I Battled With Cancer -- Radio Presenter Jeremie Van-Garshong Reveals

 

Radio and television presenter, Jeremie Van-Garshong cannot stop thanking God for healing her of the thyroid cancer she has been battling for the past 10 years. The Live FM presenter who has been off air for the past two months admitted that getting thyroid cancer has been the toughest challenge she ever had to face and fight for a very long time.

“But God used my toughest challenge to bring me my biggest testimony ever and I can't wait to tell it all” she said as she narrated her ordeal to Showbiz in an interview on Friday, October 14.

Jeremie revealed that it was only her family and close friends who knew her struggle with cancer and how hard it was for her to pretend as if there was nothing wrong with her as she went about doing her duties as a radio and television presenter.

According to her, her biggest fear was when doctors told her she could lose her voice in an operation in Germany last two months because the surgery involved removing a tumor in her throat.

“I lost hope because that was my career hanging on the line but as the doctors wheeled me into the theatre, I remember feeling a hand gently take my hand and walk alongside my bed. “And as the two nurses began plugging machines and tubes into my body, I started praying saying ‘Jesus stay with me and in my heart’. I knew it was His hands that held mine.”

She continued saying “After the surgery, my voice went for weeks and that got me scared because I thought I wouldn’t be able to speak again and that was the end of my career. But thanks to God, I started speaking again and completely healed in the name of the Lord.”

To her, the two months she was away in Germany has really brought her closer to God because she has come to accept that it is only God who can heal and not man. Initially, she did not want the story out but now Jeremie wants the whole world to know about her experience because she believes there is a true God who is always there for His children in times of need.

The outspoken presenter said she is done with a song she composed during her trying moments because it is not everyone who gets lucky with such surgeries. “I am yet to give it a title. It will be out very soon and I am very sure it will change the lives of many who might be going through similar challenges”, she added.

The Touchdown presenter has also written a book titled Valley of the Shadow Of Death” explaining into details the struggles she went through battling with thyroid cancer and how she was finally saved by God. 


source: Peace FM

Next Sarah?: Janet Jackson Expecting First Child At 50

Singer Janet Jackson has officially confirmed she is expecting her first child, at the age of 50.

She told People magazine: “We thank God for our blessing”, and posed for a picture with her growing baby bump.
Speculation about her pregnancy surfaced in April when she postponed her ‘Unbreakable’ tour, saying she wanted to focus on planning a family with her husband, Wissam Al Mana.
She was recently spotted in London shopping for baby essentials.
The People magazine quoted a source close to the Jackson family as saying: “She is super excited about her pregnancy and is doing extremely well. She actually feels very good about everything.”
In a video posted on Twitter in April, she told her fans that she was postponing her world tour because “there’s been a sudden change”.
“I thought it was important that you be the first to know. My husband and I are planning our family,” she said, adding: “Please if you can try and understand that its important that I do this now.”
She went on to say: “I have to rest up, doctor’s orders.”

-Source: BBC

I’m not blind, I can see perfectly – Jackie Appiah

Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah has rubbished reports circulating that she has gone blind. She says she is not blind and can see perfectly well.

The gorgeous actress played the role of a blind woman married to fellow actor Prince David Osei in a new movie ‘Happy Never After’ which was premiered at the Silverbird cinemas on October 8.

The movie which was written and directed by Kobi Rana has other cast members like Nana Ama McBrown, Roselyn Ngissah, James Gardiner, Chris Lein Brown, Toosweet Annan, Benedicta Gafah and Nancy Adom.

Speaking exclusively to 3news.com, Jackie laughed off the reports stressing that she isn’t blind but only played the role of a blind woman in the movie “I hear people saying Jackie have you gone blind, because a few people published a story saying ‘Jackie goes blind’ which is not true.

“I played a blind girl in the movie but I can see perfectly well and it was just a movie role I had to play”.



Source: 3news.com

We’ve Always Wondered Why All Jeans Have These Metal Rivets, And The Real Reason Is Fascinating.

It’s hard to find anything more American than blue jeans. They’re the go-to pants for everything from working in the yard to going to the mall.

But even if you wear jeans every day, you still really don’t know everything about them. As it turns out, those jeans hold some pretty interesting secrets hiding in plain sight.

Chances are you’ve never noticed the rivets on the corner of your jean pockets, but they’re on almost every pair of jeans you own.

But why in the world do the pockets have rivets? Well, it turns out there’s a historical explanation.

During the California Gold Rush, workers complained that their pants weren’t durable enough to hold up to their hard work, and were often ripping at the pockets. That’s when a man named Jacob Davis, a tailor in Reno, Nevada, came up with the idea to rivet the corners of the pockets and make them more durable.  

Looking for a business partner, Davis contacted a man named Levi Strauss in 1872 who owned a dry goods and clothing store in San Francisco, California. The two teamed up and received a patent for the riveted pockets, and their jeans company took off, eventually becoming the company Levi Strauss Jeans that we know today.

boredomtherapy.com

15 Jamaican Patois Words That Originated From Ghana

After the abolishing of the Atlantic Slave Trade, many slaves that were from Africa were left to live in the island plantations they worked on. Some of these lands later evolved into countries such as Jamaica.
Many of them were from different African countries and thus communication was a bit of a challenge since education was restricted.

So they came up with their own language which is now popularly known as Patois. A fusion of bits of different languages including English. So you’re likely to come across some words in patois that can be found in many African languages most predominantly Ghana. It is believed most of the slaves that were shipped to Jamaica were from Gold Coast.

Well! Let’s find out how true this assertion is.

1. Adrue – Medicine
Medicine in the Patois language is Adrue, pronounced “Aduru” which actually comes from the Akan language “Aduru” or “Aduro” which also stands for medicine.

2. Afasayah – Wild Yam
Wild yam in Akan is termed as “Afasew” and the Jamaicans term it as “Afasayah”, you see the similarities?

3. Afu – Farm
They term the plantation or the farm as “Afu” in Patois, same as “Afuw” in the Akan language.

4. Anansi – Spider
Thought only the Akans call it Anansi right, the Jamaicans also call it Anansi too.

5. Bafan – Baby
A baby below the age of two is called a “Bafan” in Patois and the word was derived from “Bofra” in the Akan language.

6. Broni – White person
They say Broni too in Patois

7. Casha – Thorn
Thorn in Akan is “Kasei” and in Patois the word is “Casha” which is where the word was derived from.

8. Dokunu – Kenkey
The Jamaicans say Dokuno too.

9. Nana – Grandparents
Nana means grandparents in the Akan language, it means the same in Patois too.

10. Opete – Vulture
We say Opete, they say opete too and it means the same.

11. Poto-poto – Mud
Akans will say, potoo or poto poto, the Jamaicans say same too.

12. Kaba-Kaba – Unreliable
Means fast fast in Ewe, to describe an unreliable person in Patois but the word is also predominant in the Ewe language too.

13. Mumu – Dumb
Mumu means dumb in both the Ewe and the Akan language and it also means same in Patois.

14. Kongkos – Gossip
The Jamaican will say, Kongkos and the Akan will say, Konkonsa. Hope you catch the drift.

15. Dote – Ground
Dote means ground in Patois and in Akan it means sand and you can clearly see where it is coming from.

omgvoice.com

7 ways to stay healthy this rainy season

The rainy season may have its charms: the cool weather, the reason to wear jackets and the magnified pleasure of a cup of hot coffee or a bowl of hot soup.

But it has dangers as well, primarily in the form of diseases like dengue and in infectious bacteria and viruses that become active due to the high humidity brought about by repeated spells of rain.

Luckily, there are simple precautions we can take to stay in peak health condition during this tricky season. Here are some tips gleaned from IndiaParenting.com:

1. Wash your hands

Bacteria and viruses come alive during the monsoon and you can come into contact with them just by crossing the road or holding on to an infected railing or bench.

Wash your hands as frequently as you can with soap and warm water.

2. Don't touch your face

The flu virus commonly enters our body through the eyes, nose and mouth.

Resist the urge to scratch your eye or wipe your sweaty forehead. Bring a clean napkin or handkerchief instead.

3. Protect yourself from dirty water

Clogged gutters and dirty puddles are a common sight during rainy season. Unfortunately, they are sources of water-borne diseases like diarrhea, influenza, cholera and fungal skin infections.

Covering up is the best way to protect yourself from these diseases and still maintain your active life. Aside from a jacket, invest in a good pair of rain boots. In the Philippines, many commuters prefer wearing rubber slippers because, unlike most closed shoes, they dry fast and are easy to move around in.

But slippers leave your feet at the mercy of contaminated elements.

Rain boots are now available for a very cheap price and can be found in a range of styles and designs to suit anyone. They can be taken indoors and stored in lockers or in a bag underneath your office desk.

Rubber ones are light enough to carry in a backpack.

4. Avoid eating street food

While fish ball, kwek kwek and kikiam sold in the streets sound like a good idea any time of the year, the rainy season is when you should stay away from them. Food cooked and sold in the open air are likely to come in contact with airborne and waterborne diseases and bacteria.

Better to eat fresh, home-cooked meals. Why not cook fish balls at home?

5. Keep mosquitoes out

The mosquito population grows during monsoon because stagnant water — their choice breeding ground — becomes more common.

To keep mosquitoes out of your life, do some housecleaning. Look through flower pots, fountains, ditches, nooks and crannies that may be holding stagnant water. Clean them out and cover them until the end of the season.

Slather mosquito repellent over your body, especially when you go outdoors.

6. Drink herbal tea

Herbal tea has curative properties for coughs, colds and sore throat — common ailments during the rainy season.

To make it extra good for your body (not to mention pleasant and delicious), you can add body warming ingredients like cloves, ginger, pepper, basil and mint.

7. Make eucalyptus oil your best friend

The aroma of eucalyptus oil helps us breathe easily; this, in turn, relaxes the entire body. This substance can be your best friend during the rainy season when the nose gets clogged from flu and the body is maxed out from other diseases or even when dealing with just the extra strain of commuting in the rain.

There are several ways to breathe in its healing and calming aroma. You can dilute it in water and use it to steam your face.

rappler.com

29 Quotes that Will Inspire You to Reach Your Greatest Potential

Maximizing your potential is about doing things you never knew you could do and reaching heights that you can only dream about. It’s about pushing yourself to become a better and stronger person.

When you break down your limits and barriers, you stop holding yourself back and do more than you thought possible.

As Thomas Edison once said, “If we did all the things we were capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”

However life can have other plans. We get caught up in our routines and find days when we’re unmotivated. Even if you work hard, staying inspired to do more can seem difficult.

That’s where this list comes in. Sometimes all you need are a few inspiring words of wisdom to keep pushing forward as you find out just what you’re made of.

1. “I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth will I apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.” – Og Mandino

2. “Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you it can’t be done. Life’s too short to think small.” – Tim Ferriss

3. “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

4. “Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure it just means you haven’t succeeded yet.” – Robert H. Schuller

5. “It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career.” – Carlton Fisk

6. “The important thing is this: to be ready at any moment to sacrifice what you are for what you could become.” – Charles Dickens

7. “Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That’s truly about the game, and in some ways that’s about life too.” – Michael Jordan

8. “Be what you are. This is the first step towards becoming better than you are.” – J. C. Hare & A. W. Hare

9. “Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.” – Janis Joplin

10. “Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” – Brian Tracy

11. “Flowers do not force their way with great strife. Flowers open to perfection slowly in the sun. Don’t be in a hurry about spiritual matters. Go step by step and be very sure.” – White Eagle

12. “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Christian D. Larson

13. “If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” – Nora Roberts

14. “‎Transformation is not five minutes from now; it’s a present activity. In this moment you can make a different choice, and it’s these small choices and successes that build up over time to help cultivate a healthy self-image and self esteem.” – Jillian Michaels

15. “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.” – Andy Rooney

16. “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” – Vince Lombardi

17. “You never stop earning when you do what you love.” – Asha Tyson

18. “What is the recipe for successful achievement? To my mind there are just four essential ingredients: Choose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of the team.” – Benjamin F. Fairless

19. “I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it.” – Lou Holtz

20. “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain

21. “Great work is done by people who are not afraid to be great.” – Fernando Flores

22. “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

23. “The happiest people in the world are those who feel absolutely terrific about themselves, and this is the natural outgrowth of accepting total responsibility for every part of their life.” – Brian Tracy

24. “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life. Define yourself.” – Harvey Fierstein

25. “Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, ‘This is the real me’, and when you have found that attitude, follow it.” – William James

26. “Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free. Stay centred by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.” – Zhuangzi

27. “Every man’s work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself.” – Samuel Butler

28. “Often, it’s not about becoming a new person but becoming the person you were meant to be, and already are, but don’t know how to be.” – Heath L. Buckmaster

29. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle

Pickthebrian.com

Your Morning Matters: 4 Reasons Waking Up Early Can Determine Your Success In Life

We all have one thing in common: every night we all go to bed and every day we all wake up. Each day we have the opportunity to start again, seize the day and create the life we want. It is such an amazing opportunity that we should all be jumping out of bed every morning with total excitement to start our day. Alas, I know that is not the case for many people.

The truth is, many of us get up late, rush through our mornings, feel behind and play catch up most of the day while trying to accomplish 27 important tasks. Sound familiar? It’s common for people to hit snooze several times and lie in bed until the absolute last moment before getting up for their day.

Many highly successful people start their day early because they know the advantage it gives them in their work and in life. While most people are in dreamland or savoring their last few minutes in bed, early risers are up exercising, reading, writing, meditating and working. Business icons like Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz and Apple CEO Tim Cook have been said to wake up as early as 4:30am to exercise and do their most important tasks before breakfast.

Let’s look at the reasons waking early can help increase your success in life:

1.Your willpower is strongest in the morning. Contrary to popular belief, willpower is a finite resource that runs low by the end of your day. Your willpower it is like a muscle that becomes tired with overuse. This means you have a higher chance of accomplishing something challenging or important earlier in the day.

2.Your morning rituals set the tone for the rest of your day. Rising early gives you time for reading, journaling, gratitude practice, exercise, and other rituals that set you up to feel good for the rest of the day. Creating positive energy in the morning significantly shifts the way you engage with the world throughout the day.

3.You have more focus and less distraction in the mornings. The quiet morning allows time to do top-priority things before other people’s priorities creep into your day. Once you are at work your attention and time might be pulled in several different directions. Rising early, however, gives you the morning to yourself.

4.You have time to plan, organize, and anticipate. You can use the early morning to set goals, plan the day and solve problems. This often leads to higher productivity and better achievement of goals. The early bird catches the worm, as they say, because the early bird is a step ahead of the crowd and has their day under control.

Believe it or not, if you were to start getting up one hour earlier each day you would gain 15 days a year. That is an extra 2 weeks you can gain by waking earlier! Imagine being able to spend that time on a passion project or reading books or setting yourself up for success. It’s all possible, you just have to commit to rising early.

Try these four tips to slowly shift your waking habits:

1.Set your alarm only 15 minutes earlier than your normal wake up time. Make the change incremental so your body can adjust slowly.
2.Move your alarm clock across the room so you have to get up when it goes off. This is a good way to force yourself to get out of bed.
3.Get up and brush your teeth. Moving your body helps you wake up.
4.Drink a big glass of water right away. This gets your metabolism going and is cleansing for your body.

Here is to your early morning success!

pickthebrain.com

POEM : It's Death Again

It's Death again – He's always there –
Watching, waiting – e'er the stare!
Every time I look behind
Or reach to pull the window blind,
I catch a glimpse of grubby hood –
A little clue to where he stood;
The glint of light that caught the scythe.
Perhaps if I could pay a tithe…
But O! no use, he'll never go.
The adamant phantom; don't you know
He will but wait until it's time
For me to hear His fateful chime? –
The toll that claims my destiny,
To Hail: 'You're next, it has to be…'

Copyright © Mark R Slaughter 2009


Source : poemhunter.com

Amazing Health Benefits of Coconut Water

Have you ever tried drinking coconut water? If not, then it’s about time you did. There’s a perfectly good reason why the coconut tree is called the tree of life and subsequently, the coconut as the fruit of life. Coconut can give the body lots of nutritional and health benefits that no other single fruit can. Coconut water, in particular, is very low in carbohydrates, sugars and fat. No wonder lots of people consider substituting it for their usual mineral water or energy drink. Here are the most amazing health benefits of coconut water.

Coconut water is probably the healthiest liquid that you can ever take in your entire life. It can give you much more than the health benefits that a commercially-produced thirst quencher can give. Here are some of the health benefits of coconut water that you might want to take note of:

1. Coconut water can help you loose fat

For weight conscious people, this one is one of the most important health benefits of coconut water. Because it is very low in fat, you can drink as much as you can without worrying about ingesting a lot of fattening agents, such as milk and the like. It can also help you feel full thus, decreasing your cravings for excessive foods.

2. Coconut water can help prevent diabetes

As mentioned before, it is also very low in sugar so you’re actually preventing the onset of diabetes if you drink it.

3. Coconut water can aid digestion

It has more hydrating properties than the average tap water so drinking it can certainly help your digestion well. Thus, you’ll be able to absorb food nutrients better and have easier bowel time when you drink it.

4. Coconut water can help fight viruses

Flu and herpes are some of the sicknesses caused by different kinds of viruses that attack the body. Coconut water has anti-viral and anti-fungal properties that can help you steer clear from these diseases and more!

5. Coconut water can help revitalize your cells and boost your metabolism

It contains less sodium and more potassium than the average energy or sports drink that’s why it is a highly recommendable substitute for these expensive and artificial products. You’ll instantly feel rejuvenated and refreshed after you’ve had a fill of this “miracle water.”

Do you now see why coconut water is exceptionally recommendable for everyone? With the multitude of health benefits of coconut water, there is no reason why you should not start drinking it. So how about it? Care to drink a glass of ice-cold and refreshing coconut water?

Source : goodrelaxation.com

How To Reduce Stress and Improve Your Memory

If you want your memory to work the best it can, then reducing the stress in your life will help.

Reducing stress is crucial for optimal brain functioning. When you are stressed, you waste a lot of your valuable mental energy worrying, so you have less mental energy available for paying attention to the things that are important for you to remember. When your body is stressed, your muscles tense up, which causes them to use more oxygen. So when you’re stressed, your brain gets less of the oxygen that it needs in order to function well.

And to make matters worse, stress causes the body to produce the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is tolerable for brief periods, but it’s very unhealthy when your body produces it for extended periods of time. Cortisol is toxic to brain cells. Studies show that chronic stress can quadruple your chance of getting Alzheimer’s Disease.

Recent studies show that certain stress-reducing activities can benefit the brain greatly.

Dr. Sara Lazar at the Psychiatry Department of Massachusetts General Hospital studied the effects of meditation on the brain. She used an FMRI scanner, which is a machine that enables a researcher to see what’s going on inside a patient’s brain. As people get older, various parts of the brain become thinner. Dr. Lazar’s work showed that the brains of people who meditate exhibit significantly less of this age-related brain thinning. Other benefits of meditation include improvements in the ability to focus the mind, improvements in impulse control, increases in empathy, and more restful sleep.

Another activity that has been shown to be good for brain health is Tai Chi. Tai Chi is a gentle Chinese martial art, which consists of a formal series of graceful, flowing movements. A recent 8-month study done at the University of South Florida shows that doing Tai Chi causes similar results. Seniors who practiced Tai Chi three times a week had significant increase in brain volume and scored better on tests of their memory and thinking abilities. Other benefits of Tai Chi include improvements in strength, agility, flexibility, balance and posture.

Both meditation and Tai Chi can be used to “re-program” your mind so that it becomes less anxious and more relaxed. These new patterns of calmness and concentrated awareness can become habitual, so that they remain even if you have to take a break from your meditation or Tai Chi practice. You may want to try learning meditation or Tai Chi. In many cities, you can find meditation or Tai Chi teachers who offer classes for beginners. There are a number of excellent videos on Youtube that teach the basics as well.

Learning either of these techniques can help you improve your memory, concentration, and emotional state. They can also help you lower your level of stress. Lower stress levels have a positive effect on all your brain functions and enable your memory to work optimally.

Source : pickthebrain.com

How To Dress For Cold Weather

What a difference the right clothing can make. The weather may be cold, windy and wet, but you're warm and dry because you're wearing authentic winter apparel. Whether you're skiing, snowboarding, snow shoeing or just running errands, versatile winter apparel is worth the investment.
Shopping for winter clothing can seem a bit overwhelming. New fabrics and insulations are constantly making apparel warmer, more breathable and more waterproof. Fashions seem to change by the season. But don't worry. This guide is designed to give you some basic information about dressing for winter and will make your next shopping trip a lot easier.

Skip to...

• Layer Up: Proper winter dressing means three layers # wicking, insulating and protection. Find out what kind of clothing is best for each.
• Accessorize: What to wear on your head, eyes, hands and feet
• Fashion Tips: How to get the best clothing fit, and what not to wear in the snow

Layer Up
The best way to dress for winter is to wear layers. This gives you flexibility to add or remove layers, depending on the weather and your activity. In general,the three main layers are wicking, insulating and weather protection.

Wicking layer: This is the layer worn next to your skin, usually consisting of long underwear.

• Look for thermal underwear made of a synthetic # usually polyester # fiber that has "wicking" power. This means the fibers will wick (move) moisture away from your skin and pass it through the fabric so it will evaporate. This keeps you warm, dry and comfortable. Silk is also a good, natural fabric that has wicking abilities.
• Even though it's cold, you will sweat # especially if you are cross country skiing or snowshoeing.

Insulating layer: This middle layer includes sweaters, sweatshirts, vests and pullovers. The purpose of this layer is to keep heat in and cold out, which is accomplished by trapping air between the fibers. Popular insulation materials include:

• Fleece, a synthetic material which maintains its insulating ability even when wet and spreads the moisture out so it dries quickly.
• Wool, which naturally wicks away moisture.

Protection layer: The exterior layer, generally a shell and pants, serves as your guard against the elements of winter. It should repel water from snow,sleet or rain and block the wind, while also letting perspiration evaporate.

• Most genuine winter shells and pants are made waterproof and breathable to some extent by using tightly woven fabrics teamed with a coating or laminate. This keeps moisture on the outside but allows perspiration to escape, keeping you dry and comfortable.
• Depending on the weather and type of winter activity you will be doing, you may be interested in uninsulated pants and jackets/shells, or garments with increasing amounts of insulation.
• One-piece suits, which combine a jacket and pants, are popular with many alpine skiers, especially on cold days and days where there is a lot of fresh powder snow.
• Look for functional hoods, cuffs, pockets and zippers # details that truly make garments comfortable in a snowstorm.
• Although less baggy than in previous years, most snowboard clothing is still designed to fit looser than alpine skiwear, giving snowboarders freedom of movement. In addition, many snowboard pants are reinforced in the seat and knees for extra protection when kneeling or sitting on the snow.

Accessorize 
Headwear: Up to 60 percent of your body's heat can escape from an uncovered head, so wearing a hat, headband or helmet is essential when it's cold. (Tip: If you wear a hat, you may be able to wear one less layer on your body.) There are thousands of styles of hats and headbands, usually made from fleece or wool. Many have non-itch liners. Helmets are becoming very popular. Not only do they protect your head from bumps, but they also keep your head warm. A fleece neck gaiter (like a collar) or face mask is a must on cold days.

Sunglasses and goggles: Sunglasses do much more than make you look cool. They also protect your eyes from damaging solar radiation. Snow, or any other reflective surface, makes ultraviolet (UV) rays stronger, while increased altitude also magnifies the danger. On flat-light days or when it's snowing, goggles are vital. They protect your eyes and special lens colors increase the contrast so you can properly discern terrain features.

Gloves and mittens: Look for gloves and mittens that use waterproof, breathable fabrics. Mittens, in general, are warmer than gloves, but offer you less dexterity. Consider the type of activity you'll be doing. Snowboarding gloves and mittens often have a reinforced palm because of extra wear from adjusting bindings and balancing on the snow. Some snowboarding gloves and mittens also have built-in wrist guards, which are excellent for novice snowboarders. Cross country skiing gloves tend to be lighter-weight for extra movement and because you perspire more.

Socks: One pair of light-weight or medium-weight socks works best for skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing. Socks are made from a variety of materials, including polyester, silk, wool and nylon. Some socks have wicking properties similar to long underwear, meaning your feet will stay dry and comfortable.

Fashion Tips

• The wicking layer should fit snugly (not tight) next to the skin in order to effectively wick moisture. Comfort is key for the insulating layer. It should be loose enough to trap air between layers, but not so bulky that it restricts movement. Whether you are a skier, snowshoer or snowboarder, your protection layer should fit comfortably, offering you maximum range of motion.
• Look for 100 percent UV protection in sunglasses. Make sure the glasses fit snugly behind your ears and rest gently on the bridge of your nose.
• Goggles should form an uninterrupted seal on your face, extending above your eyebrows and below your cheekbones. Watch for gaps, especially around your nose.
• Don't buy gloves or mittens that are too tight. There should be a little air space at the tips of your fingers, which acts as additional insulation.
• Don't wear jeans or street pants. Denim is not waterproof, so water will soak through and you'll end up cold, wet and miserable.
• Cotton is a no-no. Cotton is great for towels, because cotton soaks up and retains moisture. That's precisely why cotton is all wrong for on-slope apparel. It absorbs moisture (sweat and snow), and retains it. When the wind blows, you will get very, very cold. Don't wear cotton athletic socks, cotton jeans, cotton sweatshirts, or cotton T-shirts.
• Resist the temptation of putting on too many pairs of socks. You'll restrict circulation and actually cause your feet to get colder.

Source : .weather.com

Relationship : Unseen Dangers of Honeymoon

Honeymoon,honeymoon,honeymoon...some marriages end at honeymoon witch is not suppose to be so.Let's see why it happens.

There is probably nothing in life so wonderful, so magical, so delicious as the way you feel the first few weeks or months when you’re falling in love.
The world looks more beautiful. You’re filled with optimism and excitement about each day. Even food tastes more amazing (if you have an appetite, that is — you may feel you could subsist on love alone!). In short, each day is pure bliss. And all because you’ve found the person who really “gets” you… the person you were meant to be with.
Welcome, my friend, to The Honeymoon Phase.
You’ve probably heard this term before, but have how much do you know about it?
Isn’t it just a period of time when a new couple gets to enjoy learning about one another, spending countless hours together and just drinking in that intoxicating feeling that they finally have everything they’ve ever needed and wanted right in front of them?
Well, yes, that’s partly it.
But beneath the romantic notions is the actual, scientific fact that — in the first few months of dating — the intense connection you feel with your new love is mostly chemical. It’s called infatuation.
When you first meet someone you’re interested in and attracted to, something as simple as eye contact or touch can begin to release the chemical in your brain called Phenylethylamine (sometimes called the “love molecule”). This sets off a chemical chain reaction that sends you on that rollercoaster ride of infatuation.
Kanika Goswami describes this phenomenon in “The Physics and Chemistry of Love“:

“Infatuation…is the first stage of falling in love, an unbearable attraction towards someone. This attraction causes a virtual explosion of neurochemicals very similar to adrenalin. Assisted by Phenylethylamine (that speeds up the flow of information between cells), dopamine (that makes us glow and feel good), and norepinephrine (that stimulates the production of adrenalin), make our world go round, our eyes sparkle and our heart beat faster.

Our entire existence then depends on the sight of the person who triggered these reactions to begin with, and as the addiction to the chemical grows stronger, our attraction becomes greater. At this stage we commit foolish mistakes which are the stuff puppy love stories are made of. Actually it is these three chemicals that combine to give us what we call infatuation. We feel we are energized, often floating on air…and the reason why people who are just falling in love can talk for hours on end… (the same person becomes boring at a later stage).”

In other words, you’re not necessarily in love with this man (yet). You’re in love with the way you feel about yourself when you’re around him.
It happens to both partners, and it’s an important and necessary bonding process that — if you truly are compatible — eventually leads to the next phase, attachment. (That’s when all the good stuff like commitment happens.)
But in the meantime, during this Honeymoon/infatuation phase, you must be careful not to let your heart override your head.
You may feel like doing crazy, impulsive things like running off and eloping… or even less dramatic (but equally dangerous) things like ignoring the opinions of close friends and family who express concern that he might not be the right match for you.
In the Honeymoon phase, we often don’t see the red flags that other people who care about us can see so clearly. Our perspective is totally out of whack and we’re only seeing what we want to see.
Another problem with the Honeymoon Phase is that, because it can be so intoxicating,  it’s tempting to chase the feeling like a drug.
Being with a new man makes you feel good — interesting, sexy, pretty, desirable…. When you get into a long term relationship, you can fall into a rut where you and your partner stop complimenting one another, doing fun things together, or even being intimate. That’s an issue for another article, but I bring this up because — rather than working on a relationship to get through the rough patches and create a union that will endure — some women will choose to bail and take up with a new and exciting man who can fill her with those magical Honeymoon feelings all over again.
There’s a psychotherapist I love named Dr. Jenn Berman who has nightly call-in advice show on Cosmo Radio (Sirius/XM). I was listening to her the other night as she counseled a woman who was dissatisfied in her marriage to a man who she claimed was “everything she thought she wanted”…until she met a new guy who really got her motor running. Suddenly, her feelings of depression were lifting and she was giddy from all the compliments and affection from this new love interest.
What should I do, she asked.
Dr. Jenn, who has this amazing way of delivering tough love with a major emphasis on the love, said: “Well, I’ll tell you what you shouldn’t do: You shouldn’t swing to the next vine, hoping that this next man is going to fix the way you feel about yourself.”
“Wherever you go, there you are,” she said, explaining to the caller that the inner-discontent and depression she was feeling was her responsibility to fix (recommending therapy), and that this new man was only a temporary distraction. Certainly not worth throwing away her marriage to a man she claimed was “everything she thought she wanted.”
I wanted to share that advice with you, with a few sincere hopes:
1)  When you start to date a new man, allow yourself to enjoy the bliss but don’t be blinded to the possibility of red flags. Listen to the opinions of the people who care about you. And don’t make any major decisions (e.g. running off to elope) while you’re in this phase, since you simply don’t know enough about the character of the man you’re with.
2)   If you’re in a relationship with a man you love (and especially if you’re married), don’t forget that a partnership takes work. Don’t let a “shiny new toy,” as Dr. Jenn would call a new man, pull your focus and effort from where it belongs: your partner.
3)  Don’t expect any man to fix your feelings of inner-discontent. If you’re not happy with your life, it’s up to you to do something about it. Chasing the high of the “Honeymoon Phase” by jumping from one new mini-relationship to another will only temporarily distract you from the real issue at hand, whatever that may be (e.g. you’re not taking care of your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual health, you’re not pursuing your dreams, you’re miserable at your job but haven’t made a change, etc).  Remember what Doctor Jenn says: Wherever you go, there you are.
The good news is that a long-term relationship, with all of its challenges, compromises, and ups and downs, can be infinitely more fulfilling than a string of 3-month “perfect” flings. When you open yourself up to a real partnership, although it means becoming vulnerable, you have the opportunity to build trust and stability, and support one another as you work to achieve your life goals together.
After all, the Honeymoon can’t last forever. But true love will.

Source :  datingwithoutdrama.com

Health : Maize And It's Benefit To Us

They call it maize,but we the Ghanaian's call it Ebro....Well I learn it is very nutritious....lets see what it can do

Maize is a widely used ingredient in the food industry but its whole grain maize that is really responsible for the health benefits of maize. The rawest form of maize is corn on the cob. Popcorn and polenta are also good forms. Maize can also be found in the form of

Maize Nutrition

1 cup of cooked yellow corn contains about 177 calories. It is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C and the B vitamins folate, riboflavin, niacin and thiamin. It is also a good source of magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and manganese. Yellow corn contains lutein and zexanthin, powerful antioxidants. Maize is a good source of low glycemic index (GI) carbohydrate.

Maize for Heart Disease Prevention

Maize is a good source of the cholesterol lowering B vitamin niacin and the blood pressure lowering mineral magnesium. Wholegrains, like maize are a good source of fibre. A meta-analysis of 7 studies showed that people with the highest dietary fibre intake had the lowest cardiovascular risk.

Maize for Diabetes Prevention

The mineral magnesium forms part of the glucose-regulating compound (known as glucose tolerance factor), along with chromium and vanadium, which are also found in wholegrains. Studies have shown that regular consumption of wholegrains lowers Type 2 diabetes risk. In one 8-year trial of over 40,000 subjects, risk of Type 2 diabetes was found to be 30% lower in women who frequently consumed wholegrains compared to those who ate the least of these foods. The low GI of maize helps to create a more sustained release of glucose into the bloodstream, which prevents sugar spikes and puts less stress on the pancreas that needs to pump out less insulin to deal with the glucose load.

Maize and Cancer Prevention

Wholegrain compounds in barley may help with cancer prevention. A study of over 35,000 participants showed that those consuming the most wholegrains had a significant reduction in breast cancer risk compared to those with low wholegrain intakes. The main reasons for wholegrains offering protection have to do with their high fibre content as well as their high nutrient and antioxidant content. In addition, wholegrains contain special compound called lignans, which are converted by good bacteria in the gut into useful substance that can help prevent cancer.

Maize Helps Improve Eyesight

 One of the health benefits of maize is related to its protective effects on eyesight. The antioxidants lutein and zexanthin help prevent and slow macular degeneration, a type of age-related loss of eyesight. Supplementing with these antioxidants is now standard practice for this condition. There is also evidence that compounds in spinach can help prevent cataracts.

Maize for Digestive Health

Another of the health benefits of maize is its ability to aid digestive health. Wholegrains are a rich source of insoluble fibre, which increases stool bulk and decreases the transit time of waste through the intestines. 

Source : healthbenefits-of.org

Motivation : The Need To Say 'NO' And How to D0 That

 Those who find it difficult to say no....this is for you,you need to read and read again.

Do you ever find yourself saying “Yes” – only to immediately experience a sinking feeling inside?
Many of us take on too many commitments, because we have a hard time saying “no”. We’re constantly busy – perhaps without the time to exercise regularly or pursue our own goals – and yet we often bend over backwards to accommodate other people’s requests.
Of course, there’ll be times when you want to help out a friend, college, or family member. There’ll also be times when you think you don’t have any choice about saying “yes” or “no” – like when your boss asks if you can work late, again. But if you run yourself ragged trying to help out everyone else, you’re never going to achieve the things that you want.
You need to say “no” more often if:

• You always tell yourself that you’ll be less busy in a few months … but you seem to get busier and busier.
• You feel resentful about some of the tasks that you’d taken on, and wish you hadn’t.
• You’re stressed out trying to find time to do everything.
• You’re neglecting some of your basic needs, like exercise and healthy meals.

People won’t stop liking you just because you say “no” to a request (though they might well develop more respect for you). And the world won’t fall apart if you say “no”, even in situations where you feel like someone really needs your help.

Get Better at Saying No

Try to make “no” your default. It’s all too easy to say “Sure, that’s no problem” when, in truth, you’re already feeling anxious, even panicked, about how you’ll possibly find time.
Next time someone makes a request, think carefully before saying “yes”. If at all possible, delay giving a response so that you have time to think it through – for instance, you could say “I’ll need to think about that” or “Let me get back to you tomorrow once I’ve checked my diary.”
If you feel guilty about saying “no”, then you might want to journal about your feelings. You may also find it helpful to write a list of the pros and cons of saying “no”, to help you make a good decision for you.

Focus on What’s Important

It’s easier to say “no” when you’ve got a clear focus on what’s truly important in your life. That could be:

• Your family
• Your career
• Your health

It could also be a specific goal, like getting out of debt, or writing a book.
When you have a key area of life or an important goal in mind, it’s easier to say “no” and feel justified. After all, isn’t spending time with your kids more important than chairing meetings of that local community group?

Learn Ways to Say No

Some people won’t take no for an answer. Others may get a little huffy or annoyed about being told “no” – especially if they’re used to you helping them out constantly.
Some good ways to say “no” are:

• Being direct. Say “No, I can’t do that” and keep saying it.
• Offering a compromise. If a straight “no” really isn’t going to work, how about “I’m afraid I can’t take that on, but I could help you out with …”
• Explaining your priorities. “I’m afraid I don’t have time to help, because I’m in the middle of a career change.”
• Writing down your “no”. If you get easily intimidated in conversations – and end up backing down from your position – then you might try responding by email or even in a written letter instead. This gives you more time to formulate responses.

Stay flexible, and use different methods depending on the situation. If you find a particular way of saying “no” that works well for you, try using it again in future.
Ultimately, you only have one life to live – and you want to make the most of it. If your life is full of unwanted commitments, or if you dread being phoned by that particular person who always wants something from you, then learn to say “no”, today.

Source : pickthebrain.com

Ghana Fashion And It's Issues

Fashion in Ghana for the past few years has been an issue as far as indecent dressing is concerned. From the exposure of valuable body parts of ladies to the sweeping of the ground by men’s low hanging trousers and showcasing of boxer shorts has been nothing but a common thing one is likely to find in places, streets, parties and anywhere you find people. Not only was it a problem with the way the youth especially dressed, but the manner by which the western way of dressing was copied. Dress code that perfectly fitted winter climate conditions in Western countries was fully practiced here when a full summer was experienced.

 It was glare that the local textile print industries were gradually loosing their place in the mind of Ghanaians youths. Most of Ghanaian youths preferred wearing designer clothes that is, the Gucci’s, Dolce and Gabbanas, Louis Vitton’s etc. to the local ones and claimed sometimes that the cost involved in buying and sewing the local print was expensive as compared to the already made foreign ones and that the local print could not be worn anywhere but the designer clothes could be worn anywhere and any day of the week. I, at this juncture, want to use this medium to thank all our media men and women, various presenters, actors and actresses especially for playing an important role in bringing back the old flavor in the African way of dressing. Not only did they play an important role in bringing it back, but also modernizing and changing the styles that our local print was used to sew thereby attracting and suiting the taste of the modern day Ghanaian youth.

Talking of actors and actresses, Shirley Frimpong Manso, writer, director and executive producer of the Episodic movie “Adams Apples” must be applauded for the good work done in using our local print in the famous and award sweeping movie attracting the fashion attention of most Ghanaians and showcasing how beautiful we look in our own print. Actors and presenters in the likes of John Dumelo, Annan Adjettey. Okyeame Kwame, Ice Baby of Tv3, Kwabena Kwabena and most of them whose name can all not be mentioned must equally be applauded for their belief in the local print and would urge musicians who lives influences people most to also join the race in promoting the locally manufactured prints. Our local printing industries (GTP, WOODIN, DA VIVA etc) has also played their part well by also adding more designs and colors and styles to the already existing ones making it more beautiful and attractive.

It feels good to walk in town seeing young men and women who once thought the local designs and print was solely for the old folks and also a code of dressing for Sunday church services dressed in the local print for work, meetings and even parties. It feels good to see the good people of Ghana take delight interest in its own product. Blending the local with the foreign cloth line is not a bad combination if going all local is not your taste. Ladies, a pair of trousers marched with a nicely sewn African print top can make you real smart and attractive.  You can also try a knee level straight dress for parties and also for the work place. For the men, going all African can be real sexy. A short sleeved local print shirt with a marching local print trousers (both must be of the same print) with a pair of locally made slipper can be so hot. Mind trying that? Well that was just by the way.

We thank our local textile industries for hanging on even when we decided to go for the already made dresses and designs that wasn’t our own and more importantly, to every single Ghanaian, for making Ghana proud by wearing a made in Ghana print. SANKOFA, YENKYI!!!

AKOSUA SEKYEWAA ODURO – (www.TheMonteOz.com)