Making the Most of the Last Days of Pregnancy

It’s the first week of the year, and I’m still pregnant. I honestly can’t believe Kachi and I miscalculated this thing again. Lol. We were hoping for a December baby, but the doctor wasn’t on board with inducing labor to avoid the risk of a premature delivery. And I guess God had his own plans and probably laughed at ours. Hahaha!

So here I am, still pregnant and soaking up every bit of these final moments.

Last Days of Pregnancy

First Sunday of the year

Seasons of life are as beautiful as the phrase itself. While this might be my last pregnancy, it’s also the completion of my family. I am giving my daughters their final sibling, and completing our gallery wall with no missing children. Thank You, Sweet Jesus!

So yes, my season of having pregnancy announcements, gender reveals, and late-night feedings may be coming to an end after this baby, but as my husband said, “When one season ends, another begins.” I still have a while left in this one, and what an amazing thing that is. So I am going to breathe and enjoy every second of it, even the uncomfortable parts. I’ll savor the moments of feeling a baby hiccup in my belly, and laugh at the fifth time in a row I get up and waddle-walk to the bathroom, because this season will not last forever as another one begins.

Growing Like Beautiful Flowers

I’ve never been more intentional about embracing my femininity than I am now as a mum of two adorable girls. While I’ve always been very girly in some special way —my voice, my style, my grace, my walk, my smile...and even my name (Nwamaka meaning Beautiful Baby Girl) —I do not ever want to lose that fundamental core. 

International Girl Child Day 2023

“I will bless Nwamaka and her girls, like rain that falls on dry ground. They will grow like beautiful flowers. They will have strong roots, like the great trees in Lebanon. They will grow like a tree that makes new branches. They will be beautiful like olive trees. They will have a sweet smell, like the forests in Lebanon.”

— Hosea‬ ‭14:5-6‬ ‭

God made this captivating and tantalizing promise first to Israel and He has extended it to me as well. I’m still savouring every bite of this promise; each translation leaves me anticipating more. The Word of God is so yummy. What a delight!

To commemorate today, October 11th, as the International Day of the Girl Child, I want to share this piece with you:

No matter what you feel in this moment – you were created to display God’s BEAUTY and GRACE.

STYLE: Embrace Femininity with Blue

Why is pink often linked to girls and blue to boys? Ever pondered this? Just considered it today and was super surprised by my findings. Huh!

Happy Style-Sunday!

Let Girls Wear Blue 

Can you remember the day somebody else was wearing the same outfit as you? There was probably a time when you were out at an event, or at work, or the mall, or at school, or in the church and you suddenly noticed that someone was wearing an item identical to what you were wearing. Maybe the same dress, jacket, shoes, t-shirt . . . etc.

How do you react to such wonderful moments? For me, I ALWAYS acknowledge and appreciate them. I can also take it two steps further to create a style post out of it.

I have reacted a couple of times (see here and here) and I'm doing it again. It feels so good!

Major Takeaway from the ‘Just Us Girls’ Conference 2023

I am so happy. No, happy is an understatement. I am overjoyed! This year’s Just Us Girls Conference themed ‘WOWMAN’ was brought together specifically for me, right in this season. Wow! Like, I mean! 

I’m really loving how God has been so intentional about me this year (and this month, in particular). Thank You, my Sweet Jesus! 

WOWMAN Conference 2023

I am big on attending conferences, and I derive satisfaction in sharing my key lessons and notes with you. Remember when I shared my highlights from The Spirit-Life Conference in 2017? How about my notes from a Ruth-Naomi Meeting in 2018? And my lessons from the Excellent Leadership in 2019? Aha, you see! 

I have always enjoyed attending events that are geared towards my growth — mentally, socially, physically, and most importantly, spiritually. As long as I am led to attend, I prepare myself to receive everything that God intends to pour out into me. 

Like a butterfly, I am consistently and constantly living in a state of evolution. 

I practically live on knowing that there is an atmosphere that I need to be brought into right before my next upgrade. It could either be at a prayer meeting or a conference or from a place of pain and rejection. I am always looking out for where and how my heart can be stirred and my spirit will be lit up. I am always looking out for the WORD that will make the babies in my womb to leap. The Amaka you knew six months ago is MOST POSSIBLY not the same Amaka you will meet today.

Dear Diary, I Really Wanted A Boy

I’m a planner. I like to know my baby’s gender as soon as I am considered pregnant! But this time, Kachi and I involuntarily embraced the idea of being surprised until our second baby was born.

International Day Of The Girl Child 2022

“I want a boy.” I repeated as many times as possible. I told the people who were qualified to be told. It was what I wanted.

Some of the people I told smiled and wished same along with me while some looked at me with judging eyes. "You should just wish for a healthy pregnancy and baby. That's what's most important."

Oh well, I couldn’t help wanting what I wanted.

I wanted a boy and wasn't ashamed of that. I knew that I'd be a great mother to either boys or girls, so why should I have felt bad for having a preference? Was I any less grateful for getting the opportunity to parent another child? Was I being a selfish brat and only thinking about my wants, instead of thanking the heavens that I was able to conceive again?

Of course not.

Celebrating My Journey To Motherhood

My draft disappeared shortly before this post and now, I am not in a calm state of mind to write anything “inspirational”. Yeah. This is because I am too joyful to write.

Happy Birthday To Me

If you’ve been a follower of my writings, then you’ll know I draw from my feelings. My emotions. My heart. However, right now I want to be out FEELING MY FEELINGS. 

It’s not so easy to write when I’m happy. Neither because I have less feelings or feelings about those feelings, nor because my happy feelings are any less worthy of being written about than my heartbreaking feelings, but simply because being happy makes me want to go out and scream than sit down to reflect.

I don’t want to talk; I want to do. I don’t want to reflect; I want to be. So it’s harder, much harder, to write today. 

A Woman Is The Girl Who Accepts Herself

I only started recognizing myself as a woman in my late 20s. I was very much OK with being just a girl.

I Am Woman 

In my early 20s, I felt the need to be perfect. Always. I wanted to be pretty enough for attention, but not too pretty because pretty girls were called bad names. I wanted to be free enough to have fun with everyone, but not too free to well. . .be one of those bad names. I wanted to be everything to everyone all the time

It was draining.

It took me almost half of a decade to know that I am a pretty woman whether married or not.

Top 3 Influential Women I'm Wishing A Happy International Women's Day In 2020

All over the world, March 8 is celebrated as International Women's Day. I thought to celebrate the women who have been greatly influential in my life instead of doing the regular Sunday-Style post today.

3 Women I Celebrate In My Life Today

There are many influential women in the world from all walks of life—politics, business, sports, and the arts to name just a few. Do you know what makes them influential? It's the RESPECT they give and receive. Respect had to be earned or given. You just can't take it.

In my opinion, being influential is more about being respected.

According to Webster Dictionary, to be 'influential' means to possess influence.

in·​flu·​ence | \ ˈin-ˌflü-ən(t)s\
1: the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways:

2a: the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command:

Dear Diary, He Is Free To Bring Any Woman Home

Last month, I visited my husband's village for the first time ever. It was quite an interesting experience. I discovered that I could be a village girl if the need arises. Lol.

The Village Girl

Many women tend to struggle with a bit of impostor syndrome. Sometimes, we feel like a fraud or that we’re not “good enough” in comparison to others. Some of us have worked it out while some of us are still working it out.

Then comes the right guy who will be your ‘supporter.’ He'll walk with you to work it through. He’ll make you feel like anything is possible; and you’ll want to become the best version of yourself to make you and him proud.

When the Spirit breathes on me, I will write an article titled '5 Ways To Bring Out The Best In Your Wife' but for now meet Nwamaka — the bride of Mazi Onyekachi of Amagbor autonomous community in Ihitte, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA of Imo state, Nigeria 😁

What I Wore: Double Wrapper For The First Time As A Wife

Hi People! How has it been? I have been very busy writing and writing. It's been a long time since I conceived this book inside of me, and I can't wait to finally push it out into the world. Trust me, it's going to be a powerful one.

To clear up the webs on this space, let me showcase what I wore to church today. :)

Double-Wrapper Style For Women's Day

First of all, Happy Women's Day to every woman out there — whether single or married. I celebrate you.

Secondly, I am ashamed of myself today. I was struggling to wear what women were asked to wear to church — two wrappers.

I know that a lot of women can relate with the tying of wrapper in this part of the world (Nigeria). It’s our culture as African women to tie wrapper.

WIW: You Already Have What You Need

I know, I know. The title of this post sounds ridiculous to you. I’m not saying you should stay in a perfect state of contentment. I am saying you should focus on what you have.

Life, as I come to realize when I’m thinking most clearly, is so duper good. Even when I’m not yet married, not earning the salary I want, and even when things aren’t quite going exactly my way, I can still look around and say, “Wow. I am thankful for what I already have!”

You Already Have It

In January, I started Sunday-Style by telling you that my wardrobe strategy for 2018 would be "work with what you have."

We are now almost in August and I am proud to let you know that one of your favourite Lifestyle bloggers has lived truly by keeping through to her word. Awesome. I deserve some accolades. Lol. The only new clothes I got are the ones I had to specially get for specific occasions like the other day.

Gone are the days when I take a long look at my wardrobe and say to myself, "I have nothing to wear." Last year or so, I wrote 'How To Repeat Your Clothes Without Anyone Knowing," if you haven’t read it go ahead and check it out. It's still the same thing I am sharing with you today.

How To Become A Wife Before You Get Married

I think it's time to include 'marriage' on the side bar of this blog, because I'd probably be posting more about marriage than relationship from today. I've been learning and evolving greatly.

Become A Wife Before Marriage

I was smiling. My eyes were producing tears. I was cutting onions in the kitchen. It was one of those special evenings I get to have the kitchen all to myself without my mum popping her nose and acting as a monitoring spirit. Lol. She has this nasty habit of supervising me and making "suggestions" about even the size of pot I should use. Lol. I don't blame her at all. It is her kitchen and it is her husband's house.

So I was cooking yam with tomato sauce for the family. For some weird reason, perhaps not so weird, I was happy and proud doing it.

Notes From 'Bridging The Gap Between Ruth And Naomi 2.0'

It's April 30. And I can't believe the month has come to an end. April was a blast back to back. Oh, what a refreshing month I had! It was indeed totally different from March 2018. Wai. . .tt, wait, let's not spill until the next Tuesday's Dear-Diary post. 🙂

Here's some dose of inspiration from last weekend's hangout with my girlfriends.

Bridging The Gap Between Ruth and Naomi 2.0

If you have been an ardent follower of this blog, you must have heard me mention 'The Women At The Well (TWTW)' a couple of times. Read here and here.

'Bridging the gap between Ruth and Naomi' is an annual event organized by TWTW. The second edition held last weekend, and it was (*** please help me insert a word to describe how it feels when your heart is sweaming in the ocean of God's love here***).

🎶 how do I describe 

a God that is indescribable?

how do I explain

the love that is unexplainable?

Ohhhh ohhhh ohhhh my heart sings ohhhh ohhhh ohhhh 🎶 

5 Outstanding Things Stylish Women Do

Truth is, the fashionable friends you envy have some very helpful habits that make looking stylish, confident, and cool a daily reality.

Happy Style-Sunday! I'm so excited about today's post. Leggo!

How To Be Creatively Stylish

When you see a stylish woman and wonder how she has the budget for such fine clothing and accessories and just assume that her income is more than triple yours, think again.

A stylish woman is creative. The reason why she makes looking stylish so simple is because she has her own set of tips and tricks up her sleeve to make it appear that way.

Got some tips to share with you:

STYLE: My Wardrobe Strategy Will Be "Work With What You Have"

Hi-ya! It's the first Style Post of the year! I am excited! Waking up and dressing up every single day is no easy feat. Sometimes, coming up with even one solid outfit a week can feel overwhelming, let alone five outfits in a row.

*waves* I'll be here to help with tricks and tips.

Work With What You Have

Lately, I've been tempted to go through and ruthlessly purge my wardrobe's contents, but I suspect this is probably just a phase and if I'm too hasty in my zeal for maximizing a wardrobe, I'll only end up on a massive shopping spree by this time next month. Lol.

The Bleeding Woman

Again I read about the woman with the issue of blood. This woman’s story pierces my heart in the way that it brings me to tears . . . to Jesus.

"If I can just touch the hem of his garment, I will be healed". That's what she told herself. Such a daring adventure.

The Bleeding Has To Stop

Source: G+

If you've been reading my blog, you're aware about the breakup I had with an ex-friend who attends my church. I got in touch with him again to carry out an official assignment . . . Then, the hurt, the pain, the ache all came back.

"I thought I had moved on." I cried.

STYLE: 6 Things That Make You Look African (Without Ankara Fabric)

Countless numbers of people never thought they were complimenting me with reassurances when they say “you look African” or ask "are you a South African?"

In most cases, I feel even more proud when they say it when I am not wearing my most preferred "African" fabric - Ankara. It tells me looking African is beyond the fabric.

How To Look African

At a point, I was getting it twisted. I had thought looking African was only about incoporating Ankara fabric into my style, until I received the shocker that Ankara is NOT African.

Oh,well.

Reflecting a bit (or so much) of African Fashion in my outfit has been more that an exciting journey for me.

STYLE: One Unexpected Thing That Makes Your Outfit Shine

Boom, pop! Ghen-ghen! oh, wow! If those are what you want people to say when they see your final put-together outfit, then this is the shoe colour for you.

Red Shoes Popping

You know those days when it feels like you are wearing the same outfits over and over again, and it just gets a bit boring, huh? Try playing with colours!

The tip on adding that “pop” is to keep the majority of things subtle and pick one or two areas to make a bold statement. It's often the little things that make a big difference, and a pop of colour can have a HUGE impact on your outfit.

12 Reasons Why You Should Dress Up (Or Be A Fashionista)

About two weeks ago, someone made a comment that got me thinking deeply about the things we wear and WHY we wear them. The person was indirectly asking "why are YOU looking so gorgeous?" as if wearing something cute that makes you feel good is a "weird" thing to do!

Being a blogger (lol), I was inspired to make a post to help you in those awkward moments where you're being asked why you wear what you wear too.

Why Dress Up

Quite a number of people assume you need to follow the latest trends to be fashionable, but nah. If you mix a plain white t-shirt with denim one day and a black pencil skirt another day, you've got two outfits right there!

All it takes is for you to be creative and intentional.

Dear Diary, My Hairstylist Should Be Arrested For This

It's not fun to sit in a chair for hours while a virtual stranger does some things in your face and you leave looking ugly. :(

Issues With Hairdressers

I generally have trust issues with hairstylists, so I am very particular about who I allow to touch my hair.