Today's Quote

Not every yawn is a sign of sleep and tiredness. Sometimes it may just be hunger.

The LagosNewYorker

Unbearable heat in NY (Business Opportunity)

When I was told it could get "Africa" hot here in NY, I always thought it was a joke. Oh Boy... Now I can fully understand what summer feels like. No wonder people go half or completely naked when this weather decides to act like this. 

In such heat, then cool things become a necessity. Things that can quench thirst, make the environment more conducive and then styles of clothing changes. The trends remain the determining factor as to what people will have on. But I always tell people that trends will always come and go.

So, what is that special thing or effect that you could add into your fashion portfolio to make you on demand all year round? Now that's the way a smart business man should think because summer doesn't last for the rest of the year. 

Well, there are certain businesses that have their peak sales period at certain months of the year and this is determined by the weather at hand. This is not a bad thing though, but do you think they wouldn't wish their sales could go that way all year round? 

Well, when I was taught about the competitive edge, it made me understand that there are certain extras you could out into your business or product that could really make that difference, and make you special and on demand. 

Sometimes we sit and think that all avenues to make a difference have been exhausted. Well, I tell you today, that's a lazy man's way of thinking and assumptions that are not well founded.

There's so much to explore and a whole lot more that can be done to make a difference. 

Being different and unique is an attraction. People are naturally attracted to something different because it tends to amuse them that someone could come up with something that's not the same they have been used to all these while. So, why not explore what you could do right now to make a difference? The time is now! 

It's Chiaka, Chasari the LagosNewYorker.

The art of Hand Embroidery

It takes someone with special talents or relentless hard-work to make a unique style out of clothing. This is because clothing has been here since the beginning and there have been styles and trends that come and go, so it is very rare to come out with something that nobody has ever seen.

But, I must say that certain people have decided to take designs and handwork to another level and it is worth looking into. This is a source of inspiration when you think about all the work that was put into this from the conception stage where the designs are thought of in the mind, and till the point where they are made to look like the imagination. Never comes easy! 

Let me post a few pictures of one design I found so interesting and unique:

This design is by Chasari the Lagos NewYorker and it's a beautiful piece of artwork.

Sometimes I wonder if people really appreciate those little things we do that are not the usual as expected by everyone out there in the world. But the fact is, if you wait for the endorsement of people before you decide to carry out certain things, you will never be happy and will never discover how much worth you have. So I suggest, you get the work done and move ahead with getting yourself better the next time. Wait for people's views and suggestions and if you are criticized, it's a good thing. Work on making it better the next time and then you will be surprised how much better you will get. Put all of this together and keep going. Don't stop! 

It's Chiaka, Chasari the LagosNewYorker. 

I don't see Color.

I am pained to live in a generation where skin color is seen as a medium to segregate certain people from others. Its so sad! Who wouldn't want to live life in peace?
When we are born into the world, we are called a baby. We are not called white or black or mixed or all of that. We are higher animals and have you ever noticed how other animals interact?
A black goat will eat grass with a brown colored goat, and they will mate and have babies that are black and brown. A white dog will mate a black dog and when they have mixed puppies they look so adorable, and we sure love to see those beauties mature.
But what has happened to us Humans? What color do we see? I just don't get it!
Do you know that babies never know color until their minds are fried and made to believe that one person is better than the other because they look a certain color?
What is it with the racial disparity? Why do cowards put hate in their hearts and those of the little innocent babies? Why do you decide to create hatred and enmity and instill wrong morals in the hearts of the younger ones when we should rather be building each other up in love?
What is wrong with the world? Can we just be natural? Can we just be normal? Can we just be humans?

A tree grows and produces fine fruit that's edible. It comes in all colors, forms and sizes, and we all decide to eat whatever we want. Whatever fruits and vegetables we can afford is eaten and we enjoy them. The fruits never decide to poison someone having a certain color because they are not good for them. It never happens. We don't refuse olives in a salad because of its color, and I wouldn't refuse sour cream in my burrito because of its color.
Can we just be normal? Can we reset our mindset to those times when we were babies? Where we never saw race, nor color and we were just happy living together. I miss those days. I really do.
Love is all we need. The heart condition and feelings are what matters the most.
Do you know how many interracial marriages or relationships we have in the world today?
Do you know how many mixed pregnancies we have out there today?
Lets stop this madness before the babies grow and start getting confused and asking what color they really are. Because a baby never knows anything about color except for the beauty of variety in different colors, and they never feel a certain way about a color until they are told something.
I love the mixture. I love colors. I wear all colors. I embrace all colors.
I will not stop being who I am and I will never stop loving what I love.
I am Chiaka, Chasari, the LagosNewyorker!

Do you understand what you really want?

Always go for what you want because it will never come you way easy.
You deserve what you get! Have you ever heard somebody say that to you? Oh yea.
We all have needs and we are quick to express disappointment whenever certain things don't work for us the way we would have wanted. But we forget that we are architects of our successes and failures.
The body wont get up from the bed in the morning at a certain time if the mind doesn't wake up and tell it to keep it moving. I will confess that each day I wake up on my bed, the first thing I wish to do is go back to sleep. Does anybody else ever feel this way?
Well, at that point all I do is roll like I am falling off the bed and when my mind sees my body going that way, it immediately gets up and I get going with the new day.
Nothing ever comes easy, and if something has ever come easy your way, look back and reflect, and you will discover that you have been working on this or have worked on it unwittingly, and at the time when you least expected it, it came your way.
Hard work is compulsory, not necessary. If you believe that others are making out there without hard work, try not working and then you will understand life from an entirely different perspective.
Life is Hard, and we can only make things work better for ourselves when we strive to thrive.
If you want the best, then you need to work for the best and do all that it takes to get the best.
Its Chiaka, Chasari the LagosNewYorker.

How to make a French seam

A lot of us really do wish we could sew and we may even have sewing machines at home, but sometimes we find it difficult to fix even minor alterations.
Anyways, Brooklyn creative studio, my partners in the LagosNewYorker brand are doing live videos you can learn from, and we will have a series of live videos which will be announced. You can come online, watch these videos, make comments, ask questions and be part of this means to empower and inspire millions out there to do something for themselves.
Check out this video above on how to make a French seam.
More will be posted to you soon.
It's Chiaka, Chasari the LagosNewYorker.

My team is always Hungry

Your association now really tells a lot about how successful you will turn out to be in future. We all need certain people in our lives for encouragement, guidance and direction especially when we might have certain hurdles to cross in life. But we sure need to be selective as to whose advice we act on because wasted time is worse than wasted money.
I have met a lot of people in life. Successful and already made people, working hard relentlessly on the ladder of success, some who are just trying to find their path to success and will do anything just to make sure they get there. But every time I meet someone who is successful at what they do, I ask questions because I believe I can always learn something from them, something new. And one thing that they always have in common is the fact that they keep their circles small. They may not have a lot of friends but the few ones they have are a motivation and inspiration for them to  keep going and be better at whatever they do.
So, at this point I will say, we need to use discretion when choosing our friends and those we call team members who will be there to support us all the way up and keep us going even when we have touched the sky and are floating in it.

When a wise man decides to share his ideas to a foolish man, it's as good as seeing an Oasis in the desert only to fetch the water into a basket. It's such a waste. You will run out of reasonable ideas, it will all be a waste and the foolish man will keep telling you that your ideas are not achievable.
I have met a lot of them, I dust them off like the sand on my feet. I am relentless in my aspirations and I do not go anywhere close to those who talk down my dreams. At least I dream! They sleep empty and wake empty with no dreams, no vision, no growth. If you can't relate with me, then you are no part of my team. So if you really want to make your way successful, then stay Hungry! Choose your friends wisely, and never be sympathetic about dropping dirt in the trash.
That's where it belongs!
It's Chiaka, Chasari the LagosNewYorker.

The Greatest Investment!

When a child is Born, a lot goes through the mind of the parents.They may not speak out, but deep down their mind they ask questions like: What next? What is the future of this Child going to be like? How am I going to raise him/her up to be decent, respectful, successful or What will happen if this child turns out to be somebody else I never expected?  What can I do to make him/her happy? e.t.c

There's so much more that could go through a parents mind, so the parents have their mind set on seeing the child grow and turn out to be the person they had wished for. 

Along the line of training and upbringing though, a lot of things start to happen, and then the child goes from a baby to a toddler and the wants and needs of the child changes.

Then, the parent knows that there's more to do than just breastfeed and buy clothes for a baby. Now the child needs solid food, the child needs to go to school, needs to mix up with other friends and as the child continues to develop into teenage years, then the mind racing becomes even more intense. 

Especially when the child discovers that they can have some sort of independence and freedom, then it becomes the duty of the parent to let them know there has to be a line drawn and a restriction is some cases. It would be very wrong for a parent to give the child just everything they request.

Children out to know that nothing comes easy. And everything that you own is either earned or acquired. This way they have a sense of responsibility. 

But after all that has been said, do you realize we omitted the most important thing?

TIME! The value of this cannot be overemphasized. You need to spend more time with your children than you let them hang out in school or with their peers. I understand the need to pay bills and work to be able to afford a good life. But, we should never forget that our kids are more important than money and the upbringing they get today is what will lead them on a path to success tomorrow.

Invest time and energy in your child. You can wait on the line for each new Jordan being launched, but is really what you really want to instill in your child? Materialism is vague. And wasted time like they say, is worse than wasted money, because you can still make money but you can never bring back wasted time. Invest wisely in your child right now and reap the rich benefits forever.

Its Chiaka, Chasari the LagosNewYorker.

Why I Love America

America is the land of milk and honey, a place where there is always something to do. A country where we all have freedom of speech and the right to live and be free.
I was at times square when I saw this woman and I just had to take a pic.

I found this Hilarious.
I Love America.
Its Chiaka, Chasari the LagosNewYorker.

The biggest Latin festival in the USA.

It was Saturday June 11th and I had a wonderful time dancing and watching the amazing Puerto Rican and Hispanic people do their thing. It was the 31st year celebration and all I could hear was the chant of the crowd whenever one of the hosts screamed Boricua.
People came from all around the world for this festival and it was such an electrifying atmosphere with beautiful people and mixture of so much colors. I could see a rainbow by merely looking in the crowd. Puerto Ricans are very beautiful people, and did you know I have some Puerto Rican in me?
Sure, am married to one and this was one of my opportunities to experience the culture, atmosphere and beautiful people. Take a look at a few pictures and videos I could take, and let me have your opinion about these wonderful culture and people.

Took tons of pictures. Enjoy the few I shared and I will be coming back with amazing posts.
Its Chiaka, Chasari the Lagos-NewYorker.

So much to make ourselves look good.

You know, I was sitting in a Barber Shop on a waiting line, very hungry because I needed to have a clean cut as a good start to my day. I waited and waited and at the point where it was one person in the line ahead of me, I gave up on waiting and had to go eat something.
In 7 minutes I was done with food and headed back only to see that someone else who was on the waiting line has gone ahead of me, and I had to continue the wait until it was my turn.
Can you imagine I waited 3 hours just to get a haircut? If I had to wait that long for somebody else, I doubt if I would. Not even waiting for my wife in a salon. You know, it sounds crazy but this is how much we can sacrifice to make ourselves look good.
And when women go to the beauty shop, OMG, Excuse my french. I don't wanna say much. We all know a whole day is not enough for a woman to make herself look beautiful.

But it's very wrong if we make others look bad by word or action. And a whole lot of people do this intentionally. Some people take pleasure in making others look bad and then believe that they will look good doing that. That's pathetic. I believe such people have complex issues they need to work on. We should be willing to add value to the lives of others and inspire them positively as this could go a long way to making them better people. You never know how much this may mean to these people in future, they may thank you.

One more thing, never expect a 'thank you' for any good deed you do for someone. If you think you are not getting any rewards right now, just keep doing good deeds and impacting positively on more people's lives and one day, even if you are no longer here on earth, people will sing your praises.

It's Chiaka, Chasari the LagosNewyorker.

My Experience at the Go Green Festival in Brooklyn, NY

Had the privilege to represent Brooklyn Creative Studio at the Go Green Festival in Brooklyn yesterday. Together with 3 top designers, Rosemary Garcia of Brooklyn Creative Studio, Cedric Dark of Berda and Kimberly Wilkes, we were able to grace the festival with our crafts. Turning Old clothes into something else. So we had a lot of wonderful kids who were part of this and made it a day to remember. It was such an awesome experience making my profession fun and fulfilling.
We had beautiful tables set up with Rosemary's pink Singer Machine and a white Brother Machine.
People were amazed to see Machines set up outside in the open and working on things for the kids.

About Rosemary: She's the President of Bonita Cosmetics and the Owner of Brooklyn Creative Studio here in Brooklyn, NY.

About Cedric Dark: He's the CEO and Owner of the Berda Brand and he's from Houma, Louisiana but came to Brooklyn, NY for the hustle.

About Kim: She's a designer and best known for her costume designing and she resides in Brooklyn, NY.

So the DJ got jamming, and she got me moving to the beat of her mix.

Pictures, they say, tell a thousand stories... So, I will give you something for your eyes.