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  • Introducing PAIX...

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    Allow us to introduce you to PAIX (pronounced ‘pay’)

    The soulful ambient vocalist, songwriter and poet. 

    When asked what her name means and symbolises she told us it is ‘peace’ a feeling she often hears emanates through her.

    Today May 1st marks the release of her latest offering ‘How Long’ and we are delighted to showcase her single as our main featured video.

    ‘How Long’ produced by Gillieson, is a mellow blissful mood, reflective in conversation as she invites us to hear her mind coupled with an equally alluring visual to match.   The video sees the beautiful songstress captivate us with her presence.

     

     

    PAIX made her official debut in August of 2019 with the release of ‘Self Love’ from the album Book of Kotch by Mysterex.  Her second release ‘Only One’ featured on the Album Argot by Cold North in September 2019. 

    ‘How Long’ will be her 3rd release and is her first solo. 

    It showcases the theme of her mellow jazz infused sound that will certainly get you in your feelings.

    It is clear from her sound that she is a thinker, intentional with her ruminative titles and contemplative lyrical statements.

    Inspired and influenced by life, the power of personal connection, faith, spirituality, space, memory, identity, belonging, and her Ugandan heritage.

    This rising songstress is a beaming star of authentic soulful musicality and surely one to look out for!

     

                                                     WWW.paix-music.com

     

    CLICK the link below to hear more from PAIX now!

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/3hxeG0WUPKuIXOx6oEB6vO?si=JE2mlDQ_R4-ufUBZmhpmVw&nd=1

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  • Rihanna named world's wealthiest Female Musician

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    Forbes magazine estimates the musician’s fortune at $600m, a figure bolstered by her lucrative fashion and beauty ventures

    (Rihanna launching her Fenty brand in Paris in May 2019. Photograph: Julien Hekimian)

     

    Rihanna has been named the world’s richest female musician by Forbes magazine.
    The singer’s worth is estimated at $600m (£472m), including revenues made from her fashion and beauty lines in addition to those from her music career.
    In May 2019, French luxury brand LVMH confirmed it would launch Rihanna’s fashion company, Fenty, making her the first woman of colour to lead an LVMH fashion house. “I want to be as disruptive as possible,” she told the New York Times of the venture. “The brand is not traditional.”
     
    LVMH also backs Rihanna’s lucrative cosmetics company, Fenty Beauty, which launched in 2017 and is worth more than £3bn, from which Rihanna has earned $570m, Forbes reports. Boots recently acquired UK distribution rights for the brand. She also designs an inclusive lingerie line, Savage x Fenty, in partnership with TechStyle Fashion Group.
    In May, Rihanna told the New York Times that she wasn’t driven by money but by her work. “The money means that I can take care of my family. The money means that I can facilitate the businesses that I want to. I can create jobs for other people. My money is not for me; it’s always the thought that I can help someone else or, in the future, for if I have kids.”

     

     

    In 2012, Rihanna founded the Clara Lionel Foundation, which supports health and education efforts in impoverished communities around the world. In February 2017, she was named humanitarian of the year by Harvard University.

    Forbes’s list of the top five richest female musicians finds Madonna in second place ($570m), Céline Dion in third ($450m), Beyoncé and Barbra Streisand tying in fourth ($400m) and Taylor Swift in sixth ($360m).
    The publication defines “self-made” as “someone who built a company or established a fortune on her own, rather than inheriting some or all of it” – hence the Kardashian scion Kylie Jenner being named America’s youngest “self-made” billionaire earlier this year thanks to her cosmetics brand, Kylie Cosmetics.

    'Authenticity'
    Alongside the growth of her beauty range, experts say Rihanna's invested her money wisely.
    "Globally the entire beauty industry is worth $480bn (£377bn) - in 2018 the UK market was valued at $17bn (£13bn)," says Hannah Symons, global beauty manager at Euromonitor International.
    Hannah's job is to track the growth of the beauty industry - looking for trends.
    "Rihanna's success clearly doesn't come off the back of the music although that's how she initially gained fame.
    Hannah thinks part of Rihanna's success is she's appealing to a very wide audience.
    "A lot of the people buying her products are not people who were buying her music. Rihanna has been around for 15 years but the people buying her products are aged 16-19, so wouldn't have been around when she started making music.
    "And it's not just because she caters for darker skin tones either, she also caters for people at the paler end of the spectrum. And it's this inclusive element that makes her stand out.
    Hannah says she's also been wise partnering with a high street retailer, making her products more accessible.
    Rihanna's Fenty Beauty collection has continued to disrupt the beauty industry since its launch in 2017, challenging other brands to expand their range of offerings for consumers with different skin tones. Fenty Beauty launched with 40 foundation shades and has since expanded to over 50, now seen as a trailblazer within the industry for its inclusive offerings. 

     

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  • Fruit Infused Mocktails - Quench your summer thirst!..

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    WATERMELON and LIME MOCKTAIL

    Nothing is more refreshing than the flavours of sweet watermelon and sharp lime on a hot summer’s day.
    Put your feet up and relax in the shade with this cooling mocktail recipe.
             
             INGREDIENTS;
    • 1 watermelon
    • 2 limes
    • 1 tbsp white sugar, runny honey or agave alternative for vegans
    • 500ml (17fl oz) chilled soda water
    • 10 mint leaves, plus a few mint sprigs for garnish
    • about 10-15 ice cubes to serve, plus extra (optional) 
     
    Halve the watermelon and cut the flesh into chunks, discarding any seeds and the rind – you'll need about 450g (15 1/2oz) flesh in total. Transfer to the freezer, in a suitable container, and leave for an hour to get really cold.
    Slice 2 thin round slices from each of the limes and set aside for garnish, then squeeze the juice from the remaining limes into a blender.
    After an hour, remove the watermelon from the freezer and add to a blender, along with the sugar or honey, chilled soda water and the mint leaves.
    Blend until smooth, adding a splash more soda water if you prefer a thinner consistency, then stir and pour into a jug filled with the ice cubes.
    Garnish with the reserved lime slices and the mint sprigs. Serve in tall glasses, filled with more ice, if you like.
     

     

    Pineapple 'martini'

    Serve up summer in a glass with this tropical pineapple mocktail recipe.
    Shake together pure pineapple and orange juice, mint and ice and serve – it's that easy! Or, see the tip below for how you can turn this summer drink into a float.
     
             INGREDIENTS;
    • 150ml 100% pure pineapple juice
    • 50ml 100% pure orange juice smooth
    • 10 fresh mint leaves, plus 1-2 finely shredded to garnish
    • a few ice cubes
    • ¼ thin orange slice, to garnish
     
    Shake the juices with the mint leaves and ice in a cocktail shaker or sealed jam jar for 30 secs.
     
    Strain into a martini glass and garnish with the orange slice and shredded mint.
    Tip: Turn this into a tropical juice float by serving in a sundae glass. Add some chopped pineapple and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
     

     

    Summer melon slushies

     
    INGREDIENTS;
    WATERMELON-LIME
    1 6-to 7-lb. watermelon
    Simple syrup (recipe, right)
    Zest of 2 limes
    Juice of 4 limes (about 1/2 cup total)
     
    HONEYDEW-GINGER-MINT
    2 4-lb. honeydew melons
    Simple syrup (recipe, right)
    2 tbsp. fresh grated ginger
    4 sprigs fresh mint
     
    CANTALOUPE-BASIL
    1 6-lb. cantaloupe
    Simple syrup (recipe, right)
    2 large sprigs fresh basil
     
    DIRECTIONS
    Remove the skin and seeds from the melon (pick one from above); cut into 2-inch pieces (you should be left with about 4 pounds total).
    Make the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1/4 cup water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer (don’t stir) until the sugar dissolves, 2 to 3 minutes.
    Remove from the heat and stir in the flavorings (everything but the melon); let cool completely. Strain into a small bowl or measuring cup.
    In a blender, working in two batches, puree half the simple syrup mixture and half the melon until smooth. Strain into a metal loaf pan or square pan; repeat with remaining syrup and melon. Cover and freeze until set, about 8 hours.
    When ready to serve, using a fork, scrape the surface of the melon ice to create large flakes. Transfer to glasses, top with a splash of soda water, and serve with additional fruit, if desired.

     

     

    Easy Sparkling Blueberry Lemonade

     
    INGREDIENTS;
    2/3 cup white sugar (superfine is best)
    2/3 cup water
    1 and 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
    1 teaspoon lemon zest
    1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (~4-5 whole large lemons)
    2 cups ice cubes
    3 cups sparkling water or club soda (my favorite is sparkling lemon lime water)

     

     

    Virgin Mary

    This non-alcoholic version of the classic Bloody Mary is a tomato juice drink that you can sip all day and night. For best results, use top quality tomato juice for a rich and authentic taste.
    It’s also a healthy choice for breakfast. 

     

    INGREDIENTS;
    Tomato Juice 
    180ml
    Lemon 
    1/2 
    Salt and Pepper 
    Dash 
    Tabasco Sauce
    Several drops
    Bail Leaves 
    6 
    Celery Stick 
    1
    Pickle
    1
     
    DIRECTIONS
    Squeeze half a lemon into a glass
    Add salt and pepper
    Add a couple of dashes of Tabasco Sauce
    Add a splash of Worcestershire Sauce
    Tear 4 basil leaves and add them to the glass
    Add ice
    Add Tomato Juice
    Top the glass with a shaker and shake contents thoroughly
    Get a tall glass, add ice and pour the contents of the shaker into the glass through a strainer
    Garnish with celery stick, basil leaves, lemon and pickles

     

     

     

    Sober Russian

     
    Rich and creamy, this drink is a nice alternative to traditional Black or White Russians.
    Makes two drinks
    Serving glass: Lowball
    4 ice cubes
    2 shots of espresso, about 1/2 cup, chilled
    2 to 4 tbs. maple syrup, depending on desired sweetness
    1/3 cup coconut milk or half-and-half
    Put two ice cubes into each glass. Mix together the chilled espresso, maple syrup, and coconut milk, and pour over the ice.
    (Alcohol option: Vodka)
     
     
     

    FIZZY PINEAPPLE PUNCH

     
    This sweet and easy to make pineapple punch will be the hit of any party! Just 4 simple ingredients plus fresh fruit and pretty garnishes!
     
    INGREDIENTS;
    1 - 6 oz can frozen limeade concentrate thawed
    4 1/2 cups cold water
    1 liter club soda chilled
    Assorted fruits (such as strawberries raspberries, blueberries, oranges, limes, and pineapple)
    Garnishes such as fresh mint
     
    DIRECTIONS
    Pour thawed pineapple juice concentrate and thawed limeade concentrate in a large pitcher.
    Add cold water and most of the club soda, reserving about 1/3 cup.
    Stir to combine and chill until cold.
    Garnish as desired and top off glasses with a splash of extra club soda for extra "fizz".
    (RECIPE NOTES)
    1. Can be made alcoholic by adding a splash of vodka or rum to the serving glasses.
    2. For extra gorgeous presentation, freeze mint into ice cubes and use in serving glasses.
     

     

    Grapefruit Citrus Sparking Cocktail

     
    This sparkling mocktail will give you all the buzz, without the hangover.
    Serve these at your next girls night or afternoon lunch and see how fast they fly.
     
    INGREDIENTS;
    4 oz grapefruit juice
    6 oz sprite, 7up, club soda, or flavoured sparkling water
    wedge of fresh lime
    wedge of fresh lemon
    splash of simple syrup (optional)
    rosemary or thyme and grapefruit wedge for garnish

    Add your grapefruit juice into your glass (don’t you love those gold fern glasses?)
    Squeeze in your wedge of lime and wedge of lemon. Top off with 7up, stir to combine and add a few ice cubes. Taste to see if you want to add a dash of simple syrup. If you are using grapefruit juice from the store and don’t like drinks too sweet, you may not need the simple syrup, but if you use a fresh grapefruit it may be on the sour side where an extra dash of sugar would be helpful
    Add your garnish and serve!
    If you are making multiples of this drink at once, I would mix the grapefruit, lemon, and lime in a cocktail shaker first (like this pretty gold one) and then pour in the 7up or flavoured sparkling water of your choice once you portion out your citrus mixture. Yum!
     

     

     

    Lemon-Basil Mojito Mocktails

     
            INGREDIENTS;
    • 1-1/2 cups sugar
    • 4 cups water
    • 6 cups fresh basil leaves, divided
    • Crushed ice, divided
    • 2 bottles (1 liter each) Seltzer water/ sparkling water
    • GARNISH:
    • Fresh lemon wedges
     
            DIRECTIONS
    • In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Place half of the basil in a small bowl. With a pestle or wooden spoon, crush basil until its aroma is released. Stir into sugar mixture. Remove from heat; cool completely. Strain; refrigerate until cold.
    • Place 2 cups crushed ice and remaining basil in a 4-qt. pitcher. Using a muddler or a wooden spoon, press basil leaves against ice until their aroma is released. Stir in basil syrup and seltzer. Serve over crushed ice in tall glasses; squeeze lemon wedges into drink.
     

     

    ROASTED PEACH AND STRAWBERRY FIZZ

     
    Delightful spring/ summer mocktail – roasted peach and strawberry fizz!
    This drink is like a pie in a glass!
    The roasted peach and strawberry fizz is so simple. It is more of a warmer comfort beverage but still works for the summer and all year round. 
    All you’ll need to do is cut peaches and strawberries in half, roast them and blend them. Then add a little apple juice, preferably homemade or organic, and some sparkling water. 
    A perfect spring drink!
     
    INGREDIENTS;
    3 peaches
    600 g strawberries
    1 1/2 cup apple juice
    1 1/2 sparkling water
    abundance of crushed ice
     
    DIRECTIONS
    Preheat the oven to 175 °C.
    Cut peaches in half and remove the pit. Cut strawberries in half. Place the fruit on a baking tray lined with baking paper and roast for 25 minutes.
    Take the tray out and leave to cool for 10 minutes or more.
    Remove the skins from peaches and blend the flesh together with apple juice in a blender to get a smooth pureé.
    Blend the strawberries separately.
    Divide the strawberry pureé into 6 glasses and add ice.
    Pour the peach and apple juice mixture over ice and add sparkling water.
    Serve immediately.

     

     

    GREEN LADY - KHUS & CUCUMBER MOJITO MOCKTAIL

     

             INGREDIENTS;
     
    DIRECTIONS
    Crush cucumber pieces in a mortar and collect the juice. Keep aside.
    In a pitcher squeeze lemon to extract the juice and add mint leaves. Crush the leaves with a pestle and add sugar syrup, khus syrup and cucumber extract.
    Stir it and add sparkling water into it.
    Take a serving glass, add lots of ice in it.
    Pour in the prepared drink and add slices of cucumber and lemon on top with some mint leaves.
    Serve chilled!

     

     

    Enjoy the refreshing blast of fresh fruit flavours! 
    Share some of your favourite punch/mocktail blends you will be enjoying over the summer in the comments below! 
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  • The Medicine of Motion

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    Have you ever felt stuck?..

    Stagnant, placed in an imprisoning fort either mentally or physically, debilitated by the uncertainty of how to unwind your being from what feels hopeless, tiresome,

    to the extent of exhaustion that depletes parts of your existence or vigor for living?...

    For many this can be a reality. 

    This would be a good time to oxygenate yourself through compassion.

    One beautifully simple key is movement... Yes movement!
    Movement is Powerful!
    When you feel trapped in negative emotions, situations that create any toxic residue, begin to use every part of your internal and external body to encourage energetic flow.  Release blockages that do not allow your happiness to come forth! 
    A simple tool that can change everything, MOVE, The Medicine of Motion...
    Movement produces an awakening a stirring and shifting that simply affects every part of you, the key is knowing how and just doing it!

    The human anatomy is a beautifully intricate form with such detailed construct, every part interconnected to flow through functionality.

    Our emotion being, spirit being, intellectual and physical beings are all the soul embodiment and communicative portals that establish our holistic health.  Knowing the connection aids our understanding when it comes to the power of healing.  The signals sent to the mind (the central operating system that sends messages to all parts of us at all times) are connective cables that reinforce our ability or inability to establish hopeful rescue when we have abandoned the mission to save ourselves from any situation that is keeping us stuck. 

    So how do we begin to move?

    There are various states of motion,
     
    Move your body.

    When your body has been in the same place for too long you experience a lethargy resulting from elements of stillness, chances are your mind too is patterned into a shut down state, believing it is tired and wilfully cannot find the inspiration to move. 

    You then have a choice dependent on your personalty type your triggers and things you naturally are drawn to.  You can begin with movement around your own space, your home, your room, your business, change things around, do a spring clean allow some ideas to become a reality within the space around you as this is your haven, the newness will breath inspiration! 

    The internet is a resource centre at your disposal!  You can begin a workout at home.   

    Begin to learn the importance of how to stretch, the impact of shifting tension through your body by simply knowing the correct ways to expand it and learn breathing techniques.

    Take a walk, or a run outside, the energy of nature is a natural boost and will instantly give your soul a lift.  Try something new, dance is a fun way to incorporate movement it is also a very spiritual practice that enriches the soul and takes on many forms.

    Pick a new sport to participate in, this will not only facilitate your physical motion but can broaden your emotional connection to others in a communal atmosphere that is so healthy for the souls expansion.
     
    Move your mind.

    As you think, so you are!

    Keep in mind that you ingest thoughts daily like medicinal pills prescribed in your mental garden, you take them and they become the practitioners of your perspectives.  There is power in what and how you think.  Take a moment to practice conscious thinking, cultivate a thought life that is regularly exercised, read, engage in conversations, watch and listen to sources of wealth that encourage personal growth.

    It is not always easy especially when tough times arise but living in awareness can keep you actively seeking out the betterment of self. 

    Travel.  This is of course a physical transit but the impact on ones mind is far more reaching. It creates dimension, interchangeable experiences that grow your mind, inspire your soul and renew the mundane thought life that sometimes precedes routine.  

    Meet new people, create experiences that become contributors to your world!  This diversifies your life scope, allows an exchange of knowledge as you learn from others and enhance confidence if you step out of your comfort zones.   
    Create a to do list and highlight every completed task. This is a practical measure of accountability and will move your mentality into a confident place of accomplishment.  Every accomplishment will feed your internal narrative and replace a redundant surrender with a rewarding self assurance - mental shift!
     
    Move your spirit

    Engage with your passions. 

    At the core of you there lives an answer to your existence.  There are things that bring you to Life! Shake your soul up and cultivate love, find those things and pursue every element of fulfilment through them.  The sentiment that ‘we all have a purpose, that there is more to life’ is not just a sweet saying it arrives from the reality that we exist beyond what we see.

    Cultivate your faith. 

    Spiritual practices or spiritual disciplines have kept humanity evolving since the beginning of time. Prayer, meditation, ceremonies, rituals, instruments of connection that enhance your link to God, the knowledge of self are all vital components to our sustenance.

    Spirituality and your spiritual life also include your daily interactions with other people.

    Eat well.  Food is such a spiritual undertaking,  though it grows our bodies, entices our sensory system via taste buds looking deeper into what we eat as a whole highlights the living energy source we connect with in order to draw nutritional life.  Choose living foods to fuel a living body!

    Spiritual development is the growth of a person as a whole! 




    `The most important thing to remember is every step counts, MOVE, allow your entire world to shift ...





     

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