Pauline_Murigi_Babylove-Network-Blogspot_Welcome

Welcome to my Babylove Network Blogspot!! | Pauline

 
After months of contemplating about starting a blog, I have finally decided to take the first step and actually do my first blog post. Special shout out to my FB Family for encouraging me to start blogging!

I actually struggled to pick what my first topic would be! But then after the awesome birthday weekend I had in January, I thought why not start with that!

As a January baby born in the 80s, (and I’m sure many Jan babies my age can relate) my parents were very quick to inform me that my birthday gift was the school fees they paid, the uniform they bought and all other related school supplies because most schools in this side of the Motherland open during the first and second weeks of January. So growing up my birthday was just a normal day with nothing much to write about.

When I joined Campus I met a couple of birthday celebrations starved January babies and we all came up with an exciting party idea and we dubbed it ‘Jan Fest’. Those were some good old days!

We would all ‘changa’ some cash and go to one of the locals near Campus, book a venue, get our very own local Disk Jockey (do people still use that term?), DJ E the Turntablist. Back then he was a struggling (skinny) DJ just trying to get by and we were one of the first people to discover him so I guess you can say he owes us! Right now he is a big shot DJ, co-founder of Mzuka media group, one of the top DJs at the Carnivore and the official DJ of the Churchill show but the thing I admire most about Ndungu (yes, that’s his real name) is that he still remains down to earth, humble and never forgets where he came from.

So DJ E would hold it down for us at our parties where we really had some good times. This reminds me one of the other founders of Mzuka (Eli) promised us a proper Jan Fest in 2018 and we are now in February but we are a patient lot! Anyway I digress.

The Jan fests would continue even after we graduated for a few more birthdays before life happened and guys started drifting apart.

I then decided to start my own birthday traditions most of which was just grown up stuff like dinner with friends and maybe a birthday cake. Growing up sucks!

Then in mid-2016 I became a mummy for the first time and I had the worst first birthdays as a mum in 2017. I was still breastfeeding so after one of the longest days at work I still had to go home and take care of Tish’s feeding needs! Oh by the way Tish is my beautiful, amazing, incredible daughter!

So there and then I made a promise to myself. That my next birthday would be legen….wait for it….dary (Sorry, I just had to do that. How I met your mother fans can relate). I decided I was going to save and treat myself to a holiday with either family or friends but without Tish.

As an FTM (First Time Mum) I felt I needed to reclaim Popoh. I think most FTMs feel me. I saved every extra penny and hustled extra hard to make sure my Jan 2018 birthday would be lit and more importantly it would mean some time out for me.

Those who know me also know that I don’t joke with vacations! I save like old white people for vacations. These wazungus really know how to save for their holidays! So I quite like that I have adopted this trait. I always like to save for my holidays. Even if it means sacrificing some luxuries during the year just to ensure we have a break as a family in Mombasa (I’m obsessed with the Kenyan Coast).

So my 2018 birthday weekend checklist was very straight forward – Beach, Yummy food, Good Company, Wine, Somewhere to go Dance and a Massage. Oh and no Tish. Trust me I love my little munchkin but sometimes you just need a bit of a break from her energy and enthusiasm to just chill!

I did what any other reasonable Kenyan would do. I formed a WhatsApp group! Kenyans are obsessed with WhatsApp groups. We form WhatsApp groups for everything! Then within the WhatsApp group a few crazy Kenyans will form a second WhatApp groups with three-quarters of the same people from the original WhatsApp group. It’s all a bit silly!

So yeah I formed a WhatsApp and got 3 of my closest friends who also needed that get-away and who are so much fun. These women are so hilarious and so REAL and I am in love with real people. The initial idea was to have many more of my girlfriends but some chickened out and some attempted to suggest that we carry our husbands! – No thank you. This was going to be a girls’ only affair so we finally ended up being the four musketeers – Sheero, Nimu, Esther and myself.

My birthday was actually on 12th January which was perfect because it was a Friday. We landed in Mombasa at 10.20am and we were fully settled in the hotel by 1.00pm in time to have some amazing lunch, enjoy some wine and laugh the afternoon away.

In the evening the hotel did the whole birthday song thing, all summed up with some delicious cake after which we headed out to the club and danced the night away! . As a mum it was so liberating to take that time out to just go out, have fun with the girls.

Back home Baba Tish took over like the BOSS he is and my daughter didn’t even get a chance to miss me which is so cool because it means I can go for more trips alone.

Another highlight of the weekend was getting a massage at the hotel’s massage parlor which had an amazing ocean view. It was a perfect 90-minute relaxing massage and just what I needed to shut down my birthday weekend.
So that is how I spent my birthday and this blog is a gift to myself for 2018.

I want to put down my crazy thoughts, experiences and fitness journey (you guys will be my accountability partners on this. I need to get back my CURVES).

I look forward to going through this blog with my grandkids and laughing at how things change but remain the same.
So subscribe, comment and let’s learn from each other.

Let’s keep this space fun and respectful!

42 Comments

  1. Bryan Wesonga on February 17, 2018 at 7:58 pm

    Nice!

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 6:54 am

      Thanks for all the support Baba Tish much appreciated

  2. Ythes on February 17, 2018 at 8:25 pm

    well written. I feel like I’m talking with a girlfriend…

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 6:55 am

      Thanks so much Ythes this is what I am going for

  3. Tisha mary on February 17, 2018 at 8:27 pm

    my sister. all the best. God bless your efforts

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 6:55 am

      Amen my dear and asante sana for the kind words

  4. The Evolving Mom on February 17, 2018 at 9:01 pm

    | F I N A L L Y |

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 6:56 am

      Yes yes yes lol thanks for all the support and love in this motherhood journey

  5. Sheila on February 18, 2018 at 2:31 am

    Aaaaaaaw!!you have a blog!!i loooove it 😍!congrats Pops😄😄!! That’s super cool- I’m so excited for u! And lol-siii ur still a story teller-that was a GREAT choice for a first storo btw!! Looking forward to maaaany more!!

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 6:56 am

      Thanks so much Sheila yaaaaay tune in for more blogs

  6. Olivia Chepkemboi on February 18, 2018 at 3:14 am

    Nice read on your first blog post and congrats! Mama needs a break at times.

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 6:57 am

      Yes Olivia mama needs a break………

  7. Sheila on February 18, 2018 at 5:37 am

    It’s an awesome n interesting blog. Am a Jan gal n I relate alot with it. Can’t wait for the next article.

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 6:58 am

      Sheila a fellow jan baby you should be part of the Jan Fest celebrations next time. Thanks for reading and the awesome comment much appreciated.

  8. Bella oyolla on February 18, 2018 at 7:41 am

    Congratulations poppoh so happy for you on this journey. All the best.

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 6:58 am

      Thanks Bella cheers to many more

  9. Diana Ngei on February 18, 2018 at 11:54 am

    Hilarious😂😂 and a great read per usual👌🏾. Now more will have access to your brilliant material. Congratulations again 🎉we’re super uber proud of you for starting this new journey👏🏾👏🏾!! Looking forward to reading the posts, sharing with others, and laughing our butts off.

    Love ya sis😘

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 6:58 am

      Aaaaawwww sis thanks for all the love and pushing me to get this done much appreciated.

  10. Aluso on February 18, 2018 at 1:00 pm

    Power to you, Popoh!💕

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 6:59 am

      Thanks my dear i appreciate all the support

  11. Pauline Kitoto on February 18, 2018 at 1:48 pm

    First off. Am SO glad u started this Popoh! So so happy for u. Now give me some tips on planning for my family trip. Nimeshindwa aki. Ama i make u my very own bank account till Dec?

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 7:00 am

      Lol Pauline please send me that money and i will keep it safe or even do the 52-week savings challenge you can break it down to weekly or monthly targets and maybe use a Money Market Account and I assure you i will be getting pictures of your family vacation this year

  12. Denise Wangechi on February 18, 2018 at 3:15 pm

    This is great mama. Congratulations for taking this step.

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 7:25 am

      Thanks so much my dear the support is appreciated.

  13. Janet on February 18, 2018 at 4:30 pm

    loved it.

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 7:25 am

      Thanks alot

  14. Cynthia Wariko on February 18, 2018 at 4:57 pm

    Awesome read Popoh. Subscribed pap!

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 7:37 am

      Asante sana my dear you are awesome

  15. Njez on February 18, 2018 at 6:36 pm

    yeey…💃💃💃💃congrats Popoh..

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 8:54 am

      Thanks so much

  16. Chipa on February 20, 2018 at 12:18 pm

    This is great PauPau! Eagerly awaiting part II!

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 9:03 am

      Thanks so much for all the encouraging words

  17. Sash on February 21, 2018 at 12:21 pm

    Keep it up.

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 9:03 am

      Thanks will do

  18. Kui Karingithi on February 23, 2018 at 7:02 am

    Yesss…Finally!! 🙂

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 9:04 am

      Lol finally thanks alot my dear :-*

  19. Sheero on February 23, 2018 at 8:33 am

    wooooop wooooop woooop congratulations on your first blog… interesting read and yes yes even mamas need a holiday….. congratulations……..

    • Pauline Murigi on February 26, 2018 at 9:04 am

      Asante sana my dear for all the support and being part of my Girls Trip. First blog eveeeerrrrrrr

  20. Ciru on February 26, 2018 at 10:00 am

    Good job popoh!

    • Pauline Murigi on March 16, 2018 at 5:28 am

      Thanks so much

  21. Ruth Katela on March 5, 2018 at 5:29 am

    Awesome! So true every mother needs that break.

    • Pauline Murigi on March 16, 2018 at 5:28 am

      So true we need a break to get our mommy super powers replenished

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