Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?
Pounded yam and garnished vegetable soup
In my family, holidays—especially New Year’s Day—are more than just dates on the calendar. They’re moments wrapped in tradition, laughter, and most importantly, food.
We don’t really make any special dish. But, our signature dish? Pounded yam with either vegetable soup or egusi soup (you’ll def relate to this if you’re Nigerian). It’s not just a meal—it’s an experience. The rhythmic pounding of the yam, the rich aroma of simmering spices, the vibrant colors of the soup… it all builds anticipation before the first bite. 😋
On New Year’s Day, the whole house smells of home. Conversations flow as freely as the soups bubble on the stove. It’s how we welcome the year, after dedicating it to God—warm, united, and thankful.
If you’ve never had pounded yam with egusi or vegetable soup, you’re missing out on a feast that feeds both body and soul.
If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?
Hahaha, I love today’s prompt—it gives me the chance to share a bit about myself.
Sleep is good for the body, but when it becomes too much… well, that’s another story. I’m a night owl (definitely a late sleeper), but not always an early bird (early riser). Don’t judge me. That’s because I stay busy when I’m not asleep.
So, if I didn’t need sleep, I’ll just do what I love to do:-
1. Reading:- One beautiful way to learn. Gaining knowledge from people and books is something I deeply enjoy. I love reading—sometimes even soft copies (eBooks). But too much screen time hurts my eyes (which is one reason I’m cutting down on it). Reading
2. Writing:- I love writing. In my notes. In my brain, lol. It’s what I’m passionate about. (Side gist:- I’m working on something.)
3. Language lessons:- I have this passion about learning foreign languages and everything they entail. It’s not easy, but I keep going. Why? Because I’m driven by passion. Yes—passion and determination are all you need.
4. Meditating:- As an introvert, this is the thing I do most. It should’ve been first, but I saved it for last on purpose. Meditation is powerful. It frees your heart and mind from the baggage of unnecessary concerns.
I always say: “Think. Don’t worry. Let God take care of your worries.”
If you don’t know how to start, begin by meditating on God’s goodness in your life. First, in general.
Then your family, your friends. Think about your past—don’t dwell there—then your present, and your future.
So today, I urge you: try meditation. You might just find peace waiting for you there.
Even as I’m typing this, I feel irritated because I’m in a noisy environment. I’m just tryna keep my cool, and can’t wait to get out of this place.
Anyways, here are my Top Three pet peeves:-
Noise:- Noisy people. Noisy environment. These I hate to the core. It gives me this discomfort that anger begin to build from within and then, explode! Many a times, I try to hold myself whenever I’m in a noisy place or with lousy people. But, sometimes, I just flare up and shut the hëck of their mouths up. It’s annoying.
Talkativeness:- Gosh! I hate this one too. You keep.talking and talking and talking. Like I do wonder, at times, how these people do it? How do they do it? How do they talk for hours without even feeling it. Poor mouths of theirs! They be crying for help.
A dirty environment:- I have seen posts on this topic that this very point was mentioned. It’s true. Who likes a dirty environment? Medically, emotionally, spiritually and everything-ally, it’s harmful.
It feels really good to be back on this space. I’ve missed here so much!
How have you been all this while?
As for me, I just completed my tertiary education. First degree, actually and, I tell you it was really tough. The final year was tough. Project, the thesis, meeting up with deadlines, exams, seminars, project defense—both internal and external—and so on. (My Nigerian audience can relate to this. 😩)
I even fell sick two days to my exams. God! I couldn’t even read for the first paper. Thankfully, my friends stood by me. Grateful for them, really. 🥺
It even got to a stage I wanted to give up, but God held my hands.
It reminds me of that song—
“Everything becomes possible when You hold hold my hands.”
All these happened few months back. I just needed time to heal, breathe in and out, rewind, and refresh.
I’m grateful to God for success and victory. The journey of five years turned six years had come to an end.
Now, I’m in another phase of life.
A word of prayer from you will really go a long way. 🙏
Happy new month, my lovelies🤩🤩!! All thanks be unto God for bringing us into the month of April. We thank God for life. We thank God for grace and mercy. Oh! Lest I forget, April is my birth month😁(but I won’t disclose the date to you yet🤪). But to be sincere, I was really in […]
I always tell people who cares to listen that it is not easy to be a female. One of it is this menstruation of a thing. The stress of packing up isn’t just for some of us, but we have learnt to accept it that way.😂
Research has it that about 90% of women experience cramps (otherwise known as dysmenorrhea) when on periods.
Sometimes ago when I was still a newbie in the system, I was like “can’t it just show its face yearly?” cos the cramps was frustrating and I always flare up everywhere in the house. 😩😤
My aunt who is a nurse got to know about my cramps and gave me some drugs to alleviate the pain. Funny enough, I hardly use drugs because I detest them.
After a long period of time, I decided to make a research on what could be done to relieve cramps, apart from drugs. Then, i found out some home remedies for cramps, and I thought it wise to share some of them to you.
So, ladies, pay attention and read to end 😌:
1. Apply heat: This is done by placing heating pad or a portable hot water flask to your lower abdomen.
Heating pad relieves aches, pains, cramps and muscle inflexibility. (Available on Amazon.com, Jumia and the likes)
Alternatively, you can take a hot bath. However, the heat must not be extreme so as not to cause discomfort.
2. Abstain from junky treats: Chocolate bars, ice-creams, yoghurts and the likes are sweet but worsen cramps.
3. Instead of carbonated drinks, try herbal teas like ginger tea, cinnamon tea, thyme tea, etc. They reduce cramps too.
For ginger tea, you can drink it for three consecutive days before your menstrual period. You will realise that you feel less or no pain at all, and will be able to do your normal activities with ease.
4. Avoid spicy foods: Spicy foods burn and hurt our mouths, but also aggravate cramps. Try eating fruits like bananas, lemons, watermelons.
PS: When on periods, do not eat cucumber for its saps block the blood from flowing.
5. Engage in less-stressful activities.
6. Yoga and meditation help too. You’ll feel relaxed and serene. If you don’t believe me, a trial or two will convince you.
Hope you get them all?
Start putting all these home remedies into practice now, so as to have a cramp-free period henceforth.
If you have any question, reach me through my e-mail, olanlokunoreoluwa@gmail.com
Hello guyssssssss!!! Welcome back to my blog site!!! *chuckles excitedly*
My apologies for deserting y’all here. A lot has been going on that almost costly life but all thanks to my Heavenly Father who has always been my Guide.
ASUU & FG has been performing some dramas that I am yet to understand. The tertiary education of the country is wrecking day by day, and sure enough it’s only prayers and wisdom can uphold the pillars.
P. S:- For the foreigners, ASUU stands for Academic Staff Union of Universities; while FG stands for Federal Government.
There are times whereby I would feel frustrated, depressed and all…and BOOM! The Holy Spirit cheers me up and fills my heart with joy.
Breaking limits, creating innovations…and lots and lots of things I can’t even mention.
By the way, something ‘hooge’ is about to unleash. Until then, please do well to anticipate as well as to pray.
So, what about you? Tell me what you have been engaging in lately?
Hello and welcome back to my blog site!!! How have you all been? Hope you guys had fun on the 14th? If you do, you have to tell me the gist after reading through this. Got it?? 😃😃
Alright…back to today’s topic.
Before I dive in, I would like to say this that I’m not trying to sound as a feminist here or whatever. I’m here to charge us, ladies, up. Okay?
So…
This life, na everybody dey hustle o. Everybody—whether rich or poor—hustles. In fact, I really commend people—including my friends—who are orphans and whose father or mother is dead, striving hard in order to be successful in life.
As a lady or as ladies, you ought to be at least 70% independent in all your endeavors. Okay, some people would be like “what does she mean?” Now, don’t try to misinterpret or misunderstand my sentence.
You can’t be totally independent as you’d SO MUCH need God’s help and also the help of your fellow beings. Hope you understand? So, you no be superhuman.
Now, that I have enlightened us a bit on that, we move onto the main part of the topic.
THE REASONS;
1. You’d earn respect among your folks and gain more confidence:- You sit on that comfy executive chair in a fully air conditioned room, millions of staffs who give daily accounts of huge sums of money your OWN company earns. Mehn! The confidence and high esteem will so much be for you.
2. Good, successful and independent men would want to marry you:- Some ladies would be blushing now😅, but that’s just the fact. As I’d say “behind a successful woman, there is a successful man”.
No man, nowadays, wants to marry a lazy lady/woman.
3. It has to be a LEGACY from generation to generation:- Just like in a relay race, you pass the “baton” to your children, and your children unto theirs.
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So, that’s all. If you have any contribution or any question, you can drop it in the comment section. Also, like this post if it’s helpful to you and share to your friends—ladies,especially.🤗
Wooopssss… 2021 has been ‘this’ and ‘that’ for each and every one of us, and … Challenges here and there. Successes here and there.
Personally and collectively, I grew and learn lots of things. I gained more knowledge and more understanding about many things. I believe you grew too.
Here we are in 2022. I believe we’d GROW more. We’d DO more. The eyes of our hearts will be more enlightened this year.
By now, 70% of us would have our plans written down.
I pray God will help us and give us the grace to be consistent in all our doings.
For me, I know I haven’t been consistent in dropping posts here. Na school work cause am. 😑
People say “promise is a debt“. So, I can’t promise that I will show up here from time to time.
I gotta go now but I’ll leave these friendly reminders with you; 🤗
Make God the epicentre of your decision making.
Be good to everyone.
Trust no one, but God and yourself.
Don’t be little anyone—even their abilities.
Think BIG, do BIG and end BIG.
Get along with godly friends…friends that will catapult you to uncommon greatness.
Oh! Lest I forget, please listen to The Sam and Ore Talk Show‘s podcast episodes by clicking the link below.
They will do some help even as you journey through the year.
God & Lifestyle 