Smartphone Apps to Help Block Problem Contacts

Last week, I posted the story of the over-clingy Ex who flooded her boyfriend's phone with phone calls and text messages thereby driving the new girlfriend crazy. Some comments mentioned ways to block numbers and I went looking and I found some smartphone apps that would allow one to do that independent of who your network providers are.

Guest Author - Abimbola Dare: The Small Print

Abimbola Dare

Abimbola Dare grew up in Lagos, Nigeria where she attended Vivian Fowler memorial college for girls. She moved the UK for her first degree and Masters. She later met and married her best friend and greatest fan on earth who she calls chinese eyes, and they are blessed with the cutest daughter ever. When she's not writing, Abimbola keeps her brain busy by thinking about the next plot or twist to add to an imaginary novel.

Indie Author Giveaway Hop - International

Today's blog hop giveaway is featuring self-published books and at the end of this post, we'll be giving away an e-copy of Abimbola Dare's The Small Print. I read parts of the book on the author's blog and was excited when she decided to self publish. Because I had done it myself, we had several long chats and I was amazed at Bimby's can-do spirit. When the book was released and I read it, I was further blown away.

About the book - My review

The Small Print is an amazingly fast read, with loads of suspense that kept me guessing till the end. Even though this is a Christian inspirational novel, there is no loud preaching voice shoving memory verses down the reader's throat. The author uses her characters as marvellous works in progress to illustrate the message of the book, which is that the word of God stands the test of time and will deliver those who believe in it during times of trouble.

The main characters in the book (they're the ones on the cover) are so true to life that it is easy to get totally engaged in their miseries as well as their triumphs. Wale is a Nigerian immigrant into the UK and is ready and willing to do anything to remain in the country rather than return to his ailing mother and sister in the slums of Lagos. Sade is a beautiful young Nigerian woman hemmed in by her older husband's insecurity and her own childlessness. Jennifer is a British woman whose first mistake is falling in love with Wale when all he wanted was a marriage of convenience.

Teamwork in Relationships - Lessons from The Amazing Race TV Show

One of the unscripted TV shows that I really enjoy with Myne is the Amazing Race. For those who many not know about the series, it involves couples – who may be siblings, spouses, friends or workmates – taking part in a competition where they perform various tasks in various cities around the world.

Amani and Marcus Pollard (2011)

Why do I like The Amazing Race so much? Well, I like the competition angle, wondering who will finish their stage of the race first. I also find it amusing to see how the couples perform some of the wackier tasks. And then, I like seeing the relationship dynamic between each of the couples, and how they work together to accomplish the tasks that they are given.

This will be the third season we've seen. As we watched this past one, I started to realize that watching it was like a couples’ therapy session for us. The different characters on the Amazing Race TV show – as individuals, as a couple, and partners in a team – provide good material for Myne and I to discuss about attitudes to life, love, and working together.

Seeing the couples certainly showed me that no relationship is the same, or perfect. They all have unique and flawed relationships especially when they're very different in temperament. You have one person being very laid back, and treating the whole affair like a pleasure jaunt, while  the other is highly competitive and engages in lots of strategic planning. When two people like this are on the show, expect to see some fireworks as they drive each other up the wall. There are some couples that act so antagonistically towards each other that you’re left wondering if they're really couples and how on earth they agreed to go on the programme in the first place.

Review - Michelob ULTRA Light Cider

When I mentioned to Atala, who is more familiar with the Michelob brand that I was to review a product by them, he asked when I became a fan of beer. I'm not, but I absolutely love light and refreshing drinks like white wine, champagne and traditional ciders, and the Michelob ULTRA Light Cider is billed as an ideal alternative. Also, it was becoming boring to only ask for Smirnoff Ice every time we were out. I wanted more variety and this was a great opportunity to try one out. Especially when a quick look online revealed that it had only 4% alcohol and 120 calories per bottle. Sign me on then!

There was some drama in obtaining the drink at first. While Michelob has some other drinks already in stores, the ULTRA Light Cider is so new that I had to look up the places to buy it at their website, http://www.michelobultra.com. And then, at my nearest QFC, they had yet to put it on the shelves. However, a very nice sales attendant helped me to bring up a pack The drink is available in the usual six-packs of 12-ounce clear glass bottles. I really loved the bright colors and the apple in the design, made it very easy to look out for at the stores and I looked forward to drinking it too.

Well, I got the perfect chance to try out the Michelob ULTRA Light Cider over the Memorial Day weekend at a party with friends. I drank my first one straight from the bottle and then shared the next with Atala who decided to try his over ice. It was good each way though I think next time, I'll stick to drinking it over ice so I"m not tempted to have too much.

Michelob ULTRA Light Cider is very light, very drinkable, and quite appealing even to a new palate like mine. Atala loved it too and remarked on the apple flavor which I also thought was very nice. This is one Light Cider that has got new fans in us both. Below is some information from the makers of Michelob ULTRA Light Cider

A Day in the Sun at Richmond Beach

Just Love - A Catholic Nun Writes Book on Sex

For Christians with questions about Divorce and Same-Sex Marriage both from a moral (biblical) and ethical (rights-and-justice) point of view, I think this book will come in useful. Titled Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics and written by a Catholic nun and theologian, the book also explores other topical issues on sexuality and marriage. The author, Sister Margaret Farley is a member of the Sisters of Mercy religious order and an emeritus teacher of Christian ethics at Yale Divinity School.

Just Love - A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics

Sister Margaret is also a member of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the major organization for catholic nuns in the US, and which the Vatican has accused of being radical feminists and having separated themselves from Catholic doctrines. This is based on the fact that these group of nuns come out with independent thinking on societal issues and prefer to focus their energy and resources on battling poverty and economic and social injustice.

What I am trying to say is that this book, even though it is written by a nun, does not have the blessings of the Catholic Church. As may be expected, the Vatican is not very happy with the book and have denounced it outright saying it promotes masturbation, homosexuality, and divorce. Their verdict;

Home Cooking - How I make Puff-Puff or Buns

Quick-rise Yeast

I try not to eat a lot of fried foods or pastry but sometimes I get nostalgic for Nigerian snacks and buns and puff-puff are some of the easiest to prepare. Puff Puff is a deep fried snack made from plain flour, yeast, sugar, and water. The main difference between puff-puff and buns is that you add eggs and/or milk to the buns. They are both simple to make and can keep in the fridge for up to a week. My recipe is a cross between buns and puff-puff as I add just milk and it comes out not too soft and very chewy.

Ingredients: My apologies for no measurements, I usually go by sight and feel. There's some trial and error too :)

Plain Flour
Yeast
Mixed Spices
Granulated Sugar
Salt
Milk
Water
Frying Oil

Dear Myne - His Ex Has Become Our Biggest Nightmare

I got an email yesterday that got me fuming along with the sender. Honestly, some exes can be problematic. I replied her and asked if she wanted me to put this on my blog. I was hoping we could get more opinions and also maybe some of you readers have experienced the case of the ex and will be able to share how you dealt with it. The email is below...

Dear Myne, ur a big part of my day. surfing through ur blog everyday is like coffee in the morning…

I write with you now with so much anger. let me explain myself. my bf and I have known each other for 4 years and counting…we’ve been on and off but since about a year we’ve been so in love and am loving everyday. he strengthens me in ways I cannot even mention and pushes me to be the best I can be, but recently his ex from over 5 years ago has been our biggest nightmare.

She keeps calling him and he bluntly tells her to stop, he even blocked her on bbm and she still finds a way to poke herself into his life. recently she sends over 7 text messages a day…all bull crap of how she can’t do without him and that he took a piece of her, she cannot forget given the fact she was a virgin when they met and he was her first....bla bla bla. Am so frustrated and don’t know what to do.

Guest Author - Rita Okoroafor : Against the Perfect Will

Rita describes herself as a “Port Harcourt Girl”! She grew up and spent close to 28 years of her life in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Her education up to Post-Graduate studies were all carried out in the city. The exceptions were when she lived in Mexico City (between 1 and 3) and after her move to Lagos in 2008, where she has been since then.

Interview with Rita Okoroafor

I am married to a beautiful man, and we are blessed with a beautiful daughter. Writing has always been a passion since I was 5, and I do it along-side my career as an engineer. My favorite author is John Grisham – I love his suspense, intricacies and humanness in his works. No favorite book from him. I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of his books that I have read.

It was only when I became a Christian I found there are also Christian authors. I particular enjoy the books by Karen Kingsbury (and she is kind of my role model). I always find a connection with her characters, and I am always taken on a journey when I read her books. One of her books that I have enjoyed is “When Joy Came To Stay”. What Karen made me realize is that my view of the world had been myopic, and she opened my eyes to see that it is possible that people around me could be struggling with one issue or the other.

What’s coming next?

Hmmm…I am currently working on 2 projects. The first is a non-fiction on preparing for marriage. My drive for this is I do not want my “sisters” to make a mistake with marriage by being ignorant of what marriage entails, what baggages need to be dealt with, or what to be looking out for in the man worth spending the rest of one’s life. Even as I write, I am learning of ways to improve my marriage, so I believe married ladies may also benefit.

The second is a fiction, name of novel withheld, but I am trying to see if I can combine a bit of romance with the message I am trying to convey. The main message though is that women are of great worth, and the love and grace of God is available to all of us.