The kitchen and its variety

Foodie! I love food. I love it local or foreign #LOL. Guys love good food, they love it's packaging, they love to eat different meals. They want to brag about their wives' competency in the kitchen. I know of a newly wed who talks endlessly about his wife's cooking swag as he would always say.

Many of us are in the habit of: rice, yam, eba, plantain (occassionally) and bread, just the regular. Sometimes we don't want to try out new stuffs, sometimes we give excuses of "I don't know where they sell this and that. 

And to some who must cook the regular, you can actually try and package well. I mean, if we have to make eba, then mould it well to look really appetising, for the rice, do some little packaging (effizi) in serving, if it's yam, you have choices; yam and sauce (vegetables with tomatoes), yam porridge, yam and egg, yam and garden egg sauce, there are just a lot of them. We only need to experiment, *clears throat*, you may need to be careful with some experiments so we don't end up in the loo all day,every day.

Thanks to Timipre for sharing her kitchen with us. Mr Charles must be healthy ooo #Winks
Picture of Timipre after the cut:

Ladies: Make your wedding night memorable by Wedding Graces

Strangely, in Nigeria most couples just go over a wedding night without really experiencing the thrills and fun it should come with, well, good thing is times are changing and so are trends, so as part of your wedding plans you should include plans for your wedding night and of course*winks* your wedding bed.

Here are some tips for the ladies: Get a good hotel and be sure that they'll let you add some aesthetics to your room. Find a good blend of your favourite colors and decorate your bed, adding flowers and candles are not out of place, because years down the line, you'll discover you had a blast of a wedding night.

The truth is guys couldn't really be bothered how good  the bed looks even though they like clean sheets, all they want to do is rest and ermmmm *clearingmythroat* so Gurl! just spice it up and make your night so romantic.  Find dim lights and make sure the room is perfumed. Take every distraction away eg phones, tablets etc and enjoy your FIRST NIGHT together.

Remember ITS YOUR FIRST NIGHT WITH THE SPOUSE YOU ALWAYS LOVED TO BE WITH. Have fun Gurls!!!!!!

Piece by Amazing Grace
www.weddinggraces.blogspot.com

30 is the new 25

I love the figures 3 and 0. I love the age 30. It is sometimes scary but, i'm living it just right. There were panics before I turned 30 and I realised it was same for few people I spoke with and it's still same for those who are about to turn 30. I also know being thirty and unattached remains a source of anxiety. Concerns range from the biological clock to having all married friends to pressure at home (for some) to meeting the right person (always on the edge after a simple "hello" with a male stranger) and a couple of other concerns. Some ladies at thirty and above who are unattached, unconsciously have crawled back to their shells which shouldn't be.

It's a period to be happy, don't feel like a failure, seize the opportunity to find yourself, it's an opportunity for us to put ourselves first, it's sure not an act of selfishness but an act of self hood. 

Don't wallow in self pity, it's not a plague, it's not a death sentence. Stay happy. Prioritise the kind of man you want, if you're looking for the Brad Pitt, the Bill Gates and the likes, then be prepared to pull it. Whatever your choice is, be sure it can complement you. 

I have decided to stay and always stay attractive not just physically but also by my attitude. Oh well, doesn't mean I intend to be perfect 'cos I CAN'T, I mean no matter how hard we try, we can't be perfect, last I checked, no one but God is perfect. And yes, it's the period to cut out from time wasters, people who just love the idea of being together with you (like my friend will say) and not the idea of being an item,Nah....run from such, you're only going to increase the number of years you'd waste. We don't want that, do we? NOPE. 

10 Brand of men you should never marry by Gift Jonah

Hi guys, I hope you enjoy this write up. *smiles*

• Someone who doesn’t have a relationship with God.

   If a man doesn’t have a relationship with his creator, how then can he handle a relationship with you? If he doesn’t accept God’s love and love him back, then he is not capable of loving himself talk more of loving you. This is where true love starts from.

• Someone whose physical appearance doesn’t please you.

    I wrote same in my last article. Physical appearance is very important because that is one of the ingredients that spice up the romance. It is vital to marry a man you are proud of his looks, a man you want to show off to all your friends or anyone who cares to ask.

• Someone who is already married.

    Yes.... He is married so why consider him to be your husband material? No lady wants to be a second fiddle except you think within you that you can’t get someone better that is single.

• Someone who is a thief; meaning someone who is jobless or unproductive

    It is very unwise to marry a man who doesn’t have a job, business or potentials. You need to tell yourself the bitter truth. How does he intend to cater for you and foot the bills? When a man is jobless and unproductive, he becomes aggressive and insecure and before you know it conflicts begin to creep in.
My advice to you will be, if you truly love him so much and he is talking marriage, advice and support him to get a job first. It’s for the good of both of you. #HardTruth

• Someone who is not under higher authority

    No matter how hard, tough and stubborn a person is, there is always someone who can talk to that person and get them to listen and make amends positively. If he doesn’t have someone he listens to or someone he is accountable to, then it’s a clear sign that he feels he is above all authority or feels he is not answerable to anyone except himself. That is clearly not a good sign.

• Someone who is overly angry.

    Anger that is always over the top can possibly lead to abuse and once abuse (minor or major) sets in, sweetheart,  it has come to stay. Except you fall under the category of "if he loves me, he should beat me to correct me".

• Someone who abuses you as a lady

    If he doesn’t regard you or talk down at you in public or maybe threatens to slap you in public or even in private then my dear think twice about that dude of yours.

• Someone who is a stranger

    Your man should be your friend and best pal not a stranger. If you see him as a stranger rather than a friend, then its wise to keep searching, continue the search, advertise the search if possible.

• Someone most of your love ones or family disapproves of: 

    Like they say the voice of men is the voice of God. If majority of your family members or friends disapprove of your partner, you should watch it and reconsider your decision.

• Someone who is not willing to marry you: Don’t be too pushy about marriage, men love to be the chaser. If he is not taking about marriage yet then it probably means he is not into you or seeing you in that light yet. Love should be two sided, if he is not showing interest or commitment then you should not push it. Time waits for no one o. Be wise. Your boo might just have a boo. loool

Facebook: Gift S Jonah
Twitter: @charminggift16

NAT 102 by El Poiz© (Natural Hair Care)

Hello Ladies, how are the kinks, curls and coils coming up?
Well, last week we discussed the big chop and the moisturizing as part of the hair regimen. This week like its going to be all about deep conditioning

DEEP CONDITIONING(DC)
Deep conditioning is a perfect way of keeping the hair moisturized, workable and healthy. Deep conditioning is done weekly and is a very important part of one's hair regimen. There are 4 types of DC's;
The moisture DC
The protein DC,
Hydrolysed Protein DC(for transitioning and high porosity hair types-Twice or once a month.
Hard Protein DC
As the names of the moisture and protein DC imply, one basically moisturizes and the other restores lost protein. Naturally, the hair is rich in a protein called 'Keratin' but over years, one's keratin level decreases.
Moisture DC is the basic DC, that is; moisture DC is that out of the 2 types which is done weekly. The protein DC on the other hand is done once a month. In a situation where the hair is not firm and breaks easily, the naturalista is advised to increase her rate of protein DC to twice a month but if the hair is too firm, 'too hard'(signifying a high level of protein), then the protein DC should be left at once a month alongside the weekly moisture DC. Both DC's should not be done on the same day; if you would carry out your protein DC on the last saturday of the month, you should not do a moisture DC on that saturday.

Deep Conditioning should be done on clean hair.
Some Moisture and Protein DC recipes include;
MOISTURE DC
A)
1. 1 large overripe banana (sliced) OR 7 oz banana baby food
2. 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3. 2 tablespoon pure vegetable glycerin
4. 2 tablespoon pure honey
 
Instructions:Place the sliced banana, extra virgin olive oil, glycerin, and honey all in a blender. Blend the ingredients thoroughly making sure no lumps or banana bits remain. (Depending on your blender quality, you may or may not have to sieve the mixture. Another option is to use banana baby food, though the conditioner may not be as effective.) A fork can also be used to mash the banana thoroughly till it becomes a smooth paste. Sieve the banana first into a clean bowl, then add your other ingredients for the deep conditioning treatment.
Apply the banana deep conditioning mixture to your freshly washed hair and 
let it sit for 30-45 minutes under a shower cap.

B)
1banana
2 tbsp honey, 
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 egg
2tbsp of any oil

C)
1 banana 
1 cup aloe vera juice

D)
1/2 a can of coconut milk
add 4 tablespoon of olive oil
This DC is also very good for women who are protein sensitive.

NOTE:
1)For DCs involving banana, after blending the banana, sieve to ensure you have no bits/lumps of banana left
2)After mixing any DC recipe, the mixture is applied to your washed hair,covered with a shower cap and left on for 1 hour(except the 1st recipe where the duration is stated otherwise). At the end of the hour, rinse off properly.

PROTEIN
A)
3 egg yolk
2tbsp honey
2tbsp any oil

B)
1 pot greek yoghurt
3tbsp honey
1 egg
2tbsp each of olive oil and coconut oil For any dc with egg, watch the water temperature, to avoid having white particles in your hair if the egg cooks on your hair.

N:B; It is highly advisable o carry out your DC after your wash(on the same day) as sham wash strips the hair of its accumulated moisture.


*excerpts 'Natural Hair Babes'(Facebook)

Have a fabulous Hairweek.


El Poiz©

THE UBUNTU GROUP (Lagos Chapter) CELEBRATES

After nights of studying, days of rushing to exam centres, the Ubuntu group will finally have a breather tomorrow.
The force or the group as you may want to call comprise of great personalities and hard workers, the IT guru, the safety worker, the photographer, the media personality/the blogger, the "packager",the corper, the entrepreneur, the travel agent, the newly wed who loves to cook and bake,the diamond, and the list is endless.
The group will be having a social gathering tomorrow at the Ikeja city mall.

#Unity #Strength #Ubuntu
Oh I forgot, there's a new Lagos intake-Charles Oputa #HeHe
Best Team Ever.......

CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER by Gift Jonah

This is one of the most crucial decision singles make that will most likely determine the course of their future. The decision of who to marry either make you or break you. It is not enough to say oh she is a very nice girl or oh he is caring and nice. I hear some ladies say though he doesn’t go to church but he is nice. Lol.
So many things come to play when considering someone to be your spouse. It is crucial to look out for Character, Values, Potentials and even though physical appearance should be secondary, it is very important because trust me as a guy, you won’t want to come home from a hard day’s job only to be welcomed home by a woman who doesn’t look appealing to you physically.

Today I just want to share briefly on some things you should look at for when it’s time to make that life changing decision that has potentials to ultimately change your life positively or negatively.

Character : Character is everything. Just like attitude, our character defines us and says alot about our person. Get to know the person’s character and his background. When I mean background, I mean his/her educational background, health condition, Spiritual background etc.

Prayer : I need not emphasis on the importance of prayer in taking a decision like this. Prayer helps the operation of your inner eyes.

Put more priority on conviction than feelings : Sometimes our feelings can be deceptive so ensure you do not confuse it for conviction. Your feelings can mislead you to saying YES to the wrong person.

When convinced, get confirmation from family, pastor or talk to a counselor.

Prepare to make adjustment if there are significant differences i.e Cultural difference, Age difference, personality difference as well as educational difference.

On Thursday, I will share with you 10 brand of men you should never marry. I’m sure you won’t want to miss that.

Have a fantastic week.


Facebook: Gift S Jonah
Twitter: @charminggift16

From the pretty Dr. Kelechi (Our Eye Specialialist)

My name Dr. Kelechi Okonkwo (OD). I am an Optometrist, a very cheerful lady who believe so much in God, treating people right, helping those in need no matter how small, I am a giver. I like making people smile! It gives me joy when I see people smile or laugh because of my actions.

As an eye doctor, here are some tips on how to take care of your eyes;

1. Please make sure you see an eye doctor whenever you have any issue with your eyes, very important.

2. Always visit an eye doctor for routine eye check at least once in two years.

3. Eye injuries are common cause of emergency. Eye trauma should be fully assessed by an eye doctor,as penetrating  injuries are easily missed but can lead to serious infections.

4. A chemical burn (acids or alkalis) is the only eye injury that needs treatment before eye examination. Manage immidiatly by copious irrigation with sterile water. Then the patient should go and see an eye doctor while continuing irrigation. Same applies to superglue inguries.            
                           
Note: please do not rub the eye when you have any injury and do not use acidic solutions to neutralise alkaline burns and vice versa.

5. For a blow to the eye,apply cold compress  and take pain relieve drugs and make sure you see an eye doctor as soon as possible.

Here are some foods for healthy eyes to try; spinach, grapefruit,strawberries,nuts, oysters,crab,salmon, carrot,pumpkin...etc

Remember, no one ever injured their eye sight by looking on the bright side of things, vision is everything, so take care of your eyes!!!

IG: @kelee_o

MAN CRUSH MONDAY (MCM)

Ayikimi Oghenetejiri Fondly called Prince Tj  Hays or Tj Hays who is from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, He's from Kiagbodo in Burutu and Ugbuwangwe in warri south LGA.

Tj hays started singing in church and events. He started calling himself Prince Tj Hays in 1997. He's from a Royal family by virtue of his grand father, High Chief Ogbe from Ugbuwangwe warri south. Prince Tj hays has been a successful live band musician in warri,delta state. He has shared stage with a lot of successful musicians nation wide and Internationally as a musician. He was formally the PRO, warri Pman chapter.

He's a graduate of Computer science from Ambrose Ali university Bsc.. and did other professional courses such as Instrumentation (Pti) , safety course (Nisp Hse3) etc.

More photos of Tj after the cut,

His last single is titled Ebiere. Ebiere is a beautiful love song that is bound to get you on your feet and rock the airwaves; the song was produced by fast rising producer from the south- Id Cleff who has worked with Meshack ( Go Tell Dem), Shuun Bebe, Erigga, Dezign(Veronica) and a slew of other artistes while it was mixed by Brain...

Song titles:

1-Ratata

2-Iworiwo

3-kente

4-my call

5-Mr staunch

6-Ebiere.

Plans for the future:

My last single has kept away from my bed..have been from 1 state to another playing shows.  So with this situation I have decided to speedily work on my video..upgrade my game and do some nice collaboration.  I have already started a job wit Orezi, Harrysong, chuddy k, And I just did a dope tune that I ll want to feature Timaya and Runtown by God's grace. I see myself at the top soonest. 

Two sides of a coin!

I once watched a duck streaming effortlessly down the lake, I once saw a fish camouflage -and swim calmly to avoid attracting its predator-to get out of danger, I once observed a woman give her best at work.

I also remember wondering why on earth this duck moved so slow, why this fish wouldn't just make a run for it, why this woman would make such silly mistake(when she does).

Little things count...

Happy sunday people. Just to share a little something with you. There are just a few things we do that make a lot of difference. The very first will be what we teach the little ones.

Let us teach them how;

- to kneel and pray before they sleep and in the morning when they rise from bed
- to be nice to people at home, in school and outside
- to always pray at the beginning and end of every meal and before they read their books
- to ask God daily to bless and protect mum, dad and siblings

It will be helpful to get them the children's bible with images so as to capture their minds and make it easier to remember stories. Read a short passage and make them share their thoughts openly, allow them ask those silly questions.

Simple, but how many people take their time to do this? Let us engage these young ones in activities relating to God, who is first their father and friend.

A soul sister shares her experience....Piece by Timi

My Name is Mrs Nwagwu Timipre, i'v been married for 6mths.. lol, I met my hubby in owerri, Oct 2006 precisely.
Well, I went to spend a weekend with my friend at her cousins when my hubby "my bf" came visiting.. yea, we started as friends and he asked me out few weeks later "I accepted 2 date him on his birthday...I figured my fiance had all the qualities I wanted in a man‎,  I could share my insecurities and I could make myself so vulnerable,‎ I had absolutely no desire to go back to my past relationship.. he sure was and is the perfect man for me.. Hmmm, my fears were " getting disappointed been that I had dated him for years, not seeing the relationship having a head way... We dated for 7yrs / courted for 2yrs (9yrs) . I asked myself severally, "timi, how do u know u'r ready for marriage?" Right after he got me engaged. Then I analysed myself.. , I figured I couldn't make decisions without consulting him, he was my 1st phone call when I got any goodnews, my emergency contact, my emotions were tied to him.. I could go on and on and on.. lol.
He made me see reasons why marriage was lot more fun dan dating and up until dis moment, he hasn't changed a bit.. same old loving, caring n romantic man.. I sure would choose him again if i am asked to.