All posts tagged: Books

I Arranged My Bookshelves

Published by Osemhen

According to topic. Because I tried to do that Instagram thing of arranging according to colour, and it was an epic fail. I mean, it looked pretty. But it was perfectly useless. To find a book, I had to remember if it was a yellow book, or a red book and my books ended up with Jodi Picoult sitting next to Jordan Peterson. It did not make any sense. Another reminder that sometimes, social media trends don’t mean much in real life. This time, my shelves are arranged according to themes. Career. Fiction. Childcare. Interesting Non-Fiction. Husband’s mish-mash of books (because his taste is eclectic). The boys, bless their little souls, have one section of the shelf for their 5 Books of The Week. (No, I’m not a mean mom, but I simply cannot have dozens of children books in my living room. So they’re only allowed to keep 5 in the living room). I have boxes of books to give out. The first idea I had was to exchange them for vouchers at coffee …

2015 in Books: Classy, Sublime & Intelligent

Published by Osemhen

In typical eurekanaija fashion, I’d like to talk about my favourite books of 2015. My criteria for this list are: Re-readability: I’d totally read these books again in 2016. Change factor: These books changed me or helped me find/create myself. Let’s jump right to it, shall we? 1. Emily Post’s Etiquette: Why:  I was talking with one of my friends early in the year and we lamented the fact that we didn’t go to finishing school. Etiquette is the next best thing. What I Loved: First published in 1922 and constantly updated since then, it remains an enduring reference point for good manners. Before you roll your eyes, it’s not just about using the right fork or the proper way to pour wine (even though I learned that too). The book continuously emphasizes the most important etiquette of being kind to other people. From tipping service staff (waiters, salon attendants) to putting phones away at dinner tables to proper behaviour at different places of worship to introducing people to each other so they aren’t left standing in awkward …

Resources That Make My Life Easier… (Part 1)

Published by Osemhen

Hello, everyone So I thought I’d share some of the things I use/do that make my life easier. This might help you if you’re trying to get a handle on living as a responsible adult (I wish adulthood came with a manual!). First, my top 5 apps (they’re all available on the iTunes and Play Stores): Any.do: Amazing app that helps me create and track my To-Do List. It prompts me to plan my day, and then rings a little alarm when tasks are due to be started. Duolingo: Another amazing app that teaches me languages in bite-sized lessons every day. I’m now learning Spanish. Moneywise: Helps me track my daily expenditure. It requires a bit of work (you have to enter every single expense) but it’s worth it. At the end of the month, I can compare my expenses to my planned budget, identify the areas where I spent the most money, and make corrections to my spending habits as necessary. Nike Training Club: A free fitness app. Yay! Basically it’s a personal trainer on …

Which Were Your Favourite Books of 2013?

Published by Osemhen

 The year’s winding up, and as usual, I want to find out which of the books you read in 2013 had the most effect on you, and why. Please share your favourite fiction book, and your favourite non-fiction book. You can reply in the comments’ section and you can take the conversation to Twitter/Facebook with the hashtag #abookIreadin2013.  I’ll go first.  Favourite Fiction Book of 2013: This was a difficult choice because I read so many fantastic books this year. But Khaled Hosseini’s “And The Mountains Echoed” wins, beating “Children of the Jacaranda Tree” and “Burma Boy”. I love how Khaled writes, I love his stories, I love the sense of kinship I feel with Afghans after reading his books. I totally recommend this book. Favourite Non-Fiction Book of 2013: This was an easy choice. Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In (labelled the “Feminist Bible” in some circles) is a thought-provoking book for women who have careers outside of their homes. I don’t agree with all of Sheryl’s ideas (e.g. I don’t think it’s as easy as she makes it …