ACROSSMART, guys explore it

Peace be upon you. I stumbled over something really interesting and wanted to share with you.  It is an app that will change our lives.

Do you ever think of going to the market and your day just gets a bit darker? This is for us (I despise having to go to the market!) Do you go to the market and move around so many shops just to know which among them has the most affordable price? This is for you. Do you go to the market for the variety in products? This is for you. Do you go through the hassle of buying laces (or other commodities) from far away Lagos (or any state farther away) just because its cheaper there? This for you. Or do more customers come to the neighbour's shop but not always yours? This is for you. Do you own a small business and wish to get a wider reach and clients at no cost at all? Darling Darlington, this is more for you than anyone else.  

All markets across Nigeria on a single app. As a buyer or a seller you can hop on the app for free. A trial will no doubt assure you.

AS A VENDOR you don't part with your products until we have received an alert. The days of an dauki bashin kaya na and they are unwilling to pay is over. No payment no product. The app only drive a commission which is 1% when you make a sale through it. When you sell a product worth 100k naira they only get 1k. If you did not make a sale the app does not make a commission as well. As a vendor you will be making simultaneous sales online in addition to your physical shop. Moreover, your online store on the app is open to customers all over the country for 24/7 non-stop sales. I know, I almost did not believe it myself.

AS A BUYER if you are not a fan of going out all the way to the (closest or farthest) market our prayers have been answered. You can scan through endless products. Compare their prices and variety and get them delivered anywhere. I have to say this App is a dream come true. The stress of transporting yourself under the weather to go and even be cheated on the prices is over in sha Allah. Importantly, any payment you make for the purchase of any product on the app, your money is NOT sent to the shop-owner directly but to a CBN licensed Payment-Gateway. After you receive the product, you have additional 48hrs to decide whether it meets your satisfaction. At the expiration of the 48hrs window the money will then be released to the shop-owner. If however the product fails to meet the requirements and you reach out within those 48hrs then you'll be refunded your money 100% and the product returned at no cost to you. Try this App and buy me a gift off the app as a thank you (a book maybe)😃

You can download AcrossMart from the links below:

Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.os.acrossmart) 

IOS Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/acrossmart/id1664710812)

#women supporting women#

POV 1: She has the most wonderful relationship with her husband. Her biggest challenge is the sister in laws who try to convince their mother that the poor lady is the enemy who is pulling their brother away from the family. They convince the mother to see how the wife has succeeded in bewitching him to give them less of his time and to just care less for their financial needs (not minding they would want their own husbands to be that attentive to them as wives).

POV 2: “this my boss she too dey wicked, shey na because she be woman she no even wan go marry she just dey old for there. I sure say this position wey she get na through sleeping around she come get am”

POV 3: “collaborate wetin? with my competition? God forbid bad thing! If I collaborate with her I am not my mother’s daughter. This girl that came into the business just yesterday and is trying to chase me out. Is it not the same girl I said has taken over all my clients.

POV 4: It is that stupid girl that is hell bent on marrying my husband, I just got off the phone with her I insulted her but the idiot has the audacity to return the favor. Let her just come to the house as his wife, I will never let her have peace of mind. Mark my words! (not minding the husband who brought the poor girl into the equation).

POV 5: haa this my friend has worn the same Ankara she wore to the wedding we attended last two months, even the bag is not the original Prada. Abi looking good and classy for my parents wedding anniversary party is too much to ask of a friend again. Na wa oo!

Surprisingly, the gender responsible to nurture and grow love and affection in children is the same gender finding it difficult to do that among themselves. It is disappointing that we the ladies are the biggest enemies of the ladies. forgetting we are a team and not in competition with each other. 

A big thumbs up to the guys who came up with the bro code and are living by it! Ladies we need to do more work there; the boys have been winning there for a while now.

Has any of this scenarios happened to you before? How did you handle it? What are some ways you think we can relate better? Share with us some ways we can work on that, we cannot be each other’s problem, it’s not just right. 

Love loads,

Mariya.

Nigeria happened to me

May peace and blessings be upon you most beautiful people. Long time no post. I've missed you. Hope everything has been moving as smoothly as possible? Ya mu ka ji da TINUBU. Allah ya kawo wa kowa mafita, amen.

“May Nigeria not happen to me” is arguably the daily affirmation of the average Nigerian living in Nigeria.It's like our unofficial national slogan, but let's be real, it's never uttered with a sprinkle of positivity. Case in point: I stumbled upon a post where a lady, faced with a power outage, decided to pour her entire spoilt stash of drinks with the caption, "Nigeria happened to me." I get it, tough times and all, but are we inadvertently casting spells on ourselves with these phrases?

Now, I've heard about the magic of words – motivational speakers swear by those daily affirmations you say in the mirror. You know, the "I am fabulous, I am unstoppable" kind of stuff. If it works for individual goals, why not apply it on a national scale? Our politicians get blessings from men of God and traditional rulers for their political journeys, recognizing the power of speech of the religious and traditional leaders. Even those Americans, who sometimes act like they're allergic to acknowledging a higher power, wrap up every public speech with a divine cherry on top – "God bless the United States of America." It's like a verbal insurance policy.

So, here's my pitch: let's swap out the gloom and doom for a dose of optimism. How about we start using "God bless Nigeria" as our go-to phrase? Imagine the power of the collective blessing, the cosmic good vibes spilling down on us. We might just be onto something here. God bless Nigeria now, tomorrow, and forever – let's make it the trendier, happier catchphrase we've all been waiting for! But has Nigeria happened to you before? We will love to hear about it! Share below...

lots of love, Mariya.

INDEED 'ANA BIKIN DUNIYA AKE NA KIYAMA!'

May His peace, mercy and blessings be upon you. May we be among those receiving the blessings of this festive season. Eid mubarak to you and your family. Amen.

In hausa language there is a proverb 'ana bikin duniya ake na kiyama', literally it means 'as you are doing worldy celebrations don't forget the afterlife (as death does not wait till you finish with the celebrations of life). On arfah day, on the blessed eid day and yesterday i have heard people die. People that have prepared for Eid. People that fought their husbands for money to make eid dishes, fought there tailors on their new clothes so they are ready just in time for Eid, made plans to visit so and so because it has been a while and Eid period is for visiting friends and family. Those same people had plans but Allah had a different plan. My sister last three had plans like this but she was among those that left the world completely on yaumul Arfah. 

This got me thinking why so much stress and pressure during this times when you or your loved ones might not even live to witness it (if i am to die my entire family's Eid will suck no doubt about that). I made up my mind as i am getting ready for the Eid celebration the same energy i put into getting my clothes properly sewn and food ready for the Eid day that same energy will be put into making sure my fard prayers are on time and on point. That same energy will go into my seeking His forgiveness. That same energy(if not more) will go into asking him for Jannatul Firdaus( my goods deeds will not get me there but His mercy will). That same energy will go into helping people who need it with whatever I think I can. I am going to do as much good as i can with whatever I have(no matter how little) whenever I can. Lets all strive for this. Death is the only transport system that follows your soul wherever it is(office, toilet, market, at a place of worship, at a hotel with a prostitute, while stealing, while lying, while dancing, while sleeping, while sick, while healthy) to take it back to its Lord. Let it not come while we are not ready. lets have a change of attitude. 

Have you lost a loved one during this season? Share with us lets pray for them. Did your tailor disappoint you? Lets hear the story. Did the Eid come with blessings? Lets share the joy with you. did it come with trial? Lets share that too. Did your Eid plans align with what Allah planned for you? Lets help you be grateful to Arrahman.
May our loved ones all be in Jannatul Firdaus. And us too when we eventually die. 

Lots of love, Mariya. 

BAT will ask for his rights too, wait and see

The new President has been sworn in. AlhamduLILLAH it was a success. And we wish him and all new leaders the very best.

I was thinking about how easy it was for us to insult our leaders, the easiest thing. We taught it cost us nothing. The truth is it cost you the right (haqq) that leader has on you. He has the right that you respect, follow and obey him, pray for him too. We often think we are the only ones with rights (haqq) our leaders refuse to fulfill. Do not forget that Allah is Al-Adl he is Just. If you come in front of Al-Adl to ask for your Haqq(right) because he cheated you on them…vice versa he(your leader) will also ask for his rights upon you (his subject) which you refused him. Think about this the next you see a leader do something wrong and the abuse is about to roll off of your tongue. Should I go on? Al-Adl is watching He will judge this particular insult, what if this becomes a thing to delay my going to Janna ya Rabbi( or auzubiLILLAH prevent my Janna entirely), astagfiruLLAH he isn’t worth my Janna. Allah ya shirye shi kawai. I promise you it will make you feel better.

Congrats on the new president and all the others Nigerians. I pray they do better than all our expectations combined.

i am eagerly waiting on your thoughts...

Love, Mariya.

He is enough for me and you too

 May His peace, blessings and mercy be upon you now and always. Hope you have been well enough fam.

How hard are things? Seeming impossible? There is no hope lurking to show its face fully at last minute? Especially as Nigerians things are not getting easier for a lot of us.

Who do you turn to? That privileged friend? That affluent neighbor? The successful looking business woman? The very philanthropic lady that always has enough to give out? Or do you go to the One who parted the seas for his prophet Moses (AS), the One who gave a virgin the ability to birth a boy, the One who gave the old Zachariah(AS) a son, got Yunus (AS) safely out of the whale’s belly, the One who saved Abraham (AS) from the raging blazing fire and became a source of coolness for him. The One who is First, Last and Only.

His tests may be severe but He is the most merciful. He tests the servants He loves the most to help them. For example so they can get closer to Him. Look at how He tested His prophets. He loves them the most. They are the chosen ones.

When hardship shows its ugly face remember Allah’s promises in the Qur’an. He promised that after hardship comes ease. He promised to never burden a soul with more than they can bear. And He stated firmly in His Qur’an that he is the most kind to His servants.

I do not doubt this. Like my Christian brothers will say He is a miracle working God. He truly is and he is enough for me (HASBUNALLAHU WA NI’IMAL WAKIL).  

Lots of love,

Mariya.

 

RAMADAN KARIM FAM!

May the peace blessings and mercy of my Beloved be with you. I pray the ibada period is going on as best as possible. Keep at the forefront of your mind that this might be your last, make it the best. May He ease all our affairs and grant us the goodness in this world and in the next.

Ramadan is a month that brings together families. You can spend more time with your kids without them irritating you much. As the pangs of hunger makes us all easily irritable. While doing that, they can be helpful too. Your little babies can help you in the kitchen, and with other house chores. Choose appropriate chores for appropriate ages. For example, my 5 year old helps bring the food from the kitchen to the living area and cleaning up afterwards. He helps me peel potatoes (at the beginning he was not any good but trust consistency he now peels while I do other things), he can rinse plates, dust the surfaces, and mops sometimes. This also takes away the “he’s a male he can’t do house chores factor” we are trying to correct. My 2 year old bless her soul, she always wants to help she helps with empty plates (non-breakable) and cups and helps put some plates back in their original places after washing them and thing else that she can do. While doing that you can chant as much dhikr as you want or play the Qur’an to the surah your babies can recite so everyone can get a share of the reward. If you have older kids or other people staying with you, all the merrier. May the almighty bless our kids and guide them. May Allah accept our acts of worship and grant us His mercy forever. Amen.

Much, much much love Mariya.