When you see someone what about them makes you think they are beautiful? Their shimmering eyes? The perfectly positioned nose on their face? Or maybe even their evenly toned skin? There are times when two people disagree if someone is beautiful. Individually and culturally we all have our own standards of beauty. That’s why your ‘type’ may not be my ‘type.’ People go to great lengths to achieve personal, cultural and societal beauty. I have read a lot about cultural beauty and I wanted to share a few of the very interesting ones. You may already know some of them, but I hope you learn some new ones too. At the end of the day, like Scottish philosopher Francis Hutcheson said, ‘beauty is unity in variety and variety in unity.’ You don’t have to agree with someone else’s standard of beauty, you just need to understand it. Before I get into 5 cultural beauty standards from around the world, I’d like to share a few things interesting tidbits. Symmetry and proportions have a direct connection with beauty. Psychologist Steven Gangestad set about measuring the body symmetry of hundreds of college men and women. By adding up right-left disparities in seven measurements; the breadth of the feet, ankles, wrists, hands, elbows, breadth and length of ears to score each subject’s overall body symmetry. He had the subjects fill out questionnaires covering everything from temperament to sexual behavior, and they set to look for any connections. In the 1994 study, they found symmetrical males started having sex, 3 to four years earlier than their lopsided counterparts. And for both men and women, greater symmetry predicted larger number of past sex partners. Symmetry has been scientifically proven to be attractive to the eye, no matter which part of the world you find yourself. A 1996 study published in Newsweek Magazine shows that people considered beautiful fare better with parents and teachers, make more money and more friends. I am not exactly sure if this still stands as the study is almost 20 years old but I am almost certain that it might still be true. Now let’s move on to 5 very interesting beauty standards around the world: 1.Kayan Tribe: Members of the kayan tribe between Burma and Thailand perceive a beautiful woman as one with a long neck. The female starts as early as 5 years old, wearing brass rings around their necks which pushes down their shoulder and therefore elongates the neck. More rings are added as they grow older. This beauty ritual has been around for years and years and it will be for centuries to come. 2. Ethiopia: If you ever take a trip to Ethiopia and you meet a young lady with scars on her stomach, don’t panic, she has not been physically abused. It is actually a beauty ritual, it means the girl is from the Karo tribe of Southern Ethiopia and that she is ready for marriage. Some of these scars are made in such detailed and complicated patterns. 3. Africa: In some parts of Africa, unlike the West, bigger is better. Skinny women are pitied and they are considered poor and sick. Women are fed as much as possible to make them bigger and thus beautiful. Being big in some African cultures is a sign of prosperity and wealth. Unfortunately I do not feel very comfortable adding a picture on this one. I hope you understand if you’re reading this. 4. China: This ritual is outdated (thank goodness) but I thought it would still be interesting to add it on here. Lotus feet is the ritual, also called foot binding. Foot binding became popular as a means of displaying status, women from wealthy families who did not need them to work could afford to have their feet bound, and was correspondingly adopted as a symbol of beauty in Chinese culture and a prerequisite for finding a husband. The ritual begins when a girl is between 4 and 7 years of age, all of her toes are broken except the big toes, and painfully tight binding is wrapped around the feet of these young girls to prevent further growth. 5. Korea: In Korea it is an enviable trait to have a light skin tone. It basically means you stay indoors and you don’t work outside which implies high class. There are great lengths that Korean women will go to achieve the pale skin. Some will go as far as bleaching the outer layer of their skin to achieve the ‘white skin’. There is so much sunscreen infused in lotions in Korean to aid this beauty ritual. I would however like to state that, not all Korean women do this. It may not be very common but some Korean women actually favor darker skin tones.

I can’t say which one of the beauty rituals work and I definitely wouldn’t know how to compare the different types of beauty. One thing is certain: beauty is defined by the places we find ourselves, cultures that have been created for us, traditions that are here to stay for us to follow. We all find beauty in diversity and every individual also has their own subjective concept of beauty.

I woke up this morning feeling a little down……actually scratch that….I was full blown depressed. Last night was horrible for me and yet I can not pin point any bad thing that happened. While I was deciding whether to call my mum or my boyfriend, I looked up some good quotes online. For some reason those always help me….a little at least. I will just share a few of those:

Like I initially said, yesterday was horrible and even though I saw this this morning, it still made me hopeful that today will be great. Fingers crossed.

I never thought I would read such inspiring words from Marilyn Monroe but here I am thanking her for her words of encouragement.

For how unworthy I was feeling yesterday, this definitely was a good one to see.

Yes, Tupac, it seems hard almost all the time but thanks for letting me know it will be ok if I keep my head up and handle it.

And then I saw this one and said to myself, “I can’t afford to bend down and pick up my tiara in this extremely short dress”

Some days are hard, some days are a breeze but I am thankful for the family and friends I have around me and sometimes I am thankful for the internet for making such quotes accessible.

You are probably thinking about Charles Darwin or Biology or Natural selection or anything that is connected to the ‘usual’ evolution. Well, sorry, I am talking about evolution of words. I was reading a blog two days ago that had 5 words that have evolved in meaning. These words meant something completely different or even opposite a few years from what it means now. I knew then there were more words out there, I started looking for other words and I found a lot of them but I will share 10 of the most fascinating. There were a few of them I don’t agree with and I will share those as well. Mostly I think they are still used for both purposes.

1. AQUARIUM: This means a tank of water in which fish and some water creatures are kept. A long time ago it was a place to water cattle.

2.BACHELOR: A man who is not and has never been married. This word has actually gone through a few changes. It was a young man hoping to become a knight and even before that, it was a poor young soldier.

3. CENTURY: This used to mean a 100-man Roman army. Today, when you hear century, we all think a period of a 100 years. I also found that century could mean a bicycle race of 100 miles. And a score of a 100 in a cricket match. So somehow, there is still the 100.

4. CUTE: This is a actually shortened for acute. Years ago, it meant keenly perceptive or shrewd(mischievous, malicious). The word has evolved to mean attractive in a pretty or endearing way.

5. DESIRE: Desire used to mean to study the stars carefully, it was an astrological term. A strong feeling of wanting to have something is what it means in today’s language.

6.GIRL: Today, girl is a female child or a relatively young woman. In the past, it was the word used for a young person of either sex.

7. LEFT: When facing north, the part of your body facing west is your left. It could also mean a political or social view. Left originally meant weak.

8. MANAGE: Manage used to have a pretty literal meaning, the age at which one becomes a man. Today manage means to be in charge of, to administer or to control.

9. MONOCHROME: Monochrome is basically black and white today. If you were born in the 17th century, you would use the word monochrome to describe different shades of a single color.

10. NERVOUS: If you are nervous, it means you’re easily agitated or alarmed, a feeling resulting from anxiety and anticipation. Years ago, nervous meant being strong and vigorous.

I think this is really fascinating. I found a lot of words but these were my favorites. I found an article on a website also talking about words that have changed meaning. I was shaking my head the whole time I was reading it. I will share 2.

1. TOOL: It said tool used to mean something you dug up a garden with, today it means someone who is unintelligent. I think the former still has more prevalence than the latter but that’s just me.

2. SICK: According to the article, sick used to mean ill, but now it is used to describe something amazing. I am sure when I tell my friend I am sick, the last thing they’re thinking is ‘she just said she is amazing!’

So there you have it, I hope you find this as fascinating and intriguing as I did. Until next time, be kind and know that you’re loved.

Three of my favorite hobbies are writing, reading and crocheting. Over the last few months, I have been doing a lot of crocheting and less of the other two. I just want to share a few of the things I have crocheted. It is a great hobby, it keeps me busy, relaxed and happy. Some people have suggested I start making money for it but I believe that once you start making money for something, it becomes a job and we all know how we feel about our jobs. I do suggest however that if anyone wants anything made for them, they should just buy the yarn and any special things that has to be included and I will make it for them.

1.

 

I made this for me cousin on her birthday, her two favorite colors are green and yellow so I added the black to neutralize the colors.

2.

 

I made this for a friend’s daughter in January, she loved it. It is a slouchy beanie.

3.

This is the first infinity scarf I made, I should have probably made more rounds because this came out a little thinner than I wanted.

4.

I made this blanket for my mom for mothers’ day. What you see is actually half the real size. She absolutely loves it.

5.

My cousin’s baby arrived 3 days ago. I made a baby blanket, beanie and headband for the baby, I will start making a dress next week for her.

6.

I finished this in less that 6 hours. I found this pattern for a tube dress and I knew I had to make it. It turned out great and everyone says it is cute. I really like it too.

7.

I made this purse for one of my friends whose boyfriend is in the army. My finishing was not the best but it turned out better than I expected! I think she likes it.

So those are a few things I have made and I will keep making them. My next project will most likely be a backpack. I want to make something for my boyfriend but it’s is honestly hard to crochet for guys. Maybe a blanket, who knows?

Side note: I have started reading a book called ‘In Polyester Pajamas’, it is a great book about changing our attitudes towards events in our lives and how to see the good in any and everything.

I was listening to John legend’s new song for the first time last week and I loved it at first listen, it is everything recent love songs lack. It is well-written and well-sung. I purchased it on Google play right after because I had to have that song in my WestLife and Plain White Ts playlist.

Apart from buying the song because it was good, it also got me thinking about a few things science has acknowledged as imperfections but society sees as just beautiful. I have always known two of the 5 things I am about to discuss are imperfections but I found three more interesting ones.

Freckles: I think freckles are beautiful imperfections , and I know by looking at people like Olivia Munn who can’t hide her freckles under heavy make up and Gisele Bundchen who has better luck at hiding her freckles, society agrees that freckles can be beautiful imperfections. They actually are little brown spots on the skin that are caused by the sun. We all have pigment-producing cells in our skin called melanocytes. These melanocytes produce melanin pigment and feed it to keratinocytes, the normal skin cells that form the outer barrier of our skin.This barrier protects us from the insults of nature, and importantly, from the sun. This pigment prevents us from being damaged by the sun’s powerful rays. When our melanocytes become damaged by the sun, we produce freckles, which are simply abnormal collections of melanin pigment in the skin.

Tooth gap (or Diastema): Science says it happens when there is an unequal relationship between the jaw and the size of the teeth. I say it is beautiful. Though it can be ‘fixed’, I think it is unique and if not causing any problems to an individual, it should be left alone. In certain countries like Ghana, it  is regarded as being attractive and a sign of fertility, in France they are called “lucky teeth” (dents du bonheur), and in Australia, gapped front teeth in children are said to be a predictor of future wealth. If you have a tooth gap and are worried about it, think about about Georgia Jagger, Zac Efron or even Madonna and know that it is a beautiful imperfection and you are lucky to have it.

Beauty Marks(facial moles): Marilyn Monroe, duh! Cindy Crawford anyone? She revived fashion with that mole. One in every 100 kids are born with facial moles. Medically, such beauty marks are generally melanocytic nevus, more specifically the compound variant. Melanocytic nevus is a type of lesion that contains nevus cells. The cause is not clearly understood, but is thought to be caused by a defect in embryologic development. The defect is thought to cause a proliferation of melanocytes. This means melanocytes, the cells in your body in charge of normal skin color, are being produced at an extremely fast rate. Need more examples of how moles definitely deserve to be on this list? Blake Lively, Eva Mendes, Angelina Jolie, Mariah Carey, Goldie Hawn…….etc

Frontal Bossing(or Big Forehead): Yes, this is a deformity. This symptom is the main marker of many conditions, including many issues that affect a person’s hormones, bones, and/or stature. It is typically identified in infancy or early childhood. The known cause is acromegaly, a chronic disorder that leads to an overproduction of growth hormone. There is no known treatment for frontal bossing. Tyra Banks, Rihanna.  Deformity? what? (HealthLine)

Dimples: I saved the best for last! If you know me at all, you’d know how obsessed I am with dimples; I live for them. And yes, you find dimples on this list because they are in fact an imperfection. They are facial muscle deformities. The most common cause of dimples is a shortened muscle, which explains why they are not always apparent when a person is at rest, since this is when the muscles are typically in their shortened state. In the face, shorter face muscles pull at the skin, especially when someone smiles, creating a classic dimple. Well, when I look at Miranda Kerr or Cheryl Cole or my little sister, I don’t see deformity, I see perfection.

There are a few other beautiful imperfections, like red head. I find them absolutely beautiful. Know any man that is a red head, has dimples, a few freckles and maybe a tooth gap? What are you waiting for? Give them my number!!

Thanks for reading. I hope you starting calling you flaws ‘beautiful imperfections’ and look at them as if they are the best thing that ever happened to you.

 

Yesterday was World Happiness day and I wanted to post this but I was way too busy, I guess life happens. Before I go on, I have a question; Have you ever been so sad or so depressed that you wonder if anything will be good? What do you do during a time like that?

 

I have those moments, more often than I care to count. I used to lose myself in those moments. Basically feel sorry for myself and then one day I decided I wanted more from life than just sadness. I started doing the things I love, I signed up for daily inspirational quotes and daily lifestyle tips(I will share a few). Even though I didn’t make a new years resolution, I made it a point to laugh more, this year and the years after. Even though it is easier to feel sorry yourself and be pitiful, it feels so much better to just block all negativity and see everyday as the best day of your life.

I love to read, any and everything. I stopped reading for a while because I just couldn’t bring myself to do it, I was reading less than 5 books a year which a whole lot less than I normally read. I have started reading again, it brings me so much joy, it takes me into a different world for sometime, where I feel a part of a new community and a new way of looking at life. An Abundance of Katherines is a book I read sometime in January, it is YA and that book only cemented my love for John Green. It is a hilariously brilliant book. It is about self discovery to an extent. If you love fantasy, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a book you should check out. I am excited for the movie adaption in 2015.

When I was growing up, my grandmother taught me how to crochet and it became my escape for a long time but I lost interest at some point. 2 months ago I started crocheting again and it is the best escape from the stress of life. It calms me, I feel at peace when I’m crocheting and I like giving what I make for people.

I am subscribe to so many websites that send out daily inspirational quotes; about life, love, family, friends and these help me have a positive outlook on life. My favorite website is Inspirational Verse! They email two quotes everyday; one motivational and one love quote. My favorite love quote from them is “A small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love” My favorite motivational quote from them is “clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky” I also have a few Apps on my phone what share daily tips on life and love and everything in between. My very favorite is the All Women’s Talk app. It is great.

Music. Recently the music that just puts me in the best mood is Marry You by Bruno Mars. The title has nothing to do with why I love the song. It just makes my day better. I constantly listen to the Plain White Ts; Rhythm of love, Our song, Making Memory, 1234 and all their other very well written and amazing songs are my daily go-tos.

I also try to find joy and laughter in everything, I want to live my life in the simplest form. Be in a simple love-filled relationship, work in a simple, less-stressed environment and so on. Not all of this may apply to every part of my life but if I can live the rest of my life laughing, I’d definitely be very content.

Don’t forget to laugh and smile daily, you would never know who your smile saved! And be HAPPY!!

 

It has taken over the world of social media, you can not go to the mall, a restaurant or even a on a casual walk without bumping into someone taking a selfie, sneakily or openly. People think it is vain, self-absorbing and everything in between but I am fully onboard that selfie train and riding it all the way to the end. Today I declare that I am pro-selfie and have been for a while.

I see a lot of selfies everyday on my instagram, twitter and even videos about them. I saw a video where a guy used taking a selfie as a way to stop a brewing argument between him and his girlfriend. Genius!!. Ever wonder why some selfies look so much better than others? There are techniques to taking a successful selfie( mostly lighting and camera position). I do not know a lot about the techniques but after listening to people these past few months it is clear that in a given moment, when you feel the most beautiful and no one else around you seems to notice, you have to record that moment and refer to it when you feel the ugliest.

The photo above was taken about 3 days ago when I was getting ready to go out for dinner with a friend. My mum and sister were in my room, neither of them complimented me(I don’t hold it against them) but I still felt beautiful and thanks to technology I did not have to ask someone to take a picture of me. I did take a few pictures that evening before heading out. I was very confident during dinner and good for my friend, he complimented me.

There are days when you feel downright ugly and you want everyone to look away from you but that’s when everyone comes around, so why not take charge and show the world how beautiful you are when you actually feel beautiful. Don’t let beautiful moments pass you by without a record of it. Take a selfie that man/woman you so dearly adore, take a selfie with a stranger, take a selfie with the sunset in the background, the beautiful morning sky, take a selfie with nature, take it in your bathroom, in your car, in your bed. The moment you feel beautiful and confident cease it and take a selfie.

I am taking one after this.

 

 

Hello Everyone,

So I have been thinking about doing this for a while now, and I just finally decided today is the day.

Since this is my first blog, I thought something lighthearted and relatable will be perfect. This post is about my 9 favorite things. Each day we fall in love with new things and renew our love for the old. We all have things we can’t live without and I have a lot of them but i would just write about 9.

9. Food

Indian food. I actually discovered indian food in the middle of last year. Nothing beats eating something and feeling good about it. If you find a good indian restaurant that has buffet, the most you’d spend is $10. And also I live for peanuts, granola and pecans.

8. My Job

I know I know….when people talk about their jobs, it is never on the list of things they love but I have a very good reason to include it here. This is my very first job, at the beginning I didn’t like it at all but it has taught me a lot about customer service, it helped me get over my shyness, i have learned a lot about management and last but not the least IT PAYS THE BILLS. The only way, in my opinion, to love your job, is to always think about what you are getting from it and not what you are giving.

7. Poems

A good, well-written poem makes me happier than I care to admit sometimes. Pablo Neruda’s ‘If You Forget Me’ and Oscar Wilde’s ‘My Voice’ are a few of my favorites. These are free for your enjoyment online.

6. Nature

How Beautiful is it to see the trees and birds and flowers and animals. refreshing and welcoming right? Too Beautiful to put in words.

5. Music

When I say music, what I really mean is Westlife, Plain White Ts and sometimes Beyonce and P!nk. Westlife is a British boy band, they are not together anymore but that does not stop them from being my very favorite band. They have so many love songs, like ‘flying without wings’, which is my favorite in the whole world. They have other songs like ‘soledad, puzzle of my heart and evergreen’. Plain White Ts basically filled my westlife void and I have not been disappointed and I will not be because I have grown to love them equally. PWTs have good songs like ‘Rhythm of love, 1,2,3,4 ,Delilah and Boomerang. I am seeing them in concert soon!!! I listen to Beyonce and P!nk to remind myself of my strength and my ability to do and have anything I want in life, Beyonce is especially great for that. All these artists can be enjoyed on youtube for free.

4. My Best friends

I have had a lot of friends over the years and a few close friends but I have 3 best friends and they are all over, two in Ghana and one in the Scotland. These people are undeniably 3 of the most generous, loving, caring and trustworthy people in the world. I can tell Kofi anything in the world and know that he will never judge me. Rose will never say no to me, she will go above and beyond for me. My friendship with Gloria surprises most people because we are two very different people, she has so much patience and well……I don’t, but I couldn’t imagine anybody else in my life. Friendships do not cost a thing, you have to be willing to work on it, everyday.

3. Daniella

I could go on and on about the girl I once called my ‘school daughter’ but all I will say is, it makes me so happy to see her become the woman she is today. I hope all of you find a Daniella in your lives.

2. Family

I have two families. My Ghanaian family and my Spanish family. My Spanish family is another thing my job gave me and I couldn’t be more grateful for them. Then there is my Biological Family, I wouldn’t be here without them. I know your families make you happy too, but isn’t that really what life is about…love and happiness.

1.Sidney and Caasi

I live everyday for these two, their happiness, growth, health, faith. When Caasi runs to give me a hug when I walk through the door, I suddenly forget all about my horrible French test. There is nothing more precious than Sidney trying to break the high scores I set, and well..he never does, not for long anyway. They are a blessing.

I have so many things i want to write about. New post will be next week. I hope you like this.