Stephanie Linus Daily

Author: stephanielinusdaily

  • 5 Surprising Flat Belly Foods

    Belly fat! Carrying unwanted weight around your midsection is often uncomfortable and embarrassing. The good news is that with a healthier diet, exercises and some lifestyle changes, this can be reduced and hopefully eliminated.

    Start eating your way to a trimmer waistline with these top 5 foods for a flat stomach.

    1. Whole Grains
    Whole grains including quinoa, popcorn, oats and wheat can help flatten your tummy. This is mainly because they are so high in dietary fiber which regulates blood sugar and staves off hunger. Eating whole grains also helps to lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and insulin in the body, both of which encourage fat to be stored around the belly.

    2. Eggs
    Eggs for breakfast generally help you to keep from overeating for the rest of the day. This is because they are packed with protein to keep you feeling full and Vitamin B-12 which helps your body break down fat more efficiently.

    3. Bananas
    Banana is rich in potassium, a natural diuretic that helps de-bloats the belly. Banana also relieves/prevent constipation which could result in a belly bloat.

    4. Cucumbers
    Cucumbers are loaded with water and naturally low in calories to help with hydration and weight management. One whole cucumber has just 45 calories. If you are feeling bloated, cucumbers can help with that too.

    5. Yoghurt
    Not only is yogurt low in fat and calories, so good as a weight loss food, but many yogurts also contain active cultures (probiotics) which promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut and help with digestion, excess gas and bloating. You could also try combining natural yogurt, berries and flax seeds in a morning smoothie or bowl of cereal, getting you off to a great tummy-trimming start before you even leave the house.

    SL Fabz, what else would you recommend for a flatter tummy?

  • Career Talk: Should your employer monitor you on Social Media?

    Hi SL Fabz,

    It’s a beautiful Monday and I’m sure most of us are already back to work, sitting at our desks and making things happen!

    The use of Social Media has grown tremendously over the past few years. This growth continues to rise by the minute.

    But also on the rise is the number of companies monitoring their employees’ accounts on social media. Sometimes, it even serves as a determiner in a job selection process as many employers look closely at a job candidate’s online presence before making a decision.

    This means that almost every information you share on social media now, except on sites that enable you have a private profile (like Instagram), is available for your employer to see. The question now is, do you want your employer to see everything you’ve posted on social media?

    According to a survey by CareerBuiler, 39% of employers dig into candidates on social sites, while 43% said they had found something that made them deep-six a candidate—such as posting inappropriate photos or information, or bad-mouthing a former boss.

    Bad-mouthing a former boss! Now, that is something you wont want a prospective employer to see. But since most of our updates on social media are available for anyone in any part of the world to see, you can’t really blame your employer, can you?

    So, let’s discuss. Do you think its right for employers to monitor their employees’ social media accounts? As an employer, would you do this? As an employee, would you mind?

    Have you ever been in any awkward situation where someone at work saw a post on social media you didn’t want him/her to see?

    I’d love to read your thoughts!

  • 10 Special Women’s Day Messages To Send To That Lovely Woman

    Have you wished that woman around you a Happy International Women’s Day today?

    If you’re thinking why should I? It’s because every woman needs to feel loved and special for the roles they play as mothers, wives, sisters, grandmothers, sister in-laws, mother in-laws and more in the society. Women’s Day may not be as widely celebrated as Christmas Day, but it is still a day we should show love and appreciation.

    Just in case you’re wondering how you can do that, a simple text message, chat, email or note would do. And I’m here to help you out with some ideas.

    1. Women have strengths that amazes man.. She can handle trouble & carry heavy burdens.. She holds happiness, love & opinions.. And she will always smile when she feels like screaming. Happy Women’s Day.

    2. Across the miles comes this wish from me to say you are Special! Happy Women’s Day.

    3. You can do almost anything your mind to.. You can swim the deepest ocean and climb the highest peak.. Be a doctor or fly a plane.. You can face adversity and still walk tall. You are strong, beautiful, compassionate and much more than words could ever say! Today is yours and so is every other day.. Happy Women’s Day.

    4. Through the years, I have shared so much with you, both bitter and sweet. You have been such a comfort to me, helping me in every way, and all I wanna say today is: Sis, I treasure you close to my heart. Happy Women’s Day!

    5. We may not be able to see each other or listen to each other often. But thoughts of you fill my heart with fond memories of the times we have spent together. Thinking of you! Happy Womens Day sweetheart.

    6. You are the passion, You are the mystery, You are the magic! Happy Women’s Day to the most Special woman of my life.

    7. Some people can make happiness bloom just by saying just by being what they are. You’re one of them. Happy Women’s Day!

    8. On this special day, celebrate life. Take a break from your busy schedule. Let your hair down, have fun and do what your heart says. Cause today is your day. Have a great Women’s Day!

    9. A beautiful woman, a great friend and a wonderful mother. You are all this to me and much more.. I feel so lucky and proud to have a mom like you. Happy Women’s Day to Mother!

    10. For all the times you’ve brought a smile and made my days seem brighter. For sharing ups and downs with me and making my burdens lighter. For doing the caring things that make a special friend. Your friendship is a joy. I wish it never ends! Happy Women’s Day!

     Which one is your favourite? Which message best describes that special woman in your life?

  • Make It Happen! Happy International Women’s Day 2015

    I feel so proud to be a woman right now, and I congratulate every woman reading this today.

    Happy International Women’s Day!

    Sunday 8 March 2015 marks International Women’s Day, an annual event that celebrates women’s accomplishments and promotes global gender equality.

    This year’s theme is ‘make it happen’ and aims to encourage effective action for advancing and recognizing women. It focuses on women in different professional sectors; the arts, female-owned businesses, in senior leadership roles, and all aspects of working environments where gender parity has still not been achieved.

    I am very glad about this year’s theme, and it comes at the right time. As women, we need to strive even more to make things happen in our chosen fields. In our families, our businesses, our careers, in leadership…. we need to aim for the best always.

    To every woman out there reading this, I say, make it happen!

    *I have a question for every woman reading this. What makes you proud to be a woman?

  • How Do You Feel When You Look In The Mirror?

    Too often, women look in the mirror and don’t like what they see.

    #IAmEnough, an all female band, wanted to change this, to show women they are enough just the way they are.

    When the mirror in the video gives these women real feedback about themselves, and what they are like from other peoples view, you can see love conquering all, and real healing happening! The lies of comparison, low self- esteem, society, and most of all the enemy are being brought to light, and kicked out!

    I give kudos to the people who put this inspiring video together. It’s so touching. Watch below:

    Next time you look in the mirror think about that! When we accept, love ourselves, and others, we are so much more than a negative reflection in the mirror. We are much more beautiful than enough!

  • 5 Reasons Why Every Lady Should Wear Heels

    Heels are an important part of the fashionable woman’s wardrobe.

    For different reasons, not every lady can wear heels. I know that. There was a point in my life I had to stop wearing heels for a while after an accident, so this is not to say everyone MUST wear heels. But we can’t deny that a great pair of heels does a lot to a woman’s confidence and gait in positive ways.

    Here are 5 reasons why I think its absolutely important for a lady to wear a pair of heels, at least once in a while:

    1. They Draw Attention To Your Feet
    If you want to make a good first impression on anyone – man or woman – wear a pair of heels. A woman wearing heels definitely draws attention. Men love a woman in heels, and a great pair of heels can also draw compliments from other women. Stylish looking heels are an excellent way for a woman to add a focal point to an outfit.

    2. They Boost Your Confidence
    Walking in a pair of heels gives you a certain gait that is more confident than walking in flats. It adds some extra flair to your outfit and gives you a certain height that makes for a more assertive appearance. A good pair of heels makes a lady feel better about how she looks and this generally adds to her confidence.

    3. They Accentuate Your Legs
    A good pair of comfortable heels can make a lady’s legs look amazing. Not only do wearing high heels give the look of long and sexy legs, but they can also tone a woman’s leg muscles.

    4. They Add Extra Height
    I know what you’re thinking. I’m tall already and don’t need the height. Yeah, right! You’d be surprised that tall ladies can benefit from heels. Especially someone like me who has a very tall hubby *wink*.

    There are some dresses that just don’t go well with flats. The heels are needed to boost one’s height for that complete and confident look, and believe me, this is the number one reason why women around the world wear high heels. Women may want to add height in a number of different situations. They may want to match their height to a taller date. If a petite woman want to feel taller and more confident, all she has to do is throw on a pair of heels.

    5. They Make You Look Trimmer
    High heels, just like outfits such as skinny pants, make one look thinner in part because they force a woman to stand taller. This gives the appearance of a trim figure which is really what most women want.

    So ladies, would you be wearing a pair of heels today? What is the primary reason why you wear heels?

  • #WomenIssues: Violence Against Women

    Violence Against Women is a monster in the society. There is no better way I could put it. This type of violence is gender-based, meaning that the acts of violence are committed against women expressly because they are women and this makes it even more sad.

    Not only is it a grave violation of human rights, its impact ranges from immediate to long-term multiple physical, sexual and mental consequences for women and girls, including death. It negatively affects women’s general well-being and prevents women from fully participating in society.

    Violence Against Women takes many forms including physical, sexual, emotional, and mental. Common forms of violence against women in Nigeria are rape, molestation, battering, and corporal punishment, among others. The list is endless.

    Let me remind you of these shocking statistics according to the World Health Organisation:

    • Recent global prevalence figures indicate that 35% of women worldwide have experienced either intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
    • On average, 30% of women who have been in a relationship report that they have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence by their partner.
    • Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner.
    • Violence can result in physical, mental, sexual, reproductive health and other health problems, and may increase vulnerability to HIV.

    The sad situation is compounded by discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnicity, sexual identity, social status, class, and age. Many cultural practices and multiple forms of discrimination restrict women’s choices, increase their vulnerability to violence and make it even harder for women to obtain justice.

    This month is the women’s month, and very soon, we’d be marking the International Women’s Day. In the light of this, I want to point out that while there are many ways we can help curb this social menace, one important thing we should put more effort on is enlightenment. Our women need to be enlightened and educated about their rights. Many times, women stay in abusive relationships and endure different forms of violence because they feel they deserve it. This is totally wrong!

    Violence against women is a violation of human rights that cannot be justified by any political, religious, or cultural claim. Let’s spread the word today!

  • 10 Annoying Things Nigerians Do In Cinemas

    This article was written by Mayo Bayo

    During my short stay in Nigeria, on my bucket list was to catch up with the latest movies at the cinema. The movie ‘Half Of The Yellow Sun‘ was the first I wanted to watch as I had already read the novel so I was keen to see the movie. I bought my ticket at the Film House Cinemas in Surulere. A movie was 1500 Naira, a quite reasonable price, comparing with the price in other parts of the world.

    Watching movies at the cinema for Nigerians is still not a culture but a thing people see as some sort of luxury; just like how a lot of people come specially to take picture at ShopRite supermarket instead of shopping (that’s a gist for another day).

    So you find a lot of disgusting behaviors around, well not all is peculiar to Nigerian cinemas though. I went to 3 different cinemas during my stay and each had these 10 categories of people:

    • The Commentator
    As Chiwetel Ejiofor, who played the role of Odenigbo was looking into the Olanna’s eye, a romantic scene was building up already… next thing was this loud guy in the middle row of the cinema hall shouting,
    “Correct guy! I dey feel you joo!. Kiss am, you too dey form jare! You just dey dull”. At this moment I felt like punching this dude right on his balls. His loud outburst just kept interrupting my favorite scenes. To himself he was whispering, to me he was just another loud jerk. Like why now, this is not a football match we don’t need your commentary!

    • Loud Chewer
    Popcorn and movies go hand in hand, I can’t say the origin. It’s a tradition everywhere in the world but do you have to chew out loud like a Sokotogudali cattle. I have seen your popcorn, do I have to hear it too?

    • The Leg Stretcher
    I was still wondering where the smell was coming from, only to see some dude with his leg close to my nose killing it softly with his stinky socks. You have legs, the length of Zamfara’s sugar cane, why not just position them to your row and not stretch them towards my seat?

    • He who laughs last …
    Laughs best they say, but that was not the case for this guy that sat on the row before mine. 60secs after the scene this dude is still HAHA-ing! Ok that scene was funny, yes and we all laughed so can you now shut up so that we can hear what’s coming next?

    • The Questioner
    “Chairman please what did he just say that was funny?” I was like what the hell, did I pay to come narrate movies, or what are your satellite dish ears made for? Ok I didn’t say that, else I would have been writing this post from a hospital bed. You need to see the guy’s biceps.

    • The Crying baby
    I was smiling at the large screen and sipping my Pepsi … and all of a sudden this baby starts bawling its lungs out, I cringed at the noise. Why do some mothers bring their baby to the cinema? Why not just sit in your house and enjoy a DVD movie with your family? Stop torturing the poor kid with high Dolby surround sound from those gigantic speakers.

    • Armrest Mafia
    You remember the questioner I told you about at the earlier? Yes the one with biceps the size of two big gwari yam tubers tied together. His biceps were spread all over the arm rest like a mat. I couldn’t even find space to put my broom stick looking arms.

    • The Caller
    “Wale how far, I dey Ozone, I dey watch movie I go call you later”. Despite the switch off your phone during movie warning, this dude kept picking calls in the middle of the movie. When will some Nigerians learn to turn their phone off during a movie or put it on vibration?

    • The chatty couple
    They were talking like they were in their bed room. And for whatever reason this Romeo and Juliet sat right next to me as if the theatre was running out of seats – save the chat for after the movie.

    • Selfie Addict
    At the cinema at Ikeja Mall, I witnessed a girl take at least 5 pictures of herself at a go making the annoying duck face. I was already seething with anger as the guy next to me came with his family and yep, you guessed right, they started their picture sessions too!

    * Mayo Bayo is the editor of Talk Drum Online Magazine.

    SL Fabz, did you find this interesting? Are you guilty of doing any of the above in the cinema? What other annoying things do people do inside a cinema?

     

    Do you like to write and wish to contribute to StephanieDaily? If yes, send your articles to info@stephaniedaily.com

  • Do You Believe In Zodiac Signs?

    Virgo, Cancer, Aries, Pisces, Aquarius, Gemini, Leo….

    Nearly everyone has heard of the signs of the zodiac, mostly through “sun-sign astrology” columns, where the signs are taken as major determinants of the personality. These signs are generally linked to the date a person was born. Each sign has different personality traits which proponents claim are found in people who have that Zodiac sign.

    It is not unusual for you to find your Zodiac sign and see more than two or three traits which describe your personality. For this reason, many tend to believe it completely. Daily horoscopes on the other hand is another thing entirely. They predict the event(s) that people with particular zodiac signs will encounter daily.

    Some years back, I used to have a colleague who never missed reading the daily horoscopes in newspapers. Whenever he felt funny or something was happening to him, he would explain that his horoscope had predicted it. When things went well, he would say he knew it was going to happen that way because his horoscope said so.

    I’ve never understood this concept properly so I can’t even call myself a believer. What about you?

    Do you believe that Zodiac signs can truly define who a person is? What is your Zodiac sign? Do you know the personality traits of your Zodiac sign and do they apply to you?

    Let’s discuss!

  • How To Network Like A Boss

    Whether you are a career person or an entrepreneur running your own business, you’d definitely need something from someone at some point in time. This can be made easier when you have a good network. Networking can easily be defined as any opportunity you have to meet people pursuing similar interests to your own. Networking is not just a good thing, it is essential to building a successful career.

    Most professionals don’t do enough networking and their worst business networking mistake is that they don’t build a professional network until they really need one – and that’s a bit late.

    Don’t wait till its too late. Build up your network today while keeping these in mind:

    1. Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for.

    2. Start with people you know, then expand to their acquaintances and finally strangers after the process becomes second nature.

    3. When approaching someone, be as open as you can with your body language. Make an effort to listen and ask questions without interrupting them. Focus fully on the speaker and make an effort to move the conversation along.

    4. Aim for a diverse group of people from whom you can learn. Other business people and professionals have much to teach and share when an individual is open to learning and change ideas.

    5. People won’t remember who you are or what you do if you don’t give them a way to do so. This is why business cards, postcards and even emails exist. Yes, emails. A quick, professional email stating how great it was to meet someone is more than enough to make a lasting impression.

    6. Call those you meet who may benefit from what you do and vice versa. Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas.

    The weekend is always a good time for meeting new people so when you step out for that social event soon, don’t just party for fun. Build up your professional network too!

    Have a lovely Friday.

    SL Fabz, share with me. How has good networking helped your career or business? Have you ever met someone outside your work place who you later did business with or who helped your career in any way?