Five things I did to avoid delay at the Airport Security

As a first-time Traveller going on an international trip, I wanted to get all things right, from what to put in my carry-on luggage and what was check in.

I particularly didn't want any of my belongings seized, so I made sure I watched enough tutorials on TikTok.

Additionally, I didn't want to keep my husband waiting since we were travelling together. So here are five things I did to make sure there was no delay of any kind.

Apart from waking up early, I made sure I 

1) Got to the Airport early, waking up early, and getting to the airport early are two different things, if you agree with me. My flight from Lagos to Doha was for 0855am, and as of 0455am, I was already at the airport.

2) I made sure I had no metallic object on, no Jewelry, just my wedding band and smart watch. The point of wearing jewelry when I would be in one spot for 10 hours?????? This saved me the stress of removing any jewelry at the security. Again, remember I was travelling with my husband, with no jewelry 😅😅 you get??

3) Sneakers for what???Crocs or nothing. If you've ever taken a night bus, you can tell how swollen your legs can feel after some time. I wasn't in the mood to start getting all cranky because I want to look funky. Also, I was going to be removed at the security checkpoint for screening. Ko, necessary, please.

4) As a skincare junkie that i am, i can never be caught unfresh, I made sure i carried a travel size sunscreen to meet TSA or international guidelines. Failure to comply means the item would be seized.

5) Imagining going to a location and your phone finally goes off, you could easily ask anyone on the road, that is, if you are in Nigeria, you are going to a country where English isn't their primary language, you want to make sure your phone is on. Also, at some point, when I was asked for certain documents, because my phone was readily available, I handed it over.

Thanks for reading, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Drop a comment or share this with someone who enjoys it too.

                  Not in the mood to read?? Here is a vlog for you to enjoy

📍 Sheraton Lisbon: Living the High Life on the 28th Floor

It’s no news that my husband is an Elite member of the Sheraton hotel , and let me tell you — the perks are very real.

Wherever we land in the world, it’s either Sheraton or Four Points by Sheraton, both under the Marriott Bonvoy umbrella.

So in Lisbon, Portugal, we found ourselves at the Sheraton Hotel — and, as part of the Elite experience, we were placed on the topmost floor: the 28th.

Let’s just say… I’ve never felt closer to the clouds.

Honestly, the view had me singing: “I’m on top of the world!”

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🛏 The Room

Only photos can truly do it justice — the moment we stepped in, I jumped on the bed like a child (which I am most definitely not, but that bed said otherwise 😄).

We had a king-size bed with dreamy pillows, automatic curtains (just one button by the bedside!), and mood lighting that was honestly hard to describe — soft, golden, calming.

The room was spacious and cleverly partitioned, with a laundry/ironing space, a wardrobe, and a corner to stash your luggage neatly.

What made me giggle? The TV had my husband’s name with a welcome message — and in the background was a picture of a long bridge and a statue. I saw that and immediately googled the location — it became the first place we visited in Lisbon.

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🛁 The Bathroom

Now this was next-level.

It felt like two rooms in one (Nigerians, you’ll get the room-and-parlour vibe I’m talking about).

One section had a bathtub, central speakers, and a wide mirror — the lighting here alone had me vlogging non-stop. There were all the usual essentials: bottled water, hair dryer, hotel toiletries.

Then came the “real deal” section — what I find fascinating in most European hotels is the two-seat system: one for the actual deal, and the other for, let’s just say… the watery business 😂.

Bonus points for the nylon disposal system — thoughtful for women, especially during that time of the month.

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🏘 The Neighborhood

I always appreciate when there’s a Farmácia (pharmacy) nearby — you know I had to pick up some skincare. The products I got deserve some reviews, and trust me on that. 😉😉 The hotel was just a stone’ throw away.

The area was also surrounded by vibrant, colorful buildings with soft hills that could make you pass out, remember Olumo Rock?

Lisbon is stunning, especially at night. It’s a photographer’s dream.

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🍴 The Food

Truthfully? I didn’t enjoy the meals on the street of   Lisbon (more on that later — I’ll break down what I ate inside and outside the hotel in a separate post).

 Sheraton did have Happy Hour for Elite members — drinks and snacks, all complimentary as an Oga nla✋✋. The dining space was breathtaking, and yes, I took pictures of everything I tried 🍸🍤 (scroll down to see a few).

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💆🏽‍♀ The Spa

There was a spa in the hotel, but since I’d just done a facial in Madrid, I didn’t try it out this time. Still, it was nice to know the option was there.

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🙋🏽‍♂ The Staff

There was no language barrier; the staff were professional, kind, and helpful.

Shoutout to the barman who made me a signature mocktail every time I passed through — I low-key miss him already.

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💬 Final Thoughts

Lisbon stole my heart.

Would I go back? Absolutely.

Same hotel? 100%.

Watch the view from the 28th floor come alive. Click here

Why I Started Bloom and Bud

I’ve stayed in places that made me forget home and in places where all I wanted to do was go home.

To be honest, this blog wasn’t something I planned. I mean, what does someone with a degree in Cell Biology and Genetics have to do with writing, right?

But here I am.

I travel a lot, sometimes alongside my husband. Infact, it was one of the criteria for marrying him — I needed to be with someone who enjoys travelling just as much as I do.

From dining in a hotel’s finest restaurant to trying out both the softest and hardest pillows, I often find myself thinking, “I wish someone else could feel this too.”

Bloom and Bud is my journal for those moments.

It’s for travelers and hoteliers who want the inside gist of a stay — not just the brochure version. It’s where I document rest, beauty, softness, and the little details that make a place feel like more than a stopover.

I’m not a perfect writer, but I’m present — and I hope that counts for something here.

You can expect soft reviews, honest reflections, and thoughtful travel — all from someone who’s just learning to bloom too.

Welcome to Bloom and Bud.

Where rest meets story, and every stay leaves a mark.