Living/Style
Lady Behind My Q Label
In her mid twenties, Yeside Mohammed would rather be called an Entrepreneur as she claims brand building, leaner production (reduced operational cost) and building customer relationship are almost as important to her as the design aspect of the business.
Having had the first degree of her education in Nigeria, Yeside left for England at age 14 for her GSCE and A-Levels in Warwickshire and Cambridge. She then proceeded to the university of Reading. When she graduated with BSc Environmental Chemistry, she took a year out during her programme to study French at the institut francaise in London and spent a bit of the year in Paris after graduation at the university of Wales specializing in world “Economy and Advanced Strategic Management from Cardiff Business School. After the MBA, she moved back to Nigeria late in 2005 hoping to carry out the mandatory one year national youth service and then apply for jobs. Along the line, she started making t-shirts with swarovwski crystals. The response to the t-shirts were positive but the sales were modest if not poor. So she decided to go back to the drawing board and realised the price was the major drawback. She then went to Balogun market to look for alternatives but could not find any. But while she was there, she brought smaller seed beads and she used on t-shirts. They were cheaper than the swarovwky crystals. So, she resumed the business once again making sample products. The beaded skirts came along after she made an Ankara skirt for her friend Funlola Adelaja (nee Faleye); then orders started to pour in. By January 2006, she started NYSC and the business slowed down a bit. After her NYSC, she made the conscious choice to face designing full time and that was the beginning of My Q. My Q started just at the back of her parents house with 2 tailors and I beader which has grown to include cutters, tailors, embroiders and a competent management and sales team as with all sectors, My Q faces challenges; power supply which increases cost of production. There is also the issue of personnel high staff turnover but she believes that as long as things are being done properly the challenges will be sources of strength in the future, the ready to wear lien was launched in July 2007. The overall theme being casual chic but along the line, the theme and style has evolved to a more ostentatious collection of clothes. Bead work still remains a big part of the line but the range of fabrics is wider than ever. Silks, chiffons, taffetas, linen and Sarfari are the fabrics of choice. Yeside prefers these fabrics as she claims they are a plain canvass and allow for creativity. Most of her designs are clean and simple with intricate beading details and craftsmanship. The name My Q is basically about Yeside. The name was coined from her initials Mohammed Yeside Qulthum. According to her, she would not be in this business if she had not moved back to Nigeria as the average Nigerian woman is user stylish and her designs pay homage to every Nigerian woman as they are her inspiration. She admires Nigerian designers Deola Sagoe, Tiffany Amber and Lame Da Silva Ajayi- who to her are simply the best. She feels they haved toed the line and brought respectability to the industry and she does not think she would have considered designing as a career without then as role models. Internationally she loves George Chakras, Roberto Cavalli, Ellie Saab and Marchessa.
Culled from City People
Lifestyle
What to Look for in a Marijuana Smoking Device
Though there are various ways to enjoy marijuana, smoking remains the most popular way to get high. This method also happens to have the most devices available.
When buying a smoking device, you must get a high-quality product. Not all apparatuses are made the same way and provide the same doses. Various studies prove that the device you use is equally important as the weed itself and can make the overall smoking experience better.
Buying a suitable smoking device is all about understanding your preferences and tailoring accessories accordingly.
The Main Types of Pipes
There are many ways for cannabis users to smoke marijuana. A hand pipe, also known as a dry pipe or bowl, is a convenient and easy method to smoke weed, especially for people who occasionally smoke. Featuring a small chamber, a hand pipe delivers harsher hits than other types of marijuana pipes.
On the other hand, a water pipe or a bong is ideal for experienced users. From small designs to large, water pipes, unlike hand pipes, contain specific chambers to hold water and deliver a smoother experience.
The one-hitter is a tiny and discrete pipe designed for a single inhalation or, as the name suggests, one hit. One-hitters are popular because they help users control the dosage of their marijuana intake.
And then, there are portable vape or vape pens that offer a smoke-free experience. Vape pens are a discreet way of getting your fix when on the go.
How To Choose A Good Dry Pipe
Whether you are looking to get high at home or while hanging out with friends, pipes make consuming cannabis much easier and quicker than packing blunts or rolling joints. As they are practical, every marijuana user must have at least one good dry pipe. With so many different pipes available at various price ranges, you should consider multiple factors to find a suitable dry pipe.
The first thing you should consider is size. The size directly translates to portability. For those who travel a lot, a pipe smaller in size might be ideal. In contrast, if you plan to use the dry pipe as a tabletop centerpiece, you might want something bigger.
Additionally, smoking pipes are made from different materials. While commonly made from glass, marijuana smoking pipes can also be made from wood, metal, or ceramic. Typically, glass pipes are the best option for marijuana smokers as you will be treated to smooth and flavorful smoke regardless of the strain.
You should also take into consideration your budget when looking to buy a marijuana dry pipe. Remember that a low price doesn’t always translate to a low-quality product. You will still be able to land some great deals if you look around.
How To Choose A Good Water Pipe
To find a good water pipe, size is the first thing you should consider. If you are passing the bong with your friends, a larger bong might be a better option. On the other hand, if it is for more personal use, choose a smaller one.
Secondly, think about the material. Cannabis users often prefer glass as it provides the cleanest and the purest-tasting hits. However, it can easily break and is usually pricey. So, for a rowdier situation, an acrylic water pipe might be a better option.
How To Choose A Good One Hitter
If you are looking to buy a one-hitter, the pipe’s material is the primary concern as one-hitters are all generally the same size. The material can affect flavor and durability, so you must choose wisely. The common materials used to make one-hitters are glass, acrylic, and metal.
One-hitters made from glass offer an unparalleled flavor, while those made from acrylic and metal can make the hit less flavorful.
Furthermore, one-hitters highlight various features like a removable bowl, self-ashing mechanism, design that allows for easier cleaning, and heat resistance.
How To Choose A Good Portable Vape
Unlike desktop vapes, portable vapes are easy to carry around and use discreetly. What’s more, they tend to be less expensive and versatile, making them an ideal option for beginners. When looking for a portable vape pen, you should consider if they are made for vaping dry herb or wax.
The next thing you should consider is battery life. This factor is vital if you are on the go without access to a device charger. A few vaporizers come with external batteries, while others have long battery lives.
Furthermore, you should consider things like temperature control and the type of heating—conduction or convection. Also, see if the vape pen is easy to clean or not. Lastly, look at the price. As you will be holding onto your vaporizer for a while, it is a good idea to invest in a quality product from a certified seller like WeedSmart, a Canadian marijuana dispensary.
Explore the Arena of Marijuana Smoking Devices
With a wide array of marijuana smoking devices available on the market, it might be daunting to decide the one that’s best for you. The right choice for you will depend on your needs and what you think might be the best for you. If you don’t like a specific device’s feel, you can always look for other options.
Living/Style
Jack And The Beanstalk
Living/Style
Dry Skin, Chafing
With the harmattan season drawing closer, there is the need for ladies particularly to become sensitive to their skins in terms of applications in the most natural ways in order to overcome the season and remain radiant and attractive. Here are some tips for you.
Symptoms: The skin is evenly dry and there can be a tendency to chafing (more so during this period).
There is both water and oil loss in the skin. This may seem to be a matter of little concern but it can be a sign of more serious problems like essential fatty acide deficiency that can result in cardiovascular disease such as stroke, heart attack etc.
Dry Skin can also be a sign of an underactive thyrond.
If you are supplementing with Vitamin A in amounts over 100,000 units daily, dry skin may be the first warning of overdose. It is dangerous to take too much of vitamin A.
Natural Remedies:
Diet and Nutrients –
*Eat a nutritious diet of vegetables, fruit, grains, seeds, legumes and nuts. High sulfur foods like garlic, onions and asparagus help keep the skin smooth and youthful.
*Avoid animal fats, hydrogenated oils and fried foods
*The situation to this problem is not superficial creams which contain Vaseline or aluminum but obtaining enough unsaturated fatty acids in the diet. These would be uncooked vegetable oils, such as wheat germ oil, corn oil, seseme seed oil and soy oil. Take additional Vitamin E Supplementation of about 800-1,200 units a day.
*If you are not taking supplemental Vitamin A, begin taking a moderate amount (not over 25,000 units a day for a few days. Carrot juice (or 15 mg beta carotene daily) will also help.
*Take a B-Complex Supplement, Vitamin C (1,000mg 2-3 times) daily and zinc (15mg daily).
Applications:
*’Misting’ is helpful. Spray your face with a fine mist of water atleast three times a day. To increase the effect, add some aloe Vera to the mist water.
If you do, you must not spray into the eyes.
*For your shower, rinse off every day with lukewarm water using as little soap as possible. Do not use hot water.
*For itchy skin, add vinegar to the bath water and take two tablespoon of vegetable oil daily. Helpful herbs include yarrow, violet and margoram. Dry-brush message your skin, to tone it up.
*Add two to three drops of lavender essential oil to warm water and apply a warm compress to your face.
This will hydrate the skin and stimulate the water and oil glands.
*Ripe, mashed avoicado alone or mixed with ripe banana is an excellent moistening mask. It will deep over the throat and face (except the eye area). Wait 10-15 minutes, then rinse off.
*Drink an adequate amount of water and keep the house or room cooler.