Is Matching Outfits in Marriage Cheesy or Powerful?

I always knew we’d be that couple.

You know, the ones who match outfits, laugh at inside jokes, hold hands and show up at events like a walking love song. Literally. 😄 It has always been my dream. I knew I wanted to experience the love that’s very visible and vibrant. Soft and rugged. Deep and aligned. All that.

And guess what?

God gave me that…. and more.

🤍

Kachi and I have been beautifully matching outfits from the day we agreed to be committed to each other and stay together forever. We match not just in clothes, but also in purpose, in passion, and in vibe. Ah, it’s the little things that make the biggest impact. I love love love it for me.

WWW—What We Wore to Church: Ankara Family Style

From solo slays to squad goals. Now see what the Lord has done!

Once upon a time, it was just me showcasing my Sunday outfits on the What I Wore blog series, finding moments after church service, and setting timers on my camera. Now? It’s the whole fam! A family of 5!

Pregnant at Christmas: Mary’s Story and My Own

It was the Sunday before Christmas and the atmosphere was all lovely, warm and lively. Being pregnant I couldn’t help relating to Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was also pregnant at this time of the year, but her journey was far more extraordinary.

Picture a Pregnant Mary 

As I sat in church, surrounded by the warmth of Christmas songs and the joy of the season, I couldn’t help but think of Mary. I felt a deep connection to Mary. She carried not just a baby but the Saviour of the world, navigating a journey filled with uncertainty and yet rooted in unwavering faith.

I also felt grateful. Grateful for this new life growing inside me. Grateful for Mary’s example of faith and surrender. And most of all, grateful for Jesus, whose birth changed everything.

And I pictured Mary.

I wondered how Mary would feel at the moment, seeing all the mothers walking in her footsteps. She said yes to God’s incredible plan, even when she didn’t have all the answers. Her journey reminds me that motherhood—whether we’re birthing children, ideas, or dreams—is always a partnership with God.

Making Decisions That Go Beyond Black and White

When you're in your “typical” childbearing years, you always get the question, “are you having another one?”. It's all SO personal and there are SO many factors that go into that decision. Physically, can you do another? Mentally, can you do it? What about financially? What does your partner think? What do you guys WANT? I know how incredibly difficult it is to decide… At a point I even asked Google “should I have a 3rd baby”. LOL. 🙈

As I welcome my third baby, I am reminded of the complexities of making decisions…

Beyond Black and White Choices

Some decisions in life seem as straightforward as choosing between black and white—right or wrong, yes or no. But often, the most meaningful choices are found at the point where faith and wisdom intersect.

Take Kachi and me, for example. When we were newly engaged we discussed and agreed on the number of children we would have. It seemed clear-cut and straightforward—a black-and-white decision we were confident about. But somewhere along the journey, we entered the grey: the space where circumstances, emotions, and faith tested our initial decisions.

After our first pregnancy, we revisited our plan. During my second pregnancy, we agreed that if we had a baby boy, we’d stick to two. That would complete our family, and we’d close the chapter.

But, as always, God’s plan is always perfect.

A Bold Approach to Pregnancy Style

Pregnancy has a way of teaching you resilience. It’s a beautiful reminder that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.

This season isn’t without its challenges. There are moments of exhaustion, discomfort, and uncertainty. But through it all, I’ve leaned more into God. God has been my constant, my anchor, and my guide. In His presence, I’ve found strength to carry on, even when the days feel long.

I honestly didn’t feel like going to church today, but I went anyway! The spirit was willing, even though the flesh was weak. Kachi prayed for me, and just like that—boom! I jumped out of bed. Hallelujah!

I whispered, “There must be something packaged for me amongst the brethren today. Lord, I receive all that you have for me today in the name of Jesus!”

These pictures being captured were part of the packages. . .

PREGNANCY STYLE: Tips for Styling Your Baby Bump in Brown

After church that Sunday, I decided to take a few photos. Nothing fancy—just us, in our Sunday best, with my growing baby bump taking center stage.

Styling Pregnancy in Shades of Brown

As someone who is pretty practical when it comes to investing in my wardrobe (and who is almost positive this is my last time doing this?), I really made an effort to maximize the number of bump-accommodating pieces I already owned to the fullest…while also still maintaining some sense of…togetherness — and personal style.

I’d been more than intentional about how I wanted to tend to and celebrate my last pregnancy. It was almost addictive. The pictures weren’t always enough. Lol. 

There is a glow that only pregnancy can give. Brown is one of the colours that effortlessly complements that glow. It’s a neutral that feels rich and sophisticated, yet it’s soft enough to evoke a sense of comfort. Plus, it pairs beautifully with earthy tones, or even pops of colour.

To elevate my look, I wore an Ankara scarf. You know I live for that fabric. 😉

How to Be Lovely and Stylish (A Very Quick Guide)

Hi Lovelies. How are you doing? I know… This was meant to be a Sunday-Style post but some other responsibilities have had the best of me in the past few days. It’s better late than never, isn’t it? 😉

Style + Lovely = Stylish Loveliness

😍

I have a gist for you but let’s get straight into today’s post. 

What does it mean to be Lovely?

adj. love·li·er, love·li·est

1. Full of love; loving.
2. Inspiring love or affection.
3. Having beauty that appeals to the emotions as well as to the eye. 
4. Enjoyable; delightful.

n. pl. love·lies

1. A beautiful person, especially a woman.
2. A lovely object. Dictionary source

I love these definitions.

Every Christian, young or old, should be lovely. The question is, are you lovely? Would the people in your life say, "Wow, she's a lovely person." I thought I'd share the above definition of the word lovely because it really captures what I believe a lovely person should be - full of love, inspiring, having appealing beauty (both inside and out), enjoyable and delightful.

The work of loveliness ultimately starts from within and, among many other things, is revealed in the following ways:

1. The way you style yourself 
2. The way you speak
3. The way you carry yourself

Hold that thought while I show you what we wore to church last Sunday. By we I mean, my lovely family and I. 

Why Settle for Ordinary When You Can Be Extraordinary with Maya?

I have always known my natural hair to be a female but today, she reveals a new layer. I am thrilled to introduce Maya to you. :)

Introducing Maya

I had posted a picture on my WhatsApp status with the caption: “introducing: Maya” when it hit me that this is no ordinary thing. It is EXTRA! 

In a world where hair is more than just a style but a statement, I’m thrilled to introduce Maya, the revolutionary hair that embody boldness, confidence, and an unapologetically fearless spirit. Whether it’s about stepping into a boardroom or dancing the night away, Maya ensures you stand out and own your presence.

My hair has been through so many phases and back. Some rough and some quite interesting. The last phase was a roller coaster; I mean the post-partum hair breakage phase. It seemed as though it would never, ever bounce back. 

My hair had been in a very vulnerable state for a very long time. After almost a year of battling with breakouts, I FINALLY decided to lock her up. I must say, she’s starting to thrive. Hallelujah!

STYLE: The Year has been Lighted

Happy First Sunday of the Year! I hope you went to church today, whether physically or online? If you didn’t, it is well with you. However, if you did, what did you wear?

Yes, I am interested in knowing what you wore to church? Let me know.

2024 is LIGHT-ED

I am almost accustomed to starting my posts with “I don’t know where this post is headed but…” So I do not want to start like that on this one. Here is what I am going to do instead: 

I am going to share highlights of today’s sermon, ‘Walking in the Light,’ with you while showing you pictures of what I wore to church today. Meanwhile, I worshipped at the Teens church today, and it was truly an uplifting service. 

STYLE: Mummy and Daughter In Ankara Skirt

Last week, I told you I’d be sharing more pictures of me and my girl(s) matching. Yeah? That’s just what today’s post is all about.

I love to match with my girls.

No doubt, having a baby is one of the biggest
joys of life, one that is beyond words. However,
there are plenty of reasons to rejoice in having a
baby girl(s)! There is something very different
about playing dress-up with your little girl. The
beautiful dresses, the varied patterns, the
cheery colours, the accessories, it just never
ends.

STYLE: You Don’t Have To Buy Maternity Clothes (Stop Wasting Money)

I’ve come to discover that being pregnant is an interesting season— emphasis on “interesting”.

What’s interesting during those 40 weeks can be so out of the ordinary — it's nice to do things so you still feel like yourself throughout the season. For me, that meant holding onto my personal style, even though I couldn’t wear most of my clothes anymore.

Maternity Clothes Without Spending 

Can you wear regular clothes when Pregnant? — and the answer is absolutely YES! In fact, I make it a point to wear non-maternity clothes while pregnant. Not only is it totally possible to wear non-maternity clothes while pregnant, but it is also flattering. You can find regular non-maternity clothes that will accommodate a bump to be just as comfy and supportive as maternity clothes, and that you can continue to wear postpartum.

Judging by my imposed sedentary lifestyle, I spent a lot of my pregnancy in my birthday suit. When I was clothed, my go-to pregnancy looks were the same clothes I have always had in my wardrobe: I actually wanted to buy new clothes that would grow with my belly but I find most maternity clothes are pretty expensive and not that cute. So buying too many pieces I probably won’t wear again just didn’t make any sense to me. I decided to explore creative ways to wear non-maternity clothes as a mum-to-be.

It was challenging at times, but it turned out to be the same kind of strategy I used to repeat my clothes without anyone knowing.

STYLE: Ankara Maternity Outfit Ideas For Couples That Enjoy Matching Beautifully

Deciding what to wear is hard enough as it is! When it comes to matching outfits with your spouse, there are lots of things to consider. .

Couple Maternity Outfit Inspiration

I promised to share how Kachi and I were consistently matching our outfits throughout our pregnancy journey. Well, here it is. 😊

Dressed Up For The MACH Show This Sunday

Happy Style-Sunday Sweethearts! It feels so great to be able to go to church again at such a time as this. We had to shoot an episode of the MACH show immediately after the church service and I didn't want to go through the hurdles of changing outfits. This is What-I-Wore.

The MACH Show Style

I had started this paragraph with "My husband and I have a YouTube channel. . ." but I deleted it. Then, I wrote "Kachi and I create videos on YouTube. . ." and deleted it again. I didn't want to sound like those women who'd seize every opportunity they have to rub their marital status on our faces. Lol. But, isn't it incredibly surprising how life changes once marriage happens?

Marriage has been such an amazing experience. I am so grateful for it and my passion for promoting the Kingdom marriage increases daily. A healthy marriage gives the world a beautiful picture of the gospel.

Based on this understanding, Kachi and I birthed The MACH Show — a Kingdom marriage series where we have great conversations and fun times with godly couples.

Links To Prove That Style Never Fades

Happy Sunday sweethearts of my blogosphere! Trust your weekend was great! I will be hitting the big 3 and 0 in five days. And since the beginning of June, I have been sharing 20 lessons from my 20-somethings

I've shared up to 15 lessons. And this is the 16th. Style never fades.

In my 20s, I discovered something about fashion, it changes and fades. But style? It's eternal and never fades.

MY FAVOURITED STYLE DEFINITION POSTS INCLUDE:

• What's Your Style Statement?
• 12 Reasons To Dress Up (Be a Fashionista)
• Keep Evolving Your Personal Style
• Challenge Your Style Next Month
• How To Cook Your Style Sweet
• Ankara Skirt I've Been Wearing For 10years
• How To Keep Repeating Your Clothes
• How I Shop For Clothes
• Everything I Wore at 27

Thanks for coming over.

See you tomorrow for another blogbuster post!

Stay inspired.

Stay positive.

Stay lovely.

Posted by Nwamaka Onyekachi

Let's connect on Twitter: @Amakamedia

Let's connect on Instagram: @amakamedia

Do Email: amakamedia@yahoo.com

And Bloglovin: Amakamedia

Heart Rays . . . giving light.

STYLE: How To Make Simple Ankara Face Masks Without Sewing Machine

Hi Sweethearts! How are you doing this Sunday? With highly contagious COVID19 rapidly spreading throughout the world, many people are shopping for surgical masks to protect against this dangerous disease. 

I had a cause to go out to get groceries and didn't like the face mask Kachi bought for me to use for protection. Days later, I playfully crafted with Ankara and it turned out to be just great! I would be making more. Excited much!

Quick Ankara Face Mask

If you have been a keen follower of my blog (or any of my social media), then you already know that I love love love Ankara. The African print fabric (mostly known as Ankara) can reflect your stylish personality while helping you stay safe on the streets.

First, I trust you are aware that the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Wearing home-made face masks is a voluntary public health measure in this epidemic.

Having said that, I can now go ahead to show you how I made my Ankara face mask in twenty minutes.

STYLE: When It Becomes A "Jean" To Go To Church

The normal me would have started this post with a greeting like "Happy Sunday Sweetheart!" but today is not a normal Sunday. Who would have thought that going to church can turn out to be a sin?

Going To Church In Difficult Times

We are not permitted to go to church till further notice because the government has mandated everyone to maintain self-isolation and social-distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Social distancing and bans on large groups mean regular Sunday services are not feasible. Churches have had to adapt to a world with coronavirus;

Some have moved to live streaming their gatherings, some have posted videos church members can watch later while some have devised a means of splitting their services into batches of a 50-member congregation (fifty being the advised maximum number of a crowd gathering in this time).

What I Wore: Black Never Goes Out Of Style

Hello beautiful people! How are you doing? I hope you are smoking hot for the Lord in this moment. You already know what Sunday's post is about; to give some style inspiration, especially as it concerns Ankara fabric as well as What I wore to church. Let's go right into it. 🙂

Black + Ankara

Black here.
Black there.
Black here and there.
Black everywhere.
Need I tell you how much I love black again?

What I Wore: Sneakers With Ankara

So he asked me yesterday, "babe, what are we going to wear to Church tomorrow?" "I don't know. I think I'm going to wear those sneakers you got for me." And it happened.

Happy Sunday!

Ankara And Sneakers

You all know your girl loves loves loves Ankara fabric. And that love is not dying anytime soon. I planned to wear some of that to church today with the new pair of sneakers Kachi got for me.

I personally like to rock sneakers with pencil skirts, shirt dresses, flared skirts and chambray dresses.

The first rule for me was: Don’t let it be too casual or too short. We are trying to praise the Lord not raise curiousity! Amen?

100 Times My Husband and I Wore Matching Outfits

Happy Style-Sunday! For some weird reasons, I get particularly excited when someone else wears the same colour or expresses the same style-rays as I am at a given time. It's always seem to me as though the heavens announced a dress code for the day. I love those little happy moments and sometimes, I got to tag a few of those moments (#StyleLikeAmaka) whenever I wanted to share them with you on the blog.

Now, you can't imagine it! It's been a thrilling adventure of a lifetime for Kachi and I to BE INTENTIONAL about matching our outfits every other day.

100 Pictures Of Us 

*Drum rolls* Today marks one year of marriage for Kachi and I. We remain eternally grateful to God for bringing us together in His perfect time. Our wedding hashtag was #PerfectMach2018 and we decided to stay stuck with it forever. It is not a random thing for both of us. Matching our outfits — with respect to colour, fabric and/or vibe — is one of our favourite things.

I hope you leave here inspired to be intentional about your life or at the very least, I hope as you click away, there's a smile on your face.

Pre-wedding — Wedding Day (Dec.15)

1.

Lol. Our first picture ever (2007). Striped tops on black bottoms

What I Wore: Long Ankara Jacket On Straight-Cut Ankara Skirt

Happy Style-Sunday! Today is the last Sunday in October. How has the month been for you? For me, October started slow but it's ending in a rush. So much is happening at the same time. I'm staying thankful.

Here's what I wore to church today.

Ankara Jacket

Ankara bumper jackets, kimono jackets, blazers, just name them. You can’t go wrong with them. And you can rock them with skirts, jeans, shorts/bumshorts, pencil skirts or short skirts. They are valuable pieces to have in your wardrobe.

I have had this piece since 2016. As I write this post, I vividly remember where, how and why I got this piece as well as what happened the first day I  wore it. It's interesting how your clothes can cause you to 'play back' certain past experience and the feeling associated with them.