Sunday 26 January 2014

January Giveaway: Winner Number 1!

It's Sunday! Which means that the first winner of my giveaway is announced today!

Congratulations to Titi Oliyide! You've won the first set! 

Set 1: Indian Night Jasmine Body Lotion and Eau de Toilette

There's still three more gifts to be won guys, including the lovely freshwater pearl bracelet worth £60! Check them all out here. Enter below for a chance to win anyone of them, even if you've entered before, you can now enter again and my second winner will be picked next week Sunday! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for all the love everybody! I'm loving owning my own domain name :) Hope you all have a great week ahead

Reni xx

Saturday 25 January 2014

Hair Talk: Going Natural

So there's this huge disaster going on on my head at the mo', my hair at the back of my head seems to be breaking constantly and consistently and I feel at a massive loss for what to do! I will eventually post a picture of the shocking mess that is the back of my head but for now I'm too distressed just looking at it to even want to put it up in this post.

I don't understand what went wrong with that part of my head during my regimen and I've been racking my brain for ages trying to figure out what is causing such crazy amounts of breakage. It's the biggest "W" I can recall ever having my whole life! When I showed my mum and cousins they all said I was exaggerating and it looked worse in the picture but I don't even ever wear my hair down because of that. Maybe I'm pulling my bun too tight? Or maybe that awful relaxer I had years ago just destroyed my hair follicles in that area forever? You're probably wondering what the awful relaxer story is about...

Before I tell you about that mess look at THIS mess! I'm so distraught!
Well basically, a few years ago, I went to a salon to get my roots retouched, the stylist did her job and I went home all happy with my new straight hair. Not too long after, chunks of hair started falling off my head, like whole strands, but all in the area around my nape. It continued like this, just falling out and creating a growing bald batch from my nape towards the centre of my head until after a few weeks I had to cut all my hair off to keep it looking even and not like I had some disease! I was so distraught that I swore off relaxers, which is how I came to start texturising my hair for the last 8 years or so. Thinking about it now I should have just gone natural then! But I truly never saw the beauty in natural hair. Well now, about 8 years on, I'm not sure if my hair is falling out of my nape again or how bad it's going to get this time but I've made a decision now. I'm going natural! For real this time.

Me after attempting a bantu knot out a few months ago!
So I'm no longer 28 weeks post relaxer/texturiser, I'm now 7 months into my transition! I'm planning on transitioning for 12 to 18 months, I think. I could change my mind later but that's the plan for me right now. My hair is in braids at the moment but as soon as I take it out it's going to be back to taking care of it and learning to work with my two textures. Business as usual.

Is anyone else transitioning to natural? Drop me a comment, let's be transitioning sisters!

Reni xx

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Read With Reni: Online Book Club Intro



So. This is new and exciting! I decided to try and write an entire blogpost with the Blogger app to see if it's really worth it's salt. Sometimes the whole reason I dong blog is because I really can't be bothered to open up my laptop! It acts so crazy and slow sometimes. But I suppose I wouldn't mind writing shorter posts on my phone/iPad from time to time :)

So as most of you know, my current job status is not one that I relish so whilst I'm in this small rut of applying for jobs and waiting for feedback I decided to use my time wisely and enjoy myself. What better way to do that than by reading? People that know me personally know how much I love reading so the other day I popped into Waterstones and bought 2 books "And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini, author of "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" and "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. I picked the former based purely on the fact that I've read his other two books and LOVED them! He's such a fantastic writer, I don't even think I full read the back of the book to see what it was about. Gone Girl was highly recommended to me by my friend a little while ago and since it was on offer, I figured why not?

The third book "Lean In" by Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Facebook) is one that I came across whilst reading a blogpost by someone else, I wish desperately that I could find the post because it was so inspirational to me as a woman at the time. All I do remember is the author of the post recommending this book for males and females alike and for some reason, I wanted to read it instantly! I was busy searching for an e version of the book when my lovely mother called me and told me she had this book called "Lean In" which was given to her at a conference and she thinks I should read it. You can't imagine how excited I was! Haha. Lean In is not a novel though, it's about women in the workplace and their will to lead, I hope it's the first of many books of it's kind I shall be reading! 

A brilliant idea came to mind after I posted the picture above on Instagram, my friend commented about a book club and I thought, omg that's a great idea! Lol. So here we are, my first attempt at starting an online book club! This is the order I'm reading them in "Lean In", "And the Mountains Echoed" and then "Gone Girl" but I'm going to officially make "And the Mountains Echoed" the book for February. If you think you might be interested then please drop a line in the comments box or send me a message on Facebook

I'm not sure if I will review the books after I've read them yet though, I'm not very good at giving completely unbiased opinions without spoiling at least some of the book! I think I'd just come back and say what I've learnt from each book or something similar. This could be the start of an exciting new journey! Who's with me? Come one, come all! Let's start a book club!

Don't forget to leave a comment below if you think you might be interested.

Reni xx

P.S. I didn't end up posting this up with the blogger app because I found that I can't schedule posts from there, and I can't justify my text... I HATE unjustified text. Lol. I also couldn't change the size of the picture or move it! And I also lost my social media icons at the end of the post (go on, click on one of them, you know you want to...) Basically, the app is great for short snappy posts but not so awesome for longer ones. 

P.P.S Don't forget to enter my giveaway! Check it out here "An Upgrade and A Giveaway" there's four awesome prizes to be won! :D

Sunday 19 January 2014

Sundays are for Churches and Brunches

Sunday's are for churches and brunches as well as lazing around and hoping that Monday never rears its ugly head! Today I didn't go to church *boooo* and I didn't eat this yummy looking brunch either *double boooo*. You're probably wondering why on earth I named the post "Sundays are for Churches and Brunches" then aren't you? Well... So am I. Lol.

I'm not a complete fraud though! The pictures are mine, the first one is a supersized full English breakfast and the second one is an Eggs Royale both from the delicious "Gorilla" in Manchester. This amazing place serves breakfast till 4pm every single day so this might well have been lunch! I don't remember now...



Can you tell that I miss Manchester sorely? I'm still trying to get used to the fact that I no longer live there. The full english would be the perfect comfort breakfast right now but I've decided to stop this bad eating streak I've been having a go back to eating nice and clean!

How was your weekend? Did you eat anywhere nice?

P.S. I started Insanity again! More on than later. Also don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Friday 17 January 2014

An Upgrade and A Giveaway

So recently a lot has been brewing round these parts, I finally bit the bullet and did one of the things I said I would for this new year and that was to buy my own domain name! No longer am i lilactintedviews.blogspot.com I'm now lilactintedviews.COM! *happy dancing* It's literally the most exciting thing that happened to me this week and I couldn't be more grateful to my lovely other half for making this dream come true.

When I upgraded I think I expected my site to go all crazy on me and start spewing random crap but it's been okay really. It still works and looks exactly the same :) Anyways to share my happiness with you my lovely readers and also just because I can... I decided to host my first ever giveaway! *more happy dancing*.

I happen to be closely related to one of The Body Shops' "Love Your Body" Associates and so as a result I'm always getting lots of free stuff from them! I have so many Body Shop freebies that it feels selfish to keep them all to myself! But sharing is caring and Heaven knows I do care about you my lovely readers and so here I am giving you a chance to win some of these fantastic sets! I chose the Indian Night Jasmine scent because it's honestly one of my favourites, it smells soo yummy! Body Shop describes the scent as "inspired by a moonlit night in a Mughal garden" and "a blend of oriental and floral accords". I can't say that I've ever experienced a moonlit night in a Mughal garden and perhaps I need to add it to my bucket list because the scent it inspired is absolutely breathtaking! But don't take my word for it, enter my giveaway below to get one of the following sets for yourself!

Set 1: Indian Night Jasmine Body Lotion and Eau de Toilette

Set 2: Indian Night Jasmine Shower Gel and Perfume Oil 
Set 3: Indian Night Jasmine Eau de Toilette and Vitamin E Moisture Mask
The pearls were a last minute addition when I realised I could have a nice final draw on Valentine's Day! I was wondering about the Manchester city centre when I found them, they practically drew me into the shop, I almost got one for myself but I changed my mind at the last minute. I think pearls always make an outfit look instantly classy and they're so easy to wear as well. Oh yeah, the ring pictured isn't up for grabs! I just thought they looked nice together! Haha.
Freshwater Cultured Pearl Bracelet worth £60. Does not come with the ring, I just love pearls!
P.S. They don't really come in sets like this, I just paired things together myself.

So here's what I've thought up so far; every friday for the next four weeks, one lucky reader is going to get the chance to win one of these lovely The Body Shop pairs and then on Valentine's Day, which is the last Friday, the winner would get this lovely pearl bracelet worth £60! Unfortunately this giveaway is only open to my readers in the U.K.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Oh, before I forget, I'd be announcing the winners on Sunday's. Happy entering guys! And may the odds be ever in your favour!

Reni xx

Thursday 9 January 2014

Short Story: For Him, For the World


So I wrote this short story this morning after seeing this picture that someone had made from two illustrations by the extremely talented Hayden Williams. The picture pretty much sums up the theme. Enjoy and see you on the flipside!
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I opened my eyes and waited for them to adjust to the semi-darkness of the room, I could still feel his arm wrapped loosely around my waist. I wriggled to free myself from his warm embrace, careful not to wake him; he was fast asleep, snoring softly. His face was the picture of perfect peace, if you saw him now you could not tell of the activities of last night. Of how he kissed and caressed my body into sweet oblivion before taking me fully and making us one again and again. Don’t think that he did all the work though, I giggle inwardly as I look around the floor, random pieces of lingerie strewn around the room and the tell-tale chair of a lap dance still sitting awkwardly in the middle of the room. I pick up his baby blue shirt and put it on, doing up only the middle button and head to the bathroom to freshen up. It’s only 6.30 a.m. and the day ahead is a gruelling one.

As I finish brushing my teeth I hear the sound of the maid quietly leaving the morning coffee and newspaper outside our bedroom door. Maria was one of the best maids in the house; she was never late with the coffee or the paper. I wheel in the morning cart and get back into bed next to my husband. It still tickles me to refer to him as my husband, even though we’ve now been married for two years. His arm automatically finds me and draws me in closer to his warm body so that we are lying back to chest. “Good morning my darling” he whispers in a voice still thick with sleep, his warm breath tickling my neck. I turn around and kiss him good morning, letting the butterflies in the pit of my stomach run wild as I remember the events of last night once again. “You’re wearing my shirt I see, let’s get this off so you can go and shower” he says as he kisses me again and undoes the buttons with one hand. I resist weakly and even though my mind knows we have less than 90 minutes to be ready and picture perfect, my body doesn’t care. I run my fingers across his face and down his chest and hear his breath quicken as I roll him on to his back and sit on him with my knees on either side.

I kiss him from his neck down to his belly button before sliding off him and grabbing my dressing gown from a nearby chair. “You, sir, need to shave and drink your coffee before it gets cold” I say “It’s only t minus 67 minutes until your speech to the farmers of this great city and I need to prepare to speak to their wives and children.” I feel rather than hear him groan inwardly as he pulls himself up into a seated position and locks eyes with me. His eyes as dark as the milky coffee he now holds in his hands, and once again I feel rather than hear him say how much he loves me. I hope he feels me back as I break the gaze with a soft laugh and head to the guest bedroom down the hall to get ready. No time to share our bathroom now, plus the tension in the room is palpable.

After I shower Grace, my personal assistant, is fawning over me in the most ridiculous fashion; making sure my skirt is straight and my shoes are polished and my unruly hair is pulled back, while rattling on about all the things I need to remember and the people that are most important in the community. It’s now t minus 22 minutes till we have to be at the community hall where my husband and I will attempt to woo the farmers into giving us their votes. I head down the stairs and see Mark already in the car waiting for me, looking handsome and fresh in his white shirt. We ride in silence for a few minutes while he finishes scanning the newspaper and then he turns to me and says “You look absolutely beautiful in your suit Mrs. O’ Connor” and then in a hushed tone “I can’t wait till your back in your birthday suit tonight.” I glance away slightly embarrassed and catch the eye of the driver who I’m sure heard everything and then look back at Mark who just grins that boyish grin I love and winks at me. We arrive at the hall and just before we are called on to the stage I whisper something into Mark’s ear making his eyes go wide but before he has a chance to respond we are called onto the stage and are met with thunderous applause.

“The Senator and his wife Mr and Mrs Mark O’ Connor!”. We hold hands as we mount the stage and I can feel his pulse still racing in the palm of his hand. Game face on now, it’s time to take over the world. Oh you want to know what I said to him? Well… that’s a shame because a lady never tells.

**********************************************************************

Hope you guys enjoyed it, let me know what you think in the comments section. Your feedback means the world to me!

Reni xx

Wednesday 8 January 2014

Calling On Patience and Hope

I was initially going to do entire posts on Lagos and all the various shenanigans I got up to while I was out there for about three weeks but for some reason I just can't bring myself too. I wonder if it's the passing of 2013 that makes me just want to leave my memories, good and bad, folded up neatly in my head. I don't know but I do know that as I scroll through my camera roll and recount the great times with family and friends something in me feels like analysing them and putting them in a blog post might somehow adulterate the feeling I get when I think of Christmas 2013 in Lagos.

I'm lying in bed here in London, back to the grey and the gloom that I all but forgot about, with my laptop propped up on my and thighs and thinking. Yes, thinking. Because now that the holidays are over and everyone is getting back to their various realities I'm trying desperately to figure out what that is meant to be for me. You see I had a plan that I would have a full time job that I loved before graduation, then it turned into "by graduation" and eventually morphed into "By January 2014" and so here I am with January 2014 already a week gone and feeling a little underwhelmed by my current situation. There isn't much to say or be said about it really. I'm still searching and waiting for call backs, as tedious as the whole process is, I'm trying to remain patient and hopeful.

Patient for that first 'real' job that I know is coming my way and hopeful that 2014 would bring even more joy and cause for celebration than 2013. Everyday when the feelings of doubt threaten to overwhelm me I will try and remember this quote:



What are you being patient and/or hopeful for this new year?

Reni xx

Tuesday 7 January 2014

Graduation at Michael Caines!

So I've been bad this last month, plus if I told you I had been writing this post for the last two weeks you probably wouldn't believe me.. but I can explain! Since my last post I've moved out of my flat in Manchester, graduated with distinction from my Masters Programme, moved to London and then gone on holiday to Lagos and am now back in London! So I hope you guys can see that I haven't just been totally neglectful for no reason, things in Lagos were pretty hectic but in the best possible way! This is the first Christmas holiday in about 6 years that I have no exams in January so I'm really taking full advantage and have been out and about almost everyday.

But before I get into Lagos and all that is amazing about it, did I say how awesome graduation was yet? It was amazing, my ceremony was in the evening and it was already dark outside by the time it started so I tried to add a little extra touch to my outfit since it was a "night time" affair. 
 It was a nice short and sweet ceremony with just a handful of us, especially compared to my undergrad graduations where the hall was literally jam packed with proud graduates and even prouder families. Obviously there were lots of proud graduates and parents as well this time too, just on a smaller scale.



After taking pictures with all my people, I went with my familia to Michael Caines Restaurant at Abode. (By Michael Caines I mean the Michelin star chef, NOT the actor! You would be surprised how much confusion that caused through-out the night!)


Left: Million Dollar Shake. Top Right: Passionfruit Cheesecake. Bottom Right: Creme Brulee
The food was great and dessert was definitely my favourite part of it but the service could have been a lot better in terms of attention given that it's such a fancy restaurant! But all in all I had an awesome graduation evening. Hoping for many more of these type of celebrations this 2014.


Happy New Year Everybody!

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