October is here and to help you have a relaxing month, we have compiled a list of must watch movies for this month. With this list, you have no excuse for not knowing the movie to go watch. They are showing at various cinemas across the country, enjoy!
Must Watch Movies This Month
1. The Mechanic 2 – Resurrection

Lovers of Jason Statham will love this sequel to the Mechanic. Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) thought he had successfully put his past behind him until an enemy kidnaps the woman he loves (Jessica Alba). Now he has to travel the glove to complete three impossible assassinations and make them look like accidents before he can get her back.
2. Magnificent seven

The movie set in the old west starring Denzel Washington, shows seven gunmen coming together to help a poor village battle a ruthless industrialist
3. Skiptrace

Jackie Chan is back in this Comedy/Action movie. A detective from Hong Kong (Jackie Chan) teams up with an American gambler (Johnny Knoxville) to battle against a notorious Chinese criminal.
4. When the bough breaks

This black American movie starring Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall depicts the struggle a couple goes through when their surrogate mum becomes obsessed with the soon-to-be father
5. A Trip to Jamaica

The sequel to the blockbuster movie; 30 days in Atlanta is here. Akpos (Ayo Makun) gets engaged to his girlfriend Bola (Funke Akindele), and he takes her on a trip to Jamaica. The movie is star-studded with the likes of American actor; Eric Roberts, Ghanaian actor; Chris Attoh and Nigerian actress; Nse Ikpe Etim. This movie is showing at a cinema near you.
 

image via essence.com
Have you ever wished you didn’t have to use nail extensions before you have beautiful nails? Or you have admired a friend or even a stranger’s natural long nails and wished your natural nails could be the same? Well, here are a few do’s and don’ts to having those beautiful, strong and long nails you have admired.
Long Nails
DO’S

Keep your fingernails at an appropriate length and trim your nails when they get too long as long nails can easily snag on objects and break
Wash your hands with a gentle soap
Moisturize your cuticles and nails regularly by massaging oil into the nail bed and cuticle daily.
Maintain a proper diet rich in protein and containing whole grain cereals, whole wheat bread, chicken, eggs and dairy products. You could also take Biotin and Vitamin E supplements as they promote the growth and strengthening of nails
Get regular manicures; you could do this yourself if you can take out the time
When getting your manicure done you should endeavor to;

push back or remove your cuticle
use cuticle oil to hydrate your cuticles; this will give you stronger and healthier looking nails   
file your nails into a rounded shape and gently buff your nails to give you smoother looking nails
when painting your nails, use a healthy and nourishing base coat, two coats of your nail polish of choice, and then a clear top coat  

Protect your nails when doing household chores or when you have to come in contact with harsh chemicals

Image via pinterest.com
DON’TS

Stop wearing nail extensions;if you have to, go extended periods of time between use of extensions
Do not peel or chip your nail polish off
Stop using your nails as tools for peeling labels or unfastening key rings or any other uses
Don’t bite your nail
Minimize the use of harsh chemicals and tools

Your choice of makeup and cosmetics can highlight your sense of style, compliment your best features, and keep you looking fresh and full of life. But sometimes these decisions can backfire such that a shade of makeup that accentuates fine lines and wrinkles or a skin care product that is not suitable for your skin type.
Your makeup is supposed to make you look more beautiful by accentuating your best facial features, but some of us make makeup mistakes that do otherwise.
Makeup Blunders That Age You

Below are makeup mistakes you may have been making that makes you look older than you already are:
Wearing The Wrong Foundation Color
A lot of women end up looking like they have a floating head or they are wearing a mask because their foundation does not match their face and neck. When you go too light, it makes your skin appear flat and lifeless. Instead of a natural look, it will seem like the makeup is just sitting on your skin, which can add years to your face. And when you go too dark, you are not highlighting your features, but dragging them down and adding a dullness and heaviness that is just as ageing.
To get the right colour of foundation, when testing out a foundation, do not blend it in too much. Just tap it on your face from the top of your cheekbone to the bottom of your jawline and try not to go lighter or darker than your actual skin.
Wearing Lipstick That Is Too Darker
As you grow older, you lose definition in your lips in order. To appear more youthful, you’ll want to wear a lipstick that adds fullness to the lips.
A dark colour only does the opposite, making your lips look smaller, less plump, and less highlighted. Instead of a dark colour, choose something in a mauve or pink tone. Adding a layer of gloss is helpful as well. Many women feel like they are too old to wear lip gloss, but a shiny finish will add a youthful plumpness.
Don’t worry; this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try out all the berry and wine hues that are so popular. But if you decide to go dark and are concerned about looking older, stay away from something with a heavier texture or matte finish because it will stay flat on your lips. Opt for a sheer and hydrating formula or a lip stain.
Wearing too much face powder
Applying face powder after foundation is perfect for getting fuller coverage and to match the oily skin. However, using a thick face powder all over your face will not only give a super flat, unnatural look to your skin, but it will also age you tremendously. Powder settles in fine lines, wrinkles, and pores, giving skin a haggard look.
Apply your powder just where you need it, down the T-zone of your face, and lightly on the cheeks. Or stop using full coverage face powders all together and try a translucent setting powder (lightly, all over). Translucent setting powders are just that: they don’t add any colour or coverage, they simply matte the skin with a very refined powder that won’t cake.
Skipping Mascara
Mascara makes you look younger. It works wonders for the eyes. Not only does it define the eyes without using eyeliner, but it also opens up the eyes to give the appearance of larger, younger eyes.
Not wearing mascara will give the appearance of an unfinished makeup look, especially when you are wearing beautiful shadow. Some mascaras are formulated to curl the lashes so you can even skip using a lash curler, but make sure you don’t over-apply mascara. This will create the “spidery” effect, which will weigh down your lashes and give a tired look to the eyes. 
Wearing waterproof mascara every day
Waterproof mascara is good for those times where you don’t want your mascara running down your face. However, wearing waterproof mascara every single day will dry out your lashes and make them brittle, causing shortening of lashes or even lashes to break off. Try sticking to regular mascaras on a daily basis and only using waterproof for those special occasions.
Wearing Your Lip Liner the Wrong Way
Instead of just applying your lip liner on the outline edge of your lips, outline your lips and then fill in your lips with liner so that it can be a base for your lipstick to go on.  It’s nice also to leave the very center of your lips bare—this not only will give the appearance of fuller lips, but you won’t get that awkward looking ring outline whenever your lipstick fades from drinking on a night out.

Do you know that as early two-years-old, your little toddler can become quite handy around the house? Yes, she can! But we often overlook the capability of these young ones and sternly refuse them engaging in some chores. I was guilty of this.
My daughter was ever so eager to help. She was excited getting her hands on little tasks around the house, but like many mothers out there, I resisted. Then one day I finally allowed her to join me in cleaning up my room. That day, I realised that helping out not only kept her busy but gave her a feeling of relevance too. She sure felt good with her accomplishment when we were done and was handsomely rewarded.
The earlier your kids start at house chores, the easier it gets for her when she’s much older. Helping out with house chores at a young age promotes an early sense of responsibility and a level of independence. Plus, participating meaningfully around the house is a constructive way to use up their energy. I’m sure you’ll agree!
Chores For Kids
Thinking of what possible chores your kid’s little hands can tackle?
For starters, at ages 2-3, your toddler can assist in picking up and putting dirty clothes in the laundry basket, set mats on the table for dinner and of course, take her toys from the floor and bring Mommy’s bag.
At 4-5years, arranging books and toys neatly may not be so possible, but she sure can pick toys up and place them in boxes or on assigned shelves. Your little one by now can help with some dusting, clean up spills, hand out wet laundry for drying, sort out and fold laundry, put away shoes, carry in grocery bags from the car, help set dinner plates on the table, and even clean up after eating. Though still with your supervision, your older toddler should at this stage be able to do some sweeping around the house, and also handle personal chores like teeth brushing and dressing up.
Interestingly at 5, my daughter is ever so willing to help out whenever I’m in the kitchen cooking. Now I know better; I don’t hesitate to accept her help. It undoubtedly comes truly valuable. Mommy’s little helper gets over-excited putting the groceries away and bringing out the jars of spices and seasoning.

As your toddler tackles these small tasks, don’t expect perfection. Be quick to cheer and encourage even while the task is ongoing (high five works like magic). Don’t also forget to reward good attitude towards assigned duties and first-time obedience. 

Do you suddenly have the urge to pee and can’t seem to control it? Does an unexpected sneeze or a cough, or sometimes the simple act of laughing cause a leak in your panties? How often do you experience urinary loss? Do you lose urine sometimes before you can make it to the bathroom?
Often considered more as a disease (but it actually isn’t), incontinence (inability to control urination) is common amongst male and female, old and young. Though experienced twice as more by women than men, ageing, stress and most often neurological diseases are some of the general causes of incontinence.
Dealing with Incontinence

The structure of the female urinary tract, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are the main reasons incontinence occurs more in women. It’s a condition of involuntary urination; an indication that something is wrong within the human body. Thus it’s medically regarded as a symptom and mostly temporal. There’re two main common types of temporary incontinence – stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Interestingly, over 200 million people around the world experience one of these two at a point in their lives.
Stress incontinence is usually experienced when there’s increased pressure on the bladder (while coughing, sneezing, laughing and even exercising). This occurs as the pelvic floor muscles become weakened especially as a result of childbirth (large babies and prolonged labour), lack of oestrogen or collagen deficiency. When pelvic floor muscles can’t support the bladder and urethra (urine outlet) as strongly as they should, any slight pressure causes a leak from the bladder. The increased weight of the uterus on the bladder walls during pregnancy can also cause stress incontinence.
Urge incontinence is experienced as a result of overactive bladder. Usually, when the bladder is filled to a certain level, there’s a network of signals within the nervous system (brain, spinal cord and bladder muscles) to cause an urge to pee. When this system acts abnormally, wrong signals are triggered, and there’s an overaction by the bladder causing it to release urine uncontrollably, sporadically or too frequently.
Everyday habits may also contribute to temporary incontinence. Certain foods, the amount of water/ drinks you consume, and some diuretic drugs stimulate the bladder unnecessarily. Also, sedatives and BP medications are muscle relaxants thereby relaxing the bladder and pelvic floor muscles to lose urine.
Do you know that almost 80% of incontinent cases can be treated? Incontinence can be treated or significantly improved. Lifestyle changes (minimal or no alcohol, quitting smoking, cutting down on caffeine), engaging in kegel exercises, staying fit by maintaining a healthy weight or considerably shedding some are suggested ways to deal with incontinence. Eating a well-balanced diet with lots of vegetables and fibre will see your system functioning adequately. Foods rich in magnesium and Vitamin D will also aid the apt functioning of your bladder. 
Sometimes, if severe, certain surgeries can be carried out.Unfortunately, without proper tests, the level of severity may never be known. Though frustrating, involuntary urinating is often seen as normal and for fear of embarrassment, many people are unwilling to discuss it even with medical practitioners. If experiencing such a situation, don’t get overwhelmed by anxiety or shame; seek medical assistance. 

Exfoliating is a necessary beauty regime as it gets rid of dead cells that clog the pores revealing a smoother and brighter skin. One way to exfoliate is by using scrubs and here is a homemade scrub made just for you. One major thing I love about this scrub is that you can make it from ingredients you have lying around the house, isn’t that just great?
Homemade Exfoliator
Ingredients needed

Sugar (White / Brown)
Olive oil
Essential oil (e.g. rose oil, lavender oil)
Step

Pour 6 teaspoons of sugar into a container
Add three teaspoons of olive oilto the sugar
Mix gently
Add few drops of essential oil
Mix thoroughly

Application
Using exfoliating gloves or your hand alone, massage the scrub in a circular motion onto your body. Rinse off with warm water, towel dry and moisturise your body with oil.
You can use this scrub for all parts of your body including your face, and it is suitable for all skin types.
Things to note

You can increase or reduce your ingredients depending on the quantity of scrub you want, but your olive oil should be half the amount of sugar
The essential oil is mainly to give the scrub a pleasant smell
You can store the scrub in a container and place in a cool place

Sometimes I get so busy with work, and in the midst of all the activities, I leave quite a lot of clutter around me. Coupled with my daughter’s messy pile of toys and clothes, searching for missing items in the midst of all the mess can be an almost impossible feat. I remember almost pulling my hair out one time while searching for my bunch of keys. Just to make it on time for my meeting, I had to leave the search at a point. Eventually, I found the keys on my return. Ever since I made up my mind to always keep my spaces clean and less cluttered.
Have you ever found yourself in such a situation? I’m quite sure to get many YESes from busy mums like me. Picking up littered clothes and toys after your spouse and kids is a JOB in itself. However, clutter can be quite suffocating and to avoid it in the first instance is the best way to de-clutter.
Clutter In Home

Here’s an important rule to avoid clutter – every useful item should have a place of its own. Patiently train your kids to put things (especially toys, books and clothing) away after use. My daughter now knows that once she’s done with her homework or playing with toys, PACK is the word. She puts stuff back to their allocated places.
A major reason why tabletops and counters, especially in the kitchen and bedroom, get piled up is that we don’t assign specific homes to things. Items used frequently can be placed where they’re readily available while those used occasionally are stored up neatly. Now and then, make a mental note of things you don’t need, pile them up and give them out. There’re a thousand and one people who are just in need of this stuff wasting away in your store.
Are your rooms/drawers common dumping grounds for clothes, furniture, exercise equipment and other stuff? How much of the furniture in your living room/bedroom do you honestly need? Is your wardrobe over-bursting with clothes you’ve not worn in years? Sometimes we’ve got so much space and can’t help the urge to fill it up with all sorts. If pieces of stuff are not so often used, then they’ve got no business being there. Don’t you think you should take them out?
Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin? All you need is a 5-minute start off at a targeted area with one rule in mind – anything not in use must be taken out. It might take several days, but as you tackle one area at a time, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll achieve.
Another way to easily get rid of the clutter is scheduling routine “spring cleanings”. This may not be so easy if you run a tight schedule but the air of freshness in your immediate environment – the look and feel of an organised home is sure worth the effort.
Helpful?
 
 

A lot of women find themselves as stay at home moms (SAHM) probably as a result of relocation after marriage and not being able to get a job or because of maternity concerns or just because they prefer to stay with their children till they are grown to a certain age. Regardless of the reason, it is not as easy as people think to stay at home all day, especially, with a child (or children) thrown in. If you also work from home; it could be hectic, and you could realize at the end of the day that you weren’t productive or that you didn’t accomplish all you wanted to. Below are a few steps to succeeding as a SAHM.
Stay At Home Moms (SAHM)

Have a realistic schedule and stick to it
I wrote realistic because at times we set schedules that we know we cannot keep up with. A schedule will show all you need to achieve per day and the time needed to achieve them and having one will enable you to plan your time and your goals for the day
Get your child(ren) on a schedule
Easier said than done, right? Getting your charge on a schedule is the best thing to do so you can arrange to get other things done based on this schedule. This is essential especially if you are working from home as you would most likely prefer to do your work without distractions probably when your child is sleeping. If your baby is old enough, you can also take your child to the crèche.
Create time for breaks
No matter how busy you are, try to have break times to eat and relax, as this will keep you refreshed and relaxed and better able to tackle issues
Avoid distraction
When you are home, and no one is watching over your shoulder, it is easy to be distracted by other things such as the TV, the games your children are playing, etc. It’s best to try to be focused on the work at hand and leave those distractions until your break time.
Be flexible
There is sometimes your schedule won’t work out as planned, be flexible and accept it.

Avoid procrastination
Accept help

Accept help from friends and family when possible
Stay positive
Remain positive at all times

Are you having troubles drawing that perfect brows? Do you draw your brow over and over again and still not get it right?
Just like your hair and your outfit, your eyebrow defines your look, especially these days when you see ladies around going around flaunting their perfectly drawn eyebrow.

Eyebrows frame your face and are an important part of how you express your emotions, due to this, subtle changes to their shape and color can drastically impact your look.
While some people find it hard to draw their brows, some draw theirs perfectly.
If you find drawing a perfect brow difficult, don’t worry, here are six simple steps on how to draw that perfect eyebrow:
Step one
Choose an eyebrow pencil that suits your skin color, start by brushing out your eyebrows with an eyebrow brush
Step two
Draw a slanted line just below your brows.
Step three
Draw another slanted line a little above your brows.
Step four
Mark your arch by lining up the end of your pupil then place a dot on that line on your brow bone.
Step Five
Using dots lightly outline the shape you want your eyebrow to take.
Final step
Fill in your brows by using tiny strokes. Blend the pencil strokes with an eyebrow brush to soften the lines and highlight the brows using highlighting powder or concealer or eyeshadow.
 

If you’ve always wanted to learn all of the different makeup tips to make lips look bigger and sexier so you can have luscious lips like Angelina Jolie’s, you are not alone.
You can get plumper lips without some scary medical procedure or fancy new contraption. These genius tips will give you an Angelina Jolie pout with barely any effort.
Fuller Lips

Tricks For Fuller and Luscious Lips
You’ll need

A light nude makeup pencil (typically a multi-purpose pencil or a concealer pencil)
A nude/blush lip pencil just a hair darker than your natural lip color
A sheer lipstick or nude gloss

Pick up your light nude pencil and begin applying to just the center of your lips. Keep this color between your cupid’s bow; if you put your index finger right at the center of your lips, that’s about as much area as you want to cover.
Make sure you extend your light nude pencil to the edge of your cupid’s bow as well as the lowest part of your bottom lip. Be careful not to draw outside of your actual lip line.
Now pick up your darker lip pencil and just outline and fill in your lips at the outer corners, blending inward just slightly.
Using your finger, lightly blend out the edges of the lighter color to eliminate any harsh lines you may have created.
Finish your look off by applying a very sheer lipstick or a nude gloss. The more sheer, the better so that the highlight and contour come through!