Shorts: Part. II!

Pictures by DannySkech

Sorry for the hiatus ladies and gents. I have been working on a new project + also travelling ...

Now, who doesn't love a nice warm and fuzzy sweater? More so now, since it seems to be getting chilly in Nairobi..  I got this sweater from Woolworths a month ago when they had their 50% sale. I loved the colour and easy feel of the sweater.

So for the second (and last) part of this series, I wanted to go for a more toned down version of the last look.

Simple and cozy.

With longtime friend ... Nemps of B.O.H

Sweater & Earrings- Woolworths Kenya | Shorts- Old | Heels- Dorothy Perkins | Clutch- ASOS

With Nempiris of BOH and my photographer, DannySkech. It is amazing that we have all known each other from primary school and we are definitely working on a new project together... Will keep you posted!

Shorts:Part 1!

I have had these shorts for as long as I can remember. I just seem to be attached to them. Maybe it's the versatility it embraces... I have worn them to work, to brunch, to parties........ 

You get the point. 

As much as the shorts are the centrepiece for this look, let me just tell you a bit about this blazer. This is actually an old favourite from my closet. I was rummaging a heap of clothes in Toi market eons ago and I caught a glimpse of the lovely yellow colour and pretty flower print. The lady next to me seemed to have also noticed it at about the same time as I did. I have never grabbed anything that fast in my life! Turned out to be a Dior creation! Thank you, Toi!

For this look, I loved how the shorts toned down the loudness of the tee, blazer and shoes. I just felt like it brought the whole look together. I call it semi-casual chic..... no? Anyway, watch out for the next part of the series coming soon! Happy Thursday!

Christian Dior Blazer- Toi Market | Maroon Tee- Toi Market | Pleated Shorts- Old | Dorothy Perkins Heels- Quays Mall, Northern Ireland | Earrings- ASOS

Shepherd's Pie!

Sorry, I have been quiet for a while.... So I decided to make a shepherds pie....actually, no...more like, I had very many potatoes, some vegetables, and minced mutton. I have definitely made variations of this pie with different kinds of meat and still called it shepherd pie! 

So sometime last year, I discovered (... rather, was informed) that it is called 'shepherds' because ideally, it is made of mutton. Also, because a shepherd is he who tends and rears sheep. Yeah, you get the drift... How wasn't that obvious to me?

Anyway, so here I was. Straight from the office, feeling tired from battling traffic but eager to make a good meal. I didn't have anything for lunch because I forgot to pack my food and I was scared as hell to buy any. Why, you ask? Try having a severe bout of h.pylori (my friend, I even pack water to work! No jokes there!)

 Back to the post... So it's a very simple meal to prepare.

Serves 5

For the Mash:

10 medium sized potatoes

2 tbs Butter 

1 cup of Milk

Salt

Pepper

For the Filling:

Mutton

Olive Oil

Onions

Tomatoes

Mushrooms

Courgette

Green Pepper

Garlic

Salt

Pepper

For the Topping:

Cheese

 I always start cooking by preparing the item that would take the longest to cook. In this case, the potatoes. I boiled them with salt for 10-12 minutes.

 While that was boiling, I quickly fried onions and garlic, quickly followed by the mutton. I then added the remaining vegetables to the pan.

Once the potatoes were ready, I drained the water and added the butter and milk when the potatoes were still hot. This is the trick I use to get that perfect, silky-smooth consistency in mashed potatoes. I then add pepper for extra flavour.

I then layer the oven dish starting with the meat, then a layer of cheese in between to serve as a binder, then followed by the mash and more cheese at the top. 

 I then place the dish in a slightly preheated oven at 180° C until the top layer of cheese melts and is slightly golden brown.

 Ready to be devoured!

Thank you for reading!

August: Random Muse!

Just thought I would share a few random things that have inspired me this month. I'm thinking this might be a regular series on the blog...... Maybe.

 {Obsessed withAfrican literature}

~My dad always pushed my siblings and I to develop a reading habit from a tender age. I embrace this ideology... Knowledge is indeed power~

 {Adding sugar to flowers}

~ I do not like flowers. Well, maybe just orchids. Either way, I learnt a neat trick to preserve flowers by adding a little sugar to the water~

 {Appreciating flats}

~Ever since I fractured my foot last October, I was forced to wear flat shoes for a while. Since then, I have slowly discovered an ignored elegance in flats and there's nothing as good as being stylish and comfortable  all in one go. True story!~

{The Juniper Kitchen}

~If you like a very chilled spot in Westlands, with great food and creative decor, this is the place to be~

{Applauding Uber Duka}

~I am proud of the artistic creativity I have come across in various parts of Africa. I applaud individuals/ organizations like Uber Duka, who are a community marketplace developed to create an online presence for various crafts from local artisans~

Product Review: Mikalla Total Moisture Boost Leave-In Conditioner!

Pictures by DannySkech

Oh goodness! I can't believe it's already time for me to conclude the Mikalla product review series! A special thank you to all those who have given feedback regarding their experience with Mikalla. Here's to celebrating and promoting local brands... if we don't, how will we ever grow endogenically?

About the Mikalla Total Moisture Boost Leave-In Conditioner:

The Mikalla Total Moisture Boost Leave-In Conditioner is specially formulated to invigorate, moisturize, detangle and protect hair. It is enriched with menthol (helps soothe itchy scalps), shea butter (works as a great sealant & heat protectant) and castor oil (moisturizes and thickens hair while reducing breakage).

My Review:

I loved the mild hint of menthol in the product. I started off with dry hair as I had already washed my hair earlier in the week, so my scalp was still clean. I undid my hair, spritzed it with some water and proceeded to apply the leave in using the L.O.C method, which simply signifies how you should oil and moisturize your hair... (Leave-In, Oil, Cream). This is an excellent way of sealing your tresses as it ensures maximum moisture retention.. and we know that moisture in hair = growth!

 {I applied the Leave-In then followed with Oil & Cream}

 .{.. And simply styled my hair in an easy up do}!

 Verdict:

I always prefer using light (in thickness) leave-in treatments because the L.O.C method calls one to use three different products all at one go. When I used thicker leave-ins in the past, my hair felt weighed down by the amount of product I had applied. The Mikalla Total Moisture Boost Leave-In Conditioner was the perfect consistency. I also noticed how quickly my hair softened after adding the leave-in and before I added oil... it made styling a whole lot easier so I would definitely repurchase this product!

I have had a great time sampling each Mikalla product for the past four weeks! I hope that all four reviews have given insight as to what the Mikalla brand has in store for all {natural, permed and texturized hair}. Hope you try it out and let me know how it goes!

Thank you for reading!

Product Review: Mikalla Honey & Butter Conditioner!

Pictured by DannySkech

 Hey guys! So today's post continues the Mikalla product review series. If you have missed the other product reviews, you can scroll down my page or alternatively, find them here: shampoo and treatment review.

When we were planning how to review these Mikalla products, Dan and I decided to dedicate one Saturday per product so I can truly observe how my hair responds to each product. However, when I reviewed the Mikalla Quadra Oil treatment, I mentioned that I co-washed my hair using the Mikalla Honey & Butter conditioner.  I noticed how soft my hair became immediately I applied this conditioner and I knew that this would no doubt, be my favourite product from the Mikalla range.

About the Mikalla Honey & Butter Conditioner:

The Mikalla Honey & Butter Conditioner is enriched with honey, which is a natural moisturizer and shea butter that has a lot of nutritional benefits such as; moisturizing qualities, acts as a sealant (to lock in moisture in the hair shaft), softens hair and acts as a heat protectant. The Mikalla Honey and Butter Conditioner claims to soften, detangle, moisturize and protect the hair cuticles against heat styling. The conditioner comes in a variety of sizes and with affordable prices; 500ml. (KShs.150), 1ltr. (KShs. 285) and 5ltrs. (KShs.565).

My Review:

I loved the thickness of this product! Plus it smells heavenly!!!!! Other than as a co-wash, I always use conditioner to take down old twists or braids to avoid tangles, which can easily result in lose of hair. The reason why I use conditioner for this process is because it has 'slip', which simply means that the conditioner has a good-kind-of-slippery-essence that makes hair easy to detangle therefore preventing breakage or split ends.

 I started off with old twists that I had on for a week. 

{The BEFORE pic}

As I slowly un-did each twist, the conditioner provided the slip my hair needed in order to loosen the strands and tackle the tangles.

{The AFTER pic}

Once the take -down was complete, I was ready to co-wash my hair.

 Look at that miniscule ball of hair I lost during the takedown!! In the past, I lost so much hair because I never applied conditioner for this process and would end up battling with my tangles especially at the exact point where the braid meets the hair {... you know that point of installation- ladies, I know you get it...}

 Since I had recently treated my hair, I jumped in to the shower for a quick co-wash. I loved the fact that I did not need to add any more conditioner in the shower, as I already had enough product on my hair for the wash.

 Verdict:

I loved how soft and fluffy my hair felt after using this product! Just look at the picture above! In true testament, I was even able to braid myself with so much ease after my drying my hair.... {and not forgetting the fact that I am still practicing the 'no-comb' method}!! I also appreciated the fact that I was able to use this product not only as a detangler to undo my old twist-outs but also as a shampoo. This was definitely my favourite of the Mikalla range so far! I would definitely recommend and re-purchase this product!

Finally, the gift hamper that two lucky winners will win every Sunday for the remaining two weeks! Follow me on Instagram (@threadmuse) to enter!

Thank you for reading!

Food Review: The Terrace, Qaribu Inn!

Pictures by DannySkech

Hey guys, so Dan and I had lunch at Qaribu Inn last Monday. I had first been to Qaribu Inn in May this year with my boss who was looking for a quiet place our team could sit and work with minimum distractions. Ok, let me start from the beginning... A few months back, I had driven around Loresho and and noticed the bright orange Qaribu Inn sign. With around thirty minutes to kill, I decided to randomly drive in and check out their premises, seeing that I am constantly scouting for venues to hold work meetings. I was met by jolly staff who were eager to give me a tour of the establishment and let me just tell you that when I walked in to the terrace restaurant, I knew that it was only a matter of time before this beautiful hidden gem was known to the world.

So fast forward to May, when bossman asked me to book a venue for a meeting that was not only close to town but with a quiet environment, Qaribu Inn just popped into my mind! So after that initial experience, I was super excited and honoured when the management accepted my request for a non-sponsored food review. 

About Qaribu Inn:

Qaribu Inn is an easily accessible 3-star budget hotel that offers comfortable accommodation for business and holiday travellers. The hotel provides a meeting room for conferences for up to 100 people and cosy and well-designed rooms for accommodation. The spacious terrace restaurant overlooks a well maintained gently sloping grass path with canopying trees bordering a picturesque dam that is frequented by ducks.

Contact information: www.qaribuinn.com

{By the pond}

{Beautiful views overlooking the terrace}

{Friends across the pond}

The Meal:

When I was reading their menu, I came across the Qaribu Inn beef burger. From my experience, any food or beverage that is named after the establishment is definitely something worth trying out.... its like a signature meal. So Dan, my brother and I all ordered for the Qaribu Inn beef burger but I opted to have it with vegetables instead of fries. So we put out our order and the meal was ready in 12 minutes, which was perfect seeing that I purposely did not have breakfast so I could thoroughly devour the meal. The meal cost KShs. 700 and additional KShs. 200 for juice.. {or in my case, for the virgin mojito}.

 Let me just tell you, this was one succulent burger! At first glance, the burger looked so big but I gently squashed the burger so that everything can fit for several big bites. The meat patty was well done and so deliciously juicy. The cheese was that perfect consistency.. half solid, half melted. Then there was this exquisite relish on top of the cheese! I think it was caramelised onion, but the colour and the delicate sweetness made me think of caramelised beets.... the jury is still out. And lastly to top it off, bacon! Yuuuuummm! May the heavens open and shower us with this burger! 

Verdict:

The location provided a perfect ambience to enjoy a meal with friends and family. The service was quick and offered with joy and pride. The waitress was very knowledgeable of the content of each dish after asking her several questions on the various meals offered on their menu. The food was very delectable and I will definitely be back! I would recommend that if you are anywhere around Loresho, Westlands or heck, anywhere in Nairobi, do pay a visit to Qaribu Inn and enjoy your meal overlooking the serene view of the pond!

Have a prosperous week!

Dress- Mr. Price | Earrings- Woolworths

Product Review: Mikalla Quadra Oil Hair Protein Treatment!

Pictures by DannySkech

 Hey guys! So today's post is the second in a four-part series reviewing Mikalla products. Over the weekend, I treated my hair using the Mikalla Quadra Oil Hair Protein Treatment which contains four natural oils, that is, olive oil, mint, wheat germ and shea butter. 

When it comes to oils, it is important to make a distinction on the two categories of oils; essential oils and carrier oils. Vegetable oils such as coconut and olive oil are classified as carrier oils used to dilute essential oils while also providing nourishment to your hair or body. Essential oils on the other hand, can be extracted from a wide range of plants (leaves, flowers, seeds). They have a strong scent and are very potent, hence the need to dilute them with carrier oils. The carrier oil, therefore 'carries' the essential oils to your hair or skin. Knowledge of this oil classification may inform you as you create your own homemade oil mix.

About the Mikalla Quadra Oil Hair Protein Treatment:

The Mikalla Quadra Oil Hair Protein Treatment contains a mix of both carrier and essential oils that enrich and nourish your hair. This amalgamation of these oils seeks to treat dry scalps and promote growth (mint), acts as a moisturizer and heat protectant (shea butter), infuse vitamins A, B, D, E and acts as a hair emollient (wheatgerm) and offers antibacterial qualities, acts as a natural conditioner and promotes growth (olive oil). 

My Review:

I am one of those people who love smelling products (even though scents may not contribute to the value of the product... think coconut oil....), so the first thing I did was to smell the product, which has a refreshing scent courtesy of the mint. The treatment comes in a variety of sizes and with affordable prices; 150g. (KShs. 110), 250g. (KShs. 225), 400g. (KShs. 350) and 1kg. (KShs. 785).

I started off by washing my hair with the Mikalla Honey & Butter Conditioner (this product will be in my next review) because I only shampoo my hair once a month. Hold up, that does not mean I only wash my hair once a month. Let me explain... Shampoos are naturally made to cleanse your scalp to be squeaky clean and may end up stripping off the sebum your scalp naturally produces. Frequent use of shampoo may result in dry hair meaning brittle strands that cause breakage. I therefore, choose to wash my hair with conditioner commonly referred to as 'co-washing', weekly or every fortnight which is a better option to keep your scalp clean without stripping your natural oils.

I loved the thick consistency of the product. Yessss!

 I applied my treatment in segments, which makes it easier to rinse off later on to avoid tangling. I placed a shower cap over my hair and stayed with the treatment for 45 minutes since I did not use a dryer/ steamer (which if I had I had, would have only required me to stay with the treatment for 15 minutes).

 I then did an apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse before oiling and styling.

 Verdict:
 My hair was so soft after I rinsed off the treatment and left free of any tangles! The only con was the fact that one of the ingredients included paraffinum liqidum, another term for mineral oil, which prevents healthy ingredients from penetrating the hair shaft, therefore preventing the hair from fully receiving the nutrients from the oils applied. I enjoyed using this product and would definitely recommend it!

Earrings- H&M | Leather Jacket- House of Holland | On my lips {MAC Nightmoth lipliner & MAC Diva lipstick}

Do not forget to check out my Instagram page {@threadmuse} for the weekly giveaway with Mikalla! Thank you for reading!