Category: Lifestyle

Chris Pratt turns up at Justin Bieber’s Hillsong Church

Newly single star Chris Pratt stepped out Wednesday not for a night of clubbing — please, that’s so cliché — but for a service at Hillsong Church’s L.A. location.

While the openly religious Guardians of the Galaxy actor is now a box office heavyweight, worshipers at the downtown venue are used to seeing famous faces in the pews. Justin Bieber is such a regular that, in July, he accidentally ran his pickup truck into a paparazzo camped out there to snap a photo of him. In fact, both Bieber and another repeat visitor, Kourtney Kardashian, were in attendance the night Pratt visited. Hailey Baldwin, Vanessa Hudgens, and several of Kourtney’s famous sisters have been spotted at the church, either at its location in L.A. or New York City.

Hillsong, which now has dozens of locations worldwide, has basically arrived when it comes to the Hollywood set.

Pratt was casual in jeans and boots for the service he attended, fancy even compared with some of the looks Bieber has worn to Hillsong. While the place of worship doesn’t have a dress code, it does have rock bands belting out Christian songs and people who post to Snapchat and Instagram from inside.

Even after the accident that occurred while leaving there, Bieber has reportedly turned to the evangelical Hillsong following the sudden cancellation in July of the final 14 dates for his “Purpose” tour. Bieber’s longtime manager, Scooter Braun, said the cancellation was for Bieber’s “soul and well being,” and the Biebs quickly went to Hillsong in the aftermath.

“He’s been going to church and has been hanging out with his church crew,” a source told People the day Bieber left some fans brokenhearted.

Bieber is close with Hillsong’s Pastor Carl Lentz, of the NYC location, who baptized the singer in 2014 as he was going through a particularly tough time. Lentz described the experience as “probably one of the most special things I’ve been a part of” to Oprah Winfrey on an October 2016 episode of Super Soul Sunday.

“He’s serious,” Lentz said. “Look at Justin, he’s a work in progress. He’s never said he’s perfect. He’s never said he is the representation of Christianity, but I’m proud of him for admitting he’s a Christian in the middle of… and knowing he’s gonna have more problems.”

Source:

September 16, 2017
Iriba Bar and Terrace, a buzz of entertainment in the heart of Kigali

From Monday to Sunday, you can find a fun-filled and lively atmosphere every evening at the Kigali Marriott Hotel’s Iriba Bar and Terrace.

From Ladies Night to Happy Hour to Jazz Night to Shisha Night, guests can enjoy a memorable experience of the 5-star hotel’s world-class services, with most nights offering spectacular drinks specials.

“Our Happy Hour and Ladies Night offer a great ambience and drink offers. Guests receive 50% off house wine, two for one on selected regional or local bottled beers. Our team has also created a menu of specialty cocktails for only Rwf4,000 each,” says Buddhika Mahesh, Assistant Director of Food and Beverage at Kigali Marriott Hotel.

With the state-of-art service model, guests enjoy even more as they mingle and dance in a relaxing environment.

“Our entertainment is part of our service. We are generating live music and more for our guests to enjoy their evenings without any additional charge. It is an additional service that we provide to our customers to give them an unforgettable experience,” says Mahesh who is also in charge of the hotel’s entertainment.

He says each of the four entertainment nights at Iriba Bar and Terrace has a different feel.

Happy Hour, Monday-Friday, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Everyone needs refreshment after a busy day. Two hours at Iriba’s Happy Hour gives you the chance to refresh with your favourite drink and friends before heading home to rest. Enjoy discounts on bottled beer, house wine, and cocktails all served in full-service environment to unwind after work.

Jazz Night, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8pm-11pm

Jazz Night is your top choice for a relaxing time. A smooth jazz ensemble plays all through the night, creating a “chilled out” vibe. You can mingle with a drink as you listen to background music.

Ladies Night, Thursdays, 6pm-10:30pm

Perfect for a girls night out in the city, Ladies Night offers 50% off house wine, two for one on bottled beers, a specialty cocktail menu, and a live band ready to electrify the evening. “This one is different. Ladies Night is music, dance, relaxation, and a lot of fun. Ladies come to have a fun time at Iriba’s bar or terrace. They can drink as much as they want with their friends, and we also have a beautiful band playing great music,” says Mahesh.

The latest introduction to Kigali Marriott’s entertainment evenings is Shisha Night, happening every day from 6pm to 1am at Iriba Terrace. The hotel offers shisha in five different flavours at only Rwf6,000, giving shisha lovers a great many options.

Mahesh says to young people in particular, “Don’t shy away from the Kigali Marriott Hotel. We have great service, reasonable prices, facilities that are beautiful, new and modern, and more activities than anybody else in the town. Everyone is welcome to come to the hotel and enjoy all the entertainment we have to offer.”

Kigali Marriott Hotel is located in the city centre not far from Kigali City Council offices. The five-star hotel is a part of Marriott International which is present in more than 122 countries and territories with more than 6,000 properties globally.

July 26, 2017
Exaucer Boutique introduces power balance bracelet in Kigali

Rwanda’s local market has become the first in Africa to have Power Balance Bracelet, the hologram-embedded band which is worn on the wrist to balance body powers, enhance flexibility and strength.

Power Balance Bracelet is widely used in the United States of America and Canada but little is known about it in Africa.

Ezlase Esdras, sales manager and representative of Exaucer Boutique in Rwanda, says they decided to bring this bracelet to Rwanda after realizing its importance especially for people who do sports and elderly people who suffer rheumatism.

“The shop has been opened by Rwanda national living abroad who has used the bracelet for seven years. Power balance bracelet balances the body powers to prevent joints shaking and tiredness during sports. It also improves blood circulation and relieves stress,” he says.

Power balance bracelet is so important to people above 40 years old especially those suffering from rheumatism and obesity.

Usage of the bracelet

Power balance bracelet is in use in US and Canada since 2010. The bracelet has been proved to be important in regulating blood circulation, improving sleeping quality and mitigating effects of radiation resulting from contacts with electronics.

Who should use the bracelet?

Sports lovers need most power balance bracelet to keep their powers balanced and constant to help with proper blood circulation and prevent pains in the joints.

The plastic bracelet has no bad effects to human body and can always be worn everywhere even in the swimming pool.

“Some people use narcotic drugs which harm their body while trying to gain strength. This bracelet has no effects but makes one feel relaxed. If someone usually runs 15 kilometres per hour, the bracelet will help do the same distance while the body is in good mood with good heart beat and devoid of pain in joints,” says Ezlas.

Elderly and overweight people should use the bracelet to help balance powers, prevent rheumatism as well as hardworking people to de-stress.

The bracelet’s material

Power balance is made in minerals and magnet that help body by optimizing the body’s natural energy flow.

Premises of Exaucer Boutique

Exaucer Boutique is located in Kigali city’s downtown, CHIC building, B1, C64 room, just beneath BK branch. The boutique is open from 8am to 8.30pm from Monday to Saturday.

For further information, interested retailers and buyers can phone us on +250 788 668 080
You can also email us to bikedras@gmail.com

July 23, 2017
“Food is the core part of a healthy life” F&B professional Awanish Joshi
It’s a reality most people tend to forget, but our entire body relies on what we consume, from brochettes to broccoli. Depending on our views, we may choose to live by or ignore the phrase “we are what we eat,” but our blood, bones, cells, cholesterol, hormones, and more depend on the vitamins and minerals we intake from food and beverage.

Speaking to IGIHE, Awanish Joshi, a F&B professional hailing from India, revealed how people can stay healthy while avoiding bad eating habits which lead to many health problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

After exploring various countries and a great many culinary experiences for about eight years, Awanish arrived in Kigali in March to take up responsibilities as the Executive Sous Chef of Kigali Marriott Hotel.

“Food is a core part of life, and a good balance of food and exercise is needed to keep happy and healthy,” he observed, “The key takeaway is moderation. You can enjoy cakes, alcohols, and red meats, but it is important to balance these rich foods with other healthy, nutritious foods.”

Awanish added, “We recommend eating seafood that is high in omega-3s as they positively contribute to your overall health. For those with sensitive stomachs, many teas aid in digestion. At Kigali Marriott, we’re happy to give guests options to eat well. For example, our brunches offer a “healthy corner” with many salads and fruits that provide essential vitamins and minerals.”

In addition to his favourite dish of chicken korma (braised chicken with Indian spices and flavoured yogurt) accompanied with German Riesling wine, Awanish says Rwanda has many delicious foods he has enjoyed tasting.

“I like Kigali so much. It is a clean, beautiful, and very interesting city with a great culture. The local foods here are tasty and fresh. Goat meat is quite tender here. I enjoy brochettes with ibirayi (potatoes), matoke, dodo, mizuzu, and Rwandan goat stew,” he said.

Awanish invites all food lovers to the Kigali Marriott to enhance their culinary experience and explore international cuisines delivered by the 5-star hotel’s highly talented chefs.

In its Soko Restaurant, Kigali Marriott offers colourful Theme Nights on weekday evenings and a fun-filled Weekend Brunch to cap off the week.
- Kigali Marriott Hotel offers delectable Weekend Brunch, Theme Nights
July 21, 2017
Kigali Marriott Hotel offers delectable Weekend Brunch, Theme Nights

Food lovers and weekend revellers now have a range of options to spice up their days, nights, and weekends, thanks to Kigali Marriott Hotel’s Weekend Brunch and Theme Nights.

The five-star hotel offers mouth-watering and flavoursome cuisines, served by a brigade of professional chefs endowed with experience from all corners of the world.

Awanish Joshi joined Kigali Marriott as the Executive Sous Chef four months ago after exploring various countries and tasting a great many culinary offerings for almost eight years.

“It’s time to introduce new flavours to Kigali. We’re showcasing a wide range of dishes from Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, Western to African cuisine,” says Awanish.

In its Soko Restaurant, Kigali Marriott offers colourful Theme Nights on weekday evenings and a fun-filled Weekend Brunch to cap off the week.

Weekend Brunch dishes

Weekend brunches take place on Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am to 4.00pm. International dishes include:

• A live barbeque grill with a choice of seafood, meat, and poultry
• Live Asian noodles station
• Carving station
• A variety of pasta dishes
• A selection of international cheeses
• Homemade bread rolls and loaves
• A ‘Healthy Corner’ featuring a salad bar, compound salads, and antipasti
• An international breakfast counter that includes fresh fruits, cereals, flavored
yogurts, breakfast pastries, waffles, and pancakes
• A delicious dessert station with cakes, pastries, and other treats
• Ice cream station

The newest and most exciting addition to Kigali Marriott’s weekend brunch is its extravagant champagne option.

“We’re the first hotel in Kigali to offer a champagne brunch,” says Awanish, adding that all brunches carry with them free swimming pool access, giving families and groups of friends a great day out. Kids can also play in the newly opened bouncy castle to burn off that extra weekend energy.

Theme Nights features

Kigali citizens looking to spice up their week nights need look no further. The Kigali Marriott now offers three theme nights featuring amazing Indian, Asian, and African food.

Inspiring Indian Theme Night explores the authentic flavours of signature Indian dishes such as succulent Tandoori kebabs, fragrant biryanis, spicy curries, and Indian breads from an interactive open-plan kitchen.

“Don’t forget to complete your dinner with a sweet choice from our tasty Indian desserts selection,” Awanish observes.

Diners can choose from a host of main dishes that includes murgh makhni (butter chicken), mutton rogan josh (Indian mutton curry), Amritsari fish, biryani, mushroom jalfrezi, dal tadka, tandoori chicken, lamb kebab, fish tikka, among others.

Authentic Asian Theme Night boasts Far East delicacies for ones who love feasting on delicious Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Thai cuisine. Main dishes consist of sushi, dim sum, fresh seafood, salads, a carving station, as well as a selection of desserts with an Asian flair.

Appetizing African Theme Night proudly features traditional African food with authentic Rwandan and East African tastes under one roof in Soko Restaurant. Hungry guests can indulge in grilled meats (beef, goat, chicken, or fish), Rwandan goat stew, African beef stew, mchuzi wa samaki, chicken maffe, neboke, iainari, sambaza, isombe, chapatti, and more.

“We have many talented local chefs who ensure the food is top notch at our African Theme Night. Our Chef Innocent takes the lead on our Rwandan cuisine, bringing an authentic touch” says Awanish.

When it comes to food at the Kigali Marriott, guests are spoiled for culinary choices that extend beyond the buffet. Soko Restaurant also offers signature a la carte options. Diners looking for a more intimate option can visit Cucina Restaurant which serves the best authentic Italian cuisine in Kigali.

Having opened its doors in Kigali City centre last year, the five-star Kigali Marriott Hotel is a subsidiary of Marriott International which is present in over 110 countries with more than 6,000 hotels globally.

July 18, 2017
Kigali Marriott’s Saray Spa offers unique relaxation services

Saray Spa is an oasis that awakens and inspires. From the moment you enter its doors, you will taste the comforts of this world class spa – a welcoming, attentive staff, private treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas, fitness centre and pool.

Elina Bamulanje, experienced spa services professional and Recreation Supervisor at Kigali Marriott Hotel, says the five-star hotel has the best spa services in Kigali thanks to its wide range of experiences and specialized treatment rooms, including dedicated relaxation room for guests to enjoy before or after treatments.

“Kigali Marriott’s Saray Spa’s team consists of professionals and has equipment that meets international standards. We offer a relaxation room which is unique to the spa services in the country. The room makes one feel different after relaxation,” says Bamulanje.

From Swedish massages and aromatherapy, to facials and body wraps, Saray Spa offers a variety of treatments that relax and rejuvenate.

Massages

Saray Spa offers detox massages, face and scalp massages, hot stone massages, deep tissue massages, Swedish massages, foot massages, Indian head massages, back of body massages, aromatherapy and reflexology. These massages help detoxify the body, release tension and aches, dispel stress, release blocked energy and take one into the state of balance and harmony.

There is also a couple’s massage that releases fatigue and stress from one’s body in a uniquely set room that enables a couple to be served at the same time. For expectant mothers, a pre-natal massage serves as an inspiration therapy that connects mother and baby through the power of touch.

Body scrubs and wraps

A lemon and mint scrub allows minerals in the Dead Sea salt to penetrate the skin and rid it of impurities while the vitamins in the lemon revitalize the body.

The papaya scrub is blended with pure papaya fruit to dissolve dead surface cells, unclog pore openings and smooth the way for clear skin to surface while a gentle refining action uncovers the skin’s natural brightness for a younger-looking complexion.

Guests can also treat themselves to rose, orange or coffee scrubs that renew the skin, purge impurities and create a healthy complexion.

The Dead Sea mud natural wrap renews one’s wellbeing and imparts a natural feeling while the Dead Sea mud coffee wrap helps renew oneself with an energised and relaxed body.

Facials

The Saray Signature facial is an essential part of any skin care regimen as it combines natural botanicals, vitamins, anti-oxidants and plant derived proteins to nourish and revitalize the skin. This is enhanced with a specialised mask customised to the client’s skin type and a relaxing head, shoulder, and neck massage.

The Day Rejuvenation facial was created for those who want to brighten their day. The rejuvenating ingredients are formulated to refresh, revitalise, and reveal healthy looking skin.

The Acne Control treatment is formulated to restore the skin and open pores, reducing bacterial build up. The process gently sweeps away dead skin and leaves guests with softer, smoother and clearer skin.

Opening times

Saray Spa treatments are available from 9am – 9pm everyday with sessions lasting between 30 and 90 minutes. The fitness centre is open 24 hours and provides access to experienced fitness consultants to help guests achieve their health goals. The steam room and sauna are accessible from 6am – 10pm for those who enjoy a different sort of pampering. And for those aquatically inclined, the swimming pool is open from 6am – 7pm.

Great discounts

The Saray Spa’s services are affordable and carry with them a discount on other hotel’s offerings. Annual gym members are entitled to discounts such as 10% off on other spa services, 20% off food and beverage, 15% off laundry and 10% off guest rooms.

For further information, please visit: www.kigalimarriott.com

You can also send an email to sarayspa.kigali@marriott.com or call +250 222 111 111.

July 5, 2017
Do you want to be attractive?Research has found that attraction isn’t all about looks

A lot of men and women want to be attractive and they believe attraction is tied to their looks, but attractiveness isn’t just a matter of good looks, but also the right voice and scent, a recent study has found.

“Recently, most reviews have focused on visual attractiveness — for example, face or body attractiveness,” says Agata Groyecka, lead author of the review and a researcher at the University of Wroclaw in Poland. “However, literature about other senses and their role in social relations has grown rapidly and should not be neglected.”

Groyecka and her team of researchers combed through over 30 years of literature to provide a brief overview of the few studies that have looked into the role of voice and scent.

They discovered that the nose and ears are just as important as the eyes in noticing how attractive someone is. “Perceiving others through all three channels gives a more reliable and broader variety of information about them,” says Groyecka.

Perceived attractiveness impacts day-to-day life in a variety of ways, influencing not only romantic relationships, but also friendships and professional interactions. Without incorporating such information, psychological studies of everyday decision making and social communication can’t capture the whole picture. Groyecka’s review also highlights a variety of proposed evolutionary explanations for these multisensory aspects of attraction, such as the utility of having traits that can be detected both from a distance (voice and looks), as well as up close (scent).

“I hope that this review will inspire researchers to further explore the role of audition and olfaction in social relations,” says Groyecka.

This mini review is found in Frontiers in Psychology.

Source:Elcrema

June 3, 2017
22 things you should stop doing to yourself

I’ve come to understand that life is valuable, and it’s even more valuable when you understand that each second spent, is a time that can never be replaced — so each second spent is either being invested or wasted.

Unfortunately, many people spend their time doing terrible things to themselves, to their minds and to their bodies.

This article will focus on the terrible things you should stop doing to your mind.

Your mind will always believe and act on what you feed it with; feed it with the right things and it’ll produce the right results, feed it with the wrong things and it’ll produce the wrong results.

These are 22 things you stop doing to yourself:

1. Stop trying to be someone else; it’s a waste of who you are.

2. Stop lying to yourself; deceiving yourself is the height of foolishness that will take you nowhere.

3. Stop spending time with people who won’t add value to your life. If you have one life to live, why waste it on people who don’t have purpose, or people whose vision are only shortsighted when you have a vision that’s way bigger than theirs.

4. Stop wasting time and resources on things that won’t add any value to your life.

5. Stop running away from your problems. Running won’t take that problem away; face that problem and tackle it head on.

6. Stop waiting for happiness to come to you; it wouldn’t. Be alive and be happy every single day, that’s how you find happiness.

7. Stop being idle and start being productive. Do something productive every day.

8. Stop believing that you aren’t good enough; remember that you are what you believe.

9. Stop entering the wrong relationships; your feelings, emotions and your life should only be shared with someone who’s worth it.

10. Stop being weak, lazy and unprepared. If you must be the best representation of yourself then you must be focused and give your all.

11. Stop competing with people; life isn’t a competition.

12. Stop complaining, stop wishing and stop regretting.

13. Stop being afraid of making mistakes. Mistakes only show that you are putting efforts. You should be worried when you aren’t making any mistake at all.

14. Stop judging others, stop envying and stop being jealous.

15. Stop holding grudges against people; you’d suffer it the most. Let your heart be free.

16. Stop wasting your life trying to please others.

17. Stop making the same mistakes. Learn from each experience.

18. Stop blaming others for your failures; you are absolutely responsible for every choice and decision you make.

19. Don’t forget to enjoy certain moments with friends, family and people that matter to you.

20. Stop holding on to the past and stop living in regrets. Forgive yourself of your past mistakes and move on.

21. Stop trying to make things perfect, stop overthinking, stop worrying and stop trying to control things that are above your reach.

22. Stop being ungrateful and start enjoying the gift called life.

Source:Elcrema

May 17, 2017
Men’s fashion:6 tips to save money on fashion and remain classy

It’s hard to be a classy man and save money on fashion; it looks unachievable; I mean being classy comes with a heavy price tag, right? Wrong! You can actually be classy without having to spend massively.

This is how to do that.

1. Buy quality

This might not be the kind of advice you’d want to hear, but buying quality is actually less expensive than buying quantity. For example, a good shoe will last for a very long time; it could last years and you wouldn’t still get worn out, but the same cannot be said about poor quality shoes. One quality shoe is way better than three cheap shoes; it’ll last longer, and you will look classy all the same.

2.Buy things that match

Another good tip for shopping classy and saving your money, is to buy classic items that can match with a lot of things. For example, a very good loafers can be worn with various attires, and even corporate attires, but an Oxford shoe will mostly fit with a formal attire, thus rendering the shoe unimportant when you want to dress casual or even semi-formal.

Buying quality clothes that can be worn for any event is a good way to shop smartly.

3. Take care of your clothes and fashion items

Maintaining your clothes, shoes, belts and other fashion items is a good way to save money. When they are properly taken care of, they’ll last longer, and you’ll save more money.

4. Shop clearance sales

You’ll be surprised at how many quality items you’ll find on the cheap during clearance sales. You can make use of this opportunity to shop cheap but yet classy items.

5. Be adventurous

When it comes to fashion and buying smartly, don’t just stick to what you know. There are so many places where you can get cheap but quality items, only if you are willing to be adventurous.

6. Forget big name brands

If you can’t afford those big name brands, then don’t bother impressing anyone. You can get lesser known brands and still wear quality and look classy.

If you want to be a classy man and save lots of bucks, then these tips are for you.

February 1, 2017
These 5 tips will make your braids last longer than they do

Do you braid your hair? If yes, then you probably do it because you know it lasts a lot longer than regular artificial hair, but it’s important to note that one of the secrets to having your braids last long(er) is proper management.

If you’re looking to know more ways to manage your hair better, and have it last longer, then I have just the right thing for you.

Do not braid your hair after you just applied relaxer

Hair Relaxers are made to make the hair softer and weaker. That is why your hair feels so curly and soft after you use them. However, if you want to have great looking and long lasting braids, then you shouldn’t get your hair braided after you use a relaxer. Give it a couple of days, so your hair is stronger again. Going against this advice will cause you hair breakage.

Wash them from tie to time

Unless you want your hair looking too old and smelly, then it’s important to get it washed from time to time. There are chemicals that make this easy, contact your hair stylist if you’re not sure how to go about it.

Never leave it wet

Every woman should own a hair drier. It’s a handy tool for drying your hair. It’s easy to use, so you don’t have to visit your stylist often. For no reason should you get your hair wet and allow it dry on its own. It’ll make your braids get older quicker, and give it a foul smell.

Use hair oil

Hair oil will keep your hair moisturised and keep dryness away. However, be careful not to overuse it, so you don’t leave your hair looking messy.

Don’t scratch

Itchiness can make you scratch your hair, but be careful not to over scratch, so you don’t damage the root of your braids. A simple pat can do the trick.

The secret to a better, long lasting hair is good care and hygiene. Care for yours today.

November 20, 2016