Tag: Best Tips

Family · food

9 Great benefits when our young children cook for the family.

jacquelineobyikocha28 Comments

Cooking[1]

For quite a while now, most weekends I involve all my children in cooking a meal or two.

This was how I learnt in my mothers’ kitchen and it’s invaluable to start them young (as soon as they are old enough to help with bringing the tomatoes) for so many reasons.

  1. It builds their self-esteem, confidence and they feel like valued contributors.
  2. It helps to grow their sense of independence so that even when you are not around, they can easily cope on their own.
  3. It helps you a great deal on days that you are just too worn out to think straight. They can easily whip up an omelette for you.
  4. It’s fun and offers a great bonding time as well. We swap stories or just generally chit-chat.
  5. It offers them the opportunity to learn a basic life skill and you never know what direction life can take them.
  6. Real life science and opportunity to experiment.
  7. Calculation skills are introduced here as well as better comprehension; I ask them to write down what they learnt or to read a recipe and explain it to me.
  8. You increase their imagination – to the point that my children now hunt for new recipes that we can try 🙂
  9. A nice way of sneaking in the vegetables, since ordinarily, two of my children avoid veggies, but taking part in making it does a wonderful thing to the mind.

…and yes, the food tastes extra special 🙂

Food1[1]

Yesterday, we made our own version of baked potatoes and vegetable casserole with meatballs.

My daughter selected and washed the items according to my directions – I was the Operations Director 😉

They all participated in the paring, grating, cubing of the vegetables and potatoes, whilst mommy’s responsibility was to add the spices, assemble the processed items and set it to bake.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the finished product before we dug into it, luckily, I took a couple of photos when we started.

Recipe:

1 big sweet potatoes – peeled, washed and grated

3 medium sized Irish potatoes – peeled, washed and cubed

Half a head of Broccoli

3 large tomatoes

1 large onions

4 medium carrots – peeled, washed and grated

4 big white mushrooms

I large yellow bell pepper.

2 beaten eggs for binding.

Fresh garlic – out of a clove, I use like 4 pieces.

Spinach – a handful

A sprinkle of parsley

Oregano – half teaspoon

A dash of curry spice

Salt – 3 teaspoons

2 cubes of Maggi stock

25-50 gms of grated cheddar cheese – layered through and sprinkled on top.

1 pack of minced meat – spiced and rolled into balls with breadcrumbs.

Served a family of 5 with generous helpings and leftovers 🙂

Have a great weekend and do share your tips with us.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

 

From the very first poem, “Dreams,” this book captivates with passionate and perceptive words. Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha captures a broad expanse of the human experience in this book of richly layered poems.

Out of the silent breath

 

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Midnight motivation and musings

Midnight Motivation and Musings # 91

jacquelineobyikocha7 Comments

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Note that there’s a difference between being centered on self and being self-centered.

In all our busy-ness, we sometimes let ourselves fall by the wayside, trying to please a, b, c to z in our lives as well as meet up with so many expected goals.

It’s absolutely important that you take care of your physical, emotional and mental well-being which will equally ensure a balanced, happier person.

When you are ragged and run into the ground, your optimum ability to achieve may not only drop, but you become miserable and possibly grouchy towards others.

As you extend kindness to others, be kind to yourself as well.

Be kind to your body. Keep active.

Cut down the meaningless and mindless entertainment and use that as a me-time to rebalance.

There are many little ways that we can take care of ourselves. In another post, I’ll share my own personal weekly routine.

It’s not perfect and a continuous work-in-progress but it’s been useful and anyone can tweak theirs according to their individual circumstances.

The important thing is to recognise that there’s constant need to take out moments in time to rebalance.

P.S. You are invited to our monthly blog party this weekend. It’s fun and you get to meet fantastic folks:-)

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

A deep sense of satisfaction

of peace, I sense within

as the Sun peeks to say hello

I am happy to embrace me.

Musings · My Thinking Corner

Tuesdays Trickles…My Thinking Corner 22

jacquelineobyikocha11 Comments

Every Tuesday, I share snippets of thoughts that I call ‘My Thinking Corner.’

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Each Tuesday, share your very short snippets of positive, inspiring, motivating, health, spiritual, writing advice, clips, posts etc, that can serve as a prop to motivate others and simply add my link to your post.

I call it my thinking corner because, I actually take out a bit of time just to think through things, encapsulate my thoughts as much as possible and detoxify my mind. It helps give me clarity of vision and might help you too.

It might work for you in a different way, but the idea is to get the positive thoughts flowing.

Please send in your little thoughts. You never know whose life you might inspire.

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  • If one has a tongue that dribbles, they shouldn’t accept to keep the confidence of others. For secrets let out are like spittle, you can never retrieve them.
  • Others may place temporary stumbling blocks in your path, but it’s up to you to remain permanently upstanding.
  • One bee can never make enough honey. You need to align yourself with lots of bees to get a pot of honey.
  • A small and well-executed dream is better than a big dream that’s poorly executed.
  • Are you dreaming yet? If not, why not?

Today’s thoughts came in from beautiful thinkers:

Discretion: How discreet are you? A thought provoking post.

Today’s Nuggets: Great and positive message from Stella.

Jealousy: A message that applies to all of us. Worth your time to take a peek.

I hope that you find these little drops useful now and again. Do check them out and please share snippets of your thoughts with us.

Thanks and blessed be.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Brand me whole as only you can

That the entire score of me

Knows nothing but the fullness of you.

Hope · Life · Midnight motivation and musings · Self Help

Midnight Motivations and Musings 79

jacquelineobyikocha11 Comments

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Life is full of possibilities but you’ve got the leave the corridors of I can’t to the elevators of I’ll do my best to keep seeing change and empowering results.

Most times, change is painful and slow, but once it’s set in motion, there’s an incremental result.

We have to leave negativity behind to see clearer. Always keep an open mind, hearing ears (note that there’s a difference between listening and actually hearing), seeing eye’s – beyond the peripheries and an empathetic questioning mind.

We are called to live life in the fullness of joy and though this might be impossible to achieve 100% of the time, it’s possible to get it 95% of the time.

Love and Light,

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

I can see clearly now the ghosts are laid to rest

Broken visions melded and better than the first

Atop the ladder of scattered dreams and buried bones,

I glimpse the brighter vision reflected and renewed.

**an excerpt of my poem**

Guest Posts · Inspiration - Motivation · Life

The Compass Of Your Life..Guest post from Alicia James.

jacquelineobyikocha4 Comments

Vipassana, Yoga, Consciousness, Meditation, Practice

THE COMPASS OF YOUR LIFE

Permit me to say: Your life’s a product of your THOUGHTS that become BELIEFS, BELIEFS that become ACTIONS, and ACTIONS that form CHARACTER. That’s why sages advice against accommodating filth as a tenant in your mind because of it’s ability to transform into the landlord of your mind.

Sadly enough, a lot of us sail through life without a Life Compass. We either adopt a ” go with the wind” or “choose to have a one-dimensional view of life” mentality. Hence, my problem with people who conform to certain principles without questioning their existence. There’s a possibility that with changing trends, those principles have developed loopholes and are in need of modification. That’s a topic for another day.

Let me explain the beauty of your life. As individuals, we require a Life Compass and a Life Map to navigate through life successfully. Why? Maps were created as guides to unfamiliar territories explored by foreigners, eliminating the probability of getting lost along the way. Thank God for technology today, we have Google Maps and GPS systems.

“But it still doesn’t explain why I need a Life Map”. From birth to death, every stage in your life has a guide to ease your transition from one stage to the next. At every juncture, your Life Map serves as a guide to your final destination.

“Sounds like a Life Map’s all I need, why include a Life Compass”? Your Life Compass gives direction and intention to your life; it’s like a pen that fills the blank pages of your life. When you’re torn between making certain decisions, your Life Compass can guide you in making your choice. It will shock you to know that most of the confusion, guilt, lack of purpose and dissatisfaction we feel and experience in our life’s journey are caused by the absence of a Life Compass. Simply put, The Life Map serves as a guide; the Life Compass keeps you on the true path.

“Ok, I get the message, so how do I develop a Life Compass”?

Well, it’ll require lot’s of self-reflection (as cliché as it sounds) to enable you determine your Life Purpose and evaluate your Life Principles. For those that struggle with self-knowledge, this helps you connect with your inner self.

Understand that your Life Purpose is different from your Life Project. Your Life Purpose is not: ” To be the next Ben Carson” or “To find the cure for AIDS” that’s a Life Project you assigned to yourself. Your Life Purpose is the reason for your creation, what’s most important to you, successful

Your Life Purpose is the reason for your creation, what’s most important to you.A compass has four cardinal directions which in this case represents the four most important principles that guide your life. The most important of these four is your North Direction which is your Life Purpose. This serves as a reference point no matter where you’re headed in life. Therefore, this determines your other three directions.

A compass has four cardinal directions which in this case represents the four most important principles that guide your life. The most important of these four is your North Direction which is your Life Purpose. This serves as a reference point no matter where you’re headed in life. Therefore, this determines your other three directions.

The most important of these four is your North Direction which is your Life Purpose. This serves as a reference point no matter where you’re headed in life. Therefore, this determines your other three directions.

The beautiful thing about your Life Compass is that it’s not set in stone i.e a final representation of your life but it is the best reflection of your values and belief systems in the present moment. As you journey through life, you revisit it and modify it.

It may sound difficult and confusing right now. You probably don’t know how to start, that’s okay. The answers you seek are within you. No one can give them to you.

At the end of your life, how would you like your story to be told?

Alicia James

PicsArt_03-28-08.15.15.jpg

Hey there, I like to call myself as a delightful soul.
I am on a journey of self discovery and I enjoy blogging because it helps me connect with the world through my words as I share my thoughts and experiences as well as that of others

Alicia is a young budding blogger (a fine blend of a Niche Expert & Lifestyle blogger) with a lot of enthusiasm and inspiration. You can meet her at her blog Alicia James to get a better glimpse of her World.

Would you like to guest post or an interview? Feel free to contact me through my contact page or on email: JacquelineObyIkocha@gmail.com

Inspiration - Motivation · Lifestyle · Musings · My Thinking Corner

Tuesdays Trickles…My thinking corner #19

jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

Every Tuesday, I share snippets of thoughts that I call ‘My Thinking Corner.’

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Each Tuesday, share your very short snippets of positive, inspiring, motivating, health, spiritual, writing advice, clips, posts etc, that can serve as a prop to motivate others and simply add my link to your post.

I call it my thinking corner because, I actually take out a bit of time just to think through things, encapsulate my thoughts as much as possible and detoxify my mind. It helps give me clarity of vision and might help you too.

It might work for you in a different way, but the idea is to get the positive thoughts flowing.

Please send in your little thoughts. You never know whose life you might inspire.

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♦ Sometimes, we have to cover our physical sight to see the silver linings in the dark clouds that hover.

♦ When the external heat of life gets too hot, you must keep working at your internal cooling system.

♦ Going with the ordinary flow may sound easy, but sometimes you are washed to the wrong direction. So while flowing, take a paddle with you to steer your course.

♦ Each day, you must remind yourself of what you actually want out of life and keep that vision before your eyes as you take another tiny step in that direction.

♦ Have you been stretching your vision lately? Why not? Don’t settle for laxity.

This week’s thoughts have been sent in by:

Kings oracle This short and sweet post from Oba couldn’t have said it better 🙂

Dollops of heedful rambling This is such a beautiful quote *my first time of reading it* and its truth leaves you mindful.

A purpose-driven achiever Lady Cee joins us with her sage words brings it home to me.

I really enjoy these conscious musings, because sometimes life is just so frenetic that it simply races along with us. These thoughts keep me grounded and help me more than words can say.

My regards,

Jacqueline

P.S I still haven’t been getting some pingbacks, so please if you post a thinking corner post, you might have to visit my page and leave a comment. Thank you.

 

Life · Midnight motivation and musings · Self Help

Midnight Motivations and Musings 70

jacquelineobyikocha11 Comments

Dreams[1]

Not all soil is good for planting due to its acidity or other toxic properties.

Likewise, not all circumstances that surround us will be supportive in nurturing you to the best of your potentials.

Sometimes, you have to make the smart decision and keep your dreams alive but away from toxicity.

Once you recognise such traits, it might not be easy to discard of such circumstances (they might be your family or job), but with wisdom, you can circumvent such characters and keep moving on without relent.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Life · My Thinking Corner · Self Help

Tuesdays Trickles…My Thinking Corner # 18

jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

Every Tuesday, I share snippets of thoughts that I call ‘My Thinking Corner.’

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Each Tuesday, share your very short snippets of positive, inspiring, motivating, health, spiritual, writing advice, clips, posts etc, that can serve as a prop to motivate others and simply add my link to your post.

I call it my thinking corner because, I actually take out a bit of time just to think through things, encapsulate my thoughts as much as possible and detoxify my mind. It helps give me clarity of vision and might help you too.

It might work for you in a different way, but the idea is to get the positive thoughts flowing.

Please send in your little thoughts. You never know whose life you might inspire.

1461058425086[1]

  • Rome was built, burnt down and rebuilt. Great things you seek to achieve, sometimes fall apart before the rise again.
  • When you let yourself go, always remember where you did so, that way you can pick yourself up again.
  • If we fail to learn from past mistakes, our lives become an epistle of errors.
  • If you go to sleep with Mr. bad mood, you wake up with the wrong companions.
  • None has a perfect life, nor perfect days, but we can take some of our moments and make them sublime.

Thoughts for this week came in from:

Dollops of heedful ramblings – Determination How determined are you to succeed? What steps do you take in your process? Do you stand by your decisions? Ask yourself

Annette’s place Annette shares million dollar worth quotes and they resonate very well with me.

For some reason, this week I haven’t received any pingbacks from people. I guess there’s still pingback issue. It’s all good.

Regards,

Jacqueline

 

Lifestyle · Midnight motivation and musings

Midnight Motivation and Musings 63

jacquelineobyikocha13 Comments

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When our minds are fixed on knowledge that is redundant and has gotten us nowhere, we leave no room to expand our minds or understanding.

We don’t know it all. We can never know it all.

For us to learn more than we know, we may have to throw away other preconceived and empty notions that occupy space in our lives.

Even our minds deserve a detox.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Memes · My Thinking Corner · Self Help

Tuesday Trickles…My Thinking Corner # 17

jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

Every Tuesday, I share snippets of thoughts that I call ‘My Thinking Corner.’

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Each Tuesday, share your very short snippets of positive, inspiring, motivating, health, spiritual, writing advice, clips, posts etc, that can serve as a prop to motivate others and simply add my link to your post.

I call it my thinking corner because, I actually take out a bit of time just to think through things, encapsulate my thoughts as much as possible and detoxify my mind. It helps give me clarity of vision and might help you too.

It might work for you in a different way, but the idea is to get the positive thoughts flowing.

Please send in your little thoughts. You never know whose life you might inspire.

1460440433450[1]

  • Life will not seek our permission before happening. It’s either we roll with it or we get run over.
  • When we keep the light of our hearts on in our lives, many people who are alone in the dark can use it to find their way home.
  • When someone confides in you and your lips are restless to share their secrets, remember that once you open that gate to let it out, you can never bring it back.
  • When we keep our face to the sunshine, even our shadows will be lightened in the illumination.
  • Be contented. For contentment is really the key to our riches.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Last week thoughts came in from several great thinkers:

Tuesday’s Truth So many beautiful nuggets attached here.

Detachment Let nothing own us even as we acquire so many things.

Truth Tuesday Let me quote some of Tikeetha’s word’s below and how much I like them because I personally believe that if we fail, to be honest, and open to ourselves and those around us, we fail!

I chose to be open. It is when I’m open about my life both good and bad that I feel like I can see the growth. That I can see the changes that can and need to take place.

Worried? How to deal with it. Our worries can literally debilitate us and weigh us down. How do you deal with worries?

Annette’s Thinking Corner Sometimes the negative vibes of things going on in our lives would want to drown us, but when we start dwelling on the positives, we silence the voice of disquiet and find peace.

Thank you to Tikeetha – A Thomas Point Of View and Dehan Taylor for joining Thinking Corner.

I appreciate this and pray that the transformation of our lives will bring us joy and expand our horizons.

Let’s hear from you and do peek into the thoughts shared by others.