I need healthy food ideas for vegetables and proteins

Cooking is one thing I love to do when i'm up for it. Looking back, I remember the first time I made tomato stew, I let the stew cook for six hours and it still didn't turn out right. I had always watched my mum cook but had never tried cooking myself. I thought it was going to be easy just remembering everything she did and when. After that day, I resolved to use my senses and my imagination when it comes to cooking and many trials and errors later, I have finally perfected the art(well at least for some foods)

The problem is, I love and eat a lot of carbs. I've once tried to go on a vegetable and fruit diet but I couldn't stand it after a few days. I'm ready now to give it a try again and i'm looking for suggestions of what to make with just vegetables, fruits and proteins for a week or two (baby steps, hehe).

I'd appreciate suggestions and hopefully I'll be able to come up with a plan and update you all as I go along with it.

Btw, I made this vegetable pasta with gizzard yesterday. My recipe for the dish can be found here on Eya's blog - wives connection

Hope you enjoy it and please don't forget to send in your ideas!!

Bath and beauty...

Ginger Citrus gift set

I was recently introduced to arbonne products by a friend of mine. After trying out a few products of hers, I decided to get some for myself. I bought the mandarin pomegranate hair care set as well as the Ginger citrus body gift set.

Their products are a bit pricey but one of the things that convinced me was the fact that they use natural ingredients for their products.

The ginger citrus gift set consists of the sugar scrub, body wash and the body butter. I had never used a sugar scrub prior to using this product and I can attest that it does wonders to the skin especially when used with a body wash.

To be frank, I love bath and beauty products although I'm not the type to have beauty regimens. This year however, I've decided to take baby steps and try different regimens especially for my hair care. Since I cut my hair, (even after reading African Naturalistas posts and Naija hair can grow), I haven't followed any significant steps towards having a healthy natural hair. This year though, I plan to see significant changes so I'm definitely going to take action.

Mandarin pomegranate hair care set

For starters, I have used the shampoo and conditioner and it was really good though I haven't used it long enough to monitor its effects on my hair. Hopefully with time and with consistent use of other hair products and oils, i'll start showing off my own natural hair too ;-). lol.

Because I love the sugar scrub, I would recommend using it once in a while as it really gives a boost to the skin. Mine has oils mixed with the scrub so the skin is smooth and moisturized after use. The good thing about sugar scrubs is that you can easily make yours at home using sugar. I don't know how so I can't give directions here but google is your friend :-). I have also switched to using body washes as I noticed it doesn't dry out the skin.

If you aren't trying these yet you can try and let me know how it works out for you. There are a lot of brands in the market or better still you can DIY.

In other news, the Super Eagles and Coach Keshi brought home the AFCON cup after 19 years... Congratulations to them!!! Football is one thing that I have seen to unite Nigerians so this is welcome news given all that has been happening. I believe in as much as there was a lack of faith in the team initially, the efforts and encouragement of others such as the world's largest soccer jersey initiated by Guinness also helped to spur them on. Hopefully things will only get better from here...

Have a great week!!!

Extreme sporting - skydiving

Source: Google Images

It's one of those extreme action sports I actually considered doing last year just for the fun of it. I know a professional skydiver plus a couple of random people who have also done it but I was discouraged by a few friends from even thinking about it and eventually I had to shove the thought to the back of my mind... At least  till I saw this video today :-). Now I'm trying to psych myself up to start thinking of it again. lol.

These guys make it look so good....

So given the chance would you skydive? Is it one of those things you have ever considered doing just to conquer your fear, for the thrill of it or just to cross it off your bucket list? Also, what other extreme sports have you considered? Or would you rather just say 'no thanks'?

"Keep Digging" - Tyler Perry's Inspirational New Year message

I saw this New Year message posted by Tyler Perry on his Facebook page. I was really inspired by it and decided to share for those who may not have seen it. You can also view it here on Facebook. Enjoy!

TRUE STORY!

A few years ago I was getting these really insane water bills. I mean HIGH! So I decided to dig some wells in my yard to have water for my landscape. I live alone, so I know it had to be from watering the grass. So I hired a company to come out and dig these wells. The foreman and I walked all around my yard and as we were walking he was putting down flags. I asked what the flags were for. He said, "The flags represent good places to dig for water." I asked, "Why do you have so many flags?" He said, "I'm not sure if any of these places will produce water." I said, "Hold up, you mean if you dig all these spots and don't hit water I still have to pay you?" He said, "Yes, that's how it goes." I said, "Ok, fine." Needless to say, he dug three wells and never hit water. I said, "Just stop."

I got a few more extreme water bills and called him back. He said, "Are you sure?" I said, "Yes, keep drilling until you hit water." The next well he dug he was down 500 feet and still didn't hit any water. He asked if I wanted him to stop. I said, "Go deeper." He dug down another 200 feet and still nothing. I said, "Go deeper." He drilled another 200 feet and he hit rock. I said, "Blast it, cut it, do whatever you have to do but keep digging." After fighting the rock and breaking his drill and getting a new one we got a little deeper. He said, "We are at 1,200 feet, why do you want me to keep going?" I said, "Cause I'm tired of these water bills and I'm going to do something about it." He said, "But this is really deep." I asked him if he had hit water yet. He said "no," so I told him to go deeper. "But you don't understand," he said. "We don't usually drill this deep, this is going to be expensive." I told him that, "Sometimes you have to go deeper to get what you are after, no matter what the cost." He started the machine and went down another four inches and hit a river of water. Just a few inches separated me from getting my breakthrough. That was five years ago and that well has never run dry.

In 2013 I want you to apply that to your life in all ways. Sometimes you will spend time on a thing and it will produce no water. Don't be afraid to move on to another spot. YOU CAN'T HAVE FEAR. I don't care how much time you put into it. If the well is dry MOVE ON! Nothing lives where there is no living water. Be it a relationship, a job, a business, don't be afraid to move to another spot.

Now, on the other hand, if you are digging your well and you are sure that it is not only where you want to be but where God wants you to be, then keep digging in that same spot. Don't stop digging until you hit a river of blessings. Don't stop praying until you live in the change you've been waiting for. Don't stop pushing until you deliver your breakthrough. Yes, it will get difficult. Yes, you may hit rock. Yes, there will be a cost. But when you get to what God is trying to get you to, YOU WILL RECOVER IT ALL! One of my favorite scriptures says that. "PURSUE AND YOU SHALL RECOVER IT ALL!"

Some people give up when they are only inches away!!
Happy New Year.

DDDDIIGGGGGG! People DIG!!!

2013!!!!!

Yipeeee!! It's good to be back.J And it's 2013!!!! (It seems just like yesterday. How time flies)

To say I'm excited is an understatement. I'm really looking forward to what this year holds and to doing more this year. I've missed blogging and generally being involved with my other blog fams. To my new followers I say, welcome aboard; thanks to you all (old and new) for being patient with my absence. And to those who prompted me to come back, well here you have me, thanks to you!

I hope everyone had a pleasant holiday season. Mine was bitter-sweet. Sweet because I had my birthday and my wedding anniversary in December plus I got almost two weeks off to rest and visit with friends; bitter because I lost a friend just before Christmas. It was really painful for me and I was once again reminded of how fragile life can be; of how we don't really have control and how we should make every moment count. All in all, I am grateful to be here, and grateful to be able to look back to see how far God has brought me and how awesome 2012 was regardless. 

As for resolutions, I will try to be the best person that I could possibly be and I have also resolved to always be honest with myself in all things. The older one gets, the more priorities and perspectives change. It is necessary that we live for what is truly important because at the end of the day, that is what really matters.

Anyway, before I sign off, here's a short poem I wrote for the New Year: 

For the goals you’ll set and work hard to achieve,

And the resolutions you’ll make and have intentions to keep,

For whatever situation you may find yourself,

Your praise and expectation, you should never give up.

Give of yourself, whatever you have -  

your time, finances, patience, or praise;

Give to others, you will lose nothing;

Your blessing to others, will make you blessed

Take no one for granted; let God be your companion.

For favor and provision, for joy and peace,

For love and friendship, good health and faith,

For a prosperous 2013, I pray you will have!

Happy New Year and have an awesome year ahead!!!

Update

I've been away for sometime and I know I've missed a lot. I tried to blog, I really tried but there were just other very pressing things that always took precedence over blogging.

I have had to review my goals for the year and i'm right now trying to pick up from where I slacked off so blogging has sort of taken the back seat.

I definitely will keep blogging occasionally (or as light bulb moments just occur) and will try as much as possible to be consistent with blog rounds. Thanks to everyone who keeps checking and asking...

No, this is not a going away post; far from it. It's just to let you all know what's up.

I wish I could blog more often though......

Remembering Sept. 11

Source: Google

It's been 11 long years...How time flies. We say time heals all wounds but we leave out the part that wounds form scars and the scars still remain. Today is September 11, the day in which America lost thousands of its citizens in coordinated terrorist attacks eleven years ago.

I was in the US on vacation the day the attack happened. We had one more day to stay before heading back home and you can imagine the shock when we woke up to the news that America was under attack. It was a day that changed the whole world with its effects still being felt even till today.

Today, I heard a story about a man who lost 658 employees (including his brother) in one day. His company employed a lot of special needs people and most of them died in the attack. He went to drop his son off at school that was how he missed being at work.

There are other stories, so many others. Every story is touching; every story strikes a chord and makes you think: of life, how we do not know what the next minute holds and how we need to live each day to the fullest; of loved ones, how we need to cherish them; of delays, how they're sometimes a blessing, and of God, how He is an anchor to hold on to every day of our lives.

I don't think we'll ever forget. Not just about the people lost in this attack but also of those unsung lost in other senseless acts of terror.

When we remember, we need to say a prayer or two: for the families of those lost in this attack, a prayer of thanks for healing and for life; and for strength, peace and love.

Creativity

When some people see dirt, others see opportunities to be creative. I'm totally blown away by these works of art. Enjoy!

Source: Yahoo autos

Source: Yahoo autos

Source: Yahoo autos

Source: Yahoo autos

To see the rest you can click here

Listen!

I have been searching the web, looking for answers, to questions that have already been asked. Seeking for comfort from friends, and strangers I do not know. No amount of answers will right the wrongs. No amount of solutions will change the hands of time. 


Yesterday, my pain was for the victims who were involved in the tragedy. Today, the pain lingers. And much more so for the victims who do not know that they are: Nigerians, including you and me. I said I wouldn't blog about this, but somehow I feel the need to speak. So this is what I have to say:

We are our problem! After all, most of those in government were once ordinary citizens.

We are our problem! Aren't those in the lower echelons of government still ordinary citizens like you and me?

Do they need the government to tell them their jobs? Should we be forming committees when organizations like the NCAA exist? When ministries exist to oversee various areas?

I have gotten angry, I have ranted and I have seen it all: the cycle continues.....

But by all means, we should still rant and rave. After all, it is when the good man is silent that evil is perpetrated the more.

We should rant and rave but it shouldn't be directed only at the government: it should be directed also at the common man.

We should rant and rave, even if we do not have the solution now: One day someone will hear, or we will be moved by our own words to act.

For this particular tragedy, words have failed me. Just a few years ago it was Sosoliso and Bellview. No I have not forgotten because I personally knew people who were affected. I also had a testimony in the wake of the tragedy so no, I have not forgotten.

Today it is Dana. It will be harder to forget: this tragedy in the midst of several other tragedies!

I'm angry and broken, but again, words have failed me.

I'll stop here but then I'm tempted to point fingers. I won't....

........because at least three more are pointing back at me!



May God comfort the families of those involved in this tragedy. And may the souls of the deceased rest in peace!

Eleven things...

31st chain tagged me a while back in the 'Elevens' post and i'm just getting round to scribbling something down. I didn't know it was this tasking to think of 11 random things about ones self so I've been procrastinating doing this post.lol. 

Anyway, here it is but i'm sorry I won't be tagging anyone or creating my own questions cos it seems almost everyone has been tagged. But definitely if you're interested and you haven't been tagged, you can start another chain or continue from here with these same questions ;-)


So here goes

The Rules

1.    Post the rules.
2.   Post 11 things about yourself
3.   Answer the questions by your tagger
4.  Create 11 questions and tag another 11 to answer them
5.   Note: no tag backs and also notify the people you tagged
6. Let your tagger know you answered their questions.

11 things
1. I'm the second child and the first girl in my family so I've always been a sort of responsible child (I think). lol
2. I went to two different boarding Secondary schools, one mixed and the other an all girl's school.    
3. Technical Drawing was one of my best subjects in school. I loved the precision and accuracy involved in bringing about the finished drawing. I'm surprised I didn't study any thing directly related to it in university though. 
4. I've always loved literature and English was also one of my best subjects in school. I love reading a lot but haven't done so much of my own writing in recent times. I'm now working towards writing my own book (s) sometime in the near future (haha now I have to make sure I do this)
5. Second to books I love movies. Any kind of movie whether classics, comedies, action, thrillers, name it, as long as it's clean :-). I also have something for movies set in the Victorian era. They just take me to a different world entirely...
6.I love music. I mostly listen to gospel though regardless of the genre 
7.I love singing and dancing. I don't do both as much as I would love to now anyway
8. I'd love to visit Israel and Rome and then any other place that piques my interest as time goes by :-)
9. I love food and can be quite adventurous in trying out new foods (With the exception of sushi. I've tried it but don't think i'll be trying it again any time soon. Can't imagine eating uncooked food regularly bleh )
10. I dislike being pushed unnecessarily. It just puts me under unnecessary pressure...I like to do my thing in my own time. if you say it once, I haven't forgotten. You can push it to saying it twice...But just don't sing it in my ears everyday.
11. I'm a very calm person and easy going, but I do have my crazy days ;-)

31st Chain's Questions

1. Favorite phrase? Hmmm, can't think of any right now. Dunno if I even have one
2. Most influential person in your life? Physically right now it's my husband but if we're going to go spiritual it's God through and through
3. Movie or Book? Book (but I love movies too)
4. If books Hard copy or soft copy? Soft copy (I can fold, bend, etc)
5. Would you ride a power bike? Yes. I have once :-). Though I was the passenger not the rider
6. When you close your eyes, what do you see (your deepest longing)? My book (s) ;-)
7. Which would describe you? Instant or Progress? Progress. I can be patient sometimes.lol
8. What role would you play in church given the opportunity? (e.g pastor, worship leader, usher,  instrumentalist etc) Worship leader
9. What do you like about being male or female? Whichever you are. Discovering my different capabilities and things I can handle which I never thought I could, in different situations and circumstances and the joy that comes with it.
10. What do you like about being you? Everything (I'm fearfully and wonderfully made :-D)
11. Is Jesus Lord in your life? Yes!!!!

So that's about it. If anyone else wants to know more I guess they can ask and I'll try and answer in the comments section.

Have a great week!!!

*Sigh* I wasn't' really happy today after I read about the crash in Nigeria. Too many calamities have taken place all in one weekend. I don't want to blog about it as I believe I have said enough on Facebook. It's just a terrible tragedy and the only thing I can think of is to pray for God's comfort for the families involved. May their souls rest in peace.