I’ve been belligerent about representation lately, especially when it comes to beauty and cosmetics.

Nowadays when I shop for make up, I pay extra attention to marketing and the type of models used – something I never cared about. However as my make up collection has grown, so has my awareness of how the beauty industry isn’t doing enough to make certain groups, namely South Asians, feel included.

It almost felt too much to ask for; a brand with these groups and complexions in mind. That is until, Luscious Cosmetics got in touch.

“They want to see you do good but never better than them. Remember that.”

It’s not the most empowering of quotes but it came to mind when I thought about International Women’s Day. The world may be fighting for female equality, but it’s important to acknowledge the societal pitfalls that hinders real progress – and the fact that women may be at fault.

I know this is what you’ve been waiting for – me spilling all that relationship tea.

As a blogger, you are your own boss. You’re able to carve out the career you want by choosing the content you put up and the projects you want to associate yourself with.

There isn’t a manual when it comes to issues like outgrowing your current offering and how to best oversee a rebrand. But despite it all, this is exactly what I did in 2017 after going back and forth on whether this was the right thing to do.

Oh fitness, you and I have had an arduous relationship. However in 2017, as odd as it sounds, walking gave me both perspective and a perky bum.

I didn’t quite achieve the most important goal I had set myself for 2017, which was a bit of a downer. However I did begin to understand what I needed to do in order to potentially be a step closer in 2018.

The notification on my phone stopped me in my tracks. It read: ‘Explosion at New York’s Port Authority bus terminal was “attempted terrorist attack.”‘

Immediately a thousand thoughts ran rampant in my mind over the weekend. Did anyone die? Where do my family and friends work? Where is Port Authority?!

I have been dying for a spa break and Bath was my destination for this year’s birthday. Normally I find myself jetting off abroad, but with my buddy in tow, we drove and made our way to Somerset!

If you had to create a menu of delicious food for a street party, what would you make? That was the challenge Grace Foods set bloggers in the lead up to Caribbean Food Week.

Henry Miller said “Writing is its own reward” –  something I’m sure the Women’s Writes Network agrees with.

What’s surprising however is the number of women of colour who possess this talent but haven’t tapped into it.

So to address this gap, myself and two friends, Hasina and Priya, decided to develop workshops to help these women. The BBC Asian Network were interested in the Women’s Writes Network and invited us on air to find out more.

You can listen to the full interview above (and listen to me blank out live on air… so embarrassing!)