Hello guys, hope you are doing well. 

Normally, I share a weekly recap, but life got hectic recently, and I missed out on updating for the last three weeks. Let's dive into the highlights of the past weeks, going through each week one by one.

At the beginning of the Easter break three weeks ago, I was overjoyed that it had finally arrived. I was more excited about the break than the kids! I relished my lazy mornings in bed and the chance to catch up on some much-needed beauty sleep. I made some tasty beans and ripe plantains that the kids absolutely loved. I also made some foleré or bisap which is a natural drink made from hibiscus flower. I sweetened it naturally and feel so proud of myself because it came out nice. 

This week I received my items from my kitchen 'njangi' / 'cotisation'. It's a for 18 cubes of soap, and a carton of oil but I asked that some of the soap be exchanged for washing powder because I needed it. If you don't understand what a njangi is I will make a separate post about it to explain. If I explain here it will make this post too long. 

Last Week:

🌟 Taking care of your nose and ear piercings is essential to ensure they are clean ,free of odour and stay infection-free after the piercing wound is healed. 

1. Begin by taking off your jewelry gently. This step is important to allow easy access for cleaning and prevent any tugging or discomfort.

2. Use alcohol and cotton pads to clean both your piercings and the jewelry or earrings. Alcohol helps to disinfect and kill any germs that may be present. Dab the cotton pad in alcohol and gently wipe around the piercing and on the jewelry.

3. Remove all solid and liquid dirt from the area. Make sure to clean thoroughly to remove any debris or residue that may have accumulated. Repeat the cleaning process several times until all the dirt or any unpleasant smell is completely removed.

4. After cleaning and disinfecting, put your jewelry back on carefully. Ensure that the piercing is clean and dry before reinserting the jewelry to prevent any risk of infection.

5. To maintain cleanliness and prevent bacteria buildup, apply alcohol to the area while wearing your earrings at least once a week. This routine helps to keep your piercings sanitized and reduces the chances of infections.

By following these simple steps regularly, you can keep your nose and ear piercings clean, healthy, and looking great. Remember, proper care and hygiene are key to the longevity and well-being of your piercings. Enjoy flaunting your stylish jewelry with confidence and comfort! 💎✨🌸

Wash and boil the meat. Add the Kok to it when it starts to boil. In the case of fish, boil the Kok first then add the fish. Let them boil till ready and soft.

Add palm oil and seasoning. Let it get ready together. 

Serve with cassava, baton/boboloh, or tuber you like. 

Enjoy 😋

As the end of the school term draws near, I have found myself enveloped in a sense of calm amidst the usual chaos of juggling school duties and everyday life. It's funny to admit, but I must say that I am eagerly anticipating the Easter break more than the kids are looking forward to their time off school! 😂 This week has been a countdown to much-needed rest and beauty sleep for me.

Last week was a whirlwind of activity with school responsibilities and birthday celebrations, leaving me feeling drained and exhausted. Determined to make this week more restful, I focused on doing only what was necessary to keep things running smoothly. I whipped up some quick and tasty meals while also prepping other meals for easy cooking throughout the week.

One thing that has brought me joy and a sense of nostalgia this week is my return to making vlogs for YouTube. While I used to create longer vlogs, I've been reconsidering getting back into the groove. This week, I took the plunge and recorded a few videos. It feels like starting anew, and I can't help but feel a tinge of self-doubt about whether my life is interesting enough for vlogging. However, the process of filming has reignited my passion, and I'm excited to see how it all comes together once I start editing.

Feminism is a great movement that all women need to respect because it's thanks to feminists that we have all the freedom we have today. Think of the time when women had no right to talk, work, go to school, decide who or when to marry, vote or dress the way they please. It must have been an uncomfortable experience for the women who lived in that era. I know some women are still going through this as we speak and it's sad. But imagine yourself in that situation for a minute. That's something we don't want to experience for sure. That's why we need to respect the movement of feminists. 

The reason why I'm making this post because I see a number of posts where women are saying that they are not in favor of feminists because they don't want to take financial responsibilities in their homes or relationship. They also mentioned that they want to be taken care of physically and financially by men. 

There's a lot of miscomprehension when it comes to fighting for women's rights. Fighting for equality doesn't mean that you can't have a man provide for you if that's what you want. Equality simply means equal rights to freedom and opportunities for women and men. We are not talking about or comparing physical strength or financial duties. In a group of ten men, not all of them have the same physical, intellectual and financial strength. And that's same for women. There are even some women who are physically, financially and intellectually stronger than some men. So feminism isn't about women challenging men in any of these aspects because even in our respective genders there are weak and strong people. Feminism is about giving the freedom and opportunity to women who feel capable of doing what they want to do to do it. 

Not all women want to be politicians, but the woman who chooses to be will be an inspiration to other women in their various paths of life. Reason why the freedom and opportunity should exist for she who feels capable to go for it. 

I know there are extremists in the movement of feminists but when you know the base of the movement you'll not be led astray. And mind you, the men who are against the movement are very good at using this confusion and comparison to make women afraid to join the movement of feminists. Don't fall for that. 

Do your research and have a good understanding of feminism in order to filter the good and the bad information. There's nothing wrong with being a feminist so own it and spread the right message about women's rights. 

This week has been extra special as we celebrated our birthdays during this wonderful birthday season. My son and I enjoyed a fun outing and then returned home to share a delightful cake-cutting moment. For my daughter, I set up a charming birthday decoration at home, creating a cozy celebration that warmed our hearts.

While the birthday festivities brought joy, some tech troubles added a bit of worry. My phone started acting up with a charging issue, making me anxious as my computers were also not working properly. Since I rely on my phone for work, the situation had me in a bit of a panic. I'm still working on fixing my computers and finding solutions to keep everything running smoothly.

In my efforts to build a professional brand as a social media manager focused on social impact, I've been more active on LinkedIn lately. Balancing this with my blog and lifestyle brand required some adjustments, but I've made changes to ensure I stay engaged in both areas. That's why I decided to post here on weekends – Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, while continuing to cover all categories as usual.

This week, we faced Internet issues that affected regions in West and Central Africa due to problems with the submarine Internet cables. The unstable internet connection served as a reminder of the importance of adaptability in today's interconnected world.

Amidst the challenges, moments of self-care brought much-needed relaxation. I treated myself to a calming facial session this Saturday and enjoyed some extra beauty sleep in the morning, lifting my spirits. 

As the weekend approached, I welcomed the break from the busy school mornings, birthday celebrations, and work demands. It was indeed a hectic week, but we made it through with gratitude and resilience.

It's Saturday and since I had more time this morning I decided to do my facial. Then I remembered that though I have reviewed the sivoderm pommade, I haven't done a separate post showing you guys how I use it step by step. That's what I'm doing in this post and also show you the products I use alongside the pommade. 

I start by cleaning my face well. Sometimes I wash my face with soap then I use my sivoderm face lotion to wipe it. And other times I just wipe my face with the lotion when my face is not very dirty or oily. The aim is to get my face to be as clean as possible so that the product works better. 

Next I oil my face well with an essential oil. You can use coconut oil, olive oil or any other essential oil. I used the lemon essential oil from Nemalia cosmetics. I do this to avoid burns and dryness during the process.

Then I apply my sivoderm pommade generously on my face and neck. Remember to always include your neck in the process even in the previous stages of washing and oiling. Avoid rubbing the pommade around your eye area. That part of your face is fragile and can easily be burnt by the product. The pommade has a hot menthol feel on the skin. I let the sivoderm pommade stay on my face until it stops feeling hot. During this time I made breakfast for my kids (pancakes) and by the time I was done with their breakfast it had stopped feeling hot so it was time to wipe it off. 

To clean it up I use cotton pads and my sivoderm lotion. You can use alcool instead if you have it. If you don't have any of them use tissue paper to wipe it off then wash your face with soap and water. It's important to clean your face properly to get all the pommade out. 

After cleaning my face, I use a scrub to exfoliate my skin. I have two scrubs I use but this Saturday I decided to use Calliderm gommage corporel. On other days I use sivoderm scrub, it all depends on my mood and which one I think is necessary for my skin at the moment. Any scrub you have or need is fine even if it's a homemade scrub. 

After scrubbing I wash my face and if there's any other treatment I want to use or add I do it at this stage. I didn't do that today but on some other days I use honey or sea salt or a face mask or a medicated/treating soap. 

Then I oil my face with my essential oil and that's it. You can use your face oils or treatment products at this point just make sure you use products that moisturize or that will lock in moisture so that your face doesn't get dry. Sivoderm pommade can have a drying effect on your face. 

Lastly I stay hydrated all day by drinking water and taking in healthy fluids.

And that is my skincare routine guys. 

Hope you learnt something from it. Do you use sivoderm? Please share your experience or how you use it. 

One thing about me is I can go out for my normal daily errands with these hairstyles without a problem. I love looking good at all times but for some reason I may have to step out with my old braids or cornrows to do a few errands. It's not easy to balance looking good all the time and daily responsibilities especially as a mom. Well that's my experience. It may be easier for other moms. 

How do you cope with looking good at all times my lovelies? 

✨Feeling blessed to celebrate another year of love, growth, and cherished memories. 

Here's to embracing each moment with gratitude and joy. 

Happy birthday to me 🎈🥳🎉

🌟💖 #BirthdayBlessings #GratitudeJourney #AnotherYearWiser