Getting ready for prom 2015: Checklist for dress, shoes, schedule

Prom is a few months away, but it's not too early to get ready. Here is your before-prom checklist.


1. Girls: get a dress, Guys: get a suit or tux.

This seems pretty self-explanatory, and probably not something you need to be reminded of. But for the sake of being thorough, it's No. on our list. While the supplies are full, now's a good time to start looking at your options.

2. Make your hair/nail/salon appointments.

Salons get booked up quickly during prom season, so make sure you make yours early, after you know the date of your prom

When you're making an appointment, give yourself at least an hour before you need to leave the salon. Appointments, hair especially, can take much longer than you think.

3. Coordinate your before prom plans

Dinner, prom pictures, rides - having good pre-prom plans will give the most memorable night of your high school career a great start. Coordinate who you're getting dinner with, where you're getting dinner, and where you're taking prom photos. Make dinner reservations early. Figure out how you're getting from place to place, whether it be a friend driving, a taxi or a limo.

4. Figure out your post-prom plans, too.

Don't end your night on the dance floor. Make plans with your friends to go to a bonfire or a cheap diner for a midnight meal. Do something, even if you just grab your buddies, go back to someone's place and watch television. Make the night last as long as possible. Make it something to remember.

5. Know what to bring with you.

Do the "phone, keys, wallet" check. Or if you don't want to bring your whole wallet, at least make sure you have your debit/credit card or enough cash to get you through the night. Also take along:

Prom ticket: It would just be plain awful if you forgot this.
ID card: Whether it's your school ID to get into the prom, or you just your license, it's always god to have your ID on you.
Gum or mints: You never know when your breath (or a friend's) will need an extra pick-me-up. Gum or mints are all around good to have.
Lipstick: Girls, you should consider this. If you're wearing lipstick for prom, it would be a good idea to bring it along. Lipstick fades, smears, and sometimes dries up and looks clumpy. Bring your lipstick with you to keep your lip color looking fresh.
Flats: We all know that it is torture to keep those 6-inch heels on all night. Bring a pair of flats, especially if your after prom plans require any walking. Your feet will thank you.
6. Don't forget to have fun!

When you're getting ready to go, make sure you grab your humor, good mood, and your best picture smile. Prom is only as much fun as you make it. This night is about you, your friends and your youth. Soak up as much of the experience as you can.

15 World’s Most Exotic Pets

As it turned out, cats and dogs are too mainstream for some folks. If you thought Audrey Hepburn was crazy for having a baby deer for her pet, or George Clooney for loving that pig, you are wrong. You literally wouldn’t believe what kinds of animals people have nowadays. It is estimated that over 20 million Americans have some kind of exotic animal as their pet. Now, you might think that some of them are dangerous, but it may surprise you to learn that they are very legal in the US. Some of the owners want an exotic animal because it stands out from the crows, and some just love to be weird. To be clear, exotic animal is a term that refers to certain species that are not native to the owner’s location. And if you are thinking about adopting an exotic pet of your own, take a look at the list we created!



1. One of the most popular chimpanzee pets in the world is Bubbles, Michael Jackson’s old pet. Unfortunately, Bubbles has outlived his famous owner, but he is not the only chimpanzee pet in the world. Many exotic pet owners claim that chimps are remarkably similar to humans. They are considered endangered species but they are still legal to own in the US. Also, it would cost you about $60,000 to own a cute chimp and that is only for the initial purchase. Cheap replacement pet: a turtle, because it costs less.


2. We present you: the Hyacinth Macaw! This is the largest macaw in the world. These fabulous birds come from South Africa and they can grow to be 3-4 pounds. Also, their wingspan is 4 feet, so they are quite big. Besides being absolutely beautiful and big, these birds are quite strong, too. They have been known to break apart cages! Unfortunately, the Hyacinth Macaws are also endangered. It will cost you about $12,000 to own one. Cheap replacement pet: a small parakeet, because… well, it’s parrot.



3. How adorable is this little fellow? Squirrel monkeys usually weight about 2 pounds, and they are really intelligent. They are great pets for people who love to play with their fun, little friends. Also, squirrel monkeys are quite affectionate, which makes them even more popular. However, squirrel monkeys spread their urine on their feet, hands and sometimes even over their whole body in order to mark their territory. It will cost you about $8,000 for a baby squirrel monkey. Cheap replacement pet: golden retrier, because he is also smart and affectionate but you can train him where to urinate.


4. It’s mini-Kangaroo! Wallabies can grow up to 41 inches and weigh close to 53 pounds, so they are not as big as Kangaroos. They love to spend their time outside, so they make great exotic pets. However, they are not typical outside pets, because you can’t really put a Wallaby in your backyard. They need more room than that to move at high speeds. Also, be prepared to have a high fence, because they love to jump. You’ll need about $3,000 for a Wallaby. Cheap replacement pet: guinea pig because it’s fury and it doesn’t jump.



5. This is a Serval. Servals come from Central and Southern Africa and they life about 19 years. They are bigger than domestic cats and they can stand close to 2 feet tall! Servals are one of the most successful hunters of all wild cats and they are pretty fast (Servals are the fastest running cats aside from the cheetas). Except from hunting and running like cheetah, they are similar to domestic cats: they meow, hiss and purr. They cost about $2,500. Cheap replacement pet: domestic cat, because all cats are gray in the dark (no really, they are).


6. The Kinkajou definitely has one of the best references in the world: Paris Hilton enjoys its presence! Kinkajous belong to the raccoon family, and they come from the rain forests in Central and South Africa. Their life span is about 25 years, and in some cases they even live 41 years! Kinkajous are also famous for being super lovable and getting along with humans. It costs about $2,000 to own a Kinkajou. Cheap replacement pet: a mouse, because he’s cute?



7. Fennec Foxes are cute, perky, large-eared animals from Northern Africa. Their life span is about 16 years and they are real superstars among exotic pets. The reason for this is because they are currently bred commercially as house pets with a pinch of being exotic. People describe them as a mix between a dog and a cat, because they are technically related to dogs but they have the temperament of a cat. They cost about $1,500. Cheap replacement pet: chihuahua, because they also have big ears and they are related to dogs (somehow).



8. The Capybaras are also known as the World’s largest rodents, but don’t let this scare you. These exotic pets come from South Africa and they live for about 8-10 years. However, they are quite heavy- they can weigh yo to 150 pounds! People who own Capybaras say they love them for their intelligence, playfulness, and sociability. They are also big fans of waters! So if you have a pool, your Capybara will love it. It will cost you about $600 to own one. Cheap replacement pet: probably chinchilla, because you won’t get hernia from carrying it around.



9. Skunk is a girl’s best friend. We don’t know that for sure, though, but this girl looks pretty satisfied with her exotic friend. That’s probably because its scent glands were removed. Skunks are also known as polecats, and they live for about 12 years. You probably associate them with their ability of using their anal scent glands, and trust us, you do not want to get sprayed with that.  But they are also very sensitive and clever. It will cost you about $500 to own one. Cheap replacement pet: rats, because people have a lot prejudices about them too.



10. Hedgehogs are supercute! They come from Europe, Asia and Africa and they live about 3 to 8 years. Hedgehogs are very popular among exotic pets because of their cute little faces. However, if you choose hedgehog for a pet, be prepared for some serious amount of care. They have between 5000 and 7000 spikes and they are very active at night. So don’t walk barefoot around the house. It will cost you about $300 to own a hedgehog. Cheap replacement pet: kitten, because it’s little and cute and will not sting you.



11. What’s that? oh, that’s just the cutest little baby Sugar Glider, hanging from his owner’s hand. Sugar Gliders come from Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. They reach 7 inches in length and they weigh about only 6 ounces! Sugar Gliders got their name for their eternal love for sweets, but also, for their ability to glide through the air (no, they do not glide through mountains of sugar, which would be cool). It will cost you about $200 to own a Sugar Glider. Cheap replacement pet: chicken, because it’s cute and sweet.



12. If you’re into reptiles, Bearded Dragon is the right, exotic pet for you. They originate from Australia, and they are called Bearded Dragons because they have spikes around their heads, that look like a beard. Bearded Dragons are quite easy to love since they are really calm and kind of mellow. Just look at that little tongue. It will cost you about $100 to own a Bearded Dragon. Cheap replacement pet: lizard, because you can get one from your backyard.



13. If you are not scared only by looking at this photo, you should probably become an owner of Emperor Scorpion. Emperor Scorpions come from the West African rainforests and they have big front claws. However, people don’t seem to be scared by this, on the contrary, Emperor Scorpions are one of the most common types of scorpions people keep as exotic pets! They can reach 8 inches in length, and their venom is quite mild. How cute. It will cost about $20 to own one. Cheap replacement pet: literally any animal without venom and gigantic claws.



14. Again, if you don’t get chills by only looks at this photo, you are suitable to be an owner of Tarantula. Tarantula’s can be found everywhere except Antarctica. They live for about 25 years and their size can vary from being as small as a fingernail to being as large as a dinner plate. Even though some people faint only by thinking about Tarantulas, the truth is- they rarely bite people. It would cost you about $15 to own a Tarantula. Cheap replacement pet: an ordinary spider, of course. It still eats flies and has no hair on its back.



15. Why would anyone want to own a cockroach on purpose, if we as humans did everything in our power to invent as many toxic stuff in order to keep them away from us? If you are not asking yourself this question right now, you should probably think about owning a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach. They come from the island Madagascar, and they are called like that because of the hissing sounds they make. You can get one for $3. Cheap replacement pet: a ladybug? It doesn’t hiss and it’s very lovable.

What Your Name Says About You

Yolo. Wolf. Chia. Which one isn’t a child’s name? (Hint: All three appeared on several birth certificates last year.)

In a world where simply being unique isn’t good enough anymore, some parents have taken to naming their kid exactly that — Unique. Or Eunique, depending on how they prefer to spell it. More than half of parents polled last year said they favor unusual names, which is up nearly 10 percent from 2013, according to the parenting site BabyCenter.com. And this trend is only expected to grow, say researchers, who’ve found that more than ever, baby naming is tethered to a narcissistic urge to be different. Jean Twenge, author of The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement, poses this question: “Does having a name like Messiah then predispose you to narcissism?”

There’s been a rise in more distinct names like Messiah, Major and even Princess.

Unusual names are nothing new, though they’ve recently become more commonplace and at the same time more differentiated. While society went through individualistic swings in the past, as people moved from more communal dwellings to urban centers, these days the shift away from blue-collar gigs to more white-collar jobs is driving the movement from “we” to “I.” That’s because white-collar professions reward standing out — or, more aptly, rising above — whereas the working class tends to promote collectivism. “People higher in social status show a greater preference for uniqueness and tendency toward narcissism,” says Arizona State psychology professor Michael Varnum. No wonder there’s been a rise in more distinct but suggestive names like Messiah, Major and even Princess in the past couple of years.

Exclusive-sounding titles aren’t all bad, of course. Thorvald Blough’s name reflects his family’s tradition of carrying on patronyms based on his male ancestors. (He goes by Thor because it’s easier for people to “cope” with.) The fact that it’s also the name of a Scandinavian superhero? Well, that’s been helpful inspiration — especially when the 22-year-old recently moved from his hometown in California to London to pursue a career as an opera singer. “Not many people would do that,” he says. “Maybe having the name Thor and always being a little bit different gave me the confidence.”

Being a male opera singer is one thing, but how many greats do you know with the name Thor? Some studies show many of us live up to the names we’re given — Denises are more likely to become dentists, Lawrences lawyers and Raymonds radiologists. So there might be something to calling your kid King. At the same time, unusual names can also be correlated to lower levels of social adjustment if they’re too different. Most people are subconsciously attracted to the familiar, so they tend to be drawn to, say, the names Elizabeth or David instead of Juju or Braven (both of which showed up on birth certificates last year). “The interesting paradox is although people still prefer more common names, parents are less likely to give more common names,” Twenge says. “They place more emphasis on uniqueness.”

“Now there are no rules. We’ll name our kid after a fruit or a direction, or two directions.”

Overall, parents are more likely to pick outlandish or gender-flexible references for girls, such as Shiloh or Hayden. Meanwhile women’s names rarely get passed down through the family tree the way men’s names do, which is a sign society still puts more worth in men than women, some experts say. Names that sound like they’re from lower socio-economic classes or minorities are also often discriminated against. For instance, job applicants with “black-sounding” names are less likely to get callbacks. And professors don’t respond as often to emails from students with feminine or ethnic monikers. “You have to be careful: Naming practices reflect — and reinforce — values,” says Ryan Brown, a professor at the University of Oklahoma.

It’s a never-ending cycle: As the poor begin to borrow names from the rich, the rich keep finding new syllables to differentiate themselves. That could explain how you end up with names like Apple (thanks, Gwyneth) or North West (courtesy of Kanye and Kim). “Now there are no rules,” Twenge says. “We’ll name our kid after a fruit or a direction, or two directions.”

DRESSED: THE SECRET TO BETTER SALADS

We pile on the greens, veggies, fruit, seeds and nuts, hoping to get the most nutrients possible from our salads, but a dose of dressing can tip the scales in the wrong direction, adding unhealthy fats as well as unwanted chemicals. And although fat levels may differ (sorry, fat-free, but we’re looking at you!), most bottled salad dressings you find on supermarket shelves are generally loaded with additives, thickeners and preservatives.

The good news is you can whip up a healthy homemade version of your favorite dressing with just a handful of real ingredients—ones you can actually pronounce! These recipes are easy to make and call for items you probably have on hand. And not only are they better for you, they taste better, too.

VIRTUOUS VINAIGRETTE
A simple oil- and vinegar-based dressing allows the flavors of the salad ingredients to shine through. Start with the 3:1 ratio: 3 parts oil to 1 part acid will yield a balanced blend to top your leafy greens. Customize by using different vinegars, such as champagne vinegar or sherry vinegar, and include freshly chopped herbs or shallots for a zesty flavor infusion. Adding a small amount of Dijon mustard will boost the flavor as well as help emulsify the dressing. (Don’t worry if it’s a little on the tart side—once it’s mixed with the salad, it will have just the right amount of tang.) Be sure to whisk your mixture together until it no longer appears separated and serve immediately. Otherwise, store your vinaigrette in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Remember, it’s normal for the dressing to naturally separate over time, so simply give it a whisk just before serving.

HEALTHIER HONEY MUSTARD
Always a hit on salad, a drizzle of this sweet and tangy dressing will also amp up many entrées or sides—chicken, salmon, potatoes, garlic toast—you name it! Simply whisk together 1/2 cup Dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons honey, 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 teaspoon rice vinegar or lemon juice. Store leftovers for about a week.

RANCH REVIVAL
A creamy all-natural ranch-style dressing comes together with a few basic ingredients: 1/2 cup mayo, 1/3 cup sour cream and 1 cup buttermilk. From there you can build your own flavor by adding fresh dill, chopped parsley, chopped chives, salt and pepper and about 1 tablespoon vinegar. Shake in a bit of onion or garlic powder for more zip. Mix thoroughly and let it chill in the fridge for 1 hour before serving. Refrigerate leftover dressing—it should last about a week.

LOOK BEYOND THE GREENS SCENE
Try any of these dressings on a homemade coleslaw by mixing shredded carrots and cabbage with sunflower seeds, raisins and a touch of lemon juice.
Give your pasta salad a makeover by tossing whole wheat fusilli, asparagus, feta cheese, olives, fresh basil and chopped tomatoes with your homemade vinaigrette.
Instead of using mayo to mix up your famous potato salad, give it an extra-special touch by using your homemade ranch dressing instead.
EXPERT TIPS
To help speed up the emulsification process when mixing salad dressings, use a blender or food processor.
If mixing your dressing with a whisk, use a glass or stainless steel bowl, not aluminum. Acids in the dressing can mix with the aluminum, giving a metallic taste to your dressing.
Do the lettuce taste test: Pour a small amount of dressing into a bowl or measuring cup. Dip a piece of lettuce into the dressing and give it a try. This will give you a better idea of how your mixture will taste once it’s mixed with greens.
Store leftover dressing in the fridge in appropriately sized containers like the Snapware®
Total Solution™ food storage containers. Less room for air means they’ll stay fresher longer.
Still worried about the fat in the oil? If you’ve been cruising along on the fat-free bandwagon, jump off! We’re learning more all the time about how we need fat in our diets for our bodies to thrive. Monounsaturated fats, found in olive oil, improves cholesterol and may help keep insulin at healthy levels. Plus, a recent study from Purdue University published in the journal of Molecular Nutrition & Food Research revealed that monounsaturated fat actually helps the body absorb even more nutrients. But like most things, portion control is key, so when it comes to dressing, go for a drizzle, not a downpour!

YOUR TURN: Do you have a favorite homemade salad dressing recipe? Please share!

I'm totally blessed to meet my father - Dillish

Winner of the 2013 Big Brother Africa Reality Show (The Chase), Dillish has opened up on her father’s sudden appearance into her life after she she emerged winner of the hit TV Reality Show.







Speaking to Joy News, the Namibian winner, said "joining Big Brother has only sped up the process of meeting my father and I’m blessed and I thank God for bringing him back to my life.”.

His father, Abdi Galgalo Guyo, a Kenyan ex-soldier met her mother Selma Pashukeni after 23 years of separation.

Dillish Matthews was declared winner of the eighth season of the Big Brother Africa (The Chase) Reality Show last August after she beat four other finalists - Elikem, Cleo, Melvin and Beverly - to win the US$300,000 grand prize.



Dillish believes opening up about her father has made her "an ambassador for people who are shy of coming out to say they have never met their parents before".

She made this remark on her arrival in Ghana for the birthday celebrations of their Ghanaian housemate, Selly. The party comes off at Excel Lounge Friday night.

Selly says BBA housemates are coming for the party to prove they are determined to stick together forever even as the hit Reality TV show is over.

Dillish and former housemates, Melvin and Maria were met at the Kotoka International Airport on Wednesday evening by Selly, fellow BBA housemates, Elikem and Pokello and a cross-section of the media.

M.C for the birthday party is Nigeria's Uti Nwachuku who is Big Brother All Star winner. He told Joy News he couldn't resist attending the party after Selly invited him.

He said “you know as a senior in the game (BBA) I just couldn’t resist my small sister's (Selly) demand, she booked me as M.C and I am here to make it happen. You know Ghana is my second home”

Meanwhile Dillish, (Portuguese for sweet) says she is working on opening more hair salons across Namibia with part of the 300,000 dollars she won at the TV Reality Show.