It’s A Love Thing…Featured Blogs #2

February 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

For the next days till my Valentine Shindig, I will be featuring several blogs a day on one post, as a way of showing some love to fellow awesome and supportive blogger friends of mine.

You can share the fun and the love by sharing the party invitation as much as you can. Bring your Bae, your sweetheart, your neighbourlybloggers, your old lady, your old man, even your dogs and cats are invited.

It’s a way to connect with other bloggers and hey, who knows, you might hit it off with someone 😉

Please share and share alike. Thank you very much.

For today’s features, I am showing some love to the bloggers listed below:

‘Be sure the one’s you love know how much they mean to you. Don’t wait until it’s too late to say something.’

Sarah found me on Facebook and followed me to my blogging abode. She has been one very supportive blogging neighbour of mine, even in classes. We always hang out during recess and natter a bit. I appreciate Sarah’s support and her can-do spirit inspires me totally.

Beth There is nothing as lovely as a lady with a beautiful sense of humour and humanity. You need to hang out with Nutsrok and your ribs will crack from laughter. I also enjoy reading her sage advise to people who write in with perplexing issues on her agony aunt’s page.

Leannenz forays, photos, volunteering and views inspire me.

Mandibelle‘s sense of community can be seen in so many places including mine. I see her little footprints on other people’s blogs and her supportive nature is totally awesome. Thank you Mandi.

Simply me writes as her name reads. I enjoy her fresh perspectives to stories with the shades of humanity painted inside.

Lynz real cooking, mama Lynz is a Hercules of a woman. Admirable, gentle and wonderful. I have asked her to adopt me 🙂

Nena, a gentle spirited lady whose words inspire me to be better.

Nedoux my Ibo sister in the virtual World. My next trip to Nigeria, will find me knocking on her door. Her write ups crack me up, make me hanker for home and just delightful.

Folake another Nigerian blogger sister that is passionate about her World. I am happy that we met.

Kay‘s words are always, always enlightening for me.

GChan‘s tenacity with her translations, her candid freshness with her words always makes me look out for her.

La Duchesse Derat, yes you can say that I am biased about things French and you are right. Her name first struck me, then the fact that she is bilingual drew me in and like the say, the rest is history. Step into her World for light-hearted chats.

Bernadette makes me think of strong women always and her posts inspire me to aim for greater heights.

‘Walking this path, I have been so blessed to have you all by my side. Thank you very much.’

My regards,

Challenges · Hope · The Great Book Of Lists · Travel

If I Should Grow A Pair Of Wings…The Great Book Of Lists.

February 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

The fascination that other places and people’s culture holds for me, has turned me somewhat into an Oliver Twist, suffering from the ‘I want some more’ syndrome. When La Duchesse Derat sent out this week’s prompt for TGBOL as Dream travels, I told her that she has got me started on a gallivanting affair.

Having tasted the enriching delight and knowledge that comes from visiting so many places, if I say that I dream of the opportunity to travel the World, would I come across as asking for too much? Nah! Not to me.

Yet the truth is that these dreams don’t cost anything, but brings us so much delight when we do have a beautiful day dream and build candy castles in the winds.

Realistically, I know that these are ambitious thoughts, however, if I had the wherewithal to indulge my wanderlust, I would love to visit:

Morocco
Timbuktu
San Francisco
Vancouver
Czech Republic
A tour of Europe again – I totally love Europe 🙂
Buenos Aires
Bangkok
Budapest
India
New Zealand

And the rest can come after. Ha!

‘I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.’ Susan Sontag

Blog-hopping · Blogging · Self Help

Turning Up The Heat…What I got up to in January #2

February 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha33 Comments

In respect of blogging matters, networking, interacting and connecting is key.

Just like is said in real estate, that location is key, in blogging, after your content, mingling with others and pushing your buttons is your trump card, which cannot be repeated enough.

It’s always bemusing to see some people plunk their butts in a chair, write a good post, stick it out there and go off to Timbuktu.

Naturally, we humans respond to stimuli of association, thus, any blogger who wants to grow has to get past their shyness and get more friendly and others will respond. As you Work Hard, Also Play Hard.

Well, that said, I turned up my own blogging heat just a notch higher by pushing myself to engage in a few more challenges.

Yes indeed! It’s called a challenge because it’s meant to push you beyond our comfort boundaries of your cosy armchair and it’s doing that to me.

I got involved in 3 different challenges + the 2 that I already do.

They are Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Prompt Challenge, The great big book of lists, Streams of consciousness, Flash fiction for aspiring writers and Colline’s gratitude or Maria’s gratitude challenges.

The good thing is that there is something to suit different taste and for me, it leaves no time for me to feel bored or lazy about writing.

So, what are you waiting for? Search around and you will find something that interests you.

I even started two of my own challenges as well, details can be found at the top of my blog.

Talking about playing hard and networking, please come to my party. Here is your invitation in this link.

Thank you for listening and kind regards.

Image credit: endare.com

Dubai · Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Photographs · This Is My Life · Travel

A Visit To The Dunes….Echoes Of My Neighbourhood #8

February 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha36 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share a picture about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Every Thursday, share a photo of bits and pieces of wherever you are at any point in time. It could be houses, backgrounds of your neighbourhood, activities and so forth and you can tag it Echos of my Neighbourhood, add my link to your post so that I will get the ping from your post.

Every other Thursday, I will publish a post with the links of all those who participated the previous week.

This is just a fun way of getting to see more of the World around us through your eyes, since we cannot all be at those places, we can at least see them through you.

Some pictures from our desert foray.

Over the weekend, we went sand bashing at the desert. An adrenaline pumping rush that dear Himself and the children like a lot. I am okay with it after the highs and lows of going up and down steep sand dunes.

I love seeing the miles and miles of rolling sands and visiting a desert camp where there are a good number of entertainment on offer for a fee, like riding the camels, getting henna painting, some Arabic belly dancing etc.

Last week’s Echoes brought in quite some fresh views:

Lovely, vibrant Munich without snow from Lady Lee Manila

Serene Brooklyn botanical garden from Roaming Urban Gypsy

Charming Sweet Dilham from Writing in North Norfolk.

These pictures from Denmark are gorgeous from Giggles and Tales.

What a bold, vibrant visitor to see Pancake Bunnykins 🙂

Beautiful times with beautiful people from Mandibelle.

Buried, Dangerous and pretty looking icicle all rolled into one from Kat Myrman of Mercury Colliding.

I feel like dipping in my toes in a small town charm from Never a dull bling.

On a zooming escapade with her James Bond 😉 from Diane of Ladies who lunch reviews.

So, when can we get a peek at yours?

Regards,

Uncategorized

Here Is Your Invitation….RSVP Please

February 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha10 Comments

Have you received your invitation? 😊

a cooking pot and twisted tales

Bring out all the whistles and the bells,

Turn up in your dancing shoes and your glad rags,

Let’s have the bottles of wine and cookies,

Some decadent chocolates, cakes and ice-cream would do too,

All the good vibes that’s on your mind.

It will be happening live.

Let’s jiggle and mingle

And show some love

#It’s a love thing connection time.

I hope to see you at this party

‘Cos it will be blog-hopping 🙂

♥ ♥

View original post

A link to my neighbours/Community · Blog-hopping · Blogging · Featured Blogs

It’s A Love Thing – Featured Blogs 1 …

February 3, 2016February 4, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha35 Comments

For the next 10 days till my Valentine Shindig, I will be featuring several blogs a day on one post, as a way of showing some love to fellow awesome and supportive blogger friends of mine.

It’s a way to connect with other bloggers and hey, who knows, you might hit it off with someone 😉

Please share and share alike. Thank you very much.

For today’s features, I am showing some love to the bloggers listed below:

‘Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.’ Song of Solomon 8:7

Diane loves to read, loves to write, loves a good natter and laugh. I enjoy reading her book reviews on her platform ladies who lunch reviews and I have said to her, based on one or two stories that she wrote, that she is a natural storyteller. She is charmingly witty and I expect that when I eventually have an author’s blog which will include book reviews, I will be looking at Diane a lot to learn from her.

Oneta is one sweet grandma that I would so love to meet one day. Her posts are so homegrown and her supportive attitude is totally awesome. She always, always has a lovely saying and sage counsel. Please do go over to Sweet aroma and say hey.

Paula has been one cheerful blogger on this side of virtual things and I enjoy her refreshing outlook on running marathons with her champion of a husband. Her blog Never a dull bling speaks for itself.

My dear friend Rosema is one enthusiastic, friendly and supportive sister blogger. She is quite a wise one for her young age with a very humane nature. I see her going places. She can be found at a reading writer.

Oba is my Naija sister blogger and I am sure glad that I met her in this space. She has been so supportive and her lovely soul shines through. She will croon to your heart’s content and you will be richer for knowing her.

Where do I start talking about Tasha? In my language, when we say that someone is your personal person, that means a whole lot. Tasha is my personal person. I hope that one day, when I am back in the States we will meet up and have a girls day out together. She is a fabulous lady. How many ladies do you know that venture into security? She knows her security onions for sure ‘cos I have learnt quite a thing or two from her.

I keep telling Edwina that she is my sister from another mother. I love Edwina’s humour and simplicity. Her unassuming and friendly nature. I am happy to call her friend.

Maria’s photos attracted me to her and I simply got hooked to her beautiful nature. I admire the work that she does and right from the onset, she has been with me through this blogging adventure, supporting in her words. She is very down to earth and it will not be a mistake to hang out around this lovely lady.

We cannot put a price on joy can we? Joining Flash fiction for aspiring writers hosted by the amiable and lovely lady Priceless Joy, is one challenge that I am very glad I got involved in. Writing the stories on this platform has brought me far more satisfaction than I can say and interactions that have proven to be precious.

Pam is another beautiful friend that I am happy I connected with. She is always full of warmth and sage counsel and her love for God shines through her support. Thank you Pam for being there.

Gilly my big sister at Lucid gypsy is the Haiku master and very nifty with her clicking fingers. She has very good eyes and every time she is out and about, I feel as if I took the walk with her. She has been so wonderful to me with her encouragement and maybe she does not know this, but she is actually the one that me made start participating in some of the photo challenges.

When she serves up those dishes online, I take note. I enjoy interacting with Koolaidmoms and her obvious love for her family shows.

Dr Meg Sorick is one lovely prolific writer that I admire. Her short stories and limericks are always entertaining. She has made the challenging journey of becoming a writer look like a walk in the park and looking at her gives me hope.

My highly inspiring blog-some sister Emma is one lady who has selflessly offered her counsel, tips and encouragement without holding back. Emma’s multi-talents run deep and getting to know her is a blessing. Step into her virtual abode Shut that negative noise off for a wee bit.

‘Walking this path, I have been so blessed to have you all by my side. Thank you very much.’

My regards,

The Daily Post

I Won’t Pass Up The Opportunity…

February 3, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha22 Comments

Since I have to blow my own trumpet loud enough for myself so to speak, if I have a book to be recorded into an audio book, then without wasting snooze time debating over who will do it, I will elect to do it myself for various reasons:

Some lovely people have told me that they like my speaking voice, including my dear Himself who loves my reading to him, except, he is just being smart enough to know which side his bread is buttered on 😉

It would be cheaper to do so myself, except they are offering free services 🙂

It will offer me an opportunity to probably go for elocution and voice training for professionalism.

I would tell my own story better than any of them would.
I always fancied being a newscaster when I was growing up and I mimicked all the lovely old newscasters that used to decorate our old black and white TV, so it will be my opportunity.

My lovely supporters decision came from listening to this and to that.

The Daily Post Voice Work.

Your blog is about to be recorded into an audio-book. If you could choose anyone — from your grandma to Samuel L. Jackson — to narrate your posts, who would it be?

Devotions · Gratitude · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Lifestyle

A Wellspring…

February 3, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

Just a few weeks ago, it was Christmas, then New Year and now January 2016 has come an end. It’s gone forever. We can only witness future January’s of other years, but never the last one.

January took some famous and acclaimed personalities with it, as well as so many other souls, but a whole lot of us are blessed to be well and see another new month cycle in.

That just keeps drawing the transient state of our lives home, that we truly have to spend our days living our best lives now and being happy with it.

As we pursue our dreams and aspirations with tenacity, buoyed with the desire to achieve a whole lot of different things, I am thankful for having had the Grace to stay on course with a good number of things that I set to do.

I am grateful that I have not lost the courage or the zeal to keep pushing along, because it is really so easy to get derailed with the little things that life throws in our path.

I am grateful for the stream of ideas that keeps coming to me and the strength to see them through. Sometimes, the wellspring of inspiration and creativity can run dry, leaving one grasping, so, for me, it is indeed a privilege thus far, to have a fountain that bubbles with inspiration.

I am grateful that for the first time in months, the aches and pains that plagued me has receded quite a bit and I can pencil this down to the consistent little exercising that I have been doing.

I feel a lot more limber and thankful for that. Sometimes, the discomfort of my Myalgia that I have in my back would keep me uncomfortable and awake at nights.

Living in a state of thankfulness, keeps the elusive Unicorn of Happiness close by. That way, you get to ride on it often enough.

Welcome to a new month of abundant blessings and inspiration. Never forget that the little seed of gratitude that you sow, grows into a bountiful harvest for your thanksgiving.

You can join Colline’s or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.