back to my roots....

Over the past 24months whilst being pregnant the easiest and least stressful option for my hair was to "wig and go" as i like to put it, where i basically cornrow my natural afro hair and wear a wig and thats me done. It is really as simple as that, believe me it saved me on the days where there was no energy for anything..

When deciding on my "childbirth" hairstyle this time around, i learnt from last years, "Teikos attempt to look like Beyonce" fisaco, where i wanted a long glam look for my post labour pics but ended up with tight uncomfortable weave and flyaway hair.... So yes, this time around i just thought, twist my hair, avoid the tension and embrace the fro!it had been so long since i twisted my hair that i forgot how much i enjoyed my own texture....

Although i haven't tended to do product reviews on this blog, whilst shopping for hair products i was actually quite *overwhelmed* by the range of hair lines out there exclusively for natural hair...so i thought i would share my experience...

Anyone who has worn or wear their afro hair natural will be familiar with the classic two strand twist style. I love this style because a. its time efficient and b. i manage to twist my own hair, which then means i can twist my hair in my own time ie 1am when everyone is asleep and i get a spare moment. What i did.... Pre condition my hair with my home made shea butter mix, (olive, almond, coconut oil and shea butter,honey) usually leaving for a few hours or overnight if time allows.

Wash and condition with Clairol herbal essences, i have been a fan for years, I'm just a sucker for great fragrance, it does actually transport me to that tropical paradise you see in the advert....

Most exciteD by... *Curl La La* by the Aunt Jackie's range. My initial thought was aww purple hair cream,not very natural looking, going from blue shampoo and conditioner to purple cream or custard as they call it, niiiice... but as I said, sucker for fragrance, so i opened, smelt and purchased.. and no regrets..i like the product alot.

The plus points .. 1.smells great 2.sulfate free 3.paraben free

4.mineral oil free 5.petrolatum free 6.has my favourite shea butter as a key ingredient 7.has cocoa butter and olive oil which means it conditions really well. minus points... To be honest it did the trick nothing really to complain about, i allow my twists to air dry and work with my hair from there, and i don't have any real negatives...its the first product i've used of late but i'm happy with it! i'm going to see if i can get my hands on the rest of the range see how that works for me... To finish off I spray my twists with Elasta QP H2 leave in conditioner, i love it, its light and works well with my hair...also smells great...

"Vitamin rich, Feels Like Silk H2 leaves hair incredibly soft, silky smooth with great body, movement and shine. Perfect for natural, braided and relaxed styles leaving hair texture feeling like silk without build-up dryness or frizz". quote

Then i go crazy with the bobby pins and pin my hair down, untwisting a few of the twists for volume but generally pinning my hair down so its very short....See a few pics below...(please excuse the effects.... test shooting with the instagram programme on my phone ;-)

bobby pin heaven...untwist and style away!

Leaving u all with a pic of my darling Zuri fast asleep, i cant believe how fast shes growing and changing...im sure ill be twisting her hair in days to come...

Stay blessed x Teiko

babies babies and more babies...

i can only describe my long absence as a long extended and well deserved maternity leave, my lil Aaron is one years old! Hard to believe! walking, talking, (well he seems to understand what hes saying..) and trying to eat everything...finding everything pretty intriguing and worthy of his time, well everything apart from his toys, he is generally keeping me in awe, wondering how my quite lil baby boy has suddenly evolved into this wonderful happy and playful child..loving his independence and the fact that he can run and play!

My new role as a mother has been somewhat challenging but highly rewarding, a short post natal depression episode, characterised by feeling very low, overwhelmed, resentment towards my husband as he left home for work to experience adult conversations whilst i walked around the house zombie mode, waiting for Aaron to nap before i could even dream of having me time..i don't mean me time book and long bath, i mean me time having a basic shower and a bite of toast...only to be followed by the " what have u been doing all day looks", the house really did look like it had been burgled and my general appearance looking like i got dressed in the dark, backwards. I never thought i would be the woman tying her baby on her back while washing up, but lo and behold twas me...and in typically true life fashion it doesn't rain it pours, relationship dissapointments, overly high expectations of loved ones, and things generally seeming to go from bad to worse. The cliche proved true however, God is faithful indeed and having honest loyal supportive people around me brought the much needed sunshine back into my life.

I have since established a "routine", enjoying stay and play playgroup sessions with Aaron ...who has been lucky enough to experience baby massage baby yoga baby rhyme time, all the over excited new mother stuff...and i'm pleased to say that I've just given birth to the loveliest lil girl..my baby Zurielle, weighing in at 7lbs 8.

This blog entry is really just a catch up on whats been occupying my time....ie not model related stuff, nappy (diaper) related stuff and how im now mesmerized with my lil Aaaron and even liller Zuri....feeling extremely blessed to have two wonderful children.

Aaron is like..ok then... My pregnancy experience this time was a lil more relaxed, firstly no daily throwing up, being tired was the main symptom i had to deal with. Cravings shifted from cheese and tomato everything to ice ice ice ice, now i have a long overdue dentist appointment pending! i had the same pointy tummy i had with Aaron which made the perfect stranger approach me like an old friend and proclaim that i was having a boy! Now for me who was secretly buying girls clothes, and who decided yet again not to find out the gender of the child this only proved irritating! I like boys and everything but i think every person knows what they can handle, and two boys under two..i was dreading it to be honest.God heard my cries! tears of joy came flooding down when i gave birth to Zurielle.

So not to totally turn this into a netmums esq blog entry but i have to mention the fact that i had a waterbirth, something i dreamed about for so long might i add, it was really amazing. I think my birth with Aaron was short, approx 3 hours but this was 1 hr 51 mins so the contractions where definitely harder and faster but so much better in the water. Dont get it twisted gas and air was still not enough pain relief but i got through it, Zuri was so calm when she came out also, i think ill become a waterbirth ambassordor for all expectant mothers i know ;-).My post birth experience was way more of a shock to my body, and i didnt hold Zuri for about 3 hours after labour. My husband gave her her first formula feed, i was so tired, had to have a shower and a cuppa tea before i could face holding her. Labour is no joke.

Daydreaming of life after baby,i would love to model once again, although a small voice in the back of my mind is asking me how i plan on adjusting to life my with my wonderful pregnancy souvenirs mainly stretch marks...infact as I type i still look pregnant so my tummy has to somehow get back to pre pregnancy size, and asap preferably. Watch this space i say. Until then the children are enjoying their cousins and aunt and grandma, family and friends visiting basically, so its a wonderful end to 2012.

Back to the blog, i am trying to revamp it all,so u may b seeing some changes here and there... bare with me... i have actually missed blogging so its good to be back in the swing of things...between feeds and all....

Last but not least a massive thank u, hugs and kisses to my husband who has been patient enough to support me during what was practically two years of pregnancy! Although i disagree with the suggestion that i had been taken over by my evil twin, i agree with the fact that it was challenging at times... we made it! let the fun times begin! xxxx love always xxxx Teiko

my pregnancy journey...yummy mummy is here!

It's been approximately 2months since I did my Ellen DeGeneres style dance out of hospital and back home!! For those of you who don't know ...i had a lovely baby boy Aaron in September, 8pounds 6...

He is *so* adorable, a real blessing.... I've now recovered from the trauma, somewhat regulated my sleep pattern, stitch's all healed up (TMI...HAHA)and am ready to blog again...

My Pregnancy...a synopsis


First Trimester

So I'm thinking, either i have a urine infection (constantly going to the bathroom) or i need to take a pregnancy test. All I knew was that something wasn't as normal, and low and behold, i was pregnant! we where kinda planning it, but i didn't think it would happen that fast (what do i mean by kinda planning lol...i know what i mean!)... I experienced a mix of emotions... happy, grateful, but also thinking omg! my life is sooo over....!

I didn't really have any cravings at that point, just really knocked out,i could literally sleep for the whole day, it was a cloud of heaviness over me, like Ive never been that tired before, i couldn't function!....To top it off i suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum which is basically excessive morning sickness, vomiting twice, thrice a day..not cool! Imagine eating, and throwing it back up 15mins later, all the time!



Above is a my brother and i at the Ghana v England match on the 29th of March! The next day i went to hospital with painful cramps, that progressed into bleeding, that progressed into crying..before this point i wasn't so attached to the idea of being pregnant, it was still early days,still overwhelmed, not quite hit home yet (i have delayed reactions alot...) but when in hospital,i nearly broke down with the thought that i could be losing my baby,i really did think i was having a miscarriage. Scary time. Only by God's grace.

Second Trimester



I was bridesmaid for my cousin Gemma! not a good look, the disconnection between my mind and body...the tiredness returned! I was anaemic by this point, just really really worn out! Great wedding tho!




By the end of the trimester, i was big, couldn't really sleep at all, as i started to get really severe heartburn, ouch ...the wonderful memories...(blank stare) my skin looked great none the less, and i had developed a love for all things Cheese and Tomato...and canned pineapples, it was so funny, like that was all i wanted..all the time..

Third Trimester

Diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which was really annoying as i had to take my blood sugar 4times a day and always see the consultant in hospital, which itself is a long boring process...always seeing the midwife, piercing me every moment!taking metformin every moment... yikes....it seems like I'm complaining, and at the time i didn't really moan, just internalised the whole experience, as i didn't want to seem ungrateful, pregnancy is a blessing after all...but gosh, it was just getting too much! i just wanted baby out! pregnancy and Teiko don't mix.I kept staring at women with more than one child thinking, why would you go through this..

Very hormonal, and crying alot, and wow the road rage..poor drivers...and people kept asking whether I was sure im not having twins...urmmm like seriously..really?? ..(blank stare..sigh)...ohh the memories ;-)





I did a photoshoot, it was really fun (my facial expression may suggest otherwise) but really it was fun..i think in that photo i was still about 3 weeks away from having Aaron...

It was hard to walk, and i felt so heavy, and my skin went from beautiful glow, to mild acne(i want a clarisonic plus for Christmas;-)... I was kinda anxious, i read way to much information, and went on way too many pregnancy forums, so i had all kind of things going on in my head! i kept saying..what if...what if...what if..read this! ohmygosh she had a 10lb baby..ohmy gosh they cut her open..ohmygosh they left her on the labour ward to deliver her own baby..and such..I must have been so annoying (poor husband) haha..



This picture was a few days before I was induced, we went to a friends wedding, i had just done my weave like a day before (bad bad bad idea!) I had initially chosen braids to be my "birth hairstyle" but after one braid, I was too impatient to sit there for hours and hours and changed my mind and went for the weave..it was so tight..bad move!plus I was sooooooo unbalanced, its funny looking back how much your body has to adjust for you baby. Aaron pressing down and me just about managing to roll out of bed...! My pregnant face in full force! And of course my raging hormones,




Tests before I was induced, to check baby, and I. Had to be strapped up for about an hour.In the end my labour was only 3 hours long, really painful,just gas and air! Childbirth is the worst kind of pain! But bravo i got through it! And you do kind of (i said kind of) forget the (majority) of the pain! When you see your baby, its all worth it..the most amazing moment seeing him, God is amazing!

Ma little baby is born! ...

;-)


10mins old with daddy...


3days old...


1month old...


2months old....



His nickname is zoolander...he loves to pout!!!

At the time pregnancy felt like one of the worst periods of my life!plagued with all kinds of complications..But God is so faithful! Prayer was enough! He is such a good little baby, and he has made me a far more patient woman. And also increased my faith, every time I look at him I realise how wonderful God is for my gift! He is so worth every moment of discomfort I felt. Coming home was nice, but a shock, I am still exclusively breastfeeding, and have only expressed once, meaning i have not had a full night sleep since, meaning "zombie mode" is a frequent occurrence...my church cooked dinner for us everyday for two weeks when he was born(thank u ladies), which was so great because i got into a nice routine with Aaron and enjoyed some amazing food!

Its just really wonderful being a mother.



Complete with baby dribble patch!

I'm now being the best and yummiest mum I can b...

LOVE

Teiko and Aaron xx

Pink October....

This October, women everywhere join together globally to raise awareness of the reality of Breast Cancer. We need to continue to be vigilant and aware that Breast Cancer unfortunately continues to take the lives of millions of women around the world annually, it does not discriminate!

Whether or not you know of anyone who has unfortunately been affected, as a woman it is essential you check your breasts on a regular basis....




..it is in your best interest to seek urgent medical attention if you notice anything unusual as early as possible, as early detection can mean the difference between life and death. It is said that if a breast cancer is detected early, it is 98% curable.

Look out for these signs...

* a change in how the breast or nipple feels
* nipple tenderness
* a lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area
* a change in the size or shape of the breast
* a nipple turned slightly inward
* the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple may appear scaly, red, or swollen
* may have ridges or pitting
* nipple discharge




Cosmetic giant Estée Lauder's spokeswoman, British bombshell Elizabeth Hurley, raises awareness for the cause. Elizabeth, whose own grandmother died of Breast Cancer is a worthy role model! No doubt we will be purchasing some pink goodies!



OPI have also launched a "Pink of Hearts" range to mark the month. Its high gloss and chip resistant and is a brilliant way to light up the gloomy October days!




There are also events/initiatives taking place globally....

GHANA



More than 2,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ghana every year.

Dr Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, is the Chief Executive Officer of Breast Care International, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the establishment of Breast Cancer centres throughout the country. She states that "a woman dies from the disease somewhere around the world every 68 seconds".




If you are in Accra towards the end of the month, Hype Prodcutions have organised "Red Lipstick", a concert consisting of all female African artistes. They will be performing at the Dome on October 29th, with a percentage of the proceeds going towards raising funds towards the cause.




NIGERIA



Burlesques Princess, and the Pink Pearl Foundation have teamed up to create CAMP DIVA! A course which will be offered to female cancer survivors and their friends and family. The class will incorporate dance and empowerment exercises as featured in our regular programming and also a tailored group routine specific to the participants.

Recognising the effects both physically and emotionally on not only the diagnosed but those friends and family who provide support though the difficult journey cancer presents, the class offers participants the opportunity to bond while having fun releasing their inner ‘Diva’. Camp Diva aims to empower women through mental and physical health promotion and reinforce positive self esteem.



The sessions will take place on the mornings of October 27th- 29th 2011 in Lagos Island, and will be free to all participants. However, due to a limited number of space, participants are asked to pay a fully refundable amount of N1,000, which will be returned at the start of the sessions. Interested participants can email: info@burlesque-princess.com or call Niqua: 08078764223 for more information and to register interest in attending.

More information is available on www.burlesqueprincess.blogspot.com

UK




Two days to get your outfit ready!!! The Amber Bar in Moorgate is hosting a Pink Cocktail Party to raise funds for our vital research on October 20th!



Starting at 6pm guests can expect pink champagne, pink cupcakes, pink cocktails and pink decorations. There will be complimentary goodie bags and hand massages and also the chance to win fabulous raffle prizes.

For more information check out www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk

USA



Another cosmetic giant, Procter & Gamble, responsible for products such as Olay, Pantene, Crest, Secret etc, have teamed up with the National Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation to raise awareness and educate on early detection.




You get a $10 dollar rebate, and $10 for NBCF when you spend $50 on their products. And if you "Like" the facebook page (facebook.com/p&gunitedwebeautify) 10cents will be donated!

If you log onto P&G's My Black is Beautiful site, www.myblackisbeautiful.com you can read the stories of four breast cancer survivors, like Kelly Broussard.



Broussard was only 22 when she discovered a lump under her armpit, she illustrates that Breast Cancer can strike at any age. We thank God she is now all clear after two lumpectomies and radiation treatment.


Be aware of Breast Cancer and self examine!


Stay Blessed x Teiko

my Pageant Queen...

i love beauty pageants, eye candy really.. although i mustn't forget that talents, skills and other non physical factors are important when deciding on the winner.....pageants have been going on since the 1800s and it seems like there aint no stopping them...

so....i was delighted to hear that my cousin Raquel is a contestant for Miss Ghana UK 2011! i have mentioned her before in a blog entry cos shes super smart, organised and talented, as well as a stunner! i asked her some questions to expose you to the beautiful Miss Raquel Larnyoh!



Tell us about yourself and why you want to b ms Ghana 2011?

My full name is Raquel Nueki Larnyoh, I am 21 years old, I am entering my final year at the University of Essex where I am studying Bsc Marketing and Finance I also work part time in banking. I love acting and I am pursuing a career in this field; I recently secured my second professional role in a London- based theatre production which I'm really excited about as it is also a lead role.



I want to be crowned Miss Ghana UK 2011 as I am a true representation of the term 'UK born Ghanaian'. Not only can I relate to others like me who fall into this and similar categories- I have the necessary drive and proficiency to empower them to aspire to be a people greatness and change.
I am often faced with doubtful responses when I mention my career aspirations alongside my degree, but my love for business and drama affirms my chosen direction. I am a young woman of no limits and will be whatever I want to be and this is the sort of mentality I want to endorse to my generation.
My main interest is Ghana’s current economic growth and ensuring UK Ghanaians are equipped with the necessary skills and resources to be a part of this development. I believe this is essential in ensuring that Ghana is safeguarded from the negative effects that growth can bring.
For me Miss Ghana UK is way beyond a beauty pageant; I am not putting myself forward as the most beautiful Ghanaian in the UK in fact that can’t be done, those around me are often subjected to my constant boasting of Ghanaians being the most beautiful people. Instead I put myself forward as one of the many Ghanaian beauties across the UK, beauty not being defined upon just physical attributes but also substance.

What are ur 5 favourite things about Ghana?


• Peace and togetherness- I am very proud of Ghana’s peaceful land, amongst all our deep rooted cultures and customs from the numerous tribes, we still live in harmony. I love the fact that every elder is my Aunt or Uncle in Ghana; and how I can easily begin a conversation with people I have never met before, still receiving the warm welcome no matter where I go Ghana. It’s these sorts of values I want to ensure is upheld in the UK.
• Food- yes most Sunday’s you will catch me back at home from university for my weekly fix of mum’s fufu and light soup. I love pepper as well and eat sheeto with everything- at one point it was even used as the spread in all my sandwiches.



• Cloth- African fashion is one of my new found loves. I am always impressed by the infinite styles, patterns and colors depicted in our traditional wear.
• Market life- where anything and everything is possible, I always learn something new about Ghana at Makola market in Accra (no matter how freaked out I am by my peoples culinary tastes!).
• Nightlife- Central London hasn’t got anything on Accra on a Friday night believe me.

What activities and experience do u have that will assist u with the role of Ms Ghana?

Both my academic and performing arts background will assist me in the role of Miss Ghana. I feel my business mind gives me an edge allowing me to define a clear vision which I have already begun to execute. My acting also enables me to present myself accordingly to fit and adapt to any environment I may find myself in when having to represent Ghana. With these skills combined I am confident and can assure my competency in fulfilling the role of Miss Ghana UK.




What do separates u from the other contestants and how will ur contribution be different?

What differentiates me from the other contestants is that I am already putting my vision into action; my worst nightmare is to find myself making promises and not seeing them through. So under the guidance of Ghanaian Londoner’s Youth Entrepreneurs Program I am already developing my social enterprise where I am learning how to home in on all my ideas as to not try to do too much all at once. I also stress the fact that I am not offering a charity but the tools my generation need to achieve their goals and career aspirations which will inevitably create Ghanaians in a position of power to give and add value back to our homeland.



Finally how do u find out more about u and support Raquel for Miss Ghana 2011?

You can find out more about my cause for entering Miss Ghana UK on the info section of my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Raquel2winMGUK11
if you support my vision please ‘like’ and of course feel free to make contact- I’m always open to ideas and of course more questions! I’m also using the page to keep everyone updated on my movement’s right up until the live event on Saturday 3rd September 2011 at Troxy, 490 Commercial Road London. If you can make it down please do, I will be posting info on how to get tickets on my page in the coming week..

Hope u love her as must as i do....

www.facebook.com/Raquel2winMGUK11

x Teiko