Really, I thought that this was going to be a lifetime friendship. I’m not gonna go into details about what transpired, because I do not want to relive the hurtful moments or the stress involved with coping with this experience.

However, I want to talk about things I have learned from losing friendships based on my experience, with the hope that someone going through a similar experience can learn a thing or two from mine.

• Not All Friendships Are Meant To Last Forever: As much as it hurts to say this, it is actually true. Some friendships are seasonal or meant to only last for a certain amount of time. There are even times when you are best friends with someone this period and later on, you barely keep in touch with each other. I don’t know if there’s a way to ascertain what kind of friendship you have with all the people in your life, but I do know that not all friendships are lifetime friendships. It is what it is.
• The Internal Questioning Never Ends – When you lose a friendship that you thought would last forever, there is a lot of internal questioning. You find yourself asking if you are a bad person or a bad friend. Even when it’s evident that the other person is at fault, there will be times when you find yourself thinking about what you ever did wrong that led to the death of the friendship. You’ll wonder if you could have done or said something different. If you fully believe that you had no part to play, and it was the other person’s fault, you may ask how on earth you were ever friends with that kind of person because that whole episode exposed you to a different side of them.
• Life Goes On – If losing a friendship caused you a lot of pain, it could lead you to a dark side. I once saw a tweet – “Friendship breakup hurts more than relationship breakup” and I can’t even explain how APT that saying is. However, the truth of the matter is this – life will and does go on. Maybe one day in the future, you will regain your friendship. Maybe truly that ship has sailed forever. Whatever the case may be, life will go on and I hope that you take the lessons learned from your lost friendships to help you become a better friend to the ones you currently have.

To my lost friends, Thank you for being a part of my life and even though we aren’t in each others’ lives anymore. I had good times with you and I will cherish those memories forever.

Eritrean-Ethiopian Twin sisters, Hermon and Heroda Berhane were 7 years old when they both mysteriously went deaf at the same time.

Blavity reports:

Their parents took them and their younger brother, who is also deaf, and moved from Eritrea to America to seek medical help. For a year their mother worked with them on their speech before the family relocated to the UK so that they could have a better education. In boarding school, they learnt the British Sign Language and found a community of friends.

“We believe that us being deaf separates us from the rest of the bloggers out there and that our disability actually enhanced our popularity within media. We never allow being deaf to limit our ambition and disability doesn’t mean inability. We had to do something about it and make our voice heard!”

 Now 34, these fearles beauties have blossoming careers in the fashion and acting worlds.

Dear Tope Tedela,

I remember the night I first saw you, I could not help but notice and be intrigued by your suave-yet-playful, smiling face. It was on an episode of “Edge of Paradise,” where you played the role of Julian.

I remember so well how you transitioned from the guy with dreadlocks to a nice cut because of how much you loved your then love interest; Adaora. I sat and watched you deliver your lines in the easiest way possible. It was quite easy for you to become my crush and eventually my MCM forever.

This may come as a shock, especially as I don’t know you personally but I follow you on Instagram and Twitter. I also keep up with all your interviews.

Your birthday is marked on my calendar and like a hawk, I follow up with your actions, career wins and gossip. I’m thankful that you are a very conservative celebrity. I don’t have to shout too much. Lol

More importantly, I’d like to thank you for your admirable talent. Seeing your face on the screen brightens up my day. It takes a special kind of person to trigger my emotions from just delivering a line or two. You pick your stories carefully and with every script, you deliver effortlessly. I remember your role in “A Mile from Home”… That was such a remarkable role.

Even though my sister and friends call me a dreamer, I’m holding on to the reality that while this will probably never work out, I’m going to be here sending you positive vibes every time, defending your honor and engaging with you in the comment sections of your Instagram and Twitter.

I know it is crazy that I’m confessing my love to you in this manner, but I just want you to know that I’m not the only one who feels this way about someone they probably won’t meet.

Thank you for having the most piercing eyes I’ve ever seen. Also, please never change your hair because it is one of my favorite things about you.

Crushing on a celebrity is a part of human nature so while I know that our paths may never cross, I still want to take a moment to express my appreciation.

I appreciate you immensely.

Xoxo!

• Oprah Winfrey‘s Master Class Podcast – At the beginning of this podcast, Oprah advised that we should “use your life as a class” which is all about the idea that life isn’t a failure but a lesson so basically use your life as a masterclass to grow and be better. She brings on guests that shares their stories and all that their life’s journey entails. This podcast is available on Castbox.
• Tony Robbins – This isn’t a podcast but a YouTube channel that you can find here. Tony‘s channel is A-MAZ-ING queens, I can’t stress that enough. His content delivery is topnotch and actionable. After watching his videos, you would definitely get the push to stand up and do the work.  He also teaches us about the formula for happiness and how to match your life conditions with your blueprint. This channel is highly recommendable.
• School of Greatness Podcast – This is a podcast by Lewis Howes and it is an interview style podcast. He brings on successful people but not popular people. You see why this is unique? They come on the show and talk about their stories with regards to their fields. So there are versatile interviewees with career paths ranging from health, entrepreneurship, media, etc
• How we built this – This is a podcast by Guy Raz that is specially for entrepreneurs but so many other people can benefit from it. It usually features women who have been able to build empires and still grow other aspects of their lives. This podcast gives a full view into the life of an entrepreneur. The beauty about this podcast is the fact that women in various fields have been interviewed and that you can always find people you can relate with career wise so all you have to do is pick lessons. This podcast is available on Castbox
• Brian Tracy – This is another YouTube channel where Brian Tracy gives very actionable steps. His videos are very good for beginners because he always gives points. He really champions the movement on self discipline. He believes that most successful people have that one trait.

Remember that what you surround yourself with is what helps you grow. Find the podcasts you can relate with: interview podcasts or speech podcasts. After you have found that podcast you can relate with, resonate with it and act on it.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Queens, I’m sure you can relate.

This is why I’ve put together a list of 10 wardrobe essentials you should have, to ensure that you’ve got everything you need at your fingertips as you go about your morning routine of picking out clothes to wear.

Plain White Tee
Is there anything more versatile? Whether you style that perfect T-shirt with a pair of jeans, or a pencil skirt, no closet is complete without one.

Flats
There’s a reason everyone loves a good pair of flats: They’re chic and comfortable. You can use them to dress up your jeans and button-down combination, then transition that same pair to a dress for night time. Your outfit and legs will thank you.

Blazer
A great blazer is a must-have in any wardrobe. Need an extra something to pull together an office look? A great addition to a semi-formal look? Dressing up a slightly casual look? A blazer it is!

Slip-On Sneakers
These babies have solidified their place on my wardrobe-must have list. These shoes are comfortable enough to walk miles in and gives any outfit an extra dose of “cool.”

Black Trousers
Whether you wear them to work or wear them to a hangout, a pair of black pants that you feel great in is a true Monday-through-Sunday essential.

Black Pumps
These pair of shoes are for so essential to keep around. From meetings, to church, to a dinner date, they are super versatile. A huge advantage of these shoes is they can live under your work desk: Reserved for important meetings or an after-work appointment. Can you tell I adore my pumps?

White Shirt
Consider a white shirt a core essential in your wardrobe. There are endless options for how to wear it: Pair it with a simple skirt or pants for a classic look, or layer it under a sweater or dress to give an outfit some added dimension.

Little Black Dress
No item is more ideal for accessorizing and styling, because it serves as a blank canvass upon which you can build your look. The Little Black Dress! It has gotten us through some tough times, and serves as a hit outfit for any wardrobe.

Everyday Sandals
You definitely need these. Perfect for a trip to the grocery store, the beach, casual hangouts, etc.

Denim Jacket
Quick question, what is fashion without a denim jacket? For real, what is fashion without it? It is INCOMPLETE!

Which of these items do you own and which are you adding to your wardrobe ASAP?

Photo Credit: Pinterest

The person you become is a collation of experiences of your life. The good, the bad and the ugly. Hence, every experience is one I celebrate because I have overcome.

Friends, join me and let’s have a toast to life. #atoasttolife

Please visit my YouTube page by clicking the link in my bio to go on this
journey with me.

Xoxo,

Juliet Ibrahim

Watch video below:

Our #MillennialQueenBoss for today, decided right after school to just keep herself busy and then, the idea for the jewelry business was born.

Nonye Kanu is a graduate of Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, a Brand Executive with a Communications Firm and is the CEO of My Jewelry Hub, a minimalist jewelry brand in Lagos, Nigeria.

Founded in December 2016, Jewelry Hub is a minimalist jewelry brand that was created right after Nonye finished school and wasn’t sure of what the next step was, all she wanted to do was stay busy. Fashion had always been her go to source for inspiration and chokers were a fashion trend at the time but she hated that there was lots of mass production and everyone had the same chokers. So, she learnt the basics of making chokers and started making hers to look different and unique.

Founding Jewelry Hub was a move that helped Nonye figure out the career path she really wanted. Also, because it wasn’t treated as a business initially, there were so many things she didn’t know. It wasn’t up until last year, she decided to fully re-brand and make it official.

One of the major core missions of the brand is to offer great quality at an affordable price. They believe everyone should own a beautiful piece of jewelry without breaking the bank.

We love to see millennial queen bosses like Nonye reach for higher heights. We are rooting for you girl!

Follow on Instagram: @thejewelryhub  @thatnonyegirl

Our #MillennialQueenBoss for today, took advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity and is now building a business empire from being a shoe maker.

Stephanie Obijiaku is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Lagos, Nigeria and is the CEO of Nyne and Nuel, an indigenous footwear company in Lagos, Nigeria.

Founded on the 4^th of May 2017, Nyne and Nuel is a footwear producing brand that was created during Stephanie’s NYSC days. The initial motivation for Nyne and Nuel was due to lack of good employment opportunities during her youth service. After spending days worrying about how to make a living, she decided to learn a skill with the NYSC Skills Acquisition programme. With the help of her Local Government Inspector (LGI), she joined the shoe making class and fell in love with it. Few months after, she produced the footwear’s first collection called “Ekaabo” by Nyne and Nuel.

Nyne and Nuel is a contemporary Made-in-Nigeria footwear and leather brand that produces durable, affordable and beautiful footwear (mainly slides, slippers and sandals) for both male and female.

The brand’s core values are Beauty, Durability and Impact. They pride themselves in the fact that their footwear is super pleasing to the eyes and have great quality and durability.

We love to see millennial queen bosses like Stephanie break societal norms and reach for higher heights. We are rooting for you girl!

Follow on Instagram: @nyneandnuel @stephanie_nyne

Tyler Perry brought the audience to it’s feet last night as he rendered one of the most impactful speeches ever, at the 2019 BET Awards.

The writer, producer, and  director was honored with BET’s Ultimate Icon Award. Taraji P. Henson, who has appeared in some of Perry’s films including The Family That Preys (2008), I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009) and Acrimony (2018), presented him with the award.

In his powerful speech, Perry talked about how he grew up in an abusive household and that often, to make his mother laugh, he would imitate the women she played cards with. He also stated that those experiences allowed him to create his first 10 movies.

“That moment reminded me of my mother, bringing out of her pain with laughter, helping her cross,” he said. He added that he created those films in hopes of letting his mother know “she’s worthy, to let black women know you are worthy, you are special, you are powerful, you are amazing. All of that that was about helping her cross.”

He also spoke about building his Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta and giving many African-American actors like Taraji P. Henson, Idris Elba and Viola Davies their big break, at a time when they couldn’t get acting gigs in mainstream Hollywood.

One major highlight from his speech was when he said:

“It’s all about trying to help somebody cross. While everybody else is fighting for a seat at the table, talking about ‘#OscarsSoWhite, #OscarsSoWhite,’ I said, ‘Y’all go ahead and do that. While you’re fighting for a seat at the table, I’ll be down in Atlanta building my own.’ Because what I know for sure is that if I could just build this table, God will prepare it for me in the presence of my enemies.”

Tyler Perry’s speech was met with a standing ovation. Watch his powerful speech in the video below:

Hard work really does pay off. We are so pumped right now by this speech! Our major takeway is this: If they don’t open the door for you then build a freaging door of your own Queens! Yassss

Kunle is an actor, model and entrepreneur. After a short stint studying Fisheries and Wildlife Management in university, he decided to study filmmaking at NewYork Film Academy after discovering his passion for acting, filmmaking and directing. He started acting professionally in 2011 after winning the reality TV show, Gulder Ultimate Search.

From then on, Kunle has featured in many award-winning Nollywood films such as Tiwa’s Baggage, Sobi’s Mystic, Falling, etc. He has also starred in several TV series, including Tinsel, Lagos Cougars Reloaded, Africa Magic’s Forbidden and a bunch of others.

Regarding his modeling career, he has featured in numerous ad campaigns for brands such as Zain Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, DSTV and Diamond.

In 2018, he was nominated for the City People Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor of the year.

Kunle is also an active advocate for Men Against Rape & Violence (MARV). MARV is a collection of actors, models and youth ambassadors, who speak out against rape, child molestation and violence against women.

We applaud you Kunle!