Law of attraction - Power of thoughts1 (FR)

Today, I've decided to talk about the Law of Attraction.

It is something I discovered a couple of years ago, that really helped me understand that living a harmonious life is not about not having problems, but more about knowing how to wisely handle them, not attracting more of them and showing profound gratitude for the wonderful things I have in my life!

I have to say that in times of despair, this is something that can really help people figure things out, sort out what's important, make the right choices and change a life for the better.

So.... I've decided to share a little bit of what I know. I'm such a scholar that I've actually compiled it into different "themes" that will each be the object of a video. I hope this can be helpful to a person, someday, somewhere!

Enjoy!!!!

Week 1: DIY Facial for sensitive and acne prone skin

Some of my close friends know that I've been going through some "sensitive" times with my skin for about a couple of years. Well, it started when I had my first baby, which was about the same time I moved back to Africa.


Doctors maintained that it was because of all the hormones I had from pregnancy and climate change; basically, that I was worried about nothing and that my skin would get back to normal at some point.


Well, I've waited for "at some point" and it never showed up. So I'm taking matters into my own hands.


My goal: silky smooth skin. I'm turning 31 this year and isn't 31 the new 20? Well, it should.


OK - so back to my skincare regimen. Instead of continue trying out every face cream, gel or wash possible, I've decided to create my own skincare regimen. It's a one-month plan, divided into 4 weekly facials.


This is week 1: Facial inspired from Middle Eastern beauty products. I like to call it "Arabian facial".

2012 Resolutions, finally out!

I had written this down earlier this year. These are behaviors, thought processes and goals I would like to achieve for this year. By posting them out to the world, they become more concrete and, somehow, I have to get myself to consciously get them done. We are in march, only 9 months to go to success.

These are my ten new resolutions for 2012!

1)   Love myself wholly and unconditionally

2)   Be more adventurous and try out new things

3)   Truly take advantage of what is available in the city where I live, whether it’s food, beauty products, amenities, services and stop wanting what I had in the past ; in other words : ADAPT

4)   Give more attention to my external beauty and create a new beauty care regimen

5)   Cut my hair and start from scratch – Clause : Use at little chemicals as possible and monitor my hair growth using a new and effective hair care routine

6)   Same goes for my body and my face (skincare and make up)

7)   Allow myself to be successful in everything that I do and apply myself to get it done

8)   Surround myself with positive people both in my personal and professional life/choices

9)   Never, ever act out of fear - but on the other hand, never allow my ego to guide my decisions

10)  Allow myself to be generous to everyone, not to judge and to be the best mother I can be for my babygirls and the best wife to my loving husband.

Le magazine pro du jour : magazine féminin

Le magazine pro du jour : magazine féminin

Saturday morning routine

Hello everyone!


So most mothers and girls of African descent, whether they're africans, african-americans, some latinas, and even those originally from the northern part of African, know that hair ritual for our daughters is something to take very seriously.


Actually, for us, beautiful hair is kinda always an issue!


We're told, from our youngest of age, that kinky, coarse, curly, thick hair is too difficult to manage - and more often than not, we are taught not to like our kind of hair. The term "bad hair" is sometimes used.


My two precious babies are no exception to the rule. At first, I was too lazy to really sit down and comb their (really) unruly hair. In Africa, nice nannies would do that for you - no extra cost! So that's what I did at first. But then, I would notice that whenever they would get their hair braided, my girls would often just cry and cry. Since they would call for me to come "help" them, I just thought they were just being capricious. I had forgotten that I went through the same thing when I was their age and how painful the process can be.


But what really rang a bell in my head what they I would hear the nannies tell the girls how they hair was difficult to manage, that I should probably think of having it chemically relaxed, and overall, the nannies - with all their good will - were just not very gentle.


So this is how my saturday morning hair routine started!

Today's no exception. I took the girls' girly baby vanities full of hair bands, barrettes, and all kinds of fantasy hair accessories - most of them in the favorite color of girl-land: pink and purple! I didn't have time to blink my eyes that the girls threw everything on the bed and started mixing their pick of the day - while watching Disney Channel's "The ten princesses of Disney". Their hair still wet, I proceeded mixing natural oils and butters, creams, leave in conditioners and what not, to allow brushing without tangling the tresses.

The tools

At the end, they were all pretty and precious. And for me, I just bought myself some ( hair ) peace.... until next saturday! :-))

Just one photo of Babygirl 2 because braiding her hair is much more of a challenge. Let's just say that she's a bit more "patience" challenged. Then again, she's only 2 y old! ;-)

The finished looks

Magazine INA en ligne

Actrice Nadine Al Rassi en cover d'INA

Ina Magazine offre des séances de fitness aux gagnants de son jeu-concours

Here's one article published by APA NEWS (Agence de presse africaine):
Sénégal-Medias-Prix

APA-Dakar (Sénégal)

Cinq personnes tirées au sort ont reçu dimanche un abonnement mensuel gratuit en fitness et musculation, offert par le journal INA Magazine en partenariat avec Health Fitness Club de Dakar, suite à un jeu-concours.

« On a un agenda qui est positionné sur les femmes actives de catégorie socio professionnelle supérieure véritablement épanouies et accomplies aussi bien familialement, professionnellement que socialement », a fait remarquer Mme Stéphanie Nadal, conseillère en communication du magazine INA, lors de la cérémonie de remise des prix du jeu-concours, dimanche dans un hôtel de Dakar.

Lancé au mois de septembre 2011, le bimensuel panafricain INA (distribué au Sénégal et au Gabon), compte étendre sa zone de distribution en Afrique en mettant en valeur l’image de la nouvelle femme africaine, a confié Mme Stéphanie Nadal, conseillère en communication du journal.

Mme Nadal a indiqué que les deux pages sport du journal ont pour ambition de donner aux femmes quelques astuces pour des séances d’exercices qu’elles peuvent faire chez elles. « Tout naturellement, on s’est rapproché du Fitness Club qui avait ce type d’activité et qui est devenu notre sponsor », a-t-elle dit. La gérante de la salle de sport, Mme Evangeline Farhat, souligne que « INA est intervenue dans ce sens pour promouvoir la salle et les professeurs. Chaque deux mois, les professeurs proposent des séances d’entrainement adaptés à toutes personnes désireuses de travailler sa taille, ses abdominaux, ses fesses.

C’est dans ce sens que nous avons organisé ce jeu concours et cinq personnes ont gagné par tirage au sort un abonnement mensuel. On essayera de le faire deux ou trois fois par an pour que tout le monde se retrouve amicalement et sportivement ».

 ML/od/APA 2012-03-12 13:13:46

FREE membership fitness classes with INA and HFC

Hello everyone! 


Some of you may know that I own a women magazine here in Senegal - well, it's actually for all african women living in the continent or the diaspora. Actually, it talks about issues touching every woman so it should be interesting to all of them... but one niche at a time, please!!!! 


It's been hard at times, but fun most of the time because I absolutely loooove what I do. 


Last month, via the website www.magazineina.com, we posted a partnership with a fitness club here in Dakar, that wanted more and more people to find out about their new amenities. So, we launched this game. People just had to send a mail and to express their interest in participating, and a few of them would actually get picked to get free memberships, free access to cool classes: yoga, hip hop, pilates (loooove pi-la-tes!). 


Sooo, as I was climbing sand dunes this past sunday, my friend and co-INAer Stéphanie was actually job-ing at the Savanna Hotel with the people of the fitness club - by the way, it's called Health Fitness Club. They had a huge thing (about a thousand members of the club) coming together over a big lunch, tons of games and other funs stuff.... and, the INA winners got to get their prizes. Since it is AFRICAN STYLE, some of them didn't show up and sent me all kinds of mails to apologize and ask if they could still win (to be continued on that one). But apparently, it was great time. So great that the press diffused the news on the web. Next, I'll post the article published by APA NEWS (Agence Africane de Presse)... See ya!

Here, the HFC page on www.magazineina.com 

(people can still enter and get a chance to win!!!)

Nadine al Rassi, famous lebanese actress, exclusive interview on INA

Open publication - Free publishing - More cinema

Sneak preview of INA magazine - on cover, the Lebanese actress Nadine al Rassi

Open publication - Free publishing - More fashion

Nine-hour walk, from Dakar to Lac Rose

Sunday 11 march

So this past sunday, I decided to go out of my comfort zone by getting into something most of my friends judged as simply crazy. 

Ok, I live in Dakar (Senegal) and from where I stay (Fann Résidence) to the lac Rose, it's apparently about 42 km. Basically, we left at around 6:45AM and started walking for EVER until reaching the lac, which, by the way, REALLY is pinkish.

Now, for the walk itself. It took us almost 9 hours of straight walking the coast line to reach our destination. At first, the morning chill made it quite comfortable and it almost felt too easy. The group was composed of the four people you see below + me. 

Dev, Laurence, Moses and Noémie

(picture above)

From the left, Dev (in red t-shirt) - Indian but he's actually lived in many places in Africa. He's our guide, the initiator of this adventure. Very cool and chilled guy, from my opinion.

Then, next to him, Laurence. A French girl, very nice, easy going, who's only been here for a few weeks and is not planning on staying longer than three or four months. 

Next: Moses - Ok, I thought at first "What a peculiar name for someone who clearly isn't a jew". But, that judgment quickly disappeared because I felt he was the coolest of the whole group. His life is fascinating (for the parts I understood of it). He's basically from Hong Kong, has lived in Japan for some parts of his childhood and has travelled around quite a lot. He's been in Dakar since last week I suppose, coming from Cape Verde by boat, and was in Ireland before that. He was the true adventurer of us all. It was actually nice to meet someone to truly want to live his life and allow the universe to show him the beauty of diversity and of people.

Last but not least was Noémie. She's a cool, young, French volunteer here. The first thing I noticed was her look - her hair in particular. She has a head full of thick dread locks and seems to not try to complicate life but actually live it, one day at a time, enjoying the enjoyable moments.

I guess I was the most normal of them all - or, shall I say, the most boring. My wife and mom routine certainly is not the profile one might expect from this type of eccentric, free-living group. But, I didn't ask myself and went along with the flow.

** The Walk **

The first couple of hours of the walk were actually nice. We took turns talking to one another, asking the preliminary questions to make ourselves opinions about who were our counterparts. After that, my body started to feel that this was serious business. I mean, my legs felt tingly at some point, then my lower back started hurting, then it was my right leg's turn to act up. Basically, my entire body was screaming "What the heck are you doing to me?"

I took it as a good sign that I should persevere. Challenges are always good and I was happy to know that if I felt something, even if it was pain, that it was just proof that this whole thing was worth doing. And I was right, because, once I started thinking positive, all pain stopped and everything that remained was just the bliss of witnessing "live" the beauty of nature: the beach, the blue sky, the purity of the air I was breathing, the forest, the white sand. It wasn't all perfect, because at times, there was dirt left around, dead fish corpses laying around, bones and all. But all in all, I just took it as the way nature works. With all its imperfections, I could see beauty and the magnificent work of God.

Me, white sand dunes in the background

Nine hours later, we were finally there. The lake was pink as promised. We stopped at a small hotel. It was actually quite unexpected. Like a weird oasis that normally shouldn't be there. Oh, I forgot: we were greeted by a young local guy who was just standing there, on top of the last dune, trying to see us tourist stuff. It was funny because so unexpected. I mean, how many people does he actually see coming from Dakar by foot to justify his presence and the probability that some of his stuff might be bought by one of our exhausted selves. Any who, it makes for nice anecdotes.

Well, it's pretty late now and it's time for me to hit the bed. Overall, my experience was nice and exotic. Definitely not for the woosies though. Lady, precious divas - abstain from it because you might break a nail!

Special thanks to Dev!

Camels - just chilling under the heat

"Women in Charge" (part 1)

I sat down with the beautiful TV host Zara Sow of Africa 7 "Women in Charge" program.


Check out my short hair.... Why do I look so serious? Lol.

Glowing beach make-up tutorial

Hello Everyone!

So, we just came back from a two-day trip out of Dakar. We went to our friend and director of a resort hotel located a couple of hours away from the city. It is heaven on earth. We actually saw wild horses, cows and what not on the road... these animals are part of the decor. What do I say? They're part of the community, and they do not mind cars driving by. Our girls went crazy. It was hilarious.

The whole ride, I had my computer on my lap, watching old videos of NYC's FNO (from a couple of years back), and music videos on iTunes! The girls were in the back, watching Dora and Strawberry Shortcake on their own mini-computer, and hubby... I don't know.... he was probably on the phone, trying to catch up on work. Thankfully, none of us had to drive. Sène the chauffeur  kindly did that for us.

For those who do not know, a baobab tree is commonly known as the tree of life. It usually provides all the survival food, shelter, water for people and animals in savannah regions - which is exactly what that area of Senegal is. It has a huge bark and it is fire resistant. Its fruits are called "monkey bread" and it's full of good stuff like Vitamin C. The trees themselves can apparently last hundreds of years....

week-end at beach resort.mov

In this video, my family and I enjoy a nice relaxing time at a beach resort.

Family week-end at the BAOBAB resort

Hello Everyone!


So, we just came back from a two-day trip out of Dakar. We went to our friend and director of a resort hotel located a couple of hours away from the city. It is heaven on earth. We actually saw wild horses, cows and what not on the road... these animals are part of the decor. What do I say? They're part of the community, and they do not mind cars driving by. Our girls went crazy. It was hilarious.


The whole ride, I had my computer on my lap, watching old videos of NYC's FNO (from a couple of years back), and music videos on iTunes! The girls were in the back, watching Dora and Strawberry Shortcake on their own mini-computer, and hubby... I don't know.... he was probably on the phone, trying to catch up on work. Thankfully, none of us had to drive. Sène the chauffeur  kindly did that for us.


For those who do not know, a baobab tree is commonly known as the tree of life. It usually provides all the survival food, shelter, water for people and animals in savannah regions - which is exactly what that area of Senegal is. It has a huge bark and it is fire resistant. Its fruits are called "monkey bread" and it's full of good stuff like Vitamin C. The trees themselves can apparently last hundreds of years....


Here's my relaxation family week-end. Enjoy!

My Diary (now after then)

Hello Everyone,

First I’d like to (re)introduce myself. My name’s Renée. I started blogging a few years ago. I posted a couple of articles, but then, almost suddenly, my life completely changed, and I stopped blogging. In reality, I think I didn’t have the maturity to start something like that, that requires dedication and discipline. And, more importantly, I needed to have something interesting to say.

Back then, I lived in New York. I’ve actually lived in every New York neighborhood (or almost in): in Spanish Harlem, in Queens - the Korean/Greek neighborhood part of Queens, in the Upper West Side – Manhattan, and before leaving the States to come back to Africa, I was living in Brooklyn, in the artsy area of Clinton Washington. What’s great about living in NYC is the availability and promiscuity with everything : eating fusion argentinan-japanese sushi in the middle of the night, going to see Swan Lake at the theatre on Friday night before going to small, smoky free style jazz concert downtown, and getting fresh vegetables and bread at the farmers market in Union Square during the week-end before meeting up girlfriends for a nice window shopping in the 3 B’s (Barney, Bendel & Bloomingdales) after brunch.

Shopping is second nature of any new-yorker, whether (s)he realizes it or not. Simply because needs are constantly created at the sight of the latest ad campaign inciting us to get the new (magical) face cream that will make our skin glow like never before. So I, predictibly, became a lover of shopping – just for the sake of shopping. The Japanese have their tea ceremony ; I had Soho.

Now, a few years later, this life seems long past. I’m now a mom of two wonderfully girly daughters and wife of a very seriously professional man, who values work ethnics and result-productivity…. I still can’t believe we make a good match and, to this day, that we’re still in love because we’re soooo different ! Maybe, it’s because we never get bored… who knows; but it works.

Nonetheless, life in Africa has been quite a lot adaptation. 

Remember that movie « Lost in translation »? This is how I often feel in this microcosme of pseudo-modern Africa, where tradition and modernity often clash, leading to a weird cocktail that actually finally works (once you’ve grasped the do’s and donts and whys). After all, I am African.  I’m supposed to be completely fluent in « weird » (yes, it is a language !). But I sometimes need to just go to an empty room, close the door, and scream the hell out of my lungs to decompress. Hence, the decision to go back to blogging ! I hope this diary won’t just be about stuff that makes me mad ; actually, I want it to be more of a testimony of what it is to be a modern African woman, who has lived most of her adult life out of the continent, and who has come back with her head full of illusions and fantasies, and who is now facing the reality of her people.

OF COURSE, I’ll also speak about style and fashion. I'll share my little DIY secrets. When I first got back to Africa, I was very disappointed at the lack of beauty products available here. Once I ran out of my NY stock, I felt helpless. Plus, there was this hot weather that did not help at all feel glamorous. But with time, I've learned to adapt; to do with the products I found, to create, mix my own products, and (it's actually a good thing), to use natural ingredients. Talk about green behavior! Yeah!

So, this blog's about me, about everything that I like:  fashion, beauty, sometimes I may talk about my kids, about other women living similar situations as me… well, I’ll talk about everything. 

I may write in French and in English, depending on my mood. This'd be a good excuse for you to learn one or the other if you're not already fluent in it. Somehow, for some topics, English comes naturally, but for others, my francophone self seems to push its way out and impose itself. We’ll see. Hopefully, it’ll all be fun !