Thursday tidbits

Haven't done one of these in a while!

1. I've been laughing really deeply past couple of days. I just feel good.
2. Yesterday I was on a three hour phone call where i only said "Hello", "Tell me", I love you". Sometimes being there is just listening.
3. I hurt someone today :( unintentionally but then I couldn't lie...
4. I made something delicious today! a complete experiment. I've still got it! whooop and it was diet complaint!
5. I could eat greek salads forever. Noms.
6. I really enjoy and value my time alone.
7. My phone dependency has drastically reduced! I can't believe it. I barely look at it now. it's a great feeling.
8. Do you have a blog? I want to see. show me.
9. God loves me, I believe it. He loves you too. A lot

Out and About in Lagos

I'm really missing not having a camera :( I love to take pictures of new places, food, events everything, just for my personal records. Plus it's fun and I like photos. Anyways thankfully sometimes my friends are kind enough to send me their photos :) "friends" being most likely the man behind http://imperialmedia.shutterchance.com/ <---- check it out!! Anyways here goes some photos :)

Felabration (last year) - An annual event to honor the Legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti (if you know anything about me you know I'm a FAN)

So after uploading these photos I realized all the others from felabration would be inappropriate and unfair to the people I went with. lol Enjoy that beautiful sax though my fave afrobeat instrument.

Chef Fregz Special (last year): I had a really good time with my girl Simi who I miss sooo much! The food was delicious, I was surrounded by friends, conversation and laughter! Good day in all.

Simi and I, stunna shades on B)

nom

nom nom

nom nom nom

Tola and I

Simi is a happy camper!

Next installment coming up soon :)
Love and happiness,
Sabirah.

I checked...

 my weight on Monday...
1) Being tall is a blessing and a curse
2) WO_OW
3) This New Nigerian Lifestyle is not for me...

If you've been reading my blog for a while you probably know my take on body image and issues relating to it, I'm of the opinion that as long as you stay fit and healthy, what size you are doesn't matter (being fit and healthy meaning exercising regularly, eating nutritious food and being able to exert yourself physically without feeling completely breathless or fatigued) of course there are scales such as BMI which help but they aren't exhaustive.

Anyways, my being tall and small boned allows for weight to be distributed quite evenly around my body, as a result when I weighed myself on Monday, I was shocked to my small bones! I had gained a whooping 15pounds between September when moved to Lagos and now, February. Alarmed is an understatement.

So while I was all shocked to my bones, the next day my co-worker (the curviest white woman I know) started to tell me about this diet she was on. I was skeptical because diets are like a curse word to me, I hate the way the word is used, I hate that everyone seems to be on one... I just hate it. But I'm also a courteous person, so I heard her out, and it sounded crazier by the minute. She sashayed away from my desk and I began to google. I was curious.

After reading testimonials etc, turned out this "diet" wasn't free :( bummer. I kept reading though, and from my co-worker's information and random bits and bobs on the internet I was beginning to piece together a picture, albeit holey.Meanwhile, I had been talking about loosing weight to the partner and we were trying to fit in time to start working out together. I sent him a brief message about my co-worker and I's conversation. Being the absolutely best boyfriend in the world, he casually sent me an email with the complete e-book!!! I was now excited, notice how I was warming up?

I like science, I like facts, I like things based on science-y facts, I also like results and not gimmicks, I like steps, I love steps. Meet the Dukan diet by French Doctor, Pierre Dukan. More like a lifestyle over haul. I'm on page 177 of the 316 page book. but I'm feeling ready. I really didn't want to write this post because I wanted to do this quietly and just come back with results, because I'm afraid of failure. but what the hell. If I slip up, i'll start over and what better way to hold myself accountable than on here?

I'm going food shopping this weekend, I'm feeling good about this

Love and encouragement
Sabirah! xoxo

Italia: Lucca!

This has been my favorite Italian town/city yet and I've been to a few Vetralla, Viterbo, Pisa, Living in Florence, Rome, Siena... So it means a lot. Every Italian town has its own attraction and appeal. Florence and Lucca are close contenders for no1 in Italy in my book for many reasons.
Lucca was everything I had imagined Italy to be, small, authentic, beautiful and charming. It is one of the few Italian towns that still has a complete city wall from medieval times, a lot of the other towns had lost their walls to earthquakes or had been bombed during wars. The city walls were built to protect the city from attack and had look outs for guards. They often had the gates into the city and those were often shut at night to protect the people living in the city.
I loved Lucca because it had managed to keep its charm but still incorporate modern little things like modern shops etc. It was not flooded with tourists as Florence is and spending a day there was just amazing, I really got a sense of what the people that live there do...
Ok pictures :D (it was the same day i went to Pisa so same clothes but I spent the whole day in Lucca, just about an hour in Pisa)

Welcome to Citta di Lucca!

Lots and lots of bike riders here, like Davis! love it.

Isn't it great how Good music is universal? Although we couldn't get seats to the concert it was so nice to know that the people of Lucca would be enjoying a nice intimate concert.

A beautiful church in one of the main squares (piazza) There was a man playing beautiful music from an accordion. definitely set a great mood in the square.

Another beautiful chiesa (Church)

We went to this beautiful little Trattoria it was the most authentic Italian place I had eaten in, in my four weeks here :)

It was just so local and pretty and rustic! One of the main reasons I fell in love with Lucca.

My "Primi piatti" - First plate- Rissoto con Frutti di mare ( Rissoto, with mixed seafood) Soooo yummy! it had calamari and whole baby squid. yum yum.

These are the bottles that held the water and house wine that we got. yum yum Vino Rosso!

Secondo Piatti - Second plate. roast potatoes with veal. this was the most delicious piece of meat i had ever had in my life, cut so thinly and spiced just right, no over kill you can tell it was slowcooked. very moist and just delicious, by now you should know I really enjoy well cooked food. this was a winner!

Dessert con caffe! A shot of espresso with some delicious Tiramisu. We really ate Italian style, slow over good conversation so that when we were finally done we weren't as full and bloated as we expected.

My espresso saucer :) Passion of Espresso

Pretty Garden! Lucca!

Found a beautiful Yellow house, can't find the full picture :(

Walking on the medieval wall 

Sitting on the wall. I love this photo, it was Candid :)

Laying on the grass couldn't help but take a photo of these little flowers

The Sun hat was such an excellent idea! 

Arriverdeci Lucca! Ci vediamo dopo! Mi piace Citta di Lucca molto molto!

Tea Party! :OOTD

Hi Everyone,

So it was my friend Maribel's Birthday and we decided to take her out to tea, she loves tea and we found the cutest little tea shop to take her to.

Aren't the tea pots the cutest?

Birthday Girl!!!

A sample of the menu offerings! Great Variety of teas!

Me and the birthday girl

They had lovely yellow roses on the table and I love the vintage sugar tin

Javier and Maribel got the Apricot tea, can you see the little 5min timer next to it?

I got the Organic masala Chai Tea. It was so fragrant and spicy absolutely delicious.

 We also got some food, I had the cheese platter to the right, Maribel got the garden salad and Javier got the turkey Sandwich! the Cheese platter was amazing!!

What I wore: Romper- Urban outfitters, Belt - Target, Purse -F21 and wedges Banana Republic. It was a surprisingly warm day and I was so excited to show some leg! lol. I love those wedges, I'v had them for three years now and they still look great!!

I love this picture of Javi!

And this picture of us :)

It was a lovely Day and I had such a great time!! Happy birthday again Maribel! Love you tons! Definitely going to TeaList again

In the Kitchen: Spicy Herbed tilapia with Shrimp and Vegetables

Hi Everyone,

This is going to be a recipe post- obviously! I hope to do one at least every two weeks, I love to cook I just never remember to take pictures or notes of my recipes.
This is very simple creation of mine!
Quickly, meals will be rated by level of difficulty, speed and of course overall taste :)
Here we go!
You will need:
2- Tiliapia Fillets (thawed)
4oz - Shrimp fresh and thawed
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
1- Teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1- Teaspoon of parsley
1- Teaspoon of olive oil
A pinch of thyme
A pinch of salt
A sprinkle of Natures seasoning or the equivalent
2- Large carrots
A small head of broccolli
A small head of cauliflower

Directions : Pre-heat oven at 375degrees F,wash Tilapia fillets and set aside, Peel the shrimp and set aside. Chop up the carrots, broccoli and and cauliflower, wash and set aside.

 I Like to buy shrimp that is uncooked and has the shell on, Uncooked because the flavor is so much better, over cooked shrimp is not the business.
And Shell on, because I'm that kinda girl, I enjoy peeling it and I believe the tail (which i leave on) adds flavor and flair! :)

Using the aforementioned spices (ignore the garlic in the photo, it was not used), spice up the shrimp and fish together and place in a lightly oil-sprayed pan. Add all the spices but the lemon juice, thats for later. The most important spices are the pepper, thyme and the nature's seasoning (which is a blend of garlic powder, black pepper and just a lil sugar, yes sugar.) this combination of spices give the food unique and delicious flavor.

Place the fish and shrimp in the center of the Pre-heated oven. and very lightly drizzle with olive oil












Place a very small amount of water in a small sauce pan add the vegetables and heat on medium until tender (careful not to over cook, 7-10mins should be enough)

After about 10-15mins the fish should be ready, Carefully remove from the oven. Toss the steamed veggies lightly with a little bit of butter and salt.

Squeeze a few drops of lemon juice on the fish and shrimp

Voila!! Dinner is served.
Prep time: 10mins
Cooking time: 20mins
I would rate this dish a 9/10 because not only was it extremely easy and quick it was delicious! Seafood lovers would enjoy it! The spiciness was just right!
Will you try this?