Life By Asha Singh

The difference between success and failure is in taking the initiative. The Girl Boss series aims to highlight the achievements of women just like you and me who are doing amazing things. Hopefully their stories will inspire you as much as they inspire me. This week we chat to  Misha Lee , a mega talented photographer and creative entrepreneur.

Cetaphil is well known in the skincare space for affordable products that hydrate, replenish and protect . They have a few new products on the market, which I’ll give you a review of after having trialed them for about a month.

With a tagline like “Born ‘n bread in KZN” you know it’s going to be good. It’s time for BB Bakeries second annual Some Bunny To Love food truck to hit the streets of Durban, South Africa.  What is it? The BB Bakeries food truck will be stationed at different places in Durban serving delicious food and supporting local artists and businesses . You can have a quick lunch or dinner at the truck and, on specific days, enjoy the live entertainment too .  Why? BB Bakeries is all about supporting what’s local and loved in KZN. Combining BB Bakeries unsliced white bread with traditional Durban curries, you get to have an authentic Natal experience .  BB Bakeries is local to KZN and prioritise the use of quality ingredients and manufacturing . They are a true homegrown brand – and as such give back to the local community. Food menu This year they’ve definitely upped their game with the menu. The Some Bunny To Love food truck men...

Looking for accommodation in Johannesburg? The Capital Melrose is part of The Capital Hotels and Apartments group and is located next to the Melrose Arch precinct in Johannesburg. The hotel only recently opened on 1 May 2019. I stayed in the 1 bedroom apartment at the Capital Melrose recently and here’s everything you need to know about the hotel.

On a cold 10 degree Monday night I went to Lanser's on Main for dinner. Greeted by Lanser himself and served by him and his friendly staff, my night just got better and better. Lanser's on Main is a Bistro located in Johannesburg, Gauteng. They specialize in home styled Italian and French food . I recently enjoyed a dinner at their restaurant and here is an overview of my experience. LOCATION Lanser's on Main is located in Bryanston in the Sandton region in Johannesburg . It's just off the main road. The restaurant is in an easy to find complex and has secure parking outside. AMBIANCE  The ambiance is old school French and Italian. The decor is warm and inviting and has lots of cute elements like the empty frames on the walls. The music is calm and just softly in the background allowing you to engage in conversation. While it makes the perfect date night restaurant , unlike many others it's warm and inviting making you feel right at h...

I started the  South Africa Small Towns Holiday Guide Series  as a way to show off the  best small town getaways in SA . Too often people focus on the big cities for holidays and don't take advantage of the amazing small towns.  I've discovered some  hidden gems all around the country , all near major cities, which make them  perfect for day trips or long weekend getaways.  To start off the series I have a  Midlands Meander Travel Guide, Hartebeespoort Travel Guide and KZN South Coast Travel Guide . Next on the agenda is possibly a Stellenbosch Travel Guide and Clarens Travel Guide so let me know if you enjoy this series!

I started the South Africa Small Towns Holiday Guide Series as a way to show off the best small town getaways in SA . Too often people focus on the big cities for holidays and don't take advantage of the amazing small towns.  I've discovered some hidden gems all around the country , all near major cities, which make them perfect for day trips or long weekend getaways.  To start off the series I have a Midlands Meander Travel Guide, Hartebeespoort Travel Guide and KZN South Coast Travel Guide . Next on the agenda is a Stellenbosch Travel Guide and Clarens Travel Guide so let me know if you enjoy this series!

Now let's not get ahead of ourselves, my "everyday makeup look" is no makeup. I don't wear makeup everyday especially not to work or when I'm just going to be home. But some days if I'm going shopping or feel like looking pretty or being creative I'll do my makeup . These are some of the products I'll use as well as some suggestions. 

Since 2016 I've had almost every hair color under the sun - black (natural), brown, blonde, ginger, red and even purple. I've been fully embracing the different hair dying trends of our time (Platinum blonde, I've got my eyes on you). I won't even deny that this has led to my hair getting very damaged. Luckily for me, my hair is very thick and hasn't thinned due to it but it's definitely gotten more dry and doesn't look as healthy as before.

If you follow me on Instagram (@lifebyashasingh - do the things!) you'll probably already know what I wore on my UAE trip . With Dubai being such a popular holiday destination, I know this is something most people aren't really sure about.  So I'll break it down for you and show you what I wore.

Every girl deserves to treat herself every now and then and what better way then some gorgeous jewellery . I'm not one for a whole cupboard of jewelley and I definitely prefer to have one or 2 amazing pieces that I can mix and match and play around with. Of course, Local is Lekker and I'm all about supporting local South African brands , but I know it's not always easy to find local businesses especially online - sometimes I'm tempted to just buy something off Wish (Which isn't ideal - I'd prefer a local small business getting my support). So just in time for mothers Day, here are some local small businesses you can buy a gift from (Or just treat yourself girl!). High-end Jewellery These aren't even just for more of a splurge - every girl deserves some high-end quality pieces . Especially now that I'm growing up, I find that I'd rather spend a bit more money and get something timeless that I can wear often and feel proud of. L...

You gotta admit, when it comes to local TV and movies we aren't exactly spoilt for choice. You get the classics like 7de Laan and Carte Blanche but apart from that? Recently there have been some gems that were produced in the motherland and that actually give Hollywood a run for their money . While the South African film industry seems to still be finding its feet, I have high hopes for the content that will be produced locally in the next few years. I'll include selections from DSTV, Netflix, Showmax, BoxOffice and even the cinema to give you some options for your next binge watch session.

Accomodation in Istanbul, Turkey Where to stay in Istanbul? Choosing where to stay was possibly the most time consuming decision I had to make when planning the trip. I took about 2 hours to plan the itinerary and yet I spent weeks deciding where to stay! There are  lots of options for accommodation  and many are similar however choosing an area to stay in can be difficult. So basically it comes down to 2 options  Sultanahmet (the old city) and Beyoglu (modern Istanbul).  Eminönü and Fatih fall under the old city while Beyoglu consists of Taksim, Sisli, Besiktas etc. The two areas are actually neighboring, divided only by the Golden Horn body of water and Galata bridge.

Known as the city where east meets west , the only city in the world in two continents - Europe and Asia - is none other than incredible Istanbul. Awe-inspiring architecture, rich history and immersive culture , Istanbul is a true gem and a must see city. Sunsets over the Bhosphurus with the stunning silhouette of grand mosques - that's the image in my head when I think of the city.

When asked what to do for my 21st birthday, I didn't even have to give it a second thought - Turkey had been on my bucket list for the past 2 years . So after a very last minute thought, my mom and I booked our flights and were off to Turkey! In the next few posts I'll tell you a bit more about my adventures and what I got up to in Istanbul and Cappadocia. Here are some travel tips and advice for planning your trip to Istanbul !

Unicorns, Rapunzel and a magical land of fairy chimneys and hot air balloons filling the sky at sunrise - what do they all have in common? They're all fairytales - or so you think!  Cappadocia (meaning: "the land of beautiful horses" ) is very much a REAL PLACE in Central Turkey that has the most otherworldly feel. 

The difference between success and failure is in taking the initiative. The Girl Boss series aims to highlight the achievements of women just like you and me who are doing amazing things. Hopefully their stories will inspire you as much as they inspire me. This week we chat to  Rukaya Mansoor , founder of Woman of the World (WoW), a female empowerment initiative, and a qualified chemist at Esse Skincare.

More often than not, the world passes us by. Be it because we’re caught up in reaching the next deadline or because we are simply too tired to notice , but some days just go by. We can’t account for what we’ve done nor can we fathom a memory that is worthwhile to speak about. Although sad, it's not uncommon. That's why, when you live life, you need to make sure you are living it for yourself and for those dependent on you. 

A skincare range that is tailored to your age instead of skin type ? This really intrigued me! A new skincare range in South Africa by professional skincare brand Nimue , AgeWell is their retail arm which can be found in Foschini stores and purchased online on their website.

The difference between success and failure is in taking the initiative. The Girl Boss series aims to highlight the achievements by women just like you and me who are doing amazing things. Hopefully their stories will inspire you as much as they inspire me. This week we chat to Tasneem Randeree , founder of Nura, an online accessories store, and MSc Molecular Biology student. 1. Who is your favorite female fictional character and why? Wow, so many to even mention, I really love Khaleesi and Sansa Stark from Game of Thrones . But, if you asked my brother, he would say Mulan (both fictional and real) because I was totally obsessed with the movie growing up (still am and can recite the movie back to front). 2. Everyone's been making New Years resolutions. What are your New Years resolutions? I’m not big on resolutions; I like to work through goals at my own pace . But if I had to pick one it would be ; to be less judgey , there is way too much hate going on i...