INTERVIEW - Lay Roo on his latest single Beautiful Sooperstar ft Mr jAZ

You Guys!

Sooooooo, I recently had the huuuge crazy pleasure of interviewing Rapper/ Hip Hop artist Lay Roo while on set filming the music video for his latest single Beautiful Sooperstar, which just so happens to feature the smooth vocals of my boo, Roeshdien - Mr jAZ.

Killer!!! Killer song and such great guys. I had so much fun. And Beautiful Sooperstar ... this song... do yourself a favour and have a listen. I'm posting the links to it on iTunes, Soundcloud and Google Play Music Store right here. You can thank me later :)

As for sooperhero Lay Roo, here's what he's got to say about it.

Lay Roo, the sooperhero himself

What's Beautiful Sooperstar about?
Love. It’s about a guy trying to understand what has him so mesmerised by his girlfriend, until he realises that it’s the sweet little things she does that makes him fall so madly in love with her. I learned a lot from previous relationships and along the way, I discovered that love is all about the little things.

How is it different to your other work?
It’s very different! I’m no stranger to fusing genres but I’ve never really done anything with Jazz before. I wanted to reach a new audience; an audience who generally is not a fan of hip-hip and try to “change their minds”.

How did Mr jAZ come to be on board?
I started working with Mr. Mallum on Crazy Sooper Hero Dreams and we needed a hook for this song. He suggested that Mr. jAZ would be perfect. The moment jAZ wrote those lyrics and laid down those vocals…oooooo!

When did you record it and who produced it?
We recorded it on Christmas eve back in 2012. It was produced by Ebrahim Mallum.

Album Cover of Lay Roo's single Jimi Hendrix

Why hip hop?
Because I can’t sing!I joke! I joke! When I first started listening to NWA, KRS One, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Snoop, Cypress Hill, The Fresh Prince and P.O.C, to name a few…there was just something about it ... love at first bar! I was actually born with a speech impediment so I couldn’t really express myself. I started writing poetry in order to do so and they later turned into songs. Hip hop is the medium that speaks to my songs.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing hip hop artists in SA?
Rap always get a bad rap. There are so many challenges and they’re all big. But hip hop still has this ‘negative stigma’ or dark cloud hanging over it. Maybe because there’s so much truth in what we are saying in our music, and it strikes a nerve.

Where do you generally draw your inspiration from?
Life, and the things that I see going on around me, Sooperhero characters and the things that I’ve been through or am still going through in life. I get the craziest ideas after a training session.

Lay Roo showing off his fit self

You're pretty fit. What's that about and why is it so important to you?
I used to play a lot of sport but when I got older, I picked up some injuries and some bad habits, and became quite unfit. I found it hard to write but that all changed once I embraced a healthy lifestyle. So many childhood dreams of mine have already come true because of fitness.

Why sooperhero with 2 oo's? 
The two o’s are actually two smiley faces. The first smiley represents the good and the 2nd, the bad. We all have good and bad within us, even Sooperheroes have flaws, we just have to make sure that we live our lives with the scale tipping in favour of the good.

Who is your sooperhero?
I have many. All my life I looked up to these heroes and I still do but if I can quote one of my favourites - Bruce Lee, “Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own!" So that’s what I did. I learned something from each one of them and added my own.

What are your crazy sooperhero dreams and what's next for Lay Roo?
I’ve got enormous dreams and I am only just getting started! I don’t want to give away my next move but what I can tell you is that I’ve just returned from Europe and am getting ready to launch the first Crazy Sooperhero Dreams EP.

Want to know more?
Find Lay Roo on Facebook, Twitter, Insta and book him HERE.

TABLE MOUNTAIN, CAPE TOWN - A Lifelong Love Affair

My friends

I found these this morning ... 3 little lover's notes I had penned to iconic
Table Mountain, more than 10 years ago. 

(photo credit Brendon Wainwright)

Made me wonder how I ever thought I could stay away, make my home elsewhere when every time I raise my eyes, I always hope to lay them on the world's most beautiful table, when with every breath its slopes tell me I'm home.... my lifelong love affair. 

I hope you enjoy!

Love love love

Amiena xxx

(photo credit koosrossouw)

Obscured in mist

So dense I would loose myself were I to navigate.

Unearthly beauty beckons.

As with all things most dangerous

you whisper coldly for me to follow, invite me within.

And I am drawn as upon weightless clouds to enter

into your midst, knowing well that despair must follow.

And you are temptation, ethereal whispers, snatches

of long ago songs, half glimpsed shadows, …surreal

(penned on a cold winter's morning as Table Mountain lay hidden, shrouded in mist. Utterly, seduced)

 

(photo credit Kate Goss)

 
To God’s door

Above the clouds where angels sigh

Sunlight strokes our faces, is captured in light

And we alone wander amidst aching beauty

Almost undone by the otherworldliness of this place

Till our souls, transcendent, are awash with closeness.

And beyond welcoming waters, obscured by earths hold

Yet clear to the unchained, eternity beckons.

Here is where questing has led us, to Gods door.

Awash with reverence, wondered sighs to the Cherisher,

And all I am capable of, all I am made of, is this moment.

(a hike up to the dams after a week of heavy rains and the landscape so beautiful and transformed, it felt as if we had been transported to a different plane)


 

Table Mountain

I saw you burn, go up in flames

Wild winds raged, stoking your fires

Angry and immortal like the battles above great Olympus.

And no opposing force could stand in their path to diverge your destiny.

Nights and mornings untold rained down your black tears

Into hair, homes, dreams, into every crevice

clogging all thought and slowing our steps.

And you in your palanquin of mist, lay hidden while we watched scared,

waiting to see how you would end, dreading, dying for

the charred husk, all that remained of your ravishment.

(thoughts and fears as I watched Table Mountain burn, its ashes carried by the wind darkening the sky, making us choke, breaking my heart)

TUTORIAL - HOW TO MAKE YOUR EYES LOOK BIGGER IN 7 SIMPLE STEPS

I've always wanted bigger eyes. Always. I've thought about it loads, and I've decided that we've got Disney to blame for it. Think about it ... can you mention a single Disney princess (except for Mulan, that is) who doesn't have huge sparkling languid eyes? … Exactly!

Anyhow, that's what today's tutorial is all about, I'm going to show you 7 foolproof tips for creating BIG Beautiful Bambi Eyes.

STEP 1 - CONCEAL DARK CIRCLES

Dark circles make your eyes look tired and small. Gently apply concealer, I use LA Covergirl HD Pro Concealer or NYX full coverage HD concealer, in a triangular shape into your undereye area. Set with translucent powder. 

STEP 2 - CREATE A CHAMPAGNE PALETTE
Apply a champagne-coloured eyeshadow into the inner corner of your eyes - next to your tear duct, and entire eyelid.


STEP 3 - CONTOUR ABOVE CREASE
Grab a small fluffy brush and using a back and forth windscreen wiper motion, lightly sweep a medium brown matte eyeshadow just above the crease of your eyelid, and blend well. By blending it slightly above your crease (instead of in the crease) you're creating the illusion of a bigger, rounder eye.




STEP 4 - NUDE EYE PENCIL INCREASES THE SIZE OF YOUR EYE
Do not line your waterline with black eye khol (see right eye) - it'll shrink the size of your eye faster than you can say eek! Use a nude eye pencil instead and it'll double the size of your eyes (left eye) by making the whites of your eyes appear bigger. I swear swear swear by NYX Wonder Pencil. Absolute miracle.




STEP 5 - LINE OUTSIDE LASHES
Grab a dark brown eyeliner or dip a small flat brush into a matte dark brown eye shadow and apply it just above your top lashes. Starting from the outside edge and working your way to the middle, do the same beneath your lower lashline to make your eyes look rounder. Blend to soften.




STEP 6 - WING IT
Use a liquid or gel liner to line your lop lid and create a wing. This'll make your eye's look a lot wider.




STEP 7 - OPEN YOUR EYES
Apply mascara to both your top and bottom lashes. Mascara opens up your eyes, creating the impression of a rounder eye, giving you a wide eyed look. 

.... And helloooooo big bambi eyes!

Try it out and let me know if it works for you. Have I forgotten anything? Drop me a line if I have, and don't forget to like, comment and subscribe.


Love ya!

XXX
Amiena

TUTORIAL - HOW TO GET THE PERFECT RED LIP.

 

In my 20's magazines were always telling me that I was too young to wear a red lip ... I wore it anyway. Now years later everyone, and I mean everyone no matter what their age, is wearing it and it's brilliant!

The thing about a red lip though, is that you may as well be wearing a flashing neon sign on your head because it brings your whole face under scrutiny!  But, wear it you MUST so I've gone and pulled videos from three of my very favourite youtube makeup artist and put together a quick step-by-step on How to Get The Perfect Red Lip. 

Enjoy enjoy enjoy, and don't forget to like, comment and subscribe!

1. FACE 

Moisturise, prime and apply foundation to create an even toned skin.  If all you're needing is light coverage, you can get by with a bb cream. Blemishes or discolorations will need a medium to full coverage. Apply with a beauty blender for a smooth flawless finish and set with translucent powder.

VIDEO - Quick Foundation Routine

2. BROWS

Yes to brows! Trust me, you need them to create balance as a red lip will draw focus to the bottom half of your face and leave the rest of you drifting out there in deep space. So weed out any stray hairs with wax or a tweezer and use a matte eyeshadow or eyebrow kit to fill in any sparse bits. Apply your brow shadow sparingly in the direction of the hair growth.  
VIDEO - Easy Eyebrow Tutorial

3. EYES

Keep them simple. For everyday daytime a pale/ nude eye shadow on your lids, simple cat eye and mascara are more than sufficient to play up your red lip. For night time, think bronze eye shadow, cat eye and several coats of mascara.
VIDEO - Simple Cat Eye Tutorial 

4. CHEEKS

Blush and Bronze. A blank face with a red slash where your mouth is, is scary so sweep a light dusting of blush onto the apples of your cheeks, and bronzer along your cheekbones to add warmth to your face. 
VIDEO - How to apply blush and bronzer 

5.LIPS

Chapped, cracked or dry lips are a red lipstick nightmare, and look painful. Smooth on lip balm ahead of time. Really pat it in and once absorbed, plonk on  some more and let it sink in. Then blot off the excess and use an old toothbrush to gently remove the dry, cracked skin. Now FINALLY you can apply your lipstick. Go on, get it on and pucker up!
VIDEO - Bold Red Lip


Love ya!

XXX

Amiena

12 SIGNS THAT YOU'RE IN A CONTROLLING RELATIONSHIP

On dating after 4 years

… and why it only lasted 4 months

When my marriage ended, I thought that was it as far as allowing anyone close to me ever again. It took 4 years to recover from it emotionally. And then one day, some ten months ago I looked up and started noticing things again. Friends and family began saying it's time you met someone, you have so much love to give.

I joined an online dating website and met a charismatic man. We chatted for 2 months, met in person, hit it off and dated for 4 months. In that short space of time we broke up 5 times.

I ended it each time because he would fly off the handle when he couldn't reach me, became verbally, emotionally and mentally abusive, raged that I treated him like an option not a priority, and repeatedly accused me of seeing, dating, sleeping with scores of other men.

Each time he swore it wouldn't happen again. But of course it did. Again and again. That's when I realised I was in a relationship with a 'Controller', so I took back control and ended it for good.

Looking back there were definite signs that he was a 'Controller'. They're easy to spot if you know what to look out for. Acquaint yourself with the signs and help raise awareness or warn those you care about against entering into relationships with individuals exhibiting these disturbing traits.

12 SIGNS YOU'RE IN A CONTROLLING RELATIONSHIP

1. Love at first sight
He wants to get serious immediately. Wants to date exclusively after just one date and proposes marriage after two months. This is not normal or healthy behaviour. Healthy relationships need time to develop and grow.

2. Overwhelms you

He is extremely attentive and showers you with gifts and is always available to you. He offers to take charge of all your issues or problems like a knight in shining armour. Too good to be true? It is.

3. Has to be involved in everything

He wants to control every aspect of your life. He checks up on you all day, wants to know where you are, who you're with, what you're doing, what you're discussing. Eventually, he tells you that you can't talk to certain friends, or talk about certain issues in public.

4. Isolates you

He makes you feel guilty when you're out with friends, enjoying time with your family or experiencing something without him so that eventually you cut down, or in some cases even stop seeing friends or family altogether.

5. Mean and Sweet Cycle

He is wonderfully attentive and sweet one moment, so loving that you believe you've met your soulmate, only to follow it up, almost immediately, with behaviour so deviant, hurtful and mean that you're left reeling and wondering if it is the same person.

6. Explosive Temper

He has a very bad temper and becomes enraged when you don't react or behave in a certain way, or things don't turn out according to his plan.

7. Kills your confidence

He critisises everything you do and works hard to break your self esteem by constantly putting you down or questioning your actions. You end up “walking on eggshells” always fearing you are doing or saying something that will create a temper outburst or argument. Instead of experiencing the warmth and comfort of love, you're constantly on edge.

8. It’s Never Enough

He complains that you don’t appreciate him enough, stand close enough, are not affectionate enough, committed enough, don’t do enough for him after all his sacrifices, and your behavior always falls short of what is expected.

9. Discounts Feelings/Opinions

He doesn't respect or acknowledge your opinions, feelings, decisions or choices, yet hates it when you dare question him, and reacts with outright anger or rage when his behavior is criticised.

10. It's always your fault

He blames you for his anger. It's your fault that he embarrassed you in public, drove so fast, drank too much, or assaults an innocent bystander. if you had not said that, smiled at that waiter when he took your order, or questioned his behavior, it wouldn't have happened.

11. YOU start acting 'crazy'

He has you so on edge that you find yourself doing “crazy” things in self-defense. You become paranoid, or find yourself screaming or swearing when you can't bear the stress of it anymore.

12. Insane breakup

You end the relationship and he goes to pieces, breaks down and cries, begs and pleads. Promises to change, threatens to commit suicide, to quit his job and leave the area. Stalks you, harasses you with phone calls, sends flowers and gifts, or offers a wedding ring.

Get out

It takes a long time and immense effort to change a 'Controller', and the possibility that he may never change is huge because he simply doesn't see fault with anything he does. I didn't mention physical abuse because I didn't experience it, but many 'Controllers' do become violent and the longer you stay, the stronger the possibility of him abusing you physically becomes. In extreme cases, 'Controllers' have been known to kill their partners.

If you go back, you're back in his grasp, effectively a prisoner and escape next time, will be three times as difficult.

Don't let it happen to you or anyone you care about. Recognise the signs, take back control and get out.

Amiena

*** Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe. And if you know of any other signs to look out for then drop them in the comments below and I'll do an update. 

TOP 7 TIPS FOR CHOOSING A SPOUSE

PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM MY VERY CLEVER MUM

 

Last week my parents (above) celebrated their 43^rd wedding anniversary. 

Really?! Honestly? Who even does that these days. Man, I barely managed 5 years (and 2 of those we were separated and living on different continents – that's how married we were). Anyway, this lasting marriage business got me wondering how it was possible. So I asked my mum and she reckons it's all in the choosing. 

These are her Top 7 Tips for Choosing a Spouse 

1.BE PATIENT & TAKE TIME TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER

My mum's father and my dad's grandfather were bosom buddies all their lives. Though my mum and dad didn't meet until they were in their twenties and didn't marry until they were 26 and 31 respectively, they knew each other and each other's families inside out.

2. CHOOSE SOMEONE YOU SHARE CHARACTERISTICS WITH

When Tom and I got married, we'd known each other for about 5 months and were still very charmed by how very different we were.. He is super organised. I'm flighty like a chicken. Those same differences quickly came back to bite us in the bum.

3. LOOKOUT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS QUALITIES YOU ADMIRE

My parents both came from working class backgrounds. They were raised modestly and taught a whole lot of honesty, reliability, emotional generosity, kindness, tolerance and respect. When it came to choosing a life's partner, those are the traits they looked for, because those are the traits they'd seen their parents practise to make married life work.

4. CHOOSE SOMEONE FROM THE SAME FAITH

They don't need to practice the same as you or to the same degree that you do, but at least you'd have the same faith in common. I'm a Muslim, Tom is a lapsed Christian who embraced Islam to marry me. A short while into our marriage and faith became a big nail in our marriage coffin.

5. FIND SOMEONE YOU CAN BE YOURSELF AROUND

My mum is fiery, is involved in every committee in the area and loves being in the thick of things. My dad ruminates and loved the solitude of fishing when he was still able to fish. They adapted to marriage and to each other, clashed mightily, and yet never put pressure on one other to be anything other than themselves. 

6. FIND SOMEONE YOU CAN TALK TO

Looks fade and desires change so choose someone you enjoy talking to and who enjoys talking to you. Couples often identify lack of communication as the main reason for their marriage breakup. 43 years later and my parents still talk deep into the night about everything.

7. BE OPEN ABOUT MONEY AND CHILDREN

So many couples go into marriage assuming that their partner wants children as much as they do, and are bitterly disappointed when it turns out to not be the case. Often the disappointment is too great to bear and the marriage falls apart. The same applies to money matters - how you will handle it, and who will take care of what. Prevent future disillusionment and be transparent about what you expect. 

Looking back, I wish I'd known or listened to my mum when she was trying to guide me. But hindsight is, as they say, an exact science and we live and learn. 

If you have any great tips for choosing a spouse then drop them in the comment section below. And if you liked this, then Like and Subscribe to receive more. 

On to Happiness!

XXX

Amiena

My radiant mum and her proud dad entering the wedding venue

DRIVING (FLYING) HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!

SOOO excited! I've just seen my and Harris's etickets for our December holiday in the UK with my mum in law Jan and Tom! Aaaahhhhhhhhhh it's going to be so good! We'll be in our 'second home', Devon, and it may even snow! And maybe we could go sleighing and build snow men and lie in the snow and make snow angels. Squealing with excitement... for Harris... of course...

We'll be there for most of December and best of all ... for Christmas! Our first UK Christmas in 3 years. You'll laugh but I took one look at those etickets and straightaway, my cheesy head just filled with Christmas songs, ... right this minute, Chris Reah and I are dueting (quite loudly) to "Driving home for Christmas". 

Christmas. Yup, you either love it or hate it. Me? I love it. Unabashedly, unashamedly so and have done so since primary school. When I was little my grandmother took care of us grandchildren in the afternoon after school. My tiny beautiful grandmother of the long silver plaits wound like a coronet around her head, was a very pious Muslim always conscious of passing Islamic knowledge onto her grand kids. Well, Christmas would draw closer and I'd get caught up, filled to the brim with Christmas spirit and, utterly unable to help myself, I'd have to make a mad dash outside onto her stoep and belt out those Christmas carols and songs at the top of my squeaky voice for all the world to hear... And at some point my poor gentle grandmother would be alerted to my indiscretions and mortified out of her mind, would rush out to drag me back inside. Bless her beautiful soul!

I've given up trying to understand any of it. And now, knowing that I'll be seeing Jan, who is just the funnest mother-in-law, especially at Christmas time, and Tom who lives for festivities and treating Harris, I can hardly wait. Looking so forward to crafting handmade decorations and doing up the house, all kitsch and festive, Harris decked out like the Michelin man as we traipse through woods to  choose the most perfect Christmas tree, singing along to Christmas songs on Radio 2, Christmas games and quizzes with close family and friends and watching Harris, quivering with excitement on Christmas morning and tearing through his mountain of presents. 

CAN. NOT. WAIT!