Lydia's Weekly Lifestyle blog is for today's African girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things that may interest today's African girl.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi, this week's subjects: Fashion Flashback from the iconic 1990s versus Today, Does pregnancy count? That smells nice?, and The meat and fish at the “au Grand Ecuyer”

Fashion Flashback from the iconic 1990s versus Today. Footwear: From Chunky to Sleek: 1990s: Footwear in the '90s was all about chunky sneakers, platform sandals, and combat boots. Brands like Doc Martens and Converse were fashion staples, adding an edge to any outfit. Today: While chunky sneakers are making a comeback, there’s a trend toward sleek, streamlined silhouettes. Ankle boots, loafers, and stylish slip-ons are prevalent, often paired with tailored looks. The focus is on comfort without sacrificing style, with many opting for versatile shoes that can be dressed up or down. Accessories: Statement Pieces vs. Minimalism: 1990s: Accessories were loud and proud. Think chokers, bucket hats, and oversized sunglasses. The '90s were all about self-expression, with unique pieces that added a playful touch to any outfit. Today, Accessories have shifted towards a more minimalist aesthetic. Delicate gold jewelry, structured bags, and subtle hair clips are trending. However, statement pieces are still embraced, albeit in a more refined manner. Chunky jewelry is often paired with simple outfits to create a balanced look. In Conclusion. A Beautiful Blend: Fashion today is a beautiful blend of nostalgia and innovation. While the '90s laid the foundation for many styles, contemporary trends have evolved to reflect changing tastes and values. The emphasis on sustainability, comfort, and personal expression has transformed how we approach fashion. As we celebrate the past, we also embrace the future, proving that style is timeless. Whether you’re reaching for that vintage '90s piece or a modern staple, remember that fashion is all about what makes you feel confident and fabulous. So, which era resonates with you more? The bold and expressive '90s or today’s refined and sustainable approach? Whichever you choose, wear it with pride!

Does pregnancy count? Any new product that needs a prescription needs to be tested before it can be sold. For unwanted interactions with other products you may be taking, and for side effects, such as dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, headache, stomach ache, confusion, anxiety, depression, double vision, shortness of breath, excessive sweating (there are more). Once approved, a certain dosage is prescribed, say 50 mg per day for children between 2 and 6 years old, 75 mg for adolescents till 16 years old, and 100 mg per day for grown-ups. The testing is first done in the lab, often on living organisms that have some common genes with human beings, like mice, monkeys, zebra fish, worms and fruit flies, and eventually on human beings, to finally get the approval. This process typically takes at least 8 years, sometimes up to 20, after which the patent/copyright would mostly have expired. So far, so good. But has the product also been tested for pregnant women? And pregnant zebra fish? Pregnancy is a whole different matter, then you could talk of minus 9 months old, till day zero. That complicates matters for the developers of these products. How do you test? Solution? Don't test. Simply indicate that the product is not suitable for pregnant women. Danish researchers have counted that out of 172 recently approved new prescription products, 168 had not been tested for pregnant women. The remaining 4 you can take. You are welcome. My advice: seriously figure out what healthy food is and eat it, and do all the other things you are supposed to do if you want to be fit and healthy, so that you have less chance of falling sick. And start today, don't wait till you get pregnant.

That smells nice? Washing powders and liquids, softeners, household cleaners, body soaps, most of them smell “nice”. But that nice smell will surely not come from natural scents, but it will be a synthetic smell, and some of these synthetic smells give allergic reactions to some people. Most countries have therefore put an upper limit on how much of these synthetic smells can be added, typically not more than 100 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of product. But the manufacturers know that we like nice smelling products, and up to 2442 mg per kg were found in some. Not just some, Palmolive, Omo, Ariel, Dash and Ajax were amongst the gross offenders.

The meat and fish at the “au Grand Ecuyer”. (Ring Road, opposite Fire Service Headquarters, Osu, Accra). I always enjoy dining at their covered terrace in the evening (but you can also sit inside). They are nicknamed “the French restaurant but maybe because they don’t have that expensive “le” or “la” in front of their name, their prices are very reasonable for the quality you get. They serve classic French dishes like salade Niçoise, soupe à l'oignon (onion soup) steak au poivre (pepper steak) and sole meunière (fried sole fish with a butter lemon sauce), sole is now out of season, come back from June, but they also serve things like grilled chicken, kedjenou, acheke, kelewele, banku and grilled tilapia. We went for the grilled tilapia with kelewele and banku, the tilapia was fresh and excellently cooked and voluminous (I ate the other half for lunch the next day) and the pepper steak. No nonsense here like imported from South Africa or France or Argentina, a simple well-cut Ghanaian beef steak, full of flavour till the last chew and never frozen. At a reasonable price. Most likely without any antibiotics, the Ghanaian herdsman only treats his cows when they are really very sick. We had the pepper steak with French beans as a side dish, and though not freshly cooked these were not soupy at all. An excellent meal, I recommend.

Lydia...

Do not forget to hit the subscribe button and confirm in your email inbox to get notified about our posts.

I have received requests about leaving comments/replies. For security and privacy reasons my blog is not associated with major media giants like Facebook or Twitter. I am talking with the host about a solution. for the time being, you can mail me at wunimi@proton.me

I accept invitations and payments to write about certain products or events, things, and 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.