The Definition of Being Bigger and Better

© Andy Nunn - @andythephoto - 1 April 2013

My brother (on the far right) signed a semi-pro contract in January for Staines Town FC which made me the proudest big sister in the world. We had been talking about this for so long - given his aged (18) it was beneficial for him to have signed sooner rather than later because he is getting 'old'.

However he was signed on a temporary semi-pro contract and I am hoping that this is the beginning of great things for him.

He played for the entire game in the final of the Middlesex Cup and they won 2-0.

I am very proud.

A very proud big sis!

Olola

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Chris Malinchak - So Good to Me

 

I've just come across this song recently.

I can't help but go into deep thought when I hear it;

 

How things are,

How they could be,

What has yet to come

The people,

The memories;

Old and new.

Just everything.

 

This song projects a particular image into my mind.

It puts a smile on my face.

 

Olola

x

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love ft. Mary Lambert

 

'And

I can't change

Even if I tried

Even if I wanted to 

My love, my love, my love

She keeps me warm

She keeps me warm

She keeps me warm

She keeps me warm'

 

The beauty of this song is in its simplicity.

The truth is that 'we love in a world so hateful that

Some would rather die than to be who they are.'

 

Be that in football, hip-hop and of course in society as a whole.

Homosexuality is NOT a choice.

 

Though 'no law is going to change us, we have to change us.':

You love who you love

'Undeneath it's all the same love.'

Love is love.

'Love is patient. Love is kind.'

 

Olola

x



Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013

This is going to be a long one...

What 2012 has meant for me?

Firstly it will be a year tomorrow since I started this blog and I am content. I haven't been the most consistent but I am sticking with it. I can't wait to see where I will be with it this time next year.
This has been the year that I have started to pay more attention to me - I've joined the gym, started playing netball and I've started taking better care of my hair.
I've also been able to develop my baking skills and try new things as well as being the Treasurer of my university's Bake Society.
I have had the chance to interview artists for Lenox Avenue and write a review on it which was really amazing and has only reaffirmed how much I really want to go to New York.
I managed to secure myself a Teach First graduate job before the ned of 2nd year.
I've also realised that I have made and establish lifelong friendships with some amazing people at uni and cannot wait to see what life holds with them.
I went on my first holiday with friends to Spain which was so much fun.

What I've got to look forward to in 2013:
- Graduation - the last term has been tremendously difficult in terms of remaining motivated and keeping focused and I don't think next term will be any better but I hope that if I can just get a 2.1 I will be extremely happy.
- Moving back to London fully - I can't wait to start living a proper adult life, developing in my home city, meeting people, having amazing experiences and just generally living.
- My 21st - I think there is no better time to be in London and blogging then in your 20s - I am excited to see what's in store this decade.
- Teach First - I start training in June and working in September - I am nervous as it will be extremely difficult but at the same time I'm excited.
- Nigeria - I will be going with my family in August and this will be the first time I will have ever left Europe - I am excited!!

What I hope to achieve:
- 2.1 in my degree
- Learn new talent - I've set myself the task of learning how to knit and crochet. I've thought about briefly in the past but a friend of mine crocheted herself some slippers so I'm going to learn.
- Make substantial developments in my novel - I set myself the short term goal of starting in April and I sort of have and haven't.
- Achieve a bigger ad better blog - if I can help or inspire just one person then I'd be content.
                - I hope to write more poetry
                - Start posting more fashion/art/architecture content.
- Be better organised with my time - limit my procrastination and work at things bit by bit and eventually I will accomplish instead of always expecting to do everything in one go or leaving things until last minute.

Have I become 'bigger and better' then I was this time last year?

I've definitely developed and learnt things, learnt more about myself; I can say that I am happier but there's still a very long way to go. I know that by the end of next year I'll be in an entirely different place and I hope it'll be a happier one.

So here...here's to a Bigger and Better year!!

 

Olola

x

'I Shall Be At Peace, When I See My Home'

'Ngonje kwe gbe nabaiganji'

 

Werengato (A nigerian song)

This is a beautiful quote from a beautiful song. It's a nigerian sung in the Egun language which I believe is spoken in parts of Lagos. I heard it years ago but I've currently been listening to it quite a lot - I think I've been feeling a bit lost partly because I'm sick of university at the moment and want to go back to London. I know that 'I shall be at peace, when I see my home' and by the time this goes up I will have been at home for 10 minutes.

But I think this quote can apply to many different things and I think as well as the point mentioned above it's applicable to myself in many ways - life's journey is tough but as long as you know there is a destination where you have no worries I think that keeps you going.

Fela Kuti - Unknown Soldier

 

 He was a social commentator and sang about corruption, colonisation and the general 'blindness' of Africans.

The problems he sang about in the 70s are still relevant today.

I grew up listening to this man and I've started to 're'-appreciate the amazing music he left behind before he died in 1997.
This song is in particular is song one is one of my favourites, along with Zombie, Shuffering and Shmiling and Water No Get Enemy.

He wrote 'Unknown Soldier' after his mother died by falling out of a window when 1000 soldiers were sent to destroy his home. The government claimed it was an unknown soldier that committed the act.
But he knew better...

Olola
x



Malcolm Watson - Love Gun

 

I found this print at a poster sale at my uni last year and something about it connected to me.

There was something about the stark contrast of love (the butterflies and love hearts) and a gun being shot.

I am not sure what it means, it could possibly symbolise war and peace but I think this is my kind of love - it's sudden, it's powerful and you'll know once it has hit you - but it's love.

 

I like this picture - a poster currently resides on my bedroom wall.

 

Olola

x

Disclosure ft. Sam Smith - Latch

 

 

I don't think anyone can understand how much I am in love with this song at the moment.

The simplicity of this song is amazing; to simply latch on to the one you crave would be amazing.

To be honest I am currently craving going back to London and I think that's why I've literally listened to this song everyday for the past week or two.

'Now I've got you in my space, I won't let go of you.'

'Got you shackled in my embrace, I am latching on to you.'

Now that I know I am going home after uni, I am latching on and I won't let go - London awaits!!

 

Olola

x

 



Taking Control of What's on My Head

My hair is natural and up until my 20th I have never really cared about it. I have been natural for approximately 5 years now and I haven't seen much growth with my hair. I have had this sudden motivation to care for my hair mainly because I want it to grow and be able to mess around with different hairstyles.

 

It has been difficult to maintain it properly while at uni because I have had to keep braids in my hair for 3 months at a time due to the fact that I am too far from London to keep going back to get my hair done and I don't know or trust anyone enough at uni to do my hair.
 

I've never really known much about hair or how to maintain it and over the past 5 years my hair has fallen out at the back and the sides; though the sides have tended to be more prone to breaking.

I attended a hair exhibition over summer and got quite a lot of advice about how to treat my hair and look after it. I've also been watching quite a few youtube gurus too. I think I spent over £50 over summer buying products.

 

I bought:

Jamaican Black Caster Oil (SO expensive)

Almond Oil

Olive Oil

Cucumber massage conditioner

Cantu Shea butter

Cocoa butter

Pur Curls Non-sulphate shampoo (SO expensive I HAD to bargin)

Shea butter and tea tree oil

Lo'real Elvive Conditioner

Eggs and Honey (for deep conditioning)

 

And this is very unlike me to spend so much money - but it's part of me being bigger and better and I know that my ultimate goal of having longer, healthier and fuller hair will make me happier. 

Over summer I kept my hair out for over a month; it's the longest I've had my hair out in years and it felt healthier and stronger because of my treatment method. My routine was that I would put caster oil and olive oil in my hair every other day and I conditioned my hair with loreal and cantu shea butter every week and deep conditioned every 3 weeks with honey, egg and oil. I did have a mishap involving avocado but I won't go into that it, it was pretty traumatic.

 

It's nice however to be able to be in control of my hair and not have my hair fall out because it's dry. I am starting to understand what my hair needs now and I cannot wait to see how it improves over the next couple of years.

 

My aim now is to figure out how to do more protective hairstyles by myself as I am sick of spending so much money and time in hair salons.

I will update next summer to show you how it goes.
 

Olola

x

(Vegan) Carrot Cake

I made this in October for my housemate's boyfriend who has decided to be vegan for awhile. Given that the typical cake has eggs and butter we were determined to find a recipe what he would be able to enjoy guilt-free. I had never made carrot cake before and it wouldn't have been my cake of choice but this has honestly got to be my most favorite cake to date. It was moist, sweet and smelt amazing and between the 5 of us was devoured in the space of a couple of hours.

 

 

Ingredients: 200ml of vegetable oil, 170g of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 200ml of water, 230g of grated carrots, 70g of pecans chopped, 100g of sultanas, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of ginger, 280g of self-raising flour.

 

 

Beat oil, sugar and vanilla essense, add water and mix (remember oil and water don't mix so don't worry if it looks weird). Stir in carrots, pecans and sultanas until completely covered. Sift in cinnamon and ginger and stir. Then sift in flour (a half at a time) and mix until well combined. It doesn't look the most appealing but when it's cooked I think the picture below is proof that it looks amazing.

Bake at 180 degrees celsius (in a pre-heated oven) don't forget to grease the tin with oil. Bake for 40-45 minutes.

 

 

 

Do keep an eye on the cake when baking though because the sultana's on top will burn first - you just don't want it to burn too much.

I made one layer first and then decided that I wanted the cake to be bigger so I baked another layer the next day. In terms of storing the first layer I made, I wrapped it up in cling film and put it in the fridge.

 

 

 

The topping was a suggestion made by another housemate, it was a combination of icing sugar (150-200g) and orange juice (1.5- 2 tablespoons depending on the consistancy desired) - we made a very thin layer and it complemented the cake perfectly.

 

 

 

I had four slices; 2 on the their own, 1 slice with vanilla ice-cream and the other with apricot jam. I would recommend the vanilla ice-cream.

I cannot wait to bake it again.

Olola
x