Make-Up Must Have - 27pinkx Lighted Vanity Mirror

As with clothing and accessories,  make-up has certain items that people simply HAVE to purchase as soon as they are released. From the Urban Decay Naked Pallettes to hundreds of MAC lipsticks to the gorgeous transparent make-up storage ala Kim Kardashian - these are some make-up must haves.

I believe the term trend fits well with clothing and accessories, but is not appropriate in describing make-up obsessions - trends are something that go away; I possibly will not wear pencil skirts and kimonos next season but even after the release of Vice 3 I am still using my Naked 3 Pallette. The term make-up must-have is more apt, as make-up and associated tools are longer-lasting and more practical. 

My most recent make-up must have is the 27pinkx lighted vanity mirror.  After seeing it on their Instagram page, I was besotted! My mom has turned our old room into a dressing room; it is amazing how the addition of the lighted vanity mirror (we chose Mahogany as it tied in well with the rest of the room) transforms the look of the table into a make-up station.

Before purchasing, I was skeptical as it is an item which was to be used long-term and having not seen it in person I was not sure what to expect ~ which leads to my reason for writing this post...I hope it helps if you're thinking of investing in a lighted vanity mirror. 

Some information on the product -

Size - the mirror is 680mm in height and 460mm in length.
Colour - the mirror is available in Mahogany, Pink, Red, White & Black. As seen on their Instagram page, the Mahogany seems quite popular, but the pink looks AMAZING in the pictures - I have my eye on one for my girls' bedroom!

PROS

• The mirror is portable so it's easy to transport into your studio/room when it arrives.

• The electrical cord that is attached to the mirror is quite long which comes in handy especially if your make-up station is a little distance from an outlet.

• There is a dimmable switch which ranges from an extremely bright light to moderate which is perfect as you can adjust it according to night and day or depending on how much of natural light you have coming through in addition to this light. Once the lights have been switched on, you can easily see all your facial flaws, which in turn leads to better coverage.

• The overall look of the mirror is gorgeous - It really transforms the entire look of a make-up station to give it a beautiful and professional look.

• At R1399.00, the mirror is not outrageously priced (I did come across online, however, that this is a special price running until the 1st of December)

CONS

• The only con I can think of is that lightbulbs are not included - I would think that they are too delicate to transport together with the product. However, its specified that you need dimmable bulbs not exceeding 40w and they are quite easy to find.

On the whole, I think that this vanity mirror is a make-up must have as it provides both a professional lighting as well as a professional look - well worth the price and space on your dresser! See pictures below of our little make-up station as well as the Pink Vanity Lighted Mirror (sourced the second picture online) 

Please feel free to drop me an e-mail if you have any questions or would like any more information.

Positive vibes & The Mandatory xoxo

Hali

P.S. Please take a look at my review disclaimer under the "About Me" tab

Haute Hijabi

Hijab is defined as the head covering worn by Muslim women. Nowadays, Hijab is not only an expression of modesty and religion, but also an expression of fashion. The Hijab has become the perfect accessory to compliment any outfit, and we have seen thousands of different colours and styles and more recently many different ways to adorn the Hijab. I have to say that although I do not adorn the Hijab full-time (one day, God-willing) from turbanisation to Arabian, I am loving the Hijabi trends. 

My inspiration from this post comes from my cousins Nikah reception which was held last week Friday- all the women adorned abayas and everyone looked so modest and elegantly beautiful. I observed so many different ways of draping the Hijab and I loved it!

Social media is alight with pictures of fashionistas and hijabistas and Instagram is no exception. As with clothes, the Hijab is all in the way you style it - As I was perusing through my Instagram, I picked out some of my favourite "Hijabistas" as we have come to know them in recent times - I love how these ladies incorporated high fashion with Hijab!

 I love how Omaya Zein wears these printed pants with solid colour scarves, the drape of the scarves are amazing and her sense of style is cool and casual yet so feminine and fashion forward at the same time.

Perhaps one of the most famous Hijabis today, Dina Tokio's (designer, stylist and blogger) adornment of the Hijab as well as her overall style is remarkable! I love how she wears a long kimono over a short/tucked in top to still preserve the element of modesty. I love that she is a risk-taker both with her dressing style as well as with her style of draping the Hijab. She is definitely a trend-setter in all aspects.

As I was glancing through hundreds of Hijabistas on Instagram, I came across some pictures of this lovely lady. Although I do not know her personally, her style and funky take on the turban trend attracted me. Her bold accessories are beautiful and I especially love how she belted her oversized cardigan to give it a bit of shape whilst still maintaining a modest look.

The gorgeous Waseefa Hutton Adams caught my eye for the attractive bands that she adorns under her scarf. These bands are an accessory in itself and she has paired them fabulously with each outfit! I love how her leopard print shoes and scarf co-ordinate perfectly with the head band and a fabulous cobalt turban over; monochrome matchies with her headband and bag in the middle picture and the pop of peach on her band and bag in the third. These subtle pops of colour and style make a world of difference to an outfit and I have to say that I am SO impressed with the thought that went into each outfit. Not to mention that gorgeous nude blazer - absolutely chic!

The lovely Hijabs by Hanan caught my eye for her simply elegant look - she wears the traditional method of draping the Hijab in such a chic and effortless way. A style inspiration for those who are not quite into the turban trend or any of the more risky was of draping the Hijab.

Closer to home, these beautiful friends of mine always adorn the Hijab with such grace, I can't help but admire their style! Pictured on the right is recent (but amazingly fashion-forward) Hijabi Basheera Kathrada, and on the left is Raeesa Paruk, who exudes elegance with every outfit.

I never had to look too far when searching for haute hijabis, as my very own mom is one of them. She has always been a lover of fashion, and that did not change but rather was enhanced when she became a Hijabi a few years ago. From trends such as joggers to kimonos to elegant evening dresses - she ties them in amazingly well with her Hijab. She now uses the Hijab as the perfect accessory; from different colours to different techniques of tying the scarf, she is definitely a personal inspiration to me and a first-hand affirmation that you can easily maintain being fashion-forward and modest at the same time - it's all in the style and the drape!

For more pictures and Hijab inspirations, follow the lovely ladies pictured above (each picture states the names of their Instagram profiles) 

For Hijab Styling in the Durban area - Follow @stylemyhijab ~ From day to day drapings to special occasions such as weddings, Nikah receptions and pre-marital functions. Contact Shamya Joosab on 083 786 0997 or style_my_hijab@yahoo.com

Have a look at my very own Hijab styled by Style My Hijab, for my cousins Nikah reception last week -

 

I hope that this post can affirm that Hijab and high fashion can definitely go hand-in-hand; as with everything in the fashion industry, it is all about the way you style it and carry it. Happy Hijabi'ing, fashionistas. Until next time...

Positive vibes & The Mandatory xoxo
Hali

The best of The Good Food and Wine Show 2014

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a serious foodie. I love to cook and more importantly, I love to eat! The quote "My life is a constant battle between my love for food and not wanting to get fat," could not be more appropriate in describing me! After having received mixed reviews of The Good Food and Wine Show 2014, I decided to go and check it out for myself. I'm glad to say I did not regret it! The foodie in me is squealing in delight on a day well spent.

Here were some of the best of the GFWS 2014 -

• Everyone is talking about it, if you haven't seen it on social media then it is probably all over your snap stories (guilty!) - the car that was made of cake! For those of us who are Cake Boss fans, we have seen Buddy Valastro make amazing and elaborate things entirely of cake, but I was awe-struck to see a cake of this size and impeccable detail in person! My little girl was fascinated with this cake and insisted on trying a piece of the "car." To be honest, I expected the cake to have a firm texture and a dry taste (it's was a car, for goodness sake!) I was pleasantly surprised... The cake was moist and the little squizz of extra butter cream on top of our sponge was a delicious bonus. I was told that the cake was made by the Cake Extreme team of Boksburg - I was very impressed with the taste and overall look of the cake, sad the bakery is not closer to home!

• One of my reasons for visiting the show was to get myself a copy of the Chilli Chocolate Chefs new recipe book, Entertain; which I have had my eye on ever since I had seen it on their Instagram page. I visited the stall hoping to grab a slice of their Macadamia Cheesecake along with the recipe book. Unfortunately, I got there a tad too late and they were all sold out of the cheesecake. I did, however, manage to grab myself some melt-in-the-mouth macarons, candy popcorn (which my little girl gobbled up in no time!) and their new recipe book. I have flipped through the book and it seems that the quality of their recipe book is no different to the excellent quality of their edible products. I cannot WAIT to try my hand at their cheesecakes (if you have eaten them before, you will know why!), breads, tea time treats and much more. Watch this space for pictures soon!

•  Being a mom of a cupcake-crazy little girl, I was so excited to see the Snowflake stall where my little girl could ice and decorate her own cupcake. There was also a section with "chef childminders" who helped the kiddies along in decorating cupcakes. I love when exhibitions take kids into account, definitely makes it more appealing to attend as a mom knowing that your kids will have just as much as fun as you. My little girl had a blast decorating this cupcake pictured below - I guided her and assisted her throughout the icing process, passed her whichever condiments she asked for and once it was done told her what a masterpiece is was, only to have her promptly announce that I couldn't have a taste - she made it for her dad.

•  Another food item that I was impressed with was the deeeelicious donut from Wicked Donuts. I have heard of Wicked Donuts but have never had a taste, and I am glad I got to do so today! These donuts remind me of the Krispy Kreme filled donuts and I just had to give it a try. I chose the Choc Chubby which consisted of a chocolate ganache, vanilla glace and Bar-One filling. I loved every bite and was thrilled when my second bite resulted in an oozing of Bar-One sauce. It was DECADENT.

• A pleasant surprise at the show was the launch of two new flavours of Appletiser - Strawberry and Apple & Peach; which were being handed out to guests as they walked past the stall. I'm not a fan of the usual fizzy drinks, but I do enjoy an occasional Appletiser, so I was keen to try out the new flavours. The strawberry flavour was refreshingly different and I enjoyed the Appletiser and Strawberry combination. I absolutely LOVED the Apple & Peach! It was a hint of the original flavour mixed with what tasted like iced tea peach (my favourite drink!) so it was ideal for me. Definitely a must-try.

•  A highlight of the show was the food demonstrations. I enjoyed all the demonstrations from Tastic to Extreme Nutrition. My favourite, however, was the Spekko "Cook Idols" cooking competition. The competition had been taking place from Friday and two finalists were cooking off for a grand prize of R30 000. Sumi Ramnarian made chicken biryani and chocolate springrolls with dipped strawberries for dessert. It looked and smelt amazing!! Marc Stocken, the second finalist, made a sushi and shrimp starter followed by crumbed rack of lamb served with rice on a bed of brocolli. Marc was thrilled to be announced as the winner, as the judges found his dish to be more technical with a perfect combination of texture and taste and a balance of flavours. The Masterchef-addict in me was absolutely excited - I loved every minute of watching this competition, definitely a highlight of the show!

• Another delicious-looking and tasting stall at the event was Madeleines Patisserie, they displayed the most beautiful french vanilla and chocolate ganache cupcakes (which, I was informed, were baked at 4am this morning!) amongst other treats. I am not a cupcake person so I passed on those, however I did try a chocolate chip meringue which I fell in love with!! You can find them at the Shongweni Farmers Market every Saturday morning - I wish they were not such a distance from central Durban! 

• It was great to see so many famous faces of the culinary world present at the show this year. From Chef Benny Masekwameng to Hayden Quinn to Mauro Castano, the show boasted so many great chefs, both local and international.

The downside to the show was that although the selections of desserts, cakes and pastries were abundant, the actual FOOD was average. There was no stall that really stood out in the savoury or food department and that was a bit of a disappointment. I also did not see any innovative stand-out products that I would have liked to purchase. Another disappointment was the Coco V coconut water. I tried a shot of it but soon regretted it, as I did not enjoy the taste of it at all! It was too bland, I think I will stick to actual water! 

On the whole, the stalls were great, the cooking demonstrations were wonderful and the exhibition was lively and abuzz with people. I will definitely visit the show next year again, I had a fantastic food-filled day with my Masterchef-crazy hubby and cupcake-happy kids - I couldn't think of a better way to spend my Sunday afternoon!

Positive vibes & The Mandatory xoxo
Hali

Trend Alert - Metallic Temporary Tattoos

Everyone from Huda Kattan to Vogue is talking about them and everyone from Beyonce to Lee-Ann Liebenberg has been spotted wearing them. One of Summers hippest accessories has in the last few months hit South African shores - Metallic Tattoos. If you haven't seen them on the scores of celebrities who made them happen, you have probably seen them on the Los Angeles and NYC street style circuit.

I've been coveting these metallic tattoos for a while now, thank you for these beauties Project X!

Heres a little background information on the product

The tattoos are non toxic and safe for anyone to wear. They last between 4 and 6 days even with regular showering. These tattoos are sold in cards with different patterns, each card comes individually wrapped.

The application and removal of the tattoo couldn't be easier! To apply, I placed the tattoo on my hand (my hand was dry and free from any oils or creams, as instructed,) and placed some water over the tattoo with cotton wool; held it down for a minute, peeled off and the beautiful metallic was in place! To remove, simply soak the tattoo with baby oil and gently scrub off.

Celebrities to the likes of Vanessa Hudgens, Alessandra Ambrosio and Khloe Kardashian have been seen rocking metallic tattoos. Lee-Ann Liebenberg's little girl Gia looked absolutely adorable with a metallic tattoo in place of a headband.

Khloe Kardashian sports the metallic tattoo on her neck

Follow the links below to take a look at what Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Vogue have to say about the temporary tattoo trend:

http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/beauty-hair/news/a28221/jewellery-tattoos-summer-beauty-trend/

http://www.vogue.com/946361/temporary-gold-fashion-tattoos/

http://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/metallic-temporary-tattoos-flash

These metallic tattoos look great stacked for the beach, single and dainty for everyday wear and even gorgeous on little girls. You can even use your tattoos in conjunction with Henna for a more dramatic and quirky effect (this is how I chose to use mine and loved the end result, see pic below)



Check out some uses for these metallic must-haves below -






To get your hands on some check out @Project__x__ on Instagram, contact Naseeha Ganie naseehaganie@hotmail.com or contact Sabeha Arbee via Instagram - @sabeha_arbee

Positive vibes & The Mandatory xoxo
Hali

Pause in the pursuit of happiness...and just be happy!

I know what you're thinking. 

Not ANOTHER post on how to be happy. You're thinking that here's another post about how happiness is found in appreciating the little things, in relishing the beauty of a rainbow after the rain and the laughter of children. How happiness that is obtained through materialism is superficial happiness. Yes, all these things are ways to attain happiness. However, this post is not about attaining happiness...this post is about just being happy.

1. Balance vs Perfection

Everybody wants to be perfect, nobody wants to be balanced. This statement, as succinct as it is, could not be more apt to describe our world.

According to the dictionary, perfection can be described as "the state or or quality of being perfect." Synonyms include - flawlessness, the ideal, the paragon, the ultimate.

On the other hand, balanced is defined as "a state of equilibrium." Synonyms include - well-adjusted, level-headed, realistic.

Many a times, people aim to be perfect in all aspects of their lives. It is impossible to be the ideal, the paragon or the ultimate. It is however possible to be well-adjusted, level-headed and realistic. Whether it be attempting to be the perfect mom, the perfect career woman, the perfect wife or even the perfect cook, everyone has some ideology of perfection that they are hoping to attain. Aiming for perfection is setting yourself up for failure. Human beings are simply just that - human. We are prone to mistakes and we are flawed. Allow yourself to make mistakes, allow yourself to learn from your mistakes. Perfection is unattainable, but becoming a well-balanced individual is a dynamic and realistic process, it is something we attain by constantly striving towards.

  

2. The more grateful you are, the happier you will be.

I once read one of those quotes that I will never forget - "Someone else is happier with less than what you have." No matter your circumstances, there is always someone worse off than you. Be thankful for what YOU have been blessed with and quit comparing yourself to others. There is no such thing as being "The Best." There will ALWAYS be someone either more beautiful, more intelligent or more successful, if not by your standards than by someone elses. Happiness is not achieved by striving to be the best. Quite simply, if you aim to be THE best, you will never succeed, but if you strive to be YOUR best, you are well on your way.

3. Wake up every morning and make a simple decision - to be happy

If you wake up every morning and make a conscious decision to be happy, your day has already begun on a good note. Begin by making an effort to change your negative thoughts into positive ones.. Once your frame of mind has been changed, half your battle is won.

5. Don't try to keep up with The Joneses, They do not exist.

Perhaps the notion of perfection comes from our perception of others. We perceive others to have the perfect life - whether it be the perfect husband, the perfect kids, the perfect bank balance or the perfect career; we too try to have the "perfect-everything" and so we try to keep up with the Joneses.

The Joneses do not exist. For the simple reason that no-one is perfect and there is no such thing as a perfect life. The grass is never greener on the other side - it is the rule of nature that when a person has something in one aspect, they lack something in another. Remember, when you're feeling down and out, there are people who think that the grass is greener on YOUR side.

6. Allow yourself to make mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. EVERYONE. So if you make one its not the end of the world as you know it. If you eat a slice of cake even though it's not cheat day, it is okay (just don't eat the entire cake!) If you misdirect your anger once in a while, it is okay. Don't be so hard on yourself, the rest of the world is hard enough on you already. Learn to forgive yourself. Accept your mistakes, learn from them and then move on.

7. Do not let others define your happiness

Happiness is a personal thing. It is about YOU. Do not let anyone else tell you what should make you happy. No matter what you do, people are bound to judge, it is the nature of people to do so - you either put too much makeup or put too little, you're either too skinny or too fat, you're doing it wrong for being a working mom or you're doing it wrong for being a stay-at-home mom, you're too introverted or too extroverted. It's always going to be one or the other. So do what makes YOU happy and love yourself first...others will follow.

8. Happiness is a journey

Happiness is not a destination. The notion of "if only" should be removed from our minds.
"If only I could lose 5 kilos, I would be SO happy."
"If only I could find the perfect job, I would be SO happy."
Be happy now. Not when you lose 5kg, marry the man of your dreams or have an amazing career. If you see happiness as a destination you will always be in the pursuit of happiness and never actually happy.

I leave you with an intriguing quotation and my inspiration for this post ...

Positive vibes & The Mandatory xoxo
Hali

Blushed & Bronzed

Who says sun-kissed is only for Summer?
Here is one of my favourite combination of products to achieve a radiant and sun-kissed glow, all year round.

1. Sephora Shimmering Bronzing Powder (Medium)

Shimmering bronzers are used to provide a sun-kissed glow to the face. This product is a beautiful mix of three colours which provides a lovely balanced hue when applied on the face. To apply this product, I streak my Sephora powder/blush brush across the product and shake off any excess bronzing powder (this product is very shimmery so start by applying a little, you can always add more if you feel the need) I then apply the bronzer just below my cheekbones and blend upwards in a circular motion. The shimmer of the product gives a radiant look, but remember to be careful not too apply too much in order to achieve a healthy glow...less is more. You can also apply some product to your nose and the top of your forehead. This bronzer does not work well for contouring as it provides a shimmery finish. This bronzer is available at Sephora Dubai Mall and costs R235.00

2. Mac Creme-blend blush in Posey

This creme-blend blush is a gorgeous shade of in-between a coral and a pink. The blush is creamy and silky in texture, and very easy to blend. I apply the blush to the apples of my cheeks with my fingertips and blend upwards (do not rub it it in), after which I blend it in with a beauty blender. It is important to begin with applying just a little on to your finger-tips and build it up to your desired effect. The blush is very buildable and gives a fresh, dewy look. It is long-lasting and has worked for me across all seasons. This product is available at any MAC store or counter and costs R245.00

3. Sephora powder/blush brush

This brush is used as stipulated above and was purchased as part of  Sephora Collection Brush Kit, however, a Sephora powder blush brush retails individually for R310.00

This combination of products can work very well for the "no makeup makeup look" as you can use the products to achieve a light coverage. On the flip side, the buildable nature of the creme blush can provide a heavier look if need be. 

Watch this space for more beauty babbles...

Positive vibes & The Mandatory xoxo
Hali