The MAG weekly Blog by Lydia, every Friday 1700 hrs. Nr 49 26th May 2023
A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.
This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: .
Espadrilles.
Many young people might wonder what these are!! Espadrilles, also known as alpargatas, are versatile shoes featuring a lightweight, braided sole made of a natural fiber such as jute or grass. The soft nature of jute fabric, natural support in the sole, and rubber finishing makes espadrilles a shoe your feet will love. Espadrilles are ideal for summer and tropical climates because of their stylish jute rope and the fact that many espadrilles are open-toed, but they can be closed-toe and airy as well
The words espadrille and espardenyas both derive from esparto, the Mediterranean grass traditionally used to make their braided soles. This translates to many different styles of espadrilles though, but it's the esparto rope that makes it an espadrille. From flat slip-ons, to wedges, to sandals and more
The espadrille initially began as a piece of peasant footwear, worn by both men and women in farming communities in the Pyrenees mountains. However, they have also traditionally been worn by priests, miners and infantry. They were created as a simple and functional shoe, being cheap to make and easy to wear
Espadrilles are understated and comfortable yet elegant, they help to keep feet cool in the searing summer heat. Their rope soles and jute canvas come in handy for walking on the burning-hot sand of Mediterranean beaches while injecting a healthy dose of chic style and glamor. Check out our next edition for espadrilles fashion tips….. Sickle cell disease. Because we have a lot of malaria in this part of the world we have developed some sort of resistance against this, in the form of a mutated gene. But too much of that mutation causes sickle cell disease. 2 % of Ghanaian children are born with this disease, the great majority die before 5. Treatment of the symptoms is possible but takes a lot of time, and money, and those who survive normally don't reach 60 years of age anyway. Most of us happily get married without even knowing our sickle status, neither do we know our HIV status (I know of a 14 years old girl who became HIV positive because the nanny was using her tooth brush, you can have HIV whilst still being a virgin). Enter my friend X. He gets married and they have their first one. Celebration. Then they get twins, more celebrations. The twins are now 2 years old and recently diagnosed with sickle. End of celebrations. He is spending the little money he earns and all the time he has on lab tests and medicines. Prayers will not help, sickle cannot be cured. Permanent misery for my friend. 2% of children may not be a great number, but it is 1 out of 50. Maybe test to know your status and insist that suitable marriage candidates do same? Some people get triplets........ Sickle 2, and glaucoma Of course my sickle friend complains about the cost of the treatment for his kids, various expensive vitamins are prescribed. But these things are commodities and for example Vitamin C 100 mg can be bought at 30 pesewas a tablet, the same thing is sold in a beautiful box for GHS 10 per tab. But then you get soluble tablets, that create lots of foam whilst dissolving, and tiny, very expensive bubbles. But the effect is exactly the same. And my glaucoma friend (yes, I have lots of friends) is taking eye drops, very expensive indeed, and tries to boost his immune system with STC30, a stemcell based supplement, quite expensive as well, about 900 ghc a month. I checked on that product, there is no scientific proof that it does anything at all. My advice, look over the shoulder of your doctor, use search engines to check on products and treatments, and make sure you do the right thing, at the right cost. Nadia... do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our post. I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with the major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution, for the time being, you can mail me on wunimi@proton.me I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, people, but I may refuse to accept and if my comments are negative then that's what I will publish, despite your payment. This is not a political newsletter. I do not discriminate on any basis whatsoever.
Even if you sleep well already – and especially if you don’t – there are several scents you can try that are perfectly suited for the evening hours, helping you release the stress of the day and get ready for sleep.
Peppermint. Peppermint isn’t just for toothpaste. When you diffuse peppermint oil in the morning, you’ll enjoy a clean, fresh, zippy start to your day.
Rosemary. Rosemary is great for fatigue in general, making it ideal for morning diffusing. You can also look for a blend that contains rosemary and eucalyptus for a herbaceous treat.
Our sense of smell is the strongest of the five senses, (some now say we have more than 5 senses) and also the one most tied to memory and emotion. 75% of all emotions generated every day are due to smell. Scent affects mood, concentration, memory recall, and emotion. Research shows there is a 40% improvement in mood after being exposed to pleasant scents.
The first quarter of the year is over and have you ticked your checklist for your resolutions!? Well, it’s pretty easier said than done. To the 1993 babies turning 30 or already turned 30 it’s ok to be a little anxious about your goals and dreams or how your life hasn’t turned out the way you expected. We are all still figuring ourselves out here, nobody has got it all put together perfectly; some are faking their perfect lives on social media but are depressed and unstable in reality.
Life happens!!! if you haven’t gotten that dream job, lifestyle or home, just know that we are all out here trying our best. Rather than being anxious, focus on what you have at hand, be thankful and grateful for what it’s worth. Most importantly make sure you are happy. Channel all your positive mantra into what you love and watch it flourish.
Wondering why celebrities with botched bodies are dissolving their cullulite;? That’s because slim is the new trend. Weight loss has been an issue right from the time celebrities and the media portrayed Slim to be the beauty standard. It is only until recently that the media and certain personalities are empowering people to embrace their natural selves and not conform to the so-called beauty standards the entertainment industry portrays.
Aside from not conforming to these ridiculous stereotypes and standards, one must believe and see the good in living healthy and being slim, since being overweight is rampant and lots of people are finding it difficult to lose kilos. The likes of Hollywood stars are undergoing reduction surgeries and are taking an unprescribed drug for diabetic patients to lose weight and become slim. Prevention is better than cure. One must not take unprescribed medications to lose weight, rather go through the process of cutting down on carbs, and eating less processed foods and more organic foods.
Ramadan is here again and we are in for all the forgiveness, miracles, and blessings this season has to offer. We are grateful to Allah for the gift of Life; Amin. Holiness is a norm for this period and we cannot do away with some fashion sense. Modest is key in this our first custom-made Ramadan clothing collection dubbed Habibi. This collection is well sourced from the highest quality and put together for the love of style, modesty, and People of Society; perfect for this season and beyond. It’s unique, luxurious, and simple but classy and speaks wealth and volume. This is a traditional Senegalese clothing called “Boubou”.
Here’s how to style up and incorporate Odefille’s Habibi Ramadan collection without showing skin this season. This collection consists of 18 different dresses and 10 different men’s shirts made of high-quality silks, chiffon, and bazin.
Over the weekend I attended a wedding in Swedru and it’s nice to see that Ghanaians are embracing our local fashion and made-in-Ghana materials.
The bride wore a gorgeous customized kente corset gown paired with an army green beaded veil and she looks Magnificent. Bridesmaids wore a wine-colored kente kaba and slit paired with 2inches high heels or flats since the venue didn’t have a smooth ground. More Kente gowns have become the main outfits for weddings, award shows, naming ceremonies, birthday parties, etc. and we can’t get enough of it.