Tips For Expat Women

An expatriate is someone that is temporary or permanently living in a  country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing or legal residence. Living a life outside your country of  origin or where you grew up and has spent most of your life can be challenging. For many Expats, that is one of the loneliest experience they have had. When the excitement of being in a new country is over, homesickness starts to set in. You can start missing your family members, friends, food, culture, etc.

Relocating to a new country often means new society, new culture, new breed of people with different social characters etc. and worse still, new language. For these reasons, many expats/migrants often found themselves being very lonely or only mixing up with fellow expats which I think can limit them from learning about the people and the culture of the country which they are living in.

From my experience, there are things  expats should do to make life in their present country of residence worth living and more enjoyable:

1. Integrate yourself to the society. Learning and reading about the people, their culture and society will help you understand why they do or behave in a certain way. It will also help you to know what is important to them and how they react to certain things.

2. Learn the language. If your new country has a local language, LEARN IT. Studies have shown that learning the local language is one of the best tools that helps an expat/migrant to settling down in the new country. Find a language school and put your heart to learning the language.

3. Make friends. Be open to meeting new people especially the local citizens. This will help you learn more about the people and their way of life, language, culture, food, etc.

4.Find other expatriates around you. This is also a good way to come in contact to other foreigners and also helps you to exchange tips on living in a new country.

5. Be motivated and stay positive minded.  Maintain your identity, don't loose focus. Even though you are in a foreign land, you can always be who or what you want to be. Let know one bring you down, always put your head up and stay away from negative people. Read books, be informed and know what is happening in your environment. Join groups that will be beneficial to you and have fun.

6. Be creative. Having a creative mind is an added virtue. Be creative in every thing you do. If you are not working, be creative with the things you do around your home.

7. Give it your best and make it work. It all lies in your hands. You are the only one that will make it work. Accept your present country, love it, see it as an adventure and don't forget that you have to live every moment of your life to the fullest. 

Wishing you best of lucks. 

Always Nekky.

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop

Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

When Kids Pray

I love interacting with kids. It's amazing to hear the beautiful things that go on in their minds. They are so innocent and say things the way they feel about them without meaning any harm. Here are some nice quotes from children. I enjoyed them and hope you will.
 

1. A little boy was overheard praying: “Lord, if you can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry about it. I’m having a real good time like I am.”

2. After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, “That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys.”

3. One particular four-year-old prayed,”And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.”

4. A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3 The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,’Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait. ‘Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,”Ryan,you be Jesus!”

5. A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year-old son ran up to him,grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand.”Daddy, what happened to him?” the son asked.”He died and went to Heaven,” the Dad replied. The boy thought a moment and then said, “Did God throw him back down?”

6. Mrs. Adams invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, “Would you like to say the blessing?” “I wouldn’t know what to say,” the girl replied.”Just say what you hear Mommy say,”she answered. The daughter bowed her head and said, “Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?”

7. A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service,”And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?” One bright little girl replied,”Because people are sleeping.”

Get Connected Tuesday Blog Hop

Welcome to  Get Connected Tuesday Blog Hop. We are very happy to have you here. A special welcome to all my first visitors. If you are already a part of this hop, we are thanking you so much for your help in building Get Connected Tuesday Blog Hop and making it a success. Come and Get Connected and stay Connected. With this hop, you will increase your strength, followers, readers and connect to other bloggers in which ever way you like.
This hop is now hosted by Reflexions and World Bloggers Community(a new community for bloggers world wide). 

This blog hop is for family friendly websites only.

Teaching Our Children to Go Green

Climate change is one of the most discussed issues in our society today. Human activities is one of the causes of this change. The good news is that many of us can help in our own little ways to bring it under control by following some simple steps. When we live light on the earth, we are also saving money at the same time. Going green is an effective method that enables us to be more environmental friendly. When we go green, we are helping to save this lovely planet for our children's future and our grandchildren and their generation will be thankful for that.

Going green as parents/adults will definitely make a change but teaching our children/young ones to go green will make a greater and long lasting impact on our planet. Raising  green children will teach them to respect the environment and it's resources. It is good to start when they are young because the formative years of a child's life is the most important time to provide him with learning activities.

Here are some easy ways to help our children go green.

 * Teach them to Turn off Lights and appliances when not in use. Electronic appliances, even after switching them off still continues to consume energy. Teach the children to turn off lights, television,  etc. before leaving the room.

 * Turn off the water while brushing or showering.

* Say NO to food wastage.

*Start an organic garden. Kids loves getting dirty and getting dirty with can be so much fun. A good way to teach them about going green is by starting their own organic garden. This helps them understand the preciousness of natural resources and they also feel the sense of accomplishment. Allow them to help out in tending the organic garden everyday (eg watering the plants). If  you don't have a garden, planting a container herb garden  is a good idea.

  Reuse. Always learn the habit of reusing what you've got. Children will appreciate this virtue when it's passed on to them.

Teach them to give to others what they are not using. Children grow at a very fast pace. Most often their clothes, Shoes, Toys, etc are barely used. These items are still good and can still be good to others. Instead of trashing them, we are making others smile. Teaching them the benefits of sharing and caring for others will make them better adult.

What other tips do you have? Please share.

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop

Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

Are You an Expat Woman?

I said I will be writing about my life as an Expat woman on this blog. But before I start sending in posts on this topic, I want to let readers in about what it means to be an Expat woman. 

Have you noticed that every day more and more people are moving from their countries to live in other countries. The movement could be in search of greener pastures, careers, relationships, jobs, etc. If you found your self in any of these categories or if you are currently not living in your country, you are an Expatriate. If you are a woman, that makes you an Expat Woman (expatriate woman)..... and voilà, we have something in common. I am a Nigerian. I grew up in my country and I met my husband when I was concluding my studies in the University. I joined him in Germany thereafter and I've been here for some couple of years now, that's my story so far. 

If you are an expat woman, you will agree with me that there are lots of challenges that one has to face. Life could be fun though, careers, marriages/relationships, children, etc could thrive or suffer. But knowing that you are not alone and trying to get in touch with other Expat women will always go a long way in making a difference.

I am a member of an on line community called EXPAT WOMEN. The web site is amazing. There are lots of things to benefit from the site like success stories, inspirationals and motivational articles and so much more. Just click here Expat women.com

I wish you all luck in your expatriate living.

Are you an Expat Woman, I want to hear from you. Tell us your story, it doesn't matter which country you live in, we can always be useful to each other. Please leave your comments, no matter how long it is.

Love, Nekky.

Get Connected Tueday Blog Hop

Welcome to  Get Connected Tuesday Blog Hop. We are very happy to have you here. A special welcome to all my first visitors. If you are already a part of this hop, we are thanking you so much for your help in building Get Connected Tuesday Blog Hop and making it a success. Come and Get Connected and stay Connected. With this hop, you will increase your strength, followers, readers and connect to other bloggers in which ever way you like.
This hop is now hosted by Reflexions and World Bloggers Community(a new community for bloggers world wide). 

This blog hop is for family friendly websites only.

After Birth: Alessandra Ambrosio is Back to Shape

                             foto: Splash

Just weeks after the birth of her son Noah, Alessandra Ambrosio (just like most of the celebrity mommies) has lost almost all the baby-pounds she got during pregnancy. For all the interested Mamas' that want  their slim figure back, her secret is "Yoga and Shopping"!!! Hmmm, I don't know if this will work for me. Like I always say, I'll still find out their secrets.

Family Meal: Meatless Monday Mexican Fiesta

Menu

Broccoli Enchiladas (Protein & Grain)

Calabecitas (Vegetable)

Aztec Oranges (Fruit)

Broccoli Enchiladas:

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of broccoli florets
• 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 egg
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• ½ tsp. each of salt, pepper and ground cumin
• 6 whole wheat tortillas
• 1 ½ cups red chile enchilada sauce*
• 1 cup vegetable stock

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees 
2. Blanch broccoli florets by bringing a pan of water to a boil, add broccoli and cook for 3 minutes. Drain immediately and run under cold water.
3. Place broccoli, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, egg, garlic and cumin in a food processor or blender.  Pulse to blend all ingredients (mixture can be chunky or smooth - whichever you prefer).
4. Fill each tortilla with the broccoli mixture and roll them up. Arrange tortilla rolls in an oven-proof dish that is large enough to hold the 6 tortillas rolls in a single layer. Pour the red chile enchilada sauce and the vegetable stock over the tortilla rolls. Top with the remaining cheese.
5. Bake 30 minutes. Let the pan cool for 10 minutes and serve.  

*Red chile enchilada sauce is available in the Mexican Food section at a supermarket.

Calabecitas

Ingredients:

• 2 medium-sized zucchini, diced
• 1 roasted poblano chile (see roasting directions below), diced
• ½ large onion, diced
• 2 ears fresh sweet corn or 1-1/2 cups of frozen corn
• 1 can (15 oz.) black beans
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• Salt and fresh pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Pour back beans in colander and rinse for 1 minute under cold water.
2. Remove husks from corn and cut kernels off the cobs.
3. In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, corn, chile and zucchini. Cover, stirring occasionally, and cook until zucchini and onion is softened, about 10 minutes.
4.  Reduce heat to low and gently stir in black beans and continue cooking to heat the black beans about 1-2 minutes.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Roasting a poblano chile pepper:

Chiles roasted over an open flame, or in the oven, impart a delicious smoky flavor to many dishes.

Gas Stove: Turn a burner on high and place the chile on the burner. Use long handled tongs to turn the pepper until it is evenly charred (black skin) on all sides. Place the pepper in a plastic bag and seal the bag.

Oven: Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place pepper a cookie sheet and roast for about 4-5 minutes until the skins blister. Watch carefully so it does not burn. Place the roasted peppers in a plastic bag and seal the bag.

Clean and peel: After 10 minutes, remove the pepper from the bag and wash off the skin under cool water. Slice the pepper open. Discard stem core, seeds and stringy veins.

Aztec Oranges

Ingredients:

• 2 oranges
• ¼ of a lime
• 1 tsp. brown sugar

Directions:

1. Slice ends and skin off oranges. 
2. Holding the orange on its side, slice orange into ¼-inch thick rounds.
3. Place on plate, squeeze lime juice over the oranges and sprinkle with brown sugar. Serve. 

For more information on healthy eating ideas for your family, subscribe to Fresh Baby

Welcome To The Weekend Blog Hop

Welcome to the Weekend Blog Hop where you can link up your favorite post of the week. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. You are free to link up to 3 different post or just your main blog. Happy Hopping.

Introduction to Mexican Food

 Introducing a World of Flavor

Corn, beans, fresh fruits and vegetables are staples in the native Mexican diet. In fact, hundreds of years ago meat was quite scarce. It was the Spanish conquistadores who introduced cattle, goats, sheep, chickens and pigs to the Mexican landscape. The introduction of these animals also led to the introduction of cheese-making too.

Today, Mexican food is considered one of the most varied in the world and there are many cooking styles for preparing Mexican foods. Cookbooks are filled with recipes for soups, stews, casseroles, and beautiful fresh salads. Grilling and BBQ also make regular appearances in these cookbooks.

While corn and beans remain the staples, fresh peppers and spices are used liberally to give the cuisine vibrant flavors. In the United States, the spiciness of Mexican food varies depending where you live. In the South and West, a spicier Tex-Mex style is popular. Moving further to the North and East, the spices tend to migrate to the milder side.

Though spiciness plays a role in the robust flavor of Mexican food, the use of fresh traditional ingredients also provides a delicious rainbow of healthy flavors.

The staple ingredients for Mexican cooking:

• Corn
• Beans (Black, Kidney, Pinto)
• Tomatoes and Tomatillos
• Avocados
• Tortillas
• Rice
• Limes and Oranges

Herbs and Spices in Mexican Cooking:

Mexican food is filled with flavor and the most common spice is the chile pepper. Other commonly used herbs and spices include:

• Cilantro
• Cumin
• Oregano
• Garlic
• Cocoa or Mexican Chocolate
• Honey

For more information on healthy eating for your family, subscribe to Fresh Ideas

Get Connected Tuesday Blog Hop

Welcome to  Get Connected Tuesday Blog Hop. We are very happy to have you here. A special welcome to all my first visitors. If you are already a part of this hop, we are thanking you so much for your help in building Get Connected Tuesday Blog Hop and making it a success. Come and Get Connected and stay Connected. With this hop, you will increase your strength, followers, readers and connect to other bloggers in which ever way you like.
This hop is now hosted by Reflexions and World Bloggers Community(a new community for bloggers world wide). 

This blog hop is for family friendly websites only.

Healthy Habits

 Introducing Your Family to Yellow Foods.

  

Yellow fruits and vegetables come in a range of textures and flavors and contain a variety of beneficial vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. 

 

Yellow is a great color - it's the color of sunshine and sunshine energizes us. Next time you are at the market, ask your child to choose a sunny yellow fruit or vegetable, so they can enjoy the delicious energetic benefits of yellow foods.

Here's more information about some of our favorite "sunshine" yellow foods:

Bananas- This fun and easy to eat fruit contains potassium, vitamins A, B-6, B-12, and C. Bananas provide a quick energy boost for hungry kids of all ages. Keep bananas on the counter for healthy after school snacking. Bananas are great added to smoothies, cereal, yogurt, pancakes, or baked goods. For more ideas on adding bananas to your family meals, check our Food Guide: Bananas.

Pineapples - Juicy, sweet pineapples provide the body with Bromelain, Vitamin A and C, and manganese. Bromelain is a natural anti-inflammatory that helps relieve swelling caused by injury or illness. Serve pineapples fresh, grilled, or add to sauces and salsas. For more ideas on adding pineapple to your family meals, check our Food Guide: Pineapple.

Yellow Peppers -Yellow peppers are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins A, C, and B6 niacin, magnesium, copper, folate, potassium and manganese. Add yellow peppers to pasta, stir-fry, and salads. Slice yellow peppers and serve with a side of salad dressing for a crunchy, sweet snack.

Yellow Squash - Yellow squash contains vitamin C, Iron, folate, beta-carotene, and lutein. Slice yellow squash and sauté with olive oil for a nutritious side dish, or add to casseroles for extra goodness.

Corn - Nothing says summer like fresh corn, and watching a young child eat corn on the cob can be a memorable experience! Corn provides the body with beneficial anti-oxidants to help prevent disease and fiber for healthy digestion. Steam, boil or grill corn on the cob, or cut the kernels from the cob and serve as a side dish, or add it to soups, stews, salads and casseroles.

Lemons - Lemons are a good source of vitamin C. Plus, they are a cleansing food. Squeezing a slice of lemon into a glass of water each day can aid digestion problems and remove impurities from the body. Adding a little slice of lemon to your kid's water can be a great way to get them to drink more water. You can also squeeze fresh lemon juice over vegetables, poultry and fish.

Yellow Pears - Loaded with vitamins, minerals, and cancer preventing anti-oxidants, pears are a healthy and delicious choice for snacks and side dishes. Pears also have a low glycemic index, which means they can help control blood sugar levels. Pears provide the body with vitamins A, C, B1, B2, and E, folate, potassium, iron, and fiber.   Slice pears and serve alone, or add to salads and smoothies. 

 For more ideas on healthy family meals, check out and subscribe to Fresh Baby

You and Your Body Weight

Over the years, many people have been fighting/struggling to main a healthy body weight. Overweight and weight loss have become an important issue in our society today. This is an issue that concerns both men and women and people of all ages. I know some big time snackers who would never loose weight because even though they eat healthy foods, they are always nibbling in-between meals and eating late.   If you found yourself in the above situation, I would recommend raspberry ketone capsules a product that uses a natural ingredient found in raspberries, known as Raspberry Ketone. 

 

After so many years of trying to loose  weight, a family friend of ours was introduced to these capsules and she had never been much happier. After some couple of months, everybody around her noticed the magical change. According to her, she still works-out daily and she didn't give up her new healthy eating habit because she thinks the whole package are working together for her.

I think that weight loss takes more than a couple weeks or a couple of months for you to actually see drastic results . It needs to be a life altering change and you need to be extremely disciplined to maintain your new weight. 

 

I'm wishing everybody who is trying to maintain a healthy body weight and a healthy living good luck.

Welcome To Weekend Blog Hop

Welcome to Weekend Blog Hop. Thank you for joining us and linking up. We are happy you are here and hope you will always come around. We have had a great week and now it's time for us to increase our followers by Blog Hopping all through the Weekend. Come and make new friends and find some interesting blogs to follow. Happy Hopping.

Tips For Preventing Afro Textured Hair Loss (Fashion and Beauty Friday)

Many people, even the young ones are now experiencing lots of hair-losses. Some say their hairs are falling out like crazy and I think this is because of too much chemicals that are found in most hair products we are using. Most of the hair products out there (starting from shampoos) contains some unimaginable chemicals you won't even like to lay your hands on talk-less of pouring them on your hair. 

For somebody like me with an Afro textured hair, I try as much as possible to use more natural products for my hair. What's best is to prevent your hair from falling out in the first place (no matter your hair type). 

Here are a few ways you can do this:

1. Consider changing your hairstyle from time
to time to let your scalp and locks breathe.
Why? Because tight braids, coils, and twists
may loosen hair and cause it to come out.

2. Use wide-tooth combs and brushes whenever
possible. If you use a narrow-tooth comb or
brush, it can yank your hair and pull it out
in clumps.

3. Avoid combing your hair vigorously or too
often. A few strokes of the brush each day
should be enough to stimulate oil production
to protect the hair shaft and scalp and
maintain a nice shine.

4. Do not over-process your hair. If you use
relaxers, and leave them in your hair too
long, you may end up with a chemical burn. If
this happens, your hair may fall out until
your scalp is healed.

Follow these suggestions and you'll prevent
your shiny, healthy hair from becoming
damaged and falling out.