This #BitterSweetLove is on Another Level!

Hey Musicophiles,

In this week's "START YOUR WEEK WITH THIS", we are introducing to you today - Oguchi Lawrence. He is popularly known as Guchi and was born in the early 90's. He spent most of his early years growing up around Festac and Apapa area in Lagos. Singing and making good music had always been more of a hobby than a career. This lead him to several fronts before returning back to his first love; music. 

He studied Geology at the University of Lagos showcasing his talents to friends and colleagues whenever the opportunity came. In January 2018, he took things a step further by releasing his first single - Bitter Sweet Love. Letter of the day: M

The song was well accepted by the public with awesome reviews and mash up dance videos made for it from people all over the world. The "catchy feel and good vibe" was something to resonate with and its down to heart lyrics ensured the song was just the complete package. I must say the song accurate describes love - very bitter-sweet feeling 👀 

He released his second single in June 2018 and has chosen Victorine's blog exclusively to give you all a sneak peak into this new cool vibe called "Bang It". Musicophiles, are we not lucky???

You can catch him on any of the following social media handles;

Instagram : @g_guchi

Snapchat : @g_guchi

Bitter Sweet video: https://www.youtu.be/-ccyrNuf7pg

Bitter Sweet audio: http://www.naijapals.com/music/Bitter_Sweet_Love_Guchi-74216

Bangit Free Download: http://www.naijapals.com/music/Bang_It_Guchi-78521

We look forward to more of this guy ooo!!!

Man goes, Man comes, Mangoes - Part 2

Hello Mangeurs,

As promised, this is our "IT'S IN SEASON" follow-up and today, we will be discussing different ways mangoes can be consumed.

Here are five healthy and delicious (Healthdelicious) things to do with mangoes;

1 - Salads
Don't know what to do with those mangoes? Cut 'em up with other fruits you love and #boom, your explosive fruit salad is ready.

 

2 - Smoothies
The weather is hot and you are thirsty. You need something refreshing but also healthy; Cut up those mangoes, blend them with some ice and milk and the world's greatest smoothie is ready. My favourite combinations are mango with lemon juice or with coconut milk or with pineapple. I also love the mango and date fruit mix. These mixes are a must try. Letters for the day: (LF)

3 - Rice
Tired of the regular sauces, stews and stir fries that accompany your rice meals? Try out some mango sauce, or mango-lemon rice just white rice and mango. Trust me, this is a delicious one especially for sweet and sour lovers.

4 - Cakes
Looking for bursting flavour in your cakes and pastry? Mango is your best bet; it's sweet-smelling flavour, rich savour and tender texture make it the ultimate cake taste booster. You can also use mangoes to colourfully decorate your cakes.

5 - Candy/Ice Cream

My favourite candies and juices are mango-flavoured. You can prepare home made candies with those mangoes rather than letting them rot away. It is a very healthy candy option and it will satisfy all your sweet-tooth desires. My favorite combination for the mango candy is with coconut milk. You will need candy sticks and candy moulds. Make a mango puree, pour it in the mould and place the candy stick in it. Freeze the moulds and consume the delicious candy frozen 😋

 

DID YOU KNOW???
Mangoes are a very good source of fructose. Infact, they are at the top of the list of fresh fruits with high fructose content.

Make That Statement Girl!, Make it with your Neck!💁

Hello Voguish people,

This week, we are tackling the theme "STUCK WITH THIS ACCESSORY"

Let's start this discussion with a very important question - I am the only one who has an old giant neck piece or in my jewelry box? Well, good news - it is no longer a waste. That piece of jewelry "might just be all you need to upgrade your outfit from "standard" to "striking".

Every fashionista wants all eyes to be on them when they walk through that door. Making fashion statements is the easiest way to get attention and leave an impression as you walk into a room. Today, we would be looking at making statements with neck pieces.

Here are three reasons to make a statement with your neck piece;

1- To brighten up that dark/dull coloured outfit;

Statement neck pieces will stand you out and brighten your look. Thinking of how to pop up that black, navy blue, grey or coffee brown dress? A colorful statement neck piece is the answer.

2- Idle space on your neck you feel like covering up;

At times, we dress and discover there is too much idle space around our neck area and you just want to fill it up. That chunky statement neck piece is all you need.

3- The need to match your earrings, bracelet or wristwatch to something else;

Some other times, we wear statement neck pieces to match another piece of jewelry.

In case you don't have a statement necklace and you want one without having to break the bank, you can make one yourself. Check out these 28 DIY ideas for statement necklaces https://sadtohappyproject.com/diy-necklace-jewelry-tutorial-ideas/ 

Chinedu Whatedo - Africa's Next Big Thing in Music???

Mmuogbana Chinedu Darlington popularly known as Chinedu Whatedo AKA that French Igbo boy, that swagger boy or Mr Everybody is a young Nigerian Rapper/ Singer/ Performing artiste who was born in the mid 90's. He spent most of his early years in Cameroon. Currently a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he was crowned UNN Artiste of the Year (2016) at the SUG award night, Chinedu specialises in a unique academic field - Combined Arts (English/French).

His musical career started in Cameroon at the age of 15 were he emerged 2nd position in one of Cameroon’s biggest talent hunt shows - #Challenge Vacance. This talent show offered him a platform to meet with a music producer who formed a formidable music group of four young people known as The4 with Chinedu inclusive.

Since then, he has released a lot of singles and videos which currently trend both in Cameroon and Nigeria. His latest music video Everybody(Alélé) was shot in Douala, Cameroon and has accumulated over 50,000 youtube views since its release. This has been a huge uplift in his career and it has shown the world that Chinedu Whatedo is here to stay.
His career has led him to meet and perform on stage with the likes of Nigeria’s Flavour, Cameroon’s X-Maleya and Togo’s Toofan, just to mention a few. That French Igbo Boy has also worked with the likes of Kezyclef, Jaystunt and many more. Everybody(Alélé), Ebee kodi, Coupé and recently #Number One are some of Whatedo's songs making waves on both Nigerian and Cameroonian music station/channels.

His music comes with a different kind of flow and sound, imbued with a high-speed lyrical content. His message in most of his songs is clear, it admonishes youths to always be happy, be optimistic, be themselves and work hard so as to achieve their goals. African countries that continuously influence his sound are; Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory coast and South Africa.

Chinedu Whatedo is indeed a music icon. We think he is the next big thing in Nigerian music scene and in African one at large. Chinedu is an upcoming musician to be on the look out for.
Catch him on any of the following social media platforms;

IG: @ChineduWhatedo
Twitter: @ChineduWhatedo

Facebook fanpage: Chinedu Whatedo

Facebook personal: Darlington Chinedu

Listen to or/and download #Number One via the link below;

http://tooxclusive.com/download-mp3/chinedu-whatedo-number-one-ft-jaywillz/ 

This is Cameroun - Poulet DG 😍😍😍

Where are all my Mangeurs???

Foodies in the house, show yourselves by raising your right hand! Y'all gonna love this one.

I am glad to present to you the first post under the theme - "CRAZY COMBINATIONS".

Honestly, this one is crazy delicious, it has all my favorite things in one meal 😋

Introducing the flavours and colours of Cameroon with this dish called "Poulet DG". In the spirit of Childish Gambino and FalztheBahdGuy, permit me to say "This is Cameroon".

The Green, the Red, The Yellow, the whole ensemble just speaks unity and I am pretty sure you can smell it already.

So briefly, let me explain the name of the meal. The phrase "Poulet DG" is French for "MD's Chicken". This is because years ago, this dish was only served to high class Camerounians such as; top government officials, top company CEO's and executives as well as very rich business men. Today, however, you can make this meal in the comfort of your home and with less than N2,000.

Find below the list of ingredients for a serving of 4 people (2 small pieces of chicken each);

- Half a kilo of chicken and 1 cup of chicken stock (This typically costs N500)

- Vegetable oil

- Seasoning (I used spicity Fried Rice Spice and Knorr Chicken)

- Salt

- Curry

- 2 table spoons of granulated sugar (optional) 

- Mixed veggies (Green, red and yellow bell peppers, carrots, runner beans and sweet corn). You can buy these individually and cut them up yourself but I got a precut mix from @egoskitchen for just N800. The full zip lock for the mix with sweet corn costs N1,400 so I got half and it was more than enough. It saves me prep time and her veggies are always fresh. 

- 3 Table spoons of freshly ground garlic and ginger mix (GG mix)

- Tomatoes - N200 and pepper (rodo - N50, bawa - N50 and tatase - N100 please don't ask for me the English names... I don't know)

- Two medium size onions

- 3-4 fingers of ripe medium sized plantain (This should cost N200)

To start with, ensure all your preps are done. Roughly blend tomatoes, one of the onions and pepper (TOP) , puree your garlic and ginger too, slice your onions in circles or lengths, cut your plantains in any shape you like and cook your chicken.

* First, I cooked my chicken with 1 table spoon of the GG mix, knorr chicken, salt and chopped onions. After boiling them to tenderness, I slightly had them fried - I would have preferred to grill them but I don't have an oven yet. Then, I fried my plantains.

* Next, I boiled my tomatoes, onion and pepper till the water (juice) dried. In a bigger pot, I added in vegetable oil (the one I used to fry the chicken and plantain because not only am I saving oil but the flavours from the chicken and plantain are maximised). When the oil was hot, I threw in my onions and then another table spoon of the GG mix. I let these slighty fry till the onions became translucent. I then added my roughly blended TOP and let it fry properly till everywhere smelt nice. I added my chicken stock and a sachet of spicity fried rice spice. I tasted for salt because of the stock and the spicity seasoning and added a small pinch of salt.

* I then added my fried chickens and a cup of water since the mixture was already very thick. I let the mix cook together for about 10 minutes so the chicken could suck up some of that juice. #Booom when I opened the pot 10 minutes after. I don't need to tell you. You already know I was in Yaounde (lol).

* The fried plantains jumped in (I cut mine in circles). I let them cook together for like 3 minutes well so they could soften. Finally, I added in two spoons of granulated sugar and the veggie mix. I let it steam for about 3 minutes so the veggies could retain their pigment and then I stirred for the last time and turned down the heat.
The essence of the sugar is to give the meal that distinguishing sweet-sour taste just in case the ripe plantains don't cut it.

You can enjoy this meal with white rice, noodles, spaghetti, macaroni, boiled/fried yam/sweet or Irish Potatoes or any starch of your choice. I heard some people eat it with gaari and fufu 😸

DID YOU KNOW?
Including bell peppers in your meals will help you with beta carotene, Vitamin A and Vitamin C (especially the red ones). They are delicious, flavourful and not too spicy.

Man goes, Man comes, Mangoes - Part 1

Hello Mangeurs,

How are you doing people?

It's our first edition of "IT'S IN SEASON" and I am sure you can already guess what we'll be talking about today. 

Yas, Yas, Yas! That's correct ... mangoes are here! All my friends know that I love mangoes more than any other fruit. My love for this fruit heightened when I spent about three (4) months in Lomé, Togo. It appears mangoes never go out of season in that country. Honestly, I was tempted to smuggle some in my luggage when leaving the hotel but the fear of Nigerian Airport officials brought sense back to my head LOL. I had a mango rush in November, January, February and even April. On the contrary, it was not until early May that I started seeing mangoes in Lagos. I can say I have had a 7-month mango stretch 😁. In fact, as I write to you now, I have a couple of near-ripe ones in my store.

I got 6 mangoes of this size for N50 each. Made the 2 bottles of smoothie as you can see above with 4 of the mangoes and a few date fruits.

Today, we will be discussing how to shop for, store and cut this fruit, we will also talk about its health benefits. In the second part of this series however, we will touch on the different ways one can consume mangoes.

Oya, let's go there 💃💃💃;

Man, Go Shop for that Mango!

-A lot of people are usually deceived by colour when shopping for mangoes. The fact is that depending on the type, mangoes come in many different colour, so color isn’t always a good indicator of ripeness. 

- A ripe mango will have a very fruity aroma, especially near the stem end. You should look out for that aroma. 

- Also, you should select mangoes with smooth and blemish-free skin. 

- Finally, pick out mangoes that are heavy for their size. Gently squeeze the fruit - it will be firm, but will press in slightly if it is ripe.

Man, Go Store that Mango!

- Unripe mangoes should be stored at room temperature. They will normally continue to ripen, get sweeter and softer. To speed up the process, you can place the mangoes in a paper bag and keep them at room temperature.

- Once they become ripe, move them to the refrigerator to prevent over-ripening. They should last for 3 - 4 days in there.

- Peeled, cubed mango can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days, or frozen for up to 3 months.

Man, Go Cut that Mango!

- You can simply cut the flesh away using a large sharp knife. The resulting mango halves are often called “cheeks.”

- To slice a mango, hold one half or cheek in your non-dominant hand and use a small sharp knife to carefully cut slices into the flesh, making sure you don’t go all the way through to the skin. Use a spoon to scoop out the slices.

- If you prefer, use a peeler or a small sharp knife to remove the skin from the mango, then cut the flesh away from the seed and cut or slice it as you like.

- Another option is to cut a crosshatch pattern into the mango half, then push the mango from underneath so it flips inside out and fans out the fruit - it will look a bit like a hedgehog. 

- Next, use a knife to cut the mango cubes away from the skin.

Why are these Sweetly Delicious Babies Good for You?

Mangoes are packed with Vitamin A and C.  Furthermore, one mango contains 69% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of Vitamin A for women and 79% of the RDA of Vitamin C - this makes them great cancer fighters.  They are also packed with Potassium and Folate.

Juicy mangoes are also good hydrants and can be used as sweeteners in home made juices and smoothies. 

Finally, mangoes are rich in Vitamin E and this special vitamin helps your skin and hair grow. It reduces damage to hair follicles and applying the juice to your hair will reduce dryness and give it a sweet smell.

Okay mangeurs, I hope you enjoyed this one. Stay tuned to this page for the second part of this series (Five Interesting Ways to Consume Mangoes).

DID YOU KNOW???

The scientific name for mango is "Mangifera indica" and there are over 500 varieties of mangoes. The ripe fruit varies in size, shape, color, sweetness.

Lipsticks - are they only for Lips?

Ladies get in here. Let's save you some makeup troubles 😁😁😁

Are you ready for this week's "MAKEUP DIYs & TRICKS"???

Generally, when we hear lipsticks, we think of just lips👄💋👄💋. Lipstick is the easiest way to change your look from "office professional" to "downtown loft party" and then back to "Sunday family lunch". With this, it's possible that every now and then, you get to buy a new lip product.

Today, Meerah is dishing out other amazing ways you can use lipstick;

1. Lipsticks can double as Under-Eye Concealer/Corrector

You have this hot date and you are planning to slay it all. Then, you ran out of concealer, ooops!!! Just get your Red or Orange coloured lipstick and you are good to go. Apply very light amount on your under-eye circles and blend, wait for a minute for the product to set, then apply your regular concealer. Surprised yeah??? It works like magic.

2. Lipsticks can also be used as an alternative for long- lasting cream blush

This is quite a popular alternative use for lipstick. When you are in a makeup bind, your lipstick can double as a long-lasting cream blush on your cheeks.

Here, you will get to use all your lipstick shades as multiple colours can work for this. Nude will go for normal flawless skin work, deep red for a more dramatic look, rosy pink for a nice, flirty flush or coral for a more summery look.


Blend using a brush, beauty blender or try with your fingers for a more precise application.

3. Lipsticks can be used on the eyelids as eye-makeup base

Yeah!!! I know this sounds strange but it is true. Are you out of eye primer? or eye-shadow base? Lipsticks to the rescue. Get yourself a lipstick colour very close to that of the proposed eye makeup, you can apply with your fingers or a flat brush for a more precise application.

4. With a brown lipstick, you can have a perfectly contoured and well structured face
If you are a lover of nude lipsticks, i mean all shades of nude, this is for you. Sometimes, you are feeling all kind of cute and sexy and trying your possible to look "on fleek". Get your brown/nude lippies and apply strategically to the areas of contour.


5. Lipsticks can be used as lip gloss

Are you on a budget, or currently out of cash and the harmattan/dry season is around the corner? Don't go buying another glossy lip product. Make your lipstick shine with a dab of Vaseline or coconut oil. 😉😉😉

FROM                            TO 

WITH  OR 

Also, do you know lipsticks can be used for none makeup stuff. Here are my favourite 3 ways to use lipsticks 😁😁😁

👄 As a Boyfriend Marker: We ladies sometimes like to mark our territory and scare off other girls. Here is a big way to tag your boyfriend. All you need to do is leave a big, fat kiss mark on the back of your boyfriend's neck at the bar so other females know he is taken. Oops!!!

👄 As a Flirtation Method: Relationship experts usually advice us to spice up our relationships. One of the cute ways to spice up your relationship is leaving Bae a nontraditional note before leaving in the morning. Here, we are talking sexy sayings on the mirrors 😉 Don't be afraid to let your imagination run wild here - I am sure he will appreciate it.

👄As a Tattoo Cover-Up: Did you know you could use lipsticks to cover tattoos? Here is how it works: Use red to fill on the area you want covered, conceal with a full-coverage concealer, and set with power and you are all covered up.

***Finally, I will be signing off with this very simple and easy Makeup DIY!!!
Where you have a lip gloss or a shining lipstick, and would like to get a matte look of that lipstick.

💋Items needed:
- The lipstick or lip gloss
- Translucent powder
- Tissue paper

💋Approach to be taken:
* Apply the glossy lipstick or lip gloss on your lips
* Put some translucent powder on a sheet of the tissue paper
* Spread the powder evenly on the tissue paper
* Paste the tissue paper with the powder on your lips
* Dust off the powder and voila!!!, you have a matte lipstick on.