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Photo of the Remarkables mountain range in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Sunday 31 July 2016

Carrot Chips A Guilt Free Snack That's Kind to your Waistline.


I was really excited when I discovered this guilt free snack and have since used it to replace my unhealthy snacks.
Preparation and cooking time: 15minutes

Serves: Not applicable

Ingredients

·       Carrot cut into batons or discs or readymade carrot batons or discs

·       Olive oil
·       Salt to taste (optional)


Steps

1.    Peel the carrots, if not using readymade batons or discs

2.    Sprinkle olive oil and salt on peeled carrot batons and mix thoroughly

3.    Put in oven at 350 degrees and bake for 12 minutes

4.    Cool and enjoy




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Peri Peri Chicken....South African



A delicious recipe featuring chicken simmered in a spice sauce of onions and lemons. The prep time is long because it has to be left to seat for at least 3 hours at some point.

Preparation time : 3hours

 Cooking time: 30minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

·        1 tbsp chilli powder

·        1 tsp cayenne pepper

·        Salt to taste

·        1 tbsp white vinegar

·        ½ white onion roughly chopped

·        1½ tsp minced garlic i.e. roughly 1 clove of garlic

·        ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

·        Juice from two medium sized lemons

·        ½ tsp ground black pepper

·        1tbsp paprika

·        1tsp ground oregano

·        ½ tsp ground ginger

·        4 pieces of boneless skinless chicken breast

Steps

1.     Mix all the ingredients listed, except the chicken, in a large bowl.

2.     Marinade the chicken with the resulting mixture making sure each piece is covered with the mixture.

3.     Cover the chicken mixture with plastic wrap and leave for at least 3 hours. I left mine overnight.

4.     Transfer the chicken out of the bowl and into a skillet or non stick pan and set the marinade aside.

5.     Cook the chicken for about 2 minutes until brown on both sides. The chicken will not be thoroughly cooked yet.

6.     Put the chicken into an oven safe pan, pour the marinade into the pan as well and spoon some over the chicken.

7.     Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

8.     Put the chicken into the preheated oven and let cook for 15 to 20minutes until the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

You can serve with rice or if you want to be super healthy, some salad on the side.




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Stop Overthinking It And Just Do it........


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Saturday 30 July 2016

5 Women Giving Africa’s Entrepreneurs A Helping Hand


On a continent well known for making the news for all the wrong reasons, there are thousands of African women who are not only creating successful businesses, but leaving inspiration and change in their wake, and in a small way helping to change the narrative of Africa’s headlines. The five women below are still making massive strides in their respective business sectors, changing their industries and improving business for other women in Africa.
All these women are members of the Graça Machel Trust, a pan-African advocacy organization that focuses on women’s rights, children’s rights and governance and leadership in Africa. Their Multiplying Faces, Amplifying Voices campaign aims to build a network of highly qualified, active and effective women across the continent to become a voice in areas where they are currently underrepresented. This includes the Network of African Businesswomen (NABW), Network of African Women in Agribusiness (AWAB) and New Faces New Voices (NFNV)a programme that focuses on expanding the role and influence of women in the financial sector.
Joy Ndungutse: Founder and CEO of Gahaya Links (Rwanda)
Changing economies by commercializing culture
Joy Ndungutse spent her childhood and early adult years in exile due to political instability in Rwanda. Driven by ambition, Joy’s strong desire to work towards the empowerment of women translated into a weaving initiative when she moved back to Rwanda after the genocide. While running a hotel and the country’s first furniture store, she trained local women in rural areas and designed baskets, modern in style and shape, that these women could make using traditional weaving skills and techniques. This journey gave birth to Gahaya Links, a successful social enterprise in Rwanda that works with over 4,000 weavers to make traditional baskets that are exported to the US and Japan and sold through leading department stores.
Joy notes that, “It is a delight to see the fruits of this project and to see an increase in the number of women in Rwanda achieving financial independence.”
She continues: “It is also encouraging to see that the local culture is alive and vibrant, and that using what we have, we have managed to make such an impact on the lives of others, and on creating awareness of what Rwanda has to offer to the world.”
However, she highlights that although some progress has been made in Rwanda, a lot still needs to be done to increase financial inclusion of women, educate women on taxation and business practices, as these still remain big challenges for women in business. She identifies certain key issues such as geographical access to financial institutions, information on financial information and products, and access to capital as barriers for women to enter into business.
According to Joy, “most rural women in Rwanda lack the knowledge to organize businesses in a formal way. It’s critical to educate them on key issues such as new business taxation policies and the simplified tax regime that exempts them from to allow them kickstart and build sustainable businesses.”
She highlights that a lot more work needs to be done to educate and create awareness of the importance of formalizing and growing informal women owned businesses.
Hadia Gondji: Managing Director at Hadia Seed Production, Hadia Flowers and Hadia Supermarket (Ethiopia)
Challenging the status quo to create opportunities for women
Hadia is the country director of the New Faces New Voices Ethiopia Chapter and is a pioneer in the transportation, agriculture and horticulture industries in Ethiopia. In agriculture she is involved in hybrid grain multiplication and through her business she teaches farmers in the country to improve their yields.
Hadia says: “We normally work with small-scale farmers to help them improve their production and we teach female farmers free of charge.”
As president of the Ethiopian Women Exporters Association, she has seen production by female farmers increase, and exports of different produce such as coffee, fruit, vegetables and flowers improve. Hadia is also one of the founders of Enat Bank, the only financial institution in Ethiopia that specifically targets women.
She explains, “In Ethiopia it is still very difficult for women to get into business and politics. Although things are getting better, it remains hard for women to do business, as the environment is not conducive, banks want collateral before giving financial support and women do not own any property. The houses and farms belong to men.”
“Enat Bank was launched to assist women by getting money from investors to deposit as collateral for women in business, and we see that the bank is making a great difference to women business owners.”
Hadia highlights that creating a strong business network for women in Africa is essential in ensuring that business opportunities improve for women on the continent. As evidenced by the Graça Machel Trust, the role of such networks and advocacy groups is invaluable in connecting likeminded businesswomen across the continent.
Elizabeth Swai: Managing Director of AKM Glitters Company Limited (Tanzania)
Driving the agenda for women in business
A self-starter, Elizabeth Swai runs a thriving poultry business that has expanded its operations to include small-scale farmers in its supply chain. Her business model makes a conscious effort to include those parties that would normally find themselves excluded from the formalized market.
Elizabeth says that although the Tanzanian government has expressed commitment to supporting female entrepreneurship, women still face a great number of obstacles. Challenges such as cultural barriers, the right to property and decision making, stiff competition, corruption and bureaucracy, and a lack of awareness from women themselves, make it extremely hard for women in Africa to build a successful business.
She also serves as lead and coordinator of African Women in Agribusiness, holds a seat in the Network of African Women in Business, is a founder member of the African Agriculture Academy, and is an active member of the World Poultry Association.
According to Elizabeth, her involvement with the women’s networks and associations is aimed at representing the needs of women in Tanzania.
She says: “I am involved with all of these organizations in order to represent other women. Defragmentation is a poison, so women need to partner with other women, networks, associations, men and their gigantic enterprises with muscle to be able to achieve the achievable.”
She notes: “I created a business model that is inclusive in order to enable ease of access to finance and technical expertise, but also to work with more women in rural areas and create employment for the youth.”
Elizabeth Magaya: Managing Director of Blissford Investments (Zimbabwe)
Taking giant steps, one step at a time
Elizabeth Magaya became an entrepreneur at the age of 10 to help look after her siblings after her parents’ divorce. She went from vegetable vendor to owning a group of companies that includes a booming construction business, and has recently diversified into horticulture, landscape and interior design. At the age of 52, she went back to school to finish what she wasn’t able to start as a child and graduated at the age of 56.
She is the epitome of self-made success and attributes this to hard work, sheer determination and a constant drive for perfection.According to Elizabeth, “the biggest challenges with women in business in Africa are the women themselves.”
She explains: “Most women are still marginalized and still depend on men to make decisions for them and give them permission to do things. I believe women should be aggressive, start networking and start to expose themselves. They should see every situation and challenge as a bull and take it by the horns.”
“To empower themselves, women must realize that it is possible to start, and you can start small, you don’t need to be great or big to start, begin where you are and the rest will follow. Never mind your background, where you started or where you came from. If you use your hands and mind you will reach your destiny,” she says.
Grace Mijiga-Mhango: Director of Agriseed and African Women in Agribusiness (Malawi)
Building businesses that transform lives
Grace specializes in commodity trading and seed multiplication and has built successful businesses that trade in Malawi and across the continent. Having been with the Graça Machel Trust since 2011, she is one of the pioneers that help shape the Trust’s vision. She conceptualized the African Food Basket Project that promotes the growing of indigenous seeds led by women farmers to raise the yields of staple crops like maize, soya beans and pigeon peas. The overall project aims to benefit 50,000 women across grain production value chains in five countries over the next five years.
Grace has incredible vision which she shares passionately with those interested in her work and those that share similar interests and beliefs. She sees herself as an agent of change, and is committed to working to support others to reach their full potential and achieve meaningful change in their lives.
The Graça Machel Trust, through its advocacy work, seeks to continue in extending its arm to more women across the continent, to effect and influence a change in thinking about women-owned businesses as a channel for Africa’s economic development. The trust seeks to grow women-owned businesses across Africa, and to empower female entrepreneurs to realize their full potential.
BY: Graca Machel for the  World Economic Forum on Africa.


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Food For Traffic Thought.


A question I ask myself each time I enter traffic both in London and Lagos.
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Anyone With Me On This????????


Anyone else ever had this conversation with their other half or is it just me???


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Ankara Sisters With Swag......








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Worlwear Suggestions For The Week.....






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Wednesday 27 July 2016

Common Vaginal Problems: Vaginal Dryness


Ever tried having sex and it feels like someone is using a grater on you or do you regularly need to break your sex session to reapply lubricant because it’s a desert down there? Well join the club.

This is a condition known as vaginal dryness. It is mostly common after menopause but you can experience it before menopause and it is not only uncomfortable but also very irritating.

What causes it?

There are a number of causes

·        Menopause – the decreased level of oestrogen can cause persistent dryness


·        Breastfeeding or childbirth – oestrogen level temporarily decreases causing dryness but returns to normal after sometime.


·        Not being aroused – so the vagina is not encouraged to produce lubrication making it ready for sex.


·        Contraception – the combined pill i.e. pills that contain both progesterone and oestrogen

·        Some forms of treatment -  such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

·        Diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes.

How do I get rid of it without meds?

·        Spend more time on foreplay. Spend more time exploring each other's bodies before diving into the main business.

·        Try using vaginal moisturiser such as Sylk, Replens, Yes and Vagisil vaginal moisturiser.
Some leading brands of vaginal moisturiser.





·        Use lots of lubricant during sex such as the water based Ky jelly or  Durex lube and Durex Real Feel lube which is silicone based.
 

Tried without meds but its still there!!

·        You could try taking evening primrose oil capsules to help balance your hormones. It could take a few months to build up so be patient.



·        If you are experiencing other symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats then see your doctor as you might going through the menopause and he could prescribe you HRT, hormone replacement therapy and/or oestrogen creams.










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Tuesday 26 July 2016

Young, African And Building An Empire



This is the best time in history to be young and African. We live in an era characterised by an abundance of opportunities and young people starting sustainable businesses across the continent. The conversation about Africa is gradually shifting from that of poverty to one about creativity, business, and investment.

“Entrepreneurship is having a transformative effect across the continent as more and more young people are starting their own businesses rather than waiting to be employed by someone,” notes Marcello Schermer, Regional Manager for Africa at Seedstars World, a global startup competition. “Many governments, corporates, investors and ecosystem builders have understood that, which is why you’re seeing co-working spaces, accelerators and all kinds of startup programmes pip up everywhere from Morocco to Mali, to Ethiopia and Mozambique, and anywhere in between.”

Countries like Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and many others have taken centre stage as some of the fastest growing economies in the world. Contributing to the continent’s economic growth is a vastly growing number of hungry young entrepreneurs doing wonders across various sectors. Let’s get to know some of them:
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Sunday 24 July 2016

Sexual health ......Join June's Secrets for our radio debut.


Copy and paste link in your browser and prepare to be wowed.....
https://www.facebook.com/adeoye21/videos/10208737762779036/
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Put on the gbedu cos TGIF!!!!!!!!!


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Put on the gbedu cos TGIF!!!!!!!!!


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Put on the gbedu cos TGIF!!!!!!!!!


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For all the "short" brothers and sisters out there..... You're perfect as you are.


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One of the secrets to a longer happier life.


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You forgive for your benefit not theirs!!


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Not particularly a fan, but he's got a point.....


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This is for the pregnant sisters out there........


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Coconut Fried Rice..... Nigerian Style.



Preparation and cooking time:  Variable (because rice has to be boiled and then left to cool down before proceeding).

Serves: 2

Ingredients

·        2 cups of rice

·        Two small onions (diced )

·        1 medium green pepper (diced)

·        1 small scotch bonnet (diced. Be careful not to get any in your eyes)

·        1 cup of mixed vegetables

·        2tbsp of olive oil

·        I cup of water or stock

·        240ml of coconut milk

·        150g of pre-cooked king prawns or shrimps

·        2 cubes of maggi

·        ½ tsp of thyme

·        ½ tsp pf curry

·        ½ tsp of nutmeg

·        Salt to taste

Steps

1.     Boil the rice for about 2 minutes then wash out the excess starch and set aside.

2.     Place a pot on medium heat, add the coconut milk, water, salt, curry, thyme, nutmeg and one maggi cube and allow the mixture to come to a boil

3.     Add in the parboiled rice, simmer on low to medium heat until the rice is cooked and all the water has evaporated then set aside to cool down.

4.     In a large skillet, heat up the oil, then add the chopped onions, green pepper, scotch bonnet, mixed vegetables and maggi.

5.     Stir fry the mixture for 3minutes then add the cooled pre-cooked shrimps/king prawns Don’t forget to adjust seasoning to taste as you go along

6.     Simmer for 2 minutes and then serve with chicken, fish or plaintain or all of the above.


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Jollof Spaghetti .... Sierra Leone style.


Preparation and cooking time:  35mins
Serves: 4
Ingredients
·        450g spaghetti
·        Two small onions (diced and divide into 2 portions)
·        1 medium red pepper (diced)
·        Scotch bonnet (diced. Be careful not to get any in your eyes)
·        1 tin of chopped tomatoes
·        1 tbsp of tomato puree
·        2 cloves of garlic (grated)
·        2 tsp of grated ginger
·        2tbsp of olive oil
·        3 tbsp of water
·        6 sprig of thyme
·        240ml of coconut milk
·        250g of king prawns or shrimps
·        2 bay leaves
·        Salt
Steps
1.     Boil spaghetti according to packaging instructions and set aside
2.     Add one portion of the diced onions, the diced pepper, scotch bonnet, chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, garlic and ginger in a blender and blend to a smooth paste and set aside.
3.     Heat the olive oil in a pan or a wok over medium heat and add the second portion of the onion, the water and bay leaves and fry for about 5 to 7mins until soft.
4.     Add the paste from the blender, thyme, stock cube and salt to taste then stir well to mix all the ingredients.
5.     Reduce heat and cook for about 20mins till you are satisfied the sauce is cooked through.
6.     Add coconut milk and bring to boil then reduce heat and allow mixture to simmer.
7.     Add the prawns/shrimps and cook for about 5-7mins until the prawns/shrimps are cooked through.
Don’t forget to adjust seasoning to taste as you go along.
8.     Pour the spaghetti in the sauce and mix thorough on low heat. Continue to stir the mixture gently until thoroughly mixed then serve.

Inspired by recipesfromapantry.com



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What shoes to wear with what.....


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Five shoes every guy needs to have!


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Workwear suggestions for the week.








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What The Position Of Your Pimple Say About Your Health...Are you listening????



1.            You’re about to get your period

2.            Either  you’ve applied a hair product   to that area or you touch that area too much

3.            You’ve eaten greasy/oily or acidic food.

4.            You touched your face with a dirty phone or hands or you have not been cleaning your makeup brush

5.            You’re going through puberty or if you’ve been through puberty then you’re stressed
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Brothers With Swag.











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