Confessional Friday: Link Up

 

1. My worst fashion offense of all time has to be sports jacket and girly flared skirts my whole 1st year of College (Strathmore Uni dress-code curse) I'd show you a picture but no way!


2. The most embarrassing song on my iPod #TeamSamsung :-) is probably Furi furi dance by Jimmy Gait - the song isn't embarassing, me dancing to it whenever I hear it, that's embarassing!

3. The last white lie I told was to my mechanic.

4. The celebrity I most wish would disappear is Amanda Bynes, Lindsey Lohan, Honey Boo Boo's mom (sorry)

5. Sometimes, I wish I could make all my dreams come true!

6. My childhood crush was David Beckham, yup I started long before the Americans caught on, I have the biography, the 1000 piece puzzle, the gajillion press clippings - yeah!

7. I've never turned down free music.

8. Praise make me a nervous wreck. 

I appreciate people talking about what I've done well.achievements or anything, but I get nervous when they make too much of a big deal out of it. We have a Kiswahili saying, "Mgema akisifiwa tembo hulitia maji" that basically translates to "if you over-praise the winemaker, he'll start adding water to the wine" basically meaning the quality of whatever is praised starts to diminish. Blame that for my fear.

9. I'd rather watch paint dry than listen to someone try to explain something he clearly has no idea about.

You know the type, never wanting to admit they're wrong or asking a junior for their input and who get their power from making you feel stupid, especially people in authority. Yeah, a hunk of burning issues right here!

10. Much like a train wreck, I can't turn away from watching Real Housewives of Anywhere and my Spanish Telenovelas - I'm hooked!

Confessional Friday: Link Up

 

1. My worst fashion offense of all time has to be sports jacket and girly flared skirts my whole 1st year of College (Strathmore Uni dress-code curse) I'd show you a picture but no way!


2. The most embarrassing song on my iPod #TeamSamsung :-) is probably Furi furi dance by Jimmy Gait - the song isn't embarassing, me dancing to it whenever I hear it, that's embarassing!

3. The last white lie I told was to my mechanic.

4. The celebrity I most wish would disappear is Amanda Bynes, Lindsey Lohan, Honey Boo Boo's mom (sorry)

5. Sometimes, I wish I could make all my dreams come true!

6. My childhood crush was David Beckham, yup I started long before the Americans caught on, I have the biography, the 1000 piece puzzle, the gajillion press clippings - yeah!

7. I've never turned down free music.

8. Praise make me a nervous wreck. 

I appreciate people talking about what I've done well.achievements or anything, but I get nervous when they make too much of a big deal out of it. We have a Kiswahili saying, "Mgema akisifiwa tembo hulitia maji" that basically translates to "if you over-praise the winemaker, he'll start adding water to the wine" basically meaning the quality of whatever is praised starts to diminish. Blame that for my fear.

9. I'd rather watch paint dry than listen to someone try to explain something he clearly has no idea about.

You know the type, never wanting to admit they're wrong or asking a junior for their input and who get their power from making you feel stupid, especially people in authority. Yeah, a hunk of burning issues right here!

10. Much like a train wreck, I can't turn away from watching Real Housewives of Anywhere and my Spanish Telenovelas - I'm hooked!

52 Weeks of Bloggin with a Purpose: Who I am

It's difficult to be faced with that question. At 23, a college graduate, working in an office job, I should have it figured out by now but I don't. Truth is most days it feels like I'm living in the "Who I'll be one day" phase rather than the "Who I Am Now".

Who I'll be one day is wife to an amazing man of God, mother to adorable kids. A daughter, a sister and an aunt. A sister-in-law, a daughter-in-law and a friend. Pastor in an amazing Church.

Who am I now? That's a tough one.

Well, I'm a writer and a blog designer. This is a newly-formed passion of mine. I've written all y life. In High school I was the annoying girl who did extra essays, compositions and book reports for my English teacher to grade. At some point I thought of that lady as my best friend! Yeah, I'm that girl who scribbled in her journal about boys and God and my future in somewhat equal measure.

I'm a singer and learner and lover of music. I sing at my Church worship team and I love it and it's something I want to pursue.

I'm daughter to an amazing mom, sister to an amazing sister and auntie to a bunch of amazing kids

I'm friend to amazing friends and I love each of them dearly.

I'm many things, but mostly I'm a daughter of God. Beloved, treasured, fought for and won, delivered, redeemed, restored and all those many words that mean, God, creator of the universe loves me and gave Himself for me and for my freedom. His love and grace overwhelms me.

I'm a person learning what it means to walk forgiven and what it means to be redeemed. I'm many things but one thing. Does that make sense?

Confessional Friday

I'm linking up today at A Blonde Ambition because I have plenty of things to confess!

I confess that I can't wear this red lipstick out of the house, it feels a little..."gaudy" to me.

I confess that I doubt I'll ever live alone again. When I get home after a long day what I need the most is to see familiar faces around me!

I confess that I love blog design and might see where that adventure takes me.

I  confess that I'm nervous bout my interviews later this month seeing as it determines a huge chunk of my future!

I confess that I am searching high and low for a leather jacket like this:

Source: coggles.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

And leather leggings like this...

Source: fashforfashion.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

That's it for now. If I bear my heart anymore, I might scare a few people away!

Build 'Em Up: Remembering You

Linking up today with these beautiful talented women, so if you're here from there :) Welcome! Can't wait to meet you.

 I'm not a mom neither am I married, so at first glance, you beautiful married people might think, "Why do you need to remember you, isn't your life all about you?"  Haha, well, yeah...totally a little bit...

Here's the thing though, at this stage of my life, I spend 100% of my time thinking about my future and how I'm going to get to where I need to be so I can get married and have kids and start raising a family. I think about traveling and getting things checked off my bucket list. I spend a considerable amount of time stressing about finances because it is just me. Apart from that I work 8-5 and go to a night class 6-8P, AND this month I sing in 3 services at Church.

So, I'm "on the grind" financially. Mentally, those concerned voices start playing back in my mind, from my relatives at every wedding you attend "So when is it going to be your turn?" The fear that I'm going to be smiling and saying "Soon!" until I'm old and grey.

Physically, there's always that extra 7 kg hanging over my head, (or below my feet as it were)

So, what do I do to prevent myself getting run down? How do I take care of myself and keep my identity?

Well, I'm definitely lucky because it is just me. When I get overwhelmed, I can take a step back and re-evaluate. Some things that give me some "me-time" and renewal.

1. Keep Things In Perspective: This for me just means prioritizing the things that are important to me. I'm not working right now because I necessarily love my job, but I need to put in effort since this is the ministry assigned to me at this point in my life. I hope to see it grow more into things that I'm passionate about like Church work and/or raising a family, but here's where I've been blessed for now and I need to remember that. (Especially on cold Monday mornings)
2. Singing: I LOVE to sing. Whether it's every couple months when I'm on stage at Church or alone in my room or driving around. I LOVE it. It makes me feel happy and fresh afterwards. Some music you should definitely check out is Owl City for a fun pick me up or Bethel Music for some renewing, happy worship. While you're at it, kick your shoes off, forget your two left feet and dance!!!
3. Reading: First up, your Bible. This makes me happy, especially when I get some insight that I hadn't gotten before. When God speaks, it changes everything about the course of my day. It realigns me completely. Another book I'm currently reading is, "Face to Face with God" by Bill Johnson. It's taking me a while to get through because I'm always crying - this book is almost all about the goodness of God.
4. Pampering: Take a looong bath/shower. Do my nails, deep condition my hair, do a moisturizing face mask. This always works. Especially if you use great smelling products. And, SHOPPING! I don't know about you, but a great pair of earrings makes me happy  :D

*Bonus - Movies: I try to get out and watch a movie once a month or every 2 months. The rest of the world disappears for a couple of hours which is great sometimes. Some of my best memories happened watching a great movie...I can't remember the stressful parts of those days, just the rush I got when the hero saved the day.

So that's just a couple of things that work for me and could probably work for you too, even if your schedule is a little tight.

God Bless,
Jo

Friday's Letters

It's been awhile since I've done one of these! If you're here for the 1st time from the link-up, bienvenue, welcome, welcome, welcome, feel at home or as we say here in Nairobi, "Karibuni" look around, grab a button if you'd like, follow and join my adventures and lets have fun.

Moving on:

Dear Week,
I am glad to see the end of you! Laundry's done, house is cleaned, I'm ready for some rest!
Dear Church,
I'll be on stage leading (background-ing as it were) worship for the 1st time from next week, please go easy on me, I'm still new! :-)
Dear Music,
I'm loving you more each day, writing you, hearing you, singing you, and looking forward to Saturday's vocal training classes.
Dear School,
You've stressed me out this week, ridiculously! But, also learning a lot of life lessons from you.
Dear Mom,
Thanks for being there for me to love on!
Dear Sister,
I miss you, that's why I called you, not for my letter!
Dear God,
Can't fail to see your provision this week, from mom offering to buy me a 2000/= dress, to her not freaking out on me about the school thing, to finding good deals on clothes. Yes!
Dear Nerd,
Thanks for treating me to lunch, I totally needed that after the week I had...pasta and ice cream makes me so happy!!!!
Dear Future,
Applications have been made, my part is done, now all we can do is wait on God to show up and provide!

Finally, to you my elusive man who I'm yet to meet...

xx
Jo

Blogger 411 Link Up...Get to Know Me!

I love a good link up and this was so fun. So, if you want to know a little about me (as if I haven’t shared enough!) read on, and join the link up, so I can get to know you!

1. How long have you been blogging and what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?

I’ve been blogging for a little more than 1½ years. I got started because I like writing and I was going through a lot of changes in my life and felt like it’d be cool to look back in a couple of years and see all the crazy thoughts I had. My blog has changed a lot, as have I. In the beginning, it was a little more business and reflective and serious, I think now I’m more open, more silly, more me. Plus, there’s a lot more of a Christian vibe this year.

2. Did you go to college? If so, where and what did you study?

I started off in Strathmore doing my CPA’s and now I’m finishing up at Kenyatta doing Marketing, graduating mid-late next year God willing.

3. Where have you travelled?

I was born and raised and still live in Nairobi, Kenya. I’ve left the country once to Ethiopia when I was teeny tiny, other than that, I’ve travelled a little on school trips and what not, to Mombasa most recently and Rift Valley when I was a kid.

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?

A plane ticket to Redding, California and a cheap apartment so I can go to Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry :-‘)

5. What are your three biggest pet peeves?

People who cough or sneeze without covering their mouth

People who invade personal space, stand too close when talking or touch my face (NO!)

Inappropriate messages on Facebook that come with a friend request (like, "you’re hot accept my request")

6. What is your favorite movie?

The Avengers!!!!!!!!!

7. What is your drink of choice?

I’ve become a huge water girl, other than that, fresh juice or Del Monte.

8. What is something you enjoy to do in your “me-time”?

Watch movies or catch up with TV in bed after a long hot shower, with some delicious food.

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?

That’s about 850,000/= Practically, I’d “Muthurwa” it all and re-sell it for a ton of money. But for the sake of this, I’d do the Identity -  EnkaRasha - Mr. Price - Woolworths tour.

10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past or present?

Dancing on stage in High School and my costume top slipping off showing some major side boob in front of the entire school and teachers, including my make chemistry and math teachers…that’s my go-to embarrassing moment, nothing has ever beat that.

11. What day would you love to relive again?

The first time I ever swam in the Ocean. It’s a great memory, I was with a bunch of people I loved and called my friends, I was in love, and I felt incredibly safe and happy. We ate fried potatoes {viazi karai}on the beach, we took pictures as the sun was setting and the moon was rising. Had a party and took loads more pictures back at one of our hotel rooms. The one and only great memory I have from that whole season of my life. Loved that day!

12. If your life was turned into a movie, what actor would play you?

Troian Bellisario who plays Spencer on Pretty Little Liars…she can do smart, edgy, mysterious and type-A and she knows a thing or two about falling for the wrong guys, but appreciating the right guy when he comes along.

13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?

High school kids don’t get jobs in this part of the world…school is pretty intense, no long holidays. My first job was interning at a major company brewing the best beer in the world for a couple of months after my 2^nd year of college. It was a customer service/marketing job.

14. Show us a picture from your High School or college

clubbing 1st year of college, hugely embarrassing!!!!

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?

Again, Redding, to go to BSSM.

16. Show us the most current picture of you or your family of anything of meaning to you

thought a more innocent picture of me would erase the image of the first :-)

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?

Married. In love. Working at a great culture-defining church. Leading a worship team. Taking the world for Jesus with my hubby. Hanging out with my family (siblings) as much as possible. Hanging out with my bff’s as much as possible.

xx

Jo