Curry and Champagne

We were invited to a dinner party on the night before Christmas Eve. 

Our lovely host cooked up A STORM. All sorts of curry dishes: fish, chicken, veggie...absolutely delicious. I loved how he explained each dish to us, what was in it and its proper name. We had some naan and rice with, what seemed like, an endless supply of champagne to accompany all the curries. 

Dinner was served outdoors, in a cabana. After dinner we started playing Heads Up. ***SIDEBAR: If you do not have this game, go into your App Store and download it now! It's basically charades with a bit of a twist.*** We had many hilarious rounds of Heads Up before jumping in the pool to chill a bit.

The rest of the night consisted of yummy desert, singing of carols and reenactments of recent news stories (don't ask). It was fun, to say the least and it finally got me into the Christmas spirit. Being surrounded by so much love made the difference. 

Mandela at the Union Buildings

Fun fact: South Africa has three capital cities.

The administrative part of South African government is seated the Union Buildings in Pretoria.  I took a trip to Pretoria (or Tshwane) to visit an old friend and also because, I just HAD TO see the new Nelson Mandela statue, that was recently unveiled.

The Union Buildings area is so pretty. The buildings are situated on a hill with lots of stairs, green grass, trees, flowers, Italian architecture. It seems like a nice place to hang out and get a good view of the city. The statue is just WOW. For me, this is what comes to mind when I think of the word statuesque. I really do love it.  It is huge and the open arms fit so well with who Madiba was. Job well done to whoever made it.

Here are a few pictures, but you should really go and see for yourself.

Follow me on instagram: @glamgirlZ

Rain Urban Boutique Spa

My sister surprised me and one of her friends with a visit to Rain Urban Boutique Spa in Rosebank. It was a beautiful sunny day and I was excited but also a bit nervous about driving, it always takes getting used to because everything is opposite. The drive was a breeze (if we don't discuss the countless traffic lights that were not working), we had a bit of trouble finding the spa once we arrived at The Zone (our fault) but it was definitely worth the trouble. I had a pleasant afternoon there.

We were greeted by the lovely Amanda, who owns the spa. We were led upstairs and served a small cup of tea and some slippers to help us relax while she explained what our experience would be. The spa offers customised massages, meaning you choose everything. They even have a wide selection of music from light vocal jazz to wind instruments and piano. I chose the vocal jazz. 

Next we were introduced to our masseuses and off we went. I chose a full-body hot stone massage. I started by having my feet soaked, scrubbed and massaged while sitting in the chair and then we moved to the main event. My masseuse was great and very attentive, always making sure I was comfortable with the pressure etc.

After we were finished with our treatments, we relaxed for a bit and then went downstairs. We were served a cool glass of water to rehydrate and a small snack, some grapes and granola bar. I love the decor at Rain, very clean and minimalist. The blue paint is refreshing and really offsets all of the white. One of my favourite things was the shelf above. Half of a Yellow Sun was there and a book on start-ups along with some other interesting titles. I love to read, so I really felt that was a nice touch.

I really enjoyed my day at Rain. I would definitely recommend it, if you are looking for chic and attentive service.

Rain Urban Boutique Spa

Loft Office #6, First Floor, 

The Zone Phase II, Rosebank, Sandton

Tel: +27 11 447 4534

http://www.rainurbanboutiquespa.com

I Have Moved

One year and two days ago, I had just finished writing my first set of law school final exams. Now that I was finished with exams and was sure that I did well, it was time to break it to my parents that I was leaving law school and I wanted to move back home, to Zimbabwe. 

Today, I am sitting in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was a long and difficult journey just to get to the point of getting on that plane at JFK. There is a very thin line between having faith and being reckless or foolish. Sometimes, I'm not sure which side of that line I am on, but I do know that I have never felt more happy with and sure of myself. I have worked for things and spoken others into existence, all for the vision that I have. Over the past year, I have thought critically about what I believe, what I am willing to sacrifice and how far I am willing to go to achieve my goals. My faith in God and in my own abilities has deepened. There are some people who I will be eternally grateful to, for their constant support and belief in me. It made SUCH a difference and helped me to take a leap of faith. 

 I'll admit that I sometimes wish I had a crystal ball to predict the future. Uncertainty is unsettling, I have no idea if things will play out the way I want them to but I am at ease. I am here because I am on a mission. There is no other place in the world I would like to contribute to and build something, than Zimbabwe. My home. 

Lookbook

 

Photo Diary: New York

Three different parts of New York. 

1. Brooklyn, NY

2. New York, NY

3. White Plains, NY

Jukebox

I listen to Nothing Was The Same, every single day. I just cannot get enough of Drake; it is getting a bit much. I have a new favorite song from it, every week. Right now my favorite is Come Thru. Before that, it was Tuscan Leather. Altogether, I love the album. Smooth listening. I'm a huge fan of this man. 

I've also been listening to old Drake, namely the "So Far Gone" mixtape. I purchased Saint Heron, the compilation from Solange's record label, Saint Records. Now I will admit that I was not sure about this project, I honestly only gave it a try because I like Solange and how she dresses.  I'm glad that I did because it is actually some great R&B/neo-soulish music. My two favorites are Kelela's "Go All Night" and "Indo" by Cassie. Lastly, I've started listening to The 20/20 Experience again. It is a beautiful album and I'm just in that romantic mood :)

"One's Company, Two's a Crowd, Three's a Social Network."

Currently reading this book by Alan Knott-Craig Jr or technically III (he shares in his book that his grandfather was also called Alan Knott-Craig). AK-C is a South African mobile/tech entrepreneur. Most notably, he was the CEO of a huge tech company in SA called Mxit (google it) before leaving (or being kicked out) in 2012. Mxit was a huge social network, before Facebook/Twitter and smartphones got their grip on South Africans. Now he has dreams/plans of bringing free wi-fi to all corners of the continent through Project Isizwe.

What I have enjoyed most about this book is how real AK-C is. He talks about the good, bad and the ugly. Making rash/horrible business decisions, not being able to raise capital, marital problems, being broke and a whole host of other "success is not a linear or easy journey" type of things. He does not try to paint himself as some genius who was so talented and intelligent that it was all so easy and I appreciate how genuine and humble he is. Another thing I have really enjoyed is his love for the technology and his belief in how transformative it is. I'm right there with him on that. 

An excerpt from the book   

"The miracle, for me, never fades. I tap the face of a small device, fashioned from glass and silicon and plastic... Someone talks to me, or reads my words on their screen. We connect. In these criss-crossing threads are woven the fabric of a community, a society, an economy, a nation. And beyond that, the world itself. But technology isn't the dream. The dream is what you can do with it. Run a small business. Find a job. Educate a child. Pay your bills. Bank. Run a big business. Learn, teach, share, counsel, build. Connect."

"High Roller" #FreshPrinceofLasGidi

A few months ago, I talked about how I was LOVING a mixtape called Fresh Prince of Las Gidi. One of my favorite songs on the tape is High Roller. I am pleased that there is now a video for it. A run of the mill, house party vibe video. I think the artist, TeeZee is adorable. How about that dashiki and afro? I'm all for individuality.

Also, check out DRB Las Gidi's song "Selecta"

Lady Gaga x Versace

Lady Gaga is the new face of Versace's SS 2014 campaign. I like this image. She looks like Donatella's less tanned sister. I would love to see Gaga look like this, and less gimmicky, more often.

If you lose hope, you lose everything.

This is a journal entry from July 19, 2012. I find that it is even more relevant to my life, now, than it was then. So, I decided to share.  

President Barack Obama wrote a book titled, "The Audacity of Hope." I have never read the book but I always loved the name. Hope is such an important thing to have. I am an optimist, some may even describe me as an idealist. I prefer to look at the world in a positive light, to see the good and believe that the bad can be changed. I find it much easier to operate from a positive and hopeful mindset than its opposite. 

When I look at myself and other young people I've come across while in Zim, I see many who want to be positive change agents, who have big dreams and plans but I see just as many who have lost faith in everything -- the system, our leaders, the country. Just given up any hope for a better future.  Some of us feel let down. Cheated, even. We feel ignored. Then on top of that, we have [older] adults whose collective trauma, pre and post Independence, manifests itself in a very negative way. All they have endured is much more than we can fully conceptualize or appreciate. Like, one day they woke up to a country that they didn't recognize. Closed down businesses, empty savings accounts, prices that changed by the time you got to the front of the queue, degrees/skills that sit on the sidelines waiting to be used. I do not blame them for being bitter or angry. I do not blame them for constantly reminding us that this life is about survival. That the currency of survival is not dreams of innovation and building things that may not immediately pay off; it is a pay check, at the end of this month. They temper our idealism and our "wild" dreams with that cold, hard, jaded reality. 

My problem with that is how it has affected young people. Too many seem to have internalized that bitterness and jaded mentality. I've had conversations with young people here whose ultimate dream is to leave the country because they do not see anything here for them. They have been dismissive of any talk of building here or being able to play some type of role. It's sad. I think we are too young to have given up. We need to be surrounded by things/people that inspire and encourage us to keep going. To be inspired means you are hopeful. To keep trying means you are hopeful and that, hope, is what ultimately pushes us forward into action. That hope allows us to be confident and bold in our thinking. Delve into our deepest dreams, think past what we see now, have a vision and work towards it even when people say how hard it is, how unqualified we are, how we have no experience, how it's never been done before and that it will never work here. When you become hopeless, you become helpless. You stagnate. In everything we do, there is an element of hope involved. We hope that the time/conditions are right, that we are making the right decisions, that nothing major goes wrong. Many of us are so paralyzed by fear of failure or we've bought into the hopeless/helpless narrative. I hate those feelings because they never even allow us to try. 

Visit my Tumblr: www.luxethrills.tumblr.com

Soco Brooklyn

I went to Soco in Brooklyn a few weeks ago. I'd heard a lot of good things about it so I was looking forward to it. My friend told me the fried chicken and waffles were "to die for" and she was NOT lying. Soco is a cute place, minimal decor with lots of young, black and fabulous Brooklynites in there. 

I have had "eat chicken and waffles" on my To Do List for a long time so, I was practically salivating as I waited for it. This fried chicken was perfection, the red velvet waffles were moist and sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The portion size was great too, not overwhelming. I also had their Hibiscus Agave mojito which was made very well, shout out to the bartender! My only complaint is the service was a bit slow. Other than that, I loved this place and I will be going back. 

#BlackGirlsCode

I believe I can do anything that I put my mind to [except sing]. I've always been a very self-sufficient, do-it-yourself kind of person. I like to learn how to do things and then do them - that way I do not have to wait for other people, I do not have to ask for permission -- I just do it.

 

Once upon a time, I was introduced to HTML coding, web design, flash, dream weaver, photoshop and basically everything tech by my teacher, Mr. Dwyer. I built my first website (complete with a Flash intro) at the age of 15 and I remember thinking how cool it was. As time went on, I kept seeking more information. I used google and youtube to teach myself more and more coding and then one day, I just stopped. For no apparent reason, I left it alone.

Earlier this year, I started learning how to use Adobe InDesign. The more I learn, the more I realize that it is not too late to learn more and take it a step further. Computers excite me, technology excites me, the internet excites me. I am in awe of the way it has transformed our lives and how democratic it is -- you can be anyone, anywhere and have access to so many things, with the click of a button.

I say this all to say, I am breathing life back into my love for coding. Eventually, I would love to learn how to build an app :)

Black girls code is a real organization btw. Check it out. It's pretty cool. 

Style Crush: Victoria Tornegren

 More of the fabulosity here

LATERGRAM

I was a "Black Swan" for Halloween. Semi last minute costume but I was happy with it. 

I do not really like cooking but I've started looking forward to my weekly Tuesday cooking date. The results have been delicious [if I do say so myself]

Fall is giving Spring a run for its money. So many pretty leaves changes colors. 

MY AFRO is back in full effect. RIP to the braids, they were fun while they lasted. 

Follow me on instagram: @GLAMGIRLZ

Quotables x Nayyirah Waheed

I am currently reading Nayyirah Waheed's book of poems, "Salt." I bought the e-book but I am desperately hoping room in my budget will clear up so that I can buy the print version. 

Her writing is beautiful. If you are a fan of Warsan Shire and/or Alex Elle, add Nayyirah Waheed to the list and you have quite the holy grail of poetry :) 

Maki Oh x LFDW

Lookbook

I'm a firm believer that no matter how cold it is, you can still wear skirts/dresses as long as you have some good thick tights!  

Lupita Nyong'o x Interview Magazine

It is still Lupita season. More here

What's in a name?

This is Hiwot Adilow performing at Brave New Voices 2012. One day, I went on a Twitter rant (as I often do) about people mispronouncing my name and how often people do not even try, they just jump to give me some nonsense nickname. A friend then sent me this link and it struck a chord with me. One of the things I am so proud of and love in my culture is how names are important and they mean something, they tell a story about the time, place, circumstance or family in which a child is born. It used to be that you could not just name a child any random thing, naming was an important ritual but now people are so enamored with English and yeah.....that's another story. Anyway, I do love some spoken word. I hope you enjoy it :)

I’m tired of people asking me to smooth my name out for them

they want me to bury it in the English so they can understand.

I will not accommodate the word for mouth

I will not break my name so your lazy English can sleep its tongue on top.

fix your lips around it.

no, you can’t give me a stupid nickname to replace this gift of five letters.

try to pronounce it before you write me off as

lil one

afro

the ethiopian girl

or any other poor excuse of a name you’ve baptized me with in your weakness.

My name is insulted that you won’t speak it.

My name is a jealous god

I kneel my english down everyday and offer my begging and broken Amharic

to be accepted by this lord from my parents’ country

this is my religion

you are tainting it

every time you call me something else you break it and kick it

you think you’re being clever by turning my name into a cackle?

he what? he why? he when how he what who?

he did whaaaat?

My name is not a joke

Mina Evans x #MBFWA

I did not find much that I liked at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa. This collection was definitely one of my favorites, though. Well done, Mina Evans.

Photo Credit: Simon Deiner/ SDR Photo

View the entire collection here