YUMMY, YUMMY, YUMMY!

No matter the huge amount of calories, trans fat and whatever; we are prone to indulging in food that makes us fat; mostly those savoury spicy dishes and  sweet, creamy and sugary deserts and savoury foods  which smells so good and looks so eye catching that we simply can't resist them! But if they are going to make us fat; especially when eaten often, why do we eat them at all?
Well, why not? Food is there to eat for one thing and these days, especially in a country like mine where everyday is a struggle to out food on the table, coping with different kinds of people all the time, one just has to kick back and give oneself a culinary treat once in a while. What makes such  food fall under " guilty pleasures"... besides the amount of calories we're stuffing into our mouths , they are also pricey stuff we can barely afford. But all the same  in spite of  those two flaws, we do indulge them all the same. After all, who can resist!

Mostly indulged here:

SUYA: meat seasoned with various spices, groundnuts and onion; made an sold by Hausa street vendors or in fancy clubs or restaurants.

CHINESE FOOD: It's not to everyone's taste but it's a lot more popular these days as they are now included in most parties' menus and with more chinese restaurants being established.

DONUTS:  Unavoidable even with the sugar!

ISI EWU: The traditional Igbo dish made of goat's head and seasoned with  native spices, pepper & thick sauce (and yes spicy), you'll find this heavily indulged by patrons of beer joints!

ICE CREAM: (especially Blue Bunny) Pricey but what one cannot do without!

MEAT PIES: Next to donuts, the most bought snack in most fast food joints; more than enough to fill your stomach if you missed breakfast or lunch.

PEPPERED CHICKEN: The best of these are found at any branch of Tasty Fried Chicken; pricey... but oh so worth it!

BLACK FOREST CAKE: Chocolaty, Creamy and irresistible even to the  dieters among us!

SHAWARMA : Really Really popular here;  so much so that meatpies have somehow taken a back seat .Beef, chicken, sausage and even vegetarian... it's a guilty pleasure gladly bought often.

PRINGLES :

Ah... not only a guilty pleasure, but a very addictive one! No matter the flavor; you tell yourself just a few and save the rest later but you can't! You eat more and more of these delicious potato crisps, even though they are loaded with calories, and immediately long for more!

"MY FAVORITE THINGS" SEVENTH YEAR

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Yes... my humble blog is 7 today and I can't believe how much time has flown. It seemed only yesterday that I created this blog without a clue on what I'm going to work on; except vague ideas from my old scrap book. After a few discouraging moments, I got more visitors. I think it was when I posted Catalina y Sebastian recaps, followed by the Carbo( Bo & Carly posts) and then the Tu O Nadie (No One But You) snippets. My other blog, IN MY OWN WORDS is yet to be as good as this one and I hope it will be eventually. While I've not made any money from both; having them is rewarding all the same; it's a sort of portfolio to show off my writing skills and at the same time put myself out there and entertain people. I'm very grateful to those who not only visited but left their very kind comments and sharing some of my blog posts. Each comment showed that the blog was doing quite well and I hope more come in. Thank you all for visiting MY FAVORITE THINGS as it celebrates it's seventh year today and I pray for many more years making it better.

Below are some of the blog's best comments:

Bo and Carly are what defines true love ; NBC is ridiculously stupid for letting them go.They need to do whatever they can to bring them back!
- THE FIGHT TO SAVE BO AND CARLY 

I completely agree with you about Bo and Carly being my all time favorite couple on Days. I think what I liked about it most was that Carly was a strong independent woman and it made Bo have to step up to the plate more. I really like the added twist of the chemistry between Carly and Lawrence. Oh well, I don't think there are any actors that can fill the shoes of the original actors in these roles. It would have to be a complete reinvention and I don't think that's something I'd want to see. That being said, I'm hoping that they may possibly bring these two actors back at some point. Look at John and Marlena. They were written off and made a comeback years later. In soaps, anything is possible.
-  WHO COULD PLAY BO BRADY NEXT? 

I agree with your sentiments about Bo and Carly almost exactly. What a shame the writers wasted the talent and chemistry they had with Crystal & Peter as Bo & Carly. It was very much out of character for Bo not to help Carly out in some way when she was addicted to drugs. Bo was always there to help acquaintances, friends, and family when they needed help; especially those he loved. The one part I disagree with you about, however, is the idea of recasts. I don't believe recasts for either one or both of the characters is the way to go because no other actors could do justice to Bo & Carly's chemistry and their mature, beautiful, & passionate love. Having Bo recast once was already done, and it really was one of the reasons they broke up the first time. I'd rather cling to past memories than a recreated romance between two characters who really don't do justice to the iconic characters of Bo & Carly. To me, it has been and always will be Crystal & Peter for the roles or no one else.
-  CARBO 3.0- IS IT TOO MUCH TO WISH FOR?

WOW!!! Honey, what a fantastic job you did here on Tu o Nadie (No One But You.) I was catapulted back in time (honestly, reading these snippets made me feel like I was watching the actual scenes.) Thanks for giving me the opportunity to relive my childhood. Wonderful, Just Wonderful. More Grace to You!!!
- TU O NADIE FINAL EPISODE!!!!

BRAVO!!! Well said!!! Ken Corday can kiss my butt as far as I'm concerned. They made a stupid mistake letting go of Crystal Chappell and they will regret it when they loose the legion of fans who will be leaving the show as well once Carly exits
- OPEN LETTER TO MR. KEN CORDAY

Very well said and written Amina..ur views and opinions are the very ones all #CarBo have.The show doesnt care or listen to its fan so we are no longer needed and i refuse to be where im not wanted.The absolute horrible treatment of Crystal is just beyond cruel for all the fans she brought with her and the ones that came back she deserved much better...their rating were never better b4 her comin back-  OPEN LETTER TO MR. KEN CORDAY

Ahh! Thanks so much for this thorough summary! You are awesome!  LA USURPADORA: THE REST OF THE STORY

Amina Adams, thank you for sharing this wonderful collection! A friend saw it and said it's worth reading and looking at. So I'm here. She was right! Now I'm adding extras to my "to watch" list, thanks to you. A question: when you wrote about Robin Hood and lady Marian being second to Romeo and Juliet, did you mean the legendary couple or the one from Robin of Sherwood?
- HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY- MEMORABLE KISSES.

UMMM reality check NOBODY is owed ANYTHING!! It's a FUCKIN soap...just because Bope have been together for IONS does not mean they should remain together. THAT IS RIDICULOUS LOGIC! A good soap is story, story, and MORE STORY and that is what Bo and Carly offer! Peter and Crystal share AMAZNG chemistry that cannot be denied. As far as Carly killing her husband it was SESLF defense. ALL OF SALEM knew the kind of man Larry was. HOPE PLANNED and PLOTTED to kill Bo and NO PILL WILL EVER CONVINCE ME that it MADE HER DO IT! You have to have deep seated anger in order to follow through. SO YES Bope is DYSFUNCTIONAL!
- THE RUIN THAT IS CALLED '' DAYS OF OUR LIVES''

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE RICH ALSO CRY" SINCE I CAME TO AMERICA 16 YEARS AGO, UNTIL I JUST GOOGLE TODAY. IN THE 90S WE WILL RUSH HOME TO GO AND WATCH THIS MEXICAN OPERA. I REMEMBER A FRIEND THAT CAME FOR A WEDDING FROM ANOTHER STATE WHO RUSHED TO MY HOME IN NIGERIA WITH HIS WIFE TO WATCH AN EPISODE THAT WAS SHOWING THAT WEEK THAT IS HOW CRAZY PEOPLE WERE WITH THE RICH ALSO CRY. I WANT TO BUY THE WHOLE SERIES. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY SHOW LIKE IT
-  THE RICH ALSO CRY...a trip down memory lane

this telenovela is facinating and i realy love it. i enjoyed every moment of it episodes. i think it was just fantastic and i think everyone must be awarded for this good product. thank you
-  LA MUJER DE LORENZO FINAL EPISODE!!!

Thanks so very much for taking the time and effort to post these great episode recaps of Tu O Nadie. I'm from Australia and I have Tu O Nadie on dvd that another kind Tu O Nadie fan sent to me but there are no English Subtitles and I don't speak Spanish. I used to watch this series when it was our television station SBS during the early 1990s so I do know the story and loved every minute of it. It reminds me on a classic Mills and Boon plot. Ahhh I can just see sexy alpha Antonio and sensual gentle Raquel on the cover of one of these romance books. Ahh that mansion is to die for, sooo exotic and the music from this series is just beautiful too. I hope you keep posting episodes of Tu O Nadie for us all to enjoy. I copied them out and read them together with watching the series...so thanks once again.
-  MAX'S "PAWN"

I love this novela soooo much. I can't believe its been almost 10 years.I watched most of the novela on-line when it first aired in Mexico and then I watched it in the USA.I didn't like how they cut so much of the novela to air it in the us, but whatever. Then I bought the DVD and I hated it. If they put the entire novela I would buy it. I don't care if its 25 DVD'S i just want the entire novela.
 -CUANDO SEAS MIA'S FINAL EPISODE(CONTD.)

AMINA, I AM TOTALLY SURPRISED AT YOU. YOU TOOK YOUR DECISION WITHOUT EVEN CONSIDERING YOUR FANS WHO LOG IN DAILY TO READ UP WHAT YOU HAVE FOR THEM. IN THE WORLD OF WRITING, THE WRITER THOUGH FULL OF EMOTIONS DOES NOT ALLOW IT AFFECT HER THINKING AND DUTY TO WRITE. SO DEAR GIRL, CRY IF YOU MUST, BE DEPRESSED IF YOU MUST BUT PLS DON"T STOP POSTING. WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU.
-   A TOTAL DISASTER!!!

Hi Amina, this is to commend you for the good work you have started on this blog. It goes without saying that i am already a fan of this blog and i check it everyday. take care and do have a pleasant weekend
- LA USURPADORA'S FIN!!



                                            
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BRING OUR GIRLS BACK... PLEASE

It’s been more than 20 days since the abduction of 276 school girls from Chibok, Borno State by the terrorist group; Boko Haram. I was devastated the day it was announced on the news and my heart immediately went to the parents who right now must be filled with worry for their daughters and every day offering prayers for their safe return. There have been protests here in Nigeria and many parts of the world condemning this cruel and unbelievable act and demands for everything that needs to be done to bring those poor innocent girls back to their parents, and safe home. I’m not a mother but I was once a teacher and there were several students I got attached to during the course of my teaching career; I cringe at the idea of these men saying they are doing this because “Western Education is Haram (forbidden)” and invoking the name of Allah. I’m glad most people know that these men have nothing whatsoever to do with Islam because real, God fearing Muslims will never do this; they will not go about bombing buildings, killing innocent people or kidnapping innocent children. No, they have nothing to do with Islam. Since that fateful day- April 14^th 2014, the country has been on edge waiting for news and getting different reports from the media and so far, 52 out of the school girls have managed to escape and their names listed in the papers. Small comfort... what about the others still out there and probably terrified out of their minds? I don't even want to imagine what the poor girls must be going through as I write this. And what's worse, there were recent reports that the terrorists are even threatening to sell them! 

Why was this done to begin with? Why were these girls taken from their school by the terrorists who disguised themselves as soldiers protecting them and right now having them under their power and sending videos accepting responsibility? What is their motive? What do they actually hope to gain from what they did and all they’ve done in the past and yet, for sure... demand amnesty? It is nothing but twisted, made up ideologies of their own and the gain- to Islamisize the whole of Nigeria- is vague. You do not and cannot force any form of religion on people and violent and cruel acts like this cannot possibly gain anything! And the name itself, Boko Haram... meaning Western Education is forbidden, is this also a means of ending western education in Nigeria? SO MANY PUZZLING QUESTIONS!

But what is really important now is the safe return of the Chibok school girls. I’ve very glad to read that this is a major concern in many countries and Nigeria has been getting support from all sides. With this, we should remain very positive and keep praying for news that they have been found and returned and such a thing will never happen again. What needs to be done should be done so the entire country can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Children are a gift from God and they are to be protected from harm, consoled when sad and educated; not to be subjected to terror and violence like this. This is a very trying and worrying period for Nigeria and all we can do is keep praying, keep protesting until the kidnapped girls from Chibok are safely returned to their parents. The rest of the world... please continue praying for the safe return of our girls.

               

                  

MY FIRST RADIO CHAT

I was on  UNILAG F.M on the 6th of April, 2014 to discuss Creativity in children and how to encourage it.The host was  Nigerian actor, musician and Creative Arts lecturer Mr. Tunji Sotimirin & he discussed the subject with me along with two teachers from the Women's Society Primary School and a young talented poet. The poet got to read one of her  poems while I read a story from one of my books. Listen to the discussion below and please leave your comments! 

BACK TO WRITING...

 It's been a huge gap between books. My first two came out in 2006 and this year 2014, I'm finally working on my (hopefully) third children's book. Let me clear this up; it has nothing to do with laziness- writing is my calling and something I've always wanted to do since I was a child and my father buying us African and Non African works in the hope that his children's English will be impeccable. I can't say if my English is just that but I know that I'm hardly short of words when I speak to people. But I'm digressing here.
Why haven't I written more for over 6 years? Lack of motivation. With my first two, I worked very hard on them; making sure that no old stories will be 'recycled', I wanted  to give my young readers original stories; not ones they've come across before and I was able to.

But as the years went by; I stopped. While I was still able to write DAYS OF OUR LIVES fanfiction and post them at a Wordpress.com fan site and received many kind comments and maintaining two blogs; I found myself uninspired and smarting under a huge case of writer's block. When I summoned up the will to try again, I decided to try writing my first novel. But after a few pages I discarded them, feeling like I was simply writing something people would regard as drivel and rubbish.
But this year- on New Year's Day actually- I prayed to God to make this year my year of triumph and for guidance in writing more books that will be my legacy. So, I started again, children's genre this time but something again held me back. This time it was fear, fear the readers will find it mediocre or rather I would be regarded as mediocre compared to Chiamanda Adichie who recently won another writer's award for her new novel "AMERICANAH".
 How on earth could I ever compare?
But then I got some valuable advice from a lady who is like a sister to me. She said "Don't let fear stop you from attaining your goal, do NOT sell yourself short!" And another from my uncle, "Let the readers be the judge, NOT you."
So currently, I'm working on my new book with renewed energy and motivation and I don't plan to let anything stand in the way of success. Everyone please wish me luck!

Oscars' Report

This year's Oscar awards was a good one for one of my favorite Hollywood actors-Matthew McConaughey- (The Wedding Planner, Sahara, How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days) as he won the Best Actor Oscar for his dramatic and moving portrayal of Ron Woodroof in the biographical film THE DALLAS BUYERS CLUB about an AIDS patient who had to smuggle unapproved medication to curb his symptoms as well as of his fellow sufferers of the deadly disease. Since McConaughey lost about 47 pounds to play his role authentically (far more than I'm YET to do), topped with his brilliant acting, he really deserved this honor; I liked him especially as the  adventurous/humorous Dirk Pitt in SAHARA, so I'm saying a hearty congratulations to him.

I'm also happy that 12 YEARS A SLAVE earned a nomination for  Nigerian British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, for his portrayal of Solomon Northup; who by the way really existed. He was a free slave who was kidnapped and sold into slavery and he spent several years away from his family until he was found. I didn't watch it but I did watch an earlier version of Solomon's story as a child, a 1984 television movie starring Avery Brooks - SOLOMON NORTHUP'S ODYSSEY. Ejiofor may not have won the Best Actor Oscar but he did win the BAFTA award so congratulations to him and the people behind the making of 12 YEARS A SLAVE too and let me not forget his co-star,  Lupita Nyong'o, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Patsey (and it was her acting debut!). If SOLOMON NORTHUP'S ODYSSEY could make me cry, I can imagine how tearful 12 YEARS A SLAVE must have been to the audience.





Other winners include.. .

FROZEN- Best Animated Picture

JARED LETO- Best Supporting Actor (The Dallas Buyers Club)

CATE BLACHETT- Best Actress in a Leading Role (Blue Jasmine)

GRAVITY-  Best Visual Effects

CATHERINE MARTIN - Best Costume (The Great Gastby)

TOP MOVIES TO WATCH ON VALENTINE'S DAY

The best kind of love stories, my personal belief, is the one that contains a good amount of angst and my selection below contains just that. Check them out!




SABRINA (1954)

 My favorite movie of all time and cannot stop re-watching; about a love triangle between two wealthy brothers and Sabrina, the beautiful and very sweet daughter of their chauffeur. There's a 1995 remake and that's one worth watching too. (Humphrey Bogart & Audrey Hepburn) (1995: Harrison Ford & Julia Ormond)

Memorable line:
Sabrina: It's so strange to think of you being touched by a woman. I always thought you walked alone.
Linus: No man walks alone by choice.

(remake)
Linus to Sabrina: I think you know I love you




AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER(1957)


   

 I first heard of this film while watching Sleepless in Seattle and after seeing it on TCM, I understood why! Two people meet and fall in love on a cruise, promising to meet each other on top of the Empire State building in 6 months but alas... only one of them made it to the rendevous... (Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr)


Memorable line:

Nicky to Terry: There must be something between us; even  if it's only an ocean



JANE EYRE (1983) 

Charlotte Bronte's story about a governess who falls in love with her employer and vice versa is a popular watch and read on Val's day. It has many adaptations but I recommend the 1983 version starring Timothy Dalton & Zelah Clarke

Memorable line:
Edward to Jane: Jane, you strange, almost unearthly thing... I love you!



THE NOTEBOOK (2004) 

 

The very moving story of two people of different classes who fall in love in the 1940's is definitely a must watch! (Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams) 

Memorable Line: 

Allie: Do you think our love can take us away together? 

Duke/Noah: I think our love can do anything we want it to do.

THE PROMISE(1979)

Another story about a couple of different classes; the main antagonist being a snobbish and evil mother who succeeds in separating the couple after a car accident that ruins the heroine's face. I'm not talking about the Bollywood remake Yeh Vaada Raha starring Rishi Kappor & Poonam Dhillon but the original starring Stephen Collins & Kathleen Quilan and later novelized by Danielle Steel.

Memorable line: 

Michael: How can I believe such a thing as beauty could die?

Nancy/Marie: Michael... (they kiss)

HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK(2001)

 

A business woman in her 40s meets a 20 something young man while on holiday. A fling or is he the one??? (Angela Bassett & Taye Diggs) 

Memorable line: 

Stella to Winston, in reply to his earlier marriage proposal: Yes... Yes!

(They hug and kiss)

GHOST(1990)

                 

Keep the tissues handy for this moving story. A man is murdered during a robbery but his ghost keeps watch over his beloved girlfriend as the man responsible for his death is still very much around.
 (Patrick Swayze & Demi Moore)

Memorable line:
 Sam to Molly (as he's about to go to heaven): It's amazing Molly... the love inside, you take it with you. 


SOMETHING NEW(2006)

An interracial couple meet on a blind date and fall in love afterwards but the heroine has to  listen to her heart and decide what she really wants; not listen to the opinions of her friends and society. (Saan Lathan & Simon Baker)

Memorable Line:
Kenya: You're the one I want Brian, I love you.

Brian: I love you too Kenya, I never stopped loving you. (kisses her)





TIM (1979) 

Starring Mel Gibson in one of his earliest roles and Piper Laurie, it's the story about a 20 something rather mentally challenged young man who falls in love with his employer/mother figure; a businesswoman in her 40s; much to the dismay of his older sister.

Memorable moment: Tim and Mary walking along the beach after affirming their love.



PRIDE & PREJUDICE

Jane's Austen's tale of a spirited young woman who falls for a rich snob after an initial dislike for him is always a must watch for Val's day. I recommend the 1995 version starring Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle.

Memorable Line:
Liz: Perhaps I didn't always love him as well as I do now but in such cases as these a good memory is unpardonable.


MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE(1999)

A columnist finds a message in a bottle and tracks down the writer, a widower. They fall in love but he still has trouble letting go of the memory of his late wife. (Kevin Costner & Robin Wright Penn). Adapted from the best selling novel of the same name, written by Nicholas Sparks

Memorable Line:
Garret: Teresa, I don't want to lose you.

Teresa: Then don't.



YOU'VE GOT MAIL(1998)

Two business rivals reluctantly and gradually fall in love with each other, at the same time unaware they are each other's online penpal. (Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan)

Memorable Line:

Joe: Don't cry ShopGirl, Don't cry...

Kathleen: I wanted it to be you, I wanted it to be you so badly! (They kiss)




NOTTING HILL(1999)

A simple, unassuming travel bookstore owner falls in love with a movie actress. Will their love overcome the obstacles between them? (Hugh Grant & Julia Roberts)

Memorable Line:
Anna to William: I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy... asking him to love her.



THE THORN BIRDS(1983)

A forbidden  but long lasting love between the only daughter of a sheep station manager and the parish priest who later became a cardinal. (Richard Chamberlain & Rachel Ward)


Memorable Line:

Meggie: Do you know how terrifying it is, that power you have over me?
Ralph: How could I fail to know? (kisses her)



50 FIRST DATES(2004)

An aquarium vet falls for a lovely girl who has short term memory so he goes out of his way to make her fall in love with him and remind her of their past encounters... every day. (Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore)

Memorable Line:

Henry to Lucy: You're the girl of my dreams and apparently, I'm the man of yours.



SWAN PRINCESS(1994)

A prince goes in search of his fiancee- believed dead- not knowing she is under a spell.

Memorable Line:

Odette: Will you love me Derek, till the day I die?
Derek: No, much longer than that Odette, much longer. (they kiss)



PRETTY WOMAN(1990)

A hooker and a cynical business man unexpectedly find love with each other (Richard Gere & Julia Roberts)

Memorable Line:
Edward: So what happens after he climbs up and rescues her?
Vivian: She rescues him right back (They kiss)