Heat Hack: 3 Zobo Recipes You Must Try
If you haven't had chilled Zobo (hibiscus leaves) out of an oblong transparent polythene bag on a torridly hot day, life is trying to rob you of an amazing experience! My childhood was sufficiently Zobo-ed but my adulthood, not so much. My last drink must have been when I was 12.
Therefore, the plan this summer is to make my own amazing Zobo coolers, so I can manage the amount of sugar I put in and play around with all those great flavors. It's going to be epic! *Chin Palm* Where am i going to find fresh Zobo leaves out here?? Where there is a will, there sure is a way!
Here are 3 recipes from Funke Koleosho, 9jafoodie and Fabila's fitness blogs! I'm so excited to share. Hit the links below and hack that crazy heat! #HowZoboTookOver #HackthatNigerianHeat #Summer
1. Pineapple & Hibiscus Flower (Zobo) Cooler by Funke Koleosho
2. Ginger-lime Zobo by Fabila's Fitness Club
3. Iced Zobo Lemonade by 9jafoodie
Zobo is rich in vitamin C, flavanoids, calcium and niacin! Any Zobo-enthusiasts? Please share your recipes below!
Special thanks to Funke Koleosho(Funke Koleosho's New Nigerian Cuisine) , Funke Edoho (9jafoodie) and Ibifaka Ben-Kalio (Fabila's fitness) for granting permission to use these awesome photos!
How to Turn Down a Job Offer like a Boss
Skills needed: Interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, communication
Turning down a job offer is like saying 'No' to a guy or girl who just asked you out on a date. It's just all so sensitive and "egg-shell-y" and probably requires just a little more tact than if you were accepting the job. Why? Well, because the asking party is usually the vulnerable party, plus mismanaging the situation could end up unprofitably for you. So tread softly and say 'No' gracefully, bearing in mind that the future is a crazy plexus of opportunities and you never know who you might meet down the road. Make sure your "No" doesn't have a finite tone to it and whatever you do, one thing should always be at the back of your mind, "future relationships and opportunities".
Below are 5 tips to consider when turning down a job offer:
(1) Be grateful for the opportunity and express it.
(2) Say "No" like you'd say "Yes". If you can, show up in person to turn down the offer, otherwise call in. An email or text should be the last resort. No getting back to them at all is not an option.
(3) Be honest about the reason you are turning down the offer. Better prospects, better renumeration, commute distance, whatever it is, let them know. They just might let you work from home, match that paycheck and promise you a promotion in 2 months! Wouldn't that be perfect?! They might even throw in a travel package and a pet dolphin!
(4) Be assertive about your decision. Be certain that you really don't want the job. Going back and forth leaves you looking inconsistent and may impact future relationships with the organization.
(5) Leave the communication channels open. Connect with your interviewer and other key people you interacted with during the candidate selection process on professional platforms like LinkedIn, if that's ok with them. Be sure to recommend people who you think might fit the role you so gracefully turned down....like a boss.
Did I leave anything out? Please, add below!
Nigerian Girl in the Alps: How to Enjoy your Unplanned Planned Trip
How rarely do the words "Nigerian" and "Alps" appear together in the same sentence. We Nigerians just aren't about that life, myself most of all!
One bright, sunny day in Geneva, my friend Emily suggested we spend the weekend in a little Swiss town known as Interlaken, spend the night in a hostel, take a train to Grindewald, where we would hike up Jungfrau, one of the 3 summits of the Bernese Alps. As Emily is making this suggestion, immediately of course, my Nigerian self is mentally and violently shaking her head, but we snubbed her and booked those tickets anyway, baby!
It was a very exhilarating experience; first time sleeping in a hostel with complete strangers, ascending over 12,000 feet above sea-level (note: Ibadan, the town i grew up in is about 300 feet above sea-level) but hey, life is about taking chances and setting fire to your comfort zone, aye?!
Here are 6 ways to enjoy your next unplanned planned trip!
1. The obvious; Travel prepared!
Hey Socks, meet face!
Saying I wasn't prepared would have been an understatement. True, the trip wasn't really in my plans but i did have enough time to prepare. We went up over 12,000 feet and i had forgotten my gloves back in Geneva! I can't begin to describe how my hands felt. Ok, I can- I felt like i was in 'The Revenant'. Emily gave me her spare socks as gloves anyway, which saved my soul and my fingers.
2. Get creative with your memorabilia and photos
(Ed = Samuel btw)
Sometimes, the spontaneity of unplanned trips gets your creative juices flowing, especially when you are on a tight budget and you can't go wild buying souvenir chocolates and fridge magnets. So i had bought a coke with Ed's name on it and since it was in my bag, took this photo! He loved it! We still have that Coke, it's 2 years old next month! Smh.
3. Take it all in!
About 16 times, I considered ditching my city life and moving here; i'd buy a cow, throw my phone away and open up an African restaurant with a cheese themed menu. There's something about mountains- the solitude and tranquility connects you with something unseen. I totally get why Moses and the others kept climbing mountains to hang with God. New respect, Mo.
4. Travel with friends!
The best trips are with friends! All those embarrassing memories.......... someone has to remember them at your wedding! I got a mild panic attack like halfway up. I was on relatively flat ground but i thought i was falling off....it's complicated. When you try this, let me know how it went. Lol.
5. Travel with friends with geographical acumen lol!
I still get lost on my street here at home, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that I got lost up in those mountains. If Emily wasn't there, my #3 cow-cheese African life would have unraveled immediately. Cheese-egusi. anyone?
6. Get goofy
It's your vacay, so do whatever brings you joy. Don't be afraid to get a little goofy, no one is going to see you again anyway. At least, i know no one will be seeing me on Jungfrau for eternity. Back in my comfort zone, on level ground.
Sock Salut! The backdrop though 👀😍
Any out-of-your-comfort zone adventures recently? Time to populate that bucket list!
Blogger Scorned
I recently read a post written by a blogger who was very distressed by the fact that someone had been imitating her blog. I can understand the frustrations of people stealing posts, techniques and pretending like it was their idea without attribution to the creator. It's a good case of plagiarism and even more irritating if they get more comments on "your stuff" than you did. Lol!
However, another way to look at it is this - you have just inspired another artist; original or not.
If there are copyright violations by all means take action but don't let it get to you. No one is quite like you, no one creates like you. God has given everyone the ability to create, Him being the Master Creative Director and all. He created everything, including you. You have the ability to create, so create! No two people can create the same way; find your edge and capitalize.
“An original writer is not one who imitates nobody, but one whom nobody can imitate.”
#NoBlogWars
5 Random Things I learned off YouTube
I remember stalking my aunt, trying to get her to teach me to make Eastern Nigeria dishes. One day she goes, "Just check YouTube, that's what i do!" This was like 3 years ago and since then, YouTube, it has been. Before that, i used Youtube for music videos and school work *nerd-elle alert*
I personally think YouTube is the school of the future and this isn't even a sponsored post. I've learnt so much from watching videos that I should be handed some form of certificate. YouTube bachelors; although I keep having carry-overs with my natural hair YouTube classes.
Anyway, here are 5 random things i learnt off YouTube:
1. The Lyrics to Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal' (I finally got rid of my primary school playground lyrics and learnt what he was saying......the things I used to say before .....smh....were not even remotely related to the lyrics...... LOL!
2. How to make Nkobi (I haven't tried it yet though, I know it in theory)
3. How to pronounce the words 'acai', 'Gotye', 'imgur' and 'schadenfreude'
4. That cats aren't about the leash life
5. Accounting *blank stare* Does it still count if you can’t remember anything you learnt?
What have you learnt off YouTube? If you always knew what Michael was saying in Smooth Criminal you deserve an honorary YouTube degree of awesomeness!
Don't forget to catch the second post of the day! Enjoy ✨
9 Things you didn’t know about Women (#7 Though)
Just when you thought women couldn't get any more complicated, here are 8 things (plus one) you probably didn't know about them. Enjoy and identify below!
#1 We are happier when we gain weight
This study shows that women reported an increase in mental quality of life when they gained weight; another case of our biological setup working against us. Lol! Fun.
#2 We are gold diggers and proud. Whatever!
Women like men with the prospects of resources, can you really blame us, no? Blame it one our biological setup (again), it's how we are wired. Women seek men who are able to provide for them and their offspring. It's only logical that we'd be gold-diggers, only a little bit, yes, even if we make our own money.
#3 We love us a man who wears red
Not like a ridiculous all-red outfit, but just one piece of apparel that's red. In a study where female subjects were shown photos of the same man wearing a blue, grey or red shirt, most women reported that the guy looked most attractive and sexually appealing in the red shirt. Red is associated with power, dominance and status. There we go again G-digging.
#4 We like a little "girl-envy"
Apparently we shop to show off to other females and not to men. This I couldn't believe, it makes sense though, a girl would go, "wow, you have the new mulberry!", a guy really might not notice lol. Women are more likely to give a specific, educated compliment, so i guess it foloows that we would want to dress for such "educated" compliments. I like dressing for me though! I compliment myself already!
#5 We mark our territories too
It has been discovered that women are able to draw borderlines around their partners and spouses when they carry expensive labeled handbags. A study shows that when women see another female with a pricey handbag on one arm and a man on the other, she crosses the man off her potential sugar-bae list.
#6 We think men who do chores are hot
Don't ask. While it sounds like a fine case of reverse psychology, it's true and we can't argue with stuff science proves. So men, hehe!
#7 We attracted to men who look like dad
Studies show women who have good relationships with their fathers, tend to fall for a pop-look-alike. Lol! I don't want to talk about it anymore. Lol
#8 We act like we don't need mentors
A study shows women are more hesitant than men about asking to be mentored. This could be for several reasons, maybe the misconception that other women don't like to help subordinates get up the work ladder. It's not entirely a misconception, I've experienced that first hand. There are women who have a problem with helping others out of insecurity and other personal reasons, but there are some who don't mind. It's important to find a good mentor. We need to be more proactive with reaching out to women in higher positions, it's been proven that mentored professionals have a higher chance of success.
#9 Working mothers are more productive than their peers who have no children! Who knew?!
According to this article, working mamas have been seen to be more productive at the work place. This might be because they are better organized or they feel the need to catch up to a greater degree, so they don't fall behind. Whatever it is, they do it well! Way to Go, Mums!
I think i might be 8, 7, 6, 3, 1 and ta-dah...2! Love you, Ed!
Can you identify with any of these? Are you actually happier when you gain weight? Do you have a mentor? Does he look like dad?
16 Random Thoughts you have on your Wedding day
When Lumi took this photo, I was thinking either one of three things, "small chops", "I hardly slept a wink all night" or "small chops". Lol. The mind of a bride is amusing and emotionally tumultuous. I know they all look so put together and calm but on the inside...... Here are 16 random thoughts you might find floating around bride's head during her big day:
1. Aww, everyone is here!
2. Hmmmn, I don’t know that person
3. Wait, why don’t i feel any different now that i’m married?
4. Arrrgh, these heels!
5. Don’t cry, Don’t cry…mascara. Tilt your head back and reabsorb the tears
6. These lashes feel like bat-wings
7. My jaw hurts….all this smiling must burn calories
8. My cake looks so good! Sorry, OUR cake. Need to get used to these plural possessive pronoun thing
9. Cold! Everyone’s palm is so cold on my back
Photograph by Lumi Morgan
10. Where are all my bridesmaids?
11. O no, the little bride needs to pee again
12. Do really have to throw my bouquet, its so pretty!
13. I made the right decision, right?
14. Hmmmn not many gifts, huh? That means more cash gifts 🤑
15. I could do this everyday; Him, cake, all this attention!
16. This sermon is....*eyes flutter open*....did I just fall asleep on my wedding day?!
What thoughts did/would you have on your wedding day?
Other bride-related posts: My wedding dress hunt; Maid of honor tips; Planning your clean, green wedding; Planning for your wedding intruder!
When your Husband tries to Escape with Penelope
Seated five shelves up, in my dark brown kitchen cabinet, is a large orange bowl. It's a pretty 6.5 litre salad bowl by the Italian brand Omada Designs, and I love it, a little bit too much.
For this post, let's call it Penelope. The day I bought Penelope, I snatched it off the shelf and wouldn't let go, it was the last piece at the store and I couldn't quite explain why I was drawn to it.
I usually reserve Penelope for days that I need to mix dough or days that I'm really in my culinary-beast Martha Stewart zone! In summary, this is my favorite kitchen bowl, so you could imagine my astonishment one day, when I saw Ed suspiciously holding my precious orange Penelope! First, he doesn't bake. Second, he was at least 10 feet out of the kitchen with my bowl in hand with a very determined look on his face! Third, he had mentioned an hour before, that he had some "home-improvement" activities he needed to get to! So like someone negotiating with a hostage-taker, i asked him carefully, 'What are you doing, babe?', I took a slow step towards him.
'I need a bowl', he responds and explains his project, which was to occur completely outdoors and involved every type of ingredient possible but kitchen ingredients.
Only heaven could sufficiently describe my distress to you. Lol. Penelope balanced precariously in the crook of his left arm, pleading with me to rescue it.
He had to be kidding! Anyway, we negotiated and he eventually picked out another bowl, which was previously a pedicure bowl and then we both went out to his home improvement project thing, to which i made zero contributions. Hehe.
You know, I never fully understood what happened that day until recently- whatever inherent value you develop in yourself is exactly commensurate with the situations you will find yourself in. I would never in a million years have let him take my bowl out to do anything other than kitchen-related activities. I was determined to wrestle it out of his hands, even. Lol. The inherent value i saw in Penelope made me insist that she remained indoors for "clean" use and not dirt.
Imagine we were all bowls? What type of bowl would you be? I'd like to be a gold dish.......wait, NO...... a ROSE gold dish with strong but delicate handles and intricate designs on my base, and I'd like to get polished every night!
“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
”
Every time I see the orange bowl, I remind myself that I have to rid myself of all those things stated in 2 Timothy, chapter 2, that are tagged as dishonorable, so I can be used by God for honorable things and so I don't end up being used for common tasks like feeding the dog or cleaning the toilet bowl or be that bathroom bucket with the white soap marks!
I'd rather be a fancy bowl that sits pretty high up the household duties but I have to constantly and consciously keep me clean; my thoughts, my heart, my motives. Clean. Always.
Might I mention that Ed has attempted to escape with Penelope twice. Lol.
What type of vessel would you like to be? You know God fights for you all the time, like I fought for Penelope, right?
