In depth high-end make-up haul

Hi guys! Soo here’s my latest video. Enjoy and hopefully you will see some products that you would like to get yourself or a friend.

Thanks for passing by!

x

Get ready with me for a video

How you doin’ 😀

Was getting ready to record a video for my channel and thought I should also record the process.

Here it is:

Enjoy and thanks so much for passing by!

x

Glowed up golds and corals

Happy monday! Brighten up your day by getting some golds and coral from my latest video. No monday blues!

Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future videos and also, like, share and leave a comment. Would love to hear from you!

Have a lovely productive week and thanks so much for passing by! x 

Mum’s 30 yr old make-up

Anybody for a throwback Thursday kind of a post?

I haven’t always been a make-up junkie to be honest so when I was younger and my mum would do her make-up (which was basically good old lipstick and a bit of powder) I wouldn’t really show much interest in what she was doing or what she was using.

Now that make-up is a part of my life  I found myself wondering what my mum used in her younger days. This led me to ask her about it and she proceeded to show me her mini collection that she has kept for about 30 years and I don’t know about you but I thought it would be interesting to have a look at the products that were used back then.

Here are the products that she was able to keep. Some she bought and some were given to her by her aunt. A mix of eyeshadows, lipsticks and a foundation that was not close to her skin tone (thank God she didn’t use it :D)

 

the eye-shadows

     

     

     

     

the foundation

      

the mixed palette

     

the box with  the lipsticks and other goodstuff

     

     

I didn’t swatch any of the products because well they are pretty old.

What did your mum use in her younger days?

Thank you so much for passing by!

x

DIY breadcrumbs

Hey folks and happy first of February! You survived January! Look at you being so tough 😀

My first post this year is going to be short and sweet – sweet coz you get to save a few shillings by making some breadcrumbs in your kitchen and not forgetting all the delicious meals you can now make.

Truthfully I have never gotten store bought breadcrumbs but if you prefer them that’s okay too.

Now let’s dive right in

What I used: 

-Brown bread – 8 slices (you can use the one you prefer I used Festive)

-Blender/ Grater

-Bowl 

-Air tight container

Method

First toast the bread until golden brown and dry; set aside and allow to cool.

Once they have cooled you can either use a grater to grate the toast (this method takes quite long) or you can be lazy like me and use a blender that will do all the work for you. Either way you get what you are looking for but it’s important to note that the grater will give you a more coarse result while the blender will give you finer breadcrumbs.

If you are using the blender then you can break each slice of toast into the container rather than stuffing it with 2 or 3 slices (this will prevent the bread from getting back to it’s original state – flour)

…place it on the mortar and pulverize until it gets to a good size of crumbs (make sure not to go on too long otherwise it becomes dust literally)

…continue the process as you pour out the crumbs into the bowl after every slice. This was the end result …

           

and there you have it guys. Now you can use it to coat whatever you’d like to cook. Mine coated fish fingers and you can see how the crumbs coated the fish really well.

 

TIP:

-You can use half the portion of crumbs at first so that you avoid contaminating any that you can store for the next use. Any of the remaining bread crumbs can be stored in an airtight container. Just remember not to keep it too long. 

–When frying using breadcrumbs/any other coating keep in mind that the oil will get quite messed with debris. You might want to use separate oil to avoid getting anything that you will fry in future from getting coated with burnt crumbs. When you are done frying just use a sieve to get out the debris.

As always thank you so much for reading!

X

My 2015 in a nutshell

Hey hey! It’s finally that time of the year; when you sit back and reflect on the last 12 months of your life. What were the best moments, the not so great ones and the ones that just left you plain confused.

Despite how your year went, you made it to the end…you are here now and honestly even though you aren’t where you’d like to be right now, thank God you are not where you used to be.

I hope you had a very merry Christmas and that this post finds you well and soaking up the Kenyan sun or whatever good that your environment is throwing at you wherever you may be reading this from.

I thought that it would be good to get just a bit personal today and share some of my highlights from the past year that were captured in photos/ videos.

Wishing you a happy new year and may you gain the courage to chase those dreams!

Thank you for reading!

x

My first Youtube video

I cannot tell you how nervous I was when uploading this video but I did it anyway! and on that note working on putting up new videos in the coming year so kindly subscribe and share!

Community service 

Volunteering to glam up patients who were going through Chemotherapy. It was such an amazing experience. Don’t you ever forget that your health is your wealth.

My entry for the Face of Maybelline Newyork kenya 

I didn’t win the competition but I am so grateful for all the support and love that family and friends showed during the voting period.

Foodie moments 

What can I say?…food makes the world go round 🙂

My make-up journey 

You can only get better by keeping at it. Don’t give up on your passion.

Happy clients

You can reach me on wakeshonzano@gmail.com or on any of my social media that are linked here on my blog if you would like a glam session/ know anyone who would.

The big chop

Change is always good…as good as a rest 🙂

Moments before the newsroom

When you get to do what you love everyday…it’s truly a blessing.

The time I met Sauti Sol

I was honestly so amazed by how down to earth they are! It was a real pleasure meeting  them and doing their make-up.

This last one is not a highlight but more of a tribute. Losing a family member is never easy but you realize that it’s all in God’s hands and all you can do is trust and be still. 

You will forever be in our hearts Bonnie Nzano and you are truly missed. 

 

Essentials for make-up beginners

Happy new month! Today I thought I would share a few basics that everyone needs in their make-up starter kit.

The other day I was thinking about how far I have come since the time I bought my first ‘serious’ make-up product which was foundation. Before that I would use the usual eyeliner pencil but that would be as far as I would go. At the time I wished that I could get some help on where to start and what to get especially locally. If you feel the same way then this post will hopefully help you.

N.B: I’ll share photos of what I use. On the part of the skin care,  get to know what products work best with your skin type so that you don’t get to dry out your skin or have other issues. 

You can also use DIY skin care techniques if you are not into using the store bought products.

Here goes!

• Skin care

This is the base of all make-up basics…in my opinion! Skin care is so important not just for the health of your skin but also for achieving the best results after the make-up application.

Get a good cleanser, toner and moisturizer. These are standard. You can steam your face, exfoliate and put on masks from time to time to help with unclogging the pores. I won’t go into much detail because I’m not an expert but these are steps that will definitely help.

• Primer

A primer – (I googled this one for you guys) according to Wikipedia a primer helps to improve coverage and lengthens the amount of time that the products will stay on. We are living in times when  we want instant solutions and make-up to last through a storm.

There are different types of primers so just research and see which would be best for you. I did a review here on a Mac primer I bought about a year ago and despite having a few problems with it in the beginning I ended up liking it. I will definitely re-purchase it. Unfortunately there aren’t many affordable primers widely available in the Kenyan market. I know of Revlon (Nakumatt stores), and Covergirl (Supercosmetics) all which are under Kshs 3000 the last time I checked.

If you know of any other legit, fairly priced primers available here in Kenya kindly drop a comment a let me and other readers know.

• Foundation

I have a whole blog post dedicated to foundations – the types and how to choose the right one for you. I will link it here so you can check it out.

• Setting powder

After foundation application comes a good powder. It further helps to keep your foundation in place and creates a good base for blush and any other powder based products you will use.

I have been loving the Maybelline New york Kenya powders that are inexpensive yet do such an amazing job. At only Kshs 1200 you are able to set your foundation with a good quality legit product. The only downside is that if you are of a paler complexion the current range will not cater to your skin tone (i.e for those in Kenya).

• Eyeliner

If you are just getting started in make-up then you would probably prefer to go for the pencil. You can use it to line your water line a.k.a the lower lash line.

If you prefer the winged liner look that is usually above the top lash line, a gel liner with a small angled brush or a liquid liner would be ideal to give a more defined line.

• Mascara

Mascara plays an important role in completing your look. You may not want to have it on everyday but it is definitely a product worth having in your basic kit…for the days that you want that umph!

• Neutral eye-shadow palette

Sleek has some pretty amazing and affordable eye-shadow palettes. I would recommend the ‘Oh so special’ palette that has a combination of neutral shimmery and matte shades that are friendly for use by a beginner as well as a pro artist.

What’s your favorite sleek palette?

• Blush

This is another staple in your starter kit. It brings back a healthy and lively look to your face after you’ve put on your foundation and powder. But I have to say that a little goes a long way. Make sure to blend to give a natural flushed look. Use a light hand and get a shade that you will be comfortable to work with and from there as you gain confidence you can play around with different shades.

A beautiful blush that I love and use is ‘Flushed’ by Sleek. It compliments a number of skin tones.

•  Good brushes

Last but not least are the brushes. The basic brushes would be the foundation, powder, eye-shadow and blending brushes.

In Kenya Suzie beauty has some good brushes, and if you are willing to spend a bit more you can get some from the Mac stores in Village Market/ Garden city. Alternatively there are the Real techniques brushes that I swear by which you can buy online or  have someone get them for you from the States/anywhere else they are available.

and that’s it!

For anyone wondering:

Biore Cleanser +Neutrogena + Covergirl foundation  – Super cosmetics Westlands 

Maybelline New York powders + Eyeliner + Mascara + Sleek products – Nakumatt

If you are already into make-up what products do you use? Drop a comment below.

Thank you so much for reading!

X

Quick drumsticks

I don’t know about you, but I love my drumsticks with Ugali, freshly cooked greens and some good salad. Mhhm mhhm!

Here is a small trick you can use to get you’re drumsticks packed with flavor without having to work up a sweat.

What I used:

• Drumsticks – 500g
• Garlic and ginger puree 
• Salt 
• Pepper
• Turmeric
• Oil for frying

Method

Get the drumsticks ready by rinsing them and blotting off the water using a kitchen paper napkin…

Once you have the ginger and garlic puree ready, lift the skin and create a little ‘pocket’, put in just enough so that the flavor will not be overwhelming..

  

spread the puree under the skin by gently massaging it around.

The next step is seasoning with salt, pepper and turmeric or whichever spice combination you like (sprinkle on top to your liking).

  

The final step is to fry them.

When frying make sure that the flame is not too high so that the drumsticks can cook through. Cooking over medium heat is ideal.

Keep turning them so that there is even cooking.

Once they are cooked through, place them on a kitchen paper napkin to drain and they are ready!

How do you like your drumsticks?

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

X

Eggless Meatballs

How you doing? I haven’t been on these streets for a bit but I’m back with a recipe I think would be helpful for you guys that love meatballs but are’t too fond of eggs.

As always (because convenience is always welcome) these are ingredients you are most likely to find in your kitchen.

I kept the spices in the meatballs to a minimum because my intention was to add them into a veggie stew that was already seasoned.

What I used:

• Minced beef – 500g
• Garlic + ginger puree – 1/2 tsp
• Mixed herbs – 3/4 tsp 
• Salt – 1/4 tsp 
• Ground black pepper – 1/2 tsp
• Cayenne pepper – 1/4 tsp
• All purpose flour – 1 leveled tablespoon
• Oil to pan fry

N.B: The flour is what will act as the binding agent in this recipe.  

Method

Put the minced meat in a bowl that is large enough to mix in…

          

add all the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly using clean hands or a fork…

            

the next step is shaping and frying them…

          

Cook over medium heat and keep turning them to ensure even cooking (when shaping the meatballs make sure to make them a size that will enable them to cook through easily – so not too big).

If you’re meatballs were too moist then this might happen

          

but no worries since as they continue cooking the ‘liquid’ will evaporate and leave the oil behind.

Once they are done place them on a kitchen towel to drain the excess oil and they are ready to be in stews, sandwiches or even eaten as they are.

          

here’s how I had mine

Thank you so much for reading!

x

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Spicy potato samosas

Helloooo lovely people! How’s your week getting on?

One of the many ways to my heart…Samosas. I LOVE them!

When most people think of samosas they immediately think minced meat – whether it’s mutton, chicken or beef but I have some good news (for all ya’ll who didn’t know) you can put almost anything in your samosa. So today I’ll be sharing a recipe on how to make some vegetable samosas that are just as good if not better.

What I used:

• Store bought samosa leaves
• 4 medium size potatoes
• 2 handful portions of peas
• 1 medium sized onion
• Green chili (optional) – 3 pieces
• Dhania – handful
• 6 cloves of garlic and 1/2 a thumb size of ginger
• Coconut oil – 11/2 Tbsp
• Salt – 1tsp (leveled teaspoon)
• Simba mbili – 11/2 tsp
• Garam masala – 1 tsp (leveled teaspoon)
• Paprika – 1 tsp 
• Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
• Black pepper – 1/4 tsp
• Oil for frying
• 1 lemon

Method

Peel, wash, and cube the potatoes into reasonable sizes that can fit into the pockets you’ll make.

Wash the peas and make sure to remove any left over dirt after washing.

boil them for about 3-4 minutes depending on the sizes of the potato cubes. You want them to still be firm but cooked so that when you are cooking them in the spices they don’t get mashed. The best way to test this is by using a fork. Push the fork through a potato cube and it should get a bit of resistance and should not fully break apart.

Once they are done, drain the hot water and pour cold water through them to stop the cooking.

take a sufuria and put in the onions and coconut oil and place over medium heat…

cook the onions until they start to get translucent and then add the pureed garlic+ginger, salt and dry spices.

stir the spices well and cook for about a minute…

add the potatoes+peas and chilis and combine until every piece of potato is properly coated (be gentle so that they don’t get mashed)

Again let it cook for about 3 mins so that the flavors can get into the potatoes and peas

the last step is to add the chopped up dhania, stir and allow to cook for a minute.

then it’s done!

The next step is to make some paste that will act as ‘glue’ for the samosa leaves. You want the paste to be thick but not runny.

Get the samosa leaves and get stuffing!

Using your clean fingers to spread the ‘glue’ would be ideal so that you have more control and the job gets done much faster.

  

  

add some paste to the part of the pastry that you will fold over…

  

Once they are all done, get your frying pan and get the oil heated. Fry them until they are golden brown.

Once they are done place them on a kitchen towel to drain the excess oil…

  

slice the lemon into quarters and squeeze some lemon juice into your samosa as you bite into it – happy place!

N.B: If you are not into too much spice you can definitely tweak the amount of spices to your liking.

Thank you so much for reading!

x