Showing posts with label creativity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creativity. Show all posts


Uncertainty can be fearsome at times, other times it can be hopeful or anything you want it to be. In my very early twenties, I found myself regretting a lot of things that I wish I had done when I was a teenager. While these things might not seem like much, they're quite important to me and learning them now is harder than it could've been if I had started earlier:

I wish I had -

1. Learned to play an instrument
This is one of the things I'm really regretting. If I had paid more attention to music class, I probably would've had a favorite musical instrument and learned to play it (For the record, when I mean "favorite", I mean the piano). I want to learn beat making, it's coming up so much and this girl knows nothing about reading music! Right now, my head is clogged with too much, I doubt if I would even have time to learn something new.


 2. Learned at least one sport
One of my lecturers in University used to say that I was useless for sports because apparently I had the right height and I couldn't even play any one of the sports she mentioned. She was right, I do not know how to play any sport. I have, however found basketball interesting, but that's all there is to it - I find it interesting. I don't know anything about the sport, I don't even watch the games, nothing. I did visit a basketball court once and was more scared of the ball hitting my face than actually learning anything, so..



3. Kicked my career off earlier
I knew at an early age that I loved writing I have always read from an early age, but somehow, I just told myself that writing wasn't a thing. So I decided to be a doctor, then a lawyer, then, nothing yet till I got into University and was admitted for Human Resources Management (which I was hearing about for the first time then). I totally ignored writing and focused more on becoming a Management Consultant, but writing wouldn't leave me alone and I'm now just getting around to calling myself a writer. I wish I had realized this earlier.




4. Faced my fears earlier
I'm one to succumb to fear easily. That courage thing came for me much later. I'm glad it's far away from being as bad as it used to be, but I wished I had challenged certain things earlier. Maybe now, I would've moved ten times forward compared to where I am now, but Alhamdulillah for the journey so far.



5. Learned to drive earlier
I really wish I was like those people that just put a car on the street and drove. It's probably not important, but this is one thing I've spent too much time than necessary, trying to learn. I'm actually tired as it is. One would think I know how to ride a bicycle, but no. That one too. Let's just move on.



6. Lived more in the moment
I was too conscious of tomorrow to even think about today. I'm not saying it's wrong to think about tomorrow, I'm just saying as a kid, one could be easy on themselves, but I wasn't doing that. I missed out on a lot of things I could've worried less about and even now, I still haven't been able to reach those things that made me worry so much.


7. Traveled more
This right here! Rather than go anywhere - even if it was just three blocks away from my house - I'd prefer to just be in my house or my comfort zone. I remember at some point, I wished I had everything I needed in my room - shops, class, everything - so I wouldn't have to ever leave my room to go outside. Of course, at a point it started looking ridiculous to me.



8. Been responsible with spending
These days, I'm a saving queen when I can. I wish I had started way earlier though. Maybe my current "broke" fate would've headed in a different direction.



9. Made more friends
I absolutely LOVE my current friends, but somehow I wish I had made more friends. Not for the crowd, but for the concept of friendship. It can turn out to be something amazing at times and it's great for understanding the different views of different people.



10. Learned a language
This one is just very funny because, I took french classes from Primary School to University and still hated it. So, let me rephrase, when I say "language", I mean Spanish, Igbo, Hausa, Arabic, Hindi and German. Just that, nothing else. This is not to say other languages aren't good enough to be learned, I just think the way they sound is fascinating for me.


Do you have any regrets? Let's talk in the comments below!

Image source (except poster): Google images

Till Friday, xx
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Happy New Year, guys! It’s not too late to say that, is it? As is the usual fashion, when a new year comes like this one did yesterday, most of us already have our long lists of resolutions waiting.

This year, I have chosen to do just one thing with this blog: Put up posts on Mondays and Fridays (Come hell or high water). Mondays will be for random posts and on Fridays, reviews on movies/series, depending on what I have scheduled in my Cassiedaves Blogplanner.

Before I run away from the topic, I want to give massive hugs to my readers. You are awesome people! I sincerely appreciate the love you’ve been showing me and my utter laziness towards writing. I hope you keep sticking with me.

For the “clean slate” type of people like me, here are (In no particular order) ten things to do this January:

1. Major goal anyone?

It’s January, you’ve written down your long list of goals and you have the entire year to fulfil them. Sometimes, we get overwhelmed trying to achieve these goals all at once, so the interesting thing to do in a month like January is to pick the major goal. This task could be quite herculean because, a few goals can be on the same levels of importance, but they can still be narrowed down depending on priorities.

Once you have picked the most important one, make sure you are able to set it rolling and if possible, achieve it before the month runs out. If this goal is achieved by the set deadline, you are well on your way to receiving the best striker award.

2. Save Save Save

Save in any way you can! Financially, morally, every-other-something-ally-you-can-think-of! Saving is one term that has earned its way into my favorite bank. No matter how small, saving always ends up being really useful at unexpected times. The internet, being an information hub is an advantageous tool for saving facts. Don’t be left out of news flying by every second, they can be useful in business, personal life, even financially! You should subscribe to Google Alerts, it’s great for that. You even get to choose what news you want in your mailbox.

I also came across this handle on twitter and on their website, you can save a certain amount of money (no matter how little) towards a certain period of time. It’s amazing how small numbers can magically transform into big numbers!

3. Who doesn’t love a challenge?

Challenge yourself to try new things. These things are usually the types that never make it on your interests list. Back in school, I hated Computer Science and had to even further deal with it once I got admitted into the university. I still hate it, but I’m trying to see if I can learn coding. Some schools are teaching it online for free and so far, the only one I have registered to is Code Academy. You should check it out, their website is so beautiful and easy to navigate, you would think you were about to have the best meal of your life!

4. Everyone has a brand

A brand can have different definitions, depending on the person. I have two brands – my entrepreneurial business where I sell caps (more coming on this pretty soon) and my writer/poet brand: Lola Ogunnupebi. In a month like January, you can research the different strategies, techniques, methods in which other people in the same field have employed to grow their brand(s). Check out their journey, what makes them unique and use these as inspiration to form your brand’s identity.

If you already started, this is a fantastic month for reviews and future needs/goals for your brand. Constant brand development is an essential part of brand growth and there is no better time for that!

5. Stare the year in the face

So it knows you mean serious business! Just like you did for January, assign other goals to other months in an order of priority. I’m not saying that some of our goals are more important than the others, it can be easier for execution when we plan accordingly and follow that plan the way I follow food (which is really strongly).

6. Give gifts that keep on giving

One thing I think I want to do more this year is give. No matter how little. I know Christmas isn’t going to be for another eleven months, but who says it can’t start early? There are amazing causes to support on GoFundMe, you could also register to give blood on Haemo. It’s also still a gift if you can start a campaign on any crowdfunding site. We all need to help in every way we can.

Another way to gift is to help other peoples’ voices be heard or even tell your own story (ies). You absolutely do not have to be a writer to do this at all. Stand To End Rape (STER) is one platform you can contact, to volunteer as writers or story tellers.

7. Mini Self-discovery/Rediscovery

Pick a place to visit this month. Let it be away from everything else familiar. Sometimes, there are parts of us we still haven’t been introduced to. You don’t have to travel to this place, it should just be one to give you solitude. Reflect on everything and every step you’ve taken, are taking or about to take and think of ways to better achieve them.

8. Who wants coffee?

Drink more coffee this year. Because I’m liking it and I want to initiate you into its awesomeness. If I ever get addicted to coffee, please blame Nana Aisha Salaudeen for this hehehehe!

9. Smiles don’t kill, do they?

It is super liberating to smile, guys. The internal tension a smile reduces is out of this world and it’s reception is magical. Even in situations where you can’t seem to make yourself smile, try. Take a deep breath and pop out those gorgeous babies that the English language have decided to call teeth and smile! It calms, it’s peace.

10. Let’s pick a song

We all (well, maybe most of us), have a song that takes us back to some goal or want or action we have neglected, yes? Create a playlist on your phone (with any fun name you want) and collect songs that remind you to either take things steady or never give up, songs that inspire! Listen to them often to remind yourself of where you are going. Don’t forget to have fun along the way!

What is your January looking like? Do you think I’ve left out some salient points? Let me know in the comment section below!


Till Friday, xxx.

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Hi guys!

Ramadan Kareem!

Yup yup, I'm pretty late on the "Ramadan Kareem", but I started this post on the first day of Ramadan and I haven't been able to finish it. Well, looks like it's kicking off quite well. As you have noticed, I've been suffering from the "not-quite-feeling-up-to-blogging" syndrome and have definitely been reading any article I stumble upon to get rid of it, so pleeeeaasse stick with me. For those that come here still even when I decided to take a leave without notice, thank you!!! I see you!

However even in my disappearance(s), I still make sure to keep up with other bloggers immediately I receive their updates (By the way have you subscribed to my blog yet? If not, please do!) and I absolutely LOVE how insightful and fun their posts are. Makes me sometimes look at my posts and be like "Duuuudeeee, why aren't you putting up more insightful posts?"

Please leave a great topic idea or topic ideas in the comment box below of anything you'd love to see. I know you're reading....hehe. Pretty please?

Also this is my birth month! #JuneBaby and my birthday is in ten days! Whoooop! I sort of mentioned a certain gift I want for my birthday in this post and I'm still very much open to that miracle hehe (You never know how whoosh-y these things might decide to turn out). Should I do a post on the list of things I wish for my birthday? My fairy godmother/father could be out there oh! Eyyy e fit be you oh! Hehe

Without digressing too much from the topic and in the spirit of putting up insightful posts, these are the topics from different bloggers that I've been finding insightful and fun so far (The ones I've read ni oh):



You guys know how much I LOVE Sisiyemmie, right? I especially love her posts and their variations. It's always an interesting read, whether all text or the posts with embedded videos in them. Check out these posts on:

1. Ikeja City Mall
2. Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings
3. Sisi Weekly Episode 49
4. Inspiration and Positivity
5. Yummy Suya Scotch Egg Recipe




I watch some of Berry's "pre-posts" on snapchat and then it's amazing to have to read them in texts. I recently just started frequenting her blog and her posts x vlogs are really amazing. Some of the ones I found really delightful are:

1. Hilarious links
2. Agbada on fleek!
3. Glasses and their comments
4. Amazing travel tips
5. Glam and giveaway Vlog




There's this feel to Tuke's posts: She'd write them so well that it'll feel like you're there. Then after that, you'd feel like having the same experience for yourself - or more. I especially love these posts on:



Dami is pretty chic with her fashion and lifestyle posts. Though she specializes in fashion, her non-fashion posts are also always interesting to read. I first noticed her on Instagram and have been stuck to her blog name since then. See below these posts on:




Wow, Chaitra is one blogger that I'd say I get most of my inspiration from. They probably don't manifest here, but they're absolutely there. When motivation wears off, I go back to her site. The posts are sitting there, right? So why not just go back and re-read it?! It's like she's in your mind and knows what you need. One time, I almost read her whole blog because there were such informative and inspiring materials on there! Another interesting part is, she sends you a monthly photo pack for free! Super gorgeous photo packs! This poster is from one of her packs. See how beautiful it is?

Just check out these beauties:

1. Photoshop tutorials
2. Tools for business growth
3. Photoshop Alternatives for non-designers
4. For bloggers and creatives: 
5. Your clients and your online business



Sometimes, I like to find bloggers I haven't heard of through comments and that was how I got to know about The Cocopolitan. The name was really intriguing, so I went over to her website and it was so clean and the posts were just yelling "click me!" hehe. See some of my faves:

1. Monochrome fashion
2. The beach and oversized shirts
3. Denim and dungarees
4. Pink Suit, Pink Suit (I hate oink, but...this is good!)
5. Fashion hacks (Ooh I love hacks! This one is a personal favorite)




She does more of personal fashion and lifestyle and is also fantastic at it. There are loads of tips to learn from, including blogging.I made a review of her Blog planner in April. You should buy it if you haven't, they're amazing!



NB: For more consistency, I've decided to only be putting posts up on Mondays and Thursdays. I really would love to keep this space going and I always appreciate your support!

Please don't forget to subscribe :)

Till next time,
xx
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Hi guys! How have you been?!

It's been quite a while since I came here and quite a while before that, I'm so sorry. First my busy schedule got in the way, then laziness set in after that, or should I say I just decided to rest in for longer.

A quick catchup on what I've been up to: I've been on a movie and series production set as the Production Assistant and these productions were amazing! I'll definitely put up posts about them when they're about to air or be premièred.

 Last Saturday, I was at the fourth edition of Live Your Dreams Africa (I'll write extensively about my experience and takeaways in another post and I was entrepreneur-ally blessed. Literally. You have no idea. I've come to see that creating magic could feel very unique and fun. An icing on the cake would be the fact that someone else is also having fun using and implementing what you've created.

Just like its meaning implies, it's a fantastic feeling to know you've done something that people love. If you do create magic that only you love, don't pass out on the fun of creating it, it just means that there's another form of magic waiting to be tapped and you've been able to create it.

My friend, Haneefah Adam from this post and this post created magic in the past week and the internet have been and is still raving about it.

PHOTOS BY HANEEFAH ADAM
Before then, she had created an earlier magic that had appealed so much to the Islamic community. That tells you that there's no limit to the magic you could create. 

PHOTO : HANEEFAH ADAM
Just make sure to be authentic!

I'm currently creating a magic of my own. It's still in the works and I'm really excited. To top it all off, I have really really really amazing friends and family that are doing everything in their power to take that journey with me. Sometimes, you don't have to create magic all on your own, so as this week starts on yet another fresh page, please try to make magic. No pressure. If it doesn't come this week, it sure will come another week.

Tweet: You've got the wand, just wave it when you're ready http://ctt.ec/4py0T+

P.S: I joined in on this interesting hashtag #The100DayProject where based on your skill, you could share something creative everyday for 100 days. I've been sharing some of mine on twitter @LolaOgunnupebi and on Instagram, @dm_lola. Please see these channels to check them out. You could also participate if you're interested, it's not too late to join the ride. Thanks!

PHOTO : HANEEFAH ADAM


Finally, sip some Coke, all is well with the world. Hehe

Till next time,
xx
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