From Beauty Queen to Board Room - move aside Sarah Palin...

Its Saturday, you have a wedding to attend, you wanna look your best cos your EX is gonna be there. Its Monday morning and you’ve got a presentation to the board, your promotion depends on it. He has been doing the dance for a bit and he has finally asked you out on that date, oh my what to do what to do??? That’s where CYREENE MAKEUP LOUNGE comes in. City Crawler spoke with the latest Young Woman In Business - Kejie Obi-Atatchak……..

#CC- Federal Govt Girls College was known for having the brightest and most intelligent girls, and you were almost always top of your class. You have gone from top of the class to Miss Cross River to Mommy of 3 boys and now your latest endeavor, CEO CYREENE MAKE UP LOUNGE. How have you managed this transition?
 #KEJIE - I’ve got alpha woman genes –from my Gran to my Mom and finally me, I’m from a long generation of first daughters.

#CC - What’s your Oscar?(highest peak of your career?)
 #KEJIE -To have Cyreene make up lounge in every major city in Nigeria

#CC- What’s your typical day like?
 #KEJIE - In the morning’s I’m a mom –school runs till 10oclock. After that I’m makeup artist and CEO Cyreene. It starts with setup, customers walk in. there is appointment consultation and walk in consultation. Everyone who comes in leaves with at least blush on their cheek. in the evenings I’m back to nanny duties with my boys. Once in a while, especially on weekends we hit the club scene. But I also try to attend important events.

#CC - So how did you develop this passion and the expertise?
 #KEJIE -I think it started from pageantry, from there I kind of developed a passion for working behind the camera, as a makeup artist and a stylist. I’ve never had formal training, just talent and I’ve studied and read about it and also gotten hands on tips from other pros.

#CC - Will you be giving any lecture on the at the makeup 101 event?
 #KEJIE - Yes I will. But im not going to be the only lecturer but ill be focused more on essentials.

#CC -What’s that about by the way? http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166433159035&index=1
 #KEJIE -The Makeup 101 event is themed – makeup tricks at your fingertips. Basically a class to teach ladies the proper makeover routine, from the basics of prepping skin care to basic makeup application methods. Proper makeup products, maintenance and simple tricks you can use to cheat nature with your makeup and finally to teach ladies on the basic essentials they should always have in their makeup bag. Proper makeup for different occasions hands on practical where the participants will translate what they have learnt.

#CC - How do u unwind?
 #KEJIE - I soak in a luxurious bath, locked doors so that my kids don’t barge in and I fall asleep in my husband’s arms.

#CC - How does your husband come in in all of this, is he terribly supportive or does the fact that his wife is out there in the public eye bother him?
 #KEJIE --He has been instrumental to everything. It was all a dream but he made me act it out and has been supportive all the way.

#CC - What is an absolutely essential makeup item every lady must have that can instantly lift up your face?
 #KEJIE -Ill say 2 things, a liner pencil and blush. Dull or tired eyes always wake up or light up with a pencil and a dull plain face will transform immediately with a blush.


#CC - Any future plans?

 #KEJIE - In the near future we plan to introduce an accessories line, makeup for everyday women and for professional makeup artist.

there u have it ladies, the Event is a must must attend. see u there....

HO!! HO!! HO!! The Holidays Are Upon Us

I woke up this morning to bangers and knockout some of them sounding like claps but most sounding like the real thing. Under all my irritation, it dawned on me that Christmas is near. The holidays are upon us. YaY. I love Christmas, it’s the brightest season, all the food, all the colours, all the lights. No matter how Grinchy you are, you will get caught up at some point with all the hullaballoo. In only a few days, the shopping frenzy will begin in earnest, shopping for gifts, shopping for Christmas clothes for the kids, shopping for that perfect dress you will use to dazzle at the Christmas party etc. Single people who can’t travel home to be with loved ones will be stuck in the city, have no fear, I will be your guide, I’ve spent 3 Christmases in Abuja and I don’t see or experience the boredom people talk about, besides loads of people will not be travelling this Christmas due to the economic recession and uhh kidnapping (all hail my Igbo brothers). So my 2 cents for your Christmas shopping…. 

*CLOTHES – C&C Collection (male) and Belle Flammes (Female) 

*HAMPERS – try any of the stores in the city or u can DIY(do it yourself) its cheaper, just buy the basket, they come in all shapes and sizes and fill it up with your goodies, cheaper and more personalized + you can let your creativity shine through.(btw if u r too lazy or too busy, I can do it for you(big grin) 

*GADGET AND GIZMOS – ive been hinting since that I want a Nintendo Wii for Christmas(and no one has answered me) anyways….. 

*CHILDREN CLOTHING - The Childrens Place (TCP) 

*MAKEOVER/SPA TREATMENT – for makeup you can try CYREENE MAKEUP LOUNGE (they even have a chill out lounge, yay) and SERENITY SPA for your full body beauty treatment, so by the time u step out eh, hmmmm………… 

*CHRISTMAS CARDS – Celebration stores and I discovered that Exclusive stores has really lovely cards too 

*DECORATION AND GIFT ITEMS – Sahad stores has loads and they are beautiful and very cheap, other places you can get are Banrut, exclusive, and most major stores in Abuja… (call me if u want something specific) 

A lot more places and items that will enhance your Christmas celebration this year, this is just the beginning of my Christmas series. CC 
P.S if you have a Christmas product you want people to know about or a service you are providing for the period, let me know about it.

CITY CRAWLER IN LOVE!!!!

Im a fool in love! Ask my sister. When im in love I fall completely, sometime with the danger of loosing myself. I talk about the object(or subject) of my love constantly, I call, I write, I buy gifts, I think and dream .you know that ‘’I love to see him coming, and I hate to see him go’’ feeling?. it is so cool, so right, so sweet, so gooey. And for me, so long as it is reciprocated, this feeling last a long long time. 

I have found love. 

Very few people are lucky in their life time to do the things they would love to do, several reasons, environmental restriction, religious restriction, parental restrictions, relationship restriction and most of the time fear of taking that bold step.i have been very lucky, i have non of these restrictions and im doing what i love doing and what i was born to do. A friend of mine asked me last night ‘what drives you I.J.’? I will not tell you the answer, I will tell you why he asked. 

The why.... Because im always selling something. im in PR(duh). (Just so we are clear, my love interest can be an object or a subject and unfortunately subjective love died a long time ago so if u think this is I.J.’s love story expose you can stop reading now) 

So that I don’t talk too much, let me just tell you about my latest discovery and that which is the object of my latest lovessession(new word). If you live in Abuja, or anywhere else in Nigeria actually, you will understand where this is coming from. Do u ever prepare yourself for a night in the town? for guys: nice new haircut, new drags, Hennessey money and a tank full of fuel ready to crawl your way up to the AM. And for girls: that sexy new dress you bought even though u were broke because you knew deep down in your heart that u had to have it for Friday night, all the right assessories, spray glitter and all you can do to glam up for an evening out. And then you head out to your usual places and your evening goes down hill from there, why? because its the ‘same shit, different night’. 

For those of you who are well travelled (summer in UK and dubai to buy things doesn’t count) im talking Ibiza(not area 11 bibza oh, u see u never travel), st tropez, monaco etc and for those of you who have experience the ultimate clubbing experience and want to re-enact that night, I will only say this once, I have discovered Abuja's best kept secret, drumroll please.... EDEN VIP! I don’t know how despite my city crawling ways, I could have missed it??? i will not describe it so I wont look like im over hyping it but, I saw drinks that I have only seen in jayz music videos and maybe rick ross(yes I am a bush girl I agree sue me, at least I have dstv aand I run my own company, he he). I love the thing they do when u buy a don perignon magnum, there is a fanfare of being a big spender and it will be all yourz for 15minutes. Cool. 

Abeg let me not spoil it for you. This Friday and saturday, Fashion TV(FTV) in Nigeria for the first time, hosted to the biggest party in Abuja.  me and my people. We know how to do it on a Friday night, no stalling, no forming, no gocking.no frills, just thrills( see me rhyming, watch out M I) having fun has become a religion and the best thing about this folks, they are the best in their choosen career so u cant fault then. Ok enough said. 

I know some slowies will wonder what this blog is really about, ok let me explain it to u like you are an 8 year old, I.J. is in love and when I.J. falls in love, she sells the object or subject of her affection. Lucky EDEN VIP, you take center stage. 

Friday night live!

#CITY CRAWLER - FYI ABUJA CARNIVAL 2009 ITINERY.

 ABUJA CARNIVAL – the peoples carnival 
www.abujacanivaloffice.comor 09626505 

ITINERY 

#EVENT: CARNIVAL STREET SHOW 
DATE: SAT, NOV 21ST 09 
TIME: 7AM 
VENUE: CANIVAL ROUTE(GARKI VILLAGE THROUGH AREA 1, FESTIVAL ROAD TO EAGLE SQUARE) 

#EVENT: OPENING CEREMONY 
DATE: SAT, 21ST NOV 09 
TIME : 5PM 
VENUE: EAGLE SQUARE 

#EVENT: CULTURAL MARKET AND EXHIBITION 
DATE: SAT, NOV 21ST – NOV 24TH 
TIME: 10AM DAILY 
VENUE: FCT ARTS AND CRAFT VILLAGE(OPP SHERATON HOTEL) 

#EVENT – YOUTHS AND CHILDREN PROGRAMME 
DATE : SUN, 22ND NOV 09 
TIME: 11AM 
VENUE: MILLENIUM PARK 

#EVENT: POLO TOUNAMENT/ DURBAR 
DATE: SUN, 22ND NOV 09 
TIME: 1PM & 3PM 
VENUE: ROYAL EQUESTRIAN CLUB, OPP IBB GOLF CLUB, ASOKORO 

#EVENT: CULTURAL NIGHT/FOOD FAIR 
DATE: SUN, 22ND NOV 09 
TIME: PM 
VENUE: ARTS AND CRAFT VILLAGE 

#EVENT: MASQUARADE FIESTA/ BOAT REGATTA 
DATE: MON, 23RD NOV 09 
TIME: 7AM / 3PM 
VENUE: ROUTES –EAGLE SQUARE / JABI DAM 

#EVENT: COMMAND PERFOMANCES 
DATE: MON, 23RD NOV 09 
TIME: PM 
VENUE: TRANSCORP HILTON 

#EVENT: CONTEMBORARY MUSIC FIESTA 
DATE: 21ST,22ND, 23RD NOV 09 
TIME: 7PM 
VENUE: EAGLE SQUARE 

#EVENT : STREET CARNIVAL SHOW 
DATE: TUE, 24TH NOV 09 
TIME : 11AM 
VENUE: CANIVAL ROUTE 

#EVENT : CLOSING CEREMONY 
DATE: TUE, 24TH NOV 09 
TIME: 4PM 
VENUE: EAGLE SQUARE

Move Over LAgos....

I am no writer and to be honest I have no right to write about what I write about, but I am a self acclaimed City Crawler and I have chosen the unique and beautiful city of Abuja to prowl, both day and night. I make it my busy body business to know exactly what is going down at every point in time in every sector. Ask me about Abuja, I know, because I am the City Crawler. Well as introductions go, this is my bit.

Lagos Lagos Lagos, no one is in competition with Lagos oh, it is a peculiar town and the people who live there are a peculiar people. There is a saying, that if u can survive in Lagos, you can survive anywhere, I agree. I can pick a true Lagos person out from a crowd, except for those ones that are naturally slowies (a word my friend came up with to describe, well slow people, dull people). Comparisons have been made several times, I wonder why, seeing that Lagos has almost 100years ahead of Abuja, as well as all the multinationals and opportunities available, a true cosmopolitan city .But Abuja is a fast developing hub. In the not so distant past only politicians, federal civil servants and university of Abuja students lived here. And mostly, not by choice but by necessity. Others came and went, contractors came got their papers signed and hurried back home. Land was cheap, transport was cheap, and living in Abuja was no biggie. Until suddenly, we started noticing holdups at traffic lights and that’s when it dawned that the people are coming….

There are many more reasons to visit the FCT and many more opportunities available than ever before. Whether u are taking a few days out or cozily settling in to building a life here, there is something to keep you happy LIVING in Abuja, as long as you want to and are open to possibilities. Nigerians have come from all over to settle here, they are migrating in droves because other major cities are already saturated and Abuja embraces every one as a true no man’s land, we are loving it. If u follow this blog you will see the evolution of Abuja from the eyes of the city crawler, I will make it my life purpose to bring the FCT to you, no matter the part of the country you are. The music scene, the fashion scene, recreation, hospitality, nightlife, politics, etc

My prediction is that Abuja city will become A major capital, not only of the country but also for everything else …….. this might seem a bit farfetched but it will feel very good seeing my prediction come to reality just like im sure Donald Duke of the CRS fame smiles to bed every night.

Move over Lagos.

BB Craze....

I am giggling uncontrollably as I write this, why? Because my BlackBerry keep pinging and ticking and chiming and vibrating. I’m not saying I’m just too hot and people keep calling me, no nothing like that, its just that I have different tones for the different applications I am presently addicted to. Twitter has a tingle anytime I get a mention or a DM (only twitter people will get this), there’s a Chime any time I get a yahoo chat, there is this loud distorted noise when my phone rings, a buzz sound when I get an sms and my personal favorite, a loud kaching when I get a BBM (black berry message). Before my more cynical friends write me off as trying to promote Blackberry (as I am always selling something) how will the BB maker contact little me nau? Anyways so I don’t digress too much…..

As a self acclaimed City Crawler I make it my busy body business to know everything that goes on in the city of Abuja and I’m telling you that the Black berry is staging a, what word should I use? Takeover! It’s not yet a huge treat to the Nokia, but I’m sure Nokia Execs have noticed the 5 – 8% of their fans that have drifted to the dark side. The Black berry is here people, sit up and notice.
Two things make me say this. Envision the following scenario. You walk into a restaurant and see 5 young, well dressed executives sitting on a table in the corner, obviously gathered for a lunch meeting and not a stir or a sound coming from them but pings and chimes, on closer inspection you find that they all have Crackberrys, like I like to call the blackberry, true story… Or at a nice lounge, let use café 24, a girl and a guy sitting together obviously on a date and the girl or guy, usually the girl though is constantly on her phone throughout the night, check that phone very closely, Crackberry. (and then she wonder why the guy never called her again)

Well everybody and their mama is now armed with a Black berry and they know how to use it, I am happy about it oh, don’t get me wrong, it is particularly popular among SCUPPIES (Socially Upward Mobile Young Executives) older people can’t be bothered, they are fine with Nokia, very user friendly. But my grief is with people who have no business owning a blackberry but for the fact that well, it a blackberry, everybody has one, this I call capitalism pressure along with the pressure to fix Brazilian weave when u can’t really afford it. Very typical of Nigerians to go with a trend, well I’m not here to Rain on anyone’s BB parade; I’m a bringer of good tidings.

By all means own a Blackberry, it’s the coolest ‘New’ accessory and it makes communication a lot easier and cheaper, that is when you have gotten the 5k BIS charge MTN makes you have to pay out of the way, then u become a real social nuisance. It has a lot of cool applications and it aides business whether you are a Chief Executive, a PA or just a Young Exec who is constantly on the Go, there’s the Bold, the Javeline, the Curve, the Tour, which ever suits you and your budget is fine really, don’t feel any pressure to buy the most expensive or the slickest, BB na BB.
Ok now I remember why I decided to write this, a friend of mine lets call her chi, just received her new BB and her excitement was contagious, she was almost childlike – u know like when a child receives a new toy, it was so cute and it just occurred to me that in Abuja everywhere I go I hear a subtle ping or a loud kaching. It a good thing but how long will this black berry craze last???