Motivational Quotes

Good relationships feel good. ...They don’t hurt. They’re not painful. That’s not just with somebody you want to marry, but it’s with the friends that you choose. Michelle Obama

Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.  Mae Jemison

 In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman. Margaret Thatcher

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.  Maya Angelou

  Everyone has inside of her a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be, how much you can love, what you can accomplish, and what your potential is. Anne Frank

 Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

 A woman has got to love a bad man once or twice in her life, to be thankful for a good one. Marjorie Kinnan

 I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship. Mary Louise Alcott

 Life shrinks or expands in proportion with one’s courage.  Anaïs Nin

I know for sure that what we dwell on is what we become. Oprah Winfrey

 If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not making decisions. Catherine Cook

 I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear. Rosa Parks

 Do you really want to look back on your life and see how wonderful it could have been had you not been afraid to live it?  Caroline Myss

 It’s not your job to like me, it’s mine.  Byron Katie

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. Alice Walker

 Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.  Gloria Steinem

Ways To Relieve Stress

Eat right

Stress levels and a proper diet are closely related. When we’re overwhelmed, we often forget to eat well and resort to using sugary, fatty snack foods as a pick-me-up. Try to avoid sugary snacks and plan ahead. Fruits and vegetables are always good, and fish with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the symptoms of stress. A tuna sandwich really is brain food.

Laugh it off

Laughter releases endorphins that improve mood and decrease levels of the stress-causing hormones, cortisol and adrenaline. Laughing tricks your nervous system into making you happy.

Call a friend

When you’re feeling stressed, take a break to call a friend and talk about your problems. Good relationships with friends and loved ones are important to any healthy lifestyle, and they’re especially important when you're under a lot of stress. A reassuring voice, even for a minute, can put everything in perspective.

Talk yourself through it

Sometimes calling a friend is not an option. If this is the case, talking calmly to yourself can be the next best thing. Don’t worry about seeming crazy,  just tell yourself why you're stressed out, what you have to do to complete the task at hand, and most importantly, that everything will be okay.

Drink tea

A large dose of caffeine causes a short-term spike in blood pressure. It may also cause your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to go into overdrive. Instead of coffee or energy drinks, try green tea. It has less than half the caffeine of coffee and contains healthy antioxidants, as well as theanine, an amino acid that has a calming effect on the nervous system

Exercise (even for a minute)

Exercise doesn't necessarily mean power lifting at the gym or training for a marathon. A short walk around the office or simply standing up to stretch during a break at work can offer immediate relief in a stressful situation. Getting your blood moving releases endorphins and can improve your mood almost instantaneously.

Sleep better

Everyone knows stress can cause you to lose sleep. Unfortunately, lack of sleep is also a key cause of stress. This vicious cycle causes the brain and body to get out of whack and only gets worse with time. Make sure to get the doctor-recommended seven to eight hours of sleep. Turn the TV off earlier, dim the lights, and give yourself time to relax before going to bed. It may be the most effective stress buster on our list.

Organize your life

Organization offers a sense of control and peace of mind, and there’s a number of ways you can improve in this regard. If you’re the kind of person who’s always running around, it can help to make lists so that you remember everything. If you’re the kind of person who feels edgy in their own house, tidy up. Studies have shown that the mere sight of clutter can put us on edge.

By: Umaru Maryam Hadejia

Fruits and vegetables that don’t require peeling

In all likelihood, the first thing you do when you eat an orange is tear off that thick peel and throw it straight into the garbage. Guess what? You're missing out on a lot of nutrients. The peel of an orange has nearly twice as much vitamin C as the flesh inside. And though it may seem gross at first, there are plenty of tasty ways you can eat orange peels if you're willing to get a little creative. 

The same is true of lots of fruits and veggies; the peel is often the most nutritious part, and can be eaten despite what you think. Bananas? Yep. Watermelon? Sounds unbelievable, but it’s true: that rind is great for you. Here are some fruits and vegetables with powerful peels you should be eating, along with suggestions for how to add them to your diet. You might remove the skin of a fruit or a vegetable out of habit, but there are many of them that can be eaten without peeling, as the skins are packed with vitamins and minerals.

Potatoes

Potato skins are full of iron and potassium. In fact, 70% of the iron in a potato is in the skin alone. A potato's skin packs more nutrients—iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C—ounce-for-ounce than the rest of the potato. Ditch the skin and you'll also lose up to 90 percent of a potato's iron content and half of its fibre. And don't forget the skin of a sweet potato is loaded with a significant amount of beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A during digestion. Vitamin A is essential for cell health and immune system regulation, and it is extremely useful in maintaining organ function.

Peach

Peach skin is high in vitamins E and K, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and copper.

Guava

Guava can help with high blood pressure. It's also used in diarrhoea and constipation treatment.

Cucumber

Cucumber peel helps in reducing constipation and can protect from colon cancer. The dark green skin contains the majority of a cucumber's antioxidants, insoluble fibre and potassium. The cucumber peel also holds most of its vitamin K.

Apple

If you remove the skin of the apple, you lose an antioxidant called quercetin which can help the lungs to function well, ease breathing problems and also it is believed to fight off brain tissue damage and protect the memory.  The skin of an apple contains about half of the apple's overall dietary fibre content. By removing the peel, you lose about a third of those nutrients. The peel also has four times more vitamin K than its flesh; about 5 percent of your daily value. An apple's skin boasts potential benefits beyond its vitamin content.

Pear

Pears are high in vitamin C, a cancer-busting vitamin, and pectin which lower cholesterol. As with carrots, much of the goodness is just below the skin.

Carrots

Many people are in the habit of peeling the skin of the carrot because they feel that it is too dirty, not knowing that they are wasting some goodness away. Carrots are rich in carotene - which is good for eyes and skin - and fibre. Since the skin of a carrot is the same colour as what's directly beneath it (like a tomato or a red pepper), the peel and its flesh have similar nutritional properties. However, the highest concentration of phytonutrients is found in a carrot's skin or immediately underneath. Just rinse the carrot thoroughly rather than peeling it.

Beets

Beetroot can be boiled or roasted with the skin on. It is rich in folate which can prevent anaemia. It also contains antioxidants which can aid anti-ageing.

Banana

The peel of a banana has a high serotonin content (a mood-balancing chemical) which can help reduce depression. It also has an antioxidant lutein which is good for eyesight. A banana's peel contains way more fibre than its flesh, and is likewise richer in potassium.  But the peel has a bitter taste and tough, many people aren't used to eating it. An overripe banana (brown or black) becomes thinner, sweeter and easier to chew. You can also put the peel (ripe or overripe) through a juicer with the rest of the banana. Or you can boil the peel for several minutes to make it softer. If you want to get really creative, bake a banana peel in the oven for 20 minutes or so, or until it becomes dried out, then use it to make tea.

Watermelon

Although watermelon flesh is good for health, the rind is equally beneficial, being high in vitamin C, B6 and citrulline, an amino acid which is used to lower blood pressure. All watermelon contains citrulline, which has antioxidant properties and converts to arginine, an essential amino acid that is beneficial to the heart, immune system and circulatory system.

Mandarin Orange

Citrus fruits with peel contain more vitamin C than it’s inside part, and is high in antioxidants. The peel of an orange packs in twice as much vitamin C as what's inside. It also contains higher concentrations of riboflavin, vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium and potassium. The peel's flavonoids have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. As nutritious as citrus peels are, the entire peel is bitter and difficult to digest. Instead, grate the peel and sprinkle it on top of salads or you can boil the peel in water and take as tea.

Kiwi

Kiwi peel contains anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic properties which help in overall body development. You have probably been eating just the green flesh inside for years, but a kiwi's peel is also edible. In fact, the skin contains more flavonoids, antioxidants and vitamin C than the insides—and double the fibre. So ditch just eating the flesh, wash the kiwi and eat it like a peach. If you find the fuzz unappetizing, scrape it off first.

By: Pupwaya Timothy Dibal

Clear Signs It’s the Right Time to Meet the Parents

If you are not ready to walk down the aisle with your partner, do not bother introducing them to your parents just for the sake of doing so. It is advisable to do it when you are both ready. The right time can be determined by how accommodating your parents are, if they are not as strict then go right ahead and plan something casual. Just remember to be sure that your partner is comfortable with the idea as well. It may not be a big deal on your part, but it could be a big deal to your partner as meeting parents is a sure way to prove how committed you are to your relationship. If your parents are more formal in the sense that a dinner is called for, then perhaps you should take more time to prepare your partner beforehand so he or she knows what to expect. Either way, all parties have to be ready for the meeting if you want it to be successful.

Some parents make it very clear that they are only interested in meeting their Children’s partners only when they have decided that they want to marry them. Some parents are just that way and you cannot fault them for being so stock in their traditional ways. If you have parents like these, then it is better to play by their rules and only introduce your partner to them when things are very serious between you too. It is advisable to get more intimate so that everyone has the chance to properly get to know one another, but of course, that is the right way to go. In any case, here are 7 signs that it is probably time to meet the folks.

1 The Love is Mutual. You will know that it’s the right time to meet the parents once you both can attest that the love is mutual. There is no point in putting everyone through the stress of getting to know one another if your relationship is not going to last. These days we see people introduce different partners every now and then to their family members.  Once you have decided that you are going to be joining with your partner indefinitely, it is probably the right moment to make the introduction to your parents.

2 Your partner has met your friends. If your partner has hung out with your friends on more than one occasion, then it is safe to say that he or she may be ready to meet the folks. There is less pressure when it comes to meeting a group of friends and if your partner passes with flying colours, then it’s the right time to step up your game by introducing him or her to your parents.

3 Your partner has met your other family members. Whether your partner has met other family members by chance or intentionally, once he or she has met an extended family member, it is probably time to meet the parents. For example, if you and your boyfriend run into your aunt at the supermarket and you introduced them so as not to be rude, remember that people talk and if your family is anything like such, get ready for many talks. News will spread like wildfire that your aunt met your boyfriend before your parents did.

Even though you encountered them by chance, it can lead to massive family drama, so take the bull by the horns and set up a lunch date with your parents sooner rather than later. The same can be said if you introduce your girlfriend to your sister over dinner.  What makes you think your sister is not going to report everything to your mum? Expectations will be set, pre-judgments will be made and before you know it, your parents will be harping on you to introduce them to your special someone.

4 You talk about the future. Once you start thinking in terms of “us” instead of “me” then you know that the timing is right. If you see yourself being with your partner for a long time, then the next course of action is to make him or her part of your life. That means meeting the people who created you. This step will certainly make your partner happy as it serves as validation that you are taking things to the next level.

5 The idea isn’t intimidating to you. If the idea of your partner meeting your folks does not scare you out, then what are you waiting for? This is a good sign as it indicates that you are comfortable with the two family meeting and becoming one by way of marriage. Ensure that your partner feels the same way and not to push him or her if they are not ready.

6 You are proud of your partner. It is difficult to introduce your parents to your slacker boyfriend than it is to introduce them to someone who has his acts together. If you are proud of who you are with, it is inevitable that you would want everyone to know about his or her accomplishments. You want the people you care about to see just why you are so in love with this person.

7 Everyone is ready. I suppose if you cannot figure out when the “right time” is, then just take it easy and only set up a meeting once everyone is mentally ready. Speak to your parents about this special someone and gauge their reaction when you suggest a meeting. Do the same with your partner. Once you think that everyone is comfortable enough to take the next step, you will know that it is the perfect time. Meeting the parents for the first time is a huge step whether you think so or not. You will be surprised at how many relationships go awry just because the initial meeting with immediate family members did not go as planned.

As much as you love your partner, what your family thinks also carries weight, especially if you are close to them. Never underestimate a parent’s scrutiny when determining if their child is with the right person or not. Parents have a bizarre sixth sense when it comes to stuff like that, so take your time and do not rush it. You will know when the time is right.

Know When to Call Your Gynecologist

A gynaecologist is a doctor who focuses on women’s reproductive health. They check your body to make sure that your reproductive system is healthy and they help you avoid problems in the future. Visiting a gynaecologist means you are taking responsibility for your body. Many women think that pregnancy is the number one reason that prompts them to see a gynaecologist, however there are many other issues that women may face that need to be checked by their gynaecologist.

Women today are shy to take a trip to the gynaecologist because a visit to the gynaecologist can be uncomfortable and can include certain processes and procedures which many women would prefer to avoid, and there are some things about your personal life you may not want to discuss with anybody. Believe it or not anytime you visit a gynaecologist, you should feel free to discuss your personal life, when you are open to them, they will be able to identify and help solve your problem.

Visiting a gynaecologist is something every woman should do on a regular basis. It is recommended that girls should begin to see a gynaecologist from the age of 13. Early visit to a gynaecologist will help you understand your body and how to care for it; let the doctor find a problem early so that they can treat it and also explain what a normal vaginal discharge should look like.

Irregular Period – Skipping your period once in a while can be normal but when your period skips frequently, it becomes very important for you to see the gynaecologist. It could be an indication that you have a problem with your reproductive system. Occasional missing of period can be linked to emotional stress, eating disorders, excessive weight loss or gain, breastfeeding and some kind of other illness, too much traveling, use of unsuitable birth control medication and illegal drugs, hormonal imbalance too can trigger this problem. When you miss you period frequently, do see your gynaecologist to find out the exact cause and provide medical assistance immediately.

Urinary Issues – Frequent trip to the bathroom, more than normal should prompt you to visit your gynaecologist. It can be a sign of a urinary tract infection, a strong urge and persistent feelings of urinating, passing out frequent but small amount of urine, pain or burning sensation during urination, when this is noticed, visit your gynaecologist, because early diagnosis can save your life.

Abnormal Vaginal Discharge – It is common for women to discover slight vaginal discharge especially between menstrual cycles. It is part of the body process of cleaning the vagina and cervix. Vaginal discharge increases when you are ovulating, breastfeeding or sexually aroused; all these are normal in women, but when you notice changes in colour, odour and quantity of vaginal discharge, see a gynaecologist.

Unusual Heavy Bleeding – Bleeding is considered heavy when you change sanitary pad after every two ; within 24 hours, it suddenly becomes painful and prolonged. When this happens, a visit to the gynaecologist will do you good.

Lumps in the Breast – you must not ignore lumps in your breast or underarm area. They can be sign of breast cancer, the most common form of cancer among women. If the lumps last for about two to three weeks, see a gynaecologist.

As a woman, it is advisable to do monthly breast self-examination. During the examination, look and feel for any visible lumps, swelling, redness, rashes and any discharge from the nipples. In addition, a healthcare provider should do a complete breast examination every three years.

Vagina Odour - Strong vagina odour is a very common problem that prompts a woman to visit her gynaecologist. Slight vagina odour is normal, but a strong odour like a fishy smell may indicate a problem. It can be very embarrassing. It can be caused by bacteria growth, yeast infections, poor hygiene, hormonal changes and sexually transmitted diseases. Vaginal odour can be treated and managed once diagnosed by a gynaecologist.

Excessive Sweating – Excessive sweating as well as hot flashes can be a sign of premenopause, the period when a woman moves closer to menopause; other accompanying signs and systems may include irregular periods, vagina dryness, mood swings and sleep disturbances. So when you are at the age of 40 and you experience sweating without any reasonable trigger, see your gynaecologist. It can be when you are awake or asleep. Seeing a gynaecologist will help find out the main cause and the best treatment.

By: Mercy Kukah

What Men Want But Are Afraid To Ask For

There are many things that men want their women to do for them or something they will like to know, but for some reason, they just cannot bring themselves to ask. Women are getting it all wrong when they think that men are not supposed to ask for affection or complain to you when you as their spouse don’t do what they want. Is your man craving for your attention but don’t want to ask you? And you don’t even know what he wants? These few things are some of what he wants, all you need to do is just to read on and apply them in your relationships, and believe it that you will set his head spinning in love.

He wants his girlfriend/wife to know he loves her

He can be awkward and also his ego might not let him say what is on his mind. Words may fail him. But he likes to think you know how much he loves you. He does. You can see it in his attitude, feel it in his silences, his touch and even the way he looks at you. All what he requires of you is to prove to him that you know he is crazy about you.

He wants his lady to take the lead

He may be a natural leader, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t like you to take the lead. Surprise him, especially in bed. He will be under your spell. You can also decide to take him out on a date and all the expense to be on you. It doesn’t have to be always him all the time.

He wants respect

Men don’t like to be disrespected no matter what, even if they are wrong. He is very sensitive, and doesn’t like it when you belittle him, even as a joke. He wants respect, not mocking.  He may be bold, but he likes that you respect him for what he is, flaws included! When he is trying to correct you, just keep shut if you don’t want a fight.

He wants to be admired

He enjoys being flattered. He really does. Just look at him with admiration and he will be happy. When he dresses up in a nice shirt and trouser, just go close to him and say “wow baby you really look good”. A guy likes nothing more than making his girlfriend/wife admire him and praises him a lot. Just be rest assured that he will be all yours.

He wants to be with you

Some men want to be with their spouses every minute of the day when they are both not busy. He likes it when the two of you just sit down cuddling, watching the television or even talking. Don’t take it as he is being over protective or doesn’t want you to be with other people. He just loves your company.

He wants to receive encouragement

He will never admit it, especially not in front of his friends, but your man has doubts. When he feels broken and might want to give up, just be there with words of encouragement. Let him know that he can do it and he will come out successfully. He will sometimes wake up in the middle of the night, just looking out at the ceiling with dark thoughts. In these times of anxiety, what helps him most is your support.

He wants to feel appreciated

Because he sometimes has doubts, he doesn’t take your love for granted, even if he may seem to at times. When he does a little thing for you, maybe cleans the house or even cooks before you get home, appreciate it. He needs your “thank you”, your sweet words and how you also express your gratitude matters. You can appreciate him by even buying a gift for him.

He wants an independent girlfriend/wife

If you are always waiting for him to call or don’t have any life outside of him, your man might end up finding you a little boring. He likes that his girlfriend/wife has projects of her own (he’s even proud of it!) and that she can take care of herself. Of course, he likes to protect her too, but he doesn’t want to cut her wings off. He likes a lady who has a life of her own, not someone who stops breathing when he is not around. Show him that you can also make it without depending solely on him.

He wants to feel desired

By you and by others, sometimes! Although he will never admit it especially to you, he likes it when he gets other women’s attention. But hey, don’t get jealous but rather feel happy that you have a cute man as yours. Don’t be afraid to send him flirty messages as this will make him feel happy.

He wants to show he has feelings too

He wants to be able to cry without worrying that you will take advantage of this flaw to manipulate him and call him a baby. Showing his sensitive side is not always easy and he sure doesn’t want to be taken for a wimp. Just give him a shoulder to cry on, or better still you can cry with him too. This will make him feel that you are also sharing in his pain.

He wants to relax

For him, weekends are made to relax. And relaxing doesn’t mean throwing a dinner party, going to the movies, cleaning up the house or running errands. Relaxing means doing nothing. No planning allowed. Just to stay at home and enjoy a quality time with you.

He wants to talk

Your man is not afraid of discussions. Pick a subject that he likes and he will turn into a real chatterbox. Don’t hesitate to tell him how your day was, what you did and who you saw. But in the process don’t forget to ask him how his day went too. You can even decide to talk about how growing up was like and the foolish things you did when you were little.

He wants to stay the way he is

No, he doesn’t want to change, unless he decides so. If you try to turn him into someone he’s not, don’t be surprised to see him flip out. He might even decide to leave you if you insist on telling him to stop doing things he loves doing.

He wants to feel he can protect you

He feels right at ease when he is protecting you. Although he likes the fact that you are an independent woman, he wants to know he can also protect you. And he will do just about anything for that. He wants to know he can stand up for you and take you out of a mess when the situation requires it. But that doesn’t guarantee you getting yourself into trouble with the thought that “I have a wrestler as a boyfriend”.

He wants you to show affection to him in public

Every man becomes a king when his lady hooks her hand into his elbow as they walk or stand in public. As much as they would like it, it is also much difficult for them to ask. So now that you know, remember to slip your hand into his when the both of you are taking a stroll or going out to the shopping mall. You can even decide to do what he never thought you will, that is giving him a kiss in public. It is not a bad idea. Don’t you think?

Laugh out loud with these jokes

Who killed Abel?

I went to the police station to certify my document. On arrival, I met one of the policemen reading the bible, specifically Genesis, I was so impressed so I ask him, “officer, who killed Abel, Adam’s son”? He raised his head, looked at my face with dismay and said, “I don’t know, ask sgt Asare, he is in charge of murder cases”.

Touch and Follow

I fell in love with a girl called Amanda, but didn’t have the guts to ask her out. So I went to see a native doctor popularly called “Baba”. All he demanded from me was one month internet data subscription money which I paid and he gave me a ring called “Touch and Follow”.

He said all I needed to do was touch her with this ring and she would follow me. I was excited because that was pretty easy.

The next day, when she was passing, I created a scene just to draw her attention and touch her like it was a mistake. After touching her, I was expecting her to follow me, but she did not, instead she moved on and was pressing her phone.

I was disappointed and went home. On getting home, I checked my phone and saw nine notifications showing Amanda Paul is now following me on twitter, instagram, badoo, sent me a friend request on face book, and whatsapp.

I called baba immediately to complain and he replied me, “my son, we have upgraded, everything is now digital, bye bye to rural village, welcome to the global world. That was why I did not ask for a cock, the brain of a mosquito, a vulture’s eye and groundnut oil but one month internet data to keep me online”.

Educated Sons

First son: PhD

Second son: MBA

Third son: Degree in Economics

Fourth son: Thief

Neighbour: Why can’t you throw the 4^th son out of your house?

Father: He is the only one earning money. The rest are unemployed.

Decent Prostitute.

Akpos stopped at a bar after work to have a drink. He started talking to a girl even though he is married. He eventually agreed to go to her place. When he got to there, he found out that she is a prostitute and that she wanted 5,000 naira.

“Forget it”, Akpos said, “you never told me you were a prostitute. But I do have 500 naira with me, will you take that”?

“You won’t get any decent prostitute for that amount”, she replied and threw him out.

Later that night, Akpos and his wife went out for dinner. While they were eating, the same prostitute who happen to be eating there too recognized Akpos.

She came up to him and said, “See, I told you. Look at the kind of trash you picked up for 500 naira”.

IGBO MAN

An Igbo man was terribly sick and was about to die, his family gather around him and was weeping as he was about to say his final words, then he said, “where is Emaka and Chimela”? They both replied in tears “papa we are here”. He then asked “what about Amara and Nneka”? The wife busted in tears and said “they are all here but you can’t see them”. The man asked, "if all of you are here then who is in the shop?"

Letter to a Doctor

Dear Doctor

I am 23 years old and have not had my period. My little sister Eferurobo is 17 years old and has had her period since she was 13. I am ashamed to talk about it to my friends because I don’t know if I have a problem of developing slowly, or does it take longer when you are a boy?

Yours faithfully

Akpos.

Intensive Care Unit

It happened in a hospital at warri. In an intensive care unit (ICU) patients died in the same bed every Sunday at 3pm. Doctors thought it was something supernatural. So, a team of experts was formed to investigate the cause.

The following Sunday, few minutes before 3pm, all doctors and nurses stood around that particular bed waiting to see what it was. Suddenly Akpos (part time cleaner) entered the ICU, unplugged the life support system of that bed and then plugged his blackberry charger.

No Fuel

Uche: Mummy, can I go to Chidera’s house?

Mummy: No

Uche: Why?

Mummy: No Fuel

Uche: Ahn ahn! I am using my legs.

Mummy: If you get missing, is it not a car we are going to use to find you?

Make Your Bathroom More Attractive

When it comes to interior design, you don’t have to go down some complicated path, just keep it as simple as possible. Interestingly, simple things in life turn out to be the best of things. This also applies to figuring out how to make your bathroom more attractive. Just because there are lots of advices out there, doesn’t mean that you have to apply every single thing to one room in your home. Another reason for staying simple is that it’s cheaper and doesn’t make your room look congested that you feel you are having your bath in a cupboard. There are some great ways to enhance the beauty of your bathroom with minimal effort, and it really amazing how a few changes can make a big difference in your bathroom. Completely change the look of your bathroom and have your family and guests appreciate the fresh new look without you changing the entire room.

REGULAR CLEANING: No matter your busy schedule; endeavour to make out time to always wash your bathroom, make sure it is free from all forms of stains both on the wall, floor and sink especially after brushing your teeth. You will give germs opportunity to dwell in your bathroom if it is not regularly and properly clean. One thing is cleaning and the other is cleaning properly. In order to have a sparkling clean look, you can use a glass cleaner or furniture polish on your bath screen such as mirrors. Wipe off water on the floor of your bathroom after every shower you can also get a chemical for your tiles to retain/restore its sparkle.

KEEP AWAY PRIVATE ITEMS: Some things are meant for your eyes only, it doesn’t tell well of you when guests walk round your bathroom and find sanitary pads or personal items on the sink or floor of your bathroom. Clear everything apart from a few essential items that you make use of all the time. Make your bathroom less clustered for more space; it is wise to get a small basket that you can keep in a corner or under your sink for your dirt and any used/finished item. Ensure that the basket doesn’t find its way out to obstruct free movement around your bathroom. Don’t make it a habit to leave dirt in your bin basket for a long time before disposing it so you don’t cause your bathroom to have awful smell and become a no go area for visitors.

LIGHTING: Bathroom lights can make a whole difference to the look of your bathroom. Often times, if our bathroom look terribly it is either because the lights are horrible or there are no lights at all. A bright light will give your bathroom a bright and amazing look. Having a simple light dropping from the ceiling won’t be a bad idea. The whole idea is to make your bathroom more radiant, expose dark areas by giving enough light.

PAINTING: Not all paint should be used in the bathroom, there are specific paints for bathroom that can further enhance the beauty of your bathroom after adhering to the above instructions. Don’t hurry to paint your bathroom because you feel it is not important and shouldn’t be paid any attention. Your bathroom is as important as other parts of your home and must be taken care of. No one wants to hurry out of a cosy room, make your bathroom very attractive and no one who goes in will hurry out. A beautifully painted bathroom will help your bathroom to be warm and cosy at all times.

A Stranger in My Father’s House

Home is a place where you find happiness and comfort especially with the right people present. If your home is void of happiness then it is probably because some thing is missing. When you have interesting and caring people around you, then you have no reason not to be happy. How you determine happiness is based on what it means to you.

I had just finished my Senior Secondary School Two (SSS2) third term examination and like every other student I was happy that I have two months holiday and a year left to be done with secondary school education. My excitement was interrupted by the thought of going home for our third term holiday. I thought to myself “Why the excitement? Unlike the rest of my class mates who have loving parents to make their holiday count. I on the other hand, staying home for holiday was like a whole year of torment.  This thought continuously defiled my excitement.

My Dad had taken a second wife after divorcing our Mum and taken custody of my younger sister and I. We were barely 6 and 8 respectively when we realized that our Mum has left us and was never coming back. We dint stop asking our Dad where our Mum went and when she would return, and our Dad’s response was always ‘’Soon”. Three years on, while I was just promoted to JSS3, my sister got admitted into the same boarding school and we still couldn’t see our Mum to tell her we have gained admission secondary school.

THE STORY

Just as we were about resuming our first year in secondary school, my Dad called my sister and I to inform us of his plan to remarry, according to him, he was not getting any younger and needed a wife to carter for him, my younger sister and I. We asked “where is our Mum”? Then he disclosed to us that our Mum is never going to step her foot into his house again, that they were divorced and never going to get back together. Tears ran down our eyes continuously as we asked him why he hated our Mum so much that forgiveness is not considered as an option. As usual, our Dad ignored our questions and asked us to get ready for school that we were running late. We went to school and never stopped thinking and talking about what our Dad had told us back home. We both wished he wasn’t serious about it and would some day bring our Mum back home to us.

Our first term in school was like the worst term for us but we managed to finish well that term despite the emotional blow we had to contend with especially as teenagers. At the end of our first term in school, as usual, Dad sent his driver to come pick us up. While we were driving home, in our usual practice we asked him if our Mum was home but the reply we got immediately changed our countenances after the long grins on our faces from saying our goodbyes to other students hoping to see them when school resumes next term. My bold younger sister who was just 13years old at that time asked the driver “Are you sure my Mum isn’t back yet? Did you check every section of the house before leaving?” the driver trying to be mature said to us “Don’t worry everything you need, will be made available to you at home”. At this point we thought he wanted our Mum’s presence to be a surprise to us so we stopped the question and answer section as we looked forward to getting home.

On arrival, we noticed the back door was opened. My younger sister said to me “I told you daddy’s driver was lying, the back door is opened and only mum opens the kitchen back down when ever she is going to stay in the kitchen cooking for long”. So I asked her to come with me and we rushed through the back door with the intention of gripping our mum. We haven’t held her in a while; the smell of her breath was beginning to fade away from our memories after so many years of not setting our eyes on her. Just as we rushed into the kitchen, we got the shock of our lives. It was a strange woman who was apparently dressed like she own the kitchen. Our mum use to wear fitted blouses and trousers while cooking in the kitchen and this lady was dressed in same manner which got us confused. As smart as my little sister, she immediately asked; “Who are you and what are you doing in our Mum’s kitchen?” The lady answered and said “Wow! I presume you guys are Femi Ade’s children, such beautiful kids, come and hug your new mummy” we immediately looked at each other wondering what she meant by “new mummy”. When she saw the looks on our faces, she said “the earlier you manner less kids accept me as your new mummy, the better for you”. “Our mum would never speak to us in such manner i said to my sister “as we hurriedly left the kitchen and ran upstairs to our room. We remained there until our Dad returned home from work that day. “Who was that lady in the kitchen?” my sister thought aloud, “Where could mummy be? Why has she abandoned us? Doesn’t she love us any more? All these thoughts clouded my head while we remained in our room. Our dad was surprised not to see us downstairs in the living room watching our usual evening program when he returned, so immediately rushed to our room to find out how we were doing and we told him all that had happened earlier. To our greatest surprise, he promised us it wouldn’t happen again if only we would take Aunty Tonyi as our new mum. “Dad! You stock to your plan of getting another wife? I asked “how do you expect us to live with another woman not to talk of calling her “Mummy’’? It cannot happen, we can not dad, you have to bring back our mum” we exclaimed as we both left the room.

The few weeks we spent at home were weeks of torments. Our dad would leave the house very early and would return late at night. He never cared to know what happened to us while he was away. As soon as he leaves for work, Aunty Tonyi would treat us as equal to slaves, she would give us food once in a day and tell us not to report to our dad or face her wrath the next day. We would wash her cloths and the toilets, grind pepper on stone and walk miles to the market to buy what we already had at home. We admired other kids when we see them being treated with love and care by their parents, all we did was only to wish we were in their shoes. She became Aunty Tonyi the Devil to us. We made calendar our friend as we stood in front of it every day calculating how many days we had left before resumption. We became a shadow of ourselves due to the ill-treatment from Aunty Tonyi, it was written all over us so much so that our neighbors and whoever came close to us could see. But our father was too far to notice that his second wife had turned us (his children) into house maids and strangers in our father’s house. We were malnourished and out rightly suffering, the regular beating we received and bruises from it were horrible, we did not need to have bad dreams, our night mares were experienced in the day. We cried every other day and resuming school was our prayer point every morning.

We finally resumed and wished we never had to return home since there was nothing to return home to except suffering and bitterness.  I am preparing for my senior secondary school examination and all my years in school have been hell and nothing but hell. We are much older now and can talk to our dad even though she never let him believe us “How nonchalant some fathers can be when it comes to the affairs of their children”. All I pray is to become a Medical Doctor which has always been my dream and take full responsibility of my kid sister while we hope to see our mum someday. Again I thought to myself “Why on earth would a woman forget her children? No matter how difficult a man appears to be in the case of divorce, taking full custody of your children should be what a woman who is faced with such situation must fight for because you never can tell who the next woman who is coming to take your place is. A woman’s love for her children should be strong enough to withstand any storm notwithstanding.   

Health issues to heal with banana instead of medication

The curve fruit packs a big nutritional punch, wrapped in its own convenient packaging. Some scientists believe that banana may have been the world’s first fruit. It is the most beneficial and most exotic fruit, abundant in carbohydrates and fiber, which makes it highly efficient as instant energy booster. Aside from increasing your energy levels, bananas also possess therapeutic properties linked to a number of health issues. They are indeed a great source of essential vitamins and minerals, including potassium, magnesium and more. They are an ideal food for athletes and those who regularly exercise because of their quick acting carbohydrate effect on our energy levels.

Here are five health issues you can treat with banana instead of medication;

Blood Pressure: Banana is full of potassium, which is extremely efficient in regulating blood pressure levels because it counteracts the sodium levels in the body. Sodium is known as a major cause of hypertension when ingested in abundance. In fact, it has been proven that blood pressure normally rises when the levels of potassium and sodium are misbalanced, i.e when there is high sodium and low potassium intake. In order to keep your blood pressure under control, eat one banana first thing in the morning.

Stress: Stress is the root cause of many modern age diseases. In fact, chronic stress severely undermines your overall health, for instance, stress depletes your body of potassium because it accelerates metabolism. However, you can easily restore this potassium imbalance by eating a banana a day.  Bananas contain enough potassium to stabilize your heartbeat, provide sufficient oxygen supply to your brain and control the amount of water in your body.

Depression: Regular consumption of bananas can significantly improve your mood and fight off depression due to the fact that this exotic fruit packs has a high content of tryptophan, an amino acid that naturally stimulates the secretion of serotonin, the hormone of happiness. One banana a day is enough to boost your serotonin levels and keep the smile on your face throughout the day.

Bloating and Constipation: Aside from potassium and tryptophan, bananas are also rich in pectin, which is highly beneficial for improving digestion and promoting the elimination of toxins and heavy metals from the body. Plus, bananas act like probiotics which stimulate intestinal function and promotes easy elimination of waste. This in turn prevents constipation as well as bloating.

PMS Symptoms: Bananas are high in vitamin B6, which positively affects blood glucose levels. Moreover, several studies have confirmed that vitamin B6 is particularly beneficial for relieving PMS symptoms. In addition, bananas alleviate abdominal and chest pain, prevent mood swings and water retention.

By: Mercy Kukah