₦airaland Forum

nairalife2013:
Fear dong catch me o! Or in one of my maids' voice, fear have catch me upon this story o!
I cant spank my kids! I have tried but the little I do they weep all day and make thier little faces in unpleasant styles that attracts much pity from me so I stopped altogether. But my wife does. But thatz not enough, I suppose. Oh God help me! Oh my lovely kids! And they look So much like thier Mother and much like her! Thatz d worst undoing. They can cry!

Lol

Zehner:
Lol.....Quite an interesting and funny piece. Truth be told the spanking we got from our parents then did help instill discipline. However parents these days do not encourage spanking as they are many ways to bring an arrant child to order.

I agree with you on many ways to bring up an arrant child. Despite all the spanking I got, not sure if I can do the same to my kids... time will tell.

HOW SPANKING SAVED MY LIFE

A few days ago, I saw the picture of a lady in her thirties online and the caption written told that she was still missing. She had been missing for a couple of months. And a few days just before then I had seen yet again, the picture of a little boy that had made rounds on the internet for quite some time. He is still missing too.

Pictures like this make my heart skip a beat. It reminds me that many years ago, posters like those could have been circulated with my picture on them.

I grew up in a house where every child had her turn at being the ‘errand child’. At that stage of your life, you do the dishes after a meal; you are the one that goes to blend pepper, who goes to buy something urgently needed from the street mallam (neighborhood retailer). Sometimes it’s fun being the errand child but many times, it is not because you could be asked to go get something just when you are watching your favorite cartoon.

I remember, a certain day many years ago (my teenage years) when I was the chief errand girl. That beautiful day I had been asked to go and buy wheat bread from the eatery called Mr. Biggs. In those days, many bread vendors did not sell wheat bread like we now have, so we had to go a couple of meters away to buy it.

After buying the bread, I stood at the bus-stop which was just across the road opposite the eatery, I knew I was being lazy because I could actually walk down but I wanted to take a short bus ride instead. While I stood there waiting for the bus, a young man came to meet me and asked for directions to a particular address. As fate would have it, I happen to know the area he was trying to find but not the address itself. I told him he was on the wrong track because the place was the other side of town.

He started to look confused and went on to say how he was not familiar with Lagos and he had goods worth a huge sum to claim at the address. As best as I could, I described to him where he had to walk to and from there either get the right connecting bus or just take a cab. He pleaded with me nicely to make it easier by taking him there and he would compensate my effort and time with a gold wristwatch.

When I heard him say ‘gold wristwatch’ I quickly pictured myself flaunting it. I shall be a proud owner of a gold wristwatch at that young age, waoh! Mummy’s ‘shakara’ will end! Because she just never lets us go near her valuable jewelries. Besides, the place is not so far so I could quickly go and still return in good time with the bread.

As a smart girl, I contained my excitement and didn’t let the man see through me, but just as I was going to decide on whether to take him there or not, another man who had been standing just nearby chose not to mind his business and intruded by saying ´´sister, help him´´. I had to give him the ‘why don’t you mind your business’ look.

You know, when God wants to save your ass, it’s in a way you least expect it. Just as I was going to finally decide to take him there, I remembered the two loooong koboko (canes) behind my mother’s bed!

Those two things can reset anything that requires resetting in the life of a child. The fear of what those sticks can do is what makes you behave, not even the spanking itself. How do I explain how I got the wristwatch when I am fully aware that even people she knows well, there is a limit to which we must accept gifts from them? Infact, if her younger sister, my aunt, should give us anything in her absence we dare not eat or use it till she permits us to do so. How then do I explain collecting a wristwatch…no, a GOLD wristwatch from a stranger?! The beating will be on earth but I am sure I shall feel the pain in heaven.

And so, the fear of koboko made me tell the man to help himself. Just at that moment, a bus arrived and I left immediately. Would you believe that I looked back and saw both men talking to each other in a manner one could tell that they were familiar with each other!

Later that night, when mom got back home from work I confidently told her what had transpired earlier in the day when I went to buy daddy’s wheat bread…after all, I didn’t collect the wristwatch so the gist will be sweet. I had not even finished when she screamed ´´ha! awon gbomogbomo!´´ meaning ha! Kidnappers!

I was puzzled at her exclamation, and she started saying how there had been lots of stories in the news of missing persons and people who had been hypnotized and duped. In short, we had a family meeting that night and got new instructions;

if anyone talks to you do not answer, if anyone asks you for description to any address start running and scream ´´e gbami o! gbomogbomo!(help me! kidnapper!).

Personally, I felt my mom was just being dramatic until a few weeks later I was going to my aunt’s house and while I stood at the bus-stop again, waiting for a connecting bus, I heard a soft voice ´´ fine girl…´´.

When you are a target, you will definitely be fine!

Anyway, I didn’t turn because I thought it was a cheap toaster. Besides playing hard to get, I was not even in the mood because I had stood there for a while under the scorching sun and no bus seemed to be forthcoming. The voice came again, “fine girl, it’s you I am talking to´´.

Angrily, I was responding and turning my head in his direction “is it not obvious I am igno….´´ I couldn’t finish the sentence because standing there was the same man who had asked me for description a few weeks ago about 6 kilometers away from where we now stood! He wanted to do the same thing here but apparently didn’t recognize me.

´´ It is you this man again?! E gbami o! Gbomogbomo!´´ I started shouting remembering my mom’s instruction. I didn’t have to say it a second time before the man vanished. The painful part was that it happened so fast that by the time people turned in my direction, he had disappeared and I stood there like Little Miss Foolish.

You would however agree with me that feeling foolish is nothing compared to being kidnapped. If I had not remembered the pains of spanking, maybe someone else would be writing this post about me because if those men had succeeded that first time, who knows what could have become of me? I might not have even been killed with my body parts removed. I could have been hypnotized and robbed.

Not everyone has been that lucky.

This isn’t to say I am encouraging parents to spank their kids just to teach them these same lessons of being careful with strangers, but I am of the opinion that however you choose to do it, ensure your kids know not to trust strangers.

My heart goes out to everyone who might have lost a friend, brother, sister, uncle, aunty, child or even parent to these wicked people.

www.abenistales.com

One of the projects I completed recently is a pouffe and I am excited to share the sewing steps with you all. I am most amazed at how people who have never sewn before were able to make this in our Facebook group (https://www./1092107257470263/)

A pouffe is a cushioned footstool or low seat with no back. It can serve as a simple home decor just as well.

Guess what? Some members of the group have also seen the business potential in making of pouffes! It feels good going to bed knowing that I was able to share the tutorial with them and they can make extra income from it.

You can also do the same. It does not cost much to make and requires less time as well.

I made mine 13 inches x 13 inches. You can decide to make yours bigger and in another shape or make it smaller as a soft toy for babies or toddlers.

Needed Items:

– About half a yard of your preffered fabric ( more or less depending on the size you are making)
– Fiber or foam pieces enough to fill it up
– Matching sewing thread

Cut six squares. Join them together as shown below;

Do you have a flair for sewing but cannot afford to attend a fashion school at the moment?

Do you have a friend or family member interested in sewing but cannot afford the huge fees of fashion schools?

Do you want to know other ways you can make money through sewing apart from skirt and blouse and dresses?

Do you want an opportunity to meet like minded people and learn from them?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then hurry up and join Sew Easy Workshop on facebook. Please note that only serious minded people who are willing to learn are invited because it is a group created to help people earn income through sewing. Trainers are willing to give their time and we want to be sure it is to people who appreciate the effort and are ready to do something with what they learn.

Join now and invite your friends if you think you qualify. Tutorials start on Tuesday, July 14th 2015.

https://www./1092107257470263/?ref=bookmarks

pretydiva:
Fnks 4 d info. I ve few question tho. Pls is d oatmeal same as quaker n oat? N where can 1 buy pure honey frm

Yes you can usethe same quaker oats we eat. For pure honey, you can try shoprite and I know some of those women who sell herbs usually have original honey and it's cheaper.

I can now write that I am glad I shared my post on palm oil. I got a few feedbacks from those who tried it. The most recent of them is an email from one of my darling readers. It really was thoughtful of her to send a feedback just like the others and I was delighted to have received it.

Did you miss the post? Click here to read it so you can catch up.

When I got Edem’s email, I decided to do a little research on other ways to tackle acne using natural products that you probably have on your shelves already so that I can share with you all.

After exchanging a few emails, we agreed she should use honey alongside the palm oil. If you decide to use honey too, be sure you buy pure honey because sadly most of the honey found in the market these days are adulterated or processed. Permit me to add that the lady has a good sense of humour!

I found so many remedies ranging from natural items to products you can buy across the counter. Find below natural home remedies you can try…

OATMEAL: Before Edem and I settled for honey, this was my first suggestion to her simply because my friend and her sister swear by it. Oatmeal is known to be an effective remedy for treating acne. Because Oatmeal is dry and possesses an absorbent quality that helps in soaking up all the excess oil from the skin, it is a remedy that helps in treating as well as preventing the occurrence of acne. index

HOW TO USE OATMEAL: Add the oatmeal to some warm water and form a thick paste with it. Apply the paste to the affected areas of the skin and leave it there for at least twenty to thirty minutes. Use warm water to rinse off the oatmeal mask once it dries.



HONEY: Honey possesses a sticky texture which helps in pulling out the dirt that might be present in the pores of your skin. Honey is known to play the role of an antimicrobial and helps to destroy bacteria, which is a major cause for developing acne.honey-benefits

HOW TO USE HONEY: Like I mentioned earlier, it is important that you choose natural honey over the processed or adulterated variety because its antimicrobial properties are preserved in the natural form. To use honey in the treatment of acne, apply some honey evenly, all over your face and leave it there for a minimum of fifteen to twenty minutes. Wash your face thoroughly after this and repeat the procedure as many times as you want.



GARLIC: Garlic is also considered to be effective in the treatment of acne because it possesses anti-microbial properties. Although Edem mentioned that this didn’t have any effect when she used it in the past, some people however testify that it works.1219643.large

HOW TO USE GARLIC: Crush a few flakes of garlic and apply them to your skin in the form of a paste.



APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: Apple cider vinegar plays the role of an anti-bacterial agent that helps in getting rid of the bacteria that normally cause an outbreak of acne. It is also considered to be beneficial in balancing the pH levels of the skin. It also helps to absorb the excess oil that is present on the surface of the skin. braggs_vinegar

HOW TO USE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: To use apple cider vinegar to treat acne, it is important that you dilute the apple cider vinegar by adding one part of it to four parts of water. Use a cotton ball to apply this diluted solution to your skin. Wash it off your skin after about fifteen to twenty minutes. If your skin is not sensitive, you could also leave it on overnight.



READ ALSO: CHILDHOOD BELIEFS I MUST UNLEARN



BAKING SODA: Baking soda is known to be effective for so many things. It can be used effectively to treat acne as well.bakingsoda

HOW TO USE BAKING SODA: To use baking soda to treat acne, you must mix a heaped tablespoon of baking soda with a sufficient amount of water to form a thick paste. Apply it to your skin and leave it there till it begins to harden. Wash it off after that and repeat it several times a week, for best results.

OLIVE OIL: Acne is known to cause the surrounding skin to become hard. Therefore, it is important that you first soften the skin when trying to get rid of acne. You can use any non-comedogenic oil (i.e. oils that do not block the pores) such as olive oil…or palm oil. Olive oil does not clog the pores of the skin and has been used for hundreds of years in order to treat skin conditions. OliveOilBreadDip_article Photo Credit: Google Images

HOW TO USE OLIVE OIL: Massage one tablespoon of olive oil into your skin everyday in order to soften the skin and reduce the problem of acne.

In addition to any of these remedies that you decide to use, it is very important to watch your diet to prevent a reoccurrence. The best ways to treat as well as prevent the occurrence of acne is to avoid foods that have high glycaemic index carbohydrates (i.e. food that has ability to increase the level of glucose in the body).

Foods that contain a high amount of high glycaemic carbs are white rice, whole wheat bread, potatoes, cakes, pastries, granola bars as well as other sugary foods. It is advisable to replace these high glycaemic carbs with low glycaemic carbohydrate foods such as oats, legumes, barley, sweet potatoes, fruits as well as whole grain pasta. Low glycaemic foods are hell to reduce the insulin levels as well as prevent the sebaceous glands from producing excess sebum, which results in acne.

Consume lots of vegetables and fruits and drink lots of water. It is also highly recommended that you use only oil-free cosmetics to avoid clogging of your pores. Mayo clinic highly recommends that those who use make-up should wash it off before they go to bed. If you do not wash off the make-up, it can clog the pores of your skin, thereby resulting in acne. It is advised that if you are using any acne medications, you should apply them to your skin prior to applying make-up.

It is recommended that you wash your face several times a day, especially after being exposed to the sun. Another recommendation is that you wash your face regularly by making use of a mild cleanser as well as lukewarm water. Avoid using abrasive soaps, toners, astringents and facial scrubs as they are harsh for the skin and can trigger an outbreak of acne. It is advisable that you use a soft cloth to dry your face in order to prevent the occurrence of skin irritations.

Having said all these, it is important to realise that unlike chemical treatments, most natural treatments require repeated use for results to be seen.

http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/07/10/6-natural-home-treatments-for-acne/

PLANNING AHEAD

The late Zig Ziglar used to say, “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” I’ve always liked that quote because it’s a great reminder about the importance of planning. You can settle for breezing through life with no plan, but you’ll end up going nowhere. Anything of substance in life requires some careful thought ahead of time.Jesus taught a similar lesson when He talked about discipleship in Luke 14:28 – 30. He said no one building a tower would move forward on construction without sitting down to “count the cost.” After all, quitting halfway because the resources dried up would make the builder a laughingstock. The foundation for his tower would become a monument to his incompetence.

What Jesus emphasized about discipleship – evaluating your situation and planning for the costs – works for money too. Planning ahead is at the heart of success. For personal finances, that means telling your cash what to do each month by creating a zero-based budget.

Creating a budget shouldn’t be some calm, casual afterthought. You need to let your money know who’s the boss. You need to sit down with your pencil, paper and calculator and make those dollars(or pounds,naire,euro…) dance!For a zero-based budget, take all your income and assign it to a budget category. Every single dollar should have a name and a job to do – and don’t forget savings! The goal is to make your income minus your outgo equal zero. If you’re over or under, go back and tweak the math until you hit that magic number: zero!But as a believer, there’s another part of budgeting that you can’t ignore. The money you manage really isn’t your money. It’s God’s money. So He needs to have the final say on what goes where.

Solomon said “a man’s heart plans his way.” We get that. We all have hopes and dreams, values and passions. But he also said that God should be the One directing our steps. That means every plan – and every budget – we make should be filtered through Him.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

If you would like some help with your budget, we’ve created a free guide, David Ramsey’s Guide To Budgeting , to walk you through the process step by step and set you on a path to a solid financial future.


For the link to the free pdf download, visit... http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/07/06/make-your-money-dance/

OMG!!! This your comment is hilarious!!!

Rednaxelot:
What about esuru(bitter yam), are we going to eat the peel with it?

With the way we are going with food, especially this yam and it's peel, goats and sheep may wage war against human.

12 FRUITS TO EAT OFTEN AND THE REASONS WHY...

As the weekend approaches, you are probably having plans to stock up. I decided to share fruits you might want to add to your shopping list and the reasons why.

If you are like me who would eat anything healthy that helps hair growth, then the first five fruits are very important because eating them helps improve healthy hair by boosting your hair growth and reducing hair loss...

ORANGES: It helps to maintain great skin and vision. It also can serve as natural laxative to ease constipation, you only need to take lots of them. I found out that plums work just as well too for constipation. So wherever you are, if you need help with #2, oranges or plums work just fine.

STRAWBERRIES: Do you want to look forever young? Take lots of strawberries because they are known to fight against cancer and aging.

APPLES: You know the popular saying; an apple a day, keeps the doctor away. That is very true because apples help the body to develop resistance against infections.

http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/07/02/12-fruits-to-eat-often-and-why/

Have You ever desired to be able to make your own bags with your choice of fabric? Here is a good place to start. Step by step tutorial with pictures...

http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/07/02/diy-reversible-bag/

feel free to also ask your questions if there is any part you do not understand.

fpeter:
nice

Thank you.

I have shared how you can make four easy hair accessories...even if you have no experience with crafts or sewing.

See tutorial with pictures here...


http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/06/26/diy-four-easy-hair-accessories/

It’s not surprising anymore to see some friends chat me up only when they see a picture that catches their fancy on my display picture. The chat is of course out of curiosity;
Is that your sister?
Is this your hubby?
Is that your boyfriend?
Are you out of the country?
You seem to have added weight… Yinmu!

I was speaking with a friend recently and she told me how another friend had told her the reason she had not been keeping in touch is because this my friend does not use a blackberry phone. Hence, not being a bbm contact means no checking on you. Really?! I couldn’t believe my ears that someone opened her mouth to say that to her friend...

http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/06/24/social-media-vs-human-interaction/

menesheh:
What of the one there is love by no god.

Can you explain?

Your question is actually deep. But the truth is that it is hard to show the kind of love that the bible described(Agape) and God won't be present there. You know His word talk about Him being where two or more are gathered in His name. So if Agape love is present and within that same place, you have two or more who are sincerely worshiping Him, then He is there and it is possible to see His power manifest, not necessarily because of the man of God.

On Friday evening, the pastor of the church I used to attend had come over unexpectedly…uninvited. He didn’t come alone; he came with people I probably wouldn’t have opened my door to if they had come without him. No, let me rephrase that, he came with people who knew better than to come uninvited. They hadn’t seen me in church for over a month, he had made several calls which didn’t seem to make me come. So, an unexpected visit seemed to be the next line of action.

When we were all seated, he made it clear he didn’t want to know the specifics of why I had been away, I didn’t argue with him either but I paid rapt attention to all he said…until I started to feel bored and sleepy actually...


http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/06/22/a-church-where-there-is-no-love/

We have that in common. I wouldn't trade it for anywhere else.

yes, you read right. It might cost you nothing because it is something that might already be in your kitchen. Your palm oil!

Stop using make-up to cover up blemishes, treat them instead. Here is how it works...

http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/06/18/something-about-palm-oil-you-should-know/

Is it not funny how God makes us comfortable and all of a sudden we become self-sufficient? I have shared how this realisation struck me. Please read and be kind enough to leave your opinion too. It will mean a lot.

http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/06/18/are-you-still-gods-baby/

Thanks for your opinion, but apparently you missed the point.

hello, when you are labeled Nigerian, how do you feel? does any sense of pride come with being Nigerian? Well, I had an encounter with a Finnish lady who told me how she thinks I must feel as a Nigerian. Please read my encounter with her here...

http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/06/15/how-you-should-feel-as-a-nigerian/


please leave your opinion on what she said at the end of the post after reading it.

yes, it is the same type of sequins just in different colours.

Usually, the original ones do not have glitters and they appear to have just one colour. Most of the time, the fake ones shine more and look like they have glitters on them and also kind of look multi-coloured.

In the midst of a busy schedule during the week, I still had this fantasy to be a dog.
Please read about it here and let me know if you feel the same way...

http:///GZWxiY

This is for those who like bling bling. It is the rave of the moment and will not be disappearing any time soon. Bridal aso-oke isn’t left out these days and having them installed does not come cheap except you get lucky. Infact, installation of beads on dresses sometimes costs more than the making of the dress or top.

Now you can do it yourself and save money. See tutorial here with pictures to make it easy to understand...

http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/06/11/diy-how-to-install-sequins-and-beads/

hello, have you seen the video? I shared my opinion here:

http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/06/08/korede-bellos-godwin-video-my-take-on-it/

please read and share yours too.

turn your buttons to accessories...

http://www.abenistales.com/wp/index.php/2015/06/04/how-to-make-earrings-and-brooch-from-buttons/

Find out easy ways to fix your zippers...

http:///XJ4zaA