Movie talk

So half of the year is already gone and with the frenzy to make meaning of our lives before the year ends, many of us have become too busy to kick off our shoes, relax on our couches and have ourselves a nice movie time. Yeah, some of you especially those in Lagos have visited the cinema different weekends but with the speed at which hit movies are being released coupled with our stagnant incomes and steep budget, you may not get the chance to watch certain entertaining movies. So here’s my bit in making your choice a lot easier.

1. White House Down – Besides the fact that Jamie Foxx played the president plus some of Channing Tatum’s character's choices were 'so Hollywood', this movie was an absolute delight to watch. It brought back a bit of the feeling I had watching Air force One (where Harrison Ford played the president hijacked in mid air). It had a perfect blend of emotional moments, comedy and action sequences. Unlike Olympus has Fallen which failed to capture my heart with its first scene (with the death of Ashley Judd), the realistically built white house set made this movie believable and Emily's bravery (played by Joey King) reminded me of why Journalists deserve respect.

2. The Purge – Sounds like a horror movie right? Well, it might not be freaky or paranormal in a horror sense but it redefined the definition of horror by posing a probable scenario – the dedication of 12 hours of one day in a whole year to legalize crime so as to ensure the society remains peaceful in the long run. It kinda reminds me of 30 Days of Night (starring Josh Hartnett) not necessarily in it's execution but in making me wonder what would happen if that scenario really did happen in modern times. Now whenever a movie seems plausible I’m going to be truly horrified. What really scared me about this movie was not the level of violence (because I didn’t consider it violent at all, just a bit too clichéd especially with Ethan Hawk as one of the lead character) but the thought that the heart of man is desperately wicked, who can know it? If all human beings were allowed to ‘cleanse’ their souls by acting out every negative imagination in their heart towards those who have hurt them one way or another, the world will truly be an inhabitable place to live. Thank God the actually possibility of legalized crime does not exist.

3. A Thousand Words – Eddie Murphy is back y’all but not in the capacity you remember him. He’s known for being a funny blabber mouth (remember he's the voice of Donkey in Shrek) and for the first time, he had to shut up and be funny. The idea alone made me want to watch this movie. This just reminds me of how flat Chris Tucker’s jokes were at the 2013 BET Awards, he and Chris Rock should be grateful to the likes of Eddie who paved the way for them in the movie industry. In the end the movie was all about learning to value your words, being deliberate about the choice of words you speak because in the multitude of words, sin is not far off.

4. Chasing Mavericks – In Nigeria surfing isn’t really a sport majority of the populace care about so it’s easy to understand if this movie holds no appeal. Just like Coach Carter, this movie is an inspirational tale based on the true story of Jay Moriarity, a young surfer, who achieved a historic milestone at the age of 16 and drowned in the Maldives 7 years later while free diving. This biographical drama released in 2012 shows the importance of mentorship; starring Gerald Butler as the mentor, Frosty, and Jonny Weston who played Jay in the movie. This film shows how through hard work and commitment, despite personal tragedy, dreams can be achieved.

5. Odd Thomas - I have never heard of Stephen Sommers before this movie but when I saw the sentence, ‘based on a novel by Dean Koontz’ I just knew this would be a great movie. Ever read the book or watched the movie, The Sphere? Yeah, he - Dean - did that. Back to Stephen Sommers, apparently he not only directed the movie, he also wrote the screenplay. The emotional ending was the most endearing part of this movie for me. The storyline was fantastic and for a paranormal freak like myself, I couldn’t help sitting at the edge of my seat with a big toothed grin as light hearted humour and narration kept the movie from being too dark and gloomy.

6. The Croods - This animation felt like a waste of time to me despite the fact that I understand they were trying a new angle; unlike Happy Feet 2 which was once again delightful though not as attention grabbing as its first installment. Yes, the Croods is visually stunning and the variation of species indicative of evolution has the hallmark of a true Dreamworks production. However, my beef was with the modern day American attitude and feel the characters had which to me made the whole primitive concept look weak, even though lots of critics praised it highly. Summary of my thoughts: Lovely message of adaptability, overcoming fear and letting go but not worth raving about.

There are so many more movies I've watched recently that i would have loved to talk about like Evil Dead, Red, Incerdible Burt Wonderstone, Looper, Lone Ranger, Justice League(The Flashpoint Paradox), oblivion, Man of Steel and Iron Man 3 just to name a few. Maybe my next review would simply be a couple of lines on each of these movies so I can cover much more. For more on my reviews, you can check me out on Rotten Tomatoes. Until then, do take out time to relax on weekends by watching a good movie. Chao!

Trendy Eyeglasses

Everyone’s rocking fashionable eye glasses which go very well with the semi-corporate trend showcased by musicians and celebrities like D’banj and Justin Timberlake. You probably know these retro glasses as Ray Ban but that’s actual a brand like your Gucci or Prada. To get in on the trend, you need one of the three distinct types of trendy glasses out there:

Aviator glasses – this sunshade’s dark & reflective convex lens with thin metal straps has been around for ages and still remains stylish. Not all aviators have dark shades, these days they come with a variety of coloured lenses as well as non-coloured lenses. Check out the likes of Angelina Jolie, Kanye West or even Huge Jackman.

Cat eye glasses - this sunglass has so many colourful versions, that it can range from playful to austere. It’s mostly sported by ladies like Katty Perry, Rihanna, Scarlet Johansson, etc. The most popular is the type worn by Kourtney Kardashian (hers is designed by Tom Ford).

Geek chick glasses – these glasses can make you look nerdy but in reality, it actually actuates your cheek bone structure. The lens can be transparent like the one used by Tinie Tempah, Ann Hathaway and other celebrities. the good thing about these types of glasses is they can embody both aviator and cateye frames just asl long as they make you look nerdy.

READAHOLIC

Motherhood has been quite engaging. My reading has suffered a bit but as one who loves to read, I just have to make out time to read a bit of something every day. Since a lot of you really enjoyed my first book review post, I decided to share this piece with you about the different ways to keep up with reading or shall I say the different things I indulge in to ensure I’m always reading. Here goes:

1. Manga - there are so many Japanese comics out there with great mixtures of genres which are released weekly like Bleach, One Piece, Freezing, Death note, etc. Although most of these are translated into anime, reading the comics online keeps you ahead of anime watchers in terms of catching up with the storyline. My favourites at the moment are Fairytail (which I’m like 3 episodes behind) and Naruto/Naruto Shippuden.

2. Audiobooks – recently I had the opportunity to download a free e-book by one of my favourite authors, Ted Dekker and I stumbled upon a link to the audio book. I downloaded but since my concentration was low, I never got past the first chapter for the first 3 weeks it was in my possession. One day, I determined in my mind that I would go the distance and in less than an hour I was through with the book and hungry for more. I would recommend this medium for book lovers who barely have time to read either hard or softcopy books. The book I read this way was titled Identity (the first book in the trilogy called Eyes Wide Open).

3. E-books – most books are now being converted into electronic versions as the world becomes more and more of a global village via the internet. The great part of this medium is the books are mostly free, featuring copies of the book that authors want general feedback on before going ahead to financially invest in Hardcopy production. To enjoy reading these books, its best to have an ebook reader, tab or a smartphone that allows you view pdf files on the go (sitting on your laptop can be a bore sometimes). You can also convert them to Word or Rich text format that can be accessed by your phones. The E-book I’m supposed to be reading is To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee but I just got For Days and a Night by Seun Odukoya which is much smaller in size.

4. Hardcopy books – for those of you like me who prefer to hold the book in your hand, this is your thing. Keep buying it even if it seems you’ve run out of storage space and do exchange them with other book lovers when you are done with them. That way you keep reading more genres and more work by other authors be it fiction or non-fiction, hard or paperback books. The hardback book I’m reading now is Illusion by Frank Peretti given to me by a book loving friend.

5. Online Articles, Blog posts, E-zines, etc. – usually of varying length, these tend to cover a variety of subject matter that create diversity in your reading life. I try to read at least one online article be it a link to a blog or news piece every day mostly using my Blackberry. Sometimes I would go to certain sites like Babycentre.com to read one article and end up reading like four or five pieces. Another way to access these is through twitter, most news agencies, magazines owners or bloggers tweet links to different articles. If you haven’t read any fiction piece I’ve written, check out this story I guest wrote on OTDamilola’s blog on rape http://t.co/goCfEi03vU. You can also follow my thoughts on current issues on my facebookpage www.facebook.com/LifeLoveAndAnythingGoes

Whatever you do, no matter the circumstances you find yourself, readaholics always keep on reading.

Shopping tips for fashionable items

Now I must confess, shopping is not one of my strong suits but that doesn’t mean every now and then I don’t indulge in a little splurge. The most popular reasons to shop for fashionable items is the need to feel a sense of pride, dignity and have ‘effizy’ among one’s peers. It’s a symbol of our financial status, to let everyone know “we’ve arrived”. For some people, the desire to overindulge comes from a need to cheer themselves up after having a bad day. For others, it’s simply to give themselves a treat; a little something for ‘me only’. Or it could be to celebrate ourselves as a consolation after a job well done when we’ve achieved a great feat in our careers.

But mainly in Nigeria, it is done to show that one has control of money and not the other way round especially after struggling with being ‘broke’ for so long. Plus, there is a need to feel a little bit irresponsible after being too careful about money.

There are different ways to shop; you can either go on a spree, for a steal, or shop comparatively.

STEAL
By steal I don’t mean going to raid a boutique. I’m simply referring to buying things – clothes, accessories, shoes etc – of high quality at cheaper prices. Getting great items at steal may a bit of hard work because if everyone knew how to, then most of us would be out of luck. So if you decide to go cross-country while looking for that item at a steal, well, good luck to you! It’s always better to be informed before you step out in your quest for a steal, that way you don’t expend too much energy and feel too exhausted to enjoy yourself. So it’s important to plan to:

Pamper your body with a little refreshment after your purchase. Even if you decide to go to a shopping mall, you’d still feel tired after checking out a few stores because the task of wondering from shop to shop can leave you mentally and physically exhausted as it is time consuming.

Make sure when you go shopping you take a friend along. It may seem financially burdensome but it’s necessary. It’s tons of fun to have someone ‘trip’ over your purchase. For you are looking for a great price for that quality stuff you need, go with a friend who can take you to where you can get great quality stuff at very low prices and praise you for your bargaining strength. This street-wise shopper knows when a purchase at a discount is a disadvantage to go for because another brand of that product of equal quality is cheaper... la, la, la. Bottom line, shopping is no fun when you are alone. If you doubt it then ask yourself why you need to run your purchase by the first person you see when you get back from shopping alone.

The Internet is also a good place to shop. You can use comparison search engines to check out prices and brands.

Now this leads me to another form of shopping.

COMPARATIVE SHOPPING
It involves not only comparing prices but also different brands of the same product like a Nike or All Stars sneaker. Here you can sample a variety of products by different manufacturers to determine which best suits your budget. I think the reasons for engaging in comparative shopping are pretty obvious and they act as guidelines for practicing this type of shopping.

Endeavour to get value for your money. This shopping allows you to buy only that which is necessary because the shopper is well within his/her financial capability. This enables the shopper to get value for his/her money’s worth and also to save a few extras for other expenses. Plus, the more the merrier, right? So you can say comparative shopping allows for variety of possessions with the illusion of abundance in the midst of little.

Bargain till the price is right. Sometimes comparative shopping is just as exciting a form of shopping as spree because your bargaining power is what allows you to feel on top of the world when you get stuff cheap or very cheated when you don’t.

SPREE
This is simply a carefree wanton spending or a pleasant outing in pursuit of enviable items. With a lot of cash to throw around, this form of shopping can be exceedingly fun-filled. In a case where cash inflow isn’t a limitation, most people are inclined to spree. So I think it is safe to say that a true shopping spree isn’t about one’s bargain power but about buying that ‘treasure’ for keeps. It’s the fact that you could get that TM Lewin or Thomas Pink shirt that you’ve been eye-ing or that Gucci or Louis Vuitton bag that you saw in Vogue magazine that makes spree very exciting. In which case, it is important that you:

Keep up with the trends. There’s nothing worse than spending a fortune on an outdated fashion item. Trends can be seen in fashion shows, articles/blogs or by following different fashion icons (TV presenters, movie/music stars) or designers’ lines. Even if your item is no longer in vogue, listening to fashion reporters can enable you learn how to combine your expensive piece with other items to enable you stay on trend.

Beyond the availability of cash, it’s a wonder what makes people choose one form of shopping over the other. Whatever form of shopping you decide to indulge in a spree, steal or comparative shopping, remember the main aim is to look good, so be satisfied with your purchase. This is coming from a convenience shopper. Over and out!

SLEEPING GIANTS

hi peeps,
i've missed you. sorry for my silence, my cutie pie just turned three months old and i'm still trying to find my rhythm so i can give you something fresh.

i wrote this piece years ago for my facebook notes but since the passion behind my plea still rings true, i decided to share it with all of you.


SLEEPING GIANTS

The average Nigerian is not blind to the happenings in its politics. It may seem that from his care-free approach to enjoy life considering the poverty of his surroundings that he is; but I bet even the bike man on the street can say he is aware of the empty promises made by ‘Government’ to ‘the People’ under the guise of economic development.

Take for instance, the deals the Federal Government keeps making with neighbouring African States (e.g. Senegal in 2009) which seem more to their economic benefit than ours while it endangers our growth. They use words like ‘it is necessary for bi-lateral relations’ but how do such friendly terms at the expense of the suffering Nigerian masses make any sense? Too many people live ‘the good life’ and forget that there are some who are not so fortunate. Some state governors like Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state have shown that each state can function independently under the federation of Nigeria but how many others are taking a cue?

We talk too much in this country, but very few people saying the truth are heard. Action speaks louder than words, back your promises with corresponding actions not cause and effect scenarios. A classic example was the reduction in the taxation rates and the cause effect of Governors asking for a reduction in oil subsidy so they can keep up with the financial budget cut. If you want to improve the country then start by honestly evaluating the motives behind the policies being implemented.

The Nigerian people are tired of hearsays, we want action. That’s why we elected politicians we believed in into power. Our politicians should focus on alleviating our plight and forget about enriching themselves and helping other neighbouring countries while our manufacturing sector remains dead. You can’t give what you don’t have. Establish non-interest banking, not Islamic banking whose terms and conditions for investing are religious. Solve our electricity and security crisis rather than worrying about how much oil we need to import and where. If the people are empowered, we will sustain the nation. I sincerely hope we are preparing for what is to come because the entertainment industry will not feed us, so let’s more invest in agriculture.

I appreciate the efforts of the current dispensation under Goodluck Ebele Jonathan but this is a word of caution to ALL politicians both the elected and the party rulers. This is my grudge, this is my solution... what’s yours?

Rising star (I)

In Nigeria, it’s becoming clear that the Government cannot provide enough jobs for the teaming population of its citizens. Hence, a call to entrepreneurship has been made. It has been discovered that small and medium scale business are just as important in building the nation’s economy as is the rehabilitation of large scale manufacturing industries.

In the Spirit of productivity, a few Nigerians have taken it upon themselves to not only talk about the change they expect to see in different spheres of endeavours but are also doing something about it. By being actively involved, these set of people do not only start businesses that create employment opportunity for others but they inspire and empower like-minded people to do the same as it is also their passion to see the dreams of others come to life.
I introduce to you one of such persons. His name is Kingsley Okotie and the name of his business is Design 360. Here is a clip of an interview I did with him for R.E.D. Magazine in 2011 which is yet to be released.


Every designer starts off by catching the eye of potential buyers by advertising unique self-made designs on themselves. This is no exception for Kingsley Okotie, the mogul behind the brand known as Design 360. His brand speaks loudly of his creativity in creation of suits and jackets, native attires, corporate design and much more. Putting his degree in Business Administration from Ogun State University to use, he established a brand that goes beyond dressmaking. Seven years ago, in his quest for a better life, his first taste of fashion began with the humble beginning of merchandizing second hand foreign suits popularly known as okirika. The dissatisfaction of his clients - who were capable of purchasing high quality brand new suits – coupled with unrest for him to sell better products, drove him to observe the fashion industry. He teamed up with the likes of his mentor (Mudi) and learnt the tricks of the trade. Eager to impact the knowledge gained, he sought a platform to be heard. Hence he went into Fashion consultancy while he worked, quietly in the shadows, on his brand using any good fabric. Drawing inspiration from not only within himself but other designs and things around, he was able to create masterpieces that gained him a well deserved clientele. One of which was the present Honorable Commissioner of the Ministry of Commerce and industry, Barr Osikhena Boih Donald. He presented a business proposal to brand the Edo State Traffic Agents (EDSTA) which was approved by the governor and implemented in 2011. Also in 2011 on the 28th of November precisely, he organized the program, Fashionista, maximising fashion opportunities in Edo state. It drew in a crowd of over a 100 fashion designers and tailors within Benin City who had the pleasure of meeting with the Managing Director of Trustfund Micro Finance Bank, Mr Sunny Idehen and a few walking away with brand new sewing machines.

He intends to impress his presence on the Nigerian Fashion Industry by becoming the conduit between various designers, creating synergy and making resource materials available to all designers both established and up coming in Nigeria. His 2012 collection was youthful and stylish. Currently he is working on a book that embodies his passion which is Fashion Education and Enlightenment, here’s a sneak preview of his thoughts on what he hopes to share in his upcoming book.

“The current fashion trend is impressive because it shows creativity at its fullest/best. The world is becoming a global village and this has positively influenced the African fashion industry. Before now the African outfit has been strictly regalia but with westernization, African fabrics are now used to create smart outfits with great silhouettes. This makes it possible for African designers to export their products to a wide available market. The fashion industry goes beyond just making the fabric, to selling it, designing with it, selling the finished goods, accessories and accompaniments. Fashion merchandizing is an aspect of fashion that isn’t taught in most of our fashion schools; abroad it’s a course on its own. The Nigerian designer needs to know that fashion goes beyond dressmaking, it includes selection and management of tailors or seamstress, how you treat your clients, how you sell your products etc. When you sell a product, you are actually selling yourself - charisma, character, carriage. I’m working on a book at the moment, it will contain the total package of what makes up the fashion industry and it will be available for everyone who is interested.”


Hope you enjoy it? Now go out there and get inspired to affect your world!

How to love your children

The mind of a child is like a blank slate; one that gets filled with recurrent observations and influences. As grownups, we tend to study each other’s love language and then choose different expressions of love that we know is valued by the people we surround ourselves with. For children, their initial form of communication is crying and throwing feats. Giving them comfort and being able to understand or interpret what they cannot express in words becomes proof of our love for them.

As the child grows older, their communication skills improve and they begin to interpret what we adults do as signs that we love them. For toddlers, giving them attention and spending time with them become the definition of love for them. In a busy world like ours where ‘time is money’, how can we show children just how loved they are? Below are a few of the ways:

1. Listen to them – While inquisitive children like to ask questions, others just enjoy the sound of their own voice and want to do what they see parents doing everyday i.e. talking. When your children come to you, listen to what they are saying and talk back to them about what you heard. It’ll make them feel important and build their confidence; it also increases their ability to trust you with information about anything.

2. Make out time to play with them and always be available everyday - you’ll notice how often they want you to be involved in anything they do. Even when they are playing, if they love you, they’ll try to include you in it. Even when they grow older, create family activities that allow you to interact with them physically. Knowing parents are available and reachable also makes it easier for them to spend quality time with you thereby getting to know you as a person and enabling them to learn from you.

3. Talk to them, ask questions – taking time out to ask questions about their day and their life, lets them know you are interested in their affairs. If their answers are vague, dig deeper until they are willing to confide in you about struggles and challenges they face. If they choose to stonewall, let them know you are there for them and ever willing to listen and give wise counsel.

4. Don’t give into their every demand – most times children don’t know what is best for them. Protect them even from themselves. If they give in to bouts of crying because they want sweets, give them only one and tell them that’s all they are getting, no matter how hard they scream and cry. Distract them with anything else and when that desire of sweet is replaced by another like playing with a relative, a toy or watching their favourite program on TV, they’ll soon forget why they were crying. Once they’ve stopped crying, explain to them why you didn’t give them what they asked for. By doing so, you’ll end up teaching them an important lesson which is, not everything want in life is in our best interest.

Whatever you do, be careful around children because they watch everything you say and do and that becomes the basis of their understanding of life. Even if you show them love, if you don’t show love to everyone else around you, soon enough the depth of your love for them will be questioned as they grow older and before you know it, the rebellion and withdrawal stages will become manifested. The golden rule of life still applies to children, ‘love your neighbours as yourself’.