Romance Meets Life

Beyonce Keeps it Casual and Smart For Her Vacation Style
Another Royal Wedding - Prince Felix and Claire Of Luxembourg Get Married
Family Time - Robin Thicke and Paula Patton With Son in New York
Funke Akindele, Alibaba, Dakore Olumide, Julius Agwu and More at Kate Henshaw's Book Launch
Paul of PSquare Proposes to Anita Isama - Who Else Foresees a Double Wedding?
We Take a Mini Vacation - Road Trip From the West to East Across the Cascades
Rita Dominic, Danai Gurira at the Premiere of Andrew Dosunmu's 'Mother of George'
Kate Henshaw Looks Radiant at the Launch of Her Book 'The World of an Actress, My Story'
Man Candy of the Week - Banky W Yes Or No?
#NavyYardShooting - Obama Calls For More Consistent Gun Control
Miss Ebonyi at 2013 MBGN, Ujunwa Onwudilo, Married Two Months After Quitting the Pageant
New Biography of Kate Middleton Covers Her Life From Childhood Till Motherhood
Chrissy Teigen Flashes her Rings and Happy Husband as They Honeymoon in Portofino
Magazine Covers - Nse Ikpe Etim on High Flyers Debut Edition

Beyonce Keeps it Casual and Smart For Her Vacation Style

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 09:06 PM PDT

When I was packing for our mini vacation, I was torn between casual and smart. Of course, I can't hope for Beyonce's wardrobe, but it's nice to see what I can borrow from her look, certainly not the Daisy Dukes above though :)

I first packed a couple of gowns and a pair of shoes I needed for our weekend in Spokane, then I switched to a skirt and a pair of wedges, then just before we left, I changed it to tights and a sandal. Beyonce mixed it up because her vacation was obviously much longer. There's a mix of gowns, maxi skirts, tribal, jumpers, shorts and more. Enjoy...

Another Royal Wedding - Prince Felix and Claire Of Luxembourg Get Married

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:13 PM PDT

Prince Felix Of Luxembourg and Claire Lademacher, in a departure from most royal weddings celebrated their marriage in a low key Civil Wedding at Villa Rothschild Kempinski on September 17 in Germany. Prince Felix and Princess Claire also showed their uniqueness by selecting this tiny car [reminds me of a Keke but is actually a BMW] for their going away vehicle. See more pictures of the lovely couple below...

Family Time - Robin Thicke and Paula Patton With Son in New York

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 02:10 PM PDT

Paula Patton, Robin Thicke's wife has been under a lot of speculation recently. Open marriage? Cheating? Who knows? The family are just doing them. Love these pictures of the couple out shopping with their son in New York.

Funke Akindele, Alibaba, Dakore Olumide, Julius Agwu and More at Kate Henshaw's Book Launch

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 01:09 PM PDT

Kate Henshaw [see here] launched her book yesterday, and to support her were her fellow actors and actresses, and other industry mavens. Some guests were Funke Akindele, Alibaba, Julius Agwu, Susan Peters, Dakore Olumide, Joke Silva, Adesua Onyenokwe, and more. See pics below...

Paul of PSquare Proposes to Anita Isama - Who Else Foresees a Double Wedding?

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 12:05 PM PDT

Paul Okoye has just proposed to the mother of his child, Anita Isama, just weeks after his brother did the same. Paul is certainly following in his twin brother's footsteps, and I won't be surprised if this translates to a double wedding like in their video above, No One Like You. Not only did Peter and Paul both have children before marriage, their partners are strong independent women.

While Anita and Paul have been dating for long years, and had their first child several months ago, her identity and pictures are something they have both kept quite private. In the only interview he talks about her, he said;

"I started dating her when I was nobody and today, she has become part of me. She is my best friend and I am not seeing her as my girlfriend because she is more than that.

If it were somebody I met when my career is blooming, I am sure we would have been having problems. But she is somebody who doesn't bother about who I am.

She has this believe of do your own thing and let me do mine. She is a nice person even though every woman has her fault. She is in fact the best thing and the worst thing. When I say best, she is the best thing that makes me happy but she is also the only thing that makes me sad. Whenever she does something that hurts, it will hurt me the more. If we both have a quarrel, the pain is worse. Na she dey sweet pass and at the same time, na she dey pain pass."

We wish the newly engaged couple all the best as they prepare for their nuptials.

We Take a Mini Vacation - Road Trip From the West to East Across the Cascades

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 01:11 PM PDT

To say a proper good bye to summer which leaves early around these parts, Tola and I decided to have a short road trip over the weekend to the east of the Cascade Mountains which kind of divides Washington state in half.

Seattle is on the West side and Spokane is on the East so that was where we headed with the plan of finding our way to the Grand Coulee dam which is somewhere in between. The dam is also the largest in the whole of North America. Quite impressive.

Pictures so far, me trying to be artistic :)

Light jeans and my Sade T-shirt, feeling like a baus, thanks Sting :)

Mount Rainier in the background

We got outriders. Twice. Two different sets of two bikers :)

Out and about Spokane

With the Music Greats

Yay!

The Irony, the irony :)

We try to keep active

A small dam in Spokane

Grand Coulee Dam

Don't know why I stood at such attention, lol...

Rita Dominic, Danai Gurira at the Premiere of Andrew Dosunmu's 'Mother of George'

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 08:01 AM PDT

Mother of George is the story of a Nigerian couple living in New York, and their struggles in conceiving a child and the strain this has on African traditional values [watch trailer]. Directed by Nigerian photographer and filmmaker Andrew Dosumnu (Restless City), it stars Isaach De Bankolé and Danai Gurira in the main roles.

The movie had it's first screening in New York City at the Angelika Film Center. The screening, organized by Applause Africa, in addition to the actors and producers of the movie, had in attendance other industry professionals such as Nollywood actress Rita Dominic, America's Next Top Model's Nnena, actor Anthony Okungbowa and celebrity hairstylist Hadiiya Barbel.

Kate Henshaw Looks Radiant at the Launch of Her Book 'The World of an Actress, My Story'

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:03 AM PDT

Kate Henshaw, had her book launch yesterday, September 17 at MUSON Center, Lagos. The Book is titled 'Kate Henshaw -The world of an actress, My story. The book chronicles the actress's almost 18 years in the Nigerian Movie industry. More pictures below...

Man Candy of the Week - Banky W Yes Or No?

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:04 AM PDT

Banky Wellington asked on Instagram, Yes or No? I know that is also the title of his song, but if he's asking about the images in this image, I think the answer is very obvious. What say ye?

#NavyYardShooting - Obama Calls For More Consistent Gun Control

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 01:12 PM PDT

Mass shootings in America have recently become even more regular than usual, and more and more we see that the perpetrators are people with mental health issues who should not have weapons in the first place. In the wake of Monday's deadly mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, President Barack Obama has again called on Congress to revisit gun control legislation.

In the above interview with the Spanish-language television network Telemundo, Obama says;

"You know, I do get concerned that this becomes a ritual that we go through every three, four months, where we have these horrific mass shootings. Everybody expresses understandable horror. We all embrace the families — and obviously our thoughts and prayers are with those families right now as they're absorbing this incredible loss. And yet we're not willing to take some basic actions."

"You have a majority of the American people and even a large percentage of Republicans who are ready to move the country forward, and yet we keep on getting blocked," Obama said. "It's a challenge that I'm speaking out on, but ultimately we're also gonna meet pressure from the public to see if we can change how they do business up there."

Hope the legislators are listening, SMH...

Miss Ebonyi at 2013 MBGN, Ujunwa Onwudilo, Married Two Months After Quitting the Pageant

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 07:05 AM PDT

Ujunwa Amanda Onwudilo was among the contestants for 2013 edition of Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN), representing Ebonyi State but she pulled out days before the competition for personal reasons. Those reasons must have been to focus on her relationship because the 22 year old has just concluded her traditional wedding ceremony to her fiance.

She posted the picture above on Facebook with the caption "Thank God for making my traditional wedding successful". Congratulations to her from the RML family and best wishes in her marriage.

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New Biography of Kate Middleton Covers Her Life From Childhood Till Motherhood

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 02:02 AM PDT

Kate Middleton has fascinated many people for as long as her romance with Prince William lasted, and it went into a frenzy after they got engaged and then married. Over that more than 10 years, Kate has gradually come into her own as a princess and more recently as a mother.

Marcia Moody, the former royal correspondent for Britain's OK! Magazine, has decided to compile all her knowledge about the Duchess into a book titled, "Kate: A Biography" which is due out October 1.

Parade spoke to Marcia Moody about "Kate's early years, the biggest misconception about the duchess, and what makes Kate and William a good match." You can see the interview below...

Parade: What inspired you to write Kate Middleton's biography?
Kate had been in Prince William's life, and therefore in the public eye, for over ten years. However, for most of that time she had no official role and was therefore classed as a private person, so there wasn't actually a great deal known about her. Certainly there was a perception about her in the years before she got married that she was simply waiting around for William to propose, and questions were raised as to how she earned a living, and I wanted to look into who she really is.

In the book, you cover Kate's life from her childhood until her pregnancy. How did you conduct your research?
I spoke to people who have known her since she was a young girl, who went to St. Andrews with her and William, who have traveled with her, and who have worked with her. I also looked at all of the existing material written about her, and only used information that I knew was from a reputable source.

What was the most surprising thing you learned about her?
I think perhaps that she has more of a voice than she is given credit for. Kate has been criticized for not talking about what she stands for or believes in, but she is not a politician, and most members of the royal family are similarly guarded. The Queen, for example, has actually given away very little about herself in her six decades on the throne. We have learned about her more through her actions, and not necessarily her words. Kate has only been a member of the royal family for two years, and I think we will learn more and more about her through her actions as she grows more accustomed to her position.

What's the biggest misconception about the duchess?
I think one of them is that she didn't really work during her early relationship with William, but as well as studying web design so she could get more involved with her parent's company, and working as a buyer for the clothing store Jigsaw, I discovered that she worked for a year with the children's charity Starlight. Most of what she did was unreported at the time, but she was very hands-on, getting involved with kids' art workshops, and designing party-ware for sick children who were in hospital at Christmas.

What do you find most interesting about the Middleton family?
I think Carole Middleton is a really admirable woman. She grew up in a family with little money and was state educated, but she started up her own business from scratch, from her own idea. She started it, built it, and made a success of it while raising three children with no formal childcare, and the business did so well that her husband gave up his job to join her. People have been called feminist role models for less!

How has Kate influenced the royal family?
In a break from royal tradition, when Kate and William brought Prince George home from the hospital, they went to stay with Kate's family, and in a further break from tradition, Prince George does not yet have a nanny. I believe that both of these decisions ultimately lay with Kate.

In the book's introduction, you write, "Kate has become more than just her husband's wife." How so?
In her work, she is defining who she is as an individual. She has, so far, taken on seven charity patronages, and I know that for each one she did a great deal of her own research, making secret visits to organizations, attending meetings, and then choosing the charities very carefully to reflect the areas she feels most strongly about. She is involved with sports, the arts and the environment, and many of her choices involve caring for children. These are all her personal choices and therefore start to build a picture of who she is. I think the most interesting, though, is her patronage for Action on Addiction. I found out that she chose to support a charity working with addicts because of how it affects their children. She wants to help support these children so they don't become addicts themselves. To me, it was clear she wants to deal with the root of the problem. She's thinking about the adults of the future.

Much of the book is spent telling the story of how Kate and William met, fell in love, and married. What makes Kate and William a good match?
Kate and William just click, like any couple in a good relationship, and it's so clear when you see them together. They have shared interests and life-views, a similar sense of humor, their friends all know each other, they love each other's families, they strive for the same things, and they are in love.

Kate always projects a poised, polished persona. Was she always that way?
No, she has definitely not always been so polished and poised. She was a complete tomboy when she was a young girl, and even as a teenager she was more interested in sports and outdoors activities than fashion and makeup. I think as she grew into a young woman and moved to London she became more put together. The real Kate is very much a lady, and this comes across when she's in public, but underneath is still the girl who likes a bit of rough and tumble. She certainly doesn't mind getting her hands dirty.

What is it about Kate that draws so much attention and fascination?
Initially, I think anyone who was the long-term girlfriend of Prince William would draw a lot of attention, especially if they have an attractive face and the measurements of a catwalk model. I think Kate has sustained the interest because she doesn't seem like a cold, unreachable, unidentifiable figure, but comes across as warm and friendly. Even though she has led something of a charmed life, she is not from aristocratic stock and she had a similar up-bringing to many people in the U.K., so people still feel like she's "one of us." The idea that someone who grew up in a little unremarkable village and went to kids' parties in the church hall, and is now a duchess who will one day be queen, is an interesting story.

As you note in the book, Kate and William were the first future monarchs who hadn't conceived in the first year of marriage. Why did they wait?
Going from being a private individual to a public figure is quite a transition, and I think they probably wanted to make sure Kate had adjusted to her new role fully before embarking on something so important.

How do you envision Kate as a mother?
Her own mother was firm but fair and I think Kate will be the same: lots of love and affection, but also some discipline as well. Carole established a routine for eating and sleeping very early on with her children, and I'm sure Kate will follow suit. Kate doesn't yet have a nanny, so she will be a very hands on mum, but as she has already shown in returning to her official duties just a month after giving birth, she will be very much a working mum.

You can also read an excerpt from the book, on why Kate and William split in 2007 and what brought them back together, here.

Chrissy Teigen Flashes her Rings and Happy Husband as They Honeymoon in Portofino

Posted: 18 Sep 2013 01:06 AM PDT

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are certainly enjoying their honeymoon. Chrissy is one of us who find it difficult to switch off from our little devices and she shared this picture of the couple having an amazing time on an Island in Italy. Some are looking at the ring, others at the cleavage, but what of John Legend's cheshire cat smile?