edgarsclubzim Issue 24 by Edgars Club Zimbabwe

contents

February- March 2018 18

LAVISH LIVING

SHOP SMART

16 WHAT’S HOT INSTORE

valen iss 20

18 LAVISH LIVING 21 KNITS 23 WARM COATS 24 GREYS 26 BLUE CRUSH 30 PINK PASSION

32 GET SPORTY 35 SASSY 36 BARE ESSENTIALS 38 MAKEOVER COMPETITION 27 MAKEOVER WINNER

LOOK SMART

KNITS

39 LOOK SMART 40 THE BEAUTY BUZZ 42 MAINTAINING BRAIDS

REGULARS

06 ED’S LETTER 08 CONTRIBUTORS 09 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 10 MARKETING DESK 11 MEET THE TEAM 12 CASH CHALLENGE 14 LETTERS

LIVE SMART

15 ONLINE THIS MONTH

44 REASONS TO RUN

17 SHOPPING GUIDE

45 THINNING HAIR 101

86 WINNERS PAGE

46 APPRECIATE LOVE

13 JOIN THE CLUB

contents

ntine sue 018

WARM COATS

CULTURE CLUB

52 LIVE SMART

80 MASAI MARA, KENYA 83 CULTURE CLUB COMPETITION

49 ART OF SAVING

84 CROSSWORD PUZZLE

50 DINNER FOR TWO?

85 CULTURE CLUB

52 COOKING CHOCOLATE 55 SHOP SMART HOME 56 WORKSPACE COMFORT 58 LET GO OF PESSIMISM

61 IMPROVE HEART HEALTH 64 EDGARS HOSPITAL CASH PLAN

67 CLUB CRAMMER 70 SELF ESTEEM & CONFIDENCE 73 PLAYING FAVOURITES 76 SMART KIDS 78 KIDDIES PUZZLES 79 KIDDIES CORNER

Cover photography Denzel Alpha

Prices available instore. ***Available at Selected stores ONLY

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L A V Iliving SH

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KNITS

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warm

coats

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GREYS

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Bcrush LUE

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Fashi

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pink

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passi on

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GET

SPORTY

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SASSY

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Bare

ESSENTIALS

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makeover competition

WIN A MAKEOVER

Enter our competition and stand a chance to win a brand new look!

Let our creative stylist Marshall Malikula treat you to a brand new head-to-toe makeover. You will win a new look courtesy of Edgars Stores Zimbabwe, as well as a professional photoshoot that will appear in the next edition of The Edgars Club Magazine. To enter you must be an active club account holder and you must email us: 1. Your picture and 2. A 200 word motivation as to why you deserve to receive a makeover. Send your email to theclub@edgars.co.zw

Prices available in-store

Ts & Cs apply.

look smart beauty

Maintaining Braids or twists

et’s be honest. Braids take a lot of time and cost a good bit of money.There are several reasons you may choose to get braids for yourself or your daughter, and we know most of them. So, to make sure that your investment goes a long way we have some steps for you to take. Who wants to spend money or time making their hair look good with braiding only to see it go down rapidly after 2-weeks? Nobody. If you do the following things you will be in a much better position after you decide to drop upwards of $100 or MADD hours in a salon. Ready? Let’s go! Protect Your Hair At Night A silk headscarf or a satin pillowcase will help keep your

braids from drying out. Your edges will also remain fresher. Doing both may sound like an overkill but many women lose their headscarf during sleep, only to find their braids pressed up against a moisture robbing cotton pillowcase. Keep frizz down and hairstyles in tact with these materials.

#1 Options for Satin or Silk – Silk Scarves – Silk Pillowcase – Satin Hair Bonnet

Keep Your Scalp Moist: Break out a Spray Bottle and spray your thirsty roots. It only takes a couple of minutes to moisturize your hair. Just like EVERY other living thing on this earth, your hair needs moisture to survive. The number #1 moisturizer for your

thirsty roots is water…PERIOD!

#1 Option for Spraying Hair – Spray Bottle

Avoid Unnatural Products For Keeping Your Braids Moisturized: Avoid mineral oils like the plague. Yes, your braids need to hold as much moisture as they can for that optimum look. But, did you know that “Mineral Oil” is the key ingredient in most of the popular braid moisturizers? Don’t use them! Instead, use natural oils like coconut oil or almond oil. To seal in the moisture a leading option is Apricot Castor Oil. You can use it to seal entire braid strands or just your ends. The oils are really good for scalp soothing and retaining important moisture. If you need

a non-greasy feeling moisturizer simply use a natural leave-in conditioner.

#1 Options for Keeping Moisture In Hair – Apricot Castor Oil – Coconut Oil – Almond Oil – Natural Leave-In Conditioner

weekly, depending on what your hair requires. I would not suggest going beyond a week (particularly in the later stages of the wear) because the extensions themselves may be drying. This is especially possible if you used synthetic hair for braiding. As for sealing, that can occur anywhere from every few days to weekly. Sealing daily can

In my opinion, the best way to moisturize twists (or any other braid) extensions is to use a water-based spritz followed by sealing with an oil. This method allows for sufficient moisture without contributing to meshing, loc-ing, or severe product buildup. Heavier products, especially thick butters, can build up near the roots and facilitate meshing or loc-ing, especially in kinkier strands. If you REALLY want to use them, though, I suggest staying as far away from your roots as possible and only using the butter once or twice between washes. That being said, what are some good spritzes and oils to use? Well, let us start with the oils. Light and somewhat odorless oils, such as grapeseed and jojoba, are my top suggestions. Coconut oil may be used, but beware that your extensions will smell of the oil (and that may or may not be okay, depending on how you feel). Olive oil is less odorous but heavy.

Now for the spritzes: A wa-

ter-based one is a good start. A water- and glycerin-based one may be even better, depending on what your hair likes. I list a few spritz recipes in this post. If you would rather buy one, I suggest looking for those geared towards braids (e.g., African Pride). Finally, the moisturizing regimen while wearing twist extensions: Spritz anywhere from daily to

look smart beauty styling and high ponytails or updos pulls on your hairline. Consistently pulling on your hairline will weaken your thirsty roots. No need to destroy your edges over styling. Simply limit these kind of styles to 1 or 2 times a week instead of daily.

Redo Your Edges After 4 to 6 Weeks On average, hair grows 1/2 an inch per month. This means after 4 weeks you have some new growth and the braids around your front hairline…(Edges) can begin to look a bit rough. 2-months in you will feel like you are pushing the limits of HOTNESS..lol.Let’s take care of this by simply taking out the braids along the edges. Detangle and conditioning that hair before re-installing those few braids you took out. Reminder: Your edges are fragile and NOT taking care of them properly while in braids can cause some serious Eye DRAMA if you know what we mean.

#1 Option for Controlling Edges – Edge Control

attract dirt to the hair quicker than usual thus leading to increased frequency in washing. Wash Braids Bi-Weekly (Minimum Recommendation) A daily buildup of dirt or sweat can cause pores to clog and product build up. This is a recipe for disaster of a scalp and hair. #1 Option for Washing Braids – Shampoo – T-Shirt Towel for Drying Reduce Up-Dos, Pulling and High Manipulation: Constant

Don’t Wear Braids For Too Long: Some women have been able to effectively wear braids for 4-months with serious care. We recommend a maximum of 2 months. New growth can cause the hair to be pulled on from heavy braids or constant tugging from them. Sleep patterns and daily movement can weaken or damage the new growth from consistent stretching. Fragile ends or breakage goes totally against “Protective Hairstyle” so please, Be Careful! These 7 steps for maintaining braids or twists should keep you looking nice. You should definitely get your moneys worth of wear. Your thirsty roots will also remain beautiful as you experience healthy hair growth. c

shop smart men’s grooming

ESSENTIAL

How to make thinning hair appear fuller

et’s get this out of the way: losing your hair is nothing to be ashamed of. Like going grey or getting a few wrinkles, it’s simply a fact of life for all but the most #blessed among us. There are plenty of guys out there, of all ages, who have embraced their follicular difficulties and been handsomely rewarded for it in the long-run. Yet most men still get weak in the knees when they hear the words “male pattern baldness.” Look, we get it. Change is rough. It can take a while to accept that things aren’t what they used to be. That your once-thick, Adonis-like locks have taken a turn for the wispy. And maybe you’re just not ready to take a razor to your head and call it a day. So in the meantime, here’s how to adapt your grooming habits to keep your dome looking luscious as long as it can.

The Cut For thinning hair, one of the worst things

you can do is grow the hair longer, especially on the sides and back. This simply makes the thinning top look even thinner in contrast to the thicker sides and places the emphasis on the baldness. Here’s my rule of thumb. Take a look in the mirror -- if you see scalp exposure on top, cut the sides and back short enough to reveal an equal amount of scalp exposure. This will help provide balance and draw focus away from the thinning top. You may also wish to consider a texturized hairstyle that allows the top to be a bit messy and provide better coverage. The right haircut for thinning

hair is essential. Another great idea, if you’ve got a great head shape and strong facial features is to go completely bald. This completely hides the fact that your hair is thinning. If you’ve got a great set of eyes , the lack of hair brightens and draws focus to the eyes and really makes them “pop.”

Facial Hair If you are thinning on top, the addition

of some facial hair (a neatly trimmed beard or door knocker are great options) will also help draw the focus down the face and away from the top of the head. Less hair on top, combined with more hair on the face provides balance. Product Use There are several good thickening shampoos on the market that can help buy pumping up the hair shaft a bit. For styling, you may wish to consider a light styling cream on dry hair to help you achieve hold and control without separation. For styling go for a product that will give you some control without being too aggressive for thinning hair. Dealing with thinning hair can certainly be a challenge and so many men have so much of their self esteem tied into their hair. It can be quite discouraging, but the best thing, first and foremost, is just to simply accept the fact that you are losing it. c

downtime inspiration

WAYSTOSHOWAPPRECIATION TO THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE nt other have - by Here are ways to strengthen the love you and your significa

e all get pulled in a million different directions and therefore forget about the importance of being able to show appreciation to the love of your life. If you’re like most people you are over committed and trying to constantly cross things off your “to do list”. Taking time to slow down and tell your loved one how important they are to you simply isn’t a priority. Though we appreciate them we also have a tendency to take them for granted, and this is where a relationship can go down the wrong path. Making a conscious effort to show a little gratitude or showering words of appreciation to a loved one can go a long way!

Gamu Moyo

Appreciating love.

This is the person that you have committed your life to and that shows you love every day. Sure they have their moments as we all do, but this is the person who truly is the love of your life—and so you want to show them just how important they are to you. This doesn’t need to be anything elaborate or expensive, for sometimes the smallest tokens can help to show appreciation in a really big way. It’s all about thinking through what they like, what makes them happy, and what will help them to feel important and loved when all is said and done. Here are some simple but effective ways to show appreciation of love and have fun with it too!

. Do something for them for no reason at all. You don’t

need a special occasion to do something nice for them. It also doesn’t need to be anything fancy for it can be as simple as a card or giving them a massage. The important part here is to take the time out to do something just for them, for no reason at all, and with no strings attached. You aren’t doing this to get anything yourself, but rather to help them to feel loved in a simple but meaningful way. The little things will help to put a smile on their face, and they will feel important all because of a small token of appreciation.

. Cook a favourite meal that you know will make them happy. What a simple idea to appreciate the love! Cook their

favourite dinner so that they are surprised when they get home and it’s waiting for them. Pack their lunch for them one day out of the blue, or even try surprising them with breakfast in bed. The way to the heart is through the stomach— and making them a favourite meal is sure to help them feel appreciated and feed their body and soul.

. Send them a text just to let them know you love and appreciate them. There’s nothing better than a surprise text in the middle of the day to make you smile. If you want to show appreciation to the love of your life, then send them a quick text in the middle of a busy workday simply to let them know you’re thinking of them and that you love them. It’s unexpected and it’s simple, but those few words can mean so much. Catch them off guard and they will be beaming when they see you later on—again the little things mean so much!

. Give them the day off from responsibilities so that they can relax. We all get caught up in all the things we have to do, and sometimes just giving them a day off can work wonders. Tell them that it’s their day to relax and you take over their responsibilities around the house. Do the grocery shopping, clean the house, mow the lawn, or do something so that they don’t have to. Allow them time to sleep in and relax and show them that you are doing this because you appreciate all that they do for you. It’s one day and though it means more work for you, it will go a long way in helping

them to feel truly appreciated.

downtime inspiration just remember to do this and to

. Pamper them and set the tone for a day of love and attention. If you have the means send them to the spa for a couple of hours. Nothing can help a person to feel cherished quite like a day of pampering! If you are tight on funds then set up a spa day at home. Draw them a bath, set up candles, make them a special lunch, and

speak your words of gratitude and that may be all that it takes in the end.

. Show appreciation in a unique & affectionate way. Hold onto them in that hug a little longer. Kiss a little deeper, and look them in the eyes with the affection that you have. Sometimes you do have to actually show that appreciation through affection and love. When you can look them in the eyes and make physical intimacy and that connection a true priority then you are telling them all that they need to know. Though life gets busy, working to keep that bond and physical connection strong will ensure that they know how you feel and show them without speaking any words at all.

give them a massage. Everyone likes to be taken care of once in a while, and this goes a long way in giving them time to unwind and reflect upon how much they mean to you in the process.

. Tell them thank you. And remind them how important they are to you as often as possible. It can be something as simple as saying “thank you” or “I love you” that goes the furthest. Remind them through your words how important they are to you, and tell them face to face how much you care. Having an open and direct line of communication means that you get to share with them what they mean to you all the time—so

. Talk to them, remind them why you love them. And help them by supporting them. Being there for somebody that you love is often the best way to show your appreciation. Help them through something or just listen to them when they need you. Though it’s always nice to show appreciation to the love of your life in unique ways, it can also be about getting back to basics. Remind them why you love them, show them that you are there for them, and help to support them when they need a little lift. When somebody knows that they can count on you, then it’s the ultimate compliment and it helps to build somebody up when they need it. A little gesture can go a long way, and the appreciation will always be reciprocated too! c

downtime cooking

DINNER FOR ? E N O Y N A ? O W T an intimate meal for Treat your sweetheart to dinner recipes, then two with these decadent lging in a romantic finish your meal by indu dessert.

Baked Dijon Salmon

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup butter, melted 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 1/2 tablespoons honey 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

4 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley 4 150g fillets salmon salt and pepper to taste 1 lemon, for garnish

METHOD: Preheat oven to 200 degrees C.

In a small bowl, stir together butter, mustard, and honey. Set aside. In another bowl, mix together bread crumbs, pecans, and parsley. Brush each salmon fillet lightly with honey mustard mixture, and sprinkle the tops of the fillets with the bread crumb mixture. Bake salmon 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until it flakes easily with a fork. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with a wedge of lemon. Tip: Aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up easier. Serve with Asparagus, beans or salad.

Filet Mignon with Balsamic Glaze

INGREDIENTS:

2 200g filet mignon steaks 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground

black pepper to taste salt to taste 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1/4 cup dry red wine

METHOD: Sprinkle freshly ground pepper over both sides of each

steak, and sprinkle with salt to taste. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place steaks in hot pan, and cook for 1 minute on each side, or until browned. Reduce heat to medium-low, and add balsamic vinegar and red wine. Cover, and cook for 4 minutes on each side, basting with sauce when you turn the meat over. Remove steaks to two warmed plates, spoon one tablespoon of glaze over each, and serve immediately. Tip: Aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make cleanup easier.

downtime cooking

Lemon Herb Chicken Salad

INGREDIENTS

cracked pepper , to taste MARINADE/DRESSING: SALAD: 500 g 4 skinless, 2 tablespoons olive oil chicken breasts 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 4 cups lettuce leaves, washed 2 tblps water and dried 2 tblps red wine vinegar 1 large cucumber , diced 2 tblps fresh chopped parsley 2 Roma tomatoes , diced 2 tsps dried basil 1 red onion , sliced 2 tsps garlic , minced 1 avocado , sliced 1 tsps dried oregano 1/3 cup black olives 1 tsps salt Lemon wedges , to serve METHOD: Whisk together all of the marinade/dressing ingredients in a large jug. Pour out half of the marinade into a large, shallow dish. Refrigerate the remaining marinade to use as the dressing later. Add the chicken to the marinade in the bowl; marinade chicken for 15-30 minutes. While waiting for the chicken, prepare all of the salad ingredients and mix in a large salad bowl. Once chicken is ready, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a grill pan. Grill chicken on both sides until browned and completely cooked through. Cool chicken; slice and arrange over salad. Drizzle salad with the remaining UNTOUCHED dressing. Serve with lemon wedges. RECIPE NOTES Add 1/2 cup crumbled feta to give the salad an even better flavour!

Chicken Sphaghetti

INGREDIENTS

tomatoes with green chile 1 package spaghetti peppers 1 can condensed cream of 1 cup chopped green onion mushroom soup 4 skinless, boneless chicken 350g processed cheese breast halves - boiled, cut into 1 can diced bite size pieces METHOD: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Heat soup in a large saucepan over low heat. Add cheese and melt, stirring. When cheese is almost melted, stir in tomatoes with green chile peppers and green onion. Simmer over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring. Add spaghetti and mix well, then stir in chicken. Heat through and serve. INGREDIENTS

Beef Lasagna

450ml part-skim ricotta cheese 1 pound beef mince 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 onion, chopped 2 eggs 1can mushrooms, drained 1 package lasagna noodles 1 jar spaghetti sauce 250g shredded 1 package cottage cheese mozzarella cheese METHOD: Preheat oven to (175 degrees C). In a large skillet, cook and stir ground beef until brown. Add mushrooms and onions; saute until onions are transparent. Stir in pasta sauce, and heat through. In a medium size bowl, combine cheeses, and eggs. Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 13x9 inch pan. Layer with uncooked lasagna noodles, cheese mixture, mozzarella cheese, and meat sauce. Continue layering until all ingredients are used, reserving 1/2 cup mozzarella. Cover pan with aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Uncover, and top with remaining half cup of mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and let stand 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

downtime cooking

How to cookte a l o c o h c h t i w ch thing as too If you think there’s no su e u’ve definitely come to th much chocolate, then yo right place.

hocolate is one ingredient that will simply never go out of fashion. Most chefs will have a chocolate dessert on their menu year round, it is a favourite in kitchens for its versatility, and of course it’s fantastic flavour. WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING CHOCOLATE There are 3 types of chocolate bar, white, milk and dark chocolate. White chocolate is not actually chocolate but is made just from cocoa butter, sugar and milk to give a silky sweet taste. Milk chocolate is chocolate with the addition of milk and sugar. Dark chocolate is sweetened but no milk is added. This is the most widely used chocolate for cooking as the rich, bitter flavour is more prominent. Chocolate varies greatly in quality with a good marker being the percentage of cocoa mass. Chocolate should have only cocoa mass, cocoa butter sugar and soya lecithin listed as the ingredients, avoid chocolates which substitute cocoa butter with vegetable fats as they will be poor quality. Chocolate usually comes in bar form however it is available in pellets and drops for cooking. Look for chocolate that is certified fair trade, this ensures that the workers have been given a fair price for their cocoa beans. HOW TO COOK WITH CHOCOLATE Chocolate can be used as an ingredient in most recipes with no preparation at all. If a recipe calls for chocolate to be tempered, this is a skill to be mastered in itself. Recipes by professional chocolatiers such as Paul A Young or intricate patisserie will often require using couverture chocolate and careful tempering before use. Though quite

a technical skill, all you really need is a thermometer and a little confidence. It involves slowly heating and then slowly cooling the chocolate so that the fats crystallise uniformly and the chocolate ‘snaps’ rather than crumbles when broken. Once tempered, the chocolate can be piped, or turned into cylinders, shards and curls. Always use the best quality chocolate you can find as this will affect the taste of your final dish. Higher cocoa content will depict a greater depth of flavour. There are no strict rules about baking with chocolate – partly because its uses are so varied, from chocolate sponges to chocolate ganache and even caramelised chocolate. WHICH TYPE IS HEALTHY? Ultimately, it’s all about the type you choose, and how often you eat it. The health benefits are linked to its cocoa content – so always go for a quality bar with 70% or higher cocoa levels. Cocoa contains flavonoids, which are thought to play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease. The darker the chocolate, the more flavonoids it contains. Even better, if you cook with quality cocoa powder, you can get all the health benefits of cocoa without any of the added fat or sugar in a bar (remember that low-cocoa milk and white chocolate contain much higher levels of sugar and saturated fat). One study carried out on middle-aged and elderly Swedish women found that moderate, habitual chocolate eating was associated with a lower rate of heart failure. The biggest benefits were seen in women who ate one or two pieces per week. So, it seems that there can be a place for moderate amounts of it in a healthy, balanced diet!

downtime cooking

Olive Oil Chocolate Pots with Orange INGREDIENTS

double cream 200ml whole milk 40ml 70% dark chocolate 200g, chopped

extra-virgin olive oil 30ml, plus extra to serve orange 1 brown sugar 50g sea salt to serve

METHOD: STEP 1: Pour the cream into a pan with the milk and

heat gently. STEP 2: Put the chocolate into a bowl and, once the cream is just simmering, pour it over the chocolate. STEP 3: Leave for one minute, then stir to combine. STEP 4: Stir in the olive oil, being careful not to over-mix and split the mixture. STEP 5: Pour into 4 small ramekins or glasses and leave to set at room temperature. STEP 6: Cut the orange in half horizontally. Squeeze half of the orange into a small pan, add 50ml of water and the brown sugar. STEP 7: Cut the remaining half into small chunks and put them in the pan, peel-side down. STEP 8: Bring to a simmer over a medium-low heat, basting the oranges every now and again. After 10-15 minutes, when the liquid has reduced to a syrup, remove from the heat. STEP 9: Serve the chocolate pots topped with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, a little pinch of salt and the caramelised oranges.

Black Forest Cheesecake

INGREDIENTS

kirsch 2 tbsp double chocolate chip cookies milk chocolate 200g, melted 175g, (choc cookies with choice and cooled chips) plain chocolate 200g, melted butter 50g, melted and cooled mascarpone 500g cherries in kirsch 20, plus some vanilla extract 1 tsp of the syrup from the jar for double cream 300ml decorating METHOD: STEP 1: Whizz the biscuits to crumbs in a food processor and mix with the melted butter. Press the biscuit mixture into the base of a 20cm spring-form tin. STEP 2: Beat the mascarpone with the vanilla until smooth. Very softly whip the double cream with the kirsch then mix with the mascarpone. Finally, fold in the melted chocolates and cherries. STEP 3: Spoon into the tin, swirl the mix a bit on top (see pic) so you leave indents for the cherry syrup to go on top, and chill overnight. STEP 4: Serve with some of the syrup from the jar and extra cherries if you like

Choc Bread and Butter Pudding

INGREDIENTS

70% dark chocolate 100g, bropain au chocolat/chocolate ken into pieces crossaints 4 egg yolks 3 double cream 300ml caster sugar 2 tbsp whole milk 150ml METHOD: STEP 1: Heat the oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Cut each pain au chocolat into 3 pieces and put cut side up in a baking dish theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll fit snugly. Put the cream and milk in a pan. Bring to just below boiling point, then take off the heat and stir in the chocolate until it dissolves (put back on a very gentle heat if you need to). STEP 2: Put the egg yolks in a bowl with the sugar and whisk., slowly adding the chocolate cream to make a custard. STEP 3: Gradually pour the custard over the pain au chocolat, making sure all the dry bits are covered. Leave for 10 minutes for the custard to soak in, then bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until the custard has just set.

downtime home shop smart home Some handy tips to consider when renovating your space.

How to make your workspace more

COMFORTABLE W

hether you’re working from home or in an office, it’s important to feel comfortable at your workspace. A comfortable and inviting office increases productivity and efficiency in addition to boosting your moral. Before we get into details, let’s review a few of the things which can improve your work environment.

because they let you store and display items where you can easily reach them. Cabinets and drawers are great for hiding certain items that you don’t use very often. If you’re working with documents and files, organize them all using a simple system. If you have lots of books in your office, a bookcase would be ideal.

THE LIGHTING: Ideally, a workspace should have

MAKE THE WORKSPACE A SINGLE PURPOSE AREA: Don’t mix your work with your per-

lots of windows and natural light. However, since that’s not always possible, you should try to maximize whatever lighting you have and also to add task lighting. A lamp should be on the desk and you should also consider using overhead lighting in addition to that. Maybe you’ve noticed that you feel less energetic during winter months. That’s because of the lack of exposure to sunlight. The sun boosts your mood and makes you more productive. It’s also important to get some artificial lighting in the workspace to facilitate reading, writing and other activities.

GOOD STORAGE SOLUTIONS: A messy and

cluttered workspace can’t possibly be more productive and inspiring than a neat and tidy one. So before you start your tasks for the day, de-clutter the desk and put everything where it belongs. For that, you need a good storage and organization system. Open shelves are great

sonal life. If you decide to work from home, you should pick a spot that you don’t need to use for anything else. Ideally, you should have a separate room for this. Other added purposes will only distract you from your work. Also, by having a designated workspace, you can organize it and decorate it however you wish without having to worry about anything else. It’s good to set some boundaries between work and personal life. So when you step into the office, you should stop thinking about home.

GET THE WIRES UNDER CONTROL: We can

all agree that wires can get out of control fast and they get annoying. We often try to ignore the issue but it only get worst. So try to find a way to organize them. A simple solution can be to tie them up under the desk. But if you really want to be organized, then you can also label

shop smart home

them. Get rid of all the cables that might incommode you while working. You can tape them to the side of the desk or find a more creative way to organize them. You can turn your cords into artwork.

a 90 degree angle. Try to maintain this ideal sitting posture as much as you can.If you think it’s necessary, you should also have a footrest. This can reduce the pressure on the feet and will decrease the pain at the end of the day.

SET A COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE: The

THE DESK: The desk is just as important as the chair. So

temperature in your office is important. If it’s too hot you can’t concentrate properly and if it’s too cold you can’t be productive. So set whatever temperature makes you feel comfortable. If you don’t have a separate home office or if others might protest to that, get a fan, a heater or a portable air conditioner. corporate a personal touch into the décor of your workspace. This way it will feel more welcoming there and you’ll be more inspired when working. For that, you can try having an inspirational poster. It will boost your mood and productivity. Pick something that defines you or something that gets your brain moving. You can also incorporate other elements in the décor. For example, display a few personal photos or choose a calendar you really like to put on the wall or on the desk. Have a cork board on which to display both decorative and practical elements. Pick a rug that cheers up the room. The possibilities are endless.

when you go shopping for a new desk or if you decide to make a custom one, you should take into consideration a few factors. Everything should be set up in the right position. The mouse and the keyboard should be as close together as possible. If you have a keyboard tray, then the mouse should sit there too. Make sure the desk has the ideal height. You can, of course, adjust the height of your seat but it’s best to decide these things before hand. When placing the monitor on the desk, you need to pay attention to a few things. First of all, once you’ve adjusted the chair, close your eyes and then casually look forward. Open your eyes and they should be aimed at the centre of the screen. If the computer screen sits too low, you can use a stack of books to raise it. Once all the important elements are properly organized on the desk, it’s time to take care of the little things. Only include on the desk the elements you really need and make sure they are easily reachable. Don’t clutter your workspace with decorative items. Instead, display them on the wall in front of your desk where you can see them.

A COMFORTABLE CHAIR AND DESK: Of

MORE TIPS.

PERSONALIZE THE DÉCOR: It’s important to in-

course, the most important thing for being comfortable at the workplace is having a proper chair and a proper desk. There are a few things you should consider before purchasing these items.

THE CHAIR: A comfortable office chair is always a

good investment. So make sure you know what you’re looking for before buying one. A great chair should have a comfortable cushion. If possible, breathable fabric would be great too. A good chair should also have armrests. There are plenty of designs that don’t include them and they’re even worth taking into consideration. The armrests should be low enough for your shoulders to stay relaxed and your elbow to bend at a 90 degree angle. Any good office chair should have adjustable seat height. This allows you to adjust your position when sitting at your desk. Your feet should stay flat on the floor and your arms should be at the height of the desk. A thing which is sometimes neglected is the adjustable back rest height. It’s important to have good posture when working and for that you need to adjust the height and angle of the back rest. Speaking of posture, do you know how you should sit properly when working? We can help with that. You should sit as close as possible to the desk, with the upper arms parallel to your spine and your hands rested on the work surface. Your legs should also be bent at the knees at

Take frequent breaks.

This will help you concentrate better and will also make you more productive and efficient in the long run. Even if you’re working from home, you should take lunch breaks or find something relaxing to do from time to time.

Reduce eye strain.

It’s important to try to protect your eyes, especially if you’re using a computer for more than 3 or 4 hours a day. Adjust the brightness of your monitor, position yourself so that the windows are to your side and blink often. Every 20 minutes, try focusing on an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Set a schedule.

Don’t let the fact that you’re working from home influence you when creating your schedule. Try to be organized. Set up an alarm in the morning and set a goal each day, according to the tasks that need to be completed. You should finish all your work until a certain time you’ve decided.

Start the day with a pleasant activity.

It’s important to start the day in a pleasant way. So, when you wake up, do something fun, something you like. Have coffee with your partner or with a friend, listen to music or take a walk with your dog. c

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POWERFUL WAYS

to improve your heart health

o you take care of your family? Goes without saying. Do you take care of your home? Of course. Do you take care of your heart? Probably not.It may not be at the top of most women’s to-do lists, but caring for your heart through a healthy diet and regular physical activity is the secret weapon to preventing heart disease. While many may assume that popping a few pills that your healthcare provider prescribed is enough to quell symptoms or prevent a heart attack, the real preventative power lies with real changes to your lifestyle – which can reduce the risk for heart disease by as much as 80 percent. TAKE STOCK OF YOUR KITCHEN: In order to take control of your heart health and your health in general, it’s important to evaluate what may be holding you back. Often the problem begins with the clutter in your life. Outward clutter is often a sign of inner

clutter, or emotional turmoil that is preventing you from moving forward when it comes to your health. A good place to start decluttering is in your kitchen, and that begins with eliminating the junk foods lurking there. “The biggest part of turning a kitchen into a healthy place to cook and eat is to get rid of the bad food to make room for the good,” Dr. Agatston says. He encourages you to look through your pantry, cupboards, and refrigerator and toss out empty-calorie foods such as sugary sodas, candy, baked goods made with refined flour, and sugary cereals, as well as half-eaten cartons of take-out food, or anything that has passed its expiration date. You can also look in your freezer and get rid of unhealthy frozen entrées and half-finished cartons of full-fat ice cream. Your freezer space can be better used to store healthy meals you cook ahead of time for quick dinners during the week.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE EATING AND WHEN: An essential component of a heart-healthy diet is eating the right kinds of foods throughout the day. Dr. Agatston stresses the importance of starting the day off right with a breakfast that includes some lean protein and fiber, such as an omelet made with chopped vegetables.“While eggs do have a fair amount of dietary cholesterol, studies have found that dietary cholesterol doesn’t raise levels of blood cholesterol in most people, even when eggs are eaten most days of the week,” he says. Snacking strategically mid-morning and mid-afternoon will also help to keep you satisfied so that you don’t overeat at mealtime. Agatston suggests a handful of almonds (about ¼ cup), carrot sticks with hummus, or a piece of fruit along with a slice or wedge of reduced-fat cheese as good snack choices. SHOP SMART AND PLAN AHEAD: Eating out several nights a week

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downtime teen talk

SELF-ESTEEM & CONFIDENCE

Healthy self-esteem is feeling good about yourself.

oes any of this sound familiar? “I’m too tall.” “I’m too short.” “I’m too skinny.” “If only I were shorter/taller/had curly hair/straight hair/a smaller nose/ longer legs, I’d be happy.” Are you putting yourself down? If so, you’re not alone. As a teen, you’re going through lots of changes in your body. And, as your body changes, so does your image of yourself. It’s not always easy to like every part of your looks, but when you get stuck on the negatives it can really bring down your self-esteem.

Why Are Self-Esteem & Body Image Important?

Self-esteem is all about how much you feel you are worth — and how much you feel other people value you. Self-esteem is important because feeling good about yourself can affect your mental health and how you behave. People with high self-esteem know

themselves well. They’re realistic and find friends that like and appreciate them for who they are. People with high self-esteem usually feel more in control of their lives and know their own strengths and weaknesses. Body image is how you view your physical self — including whether you feel you are attractive and whether others like your looks. For many people, especially people in their early teens, body image can be closely linked to self-esteem.

What Influences a Person’s Self-Esteem?

Puberty and Development Some people struggle with their self-esteem and body image when they begin puberty because it’s a time when the body goes through many changes. These changes, combined with wanting to feel accepted by our friends, means it can be tempting to compare ourselves with others. The trouble with that is, not

everyone grows or develops at the same time or in the same way.

Media Images & Other Outside Influences

Our tweens and early teens are a time when we become more aware of celebrities and media images — as well as how other kids look and how we fit in. We might start to compare ourselves with other people or media images (“ideals” that are frequently airbrushed). All of this can affect how we feel about ourselves and our bodies even as we grow into our teens.

Families and School

Family life can sometimes influence our body image. Some parents or coaches might be too focused on looking a certain way or “making weight” for a sports team. Family members might struggle with their own body image or criticize their kids’ looks (“why do you wear your hair so long?” or “how come you

can’t wear pants that fit you?”). This can all influence a person’s self-esteem, especially if they’re sensitive to others peoples’ comments. People also may experience negative comments and hurtful teasing about the way they look from classmates and peers. Although these often come from ignorance, sometimes they can affect body image and self-esteem.

Healthy Self-Esteem

If you have a positive body image, you probably like and accept yourself the way you are, even if you don’t fit some media “ideal.” This healthy attitude allows you to explore other aspects of growing up, such as developing good friendships, becoming more independent from your parents, and challenging yourself physically and mentally. Developing these parts of yourself can help boost your self-esteem. A positive, optimistic attitude can help people develop strong self-esteem. For example, if you make a mistake, you might want to say, “Hey, I’m human” instead of “Wow, I’m such a loser” or not blame others when things don’t go as expected. Knowing what makes you happy and how to meet your goals can help you feel capable, strong, and in control of your life. A positive attitude and a healthy lifestyle (such as exercising and eating right) are a great combination for building good self-esteem.

Tips for Improving Body Image Some people think they need to change how they look to feel good about themselves. But all you need to do is change the way you see your body and how you think about yourself. Here are some tips on doing that: Recognize that your body is your

downtime teen talk

own, no matter what shape or size it comes in. Try to focus on how strong and healthy your body is and the things it can do, not what’s wrong with it or what you feel you want to change about it. If you’re worried about your weight or size, check with your doctor to verify that things are OK. But it’s no one’s business but your own what your body is like — ultimately, you have to be happy with yourself. Identify which aspects of your appearance you can realistically change and which you can’t. Humans, by definition, are imperfect. It’s what makes each of us unique and original! Everyone (even the most perfect-seeming celeb) has things that they can’t change and need to accept — like their height, for example, or their shoe size. Remind yourself that “real people aren’t perfect and perfect people aren’t real (they’re usually airbrushed!)”.

If there are things about yourself that you want to change and can, do this by making goals for yourself. For example, if you want to get fit, make a plan to exercise every day and eat healthy. Then keep track of your progress until you reach your goal. Meeting a challenge you set for yourself is a great way to boost self-esteem! When you hear negative comments coming from within, tell yourself to stop. Appreciate that each person is more than just how he or she looks on any given day. We’re complex and constantly changing. Try to focus on what’s unique and interesting about yourself. Try building your self-esteem by giving yourself three compliments every day. While you’re at it, every evening list three things in your day that really gave you pleasure. It can be anything from the way the sun felt on your face, the sound

of your favourite band, or the way someone laughed at your jokes. By focusing on the good things you do and the positive aspects of your life, you can change how you feel about yourself. Some people with physical disabilities or differences may feel they are not seen for their true selves because of their bodies and what they can and can’t do. Other people may have such serious body image issues that they need a bit more help. Working with a counselor or therapist can help some people gain perspective and learn to focus on their individual strengths as well as develop healthier thinking. Self-esteem is made up of the thoughts, feelings, and opinions we have about ourselves. That means self-esteem isn’t fixed. It can change, depending on the way we think. Over time, habits of negative thinking about ourselves can lower self-esteem. Sometimes, people don’t even realize that they’re thinking so negatively about themselves. But once you’re aware of it, and know that the way you think is up to you, you can begin to change the way you think. And changing the way you think about yourself changes the way you feel about yourself. So if you want to feel better about yourself, try some of these things:

. MANAGE YOUR INNER CRITIC. Notice the critical things you say to yourself. Would you talk to a best friend like that? A harsh inner voice just tears us down. If you’re in the habit of thinking self-critically, re-train yourself by rewording these negative unkind thoughts into more helpful feedback.

. FOCUS ON WHAT GOES WELL FOR YOU. Are you so

downtime parenting

PARENTS PLAYING I

favourites

t takes many forms, and exists for a variety of reasons. Children tend to recognize it more readily than do their parents, and it is more common during times of family stress, particularly of the sort that results from marriage problems. When it is not recognized and addressed, it can create long-term emotional problems and can devastate family relationships. “It” is favouritism, and it is far more common than we might like to think. When parents are surveyed on the subject of favouritism, nearly all respondents say that despite their best efforts to the contrary, they have favoured one child over another at least occasionally. They also typically admit that they know favouritism is hurtful to children and that they try to avoid it as much as possible. Some parents, however, remain blissfully unaware of the possibility that they

sometimes act in ways that reveal a bias toward or against one of their children, even though it may be blatantly obvious to others. “I see the frustration and behaviour problems in our oldest child resulting from the favouritism their father shows our youngest child,” said one parent in response to a recent survey on the topic. “It is a very serious problem in our family.” Indeed, it is a serious problem in any family where it is an entrenched pattern, and it affects everyone. Unfavoured children have consistently been shown to exhibit high levels of depression and aggressive behaviours, and a reduced sense of self-worth and social responsibility. But favoured children are usually quite as well aware of parents’ preferences as less favoured children, and they are not immune to the harmful effects. Common sense alone should sug-

gest that favoured children might be insecure about their own “privileged” status, since they would easily be able to observe the unjust and unpredictable nature of the parent’s treatment of other children. Researchers also suggest the privileged child may even feel empathy, or even guilt, for the “underprivileged” sibling’s experiences; or feel the loss of what might otherwise have been a close sibling relationship. There is a solid basis for the latter suggestion: It is well known among child development researchers that preferential treatment by parents seriously undermines the relationship between siblings, a relationship that otherwise has the potential to provide tremendous benefits throughout their lives.(See “My Brother’s Keeper: From Sibling Violence to Brotherly Love.”) One point is worth emphasizing at this stage, however. Just because parents may treat children differently does not mean their actions

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live smart down time SHERLOCK GNOMES

Animation, Comedy, Family Release Date: 23 March 2018 First introduced in the film Gnomeo and Juliet, the adorable title characters and their garden ornament friends have a new adventure featuring the legendary Sherlock Gnomes. In the heart of London, gnomes are disappearing from the gardens. Gnomeo and Juliet join forces with the great Sherlock Gnomes and Watson to discover what is behind the mystery.

CULTURE CLUB February & March 2018 are filled with exciting blockbusters lined up.

TOMB RAIDER

Action, Adventure Release Date: 16 March 2018 Lara Croft is the fiercely independent daughter of an eccentric adventurer who vanished when she was scarcely a teen. Now a young woman of 21 without any real focus or purpose. Advised to face the facts and move forward after seven years without him, even Lara can’t understand what drives her to finally solve the puzzle of his mysterious death.She leaves everything she knows behind in search of her dad’s last-known destination: a fabled tomb.

AMMARTIA BY AMMARA BROWN: Ammara who has a string

of hits to her name including Mukoko and her recent chart-topping hit Akiliz has finally add the missing piece of the puzzle when she launches the album. Ammartia is Ammara Brown’s first album and it was launched on 10 November 2017. It has songs that Ammara Brown worked on in her career the previous years, including new hit songs like Akiliz. Ammara’s 14-track album titled “Ammartia” was done by a number of producers, among them Simba Tagz, Mr Kamera, Oskid and DJ Tamuka. source: The Standard

COKE ON THE BEAT: ZTV’s

programme, “Coke on the Beat” has always been very instrumental in ensuring that artistic works of excellence in musical form are always recognised and celebrated. The programme has brought to the fore works by musicians like Cindy Munyavi, Winky D, Alexio Kawara, Sniper and Ammara Brown either through interviews or playlists. source: The Herald