CategoriesLifestyle by

Movies to watch this January

Welcome to 2017! I hope this Year is filled with pleasant moments and memories for you and all yours.
While working hard to make your dreams come true this year, remember to relax and have a little fun with your friends and family. Here are a few movies to watch this month.
1.The Wedding Party

I know this was part of the movies to watch in December, but I need to remind you to watch this movie. I watched this movie, and I had fun throughout, I loooove this movie. If you have watched it already, watch it again!
2.Brother Jekwu

This movie depicts a village champion with bad English who travels from Nigeria to Kenya to work for a female boss. This movie has been showing at the cinemas since last year, so watch it now.
3.Hidden figures

Three brilliant African-American women (Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae), serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
I love anything about Women empowerment or Women making waves, so this is a must watch for me. It starts showing on the 13th January at cinemas nationwide.
4.Saving Dreams

A naive girl with dreams of stardom marries a powerful man, who abuses her while running a foundation that protects abused women. This drama unfolds the power of hope and willpower. The movie will start showing on the 20th of January, 2017.

CategoriesLifestyle by

How to Know When Your Menstrual Cycle Is Abnormal

At one time or another, every woman suspects that her menstrual cycle is abnormal for one reason or another.
However, what we often think is an abnormal period is actually regular menstruation.
It is vital to know when you are having an irregular period because an abnormal menstrual cycle can be a symptom of a health issue that needs attention, including pregnancy, uterine cancer, and uterine fibroid tumors.
Now, how do you know when you’re experiencing abnormal periods?
Signs and Symptoms of an Abnormal Period

You are likely to be experiencing an unusual period, abnormal uterine bleeding, or an irregular menstrual cycle if:

The time between your menstrual cycles is longer than 21 to 35 days,
You need to change your tampons or sanitary pads after only one or two hours,
Your period goes beyond days,
You suddenly begin to experience severe menstrual cramps
You are younger than 11 or postmenopausal or and you have any amount of vaginal or uterine bleeding.

Other Symptoms of Abnormal Menstrual Cycle
While a small amount of cramping during your period is normal, it’s not normal to experience severe menstrual cramps.
If you suddenly start to experience severe cramps, you should see your health care provider to determine the cause of the increased pain you experience during your period.
Some young women experience more intense cramping during the first few years after their first period.

CategoriesFood by

Recipe: Ayamashe Stew

You start appreciating the things that are most distant. I never thought I was such a fan of Nigerian food till I moved from Nigeria. I was always the first person who would want to try Mexican, Italian or Indian but these days I would be craving rice and stew from Olaiya.
A good friend decided to pity me and make me the most delicious stew I have ever tasted till date. This wonder stew was called Ayamashe; I enjoyed it so much I want you to make this for someone you love. You can serve this stew with rice and fried plantain, boiled egg and chilled coke if you must.

Ingredients
Meat; the more, the merrier. Every spoonful should have some meat. You should use a variety, cow leg, shaki, kpomo, round about, liver, etc.
2 cups of palm oil
2 cups of chopped red onions
Eight bell green peppers
Two red peppers (rodo)
Locust beans
Seasoning cubes
Salt
Method

Cut the meat into tiny pieces and boil
Blend the green peppers and red peppers to form a paste
the pepper to remove all the moisture and sour taste
Bleach the palm oil; heat the palm oil in a covered pot for about ten minutes till it becomes almost transparent
Reduce the heat then add the chopped onions and locust beans
Put the meats into the oil to fry for about 10 minutes then add the pepper
Make sure the pepper is properly , keep stirring till the oil floats on top
Add the meat stock in small quantities, do not let this turn to soup
Let it for a bit
Like I serve with steamed rice, fried and chilled coke.

Enjoy!
 
 

CategoriesLifestyle by

Side Hustle: Digital Marketing

Last night I started to write this article but slept off. I, however, woke up to news that one of my guilty pleasures, a relationship page on Instagram after reaching a hundred thousand followers has decided to monetize. This brings me to my point; since we all spend some much time online, there has to be a benefit of doing so. This year, we have to look at things with new eyes and see the cash cows in every situation.
You may be thinking at this point, how do I get started? I am recommending digital marketing to you across the internet, talking about blogs, social media platforms; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter even Snapchat. This is not a new thing; we all remember how the number of blogs rose when Linda Ikeji bought her Banana Island mansion. I am going to teach you how to tailor your online business to suit you.

• Choose a niche
Yes, gossip blogs are a big business, but it is a saturated market so except you can bring in something totally fresh, I suggest you stay out of it. Instablog9ja is new, but they came with a twist, instead of a regular blog they are on Instagram using catchy sarcastic delivery lines making the most mundane news funny.
• Choose a platform
Decide if you want a blog or to use any of the social media platforms. I suggest you use the one which you enjoy the most. The self-acclaimed Nigerian king of Snapchat has started placing adverts and promotions on his page
• Grow your audience
Before you start asking people to come and advertise on your platform, make sure you have some very impressive numbers. A very good friend of mine currently has 413,000 followers and advert subscriptions enough to cover her monthly expenses and luxuries. I am sure you are wondering how to get the numbers?
• Be Consistent
Whatever you decide to do, don’t stop even if it starts out really show. There are many ways you can build your audience; the first being great content. If you decide for instance you want to review Nigerian Make Up artistes, have solid content voicing your opinions and offering valuable information for potential customers. You can also connect with those who have a larger audience through contributing content, partnership even placing an advert to publicize your new business.
2017 is the year to make your dreams a reality. I am looking forward to your success stories.

CategoriesLifestyle by

Vacationing with Kids

Traveling with children (even if it is one child) takes careful planning and lots of positivity. When traveling with kids,
(a)You need to pay attention to their needs at all times during the vacation
(b)You have to make plans for lots of activities and play, so they don’t get bored
(c)You will have to find the right balance between rest and play, so they don’t become overtired as this could eventually lead to crankiness and tantrums
Here are a few tips to help you plan the perfect family getaway.
1.Define your likes and interests as a Family
 Sit together as a family to discuss and choose where everyone would like to go for the trip.
2.Decide on a budget
Your budget will determine your destination so put this in mind. Your budget will have to include transportation costs, accommodation, food, entertainment, activities, and souvenirs or gifts.
3.Pick favourable dates
I know I don’t have to say this, but just in case you don’t know; pick your vacation dates to fall during the holidays since your kids will be on holiday and free to have fun. Also, check your schedules to confirm there are no conflicting appointments.
4.Settle Logistics
If you are traveling out of your location, you will have to make plans for transport and accommodation. Try to book them as early as possible to save costs.
5.Plan activities beforehand
Plan child-friendly activities to do on your vacation; ask your kids what they would like to do and make plans for the activities.
6.Build in Private time
Though it is a family vacation, try to make out time for a private time with your spouse; it could be a romantic dinner or movie just to keep the spark alive.
7.Capture memories
Don’t forget to take your cameras so you can take lots and lots of pictures during your vacation; you will be happy you did so down the line.
8.Remain Positive
Above all, stay positive. Things are bound to come up such as a child getting sick or throwing a tantrum or transportation issues but no matter what happens, try to keep a positive attitude for your kids.

CategoriesFood by

Foods That Help Relieve Menstrual Pain

For many women, getting their period also means dealing with awful cramps, major bloating, constant exhaustion, and horrible headaches. It’s not fun.
So, we are always on the lookout for things that will help ease the many period pains.
Yes, the quickest option for getting rid of any period pain might be to pop a painkiller. But if you are one of those who hates taking a ton of medication during one week of every month, you may want to try natural remedies, which are the best ways to cure our pains and stay healthy at the same time.
There are different kinds of foods and drinks out there that can help with your PMS symptoms. And yeah, they’re yummy!

Here are super foods that will help get rid of or prevent cramping and bloating.
Dark Chocolate
A lot of us crave chocolate or something else that’s sweet during our period.
But too much sugar and dairy isn’t a very good idea, and it might even make your symptoms much worse.
Instead, go for dark chocolate, which will help relax your muscles and also get rid of those pesky cravings.
Just buy a bar of dark chocolate and eat up.
Avocado
Avocados are delicious, easy to eat and super healthy fruits you can eat in a lot of different ways.
You can eat it plain, or decide to cut it up to put in a salad or add it to any sandwich.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds come loaded with zinc, which has been shown to help get rid of cramps. 
This isn’t the only type of seed you should try – studies have also reported that sunflower and sesame seeds help too. Both will contribute to getting rid of your cramps.
Pineapple
Whether you drink pineapple juice or just eat it plain, it can help relax your muscles, which in turn can contribute to easing your pains.
Pineapple also helps get rid of bloating and even makes you feel happier than ever before.
You can juice it for a quick treat, eat it plain or get fancy and grill it.

CategoriesFood by

Gelatine: The Forgotten Superfood

Gummy bears/candies, jams, marshmallows, ice cream, desserts and lots more contain Gelatine. Gelatine, that colourless, tasteless rubber-like solid substance used to be a big part of healthy traditional diets around the world long ago, but today, people don’t have a clue about what to do with it, so it’s not given a second thought. Some people aren’t even conscious of its existence as a gelling agent in several of the food products they buy off the shelves in grocery stores. And for those that do, it’s often misunderstood as sugar-loaded and associated with unhealthy food.
On the contrary, gelatine is highly nutritious it’s been recently classified as a superfood! I was in the category of those who don’t know jack about what gelatine is till I stumbled on a book about it. This got me searching and desiring to know more. That I did, and I’m excited to share some of my discoveries here.
Usually, in powder form, gelatine is gotten from animal bones, skins, cartilage, and tissues.  Containing as much as 18 amino acids and brimming with substantial health benefits, it’s no wonder that gelatine is classified as a collagen protein.  These are the building blocks of proteins; essential not only for rejuvenating healthy cells for your skin and hair and promoting nail growth but for optimal immune function, healthy mood, weight maintenance, and appropriate muscle synthesis.
Gelatine is highest in essential amino acids glycine and proline. Glycine promotes the healthy functioning of your liver by working to eliminate toxins from your bloodstream. But that’s not all Glycine does. It also strengthens the gut lining which primarily facilitates the balance of digestive enzymes, plus it lowers inflammation and prevents gut damage. Here’s another good one – considered an “inhibitory neurotransmitter,” glycine acts just like an anti-anxiety or antidepressant drug but without side-effects. This means as you ingest gelatine, more happy hormones are triggered; you feel less stressed, and your mental clarity enjoys a good boost.
Another worthy fact is that gelatine is capable of absorbing water and fluids. This helps effectively to prevent fluid retention and bloated stomach which of course limits constipation and improves your digestive system.
Its gelatinous nature is that very advantage that makes gelatine a strong promoter of healthy joints. It helps forms strong connective tissue to give parts of the body the required elasticity, and due to the high amounts of protein in gelatine, degeneration of collagen which occurs naturally with aging is prevented. Consuming gelatine regularly can also drastically reduce arthritis-related stiffness and pain in joints.
Finding it difficult to sleep, dissatisfied with your sleeping pattern or having difficulties with your daytime cognitive functions? Add some gelatine powder to your smoothies, and you’ll be amazed at how well you sleep at night. Worried about the signs of aging and wrinkles showing on your skin? Consuming gelatine is a smart skincare therapy to try. You’re protected from free radical damage and potential skin cancer plus you get the youthful healthy skin to enhance your appearance.
And for the weight-watchers, do you know that you can make gelatine a helpful weight loss tool? With its high protein content, adding gelatine to your diet helps increase satiety and control hunger hormones significantly.
Gelatine is one of those ingredients you can add to practically any smoothie because it’s got no flavour (more ideas on consuming gelatine coming up).
 
 
 

CategoriesFood by

Flush Out Sugar With Smoothies

Quick and healthy snack options – that’s what smoothies are mostly regarded as. But beyond this, do you know that smoothies are natural reliefs to some health issues? Yes, they are, and today we’ll look at how effective they are in lowering blood sugar.
If you are having problems with blood sugar control, it’s important to routinely check your levels while also finding ways to increase insulin sensitivity within your system. Exercise is a great way to increase insulin sensitivity as your muscles use up blood sugar for energy.
And then food.
The foods we eat directly affect our blood sugar levels. And while it’s important to avoid certain foods if trying to put your sugar level under control, there’re certain foods to consume deliberately in achieving a healthy blood sugar level. These foods are loaded with nutrients that not only stabilize blood sugar levels but also protect your heart and further save your vision from the damaging effects of high blood-sugar levels.
Your body breaks carbohydrates down into glucose during digestion, and with the help of insulin, the broken down glucose (sugar) is transferred from your blood into cells and used as energy. But when insulin sensitivity is low, your body can’t effectively transport sugar from blood into cells. This results in high blood sugar and if unchecked, diabetes ensues.
Cinnamon is especially rich in chromium and comes highly recommended due to its proven ability to lower blood sugar quickly.
Next on the list is Fenugreek. With similar anti-diabetic properties to cinnamon, Fenugreek is one of the most valuable spices for the control of blood sugar levels and promotes glucose tolerance. The use of fenugreek has been shown to lower blood glucose levels of Type 2 diabetics by as much as 46%. Wow, right?
Foods high in quercetin, a flavonoid antioxidant have significant reductive effects on blood sugar. Good sources of this natural compound include: apples, dark cherries and berries, cocoa (dark chocolate), leafy greens (spinach, kale), tomatoes, black and green teas, and citrus fruits.
Nuts, especially cashew and almonds are brimming with magnesium, an essential mineral which improves insulin response and lowers blood sugar. Avocados and Bananas are also magnesium-rich.
Beta-glucan, a heart-healthy soluble fiber that slows down digestion to prevent big spikes in blood sugar levels is predominantly present in oatmeal. Consuming oats has also shown to improve insulin sensitivity remarkably.
Vinegar is a known ancient remedy for several ailments and health issues. Vinegar enhances glucose metabolism (an increase in sugar uptake from the blood into cells).
That’s it, now you’ve got a list of several blood sugar reducers. When next you observe a spike in your blood sugar, simply make a combo selection from them and make yourself some sugar flushing smoothies!
 
 

CategoriesLifestyle by

Trending Peplum Inspirations

They come in different types and styles of waist cuttings and flares, and are a must have and an all-time classic. Peplums are outright statement pieces that flatter any body shape. Curvy, slim, or tall, peplums can be worn by all and being really stylish, works for any occasion – work, cocktail party, date night or casual weekend.
Made to give the illusion of a slim small waist, peplum styles do wonders for the silhouette of a plus sized curvy lady. A well placed peplum will hide a thicker midriff, so if plus-sized, it’s always advisable to carefully make your selection of peplum tops when making a purchase.
For the bold and beautiful, pairing A-line skirts with peplums won’t give a right balance for your body proportions. A peplum top with a midi or knee-length pencil skirt remains the vintage combo for any body shape especially for formal events but that’s not to say peplum tops can’t be paired in several other ways.
If you’ve got a petite frame or a slim silhouette, peplum with a flared skirt or a pair of palazzo pants is certainly a head-turner. If you’re trying to be a bit more fashionable, match with a pair of skinny jeans. Gunning for that casually stylish look? Then pair it with a pair of distressed jeans, and for a more relaxed impression, a pair of plain or pleated shorts.
For accessories, belts have a way of enhancing that classy effect of peplums. However, an over-sized belt is a NO NO.  A thin metal belt or any with contrasting colors is preferably best when aiming to accentuate your look. Thinking of ways to add more class? Adorn a simple but elegant neckpiece and you’re good to go!
Interestingly, you can wear a jacket or blazer on your peplum top as well, and if you are wearing pants, pointed toe shoes will not just lengthen the line of your legs but also add that touch of grace. For more choice of shoes, high heels – ankle strapped, pumps and platforms are great options. Ballet flats are also excellent choices.
Don’t have a peplum piece in your wardrobe yet? Now you’ve got more than enough inspiration to get one!
 

CategoriesLifestyle by

Gorgeous Hairstyles For Round Faces

Weave-on hairstyles are stylish and quite versatile. They are a great option if you’re looking for a refreshing change from natural hairstyles. However, when considering hairstyles, the shape of your face must be regarded if you desire to look your best (who doesn’t?).
Your choice of hairstyle can do wonders not just for the shape of your face but also to boost your confidence and sex-appeal. Today, we’ll take a quick look at styles that flatter round shaped faces. Round faces are quite different from other face shapes, and often times ladies blessed with this face shape are troubled with thoughts like – Will a bob make my cheeks look wide? Will fringes fit me? Which is better: a side part or middle part?
The secret to a great hairstyle for a round face? Create the illusion of length instead of roundness. With forehead, cheekbones, and jaw line roughly the same width, choosing styles that won’t make your face rounder can be somewhat tricky. So here are some hairspirations…
Long hair is gorgeous on round faces because it lengthens the face. If adding layers, be careful not to have layers too short. Try not to have layers above your earlobe, such cuts will add volumes to the sides of your face and make them appear even rounder. Angled outward and not inward, layers should ideally fall at your chin or below, with the end of each layer blending so well together one won’t be able to tell there’re layers.
I’ve got a round face and centre partings are not my thing so I avoid them. I usually opt for side parts and long side swept bangs covering one side of my face, this works tremendously in making my face thinner. Want to try it? Keep your hair down and in front of your ears to narrow your face.
Considering a bob with bangs? Layered shaggy long bobs offers a bit of edge and are best on full cheeked round faces. Bangs help round faces look oval so make sure the bangs are trimmed to suit your face shape. A fringe no shorter than slightly below the eye-brows is recommended.  And if you’ve got a larger forehead, long-side swept bangs and a short bob to your chin is the ticket you need to balance your face with an elongated look.

Thinking waves? Long wavy weaves works excellently in helping your face appear elongated instead of round. Side swept waves are very flattering for round faces as well, and bouncy curls worn loose and long will also elongate your face.
Desire a sassy short cut for a change? Bearing in mind that not all short cuts fit round shaped faces, sporting a deconstructed pixie with disheveled cropped cut will give your face an oval look. With good asymmetrical lines and volumes on top, you’re set to rock your world.