Life Update 001: “Not Perfect, Just Growing”

Up close and personal. I’ve wanted to do this for a while.

Big Mood.

I am the queen collector of content. Steal these, from my moodboard to yours.

Making this was so much fun.

I’ve been wanting to do this for a WHILE. One of the hallmarks of being an introvert is that I love to get a bit deeper… and honestly, I’ve felt like some of that gets lost in the madness of social media.

So, we’re finally here. Grab your favourite drink and let’s start the weekend together.

In between my fortnightly podcast episodes, I’ll share things that matter to me that I haven’t shared in depth anywhere else on the Internet. Snippets from my life, with links, images and other fun things that have filled my world recently. I started my whole career with writing letters to you and I don’t want that to be a lost art.

It’s crazy how a simple yet good errand outfit can lift your mood

I’d love to know what you think about this first issue. Is this email too short, too long? Do you want more categories? Leave a comment and let me know. This kind of feels like our private space outside of the loudness of social media. I like that.

Where I’m at, personally.

This has been my expression all month. Lol.

“RIP May, the evil you’ve done is enough”

I feel like I can be honest with you guys. I am TIRED - work has been incredibly busy & stressful :( While I’m grateful, I think as we approach the mid point of the year, sometimes you just need a break.

I’ve been to 5 countries across multiple continents in 5 months and it’s catching up with me I think! It’s been a lot of travel and a lot of timezone shifting, but Lagos, Malta, Bangalore (India), New York City and Dubai have made my 2024 pretty amazing. Unexpected, but I welcome surprises anyway.

And now, I’m gearing up for my next trip, can you where we’re going?

From my camera roll: The Lounge at Bangalore airport was pretty epic. This was 5am, but I needed to document it for posterity.

‘Lifestyle’ aka things I’ve enjoyed

Okay in this segment, anything goes.

1. “Everything happens for a [good] reason” — does it really? In last week’s podcast episode (the YT version), I mentioned this clip. And I could not find it among my 1,345 iPhone notes. Well, delay is certainly not denial, I found it! Dr Anita Phillips challenges a phrase that so many of us have heard before.

2. “POV: your life isn’t falling apart, you just need to go outside and play with your friends.” On Thursday, a friend and I cycled across East London while having some great conversations and we had dinner at BRAT. It was divine, you should try it.

3. Polyglutamic Acid. Have you heard of it? Neither had I until my facialist recommended it. It makes hyaluronic acid serums look like child’s play, an answered prayer especially for combination/dry skin. Obsessed, 7 months deep and currently lamenting because I’ve run out. Get it at Sephora UK, Sephora US.

Adorning my life

One thing about me? I love love clothes. And actually, it’s not a waste to invest in the art of style, this video explains why, even Queen Esther did it. If clothes move you as much as they move me you’ll enjoy these:

1. The tennis aesthetic has always been a passion point, and I think that’s gone into overdrive thanks to Challengers and the Padel agenda. This white ‘tennis sundress’ (below) has been the perfect thing for my wardrobe and it has flown off the shelves.

   

2. I have spent months looking for a reliable, every day crossbody bag that isn’t too boxy and utilitarian. I recently got the mini Arco (above) which has been perfect. It’s hard to find new but you can still get it on resale. I love a white bag, and so far they’ve been loving me back by not getting too scuffed. This leather cleaner is my best friend.

3. It’s “summer”, so my default wardrobe has shifted from black to white. Best believe I was first in line to get THE Adesuwa dress from Kai Collective. Can’t wait until mine arrives. There’s something energising about genuinely being a fan of your friend’s brand. Cute.

Lesson of the week

Substack is cool because it has so many fun features like voice recordings. So I thought, why not?

TLDR: Trust your gut. Over everything. I am actively learning how to listen to my innermost feelings. If it doesn’t sit right, no amount of wishful thinking, good intentions or diligent effort with make it right.

I’m all ears…

Growing up I heard the phrase “music is the only medium that has the power to cross both hemispheres of the brain”. While I can’t vouch for the accuracy of this statement, what I do know is that music has influenced my entire life. Here’s what’s been on my rotation lately, both old and new.

1. SSTEDI’s music has been on repeat for months for me. A life saver. Start with Not Alone and Abundance

2. Tyla’s album is still so so so so so good. For the Pop/R&B adjacent girlies.

3. Do you feel like you’re living through chaos? That’s been my life recently. This sermon on Chaos and Order made me look at the messiness of life very different

Good ideas

It never occurred to me that when you have children, you need to plan your life so much more in advance than those of us who don’t have kids or additional needs. I work hard but I’ll be honest, it’s very much on the fly.

As I sat in my friend’s living room and she mapped out the strategies needed to send her child to a good school (they were planning 5(!) years ahead), we offered words of support affirming how intense it must be. However she simply responded, “guys it’s actually fine, I love having something to conquer”. And that stuck with me. We both have fiery, leadership-inclined personalities and that statement articulated for me why new challenges can be hard but oh so rewarding.

And that’s a wrap on my first life update.