Ralph Lauren

Hi guys, I am digressing today from the motherhood journey... back to business.
I was browsing a few days ago and stumbled upon a huge donation by Ralph Lauren and I decided to look up the guy. I have always loved his brand but never read anything about him. Its a good thing I researched cos I liked what I found out about him...

Ralph Lifschitz born October 14, 1939, the youngest of 4 children, wanted to be a professional basketball player or an artist like his father. As a teenager Ralph changed his name to Lauren because he was teased in school since his last name had shit in it. In school Ralph was known for selling ties to his fellow classmates. When asked what he wanted to do in his Clinton year book he said he wanted to be a millionaire. He didn't attend fashion school, but he worked for Brook Brothers as a salesman. At age 26 Ralph designed a wide range of European-style neckties, and with a lot of determination, he eventually sold to Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's.

In 1971 less than five years, he opened a Polo boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills making him the first American designer with a freestanding store. A hard worker the brand Polo grew into a very strong brand. Today his net worth $7.5billion dollars and he is the 122nd richest man in the world according to Forbes..

But you know everyone has his/her own obstacles to overcome, in 1986 Ralph was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent a surgery. His brush with death increased his determination to become bigger and stronger, and he has been able to that. Today the Polo brand is a very strong brand.

On June 11, 1997 Polo Ralph Lauren became a public company traded on the NewYork Stock Exchange under the symbol RL. By 2003, Polo has over 35 stores all over the United States.

Its amazing how someone can grow from grass to grace. what stood out for me was his ability to distinguish is style. At the time he started producing his ties, they weren't in vogue, people didn't wear ties like that, but he stuck with his designs and it paid off. Its funny even designer Calvin Klein said when he was a child in the Bronx, he would see Ralph and think, "who is this person? Who dresses like that?"

Note to self: when you have found what your hands can do, do it. Over look the obstacles on the way, at the end you will prevail.

Secondly always learn to give back to your community,  (if I didn't see the donation I may never have checked him out)

P.S. "Ralph is married and has three children. HIs daughter owns a candy store in New York.. (It is said to be one of the largest in the world). who knows I just might check it out some day.


Got to run. Do have a lovely day and thanks once again for your comments.

Ciao


ciao

My Motherhood Journey

Hi guys..congrats to Obama for winning.
Another 4 years: let's see what going to happen. I must say the man has some good strong will and determination.

Anyways Monday of this week my daughter became 7 weeks. I can't believe she's already 7weeks old. Wasn't it yesterday I gave birth to her?
Well as she grows older her pattern changes: now she is learning how to play and how to smile.
I can see the way she struggles to smile when I make faces at her. The thing I don't like, is the gas issue all babies have. She finds it difficult to pass gas and it always hurts. I hear they will get over it soon I can't wait.
With babies they have to learn every little thing: from how to talk to how to suckle to how to walk. Another thing I have noticed: my daughter has learnt to fight sleep. She wants to stay up more, so she fights the sleep. Who says you can fight nature I hope she realizes it soon.

Anyways yesterday I let her cry for over thirty minutes....now I am not being mean, I was teaching her discipline. It's never to late to discipline one's child. She now likes to be carried all the time courtesy "her grandma"... When I get back and its only me at home with her, do you think I will have the time to carry her 24/7? No and it's not a good habit at that.

Note to self: all grandparents spoil their grandchildren.

During the months of being pregnant I studied a lot about kids who grow up abroad, like in Europe or America, I am talking about America now: "their children are a lot more disciplined than ours. They have their bed times even as early as 3 months. A mother said that she taught her 3 months old baby to start sleeping by 7 p.m and wake by 7 a.m. Her son is 2 years old now and he still does that. In fact now he takes himself to bed. She says with this she can be able to do a lot of things, ETC tidy the house, cook, relax, read as she is a student, be there for her husband and prepare for the next day.

Now I have a friend who complains every time that she doesn't get enough sleep and that she is always tired. When I suggested she develops a sleep pattern for her baby she screamed that it's not possible. How will she not be tired always, when even at 2 years her baby still sleeps by 1 a.m every day and wakes up in the night for Milo....

Note to self: babies can listen to you as early as 4 months... babies no matter how little know what they are doing, and they try to manipulate you.

Explain to me how my daughter knows the difference between someone's body and her bed. She can even tell the difference between her own court and the big bed, and she is what? 7 weeks.

Anyways my breastfeeding journey: my daughter cries a lot and it bothers me. I tried everything I could think of but it didn't work, until I started adding formula into the breast milk. I will pump and mix it with formula. This she loved and will eat to her satisfaction. I just discovered that my breast milk doesn't satisfy her as she is always hungry.

My plan was to do baby friendly till about 6 months, but this doesn't seem like it will happen. I have been chastised for giving my baby formula. In fact a lot of Nigerians have told me that my daughter will not know me and will not be close to me in future because I didn't breast feed her. (You all know this theory is so wrong), even though I have put that off, it still bothered me and I continued breastfeeding and she was constantly crying.

Now I will just transition gradually to formula, before I starve Yosola to death. LOL

Do have a lovely day

Long A'waited Wedding Anniversary Post

Hello everyone as you all know my time isn't mine any more, I have a madam that dictates what I do. lol, but I can't just stop my life right, so I have to device a pattern around her.

Anyways just to let you know that I have begun writing again officially. I can't promise regular updates on my blog but I will definitely try. I will also check your blogs out whenever I have time and leave comments if I can. (do bear with me).

Now back to the story: so on the 25th of October was my wedding anniversary. 4 years ago I walked down the aisle and said "I DO" to Mobolaji Ayodeji Kamson.

Have I enjoyed the marriage: yes I have.
Has it been smooth all the way: no, nothing is actually. Everything has it's ups and downs.
When I hear other ladies talk about their marriages and how they are just there for their kids, I have to say thank God.

Do I take Temi for granted: yes I do, and I must learn to stop that, cos he is a very special person and dear to my heart.

When I first got married I wanted to have kids right away, Temi was indifferent, but I wasn't, after all I had heard stories about Yoruba's being very nosy and always in some one's business. So like every new bride I was a little frightened.

By the second year we had a major set back, Temi had to leave the 9 to 5 rat race and join the "I have to own MY OWN business band wagon", I supported him, even though in my head I felt he must be crazy. As the months past, the word we are on a budget, became our slogan. Since we were on a budget my business had to be on a hold.

So every time someone asked me what I was doing I will try to change the topic.(Okay fine I should have gotten a job right)?
I did try to get a job, but for what I was looking for I didn't find. I wanted to be a radio personality and I still want to be (so if there is any availability, please just let me know, thank you).

By the end of the second year our car had packed up and we had to depend on one car, which wasn't really good. It looked very nice on the outside but had wahala on the inside, (if you know what I mean..)But you know: "what we stood together". I still hadn't stopped worrying about the babies not coming as planned.

Anyways to cut the long story short in this 4 years, being married, Temi and I have become closer. Looking at it now, I know that if Yosola had come immediately, we wouldn't have been able to build this bond we have now.

So as the phrase goes everything works out for good.

I start another phase of my life, first of all I am a wife, I am a mother, I am a writer and then I am an entrepreneur.

My daughter taking her time in coming taught me patience, a virtue I didn't have at all.

I have to go now.
I hope you like what you read..

P.S." contrary to the story I heard, my in laws aren't nosy....

Do take care of yourself and I hope you find love like I have.

Dinner on the 25th of October.
chei I still look chubby...anyways not to worry losing weight little by little....
Ciao

Happy Birthday Temi

Hi whats up everyone? I can see everyone has been interested in my motherhood journey. Loving the comments and don't worry will continue to update you all.

Anyways today is my darling's birthday, he says I have given him the best birthday present ever that's our little girl Yosola, who by the way is 5 weeks old already. Wow I can say time flies. Let me chip this in, she is beginning to know the difference between night and day and not confuse it anymore, so I have started having to sleep for 5 hours straight in the night.... That is pure heaven.

Back to Temi's birthday. I will like to say that he has been there for me. He really has been my knight in shinning armour. You know all these stories about the woman in Africa handling the kids alone, cos it is the their job: this doesn't apply to my family. We live in Lagos Nigeria, and we both are full africans, born and bred in Nigeria, but I must say if I have sleepless night cos of the baby, Temi also has sleepless night as well. We take turns in feeding the baby, that's why I thank the good Lord for who ever invented the breast pump, and the electric one at that. It enables any other person other than the mother to feed the baby breast milk. 

I know this during my pregnancy journey which wasn't easy for me, emotionally, as I was always worried, Temi was there all the step of the way. I remember one day when I went for my doctor's visit as usual, this day I went alone. As I got to the reception, the receptionist asked me about my husband. She wanted to know why he didn't come along with me. It was then I realized that they had all observed the fact that he came along for my prenatal visits. 

On the 25th of this month, which is in two days is our anniversary, maybe as a writer I would write a small love note I am not sure about that, but I will talk more about the love of my life..

I thank God for giving him to me and I really appreciate it.. No complains at all. This is not a lie just for the cameras it's the truth.

So once again Happy birthday Temi

Bon anniversaire mon amour.

Je T'aime de tout mon coeur.

Ciao

Motherhood'

Hello dears thank you all for the comments will definitely post some more pix of my lovely bundle of joy.
Anyways I just had a few minutes and decided to put up this post. People ask me what is motherhood like and I tell them that I take it a day at a time. It's very hard: if I want to be sincere about it, but it is also interesting at the same time. Right now I am still at the stage of waking up in the middle of the night to feed the baby. Men!!!!! losing a lot sleep. The good thing is that I have Temi helping me, but it is still hard. We have to take turns in changing diapers and feeding Yosola.

Then the fact that I really can't just jump up and start traveling to Jericho, is another realisation for me...No!!!!! those days of having a feeling n following it without looking back-----OVER. Like Temi will say: parenthood is a full time job

I said I was going to be strictly baby friendly, but after three weeks of my daughter's arrival I am thinking this plan ain't going to be easy at all. Nobody told me about cracked nipples or the pains, that one has to endure while breastfeeding. Men!!!! I must say motherhood isn't for children. Oh well I still love the experience and I am learning everyday.

Truly motherhood isn't for the fainthearted. You have to want to be a mother before you actually become one. Looking back I thank God Yosola took her time coming. I am a lot more mature, and can handle a lot more.


I have to go now cos I hear my daughter crying, it's meal time and mama is exhausted but happy at the same time.

N/B: " next on my agenda is to think of how I am going to loose the pregnancy weight and get my tummy back to shape.. this one isn't easy at all. but will see how it goes.

Do take care and have a lovely day.

My Journey Through Motherhood

Hi DEARS, I have been kinda incommunicado and that is cos I just became a new mama. My lovely daughter was born on Monday the 17th of September, by 11.22 a.m. She weighed 7pounds, even though she came three weeks earlier.

Anyways I learnt a lot about being pregnant. From the mood swings to the absentmindedness or is it the cravings or the dreadful heartburn anytime you have to eat something. I can remember the first doctors visit it was exciting and incredible. I remember Temi and I couldn't contain our excitement. I also remember when we went for a scan and found out that it was a girl, we were very over joyed, already picking her name. Her father already planning her life: how she will take over his buisness, become an entrepreneur etc...lol.

Anyways when my labour and contractions started I couldn't believe it. The pain was indescribable. Really: women do try. I now look at my mother who had four kids with a different mindset. For me I don't think I can go through pregnancy four times: it ain't easy. Anyways after feeling like superwoman, (I had initially said I wasn't going to have an epidural). When the pain started I didn't need a soothsayer, to tell me to call out for the epidural. But sadly they couldn't give it to me, cos my platelets, (what is responsible for blood clot in the body was low so they). Men!!!! I did say all the prayers in my vocabulary till I could pray no more.

Then when it was finally time to push, It became another story:."I am like why didn't any body tell me about this. The first three times I pushed, I was told that I had to push harder, cos the baby's heartbeat was dropping n if by 12 I hadn't given birth they were going to do a C-section. After all the pain I was going through I couldn't afford to go for a C-section. With the nurses, my auntie, Temi's cousin and my mother encouraging me, I was able to push.

The joy of motherhood is seeing the baby n realizing that everything is okay n the baby is fine.

After birth story will come soon. I have to run away as I am trying to adjust to motherhood. Its a learning process.

P.S. "I must say Temi was really there for me. I couldn't have done it without him. Now he has taken it upon himself to spoil our daughter, I just have to be the disciplinarian in the family...lol.

Do take care of yourself n have a lovely day.

Pix: My daughter when she turned 8days old. her name: Oluwafayosolami Tamunoibitomie Olive Kamson aka Yosola.
2nd pix: My lovely family: "Temi, Ibifiri aka me and Yosola Kamson.

The Godmother Of Cocaine Gunned Down/Griselda Blanco

About a week ago, I saw this head line on yahoo page and thought it interesting. For me I had only know about godfathers and drug lords not godmother of cocaine, so I googled as I always do, for more information. Lo and behold, a woman named Griselda Blanco born on the 15th of February, 1943 in Cartagena Colombia, was known as the godmother of cocaine. Well she was gunned down, September 3, 2012 in Medellin, Colombia at age 69. She even did live long for a world with so much violence attached to it.

You will not believe that this lady had four kids, today only the last of her sons, which she named Michael Corlene in tribute to the godfather trilogy, is alive. She had these kids for her three husbands, whom she ended up assassinating. According to the DEA she was responsible for 250 murders potentially including three of her husbands. Even though she was arrested and served almost a decade in jail, they couldn't pin any murder to her, as the evidence was being tampered with. So after a decade of being in jail she was released, even though she was still running her drug cartel from her prison cell. It was said that she would kill anybody that tried to double cross her, in fact she killed for whatever reason and wasn't sympathetic about it. She was an inspiration in the drug world and was making close to $8 million every week in cash.


I will not tell a lie, when I read about Griselda a part of me was impressed or should I say amazed. I guess all the emotions ran through me. For me I thought for a woman, she really did succeed in a male infested organisation. Also I always will attribute the wild life of drugs and killings to men, but here is a woman who was called the godmother and was feared by both males and females alike.

Anyways after reading her history I was shocked that she grew so cold hearted within years of her being born into this world. Her first murder was committed when she was 10 years old in Colombia, she had an abusive mother, as well. By age 14 she had gotten into prostitution,etc.

If I could have had an interview with her I would have asked her whether it devastated her when she found out her sons were dead (drug related deaths). I would ask her, how she could kill her three husbands? Didn't she love them? The fathers of her kids, cos they doubled crossed her? and still live to be 69.

 Well I guess determination is the key to everything. But I will not do anything that will jeopardize the lives of my kids or other people.

N/B: Just thinking what it would have been like if Griselda was a female advocate, fighting for the rights of women? She would have been a formidable force.

Let me know what you think. Do take care of yourself and .have a lovely day.

Ciao.