Stunner Image of the week - 17/05/2013

I haven't done a stunner image for a while but here goes one now. I downloaded this picture from a Facebook page and I cant stop staring at it.

RAndom RAnt 1: Experimental Cooking

Source: thekitchn.com

I find normal cooking to be a good thing and something I like doing. What I find even more fantastic is experimental cooking. Experimental cooking is when you cook outside the norms and rules laid down by ancient unknown/invisible forces. I usually wonder why water should be boiled to 100 degrees Celsius before adding the rice, when I can put both at the same time or anytime and still get the same result. I have never understood some set rules in cookery when they all achieve the same results when done otherwise. I love challenging the normal and usual in cooking. I believe that is what makes a confident cook. This is applicable in all areas of life.

When I was in my late teenage years, my mum and aunts were always on my case about my inability to properly cook and make soups. This totally puts me off cooking and I always got apprehensive about cooking. My mum had this define rules/norms she followed. All her sisters and relatives followed these same  norms/rules to cooking. She tired teaching me too but I was finding some unnecessary and challenged others. 

I also had an older family friend who tried to teach me how to cook. She had totally different norms/rules to what my mum does. She obviously thought hers’ was the right one and my mum thought the same about her  own too. They both gave me HUGE headaches when I was trying to decide on which to abide by.

When I moved into my own place and stopped eating out, I started cooking. However, I didn't really start enjoying cooking until I challenged the norms, doing my own twists and coming up with my own recipes. I use lime/lemon to cook every type of chicken, I don’t fry my tomato paste with oil and the list goes on and on. I have made lots of mistakes, try and errors but also learned a whole lot of things. When I now think back, I feel both my mum and family friend was both right, they just had styles that they stuck to when cooking.

I have gotten very interested in other cultures’ spices and food. I don’t believe there is a wrong way of cooking, I just believe everyone has their own way and should sometimes push and break boundaries, try things differently.

“Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.” - Alan Alda

What cooking rules/norms do you follow? Have you challenged it?

My Cough/Catarrh Remedy

Dealing with cough and catarrh can be very annoying, especially when the weather is sunny and hot, like what I am experiencing now. The last thing you want to be drinking at times like these are hot drinks. However, cough/catarrh is usually the first sign for me to get back on track whenever I am slacking at eating a healthy diet.

At the first strike of cough/catarrh, I get out the following ingredients below;

• 1 medium size ginger
• 2 garlic cloves (optional)
• 1 medium size lime or lemon
• 1 tablespoon of organic/raw honey (I use raw 15+ manuka New Zealand honey)
• 1 cup of water (250ml)

I always have these ingredients in my kitchen because I use them to cook every time. The use of garlic is optional because not everyone can stand the smell. In fact, I will not advise you to use it in this recipe if you have an important meeting or outing the following day because your breath might still stink of it. On a personal preference, I think garlic is the answer to so many illnesses and sickness. I think a bit of garlic every now and then keeps the doctor away but again, that is just me thinking.

Preparation (Easy)

I peel my ginger and garlic, chop them up and toss into a blender. I add a cup of water to it and blend it. I then put the blended mixture (water, ginger and garlic) in a pot and let to get warmed up. Now I don’t believe in letting my water get up to 100 degrees because I believe boiling of the blended mixture will reduce the properties of the ginger and garlic. I just allow it to get warm, not more than I can drink immediately (I usually should be able to put my finger in the water without screaming in pain). After the water is warm enough, I squeeze my lime or lemon and add my tablespoon of honey. Viola!!! Ready to drink.

Whenever I am plagued with cough/catarrh, I enjoy taking this at night just before I sleep and I wake up in the morning feeling relieved.

My rationale for the use of the above ingredients

Ginger is an herb that grows as a root. It is believed to help cure headaches, colds, fatigue, nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness, the flu, muscle soreness, menstrual pain, upper respiratory tract infections, and even diabetes. It can also act as a good pain and ache reliever. Ginger promotes energy circulation in the body while positively increasing the body's metabolic rate.

Garlic is another wonder herb, nicknamed 'stinking rose'. It has been used for years in the treatment of diseases and conditions. Garlic contains a chemical called allicin. This chemical makes garlic work for certain conditions. Allicin also makes garlic smell, not only does it cause bad breath, but it actually travels through your entire body and can come out of your pores. Garlic that loss this chemical is less effective. Garlic is a natural powerful antibiotic, antiviral and anti-fungal herb. There is strong evidence of garlic treating high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), colon cancer, rectal cancer, and stomach cancer, tick bites and fungal infections. Although, there are not sufficient evidence on the relationship between garlic and the treatment of cold/cough/catarrh but preliminary research suggests garlic might reduce the frequency and number of colds when taken for prevention.

Lime/lemon contains vitamin C and a flavonoid called limonin glucoside. Limes are very good antibiotics, detoxifiers and great antioxidants. Limes cleanses bacteria and toxins from the body and aids in digestion. These properties in these citrus help halt the progress of cold/cough/catarrh.

Any raw and organic honey is great for the treatment of cold but Manuka honey is a different one of a kind. Manuka honey is produced in New Zealand by bees that pollinate the native Manuka bush. The major antibacterial component in Manuka honey is methylglyoxal (MG). MG is a compound found in most types of honey, but usually only in small quantities. Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) is a concentration of unique antioxidant phenols present in this type of honey that directly inhibits bacterial growth and promotes healing. Its antibiotic, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties makes it an effective remedy for sore throats, colds, acne, sinusitis, acid reflux and heartburn, ringworm, wounds, burns, and other skin problems.

Sources

The Healing Power of Garlic by Paul Bergner

Website: http://www.naturalnews.com

Website: http://www.webmd.com

Two Month Update

I have been away for a while now and I can give being overloaded with work as an excuse but that is not entirely true as I have even finished watching season 1 – 5 of Breaking Bad US and Castle Season 2 – 4 since my last post. So what exactly have I been up to apart from catching up on TV shows?

• Travelling (Lagos – Abuja – Yola);
• Working (some 10am to 5pm things);
• Bonding with new friends/people (Just started really enjoying the Wats App application on my phone);
• More cooking ( I can honestly say I spend up to 3 hours every day doing this and trust me it is in no way voluntary);
• Enjoy reading other blogs; and
• House chores (since moving back in with my parents, this has become a thing I can’t avoid any longer).

You can all see I haven’t been doing ‘nothing’. Anyways, I intend to have more posts up soon. :)

Not Another Natural Hair Tale

I am trying not to make this blog about my natural hair journey because there are so many bazillions blogs out there about it. However, these past two months have inspired me to write this post. I decided to go natural sometime mid August last year (2012) but I didn't big chop my hair until November. While I was glad that I had B'Ced, I felt very vulnerable and open with a tiny little afro. 

Source

I was so worried about what my family members (especially my mum and dad) will think when they see me. My mum was in no way happy with my new look but because my dad loved it, she didn't give me much hassle. Her greatest concern was that all my ''potential boyfriends/partners'' and/or men will not find me attractive with natural hair. Four months in and my thin, scanty and lifeless hair gained so much volume, life and kinks.

Contrary to my mum's concerns, men have been my greatest supporters. For every lady (a few though) that has asked 'why I cut my hair?' I have had a man come in my defense, even before I could utter a word. I try not to mention to people that I am on short hair because I am going natural, I don't want to start explaining my reasons to closed minded people. 

To my awe, many ladies have approached me to ask how I do it and what they should do when they go natural? I get inspired each day by the number of questions I get from strangers about my hair and the friends around me that have started considering going natural. Another huge inspiration for me these past two months, are two newly acquitted younger teenagers (10 and 12 years old) I have come to know. The 10 years old has been disturbing her mother about cutting off her relaxed hair from the first day she met me. She tells her mother that she want a big chop like mine. Her mother had to eventually do it earlier this week after a month of persistent asking.

The other 12 years old asked her mother about it but she got a big NO. So she decided to do it on her own with a scissors. (What have I done? Don't want to start an army of lil rebels). Her mother is fine with it now though. When I heard the story of these two precious ones, I felt humbled and overwhelmed with joy. Not because I have an issue with relaxed hair but because my actions have inspired people that I didn't make an effort to inspire. I have been considering adding some colours to my hair but with the amount of little eyes around me, I don't think I will do anything too crazy. We don't want mothers holding meetings over my hair and their kids rebellious behaviours. 

So far my hair journey has been a very worth well one. The biggest news of all and the main reason why I decided to do this post - My mother said to me today ''K----! I think I want to go natural like you''. *My mouth drops*

What about Sunscreens?

Source: http://moblog.net

My previous blog talked about the 7 Must Haves in Every Naija Chic's Bag and the number one on the list was a sunscreen. The 'talk' about sunscreen has been on my mind for a while now. I am gradually trying to minimize the amount of toxins/chemicals going into my body, I believe the environment has just enough for me without the need to add more. If our forefathers didn't need these chemicals, why do we? Many of the sunscreens in the market contain very toxic chemicals that in the long run are harmful to us. 

The Environmental Working Group says 56% of active sunscreens contain the chemical oxybenzone, it is known to penetrate into the skin and acts as a photo-sensitize. Experts believe that oxybenzone is linked to hormone disruption and potentially to cell damage that may lead to skin cancer. The Environmental Working Group has compiled a list of 700 name-brand sunscreens along with the toxic chemicals they contain. Check their website for more details www.ewg.org/sunscreen/. Oxybenzone is not the only ingredient to be on the lookout for, as Retinyl Palmitate is another one to check. When exposed to UV light, its' compounds break down and produce toxic free radicals that can damage DNA and cause gene mutations, which is a precursor to cancer. A recent study also found that retinyl palmitate applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may accelerate the development of skin tumors and lesions. 

To be honest, I still occasionally use creams and make-ups that contain oxybenzone but I have also been testing out other natural alternatives. I did a bit of research that I have started incorporating alternatives and wanted to sure a bit of it on this blog. As we all know, we are what we eat and our appearance, in most cases, is a by-product of what we have ingested. I am going to started with the internal factors that help prevent sun damage then move on to the external factors. Please note these factors do not work independently as we are more complex than that.

Antioxidant Rich Diet

By definition, Antioxidants such as glutathione, vitamin C, vitamin A, catechins, alpha lipoic acid and vitamin E are substances that can help prevent the effects of free radical damage in the body. Antioxidants neutralize the process of oxidation and cellular damage; hence sun damage, aging and disease. The consistent need to replenish antioxidants in the body is very important because the amount of antioxidants in your blood decreases when your skin is exposed to sunlight. Anti-oxidant rich foods include dark green leafy vegetables, green and black tea, organic dark cocoa (chocolate), tomatoes, water melons, pawpaw (papaya), carrots, small red beans, garlic, apples and oranges are among the countless. Sounds like a broken record but a diet rich in antioxidants is the body's best shield and armor. 

Source: http://www.denverpost.com

Healthy Fatty Foods

If all fats were bad then fats wouldn't still exist. Omega-3 Fatty Acid, an essential fatty acid that good for your heart. It is not only good for your heart; it is helpful at fighting off free radicals, which can occur as a result of overexposure to UV rays. Fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel and trout are full of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil or Omega 3 supplements are great options when you cant easily access these rich fishes. Other foods with healthy fats that are great for your skin are avocado, flaxseeds, nuts (almond, peanut, cashew, walnuts and pistachios), extra virgin olive oil and extra virgin coconut oil.

Water

The sun rays dry out your skin, leaving it deprived of vital nutrients needed for cell repair. Giving your skin back what the sun took keeps it fully functional. Water is an essential ingredient for cell repair and it allows the body to better fix damages associated with sun exposure.

Clothing

Covering up the skin with light clothing when out in the sun is a great way to minimize sun damage. Sun hats, sunglasses, parasols, light scarves/shawls are among the options available.

Ingredients Consciousness / Natural Sunscreens

I recommended Aubrey Organics Natural Sunscreen in my previous posts because I kind of trust the Brand's products. They provide all-natural, safe and effective personal care and lifestyle products with no paraben preservatives, no petrochemicals, no artificial colors or fragrances of any kind. Zinc oxide has been stated to be very safe sunscreen ingredient. However, a few people have reported allergic reactions to it. What I have to say about this is that not every good thing is for everyone. For example, some people are allergic to nuts but yet nuts are healthy foods. So do your research, check the www.ewg.org website for harmful ingredients in whatever sunscreen you intend to purchase. Just be ingredients-conscious.

Natural & Organic Oils/Butters

So many oils and butters such as Shea butter, coconut oil, palm oil and olive oil contain sun blocking properties. Although, a few users have reported that it made them darker. Whether true or not, I cannot confirm that but I am going to do a post about this later. Shea butter provides natural ultraviolet sun protection up to about SPF 6 and yes that might appear a bit low but it is not bad when coupled with right clothings' and diet. Coconut oil is another oil, especially for those that find butters too heavy. It is a moisturizer and sealant. Any oil/butter you decide to go for make sure it is unrefined, organic and extra virgin.

7 Must Haves' in Every Naija's Chic Bag

Sunscreen Cream

This is something almost every girl I know skips from her daily regime. Not only is it important to apply sunscreen before you go out in the sun, it is also equally as important to re-apply it on every exposed part of your body when you have been out in the sun for a long time (this is also dependent on the strength of the sunscreen and your skin. To read more). Sun damage is responsible for up to 70 percent of the visible signs of ageing, skin cancer – caused by overexposure to the sun. A portable sunscreen in your handbag will do your skin justice. At your prime, you will look at your skin and know that you did the right thing when you were a chic.

Aubrey Organics Natural Sunscreen - Green Tea

Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid

Sunglasses

Hate the attention it attracts from people, Love the protection it provides. The sunlight here gets really bright and your delicate eyes need the cover. I have noticed (myself included) that many Nigerian women suffer from hyper-pigmentation and sun burns around the eye area. To reduce or hinder this from happening,  sunglasses will go a long way.

L - R: Roxy Raf 1 Sunglasses and Spy Clarice Sunglasses

Hand fans

According to my convenient buddy, Wiki, ‘it is a hand-held device used to induce airflow for the purpose of cooling or refreshing oneself’. The very privileged chic have a fully functional air cooling system in her car, office and home but she cannot escape those times in the church, bank, some restaurants (and yes even posh ones sometimes get hot), shopping malls/market and the list could go on. What I am trying to highlight is that being in a country with a hot climate; one always requires this lightweight, easy and multipurpose device. I say multi-purpose because I use it sometimes to shade my face from the inevitable enduring sunshine.

Hand Sanitizer

Must I say why you need this? From the handling of dirty currencies to the general hygiene of our dusty environment, the hand sanitizer comes very handy in avoiding the spread of germs and bacteria.

Handkerchief / Mini Serviette Tissue / Wipes

For all the reasons above and so much more, any of these options you choose to have is a must for every chic’s handbag. Since Nigeria is also a very dusty environment, you will need to wipe loads of dirt off chairs, handle of doors/cars, your sleek shoes, etc.

Travel-size Perfumes or Body Mist/Spritz/Refresher

Oh my, oh my, who can actually miss this? They come in different sizes from 5ml to 50ml to fit perfectly into your bag. You need them because High sunshine = Very sweaty = Very Sticky = Very smelly (lol). No one likes the last stop on those very busy days.

Water

Hydration! Hydration!! Hydration!!! I don’t know how people survive without a bottle of water in their bags. This helps me keep hunger and over-snacking at bay. I also read somewhere that drinking water is also one of the cheapest beauty treatments around, it helps to promote a clearer, more radiant complexion. Whether true or not, one thing I am sure of is that water replenishes skin tissues, moisturizes the skin and increases its skin elasticity.

Place of Serenity

Everyone has a place or more that gives them serenity. It might not necessarily be a place; it might just be a large working space or a tiny bedside table top. Until I can get a proper working space, I have found my bookshelf top to be my micro place of serenity.

My own place

I have my jewelery boxes, flower vase with faux flowers, some travel souvenirs, candles and a collectors box on it. I am not a strictly neatly/tidy person. I will rate myself an average (or a 5/10) on tidiness but when every part of my life and bedroom is in muddles, this bookshelf is always neat and in order. My family members know better than to mess my BS* top.

Also, my sister finds my Dad's room to be her place of serenity. My Dad is usually busy and hardly uses his room except at night to rest. Whenever she says ''I will be at Dad’s room if anyone is looking for me'' we all know better than going there to disturb her. I think she feels very safe and relaxed in his room. It initially started with her hiding there in order to avoid being sent on errands (as the youngest child) but gradually, she found it to be her place.

I believe everyone should have a place where they find calm or just feel relaxed. Some friends find their homes to be that place. When I was an intern and living with a family friend a few years ago in a different city, I found my office cubical to be a place I looked forward to being.

Where do you find to be your place of calm?

*Book shelf

HUGO BOSS Arrives the Shores of Nigeria

I have always looked forward to the day when leading fashion brands will see Nigeria as a place of business interest. I even look much further to the day when Nigeria will be one of the world's leading fashion capitals like Paris, London, Milan, New York etc. With Hugo Boss opening a flagship store in The Palm Mall at Lekki, Lagos, I know my dreams are no longer far-fetched. The front runner designer store opened its doors for business on the 1st February, 2013, with opening party packed with so many celebrities. Top models and top business executives in the country. Nigerian supermodel, Oluchi Onweagba, Fidelity Bank MD, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi and Gideon Okeke, Star of Tinsel TV show, who hosted the event, are a few mentioned at the event.

L - R: 1st Customer (winner) to spend over N100,000 with the Store Manager; Mohammed Ayyoub

Another amazing brand coming soon to our shores, Lagos (Ikeja City Mall) to be precise is the leading cosmetics brand MAC.

For more images click here.

Image Source: hautefashionafrica

Photography by Cruise Events

UPDATE: MAC Cosmetics launched its first store prior to this post. it was launched on the 2nd February, 2013. Although, I am not a Mac fan, I cannot wait to explore the store. 

Hair style moment – Up-do side plait

When I saw this hair style picture on the BGLH blog, I was inspired to post it. I fell in love with this up-do side plait and can't wait for my TWA to get to this length to do it.

This is a picture of Natassia and to read more about her hair click here.

Cheerio United Kingdom, Homeland Here I Come

Enough with it!!! After about a year and half of being back and forth with this decision, I am finally moving back to homeland (Nigeria).

I have spent about three years and four months in the UK and I must say that there are a lot of things I will miss about the UK as there are also a lot of things I will not miss about it. I have resolved to make a list of these things. Let's get started;

THINGS I WILL MISS

v  Easy access to everything shopping

v  More shopping options

v  Free health care

v  My personal space and my new/old friends

v  Endless world restaurant/cuisine to choose from

v  Fast Internet

v  Constant electricity

v  Great transport system

v  Late night outings

v  Diversity in culture and people

THINGS I WILL NOT MISS

v  The synthetic taste of the food and fruits… erghhh

v  The cold/chilly weather and lack of enough summer/sunshine

v  Wearing too much layers because of the cold

v  The lack of community spirit among neighbours/people

v  The awkward weirdness among people in all the public transport system

v  Friday/Saturday morning piss-y odour on the streets

v  Hit and miss friendship

v  Miniature roads, houses, rooms, cars and offices

v  Unruly teenagers

v  Right hand car steer – I never got use to this, still always got in at the wrong side

This is just a list 'off my head' I bet there are more to add in each category that I can't remember. However, at this moment, these are the ones that I can think of. All things good, I will miss London but change is necessary for any kind of growth in life.

 Image Source: Picture88.com 

A walk down the toilet roll aisle

I was walking down the supermarket aisle of ____ and came across these toilet rolls. I was tempted to buy one of them because I just recently re-visited using shea butter on my body/hair. However, I took a long pause to think about how in God’s name does a shea butter infused toilet make any difference in anyone’s life?

I read through the content on the roll packaging and found nothing to support or highlight the use of shea butter on this toiletry. For sure, no one wants their asses smelling like shea butter. Makes me wonder if things like these are just advertising gimmick or maybe it has a real purpose? I decided not to buy it since I couldn't come up with an explanation for the use of shea butter.

How much thought do you put into the things buying?

First Image stunner of the week for 2013

Image by Oscar Ramos

 Image by Oscar Ramos

 Image by Oscar Ramos

These artworks were created by a Chilean artist, Oscar Ramos. He created these vibrant and captivating images to inspire through art the importance of will power when the issue of healthy eating and active lifestyle is concern. For more of this images click here.

Source: twistedsifter.com

Happy New Year

The NYE has arrived and there is always this expectation for people to always be somewhere or have something spectacular planned. Well f*** that, I don't have anywhere to go and don't want to be anywhere else but in my pajamas watching Homeland. For years now, I have always felt the pressure NYE. I feel I have to be having fun at a party, kissing at midnight, fireworks shooting, at the watch night service and so on. This year I decided to revive myself from that pressure and just do what comes naturally. 

For everyone that have something doing, those that are just like me and those that are in between, I want to wish you all a happy new year. 

XOXO

Clueless Fadekemi

Roka Restaurant - Evening Out with the Babes

The babes of the content team decided to try this amazing restaurant called Roka and I must say we had a lovely time. I always know I have had a great dish whenever I feel so sleepy and mellowed out during/after eating. This feeling was experienced at Roka that evening. It was recommended to us by Cat (Check out her blog here). She is great at discovering great Japanese places and things.

Starter - Yakitori - Negima Yaki (Chicken skewers spring onions)

Main dish 1 - Kobuta No Ribs Yawaraka Nikomi (Baby back ribs glazed with spiced master stock and cashew nuts)

Main dish 2 - Kani No Kamameshi (Rice hot pot with king crab and wasabi tobiko)

Drinks: Ginger beer and Water

The Chefs in action. We sat just in front of them.

Babes devouring

I will highly recommend this place. The background music was perfect as it wasn't playing above my low-pitched voice. We were able to chat away and still enjoy the soothing music. I really hate shouting and speaking loud when eating/drinking in restaurants (not an attractive sight). The service was excellent, very friendly staff and environment hygiene was tip top. I can't wait for my next visit, only the thought of it makes me salivate... hmm mm

Which Japanese restaurant have you been to and would you recommend it?

The Emeli Sande

Voice so filtered, piercing through the heart

Reminder of the purpose of music, the food for the soul

In a time when every other focuses on sexuality, vanity and money

She cuts through and reaches out for depth

Inspiration, acceptance and insight is what her words of music offer

Distinction is what she exudes

May not be a worldly accepted talent but for those that search for more meaning in life

She speaks the language you desire.

Stunner Image of the week - 07/12/2012

Source : Psychedelic Experience

I love love this, the colour, skin tone and all. 

The Petite Woman

Christina Milian, Salma Hayek and Reese Witherspoon

There is nothing as irritating and feeble-minded as the underestimation of the petite woman's physique. Petite women are usually expected to have little strength to match their size and regarded as incapable of doing as much as the average woman. The uncomfortable truth is close to one third of the world's population of women are petite but they don’t realize it.

So, who is a petite woman? In the US, women that are approximately 5 ft 4’ and under are referred to as petite. Sometimes, I find that so many petite women criticize one another. Meek, fragile, delicate, vulnerable... is usually the characteristics associated with women of this physique. For those that come off with a bold and strong character, people often assume her stature to be the reason, stating things like “She is bold... because she is small and don’t want people to take her for granted.”...sigh.  

Grace Kelly

Some series of secret interviews was conducted by Barbara Walters for the ABC 20/20 Show that entailed a company seeking people to fill their executive positions. The results showed that the interviewers before the interviews perceived petite woman to be lacking intelligence, competence and leadership abilities due to her height. However, on the contrary, the petite female executives interviewed possessed top notch education and management experience, which many of the tall women considerably lacked in comparison.

While I have nothing against the tall or average sized women (plus my mum is average and sister is tall), I find that the generalization of petite women into a fixed stereotype is bizarre and ridiculous.