Beauty Out of Africa

10 Proven Ways to Reduce Stress

The Counseling Center at Texas Woman's University came up with fifty two different ways to reduce stress, simply and practically. These are my top 10 from the list:

1. Get up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning.  The inevitable morning mishaps will be less stressful.       
2. Prepare for the morning the evening before.  Set the breakfast table, make lunches, put out the clothes you plan to wear, etc.            
3. Don't rely on your memory.  Write down appointment times, when to pick up the laundry, when library books are due, etc.            
4. Do nothing which, after being done, leads you to tell a lie.                     
5. Make duplicates of all keys.  Bury a house key in a secret spot in the garden and carry a duplicate car key in your wallet, apart from your key ring.
6. Practice preventive maintenance.  Your car, appliances, home, and relationships will be less likely to break down/fall apart "at the worst possible moment." 
7. Be prepared to wait.  A paperback can make a wait in a post office line almost pleasant.
8. Procrastination is stressful.  Whatever you want to do tomorrow, do today; whatever you want to do today, do it now.                     
9. Plan ahead.  Don't let the gas tank get below one-quarter full; keep a well-stocked "emergency shelf" of home staples; don't wait until you're down to your last bus token or postage stamp to buy more; etc.
10. Don't put up with something that doesn't work right.  If your alarm clock, wallet, shoe laces, windshield wipers - whatever- are a constant aggravation, get them fixed or get new ones.                     

Face Painting for Beauty

I have always marveled at the diversity of beauty in Africa especially among our women. There are many beautifying techniques employed by African women to make them stand out. Face painting is practiced in many parts of Africa. According to Maobong Oku, among the Nigerian Efiks for example, face and body painting symbolizes purity and love. In modern day Nigeria, face painting is relegated to special occasions such as when the women prepare to do the traditional dances. The Efik traditional dancers are known as the Abang dancers. The Abang dancers wear face paint as an expression of beauty, femininity and love.

Face Painting as woman prepares for traditional Abang dance

African Chrisitan Fellowship, DC Dedicates New Building

After 3 years of sacrifice and trials, the African Christian Fellowship Center was dedicated today. What a wonderful time we had. It was a great time to catch up with old friends and see some new faces. What a great day!!
 
Praise and  worship from the Ethiopian Evangelical Church in DC

Beautiful African Christian Women - Sister IB

Group Shot

Effective Shea Butter Products

I can't say enough about the healing powers of shea butter. For centuries, Africans have used shea butter to:

• Moisturize and regenerate skin and hair
• Reduce inflammation, stretch marks and wrinkles
• Treat eczema and arthritis

Today almost every moisturizing product on the shelf make claims about the benefits of shea butter in their products. The question is, how much shea butter is in these products. To truly enjoy the healing benefits of a shea butter product you need to be sure that it contains a good percentage of pure unrefined shea butter. For more information on effective shea butter products check out shea radiance products

 

Reflections on Being 40 Something

First I must confess that I do not look or feel 40 ish. I feel like a very wise 28 year old :)

Anyway, I think one of the reasons people call 40 middle age is that it is a time to reflect on your life and make necessary adjustments in order to really start living the best years of your life.

So here are a few of my reflections and proposed adjustments:

1. Continue to grow in my Christian life. Having a strong spiritual foundation in Christ has allowed me to live a purpose driven life. I know I was designed for a very specific purpose which unfolds as I follow Him. This foundation gives me confidence to keep moving ahead even in the midst of negative circumstances.
2. Finding a mentor and being a mentor. I have attached myself to women who are successful in areas that I am seeking to grow in. I also make room for younger women to come alongside and learn with me.
3. I have a very keen sense that life is short and tomorrow is not promised. Stepping out of my comfort zone, risking failure and ridicule but knowing that it was the right thing to do. I step out on the edge knowing that it's better to have tried and failed than to live with the regrets of 'what ifs'
   
4. Know you are beautiful. Why does it take women so long to fully appreciate their beauty? For the longest time I would not wear open toe shoes or sandals because I thought my feet were ugly and you know what, maybe they were. But so what? They are the only pair of feet I've got. Why should I deny myself the pleasure of wearing all the beautiful strappy sandals Nordstrom & DSW have to offer because of some vain concern. It occured to me that one day when I am old and gray with gnarly twisted toes, I would look back with regret that I did not appreciate how lovely my feet were in my youth. Needless to say, I started getting regular pedicures and enjoying open toe shoes.
5. Try things I've never done before. I trained to run a marathon a couple of years ago. I suffered a stress fracture and ended up doing a half marathon. It was just as much fun and it challenged me.
6. My next goal is learn how to swim properly and stop faking it.
7. Travel the world. I need to travel more. I want to go to India, Singapore, Kenya, and South Africa in the next 2 years
8. The better care I take of myself, the better wife, mother, sister and friend I will be. Pay attention to your body and do something about it if there is a problem. Don't be in denial. Don't ignore lumps bumps and fibroids.