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Saturday 24 December 2016

MOTHERLAND

Hello lovelies,
I recently came back from the motherland, that is Nigeria!
I'm still on a high at the moment and I kinda don't wanna come down, because I had such an amazing time whilst I was out there.

I visited three states. First stop being Lagos. I love Lagos for some downtime, where I visit my grandparents, nieces and nephews. I also get to explore, going to markets. My favourite being Balogun. One of the biggest markets in Lagos located on the Island. You can find almost everything there from fabrics to homeware. It is huge!!

Another state I visited was River state. I stayed in the capital Port Harcourt, known for it's crude oil refineries. I was invited to a beautiful traditional wedding out there and it was so nice. We took in the sights whilst driving through the city...it's the cleanest, greenest place I have seen. My birthday fell on the day I was in PH, so it was nice to be in the heat for a change.
Oh and I must say, they have the yummiest grilled catfish dish out there. Just letting y'all know.

The last place I visited was Edo State. I stayed in Benin City. Again, another day of seeing family and sights. Did lots more touristy stuff in the city like going to the cinema and restaurant hopping, which is enjoyable for me.

As you can see, I have a lot of food pictures because the food is everything in Nigeria! I literally ate till my hearts content (if I could have roasted plantain right now I would *inserts crying face*).
 I had such a lovely time, and can't wait to be back!

Maybe Abuja next time?

See ya X

Sunday 18 December 2016

BREAKFAST WITH AURELIA

I've come across many amazing skincare products but nothing that largely focuses on Nature, Probiotics and BioOrganic.

Friday 11 November 2016

Wednesday 19 October 2016

AUTUMN SKINCARE ESSENTIALS


In a polite society, a well maintained skincare routine is one of life’s great successes – Violet Grey.

My favourite topic in the world. Yes, I’m talking skincare! Whoop! Let’s get started shall we! 
Before you start planning your deep, dark, dramatic hues of makeup looks for this autumn. (I’m ready to bring out my blackcurrant lipstick as I type) - What’s going on with your skin though? 

I get questions all the time on how I get my skin looking so plump and radiant throughout the autumn season. You know how it goes, your skin will be amazing all summer long, then as soon as it gets cooler in weather, it takes a turn for the worse. I’m talking dull, flaky skin or chapped lips. It’s been known to always switch up your skincare routine depending on the season. Lighter products in the summer and richer products in the winter.

I decided to share with you my autumn essential skincare products that I swear by during the autumn season.


Cleanser

Let me start with the cleansing! My love affair with Clarins started when I was first introduced by my mother (the skin queen) to the Clarins Daily Energiser Cleansing Gel. I have been using this product since I was 13 years old and I regularly look forward to using this morning and night. It effectively removes all traces of makeup and pollution. This smells divine and over time, I noticed it left my skin feeling fresh, bright and a overall luminous appearance. I use this all year round, so it doesn’t solely have to be used for the cooler season, as it is suitable for all conditions. What makes this cleanser even better, is that it’s for all skin types. I’ve put my friends on this bad boy and they absolutely love it!

Masks

My new found favourite! The Body Shop Chinese Ginseng & Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask. I purchased this product about a month ago and if I was to sum up this mask in words it would be: 

‘having a spa treatment in your home’

This mask is everything to me! A Chinese inspired, it contains ginseng extract, rice extract, sesame seed and creamy exfoliating beads. I've used this twice a week and already I can see a difference in how my skin looks. I particularly love the cooling sensation you feel once the mask is applied, as you can really feel it penetrating into my skin. The best bit, washing the mask off in a circular motion, so you can get the exfoliating beads to work its magic! Leaving your skin soft and supple 
Perfect for the colder months when you want to strip away dead, dull skin and uncover a fresh appearance.

I like to throw in some K-Beauty into the mix just before a night out, if I want a quick boost! I'm talking South-East Asia's very own sheet masks. I am notably loving the range from My Beauty Diary, a Taiwanese brand who specialise in hydrating, moisturising and brightening the skin in one mask. All the stress your skin may be exposed to due to the cold weather, this mask helps bring your skin back to it’s original zest and youthfulness.

Toner

I use the Boots Rosewater and Glycerin Toner and I put this on after I’ve cleansed and just before I put on my moisturiser. I love how soft and plump this leaves my skin. I pour out 3 pumps of the toner onto my cotton pad, apply it to my face and there you go! Instant, glowing and dewy skin! The rosewater has a lovely smell and I can’t get enough of how refreshed I look afterwards. I’m not going to waffle on too much. ugh, it’s just amazing!

Cream

Yes, another Clarins product. Do you see a pattern here…? I do love them. The Clarins Beauty Flash Balm has always been a favoured product of mine. I feel my daily skin regime is not complete if I do not reach for this. The balm gives me an instant radiant flash and dare I say it, a life saver for times when my skin needs a pick me up. The beauty balm helps moisturise, tighten and brighten my face. It smooth’s my skin’s surface, whilst reviving my youthful glow. It’s a nice prep for make-up as they go well together. 

Guy’s, forget highlight, this is the luminous shine you need!

Eye Cream

This step can often be left out, but it is fundamental to give your eye area some care and protection against dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles. With the harsh autumn/winter weather looming, your eye area needs all the attention it can get. This is where the Kiehls Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Eye Brightening Concentrate comes in. 

This has been a new addition to my beauty wardrobe recently. I've always wanted to try out Kiehls products and I have been on a hunt for a really good eye cream. Kiehls have all types of eye creams depending on your skin type and needs, so I would advise you to speak to a sales advisor for more information.

I was advised to try this particular one and its only been 3 weeks and so far, I like how bright my eye area has become. For me, I get really puffy eyes during winter and when I apply this, it’s almost as if I put nothing on because it sinks into my skin so well, leaving my eye area super soft, puffiness reduced and revitalised. This is perfect to use day and night! Since this is a new buy, I will be seeing how this product works for me over the course of time and keep you all updated! 

Lips

We know how the weather can make your lips dry and chapped during the colder months. It happens to me all the time when I haven’t used anything. When I started using the Malibu Lip Care Balm, my lips became moisturised, with no issues with dryness. I like to wear it just before I go to bed, so it can work overnight. It has an SPF 30 sunscreen protection, which is so important whatever the weather. My recent trip to Thailand, I experienced serious sun damage to my lips and this lip balm helped cure it. 
I can’t leave the house without this stuff!


Hope this post was helpful :)

When it comes to autumn/winter, what skincare products do you swear by?

Bernie xx

Saturday 24 September 2016

LONDON FASHION WEEK SS17 EVENTS



What a week! Or should I say, what a manic two days!
This was my first year attending any London Fashion Week related events and I told myself, I NEED TO GET INTO A SHOW! Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to attend any this season.
(My dream would've been FROW'ing at the Topshop Unique catwalk show). 

Maybe next year, I suppose?

Nevertheless, I did get to attend some really cool FW events, starting from my first day on Sunday.

FELICITIES X MASTERED

It was so lovely to see the launch of designers showcasing their collection during LFW.

Collection by Phannatiq SS17
Collection by My Galavant: Tramp in Disguise SS17
Collection by The Season Hats SS17

Accessories by Little Shilpa

YOHO! EVENT


I don't have a lot of photos from this event. If you follow me on Instagram (adoseofb), you would've seen my insta-stories on this, particulary enjoying the DJ set of the night. She was killing it with the throwbacks! 

Some info on YOHO! - It is a fashion magazine and website stationed in China, Hong Kong and Japan. Being so well known in Asia, their next venture is to hit it off in the UK and become established in London. 

This was an awesome LFW closing party, learning about the company, endless canapés and wine. I danced the night away to my heart's content!


Even though I only did two days, it was nice to have a little taste of the FW week experience.
Until next time....

Have you attended any FW week shows/events before?

Bernie xx

Sunday 14 August 2016

CHILLING WITH INNOCENT


Hey guys! I was kindly invited to the Innocent ‘Always Chilled’ summer press event last week. This was to celebrate a stress-free summer of the Innocent coconut water, as it is their second year launch of the refreshing drink! Now, if you are not too familiar with the Innocent brand, they make natural, healthy drinks, packed with delicious ingredients.


The event was held at the very trendy Fruit Towers in Ladbroke Grove and it was literally the most impressive HQ I’ve ever been to.
It's just office #goals!


The talk of the evening was with Happiness Consultant, Samantha Clarke. She shared inspiring tips and techniques on how to keep your cool in dilemmas you may face in your everyday life. This was very exhilarating to hear and did put things into perspective on how you can be better in situations.


The main points from Samantha’s talk I noted:
·      Educate yourself on your emotional wealth
·      Think about what are your reasons before you lash out on someone
·      Be authentic with your needs and your wants
·      Be more fulfilled
·      Be innovative, don’t stagnate

Just before the end of the event, we were handed a boxed goodie bag filled with more coconut water (I couldn’t get enough of the coco that day) and a slogan tee!
Overall, I had such a lovely time and turned out to be very helpful.
Kudos to Innocent!


Innocent are stocked in majority of food stores in the UK and parts of Europe, so try them out if you haven’t done so.


Hope you liked!

Bernie xx

Monday 1 August 2016

RESTAURANT REVIEW: WHERE THERE'S SALADS, THERE'S DRESSED


Hey guys! This is my first restaurant review I did whilst I was in Thailand, Bangkok earlier this year. If you happen to be heading to the city soon (hey, what are the odds!). I'm here to let you know that this is not your boring, regular, healthy eating joint!

Cue Dressed.

The 4th newest branch found in the Exchange Tower, minutes away from Asok BTS. Is a great location for daily commuters, expats and tourists in the area who are in need of a health kick!

Finding health conscious spots are a dime a dozen these days, especially in Thailand.
With all the amazing street food here, you can get lost in what is really and truly beneficial for you. With what seem to be a gap in the market for healthy eating, Dressed has been able to deliver locally organic sourced ingredients for you to relish.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was the instant focus. Surrounded by light and neutral tones from the décor, it creates a cosy, warm feel added with snuggly cushions. It's sure to make your hearty dining experience, a comfortable one.

What sets this branch apart from the others, is the new and introduced dishes which includes:

High Energy Salad, Penne Sun dried Tomato with Spinach, Carolina BBQ Chicken Panini, Curry Easter Egg Salad Sandwich and smoothies, such as Green Super Food Smoothies for Natural High Energy and so forth.


Indecisive? Believe me, there are lots of options on the menu from salads, wraps, paninis, pastas, sandwiches and soups. I don’t know about you, but for me, I go into ultimate ‘hard-to-choose’ mode when it comes to a lot of options. If this is you, then you would love the ‘create your own’ option, of the salad, pasta, wraps and smoothies, made to your taste. Your creation of salads, simply starting from, 89 baht, wraps from 99 baht and your pasta from 119 baht.  

If you are quite the smoothie lover, the new Berry Slim, a part of the green superfoods smoothies, is loaded with nutritious, natural high energy of goodness. Ingredients containing yogurt, mixed oak, mint, mixed berries, almonds, quinoa and honey is sure to have your health pulses yearning for more.

The quinoa in the smoothie, sourced from Radiance whole foods, may just be a winner for me, because of the blend of quinoa and its nice, creamy texture. A one of a kind. 
I wouldn’t recommend before or whilst eating, as it’s thick consistency is almost like a meal itself!

For all the gym nuts out there, you can add a spoonful of protein powder to your shakes, so you don’t have to. Starting from the price of 20 baht. This makes stepping out the gym and getting your protein smoothie on the go so much easier. Let’s not forget about the hot beverages such as organic coffee being served, in case you’re not the smoothie type.

Let’s get to the mains!


 Starting with the standout dish, (and must try) has to be The Seared Tuna. Packed with goodness of mesclun mix, grilled asparagus, red pepper, carrot, white mushroom, tomato fried caper and chipotle vinaigrette. This has to be one of the best presented salads I have come across, it looked just as good as it tasted. The peppered tuna gives you a hint of spice, so if you like your buds tingling, this will serve you up well.

If you prefer your salad’s a bit less busy then I would recommend The Smoked Salmon, it’s got your tomatoes, your onions and it is really refreshing, topped with a dusting of fresh salmon, draped over your greens.



 The very impressive Spaghetti Ruccolo with Prawns is a light contentment meal and not so heavy, as you may sometimes get when you eat spaghetti. A nice size portion, added with king prawns and  delicious sun dried tomatoes. Great if you are not super hungry, but still want a hearty meal.


 However, there are awesome selections of fresh soups made daily if that's more up your street. The Pumpkin Soup for instance, a delightful taste of a sweet and succulent flavour. 
You simply can’t go wrong with pumpkin!


Last and certainly not least, the finisher (or the starter if you prefer), is the heavenly Dulche de leche crepe rolls. This flavourful goodness gives you a choice of three crepes to choose from. I tried the milk chocolate one and let’s just say, the words, supple, warm and memorable come to mind when you get a taste of this. The thin crepe makes this desert the ultimate indulgence.
 No guilty feeling over here.

For my Thailand peeps, you can bring Dressed to your home by ordering from Chefs XP, Food by Phone and Food Panda. 

You can find the new Dressed branch at:
Exchange Tower Building (Asok Intersection).
Opened daily from 9am to 9pm

Visit online: www.dressedthailand.com

Hope you enjoyed my review

Bernie xx

Tuesday 28 June 2016

MUSTARD TROUSERS


Hello!
A BIG step out of my comfort zone with these trousers. This is another one of my buys from a boutique, during my recent trip to Thailand. I'm loving the wide leg, fluid type trousers that give off a comfortable, effortless look. From your culottes to palazzos, they are trending right now and I have to say, I was hesitant on buying them at first, just because I felt I needed to be Karlie Kloss’s height in order to pull it off. Mind you, I am a shorty, so when I tried it on, it surprisingly skimmed down my legs quite nicely.  

The mustard colour, reminded me of the 70’s, Jackson 5 era (cue the song blame it on the boogie).
It’s very fitting to wear a bold colour in a beautiful, colourful surrounding of Phuket.
I thought to style it with a black crop top and simple flat sandals for a casual look. Although, these trousers will go amazingly with some heels for a dressed up look. 
This pop of colour has me feeling summer ready!

Are you a fan of the wide leg trend? 
What will you be buying for summer?

Bernie xx

Photography by Zipporah Gene


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