It Is Okay To Fall Down! #JustKeepGoing #2015

On my way this morning jamming to my music on the train... And for some reason the song I was listening to stopped and the next song was going play, when I heard this English lady talking to her son (he is probably 4 or 5 years old max), I quickly stopped my music. Here is why;

The kid: mummy I am too scared to do it
Mum: why are you so scared?

The kid: mummy I could fall down you know, my friends and everyone are going laugh at me

Mum: so what! If they laugh, if you fall down just get up and keep going. It doesn't matter. Oh wait do you think its going be a smooth ride. Of cause not! its okay to fall down. Just get up and keep going. You will definitely finish strong!

Everyone on the train just kept staring and listening cause it was so quiet. I was like wow what a gentle reminder. The holy spirit will speak to us through people without them even knowing!

The year is almost over, your dreams and yearnings may not have happened just yet or people laugh at you when you try! Whatever it is, it is okay! keep going, keep moving, keep pushing!

Just like the kid, God is saying to you keep going!

Your falling is the birth of a new rising!!!

Love, 

Funmi

Bassey Weds Mark! First Pictures From The Wedding! #MrandMrsOkonPeters

Bassey and Mark as just exchanged their marital vows and we can now boldly call them husband and wife.

She is looking so beautiful and stunning and I am full of excitement. I met Bassey a while ago in Aberdeen were we both studied for our masters in Oil and Gas Law. Seeing her tie the knot is just so amazing.

Bassey's husband is also a lawyer and she recently shared her love story with Funmi Shittu's blog, you can read it here; Bassey and Mark Love Story!

Congratulations to you MrsPeters!!!! :)

I love you long time!!!

Father of the bride (Mr Nyong)

Mr and Mrs Peters

Yaaaay!! Bassey weds Mark Okon Peters!!! #MrandMrsOkonPeters

Finally Bassey weds Mark and now officially Mrs Okon-Peters. I am totally loving her Calabar outfits...She is just a beauty in every sense!!!! It is an amazing union because Bassey is a lawyer and so is Mark!

Congratulations to you my dearest friend, I recently shared Bassey's love story with Mark and you can read it here . See their unofficial pictures below....


Congrats love!!!! yaaaaay :)


#Calabarwedding #LawyerMeetsLawyer #Traditionalwedding

Bassey and her sister Effionwan Nyong

Congratulations!!!! It's15 Years Anniversary For Mr and Mrs UJ Efemuai #Crystal

My dad had passed on in December 1998 while I was doing my national youth service in Kaduna. His burial was scheduled for February 1999. Everyone we knew from all over was invited to our village for his funeral.

Our neighbours from Warri also came and one of them looked at me and said ‘what’s happened to your skin, you are not as fair as you were’ I laughed and replied and said Kaduna heat! His big brother then said, don’t worry I’d take care of her. I just chuckled.  That big brother was UJ Efemuai my husband of 15 years (Smiles).

UJ and I grew up together, we were next door neighbours, the funny thing was that he was even at my 1 year birthday party and I still have a photo of him staring at me while cutting my cake. Hahaha….!

We were very close friends and if anyone had told me we would get married I’d never have believed. He was like a brother to me and I could tell him any and everything.  I knew all his girlfriends, they knew me too. I even went once with him to meet one of them, as in can you imagine? We later got quite close and even started developing feelings for each other, stole a few kisses here and there #coversfaceinshame,  but like I said I never saw marriage coming. He went off to the university and I left for Lagos after my secondary school. We still kept in touch but not quite as close and I heard he’d even gotten engaged.

Spot UJ starring at Eloho cut her cake

So when he made that comment at my dad’s funeral, I was like ‘this guy nor serious oh’. Anyways after the funeral we all went back to wherever we came from and he started calling me at Kaduna, sending gifts etc. eventually came to visit me all the way from Warri.  To cut the long story short hahaha after about 6 months, we got engaged, got married December 17^th 1999.

It’s been 15 amazing years, blessed with the three most gorgeous kids, Nathan(11), Aimee(4) and Josh (4). All I can say it’s been God because if you ask me how we have sustained it, I don’t know. But one thing I know is that we are very good friends and very patient with each other. When we fight I am always so quick to say I am sorry. Initially when we got married, I never used to talk back at him and so when we fight all I did was cry! cry and apologise.  But I remember after a few years I managed to respond heheheh, and will still say I was sorry afterwards!! 

Like most married women, I have felt my husband didn’t love me at some point and I began to go into  shell, rather than speak up, I bottled it all up inside and I started to withdraw in every  way you can  think of. This didn’t help our relationship at all, he tried to reach out to me but I was feeling unloved and just will not let him in. We tried to talk about it, prayed about it, took time away from kids, which seemed to help for a bit. But I was struggling with a few things, which I shared with him and that really helped us. Communication is so very important. Never ever assume! You must talk oh.  

You must be willing to make sacrifice, I remember during the early days of my marriage, my husband used to go to Warri every week from port Harcourt to work and he would usually leave every Monday and came back on Fridays. One of the weekends he was around we had just had a fight and was not talking, he left the house on Monday morning and as soon as he left, I called my boss I had to go to Warri urgently. I went straight to the park and took the next available bus and off to Warri I went. He was so pleased and he said to me, you dey kolo. Another instance was on Valentine’s Day I booked a hotel room for one night and told him we had a guest, our pastor from Kaduna. He just got back from Warri that night and was really knackered but I managed to convince him and off we went. I had decorated the room with candles and as he got in, he kept asking where is pastor na??? He was so stunned and he figured out what I had done and we later went for dinner that night. We came back and we took a shower put on this sexy red lingerie. I try my best to throw in little surprises like that to spice it all up! :)

However, we’ve had our ups and downs but through it all we have stuck together. My husband is a very down to earth person, no pretences about him; says it as it is hahaha hurts sometimes but he means well. He loves me to pieces and it is evident in all that he does.

He is a very loving and caring father, very very supportive of me and my ministry. I had to learn to carry him along every step of the way though and I thought I could handle it all on my own. For where?

The Twins

One thing I have learnt in this whole process is how to be more open and trusting, how to be sensitive to his needs. Sometimes as women, we want to be loved and pampered and all that but the  man is dying to be loved and treated  like a king! So I am still learning how to love him the way he should be loved, respect him, honour him, play with him (lol), pray with him, trust him make him priority, not kids, ministry or friends.  Also learning to enjoy what he enjoys, during the world cup, I am sure my husband felt he had a new wife, because I stayed up with him watching the matches and we had so much fun together…..

I am a very playful person and even after 15years I still play with my husband, I love doing life with him, he understands me even more than I understand myself sometimes. He is truly a friend!

I also still try  to look hot and sexy for him hahaha…. if  you  notice I hardly have on  weave-ons that’s  cos my  hubby loves braids, if I  insist on weaves, he asks me who I am doing it for! lol 

It’s not been an easy journey, there’ve been tears, hurts, disappointments, but through it all we are coming out stronger depending on God all the way.  I will say yes over and over again, he’s all the man that I need. And oh our most treasured gifts, they bring us so much joy, by that I am referring to my twins and my oldest son!....

Eloho

About Eloho

Eloho is a worship minister, singer, and songwriter based in the city of Aberdeen. She currently holds a yearly programme called ‘Engaged’ in the city of Aberdeen. She is a blessed with three children and happily married to UJ Efemuai. To read more about her please visit www.elohoefumuai.co.uk

Wedding Bells! My Love Story! By Bassey

As a little girl, I remember always wishing I would find love when I was 23years old and get married, have my two beautiful, adorable kids and top it up with a great career. Then live happily ever after! Hmmmm! But life or should I say God always has the last say in our lives, which can come with some setbacks of heartbreak, loss and shattered dreams!

As I grew older, I began to realise that life was not as I anticipated and I had to go through a path to get to my destiny. 

There I was at 23years old and like a flash, I was walking up my career ladder but couldn't find the right man to call my own and then reality struck even harder in 2011, my beautiful life that I had with my beautiful family was totally shattered when I lost my mother in an untimely manner.

She was my best friend, my closest confidant and everyone who knows me knew how close I was with my mum. She left so unexpectedly and was also a very young woman. My whole world fell apart and at that time I was in a serious relationship then but like I said earlier everything fell apart.

As I went through the heartbreak of losing my best friend/mother, it took three of my close friends, my younger sister and a mentor to put my head straight and that was when I finally saw the healing power of God and allowed God to heal me completely. As I was picking up

the pieces of my life, that was when ‘Mark’ showed up. Of cause as the devil wanted me confused and to continue being disappointed about life and couldn't see what God had placed before me to restore my broken heart and give me beauty for ashes. Mark showed me great love, joy and happiness and God used my friends to open my eyes that Mr Right was in front of me even though I totally ignored him (Mark).

So fast forward to 2 years and 10 months later, we are finally walking down the aisle and committing our love and union to God.

He is my friend, my confidant, lover and my protector. I have seen love through him like God described what love is in the bible. I don't think I could have chosen to spend the rest of my life with anybody else. 

I want to tell you that no matter what you’ve lost and what was stolen from you, it was never meant to be. God is so huge and He allows everything to happen for a specific reason and His timing is always on point! When I look back at the loss of my mother and how I met Mark, God knew I needed a protector, His own son and a man He has chosen to love me without a fault.

Even though my journey hasn't been smooth and that of a Cinderella story but I can boldly say in God’s grace His purpose and will for me has come to pass.

As much as my mum won’t be here to spend this special day with us, I know she will be so happy with the man I am choosing to spend the rest of my life with.

                

Love Always,

B











Instagram @basseygal

Photo credits @paulukonu

Twin Bomb Attack in Jos Nigeria!

Boko Haram storms towns and villages in Nigeria, Jos to be precise in the North east and at least 31 people have died. There have been two bomb explosions and reports claim it was close to the scene of a major bombing attack that took place in May. See Here

As we go onto the next election, remember to vote a character, an eligible candidate and not a religion. Christ is not a religion, He is a person, a son of God and the word of God.

Celeb Hub - Exclusive Interview with Walter Anga #Nollywood

I am a huge fan of Nollywood, I have watched Nollywood movies from the days of ‘Living in Bondage’, ‘Check Mate’ and ‘Nneka the pretty Serpent.’ I must say Nollywood has evolved and I am very proud of the old, new actors and actresses and of cause the entire crew that makes Nollwood what it is today. 

Lately I have been watching this young man, who has been dominating the Nollywood TV screen in the UK and hence I decided to interview him because he is becoming very good at his craft, talented and also very inspiring.

Sophy-Yah Debut Album 'God Can'

Sophy-Yah who set to launch her debut album in Nigeria tomorrow started using her talent at a very young age and featured at Christian concerts, award ceremonies, seminars both in Nigeria and UK. Most noticeably, in 2012 she was a member of the choir that recorded the British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) theme song title “first step” at the legendary Abbey road studio, UK for the 2012 Olympics.

Relationship: Enjoying Everyday Being Married!

Every relationship is different, unique and peculiar, but however different it is we face very similar differences. Having been married for over four years now, the challenges you face might not be strange to you alone so I decided to share some helpful guidelines from my experiences in a long lasting relationship and finding happiness in the midst of challenges, test and trials. These are not rules and can be termed basic but I have realized the simple and plain things are difficult for us sometimes to comply with.

Imperfectly perfect

Knowing that your spouse is imperfect and you are no different is very crucial: When we expect our spouse to be perfect and become everything we think we are, we are heading for a tragedy. In every relationship mistakes will always be made and we should be willing to forgive and be patient with each other. Ephesians 4: 32 (Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you).  

Listen and Keep Quiet: Assumption is a silent killer, always give your partner a chance to talk no matter how aggravated things are. Developing the habit of listening is an enormous gift that could take time and will avoid you saying things you would regret in anger. Try not to shout and always seek to maintain your cool, I struggle with this and I am learning from my husband each day. He has mastered the act of always keeping quiet when am furious. James 1:19 (Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger)

Communication: Learning to communicate is very healthy and can save your marriage from heartbreak or even ending in a divorce, but concealing things in your heart and not clearing the air is so dangerous. Sometimes things are not always the way it looks like, I have experienced this lots of times. Always talk about it and give room by listening to each other.  

Do not pry or rather don’t be a nosy cat: Aren't we all guilty of this? Hmmm if you can avoid this, never check your partners’ phone, text messages, email, inbox or what have you. Ask yourself this, why do I have to do this? Am I suspecting my spouse? Distrust needs to be worked and should be communicated maturely with your spouse or partner. In the early days of my relationship I use to always sniff around for no reason, even when my husband and I were dating and he gave me no reason to doubt him. I thought I was trying to be smart by checking on things and keeping my ears close to the ground, but it was just a bad habit I had. One day I remember him telling me this ‘people that do this are not always clean’. From that day I decided never to check his phone again no matter what.....

Sex Sex Sex!!

Sex will not always be the same all the time: every stage of our relationship, sex will not always be the same. Sex changes, some people have the perfect rhythm for their sex and they understand each other and take it to bed. This is a gift if you have that, although even this does not a hold a marriage! The fact is, God has not given us a perfect ground for our marriage, but He has given us a perfect ground to work on and to enjoy the reward of our hard work.

Whether your marriage has the perfect rhythm or not you will need to work hard to sustain whatever you have. Do not let your sex drive be driven by how you feel. Sex should moreover be purpose driven in order to sustain the sexual chemistry. The rules guiding sex in marriage is not the same as the rules guiding sex in dating, in courting or any form of sex outside marriage, for instance, in a marriage, it is actually a sin when either of you wants sex and refused by the other. At this stage, your feelings are no longer playing a role from the adoring, passionate and romantic sex you used to have. I Corinthians 7: 3-5 (let the husband render to his wife due benevolence….. And the wife had no power of her own body). A lot of marriages can be saved if this basic yet difficult to maintain rule is adhered to! It just so have it that one party always wants more sex than the other.

Sex can also be affected when kids start to come in and can feel snatched or when either of you can be too busy for it. Even when it is not on the regular, there is a level of intimacy you can achieve with your spouse in this phase of your lives and just enjoy every moment and stay intimate with each other.

You need to make sacrifices, you might have to wake up very early in the morning to spend a few minutes or hours together when the kids are still sleeping. The routine will change when you have younger kids and it is up to you to make sacrifices to up your intimacy. Do not just assume that your partner will understand, this has sadly let to spouses cheating on their wives, breakup and divorce. Do not leave your marriage to chance!

No children Zone: I cannot say this enough, no children allowed is good for the soul. Every time I am alone with my husband and without the worries of my kids, I feel like I am some teenager who just started dating again and extremely happy and feel so on top of the world. Put the kids away if you have to and create time for yourselves, this is magical and always adds value to your relationship it works and rekindle and brings back those butterflies!

I pray and hope you enjoy being married!

Email: info@funmishittu.com

Instagram: @funmishittu

Twitter: @funmishittu

Exclusive Interview with 9ice – Abolore Akande

He is popularly known as 9ice but his birth name is 'Alexander Abolore Adegbola Adigun Alapomeji Ajifolajifaola'. He is from the south, precisely Ogbomosho in Oyo state and grew up in Lagos. One of his biggest hit song is ‘Gongo Aso’ and he is not just a musician and founder of Alapomeji Records, 9ice has made his interest known in politics by deciding to contest for a seat in the House of Representative in Ogbomosho (South and North/Orire Constituency).

FREE DOWNLOAD!!!! Isabella And Evans Ogboi New Release ‘All Hail The King!’

“The highly anticipated single from two of Nigeria's leading UK-based multi-award winning Gospel artistes, Isabella & Evans Ogboi is out now! Definitely an anthem for worshippers, All Hail The King is ironically a very simple and yet explosively anointed masterpiece.

'NEW SONG ALERT' ISALE TI SUMI SNIPPET! By Funmi Shittu

I was going through my archives of some of my unreleased songs and I stumbled on this one.

I got so emotional because I was pregnant while I was recording this and was very sick.

It is produced by Nigerian based producer Puffy Tee and written by my husband, James Agbona.

Check out the snippet of ‘Isale’ by Funmi Shittu

Unmixed, Unmastered and Raw.

It is very short but ENJOY!

Introducing 'Puksies Wardrobe' by Isoken Asemota

Isoken is fashionable, young, beautiful and a make-up artist. Today I get to chat to her about her fashion brand ‘Puksies Wardrobe’.

Funmi Shittu: Thank you for taking out time to chat with me about Puksies Wardrobe, I love your designs, please can you tell me more about Puksies?

Isoken (PW): Puksies wardrobe is a brand that provides trendy African inspired pieces that will add funk, class and a sense of regality to any young fashionista’s wardrobe. It is located in Maryland, USA, the brand caters to many females around the world looking to stand out at their next event or to embrace the African culture. Since 2014, the brand has focused on selling Nigerian Fashion with a contemporary twist, while maintaining its attention to vibrant and sensual Fabrics such as silk, chiffon, and Ankara.

Funmi Shittu: Are you the main stylist for Puksies or do you have other people working with you?

Isoken (PW): I am currently the main stylist for Puksieswardrobe, but currently working on bringing some new designers and stylist on board for 2015 to help make the brand more diverse.

Funmi Shittu: How long have Puksies Wardrobe been in existence? And how did you get started with Puksies?

 Isoken (PW): Puksies wardrobe came into existence in 2011, and started off as a blog on Facebook where I shared various fashion and beauty related post about myself. It developed into the brand that it is today in 2014 when I decided to expand it into a platform where ladies all over the world could buy Nigerian attires, because I always got a lot of questions about my outfits when I posted them on my various social media pages.

Funmi Shittu: Who do you look up to for fashion trends influences and where do you get your inspiration from?

Isoken (PW): For Fashion trends and inspiration, I follow blogs and people like Bellanaija, penie-enchill, Styleismything, Asos and Pintrest. Bella Naija keeps me in the loop on the trending fashion in Nigeria and the other blogs and people keep me updated on the more westernized fashion trends.

 Funmi Shittu: How do you market Puksies wardrobe? How are people aware of your brand?

Isoken (PW): Currently most of the marketing is done via social media, like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. These avenues have really helped to create a lot of exposure for the brand, but come 2015 I am looking at showcasing at well-known fashion shows, as well as having my own fashion show to help push the brand even more.

Funmi Shittu: Where do you see Puksies in the next year? In the next five years? The next ten years?

Isoken (PW): Within the next year, I see Puksies wardrobe being a brand that is more widely recognized and known around the world. I am looking to launch a Men’s collection sometime next year which I am super excited about because our men now get to have easy access to purchase their traditional attires online. Within the next 5 to 10 years, my ultimate goal is to make Puksies wardrobe a global online fashion and beauty retailer that will also sell other Nigerian brands.

Funmi Shittu: How has technology, such as YT, FB and IG impacted the success of Puksies?

Isoken (PW): Technology has played a huge role in the success of Puksieswardrobe and it has helped create a lot of exposure and market for the brand both domestically and internationally.

Funmi Shittu: Where you from a family that run a business and how did that impact your career in running Puksies wardrobe?

Isoken (PuksiesWardrobe): Being from a family that has a business background has had a great impact on the overall success of puksies wardrobe. My parents have been in the textile business for over 30 years, and growing up in that environment gave me a lot of exposure into the ins and outs of running a business. That background provided me with a guideline on how to handle my own business when I decided to establish it, as well as a mentor to fall back to whenever I faced hardships.

Funmi Shittu: Does Puksies have a stated mission statement, the reason that its success?

Isoken (PW): The mission statement that embodies what puksies wardrobe is and hopes to be in the near future is currently being worked on.

Funmi Shittu: On a day to day basis, what keeps you excited and hungry for?

Isoken (PW): What keeps me excited and motivated are the gorgeous pictures of my clients in my clothing and the good feedback I get when a client is happy with the item they purchased.

Funmi Shittu: What are your encouragements to young people like you that wants to be a fashion stylist? Or someone who wants to own their own brand?

Isoken (PW): My advice to young enthusiast looking to become a fashion stylist or own their own brand in the future, is to make sure to surround yourself with people that support and believe in your dream and what you do. Realize that being an entrepreneur requires you to give 200% of your devotion and time, because you have to work twice as hard as you would if you were working for someone else, so prepare yourself for the journey ahead. Note that in order to make money, you have to spend money, and most importantly put God as the head of your business or career because with him all things are possible and the sky will be your limit.

Funmi Shittu: God is certainly the ultimate, thank you and I look forward to more designs from you and I am very proud of you!

Isoken PW: Same here, it is a pleasure to be featured on your blog.

About Isoken Asemota

Instagram @verygoodbadgirl

Instagram @Puksieswardrobe

Facebook Page: Puksies Wardrobe

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