A Modo Mio - it's Amore

Normally, I'm not one to go in for gadgets. I have an I-Phone but that's about as high tech as it gets. I am, however, completely in love with my Lavazza A Modo Mio coffee machine. It is pink, which makes me love it even more. I bought it on Cocosa with a massive discount - that website's amazing!

Aduna Launches Baobab, the ‘Feel Good Fruit’ Range

What's big, round and supports Africa? The baobab! Not only that, it also leaves you with a healthy glow and tastes great in a cocktail, as I discovered on Thursday at the Aduna Launch.

Hosted at Shaka Zulu, guests sipped ‘Baobab Coladas’ made by Bar Manager Tony Safqi. Cocktails which are good for you? A hook too good to ignore.

The yummy cocktails and food were laid on to celebrate Aduna’s launch of the Baobab ‘Feel Good Fruit’ range. Baobab is a nutrient-dense, raw wholefood which has the highest antioxidant capacities in the world. It contains over twice the antioxidants per gram of goji berries and more than blueberries and pomegranates combined.

For centuries now, the women of Africa have turned to the baobab tree as a source of natural wellbeing, benefitting skin, hair and their health in general. Now Aduna had brought this wonder-product to Britain! The best part is, that the discovery of baobab will mean a new industry for rural Africa which experts estimate at a potential of $1 billion. 10% of Aduna’s profits will be invested in social innovation projects via the Aduna Foundation.

Baobab comes in powder form and tastes great in smoothies and over yoghurt. I’ll be sprinkling it on my porridge.  The packaging of the Baobab Fruit Pulp Powder looks so great that I’ve been displaying it on my dressing table!

www.aduna.com

The Aduna team - Andrew Hunt and Nick Slater

Tasty cocktails

The Baobab fruit

Baobab tree

A big thanks to George Torode for the first five images.



Lacoste L!VE

On Wednesday, I was invited for a night of burgers and bowling at Shoreditch House. The event was held to celebrate the latest collaborations from Lacoste L!VE; creative collective ILL Studio and illustrator K.I.M. We munched burgers and pizza and sipped tasty personalised cocktails and beers. The crème de la crème of Shoreditch attended and I was excited to spot Shingai from the Noisettes (wearing Lacoste L!VE of course!). 

Motel Rocks

I went to a blogger event for Motel on Monday. I've had a few Motel frocks in the past and have long been impressed with their figure-enhancing properties. Because I was one of the first 30 at the event, I was lucky enough to get a free party dress! I opted for a short, glittery number (with New Year’s Eve in mind). It was a tough decision because all of the dresses looked fab – you’d definitely stand out at any festive bash.

Hosted at Floripa on Great Eastern Street, the party was really fun; there were free drinks, sweet nibbles and Popchips galore. Lee Stafford himself was on hand to style our hair and there were make-overs and Eyelure lash application too. We even got a little pressie on the way out. Fab brand, fab party.

www.motelrocks.com

Stocking Stuffers!

I heard about this amazing jewellery brand in Grazia - LOVING all their stuff, think I'll be buying most of my little Christmas presents from here. It seems like really good value too.

www.chelseadoll.co.uk

Live young this Christmas

Stuck for what to buy the person who has everything? Want to raise a smile under the tree this year? You can’t go wrong with one of these baby T-shirts; a new collaboration between Vogue.com blogger Polly Bean and evian® . A jokey present from you can make all the difference as all proceeds go towards Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. The T-shirts will be sold on eBay. Makes a change from your usual meerkat!

My Daily Ablutions

People always ask me what I use day-to-day. Quite honestly this tends to change fairly frequently. But here are a few of my current daytime faves (mostly from Murad, at the moment!):

After cleansing with a foaming cleanser (whichever I can blearily reach for in the shower) the Murad Blemish and Wrinkle Reducer is my first line of skin defense. It reduces blemishes whilst also targeting fine lines and wrinkles. Adult acne is so unfair but I have noticed a positive difference since using this.

I follow with a moisturiser - either the Murad Anti-Aging Moisturiser (which has the added bonus of containing an SPF of 20) or the Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting fluid (it's light-reflecting which helps when your grey with knackeredness).

My current eye-cream is Roc Sublime Energy - a potent duo which looks reassuringly scientific - no crows feet here!

I then follow with a smearing of Mac's glowing Strobe cream - gives me an extra glow, handily making me look like I've had more sleep than I've had. I chase this up with a bit of Mac Matchmaster Foundation. It's quite thick, so I try to just use it where I really need it. I use a Mac concealer under my eyes and on my (many, stress-induced) spots.

Blusher-wise, I'm using Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights:

In terms of the rest of my face, I'm using a Bourjois mascara and a Boots 17 black liquid liner. It's far better than any of the 'designer' ones I have tried previously.

And that's what I put on my face! Body-wise, I couldn't live without the Murad Clarifying Body Spray. It is the perfect way to treat acne in hard-to-reach areas (namely, your back). It is a preventative and a cure. Hooked. I'll use any old body moisturiser - currently one by the Missoni body range which fools me into thinking it's summer! The perfect SAD antidote.

Any more questions? Just follow me on Twitter and I'll answer them; @biancapal12

SS13 with GHD

I had a great time at a GHD event last night. Creative Director Kenna taught us how to get SS13 catwalk looks by PPQ, David Koma, Fyodor Golan and Aminaka Wilmont. It was really interesting hearing about the inspiration behind the looks (the film 'Holy Mountain' and a book called 'Blue Tattoo' came up) and I loved hearing the story behind the sporty David Koma look. Kenna was inspired by a tennis player in the 90s called Victoria Azarenka who famously kept updating her hairstyle throughout a tennis match. I will be trying to achieve a shiny 'faux sweatband'.  I loved the slick sides of all of the looks - very flattering on the cheekbone and it gave a really fresh look. I will be trialing these looks shortly, especially the ones involving faux fringes and ponytails which I just so happen to own already. The models looked great and I left feeling excited, inspired and (if I'm totally honest) a little bit tiddly on a Tuesday. Nothing wrong with that.