Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Social Media Week Lagos; My Panel

So my panel at Social media Week was a raging success if I do say so myself.

I honestly thought we'd get about 15-20 people max but it was at capacity, the seats were packed! The attendees were so interactive, asked questions etc, I had a great time. 

I didn't take any pictures seeing as I was on stage the whole time but these are the few I managed to swipe off blogs and Instagram.



Six strand necklace from The Pearl Shop


ASOS wallpaper print dress; Salvatore Ferragamo peep-toe pumps


Like I said the venue was packed and it was extremely gratifying to look out and see people interested in what I had to say, paying attention, contributing....when I saw the first person taking notes it was truly surreal.



The panel was called 'Blogging My Way To The Bank: Blogging As A Profitable Business', myself and Abiola Aloba of Maestromedia were invited to speak about how we turned our blogs into lucrative businesses. It was moderated by Ijeoma Ndekwu CEO of Redrick PR and Style Editor at large of Bella Naija, and the session involved her asking Abiola and I various hard-hitting questions in order to demystify the methods we employed to ensure our blogs earned money for us. This was followed by a very lively Q & A session at the end, which got a bit heated at some point even.

It was held as a part of GUESS Fashion Day and all the events of the day were sponsored by GUESS.

At this point I'd like to say a massive thank you to Uche Pedro of Bella Naija and Ijeoma Ndekwu, their support for Third World Profashional has been constant and unwavering.

Truly marvelous!

I can't seem to find a video of the session anywhere but the minute I do I'll put it up here. In a nutshell I explained how I make Google Analytics work for me, how I employ affiliate marketing to earn commissions, how I develop several revenue streams as an offshoot with the central theme being the blog and fashion etc.

I don't want to give too much away here because I'm currently in the process of penning a "How-To" tome, not necessarily dwelling on how to make money from blogging though that will feature heavily but just simply how to find your niche and become successful in whatever blogging field you choose.

In concise terms, I'm writing a book on blogging, I haven't decided if it will be a self help book running into hundreds of pages or 40-50 page pamphlet style, bullet pointed, DIY mini book. As I go along the content I amass will determine the direction it will take.

And yes...it will be for sale. The general idea is the business of blogging :)


Don't know what I was explaining at the time to make me look so pained, must have been deep.



Ijeoma, Abiola, Me!



I had a real "woah" moment when at the end of it people came up to me wanting to take pictures and asking further questions, on the spot business proposals, that sort of thing.  I've had a lot of OMG moments when it comes to this blog but this experience was beyond.

I remember the day I decided to start Third World Profashional, I had just finished reading 'Fabulousity' by Kimora Lee Simmons (I'm a fan, don't judge me) and there was a little blurb somewhere where she said a blog was a good way to show your originality and discover hidden depths about yourself. I thought about it and in the next second was like naaahhh, no way I'd be able to talk about myself and post pictures up on the internet for anyone that wanted to see and criticize or admire, whichever the case may be. This was August 2008 and my close friends will remember 2008 as being a trying time and I was just starting to get over it, so a blog seemed like such a silly, flighty, childish thing to take on.

Fast forward a few months to October 2008 and I was in my room in Bwari on one of those eternally long weekends when law students don't escape to town and Friday to Sunday just seems to stretch interminably and I was texting my friend Nwabugo trying to describe what Bwari and Law School were like, and I thought  "why don't I just show her". So I powered up my computer and wrote this post, my first ever blog post. Going back to read it now it seems so immature and so funny, I can't believe that was me at some point.

Several times in the past four and a half years I've quit, taken breaks, blogged religiously but through it all I have loved it. I loved it in the beginning when the Nigerian blogging community was a small tight knit family with Naija Fine Boy, Bumight , Afrobella, Original Mgbeke, Afrobabe, Nigerian Drama Queen, Zena, Temite, RocNaija, Bombchell, Anya Posh the original Bella Naija. When I discovered my first Nigerian fashion blogs; Cranberry Glitz, Jadore-Fashion, Ovay West, Kemberley. When we all discovered Twitter and Blogville (as we called it) became ghost town, EVERYBODY was tweeting. When I used to write poetry and random snatches of fiction........

I've loved it up until now when its become a little more plastic and less fantastic, when every post feels like a competition; people racing to rack up comments and views and Facebook likes. Now that its slowly turning from a hobby to an actual viable business I love it still.

I'm very happy in the fact that I've taken several turns here and each one has being the right one, that I didn't lose the joy I get every time I hit "publish", that I've managed to maintain my own voice and my originality and that people like it *in Sally Field voice* they really really like me.

That has probably being the most surreal aspect because back on October 24th 2008 when I hit the first ever TWP "publish" I sincerely thought only my family and friends would read it but it has far surpassed whatever I thought it would be. Seeing the comments, the emails, people approaching me in all sorts of places to say they love my blog, even people I personally admired...the gratification I get from that is completely beyond. I know it happens to me on a ridiculously small scale so I wonder how celebrities cope,  my head will be turned permanently if I received the kind of adulation they must receive daily.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm happy I took the plunge, I'm happy I took Kimora Lee's advice, lol. The positivity I've received over the years far outweighs the random snatches of negativity that tries to sneak into my space.

This is turning into a Robin Williams type acceptance speech, I'm really sorry about that, I just wanted to illustrate how much this blog and the lovely people who support it mean to me.

Thanks you guys, for everything.

Love and light xx

ps; You can check out more photos from the GUESS Fashion Day over on Maestromedia.

photocredits: maestromedia,blogspot.uk; social media week lagos instagram page
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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Social Media Week: The Rundown

Social Media Week Lagos was a whirlwind, a whirlwind I tell you!

There were so many events, so many instructive panels, sooo much to do that everyone was spoiled for choice. Seeing as I'm confined to a desk from 8-5 so I can earn my daily crust I could only attend the events from 6pm onwards which sort of narrowed my enjoyment of the whole affair.

Besides the panel I participated in which took place on Thursday, I managed to catch the Afripolitans reception on Monday at Four Points Sheraton, Africa 2.0 on Tuesday and the GUESS Fashion Day cocktail on Thursday at The Porsche Center.





I met Luvvie of Awesomely Luvvie and this was the 2nd biggest highlight of the entire week for me (my panel was the first :)

I'm a massive fan of Luvvie's blog and I heard about SMW Lagos for the first time from her.


















 Was attempting an amateur street style shoot here when a trailer roared past me. Nobody needed to tell me to get in my car sharpish and head for safety. This life is not about lining Thisday Newspapers pockets with obituary ad money.



 Love and light xx





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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Wedding Sundays


Todays installment of #WeddingSaturdays took place on a Sunday instead, hence the change in title.

It was my homeslice Kike 's engagement and I was a Frockstar in Frockit Rockit for her big day.




Frockit Rockit gold sequin Oleku blouse; aso-ebi velvet wrapper


This was only my 2nd time attending a Yoruba engagement and my 1st time being so close to the action. It was so colourful and so interesting, I loved it.

The woman who MC'd during the whole process (I think she's called a matchmaker, correct me if I'm wrong) was an absolute star. She was hilarious and lewd and inappropriate and simply everything. She kept us in stitches throughout.

I met Kike in Law School but we had attended both Corona and Vivian Fowler and been in the same year but strangely never met.

Small world.

The gorgeous bride.




Beautiful People












Had to leave the wedding a bit early because of prior engagements but I had an awesome time, it was so much fun re-connecting with all my friends from Law School, the Bwari gang came through for Kike.

Congrats Kike and Folayemi!

Love and light xx
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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Social Media Week Lagos - Blogging My Way To The Bank

I'll be speaking at 'Blogging My Way To The Bank' for Social Media Week Lagos, tomorrow at The Porsche Center, Akin Adesola street Victoria Island Lagos at 11am.

My fellow speakers are successful bloggers Linda Ikeji of lindaikeji.blogspot.co.uk and Abiola Aloba of maestromedia.blogspot.co.uk and the session will be moderated by Ijeoma Ndekwu of Redrick PR.

Join us for unique insight on how we managed to turn our hobbies into blogging success.

The session is hosted by GUESS and is part of the GUESS Fashion Day conference programming for Social Media Week Lagos.

Go to this link to register to attend the event http://m.socialmediaweek.org/imps/smw/event.html?event_id=77244&rnd=8679729

 

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jakeala



jakeala, spelt with a small “j” is a Natural Skin, Body, and Hair care Line formulated with natural ingredients that benefits the skin and hair. Proudly made in the USA and now available in Nigeria, Africa. Jakeala is famous for its signature gourmet style soaps and lusting fragrances and scents.

Jakeala is cruelty free and 100% natural




Cupcake bath bombs 

Ideal for gifts/weddings/hampers.



Other Fragrances and “flavours” (cupcake soaps and bombs)


Lemonade, Pink Grapefruit, Strawberry, Lime, Peach, raspberry cream, butter cream, margarita, apple peel, Bubble-gum, Lavender, Vanilla, Berry Vanilla and red velvet cupcake.



Bath bombs –instructions.

What are bath bombs? Bath bombs are rounded masses or balls which fizzle when placed in water, partly or completely dissolve, and produce bubbles.Bath fizzies or bath bombs can serve as inexpensive gifts for people who need to be pampered, or who need a calming or invigorating soak. They can also be used to make bath time fun for kids and adults because the bath bombs would swirl, twirl and spin around in the bath tub while releasing that fizzing sound and its skin softening oils.

All of jakeala's gourmet bath bombs / cupcakes are made with sodium bicarbonate, soluble dextrose, citric acid, Epsom salt, organic cocoa butter, olive oil, water-based colorant and essential oils.

jakeala's bath bombs are made with organic cocoa butter and weigh 4.5 oz. They are wrapped in a rice-based compostable bag with a twisty tie and a label.

How to use: Run a warm bath, drop a bath bomb / bath cupcake in the water (or break into pieces and just use a piece). Enjoy the soothing butters, salts and fragrance, Use caution when getting out of the tub, as the oils might leave the tub slick. 



Berries & Cream Soap




Lavender & Rosemary Soap



Macaroon Soaps




Other Soaps:
Mountain Flowers Soaps, Goats milk Soaps, Strawberry shortcake, Tea Tree & Bamboo, Lavender & Oatmeal, Lavender & Rosemary, Key Lime, Vanilla Sugar, Crème Brulee, Orange Hibiscus, Peppermint Tea Tree.

Key Ingredients 
Olive oil, coconut oil, water, sodium hydroide, fresh goat milk, organic sunflower oil, shea butter, lavender, oats, tea tree, parsley powder, vanilla bean, kadin clay, orange oil, aloe concentrate, peppermint leaves etc. 




'Blue Man' set for Him 

Infused with mint, bergamot, sandalwood and moss.




Castile Body Wash




Other jakeala Products

•Mango Butter for hair, Hair Serum. Shampoo and Deep Conditioner.
•Dry powder shampoo.

Customized Blend of Oils (choose your fragrance)

•Long-lasting perfume oils
•Customized lotions for your skin type/conditions
•All our products are made from natural ingredients to boost your skin and leave you feeling beautiful.

Contact

To be a distributor or buy wholesale / For hotel and spas please contact jakealaskinng@gmail.com 

Visit their Blog and share tips! www.jakeala.tumblr.com

Follow jakeala on twitter for treats in facts and updates:
@jakeaalaskinng

And on instagram to view their mini gallery:
@jakealaskinng

Like their page on Facebook and follow  for interesting facts and updates: www.facebook.com/jakealaskincare

T: 08105254098. 

You can get jakeala products in ABUJA at www.themaneplace.com.ng , they deliver to Lagos and are also stocked in PH at Lenu Plaza (Nextime Supermarket) on Abacha Road.


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The Weekend

I had the best Valentine's weekend; full of love, friends, food, laughter and a little shopping, I so didn't want Monday to come.


Primark ombre jumper; ASOS shearling parka; Topshop jeans; Mulberry 'Daria' bag; Dolce & Gabbana aviators


Met up with my girl Ags of Zeldan Festus




Gorgeous Valentine roses :)




Flying the flag for the Sweet Tooths Association of Nigeria (STAN). Macaroons and a strawberry tart for breakfast while en route Bicester Village.





Busaba's chilli prawn fried rice and jasmine smoothie for the win.




The poshest Bug, lol





Texas style Valentines dinner; pulled pork sandwich, sweet potato fries and buffalo wings




Intercepted my girl Ags at Heathrow on my way back to Lagos while she was on her way from Edinburgh






River Island shirt; Topshop jeans; Salvatore Ferragamo 'Varina' flats; Lulu Guinness 'Lips' luggage


The. Best.

Love and light xx
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Monday, February 18, 2013

Elsie Vintage x TWP FNO

The Elsie Vintage Fashions Night Out event at The White Space was awesome. I had so much fun and scored some amazing buys; got a silk printed Escada shirt for just N4000 and a printed mini-dress for N3500. Seriously if you weren't there you missed out.

Elsie Vintage by Onyinye Fafi Obi has an amazing collection of vintage clothes and accessories to tempt even the most modern girl.

Attended the event in my new Third World Profashional tee, got a few of them made in black and white a while ago but never had the chance to wear one till now.




Oh yeah, meet Laolu and Bobo, my adopted dogs who are working with me on slowly getting over my fear of animals.


ThirdWorldProfashional tee; ASOS skirt; Topshop sandals, Louis Vuitton Brea MM


The White Space is definitely the spot du jour for fashionable events in Lagos and its become one of my favourite hang-outs.

Prints to die for.








Beautiful People











Drinking my 'The Profashional' cocktail, which was awesome sauce by the way.




It was a great night, thanks to everyone that came through.

Love and light xx

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