Stephanie Linus Daily

Category: Blog

  • Talk To Steph: Who Should I Settle Down With?

    Talk to Steph

    This email was sent in by Osayi.

    I am 29 years old. I need your candid advice in terms of my relationship.

    I used to date a black guy who I fell in love with but he broke up with me because he said I was a bit stubborn and he thinks I’m self centered. I pleaded with him not to end the relationship, even family members intervened all to no avail. He still ended it and I was really heartbroken. He has got three kids (white kids) and he is still single. During our breakup I met a 34 year old white guy who I started dating. This guy is nice, caring and he loves me but he said he is not ready to get married yet but we can have babies together.

    Now the black guy whom I’m still in love with is back and asking for a new beginning all over again. He wants us to settle down together. My problem is I’m so confused about him because of the way he acted. I’m still in love with him not minding the fact that he has kids already but I still have the white guy who I am dating but I don’t love him.

    I don’t know who to settle with for life.

    Let’s jump in with some good advice SL Fabz.

  • Fun Facts About Boxing Day!

    Steph in Christmas Hat

    Christmas this year for me was wonderful! Thanks to all the beautiful people in my life who made it special.

    But after Christmas day comes Boxing day. A day that I’ve always been excited about since I was a kid.

    We’d get together and playfully box each other, wishing ourselves ‘Happy Boxing Day’. But more importantly, it was a day when we made sure our parents or older uncles and aunties gave us a treat or took us out.

    But did you know Boxing day is more than that? Here are some fun facts I found about Boxing day:

    1. Boxing Day is called boxing day because it was the day the family opened the box for the poor.

    2. The Christmas Box was often made of clay or wood and was where people placed gifts.

    3. During the age of exploration, a Christmas Box would be placed on a ship for good luck. A priest would often place it there, and crewmen would drop money in it to ensure a safe return. If the ship returned safely, the priest would take the box and distribute the contents to the poor.

    4. Every church in England had an alms box which was where folks placed money for the poor. The box was opened on Dec. 26 and the contents were distributed to the poor of the parish.

    5. The tradition still continues today. Many of us give small tokens to local workers. Kids also collect things in boxes to be given to the local poor.

    So, aside from ‘boxing’ your loved ones today, don’t forget to box their gifts too 🙂

    So tell me SL Fabz, how did you spend your Christmas day? What does boxing day mean to you?

    xoxo

    SL

  • Merry Christmas To You!

    Merry Christmas
    On this Christmas Day, I hope you and your loved ones are celebrating in a way that is special to you. I hope that you receive everything for which you asked and feel the love and joy that the season brings.

    Wishing you an abundance of friends, happiness, and fun this holiday season.

    May your life be colorful, magnificent, shimmering and joyful, as the magic of Christmas spreads on you.

    May this Christmas end the present year on a cheerful note and make way for a fresh and bright new year.

    Here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas!

    xoxo

    SL

  • It’s Not Too Late For Your Dreams To Come True

    Don't Give Up

    It’s just a few days to the end of the year and I just thought to share this important message with you.

    I was having a conversation with someone a while ago and she was complaining about how she hasn’t achieved most of her goals for this year. Funny, I felt the same way too. There are certain things I set out to achieve this year and its already looking like those things might not be fulfilled this year. But you know what? They are my dreams, they are still mine and definitely I will achieve them when God says its time.

    It’s easy to feel depressed and focus on the negative things, the things you haven’t achieved. This is just a message to say focus on the positives and focus on your dreams.

    Your dreams are bigger than you. Your dreams are planted deep within your heart by Life itself. Your responsibility is not to make them happen, but simply to say, “Yes.”

    Along the journey to your dream’s fulfillment, you will face challenges that test you. In these moments things can sometimes seem tough. It can be easy to lose hope. You might sometimes wonder if your dreams will ever happen. You may even consider abandoning your dreams altogether, feeling as though you have given everything and not seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

    These are the moments that it is easy to give up. These are the moments most people give in. But these are the very moments to LIVE everything you know deep in your heart.

    If you are facing one of those challenging moments in life, but feel your dream to be truly authentic to your heart, then you must commit, continue and trust bigger than your fears.

    I wish you all a Merry Christmas in advance. Look beyond your worries and put a smile on someone’s face this season!

  • 5 Awesome Gifts Ideas For “Him” This Christmas

    Hi SL Fabz,

    Last week, I gave the men some tips on gift ideas for their wives or girlfriends this season. Click here if you missed it. Now ladies, its our turn to bring out our wallets and get shopping for a special gift for that special man in our lives.

    Here are 5 fabulous gift ideas you could try:

    wristwatch

    1. Watches
    If you aren’t sure where to start when you are searching for gifts for a man, you can’t travel too far with the idea of purchasing watches. He will love the practicality of the gift, and the fact it’s flashy enough to compliment what he may be wearing, yet not flashy enough to stand out and overpower anything. 

    clothes

    2. Clothes
    While specific details in regards to the kind of clothes will of course vary from man to man, everyone has some kind of style. If you know the particular style of the man in your life, it shouldn’t be too difficult to piece together what kind of articles of clothing he may or may not enjoy. This really means you need to know a bit more about your gift recipient and what they’ll more than likely wear on a regular basis.

     

    cologne

    3. Cologne
    You may be surprised, but men can enjoy giving off a nice scent just as much as women. Cologne can serve as a quite powerful identifier, and an element that can serve an almost equally significant as the accessories or clothes a man may decide to brandish. That fact aside, a gift of cologne can prove to be an enjoyable present for both you and your gift recipient.

    gadget

    4. Gadgets
    Men are simple folk, but when it comes to buying them gifts, they really do love their toys. If your man is gadget mad he’ll be super thrilled to have one this Christmas. Gadget gifts for men are good choices for the tech lover in your life. A smartphone, an iPad, a TV set, a digital camera… are smart choices.

    Massage

    5. Pamper Him
    Break out your pumice and peppermint foot scrub and treat him to an at-home pedicure. Soak his feet in very warm water for ten minutes while massaging his hands with non-girlie scented lotion (no fruits or flowers!). Then pat his feet dry, massage the pumice scrub into them, rinse well, and rub with that same non-scented lotion you used on his hands.

    So, even if you are short on cash, there is no reason not to give ‘him’ a special treat this Christmas!

    Does anyone have any other gift ideas to add to this list? 

  • Stephanie’s Tips: Natural Beauty Recipe For A Radiant Skin!

    Banana face mask

    Hi SL Fabz,

    It’s a beautiful Sunday and I’d like to share with you some natural home recipes you can use to improve the quality of your skin and fight wrinkling. 

    I know ladies would be very glad to read this tip, and guess what, the major ingredient is really affordable and can be found everywhere. It’s Bananas!

    Bananas are very popular with the vitamins are good for the health of the body and the protein that can be digested easily. Bananas also have benefits for skin care and hair beauty. In fact, the roots of banana can be utilized for hair growth.

    One again, the benefit of bananas is to get rid of facial wrinkles. You can use bananas as a natural mask for the face. And it is fabulous; banana mask can be used by dry skin and oily skin owners.

    We can make banana mask at home to remove wrinkles on the face. You can make a banana face mask to prevent additional wrinkles on your face. In addition to providing nutrients that are beneficial to the skin, bananas were able to hold moisture in skin cells so the skin elasticity is maintained. Its vitamin C content can also help erode the face of dead skin cells so the skin can look brighter.

    Here are some recipes of banana mask: 

    Banana mask recipe 1: 

    Materials you need is 1 / 4 section of banana and 1 tablespoon of honey. How to make: Blend the banana. Then enter the honey and stir until the texture changes such as cream.

    How to use: Apply the bananas mask all over your face and let stand for 30 minutes. Remove the banana mask with a towel that has been soaked in warm water. And then, sprinkle your face with cold water. Use this mask every once in a week on a regular basis then you can see the results.

    Banana Mask Recipe 2: Mask of Banana for dry skin

    Bananas are a source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and potassium. Bananas also contains moisturizer that can moisturize the face.

    Ingredients:
    2 bananas and honey
    1 tablespoon oatmeal
    whole milk (to soften face) 

    Mash the banana with a fork. Do not be too subtle, because it would generate too much water. Combine bananas with oatmeal. Add honey and milk, if desired. Apply to entire face and leave for 10 minutes. Rinse face with cold water.

    Banana Mask Recipe 3: Banana Mask for oily skin

    Material:
    1 banana (you can keep ripe bananas in the refrigerator. Let thaw before use)
    1 tablespoon honey
    1 orange or lemon

    Preparation: 
    Mix the banana and honey together.
    Add a few drops of orange or lemon juice.
    Apply to face for 15 minutes before rinsing with cold cloths or warm cloths.

    So ladies, do you have any other natural beauty recipes you’d like to share?

  • Protect Your Privacy When Taking Pictures With Your Smartphone

    Smartphone Pictures
    Hi SL Fabz,

    I hope you’re having a great weekend so far.

    I came across this video online and I thought it would be nice to share. This is a wake up call to parents and guardians to be extra careful.

    Did you know that pictures you’ve e-mailed or uploaded from your smartphone could leak information that can threaten your safety or that of your children?

    It’s a new and frightening threat to parents.

    Here’s how it works according to a report by KSHB
    At UMKC, computer science Professor Deep Medhi says smartphones leave a high-tech invisible trail using the same geotracking technology that enables the social website Foursquare and handheld map apps.
    “Exactly like in your GPS device in your car,” Medhi said. “When you do it, it can tell you exactly where it is.”
    Medhi showed how the easily-obtained software can translate geotagged photos, uploaded or linked from popular websites, into maps.
    “Exactly that spot where that picture was taken,” Medhi said.
    How to deactivate your geotagging
    The site icanstalku.com reposts pictures from unwitting Twitter users in real time, translating their photos into actual addresses and maps.
    The site also lists a how to deactivate geotagging on the iPhone, Blackberry with GPS, Google Android, and Palm WebOS.
    The site recommends restricting which applications can access GPS marking, or turning off location services altogether, in your smartphone settings.

    So people don’t forget to turn off your GPS settings before taking pictures you plan to post online and keep your online photo servers restricted to private.

    Stay safe.

    xoxo

    SL

  • 8 Warning Signs That He Is Just Using You

    Signs he is using you
    Hi SL Fabz,

    In the wake of our last ‘Talk To Steph’ post where a 19 year-old girl was asking for advice on spending a night in her boyfriend’s house (click here if you missed it), I find the need to share with you some signs to know if a guy is just using you.

    Ladies, you deserve better and you should start considering opting out of a relationship if you notice any of these signs below:

    1. You Pay Every Time You Go Out
    Even though the guy is supposed to pay in the beginning, you constantly find yourself paying for every single thing when you two go out. Does that seem to be the case with your relationship? That’s definitely one of the top signs he is using you. While it’s okay to split the bill, you shouldn’t constantly be pulling your wallet out to pay all of the time.

    2. He’s Only Available When He Needs Something from You
    What about his availability? Do you constantly find that he isn’t available unless he needs something from you? This is definitely a sign he is using you girls. After all, don’t you want a guy that is going to be available when you need him to? Not just when he needs you?

    3. You Are His Convenience
    Are you constantly finding yourself his convenience for a ride or for an ‘allowance’? That should never be the case when you are in a mature relationship ladies! Everything should be even, you should never be someones ‘convenience’.

    4. He Tells You Everything you Want to Hear but Doesn’t Show You the Things he Says
    Actions speak louder than words, so if he’s just filling you up with charming and charismatic words without proving what he says is true, its time to move on.

    5. He Doesn’t Need You for Anything but Things That He Needs
    Does your boyfriend not take into account your needs? Maybe it’d be nice once in a while for him to pick you up, instead of you constantly picking him up. Does he not take any of your needs into account when he makes decisions? It’s a sign girls.

    6. He Never Takes You Out in Public
    Dating especially at its early stages should not be done in secret unless there are extreme circumstances. Your partner should feel comfortable being seen with you no matter the time or day. However if he insists on a private relationship, you know that it will be doomed sooner or later.

    7. He Never Goes through with Your Plans
    If a man is interested in getting to know you, he will put in every effort in order to see you and get the chance to talk to you. Therefore if you notice that your partner doesn’t seem to care about spending time together, his relationship with you may be due to an alternate motive.

    8. He Doesn’t Plan on Introducing You to Friends Or Family
    We all know that the next step in a serious relationship is meeting the friends and the family. However if your partner never comes around to it and keeps changing the subject, you know that he doesn’t see a future nor does he plan it with you. If he doesn’t take the relationship seriously, he will have no intention of bringing you into his inner circle.

    Ladies, if you see any of these signs he is using you, it isn’t a healthy relationship.

    So SL Fabz, have you ever been in a relationship that had any of these signs he is using you?

  • Laugh Out Loud

    Laugh out loud

    WHO’S THE MONKEY?

    A child asked his father, “How were people born?” So his father said, “Adam and Eve made babies, then their babies became adults and made babies, and so on.” The child then went to his mother, asked her the same question and she told him, “We were monkeys then we evolved to become like we are now.” The child ran back to his father and said, “You lied to me!” His father replied, “No, your mom was talking about her side of the family.”

  • 5 Hot Ways To Wear Red This Christmas

    Hi SL Fabz,

    Christmas is fast approaching and I know that for many ladies (including myself of course) we are already thinking of how to step out to those special events looking our best.

    Red has always been the IT colour for Christmas. Yeah, but that doesn’t imply you have to step out looking like like a painting or a Christmas Tree. Incorporate one (or max 2) red elements in your look and the DJ will spin out ‘Lady in Red’ specially for you.

    A touch of red on your lips, red shoes, a red dress are some ways you could rock the Christmas colour this searon. 

    Try out these 5 great ways to wear red and you’re sure heads will definitely turn. You can thank me later *wink*

    Red Jeans
    You could wear red jeans just like Jessica Alba did. She paired it with a simple white T-shirt and black blazer to tone down the flash of red.
    Red dress
    You can’t go wrong with a little red dress. Tone it down with shoes and accessories in cool colours and you’re good to go!
    Look like a star in a red blazer, but just like Beyonce, wear it with cool colours such as black, white, grey or beige.
    Look like a star in a red blazer, but just like Beyonce, wear it with cool colours such as black, white, grey or beige.
    Don't miss the opportunity to rock pair of red heels this season.
    Don’t miss the opportunity to rock pair of red heels this season.
    Get your sexy on with red or crimson lips and don't forget to wear it with style!
    Get your sexy on with red or crimson lips and don’t forget to wear it with style!

    So ladies, tell me, do you have any other tips for wearing red this Christmas?