We ARE 1,000 and Counting…

February 18, 2016February 18, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha115 Comments

I received this badge several days ago and after doing a jig and a wiggle of the waist dancing, I made myself a homemade cup of Caramel Macchiato to drink to my health and yours, then I filed it away to mull over it for a little bit.

I didn’t get here all by myself, but I got here through all of you and it’s to all of you that I raised my mug.

A MILESTONE! Yup! That’s what it is and it’s been a jolly good ride.

When I started blogging 9 months ago, I started without expectations and now I feel like I am pregnant with so many expectations.

Each day, the building blocks of my mind gets firmer and my aspirations more refined that I am able to see many doorways opening up.

When I started blogging I thought I would just write my mind and maybe occasionally, some person will stop by and say hello, but to my amazement and I still stand amazed each day, I see so many faces stopping by to say hello.

I had told myself at the very onset that I am doing this first for me and to never lose focus of that by running after things that are simply peripheral.

However, if truth be told, I also told myself that there will come a time, when a labourer should have some just reward for his/her efforts.

I am actively searching for ways for my labour to earn something and as a way of marking this milestone, I am going to apply for WordPress to add WordAds to my site and I will also explore the affiliate marketing programs to find what would suit me.

I will definitely keep you informed on what my learning lessons are and the benefits as well.

I have always believed that when we share resources, we only get better and when you lift others, you equally rise along with them.

To Our Sustained Growth. Thank you for helping me to grow.

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

– 6 degrees! The First Sub-Zero Lounge in the Middle East. Echoes Of My Neighbourhood #10

February 18, 2016February 18, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha56 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 are praying for the blistering cold weather in their area to cease, while some of us have to pay some money to get a bit of the real Winter chill. Several cups of steaming hot chocolate and I was glad to leave, which is the good side about Chill-Out Lounge, you can leave when you want to.

The temperature is maintained at – 6° no matter how hot it gets outside, so you better cover up well, though they give you thermal jacket and gloves.

Last Week Echoes harvested quite some peeks of different neighbourhoods, so board the flight with me and let’s go have a look see 🙂

This is good way to spend a calm Sunday from Writing in North Norfolk. Relaxing

How many of you have seen this lady bag-piper before? My first time thanks to Dancing Palm Trees. You can learn how, maybe.

Sarah’s Planes, do you want to hop aboard. Come along.

Lovely photos from Malmo, Sweden by Giggles and Tales. You will like it.

Pretty and Serene. From Dollops of Heedful Ramblings. Take a peek

A good hideaway for lovers and fairy tales presented by Kat. Inspires the weaver to spin some yarn.

Some good pick me ups on a Tired Thursday from Mandibelle. Are you tired? A cuppa always perks you up.

I would be Sleepless in Seattle as well. I have something going for this city. Thank you Paula You should find out.

This is some of my Lagos and Oba’s Lagos. We love Lasgidi! There is no place like Lagos.

Open Sesame! Peeks of NY and Brooklyn from Jazzy Tower.

I am loving these views, aren’t you?

So, when can we get a peek at yours? Pllllleeeeeaaasssseee with a cherry on top 😉

Regards,

Poetry/Poems · Quotes For You · Uncategorized · Weave that Dream

Brevity…Thursday Trivia

February 18, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha15 Comments

Sometimes,

The brevity of my words

Is not for lack of what to say

….But a reflection

Of the state of my mind

Where the invasion

Of dream-filled thoughts

That pervades them

Leaves me breathless

…..Unable and reluctant

To trap them in words.

So,

I let them float free.

Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Lifestyle · Midnight motivation and musings · Self Help

Midnight Motivations and Musings #10

February 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

Sometimes, we get so consumed in the daily automated actions of getting through our days with minimal reflections given to the things that we are doing and the things that we need to do.

It’s far easier being on cruise control, than to pause and think.

Yet, we have dueling desires in our heart to live our dreams, to aspire to greatness.

Aspiring to greatness means leaving mediocrity behind.

Aspiring to be better requires conscious and dedicated efforts coupled with lots of deeper reflections.

Are you willing to go the extra mile?

Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Poetry/Poems · The Daily Post

What’s In Your Secret Box?…

February 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Shall I peek into your secret box
And sniff around like a little fox
What are those bones
And these mill stones
That drags you down
And makes you frown

Shall I peek into your secret box
Oh my it has too many locks
Will I find rainbow dust
Or a witch with a fiery gust
Be it Ogre with a wicked temper
Or Prince who knows how to whimper

What’s in your secret box
Please do tell
I shan’t ring the bell
And if you tell
You won’t go to hell.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

P.S. My dear WP, this is an evasive poem written in avoidance of your nosy self 😉

The Daily Post Evasive action

What’s the most significant secret you’ve ever kept? Did the truth ever come out?

Devotions · Family · Gratitude · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Lifestyle · Poetry/Poems

Be They Little…

February 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha27 Comments

Mummy, I want to let you know what you mean to me.

You are like an Angel in the sky

Even at night you shine as bright as a star.

I want you to know, I love you mummy.

Why do I do these gratitude challenges every week? So that I don’t forget to pay mind to the little things that I would have probably taken for granted in the bigger scheme of life’s rat race.

It’s done as an open confession of little positive affirmations in my life, both online and real time. Of course it can be done through private journals *I still do that*, but then an opportunity would be missed to inspire even one person to embrace the attitude of gratitude.

The private journal practice becomes easy to forget or set aside at times when life gets hectic and we continue to roll along until it is completely left unsaid.

This way, I am compelled to pause and appreciate these things openly. It’s like unwrapping a present.

The attitude of gratitude has expanded the coast of my mind and it keeps growing in very positive ways. I find that more and more, I dwell barely on negativity because it’s almost as if my mind is on training on how to swat negative thoughts.

Ordinarily, I would probably have taken for granted the small hands that helped me push my shopping cart, weigh my fruits and tick off my shopping list *making me buy one or two extra tidbits, with a grumble and secret delight.

How will I take for granted how you all supported my blog party over the weekend?

Try cooking a large array of dishes (in this case, blogging hard for days) and inviting people to eat and they don’t turn up. You will be sorely disappointed and upset.

The essence of Valentine might have become subsumed in the cheesy commercial aspect of things, but there is absolutely nothing cheesy about the extra doses of love and attention that I received from my family, from hand-made cards to shop bought rose and chocolate with their pocket money, coupled with lots of pampering 🙂

There are so many little things to be grateful and thankful for. What are the things that decorate your life, be they little or large?

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

Life · Photographs · Wordless Wednesday

Do You Remember….Wordless Wednesday

February 17, 2016February 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

Do you remember when you last splashed around bare-feet with abandon and sheer delight?

There is nothing as pure and as delightful as watching a child play happily without care.

Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Photographs

Her Look Though!…Wordless Wednesday

February 17, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

I enjoyed walking slowly behind the demonstrative couple and the lady casting looks of consternation 😉

Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Lifestyle · Midnight motivation and musings · Quotes For You · Self Help

Midnight Motivations and Musings #9….

February 16, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

In so many ways, a lot of us have been hurt and the hurt that we carry inside now serves as a parameter to determine a whole lot that goes on in our lives.

Our hurts become a cloak that we use to cover ourselves, dampening the true person hidden beneath the bushel of pain.

Even though bad experiences cannot be easily chucked out of the window, these past hurts should not be the ruling yardstick over our lives.

Not only do they cut short our expectations, but we remain victims to the pain.

To heal, we have to and we must find a way to channel our painful tests into positive testimonies.

A link to my neighbours/Community · Featured Blogs · Humor - Bellyful of laughter · Love · Poetry/Poems

A Must Read Tag-along Poem Cooked By All Of Us… Tuesday Trivia

February 16, 2016February 16, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha49 Comments

acookingpotandtwistedtales

Her eyes shone with tears

That clung to her lashes

She glanced at the ring

It’s twinkles brought back flashes

Seeking you first

She knew in her heart,

she’d never forget this day.

The emotions she felt,

overwhelming- in a way.

Gradmama

–blue shoes and sashes

Melinda Kucsera

she knew where the stash is–

of chocolates liquor splashed,

frosted with white slashes…

Elihu

Memories were there

Of Love and of laughter

A future there too

Of happily ever after

Oba Kingsoracle

At last, he said it

It seemed like forever

But here and now

Her heart for him to keep

Forever.

Writersdream9

She was anticipating all the joy he would bring

Sarah C

As the band struck a tune….

was it too soon?

the cat crossed their path quickly

And then it was time for giggling

Noirfifre

She spent all that time, years

she would never see those crashes

in trust, it is time to sell that bling.

Mandibelle

He’d bought such a rock,

She couldn’t conceive,

It was bought with his love,

In his love, she believed.

Hubby1974

The really special thing

About our love is this

When your not in my arms

Your pheromones I constantly miss!

Elizabeth Zertuche

Of when they first met

Now seen through the years

amcglasson

The midnight sea glistened

With the moon’s tender touch

Bated breath he listened

He wanted her so much

Deb

Of first dates and kisses

The movies and dances

Writing Mr. & Mrs.

And lifetime romances

Dreamer of Dreams

A lover, a tryst,

A melding of hearts

An evening of mist

And now, they’re apart.

What Sandra thinks

I’ve missed you, my dear

My arms have been lonely

Come home to me, love

You’re my one and only

Lulu

“Flashbacks are scary,

they signal PTSD,

so she knew in a moment

she really must flee.”

Joy indestructible

She heard the song he loved to sing

Salty tears to clean heart’s slashes

Waiting for a new day life to bring

Hope to resolve all angry clashes

Bitter Sweet

She remembered the past,

As she stood there is her gown.

They has been thru so much,

Thru the ups and downs

♥♥ FROM US ♥♥

‘A beautiful poem if I may say so myself.’

P.S. I have a strong feeling that some verses got lost in the deluge of comments. Please, if you sent in a contribution and it’s not here, just give me a heads-up so that I can adjust it.

Thank you all for participating. It was fun reading all the contributions 🙂