To say May was busy would be a massive understatement. It felt like I blinked and the month had come and gone—but as I think back, there were so many beautiful moments packed into it.
I kicked off the month with interviews for Handpicked by Nubian Skin, speaking with two of the brilliant women behind brands we love—Ateh Jewel and Roshanne Dorsett. It’s always such a privilege to hear directly from these founders about their journeys and inspirations. The items on Handpicked are thoughtfully curated, so I hope you take the time to explore the brands and learn about the founders. 
Early May also brought an inspiring event hosted by Noon and HSBC to launch the Fearless and Thriving: Mid-Life, Female Entrepreneurs Report. I'm still tickled by the fact I now fall under “mid-life entrepreneur” rather than “young entrepreneur”—time really is flying. But what a gift to be in a space with other women, reflecting on the growth, grit, and grace it takes to keep going.
There was also lots of hosting—friends in London and up North—which is always good for the soul. And with the sun finally making an appearance, we even managed to eat outdoors!
On the business front, we brought warehousing in-house, which meant I had to roll up my sleeves and get properly stuck into fulfilling orders. It was a new rhythm to get used to, but there’s something grounding about going back to basics.
Then came the real highlight of the month: celebrating my phenomenal mother’s 70th birthday. We marked it with many joyful celebrations in Nigeria—laughter, dancing, food, more dancing—and then carried the family time into a beautiful, restful holiday in Akosombo, Ghana. Slower mornings, gentle evenings, and space to just be. Bliss.
Eventually, it was back to London and back to it. But we rounded off the month on a high—with Nubian Skin Softies now in even more NHS trusts, including the latest in Wales. That has been the culmination of a lot of hard work and advocacy from nurses and charities to bring better patient care to Wales, so I'm incredibly proud of that. Every new addition feels like a quiet victory, and a reminder of why we do what we do.
Here’s to keeping the momentum going.
— Ade x
