Sunday, June 23, 2013

Vacation

If you're following me on Instagram or Twitter (@LoveTWP), you most likely already know where I went on vacation, if you're not however........

I went to Los Angeles in sunny California!



The land of Hollywood starlets, breast implants, palm trees and perma-tans.

The whole family; minus my baby sister who is in boarding school, upped sticks and journeyed to the West Coast for my brothers graduation. We haven't done a collective family vacation since 2008 as our schedules never mesh, everybody just grabs any free time they can to go mark register at MMA, so this was definitely an experience.

I. Had. A. Blast.

I reeaallyyy needed the time away and though I took just 10 days off for it, I totally made it work.

We started out in Maryland where we spent 3 days with family




My seriously gorge cousin who is a Doctor and is 37...thirty-seven.....like unbelievable. I thank Christ everyday for my family's genes because Lord knows I'm looking forward to slaying as I age.










I caught up with Stella of Jadore Fashion for dinner and at the time she was two weeks away from her due date, she had a baby boy on Sunday the 16th. I am so proud of my girl, she regaled me with tales of the delivery room and she was a trooper throughout.


Yummy mummy for the win!



Landed in LA on Tuesday the 11th and it was like a homecoming.

I like to call Los Angeles the city of my awakening because I came here for the first time when I was 16 and I left a completely different person, the city and my experiences changed me and I was so excited to be back.




Got on the party train ASAP when I went for a fashion show hosted by the Los Angeles Times and Macys with my sister-in-law Onyeka.



The first time I came to LA I was a teenager and definitely far too "cool" to do touristy stuff and I and my friends made sure we stayed away from all the tourist traps, we were far too jaded and world weary to be caught dead looking excited by stuff we'd only before seen on television.

Fast forward a few years, baby girl is currently sans shame so Mrs. U and I journeyed down to Hollywood Boulevard to fully immerse ourselves in the tourist culture.

My sideshow Bob hair was obscuring my mums beautiful face, sorry mummy!






We compounded matters by even going on the Hollywood Bus Tour. This is the first time in my life I've ever gone on a tour of any city I've ever been in and I've been to some amazing cities. I was so excited to do this, ready to be swindled by Tour Bus Operators lying to me that this was the spot, right in front of In N Out Burger where Cher was discovered.

They did not disappoint;

Case in point; this house which I definitely ID'd as Tony Stark's house in Iron Man, our operator now told us its actually Steven Spielbergs house in real life. I excitedly posted it on Instagram only for a friend of mine to tell me when she went on the same tour she was told it was James Cameron's house.


I was swindled.

I am still upset.

In all it was a fun tour and we got to see some awesome Hollywood highlights, my brother and I joked that we were like Asian tourists because every time our operator would say something like "and there's the Viper Room, formerly owned by Johnny Depp and where River Phoenix died", we'd all go "ooohhhhh" and then cameras would go click-click. 

It was hilarious.



The next day I got down to the business of my trip with my mum and Onyeka...shopping!



We went all the way out to Palm Springs which was almost a 3 hour journey from Los Angeles to the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon.

Since I am yet to make my first million dollars, I hold outlet malls, sample sales and discount designer sites in high esteem. I will trek like the Isrealites for a good outlet mall and I'd already researched Cabazon before I got there.



I thought the pickings were pretty good but it performed far below par when held up against other outlets like Bicester Village in England and Woodbury Commons in New Jersey. A lot of the items were still full price, no knockdowns at all and the best deals I got were at Salvatore Ferragamo and Calvin Klein.

I made a pretty good haul though, considering the slim pickings.





The next day we went to see a musical called The Scotsboro Boys at the Ahmanson Theatre which was frankly harrowing.



The Scotsboro Boys were 9 black teenage boys accused of raping 2 white women in Alabama in the 1930's. Despite overwhelming evidence that they hadn't committed the crime they were subjected to an all-white jury, unfair trials, an attempted lynching, several angry mobs and spent years in prison defending themselves. 

I'm fascinated by great tragedies like the Holocaust, the Civil War and struggle for Civil Rights in America, the Biafran War etc...and I read everything I can find on the subjects voraciously. Even though I find them very interesting, the fact that these things actually happened to human beings constantly boggles my mind.

You can see why I was hesitant at the success of it being turned into a light-hearted musical.

It turned out pretty well in the end, the actors were phenomenal and managed to turn a horror story into something funny and seriously engaging. 







Saturday was my brothers graduation and I crave your indulgence *classic Nigerian lawyer speak* to brag about the boy a little.



This kid has been a genius for as along as I remember, not just regular; he's a smart boy and he does well in school; but he was the type that came first or second throughout his entire school career, racking up best graduating student everywhere he went, getting job offers by the dozen. We never had to call electricians for a single thing at home, he'd been hooking us up since he was like 5 yrs old or something ridiculous.

He continued killing 'em by graduating summa cum laude with an MSC in Electrical Engineering and being inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the All American Engineering Honor Society.


 Mrs. U of EVERY DAMN THING!

I mean I'm no slouch myself but my brothers (not just this one, all the little buggers) are ridic with the academic achievements.






Sunday was Fathers Day and I present to you Ikenga & Lolo U.




Sunday was my last full day and after church I spent it with my childhood friend Adaeze who I hadn't seen in 16 years but through the miracle of social media we'd kept in touch all this while.



She's a super talented singer/songwriter and you guys should please check out and like her Facebook page here ----> Dezi Music


*wheeeww*

So that's it, it was an awesome vacation, too short but the time spent with family and loved ones was beyond. We are all so busy we rarely have time to get together like this.

I thank God for these rare moments.



Love and light xx
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50 comments

  1. First of all, can you stop looking so ridiculously gorgeous? The last picture with the maxi skirt? Fabulous! And it is my style too! You took really great pictures and yay for family vacations! Congratulations to your brother. E no easy!

    BTW, this one time you were in my state, I am halfway across on the other side of the world!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes ma, I'll stop, loool.

      Yay, thank you!

      You know what yeah, next time I'm going somewhere I'll put it up so if anyone wants to meet up I can do so.

      Delete
  2. Na your mama bikooooo! Gattdemn! She slayed me and gave me life at the.same.damn.time!
    Woah! You look good too, but momma owned the whole darn thing!
    Inasmuch as I LOVE your blog, I never comment, but I just had to say something today. You look nice as well, but Mrs U was the Beyonce of this show. Ok, I've spoken too much. You get my drift! Lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha, I can't even argue with you, the woman stays snatching everybodys wigs...mine included.

      Lmao @ Beyonce o fthe show, she'll love that, she's a huge fan.

      Delete
  3. Wow! This is your most personal post ever. Thanks for sharing. Glad you had an awesome vacation

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know right, I never usually show my family. Ah well.

      Thanks!

      Delete
  4. Usually lazy to comment but I gat to say this was a beautiful wrap up of your holiday and you're right, family time (especially when you all get along) is absolutely fantastic and a blessing as well. You look great as usual. Your mum too en,............ Correct woman.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol, come out all ye lurkers.

      Yeah I had the best time, everything just seems so dark and dreary after it *sigh*

      Yup, she is.

      Delete
  5. Daks for the mandem!! Glad y'all had fun. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. NIce! Looks like you had a blast. Love the last pic. Oh and btw I need dets on this huuur girl, you need to hook me up ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I diiiidd!! Thank you!

      Its Pro10, that's about all I remember, don't know if it has a specific name.

      Delete
  7. Jelly Belly (jealous in Kardashian-speak) reporting for duty!

    I miss my family! I miss being in a different country! I miss outlets! I miss tours! *waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaails*

    Congrats to your brother! I'm happy your family seems close-knit. Thank goodness for FAMILY FUN TIMES!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awwwwww. Gurl you have NO IDEA how much I missed being abroad. COnstant light, fast internet, the ease of every damn thing *sigh*, if I didn't love Nigeria so much I'd just pack up and return.

      Thanks so much xx

      Delete
  8. BEST POST EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! xx And finally i see Chidiogo..hehe

    ReplyDelete
  9. looks like you had a great time. And you look so damn lovely...as always! Have a lovely week.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm so jealous! I need a vacation.
    I loved how you wore the House of Nwocha maxi that I blogged about it here www.thefairygodmotherng.wordpress.com
    Y'know Victoria Beckham wore practically the same thing recently?
    Ya'll are twinsss! ha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Guuurrl, this vacation did me a world of good.

      I LOVE your post, the audacity of you pitting me against VB though. I claim the twin part sha, lol.

      Delete
  11. You are absolutely amazing, your personality, everything. Well God bless you and your family. Same with my brother too, oh well I want a son like your brother I can show of to all my friends loll

    R

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww thank you love, this means sooo much.

      Amen, amen and amen!

      Delete
  12. Daks, Really enjoyed your post ...I love and always read your blog but have never commented ...this post has forced me out.
    You sure had a family time fun, and you all looked gorgeous (especially your mum).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohmygosh Stella! How are you girl?? Just reading your blog now, can't believe you're in Oman, sooo cool!

      Delete
    2. I'm good dear ...Yeah I've been in Oman since I left Aberdeen. Thanks for reading my blog.

      Delete
  13. Love the hair! And that last pic, its not even the outfit that makes me smile...its the fact that u look genuinely happy! Loveee it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Heavens! How do u manage to be so gorgeous every time?! Wish I knew u personally... U would do a lotta work with me! *sobs*

    ReplyDelete
  15. i was gonna say Mama U for the mandem.. but err Mama U for Ikenga!!! Ur mama is the winner! #thatisall.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I was told the same thing about that house being Spielberg's,now I feel so silly I fell for it..lol.you have such a beautiful family and you look gorgeous as always.Love love your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I enjoyed this post a lot! Congrats to your bro.

    I absolutely love the way you styled that Victoria Beckham look with the yellow coat,I'm not trying to be funny but I think you rock it better.

    And the monochrome maxi, beyond gorgeous!

    Dressed2dnines.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah chill o, VB knocked that one out of the park, I can't even hate. But hey, thanks sha :)

      Delete
    2. I adore VB but babes "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", btw I can't wear that coat in Nig hot weather.

      Delete
  18. Looks like you had a great fun time on your vacation. Congrats to your brother!

    www.jewelzmag.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi dear... it was sooooooo nice to see you and meet the family. Say hello to Mrs U and your aunt that kept me entertained LOL! Next time, biko stay longer.

    ps: I love that House of Nkwocha ensemble...I want one seriously...love the yellow color :)

    xoxo
    Stella

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My boo! Next time I'll def stay longer, now I know you're not that far away from me too.

      Now I know what to get you for your birthday, lol.

      Delete
  20. My Dakkkkkksssss!!!!!! You came back with a bang!!!! Wow! I enjoyed the post sooo much. You all look fabulous. Mrs U, i have no words biko. Just buriful. By the way, is your cousin a Mezu? She looks like someone that was in my secondary school ,though a few sets higher....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, yes ma'am!

      See as my mummy is now the star of the post, lol.

      Yes she is! Oh wow, small world.

      Delete
  21. iJealous! I see where you got those lovely genes! Your family looks gorg! After reading your post, It felt like I was the one who went on the vacay hahaha!

    ReplyDelete
  22. First of all I am soooo jealous. Don't rembember the last time I had a proper vacation. I'm sure you had so much fun girl. Everyone in your family look like fashionista's but I must hand it to HRH & Lolo. :-)

    Congrats to your brother on his graduation.

    And as always you looks like a star. If your stripped pants go missing,don't look to far... LOL.

    www.stylefash25.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Whooop! I'm so happy you had a great time. BIG CONGRATS to your brother and I wish him greater success ahead.

    As always, you never disappoint with your unique style. Keep up the inspiration hun.

    Love

    Laiza

    ReplyDelete
  24. Ohhh - you were on my side of the world. I definitely did the tourist thing when I had my first guests after moving to LA. After living in Atlanta forever and still not seeing the touristy things, I didn't want to make the same mistake. There are still a bunch of places I need to hit up in LA.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Congrats on your bro's grad, lovely photos :)

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  26. Houses switch hands frequently among the "stars" so between when you saw it and when your friend did, it is feasible that it could have been Cameron's and now Spielberg's

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  27. You look lovely, loved ur outfits. It's good that you took time off for yourself, never been a tourist person either but u av encouraged me. Would try to when next am on holiday

    ReplyDelete
  28. Beautiful photos!
    Reading this post was definitly the highlight of my day.
    Enjoyed the pictures n everyting in between.
    You've got a really beautiful family but your mum is super gorgeous!

    http://justporsh.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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