Is a temporary hair dye worth it? What if there was a way to have fun with our hair and still retain its health? If you like the look but are discouraged by the care that goes into dyed hair, then keep reading!
There’s something about colored hair that makes me gush. Coloring my hair has always been a huge fantasy of mine. It went from, “Is this possible for me?” to “Let me experiment”.
Then came the dilemma. How do I preserve my hair’s health and still have fun with it in terms of color?
That’s when I started researching safer ways to color my hair and stumbled on Curlfit. They’re a brand that has established itself with playful temporary hair dyes. If you know me, you know I’m always looking for a good deal and having found something like this was delightful!
How To Apply The Curlfit Temporary Hair Dye
Check the video below for more information on my experience, frequently asked questions about the application, how long it lasts, a discount code, and more. Let me know if you would try it in the comments.
After 1 weekMy first application on the tipsCurlfit Snack color
I have a code for you because you should experience some of this goodness too! Use my code ADASH21 for 5% off your order on any of the products. They also deliver worldwide.
Ps- Any affiliate link is used to develop and maintain this blog as it is not a not-for-profit organization. It is compliant with the privacy policy.
Have you ever dyed your hair? Would you like to try it? Let me know in the comments!
Father’s day is in a few days (June 20th), and while things aren’t fully back to normal, we must hold on to celebrating such events. No friend, you don’t get a pass at skipping father’s day gifts! Our dads need some extra love this year as well.
Buying a gift for either of my parents always sparks some joy in me. As I get older, I realize that every little gesture matters. Sometimes getting the “perfect gift” leaves me clueless, but I have gotten some help at figuring it out and you deserve that too! Keep reading to get some simple ideas on how to gift your dad this year!
A special Father’s day gift doesn’t have to break the bank. In today’s post, I share an option for every budget. Feel free to play around with them and curate something specific to your dad’s taste. Here’s a list of things you can get your dad this coming father’s day (and any other day you decide to spoil your pops).
A lovely wallet.
Most dads can forget that their wallet needs to be changed. I think a wallet is a thoughtful gift. Plus it’s something that is functional and can be used repeatedly.
Go on with a chilled bottle of wine. My dad loves a wine gift- red wine or fruit wine. They make for a lovely gift, and you can pour a glass and gist about past events and memories. You can get this at any food store or supermarket.
If your dad loves tea or coffee or simply enjoys using a mug, then you could make a customized one. A custom-made one depending on if your pops like it. Customized gifts are still in vogue and what better way to remind your father of his special place in your heart than with a customized gift? Customized mugs are a simple and fun way to get creative and infuse that with functionality.
I’m a firm believer in indulging your sweet tooth once a while (okay my once a while is not true, lol). If your father loves snacks but restricts them because of his health, then it would be a perfect fit. the good thing is that there are now options- healthy snacks, granola bars, crackers, banana bread, vegan cake and so much more. My dad is super conscious about what he eats but I see the way his eyes light up when I buy him biscuits. but on this special day, a plate of cake, finger foods, or banana bread won’t hurt at all.
If you still find yourself stuck on what to get, why not a tee shirt? You can never have too many tees right? I think the same applies to our dads. If you cant get a shirt, there are accessory options like bow ties, ties, cufflinks, or a pair of socks.
If your dad loves shoes, then this gift idea is a no-brainer. This father’s day, you can gift him a pair of handmade leather sandals or shoes. If he’s into sports, a nice pair of sneakers would suffice. I bet he would be so glad about it!
Memories are timeless. You can frame a favorite picture of your dad or of the family and gift him. Nowadays, there are wall frames of art collections so if your dad loves art,m that could be a special gift for him.
My dad loves a neckpiece and can almost never be seen without his smartwatch. I’ve seen some fathers like that as well, so I believe it would be a great gift option. The best part is they don’t have to be limited to only silver or gold. Explore! There are now leather bracelets too. Perhaps something with his name engraved on it as well. For the fitness dads, a fitness tracker could also come in as a handy gift (pun intended, lol).
There’s something about a well-curated gift box that screams love! If you’re still not sure what to get for a Father’s day gift, consider a gift box with lovely little treats. Here you have the liberty of adding things your dad loves and putting them all together. Some of my favorite Insta gift stores are of my favorite gift shops are:
I’m writing this in the middle of preparing for a school exam. Such is my life these days, lol. Lately, I have fallen into the rabbit hole of wanting every blog post or creating content for social media to be perfect before I share. While chasing quality and consistency is a commitment, I do not want to forget my reason for blogging in the first place- sharing experiences and thoughts to equip and inspire you.
I have been a content creator for about a year and it has been an eye-opening experience. My motivation for sharing some of the things I’ve learned on this journey is to encourage you to do things you never thought you could. My friend used to tell me, “Stop hiding”. 2020 was the push for that encouragement.
Let’s dive right in, shall we?
People would not understand immediately, and that is OKAY!
Don’t expect everyone to understand at the beginning. When I started, I was clueless and I wasn’t sure how others would see me. Even at home, when I would sit behind my phone camera and make a video or take some pictures, my siblings were confused and would give me the stare “what is this one doing?” It was hilarious. I’m the superconscious type of girl so this was new territory.
You would not get a pat on the back every day.
I had to learn to cheer myself while others caught up. Personally, people-pleasing is a struggle. It’s something God keeps working on in my heart. Content creation exposed that weakness, and I dare say it’s one of the tools God is using to make me depend less on people’s approval. When I started out, the fear of people’s opinions on a post would stop me from uploading. I also measured my content’s value solely by the metrics such as likes, comments, etc.
It’s a process, but I can say I’m not where I was 10 months ago. There is a context for approval when it comes to content creation (and other forms of services to be honest), especially if you want to know what your audience responds better to. Just don’t wait for approval for every step you take. It is hindering.
I wanted to be a boss at everything when I started. I thought I needed all the resources that would prepare me. Poor me! You will never be ready if you keep waiting to perfect all the skills you need to start.
It was in that season I wrote about the myth of one extra. It was like a letter to my always-wanting-to-figure-out everything-first self. Now that I look at some of the things I’ve learned while creating content, I’m amazed. Asides from skills gained, I have also had more clarity on the things I want to share with others, aka one of the reasons I decided to start a blog.
Please do not wait until everything is clear before you proceed. If the Lord has given you that desire and gift, best believe that it is in action that you would learn more. Plus things and interest change so get into the work and see what works.
Join the ADI tribe and get the free Ultimate Guide to Skincare for Beginners as a gift too.
[mc4wp_form id=”265″]
Invest in your craft.
Content creation has taught me to constantly invest in myself. I’ve had to pay for web hosting, courses, skincare products, tripods, and other resources to aid content creation. Not only financially, but with my time as well. It’s not an easy thing, but I’m aware of the goal and it’s a motivation. Creating content showed me the value of investing in myself and honing my craft better.
Put yourself out there.
I attended a class during the lockdown and the speaker mentioned something that struck me. The work doesn’t end with you creating but drawing people’s attention. For instance, if you write and don’t tell people you write, then it stays with you. If you write and promote, someone sees it and could tell another person.
Take a break.
It’s almost ironic but being a content creator has taught me the value of breaks. It’s easy to get sucked in with all the information and sharing of ideas. I have learned to take more mental and physical breaks. Plus it helps my creativity!
Not everything behind the screen is real so don’t compare.
Comparison is the thief of joy. I have learned and still learning not to compare my journey with someone else’s or even my looks. We only see a little fraction of someone’s life via their content on social media. If I don’t know the nitty-gritty details of their process why compare? Even if I knew, it’s not enough reason to compare.
This has helped me discover my unique voice, ditch trying to be perfect, and focus on my journey because no one can create content as I do.
Learn from others.
I have learned from people’s experiences and insights. Content creation has taught me that I can learn from anyone- younger or older. It has given me a platform to learn from people I never knew and be inspired by them.
Be open to new ideas.
There’s always a new idea to try out! I have learned not to cancel something totally till I understand it to an extent. When I say new ideas, I’m a bit wary that I might be misunderstood. I mean new ways to create content. Another instance is the raving reels on Instagram. There are trending challenges and seeing others do it motivates me to try them out even though I had no idea about video creation before.
Live a little more.
I used to be very uptight. Creating content has made me laugh at myself, laugh at jokes, feel free and not take myself seriously all the time. It has allowed me to show my goofy side more and I’m here for it!
This phase of my life has been interesting, not only to family and friends but even to me. I feel like a part of the audience watching my growth and it’s been refreshing.
I hope this post encourages you to stop hiding and share your gifts with others- whether it is via creating content or not.
How many times have you experienced the dread that comes with knowing tomorrow is Monday and work will resume? What about that lack of motivation and feeling blue on a Monday morning?
Do you have a constant fear of the week and find yourself counting down to the weekend more often than doing your work?
If you said “yes” to any of those questions, then you, my friend, are not alone!
In contrast, Friday always comes with a feeling of excitement that is almost palpable. As a worker, entrepreneur, or student, Fridays are looked forward to with much joy. The popular TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday), has become part of our routine as we run the rat race to endure the week and testify on Friday.
What does Monday blues mean?
As I get older, I’m on the quest for less hustle and more rest. I wonder if the rat race would ever end. If you’re like me, you’ve probably asked these questions:
“Who even invented 5 working days by the way?”
“Why can’t we have 4 days for the weekend?”
Now Monday blues is that down feeling or sensation at the start of the new week and it’s a real phenomenon so don’t beat yourself up for feeling that way!
It does exist and could manifest in different ways. From fatigue to bad moods. It has some other terms called “Monday workday blues” or “case of the Mondays”.
Monday blues can be considered as a set of negative emotions that you experience on the first day of school or work.
Why do we have Monday blues?
According to Wyatt Fisher, we experience this down feeling mostly because of the transition from the weekend. Imagine coming off a relaxing and fun-filled weekend and then preparing for a rather “unpleasant” workday in comparison.
This occurs because the body is still relaxed and hasn’t gotten over, completely, the stress of the previous week.
Last week was exhausting as I resumed online lectures. By Friday evening, we were still having lectures. Saturday went by in a blur for me and before I knew it, it was Sunday evening. How on earth? It felt like I didn’t have a moment to take a breather. Of course, I was not looking forward to the morning class scheduled for Monday.
How do we overcome or work productively despite Monday blues?
Truth be told, we can’t wave a magic wand and tell Monday blues to never exist. I think that’s one reason the #mondaymotivation is never-ending.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t have Monday’s motivation. I’m suggesting that we have motivation for every day. It’s no small feat. I wouldn’t pretend that I have it all figured out. Yet, I’ll rather be rested both on the weekend and week than burn out constantly. I want that for you too!
”Iruoma, don’t you know how stressful the week usually is? Certainly.
This past Monday I had a class from 8:44-12:30 riddled by the problems of e-learning in Nigeria. To make matters worse, we had another one by 2 pm and 4:45 p.m. I kept saying in my head, “this is just Monday and I’m tired like this o.”
It’s another ball game for those going to work. I had a conversation with my friend about how he’s been working almost all week due to the nature of his job.
If this is inevitable, how do we go through the week with minds as overcomers and not crushed by society’s ideals and stress?
Perhaps a renewed perspective of our week and work!
Beating the heck out of Monday Blues.
We may not be able to control the number of days in a week, but we can keep showing up with a renewed mindset. Monday blues have a way of disrupting the week’s productivity. Here are some ways I have found helpful in my battle of the “case of the Mondays” too.
Look at work as a steward.
Aim to show up and do your best. This is the hardest for me because emotions are real. Sometimes I don’t want to be bothered about whatever work I’m putting off or what class is about to hold. Yet, this has been helpful. I’m a steward of the work I have.
What do stewards do? They take care of people or things. It doesn’t happen like that to me every day, but it sure does help.
Prepare for Monday the weekend before and assign lighter tasks to that day to increase productivity.
Identify the challenge.
Do you notice these blues whenever you’ve had a long Sunday? Or when you didn’t sleep well during the weekend. You can identify something that contributes to it and see what needs adjusting.
Be prepared.
I typed that with the tune from Lion King (I couldn’t help myself, lol). Okay, back to reality.
One way is to set your dress ahead of the day. I’m not an early riser but these days I pick a dress before Monday (or weekday) morning so I have one less thing to worry about.
Do those little things that make you happy as you prepare. If you like to apply some makeup, why not? If it’s music or a good workout session, do that before moving on to the task of the day.
Another thing is to not overschedule for Monday. Before, I would put all the major things I wanted to do for the week on Monday. No wonder I didn’t look forward to the day. The best thing you can do is take it bit by bit.
The recent work-from-home lifestyle ever since the onset of COVID-19 is arguably one thing I love, but it comes with its problems. One of which is blurring the lines between rest at home and work.
It’s now up to us to make time out to rest as often as we can. Even a 10-min break is important. Rest doesn’t always equal sleep. A little stretch, laughter, a movie or novel break. Anything to ease off before going back to your work.
Choose Productivity over busy-ness.
Phylicia Masonheimer was one of the people who inspired me to be productive, have a rhythm, and be flexible. If you suffer from cramming a lot of things into the weekdays, be rest assured that productivity is not the same as busyness or doing 100 things in a day!
It just means doing the most important things as at when due.
What we ever hope to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence
Samuel Johnson.
Have boundaries.
For me, my boundaries are not reading work emails at a certain time. It also is getting off Instagram for a majority of Sunday. I also like work finished at 6 pm and not do anything work-related till the next day. It took a couple of trials and errors too. Different strokes for different folks. The point is to set boundaries and stick with them.
This is the hardest for me to implement because med school encroaches into odd hours sometimes, but here is the comfort- it’s not every day
Ask for help.
Get help from someone concerning a task. Fellow “control buddies” get in here. It’s hard for me to let go of tasks because I fear the other person won’t do it exactly how I want it done. That stresses me out.
Yet, getting help is one way to fight Monday Blues. If you get help with something you handle, you would be well-rested and focused on other things that need attention.
Fighting the blues is not easy but it starts with a deliberate decision to not let the world define our week. Simply put, don’t let the pressure from the outside be a determining factor for your week.
It’s a journey and we keep growing and learning.
How do you deal with workday blues? Do you do any of the things I mentioned? Let me know as well!
How do you wrap up a stressful week? Usually, I would sleep in or watch movies on Saturday to ease the tension before working again. This past weekend was different. I had my first paintballing in Lagos experience with some of my friends at Lekki Leisure Sports Park.
The peculiar thing about all of us is that we’re medical students. Most of us hadn’t even seen each other for almost a year due to the lockdown caused by the pandemic. So you can imagine how excited we were.
This would be the point I thank my friend, Ezeudu, for organizing the group. It’s such a big deal because we had procrastinated on having an event long before the pandemic. What were the chances that we could pull one off now that we weren’t even in school? Thankfully, it worked out and we have a story to tell (whoosh!).
Paintballing had been on my bucket list ever since one of my friends mentioned it. I had only seen it behind screens and didn’t know that there are paintballing places in Lagos. I also wanted to have the whole “gun and shooting” experience. If I’m honest, this was out of my comfort zone. Yet, if there is anything 2020 showed me, it was that I shouldn’t be afraid to surprise myself.
If you’re wondering where you can let some steam off and just enjoy a group game, then keep reading as this would be helpful.
What You Need To Know.
Price
At Lekki leisure sports park, the entry price is 7000 naira per person during the weekends. On Wednesday, it’s half that price so 3500 naira per person. That covers the gear, gun, 100 paint pellets, and the 3 rounds of play. You can also buy more pellets if you want, but it’s at an extra cost.
Safety
Paintballing is a sport. People run around and there are risks of getting injured. We signed a waiver online before we were allowed in.
Duration
The Sports Park is open from 12 pm-6 pm. Within that time, you can join any available group or go in with your group. Make sure you try to come in early especially if you’re coming from the mainland. This is because after signing the waiver, you would get your gear, change and get some instructions. Those things take a while so better to get it all started early.
Outfit
Please dress comfortably as you would wear the overalls provided. Having good footwear to run in is a plus. I wore a pair of boots to look pretty, but if my legs could talk, they would have scolded me for the pain I put them through. “Sorry babies (Fashion-1, Iruoma-0)”.
Also, I would advise you skip applying makeup and go barefaced with your sunscreen. This is because you’ll sweat a lot, but that’s up to you.
Extra tip– Try to have breakfast before playing. This sport is a whole workout. You would run, pant, and release some adrenaline. For real, have your meal before going. You’ll need that energy.
That is basically what you need to know to have an amazing paintballing experience.
My friends and I after paintballing.
By the time we were done, we headed to the family restaurant called Spur to have dinner. Took a while to get our order ready but after that, it was bliss, laughter and arguments, and time to part ways.
Ps: By the next day my body was sore, but I can’t wait to go there again. It was such a lovely experience.
Have you gone paintballing before? Would you like to have the experience?
Most people don’t know that there are fun places to visit while on a vacation in Awka. There are 5 south-eastern states in Nigeria. Imo, Anambra, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states. I am from Awka in Anambra state. My people are known for their blacksmith and top-notch wood carving. It is one of the best places to visit in Nigeria (am I bias or what?).
2020 was one tough year. Considering the pandemic, travelling home was a risk. Yet having a change in environment was something I looked forward to even though it was still with the necessary precautions.
Christmas spent away from school has always been associated with travelling to my hometown ever since I was a kid. I’ll break this article into my recent travel to my hometown and things you can do if you plan to travel there.
THE JOURNEY TO AWKA FROM LAGOS
“Wake up!”, my mum’s voice woke me from sleep. I grudgingly checked my phone for the time. 2:51 a.m. I was furious, but I knew if we wanted to avoid traffic on the way to my hometown, then it had to be that early. That’s one tip for my road travelers during Christmas. Leave early!
We all got ready and left home after my dad said a word of prayer by 4am. It was an uneventful ride save for the frequent stops to relieve ourselves. Until we got to Delta. We met some hoodlums who disguised as officials checking cars.
One word of advice- always lock your car and never wound down your windows if you’re going in a private car. These men literally hit the car doors and attempted to open them. It was terrifying.
By the time we arrived, it was past 12 p.m. There was also some traffic on the famous Onitsha bridge. Seeing the blue keke made it clear in my head how far away from Lagos we were. By then, my sisters were watching movies on their phones and slightly commenting while the speakers kept blasting with music.
Amazing Places I Visited
When people think of travelling to places in south-eastern Nigeria, they don’t believe there are cool places to visit there. Especially if you stay in Lagos, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
There are lots of cool places you can visit in Awka. It was a bummer that it was now when I got older and was willing to visit some of these places that covid-19 decided to make an appearance. My outings were limited due to the pandemic and instructions. If you plan to visit Awka, there are some places to bear in mind.
Another cool thing about the South-eastern states (for those who may not be in Awka for the holiday), is that they are interconnected. This is helpful if you want a tour around them. I know a family that visited top spots in Imo state on a trip and came back to Anambra on the same day. Enugu is literally less than an hour from Awka and it has lovely fun places to see. Talk about a wholesome experience of the east at little to no cost!
Below are some suggestions based on where I visited. Bear in mind that I categorized them as places to see and to eat:
Tourist sites to visit
These places are purely for tourism. You could take pictures for memory sake and enjoy the view.
Onitsha bridge
Onitsha bridge is the main dividing “line” between South-eastern and Western Nigeira. It is literally what you pass through to get into Awka, but I think it deserves a spot on the list of tourist attractions for its historical meaning as well.
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
You might be wondering what a university is doing on this list but trust me when I say it is a beauty! Passing through the expanse of this school with my family was interesting. The infrastructure there would leave you impressed.
Eateries and Restaurants
Now to my favorite part of any travel-the food places! One thing I noticed in Awka was the sheer amount of hotels. My cousin even told me that there are reports that the hotels are not even enough. You can imagine my surprise.
Trig-point hotel
My family went to Trig-Point hotel on my mum’s birthday. The entrance was so refreshing and I was awed by the view. Trig point has a swimming pool, bar, suya (a popular Nigerian spicy grilled meat) spot and even a well-equipped gym. My only criticism would be how long it took to get the food. I also wished they had menu book for people who chose to eat in their outside area.
Bamboo Garden
Visited Bamboo garden during an aunt’s birthday party. It was late in the night as we had stopped somewhere before. Awka has a rather calm night life compared to Lagos for instance, but I was surprised at the activity by that time. They serve pepper soup and other meals here. They also had a huge viewing spot for football matches.
I had plans to visit more places, but in between the restricted movement due to COVID-19 and family activities, I couldn’t. Nonetheless, Awka is a beautiful place with so much potential. As I get more matured, I appreciate my home town.
The Return Home
Local plantain chips gotten on my way to Lagos from Awka.
My family and I left home some weeks later. Our departure was by 5:00 a.m. and by 12p.m., we were in Lagos. It took roughly an hour after that to return to our home. The journey was even more uneventful except for the regular stops to relieve ourselves and buy some plantain chips. Oh I almost forgot the DJ battle among my siblings in the car. That was just hilarious.
Have you been to Awka before? Let me know in the comments!
