In the short run, there would be hardship, just smile, things would get better in the long run. Pray for our leaders while you pray for yourself. Hopefully, the extra revenue the country generates would be used wisely to promote even development. I know the prices of goods and services would increase but the Lord is our shepherd (winks). Let's be optimistic in 2012. In between, I have been sketching some really chic and sophisticated designs, So holla at your loyal fashion designer "Olamide". Love you all and God bless you all.