Daddy Issues
I once witnessed a new dad, pick up his new baby-boy and stare at him in the most unusual way. He didn’t smile or coo at his baby. He didn’t try to put his forefinger in baby’s vice-clenched fist. He just stared at him, expressionless. It wasn’t a stolen moment between father and progeny. It was an unrestricted instant of unguarded fellowship, to which I was a welcome intruder, nothing was exclusive, it wasn’t a bonding moment; nothing was intimate.  |
| Get over it and be like this guy! I'm kidding. But seriously though, this guy. |
Long Distance Relationships: That Sweet Safe Spot
About 10 minutes into your long distance relationship (LDR), you’d quickly come to realize that your new location seems to be inundated with exceptionally attractive members of the opposite sex! There's one next door, one standing next to you on the bus, one at work, church too, one in class, one at the store, one at someone's 70th birthday celebration (they are everywhere, especially the most unexpected, dull places). Some of these people you probably wouldn’t notice if your significant other (sig-other for short) was near. Well, sig-other is not near and you do notice.
This sudden awareness of other people, might be just a heightened sensitivity to the void left by sig-other. In other words, you are lonely and probably a little needy……physically, which is totally expected.
However, let's just put it out there, you are expected to remain within the bounds of honesty, which is required by your relationship and also to remain within the bounds of your clothing, if you know what i mean. It's easy to say and much less easy to achieve.
So imagine, you are at your friend's aunt's 70th birthday party (beware of those "harmless" parties). You were willing to go because, well, you had absolutely nothing else to do or because you are miserable about your new LDR status and this couldn't be any worse. Anyway, whatever your reason, there you are at this elderly gathering and then you see this really good-looking girl (who we can call I.D). You notice I.D and move on. After the party, your friend tells you he gave I.D your number because she asked for it.
You panic a little, being the careful boyfriend that you are. And then you self-pacify and tell yourself I.D won't call. Surprise!
I.D calls. It's friendly and casual. You tell her you will keep in touch but you tell yourself you won't. You also conveniently forget to tell her you have girlfriend because it's "too much information" for a first "friendly" conversation. You
do
keep in touch with I.D (if you haven't figured it out yet, I.D is short for Inevitable Disaster).
Something tells you you should tell your sig-other but you consider this trivial. Nothing dramatic ever comes out of casual acquaintanceship. An LDR is not prison, you are allowed to have friends, friends like I.D, you tell yourself.
In our LDR, we did have a sizable number of I.Ds. Aware that we were both human and admitting that promptly, we faced reality squarely. No one is immuned to slip ups, least of all LDRers. Also let me say this now, there will be attractions, like i said, heightened sensitivity to the void and all, and also because you are human and you don't live in a cave as a hermit. I tried living as a hermit once to avoid attractions but that didn't work out. These things have a way of finding you even in hiding. Lol!
So how did we deal with crushes and attractions in a long distance relationship? One word.
Transparency;
the quality of being transparent.
Transparent
/transˈperənt/
adjective
Having thoughts , feelings or motives that are easily perceived.
Being easily perceived is a little difficult in an LDR, so being transparent needs a little bit of effort here. It's more active than passive and it requires a certain amount of vulnerability and honesty.
So here's the fun part.
What we did was to be honest about developing attractions and crushes, if there were any at all. And there might have been one or two.
“Are you crazy?” I hear you saying, “Why would I tell sig-other that I am attracted to someone else? That's LDR suicide.”
And
you are right! It is suicide if not managed properly. Which brings me to constructive transparency. It's not just ok to be transparent but rather
to be
constructively transparent.
This would mean being verbally honest with your motives and actions with your sig-other, with the intent of ensuring your relationship is successful both on the long run and short run. Of course, this includes being open to each other about I.Ds and undercover I.Ds (the ones who pose as your friends) and any other new happenings that might impact the relationship adversely or otherwise. Doing this creates a safe spot in your relationship that fosters honesty and pinches off budding insecurities.
As you eat your take-away cake from the 70th birthday celebration, you contemplate telling sig-other about I.D. There is 60% chance this would end in a fight, but isn't it worth it on the long run?
What would you do? Would you tell sig-other?
Please drop your comments below!
P.s : This is a safe spot! Say it as it is. x
Disclaimer: not every relationship is nuts enough to do this but every relationship should ensure the purest form of honesty it has the ability to attain.
Long Distance Relationships: Flat tires and Black cats
A Long distance relationship (LDR) is no one’s dream come true. No little girl dreams of becoming a princess in a long distance relationship in a kingdom far, far away! LDRs have no place in a fairytale plot.
LDRs also aren’t the ideal material for any chic-flick or romantic comedy, no producer would touch it with a ten-foot pole! I honestly can’ t think of any chic-flick which actually focused on a LDR for a full 1 hour, 32 minutes. Typically in a chick flick, boy meets girl, boy and girl STAY in the same city. Sometimes, they even live in the same apartment complex! Then they fight and eventually, they make up somewhere in the rain (think “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”) because they are in the SAME city. However, life does tend to deal you crazy cards and you have to make the most of the hand you are dealt. In the last post on LDR, we established the “suckiness" of LDR, I was finally able to complain about my noisy neighbors and then proceeded to highlight a couple of LDR benefits, so to speak.
So, what do we do when dealt the LDR card? Most people throw in the towel before it even starts. This might be because of the high fail rate of LDRs. 40% of all LDRs fail, that’s 2 in 5. This is not to scare you but to help you realize the importance of hard-work, strategy and a continuous improvement plan. Lol, i know i sound hard-core right now, but your relationship is important and deserves all I got.
I personally think many long distance relationships fail because the relationship was neither
duly assessed before beginning an LDR journey,nor set for a final destination.
So quick analogy, imagine your relationship is a car. Mentally choose a favorite car depending on your honest perception of your relationship. If it’s a Toyota Prius, then let it be a Toyota Prius. If it’s a 2015 CLS Merc, then you shouldn’t be here. Lol. I’m kidding, but you are obliged to leave the secret of your success in the comments below.
For us, we were like a 2008 BMW 3-series with a couple of scratches and panel-beaten dents but sturdy still. Before the LDR commenced, we had decided the destination of our BM was marriage.
Now I’m not saying if your relationship is not slotted for a spot at the altar, then it’s doomed. We had to have the “destination conversation” first before we decided. Most people don’t know where their relationship vehicle is going, and that's OK! However, what's important is knowing the state of the car and setting a destination, however transient. This can only be done when both parties honestly evaluate the relationship and its chances of survival together. A destination doesn't have to be marriage, it could be “Let’s take it one day at a time but I will be here next year” or it could be “Let’s work our hardest at staying together”. Whichever one it is, it's a great idea to let your partner know your frank thoughts to be able to put a great LDR management plan in effect. Hard-core again. *Grin*
During out LDR, there were a lot of pit-stops and refueling, we had to visit as much as we could afford, to keep the engine running. We also had flat tires and got stranded on the side of the road sometimes!!! The flat-tire situations are a form of communication stagnancy. Heads up, it just happens unexpectedly, like a flat. Communication is flat and dragging, might sound a little like this:
You
: Hey, how was your day?
BF/GF
: Good, yours?
You
: Good.
Silence.
Crickets
. Silence.
Don’t freak out like I did. Just alert your partner, in a non-accusing, calm manner. Straight and simple, "Hey Hun, our conversations are a little monotonous. What do you think?"
No point patching it up or trying to make excuses. There's a time for making excuses, like if your partner has intense responsibilities at the time, e,g exams. When you have a flat, speaking up saves a great deal of time, then, as a team, you figure out how to fix the communication flat. There's always something to talk about. Your new TV addiction. Game of thrones (did anyone watch the last episode! That realm is crazy,yo!). A new acquaintance. What you did all day. Even the neighbor’s crazy black cat that jumps on you every time you come home (that cat was a pain, I was certain it had a book on how to creep me out).
By now you should know the kind of car you are. Be realistic with the dents and scratches too (gives your relationship character) . If the car isn't as great as you'd like it to be, the great thing is that you can actually have it traded in for a better one! I'm beginning to sound so American right now. LOL. I had to resist saying the word "gas" in place of "accelerator". So back to trading it in... You can. How? First by telling your partner your perception of your relationship in car terms….…you can imagine that would only work if he/she has read this post so send it to him/her! Once you both come to an understanding of the true state of the relationship, then you can recreate your relationship by working on the areas that need work.
What kind of car is your relationship?
What's the destination on your GPS?
Are you content with the state of things?
Remember to service your car!
Remember fix your flats!
Remember that dents and scratches aren't a bad thing! They show strength, character and resilience.
If you are in a LDR or have been in one, please leave a comment below!
Photos: Favim.com, iamgarcade.com
Out with the aged skivvies!
My friend recently got married, moved into an amazing apartment- wooden floors, with an incredible stream of natural light and a light cinnamon fragrance in the air.
Beyond the perfection and the chirping birds, beyond the pine wood floors and the dessert-tinged ambiance of her home, carefully tucked away, deep in her luggage was her beat-up "panties of condemnation." You know, the "drawers of doom", "the deformed briefs beyond reform",
you know those 5-year old COMFORTABLE, threadbare, tired pair of cotton briefs with amazing coverage but a less flattering view. There it was... stashed in her luggage.
So she sneaks this panties into her new home and is in stark denial about its state. Trust me, it's a wreck. Lol. She doesn't wear it too often, being a new bride and all. But on those days when she couldn't be bothered, she throws 'em on.
Her husband, of course, would want nothing more than to see it burn. He tried several times to "make them go away" but she'd always notice, as you would if someone tried to take away your fav underwear.
The plot thickens. She then discovers her husband has a pair of boxers just as ancient. Faded and stressed are the best ways to define them. She adds to her denial, justification; he had one, she had one, end of story.
Eventually, they both realize how much they can't stand each other's contraband. The couple agree to let go and have a toss-out day when they throw out their ancient loin cloths. Miserable and in denial, they are still yet to set a date for the toss-out.
To encourage "Toss-out day", my suggestion was for them to go underwear shopping!
Shopping is always a good idea, though she still looked longingly at her dear underwear. I encouraged her saying, at least she would have brand new ones which she would start to enjoy once they were broken-in and get holes. Her husband also gets to enjoy the new underwear benefits. He also gets to go underwear shopping which for men is uneventful and probably involves the sofa, a PC and Amazon. For us girls, a little more preparation is required. I recently went on a toss-out shopping trip myself. Here's a couple of stuff to keep in mind while planning the trip:
First, start your work-out routine like two months before (if you aren't a regular). Works your abs, arms, some lunges and squats too. It's only right that you are pleased with yourself in the dressing room mirror.
Second, that wax we talked about.
Third, ask the attendant for help. Some of them really know what they are talking about.
Get a mix of styles; some comfy boy-shorts, frilly stuff (not to be worn under body-con dresses), some lace Brazilian cuts, some no VPL briefs (no visible pant lines) to prevent pant lines, some thongs (if those works for you), some groin-strings...... also known as g-strings. Lol. Groin-strings (who knew that was the full name?! Not so sexy anymore, aye?)
Get a few matching sets; different colors. Polka dots. Print. Stripe. Leather (if that's your thing).
Lastly, ensure the crotch area is cotton as recommended by physicians. Hopefully, "out with the old skivvies, in with the new underthings" works for my friend.
Have you been successful in getting rid of your adored intimates? Give my friend a tip below...
Weird facts about underwear....
1. In the Edwardian/Victorian age, women wore crotchless underwear. It was considered improper to wear anything that covered the crotch. (This really took Downton Abbey to another level for me. I'll never be able to look at Granny Grantham the same)
2. It's hygienic to have a cotton crotch on your panties (whether you are into silk or leather, make sure it has a cotton crotch lining....unseen stuff go on down there)
3. The average underwear lifespan for a woman is 7 years; a man, 8 years
4. Your underwear determines your mood which brings us to #5
5. Women who wear g-strings are apparently more confident
"Groin-strings."
Have a great weekend! x
Long Distance Relationships: Aayo, I'm Tired of using Technology!
Long Distance Relationships (LDRs) suck! There's simply no other way to properly qualify the experience. It sucks. Think of something that sucks.... sucks even more than that.
In deep frustration and annoyance, you decide to go for a walk. As you step out of your front door, the first thing you see; two people making out in an alley. Great, how generous of them to share their intimacy with the rest of the universe. After the walk, you get back home and thankfully, the alley lovers are gone. You feel yourself give in to gravity as you fall on your bed. For a minute, there is silence and you can hear yourself think. You think about calling back to resolve the issue but connection is still bad, no thanks to your internet provider. Somewhere on the borders of the silence, you hear something. It's faint but certain. Rhythmic and steady. Creaking noises coming from upstairs.
The neighbors again.
Soon, sounds which you could honestly live without join the rickety chorus. You plug your ears with your cheap earphones to block out the moaning and creaking. At that very second, as the sounds get louder, you promise yourself a pair of noise cancellation headphones.
LDR......... trust me, it sucks.
Ten things (plus one) you didn't know About Men!!!!
A couple of weeks back, I wrote a post about ten things (plus one) to know about girls with different body types (read here). Who knew skinny girls were less fussy about size. Hehe.
Today, it's the guys' turn! Men, these are just pure scientific fun findings, let those guards down. You may even love science just a little bit more after this. Girls, prepare to be shocked by #1(if you didn't already know) and #3. Everyone should read this list........you know, just in case you get dumped because of #9 or #3 is your reality.Here goes......
1.Men with big bellies last longer!
Girls, Yes indeed. Think about all the men you turned down because they bore no resemblance to Idris Elba or Adam Levine or the Hemsworth brothers. Haha. The bellies scorn thee.
Men with big bellies have a higher level of a hormone known as estradiol, which helps them last longer than their ripped compadres.
2.Short men (shorter than 5"7) tend to have stable marriages
Way to go, Short men!!! They also have a lower chance of getting cancer. However, they tend to do less house chores. Tut-tut-tut, short men, just when you were becoming our favorite.
3. The average age of his boxers is eight years!
Lol! Eight years. That's like two presidential terms!!! Men, if you have underwear from the time Blair, Bush, Chirac, Obasanjo were in power....do the needful.
4. Men who prefer big bums tend to be business majors
....And so it's no longer a mystery what those business-major guys are doodling on their notes during Accounting class. Men who like big bums (and they can not lie) are also seen to be organized and tidy. They are dependent in their relationships.....
5. .....While men who prefer smaller bums are great project executioners
This men see their projects through. Good job, men who prefer smaller bums! They do not to seek public approval and are less fanatical about sports.
6. Men with mustaches are more likely to be hired
Studies show that men with mustaches tend to be more reliable. Employers therefore, hire them 8.2% more than their beardy mates and 4.3% more than their clean shaven pals.
Tell that to Frank Donga.
7. Men with beards are perceived to be the epitome of masculinity.
Little wonder that men who struggled with growing a beard since the beginning of the NO SHAVE November rave, have opted for beard transplants!
I didn't even know that was a thing.
Bearded men are associated with power, leadership, maturity and women see them as better providers. In fact, a study shows that women tend to associate beards with the ability to provide for them during pregnancy [Women sure think light years ahead].
8. How to get the girl? Wear a pink shirt!
Men who are comfortable wearing pink happen to be better educated, make more money and get the girls' attention! Who knew? So to really get the girl, grow a huge beard, grow a belly and wear a pink shirt. And throw out old underwear. Please.
9. Poor men like bigger breasts
Studies suggest they may be trying to compensate for any "resource insecurity" they might have. I think I'll let the scientists have the final words here. Oh, yeah they also love sports.
10. Men who wear briefs might be stuck in their childhood
Briefs. Superheroes. Superman. Ninja Turtles. Don't. Why? Tight. Heat. Daddy-pants. Wear boxer briefs instead. It's close enough. 11. Men who prefer small breasts tend to be Engineers!
This study showed that men who preferred smaller frontal lady-lumps were nuturant in their relationships and indefinite about their careers paths.
They also happen to be mainly engineers.
Gotta love Science......
Share with someone who you are certain would laugh first and then protest to these findings an hour later.
Have a great weekend! x
Sources
http://www.inquisitr.com/1865600/scientific-study-characteristics-of-men-breasts-butts/http://thoughtcatalog.com/amanda-chatel/2015/04/sorry-guys-studies-show-beards-may-be-going-out-of-style/
http://www.webmd.com
http://www.menshealth.com
http://www.salon.com/2010/09/08/turkish_sex_study_bmi_male_performance_open2010/
http://www.salon.com/2013/08/17/9_weird_facts_about_breasts/
http://www.thegloss.com
The Best of Old Wives' Tales for New wives
For ages, people have come up with deeply erroneous marriage advice, that if you ask me, might just be one of the reasons for the high divorce rates out there.
This is a list of rules that have gone round for so long and no one has called them out. Well, this is why I am here. To call stuff out! If this is what marriage is, well no wonder people are so unhappy. I tried a couple of them while I was dating.....extremely poor results, I tell you. It's like the wrong twin of the "pre-nuptial hunt" post (read here).
As you read this list, remember to read it out loud in the theatrical way you know it would be said, complete with your hands on your waist. O, yeah and grunt occasionally.
Here goes!
Have a wonderful weekend!
But the main question is this.................... "Is he a goat?"
#2 If you inspect and scrutinize his messages, emails and bank statements you will catch the slightest whiff of infidelity
This will eventually result in you in the hospital with a ventilator. And a defibrillator for good measure.
#3 If you keep him out of the kitchen, he will be more of a man
#6 Be wary of his family, otherwise, they will turn him against you and you won't even know (lol!)First, of all who is "they"?
Second, who cares what they think?
Third, I see you wearing these recommendations...how are those working out for you?
#9 If he doesn't make you happy, just take care of your children, when they are older, focus on the grandchildren
This could easily be rephrased as "Wait for him to die".Do you know any old wives tales?! Drop them below!!!
That time I went on a Pre-Conjugal hunt.......
In the months before I got married, I went on a hunt.
It was called "the-marriage-advice-collation-from-random-people-because-marriage-manuals-are-just-darn-too-long" hunt. We didn't get an opportunity for pre-marriage counseling, therefore, we had to learn on the fly.
So the key word being random, I would ask people for marriage advice; strangers, friends, acquaintances, the elderly, the young, on the streets, plane, in conferences, on road trips; married, unmarried, never to be married (their words, not mine).
It was fun and it's amazing the wisdom that spews forth when people aren't expecting to be asked for advice! There were also some that were a bit creepy. Those I met with a side-glance and a "thank you" and won't be included in this post. Lol. Here are the top ten! Enjoy!
1.
"
Party!
Don't be that couple who stays home all day, peaking from behind the curtains at the cool neighbors!"
That Dutch guy (not married)
West London, London
2.
"Take your time with kids, they will come. In the while, please have fun!"
The super-model with the endless legs (m.2011)
West London, London
3.
"Be kind to one another and have lots of sex!"
The Yoruba lady (m. Since 1958)
Ibadan, Nigeria
4.
"Enjoy the good times but learn to enjoy the "not-so-good times."
That Spanish guy (not married)
West London, London
5
.
"Take time to cool off before you retort. Actually, scrap that, Don't retort."
The Italian lady (m.2009) Rome, Italy
6.
"Give each other space to be individuals."
The Indian guy (not married)
Holland Park, London
7.
"Don't pass on angry sex!"
The hot Lebanese girl(m. 2012)
West London, London
8.
"Feed him"
"Listen to what he says during the fights"
The Nigerian guy (m. 2011)
North London, UK
9
.
"Don't be too serious. Laugh at each other."
The Greek/Irish Couple (m. Since 1964)
Boston, MA Logan Airport
10.
"I had never cooked before I got married, I never had to. I remember the day I made my husband meatloaf for dinner. He ate it all; everything on his plate. Right after dinner, he says to me 'Mary, I love you but don't ever make that again'. From then on, he made the meatloaves. Wise, constructive criticism, develop that."
The Bostonian lady
Boeing, 747-400, somewhere over the Atlantic
Thank you to everyone who gave me marriage advice. I pray you have the most blissful lives and marriages! Amen.
Ten things to do before the end of April!
April (my favorite month, for not too obvious reasons) is almost gone! Now making every second count. To that end, here's Ten things to do before the end of April.
Have great a weekend! x
1. Watch Fast and Furious 7, if you are a little broke like me, watch the
then we can discuss how the Rock broke his Plaster of Paris caste with his biceps at 2.05
2.
Look over your goals and new year resolutions and evaluate. How's that diet going? Gym attendance dwindling yet? Aye! I've been in the gym more through other people's Instagram posts than physically this year. Get on the treadmill! Summer is upon us and the makings of a beach bod starts now (actually starts in February but hey....)
3.
Get that wax! (this includes the men too) If you have no idea what I'm talking about click
4. Draw a map of your country and label all states. If you can't, be comforted, my first attempt was ridiculous too (I'll have mastered it by Sunday though)
5. Stop asking yourself what to eat tonight! Use the "roll the dice" tab on
.com!
6. On the 30th of April, tell someone how your really feel about them or their hair or their breath. It's honesty day!!! Comes only once a year , best capitalize!
7. Spring clean! It's time to thoroughly clean your living space and your mind too. Assess your relationships. Forgive those you need to and make it a habit to be grateful and cheerful.
8.
Discover a talent you have! This requires alone time and trying new things. Try something new every week (food, movie/music genre, follow someone new on IG even!)
9. Pray for SA, the Middle East, Ukraine, Kenya, Nigeria, African Americans. The month of May had better have better news
10. Number ten! Drumroll!!!! Subscribe to Pagesbyike!!!
Ten things (plus one) you didn't know about girls with certain body types
I love research! I love research not related to school and credits, let me say. So anyway, I spent some time looking into some scientific studies done on the female body types and certain characteristics associated with them. Some of these scientific findings you might know already, others, not so much. Just remember these are not my facts, blame the scientists if you have any protests. Men, let's hear your thoughts on this one (especially #11) Girls, let's love beyond the size-barrier. Here goes....
1.Skinny girls are less fussy about size
(A-hem!) Skinny girls apparently are less discriminatory about size. So basically, "I have a big penis" is not the ideal pick-up line for a skinny girl.
[Yes, that's an actual pick-up line. I can testify! To be fair, he didn't use those exact words and it wasn't his first sentence, it was embedded into the conversation but that didn't make it less shocking. I couldn't blame him either, he really needed a selling point. He really really did].
Ok, back to the list.....
2.Men under stress are more attracted to "heavier" women
At the start of the study, the men were shown photos of women of varying sizes. Skinny girls were preferentially selected as more attractive. The men were then given some mentally ruffling activity and suddenly, they began to find the heavier girls more attractive! So I have no idea what's going on here....men, do you have an explanation for this? Studies also show that men in impoverished communities find bigger women more attractive too. I guess I would be an old maiden in those environs.
3. Men love the hips
Hold up that weight loss program! For ages, women have been trying to get rid of the fat in the hips....then Shakira sang "Hips don't lie" and we felt a little better. Studies show men love hips! Here's the snag, they love the a small waist too. So basically, the hour-glass shape. Ok, we all knew that. What we don't know is how to get the motivation for the teeny tummy. Here's a little encouragement I got during this research endeavour; women with smaller tummies have an easier time during child-birth than girls with more waist fat. If that doesn't encourage you...I don't know what will but i'll keep looking.
4. Curvier girls have bigger brains!
This, I didn't see coming. If you are scrunching your nose at number 3 and saying "I don't need a man to love my hips", here's another reason to appreciate your hips. Girls with bigger hips have a higher Omega-3 store in those hips. Omega-3; the ultimate brain food increases brain volume, aids learning and memory and protects the brain cells. Why didn't someone tell me this when I was in school.......And so begins my dedication to Omega-3 supplements. Wait, does that count?
5. Bigger girls are happier than skinny girls
Skinnier girls have loads to be grumpy about; small penises#1, being second best to stressed-out men#2, brains#4, C'mon! Bigger girls are clearly smiling to the bank. Lol!
6.Skinnier girls make more money
Yay! Good news for us finally. No one really knows why but there it is, all science-y and proven and stuff.
7. Skinny friends make you feel fatter
Ditch those skinny friends! Another reason skinnier girls are not as happy. By being my slender self, I apparently make my bigger friends more self-conscious and probably unhappy. Please don't ditch us. In our defence, studies show that having skinny friends actually help you stick to your your diet but not without making you feel fatter first. hehehe. Show your skinny friends some love.
8. Short girls are less ambitious
I don't know what short girls were used in these study but they haven't met my sister. She would have truly skewed their results.....horribly.
9. We embrace our body types if our men accept them too
We women find it easier to love our bodies if our men accept us as we are.So no matter how independent we are, we still have the inherent need for validation from the men in our lives. You can imagine that this has its pro's and con's. On the jolly side, it's wonderful to be accepted but lovingly nudged to the gym. On the other hand, it's also possible to be nudged to the cosmetic surgeon for a tummy tuck or bigger breasts! Dear men, loads of us struggle with self-image
insecurities
, but you can fix that. All you need to do is accept us; bass or treble.
10. Instagram (any photo-sharing platform, really) fuels self-image insecurity
This is a given. I love instagram but really.........those squatted bums, defined abs! And the bad news is, if you thought the last few months hurt your self-image or made you feel fatter, wait until summer,
when the coats come off and the bikinis scream A-hoy!
11. Girls with bigger hips tend to lose their virginity sooner!
I just had to add this. Please protest accordingly below!
Share with your curvy, skinny friends or men who you know would like this.
Sources:
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3041609
http://elitedaily.com/news/world/study-fat-people-happier-skinny-people/
http://adage.com/article/news/study-skinny-women-bottom-line/130021/
http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/09/why-stressed-out-men-prefer-heavier-women/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201206/eternal-curves
Pictures:
Philly2philly.com
imgarcade.com
tomima.com
Shrimp Cajun Pasta
Food! Sigh! I love food (clearly) but I hardly put up any recipes here. However, I have been asked to put this up. If you are planning a Valentine's dinner or in need of comfort food for whatever reason, nothing beats savory and spicy. Here is an amazing recipe I got off my Sis-in-law and her husband (who have given me the license to put this up. thanks guys x). Have a great time preparing!
Ingredients
1 pound of Fettucine (sometimes I use spaghetti)
½ pound of peeled, deveined shrimps
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 large onion (diced)
3 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 deseeded and sliced green bell pepper
1 deseeded and sliced red bell pepper
3 Scotch bonnets
3 Roma tomatoes
3 teaspoons Cajun spice
1 cup Heavy cream
½ cup of white wine*
1 cup chicken broth*
1 bouillon cube
Cayenne pepper (to taste)
Ground pepper (to taste)
Salt to taste
Preparation
The original recipe has white wine and broth as listed above but I hardly have any at home so I just skip those. I use two bouillon cube if I don’t have chicken broth. Also in place of the shrimp you can use chicken breasts (≈ 3; diced).
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when pasta is still al dente; do not overcook!
Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun spice over shrimps. Toss around to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet, over high heat. Add the shrimps and stir frequently to avoid burning. After about three minutes, remove with a slotted spoon and place on a clean plate.
Add remaining oil to the skillet. When heated, add peppers, onions, and garlic. Sprinkle on remaining Cajun spice, bouillon cube and add salt if needed. Cook over very high heat for 1 minute, stirring gently and trying to get the vegetables to soften. Add tomatoes and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove all vegetables from the pan.
With the pan over high heat, pour in the wine and chicken broth. Cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream, stirring/whisking constantly.
If you don’t have the stock and wine, pour the cream into the pan and keep stirring for about two minutes, add another bouillon cube.
Taste and add freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, ground pepper and/or salt to taste. Sauce should be spicy!
Finally, add shrimp and vegetables to sauce, making sure to include all the juices that have drained onto the plate. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until mixture is bubbly and hot. Add drained fettuccine and toss to combine.
Have fun!